asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is yet in a position to publish a White Paper on the implications of the concept of separate Scottish armed forces.

I do not think a White Paper is called for because the idea of separate armed forces for Scotland is not, I hope, a proposition seriously advanced by anyone.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many senior officers of two-star rank and above are at present serving in the main Ministry of Defence building in Whitehall.

Fifty-two.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what numbers of people are at present employed in the Royal ordnance factories; and how this compares with the numbers so employed on 1st July 1975.

Some 21,900 are at present employed in the Royal ordnance factories, compared with 19,300 on 1st July 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about discussions with the German Government on new offset arrangements.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price) on 12th May.—[Vol. 911, c. 176.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied that the conditions of work of civilian staff employed by his Department are at all times consistent with the best standards now prevailing in the private sector.

We do the best we can within the resources available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to reduce British armed forces in Europe this year.

I have nothing to add to this year's statement on the Defence Estimates (Command 6432).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he next plans to visit British forces in Germany.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the latest figures available for the costs and numbers of British forces stationed in Germany; and what progress has been made in obtaining offsetting payments.

The estimated cost of the forces in Germany for 1976–77 is £605 million, of which about two-thirds is in foreign exchange. Both figures exclude equipment. The estimated average strength for personnel in the same period is about 65,000. As regards the negotiations for a new offset agreement, I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price) on 12th May 1976.—[Vol. 911, c. 176.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what effects reorganisation of the command structure will have on the ability of formations in BAOR to co-ordinate their operations with other NATO formations; and if he will make a statement.

As I explained to the House during the debate on the Army on 6th May, the trials in BAOR highlighted the need for a revision of our command and control arrangements. I am satisfied that our ability to provide up to two tactical command posts in each armoured division, to exercise direct operational command of battlegroups, will enhance our capability to operate in conjunction with allied forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army personnel are currently serving in Northern Ireland.

Approximately 14,500 Regular Army personnel are currently serving in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total cost to the British Government of the emergency in Northern Ireland for the Armed Forces for each separate year since the emergency began.

The estimated extra costs of military operations in Northern Ireland for the years in question are as follows:

				£ million
1969–70	…	…	…	1½
1970–71	…	…	…	6½
1971–72	…	…	…	14
1972–73	…	…	…	29
1973–74	…	…	…	33
1974–75	…	…	…	45
1975–76	…	…	…	60

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about current operations in Northern Ireland.

Army operations continue throughout the Province assisting the police in the task of combating violence and terrorism. So far this year some 600 persons have been arrested and charged with terrorist offences and there have been a number of good finds of terrorists' arms, ammunition and explosives material. I very much regret that, since my reply to the hon. Member on 15th June, two young soldiers have lost their lives as a result of terrorists' actions: one on 28th June due to injuries sustained when a bomb exploded near Crossmaglen on 22nd June; and the other on 3rd July when he was shot while on sentry duty in Londonderry. I know the House will join me in expressing sympathy for the relatives and friends of these brave soldiers.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the progress now being made towards standardisation in NATO.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with current progress on standardisation in NATO.

I am satisfied that all members of the Alliance are aware in making their procurement decisions of the importance of standardisation and of the need to make progress in this difficult field. Progress can, however, only be gradual, and continuing patient efforts will be necessary for some years to come.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recognition he intends to make of the achievement of two members of Her Majesty's Forces in reaching the summit of Everest.

I am extremely proud of the achievement of the Everest expedition, as is the whole of the Army, and I am sure the House will join me in congratulating all the members of the team on their success.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the progress of the MRCA/Tornado in relation to its cost estimates and performance.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the progress of MRCA.

The development programme continues to go well and the eighth prototype is due to fly in the next few days. I am satisfied that the aircraft will meet fully the RAF's performance requirements.On costs, it remains my view that this has been a well managed programme with increases in real terms kept to the minimum.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects arrangements for the production of MRCA to be finally agreed between the British, German and Italian Governments.

Shortly, I hope.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of gross national product is currently devoted to defence expenditure; and what was the equivalent figure for 1960.

In 1976–77 it is estimated that the defence budget will account for about 5·5 per cent. of gross national product at factor cost. In 1960–61 the comparable figure was 6·9 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what reactions he has received from the United Kingdom's NATO allies to his latest round of cuts in defence expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

NATO is still considering the reductions, and I cannot say at this stage when this process will be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider reducing the proportion of the nation's resources devoted to defence to bring it into line with other Western European nations.

In the Defence Review and subsequently I have made substantial reductions in planned defence expenditure. Defence expenditure is subject to the public expenditure annual review, to ensure that the balance between the requirements of security and the economy is being maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made towards the extension of joint training arrangements for all three Services.

We are seeking to promote joint training arrangements wherever this would result in greater efficiency and economy. An independent report has just been completed by Mr. E. R. L. Lewis, Chief Training Consultant in the Training Services Agency, and is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which main types of tank or armoured fighting vehicles in use by British forces are also available for sale abroad.

Most types of tank and armoured fighting vehicles in British use are available for export, subject to our policies on the sale of arms to other countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what deductions he has drawn from recent revelations of much increased Soviet defence expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

Our latest estimates of Soviet defence expenditure show that their leaders continue to devote a much higher share of their resources to defence than any NATO country. Indeed, their defence expenditure exceeds their combined total for health and education. Comparatively speaking, their defence industries are less efficient than we had thought. These latest estimates do not change our view of the increasing strength and quality of Soviet military capability.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he proposes to recommend the acceptance of AWACS for NATO forces; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing further to add to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Arnold).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants of the rank of under-secretary and above are now employed by his Ministry in its main building in Whitehall.

Sixty.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the maritime and air aspects of NATO defence strategy as opposed to land defence aspects; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that NATO's strategy of flexibility in response remains valid. It is just as applicable to maritime and air defence as it is to land defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make it his policy to retain army combat forces outside Europe, and to maintain BAOR ground forces at their present level.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement on the Defence Estimates 1976 (Command 6432) with regard to the first part of the Question. I do not envisage any reductions in the Central Region in advance of an MBFR agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he intends taking to protect workers at Chatham and other Royal Naval dockyards from mesothelioma, in view of the recent report by the Royal Navy and the Medical Research Council that they are three times more likely to contract this cancer associated with asbestos than the general population.

There is nothing in the report quoted which suggests that the Royal dockyards should modify their present protective measures. Crocidolite, the blue asbestos, which is now known to cause mesothelioma, has not been supplied for use in the Royal dockyards since 1966.Comprehensive safety precautions for working with asbestos and the safe working methods to be followed have been in force in the Royal dockyards for some time. The Regulations, which stem from the Asbestos Regulations 1969, and are covered by the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act, 1974, are strictly enforced, and are considered to be quite adequate for the protection of workers from possible hazards arising from working with asbestos.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the visit of the Romanian Defence Minister to the United Kingdom.

Yes. Colonel General Coman, the Romanian Minister of National Defence, visited this country at my invitation from 22nd to 26th June. This was the first time that a Romanian Defence Minister has come to this country since World War II and is one of a number of visits by Romanian Ministers since the signing of the Joint Declaration in September 1975 by the then Prime Minister and President Ceausescu in Bucharest. In return, British Ministers have visited Romania.We had a useful exchange of views, in the course of which we reaffirmed our wish to see a further reduction of tension in Europe. General Coman also met my right hon. Friends the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.In the course of his visit General Coman toured a number of defence establishments and the Rolls-Royce factory where the engine for the Romanian/Yugoslav "Jurom" aircraft is being manufactured.General Coman and I agreed that his visit contributed to the further development of mutual understanding between our two countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made in the overseas sales of Harrier and Sea Harrier.

Several countries are interested and we are keeping in close touch with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost to public funds of the long-range weather forecasting unit of the Meteorological Office.

The monthly long-range weather forecasts are produced as one task of the unit in the Meteorological Office responsible for research into climate and climatic change. The research related specifically to monthly forecasts and ways of improving them costs about £110,000 per annum, and this work naturally includes the production of monthly forecasts by the best methods now available. The cost of preparing these forecasts for issue to the public is about £6,000 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will arrange for all staff officers at Headquarters Ulster Defence Regiment to serve for a period with a UDR battalion and to gain experience of both border and urban duties.

The staff officers at Headquarters, Ulster Defence Regiment, are Regular Army and all but one have completed previous tours in Northern Ireland with their parent regiments and have experience of border and/or urban duties. We have no plans, nor do we consider there is any particular need, for these officers to serve for a period with a UDR battalion but, as I advised the hon. Member on 10th May, Commander UDR and his staff maintain very close co-operation with the UDR battalions and spend as much time as possible visiting battalion headquarters and units throughout the Province.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is aware that at least one UDR battalion commander is paid less than his training major; and what is being done to change the situation whereby different pay scales apply to a number of those doing equivalent duties.

Yes. This UDR battalion commander is a member of the non-Regular permanent Staff of the Ulster Defence Regiment. His training major is a Regular Army officer. The respective rates of pay for non-Regular permanent officers of the UDR and Regular Army officers reflect their different terms and conditions of service. Those of the non-Regular permanent staff are currently under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will arrange for a study to be carried out of the extent to which the Royal Air Force search and rescue helicopter service could assist in fisheries protection work by the provision of information on movements of foreign trawlers.

No. The search and rescue helicopters of the Royal Air Force are deployed especially to provide an emergency service on short notice standby to save human life. Their diversion to routine surveillance tasks for fishery protection is incompatible with this essential role.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the strength of British naval, air and military forces east of Suez at the present time; what is the annual cost; and if he will compare the present figure with that of five and 10 years ago, respectively.

The total strength of British forces stationed east of Suez on 1st April 1976 was 12,653. Over 70 per cent. of this figure represents the Hong Kong garrison and over half the total number are Gurkhas and locally enlisted personnel. The foreign exchange cost in the current financial year is estimated to be £31 million. Comparative figures for April 1971 and April 1966 were 41,260 and 98,036 and £57 million and £123 million, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers are at present unemployed in the metropolitan borough of Stockport; and how many jobs are available suitable for school leavers in the borough.

On 10th June there were 628 school leavers registered as unemployed and 35 unfilled vacancies for young people, including school leavers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the total numbers of workers for whom approval has been given for the payment of the temporary employment subsidy by industry and by region.

As at 6th July, the nearest available date, the numbers are as shown on the attached schedule:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of male and female employees employed in Scotland in February 1974 and at the last available date.

A new series of quarterly employment statistics linked to the annual censuses of employment started in June 1974. The numbers of employees in employment in Scotland at that date were 1,227,000 males and 857,000 females. The figures for subsequent quarters are in course of revision as the results of the 1975 census of employment become available. I shall circulate shortly in the Official Report the revised figures for the most recent date.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of those currently out of work in Banffshire were last employed in the Scotch whisky industry.

The Standard Industrial Classification, on which the industrial analysis of the unemployment statistics is based, does not identify whisky distilling separately but includes it under the heading "Other drink industries". At 10th June, eight unemployed people who last worked in these industries were registered at employment offices and careers offices in Banffshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has decided where to allocate the remainder of the 4,000 places authorised for community industry.

Yes. The 185 hitherto unallocated places will be distributed as follows: new units, each of 50 places, will be established in the London boroughs of Haringey and Lambeth and in the county of Avon. I am glad to inform my hon. Friend that the area of operation of the latter unit will include his constituency. The existing unit in the London borough of Lewisham will receive an addition of 35 places.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the brewing firms and brewing co-operatives in the United Kingdom which have received grants so far from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund; and what criteria are used by his Department in recommending applications for grants to the EEC Commission.

In the years for which decisions have so far been announced under the FEOGA Individual Projects Scheme, no brewing firms or co-operatives in the United Kingdom applied for grants.It is our policy to submit to the EEC Commission all applications for grant which appear to meet the conditions of eligibility.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost of preparing and dispatching reminders to renew driving licences; and why he regards such a reminder as necessary and justified in terms of cost.

No separate cost of figures are available; but bearing in mind that the reminders are issued automatically, incorporate basic details from the centralised driver licensing records which enable them to be machine-read, and serve as application forms, I consider that their use more than offsets the cost of their issue.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish the total costs involved in running all aspects of car registration and related matters, together with staffs employed immediately prior to moving to Swansea; what are the latest stated figures, including the costs of all matters connected with computerisation, new building and other stated costs; and what has been the total cost involved in the move to Swansea.

The cost of vehicle licensing and registration in 1973–74, the last full year before centralisation of the work began, is estimated to have been approximately £19 million. Staff directly employed was about 4,700. The cost in 1975–76 on a comparable price basis and including the transfer of records from local taxation officers was around £30 million and the number of staff directly engaged 6,700. It is estimated that the cost in 1978–79, when centralisation will have been completed, will be about £23 million and staff directly involved about 5,150.The 1978–79 cost covers an increase in the volume of business largely related to the growth in vehicle population and to improvements made possible by centralisation such as the issue of licence renewal reminders. Capital expenditure on buildings and computer equipment at Swansea and the cost of planning and programming work associated with the change to the centralised driver and vehicle licensing system is approximately £19·8 million. It is not possible to isolate the proportion of this attributable to vehicle licensing and registration without undue effort.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost to public funds of the Dartmoor inquiry into the alternative use of land for the Army in the West Country.

The report of the inquiry is still awaited and the work and costs involved are therefore not yet complete. However, since more than one Government Department or body in receipt of public funds has been involved it will not be possible to supply the information which the hon. Member seeks without disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can estimate the total rent paid by an occupier since 1952 on an average council house; and if he will compare this with the price he would have paid if he had bought a similar house.

The sum in money terms of the rent—unrebated—paid each week from 1952 to 1975 would amount to about £2,100; this would be equivalent to about £1,250 at 1952 prices. The purchase price of an equivalent house would have been about £2,000 in 1952. A full comparison would need to take into account, in particular, maintenance and insurance expenses, transaction costs, mortgage facilities, tax liabilities and reliefs, and obligations for the future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of occasions in the last two years on which regional water authorities have had to put restrictions on the use of domestic water.

I regret that information about the number of occasions on which restrictions have been imposed is not readily available.During the summer of 1974 six water authorities in England and Wales banned the use of hosepipes for a time in some parts of their areas. In the summer of 1975 the number was seven. This year all but one of the 10 water authorities have done so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for the tolls payable on the Severn Bridge to be increased to help finance the construction of motorways in Wales.

No. Under the Severn Bridge Act 1965, revenue from tolls can be used only to pay the actual and expected costs of the bridge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the services listed in his Written Answers of 24th May 1976, Official Report column 34, namely those described in the Transport Consultative Document as "All the passenger services", cover their direct costs.

Compensation for the public service obligation imposed on British Railways under the Railways Act 1974 is paid for the totality of the net cost of operating the rail passenger system. Information on the costs and earnings of individual services is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, once a local authority has approved an improvement grant under section 5(1) of the Housing Act 1969, the amount of that grant can, at the discretion of the local authority, be increased, where the cost of carrying out the improvement has increased between the date of the approval and the date on which the improvement is carried out.

No, except in respect of additional works the need for which could not, in the opinion of the local authority, have been reasonably foreseen when the application was made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning inspectors were employed in each year since 1968; and how many are employed at the present time.

The number of housing and planning inspectors in post on the dates shown were:

1st April 1971	…	…	…	…	149
1st April 1972	…	…	…	…	148
1st April 1973	…	…	…	…	195
1st April 1974	…	…	…	…	215
1st April 1975	…	…	…	…	218
1st April 1976	…	…	…	…	200

Figures on this basis are not available for earlier years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to ensure that motor car bodies fulfil certain minimum requirements in terms of strength as a safety measure.

I have no proposals at present. In a collision the crumpling of a vehicle's bodywork absorbs some of the force of the impact. Research into the optimum strength of vehicle bodies is in progress, but our immediate aim, as far as dealing with the effects of accidents is concerned, is to concentrate on those factors most likely to minimise injuries. These include the strength of door latches and hinges, protective steering mechanisms, and seat belts and their anchorages.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on pollution in the River Churnet.

In the 1973 updating of the River Pollution Survey, the River Churnet was graded as follows:

• 3·9 Km Class 1 (Unpolluted and recovered from pollution).
• 10·1 Km Class 2 (Of doubtful quality needing improvement).
• 12·1 Km Class 3 (Of poor quality requiring improvement as a matter of some urgency).
• 10 Km Class 4 (Grossly polluted).

I understand from the Severn-Trent Water Authority that its records indicate that the river is showing a gradual trend towards improvement in quality.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will review the case for the provision of a footpath or underpass on the Al at Bonarsteads, Tweedmouth, in the light of the larger number of children expected to cross the road in that vicinity as a result of the reorganisation of schools in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

No, but a scheme for a pelican crossing is under active consideration, and this is thought to be the solution to the problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for each housing authority in England, what proportion of the authority's expenditure goes on repairs and maintenance; and what is the actual expenditure on repairs and maintenance per house per year for the latest year for which figures are available in each of those housing authorities.

I refer the hon. Member to the annual statistical publications of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet received expert medical advice on the possibility of a reaction between carbon monoxide and chlorine producing phosgene gas; and, if so, what was that advice.

I have not yet received the advice to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received urging him to approve recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission concerning warding proposals for Kent districts; which districts these con-

CONSTITUENCIES IN GREATER LONDON
A—INNER LONDON
Constituency			Parliamentary electorate 1976	Parliamentary electorate 1971	Variation (Column (2) minus Column (3))
(1)			(2)	(3)	(4)
Hampstead	…	…	63,125	70,004	-6,879
Holborn and St. Pancras, South	…	…	38,887	44,031	-5,144
St. Pancras, North	…	…	40,662	44,573	-3,911
Greenwich	…	…	52,913	52,575	+338
Woolwich, East	…	…	51,262	51,063	+99
Woolwich, West	…	…	57,074	58,420	-1,346
Hackney, Central	…	…	47,242	51,095	-3,853
Hackney, North and Stoke Newington	…	…	50,430	56,866	-6,436
Hackney, South and Shoreditch	…	…	46,070	51,576	-5,506
Fulham	…	…	58,360	64,304	-5,944
Hammersmith, North	…	…	52,604	57,952	-5,348
Islington, Central	…	…	43,575	51,261	-7,686
Islington, North	…	…	39,482	47,093	-7,611
Islington, South and Finsbury	…	…	40,847	47,203	-6,356
Chelsea	…	…	62,099	74,304	-12,205
Kensington	…	…	58,458	68,025	-9,567
Lambeth, Central	…	…	48,705	50,593	-1,888
Norwood	…	…	52,859	55,556	-2,697
Streatham	…	…	56,672	59,063	-2,391
Vauxhall	…	…	44,564	50,906	-6,342
Deptford	…	…	58,291	65,235	-6,944
Lewisham, East	…	…	69,048	71,465	-2,417
Lewisham, West	…	…	61,335	65,360	-4,025
Bermondsey	…	…	54,578	60,028	-5,450
Dulwich	…	…	65,830	66,703	-873
Peckham	…	…	59,306	73,140	-13,834
Bethnal Green and Bow	…	…	52,786	59,499	-6,713
Stepney and Poplar	…	…	59,967	64,588	-4,621
Battersea, North	…	…	44,250	45,189	-939
Battersea, South	…	…	45,836	52,320	-6,484
Putney	…	…	65,739	68,766	-3,027
Tooting	…	…	52,995	56,180	-3,185
City of London and Westminster, South	…	…	51,004	57,478	-6,474
Paddington	…	…	57,323	66,187	-8,864
St. Marylebone	…	…	42,334	46,846	-4,512

None; the only representations so far received have urged my right hon. Friend to modify in part the commission's final proposals for the districts concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the current electorates in each parliamentary constituency in (a) Inner and (b) Outer London, indicating the variations as compared with the first electoral registers published after the establishment of the present constituency boundaries.

The information is as follows: