asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to hold talks with Courtaulds Staff Association regarding white collar promotion prospects in the chemical industry.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will review the regulations made under the Employment Agencies Act to ensure that agencies recruiting mercenaries or participants in para-military organisations are brought within its scope.

No. The Employment Agencies Act 1973 provides for the licensing and control of all employment agencies and employment businesses with premises in Great Britain. Agencies which deal with persons who enter into employment, and this could include mercenaries, already come within the scope of the Act and the associated regulations. But my right hon. Friend has no power to regulate any organisation acting as an intermediary for people who enter into an arrangement which is not one of employment for the purposes of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what effect the job creation programme is having on unemployment.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, since the Job Creation Programme was launched, 2,850 projects have been approved which provide up to 31,125 jobs, mostly for young people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further measures he proposes to create new job opportunities and reduce unemployment.

The present package of job creation and training measures and job subsidies is still developing and its effects will be felt more strongly in the months ahead. Urgent consideration is being given to the possibility of introducing additional measures appropriate to the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many new jobs have been established by the Job Creation Programme to date; and what is the average number of jobs established by each scheme approved under this programme.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that up to 16th July 2,850 projects had been approved, providing 31,125 jobs, with a grant of £38·8 million. The average number of people employed on an approved project is 11.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many letters have been received by him protesting about the operation of the closed shop following the passing of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act.

Since 16th September 1974, when the bulk of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 came into force, my Department has received approximately 600 letters relating to the closed shop. Information about the number of these which were protesting about the operation of the closed shop could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the expansion of training facilities in Government centres covers skills of which there is a serious shortage in manufacturing industry; and what are the main skills involved.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, when establishing new centres and annexes to existing centres, or introducing new courses, regard is paid by the Training Services Agency to the industrial needs of the area, together with the training needs of individuals. A broad range of training is available in transferable skills which are capable of being practised in a variety of manufacturing industries. The skills involved vary in accordance with the needs of areas, but included in the programmes of planned skillcentres are welding trades, fitting trades, engineering machinery trades, and material testing and inspection.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied with the current employment situation in the docks.

No. As well as the trade recession which has affected the docks as other industries, changes in cargo handling techniques and patterns of shipping continue to have, particularly in some ports, a serious effect on employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of unemployed school leavers in the Isle of Ely; and what were the equivalent figures in July 1975.

In the wider area covered by the Cambridge Careers Service, which includes the city of Ely and surrounding area, 249 school leavers were registered as unemployed on 8th July. The number in July 1975 was 21.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many training places have been provided in Scotland for male and female school leavers, respectively, at the latest convenient date; and if he will make a statement.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that, in Scotland an estimated 3,000 training places have been provided for young people, including school leavers, as a result of financial support, or direct provision of facilities, by the Training Services Agency between April 1975 and the present time. About 2,200 of these places are the result of additional recruitment by employers, influenced by Exchequer grants, administered jointly by the TSA and industrial training boards. Both men and women are known to have benefited from the additional training places in industry, but detailed statistics are not available. On 1st June 1976, however, there were 157 boys and 115 girls on courses in Scotland provided directly by the TSA.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, if he will seek powers to arrange for all unemployed school leavers to perform tasks of benefit to the community, in return for their unemployment benefit.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what new employment opportunities will be available in the West Midlands during the next six months.

It is not possible for my Department to make a meaningful estimate of the total number of job opportunities likely to become available in the West Midlands during the next six months, as it will depend on the way the general economic situation develops. However, there are encouraging signs that business confidence in the West Midlands is picking up. Short-time working has halved since December 1975. In addition, the Manpower Services Commission estimates that a further 700 jobs will be created in the West Midlands in the near future under their job creation programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about protection against unfair exclusion or expulsion from a trade union; and what replies he has sent.

Since 25th March 1976, when the statutory provision relating to unfair exclusion or expulsion from a trade union was superseded by the protection afforded by the independent TUC Review Committee in cases of exclusion or expulsion in a closed shop, I have received one representation specifically about protection against unfair exclusion or expulsion from a trade union. A reply will be sent shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will assist the Equal Opportunities Commission in preparing a code of practice for employers.

I would expect the commission to consult both sides of industry and other interested bodies before drafting a code of practice. The Department will of course be ready to advise and assist the commission in any way it can.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what extra retraining facilities his Department is going to provide during the next 18 months to ensure that all those people being released from jobs in the public service can be retrained for jobs in the exporting industries.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that its Training Services Agency aims to increase the number of people trained under the Training Opportunities Scheme from 80.000 in 1976 to 87,000 in 1978, and 100,000 in 1980. Training is given in a wide range of occupations for which trained workers are in high demand, and these include occupations in exporting industries. In addition, the agency offers training specifically in export procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers according to the latest available statistics have been covered by applications for the temporary employment subsidy; and how many redundancies are likely to be prevented between now and the end of the year by the operation of the scheme.

As at 9th July 1976, 104,811 workers are covered by applications approved and pending. It is estimated that a further 50,000 workers would have been helped before the scheme ends on 31st December 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action the Government are taking to investigate and ameliorate the problems of people on low pay.

As already announced, the Government have asked the Royal Commission on the Distribution of Income and Wealth to undertake a comprehensive and objective analysis of all incomes at the lower levels. Meanwhile the TUC guidelines endorsed by the Government for the coming period, like the £6 policy, offer scope for substantial improvement in the relative position of the lower paid.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the implementation of the provisions of the Employment Agencies Act 1973.

The Act came into force on 1st July 1976, as did regulations made under it which among other things deal with applications for licences, licence fees and the conduct of persons carrying on employment agencies and employment businesses (staff contractors). Section 1 is only partly operative until 1st November 1976 when it will be mandatory for persons carrying on such activities to either have a licence issued by the Secretary of State or to have applied for one. There are transitional arrangements for certain persons operating an employment agency under a current licence issued by a local authority. Applications for licences are now being received and considered by the regional offices and offices for Scotland and Wales of my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will detail the Government's policy with regard to the issue of work permits for Commonwealth and foreign nationals, particularly for the unskilled, in view of the existing high level of unemployment.

I have nothing to add to the reply given on 3rd February 1976 to my hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich (Mr. Barnett).—[Vol. 904, c. 559.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are employed in the United Kingdom; and what percentage of the total are respectively (a) in Crown service, (b) employed by public corporations and authorities, other than local atuhorities, (c) employed by nationalised industries, (d) employed by companies wholly owned directly or indirectly by the State, and (e) employed by local authorities.

Following is the latest information based on the analysis in the February 1976 issue of Economic Trends. At June 1974, the employed labour force of the United Kingdom was 25,060,000. 8·3 per cent. of this total was employed in Crown service, 0·9 per cent. in public corporations and authorities other than

EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT: JUNE 1975 (000's)
The figures in brackets show the percentage that the employment figures form of the total of employees in employment in the country or region concerned.
	Wales	Scotland	South East	East Anglia	South West
Public Administration and Defence (MLHs 901 and 906)*	87·0 (8·7%)	158·3 (7·6%)	609·6 (8·3%)	35·6 (5·3%)	115·5 (7·6%)
Educational Services (MLH 872)	83·5 (8·4%)	148·4 (7·1%)	596·0 (8·1%)	64·8 (9·7%)	129·0 (8·5%)
Medical and Dental Services (MLH 874)	62·8 (6·3%)	137·7 (6·6%)	414·9 (5·7%)	33·2 (4·9%)	93·6 (6·1%)
Gas, Electricity, Water (MLHs 601, 602 and 603)	19·7 (2·0%)	25·8 (1·2%)	109·2 (1·5%)	9·9 (1·5%)	31·2 (2·0%)
Railways (MLH 701)	11·7 (1·2%)	21·0 (1·0%)	91·8 (1·3%)	6·0 (0·9%)	11·4 (0·7%)
Road Passenger Transport (MLH 702)	10·9 (1·1%)	27·6 (1·3%)	63·8 (0·9%)	4·3 (0·6%)	13·7 (0·9%)
Postal Services and Telecommunications (MLH 708)	17·2 (1·7%)	36·5 (1·8%)	195·9 (2·7%)	13·6 (2·0%)	32·9 (2·2%)

	West Midlands	East Midlands	Yorkshire and Humberside	North West	North
Public Administration and Defence (MLHs 901 and 906)*	122·5 (5·5%)	921 (6·2%)	120·8 (6·1%)	175·1 (6·5%)	91·5 (7·2%)
Educational Services (MLH 872)	168·1 (7·6%)	117·6 (7·9%)	163·2 (8·2%)	208·7 (7·8%)	96·7 (7·6%)
Medical and Dental Services (MLH 874)	97·1 (4·4%)	68·0 (4·6%)	103·6 (5·2%)	141·9 (5·3%)	65·7 (5·2%)
Gas, Electricity, Water (MLHs 601, 602 and 603)	30·0 (1·4%)	24·6 (1·7%)	34·8 (1·8%)	37·7 (1·4%)	20·1 (1·6%)
Railways (MLH 701)	11·6 (0·5%)	14·1 (0·9%)	22·7 (1·1%)	24·9 (0·9%)	11·9 (0·9%)
Road Passenger Transport (MLH 702)	18·1 (0·8%)	13·3 (0·9%)	23·3 (1·2%)	30·8 (1·2%)	16·2 (1·3%)
Postal Services and Telecommunications (MLH 708)	37·0 (1·7%)	22·0 (1·5%)	25·8 (1·3%)	42·7 (1·6%)	14·9 (1·2%)
The employment figures in the table cover the activities indicated by the Minimum List Headings (MLH) of the Standard Industrial Classification.
* Excluding members of Her Majesty's Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the number of persons, and the proportion of the total number of employees in employment they represent, who are employed in public administration, education services, medical and dental services, gas, electricity and water services, railways, road passenger transport and postal services and telecommunications, in Wales, in Scotland and in the regions of England, respectively.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest number of job creation schemes applications made by district councils in Wales, including all 37 district councils in Wales, whatever their formal designation; what

District Council			Number of applications received	Total grant sought	Number of man weeks
				£
Dinefwr Borough Council	…	…	5	42,350	998
South Pembrokeshire	…	…	1	21,731	585
Preselli	…	…	9	68,626	1,454
Carmarthen	…	…	3	22,840	564
Ceredigion	…	…	3	35,047	744
Llanelli Borough Council	…	…	4	35,981	724
Radnor	…	…	2	32,154	572
Brecknock Borough Council	…	…	2	20,314	546
Wrexham Borough Council	…	…	2	54,750	1,322
Glyndwr	…	…	6	74,642	1,577
Delyn Borough Council	…	…	6	89,662	2,005
Alyn and Deeside	…	…	4	41,312	982
Monmouth	…	…	4	111,680	4,257
Torfaen Borough Council	…	…	11	173,221	4,081
Islwyn	…	…	7	47,574	1,092
Blaenau Gwent Borough Council	…	…	3	57,905	1,172
Newport Borough Council	…	…	3	42,962	865
Swansea City Council	…	…	25	183,603	4,353
Neath Borough Council	…	…	9	86,660	1,858
Afan Borough Council	…	…	4	50,551	1,116
Lliw Valley Borough Council	…	…	2	91,951	2,013
Anglesey Borough Council	…	…	4	48,489	1,431
Aberconwy Borough Council	…	…	12	161,840	3,756
Arfon Borough Council	…	…	12	138,030	3,067
Merioneth	…	…	1	22,033	454
Taff Ely Borough Council	…	…	8	66,180	1,439
Rhondda Borough Council	…	…	18	135,063	3,070
Rhymney	…	…	7	33,379	840
Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council	…	…	3	29,610	700
Cardiff City Council	…	…	8	80,353	1,888
Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council	…	…	3	35,979	852

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures as to the total number of people under 18 years of age who are registered as unemployed; and how this figure compares with July 1975 and July 1974.

On 8th July, there were 244,464 persons registered as unemployed at careers offices. Most of these would be under 18. Comparable figures for July 1975 and July 1974 were 87,354 and 29,669 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is willing to receive further representations to support the case for the establishment of the

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that up to 15th July, the information is as follows:Health and Safely Commission headquarters in South Yorkshire.

Yes. I am prepared to consider any fresh evidence which my hon. Friend is able to let me have and to ask the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission to take it into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in the Northwich parliamentary constituency, who have left school since 28th May, have still not obtained their first job.

273 school-leavers were registered as unemployed on 10th June 1976 but statistics do not define the date on which they left school.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when approval was given to the terms of the instrument appointing the members of the Health and Safety Executive; and if he will place a copy of the instrument in the Library.

Approval was given to the terms of the letters of appointment sent by the Health and Safety Commission to the members of the executive at the same time as the Secretary of State's approval of each appointment was given. I am arranging for copies of these letters to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when approval was given to the appointment of (a) John Locke, (b) Bryan Harvey and (c) Eric Williams to the Health and Safety Executive.

Approval to the three appointments was given on 2nd December 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the formalities, consultations and approvals specified in Section 10(5) and the Second Schedule to the Health and Safety at Work Act were followed for each appointment to the Health and Safety Executive.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on what date the Minister for the Civil Service approved the appointment of the members of the Health and Safety Executive under Section 10(5) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Second Schedule to that Act.

Approval of appointments of members of the executive is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment. The present members of the executive are John Locke, James Carver and Herbert Dunster. The Secretary of State approved their appointments on 2nd December 1974, 8th January 1976 and 25th February 1976, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on what date the Health and Safety Executive met and authorised Bryan Harvey to sign the general warrant on their behalf and date it 1st January 1975.

I am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that there was no specific meeting at which the executive authorised Mr. Harvey to sign the general warrant. Mr. Harvey like the other two members of the executive had a general authority to perform any of the executive functions including the appointing of inspectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many building trade workers are presently unemployed in southern England; and how this position compares with July 1975 and July 1974, respectively.

In the South-East and South-West Regions the numbers registered as unemployed who last worked in the construction industry were 20,061 at July 1974 and 43,693 at July 1975. The figure for July 1976 is not yet available and I will circulate it later in the Official Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he proposes to take to ensure that hearings before an industrial tribunal of cases concerning unfair dismissal will not be prejudged by decisions of the National Insurance Commissioners at which the employers are not represented.

Industrial tribunals are independent judicial bodies and their decisions cannot be prejudged by decisions of the National Insurance Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the certificate of appointment of inspectors under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 signed by John Locke and dated 14th January 1976 is acceptable in loose card form with no means of identification attached.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the instrument of appointment issued to each inspector under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is kept, together with a certificate of appointment also signed by Mr. John Locke, the Director General of the Health and Safety Executive, in a clear plastic wallet in such a manner that the two documents can be produced together if so required. The certificate of appointment bears a photograph of and is signed by, the inspector. The executive is to combine these two documents into a single one, when appointing inspectors in future.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place a copy of the general warrant authorising inspectors under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in the Library.

Yes. This general warrant has now been replaced by the issue of individual instruments of appointment to inspectors, but I am arranging for a copy of it to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what advice he has now received from the Health and Safety Executive following the case of Campbell v. Wallsend Slipway and Engineering Co. Ltd.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the executive has requested the magistrates at North Tyneside Court, Wallsend, to state a case for appeal to the Divisional Court in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what publicity has been given to the fact that the Employment Services Agency has power to help with the provision of special hearing aids when they are needed to enable a person to start or continue in employment.

Special hearing aids are provided under the Employment Service Agency's special aids to employment scheme, whereby disabled people are issued, free of charge, on permanent loan, any aid that they need in order to obtain or keep paid employment. The scheme is operated by disablement resettlement officers, who always consider whether any individual client would benefit from it. Publicity is given to the scheme in most of the agency's leaflets relating to services for disabled people; these are issued to employers, doctors, disabled people themselves, and all those who work with disabled people. The scheme will also be fully described in a comprehensive reference book, "Employment Services for Disabled People", which should be published later this year, and it will be outlined in the code of practice for employers which the Manpower Services Commission and the National Advisory Council on Employment of Disabled People are preparing at present. The Department of Health and Social Security's leaflet "Help for Handicapped People" will include a reference to the scheme.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will refrain from proceeding with the purchase and installation of a £1 million order for United States manufactured computer equipment at his Department's centre at Newcastle upon Tyne until the British-owned company ICL has been given an opportunity to demonstrate its alternative system.

There are no grounds to interfere with the order placed with MDS Data Processing Limited for computer controlled printing equipment to be installed at DHSS Newcastle and Washington, Co. Durham. The award was made following full competitive tender in accordance with the Government's computer procurement policy. I shall be writing to my hon. Friend with full details.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will investigate the practicability of reprinting the Votes and Proceedings of the House other than Division Lists at the end of the record of each day's sitting in the Official Report.

I shall do so and write to my hon. Friend. However, we must try to keep the amount of paper we produce to a minimum.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will recommend to Parliament that declarations of interest by hon. Members should be on the same basis as for local councillors recommended in the Salmon Report on Standards of Conduct in Public Life.

These are matters which the House would need to consider. I have no doubt that my hon. Friend's suggestion will have been noted by the Select Committee on Members' Interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence upon what criteria Her Majesty's Government is prepared to second members of the Armed Forces to serve with the forces of another State.

It has been the policy of successive Governments to strengthen the ties between Her Majesty's Forces and those of a number of friendly countries, especially members of NATO, through exchanges of personnel.It has also been a long established practice to make available in appropriate cases, at the request of friendly Governments, volunteers to assist them in the development, staffing and training of their Armed Forces. Such secondments involve no additional costs to the defence budget.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the leaflet "Information for Discontented Soldiers", published by the British Withdrawal from Northern Ireland Campaign; and if he will make representations to the National Federation of Citizens' Advice Bureaux to ensure that any Service man who wishes to obtain his discharge is able to get accurate and impartial advice from official sources.

The pamphlet "Information for Discontented Soldiers" has been drawn to my attention. Comprehensive advice on discharge is available to soldiers from their units, and citizens advice bureaux are aware of the rules for discharge. I understand that the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux has not approved the circulation of "Information for Discontented Soldiers" through the citizens advice bureaux.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on his inquiries into efforts made to recruit British Service men into the Rhodesian armed forces.

To date I have received reports of 96 cases of receipt of literature relating to the Rhodesian forces. This figure is insignificant compared with the size of the Armed Forces. The vast majority were either unsolicited or in response to replies from Service men to unspecific advertisements in newspapers. It goes without saying that official channels would not be used for the dissemination of this literature.I cannot speak for the subsequent actions of former members of the Services or about the extent of the efforts made to disseminate this literature outside the Services, but nothing has been found to suggest that personnel have left with the specific aim of joining the Rhodesian forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the progress achieved during the last year in resettling and compensating the populations of Diego Garcia and other British possessions in the Indian Ocean, removed in order to facilitate the development of military bases;(2) how many people who were removed from British possessions in the Indian Ocean to make way for the creation of military bases have still not been fully compensated and properly resettled; and if he will make a statement.

In 1973 Her Majesty's Government paid £650,000 to the Mauritian Government to provide for the resettlement of these people. The Mauritian Government acknowledged this payment as a full and final discharge of Her Majesty's Government's obligations.The Mauritian Government informed us last year of their difficulties in devising an acceptable plan for using this money, and as a result the adviser on social development at the Ministry of Overseas Development visited Mauritius in late January and early February this year. Mr. Prosser's report has been submitted to the Mauritian Government, who, we understand, are considering it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has requested the South African authorities to comment on the information concerning alleged South African activities in this country submitted by the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose); to what extent this information has been substantiated; what action has been taken and is proposed; and whether he will make a statement.

As the House has been informed on a number of occasions, the information made available by the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose) concerning these alleged activities is being studied by the appropriate authorities. Until this examination is complete it would be premature to make any statement on the points which the hon. Member has raised.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Soviet breaches of Rhodesian sanctions, unlike those of other countries, have not been discussed in the Commonwealth Sanctions Committee or raised at the United Nations by Her Majesty's Government; and whether he will make a statement

We do not have substantive evidence of Soviet breaches of United Nations sanctions against Rhodesia. Should such evidence come to my notice it will be referred as a matter of course to the United Nations Sanctions Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Lord Shackleton's report on the Falkland Islands will be published; and if he will make a statement.

The report has been published today and I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library. This report is published as a contribution to the consideration of how a stable and enduring future for the Falkland Islands can best be achieved. Its recommendations will require careful and detailed study by Her Majesty's Government. This cannot be conducted in isolation and Her Majesty's Government will therefore need to consult the Falkland Islanders and other interested parties. They will also need to take into account the wider political and financial considerations not directly covered by the report, including a framework for co-operation with Argentina.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many courts in England and Wales a bail information scheme is operating; and what information he has as to who normally completes the bail information forms in those courts.

We do not have this information at present. It is our intention to ask courts later in the year to what extent they are operating such schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters have been received by the Home Office on the subject of immigration policy and race relations since 1st May 1976 (a) from Members of Parliament and (b) direct from the public; and what has been the average length of time taken to reply in full to the representations made.

An unusually large volume of correspondence on the subject of immigration policy and race relations has arisen since 1st May. In consultation with other Departments, this has had to be dealt with by parts of the office which were already under considerable pressure of work. Inevitably this has led to replies taking longer than we would normally regard as acceptable and this we regret. But we no not think it would be right to employ staff in counting the correspondence and calculating the average time taken to deal with it. This could only cause further delays.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now answer Questions relating to regional seats of Governments and Civil Defence regions.

I am always ready to answer questions on civil defence which do not endanger national security. Information on these topics is in Home Office circulars, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list those recommendations of the Salmon Report on Standards of Conduct in Public Life he intends to implement;(2) if he will make a statement on the Royal Commission Report on Standards of Conduct in Public Life.

There is nothing that we can add at present to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to a Question by hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 15th July.—[Vol. 915, c. 236–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the reasons why it took him until 9th July to reply to the hon. Member for Newham. North-West's letter of 5th June concerning the Lotteries Act 1975 and that this only referred to another letter which had been sent to his constituent; why it took him until 9th July to reply to this letter dated 2nd June; and whether he will expedite his replies to Members' letters in the future.

The delay in replying to these letters, which I regret, was due partly to staff sickness and partly to the volume of correspondence which we received about the Lotteries Act consultative document. I sent my hon. Friend a copy of the reply sent to his constituent, as this covered all the points raised. Every effort is made to reply to Members' letters as rapidly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about Government policy towards British Summer Time in future years; and what representations he has received about the introduction of Double British Summer Time.

The Government have no plans for amendment of the Summer Time Act 1972. Proposals for the harmonisation of Summer Time dates within the European Economic Community have been under consideration, but no decision has been reached. We receive very few representations for or against the introduction of Double Summer Time under Section 2 of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to remove the temporary speed limits on trunk roads other than motorways and revert to a 70 mph limit on all trunk roads.

The 60 mph and 50 mph (Temporary Speed Limit) Order 1975 expires on 30th November and will be reviewed before that date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he is satisfied with the working of the Caravan Sites Act 1968; and whether he now proposes any amendment to it;

I would refer my hon. Friend to my replies to my hon. Friend the Member for Peckham (Mr. Lamborn) on 26th February 1976—[Vol. 906, c. 314–5]—and to the hon. Member for Streatham (Mr. Shelton) on 19th March 1976.—[Vol. 907, c. 662.]I am far from satisfied with the present situation, but the responsibility for it lies with the local authorities, which have long had powers to provide caravan sites and since 1970 have had a statutory duty to provide sites for the gipsies residing in or resorting to their area. I shall consider in the light of Mr. Cripps' report what further action is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the fact that the site lies within the green belt and of traffic and amenity objections, on what grounds he has directed the Surrey County Council to establish a caravan site at College Road, Epsom; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has not directed the county council to establish a caravan site. He has directed that it should proceed with its own proposal for a site, following an objection to him from the Epsom and Ewell Borough Council under Section 8 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968. This direction does not override the normal planning procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to implement the recommendation of the Tree Council that the Government should, through grants to local authorities, pay the cost of any additional labour required to secure the felling of dangerous elms.

I am still considering the Tree Council's report, but in view of the present constraints on public expenditure I am afraid that it will not be possible to implement the recommendation concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council flats in multi-storey blocks were built in Great Britain last year; and what future building of multi-storey fiats is planned or envisaged.

5,764 flats in multi-storey blocks—that is, five storeys or more—were completed by local authorities and new towns in Great Britain in 1975. I am glad to say that the building of high blocks has declined markedly in recent years and the construction of new flats is now concentrated in buildings of up to four storeys. In the first nine months of 1975, tenders were let for the construction of only 1,404 flats in multistorey blocks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether it is the practice of his inspectors at public inquiries on motorways to accept the submission of evidence relating to the need for the motorway in question; and whether there has been a change in the guidance given in this respect;(2) under what provision of the Highways Act 1959 his inspector at the Winchester motorway inquiry has undertaken to accept the submission of evidence relating to the need for the motorway.

The relevant provisions are paragraphs 5 and 9 of the First Schedule to the Highways Act 1959 relating to the hearing of objections from persons appearing to be affected by the motorway proposals. The inspector has discretion to hear any evidence which in his opinion is relevant to the inquiry. There has been no change in the guidance to inspectors in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the present restrictions on council candidature for those employed by local education authorities; and if he will make a statement.

The law relating to disqualification for election to and membership of a local authority is currently being reviewed by my Department in consultation with those directly concerned. A statement will be made when conclusions have been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether the forthcoming vacancy for the Master of the Armouries will be advertised publicly;(2) what is the composition of the selection committee who will advise him on the appointment to fill the forthcoming vacancy for the Master of the Armouries.

It is not the present intention to advertise this vacancy. The post will fall vacant on the retirement of the present Master of the Armouries at the end of this year. The normal process of promotion, giving consideration in the first place to staff within the Department, will be followed. Three members of the staff in the grade assistant keeper I have been invited to attend a selection board which will make recommendations to the Permanent Secretary. The Board will comprise the Director General of Organisation and Establishments, a Deputy Secretary and the Director of Ancient, Monuments and Historic Buildings, all from the Department, together with the Director of the National Maritime Museum.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the updating of the National Travel Survey 1972–73 to be completed; and what action he intends to take in the interim to retest the validity of conclusions reached on the basis of data contained in the current document.

The results of the 1975–76 national travel survey will be ready for analysis during December. Published reports should be available by mid-1977. An analysis of the results for the first six months of the survey is currently under way to update the information contained in paper 2 of the consultation document.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider the feasibility of altering one of the windows in both Dining Rooms A and B in the House of Commons into french windows giving access to the Terrace.

I shall consult the Services Committee, but preliminary consideration suggests that the cost of this work would be prohibitive.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities since 6th May 1976 are embarking on the selling of council houses; which have applied for consent to sell at discounts of over 20 per cent.; and which political party is in control of these authorities.

Information about authorities which have embarked on the selling of council houses since 6th May 1976 is not readily available. Four authorities in England have applied for consent since that date to sell at discounts of over 20 per cent., though one is related to particular dwellings only. I understand that three of these are Conservative—and one Labour-controlled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the office buildings or parts of buildings occupied by central Government in Greater London, indicating which Department is the occupier, whether the building is rented and, if so, the rent payable, the date when the rent was last reviewed and the date when the next review is due and, in the case of buildings owned by the Government, the approximate floor area.

I regret that the information is not readily available and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost. It is not the Property Service Agency's practice to disclose details of the terms of individual leases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what total sum has been paid out by offices of his Department, in the latest 12 months for which figures are available, in respect of rent rebate and allowances.

The total amount paid by the Department to local authorities and new towns in England in the financial year 1975–76 in respect of rent debates and rent allowances was £210 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average wage, including overtime, paid to the clerks of successor councils for the years ended 31st March 1974, 1975 and 1976.

This information is not available centrally, but I am sure that details would be supplied on request to the hon. Member by the Local Authorities' Conditions of Service Advisory Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that most local authorities hold annual mayoral and chairmanship receptions; what is his estimate of the total annual expenditure on such receptions; what would be the annual savings if these were totally abolished; and whether, in view of the Government's policy of public expenditure cuts, he will take action to introduce a ban on such expenditure.

Yes. But the figures requested are not readily available and I have no plans to impose such a restriction on local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Aire Valley Trunk Road proposal has now been withdrawn; and if he has any plans for the construction of bypasses round Steeton and Eastburn, near Keighley and the regeneration of the Stockbridge area of Keighley.

No, but the priority of this scheme, like that of other schemes in the road programme, is currently under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines are laid down as to public rights of access in the case of historic houses and buildings in private ownership granted public moneys for restoration or similar purposes.

The conditions, including public access, to be attached to grants and loans under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 and related legislation are decided after consultation with my statutory advisers, the Historic Buildings Council. Each case is considered on its merits. Among the factors taken into account are the architectural and historic interest of the structure itself, the interest of the interior and contents, location, popularity with the public, the use of the building, whether it is in single or multiple occupation, the facilities that are or can be made available to the public, and security and safety of the building and contents.Conditions of access to be attached to the exemption of buildings of outstanding historic or architectural interest and their amenity lands from capital transfer tax under the Finance Act 1975, on which the Treasury is advised by me after my consultation with the Historic Building Council, are determined on similar lines. Conditions of access for grants for the repair of buildings under the Local Authorities (Historic Buildings) Act 1972 are at the sole discretion of the local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to monitor the effects of the guidance he issued to housing authorities in February 1975 encouraging them to increase their supply of units of accommodation for single-person and small households; and what information he can now provide to indicate the current response of local housing authorities to this guidance.

Returns of the numbers of dwellings provided specifically for single people and smaller households form part of the regular monitoring arrangements for the house-building programme. The planning and implementation of new housing schemes is a relatively lengthy process and it will take time before the full response of authorities to the new initiatives set out in Circular 24/75 becomes evident. In the meantime, there has been a small increase in the number of one-, two- and three-person dwellings receiving housing cost yardstick approval over the last year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by housing authorities in England and Wales towards the wider and more comprehensive implementation of the Joint Circular on Homelessness, since his statement on 15th December 1975 that, by that date, only 60 per cent. of housing authorities accepted the primary responsibility for dealing with homeless people and that three-quarters of the authorities at that date restricted help to those with connections with their areas; and whether he is satisfied with the present position.

No further survey has been undertaken since the one referred to in that reply. We have, as I then said, consulted the local authority associations and appropriate voluntary bodies in the housing and social services field and propose to bring forward legislation to place the statutory responsibility for accommodation for the homeless on housing authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much, on 31st December 1975, the assets of the National Bus Company Group as a whole exceeded its liabilities.

The consolidated balance sheet of the National Bus Company and its subsidiaries shows assets exceeding liabilities as at 31st December 1975 by £25,430,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the capital transfer tax return requires transferors to give details of all gifts of chattels which exceeded £200 in value in one year.

The capital transfer tax return for the period from 27th March 1974 to 5th April 1976 asks for details of gifts of chattels only if the total of such gifts in a tax year exceeds £200 in value or if the transferor's annual £1,000 exemption is exceeded. The value placed on a chattel can be subject to a wide margin of error and transferors were asked to give details of gifts of chattels in these cases to enable the Inland Revenue to check, in appropriate circumstances, the taxpayer's valuation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated diminution of Government revenue if the standard rate of income tax were to be cut by 10 pence in the £.

At the present estimated levels of income in 1976–77 the loss of revenue for the year would be about £4,250 million. But the actual loss would depend on the substantial consequential changes to the forecast levels of demand and incomes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing for a married man with four 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.

Assuming the tax rates and allowances proposed for

Year	Weekly earnings*	Average weekly rate of rebate	Maximum number of weeks for which rebate will run
	£	£
Average earnings—
1970–71	26·7	5·85	16
1971–72	29·5	6·65	13
1972–73	32·8	7·70	11
1973–74	38·1	7·60	17
1974–75	43·6	10·10	15
1975–76	55·7	10·75	23
1976–77†	65·6	13·25	22
Three-quarters average earnings—
1970–71	20·0	5·85	4
1971–72	22·1	No tax liability
1972·73	24·6
1973–74	28·6	7·60	6
1974–75	32·7	10·10	3
1975–76	41·8	10·75	13
1976–77†	49·2	13·25	12
Half average earnings—
1970–71 to 1976–77		No tax liability
* Weekly earnings are the New Earnings Survey estimates of the average earnings of full-time male manual workers in April of each year, except for 1976–77 where the 1975 New Earnings Survey figures have been updated to April 1976 by the Index of Average Earnings.
† Assuming tax rates and allowances proposed for 1976–77.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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 four children who previously earned (a) 100 per cent. of average manual earnings, (b) 75 per cent. of average manual earnings and (c) 50 per cent. of average manual earnings.

On the assumption that two of the children are not over 11 years of age, and that the other two are over 11 but not over 16, the figures are approximately as shown in the table below:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what level of gross earnings a family with two, with three, and with four children, respectively, loses more in tax and clawback than is received in family allowance.

For a married couple with two children not over the age of 11 where gross earnings—excluding family allowance—exceed £11,555 the tax on the family allowance together with the effect of the clawback is greater than the after-tax value of family allowance, and it is to the taxpayer's advantage to forgo the allowance. Comparable earnings levels for a married couple with three and four children not over 11 are £11,725 and £11,895 respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to give tax relief to landowners on the cost of felling dangerous elm trees.

When the landowner is carrying on a forestry business, or the property is let, relief is already available in certain circumstances under the ordinary rules. I see no reason for fixing special tax relief for this particular type of expenditure in other cases. So far as relief from value added tax on charges for felling the trees is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross) on 19th January.—[Vol. 903, c. 352.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what rule or statute servants of the Common Market are permitted to keep the whole of their salaries tax free; whether they are allowed to claim benefits for which they have not paid tax; whether the rule applied to other persons of having to leave the United Kingdom each six months applies to these employees; and whether he will make a statement.

Officials and other servants of the European Communities are subject to tax imposed by the Communities, and exempt from national taxes, on salaries, wages and emoluments paid by the Communities, by virtue of Article 13 of the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Communities given force in United Kingdom law by section 2(1), European Communities Act, 197).On the question of entitlement to benefits I assume the hon. Member is referring to social security benefits. This is a matter for the Secretary of State for Social Services but I understand that officials of the European Communities are covered by the Communities' own social security scheme and that they are not liable for contributions under the Social Security Act 1975 nor entitled to contributory benefits under that Act.I know of no rule that requires anybody to leave the United Kingdom each six months.I see no need for any special statement about the position of European Community officials.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is now the practice of the Inland Revenue to assess surpluses accruing to individuals on the realisation of commodities.

Where transactions involving the purchase and sale of commodities amount to "an adventure in the nature of trade", the profits are assessable to income tax under Case I of Schedule D. Where, on the other hand, the transactions give rise to a surplus which is not of an income nature, the surplus is chargeable to capital gains tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of retirement pensioners who are not obliged to make an annual tax return.

About 5 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of persons in receipt of the retirement pension who are required to make an annual tax return.

About 2½ million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether local tax officers will on request and without charge complete annual tax returns on behalf of retirement pensioners, required by law to make such returns.

Whilst local tax offices will be glad to give guidance and advice to retitrement pensioners in making returns, I regret that they cannot be required to complete the returns on behalf of the pensioners.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the Exchequer saving if mortgage interest relief and life assurance relief were paid only at the standard tax rate for 1975–76.

If relief for mortgage interest payments for 1975–76

						1975–76	1976–77
						£ million	£ million
(a) single personal allowance	…	…	…	…	…	2,180	2,480
(b) married allowance	…	…	…	…	…	4,210	4,780
(c) child allowance: not over 11 years.	…	…	…	…	…	770	930
(d) child allowance: 11 and not over 16.	…	…	…	…	…	380	450
(e) child allowance: over 16 years	…	…	…	…	…	100	130
(f) additional personal allowance	…	…	…	…	…	30	40
(g) family allowance claw back	…	…	…	…	…	-110	-110

These estimates represent the additional revenue resulting from withdrawing each allowance individually. Abolition of family allowance clawback would result in a reduction in tax revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the powers given to Customs and Excise officers making inspections in connection with VAT to enter and search private dwellings, shops, factories and other premises.

These powers are contained in Section 37 of the Finance Act 1972.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about his intentions, if any, to allow some part of students' living expenses, when paid wholly by their parents, to be counted against that parent's expenses for tax purposes.

The income tax system already recognises the expenses borne by parents whilst their children are being educated through the provision

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the 1975–76 costs and what are the 1976–77 estimated costs of (a) single personal allowance, (b) married personal allowance, (c) children allowance, under 11 years of age, (d) children allowance, 11 to 16 years of age, (e) children allowance over 16 years of age, (f) additional personal allowance and (g) family allowance claw back.

The estimated full year costs are as follows:of the income tax child allowance, which has this year been increased by £60, to £365 for a child over 16 in full-time education. We have also increased the child's income limit for the full child allowance from £115 to £350 in respect of earned income for children under the age of 18, and in respect of all income for children over 18 or who are married. The latter change will be of particular benefit to the parents of students, and I see no reason to go further.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current procedure for dealing with complaints from the public about the behaviour and activities of VAT inspectors.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the article on this subject in "VAT News No. 9" which was circulated to all registered persons in February 1976.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been received from members of the public in the last 12 months about the activities and behaviour of VAT inspectors.

Ministers have received about 100 complaints in the past 12 months and, of these, no more than five have on investigation been shown to have had any substance.

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.

pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 19th July 1976, Vol. 915, c. 355.], gave the following information:Ashfield House has been assessed by the valuation officer in accordance with normal rating principles. Following proposals that a different basis of assessment should apply, the matter will come before the local valuation court in due course. It is for this rating authority to decide whether commercial rates are properly payable.

asked the Prime Minister when he expects to meet the President of Uganda.

I have no plans at present to meet President Amin.

asked the Prime Minister when he will next meet the heads of nationalised industries.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett) on 8th July.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the CBI.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council gave on my behalf to my hon. Friend the Member for Tottenham (Mr. Atkinson) on 13th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will define the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Wales.

The Secretary of State for Wales is responsible for the wide range of functions of the Welsh Office. These include regional planning, town and country planning, housing, local government, health, personal social services, primary and secondary education, roads, water and sewerage, forestry, tourism, national parks, historic buildings, devolution, certain responsibilities relating to the National Library, the National Museum, the Wales Tourist Board and the Sports Council for Wales and shared responsibility for the administration of urban grants to areas of acute social deprivation. The Secretary of State has certain responsibilities for economic matters, including selective financial assistance to industry and Government factory building. The Secretary of State also shares ministerial responsibility with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for agriculture in Wales.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his visit to Northern Ireland on 5th July.