asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the result of the latest review of public service pensions.

The Government have now concluded this year's review of public service pensions. The pensioners concerned include former teachers, servicemen, nurses, policemen, firemen, local government workers, civil servants, MPs and many others.The Government believe that it is right to protect pensions against inflation and that this principle, which has commanded general acceptance by the House and by successive Governments, should not be lightly abandoned because of short-term considerations.The rate of inflation has been substantially reduced over the last 12 months and under the existing arrangements the percentage increases for public service pensioners in 1976 will be 13·8 per cent., which is less than that due next November for State retirement pensioners. This will mean an average increase of some £2·40 a week for the million or so public service pensioners concerned.The Government have decided that in all the circumstances it would be wrong to modify the statutory requirements of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 or to interfere with the existing provisions for the protection of other pensions, not covered by the Act. I shall therefore be laying next month an Order according to the requirements of Section 2 of the Act authorising the necessary increases from 1st December next.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants in the following grades are located in London, Edinburgh and Cardiff, respectively: permanent secretary, deputy secretary, under secretary, assistant secretary, senior principal, principal, senior executive officer, higher executive officer (a), higher executive officer, administrative trainee and executive officer.

I am having the information assembled and will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the salary scale of an assistant secretary in the Civil Service.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. George Cunningham) on 21st June—[Vol. 913, c. 334].

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, the total number of ministerial cocktail parties and receptions held and for what stated purposes; which MPs and Lords attended them; whether, in view of the Government's policy of cutting expenditure, he will end these parties; and what the annual savings would be if such action were taken.

The total number of ministerial cocktail receptions arranged and paid for from the Government Hospitality Fund during the financial year 1975–76 was 71. These receptions were given for overseas guests attending international conferences sponsored by Her Majesty's Government, or in which Her Majesty's Government have a direct interest, and for visiting foreign Heads of State, Ministers and missions coming to this country for official talks. Figures are not readily available for the number of MPs and Lords who attended. Had these functions not taken place, the saving for the year would have been £40,792. It is Government policy to extend a reasonable degree of hospitality to distinguished visitors from overseas, both as a necessary courtesy and a contribution towards the successful outcome of the visit. The expenditure involved is modest by comparison with the good will generated and the potential advantage to the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give an estimated date for the placing of an order for a SGHWR, and the expected cost.

The Nuclear Power Company is currently preparing cost estimates for the SGHWR steam supply system. The current target date in its programme for start of construction of the first reactor unit is spring 1978. I understand that an order would need to be placed about six months before that.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what action is proposed on the Coal Industry Joint Policy Advisory Committee proposals submitted to the National Energy Conference on 22nd June.

The paper submitted by the Coal Industry Joint Policy Advisory Committee was valuable in emphasising the long-term importance of coal. Its specific proposals for increased coal-fired generating plant will be taken into account in future decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much coal is stockpiled now, as compared with the same date in 1973, 1974 and 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much coal is stockpiled up to the latest available date.

Total stocks as at the end of June of each year were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the demand for coal exceeds home-produced supplies.

There is ample production capacity to meet our main domestic demand for coal, though there can sometimes be shortages of indivdual qualities.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the prospects of harnessing tides and wave movements to produce electricity.

The Advisory Council on Research and Development for Fuel and Power has advised that a full feasibility study on tidal power is not justified at the present time, but studies have been commissioned on two important technical aspects.Although wave energy technology is at a very early stage of development, initial indications are encouraging, and my Department has mounted a £1 million research programme over the next two years to explore the feasibility further.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy which European countries now insist as part of their current or proposed oil exploration policies on licensees paying the costs of exploration in these cases where State participation could or would follow upon the discovery of oil.

From information readily available, most European countries with oil exploration and participation policies appear to require licensees to bear the costs of exploration. In certain cases, these may be proportionately re-imbursed in the event of participation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give details of any resignations from the European team working on fusion research at Culham; and if he will make a statement on the future of the project.

The members of the Euratom JET design team remain in the employment of their parent organisations and are seconded to the team for varying periods in accordance with the needs of the work and, to some extent, the individuals' own wishes. The size of the team has fallen from a peak of 53 in April 1976 to the present 48 by the departure of seven people and the arrival of two. The agreements under which the JET design team are financed have been extended for six months to 31st December 1976.No decision has been taken on the siting and construction of the JET project. As the House knows, the Government are firmly of the view that Culham is the best site.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will provide an estimate of the cost of the BNOC's share in the appraisal and exploration of those blocks proposed for licensing in the fifth round consultative document.

The cost of BNOC's contribution to exploration and appraisal in licences issued under the fifth Round will depend on two factors: the response to the offer of licences and the drilling obligations agreed with successful applicants. These are variable factors and an accurate estimate is not possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will indicate the energy efficiency of the most recently commissioned oil- and coal-fired power stations.

The latest available figures—1974–75—are:

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if any conditions were attached to the £48 million grant made by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of Kenya; and, if so, what these conditions were.

The usual accounting and procedural conditions will apply. Special provisions on such matters as farm valuation and exchange control exemption are prescribed for the land transfer programme under which mixed farms still in British ownership are to be transferred to Kenyan ownership.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what was the average annual rate of decline in the percentage of GNP and of public expenditure devoted to official Government overseas aid and development programmes between 1960 and 1964, 1964 and 1970, 1970 and 1974 and since 1974.

Official development assistance as a percentage of GNP declined at an average annual rate of 2 per cent. between 1960 and 1964, and 6 per cent. between 1964 and 1970; between 1970 and 1974 it increased at an average annual rate of 1 per cent., and since then it has barely changed. As a percentage of public expenditure it declined at an average annual rate of 3 per cent. between 1960 and 1964, 7½ per cent. between 1964 and 1970, and 3 per cent. between 1970 and 1974; since then it has fallen a further 3½ per cent.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development whether he will publish figures for the years from 1961 to 1975, inclusive, showing the proportion of gross national product represented by that expenditure on overseas aid and development.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister for Overseas Development whether he will make a statement on the implications for British overseas aid and development policies of discussions covering this sphere of Government responsibility at recent OECD meetings.

At the Ministerial Meeting of the Council of the OECD held on 21st and 22nd June, member Governments recognised the need to improve further opportunities for developing countries in trade and in investment and technology. Ministers also recognised that increased concessional official development assistance is required, specially for those most in need. We accept that. However, we have always had to make it clear that our own ability to provide increased concessional aid must depend on the pace of our own economic recovery and on the calls on our resources.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what arrangements have been made in respect of pension payments to pensioners of the Cotton Research Corporation.

Because of the dissolution of the corporation, and by virtue of an agreement incorporating appropriate financial and other arrangements, my Ministry has assumed responsibility for benefits related to payment of pensions to a small number of pensioners of the corporation. Legislation to cover such payments will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows. Parliamentary approval of this new service will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate, for the Pensions etc. (Overseas Services) Vote. Pending that approval, the necessary expenditure will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if, like Holland, Japan, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, Great Britain will make a modest contribution to the United Nations Centre for Economic and Social Information (CESI); and, if not, why not.

Unfortunately, within a limited aid programme we cannot support all desirable activities in the development field. However, part of the cost of CESI is defrayed through the regular budget of the United Nations to which we contribute; additionally we are prepared to consider on request contributions to specific activities which CESI may undertake from time to time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to allow water authorities to control estuary netting.

No. Existing powers exercised both by water authorities and local fisheries committees are adequate if effectively enforced.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to restrict the issue of salmon net licences to professional fishermen only.

No. Existing legislation already provides for water authorities to issue net licences to persons dependent on fishing for their livelihood.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to lay before Parliament the regulations about poultry evisceration and allied subjects.

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to lay the Poultry Meat (Hygiene) Regulations.

A statement will be made when a final decision on these matters has been taken.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to encourage corporate and structural rationalisation of the United Kingdom sugar refining industry.

My right hon. Friend is considering, in consultation with the companies and other interested parties, the reorganisation of the cane sugar refining industry. It would not be appropriate at this stage to express views about the future corporate structure of the industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the £1 million per annum which his Department is spending on fish farming research is concerned with problems found in the South-West of England.

It is not possible to attribute research and development problems arising on fish farming to any particular part of the country. My Department's programme cannot, therefore, be related to any single region.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has completed his review of beef market prospects; and if he will make a statement.

After consultation with the industry I have reviewed with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, the current state of the beef market and the likely prospects for the second half of 1976. We have taken into account that supplies are likely to be lower this autumn than the high levels in autumn 1975; that though farmers in certain areas of the country are facing difficulties because of the dry weather, fodder supplies are in general quite adequate, especially in the main livestock rearing areas; and that the EEC has recently introduced two schemes for Community-aided private storage of beef as measures to maintain market stability.We have concluded that for the time being there is no need to change the current balance between the premium and intervention arrangements in the United Kingdom. Should the beef market show unexpected weakness it remains the intention of the Government to allow intervention to underpin the market in order to achieve the target price.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what monitoring is carried out of postal training courses undertaken by prisoners.

Approval for a prisoner to undertake a correspondence course is normally given on behalf of the Governor by the prison education officer who also monitors progress. Applications are referred to Prison Department Headquarters where the nature or cost of the course do not fall within the Governor's delegated powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants who have settled in the United Kingdom in the last 20 years have been legally married to more than one wife at the same time in their country of origin.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) Asians and (b) Africans have emigrated to Great Britain in any year since 1964 from (a) Kenya, (b) Uganda, (c) Zambia, (d) South African and (e) Rhodesia.

The information requested is not available. Statistics relating to people subject to immigration control are not compiled on the basis of race but according to the country or territory issuing the passport. They are published annually in a Command Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the amount of revenue lost in 1976 through non-payment of television licences; and if he will make a statement.

The question of evasion is kept under continuous review by a joint working party of the Home Office, Post Office and British Broadcasting Corporation on the administration of the broadcast receiving licence system. The estimates based on the latest available information suggests that some 850,000 households are now using television sets without the appropriate television licences and that the loss of revenue is of the order of £7·5 million a year. All possible steps are being taken to reduce these evasion figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been instituted during the past 12 months under Section 345 of the Middlesex County Council Act 1944 against gipsies for unlawfully keeping caravans on land in the Greater London area.

Provisional figures for 1975 do not show any prosecutions under this provision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the parliamentary election deposit was fixed at £150; and by how much this would have to be raised to preserve its value in real terms at 1st July 1976.

The amount of the deposit was fixed at £150 in 1918. The comparable figure is now £1,035, an increase of £885.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total electorate on the current electoral registers for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, respectively.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give for the longest and most convenient stated period of time the number of persons who have been refused permission to remain in Great Britain after a temporary visitors' permit has expired who have subsequently been allowed to remain to take up employment in a private house as a domestic; and why this is permitted when workers for essential employment are refused such consideration.

The information requested in the first part of the Question is not available. In the case which I think my hon. Friend has in mind the person concerned qualified under Rule 25 of the Immigration Rules for Control on Entry: EEC and other Non-Commonwealth Nationals to work without a permit as the private servant of a diplomat.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances an immigrant, in a case, details of which have been supplied to him, having been refused permission to stay in Great Britain on 27th June as an au pair girl because she entered without an advance work permit, was granted permission on 9th July to stay as a domestic servant in a private residence.

I have explained in correspondence the circumstances of the case which I believe my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits have been issued in each of the last five years for those in the Commonwealth and New Commonwealth to join the Army, Air Force and Navy.

The work permit scheme is not applicable to Commonwealth citizens who come to this country to enlist in the home Forces. Statistics are not maintained of those given limited leave to enter for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons, on two occasions, he refused Mr. Tomas Macgiolla leader of the Official Sinn Fein, entrance to England.

Mr. Macgiolla was refused leave to enter the United Kingdom on 23rd July 1972 on the grounds that his presence in this country at that time would not have been conducive to the public good. His refusal on that occasion led to his removal when he came again on 29th September 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons he has granted Mr. Tomas Macgiolla leave to enter England; and in what way circumstances have changed since his previous refusal.

The organisation of which Mr. Macgiolla is understood to be president ceased to be proscribed in Northern Ireland in 1974. I have taken the view that no sufficient grounds exist at the present time to justify his exclusion under the Immigration Act 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what limitations have been placed on Mr. Tomas Macgiolla during his stay in England.

Mr. Macgiolla was given leave to enter the United Kingdom on 14th July, for not more than seven days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the estimated cost of providing security for Mr. Tomas Macgiolla during his stay in England;(2) what is the estimated cost of providing security for the meetings Mr. Tomas Macgiolla will address whilst in England.

No special protection arrangements were made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the number of appeals which are presently outstanding of those in the United Kingdom from the Commonwealth and New Commonwealth wishing to extend their period of stay in Great Britain.

On 31st May, the latest convenient date, the number of outstanding appeals from all Commonwealth citizens refused extensions of stay in the United Kingdom was about 2,350. Separate figures for citizens of New Commonwealth countries are not readily available.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will make a statement about the nature of the dispute that has delayed the publication of the Official Report for 2nd July 1976, stating the parties to the dispute, the issues in the dispute and the steps that have been taken to resolve it.

Printing of the Official Report for 2nd July was delayed due to the reluctance of some members of the National Graphical Association (NGA) to work overtime during the night of 2nd-3rd July. The action by the NGA affected the overtime earnings of some members of the National Society of Operative Printers Graphical and Media Personnel (NATSOPA). Five meetings have been held and the parties have agreed to endeavour to regain their previous working relationship. Management will now call for overtime to print the Official Report of 2nd July.

asked the Lord President of the Council what is the specific authority for his statement on 12th July, Official Report, c. 33, that Members who have earnings from other sources which take their total earnings to £8,500 or more are not eligible under the current round of the pay policy to receive the £6 supplement.

Paragraph 7 of Cmnd. 6151 stated that the Government considered the upper limit for the £6 increase should be £8,500, and I made clear to the House on 23rd July 1975 that no one earning £8,500 a year or more should take an increase of any kind within the period of the policy. It was on this basis that, in my statement on 12th July, I said that Members with total earnings of £8,500 or more would be asked to forgo the £6 supplement.

asked the Lord President of the Council what are the precise qualifications, educational or otherwise, needed by Library and research staff to enable them to use the Members' Tea Room; how many do and do not meet the criteria; and if he will make proposals.

In addition to Members, only Officers of the House are permitted to use the Members' Tea Room. Of the 76 staff of the Commons Library 24 are Officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he sought the support of the Soviet and/or, Cuban Governments in his efforts to secure reprieves for the mercenaries recently shot in Angola; and, if so, what response he received from those governments.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, the number of bodies which have been flown into Great Britain on behalf of British citizens for burial from stated countries overseas; who paid for these removals; and what official or other positions were held by these deceased persons.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not keep a record of the bodies flown back to this country on behalf of British citizens. Nor could the information requested be obtained from the records of the registrars of births and deaths in England and Wales without disproportionate expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with the Ethiopian Government the question of safety and early release of the Tyler family held captive in Ethiopia.

As soon as we knew that Dr. Tyler and his family had been taken captive, we made urgent contact with the Ethiopian Government and asked them to do all they could to secure the safe release of the family. We continue to try to secure their release by all possible means.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has protested to the Government of the Irish Republic about the use of their territory by the Provisional IRA for the purpose of attacking a Northern Ireland security patrol on Carlingford Lough which resulted in damage in Northern Ireland.

No. This is a matter best dealt with by local co-operation between the security forces on both sides of the border.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what message of condolence was sent to the Ugandan Government after the raid at Entebbe; and to whom it referred.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made on 12th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from the Pancypriot Committee of Parents and Relatives and Missing Persons of Undeclared Prisoners; and what action he proposes to take.

In common with most, if not all, Members of this House, I have received a copy of a letter recently circulated by the Pancypriot Committee. As to action, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Watford (Mr. Tuck) on 7th July.—[Vol. 914, c. 1351.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of his talks with the Gibraltarian delegation led by the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition which recently visited London; and if he will make a statement.

Talks were held in London on 24th to 25th June between myself and the Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition from Gibraltar. The talks were at the request of the Gibraltarian delegation and concerned proposals put forward by a Gibraltar Constitution Committee. The proposals, and Her Majesty's Government's replies, are set out in a Memorandum published in Gibraltar on 28th June and now placed in the Library of the House. Her Majesty's Government considered several of the proposals undesirable, and were not convinced of the need for a Constitutional Conference. However we undertook to give favourable consideration to the proposal to establish a committee system of government in Gibraltar if this is shown to have public support. I assured the delegation that Her Majesty's Government's policy remains based on the pledge in the preamble to the 1969 Gibraltar Constitution.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of households in each local authority who received assistance with the installation of telephones in 1974–75 and in 1975–76 expressed per 1,000 population.

The information requested is as follows for the year ended 31st March 1975:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of households in each local authority who received assistance with holidays in 1974–75 and in 1975–76 expressed per 1,000 population.

The following information is for the year ended 31st March 1975:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of households in each local authority who received assistance with the provision of aids in 1974–75 and in 1975–76 expressed per 1,000 population.

The information requested is as follows for the year ended 31st March 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of households containing disabled children in each local authority who received assistance with the provision of aids in 1974–75 and in 1975–76 expressed per 1,000 child population.

The information requested is as follows for the year ended 31st March 1975:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of households containing disabled children in each local authority who received assistance with holidays in 1974–75 and 1975–76 expressed per 1,000 child population.

The following infortion is for the year ended 31st March 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of households containing disabled children in each local authority who received assistance with adaptations to their homes in 1974–75 and in 1975–76 expressed per 1,000 child population.

The information requested is as follows for the year ended 31st March 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of households containing disabled children in each local authority who received assistance with the installation of telephones in 1974–75 and in 1975–76 expressed per 1,000 child population.

The information requested is as follows for the year ended 31st March 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of households in each local authority who received assistance with adaptations to their homes in 1974–75 and in 1975–76 expressed per 1,000 population.

The information requested is as follows for the year ended 31st March 1975:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what purpose is now being served by maintenance of garrisons at Salala and Masirah.

The RAF detachment at Salalah helps to operate the airfield there. The detachment will be withdrawn on 31st March 1977 after handing over its tasks to the Omani authorities.The personnel at Masirah run the staging facilities and the airfield there. Following the completion of the rundown in the Far East, the establishment of RAF Masirah has been reduced. We shall no longer require a staging post at Masirah, and accordingly we have agreed with the Sultan of Oman that RAF Masirah will close on 31st March 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what role British forces stationed in Oman have been performing since the end of the rebellion in Dhofar.

As I have informed my hon. Friend today, the RAF detachment at Salalah will be withdrawn on 31st March 1977. Our remaining direct assistance personnel are still needed to train Omanis and to undertake civil development and engineering projects.Personnel serving on loan to the Sultan's forces occupy a range of posts and will continue to be needed while the process of Omanisation takes place.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will put in hand immediately the work necessary to remove the public nuisance at the harbour in Drummore, Wigtownshire.

I am not aware of any public nuisance at this time in Drummore Harbour. If the hon. Member wishes to write to me giving some details I shall look into the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if sales of parts for Centurion tanks have been made by his Ministry direct to the Canadian Government without the use of a private firm as an intermediary agent.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances two soldiers went missing from their unit in Belfast; and if he will make a statement.

At between 11 p.m. on 12th July and 2 a.m. on 13th July, two soldiers went missing from their regiment, the 45th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery, stationed in Belfast. They were subsequently detained and have been charged with the attempted murder, on 12th July, of Mr. Robert Harper, of Belfast.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what use is made of conclusions reached at NATO non-military conferences such as the one being attended by 140 scientists and others on soil erosion and other kindred matters in Iceland.

I have nothing to add to the answers that I gave the hon. Member on 15th July—[Vol. 915, c. 253–55.]

asked the Prime Minister what steps he has taken to protect the lives of the 500 British citizens living in Uganda; and what plans he has made for evacuating these British citizens if it should prove necessary.

I have been asked to reply.I refer my hon. Friend to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in reply to supplementary questions on 15th July—[Vol. 915, c. 896–98]—and to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 16th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amount the personal tax allowance for a single person exceeded the basic widow's pension in each year from 1970–71 to 1975–76.

The information is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much is estimated to be contributed in direct taxation by those employed men aged between 60 and 65 years.

The information on which to base a precise estimate is not available. On the assumptions that the men earned the estimated average for all employees in their age group at April 1976 and that they paid the average tax rate corresponding to that income level, the income tax payable for 1976–77 would be about £700 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimated additional tax revenue would arise if all those unemployed men aged between 60 and 65 years were working on average earnings.

The information on which to base a precise estimate is not available. On the assumptions that the men remained unemployed for the whole tax year but if employed would have earned the average for all employees at April 1976 and would have paid tax at the average rate for that income, the additional income tax for 1976–77 would be about £100 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated loss in the receipts for the current financial year of imposing an upper limit of 50 per cent. on all personal direct taxation rates.

Assuming that the restriction to 50 per cent. includes the investment income surcharge and the investment income is treated as the top slice of a mixed income, the estimated loss for 1976–77 is about £630 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the present policy of exempting former Prime Ministers from tax on the benefits of the supply of a Government-financed car, on the basis that this exemption is given by virtue of their former office, applies to chairmen of nationalised industries.

Chairmen of nationalised industries do not continue to be supplied with a car after they have ceased to hold their office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of married women in employment are now taxed separately from their husbands.

Information is not available in precisely the form requested, but for 1976–77 it is estimated that about 2 per cent. of married couples would benefit from an election to have the wife's earned income taxed separately.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish a table showing for a married couple with three children the weekly value of tax refunds during sickness and unemployment, and the number of weeks for which these refunds will continue, assuming eligibility to benefit commences in weeks 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 of the tax year, and that previous weekly earnings were £25, £30, £40, £50, £60 and £70;(2) if he will publish a table showing, for each tax year since 1970–71 and including 1976–77, the weekly value of tax refunds and the maximum number of weeks for which they may be payable to an unemployed married man with three children who previously earned: (

I refer the hon. Member to the answers that I gave him on 6th July—[Official Report, 6th July 1976, Vol. 914, cols. 520–521.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many income tax payers currently receive family income supplement.

It is estimated that during the 1975–76 tax year 38,000 families had incomes above the threshold at the time family income supplement was awarded. It is not known, however, whether they remained taxpayers throughout the year or how many families with income below the tax threshold at the time of claim subsequently became taxpayers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that he will not announce any cuts in Government expenditure on the eve of or during the forthcoming parliamentary Summer Recess.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the right hon. Member for Barnet, Finchley (Mrs. Thatcher) on 29th June—[Vol. 914, c. 199.]—following his statement about the Puerto Rico summit meeting.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the loss of value added tax through evasion by businesses with turnovers of less than (a) £25,000 and (b) £50,000; what would be the cost to the Inland Revenue if those businesses were exempt from the tax; and what administrative savings would result.

The information requested in the first part of the Question is not available.The losses of Customs and Excise revenue if the value added tax exemption level were raised to £25,000 a year or £50,000 a year are estimated to be about £110 million and £150 million a year, respectively.It is not possible to estimate with any reasonable accuracy the number of registered traders who might seek de-registration. I regret that for this reason esti mates of the administrative savings are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to zero-rate for VAT purposes all charges for emptying cesspools and septic tanks.

I shall bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the light of proposed cuts in water supplies for September and October for periods of up to 13 hours per day and the consequent effect on production, employment, food production, prices and exports, he has made any estimate of how this will affect the balance of payments and the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling; and whether he will make a statement.

The degree to which water supplies will have to be conserved over the coming months is uncertain and it is not therefore possible to give estimates of the kind that my hon. Friend has in mind. However, any action in this field will take the fullest possible account of the needs of agriculture and industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the national income wages and salaries were in 1951, 1971 and 1975.

Following is the information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average annual rate of growth in the following periods (a) 1945 to 1951, (b) 1952 to 1964, (c) 1965 to 1970, (d) 1971 to 1973 and (e) 1974 to the present time.

Figures are available for gross domestic product at constant prices between 1946 and the first quarter of 1976. Between 1946 and 1951, the average annual rate of growth was 2·0 per cent.; between 1952 and 1964, it was 3·1 per cent.; between 1965 and 1970, it was 2·3 per cent.; between 1971 and 1973 it was 3·8 per cent.; and between the year 1974 and the first quarter of 1976, the latest quarter for which figures have been published, gross domestic product at constant prices rose at an annual average rate of 0·2 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average annual surplus or deficit in the current account of the balance of payments in the following periods: (a) 1945 to 1951, (b) 1952 to 1964, (c) 1965 to 1970, (d) 1971 to 1973 and (e) 1974 to the present time.

Current balance figures for 1945 are not available. Otherwise, the annual average surplus or deficit on the current account of the balance of payments has run as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis Ashfield House, Brookside Avenue, Liverpool 14, has been classified by valuation officers as commercial for rating purposes.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report and elsewhere definitions of M1, M2 and M3 in language that can be easily understood by the British people.

The following are broad definitions of MI, M2 and M3; they are not intended to be statistically exact. The definitions relate to the United Kingdom: these concepts vary from country to country.M1 is a narrow version of money. It consists mainly of notes and coin in circulation with the public and bank current accounts in sterling held by the private sector. It thus includes the two most frequently used means of payment, cash and the bank current accounts on which cheques are drawn.M2 was a slightly wider definition of money, which is no longer used.M3 is the widest definition of money in common use. It consists of notes and coin in circulation with the public—as in M1—together with all accounts—not just current accounts—with banks—both in sterling and foreign currencies—held by the United Kingdom private and public sectors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the 1977 Spring Bank Holiday is to be the first Monday in June rather than the last Monday in May; when this was decided; and how is was announced.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Prime Minister in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 18th December last—[Vol. 902, c. 87].

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, of the 400,000 forms sent out inviting application for the new subcontractors' tax certificate, how many applications have been submitted, how many approved and how many have yet to be decided at the latest convenient date.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th July 1976], gave the following information:At the latest count, on 8th July, 248,047 applications had been received. Of these, 158,324 have been approved and 16,370 refused. 73,353 are still under examination.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the revenue of allowing travelling expenses as a deduction for income tax purposes, in whole or in part, if he were to adopt, respectively: (a) the Belgian system, (b) the Danish system and (c) the Dutch system of tax allowances.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 12th July 1976; Vol. 915, c. 106], gave the following answer:I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the approximate amount of a unified relief if the following reliefs for 1976–77 were unified at no cost to the revenue: child relief, dependent relative relief, housekeepers' relief, relief for a person looking after children, additional personal relief for children, daughter's services relief and blind person's relief, together with the excess of the married personal allowance over the single personal allowance.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 12th July 1976; Vol. 915, c. 104], gave the following information:About £330, assuming that the married person became entitled to the single allowance plus the unified relief and that the wife's earned income allowance and age allowances were unchanged.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the approximate amount of a unified relief if the following reliefs for 1976–77 were unified at no cost to the revenue: single personal allowance, married personal allowance, wife's earned income allowance, child relief, dependent relative relief, housekeeper relief, relief for a person looking after children, additional personal relief for children, daughter's services relief and blind person's relief, on the basis that a taxpayer should be entitled to the unified relief in respect of himself together with a similar amount of relief in respect of his wife and each dependent.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 12th July 1976; Vol. 915, c. 104], gave the following information:About £590, assuming that the age allowances were unchanged.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what alterations in the figures given to the hon. Member for Blaby as the estimated additional revenue from the proposals for the treatment of fringe benefits [Official Report, 18th May, columns 479 to 480], will result from the changes announced in the Treasury Press notice of 8th July, reference 92/76.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th July 1976; Vol. 915, c. 147], gave the following information:The additional revenue is now estimated to be about £55 million for 1977–78 and subsequent years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement about the progress being made in the preparation of the Royal High School building in Edinburgh as the site for the proposed Scottish Assembly.

The Property Services Agency has reached agreement in principle with Edinburgh District Council on the purchase of the former Royal High School; the plans for adaptation are well advanced; and it is hoped to begin work on the site in the early autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the terms of his offer of £650,000 to Edinburgh District Council for the Royal High School; and on what basis the sum was calculated;(2) what is the estimated cost of (

Some of these Questions raise points of detail which cannot yet be answered; some raise points the answer to which will depend on decisions of the Assembly.The offer of £650,000 made by the Property Services Agency reflected the cost of replacing the Edinburgh District Council's Art Centre in other premises. I am assured that the Royal High School buildings are worthy and capable of being kept in permanent active use. The best available estimates of capital and running costs of the proposed Scottish Administration remain as stated in Cmnd. 6348. They are based on a close examination of the Royal High School buildings and on the minimum necessary assumptions that can be made in advance of how the Scottish Administration is likely to operate. Like other estimates, they may be subject to variation, either before or after devolution, but even if they are, the final costs will not be such as to be a decisive or even a significant factor in the case for a radical change in the system of Government in Scotland. So far as these costs are incurred in advance of devolution and are the responsibility of the Government, they will be subject to the same degree of financial control and the same procedure of reporting to the House as any other projects of comparable magnitude.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will recommend to local authorities that, in accordance with the Finer Committee's recommendations, transfer of tenancy to a wife should not render her liable to meet rent arrears immediately by her husband as sole former tenant.

This is a matter within the responsibility of local authorities but I would hope that they would pay regard to the recommendations of the Finer Committee on this point.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to publish as soon as possible the report by Miss Susan Dight for the Social Survey Division of the office of Population Census and Surveys called "Scottish Drinking Habits"; and if he will make a statement.

This report, which was commissioned for the Scottish Health Education Unit by the Scottish Home and Health Department, is due to be published on 22nd July. It reports on a sample survey carried out at the end of 1972 and provides useful basic information on Scottish drinking habits and attitudes. It was commissioned for the unit to assist it in its health education programme on alcohol.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will explain the arrangements under which children in Govanhill, Glasgow, are receiving meals at a school during the summer holidays, despite the decision by the Strathclyde Regional Council to stop the provision in Glasgow of free school meals for needy children; and how many such meals were provided between the beginning of the school holidays and 13th July.

I have no knowledge of the arrangements being operated. I suggest that the hon. Member should direct his inquiry to the local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he received an application for urban aid to assist with the provision of food, etc., for meals in a school for children in Govanhill, Glasgow; who submitted the application; when he made a decision on the application; and how much aid was granted.