asked the Minister for the Civil Service what the total cost of Civil Service pensions is estimated to be in the current financial year, allowing for increases in the Retail Price Index at (a) 5 per cent., (b) 10 per cent., (c) 15 per cent., (d) 20 per cent. and (e) nil per cent.; and what was the total cost last year.

Expenditure on Civil Service pensions is met from the Vote for Civil Superannuation etc. (Class XIV, Vote 6). The net Estimate for this Vote in 1976–77 is £276·16 million and the outturn for 1975–76 is estimated to be about £256 million. If increases in the Retail Price Index between July 1975 and June 1976 of (a) 5 per cent., (b) 10 per cent., (c) 15 per cent., (d) 20 per cent. and (e) nil per cent. resulted in the payment of increased pensions from 1st December 1976 under the provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971, it is estimated that the Vote for 1976–77 would need to be increased by approximately (a) £3½ million, (b) £7 million, (c) £10½ million, (d) £14 million, (e) nil.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many right hon. and hon. Members have not yet been issued with identity passes for the Palace of Westminster.

Seven.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the rights of succession to peerage titles in respect of those cases not governed by special remainders providing for succession by the female line, in view of the statutory obligations created by the Sexual Equality Act.

I have been asked to reply.The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 does not affect the succession to hereditary peerages.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are employed in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

On 1st April this year 8,015 civil servants were employed in the Scottish Office, excluding the Scottish Prison Service and the State Hospital, Carstairs. Staffing levels are kept under continuous review to ensure that they are appropriate for the functions to be discharged.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of both sides of Scottish industry to discuss Scottish economic prospects, especially unemployment.

The Scottish Economic Council, of which my right hon. Friend is Chairman, provides a forum for regular discussion of this nature. The council last met on 4th June and will do so again on 10th September. My right hon. Friend and I discussed the Scottish economy with the General Council of the STUC on 28th May, and I am presently making arrangements to meet the Scottish Council of the CBI.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on teacher unemployment in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to have further discussions with the Scottish universities over their position under devolution; and, if so, when.

I have at present no plans to do so. Many written comments have been received on the Government's proposals for universities under devolution and my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Privy Council Office held extensive consultations on these proposals with a wide range of university interests during a recent visit to Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now able to give a starting date for the promised industrial expansion at Canderside, near Larkhall.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Lanark (Mrs. Hart) on 26th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made in a review of housing finance; and if he will make a statement.

Work on the review is well advanced. I hope to make known its results later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average construction cost of a SSHA four-apartment house in Ayrshire; what rate of interest is paid; what bearing this interest rate has on what would be the economic rent; and how much interest will be repaid over the lifetime of the loan charges.

The SSHA has no houses currently building in Ayrshire. The construction cost of a four-apartment local authority house in Scotland in 1975 averaged £10,770, excluding site servicing and fees. With these costs, loan charges—at the current rate of 14⅛ per cent. for SSHA borrowing from the National Loans Fund—might be around £1,700 a year, and the total interest payable over 60 years of the order of £90,000. An economic rent to cover this and management and maintenance costs might be £1,750-£1,800 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average construction cost of a local authority four-apartment house in 1976; and how this compares with 1975

I have no later information than that given to the hon. Member for Western Isles (Mr. Stewart) on 29th June.—[Vol. 914, c. 137.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the economic rent of the average local authority four-apartment house in 1976; how much of this is payment of interest; and if he will show how 1976 compares with 1974.

For a house built in 1975–76, about £22 a week, of which £21 is in respect of loan charges, at an estimated pooled rate of local authority borrowing of around 10 per cent. The corresponding figures for 1973–74 are £12 and £11. Average figures for all four-apartment houses are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider ways and means of simplifying the procedures for house purchase in Scotland.

There are two stages in the procedure for house buying in Scotland—conclusion of the contract to buy and the conveyance of the property to the purchaser in implement of that contract. There is no evidence that there is any need for a simplication of the first stage as the Scottish system of an exchange of formal letters between solicitors works well. The simplication of the conveyancing stage has been studied by the Reid Committee and the Henry Committee and consideration is being given to the implementaion of their recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to eradicate the prevalent practice of gazumping in the sale of houses, whereby purchasers of housing are bidding against themselves and in relation to an unknown figure for purchase.

There is no evidence that "gazumping"—by which is normally meant the dishonest practice of some sellers of property who agree a price with one purchaser and then use that agreement as a lever to raise the price offered by the purchaser to whom they ultimately sell—is a problem in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up a committee of inquiry to examine and report on the practices of solicitors, lawyers and estate agents in the buying and selling of houses, with a view to establishing an acceptable code of practice.

The practices of solicitors in the buying and selling of houses are among the matters which I expect to be examined by the Royal Commission on Legal Services in Scotland. Discussion are currently proceeding on the basis of the consultative document on "Regulation of Estate Agency" issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Prices and Incomes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the amount of the take-up of building society funds available to Scottish house purchasers during the latest period such figures are available.

The April issue of the Quarterly Bulletin of the Building Societies Association shows that in 1975 building societies lent £310 million to house purchasers in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities have made application for Government grant under the urban programme for schemes to promote playgroups in areas of social need.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 16th June.—[Vol. 913, c. 172.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) by what number each regionl authority is short of qualified social workers in accordance with the recommendations contained in the report of the Staffing Committee of the Advisory Council on Social Work, issued in 1074;(2) what is the number of qualified and unqualified social workers, excluding management, employed by each of the regional authorities in Scotland;(3) to what extent it is now the policy of regional local authorities in Scotland to employ unqualified social workers in preference to qualified social workers.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 26th May.—[Vol. 912, c. 253–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the rights of parents and headmasters in the choice of school for secondary education; and if he remains satisfied that these rights preserve the interests of parents.

The rights of parents as to the choice of school at which their children receive their secondary education are set out in Section 29(1) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1962, which provides that the Secretary of State and education authorities shall have regard to the general principle that, so far as is compatible with the provision of suitable instruction and training and the avoidance of unreasonable public expenditure, pupils are to be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents. Normally, pupils are allocated to secondary schools through zoning arrangements made by the education authority and must be accepted by the schools to which they are allocated. I am satisfied that the interests of parents, and of pupils, are adequately safeguarded.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will discuss tourist development in south-west Scotland with the Scottish Tourist Board and the British Tourist Authority.

I have arranged to meet representatives of the Scottish Tourist Board in the near future, and tourism matters affecting any part of Scotland can be discussed then.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of the figures of single-vehicle accidents and vehicles oveturning for the Model 70 invalid tricycle in comparison with adapted cars for the three and a half years ended 31st March 1976, he is satisfied that the handling characteristics of these vehicles are in accord with Government road safety policies.

Invalid tricycles meet all the statutory safety requirements which apply to them; any question of their improvement or the application of more stringent, specialised criteria is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria are applied when decisions are made regarding disclosures of vehicle registration marks.

Disclosures of information from the vehicle register is governed by Regulation 15 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 1971. A local authority may, for any purpose connected with the investigation of an offence, be given such particulars from the register as may be requested; so may a chief officer of police or any person acting on his behalf; and any person who can show to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State that he has reasonable cause for his request may, on payment of the prescribed fee, be given the name and address of the registered keeper of a vehicle together with a copy of the particulars shown in the last vehicle excise licence issued in respect of that vehicle.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reconsider his circular on circumstances designating the creation of housing action areas.

I am carefully monitoring the effect of the criteria which we have laid down for declaring housing action areas, but have no proposals at present to change them. They are sufficiently flexible to allow the declaration of housing action areas in appropriate cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made in a review of housing finance; and if he will make a statement.

The work is well advanced. My right hon. Friend expects to publish the results in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many tower mills, post mills, smock mills and other windmills, respectively, are known to be in existence in each county or equivalent local government area; and how many in each case are listed buildings;(2) if he will list any tower mills, post mills, smock mills or other windmills which have been demolished during the course of the last two years.

This information is not readily available in the Department and would be disproportionately costly to provide. There are over 230,000 listed buildings in England and they are not recorded by categories. I am, however, making enquiries to see whether information is available from other sources and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when, in view of the distress caused to social workers by his delay in giving guidance to the Booth-ferry District Council as to whether the pay offer made by the council is within the Government's pay policy, he will reply to the letter on this matter dated 7th June 1976 from the hon. Member for Howden.

This is a complex matter. I am in touch with the Employers' Secretary of the National Joint Council concerned and will write to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the effect of national pay policy on the pay offer now made by Boothferry District Council to its employees who are wardens to the elderly.

My hon. Friend wrote to me on 19th June about the pay of wardens to the elderly employed by the Boothferry District Council. I am in touch with the Employers' Secretary of the appropriate National Joint Council about this complex matter and will reply to my hon. Friend shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what estimate he has made of how long a simple wheel alignment check would take if included as part of the MOT test;(2) how much he estimates that the equipment would cost which would be required to make a simple wheel alignment check as part of the MOT test;(3) what collaborative provisions exist with other members of the European Economic Community in connection with wheel alignment checks on vehicles; and whether he will seek to further these in the interests of safety.

A simple wheel alignment check would take about five minutes if it were included as part of the MOT test and the capital cost of installing the necessary equipment would be about £200 per test station.Representatives of all the member States of the EEC meet frequently to work towards the harmonisation of vehicle roadworthiness tests. The list of possible test items includes the inspection of a vehicle's steering gear but excludes a wheel alignment test. I am not aware of any evidence of a potential contribution to road safety that would justify the cost of such a test.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of changing all road speed limit signs and all distance signs, respectively, to metric units.

About £4 million for speed limit signs. For distance signs the cost depends on the extent to which con- version of signs could be linked to normal replacement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an assurance that it is not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to convert road traffic signs to metric measures.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) on 3rd May. —[Vol. 910, c. 243.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount of public money that has been spent to date on the M54 Telford motorway; how much has been spent on each of the alternative routes; and why this expenditure was not delayed until the line of the road had been decided.

Approximately £2 million, including £1 million on the design of the statutory route and investigation of alternatives. The line of the road was decided in 1973 and, apart from expenditure on the investigation of routes, all has been incurred since this time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many farm workers and ex-farm workers who were the subject of court possession orders were rehoused by local authorities in England and Wales in the years 1973, 1974 and 1975.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with representatives of disablement organisations concerning the outcome of the case of Vandyke v. Oliver; what proposals he has for rating relief for disabled people who require accommodation of a special character; and if he will make a further statement.

My right hon. Friend has had no consultations with representatives of disablement organisations on this matter. He is, however, considering whether any rating relief, additional to that afforded by the present law as now understood in the light of the case of Vandyk v. Oliver, ought to be given, He expects to be able to make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much the restriction on new sewerage schemes is delaying the building of urgently needed homes in rural areas of the South West of England.

In accordance with Government policy, water authorities are giving priority to schemes to support housing and industrial development and to remove danger to public health. But in some parts of the South-West there are backlogs of overdue schemes in rural areas and it will inevitably take time to catch up.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if it is his intention that capital expenditure on new sewerage schemes in rural areas should be halted; and if he will make a statement;(2) what assessment he has made of the implications for future housebuilding and industrial development in rural areas resulting from the policy laid down and communicated to regional water authorities by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

In accordance with Government policy, water authorities are giving priority to schemes to support housing and industrial development and to remove danger to public health.It is not the Government's intention that capital expenditure on new sewerage schemes in rural areas should be halted. But, some authorities inherited backlogs of overdue schemes in rural areas and it will inevitably take time to catch up.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Government chauffeurs earned, in 1975, more than a Member of Parliament's salary.

In 1975 two Government chauffeurs earned more in gross pay, overtime and allowances than a Member of Parliament's basic salary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much over the last three years has been paid from Government funds to transport in London (a) for capital prospects, (b) as annual subsidy and (c) by way of writing off losses.

During the period in question direct payments made to the London Transport Executive from Government funds for capital projects were as follows:

		Infrastructure grants under Section 56, Transport Act 1968	Grants for new buses under Section 32, Transport Act 1968
		£ million	£ million
1973–74	…	15·4	3·48
1974–75	…	19·6	3·17
1975–76	…	—	4·69

From 1st April 1975 infrastructure grants were absorbed into the transport supplementary grant, which is a block grant for transport purposes introduced under Section 6 of the Local Government Act 1974.No revenue subsidy was paid by Government to London Transport in 1973–74 and 1974–75. In 1975–76 transport supplementary grant of £97·663 million was paid to the Greater London Council towards the eligible expenditure of the council and the London boroughs on public transport—including capital and revenue payments to London Transport—highways construction and maintenance, traffic management, car and lorry parking, road safety and freight transport. Of this figure, £64·450 million was in respect of fares subsidies for buses and the London Underground.No losses by the London Transport Executive have been written off in the past three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps he is taking currently to help the paper-making industry during its present difficulties.

My right hon. Friend recently announced in the House on 15th June a scheme of financial assistance for the paper and board industry, aimed at increasing its capacity to process indigenous fibre.— [Vol. 913, c. 121–2.] The Sector Working Party for the paper and board industry is studying the industry's problems.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will give a general direction to the Post Office to resume weekend collection of post.

No. This is a matter for the Post Office, which has promised to review the effects of this service cut after a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if it is not possible to resume weekend posting, whether he will give a general direction to the Post Office to set up a system by which private individuals can take their mail to the main sorting offices over the weekend so that it can be delivered on Monday.

Decisions on the collection and handling of mail over the weekend are matters for the Post Office and I have asked the Managing Director Posts to write to the hon. Member about his suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will publish the code of practice for multinational companies recently approved by OECD;(2) what inspectorate will be appointed to supervise the code of practice for multinational companies recently approved by OECD;(3) what steps he will take to review the code of practice for multinational companies, and to monitor its effectiveness over a period of time;(4) how far the code of practice for multinational companies, recently approved by OECD, accords with the findings of the United Nations Committee of Experts currently studying the same problem.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she proposes to take any action to prohibit the random circulation by credit firms of offensive questionnaires which cause alarm and distress to the recipients.

No. The Younger Committee on Privacy concluded that there was no sufficient case at that time for giving further protection by law against sales or promotional methods including those which might involve questionnaires, but the use of a particular questionnaire might appear to the Director General a matter relevant to the fitness of an applicant to have a licence, and there is provision for appeal to me from his determinations.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will list in the Official Report the names of the multinational drugs manufacturers who have been fined for the breach of the EEC anti-trust laws under Article 86 of the Treaty of Rome and the sterling equivalents of the sums paid.

I am informed that there have been two such cases concerning respectively the Commercial Solvents Corporation and the Hoffmann La Roche Group. In the former case I understand that a fine of 100,000 units of accounts was paid, equivalent to £41,666 at the budget unit of account rate; in the latter case a fine of 300,000 units of account (£125,000) has recently been imposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations she has received concerning the proposed application to the Price Commission by oil companies for increase in prices for their products; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received a letter from the Petrol Retailers Association, and informed it that any notification of a price increase which is made by an oil company will be considered by the Price Commission under the normal provisions of the Price Code. She has also received from a number of hon. Members a copy of a letter from an association of retailers in Warwickshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if, in view of the estimated annual loss of £50 million through pilfering, she is prepared to recommend to the trade the abandonment of the open display pattern in large and small shops together with the employment of extra internal inspectors or inspectresses, in order to eliminate a substantial volume of pilfering and provide extra employment.

I have been asked to reply.The answer is "No." Although advice has been published by the Home Office in connection with shoplifting, it is for the retailer to weigh the balance of advantage as between commercial and security considerations, taking account of the cost and manpower implications, and reach his own decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the quantity of proof gallons of Scotch whisky exported in bulk (a) to the United States of America and (b) elsewhere in the world for each of the last five years.

Scotch whisky is not separately distinguished in the overseas trade statistics. Following is the information for Scotch and Northern Irish whisky:

		Million proof gallons
		To USA	To other countries
1971	…	11·3	9·2
1972	…	10·7	9·3
1973	…	10·7	11·7
1974	…	12·9	13·1
1975	…	15·0	14·9

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the value of the exports of the United Kingdom paper manufacturing industry for the last year for which figures are available.

Information for finished paper and board is published in Table VI of the December 1975 issue of the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom under heading SITC(R) 641—less 641.6, building board, and 641.97, finished wallpaper.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what applications for action against dumping of cotton shirts have been made by representatives of the textile industry; and if he will make a statement.

We have received no such applications.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his policy towards the Trinity House proposal for a Pilotage Advisory Board.

It is primarily a matter for Trinity House itself to establish such committees as it considers necessary for the running of its pilotage service. Government policy on the reorganisation of pilotage administration remains as set out in the policy statement of 12th December 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) when he now expects to introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the SCOP Report on pilotage;(2) what further consultations he is undertaking with interested parties about amendments to the Pilotage Act 1913; and when he expects these to be completed.

Following the Government's policy statement of 12th December 1975 consultations have been held with the Transport and General Workers Union, the United Kingdom Pilots Association, the General Council of British Shipping, the Association of Pilotage Authorities of the United Kingdom including Trinity House and the British Ports Association. My Department is in continuing contact with these organisations and I hope that legislative time can soon be found to implement the SCOP Report recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the rate of increase of the domestic price level in Japan and the United Kingdom, together with figures showing the respective

					Domestic prices per cent. change on previous year		Per cent. share of world trade in manufactures
					United Kingdom	Japan	United Kingdom	Japan
1960	…	…	…	…	1·8	5·7	16·5	6·9
1961	…	…	…	…	03·3	7·9	16·5	6·9
1962	…	…	…	…	3·4	3·6	15·5	7·2
1963	…	…	…	…	2·3	4·4	15·3	7·5
1964	…	…	…	…	2·5	4·5	14·2	8·2
1965	…	…	…	…	4·3	5·1	13·8	9·4
1966	…	…	…	…	4·0	4·9	13·2	9·7
1967	…	…	…	…	2·9	4·8	12·2	8·8
1968	…	…	…	…	3·5	4·5	11·3	10·6
1969	…	…	…	…	3·7	4·3	11·2	11·2
1970	…	…	…	…	7·8	6·7	10·6	11·8
1971	…	…	…	…	10·3	4·5	10·9	13·0
1972	…	…	…	…	10·2	4·9	10·1	13·2
1973	…	…	…	…	9·2	11·5	9·4	12·7
1974	…	…	…	…	15·0	20·7	8·8	14·4
1975	…	…	…	…	28·0	7·3	9·3	13·6

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will seek to make it an offence for British firms to supply arms to intermediate countries, in the knowledge that the final customer is a country regarding which there is a Government embargo on arms supplies.

This is already an offence. The Export of Goods (Control) Order 1970, as amended, prohibits the export of arms specified in the order to all destinations except under licence. Any export licence will specify the destination of the goods. If a person is knowingly concerned with an export with intent to evade these prohibitions or restrictions an offence will have been committed under the Customs and Excise Act 1952.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how

Using the implicit GDP deflator as the measure of domestic prices which covers all aspects of the economy and exports of manufactures—section 5 to 8 of the Standard International Trade Classification—by the 12 main manufacturing countries as the measure of world trade in manufactures, the figures are as follows:many forms are issued by his Department: how many people are invited to respond to each of them; if he will list the number of forms so issued; and what is the short, general purpose of each.

I regret that the detailed information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Forms are used by my Department to facilitate the conduct of its business, for example in connection with the control of animal diseases, to enable applications to be made for financial assistance and to obtain information about the industries for which I am responsible that is needed as a basis for making decisions whether by Ministers or by the industries themselves.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations the National Farmers' Union made to his Department about EEC Directive 75/431 up to 5th June 1975 and after that date;

In the period prior to 5th June 1975, representations were received from three main interests on Directive 71/118 and on the draft amending Directive, 74/431. A joint committee representing producers, the poultry meat industry and distributors raised matters concerning production and sale of uneviscerated poultry, the British Poultry Meat Association covered a wide range of issues, and the Environmental Health Officers' Association was concerned with the requirements for poultry meat inspection and veterinary supervision. My Department maintained liaison with all these interests during the negotiation of the amending directive and all were aware of the likely outcome before decisions were taken in July 1975. Subsequently, further representations were received from a wider range of interests, especially following the circulation of proposals for implementing Regulations, and an extensive series of consultations has ensued.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what will be the effect on small poultry processors of EEC Directives 71/118 and 75/431;(2) how many small poultry processors he estimates will leave the industry because of EEC Directives 71/118 and 75/431.

Some of the small processors are likely to comply fully with these hygiene requirements while others will wish to take advantage of the special exemptions provided for producer sales. As I told the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Jones) on 10th June—[Vol. 912, c. 764–5.]—we are considering whether there is anything further we can do to help such small businesses. At this stage it is too soon to give firm figures.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the EEC Commission first presented Directive 71/118 to the Council of Ministers; and when the Council accepted it.

The Commission presented its proposals on 19th December 1963. The Council enacted the directive on 15th February 1971.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to deal with the effects on agriculture and horticulture, caused by the present shortage of water.

I am advised that it is the lack of rainfall rather than the shortage of water which is causing the most difficulties to the agriculture and horticulture industries. My Department is in close and continuous touch with the regional water authorities in those areas which are suffering a water shortage and I am satisfied that all possible steps are being taken to help the farmers and growers concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what practical encouragement he is giving to the agriculture industry to replace imported protein to feed British livestock which is at present costing £1 million a day.

More than half of the protein requirements of livestock in the United Kingdom is home-produced as grass and forage crops. An increased utilisation and conservation of grass for ruminant feeding would reduce the requirement for cereal and high protein supplements and thus reduce the import commitment. To encourage this development, new measures were introduced on 1st June under the Farm and Horticulture Development and Farm Capital Grant Schemes. Increased rates of grant are now available for the reseeding and regeneration of grasslands, forage silos and hay and silage-making machinery and fans for barn hay drying. Furthermore, the Ministry's advisory service continues its campaign to promote the most efficient and up-to-date methods of fodder production and conservation, and the use of urea, poultry waste and other protein sources. EEC subsidy and support arrangements have been designed to stimulate home production of high protein feeds. These apply to oilseeds, such as rape and linseed, dehydrated fodder and field bean seeds.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many senior management grades are employed by BNOC in the main Glasgow office and London branch office, respectively.

BNOC is currently negotiating for premises in Glasgow. The number and location of staff are matters for the corporation to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what recent calculations have been made about the cost of the SGHWR reactor; and what variations have occurred since first estimates were drawn up.

The Nuclear Power Company has recently completed reference design documentation for the SGHWR. On the basis of this, it will be carrying forward further work including the preparation of up-to-date cost estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what stoppage has occurred with regard to a starting date for the construction programme of the SGHWR reactor.

Work by the industry and electricity generating boards has been directed to starting construction of the first reactor unit at the earliest sensible date. I am advised that the industry's present target is spring 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when it is expected that the Nuclear Power Company will complete the reference design for the SGHWR reactor; and whether this is later or earlier than the date originally estimated.

The Nuclear Power Company has recently submitted full reference design documentation to the electricity boards. I am advised that work since July 1974 has shown that there is more to be done in launching SGHWR than NPC's predecessors estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the earliest date by which it is now envisaged that the first unit of the SGHWR reactors will come into operation; and how this compares with the time scale calculated when this design was chosen by Her Majesty's Government.

I am advised that the Nuclear Power Company's current target for full power on the first reactor unit is mid-1984. At the time of the Government's decision, our nuclear organisations advised that it would be 1982 at best before operating experience would be available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations are being held with the Canadian authorities about the design and development of the SGHWR reactors.

This is a management matter for the National Nuclear Corporation, and I am asking the chairman to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when Sir Brian Flowers' Committee on Radiological Safety is expected to report.

I have been asked to reply.I understand that the Commission is likely to report in two or three months' time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out in the Official Report the proposed terms of reference for any reconvened Speaker's Conference on Electoral Law.

Consultations are in progress between my right. hon. Friend the Prime Minister and other party loaders on the terms of reference. When they have been agreed, it would be in accordance with past practice for Mr. Speaker to announce the terms of reference in the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the estimated national average weekly loss (gross) to prison officers in overtime payments arising from his Department's instruction to prison governors to cut back on overtime;(2) what is the estimated annual saving which will accrue from his Department's instruction to prison governors to cut back on overtime;(3) what is the target figure of hours overtime to be saved by his Department's instruction to prison governors to cut back on overtime;(4) what percentage saving in manpower in the Prison Office Service the cutback in overtime working order by his Department represents.

As a contribution to current reductions in public expenditure, the Prison Service has been required to reduce overtime costs in the current financial year by approximately £2 million. This is broadly the equivalent of an average reduction over the year of between one and two hours' overtime an officer a week. The approximate financial equivalent of this reduction per officer would be between £2·25 and £4·50 per week. But the detailed application of the arrangements will necessarily vary from establishment to establishment according to local commitments and responsibilities, as will the effect for individual officers. In terms of Prison Service manpower, the reduction represents a saving of between 2 per cent. and 3 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost to public funds of the Race Relations Board for the last year for which figures are available.

About £707,000 in 1975–76.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prison officers, (b) administrative staff and (c) other categories, are currently employed at Risley Remand Centre, near Warrington.

The information is as follows:

(a) Prison Officer Class (all grades) 368 (M.) 85 (F).

(b) Administrative Staff 37.

(c) Other Categories 80.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the estimated annual savings which will accrue at Risley Remand Centre, near Warrington, arising from his Department's instruction to the governor to cut back on overtime;(2) what is the target figure of hours overtime to be saved at Risley Remand Centre, Warrington, by his Department's instruction to the governor to cut back on overtime;(3) what is the estimated weekly loss (gross) to prison officers employed on special duties (discipline) in overtime payments, at Risley Remand Centre, near Warrington, arising from his Department's instruction to the governor to cut back on overtime;(4) what is the estimated weekly loss (gross) to prison officers at Risley Remand Centre, near Warrington, in overtime payments arising from his Department's instruction to the governor to cut back on overtime.

With effect from 1st April, prison officer staff at Risley Remand Centre have been required to operate within a man-hours budget equivalent to 19,425 hours a week, including overtime. The application of this will necessarily vary from week to week according to court and other commitments, and it is too soon to estimate the total savings over the financial year or the eventual effect on the overtime for individual officers. In the 12 weeks since 1st April, the average reduction in overtime pay for prison officers at Risley is estimated to have been the equivalent of about £8 a week. Separate figures for officers engaged on discipline and specialist duties are not readily available, but we will let my hon. Friend have them as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average number of (a) prison officers, (b) administrative staff and (c)other categories, on duty in each week of the last

		(a)			(b)	(c)
		Prison Officer Class (all grades)
		Average Monday-Friday	Average Saturday/Sunday	Average over 7 days	Administrative Staff	Other Categories
Week ending—
20th March	…	309*	153*	264*	32	65
		60†	28†	51†
27th March	…	291*	159*	253*	29	65
		65†	30†	55†
3rd April	…	296*	174*	261*	29	58
		56†	32†	49†
10th April	…	298*	145*	254*	29	64
		56†	24†	47†
17th April	…	225*	164*	208*	27	60
		51†	29†	44†
24th April	…	209*	161*	195*	27	51
		46†	31†	42†
1st May	…	305*	149*	260*	31	63
		57†	32†	50†
8th May	…	292*	146*	250*	32	65
		57†	32†	50†
15th May	…	284*	140*	244*	31	65
		58†	31†	50†
22nd May	…	292*	147*	251*	34	67
		61†	30†	52†
29th May	…	294*	148*	252*	33	63
		58†	31†	50†
5th June	…	207*	163*	195*	32	52
		48†	30†	43†
12th June	…	269*	164*	239*	30	62
		54†	30†	47†
* Male.
† Female.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the effect on evening recretion hours for males, females and young persons on remand at Risley Remand Centre, near Warrington, of the cutback in overtime ordered by his Department.

The reductions in overtime introduced with effect from 1st April have not required any adjustment in evening activities for females, sentenced males or young persons under 17. It has been necessary to withdraw evening classes for young adults aged 17–20 and adults who are convicted but unsentenced, and to withdraw evening association for young adults and unconvicted adults.The effects of the reductions in overtime at Risley and other establishments are being kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why

The information is as follows:two South African-born young men whose mother was British-born and resident until her marriage and who holds a British passport, and whose two grandparents are British-born and resident, are not allowed to claim British citizenship; and what is the position regarding similar circumstances of young men born in India, Pakistan and other former British Commonwealth countries.

Our nationality law makes no provision for the transmission of citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies, and the status of British subjects, through the female line. The question whether a change should be made is among those under consideration in the current review of nationality law.Men holding the citizenship of any independent Commonwealth or foreign country may also hold the citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies if they meet the statutory requirements, for example that of descent from a father born in the United Kingdom or one of our present colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of people convicted for murder in each of the years since 1940 to the latest available date.

The information is as follows:

PERSONS FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER—ENGLAND AND WALES
Year					Number of persons
1940	…	…	…	…	22
1941	…	…	…	…	21
1942	…	…	…	…	31
1943	…	…	…	…	29
1944	…	…	…	…	20
1945	…	…	…	…	21
1946	…	…	…	…	31
1947	…	…	…	…	35
1948	…	…	…	…	40
1949	…	…	…	…	33
1950	…	…	…	…	38
1951	…	…	…	…	22
1952	…	…	…	…	41
1953	…	…	…	…	26
1954	…	…	…	…	25
1955	…	…	…	…	30
1956	…	…	…	…	32
1957	…	…	…	…	40
1958	…	…	…	…	30
1959	…	…	…	…	42
1960	…	…	…	…	42
1961	…	…	…	…	51
1962	…	…	…	…	31
1963	…	…	…	…	46
1964	…	…	…	…	44
1965	…	…	…	…	57
1966	…	…	…	…	72
1967	…	…	…	…	63
1968	…	…	…	…	74
1969	…	…	…	…	75
1970	…	…	…	…	97
1971	…	…	…	…	97
1972	…	…	…	…	79
1973	…	…	…	…	90
1974	…	…	…	…	112
1975	…	…	…	…	107

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute a special inquiry to find out how many illegal immigrants are in the United Kingdom.

All reasonable and practicable measures are taken to prevent evasion of the immigration control and to detect and deal with those who have none the less entered illegally. We do not believe that these would be assisted by the institution of a special inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to deport illegal immigrants who subsequently come to the notice of the authorities.

The Secretary of State may give directions for the removal of an illegal entrant. It is the normal practice to send away people found to have entered illegally since 1st January 1973, when the Immigration Act 1971 came fully into operation, unless there are compelling reasons—for example, on exceptionally strong compassionate grounds—for not doing so in a particular case. During 1975, 188 Commonwealth citizens and foreign nationals were detained as illegal entrants and 154 were sent away. In 1974 the corresponding figures were 157 and 139.In addition, 140 deportation orders were made in 1975 under the Secretary of State's administrative power against people who failed to comply with conditions of their leave to enter, and a further 361 deportation orders were made in respect of Commonwealth citizens and foreign nationals on the recommendations of courts following conviction. The number convicted of immigration offences is not separately available. The corresponding figures for 1974 were 115 and 284.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the growing practice of persons, anxious to gain British residence and eventual citizenship, of claiming the opportunity of entry into Great Britain on the subterfuge of attending an educational course, obtaining extensions of permits to stay, and after five years claiming residence; what action he has taken, or intends taking, to stop these practices; with what success; and whether he will give the number of persons who have carried out this practice during the past five years.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a Question by him on 9th June.—[Vol. 912, c. 699–700.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost of obtaining from the chief officer of each police force in England and Wales the names and ranks of police officers wounded or seriously injured on duty over the past 10 years.

Each chief officer would have to arrange for the examination of the personal records of all officers who had served with the force during the period. The cost of this is estimated as not less than £10,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will mount an inquiry into the United Kingdom Government's relationship with the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, as recommended by Lord Crowther-Hunt and Professor A. T. Peacock.

No. The majority report of the Royal Commission on the Constitution made no recommendations for change in the relationship between the United Kingdom and the Islands.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of television sets per 1,000 population for Wales, Scotland and England, respectively.

I regret that this information in the form requested is not available. On 30th June 1975 the estimated number of current television licences per 1,000 population for Wales, Scotland and England respectively was 317, 305 and 319.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much land the Prison Department owns, has leased or is seeking to acquire in Haverhill; and how much has been spent on this land.

22 acres of land have been purchased in Haverhill at a cost of £668,000. We are not leasing, nor are we seeking to acquire, further land in Haverhill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many houses it is intended to build in Haverhill for Prison Department and other Home Office personnel; and when, on present plans, he intends to make a start on constructing them.

Present plans are for 223 houses to be built in Haverhill, and for construction of the first phase of 49 to begin in mid-1977.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with St. Edmunds-bury District Council about leasing or purchasing surplus town development houses in Haverhill for the use of Prison Department or other Home Office personnel.

Discussions were held with the former Haverhill Urban District Council in 1972 about the provision and location of prison staff housing, and eight council houses were leased temporarily. An offer of surplus council houses for use by prison staff made by St. Edmunds-bury District Council in February 1976 had to be declined as no further need for off-site housing is likely to arise before 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will invite Prison Department officials and representatives of the Prison Officers Association to inspect the empty town development houses in Haverhill and Bury St. Edmunds with a view to determining whether these houses meet standards required for those prison officers and their families who are to serve at High Point Prison, Stradishall, Suffolk, but whose duties will not require them to live at the prison itself;(2) what estimate he has made of the cost of building new houses in Haverhill for prison officers and other Home Office personnel; and what comparison he has made with the cost of purchasing or leasing surplus town development houses provided by the GLC in that town and/or Bury St. Edmunds.

Planning of the houses for Prison Service staff at Haverhill is at too early a stage for reliable costings to be made, but they will be built to cost yardsticks related to those used for local authority housing. As there is no requirement for housing away from the prison site until 1979 and no intention to commence building at Haverhill until mid-1977, there would be no value at this stage in inspecting such town development houses as are at present available, or comparing the cost of purchasing or

				Parker Morris standard house for 5 people
				Semi or end of terrace	Centre terrace	Prison Department house for 5 people
				sq. ft.	sq. ft.	sq. ft.
Internal floor area	…	…	…	880	910	915
Storage	…	…	…	50	50	48·5

				Parker Morris standard house for 4 people
				Semi or end of terrace	Centre terrace	Prison Department house for 4 people
				sq. ft.	sq. ft.	sq. ft.
Internal floor area	…	…	…	770	800	802
Storage	…	…	…	50	50	48·5

Differences between the Parker Morris standard house for six people and junior

					Parker Morris standard house for 6 people	Prison Department house for 7 people
Internal floor area	…	…	…	…	990 sq. ft.	1,162·5 sq. ft.
Storage	…	…	…	…	50 sq. ft.	70 sq. ft.
Central heating	…	…	…	…	Ground floor only	Ground floor only
Electric sockets	…	…	…	…	17	17
Parking space/garages	…	…	…	…	Parking space only	Parking space, 50 per cent, or 75 per cent, garage provision according to locality

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an assurance that there will be no change in the lowering of the age of consent, notwithstanding the opinion of Judge Neil McKinnon on this subject.

We have no present plans for amending the law in relation to the age of consent. The Criminal Law Revision Committee is undertaking a comprehensive review of the law on sexual offences in England and Wales, and the age of consent naturally falls to be considered in the course of this review. Because this area of the law raises medical and social, as well as legal, questions, a Policy Advisory Committee on Sexual Offences has been set up to advise on these matters and provide an assessment of lay opinion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the standards of accommodation required by the Prison Department personnel differ from Parker Morris standards as applied by local authorities.

Differences between Parker Morris standard houses and standard junior prison staff houses for four people and five people are as follows: —prison staff houses for seven people are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons are now detained in Her Majesty's prisons by reason of contempt of court; and what is the longest time any such person has been so detained.

On 27th May there were 41 people in prison for contempt of court. Of these, the one who had been in longest had spent 58 days in custody.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints were made against the police in Kirkby in 1973, 1974 and 1975 respectively.

Information in the form requested is not available, but I am sending my hon. Friend some relevant information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints against the Merseyside Police were substantiated in 1973, 1974 and 1975, respectively.

The Merseyside Police Force was not established until 1st April 1974; it replaced the former Liverpool and Bootle Constabulary and covers in addition certain areas formerly policed by the Cheshire and Lancashire Constabularies. I am informed by the Chief Constable of Merseyside that the numbers of substantiated complaints against members of that force or against members of the former Liverpool and Bootle Constabulary in 1973 and 1974 were 33 and 49 respectively. To date, 66 complaints made in 1975 against members of the Merseyside Police have been substantiated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the West Indies and Africa, were admitted for permanent stay in 1975; and if he will give details for each country of the number who were voucher holders, wives, children and other relatives including aged parents, respectively.

The information is contained in "Control of Immigration, Statistics, 1975" (Cmnd. 6504). Information about acceptances for settlement on arrival is given in Tables 2a and 2b and about acceptances for settlement on removal of time limit in Tables 3a and 3b.Special vouchers are applicable only to non-patrial United Kingdom passport holders and the numbers are given in a footnote to Table 2a.Figures for some African countries are not shown separately but are included in the figures for "All other territories" or "other foreign countries" as appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the cost at 1975 survey prices of indexing the ex-Regular Service pensions to take into account the decline in the value of the pound since the level of the pension was established.

At 1975 survey prices the cost would be of the order of £20-£25 million. At 1976 survey prices the figure would be considerably higher.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the number of British Servicemen wounded and killed while on active service since the end of the Second World War, indicating the countries where these casualties were sustained.

I regret that records do not exist in a form which enables this information to be provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the areas in Northern Ireland in which the UDR is not allowed to operate, expressed as a proportion of the total area of Northern Ireland, the areas concerned and the proportion of the population of Northern Ireland in those areas, comparing the present position with that prevailing at mid-June 1975 and 1974.

As I advised the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) on 11th May, units of the Ulster Defence Regiment may operate as required by the security situation anywhere in Northern Ireland, but it is not the practice to employ them in circumstances likely to involve them in sectarian conflict or riot control duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to stop the supply of British arms from the Channel Islands to certain countries to which the supply from Great Britain is forbidden.

I have been asked to reply.The control of arms exports from the Channel Islands is a matter for the Channel Island authorities, who follow the same policies on this subject as Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will bring in legislation to extend the Acts and measures for which the Secretary of State for the Home Department is currently responsible, which are now applicable to Great Britain, to Northern Ireland.