asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what inquiries he is undertaking into the pervalence of "mad itch"—Aujesky's Disease—in pigs; and whether he will consider a slaughter policy for its eradication to maintain the quality of the pig export trade.

The course of the disease is monitored by investigating the outbreaks brought to our notice. Herds in the pig health scheme are also being surveyed. We do not consider the disease to be of sufficient economic importance to warrant a slaughter policy, but we give advice on its control.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish figures of the total consumption of bread in volume and value and the average volume per person per week consumed for each of the past 10 years.

Estimated figures for the United Kingdom are as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the likely total of redundancies that will result from the implementation of EEC Directive 71/118.

There are likely to be marginal changes in employment in the industry over the next five years but we do not expect any significant net reduction in total employment as a result of the new health requirements. There should be no reduction in the total amount of poultry meat produced.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he can give the total number of people directly employed over the last 10 years, respectively, in the forestry industry, both private and public.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply I gave him on 10th June.—[Vol. 912, c. 773.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the principal groups of processed foods which contain amaranyn; and what research is being undertaken to find a safe alternative red food colour.

The principal groups of foods in which the permitted food colour, amaranth, is used are canned fruit, canned soup, jellies, preserves, soft drinks and sugar confectionery, though not all such foods will contain the colour.The Food Additives and Contaminants Committee and the Toxicity and Carcinogenesis Sub-Committees of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Chemicals in Food and the Environment, the independent expert bodies that advise Ministers on food additives, have recently reviewed all the available evidence on the safety-in-use of amaranth. Their advice is that, on the available evidence, amaranth may be regarded as acceptable for continued use in food, subject to the carrying out of further long-term toxicological studies. This view is shared by the EEC Scientific Committee for Food.Other red colours are already permitted for use in food by the Colouring Matter in Food Regulations 1973, as amended. The Food Additives and Contaminants Committee is currently reviewing these regulations and will be evaluating the need for, and safety in use of, all food colours, whether presently permitted or not.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all the national subsidies and

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements will apply in the United Kingdom from 1st October 1976 with regard to the fat content of whole milk for liquid consumption.

EEC Regulation No. 1411/71 has been amended to allow member States the choice between a system based other direct aids outside EEC measures to British farmers during the last year; and if he will make a statement.

The information required is set out in the table below. The expenditure takes account of the determinations made following the Annual Review of Agriculture 1975 (Cmnd. 5977).on standardised whole milk containing at least 3·5 per cent. fat and one based on non-standardised whole milk with its natural fat content unchanged but subject to a minimum of 3 per cent. The system is to be implemented not later than 1st October 1976. We have notified the Commission that the United Kingdom will adopt the system based on non-standardisation, which will in fact enable us to continue with our present arrangements for whole milk.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimated average cost of building council houses; of this, what is the cost of primary labour used in this construction work and what is the cost of land contained in this figure.

The estimated average cost for local authority dwellings in tenders approved during 1975 in England and Wales was about £12,000. This includes the tender price for construction, site and other works, fees and the

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the historic houses and buildings which have received grant aid since the inception of the scheme, their locations, their ownership, and facilities for access by the public.

Those in England are listed in the annual reports of the Historic Buildings Council for England and I am sending copies of the relevant extracts to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the purpose and cost of work now being carried out by his Department at Heeley Dod Pele Tower, near Elsdon, Northumberland.

My Department is carrying out repair work to Highshaw Pele Tower near Heely Dod hill to prevent collapse of part of the structure. It is a scheduled ancient monument and a good example of a sixteenth century pele. The cost will be about £1,500.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of land. Labour costs account for about three tenths and land about one fifth of the total.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount of rent rebates awarded in England and Wales (a) to private sector tenants, (b) to local authority tenants and (c) to new town tenants during the most recent period for which figures are available; and what was the estimated cost of administering those rebates in each of these three categories.

The estimated figures for 1975–76 are as follows:original intention of the Swansea Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre; and if he remains satisfied that the centre is fulfilling the task for which it was planned.

I am satisfied that the continued viability of driver and vehicle licensing is assured. This was the original intention of centralisation using computers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to vary the central Government contribution to projects undertaken by local authorities under existing general improvement area regulations.

I have no plans for any general increase in contributions towards environmental improvements, but I have power to authorise greater contributions in particular cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he has received a report from the Maplin Development Authority in respect of the year ended 31st March 1976, in accordance with Section 24 of the Maplin Development Act 1973; and, if he has not done so, what steps he is taking to receive such a report;

Section 24 of the Maplin Development Act 1973 requires the Maplin Development Authority as soon as possible after the end of each accounting year to make a report to the Secretary of State on the exercise of its functions during that year; a copy of the audited accounts is to be attached to the report. There are no statutory sanctions for failure to prepare and submit accounts, and the question of indemnifying members of the authority against their failure to discharge these responsibilities does not arise. No accounts or report for the year ended 31st March 1976 have been prepared because the Maplin Development Authority (Dissolution) Bill provides that the last accounting year of the authority shall be the period between the end of March 1975 and the date on which the property, rights and liabilities of the Maplin Development Authority will vest in the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the 25 per cent. reduction in his Department's loan approvals for housing association schemes during the current year compared with 1975–76, he will review urgently the provisional restriction on the Housing Corporation's lending to housing associations for 1976–77 to ensure that the corporation maintains the target agreed with his Department of loan approvals for 30,000 homes, mainly in areas of housing stress.

The reduction in the Department's loan approvals for housing association schemes during 1976–77 compared with 1975–76 is confined to projects funded through local authorities. The Housing Corporation is not affected by this reduction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the finishing date for the scheduled road improvements on the A47 between King's Lynn and Wisbech.

A number of schemes will be undertaken to improve this 13-mile length of road to modern single carriageway standard. The need to complete statutory procedures and the constraints on funds available for road improvements are such that completion of all the schemes cannot be achieved until sometime in the 1980s.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can announce the starting date of the A47 bypass to Terrington St. John.

It will not be possible to make a start on this scheme before 1978–79.

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

Most representations are still from members of the public and from interested bodies, but some of the organisations specially consulted are now sending in comments. The various responses cover a wide range of subjects, as did the consultation document; and continue to reflect a particular concern for the future of public transport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what suggestion has been made about a brick bank by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in its report on the supply of building bricks; and if he will make a statement.

The Monopolies and Mergers Commission has suggested that the Government should consider the desirability of discussing with the industry the practicability of producing bricks for stock in times of recession. This suggestion has been adopted, and my Department is consulting the Brick Development Association.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service which former Prime Ministers receive cars, chauffeurs, etc., and at what cost to the Treasury; whether this includes petrol, oil, tax and insurance and at what estimated cost per annum; why this is not applicable to all retired Prime Ministers; and whether these benefits will be taxable under the Budget proposals.

All former Prime Ministers are entitled to use a Government Car Service car with a driver free of charge for journeys to attend official engagements and on parliamentary business in their capacity as former Prime Ministers. Use for other journeys is subject to a charge at the current Civil Service motor mileage rate.The average annual cost of a GCS chauffeur-driven car is £10,600 per year, including £478 for fuel and lubricants. Neither road fund tax nor insurance is paid on Government cars.The benefit of these cars will not be chargeable to tax under the proposals in the Finance Bill because it is received by virtue of a previous rather than a current office.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the cost of training per student-day at each of the three centres of the Civil Service College based on actual utilisation of accommodation in the last academic year.

The costs per student day, including an estimate of travelling and subsistence expenses borne by Departments, based on attendance in the last acedemic year at each of the three centres were as follows: Sunning-dale, £40; London, £38; Edinburgh, £36. A more realistic comparison of the relative costs of training, based on comparable utilisation of each of the three centres, was provided in my reply of 14th May 1976.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list giving the full and part-time appointments made by his Department which are held by peers of the realm, the names of the holders, the salaries and expenses paid to the holders of these appointments and when such appointments were made.

As far as I can ascertain there are no paid appointments made by the Civil Service Department which are currently held by peers of the realm.

asked the Prime Minister what subjects he proposes to discuss with the STUC when he meets it later in the year.

It is too early to say, but I hope to discuss a wide range of issues with the STUC.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what materials, if any, are being supplied to the MRCA programme from Warsaw Pact nations.

The only material I know of emanating from Warsaw Pact nations being used in the MRCA programme is some titanium sponge from the USSR, which is one of the major world suppliers. This sponge is processed into titanium alloy by Western European metal industries, who supply the German and Italian airframe and engine companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take action to ensure that the widows of NCOs enjoy a pension from the State in the same way as widows of commissioned officers.

The widows of all ranks of the Armed Forces—officers, non-commissioned officers and junior ranks—have for many years been eligible for a widow's pension under the Forces Occupational Pension Scheme, provided that their husbands had given the necessary qualifying service. It is true that, in the case of men who ceased service before 1st September 1950, a distinction based on rank applied, with the result that widows of those in this category who did not attain the rank of Warrant Officer Class I, or equivalent, receive no pension under the scheme. This has been debated in the House on a number of occasions and most recently on 3rd May 1976—[Vol. 910, c. 1025–36.]—when I explained why it was regrettably not practicable to change the rules retrospectively to cover these cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any improvements are contemplated in tank design and protection; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom has succeeded in developing a unique form of tank armour. This provides an exceptional level of protection against both chemical energy attack from guided weapons and all forms of attack from tank guns, and can be carried on tanks of comparable weight and agility to those in service today.We shall fit this armour, and other improvements, into our next main battle tank.Meanwhile, in the interests of NATO, we have made information on the invention available to the United States of America and the Federal Republic of Germany.We have secured important commercial benefits from the invention, as it forms part of a large new order for tanks by Iran. This order will be worth over £500 million, including spares and logistic support, and over 1,200 tanks will be fitted with the new armour.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent meeting of the Euro-group and the Nuclear Planning Group in Brussels.

I attended all three of the NATO ministerial meetings held in Brussels between 9th and 15th June, namely, the Eurogroup, the Defence Planning Committee and the Nuclear Planning Group.In Eurogroup, Ministers reaffirmed their belief in the importance of maintaining the strength of NATO Europe and in the need, therefore, to make the best use of the resources devoted by member countries to defence. They considered a number of proposals for increased co-operation amongst the member countries, and, in particular, endorsed a set of guidelines for collaboration in logistics for future weapon systems and equipment. Eurogroup Ministers agreed on the importance of ensuring that public opinion in their countries is made fully aware of the need for the maintenance of a strong defence as a corollary to the West's pursuit of genuine detente.At the DPC meeting Ministers endorsed the NATO force goals for the period 1977–1982. They undertook to give their vigorous support to the programme to maximise the flexibility of forces in the central region. They noted with satisfaction the progress made on rationalization / specialisation of defence tasks and called for an expansion of activity in this area. Ministers also called for the formulation of a comprehensive proposal for the setting up of a NATO AEW system to be presented to them at their December 1976 meeting. They gave particular attention to the situation in the Mediterranean area and expressed concern at the continuing tensions prevailing throughout it.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when she expects to publish the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on the supply of building bricks; and whether she will make a statement.

The report is being published today. The commission has found that monopoly conditions, as defined in the legislation in force when the reference was made, prevail with respect to the supply of building bricks in Great Britain because one manufacturer, the London Brick Company Limited (LBC) supplies at least one-third of the market.The commission has unanimously concluded that LBC's monopoly position does not operate and may not be expected to operate against the public interest. The commission has decided, with one member dissenting, that LBC's practice of overcharging, for transport, customers relatively close to its works and undercharging those relatively distant from its works is a thing done as a result of the monopoly conditions which operates and may be expected to operate against the public interest because it represents unfair competition and could lead to an inefficient use of national resources.No other things have been found to be done as a result of the monopoly which operate or may be expected to operate against the public interest, but the commission has noted that LBC has the power to charge excessive prices and to make excessive profits and has pointed out that, if LBC's policies on these points were to change, there could be a case for a further monopoly reference.To remedy the adverse effects of LBC's pricing policy for transport the commission has recommended, with one member dissenting, that LBC should, so far as is practicable, relate its transport charges to the customer to the cost of delivery to him. In so doing, however, the commission noted that LBC could implement certain proposals already under consideration for changing its present zonal pricing arrangements without detriment to the general principle of this recommendation and also that an exception could be made temporarily to the general principle to permit development of new markets like that associated with the proposed rail "Fletliner" service to North-East England.My right hon. Friend accepts the commission's majority recommendation as being requisite for the purpose of remedying or preventing the adverse effects specified in the report and is, therefore, asking the Director General of Fair Trading to consult LBC with a view to obtaining from it undertakings to take action to change its system of transport charges to customers to reflect, so far as practicable, the cost of delivery to them.My right hon. Friend is also asking the Director General to discuss with LBC certain suggestions which the commission has made concerning the collection of bricks by customers, and on surcharges for deliveries in smaller than normal lorries.The implementation of the recommendation on transport charges would involve an increase in LBC's prices to customers relatively distant from its works, as well as decreases elsewhere, and this would be inconsistent with the Price Code in its present form. However, my predecessor announced on 31st March 1976 that it was intended to make alterations to the Price Code in July of this year which would permit the implementation of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's very similar recommendations on zonal prices for plasterboard; and it is my intention that the amended Price Code should also permit such changes in LBC's prices as would seem necessary to implement satisfactorily the commission's recommendation on building bricks.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she will list the division of responsibilities between Ministers in her Department.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the list of ministerial respon-

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she has received the report from the Director General of Fair Trading regarding the Trade Descriptions Act; and what action she intends to take.

The report reviewing the operation of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 has been received from the Director General of Fair Trading and I am presently considering its contents. I am proposing to arrange for the report to be published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what action she has taken consequent upon the report of the Office of Fair Trading on restrictive trade practices in the milling and baking industries.

Details of the arrangements to which I take it that my hon. Friend is referring have been entered in the register of restrictive trading agree- sibilities as at 1st June 1976, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she will publish in the Official Report a detailed list giving the full and part-time appointments made by her Department which are held by peers of the realm, the names of the holders, the salaries and expenses paid to the holders of these appointments and when such appointments were made.

The information is as follows:ments kept by the Director General of Fair Trading. The arrangements have all been terminated, but during their period of operation particulars were not duly furnished to the Director General as required under the restrictive trade practices legislation. The question of appropriate proceedings before the Restrictive Practices Court is the responsibility of the Director General. The Monopolies and Mergers Commission is continuing its investigation into the supply of flour and bread during the course of which these arrangements came to light.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will list the regulations which retail butchers have to comply with as regards labelling and price display of meat offered for sale.

Requirements for the labelling of meat in retail butchers' shops in England and Wales are contained in the Food and Drugs Act 1955 and the Labelling of Food Regulations 1970 (as amended); these are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Social Services. Similar provisions apply in Scotland. The Price Marking (Meat and Fish) Order 1974 relates specifically to the indication of the price of prepacked and certain non-prepacked fresh, chilled and frozen meat. Consultations are nearing completion about the extension of unit pricing to most normal retail cuts of meat.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what authority Members of Parliament are taxed under Schedule E and not Schedule D.

Members of Parliament come within Schedule E under Section 181 of the Taxes Act as office holders receiving stipends payable out of the public revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he is making with his plans to introduce a wealth tax; and if he will take steps to introduce the tax in the present Session of Parliament.

Work on the wealth tax is continuing in the light of the Select Committee's Reports. But for the reasons my right hon. Friend explained to my right hon. Friend the Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay) on 18th December, he does not feel able to introduce legislation for the tax this Session.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to introduce legislation to reintegrate the investment income of children with that of their parents.

It is not proposed to legislate for this in the current financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further fiscal measures he intends to take to reduce the level of unemployment.

A fresh fiscal stimulus to the economy would be inappropriate at the present time. I have, therefore, no plans for any fiscal measures beyond those already proposed in the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received from airlines and their employees regarding his proposals for tax measures on concessionary travel.

Treasury Ministers have received a considerable number of representations both from the airlines themselves and from individual employees. My hon. Friend the Financial Secretary will be making a statement about Clause 54 of the Finance Bill in Standing Committee later this afternoon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to provide for a system of lower corporation tax for companies whose head offices are located in development areas.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider revising present road taxation so that operations of heavy lorries will fully pay for roads and road maintenance in direct proportion to the wear and tear which they impose.

The Consultation Document on Transport Policy makes it clear that the Government are considering such a proposal.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the amount of interest payable on Government debt during the current year.

£6,461 million, as shown in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1976–77, published on Budget Day.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present rate of inflation; and whether he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner), and the hon. Members for Hazel Grove (Mr. Arnold) and Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Taylor).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that Department of the Environment Circular 123/75 states that the Treasury will be responsible, in consultation with other Departments, for deciding if construction firms should be blacklisted from future public sector contracts for alleged breach of the pay limits, he will now give details of how he proposes to hear any such contractors in their own defence, in accordance with natural justice, under stage 2 of the incomes policy.

Under the procedures which have operated during the current pay round and which are expected to continue into the next round a contractor would be barred only after he had been finally found by the Department of Employment to have breached the pay limit and until such time as he had modified his pay settlement to accord with the limit. As I explained in answer to a Question by the hon. Member on 8th June, whenever a contractor has been found to have breached the pay limit he has been given every opportunity by the Department of Employment for his views to be heard. He is also free to make representations to the Department awarding the relevant contract.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what rate the money supply is presently expanding.

Given the sharp month to month fluctuations in the path of the money supply, the movement over any short period cannot give a reliable guide to the trend. But over the latest three banking months—from mid January to mid April—M1 seasonally adjusted rose by 6¾ per cent. and M3 by 3¼ per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next proposes to meet the managing director of the IMF.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to a similar Question from the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) earlier today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in projected public expenditure for the year 1976–77 (in 1976–77 prices) announced since the last Public Expenditure White Paper.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Treasury Memorandum to the Select Committee on Expenditure published as H.C. 461-i.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his policy on the parity of sterling.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 7th June to the right hon. and learned Member for Surrey, East (Sir G. Howe).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of his declaration that sterling is currently undervalued, what is the correct exchange value of the £ sterling against the United States dollar.

As I told the House on 7th June, I have no intention of saying what exchange rate is "correct" as this is precisely what every operator in the foreign exchange markets would like to know.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the effective trade weighted depreciation of sterling was against (a) the currencies of the EEC countries and (b) the currencies that are members of the "snake", in December 1971, January 1973 and 1st June 1976.

The trade weighted depreciation of sterling against the currencies of the EEC countries was 10 per cent. from December 1971—the date of the Smithsonian Agreement—to January 1973, and 33 per cent. to 1st June 1976. Against the currencies now belonging to the "snake" the trade weighted depreciation was 11 per cent. by January 1973, and 42 per cent. by 1st June 1976. The hon. Member will appreciate that neither measure is the same as the effective depreciation of sterling.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the hardship now being caused to small firms forced to pay VAT on bad debts, he will introduce some suitable relief measures to enable the partners in such firms concerned to: (a) remain solvent themselves and (b) avoid going to prison through failure to pay.

Except that there is no question of imprisonment for inability to pay VAT on a transaction which becomes a bad debt, there is nothing I can add to what my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary said on this subject in Committee on the Finance Bill on 11th May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list giving the full and part-time appointments made by his Department which are held by peers of the realm, the names of the holders, the salaries and expenses paid to the holders of these appointments and when such appointments were made.

The information is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what efforts his Department makes to economise in the use of newsprint; whether he is satisfied with their effectiveness in the case of 14th May 1976 issue of VAT News; and what steps have been taken to prevent a repetition of the use of paper for this purpose.

The Treasury Departments use many methods to save paper. I am satisfied that the methods used by Customs and Excise are effective. Customs and Excise are currently using about 25 per cent. less paper than in 1973. VAT News has to be printed in multiples of eight pages to reduce the cost of production and its layout is de-designed for ease of reference. In the interests of further economy it has already been decided that, after its next issue in August, VAT News will be published only twice a year, instead of four times as at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that certain religions allow a man more than one wife and that children of such marriages are taken to be legitimate children of the father; whether any such person can claim income tax relief for each of these children, whether legitimate or otherwise and whether or not these children are actually resident in the United Kingdom; and what action is taken to stop claims for tax relief for children who are not the responsibility of the claimant.

The income tax child allowance may be claimed for a child of any legitimate marriage; it may also be claimed for any other child, including an illegitimate child, of whom the claimant can show that he has custody and whom he maintains at his own expense. Entitlement does not depend upon the child being resident in the United Kingdom.The Inland Revenue is fully aware of the possibility of tax avoidance by false claims to allowances for dependants abroad. Claimants may be required to produce satisfactory evidence of their relationship with and, where necessary, financial support of the children concerned. A specialist section of the Inland Revenue Head Office is responsible for the general oversight of these claims and the examination and verification of documents.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in many areas of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc., there is no satisfactory system of registration of births: and what action is taken to check when British residents claim tax relief for their children in these countries that these children are really theirs and that they are actually maintaining those children for whom tax relief is claimed.

The system of registration of birth and of many civil documents is sometimes more rudimentary in these areas than in this country; but it is generally possible to produce relevant documentary evidence—for example, in the form of a birth or a school certificate in support of claims to income tax child allowance for children residing in these countries. Where proof of maintenance is concerned, evidence of remittances, often in the form of money order counterfoils and bank transfer slips, may be required.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to assist pensioners and those retired on fixed incomes with the increasing complication of completing their annual tax returns.

Every tax return is accompanied by a tax return guide which gives advice to all recipients of the form. Any taxpayer requiring further

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the total public borrowing requirement was financed in the years 1974–75 and 1975–76, respectively; how much was financed from sources outside the United Kingdom; what is his estimate of how he will finance the 1976–77 public borrowing requirement; and how much will be financed from sources outside the United Kingdom.

The attached table shows the public sector borrowing requirement for the financial years 1974–75 and 1975–76 and indicates how this total was financed. Borrowing from the banking sector in foreign currencies (column 5 of table) essentially represents overseas borrowing by the public sector channelled through the banking system. This figure has, therefore, to be added to direct external finance of the public sector (column 6) to give the total borrowing requirement financed from sources outside the United Kingdom; the totals for 1974–75 and 1975–76 respectively are £2,615 million and £1,081 million.It is not the practice to provide forecasts of the pattern of financing the public sector borrowing requirement, but my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has repeatedly emphasised his determination to maintain overall monetary control and, therefore, to restrain the extent to which the borrowing requirement is financed by borrowing in sterling from the banking system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing for a married couple without children the weekly value of tax refunds during sickness and unemployment and the number of weeks for which these refunds will continue, assuming eligibility to benefit commences in weeks 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 of the tax year and

asked the Chencellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing, for each tax year since 1970–71 and including 1976–77, the weekly value of tax refunds and the maximum number of weeks for which they may be payable to an unemployed married man without children, who pre-

Assuming the tax rates and allowances proposed for 1976–77 the average weekly rate of tax rebate for a married man without children will be approximately £7·35. The maximum number of weeks for which refunds at this rate would continue is as follows:viously earned; (

The figures are aproximately as shown in the table below:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each year since 1964 the proportion of the gross domestic product that has been absorbed by the nationalised industries.

The proportion of the gross domestic product that has been absorbed by the nationalised industries for each year since 1964 is shown in the table below:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the expected tax yield if national insurance sickness and unemployment benefits were made taxable.

The information from which to make precise calculations is not available, but estimates of the tax yield for 1975–76, based on expenditure on benefits in Great Britain and calculated at benefit levels operative from November 1975, are:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he now intends should be the appointed day so far as concerns the operation of the Development Land Tax Bill.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave on 14th June to a similar Question by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Down, South (Mr. Powell).—[Vol 913, c. 27.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis he authorised discussions to take place between Treasury officials and SNP hon. Members to consider ways in which the English pound could be protected, using Edinburgh as a clearing house, recycling of oil revenues could pay off Scotland's share of the National Debt, and ways in which Scots could acquire a controlling interest in companies based in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any such discussions having taken place.

Price asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present position on tithe redemption annuities; and whether he will make a statement.

Under the Tithe Act 1936, tithe redemption annuities are payable until 1996, unless terminated earlier because the Treasury is satisfied that there are sufficient funds in the account to service existing Redemption Stocks and meet the eventual costs of redemption. Annuities are compulsorily redeemed if the land is sold or divided.The administrative costs of the scheme have increased with inflation, and the Government have decided that steps should now be taken to speed the extinguishment of tithe redemption annuities. It is proposed, therefore, that there should be only two further annuity payments—a normal payment in October 1976, followed by a final payment in October 1977, equal to twice the normal payment on the basis of ownership of land at that time. It is expected that this will ensure that there are sufficient funds to service and ultimately to redeem the outstanding redemption stock; if unexpectedly there is a shortfall it will be met by the Exchequer. The existing rights attached to the redemption stock will, therefore, be fully protected.Legislation to this effect will be included in the Finance Act 1977.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for the publication of the details of the agreements for the $5·3 billion standby credits.

I am arranging for the agreement between the Bank of England and the US Treasury for a $1 billion swap arrangement to be placed in the House of Commons Library. The rest of the $5·3 billion standby facilities are subject to agreements between central banks, which it is not the practice to publish.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report the exchange of letters between the British Ambassador in Bonn and the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, on 4th May and 5th May 1976, concerning the right of consular officers of the Federal Republic of Germany in the United Kingdom to render consular services to all German citizens.

The texts of the letters exchanged on 5th May 1976 between Her Majesty's Ambassador in Bonn and the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force have been suspended, dismissed or compulsorily retired, respectively for Triad activities for each year from 1967 to the present date.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th May 1976; Vol. 911, c. 732–3], gave the folowing answer:The following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many serving members of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force were charged with offences arising out of Triad activities for each year from 1967 to the present date.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th May 1976; Vol. 911, c. 373], gave the following answer:The following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ex-members of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force were charged with offences arising out of Triad activities or were served with police supervision or deportation orders in connection with such activities or offences for each year from 1967 to the present date.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th May 1976; Vol. 911, c. 373], gave the following answer:I have ascertained that the research required to provide a full answer could be undertaken only at disproportionate effort. However, I can say that no officer who left the Royal Hong Kong Police Force in 1975 has been charged with an offence arising out of Triad activities and that no such officer has been served with a police supervision order or deportation order in connection with such activities or offences.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the effect of the slow rate of new discoveries of uranium on the rate of expansion of the nuclear power industry; and if he will make a statement.

So far as the United Kingdom is concerned I am advised that the development of our nuclear programmes will not be impeded by shortages of uranium.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the volume of coal stocks held by the National Coal Board and the generating boards at the end of each month from October 1975 to April 1976.

This information is given in Table 59 of the May issue of the Monthly Digest of Statistics available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he can report on steps to implement the recommendations of the Speaker's Conference, 25th October 1973, that patients in mental hospitals should be placed on the same footing as mental patients in general hospitals; and when amending legislation to the Representation of the People Act 1949 (Section 4(3)) is expected.

As I said in the reply that I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend, the Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery) on 20th May [Vol. 911, c. 1695–6]—the Government have now accepted this recommendation in principle, subject to the satisfactory resolution of certain practical problems. The interdepartmental working party set up on the recommendation of the Speaker's Conference is about to undertake consultations on these problems. It is not possible to say when amending legislation may be introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that there is adequate television reception in the village of Elsdon, Northumberland, or that adequate reception will become available in the near future.

I understand that the broadcasting authorities appreciate that television reception in Elsdon may be indifferent because of screening by the local terrain. Although the possibility of improving reception is to be investigated, the BBC tells me that it has no plans at present to provide a relay station in that area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that new VHF television sets are still available for purchase in those areas in which VHF transmission provides the only available television signal.

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is not, of course, responsible for the receiver industry; but although sets capable of receiving VHF transmissions are no longer manutured, I understand that there are sufficient second-hand sets, and spare components for existing sets, to cater for the limited demand.