asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the land surface in England is now developed by being covered by buildings, roads, railways, airfields and for other purposes, which are not for farming and forestry and which are not natural open spaces, public or private.

The latest estimate indicates that about 11 per cent. of the total land area of England and Wales was developed by 1971. A comparable figure for England alone is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average unrebated council rent in Essex during each of the last five years.

The information is as follows:

Estimated average unrebated rent of local authority dwellings in Essex: April 1971–1975
					£ per week
1971	…	…	…	…	2·62
1972	…	…	…	…	2·88
1973*	…	…	…	…	3·61
1974	…	…	…	…	4·12
1975	…	…	…	…	4·72
* May

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many staff would be (a) made redundant and (b) transferred if some testing facilities at the Fire Research Station, Borehamwood, were transferred to the Fire Insurers Research and Testing Organisation;(2) which facilities it is proposed to transfer from the Fire Research Station, Borehamwood, to the Fire Insurers Research and Testing Organisation; on what date and for what purposes; at what savings to public funds; and whether he will make a statement.

The transfer in question will enable this organisation to undertake certain routine fire testing work, as well as research related to insurance interests, hitherto done on a joint basis with FRS. This will allow for as much effective redeployment of Government scientific staff to other research as can be achieved in the present context of tight restraint on Civil Service manpower.Appropriate parts of the site, buildings and facilities will be transferred, on terms which closely reflect the relative contributions of Government and the insurance industry to the station's past growth.This transfer is to be phased over some months from September 1976. It is expected that 10 of the 20–25 non-industrial staff now engaged on this work will move from the station to the organisation. Those remaining will be employed on research relating to the Department's requirements, but no one is expected to be made redundant by the transfer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make available in the Library a verbatim account of the meeting held in the Royal Festival Hall on Thursday 8th July to launch the new Greater London and South-East Regional Sports and Recreation Council.

It will be for the new regional councils for sport and recreation as autonomous bodies to decide on the publicity to be given to their proceedings. By agreement I am placing in the Library of the House an account of the meeting referred to. A verbatim record is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the inter-departmental working party on dogs was set up; and when he received its report.

The inter-departmental working party on dogs was set up in July 1974 and reported in April 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the members, and their qualifications, of the inter-departmental working party on dogs.

When the report of the working party is published in a few weeks' time, it will contain a list of members and the organisations they represent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish new proposals governing public inquiries into road schemes.

The procedures followed in connection with inquiries into road schemes are being reviewed, in consultation with the Council on Tribunals, to see what, if anything, should be done to improve them. An announcement will be made, as appropriate, when the review has been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the fee payable per quarter on the purchase of venison from the Royal Parks;(2) on how many occasions payment has been received from Government personnel in the last two financial years for enjoying quarters of venison from the Royal parks;(3) if he will publish in the

There is below a list of those to whom a quarter of venison is offered twice a year under the Royal Warrant. The list may vary slightly from year to year with changes in ministerial posts. Most of those on the list, including the five Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, have taken up some of the invitations.Quarters of buck are allocated in the autumn and quarters of doe in the winter. A standard charge of £2 is made for each quarter. The surplus venison is sold by contract.The receipts from venison for 1973–74 and 1974–75 were £3,665 and £4,606 respectively. A few of the consignments are sent by British Rail but most quarters are delivered by official vans in the course of their other duties.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible for deer in Richmond Park, Hampton Court Park, Bushy Park and Greenwich Park only. The cost of maintaining them is not separately available. To provide further information would take up a disproportionate amount of official time.

For the Service of the Royal Table	4
The Grand Falconer of England	1
The Lord Chamberlain	1
The Master of the Horse	1
The Archbishop of Canterbury	1
The Archbishop of York	1
The Bishop of London	1
The Speaker of the House of Commons	1
The Lord Chief Justice	1
The Master of the Rolls	1
The Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury	1
The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons	1
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs	1
The Lord Chancellor	1
The Secretary of State for the Home Department	1
The Chancellor of the Exchequer	1
The Secretary of State for the Environment	1
The Secretary of State for Employment	1
The Secretary of State for Energy	1
The Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection	1
The Secretary of State for Social Services	1
The Secretary of State for Industry	1
The Secretary of State for Trade and President of the Board of Trade	1
The Secretary of State for Defence	1

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many families are currently homeless in (a) the county of Dorset and (b) the borough of Bournemouth; and how this compares with the national average for homelessness.

I shall publish the first results from the new system of collecting statistics about homeless people in the very near future. I will then write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to relieve the burden of rates on small businesses for the year 1976–77 and thereafter; and if he will make a statement.

Whilst I sympathise with the position of small businesses with a high rate burden, any changes in the rating system must wait until the Government have fully considered the recommendations of the Layfield Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now able to say when he expects that the route of the M3 extension in the Winchester area will be settled; and when construction of that extension will begin.

The route was fixed in 1973. The current public inquiry is into objections to the draft proposals for side road alterations, interchanges and the compulsory purchase of the necessary land. This of course involves consideration of the need for the motorway in terms of the expected traffic flows. It is planned to begin construction in 1978, but this is subject to the completion of the outstanding statutory procedures, including the Secretary of State's decision in the light of the recommendations of the inspector at the current inquiry, and to the availability of funds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he is satisfied that his inspectors appointed to hold public meetings have sufficient power to be able to deal efficiently with persons deliberately disrupting their inquiries; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will introduce appropriate legislation to make it a criminal offence deliberately to disrupt or to organise the disruption of a public inquiry held by one of his inspectors.

In maintaining order at public inquiries, inspectors are entitled to seek the co-operation of the police, who already have the necessary powers under the Public Meeting Act 1908 and the Public Order Act 1936.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many incidents of oil pollution on or near the shore have been reported to his Department in the past 12 months; and if he will list each reported incident giving details of where and when they occurred, together with some indication of the amount of oil involved and the estimated cost of undertaking remedial measures.

My Department received reports from English local authorities of 118 incidents of oil pollution on or near the shore in the 11 months from July 1975 when the maintenance of records was introduced. Reports for June 1976 are not yet available. Except in the case of major incidents, costs are met by the local authority concerned and no comprehensive central record is kept. I shall write to the hon. Member with details of the incidents, many of which did not require specific remedial measures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is currently the average length of time taken between application for a slum clearance compulsory purchase order and its being obtained; how this compares with each year since 1968; why the delay is so long; and if it is intended thereby to slow down capital expenditure.

The average processing time for each of the last three years is estimated at about 10 months, though individual cases vary widely. Figures for earlier years are not available. Efforts are constantly being made to speed up the processing of orders, but these are limited by the need to observe the statutory requirements, particularly those designed to protect the rights and interests of owner-occupiers and other people affected by the orders, and by restrictions on manpower. I entirely refute any suggestion that compulsory purchase orders are deliberately held up in order to slow down capital expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of council houses built and the number started in the first four months of 1976; and how this compares with the same period in 1974.

In the first four months of 1976, 42,250 council houses were completed and 43,907 started in Great Britain. Compared with the same period of 1974, these figures show increases of 39 per cent. and 17 per cent. respectively. January—April 1974: starts 37,376, completed 30,499.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether case No. 12 contained in Part II, Schedule 3 to the Rent Act 1968 is in any way affected by the provisions of the Rent (Agriculture) Bill now before Parliament; and, if so, whether he will outline the changes proposed.

Case 12 of Schedule 3 to the Rent Act 1968 is not materially affected by the Rent (Agriculture) Bill since it applies to tenants who neither are nor have been employed in agriculture nor are widows of such persons. I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to renew the 50 and 60 mph fuel economy speed limits; and whether he will make a statement.

The temporary speed limits will be reviewed before they lapse on 30th November and account will then be taken of the latest evidence available about the level of observance, as well as considerations of safety, enforcement and fuel economy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with the police on the working of the 50 and 60 mph fuel economy speed limits.

Police representatives have been told that, in considering the future of the fuel economy limits, the Government will be ready to take account of any representations they wish to make and of any evidence about the degree to which the 60 and 50 mph limits are being observed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek to guide the Housing Corporation to encourage the development for use as a playground or small park of land amounting to one acre immediately to the west of Craigmount Grove in Edinburgh, which the Edinburgh District Council decided to purchase in May 1976.

I have been asked to reply.No. The Housing Corporation has willingly agreed to sell this land to Edinburgh District Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much money, at the latest available date, has been diverted from the job creation scheme to colleges of education to create employment for unemployed teachers.

Unemployed teachers benefit from proposals under the job creation programme in the same way as other unemployed people, but funds cannot be used to support normal local authority services. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 64 projects have been approved which will give employment to 801 teachers, with a total grant of £1·5 million, mostly in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of employees in the computer manufacturing industry in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Following is the available information:

Employees in Employment June 1975
Electronic Computers—Minimum List Heading 366 of the Standard Industrial Classification
Scotland	…	6,700
England and Wales	…	36,600
Northern Ireland	…	1,400

Owing to the risk of disclosure of information about individual undertakings the figures for Wales have been combined with those for England.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the exemptions allowed outside the pay limit in Command Paper No. 6507.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Test (Mr. Gould) on 6th July.—[Vol. 914, c. 494].

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the aid given to Scotland from the Social Fund of the European Community in each of the last three years.

Allocations from the European Social Fund to Scotland in each of the last three calendar years are estimated at £5·4 million for 1973, £5·4 million for 1974, and £8·5 million for 1975.

asked the Lord President of the Council what is his rough estimate of the cost falling on public funds in respect of one hour of sitting after midnight by the House of Commons; and what are the main components in that cost.

A very rough estimate based on annual figures is £500. This is comprised of some £480 for overtime pay and £20 for heating and lighting, etc. The overtime figure covers payments to staff of the House of Commons departments, lift and maintenance staff of the Department of the Environment and the police; it does not cover staff of the Refreshment Department and the Post Office.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement about the report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Refreshment Department which was laid before the House on 24th June.

The report of the Committee of Inquiry into the House of Commons Refreshment Department was published on 21st July. I am sure that the whole House will be grateful to the Chairman, my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Mr. Mikardo) and his Committee for their report—and especially to those members of the Committee who are not Members of this House and gave so willingly of their time. I am sure that the House will wish to consider the report, and I should be glad to receive the views of hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the rent being paid by the Property Services Agency for the office accommodation at Stornoway House to be used by the British National Oil Corporation; and whether he is satisfied that this is in line with rental levels for similar accommodation in central London.

It is a matter for the British National Oil Corporation to settle the terms and conditions of the office accommodation needed to meet its requirements. The responsibility for rental payments on Stornoway House lies with the corporation. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member directly.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish details of a comparison, on the basis of the efficient use of energy of the conversion of coal into (a) direct heat by burning for general industrial purposes, (b) synthetic natural gas by contemporary processes and (c) electricity.

It is not possible to provide a realistic comparison between these energy sources because of the widely differing circumstances in which use can be made of the heat released. Modern industrial coal firing equipment should provide a combustion efficiency approaching 100 per cent., but the efficiency with which the heat is utilised will depend upon the application. The efficiency of the commercial Lurgi coal gasification process adapted to manufacture substitute natural gas can lie in the range 55–85 per cent. depending upon the method of calculation. The thermal efficiencies of large modern British coal fired power stations fall in the range 33–35·5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will indicate the energy efficiency of (a) Magnox power stations, (b) AGR's, (c) PWR's and (d) FBR's.

The thermal efficiencies of nuclear power stations vary with the detailed design of the plant and its location. Representative nominal design figures are as follows:

				Per cent.
Magnox	…	…	…	30
AGR	…	…	…	40
PWR	…	…	…	33
FBR	…	…	…	40

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will report on the progress of the Study Group on North Sea Cost Escalation set up in June 1975.

The report of the study group is being published this afternoon and copies will be available in the Library of the House. The report is in two parts, the first by the study group and the second by the consultants Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Company, and Atkins Planning. A summary of the conclusions and recommendations is at the end of Part I. The report contains a good deal of material on the experience of companics during the early years of the development of North Sea oil. I believe that this will be valuable to those in the industry and elsewhere concerned with this important subject.The report shows that in the period 1973 to 1975 estimates of costs in many cases more than doubled. The most important cause was an initial underestimation by the oil companies of the magnitude of the technological challenge presented by the North Sea combined with the telescoped timescale in which the work was to be completed. In addition to this there was the level of general inflation prevailing at the time. The various contributary factors are analysed in detail in Part II.The study confirms the Government's impression that the combination of circumstances in 1973 to 1975 was exceptional, and that, for the future, unforeseen cost escalation is unlikely to be such a severe problem. Lessons learnt from the early years, greater knowledge of the technical and physical conditions, a more deliberate timescale and reduced pressure on resources should all help to limit levels of cost escalation. The available evidence suggests that escalation rates this year are well below the levels of 1973 to 1975. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely.The report recommends improvements in project management and quality control on the part of the operators. The De- partment will be discussing with the operators way in which the suggestions of the study group can be pursued. The recommendations also include proposals on research and development, certification of offshore structures and collection of meteorological data. In all these areas there have been important developments through the work of the Offshore Energy Technology Board, the certifying authorities and the Meteorological Office, and my Department is working on further measures within the limits of the funds available.

asked the Secretary of State fir Energy if he will indicate the percentage loss of electricity through transmission over variable distances.

The percentage loss in electricity transmission depends on a number of factors including the operating voltage of the line, the extent to which it is loaded, the ambient temperature and whether the line is overhead or underground. The energy loss on a main overhead transmission line in the United Kingdom would be in the region of 0·01 to 0·03 per cent. for each route mile of length.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will review his policy on the grant of planning permissions for oil refining, in the light of the recent Government statement regarding the need for increased refining capacity in Scotland.

I understand that the recent remarks by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Energy, which my hon. Friend probably has in mind, referred to petrochemical plants and not to oil refineries. The question of reviewing policy on planning applications for oil refinery does not, therefore, arise on this account.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he denied the use of the Peel Royal Park to the BBC for use in the "It's a Knock Out" programme; and if he will make a statement.

The function was not considered in scale or in keeping with the character of the Peel.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the level of bus services in rural areas of Scotland.

Several of the replies received on the transport policy consultation document have called attention to the importance of bus services in rural areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the Chairman of the Scottish Development Agency.

My right hon. Friend and I frequently meet the chairman and the chief executive. Close and continuing contact is also maintained with the agency at official level.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Shetland about fishing limits and conservation of stocks; and if he will make a statement.

During the past year I have received a number of representations from Shetland about fishing limits and conservation of stocks. I am aware of the importance of fishing to Shetland's economy and of the productiveness of the valuable fishing grounds around Shetland. Full account of these factors is being taken in international negotiations on fishing limits and conservation of stocks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a stataement on the progress of the working party on the Thomson Committee's report; and when he expects legislation to follow.

To assist Ministers in their decisions on the recommendations of the Second Report of the Committee on Criminal Procedure, the report is being studied by a working group of officials of the Departments principally concerned, taking into account comments as they are received from the bodies consulted on the Report. It is too early to give any indication regarding possible legislation following the Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total public expenditure per head of population on education in Scotland.

In the financial year 1974–75 the total public expenditure on education per head of population in Scotland was about £117.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions financial assistance has been given under Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 in Scotland; what is the total amount of assistance that has been given; and how many jobs have been created in consequence.

590 offers of assistance have been made in Scotland under Section 7 of the Industry Act since that Act came into force. The value of the offers total £36·5 million in loans, £33·4 million in interest relief grants and £1·3 million in removal and service industry grants. The total number of new jobs forecast as being created by the assisted projects is 52,000 and a further 8,000 jobs are being safeguarded.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's talks with the Ad Hoc Working Group of the United Nations on Southern Africa.

The Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts on Southern Africa of the United Nations Human Rights Commission met a team of officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 1st July. The meeting provided a useful opportunity to exchange views on a variety of subjects affecting human rights in Southern Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what exemptions to sanctions against Rhodesia have been authorised in respect of GCE and other examinations; and what criteria are applied in considering such exemptions.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 253 (1968) specifically exempts from sanctions

"educational equipment and material for use in schools and other educational institutions".

In accordance with this resolution, the export of GCE and other examination papers to Rhodesia is licensed under the sanctions legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give the actual or estimated number of persons now residing in Uganda who can claim rights of entry into and residence in Great Britain.

In May this year it was estimated that there were resident in Uganda about 500 patrial citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies. Some of these have since left the country. In addition there are thought to be about 50 United Kingdom passport holders of Asian origin remaining in Uganda.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give the total costs for the last financial year of the upkeep of the British High Commission in Uganda and all related expenditures by Her Majesty's Government in Uganda; and what the annual savings would be if there were an ending of diplomatic relations and the closing of all establishments in Uganda.

The cost in 1975–76 of the unkeep of the British High Commission in Uganda was approximately £156,000. In addition expenditure was incurred by the British Council amounting to approximately £7,000. If the High Commission were to be closed it is estimated that the current annual saving would be £142,000 with an additional £7,000 in respect of the British Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent the co-operation of the public in Hong Kong has been invited in the fight against crime; and with what effect.

Mutual aid committees have been formed to improve physical security in multi-storey housing blocks. There are now 2,084 such committees. A Government television club, the Junior Police Call, with more than 150,000 members, encourages young persons to assist in crime prevention. Police community relations officers have been appointed to promote mutual trust and co-operation between the police and the public. These and other measures are designed to increase public co-operation in the fight against crime.Arrests resulting from action by members of the public account for 9·2 per cent. of the total number of arrests in 1975 as compared to 3·3 per cent. in 1972.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether his proposed economy measures will include reduction in the expenditure in the House of Lords Vote;(2) to what extent his proposed cuts in Government expenditure will include cuts in expenditure connected with the EEC and its various monetary expenditures as affecting British contributions.

Levels of expenditure on all programmes will be decided in the course of the 1976 public expenditure survey, which is still under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increases in unemployment he expects to be consequent upon the reduced Government expenditure now projected; if he will break this figure down by regions; and if he will make a statement.

Public expenditure programmes are still under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing for each of the nationa

NATIONALISED INDUSTRIES
TABLE 1
Surplus (Deficit)*
£ million
Industry					1974–75	1975–76
National Coal Board	…	…	…	…	—†	5·3†
Electricity (England and Wales)	…	…	…	…	(257·6)	¶
North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board	…	…	…	…	(2·3)	0·1
South of Scotland Electricity Board	…	…	…	…	(20·4)	2·7
British Gas Corporation	…	…	…	…	(44·2)	¶
British Steel Corporation	…	…	…	…	65·5	¶
Post Office	…	…	…	…	(306·7)	¶
British Airways Board	…	…	…	…	(9·4)	¶
British Airports Authority	…	…	…	…	3·8	¶
					1974	1975
British Railways Board	…	…	…	…	(157·8)‡	5·5‡
British Transport Docks Board	…	…	…	…	0·7	0·8
British Waterways Board	…	…	…	…	(5·3)	8·0
National Freight Corporation	…	…	…	…	(15·8)	(31·0)
National Bus Company	…	…	…	…	(12·3)§	(190)§
Scottish Transport Group	…	…	…	…	(7·4)§	(3·3)§
* After depreciation and interest charges and, where applicable, extraordinary items, minority interests, taxation and dividend on public dividend capital. Before, where applicable, grants to meet deficits on revenue account, as well as compensation for price restraint.
† After taking account of social and operating grants totalling £68·2 million in 1974–75 and £32·4 million in 1975–76.
‡ After taking account of specific grants totalling £234·2 million in 1974 and £505·8 million in 1975.
§ The National Bus Company and Scottish Transport Group receive bus fuel tax grants and local authority revenue subsidies, both of which are substantial.
¶ Reports and Accounts not yet published.

TABLE 2
Compensation for Price Restraint*
Industry					1974–75	1975–76
Electricity (England and Wales)	…	…	…	…	257·6	†
North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board	…	…	…	…	2·3	—
South of Scotland Electrity Board	…	…	…	…	20·4	—
British Gas Corporation	…	…	…	…	28·9	†
Post Office	…	…	…	…	307·0	†
* Payable under the Statutory Corporations (Financial Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1975. Amounts are shown under the years in which compensation has been credited in the industries' accounts.
† Reports and Accounts not yet published.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much it costs to print cyclo-style letters which acknowledge letters from Members of Parliament and which state that the contents of such letters will be brought to the Chancellor's attention as soon as time permits.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply to this Question at the

Following is the information taken from the latest published reports and accounts of the industries.same time as I reply to his other Questions on the same subject which are down for answer on Tuesday 27th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been transferred from the Exchange Equalisation Account to the National Loans Fund since 1st April 1976.

£400 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Her Majesty's Treasury has amended the presentation of the accounts of the National Loans Fund so as to exclude items transferred from the Exchange Equalisation Account.

As announced on 10th May, the Treasury now issues a monthly Press notice giving details of the transactions on the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund and other funds and accounts which contribute to the central Government borrowing requirement and the separate publication in the London Gazette has been discontinued.—[Vol. 911, c. 50.]The debt and other financing transactions borne directly on the National Loans Fund, including transfers to and from the Exchange Equalisation Account, have been omitted from the Press notice because they can be misleading if read in isolation. Full details of the financing of the central Government borrowing requirement are published quarterly by the Bank of England and the Central Statistical Office and include the contribution of transactions on the Exchange Equalisation Account. The change in the reserves is also published separately by the Treasury each month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, and in what circumstances, related property is taken into account in determining whether a transferor has a controlling holding in a company for the purposes of capital transfer tax business relief under Schedule 10 to the Finance Bill 1976.

By virtue of paragraph 13(2) of Schedule 10 to the Finance Bill, related property will be taken into account in determining whether a transferor has a controlling holding in a company for the purposes of the capital transfer tax business relief to the same extent as it is taken into account, under paragraph 13(7) of Schedule 4 to the Finance Act 1975, in determining whether he has such a holding for the purposes of valuation for the tax.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action has been taken to enhance the security of the civil air link with Great Britain.

New security measures are being enforced for the protection of Aldergrove Airport. They involve a number of road closures and diversions authorised by me under powers contained in the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1973. Details of the closures have been widely publicised in Northern Ireland. They are necessary to maintain the continued safety of aircraft and travellers. Some inconvenience to road users and disturbance of local residents is inevitable, but every effort has been made to keep this to a minimum. Diversion signs have been posted. Consultations were held locally; for security reasons these had to be restricted in time and scope.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received the report of the working party of officials which he set up to review the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968; and what action he proposes to take.

This report, which has been made by officials personally to me, raises important issues of a social and financial nature, which require my careful consideration. Following this, my intention is, as I have already informed the House, to introduce proposals, later in the year, taking full account of the recommendations in the report, for appropriate amendments to the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 by means of a draft Order in Council accompanied by an Explanatory Memorandum and with appropriate provision for debate in the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been convicted in Northern Ireland and for what terms of imprisonment they have been sentenced for the following Offences since 1969: conspiracy to murder, offences under Sections 18, 20, 28, 29, and 30, respectively, of the Offences against the Person Act 1861, and offences under Sections 14, 15, 16, 17, and 19A, respectively, of the Firearms Act (N.I.) 1969.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Bexleyheath (Mr. Townsend) on 20th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest estimated cost of the proposed M2 motorway extension to Rushpark in Newtownabbey.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the area bounded by Mount Street, Woodstock Road, Castlereagh Street and Beersbridge Road, which includes Nos. 90 to 136 Woodstock Road, is included in the vesting and acquisition due to be completed by 1977.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why the Department of Commerce declines to disclose the amount of public money provided in standard assistance to individual companies.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the National Enterprise Board's report on British Leyland.

The National Enterprise Board has recently examined British Ley- land's performance since October 1975—the beginning of the company's present financial year—and has carried out a review of BL's first long-term corporate plan. The NEB has made a full report to me: it is satisfied that the corporate plan provides a sound framework for the future development of the company and is in accordance with the board strategy of the Ryder Report. It considers that the company's achievements have outweighed some disappointing aspects of performance and that the trend of improvement fully justifies the first tranche of £100 million. The Government accept the conclusions of the NEB report.I am placing in the Vote Office, the Printed Paper Office, and the Libraries of both Houses, copies of the NEB's own summary of its report to me.It is the Government's intention that while the larger part of the funds required by BL this year should be made available from the NEB's resources, £30 million should be provided under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972, through a direction to the NEB under Section 3 of the Industry Act 1975. I am tabling a motion today in accordance with the requirements of Section 8, seeking the consent of the House to the provision of this amount. There will be an opportunity to debate this before the Summer Recess.The Government continue to support the basic strategy set out in the Ryder Report, with its emphasis on a programme of capital investment necessary to restore BL's competitiveness by transforming facilities and rationalising the model range. The provision of finance will continue to be conditional upon achievement by the company. Much remains to be done, but my first-hand contact with the BL management and work force representatives leads me to endorse the NEB's view that an encouraging start is being made.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the total amount of Government money involved in his Department's sponsorship of the Blacknest Centre Production Control Group.

The amount of money so far spent by my Department on sponsorship of this group is £161,042.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry on how many occasions financial assistance has been given under Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 in England; what is the total amount of assistance that has been given; and how many jobs have been created as a consequence.

Up to 30th June 1976, offers of assistance totalling £92 million were made in respect of about 1,700 projects located in England and expected to create about 120,000 new jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much he proposes to spend on the building of new court buildings in the current financial year and for as many years ahead as has been planned.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Paddington (Mr. Latham) on 22nd March.—[Vol. 908, c. 29–30.] The total capital expenditure proposed for magistrates' courts is as follows:

			£ million
1976–77	…	…	12·2
1977–78	…	…	11·0
1978–79	…	…	5·5
1979–80	…	…	2·4

The incidence of the £8 million on new buildings to be started in 1976–77 is:

			£ million
1976–77	…	…	1·5
1977–78	…	…	3·5
1978–79	…	…	2·5
1979–80	…	…	0·5

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average number of hours for which court buildings of different types are used each week and the number of weeks each year.

The information requested is not available in respect of magistrates' and coroners' courts; nor, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor advises me, is it available in the case of the higher courts, for which he is responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the functions of distributing CDP central reports, meeting visitors seeking information about the community development project and providing speakers to universities and other bodies on CDP, at present being carried out by members of the CDP Information and Intelligence Unit, are being transferred to his Department.

So that the findings of community development projects continue to be readily available to all those concerned with tackling the problems of urban deprivation after the CDP Information and Intelligence Unit closes on 30th September.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extra staff will be employed within his Department to take the place of the staff being made redundant at the CDP Information and Intelligence Unit; what is the additional cost of these staff; and what previous knowledge of CDP the staff employed will have.

Our Department is at present considering how some of the functions now performed by the CDP Information and Intelligence Unit can best be carried on after the unit closes. It is not yet possible to say what staff will be required for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to publish and distribute CDP Inter-Project Reports now nearing completion.

Our proposals on this matter are being considered by the Centre for Environmental Studies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure the production of an overall assessment of the national community development project experiment, beyond the request to the projects for individual final reports.

Our Department is at present considering this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the acceleration of the problems of inner city areas, he will reconsider his decision to close the Centre for Community Development Project.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he decided to close down the central information unit which has had the task of co-ordinating the work of the individual projects on inner city areas.

We could not, in the present economic climate, justify extending the life of the CDP Information and Intelligence Unit beyond the period of the present agreement with the Centre for Environmental Studies in view of the unexpectedly early closure of three local projects and the consequent reduction in the number of teams to be assisted by the unit and available to contribute to interproject studies. In addition, we are concerned that the remaining teams should devote their main efforts in the final period of their lives to local activity and to drawing out the lessons of their work for national as well as local policies for tackling urban deprivation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the names and qualifications of the members of his Policy Advisory Committee on Sexual Offences.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 19th March to a similar Question from the hon. Member for Halesowen and Stourbridge (Mr. Stokes). —[Vol 907, c. 649–50.] Since that reply was given the committee has lost, through his death, Lord Justice James.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many schoolchildren were in remand centres at the latest available date; and if he will break the figures down by age and sex.

On 30th June there were 132 juveniles aged under 16 in remand centres. Two were girls aged 15; 101 were boys aged 15; and 29 were boys aged 14.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of schoolchildren in local prisons at the latest available date; and if he will break the figures down by age and sex.

On 30th June there were six juveniles aged under 16 in local prisons. Three were boys and three were girls; all of them were aged 15.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many girls aged 14 years were in local prisons at the latest available date; and what is the total of such remands since 26th May 1976.

Between 26th May and 30th June, two girls aged 14 were remanded to a local prison. There were no such girls in local prisons on 30th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motorists have been prosecuted for exceeding the 50 and 60 mph fuel economy speed limits.

In England and Wales in 1975, the number of prosecutions for exceeding the temporary 50 mph and 60 mph speed limits—including those where the speed was above the previous limit of 70 mph—were 11,793 and 13,294 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motorists disqualified under the totting up procedure have one or more endorsements for contravention of the 50 and 60 mph fuel economy speed limit.

Information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many places for students were available in colleges of education in Essex and Hertfordshire in September 1975; by how many it is proposed to reduce this number; and how many will remain after the proposed closures and cuts have taken place.

There were some 3,770 places available and 3,120 fulltime students on teacher education courses in September 1975. Those colleges which are to continue to provide teacher education have been provisionally allocated 1,450 places for this purpose for 1981, including in-service training and induction work. The balance of their places will be available for other further education or training.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers in England and Wales left the profession in each of the past 10 years (a) to retire and (b) to take up other jobs; and what estimate he has made of the numbers for this year.

The numbers of teachers in England and Wales who left teaching from maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools, having passed 60 years of age, the minimum age for a teacher's pension, in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available, are given below in the first column, Those leaving aged below 60 are given in the second and third columns. It is not possible to distinguish between those who took other employment and those who left for other reasons:

Year ended			Aged 60	Aged under 60
31st March			and over	Men	Women
1965	…	…	5,137	3,572	15,991
1966	…	…	4,874	3,604	15,638
1967	…	…	5,451	3,914	16,862
1968	…	…	5,587	4,255	17,344
1969	…	…	6,216	4,670	17,719
1970	…	…	5,392	4,835	18,207
1971	…	…	5,338	4,833	19,539
1972	…	…	5,066	4,755	20,729
1973	…	…	5,287	4,952	21,455
1974	…	…	6,190	5,982	22,521

A precise estimate is not available of the numbers who will leave full-time ser- vice in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools this year as the number will depend not only on national economic factors but also on the policies adopted by local education authorities towards the re-employment of experienced teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers in England and Wales returned to the profession in each of the past 10 years after occupying other jobs; and what estimate he has made of the number for this year.

The number of teachers in England and Wales who returned to full-time teaching in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available are given below. The Department does not collect information on the prior employment of those returning to teaching.

Year ended
31st March			Men	Women	Total
1965	…	…	1,640	7,516	9,156
1966	…	…	2,093	8,381	10,474
1967	…	…	1,636	7,830	9,466
1968	…	…	1,865	8,434	10,299
1969	…	…	1,836	8,828	10,664
1970	…	…	1,926	9,832	11,758
1971	…	…	2,362	10,626	12,988
1972	…	…	2,294	10,155	12,449
1973	…	…	2,428	10,481	12,909
1974	…	…	2,707	11,720	14,427

A precise estimate is not available of the number who will re-enter full-time teaching service in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools this year. It will depend not only on the number of teaching posts available in the schools and the number of newly trained teachers seeking posts, but also on the policies of local education authorities towards the recruitment of newly qualified teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all the six form colleges in England and Wales with the number of pupils at such colleges; and if he will list all schools with a sixth form of more than 150 pupils.

Listed below are all the sixth form colleges in England with numbers of pupils as at January 1975. The numbers given exclude pupils under 16 in cases where the colleges are still at an interim stage of reorganisation. Schools in Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Local Education Authority		Name of College		Numbers on Roll January 1975
Bedfordshire	…	Luton Sixth Form College	…	663
Cambridgeshire	…	Hills Road Sixth Form College	…	196
		Long Road Sixth Form College	…	212
Cheshire	…	Widnes Junior College	…	355
Cleveland	…	Prior Pursglove Sixth Form College	…	299
		Bede Sixth Form College	…	185
		South Park Sixth Form College	…	264
		Stockton Sixth Form College	…	474
		Acklam Sixth Form College	…	372
		Marton Sixth Form College	…	242
		St. Mary's Roman Catholic Sixth Form College	…	363
		Sir William Turners Sixth Form College	…	*
Cornwall	…	St. Austell, Poltair Sixth Form College	…	305
Durham	…	Queen Elizabeth College, Darlington	…	453
Essex	…	South East Essex Sixth Form College	…	706
		Grays, Palmers College	…	425
East Sussex	…	Varndean Sixth Form College	…	*
		Brighton, Hove and Sussex	…	*
Hampshire	…	Basingstoke, Queen Mary's College	…	678
		Brockenhurst College	…	707
		Totton College	…	431
		Winchester, Peter Symonds College	…	368
		Eastleigh, Barton Peverell College	…	526
		Itchen County College, Southampton	…	589
		Richard Taunton College for Boys, Southampton	…	374
		Southampton County College for Girls	…	548
		Farnborough College	…	246
		Fareham Prices College	…	389
		Havant College	…	259
Harrow	…	Lowlands Junior College	…	234
		Harrow Weald Junior College	…	214
		Pinner Junior College	…	186
		Stanmore Junior College	…	386
Hereford and Worcester	…	Hereford Sixth Form College	…	296
Humberside	…	Scunthorpe, John Leggott College	…	653
Kirklees	…	Wheelwright College	…	191
		Greenhead College	…	235
		Huddersfield New College	…	398
		King James's College	…	125
Lancashire	…	Leyland, Runshaw College	…	424
Leicestershire	…	Rutland Sixth Form College	…	210
Nottinghamshire	…	Billborough College	…	182
		High Pavement College	…	165
		Forest Fields College	…	221
Oxfordshire	…	Henley Sixth Form College	…	312
Richmond upon Thames	…	Thames Valley Sixth Form College	…	593
		Shene Sixth Form College	…	439
Rotherham	…	Thomas Rotherham College	…	376
Salford	…	Salford, Pendleton College	…	380
		Eccles College	…	460
Salop	…	Wellington Sixth Form College	…	171
Sandwell	…	West Park College	…	303
		Rowley Regis College	…	149
Solihull	…	Solihull Sixth Form College	…	702
Staffordshire	…	Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College	…	785
Surrey	…	Farnham College	…	442
		Godalming Sixth Form College	…	448
		Ashford	…	*
		Sunbury	…	*
		Egham Strodes	…	*
		Esher	…	*

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of proposals to alter the level of public expenditure and his intention to maintain the current staffing standards, he means actual standards at present attained.

The expenditure forecasts in the White Paper "Public Expenditure to 1979–80" (Cmnd 6393) provide for staffing in primary and secondary schools in England and Wales to be maintained at the respective standards achieved nationally in the school year 1975–76.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the findings of the questionnaire on school staffing he sent to the chief education officers on 2nd April 1976; and, if he has not received all the replies, if he will publish the results which he has so far.

The letter sent to chief education officers on 2nd April asked how many teachers each individual authority would need to employ in January 1977 to maintain staffing ratios at the levels achieved in the school year 1975–76. The replies, which have not yet been fully analysed, indicate that authorities collectively would need to employ about 459,000 teachers for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students who completed their courses in the current year in Welsh colleges of education are still without teaching posts; and what proportion this represents of the year's output.

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Cardigan (Mr. Howells on 17th May—[Vol. 911, c. 391–2]—I estimate that about 2,300 students will successfully complete courses in initial training in Wales this summer. My Department does not collect from colleges details of prospective employment of their students, and uncertainty about trends in wastage rates from and re-entry to teaching makes it impossible to give a reliable estimate of the number who will obtain teaching posts. Returns received so far from six of the eight Welsh LEAs indicate that they intend to employ 79 more teachers in their maintained primary and secondary schools in September than they employed in January.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when Her Majesty's Government will be announcing their proposals for the vocational preparation for young people; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have today published a statement announcing a programme of pilot schemes of unified vocational preparation for young people who leave school at 16 and receive little or no further education or training. The programme will be a joint venture of the Education Departments and the Training Services Agency, in collaboration with local education authorities and industrial training boards and in association with other interests. Its purpose will be to establish what forms of vocational preparation will attract young people and win the support of their employers. The first pilot schemes should start in the autumn. Copies of the statement have been placed in the Library of the House, and will be widely distributed to educational training and other interested bodies. A joint circular from the Department of Education and Science and the Welsh Education Office has been sent to local education authorities.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will consider providing the remainder of the 1972 United Kingdom South Vietnam loan of £802,000 to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to enable it to purchase goods and services from Great Britain.