asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when she expects to publish the reports of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on (a) the supply by Her Majesty's counsel alone of their services and (b) the supply by senior counsel alone of their services.

The reports are being published today. The commission's investigations were confined to agreements and practices relating to restrictions on the supply by Her Majesty's Counsel (QCs) alone of their services in England and Wales and by Senior Counsel alone of their services in Scotland. These restrictions are generally known as the "two counsel" rule at the Bar. The differences between English and Scottish law necessitated two separate references. However, the commission found that the effect of the rules of both Bars was broadly similar and, therefore, its recommendation is virtually the same in each report.The commission concluded that restrictions in England and Wales on the supply by QCs alone of their services—which were observed by the whole body of barristers—prevented QCs from competing with each other and with junior counsel by performing certain services on their own. For example, a QC is not allowed to appear in a court of law without a junior: or, with certain exceptions, to draft a document other than in conjunction with a junior; and where papers are delivered simultaneously to both a QC and a junior, the QC cannot advise except in consultation with the junior. The comission therefore concluded that a monopoly situation existed in England and Wales in that banisters' services are all supplied by persons who so conduct their affairs as to restrict competition.Similarly, the commission concluded that there were restrictions in Scotland—accepted by all advocates who were members of the Faculty of Advocates—which prevented Senior Counsel from competing with each other and with junior counsel by performing certain services on their own. For example, a Senior Counsel cannot appear before a civil court without a junior, although he is entitled—but not obliged—to appear alone before a criminal court; also a Senior Counsel is not allowed to draw up or revise plead ings in any court unless junior counsel is instructed to act with him. The commission therefore concluded that a monopoly situation also existed in Scotland.The commission further concluded that the two-counsel rule restrictions in England and Wales and in Scotland had a detrimental effect on the public interest in that on occasions they involved unnecessary expense to litigants and wasted juniors' time. They noted also that they could lead to delays in arranging court appearances, and represented a restriction of choice for clients.The commission recommended that all existing provisions which precluded QCs in England and Wales and Senior Counsel in Scotland from acting without a junior should be terminated. They considered that for the future the decision that a QC or Senior Counsel requires a junior for any particular case should be a matter for discussion between client, solicitor and counsel.However, although it did not think it necessary to have any new rules on the subject the commission none the less thought it desirable that there should be a general understanding in future that a QC or Senior Counsel should be able in any particularly case to request the assistance of a junior at any stage in litigation to enable the QC or Senior Counsel to devote his time to the more difficult aspects of the case. Also it considered that it should be recognised that in the ordinary course of events interlocutory work in England and Wales—that is work on proceedings after a writ has been issued but before the actual court hearing—and pleadings in Scotland should be handled by juniors though this should not prevent QCs or Senior Counsel undertaking this work if desirable, either alone or assisted by a junior.The commission concluded that the abolition of the present two-counsel rules would not significantly affect the training opportunities open to juniors. Nor would the two-tier system be undermined, or the "cab rank" rule—whereby counsel cannot refuse to act for a litigrant no matter how unattractive he, or his case, may be—be likely to operate so as to compel QCs and Senior Counsel against their wishes either to act on their own, if they considered that a case required two counsel, or to take on cases appropriate for juniorsMy right hon. Friend accepts the recommendation of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission that all existing provisions which preclude QCs in England and Wales and Senior Counsel in Scotland from acting without a junior should be terminated. She shares the commission's view that for the future the decision whether a QC or Senior Counsel requires a junior for any particular case should be a matter for discussion between client, solicitor and counsel.My right hon. Friend is, therefore, asking the Director General of Fair Trading to discuss with the relevant professional bodies the termination of the two-counsel rules in England and Wales and in Scotland, and also to discuss with them whether any new understandings or guidance might seem called for on any matters arising from the abolition of the rules.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the actual claim for expenses made by the Chairman of the British Steel Corporation for the longest and most convenient period of time.

The corporation is authorised to reimburse from its funds travelling, subsistence and reasonable hospitality expenses incurred by the chairman directly on the business of the corporation. The actual sums claimed are a matter for the corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the agreement reached with OECD regarding a code of conduct designed to govern the conduct of multinational companies.

As my right hon. Friend told my hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth) on 18th June—[Vol. 913, c. 308–9]—in the view of Her Majesty's Government, the OECD declaration and decisions constitute a major step forward. My right hon. Friend has made a full statement of Her Majesty's Government's attitude in the foreward to the White Paper 'International Investment: Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises" (Cmnd 6525) published on 24th June 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations with the EEC on the proposals for an EEC aerospace industry policy.

The EEC Commission's proposals for a European aerospace and aviation policy have yet to be discussed by the Council of Ministers, but the Council has referred the Commission's report to the European Assembly for its opinion on its recommendations. In the meantime officials in Brussels have met to discuss the part of the report dealing with possible aircraft developments in order to define the various options.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry why he is unable to give the expenses actually drawn or allowed to the six peers of the realm who hold Government appointments as detailed in his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West on Thursday 17th June.

Boards are authorised to reimburse from their funds travelling, subsistence and reasonable hospitality expenses incurred by members directly on the business of the boards. The amounts actually drawn by, or allowed to, individuals are a matter for the boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will place in the Library copies of all recent circulars to shareholders of Kearney, Trecker and Marwin Limited following the proposed capital reconstruction and further investment of public funds.

I am arranging for a copy of the proposed scheme of arrangement and of the chairman's letter to shareholders, together with the report and accounts for 1975, to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with the way the NEB is discharging its employment responsibilities under the draft guidelines.

The NEB has made a vigorous start and is fully aware of its responsibilities; its subsidiaries already employ more than a quarter of a million people in the United Kingdom—not, incidentally, three-quarters of a million as I mentioned inadvertently in the House on 28th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the present levels of delegated authority for his Department's regional offices in assisted areas for the purpose of selective financial assistance under Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972; and if he will make a statement.

At present my Department's three principal offices in the assisted areas, the Northern, North-West and Yorkshire and Humberside offices, may provide loans of up to £1 million, in cases falling within the guidelines for assistance. As from today these offices will be able to decide cases up to £2 million. Corresponding increases in delegated financial limits on other forms of assistance such as service industry removal grants are also being made. The new arrangements mean that the main English assisted area offices will now be able to handle in the regions nearly all straightforward cases which will assist the creation of employment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will cause an investigation to be made ascertaining how and why a letter from Prisoner Archer of Parkhurst Prison sent to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West and dated 16th June was not sent until 22nd June; why this prisoner has been barred from writing and sending mail; under what Act or Statutory Rule or Regulation this ban has been imposed; and whether this prisoner can send this communication through his Member of Parliament.

Prison records show that the letter to the hon. Member was sent on 16th June. The prisoner has not been barred from sending letters, but some of his correspondence has been stopped under Rule 33(2) of the Prison Rules, either because it contains complaints about prison treatment which should first be investigated within the prison, or because it is not directed to known friends, relatives or legal advisers. A prisoner may not request a third party to send on his behalf a communication which he has not been allowed to send himself.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animals have been exported abroad to laboratories for experimental purposes in 1975 and 1976; and to which countries they have been sent.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Gillingham (Mr. Burden) on 10th May.—[Vol. 911, c. 78.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he is considering for regulating the activities of suppliers of animals for experimental purposes.

None. Such animals in Great Britain have the protection afforded by the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973, the Protection of Animals Act 1911 or the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act 1912.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cats were used in experiments in 1975; and where they were obtained from.

The provisional figure is that 10,526 experiments were performed on cats under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876. Information about the source of the animals is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish details of the type and number of dogs, other than beagles, used for experimental purposes in 1975.

The provisional figure is that 16,195 experiments were performed on dogs, including beagles, under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876. No separate information is available about the number of beagles, or of other breeds, included in this figure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments on animals are carried out now compared with the alternatives which were available in 1975.

It is not possible to establish whether alternatives might have been available for any of the experiments in question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost factor of breeding animals for vivisection compared with the use of machines or alternative methods of 1975.

It is not possible to obtain this information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to amend the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report details of all female deaths between the ages of 14 and 46 years which were the subject of a coroner's inquiry in Newcastle-upon-Tyne between 1967 and 1975.

The total number of female deaths reported to the coroner for Newcastle upon Tyne in the period in question was 2,914. Separate figures for these by age groups are not available. The number of reported deaths of females aged 14 and over which resulted in inquests being held was 921 and the verdicts returned were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to prohibit counsel and judges from arriving at agreed verdicts and sentences as a result of prearranged guilty pleas.

No. It is not an appropriate matter for legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the general principle of equal treatment under the criminal law of homosexual and heterosexual offences is covered by the terms of reference of the Criminal Law Revision Committee announced on 14th July 1975; and whether submissions are invited on this general principle.

The terms of reference of the Criminal Law Revision Committee are to review, in consultation with the Policy Advisory Committee on Sexual Offences, the law relating to and penalties for sexual offences. This review embraces all aspects of the law on sexual offences and submissions on any issues falling within its scope—including those concerning the general principle of equal treatment—will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Criminal Law Revision Committee is expected to report on the law relating to sexual offences.

We are unable to forecast when this committee will report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to indemnify employers who have been found to be contravening the Race Relations Act in cases where their employees make it impossible for them to do otherwise.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he has given any instructions to immigration officers to distinguish on grounds of colour in the case of those arriving at British ports and airports with Rhodesian passports;(2) whether he will place in the Library a copy of the instructions which have been given to immigration officers on the methods to be employed in handling those arriving at British airports and seaports with Rhodesian passports.

The admission of holders of documents issued by the illegal régime in Rhodesia is governed by the published Immigration Rules (HC 79) which make it clear that immigration officers are to carry out their duties without regard to the race, colour or religion of people seeking to enter the United Kingdom. The rules are supplemented by instructions of an administrative nature, and I think it right to maintain the practice followed by successive Governments that such instructions are not published. I can assure the hon. Member that we have issued no instruction which derogates from the principle contained in the rules.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions visitors to the United Kingdom have been refused entry on political or security grounds during the course of 1974, 1975 and 1976, respectively.

Nine people in 1974, eight in 1975 and two in the first quarter of this year were refused entry at a port as a consequence of directions issued by me or my predecessor that their exclusion would be conducive to the public good.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the co-operation of the public has been invited in the fight against crime; and with what effect.

The police make considerable use of the media and other forms of publicity to invite the public to help in the prevention and detection of crime, and they appreciate the generally helpful response by the public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many projects were approved in Stockport under each phase of the urban aid programme; and what was the nature of these projects.

Twenty-two projects, intended to help meet special social need in Stockport, have been approved under the urban programme. They cover a wide range, including a nursery school, a day nursery, housing aid and advisory services, a family advice centre, grants to playgroups and an adventure playground, an activity centre for intermediate treatment, a group home for the mentally ill and a women's aid centre.The numbers of projects approved under successive circulars have been as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money allocated to projects in Stockport during the various phases of the urban aid programme was taken up by voluntary bodies; and how much was taken up by the statutory bodies.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mothers of children under five years are at present in prison; how many children are involved; and how many of these children are with the mother.

I regret that the information requested in the first two parts of the Question is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. On 2nd July 1976 there were 25 children under the age of five with their mothers in mother and baby units at these prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mothers of children under five years are at present remanded in custody.

On 2nd July 1976 there were 48, of whom 26 were unconvicted and 22 were convicted but unsentenced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now completed his consideration of the report of Her Majestry's Inspector of Constabulary on the operation of the juvenile liaison scheme in Lancashire; and if be will make a statement.

Yes. The report recognised the considerable contribution made by the juvenile liaison scheme in Lancashire to the prevention of juvenile crime. It drew attention, however, to faults in the procedure for the recording of crime committed by juveniles in Lancashire and for deciding whether a particular child should or not should not made subject to supervision by the police under the juvenile liaison scheme. Recommendations for the necessary changes in procedure have been made to the Chief Constable. Complaints against the conduct of particular officers are the subject of investigation under Section 49 of the Police Act 1964.As regards the position elsewhere, I have arranged for Her Majesty's inspectors of Constabulary to examine the practice in other police forces in England and Wales which operate juvenile liaison schemes involving the supervision of children who have committed offences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants entered the United Kingdom in 1975; and how many were white and how many coloured.

I refer my right hon. Friend to the tables published in Cmnd. 6504—Control of Immigration: Statistics, 1975. The tables distinguish entrants by country but not by colour.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants were deported in 1975; and how many of them were white and how many coloured.

Four hundred and sixty-five. Statistics are not recorded by reference to colour.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the 12 committees on animal welfare which advise the Home Office and other Government Departments.

The following bodies advise Departments on a wide variety of matters affecting animals:

• Advisory Committee on the Administration of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876.
• Advisory Committees for England, for Scotland and for Wales of the Nature Conservancy Council.
• Advisory Committee on the Protection of Birds for England and Wales.
• Advisory Committee on the Protection of Birds for Scotland.
• Consultative Panel on Badgers and Tuberculosis.
• Farm Animal Welfare Committee.
• Fisheries Committee.
• Natural Environment Research Council.
• Nature Conservancy Council.
• Red Deer Commission.
• Scientific Authority for Animals.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many representations he has received from Members of Parliament on import controls, since 1st January 1976.

I have received about 60 leters from Members of Parliament concerning import controls. Most of these were requests for my comments on letters from constituents.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the maximum draught of United Kingdom registered vessels expected to use the Red Sea and Suez Canal in the late 1970s.

Maximum draughts in the late 1970s are expected to be of the order of 90 ft in the Red Sea and 53 ft in the Suez Canal.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many visits to ports in the Persian Gulf were made by United Kingdom registered ships in 1974; and what was the maximum draught involved.

The information is not available, but the maximum permitted draught at the Kuwait terminal is 95 feet.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the maximum draught of United Kingdom registered vessels expected to approach the ports of Milford Haven, Bristol, Humber, Firth of Forth and Sullom Voe in 1977; and what was the expected draught of vessels using these ports at the time the most recent surveys of their approaches were carried out.

According to local inquiries, maximum draughts in 1977 are expected to be of the following order—corresponding figures at the time of the most recent surveys are given in brackets:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the approximate draught of the deepest laden vessels at present likely to transit the United Kingdom's Continental Shelf.

Comprehensive information is not available but, based on the Bantry Bay terminal, a draught of approximately 92 feet is the maximum at present considered likely.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, in the light of the increasing numbers of gas and chemical carrying vessels which are entering service, and in view of the dangers of such vessels being grounded near United Kingdom waters, if he is satisfied that adequate knowledge of the position and depths over all wrecks and other likely hazards such as the pinnacles of rock found by HMS "Fox" off Holyhead in 1975 is available.

In view of the number of wrecks and other marine hazards around our coasts, I cannot be wholly satisfied, but the programme of surveys carried out by the Hydrographer of the Navy constantly enhances our knowledge of these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what action is being taken to ensure that the charts required to be carried under the Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Nautical Publications) Act 1975 are adequate for the use of United Kingdom registered vessels of significantly deeper draught than was envisaged at the time the surveys were carried out.

The purpose of the 1975 rules is to ensure that United Kingdom registered ships, of whatever draught, carry the best available charts appropriate to each part of their intended voyages world-wide. Such charts may be published by the Hydrographer of the Navy or by an authority duly exercising similar functions in any other country.The Hydrographer of the Navy has a continuing task to perform in surveying United Kingdom waters in response to new developments in shipping characteristics; and in this regard there is close collaboration between the Ministry of Defence and my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the comparison between the rate at which licences have been issued, and goods imported into the United Kingdom so far in 1976, and the relevant annual quota for each category of textile products subject to import quotas under the provisions of bilateral agreements with Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, Macao, Singapore and Japan.

The cost of answering this Question in the detail required would be disproportionate. Details of quota levels are published in Trade & Industry and also in the Official Journal. Figures of actual imports, although not necessarily broken down in the same detail as the quotas, are published in the Overseas Trade Statistics. We are now preparing a full statement of licences issued against all quotas established by Agreements made under the GATT Multi-Fibre Arrangement and I shall let my hon. Friend have copies as soon as it is available and place copies in the Library.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what were the estimated costs to the Exchequer for the antiques, flowers and other alterations made to the 15 boxes for the visit to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, by President Giscard d'Estaing; who used these boxes; and who was invited at the expense of the Exchequer to the performance of Verdi's "Un Ballo in Maschera".

Certain antique furniture was lent to the Royal Opera House for this occasion at a total cost of approximately £100 for insurance. The estimate for floral decorations throughout the theatre is £2,397 and the cost of removing and replacing the grand tier boxes is estimated at £1,600. On such occasions there is no detailed ministerial responsibility for the guest lists.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether, when publishing the new or revised copy of "A Directory of Paid Public Appointments made by Ministers" (ISBN 011 630332 8), he will give a full and complete list of the actual salaries, fees and expenses claimed and paid during the previous 12 months by the members of these various Government boards, together with details of meetings actually held and the attendances thereat of the appointed members.

No. To collect, collate and publish information about the actual fees and expenses claimed and details of attendance of those holding appointments would be very costly and irrelevant to the main purpose of the directory, which was to publish in a convenient form information about paid posts, for the assistance of possible applicants.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will give the total number of peers of the realm who hold Government appointments, the number of jobs held by these peers, and the total cost of all salaries, subsistence and travel expenses of the peers for any stated period of time.

As I have already indicated to my hon. Friend—[Vol. 912, c. 103.]—my Department does not maintain this information centrally.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make the actual amounts drawn by peers in receipt of allowances in respect of attendance at the House of Lords, who also receive expenses in connection with part-time Government employment, available to Members of Parliament by publishing a comprehensive and detailed list in the Official Report.

The Members of another place are entitled to recover the expenses they actually incur in attending their House, up to a maximum of £13·50 per sitting day. The administration of that scheme is entirely a matter for another place.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence with what overseas countries discussions have taken place during the last five years in connection with the need for improved hydrographic surveying.

Apart from discussions relating to co-ordinated surveying activities with countries having established hydrograph offices, such as France, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore and the United States of America, there has been correspondence dealing with the needs for hydrographic surveys under the liaison arrangements between the Hydrographer of the Navy and the local marine authorities in the following countries:

• Anguilla
• Antigua
• Bahamas
• Bahrain
• Belize
• British Antartic Territories
• Cayman Islands
• Dominica
• Egypt
• Falkland Islands
• Fiji
• Gilbert and Ellice Islands
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Iran
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Maldives
• Mauritius
• Montserrat
• New Hebrides
• St. Helena and Ascension
• St. Kitts—Nevis
• St. Vincent
• Seychelles
• Sudan
• Tanzania
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Virgin Islands
• United Arab Emirates.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the last surveys were carried out in the approaches to Milford Haven, the Bristol Channel, the Firth of Forth and Sullom Voe.

Full surveys were carried out in the approaches to Milford Haven, the Bristol Channel and the Firth of Forth during the nineteenth century, and have been progressively updated since then; the dates of the most recent surveys are 1969, 1968 and 1969, respectively. It is hoped that comprehensive surveys to full modern standards will be completed next year in the approaches to Milford Haven and the First of Forth. The approaches to Sullom Voe have never been surveyed though Yell Sound itself was surveyed in 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the date of the most recent surveys of the Red Sea and Gulf of Suez; who carried out these surveys; and how they were paid for.

The last complete surveys known to have been carried out in the Gulf of Suez and Red Sea area were done by the Royal Navy in the 1870s at Royal Naval expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of Her Majesty's survey ships will be deployed in each of the next five years to meet the surveying requirements of British and international shipping in the southern side of the Persian Gulf.

There are no plans to deploy any surveying ships to the southern side of the Persian Gulf in the next five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf has been covered by surveys using modern echo sounders at acceptable scales and including modern sonar sweeps to establish the least depth over all wrecks and obstructions.

About 26 per cent. of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf has so far been surveyed with echo sounder and sonar sweeps. About 5 per cent. has been covered by modern sonar sweeps.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many wrecks are known or thought to exist on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf whose position and least depth are at present not accurately known.

About 14,000 wrecks are known to exist on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf. About 3,000 have been located accurately, but the least depth is known accurately over fewer than 1,500.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf has either never been surveyed or is only covered by hand-lead and line surveys; and how many ship-years of work would be required to cover this area to modern standards.

About 74 per cent. of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf has not been surveyed by echo sounder or sonar. It is estimated that between 250 and 300 ship-years of work would be required to bring coverage of these areas up to the highest modern standards.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received a report from the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology claiming that a large number of relatively rare birds of prey are being illegally shot or poisoned; and if he will make a statement.

No report has been received from the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology but I am aware that a paper has been published on the dispersal and causes of death of buzzards. The Protection of Birds Acts 1954–1967 provide for the protection of all wild birds, their nests and eggs, subject to certain limited exceptions, namely game birds—outwith the close season—and harmful birds—included in Schedule 2 to the 1954 Act. Buzzards are a protected species and the police will investigate any case of alleged illegal shooting or poisoning of protected birds reported to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many obstetric consultants per 1,000 births there were in Glasgow and Lanarkshire, respectively, at the most recent convenient date.

At 30th September 1975, the latest date for which precise staffing figures are available, there were 2·057 and 0·8197 consultant obstetricians—whole-time equivalents—per 1,000 births in Glasgow and Lanarkshire respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients are attending hospital in Glasgow and Lanarkshire, respectively, at the present time.

The latest available figures for in-patient discharges and out-patient attendances relate to the six months up to 30th September 1975. During that period 98,445 patients were discharged from Greater Glasgow Health Board hospitals and there were 715,414 out-patient attendances. The corresponding figures for the Lanarkshire Health Board were 27,183 discharges and 103,958 out-patient attendances.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects he will be able to publish a consultative paper on the future management of List D schools.

My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to make an announcement about his proposals in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what stocks of forest tree seedlings now exist in Scotland in both Forestry Commission and privately-owned nurseries; and whether he is satisfied that adequate stocks of potential transplants are available to increase the present rate of tree planting.

As stocktaking in Forestry Commission nurseries does not take place until later in the year, the figures are not yet known but production has been planned to meet the Commission's planting programme. No information is available on stocks held by privately-owned tree nurseries in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the total amount of regional employment premium to be distributed in Scotland in 1976.

I have been asked to reply.About £85 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to pay an official visit to Indonesia.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in view of the Syrian intervention in Lebanon, and the risks of an extended conflict between Syria and Iraq, what peace initiative he proposes to take in the Middle East.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 16th June.—[Vol. 913, c. 524–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will pay an official visit to Diego Garcia.

My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will consider closing the British Embassy in Buenos Aires.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what clarification he has caused to be issued by Her Majesty's Ambassador in Rome following statements made by Mr. Berlinguer that Her Majesty's Government viewed favourably the possible inclusion of the Communist Party within the Government of Italy.

None. As my right hon. Friend told the House on 16th June, it is for the Italian people to choose their own Government. It would not be appropriate for the British Government to engage in public discussion of what the choice should be.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about recent events in Rhodesia.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North-West (Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he takes to ensure that instructions relayed to United Kingdom embassies and consulates by Her Majesty's Government are carried out.

I am confident that instructions from Her Majesty's Government are carried out by our embassies and consular posts. Posts report back as necessary and in specific cases are required to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with progress following the signing of the Helsinki Agreement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer on this point on 16th June.—[Vol. 913, c. 529–31.] We shall not be satisfied until all the provisions of the Final Act are being put into effect by all its signatories. Some progress is being made in bringing existing practices into line with these provisions; but a full assessment must wait until the 1977 review meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken to implement the recommendations of the Select Committee on Cyprus.

I told the House on 19th May of the Government's regret that the Select Committee had not made a more constructive contribution to solving the Cyprus problem. The Government's considered response to the conclusions and recommendations of the Report will be placed before Parliament as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to pay an official visit to Pretoria.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any intention in the near future to pay official visits to any of the States of South America.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to receive the report by the European Commission on Human Rights about allegations of torture used in the interrogation of internees in Northern Ireland.

The Commission's report was forwarded in confidence to Her Majesty's Government, and to all other member Governments of the Council of Europe, on 9th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to meet United States Secretary of State Dr. Kissinger in the near future.

My right hon. Friend will be the guest of Dr. Kissinger at lunch in Washington later today and will be seeing the United States Secretary of State on various other occasions during the Queen's visit to the United States.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of newspapers from Western European countries and the United States of America now distributed in the Soviet Union, following the provision of Basket III in the Helsinki Agreement; how many copies of each are distributed on average each day; and if he will make a statement about how freely available these are to Soviet citizens.

I can speak only for the British newspapers which are distributed in the Soviet Union. According to our information these are The Times, the Financial Times and the Morning Star. We have detailed sales figures for The Times and the Financial Times only; the former has 191 copies distributed daily, of which 151 are sent to personal subscribers, and the latter sells a total of 150 copies, of which about 100 are sent direct to subscribers. Those copies of both newspapers which are available for sale to the public can, we believe, be bought at airports and Intourist hotels only.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the future of the British Phosphates Commission; and if he will give an undertaking not to sanction any agreement governing the future management of the mining of phosphates on Ocean Island which is not acceptable to the Banabans who own the land on Ocean Island.

The future of the British Phosphate Commissioners would be a matter for discussion between the three partner Governments of Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. While I cannot give an undertaking in the very wide terms suggested by my hon. Friend, I can assure him that we would not agree to any new arrangements which would prejudice the existing rights of the landowners on Ocean Island.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what size of House of Representatives he intends to propose to representatives of the Gilbert Islands during the forthcoming talks on internal self-government.

The proposals of the Government of the Gilberts, from which I do not dissent, involve no changes in the composition of the House of Assembly on internal self-government, except for the disappearance of the Deputy Governor and the Financial Secretary. The House would then comprise 21 elected members and the Attorney-General.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many police officers from Great Britain have been recruited to the Independent Commission Against Corruption in Hong Kong; and what is the strength of the operations arm of the commission.

46. The strength of the Operations Department is 465.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the development and effect of the Independent Commission Against Corruption in Hong Kong over the last two years.

The Operations Department of the Commission was first to be established; and from February 2,820 cases and obtained 275 convictions. 1974 to March 1976 has investigated Other departments have now been set up to devise methods to prevent corruption and to change public attitudes to the problem. The total establishment is over 900.

asked the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many citizens of the United Kingdom, apart from military personnel, if any, are known to be currently working or otherwise resident in Dahomey, Nigeria, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Ivory Coast, Ghana and Togo, respectively.

From information provided by diplomatic posts, the latest estimate of citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies resident in the countries concerned is given below. Precise figures are not available since United Kingdom nationals are not bound to register with our overseas posts.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has yet completed his consideration of Lord Shackleton's report on the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Fife, East (Sir J. Gilmour).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made with his European colleagues towards producing an agreed recommendation for direct elections to the European Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his policy towards direct elections to the European Assembly.

Community negotiations have reached an advanced stage and there is a general wish to settle the major outstanding issues at the European Council on 12th and 13th July. Her Majesty's Government will be taking a full part at this meeting, influenced by the views of this House which emerge from the debate next Friday.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning his discussions with fellow EEC Ministers, regarding international fishing limits, at Luxembourg on Tuesday 29th June.

At the Council of Ministers meeting my right hon. Friend again stressed the importance the United Kingdom attaches to improving the common fisheries policy and emphasised the need for early action on a Community declaration of intent to extend fisheries jurisdiction to 200 miles.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will make a statement about the use of the photocopying machines supplied for Members in the House and its outbuildings.

The Services Committee has looked into this matter recently and in view of the change in the membership of the House since the Services Committee reported on this matter in 1969 I give below guidance on the use of the machines which the Committee wishes drawn to the attention of all Members, and by them to their secretaries and research assistants.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many centres for denaturing skimmed milk powder are in operation in the United Kingdom.

Eighty-two plants have been approved for denaturing intervention stocks of skimmed milk powder, of which 43 are at present undertaking denaturing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money has been paid for skimmed milk powder under the skimmed milk powder scheme.

£2·6 million up to 30th June 1976.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report the letter which he has sent to the Association of Environmental Health Officers following his meeting with its representatives on 13th May concerning the poultry meat hygiene regulations.

My right hon. Friend did not write to the association after its representatives had met officials of my Department on 13th May. He did, however, write to my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop) after a meeting on 25th May with him and other vice-presidents of the association. With the agreement of the hon. Member for South Shields I set out the text of my right hon. Friend's letter, which is as follows:

Arthur Blenkinsop, Esq, MP,

House of Commons,

London SW1A 0AA.

9th June 1976

Thank you for your letter of 26th May following the meeting we had on 25th May about the rôle of the Environmental Health Officer under the Regulations we are proposing to make to implement the EEC poultry meat directives. I too am sorry that so few of your fellow Vice-Presidents of the Environmental Health Officers' Association were able to join us for the meeting.

I can confirm a number of points made at the meeting which you found reassuring.

First, in our proposed poultry meat Regulations we shall make explicit provision to give effect to the agreement we won in Brussels that, for purposes of home market trade, where poultry meat is cut up or stored in premises which are not part of a slaughterhouse veterinary supervision will not be obligatory and that the task may be assigned to "a suitably qualified officer of a local authority"; the latter term will be defined to mean a person holding one of the qualifications accepted as valid for the Environmental Health Officer.

Second, in a guidance circular to local authorities we will make it clear that an official veterinary surgeon employed by them for the purposes of the Regulations will normally be a member of the Environmental Health Department of the local authority and will utilise the support services of that Department. You will, of course, appreciate that this must be advice and not a direction to local authorities.

You also expressed concern about the effect of the poultry meat decisions in the wider context of food hygiene. So far as red meat slaughterhouses are concerned, we are already committed to veterinary responsibility in the export context. For the home market, we have a Swann Committee recommendation that there should be veterinary responsibility. We have had a lot of representation on this and many other recommendations of the Committee. We have not yet reached decisions and I cannot commit myself one way or the other.

Outside the slaughterhouse, I can be a good deal more definite. Where, in the field of meat based products, veterinary responsibility is required for export puropses, we shall have to go on providing it but for home market purposes we certainly do not envisage an extension of veterinary requirements and, as I am sure you know, David Owen gave a categorical answer to a written question on this subject on 24th May. In short, the members of the Association can be assured that the poultry meat Regulations are not, as some of them fear, the visible part of a large wedge designed to prise general food hygiene from their responsibility or to bring about the setting up of a local authority veterinary organisation independent of local authority Environmental Health Departments.

Frederick Peart.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money has been paid to the United Kingdom authorities as security on vegetable proteins.

Up to 30th June 1976 securities to the value of £6·4 million had been lodged with the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list giving the names of the chairmen, deputy chairmen and members of the agricultural lands tribunals of England and Wales and their eight regions, the amount of salary and fees of entitlement and actually claimed and the cost of these for the most recent stated year.

The information in respect of chairmen and deputy chairmen is as follows:EASTERN

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give details of the chairman and members of the Agricultural Training Board and their salaries, fees and expenses as paid during the past 12 months.

The membership of the Agricultural Training Board at 31st March 1976 was as follows:Chairman

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give details of the chairman and members of the Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales and their salaries, fees and expenses as paid during the past 12 months.

The board consists of the following members:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give details of the 31 agricultural wages committees and their salaries and fees and expenses as paid during the past 12 months

These Committees have been established as set out in the Agricultural Wages Committee (Areas) Order 1974 (SI 1974 No. 515).In addition to the usual subsistence allowances and travelling expenses, chairmen and independent members are paid fees of £5 and £4 per meeting, respectively; and representative members can claim loss of earnings of up to £8 per day.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish a detailed list of the 28 boards, committees, sub-committee boards, &c., sponsored by his Department, the various salaries, fees, expenses, &c., paid during the past 12 months and the total annual costs of these organisations.

It would not be possible to provide information in addition to that given in the Directory of Paid Public Appointments without disproportionate cost to public funds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the Government's declared policy of reducing Government expenditure, he will reduce the number of boards, commissions and committees, etc., sponsored by his Department, and the salaries and expenses as paid to the members of the same.

I am satisfied that the boards and committees for which I am solely or jointly responsible are necessary for the discharge of public business and that there is no excessive expenditure of public funds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tonnes of beef are held in intervention in each country of the United Kingdom.

Separate statistics are maintained only for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. On 25th June, subject to final verification, about 11,800 tonnes were in store in Great Britain and 2,100 tonnes in Northern Ireland. All the Northern Ireland stocks were purchased in Northern Ireland while the Great Britain stocks include some 4,500 tonnes purchased in Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of United Kingdom annual consumption of beef is represented by current stocks held in intervention.

It is estimated that current stocks of beef held by the United Kingdom in intervention stores represent just over 1 per cent. of consumption in the last 12 months.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what method is used to release intervention stocks of beef on to the market; and how prices are fixed.

Intervention stocks of beef held by the United Kingdom are being sold through the Community's "jumelage" scheme, whereby the purchase of beef from intervention stores gives a trader an entitlement to import equivalent quantities from countries outside the EEC, despite present import restrictions. Prices are settled each month by tenders which are adjudicated in the EEC Beef Management Committee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) in view of the urgent need to conserve salmon and migratory trout, if he will take steps to encourage byelaws to control sea fishing in the South-West of England;(2) in view of the urgent need to conserve salmon and migratory trout in the South-West, what further steps he proposes to take to stop the illegal taking of salmon in estuarial and tidal waters.

Water authorities are responsible for the initiation of byelaws to conserve salmon and migratory trout in their areas. It is, therefore, for them to make any new proposals if necessary. My right hon. Friend has, in recent months, approved byelaws dealing with these matters in South-West England. Control over illegal taking of salmon is an enforcement problem which is the responsibility of water authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the arrangements under which a man aged 64 years 11 months is obliged to pay £5 to renew his driving licence for a period which lasts until he is almost 70, whereas a man aged 65 can renew his licence for £1; and whether he will consider allowing either an adjusted fee or a short-term licence at an annual rate of £1 to meet this difficulty.

Under the present arrangements the £5 fee covers licence renewal after, as well as before, age 70. To provide for a sliding fee scale or short-term licences would mean increasing fees to cover increased administrative costs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations the Government have received from the water authorities in England and Wales to extend their powers to regulate the supply of water.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action his Department is taking to encourage the public to reduce domestic water consumption.