asked the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the revised arrangements to provide insurance cover for right hon. and hon. Members who travel away from Westminster on the business of the House.

In response to the representations made by the hon. Gentleman, the memorandum on personal accident insurance, the text of which I gave to him in my reply to his Question on 28th May 1976—[Vol. 912, c. 461], has been amended by the addition of the following paragraph:

Members will also wish to be aware that there is no provision for a comprehensive insurance cover against losses of personal property whilst travelling on official business but that claims for compensation for the loss of their luggage and personal effects will be considered by the Fees Office in accordance with public service practices. As the limit for compensation, which excludes cash, is £200 Members may wish to make their own arrangements for a comprehensive insurance against loss of their personal property.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he has yet reached a decision following the referral to the Crown Office with a view to prosecution of a leaflet issued by the Scottish Front.

Having given careful consideration to the matter, I have reached the conclusion that no basis exists for criminal prosecution in regard to the distribution of the leaflet in question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage rise in the general level of prices of (a) each nationalised industry and (b) of all nationalised industries together between 31st March 1975 and 31st March 1976.

Following is the information:

	Per cent. Increase
(a) Industry	(Estimated)
National Coal Board
Domestic	22
Industrial	15
	(1)
Electricity (England and Wales)	33
North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board	22
South of Scotland Electricity Board	26
British Gas Corporation
Domestic	20
Non-domestic	21
	(2)
British Steel Corporation (3)
Post Office
Telecommunications	80
Posts	22
British Airways Board	20
British Airports Authority	29
British Railways Board
Passenger fares	48
Freight	29
Parcels	27
British Transport Docks Board
Uncontrolled charges
Controlled charges	72
British Waterways Board	56
National Freight Corporation	15
National Bus Company	40

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the national income was devoted to saving in each of the past 15 years.

The information is given in the following table:

		Net saving*as a percentage of national income	Gross saving† as as a percentage gross national product at factor cost
1961	…	12·6	20·4
1962	…	11·2	19·3
1963	…	11·4	19·5
1964	…	13·9	21·6
1965	…	14·3	22·0
1966	…	14·0	22·0
1967	…	13·4	21·4
1968	…	14·0	22·2
1969	…	15·5	23·7
1970	…	15·5	24·1
1971	…	14·6	23·4
1972	…	11·9	21·1
1973	…	12·4	21·7
1974	…	8·1	18·4
1975	…	7·7	18·5
Source: National Income and Expenditure 1964–74 and Economic Trends. In these figures, which are based on the definitions used in the United Kingdom national accounts, gross national product is measured at factor cost; on international definitions it is normally measured at market prices.
* Total investment—domestic capital formation plus net investment abroad—after providing for stock appreciation and depreciation. National income is equal to gross national product at factor cost less capital consumption.
† Total investment before providing for depreciation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now able to give a detailed explanation of the reasons why on many occasions the Treasury estimates and accounts have been proved wrong and corrections have had to be made at approximately six-monthly intervals in all aspects of policies.

I am not clear to what my hon. Friend is referring. If he has anything specific in mind perhaps he would write to me about it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the net figure for private invisibles, totalling £3·07 billion in 1976, is made up; and what is the gross figure.

I take it the hon. Member is referring to the total of net private invisibles in 1975, which amounted to £3,042 million. Details of how this total is made up are given in tables 4, 5 and 6 on pages 82 to 85 of the article on the United Kingdom balance of payments in Economic Trends, June 1976, a copy of which is in the Library. Total credits in 1975 from private services, including the earnings of a number of public corporations, private sector investment income and transfers amounted to £10,340 million. This includes many financial and allied services for which figures are available only as net credits—for example, insurance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will separate in the national accounts the public sector deficit deducted from invisibles from that of the private sector surplus, in order to give a more accurate reading of the private sector contribution to Great Britain's invisibles account.

The public and private sector elements of the invisible account are shown separately in the CSO's "Pink Book" (UK Balance of Payments 1964–74), and in the quarterly articles on the United Kingdom balance of payments in Economic Trends—the latest of which was published in the June edition—copies of which are in the Library. The Government fully recognise the positive contribution of private sector invisible earnings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much of the standby credit of £3,000 million anounced on 7th June was used by 22nd July;(2) whether any of the standby credit of £3,000 million announced on 7th June was used between 16th July and 23rd July; and how much;(3) whether any of the standby credit of £3,000 million announced in 7th June was used between 2nd July and 9th July; and how much;(4) whether any of the standby credit of £3,000 million announced on 7th June was used between 9th July and 16th July; and how much.

It is not proposed to reveal details of any amounts outstanding under the standby save on a quarterly basis. As indicated in the answer given to the hon. Member on 16th July, the level of drawings at the end of June and end of September will be shown in the quarterly balance of payments data, which will appear in September and December respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion the purchasing power of the present Members' salary bears to the purchasing power of the salary in February 1950 and in October 1974, respectively.

The annual, gross, basic salary of a Member of Parliament was £1,000 in February 1950, £4,500 in October 1974 and is currently £5,750.In June 1976 a sum of £4,380 would command the equivalent purchasing power of £1,000 in 1950; the current gross annual salary of £5,750 is 1·31 times this amount. In June 1976 a sum of £6,200 would command the equivalent purchasing power of £4,500 in October 1974; the current gross annual salary of £5,750 is 0·93 times this amount.These calculations are based on the estimates described in "The Internal Purchasing Power of the Pound" obtainable from the Press and Information Service of the Central Statistical Office.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, whether he is aware that the present drought and its ultimate effect on food production will cause food shortages and price rises; what estimate he has made of the effect of the proposed cuts in supply during September and October on consumer food prices; and whether he will make a statement.

On the effects of the drought on food production, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Hardy) on 14th July. On the effects of cuts in water supply, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 19th July.—[Vol. 915, c. 214 and 354.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the sugar beet crop in 1976; and if he will seek permission from the Council of Ministers to increase imports of cane sugar over 1·3 million tons in order to fill any likely deficit.

It is too early to estimate with any precision the 1976–77 United Kingdom sugar beet crop. It is, however, expected that Community sugar supplies in the coming year will be adequate, taking account of imports from ACP suppliers within the framework of the Lomé Convention sugar protocol.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out in Official Report his estimate of demand for and supplies of sugar available to the home market in the year September 1976 to September 1977, including drawing on stocks and imports of white sugar refined elsewhere in the EEC.

It is too early to estimate with any precision United Kingdof beet sugar production in 1976–77; as a result, no detailed breakdown of supplies to the United Kingdom market between October 1976 and September 1977 can be given. It is, however, expected that the ACP sugar producers will fulfil their quotas under the Lomé Convention sugar protocol during that period, but that stocks, which have been run down this year from their high levels in October 1975, will not be further reduced. On the demand side, a moderate increase over the 1975–76 level is foreseen in 1976–77.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the results of the Council of Ministers (Agriculture) in 19th-20th July.

The major questions discussed at this Council meeting were the proposed action programme for restoring the balance in the market for milk and milk products, possible interim measures for improving intra-Community trade in sheepmeat, and the effect of the drought on agriculture within the Community.Most member States set out their views in general terms on the proposed measures for milk. They will be further examined by the Council, with a view to reaching decisions in the early autumn. I made it quite clear that we remain committed to restraint on the common milk price, but would be ready to consider measures of producer co-responsibility subject to a firm prices policy. At the same time I left my colleagues in no doubt that we are totally opposed to the suggested tax on vegetable and marine oils and fats as part of any package of measures to deal with Community milk surpluses.On sheepmeat there was a discussion of possible improvements in intra-Community trade, including access to the French market. Although there are points on which opinions differ and to which further consideration must be given, the Council recognised that a sufficient measure of agreement existed to enable it to express the firm intention of reaching decisions on interim measures for improving trade in sheep-meat within the Comunity at its September meeting.On the drought, certain temporary measures to alleviate farmers' difficulties were extended. The Council also decided to introduce a compensatory amount on canned peeled tomatoes, which will benefit United Kingdom consumers, and agreed to take decisions by December on measures for improving the Community's market in hops.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will report progress on the unification of the Civil Service grade structure.

Unified grading was introduced down to Under-Secretary level in January 1972. Since then, in accordance with the recommendation in March 1972 of the Joint Official/Staff Side Committee on the Fulton Report, work has concentrated on the extension of the category/group structure—which now covers more than 70 per cent. of the non-industrial Civil Service—and on the development of personnel management arrangements as the most practicable means of persuing the Fulton Committee's aim of more flexible deployment in the interests of efficiency and staff development.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is his estimate of the cost to public funds which would be involved if successive increases were paid to public service pensioners who have elected to retire abroad.

Increases to public service pensions made under the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 are already paid irrespective of the country in which the pensioner chooses to reside. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman has a particular problem in mind, perhaps he would write to me.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what steps he has taken to ensure that payment of salary increments in the Civil Service during the last 12 months has been in full compliance with the Government's requirement that such payments do not exceed the overall wage bill by more than £6 per head.

I have had a detailed investigation made of the effect of the continued payment of increments in the Civil Service and I am satisfied that their continued payment has been fully consistent with the provisions of Annex I of the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation".

asked the Minister for the Civil Service by what amount per head the overall wage bill of the Civil Service during the last 12 months has been increased by the implementation of incremental scales of pay during that period.

No increase has resulted from the continued payment of increments during the last 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his estimates of the average rate increases including water charges and domestic rate relief, in 1976–77 for the domestic householder in (a) the London boroughs, (b)

Water Authority			Water		Sewerage and environmental services charge—sewered property
				Increase over 1975–76		Increase over 1975–76
			£	per cent.	£	per cent.
North West	…	…	15·10	11·0	14·46	23·8
Northumbrian	…	…	13·98	21·3	22·42	41·7
Severn Trent	…	…	15·15	22·2	21·15	48·6
Yorkshire	…	…	14·86	17·0	16·51	31·4
Anglian	…	…	16·96	25·3	26·52	50·8
Thames	…	…	13·72	25·1	14·43	33·2
Southern	…	…	15·90	8·7	20·48	-1·5
Wessex	…	…	17·46	29·3	24·59	38·7
South West	…	…	20·25	23·2	25·16	35·5
WNWDA	…	…	22·76	13·8	21·75	22·9

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last three years in respect of evasion of the road fund licence and with what result; what is the latest estimate of the amount of revenue lost as a result of drivers not properly holding valid road fund licences; and what is the current number of valid road fund licences in issue.

There were 156,152 prosecutions in 1973, 144,905 in 1974 and 156,286 in 1975. They led to fines and back duty of £2·5 million, £2·6 million and £3·4 million respectively being paid; including cases where mitigated penalties were paid in lieu of

The average general rates payable by the domestic ratepayer for 1976–77, with the increase over the corresponding payment for 1975–76, are as follows:

	Average Payment 1976–77	Increase Over 1975–76
	1976–77	1975–76
	£	%
London	149	2·3
Metropolitan Districts	89	7·5
Non-Metropolitan Districts in England	96	12·4
Non-Metropolitan Districts in Wales	59	16·0

Water charges are no longer part of the rate, and details by class of authority are not available. The average payments for 1976–77 and the increases over 1975–76 within the area of each water authority are as follows:prosecution, the figures became £3·4 million, £3·4 million and £4·7 million.The estimated annual loss of revenue through evasion of vehicle excise duty is £40 million. In April 1976, the latest month for which figures are available, there were 17·07 million current licences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last three years against householders for the non-payment of rates and with what result; what was the total sum involved; what is the latest estimated number of people who have not paid current rate demands; and what is the latest available estimate of the number of ratepayers in England and Wales.

I regret that, with the execption of information on the total number of direct domestic ratepayers, estimated in 1974–75 in England and Wales as 17 million, this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action the Government are taking to combat the increasing menace of seaweed upon United Kingdom shores; and if he will make a statement.

The only serious problem of which I am aware arises from Japanese seaweed in the Solent area. On that, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross) on 28th June.—[Vol. 914, c.31–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will undertake not to proceed with further public inquiries into major road schemes until new procedures governing tribunals of inquiry have been approved by Parliament.

No; these inquiries are being held as provided for under the Highways Act 1959–71 and are governed by statutory rules of procedure which came into operation on 10th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give details of the time and dates when ministerial or Government cars were used by the stated five former Prime Ministers.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what the proportion of those passing their driving test at the first time of trying was, in the most recent year for which figures are available, withing the following age groups: (a) 17 to 20 years, (b) 20 to 30 years and (c) over 30 years.

Routine statistics relating to first attempts at the driving test are not kept. The following information is available from a two-day survey taken in October 1975:

Age Group	Percentage pass rate of candidates taking first test
Under 21	45
21–40	41
41–50	22
Over 50	20

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in how many cases in the past year there was evidence of excessive drinking where an invalid tricycle driver was involved in a fatal accident.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received any representations concerning the present local government status of Southport, and, in particular, the possibility of removing Southport from the metropolitan borough of Sefton to the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire; when the relevant local government boundaries are likely to be reviewed; and whether he will direct the English Boundary Commission to review them earlier or have discussions with the Boundary Commission designed to bring about an earlier review.

I have not received any representations regarding either the present local government status of Southport or its transfer from Sefton to Lancashire.The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is required by the Local Government Act 1972 to review the areas of counties and metropolitan districts between 1984 and 1989, and Southport would come up for review during that period. I would be prepared neither to direct the commission to carry out such a review before 1984 nor to have discussions with it designed to bring about such a review before 1984.The removal of Southport from the present metropolitan district would be a major area change which should be reserved for the major reviews between 1984 and 1989. So large a change would disturb the pattern of authorities. To consider it before 1984 would be premature in view of the need to have sufficient experience of the operation of the new authorities before making radical alterations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost, in each regional water authority area in England and Wales, of implementation of Part II of the Control of Pollution Act.

No such estimates can be made, since costs would depend on the standards set by the water authorities, but any major overall improvements in the quality of rivers and tidal waters would involve very substantial capital expenditure by both water authorities and industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the charges made by each of the water authorities for the disposal of waste collected by local authorities from properties not connected to main sewers.

I understand that the charges made by water authorities for dealing with 1,000 gallons of such effluent are as follows:Northumbrian

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average charge now imposed by local authorities for the collection of waste from cesspits at properties not connected to the main sewers; and what is the average cost involved per head of occupants of such properties.

Most of the charges about which I have received representations have been between £8 and £10 per 1,000 gallons. I have no information about costs, but I have no reason to suppose that local authorities are charging more for the service than it costs to provide it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the costs to be incurred by local authorities in the collection and disposal of waste from residential properties not connected to main sewers.

The information available centrally is not sufficient for an estimate of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consult local authority associations and organisations with responsibility or concern for public health to discuss the possible risks and consequences of high costs for the collection of waste from cesspits at properties not connected to main sewers.

I am consulting local authorities about the arrangements for emptying cesspools as part of the review of the water industry. Meanwhile the authorities have powers to deal with possible risks under the Public Health Act 1936.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has offered advice, or proposes to offer advice, to local authorities in regard to the private collection and disposal of waste from cesspits of houses not connected to main sewers.

I do not think that I could usefully offer advice. Contractors undertaking this kind of service would normally be well known to the local authorities and are also likely to advertise commercially.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received in regard to recent increases or notifications of charges made for the emptying of cesspits at properties not connected to the main sewers.

I have received about 100 letters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the total number of persons living in the 900,000 properties in England and Wales which he estimates are not connected to main sewers.

On the 1971 average of 2·87 persons per household, about 2·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what amount per head the overall wage bill for local government staff has been increased during the last 12 months by the implementation of incremental scales of pay during that period.

The appropriate local government negotiating bodies are responsible for the negotiation of pay settlements within the pay limit announced in the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation" (Cmnd. 6151). I understand those bodies are satisfied that the £6 a week increases negotiated for the groups of local government employees on incremental scales met the requirements of the policy on increments set out in the White Paper. It was for that reason that the negotiating bodies agreed no deduction should be made from the £6 a week increases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to ensure that payments of salary increments in local government during the last 12 months have been in full compliance with the Government's requirement that such payments do not exceed the overall wage bill by more than £6 per head.

My right hon. Friend has discussed with representatives of the employers' sides of the various local government negotiating bodies the application of the pay limit announced in the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation" (Cmnd. 6151). However, local authorities are responsible with the trade unions through the appropriate negotiating bodies for ensuring that settlements are in accordance with the policy. I understand these bodies are satisfied the requirements of the policy on increments set out in the White Paper have been met.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that payment of salary increments in the water authorities during the last 12 months has been in full compliance with the Government's requirement that such payments do not exceed the overall wage bill by more than £6 per head;(2) by what amount per head the overall wage bill for water authority staff during the last 12 months has been increased by the implementation of incremental scales of pay during that period.

I understand from the National Water Council that the bodies responsible for negotiating the pay of water authority staffs are satisfied that the £6 per week increase negotiated for staff on incremental scales met the requirements of the policy on increments set out in the White Paper, Cmnd. 6151, and that the overall operation of the incremental system did not add to the total wage bill for those staffs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had concerning the possible use of incidence of handicap as an indicator of need for the purpose of the distribution of the rate support grant; and if he will make a statement.

There have been consultations with the local authority associations on the possibility of testing the number of registered disabled for inclusion as a needs indicator in 1977–78 RSG distribution. However, the reliability and coverage of the data were found to be insufficient to justify their use in the present round of RSG negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the annual cost to the electricity boards of despatching and administering wayleave payments;(2) what is the annual amount disbursed in wayleave payments by the electricity boards.

This is a matter for the electricity boards, and I am asking the Chairman of the Electricity Council to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will take action to ensure that miners are entitled to retire on pensions at the age of 60 years.

Early retirement for mineworkers is a matter for negotiation in the first instance between the mining unions and the National Coal Board. If and when an approach is made to the Government I can assure my hon. Friend that it will be given the most serious consideration, though it must be said that it would raise some very difficult issues just at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community service orders were made in 1975 in the Wirral courts in particular and in Merseyside courts as a whole.

I regret that information in the precise form requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The Merseyside probation and after-care service estimates, however, that during 1975 some 274 offenders living in its area were given community service orders by courts both within and outside the area. Of these, six offenders lived in the Wirral petty sessions area, to which community service arrangements were extended on 1st August 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek powers to prevent nationals of other EEC States who are on strike from entering the United Kingdom in order to take up temporary employment or to claim social security benefits.

No. We have no reason to believe that there is a substantial problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the 66 complaints substantiated against the Merseyside Police in 1975 originated from K Division;(2) how many complaints against the K Division of the Merseyside Police in 1975 were substantiated; and how this compares with other forces of a comparable size.

I am informed by the Chief Constable of Merseyside that, to date, five complaints made in 1975 against officers in K Division have been substantiated; the present strength of K Division is 302 officers; in the five other territorial divisions of the force with strengths between 250 and 350 officers, the number of substantiated complaints ranges from two to nine.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons had been informed that they had a right of appeal against a refusal to vary a limited leave under the Immigration Act 1971 and had returned their appeal forms but had not had their cases heard by the appellate authorities before 24th May 1976; and how many applications which were made outside the normal appeal periods are still outstanding.

As at 31st May 1976 the number of outstanding appeals against a refusal to vary a limited leave was approximately 3,300. It is not possible to say how many of these appeals were submitted after the normal time limit for appealing had expired. However, some 1,100 relate to unsuccessful applications for an extension of stay submitted after the limited leave had expired and which would hence be affected by the recent decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of R. v. Immigration Appeal Tribunal and Another ex parte Subramaniam that there is no right of appeal in such circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications were made under "Urban Programme Circular 15—Holiday Projects 1976—Project Statement"; how many were granted; and at what cost.

768 applications were made under Circular 15, of which 246 were approved at a total cost of £226,272.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to announce the membership of the parliamentary group to examine the feasibility and utility of a register of dependants; and whether he will make a statement.

The Right Hon. Lord Franks of Headington has accepted an invitation to chair this group, and my right hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Irving) and the hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Runcorn (Mr. Carlisle) have agreed to serve as members. I understand that it is hoped to hold a very early meeting of the group. I have asked Lord Franks, and he has agreed, to report to me by the end of October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why a letter to him concerning a communication from an individual in Forest Gate E7, to the Parole Board has not been acknowledged or dealt with after six weeks despite the sending of a reminder; and whether he will expedite the replies of mail sent to him and his Department by hon. Members and the taxpayers.

I think that my hon. Friend is referring to a copy of a letter addressed to Parkhurst prison by one of his con- stituents which was sent to the Home Office. This was in support of a prisoner whose case is to be considered for parole, and the original of the letter was included in a dossier being prepared at the prison for submission to the Parole Board. Regrettably the copy received in the Home Office was not acknowledged, and further confusion arose when the constituent sent a reminder to the Parole Board which had not then received the parole dossier. The board, after checking with the Home Office, replied that it had not seen the earlier letter. This was an unfortunate error by the Department and we have apologised to my hon. Friend's correspondent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will obtain from the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police statistics on the number of photographs of arrested persons taken in the last 12 months by the Metropolitan Police in police stations in the London area; how many of those photographed were subsequently (a) released without charge, (b) charged and not convicted and (c) charged and convicted;(2) whether he will request the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to ensure that in the compilation of dossiers on football hooligans, photographs in such dossiers shall be only of those convicted of such offences;(3) where, and under what conditions, photographs taken by the Metropolitan Police of arrested persons are kept; and for how long they are are retained;(4) whether he will request the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police to ensure that photographs of arrested persons taken by Metropolitan Police at police stations in the London area are destroyed if the person concerned is not charged, or, if charged, is not convicted;(5) under what legal authority the Metropolitan Police take photographs of persons arrested at police stations in the London area, without their consent; and under what authority this is done in the case of an arrested juvenile without the consent of a parent or guardian;(6) whether, in view of the Metropolitan Police practice of taking photographs of arrested persons, he will draw the attention of the Commissioner to the recommendations of the Devlin Committee on the use of photographs for identification by witnesses; and whether he will make a statement;(7) by what authority the Metropolitan Police established facilities at police stations in the London area for the photographing of arrested persons.

Apart from persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts the Metropolitan Police are now photographing persons in their custody when they are charged with an offence for which they would normally be fingerprinted. This procedure, which has been introduced with my agreement, brings the Metropolitan Police practice into line with that of most provincial forces.I regret that information about the number of persons photographed to date under the new procedure is not available.Photographic material relating to persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts is being retained.In all other cases, if the person concerned is subsequently acquitted or the charges are dropped, the photographs taken are destroyed by a senior officer. In the event of a conviction, they are placed with other records relating to the person concerned; the period of their retention is a matter within the discretion of the police.The Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act gives statutory authority for the photographing of persons detained under the Act.In all other cases the taking of photographs of persons in police custody is not regulated by statute, but I am advised that the police commit no actionable wrong, providing that no force is used.The equipment introduced by the Metropolitan Police consists of a camera and spotlights fixed at one end of a table, to the other end of which a chair is attached. It cannot be used without the person's knowledge and his co-operation in taking up position.The Metropolitan Police normally obtain the consent of the parent or guardian before photographing a juvenile, but in exceptional cases where this is not practicable, the authority of an officer of rank not less than chief inspector is required.I shall not be in a position to decide what action should be taken on the relevant recommendations of the Devlin Committee until my consultations on the report as a whole have been completed. The Commissioner is among those being consulted.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the value of the ship repairing industry in the United Kingdom last year in terms of turnover and in terms of the balance of payments.

The value of ship repair work, including improvements and conversions, carried out in United Kingdom commercial yards in 1975 was £150 million. It is estimated that £30 million of this was on vessels registered abroad. No information is available on repair work done outside the United Kingdom on ships registered in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the ship repairing companies that are to be nationalised under the provisions of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Bill, together with the number of employees each company has at each of its operational locations.

There is no publicly available Government source of employment figures of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the amount of money spent on regional development grants (a) in Wales, (b) the North-West and (c) on Merseyside in the last financial year.

The amount of regional development grant spent in the last financial year, viz.: 1st April 1975 to 31st March 1976, was in Wales, £47·052 million; the North-West, £47·907 million.Whilst no precise figures are available for Merseyside, since these are included in the total for the North-West, it is estimated that about half the North-West regional development grant goes to Merseyside.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the pension fund deficit inherited by the Post Office on its establishment as a corporation.

I cannot yet add to the answer given to the hon. Member on 11th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in view of the fact that the Post Office has now achieved profitability, he will give it a general direction to reinstitute Sunday collections and late evening collections in large towns.

No. This is an operational matter for the Post Office, which has promised to review the service changes after a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list in the Official Report the months since March 1974 in which industrial production has exceeded the average production achieved during the three-day week.

It is estimated that industrial production exceeded the average level achieved during the three-day week in each month from March 1974 to March 1975 and again in May of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the recent MFA negotiations between the Community and Yugoslavia; and if he will give details of the agreement as it affects the United Kingdom.

Negotiations between the Community and Yugoslavia under Article 4 of the GATT Multifibre Arrangement were successfully concluded, and the text of a bilateral re- straint agreement was initialled, on 25th June. The agreement provides for Community quotas on cotton fabrics—with a sub-quota for fabrics other than grey and bleached—and on cotton household linen. There is also a binding consultation clause on a number of products including shirts and suits. A Notice to Importers giving full details of the United Kingdom share of the quotas will be issued shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether it is his intention that all relevant trade associations and organisations should be invited to comment on any proposals to alter the law on company reports; and if he will send his consultative document on the subject to them;(2) if he will name those organisations and bodies which have received his consultative document on company reports.

I have published no proposals to alter the law on company reports. A recent preliminary draft by officials of my Department on the aims and scope of company reports is generally available on request. Comments on this document by trade associations and other representative organisations will be welcome. Over 600 interested parties have requested copies of the document, but it would not be appropriate for me to name them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether a public inquiry will be held about the proposed fourth terminal at Heathrow Airport, or whether another type of public consultation is planned.

The revised Master Development Plan Report for Heathrow, published by the British Airports Authority in March 1976, is concerned specifically with the proposed fourth terminal at Heathrow. Consultations are proceeding on that report and on the Government's consultation documents on an airport strategy for Great Britain which are also relevant. In accordance with an undertaking given in 1968 the BAA, at the appropriate time, will initiate more detailed consultations with the local planning authority. I cannot anticipate whether these consultations might lead to a public inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take action to limit the current levels of imports of manufactured shirts imported from the People's Republic of China.

Imports of most manufactured shirts from the People's Republic of China are already restricted under a quota which also covers other textile items.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the increase in deadweight exports of cattle and sheep from 31st May 1975 to 1st June 1976 as compared with the same period in 1974–75.

Exports of live cattle increased from 35,497 tons to 43,574 tons and of live sheep from 4,588 tons to 11,017 tons.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether in view of the prima facie evidence submitted to him by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West, he will cause an investigation to be made into the case affecting one of the leading banks.

No. The information submitted does not come within the grounds under which the Department would be justified in exercising its investigatory powers under Section 165 of the Companies Act 1948 or Section 109 of the Companies Act 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if the SCOP report on pilotage service was a unanimous report; whether Trinity House was represented on the committee; and who were its representatives.

The Report of the Steering Committee on Pilotage (SCOP) was signed by all members, on the understanding that the organizations which they represented would have the opportunity to submit observations on it. Trinity House was represented on the committee by its then Deputy Master, Captain David Tibbits, and by Captain J. A. N. Bezant, an Elder Brother.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, in view of the recent ballot of Trinity House pilots, his Department still accepts the recommendations of the SCOP Report.

The Government accept the SCOP recommendations as set out in the policy statement of 12th December 1975. In the reorganisation of pilotage arrangements in districts, account would be taken of local views, including those of pilots.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will now order an inquiry under the Companies Acts into the activities of Maritime Fruit Carriers or its subsidiary Swan Maritime.

No. I have no evidence to suggest that it would be proper for the Department to exercise its investigatory powers under the Companies Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many British seamen are employed on British registered vessels of the Maritime Fruit Carriers Company or its subsidiary company.

The latest information available shows that some 525 British seamen, including masters, were employed on United Kingdom ships owned by the Maritime Fruit Carriers organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will now publish the security statistics for Northern Ireland for the latest quarter.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary at State for Northern Ireland what is the cause of the delay in transferring responsibility for the control of Finagy Community Centre to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will list in the Official Report the members of the South-Eastern Transport Users Consultative Committee, their occupations, and upon whose nomination they were appointed; and which members were appointed because of their connection with commuters associations.

The members of the South-Eastern Transport Users Consultative Committee are currently:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review the arrangements currently governing the passage of United Kingdom citizens to and from Rhodesia in the light of the illegal character of the Rhodesian regime; and if he will issue up-to-date guidance to would-be travellers from the United Kingdom to that country so as to minimise the risk of such travellers committing offences or of being party to sanction-breaking commercial activity.

The arrangements governing the restriction of travel and passport facilities in relation to Rhodesia remain as set out in the then Commonwealth Secretary's statement to Parliament of 27th June 1968:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many prosecutions for offences against sanctions have been instituted since 3rd March 1974; how many such prosecutions have been preferred against public companies registered in the United Kingdom; how many against companies registered elsewhere; how many prosecutions have resulted in convictions; and how many are still pending.

Since 3rd March 1974 a total of nine prosecutions for offences under the sanctions legislation have been instituted, all of them against companies registered in the United Kingdom. Seven prosecutions were successful and one is still pending.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British nationals are currently residing in Rhodesia.

The total population of Rhodesia is approximately 6·5 million. Of these, approximately 6·3 million are solely Rhodesian citizens and as such have the status of "British subject". Another 80,000 are estimated to be British subjects, citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many students received mandatory awards in higher education in each of the last five years;(2) what was the cost of mandatory awards in higher education in each of the last five years.

Following is the information requested on mandatory awards given for higher education, including initial teacher training, by local education authorities, the Scottish Education Department and the Department of Education and Science:

Academic Year		Total expenditure (£ million)	Number of students (Thousand)
1970–71	…	111·7	349
1971–72	…	127·7	360
1972–73	…	130·0	368
1973–74	…	137·0	367
1974–75*	…	173·8	370
* Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the proportions of pupils from maintained and independent schools who received mandatory awards in each of the last five years.

In England and Wales of the total school leavers known to be entering full-time first degree or teacher training courses, and likely to receive mandatory awards, the following percentages came from the types of school indicated below. The information

Percentage
Academic Year of leaving school		Maintained schools	Direct Grant schools	Independent schools recognised as efficient	Total
1970–71	…	75·9	11·6	12·5	100·0
1971–72	…	76·6	10·8	12·6	100·0
1972–73	…	75·6	11·7	12·7	100·0
1973–74	…	75·2	11·5	13·3	100·0
1974–75 (provisional)	…	74·4	11·4	14·2	100·0

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what total sum has been paid out in the latest 12 months for which figures are available in respect of student grant.

In the academic year 1974–75 expenditure on maintenance and fees for students in the higher and further education sectors receiving grants from the Department of Education and Science, Scottish Education Department, research councils and local education authorities is provisionally estimated at £230 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report those local education authorities which propose to reduce their allocation for discretionary grant awards as a part of their general reduction in expenditure; and what action he proposes to take.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the extent of British participation in the NATO Scientists' Conference on Environment Matters now being concluded in Iceland; and what will be the total cost of this participation to the British taxpayer.

The conference was held under the auspices of the Special Programme Panel on Eco-Sciences of the NATO Science Committee and was attended by some 50 experts from NATO countries, including nine from the United

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the supply of British arms to the armed forces of Uganda has been increased since the release of Mr. Dennis Hills; and whether the recommencement of such supplies was a condition of his release.