asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the average hours flown by pilots of Lightning and of Phantom aircraft of the Royal Air Force, respectively, over the most recent 12-month period for which statistics are available.

It would not be in the public interest to disclose this information, but I am satisfied with the level of operational efficiency in the squadrons equipped with these aircraft, as confirmed by periodic evaluations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many dependants in Service accommodation at each of the Royal Air Force bases in the United Kingdom could be accommodated in existing shelters safe from nuclear fallout.

None. Successive Governments have decided that it would be completely impracticable to provide public shelters for everyone against the effects of a nuclear attack, and no such shelters have been built at Royal Air Force bases or elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will list the projections made by his Department since 1970 of the total school population, together with the forecasts for the teacher force which were based on these projections;(2) what is the number of teachers, including full-time equivalent part-time teachers, which he now estimates will be needed by 1981.

The following are projections, made in various years, of the numbers of pupils in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England and Wales in 1981, counting each part-time pupil as 0·5:

Projection made in			Projected number of pupils in 1981	Target for teachers in 1981
			('000)	(000)
1971	…	…	9,562	5401
1972	…	…	9,447	5102
1973	…	…	9,107
1974	…	…	8,670
1975	…	…	8,584	480–4903
1976	…	…	8,522	(4)

These varying projections of pupils were based, inter alia, on successive revisions to the population estimates made by the Government Actuary, which in turn reflected the steep decline in the number of children born since 1971.The assessment of the number of teachers needed in any future year depends upon the staffing standards—and other factors—assumed for the calculation. Various standards have been used in calculations since 1970, according to the purpose of the assessment, and sets of figures have often been produced demonstrating the requirement for various levels of provision.Projections of the numbers of qualified teachers available in the country have also been made regularly, based on the latest data available on wastage rates, re-entry and other factors, but again alternative projections are frequently made incorporating different assumptions about the future.From time to time Governments have adopted targets for teacher numbers having regard to these projections of demand and potential supply. The following footnotes qualify the targets given in the above table:(1) Strictly speaking, this figure is not a target but a projection; before 1972, forecasts of the numbers of teachers likely to be employed were synonymous with the numbers likely to be available.(2) In Cmnd. 5174 of December 1972 the then Government for the first time indicated a broad policy objective for teacher employment, judged in relation to other educational priorities within the resources then foreseen, which fell below the numbers of potentially available teachers. This objective was to secure by 1981 a teaching force in the schools 10 per cent. above that needed to maintain the staffing standards of 1971, to staff the expansion of nursery education, to increase in-service training and to introduce systematic induction for new teachers. This was estimated at that time to require about 510,000 teachers in 1981. To achieve the standards of the 1972 White Paper on the latest projections of pupil numbers would now require only 459,000 teachers in 1981.(3) In March 1975 the Government declared their aim to ensure that there should be enough teachers to permit the elimination of classes over 30 in the early 1980s, the continuing expansion of education for the under-fives, and programmes of induction and in-service training; and announced their intention to plan for a teaching force reaching an upper limit of 480,000 to 490,000 by 1981.(4) The White Paper "Public Expenditure to 1979–80" (Cmnd. 6393), provided for a teaching force in England and Wales, including the full-time equivalent of part-time teachers, of 464,000 in 1978–79. As the White Paper stated, the size of the teaching force after 1978–79 is to be further considered as the total number of school pupils declines. This is one of the important matters on which my right hon. Friend is currently seeking the advice of his Advisory Committee on the Supply and Training of Teachers. The estimated number of qualified teachers required to maintain existing staffing standards in 1981, on the current forecast of pupils for that year, is 449,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of qualified teachers he estimates may be unemployed next September.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to a Question from the hon. Member for Bosworth (Mr. Butler) on 26th May 1976.—[Vol. 912, c. 228–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teacher training places there currently are in each different sector of higher education; and what are the latest estimated reductions until 1981.

In 1973 there were some 115,000 teacher training places outside the universities and some 5,000 in university departments of education Present plans assume capacities in 1981 of some 60,000 and some 5,000 places respectively. No useful estimates can be made of the amount of reduction year by year until 1981 because of the variety of factors involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate was made in 1975 of the number of teacher training colleges which would have to close as a result of the contraction of teacher training capacity; how many have closed: and how many more it is now intended to close.

It was stated by my right hon. Friend's predecessor on 20th March 1975—[Vol. 888, c. 471–2]—that the contraction to 60,000 places by 1981 would result in some 30 colleges having to give up initial teacher training. To date it has been decided that 18 colleges should do so. The future of one or two colleges is still under consideration, and further closures may be necessary as a result of the review of teacher supply and training now being carried out in consultation with the Advisory Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what kind of facilities are available (a) in Northamptonshire, and (b) generally, to ensure that teachers who are involved with deaf children have a simple knowledge of hearing aids and their performance.

The majority of teachers of deaf children have completed specialist training which included theoretical and practical knowledge of the use of hearing aids. In Northamptonshire, and generally, teachers who have not, are supervised or supported by others in the schools or in the peripatetic service who are specially qualified. I understand that some authorities encourage teachers of hearing impaired children in ordinary schools to attend short courses provided by various bodies on the use of hearing aids; but in Northamptonshire such teachers receive help from the peripatetic service.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research has been done by his Department into the comparative cost and administration of students' halls of residence in higher education institutions in Great Britain, Europe, and North America, respectively; and how well the British statistics stand in these comparisons.

No research of precisely this kind has been done, but my Department is undertaking a development project for the design of student residences. One aspect of the project will be to examine the appropriate standards of area and cost for student residences in Great Britain. It involves some study of the standards applying in European countries, but it is not possible, on the basis of the present work, to make valid comparisons of cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the names of the international bodies and organisations active in each of the fields contained in the EEC "Programme for Action", Resolution of the Council of Ministers R 263/76; if any are prohibited from encouraging and assisting any member of the EEC to achieve the objectives of the programme as part of their general programme of international co-operation; what consultations he had with any of these bodies prior to his discussions in the Council on the "Programme for Action", and what responses he has received then or since.

Various international bodies such as, notably, the Council of Europe, UNESCO and OECD, promote and organise activities in fields of educational co-operation which may correspond with some of those that are included in the Education Ministers' Resolution. The programme adopted by Ministers was drawn up in awareness of these activities, and care is being taken in its implementation to avoid any unnecessary duplication of effort. It is not for me to consult with international bodies, except in so far as I or my representatives may participate in their decision-making committees. I understand, however, that the Commission of the European Communities is in close liaison with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science from which part of the agreed or projected budget of the European Communities the £300,000 fund for the Community education programme, mentioned by him on 10th June, Official Report, column 1853, arises; if he will now publish the breakdown of this projected expenditure; and which body or bodies are responsible for its disbursement.

Expenditure on Community level activities is included under Article 392 of the Commission's Budget for 1976. Under the oversight of the Education Committee, the Commission is responsible for the disbursement of these funds as it is for the implementation of other parts of the budget. In outline, the provisional proposals for expenditure in 1976 are as follows:

Action	Projected Expenditure (u.a)
Education of Migrant Children	290,000
Closer Relations between Education systems	40,000
Documentation and Statistics	10,000
Higher Education	150,000
Teaching Foreign Languages	40,000
Equality of Opportunity	70,000

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussion or debates have taken place in the European Assembly in respect of Council Resolution R/263/76 and Draft Directive R/2085/75 relating to the education of the children of migrant workers; when they took place; and what opinions or resolutions were arrived at in respect of each of these documents.

A debate on Council Resolution R 263/76 on the Action Programme in the Field of Education took place in the European Assembly on 8th April 1976. A debate on the draft Directive on the Education of Migrant Workers' Children was held on 13th November 1975. The debates have been recorded in the Official Journal of the European Communities, copies of which are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the composition of the education committee mentioned in the Resolution of the Council of Ministers R/263/76; when it last met; and what are its terms of reference and financial powers.

The Education Committee consists of representatives of member States and of the Commission. As I told the House during the debate on 10th June, it is usual for civil servants, working under the direction of their Ministers, to attend these meetings. The Committee last met on Monday 14th June. Its terms of reference are given in Section II of the Education Ministers' Resolution of 9th February 1976. Its financial powers are confined to the influence it exercises, as part of its oversight of the Action Programme, over expenditure on this programme from the Community budget.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what status under the Treaty of Rome, or any Standing Order or its equivalent of the Council of Ministers, his recent meeting of Education Ministers "meeting within the Council" had, other than the meeting of the Council of Ministers as such; when the Council within the Council proposes to meet again; and what is the agenda.

Meetings of Ministers within the Council have no status under the Treaty of Rome. The association of the Ministers meeting within the Council with the meeting of the Council emphasises that the subject matter of the meeting does not fall exclusively under the Treaty. No further meeting of Education Ministers has yet been arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science with what bodies he consulted before agreeing to the Resolution of the Council of Ministers C38/1 and the Commission Document R/263/76 "Programme of Action for Education"; what response he received; and if he will place his requests and their replies in the Library.

My Department wrote to the bodies listed below when the final text of the draft Resolution became available shortly before the meeting of Ministers of Education in December 1975. Some of these bodies had been previously involved in the earlier stages of discussion, and separate consultations were also undertaken in other parts of the United Kingdom. Different responses were made, only some of which were in written form, and it would be misleading, as well as a departure from normal practice, to place the text of these responses only in the Library.Bodies consulted by the Department of Education and Science:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on which Article of the Treaty of Rome, other than 235, the Resolution of the Council of Ministers (R/263/76) relating to a Programme of Action for Education was founded.

The Resolution is expressed to have been adopted

"having regard to the Treaties establishing the European Communities"

and no particular article is cited. The reference to the Treaties nevertheless presupposes that the subject matter falls within the objects of the Communities, and, specifically, the Preamble and Article 2 in the case of the Treaty of Rome.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in what way Paragraph 5 of the "Programme of Action" of the EEC Council of Ministers (R/263/76) will confer an obligation on the United Kingdom if ratified by Parliament; if he will give further details of the measures member States will promote and organise in relation to educational activities with a European content; and what plans he has to put such a programme into effect.

This paragraph, like the rest of the Resolution, represents a political commitment on the part of member States rather than a legally binding obligation. I cannot speak for other member States, but the United Kingdom is still considering what dispositions to make.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will withhold his consent from any scheme of secondary education reorganisation whether brought about by local authorities or by church schools commissions, which would result in children having to go to a school which did not offer the same range of subjects as the school which, but for the proposed reorganisation, they would have gone to; and if he will make a statement on his statutory powers in relation to such matters.

When secondary schools reorganise it is necessary for them to re-examine the courses they provide. The pattern of subjects and courses offered at any school is not static, and it is not unusual for two or more schools to co-operate in providing courses in the less popular subjects—a form of co-operation that is to be welcomed.The capacity of schools to provide an adequate and satisfactory range of courses for children of all abilities is one factor that my right hon. Friend takes into account when schemes for comprehensive reorganisation are submitted to him for approval under Section 13 of the 1944 Education Act.The arrangements for allocating places at particular schools are a matter for local education authorities and governors or managers; changes in these arrangements, including changes in catchment areas, can be made at their discretion. My right hon. Friend has no power to intervene in ordinary circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to take any further steps to remove the risk to workers' health from asbestosis.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that an advisory committee has been set up to undertake a wide ranging review of the health risks from asbestos and to make recommendations on any further action which, in its view, ought to be taken.The committee, whose membership was announced on 18th May 1976 reflects a wide range of scientific, medical and practical expertise and includes representatives from both sides of industry. To facilitate the work of the committee it is proposed to set up working groups to examine groups of subjects and onto which individuals with special skills and experience may be co-opted.In the meantime Her Majesty's Inspectors of factories will continue to enforce the Asbestos Regulations 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many deaf school leavers are unemployed in Northampton and the county of Northamptonshire.

In the county of Northamptonshire two deaf school leavers are registered as unemployed, neither of whom is registered in Northampton.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications for temporary employment subsidy have been made in the North-West in 1976 to date; how many have been granted; what is the average number of jobs saved; and what is the average length of time required to process such applications.

As at 11th June, the latest available date, 262 applications covering 19,045 workers had been received from employers in the North-West in 1976. Of these 164 applications had been approved affecting 12,303 workers. The average number of jobs saved was 75, and the average length of time required to process such applications was about three weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the number of applicants whose training commenced last year under industrial training boards and who have been unable to find appointments in industry for completing their apprenticeships; and what plans he has for dealing with this problem.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that industrial training boards have informed the Training Services Agency that they are likely to need extra help in placing some 3,400 of the total of 6,221 young people who began training under board sponsorship last year. The agency is accordingly meeting the cost of recruitment grants which boards can offer to employers as an incentive for them to engage unplaced award holders. Any trainees still unplaced will be enabled to continue with sponsored training under board auspices.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list the claims which have reported to ACAS under the terms of Schedule 11 to the Employment Protection Act and identify those which have been referred to the Central Arbitration Committee for determination.

Schedule 11 has not yet been implemented.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he will introduce regulations under the Petroleum and Sub- marine Pipe-lines Act 1975 for the safety of diving operations connected with the laying of submarine pipelines about the United Kingdom.

The Submarine Pipelines (Diving Operations) Regulations 1976 made on 14th June are laid before the House today. With the introduction of these regulations all commercial diving operations taking place in United Kingdom territorial seas and all diving in connection with offshore petroleum operations in designated areas of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf are now the subject of statutory safety provisions. The new regulations which relate to the diving operations carried out in respect of submarine pipelines and associated works closely follow the Offshore Installations (Diving Operations) Regulations 1974 and the Merchant Shipping (Diving Operations) Regulations 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many civil servants working at the Swansea Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre have qualifications in computer technology and related subjects.

91 in all, of whom some 44 have completed the National Computing Centre Basic Certificate course only.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will mount a test case in the courts against one of the building firms which have been responsible for expensive repair of Crown buildings caused by faulty high alumina cement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff are employed in England and Wales and in Scotland, in the offices of local authority housing departments.

According to the Joint Staff Watch on local authority manpower, copies of which are available in the Library, 44,828 full-time and 10,102 part-time staff were employed in the housing departments of local authorities in England and Wales at 13th December 1975, the latest date for which information is available. However, these figures exclude employees engaged on the maintenance of council dwellings who generally are included in the totals recorded under "Construction" in the Joint Staff Watch returns; the number of these employees cannot be separately identified.Information about the numbers employed in the housing departments of local authorities in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much he estimates brake tubing corrosion costs the United Kingdom economy per annum.

The replacement of corroded steel brake pipes is estimated to cost about £15 million a year. The use of corrosion resistant non-ferrous alloy tubes which would effectively solve this problem would add up to £10 million a year to manufacturers' costs. From the point of view of safety the performance of steel brake pipes gives no cause for concern.

asked the Secretary of State fort he Environment why he allowed the public inquiry into proposals for the A13–A12 sections of the M25 motorway to be held before the review had been completed and the results pubilshed.

The London Outer Orbital Road (M25) is urgently required and it would not be practicable to suspend all further highway inquiries until the review of procedures has been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the gross weights of goods vehicle traffic on urban roads in 1964 and in the latest year for which figures are available.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table comparing percentage increases in total enumerated population, in the number of private households and in the total number of dwellings available in 1951, 1961 and the latest date for which the figures are available.

The information requested is as follows:

England and Wales
	population	Increase
	1951–61	1961–75
Total population	5·4	6·5
No. of private households	13·5	16·0
No. of dwellings	19·3	21·6

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list individually those local authorities which on the latest returns are planning to be overspent in 1976–77 and state for each authority the amount of over-expenditure.

The returns which I have asked for by 16th July will be published in due course. Any future action must depend on what these returns show.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that consultancy groups are advising multinational companies and others on how they may nullify pay restraint and taxation on the remuneration of higher management employees by the introduction of such methods as the cafeteria system of fringe benefits and other forms of individual reward; and what action he is taking to frustrate the consequences of this advice.

I am aware that consultants may be giving advice related to certain shortcomings in the present rules for taxing fringe benefits provided for directors and higher paid employees. There are proposals in the current Finance Bill to make these rules more effective. If such advice is being given I trust it also includes a reference to the sanctions which can be used against those who breach the pay policy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the extra £1,000 million made available to Finance For Industry in November 1974 has so far been loaned to British companies.

FFI has entered into firm commitments for loans worth about £210 million. Applications for loans totalling about £70 million are under negotiation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why investment relief is not allowed to be retained for a three-year period.

I have been asked to reply.Investment relief is part of the Price Code. The present powers to enforce the code will expire on 31st July 1976 unless extended, and there is no power to extend beyond 31st July 1977 without new legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many families, comprising how many individuals, have been repatriated each year since 1st January 1972 under (a) Secton 29 of the Immigration Act 1971, (b) the scheme operated by the Supplementary Benefits Commission and (c) under Section 90 of the Mental Health Act 1959, respectively.

The information is as follows:Under Section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what are the areas in Northern Ireland where a full police service cannot be provided;(2) if he will list the areas to which he referred in the

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is aware of an increase of squatting during the past year in Northern Ireland; and what plans he has for dealing with this problem.

I understand from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that at 1st May 1976 there were known to be 5,643 squatters in property owned by the Executive, which represents an overall increase of 258 over the figure at 1st May 1975. During that year, the Executive legalised the tenancies of 686 squatters and 471 squatters vacated Executive property.There has been some evidence of squatting being organised by para-military organisations in estates which are under construction. In consultation with the security forces and with the co-operation of contractors, elected representatives and responsible community organisations, the Executive has taken a numbers of steps to minimise squatting. These measures include additional security precautions at houses under construction and the allocation of houses in advance of their being completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many houses there are in Londonderry.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many soldiers, RUC members, RUCR members and UDR members were involved in each of the twice-weekly searches to which he referred in the Official Report, 14th tune, column 49;(2) if he will list the weeks during which the twice-weekly searches of every house in Londonderry, to which he referred in the

The purpose of my remarks on 14th June was to draw attention figuratively to the modification of security forces' activity in the early months of 1975 which was made possible by the reduced level of violence at that time. During February, March and April 1974 the Army undertook 3,245 searches of houses in Londonderry, but only 218 during the corresponding period of 1975. I regret that the detailed information requested is either not available or could not be provided without disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any statement to make on the financial position of the Newry gas undertaking.

Newry and Mourne District Council informed the Department of Commerce in March that its financial projections for 1976–77 showed that an April, tariff increase of 49 per cent. would be necessary—assuming no reduction in demand—to keep the gas undertaking viable following the end of payments by the Department of Commerce under the price restraint compensation legislation.The council did not consider this to be a realistic step, bearing in mind the already very high price of gas, and advised the Department that it had it in mind to close the gasworks unless further Government assistance was offered. The undertaking supplies some 3,000 customers, including one of the major employers in the area.The gas industry as a whole in Northern Ireland faces serious problems, and the Department has commissioned an expert study by the British Gas Corporation which has now started. It would be unfortunate if a final decision on the Newry undertaking were to be taken before the conclusions of the study became available. The Department of Commerce has, therefore, made an offer to the council that, provided the gas undertaking increased its tariff by 25 per cent. the Department would pay to the council a sum equivalent to the difference, for the six months following the date of the increase, between actual revenue from sales of gas and the notional revenue that would have been earned from the same level of sales at tariffs increased by 49 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider transferring responsibility for the management of Linlithgow Peel to West Lothian District Council.

I see no case for any such transfer, but if West Lothian District Council has any management policy points it wishes to discuss I shall gladly arrange for a meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the budget of the Highlands and Islands Develop-

						Grant in aid	Receipts	Expenditure
						£'000	£'000	£'000
Year to 31st March 1973	…	…	…	…	…	3,821	854	4,675
Year to 31st March 1974	…	…	…	…	…	4,639	1,030	5,669
Year to 31st March 1975	…	…	…	…	…	5,498	1,090	6,588

The population of the board's area based on mid-year estimates was

1973	…	…	…	285,048
1974	…	…	…	289,100
1975	…	…	…	316,000

The 1975 figures include the populations of the districts of Nairn, Cromdale and the Islands of Bute and Arran, areas in which the board was authorised to operate under the Highlands and Islands Development Board Area Extension Order 1975 (SI 1975 No. 843 (S 146)).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he proposes to take to encourage research into the development of better vaccines for the treatment of rabies in human beings.

In February the Health Departments stressed to the Medical Research Council the need for further development of rabies vaccine. Since then the council's trials on a newly developed French vaccine—as indicated in the reply to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science on 15th June to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Price)—[Vol. 913, c. 118–9]—have enabled my Department to license the vaccine for use in this country as a preventive measure for people at special risk. The Medical Research Council is now beginning experiments designed to test whether the French vaccine is effective for treating

The expenditure of the Highlands and Islands Development Board is met by grant in aid and receipts from repayment of loans, etc. The revenue and expenditure for each of the three years ended 31st March 1973, 1974 and 1975, adjusted for balances of cash in hand carried forward to the following years, were as follows:people who have been bitten by a rabid animal.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the recorded incidence of tuberculosis over each of the last 10 years; and what recent measures have been taken by his Department to inform medical practitioners about this illness.

Cases of tuberculosis notified over the past 10 years in England and Wales are given below. The Chief Medical Officer wrote to doctors in the National Health Service on 9th October 1975 advising them of measures to be taken in reducing the incidence of respiratory tuberculosis. The Standing Medical Advisory Committee has also issued a booklet on the Epidomiology and Control of Tuberculosis. I am sending copies to the hon. Member.

1966	…	…	…	…	14,606
1967	…	…	…	…	13,207
1968	…	…	…	…	12,953
1969	…	…	…	…	12,168
1970	…	…	…	…	11,907
1971	…	…	…	…	11,718
1972	…	…	…	…	11,048
1973	…	…	…	…	11,154
1974	…	…	…	…	10,687
1975	…	…	…	…	10,819

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many places he proposes to allocate on each of the four Thames Regional Health Authorities for nominees of the London Boroughs' Association.

The London Boroughs' Association has agreed to co-ordinate the nominations from the individual London boroughs for the appointments my right hon. Friend will be making to the four Thames regional health authorities in August. The LBA has been asked to arrange for the following nominations to be put forward:

North-West Thames	…	…	4
North-East Thames	…	…	5
South-East Thames	…	…	4
South-West Thames	…	…	3

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the free offer of 100 king size cigarettes, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Brent, South, is consistent with his agreement with the tobacco industry on sales promotion.

At present voluntary agreement with the tobacco industry provides that there will be no advertising to send for free samples of cigarettes in the Press or periodicals and that all promotional letters and leaflets containing an offer should include a prominent statement to the effect that the offer is being made only to smokers aged 18 and over. The leaflet containing a free offer of cigarettes sent by my hon. Friend appears to be consistent with the voluntary agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the aver-average cost of a course of treatment for a patient using thorium X;(2) how many National Health Service centres administering treatment for skin disorders are currently using thorium X;(3)how many National Health Service patients were receiving treatment involving the use of thorium X in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975; and how many patients are currently receiving such treatment;(4) what was the total cost to the National Health Service of thorium X in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.

I regret that none of this information is centrally available. National Health Service cost returns do not identify separately the costs of specific forms of treatment. To ascertain how many patients received treatment involving the use of thorium X in the years from 1970 to 1976 would involve extensive research into out-patient records and the cost of obtaining the information would be disproportionate. I understand that production of thorium X ceased in this country about a year ago.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will instruct the managers of offices of his Department to defray the cost of service charges made by electricity boards and gas boards for persons in receipt of State benefits and supplementary benefits.

Any payment of this nature would be a matter for the Supplementary Benefits Commission to consider under its discretionary powers. My right hon. Friend has no power to make such payments for people in receipt of other benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations he has received about the side effects suffered by the users of the drug eraldin;(2) whether he will offer advice to medical practitioners in connection with the side effects caused by the use of the drug eraldin;(3) whether he will institute an inquiry into the use and side effects of the drug eraldin.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 29th April to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Litterick).—[Vol. 910, c. 166–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps have been taken, or will be taken, to check the stability of brick piers to the ward block of the Basingstoke District General Hospital.

There are no brick piers. The ward block is of reinforced concrete frame construction clad with brick panels. These facing panels carry no imposed load, only their self-load and wind load. They are properly seated and secured. I am advised that there is no evidence of any need to check their stability.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement about the progress made in social work support for newly deafened and hard-of-hearing people, and in the provision of such support including lipreading classes and local deaf and hardof-hearing clubs in conjunction with voluntary bodies and area health authorities.

I know that social workers are increasingly aware of the special needs of people with acquired deafness and partial hearing. Lip-reading tuition is provided by local education authorities, by some social services departments, by health authorities and by voluntary organisations. The hon. Gentleman may also like to know that my Advisory Committee on Services for Hearing Impaired People is at present considering the part to be played by social services in the support of hearing impaired people of all ages.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what level of child benefit would be paid for each child if (a) the level of benefit were the same for each child including the first, (b) the public funds expended on family allowances or forgone as child tax allowances at the moment were devoted instead to child benefits, except for the additional child tax allowances for children aged over 11 years and (c) additional public spending of (i) £95 million or (ii) £110 million were incurred.

On the assumptions stated the amount payable in 1977–78 would be (i) £2·50 and (ii) 2·52 per child.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the latest date at which the rate of child benefit would have to be announced in order to enable the full scheme, including the replacement of child tax allowances, to be introduced in April 1977.

The latest date for announcing the rate at which child benefit will start has already passed. Printing of order books containing the rates announced in my statement of 25th May—[Vol. 912, c. 284–97] —commenced almost immediately after that statement was made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what figure the family allowance of £1 for the first child would have to be increased in order to maintain the same overall level of family support if the proposed increase in child tax allowances were to be reduced from £60 to £30 per child.

If the proposed increase in child tax allowances were reduced from £60 to £30 a child the saving to the Exchequer would be £250 million. Assuming such a sum were available to defray the net Exchequer cost of increasing the proposed new benefit for first children it would enable the gross rate to be increased from £1 to £1·75.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost falling on the contingency reserve of the introduction of a full child benefit of £2·64 per week and £2·24 per week, respectively, on the alternative assumptions of a child tax allowance of £300 and £240 per child in each case.

The figures are set out in the following table:

Annual Child Tax Allowance to be subsumed			Weekly child Benefit Per Child	Net Exchequer Cost/Saving
£300	…	…	£2·64	+£180m
£300	…	…	£2·64	-£60m
£240	…	…	£2·64	+£425m
£240	…	…	£2·64	+£180m

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of the fact that certain elderly and disabled persons who are absent from home at summer schools or on short holidays for the elderly, but are normally resident in the United Kingdom, may lose benefits or entitlement to benefit, he will take steps to ensure this does not happen; and if he will make a statement.

I have written to my hon. Friend to give him the fuller information promised in my reply of 11th June—[Vol. 912, c. 804–5]—to his Questions about disabled people following Open University courses and who attend summer schools or travel abroad. My letter covers both elderly and disabled people.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons, other than those who are chronically sick or disabled, who are in receipt of social security benefits, including supplementary payments, have telephones which are wholly or in part paid for by public funds.

The main responsibility for the provision of help with telephones lies with local authorities under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act. The Supplementary Benefits Commission may also help supplementary beneficiaries, but only in certain limited circumstances where by definition they will be either chronically sick or disabled. Such people can also be in receipt of a national insurance benefit. Because the main responsibility rests with local authorities the number helped by the commission is small, but is not known precisely.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average unrebated council rent in Wales during each of the last five years.

The information is as follows:

				£
April 1971	…	…	…	2·39
April 1972	…	…	…	2·64
May 1973	…	…	…	3·25
April 1974	…	…	…	3·44
April 1975	…	…	…	4·00

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average cost, including the land, of local authority dwellings completed in Wales during each of the last five years.

The latest available estimate for 1975 is £11,700. Corresponding data for earlier years are not available; cost of construction figures, however, may be obtained from Table 25 of "Housing and Construction Statistics", copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his assessment of the number of students who will complete their courses in July next in Welsh colleges of education and of the number of them who will still be without posts at the beginning of the new academic year.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Cardigan (Mr. Howells) on 17th May 1976.—[Vol. 911, c.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give an assurance that he has no intention of abolishing the Milk Marketing Board.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Cardigan (Mr. Howells) on 5th May 1976 and the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens) on 12th February.—[Vol. 910, c.397–8 Vol. 905, c. 296–7.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will comment on the Government's decision to exclude top quality steers from intervention.

The exclusion of steers (M) for the time being has restricted the use of intervention for beef. The combination of firm market prices and premiums has since March secured producers' returns at or above the target price levels, and thus undue use of intervention is not warranted. My right hon. Friend intends to review the situation at the end of this month in the light of beef market prospects for the autumn.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list giving the full and part-time appointments made by his

Name	Committee, etc.	Date of appointment	Remuneration
Lord Barnard	Northern Regional Panel	9.8.72	Expenses only
Lord Bolton	Forestry Commission Reference Committee Panels—North-East England Conservancy.	27.5.68	Fee per day and expenses.
Lord Collison	Vice-Chairman, Land Settlement Association Ltd., Executive Committee.	10.4.64	Expenses only
	Home-Grown Cereals Authority	3.6.65	£1,000 p.a. and expenses.
	Advisory Council for Agriculture and Horticulture.	1.2.73	Expenses only
Lord Cooper	Meat and Livestock Commission	1.10.67	£1,000 p.a. and expenses.
	Chairman, Meat and Livestock Commission, Consumers' Committee.	1.10.67	£1,482 p.a. and expenses.
The Earl of Cranbrook	Badgers and Tuberculosis, Consultative Panel	24.9.75	Expenses only
Lord Nugent	Chairman, Animal Virus Research Institute	1.4.67	Expenses only
The Earl of Selborne	South Eastern Regional Panel	9.8.72	Expenses only
	Horticulture Board of the Joint Consultative Organisation for Research and Development.	1.5.73	Expenses only
	Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation.	1.3.76	£81 p.a. and expenses.
Viscount Sidmouth	Horticulture Board of the Joint Consultative Organisation for Research and Development.	1.5.73	Expenses only
Lord Waldegrave	National Fruit and Cider Institute, Governing Body, Long Ashton Research Station.	1.7.64	Expenses only
Lord Wall	Sugar Board	1.1.64	£1,000 p.a. and expenses.
The Earl of Yarborough	Forestry Commission Reference Committee Panels—East England Conservancy.	27.5.68	Fee per day and expenses.

All are part-time appointments. In some cases the appointments are made jointly with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as appropriate.Information about expenses, other than salaries, is not readily available and could only be assembled at disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to publicise the higher rates of grant offered by the EEC sponsored Farm and Horticultural Development Scheme announced in April.

There has already been considerable national publicity for the

The information is as follows:increased rates of grant and simpler conditions of the amended Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme when they were presented to the House in April and again when they were debated last month. Full details have been published in the farming journals. The scheme is now the subject of a major advisory effort making use of personal contacts, farmers' meetings, local radio, television and other media. A brief introductory leaflet summarising the benefits and nature of the scheme is being distributed by ADAS and is also available at the Ministry's divisional offices. A revised version of the fuller explanatory leaflet will be ready soon. My Department will continue to make the scheme known in the most appropriate ways to those likely to benefit from it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the numbers of persons who will become unemployed in Fleetwood following the settlement of the Icelandic fisheries dispute.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston up Hull, Central (Mr. McNamare) on 15th June—[Vol. 913, c. 128].

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish his Department's guidelines for the conditions under which live animals, including tortoises, are imported.

The Transit of Animals (General) Order 1973 makes it an offence to carry living creatures of any kind to this country under conditions likely to cause unnecessary suffering. My Department does not issue any specific guidelines for the importation and transport of animals, but the State Veterinary Service is always willing to advise on request. The handbook of the International Air Transport Association, to which the majority of the world's airlines belong, contains detailed advice as to the conditions under which particular species, including tortoises, should be conveyed by air; these conditions are mandatory for all member airlines.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the treatment of live animals imported from abroad, particularly tortoises; and if he is satisfied with the regulations governing the transport of such animals.

The Government can have no direct control over the conditions under which living creatures are exported from foreign countries, and on occasions such creatures do arrive in this country under unsatisfactory conditions. Our welfare regulations do, however, apply as soon as the creatures arrive in this country and come under our jurisdiction. I am satisfied that these regulations give local authorities adequate powers to alleviate any suffering being caused and to prosecute those responsible. Local authorities are making effective use of these powers. The International Air Transport Association is also doing much to ensure that all living creatures conveyed by air travel under satisfactory conditions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the increase of farm rents.

It is estimated that between 1974 and 1975 average farm rents increased by about 20 per cent. This included increases agreed between landlords and tenants during the period when rents were controlled under the counter-inflation programme and which could not be implemented until May 1975.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the effect of rises in farm rents on food prices.

Total farm rents in the United Kingdom are less than 5 per cent. of the total wholesale value of domestic agricultural output. Retail food prices depend also on the costs of processing and distribution and of imported supplies of food. Any effects of changes in rents on food prices are, therefore, very small.

asked the Minister of of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what efforts he is making to bring farm rents into his counter-inflation policy.

None. Under the agricultural holdings legislation rents are determined by agreement between landlords and tenants. Any disputes can be referred to arbitration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the value of fishery products imported into the United Kingdom from Iceland; and if the Government are willing to ban the import of fish from Icelandic sources.

The value of all fishery products imported into the United Kingdom from Iceland was £3·07 million in 1974 and £2·40 million in 1975. Imports of fish and fish products from Iceland must respect the appropriate EEC reference prices. If they do not do so, action on a Community wide basis is provided for.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to introduce the protein processing order covering animal foodstuffs.

The order will be made after discussions with the trade and other interests have been concluded. Matters still to be finalised include the need for import controls, and levels of fees for licensing and testing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the introduction of the protein processing order covering foodstuffs for poultry will be an important step in reducing the presence of salmonella among the poultry population; and if he will make a statement.

I am hopeful that the order will significantly reduce the incidence of not only salmonella among poultry but also the causal organisms of other diseases capable of being spread or recycled in feeding stuffs for both livestock and poultry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will raise with the Commission of the European Communities the possibility of Community legislation covering protein for poultry foodstuffs as a health measure.

We are keeping the Commission informed of our proposals for protein processing generally. But it would be premature to urge community legislation at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the expenditure on renovating and altering the office and the residence of Her Majesty's Ambassador in The Hague during the last two years; what, if any, further expenditure is planned; and what are the reasons for this expenditure.

I have been asked to reply.The expenditure was as follows: Embassy offices, £162,414; Ambassador's residence, £142,323. No substantial further expenditure is anticipated in the foreseeable future.In recent years, partly due to additional commitments following the United Kingdom's entry into the EEC and partly to an increase in the staffing complement, the offices had become overcrowded and lacked some essential facilities. To remedy these deficiencies an extension was built on the third floor of the existing building. Substantial works to improve security were also included. In the residence, it was necessary to carry out essential repairs and a modernisation scheme involving structural alterations and complete replacement of the central heating system.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what proportion of the British aerospace industry production was exported during 1975.

The best available estimate is 56 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much finance the United Kingdom has received from the EEC Regional Policy Fund under all headings to date.

Since the inception of the European Regional Development Fund in March 1975 the Commission has committed itself to make contributions totalling £56·5 million towards the cost of approved projects in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the current rate of support for and production of the A300B; and what are his aims in respect of future derivatives of this project.

The Government are not providing support for nor are they involved in production of the current A300B. These are matters for Airbus Industries. The United Kingdom industry, in conjunction with the Organising Committee for British Aerospace, is currently engaged in discussions with the existing Airbus partners about derivatives and the possibilities for United Kingdom participation. The Government are doing all they can to facilitate these discussions and have indicated to all concerned that they will look seriously and sympathetically at any properly supported proposals which might be put forward by the United Kingdom industry for participation, subject to being satisfied as to their economic viability and to the constraints on public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement regarding meetings his Department has had about the proposed closure of Weirs Pumps Ltd. Yoker Yard.

My Department has had no meetings about the proposed closure. However, both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are keeping in close touch with the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will not invest funds in the European airbus programme to pay for work already funded from sources in France and West Germany;(2) if he will give an assurance that if any funds are invested by Her Majesty's Government in the European airbus programme they will be used solely to finance work in United Kingdom factories additional to the contracts on the programme already held by United Kingdom companies, or that an equivalent sum would be provided from the programme funds to finance such extra work in United Kingdom factories.

The question of any United Kingdom participation in future development of the European Airbus is being examined by the United Kingdom aircraft industry in conjunction with the Organising Committee for British Aerospace. There are currently no proposals before the Government for investment in the Airbus programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the value of production and consumption of aluminium in the United Kingdom in 1975.

The estimated value of production and consumption of aluminium—primary and secondary unwrought aluminium and aluminium alloys—in the United Kingdom in 1975 is £173 million and £198 million respectively.

askedthe Secretary of State for Industry if he will give a list of uses for which there is no alternative to natural sperm oil.

There are uses in the leather and engineering industries for which no adequate alternative exists to natural sperm oil. My Department has commissioned a fuller study from the British Leather Manufacturers Research Association into the use in the leather industry and the evaluation of possible alternatives. I expect that this study will be received and published in July.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give an estimate of the number of jobs which are currently dependent on the use of natural sperm oil.

About 85 jobs at Paisley and Liverpool are directly connected with the production of sperm oil. It is not at this stage possible to state the larger numbers in the leather and engineering industries whose jobs directly depend on the continued use of sperm oil, but I am having further enquiries made into this.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when the outcome of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's work on international investment and multinational enterprises will be made public.

OECD Ministers are expected to adopt a declaration including guidelines for multinational enterprises and three associated decisions on 21st June. In the view of Her Majesty's Government this constitutes a major step forward by the OECD countries. I intend to publish the text in a White Paper as soon as possible after the OECD meeting and to commend the guidelines to United Kingdom companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will introduce legislation to compel manufacturers of toxic glue and similar commodities which are used for dangerous purposes by young persons to include ingredients which will ensure that they are non-toxic when sold to the public.

There is no substitute for the solvents used in glues and similar products which make these products suitable for sniffing. My Department has considered the possibility of the use of aversive additives as a deterrent in such products, but none is readily available that would be harmless in itself, would not detract from the product's effectiveness when used for its intended purpose, and be otherwise acceptable. Research to identify a suitable additive would be prolonged, expensive and without guarantee of success. I will be writing to my hon. Friend more fully in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if, in view of the injuries to life and limb recently revealed caused by the misuse of toxic glue and similar commodities for sniffing purposes by young persons, she will prohibit the sale of these dangerous commodities to young persons, as is the case in existing legislation on the sale of other dangerous goods to young persons.

A wide range of common domestic goods can be used for sniffing which are not dangerous when used as intended. I believe it would be wrong to ban their sale to young people, the majority of whom do not buy them for any harmful purpose. To do so by way of legislation might, moreover, unnecessarily draw young people's attention to the products which can be misused in this way. However, I welcome the fact that police authorities in some areas where the practice is prevalent have advised retailers locally not to sell young people the particular products that are used for the purpose in their area.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade to what factors he ascribes the increase in the United Kingdom's deficit with the EEC from £538 million in 1972 to £2,153 million in 1976; and if he will make a statement.

The deterioration in our external trade deficit with the EEC since 1972 has been caused by many factors. By far the most important has been the increase over the period in the cost of our imports of foodstuffs from the eight, largely as a result of switching of our sources of supply after entry to the EEC in 1973. There has also been an adverse movements in the balance of trade in semi- and finished manufactured goods. Although the deficit is still too large there has been some reduction since the third quarter of last year as a strong growth in our exports to the EEC has developed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has decided the level of quota of British films to be shown by exhibitors during the year beginning 1st January 1977.

The Cinematograph Films Council has recommended that there should be no change in the level of exhibitors' quota of 30 per cent. for first feature films and 25 per cent. for supporting programme for the year beginning 1st January 1977. This advice has been accepted. Quota achievement has regularly exceeded this requirement level, averaging 41 per cent. over the last three years.