asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many senior civil servants and senior officers from the Armed Forces joined firms with contractual relationships with the Ministry of Defence during the last 12 months to the nearest convenient date.

Central records of applications for business appointments do not extend beyond the limited number of cases, mostly at senior levels, in which my Department has to be consulted. The conditions for such consultations are laid down in the Business Appointment rules, a copy of which is in the Library. The existence of a contractual relationship between a firm and the Ministry of Defence will only normally be a relevant consideration when the application for approval comes from a civil servant in the Ministry of Defence or a member of the Armed Forces.The total number of cases referred to my Department by MOD in the 12 months to 30th June 1976 was 32.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will now publish his proposals for the organisation of scientific guidance and advice to central Government.

New proposals for the organisation of scientific guidance and advice to central Government were announced by the Lord Privy Seal in his memorandum to the Science Sub-Committee of the Select Committee on Science and Technology. The memorandum was made public on 27th May and subsequently ordered to be printed on 24th June 1976.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he expects further staff dispersals to Norwich from Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the Civil Service Department to take place.

The dispersal to Norwich of the greater part of HMSO's Headquarters staff still in London is expected to take place towards the end of 1977 and in 1978 but is subject to the provision of suitable office accommodation. The timetable for the dispersal of CSD work from Chessington is dependent on accommodation and on the replacement of the computers; but the centre is likely to be operational in Norwich around 1982. A small number of other CSD posts may move to Norwich before then.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when the Government intend to announce the result of their review of the single tender policy for the purchase of computers of greater than one Atlas power.

This internal review is about to start. I expect to have the results about the end of the year.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the number of Press officers, Press liaison officers and public relations officials, etc. employed by Government Departments in each year since 1964 together with the cost to public funds.

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

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the total cost of the increases in public service pensions announced in the past four years, 1973 to 1976 inclusive, in respect of all surviving public service pensioners; how many public service pensioners have survived to enjoy these four annual increases; and what is the overall percentage increase in his pension such a pensioner will have received over the four-year period as a whole.

The total cost of the increases paid to all public service pensioners for the years 1973 to 1976 inclusive is approximately £435 million. the cumulative percentage increase from 1973, including the 1976 increase which is payable from 1st December next, will be 82·7 per cent. I regret that the information about the number of public service pensioners who have survived since 1973 is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Lord President of the Council what plans are being made to make all dining facilities in the Palace of Westminster available to the public during parliamentary recesses.

This proposal has been considered by successive Catering Sub-Committees and, most recently, by the Committee of Inquiry chaired by my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Mr. Mikardo). Questions that arise are, first, whether, and if so, how far it is right to commercialise the palace and the House; and, second but more important, the very substantial additional security problems that would be created by any increase in the use of the facilities by the public.

asked the Lord President of the Council what discussions he is having with a view to the House of Commons in future years going into recess early in July and returning early in September.

The organisation of the parliamentary year would come within the terms of reference of the Select Committee Procedure.

asked the Lord President of the Council what was the average monthly loss made by the catering department over the past year; and to what factors he attributes this loss.

The average monthly loss for the period 25th May 1975 to 28th May 1976 was £24,472. Some of the reasons for the losses made by the Refreshment Department are suggested in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the accounts of the Refreshment Department, and in the Report of the Committee of Inquiry chaired by my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Mr. Mikardo) which was published last week.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many complaints he has received regarding the use of Committee Rooms for party meetings during the last 12 months.

None.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will abandon his intention to use half of the Government's legislative time in the House of Commons next Session for devolution in order that it may be used for measures to combat unemployment.

Devolution legislation and the battle against unemployment are not alternatives. The Government are determined to introduce the devolution Bill at the beginning of next Session and will continue to give the highest priority to action to combat unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the percentages and totals of his advertising budget allocated to both daily and Sunday newspapers at 31st December 1975 and to 30th June 1976.

The cost of publicity advertising in daily newspapers in the year to 31st December 1975 was £42,152 which represented 14·36 per cent. of the total. The comparable figure for Sunday newspapers was £24,570 which represented 8·37 per cent. of the total.For the six months period to 30th June 1976 such advertising in daily newspapers cost £11,404 which represented 33·89 per cent. of the total. The comparable figure for Sunday newspapers was £1,496 which represented 4·45 per cent. of the total.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how much of the £120 million proposed for the urban renewal project in West Central Scotland will be in the form of a contribution from the Scottish Development Agency;(2) how much of the £120 million proposed for the urban renewal project in West Central Scotland will be directly or indirectly a grant from central Government.

Within the estimated total capital cost of the project, the balance of expenditure as between one participant and another will depend on the detailed proposals which are formulated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest available estimate of the total numbers employed in the construction and maintenance of trunk roads and local authority roads.

In Scotland, probably approaching 10,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest available estimate of the numbers employed in the planning and administration of trunk and local authority roads.

I do not have this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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.

There was no official British involvement in this conference, which was held under the auspices of the NATO Eco-Science Panel, which is part of the NATO Science Committee. I understand that the scientific director and the assistant scientific director of the conference were British and that other British scientists also participated. The costs were met by a grant from the NATO Science Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a new statement on the safety of British subjects and property in Lebanon.

There have been no reports of injuries to British subjects in Lebanon in the recent fighting. Those remaining have again been strongly urged by our Ambassador to leave. We cannot yet accurately assess the damage to British property.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any approaches have been made to other Governments with financial interests in the fleets of Maritime Fruit Carriers to discuss the financial problems of the Maritime Fruit Carriers Company.

Yes. British officials were in touch last March with Danish, Norwegian and Swedish officials about the problems facing Maritime Fruit Carriers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the dividing lines between the United Kingdom and other countries such as France, Norway and the Republic of Ireland will be determined in full.

The United Kingdom's Continental Shelf dividing lines with Norway (up to 61° 44′ 12” N), Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Netherlands have already been agreed.As my right hon. Friend said on 18th July 1975, the delimitation of our Continental Shelf boundary with France has been submitted to a Court of Arbitration. The court's decision is expected some time in 1977.Officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have been in touch with the Irish Government about the delimitation of our Continental Shelf boundary with the Republic of Ireland; and with the Norwegian Government for the purpose of agreeing the median line north of 61° 44' 12" N.It will eventually become necessary to open negotiations with Belgium and Denmark in respect of the Faroes. But I cannot yet say when this will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken or proposes to take following the passage of the aircraft carrier "Kiev" through the Bosphorus in breach of the Montreux convention.

We have been in touch with a number of our Allies about the "Kiev" both in advance of its passage and since. The Russians describe the "Kiev" not as an aircraft carrier but as an anti-submarine cruiser. The Turkish Government who are responsible for supervising the execution of the provisions of the Convention relating to the transit of warships, accepted the "Kiev" for transit on the basis of the description notified by the Soviet authorities. The "Kiev" does not fit neatly into any of the classes of ship defined by the Convention. There is little doubt, however, that it meets the definition of aircraft carriers annexed to the Convention, which refers to ships designed or adapted primarily for the purpose of carrying and operating aircraft at sea. Although I regret that the Russians should have sought passage for the ship through the straits in this way, in these circumstances, a formal objection to the "Kiev's" transit would not, in our view, have been appropriate. Her Majesty's Government are in any case only one of nine parties to the Convention.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the percentages and totals of his advertising budget allocated to both daily and Sunday newspapers at 31st December 1975 and to 30th June 1976.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not have a regular budget to cover advertising expenses.Actual expenditure on advertising incurred by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1st January to 31st December 1975 was £677; of this £580, or 86 per cent., was spent on national daily newspapers and £97, or 14 per cent. on Sunday newspapers.From first January to 30th June 1976 total expenditure was £16,066; of this £7,022 or 44 per cent. was spent on national daily newspapers and £9,044, or 56 per cent., on Sunday newspapers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will explain why, in view of the evidence contained in his letter to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West dated 15th July, he is extending the stay in the United Kingdom of the person mentioned;(2) why he has allowed an individual about whom he has been in contact with the hon. Member for Newham, North-West, to remain in the United Kingdom in view of the facts known to his Department, namely: (a) that the individual was admitted as a visitor in July 1971, (b) that there have been four extensions to stay up until 31st August 1975, (c) that he vanished and when deportation papers were issued he reappeared and was again given permission to stay, (d) that he has now been given further permission to stay if he goes on a course next September; and how many cases of a similar nature have occurred during the past few years.

The background was fully set out in correspondence with my hon. Friend. I repeat that I consider it right in all the circumstances to allow the person concerned to complete the course of studies which he had been pursuing for some time. It is a matter of subjective judgment whether circumstances of this case are similar to those of any others; the information requested in the lást part of the second Question is not, therefore, available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the letter sent to him on 17th July by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West, what action he has taken or intends to take to deport the man referred to in this letter.

This matter is still under review. I shall write to my hon. Friend when a decision is reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he is having, particularly with official race relations bodies, over the desirability of achieving a better racial balance throughout the country and in large cities like London and Birmingham.

It is no part of the Government's policy to seek to influence on racial grounds where people choose to live.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the foreign-domiciled children of fathers living in the United Kingdom declaring them for tax relief purposes are thereby entitled to claim residence in the United Kingdom; and what are the number of cases of this sort which have arisen for the latest convenient period.

Declarations made to the Inland Revenue for tax purposes confer no entitlement upon anyone to enter or settle in the United Kingdom. The entry and subsequent stay of people subject to immigration control is governed solely by the Immigration Act 1971 and the immigration rules made under it.For the latest figures of children accepted for settlement I would refer my hon. Friend to table 4 of "Control of Immigration Statistics, 1975" (Cmnd. 6504).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the NCSS and the Standing Conference of Councils of Voluntary Service on the Urban Aid Programme; and what central Government funds are available for socially desirable projects and activities carried out by local voluntary organisations.

Home Office officials had discussions with NCSS representatives on 20th May and with representatives of the Standing Conference of Councils for Voluntary Service on 23rd June. Central Government funds are available under the urban programme to local voluntary organisations for socially desirable projects and activities in urban areas of special social need, submitted through local authorities. They are also available in exceptional circumstances from a variety of other central Government sources, according to the particular field of activity concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it took him until 8th July to send a formal acknowledgment of receipt note to the letter sent to him on 14th June by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West regarding matters connected with a Hindu temple; when he may expect a substantive reply to this letter; and whether he will take action to expedite his reply to this communication and take action to expedite replies to Members' and taxpayers' letters in the future.

My hon. Friend's letter was acknowledged on 15th June. As he was told on 8th July, inquiries are being made into the matter and a reply will be sent as soon as practicable after they have been completed. It remains my intention that all correspondence should be dealt with as quickly as is compatible with the need to make proper inquiries and with the demands on the staff of my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it took him until 13th July to send a formal acknowlegment of the letter of receipt of the communication sent to him by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West concerning one of his constituents who made allegations of irregularities against the police at Forest Gate Station; when he may expect a substantive reply; and whether he will expedite replies to Members' correspondence.

My hon. Friend's letter was acknowledged on 1st July. As he was told on 13th July, inquiries are being made into the matter and a reply will be sent when the result of these inquiries is available. I should not like to reply until the proper inquiries have been made, particularly in view of the degree of prejudice displayed by my hon. Friend when forwarding his constituent's letter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of foreign students admitted to the United Kingdom for studies in the latest available period; and from which countries they come.

I refer my hon. Friend to Tables 1(a) and 1(b) of the Control of Immigration Statistics 1975, published on 16th June (Cmnd. 6504).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what checks are made on the ability of foreign students to support themselves once on courses in the United Kingdom.

Conditions are placed on the stay of a person who qualifies under the immigration rules for leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as a student. These conditions include a limit on the period for which he may remain. The period, which is normally 12 months or less, will not be extended without evidence that he has adequate funds available for his maintenance and that of any dependants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were for dangerous driving in England and Wales in each of the past five years.

The information is as follows:

1971	…	…	…	7,916
1972	…	…	…	9,064
1973	…	…	…	10,609
1974	…	…	…	9,797
1975	…	…	…	10,269

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that an organisation called the Institute for the Study of Conflict has been giving lectures at Bramshill Police College on subversion; and whether he will give an assurance that all links between the police and ISC have been terminated and that steps have been taken to prevent ISC establishing any future links with police training colleges.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the facts that lectures have been given at police training colleges by the Institute for the Study of Conflict and that the institute has close contacts with the Rhodesian and South African secret services, he will prohibit any further lectures from that body.

I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose) on 1st April.—[Vol. 908, c. 553.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many other police colleges besides Bramshill Police College have received lectures from employees of the Institute for the Study of Conflict, or subscribe to their publication "Conflict Studies".

No police training establishments for which the Home Office is responsible other than Bramshill have received lectures from employees of the Institute for the Study of Conflict or subscribe to its publication "Conflict Studies".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions and at which police training colleges serving officers in the Armed Forces have been invited to lecture; and what is the Government's policy towards the issuing of such invitations.

The programme of the courses at the Police College at Bramshill includes lectures by many outside speakers. These include a lecture by a serving officer to two of the college courses, and four such lectures to two other courses. I see no reason to interfere with these arrangements.Serving officers do not lecture to courses at the other police training establishments for which I am responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to implement the recommendation of the committee under Lord Justice James, that the normal maximum penalty for magistrates' courts be raised to £1,000 instead of the present £400.

We are considering this and the other recommendations of the James Committee in the light of the comments that we have received from a wide range of interested bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the percentages and totals of his advertising budget allocated to both daily and Sunday newspapers at 31st December 1975 and to 30th June 1976.

The advertising expenditure in all media for the 12-month period ending 31st December 1975 was £1,751,050. Of this, £588,108, or 33·5 per cent., was spent in national daily newspapers and £193,550, or 11 per cent. in Sunday newspapers.For the six-month period ending 30th June 1976, advertising expenditure in all media was £576,798. Of this, £160,146, or 28 per cent., was spent in national daily newspapers and £53,767, or 9 per cent., was spent in Sunday newspapers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police were deployed at the scene of the picketing activities at the Trico factory in Brentford on Sunday 11th July.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that three officers were present at the Trico factory for ten minutes at about 1 a.m.; and that three officers were also present for a quarter of an hour at about 3.45 a.m.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police photographers were employed by the Metropolitan Police to photograph the march from Marble Arch to Trafalgar Square on the afternoon of Sunday 18th July.

Two.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost of drugs prescribed by the Prison Medical Service to prisoners in each of the last five years.

The cost of drugs, medicines and dressing supplied for use by the Prison Medical Service in England and Wales during the last five financial years were as follows:

		£
1971–72	…	131,327
1972–73	…	141,393
1973–74	…	163,681
1974–75	…	202,450
1975–76 (estimated)	…	259,000

It is not possible to distinguish between drugs and other supplies, or to calculate the value of drugs, etc. actually issued during any given period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of photographic activities in the Metropolitan Police in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975, respectively.

The cost of photographic equipment and materials for all photographic activities in the Metropolitan Police, including the microfilming of records, was as follows:

Year				Cost
				£
1972–73	…	…	…	70,000
1973–74	…	…	…	53,000
1974–75	…	…	…	88,000
1975–76	…	…	…	191,000

The increase in cost in 1975–76 is largely accounted for by the cost of replacing old equipment at present-day prices; it does not represent a significant change in the level of activity. It is not possible to identify separately the staffing costs involved in photographic work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the Representation of the People Acts in order to prevent political parties from participating in the preparation of the electoral register.

We are not aware of any problems arising in this connection. If the hon. Member will let me know what he has in mind we shall consider the matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many staff hours are required to carry out the full routine at Walton Goal, Liverpool, with prisoners working five days each week and having their full educational and recreational programme;(2) what restrictions are currently being experienced at Walton Gaol, Liverpool, as a result of the Government's ecnomic measures.

At Liverpool arrangements so far made to achieve economies in prison officer overtime involve a slight reduction in the prisoners' working week and curtailment of association and recreational activities. A temporary suspension of evening education has been partly offset by an increase in daytime classes. The arrangements are being kept under review. Staff hours required to run an establishment such as Liverpool fluctuate from a variety of causes, such as productions to court, which always affect the ability to maintain any particular regime.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the gross maximum annual pay of a uniformed prison officer in Walton Gaol, Liverpool, at present.

Because there are so many variables in prison officers' pay each week it would be unrealistic to provide a current gross annual rate.In pay week ended 22nd July 1976 the maximum gross pay paid to a prison officer, basic grade, employed on nonspecialist duties at Walton Gaol, Liverpool, was £140·09. This included overtime, shift disturbance allowance, weekend premium payments and pensionable value of quarters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average annual pay of a uniformed prison officer at Walton, Gaol, Liverpool, at present.

Because there are so many variables in prison officers' pay each week it would be unrealistic to provide a current average annual pay rate.In pay week ended 22nd July 1976 the average gross pay paid to all prison officers, basic grade, employed on nonspecialist duties at Walton Gaol, Liverpool, was 98·07. This included overtime, shift disturbance allowance, weekend premium payments and pensionable value of quarters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he now intends taking steps under the Immigration Act 1971 to prevent the entry into the United Kingdom of persons intending to take part in the forthcoming World Revolutionary Conference in Belfast.

I have already taken action on the lines indicated in my reply to the hon. Member's Question on 24th May.—[Vol. 912, c. 208.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the penalties, both fines as well as prison sentences, for motoring offences are not excessively hard compared to penalties for other offences; and if he will make a statement.

The maximum penalties for a large number of road traffic offences were revised in the Road Traffic Act 1974, which removed the liability to imprisonment from all but a very few of the most serious such offences. At a time of rapid inflation it is inevitable that maximum fines fixed in recent legislation may appear disproportionately high in comparison with those fixed in other legislation and not subsequently amended, and our Department is at present studying ways of overcoming this difficulty. We do not, however, consider that maximum penalties for road traffic offences are excessive, bearing in mind the high social and economic costs of accidents, which frequently result from infringements of road traffic law. The sentences imposed in individual cases are a matter entirely within the discretion of the courts and it would be wrong for Ministers to comment on the way in which this discretion is exercised.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what is the total of British aid of all kinds currently being provided to Uganda; what projects and services this is being used to finance; and whether he intends to continue this aid while the lives of British citizens in Uganda are at risk.

We are providing no direct aid to Uganda. We still supplement the salaries of 11 British personnel employed by the Uganda authorities; this is a commitment pre-dating the suspension of aid in 1972. It will cost £40,000 in 1976–77.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what are the percentages and totals of his advertising budget allocated to both daily and Sunday newspapers at 31st December 1975 and to 30th June 1976.

Most of the advertising expenditure financed by my Department is related to recruitment for posts under the Department's technical co-operation programmes and is met from the Aid Programme. A small amount—£3,653 in 1975 and £952 in the first six months of 1976—is spent for the Department's own domestic recruitment purposes and is met from the Overseas Aid Administration vote. Of the total spent on advertising in the calendar year 1975, £46,891–55·9 per cent.—was spent on advertisements in daily and Sunday newspapers—46·2 per cent. in dailies and 9·7 per cent. in Sundays, and in the six months ended 30th June 1976 the figure was £26,269–56·9 per cent.: 50 per cent. in dailies and 7 per cent. in Sundays.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will make a statement on the meeting of EEC Ministers concerned with overseas development held in Brussels on 14th-15th July 1976.

This was the first meeting of the ACP-EEC Council of Ministers established under the Lomé Convention. It was attended by delegations from 43 of the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries covered by the Convention and all the Nine member States of the Community and the European Commission. I headed the United Kingdom delegation.The Council began by adopting rules of procedures for itself and for the ACPEEC Committee of Ambassadors, and adopting a decision to govern the delegation of powers to the Committee of Ambassadors. It went on to decide the composition and rules of operation for the Committee on Industrial Co-operation and the Centre for Industrial Development provided for in the Lomé Convention. On the trade provisions of the Lomé Convention, the Council adopted a decision to facilitate the entry of textiles from Mauritius into the Community.There was frank discussion of certain problems of implementation, affecting both substance and consultation procedure, related principally to the trade provisions of the Convention. These included questions concerning imports of sugar, rum, beef, bananas and groundnuts into the Community, and the dispersal of surplus agricultural products from the Community. These matters will be further studied by the continuing machinery of the Convention and pro gress will be checked at a further meeting between the President of the ACP-EEC Council and the President of the Council of the Communities which is to take place in the autumn. As the aid provisions of the Lomé Convention have been in operation for less than 4 months, they gave rise to less discussion; but the ACP countries proposed some detailed amendments to the system for the stabilization of export earnings—Stabex—which will now be examined.The meeting approved the accession of six new States to the Lomé Convention; these are Sao Tome and Principe, Cape Verde, Papua New Guinea, the Comoro State, Surinam and Seychelles.The meeting took note of a proposal by the ACP States that the next meeting of the Joint Council should take place in Fiji.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will make a statement about the fund for emergency programme assistance and for common services in the Leeward and Windward Islands.

A special fund for emergency programme assistance and for common services for the Leeward and Windward Islands was proposed by Mr. William Demas, President of the Caribbean Development Bank—CDB—in June 1975, and, following discussions with the CARICOM Governments and with Her Majesty's Government and other potential donors, the CDB agreed in February 1976 to administer the fund. 1976 will be treated as an interim year, and arrangements for a longer term fund will be considered as soon as relevant fiscal and economic data being prepared by the CDB are available. I welcome this initiative, and for 1976 I have agreed to contribute £1,041,667, the equivalent of EC$5 million at the time of commitment, subject to agreement by the Goverments of Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago jointly to contribute an equal amount. This they have now agreed to do. Her Majesty's Government's contribution will be madepari passu with the joint contribution from these Governments. Parliamentary approval to this new service will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate, for the Overseas Aid Vote. Pending such approval, any necessary contribution from Her Majesty's Government will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund. I do not intend to continue to provide budgetary aid through bilateral channels to countries receiving it through the fund.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development whether the United Kingdom is supporting proposals for a special increase in the capital of the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and an increase in the capital of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in the World Bank Group.

In May 1976 the executive directors of the IBRD recommended to the board of governors draft resolutions providing for an increase in the capital of the IBRD. The amounts to be contributed by individual members of the IBRD to this increase are based on the special element in the recent general review of International Monetary Fund quotas; an element not extending to the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom will not, therefore, have to take up a share in the increase.Also in May, the board of directors of the IFC recommended to the board of governors a draft resolution providing for an increase in the capital of the IFC. Under the resolution member countries will be permitted to subscribe to new shares to an approximate total value of $480 million. Provision is made for a maximum United Kingdom subscription towards this capital increase of $23·5 million. No decision has yet been taken about what part if any of this amount the United Kingdom will actually subscribe. Legislation will be brought forward in due course enabling the United Kingdom by affirmative resolution of the House, to make a contribution to this increase.We welcome these capital increases, which will enable the World Bank Group to expand its lending operations to the benefit of the developing countries, and the United Kingdom governor of the IBRD and the IFC will be casting his vote in favour of the resolution.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development how it is proposed at the Paris conference that commodities should be index-linked; and what is the Government's attitude to the proposal.

I have been asked to reply. The developing countries participating in the Conference on International Economic Co-operation have asked for the inclusion in the work programme for the rest of the year of the issue of commodity price indexation. It has not so far been possible to reach agreement on this work programme and we are considering the position in conjunction with our Community partners.

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from producer organisations in the fishing industry about their rôle in discussions of fisheries policy; and whether he will arrange a meeting with such organisations to discuss the matter.

My Department keeps in close and constant touch on a range of policy matters with all fish producers' organisations in England and Wales recognised under EEC legislation. Representations about their role have been received from one such organisation, and I have written to the chairman explaining the position.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the report in his possession from the President of the National Union of Farmers showing that the food budget will rise by £1·00 per week.

My right hon. Friend has received no such report.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the additional number of jobs which will be created arising from increasing the acreage of beet sugar in the United Kingdom in 1976–77; and in which regions of the United Kingdom the jobs will be created.

It is unlikely that expansion of the acreage sown to sugar beet in 1976–77 will create any significant number of additional jobs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make an end-of-season report, giving facts and figures on potatoes at the end of each year.

The Potato Marketing Board's annual report, published each autumn, includes summaries of the events of the previous season, and statistics are provided each year in the White Paper on the Annual Review of Agriculture. We do not consider any additional reports necessary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the percentages and totals of his advertising budget allocated to both daily and Sunday newspapers at 31st December 1975 and to 30th June 1976.

I regret that the information requested is not readily available in the form requested. However, my Department has not over this period used newspaper advertising except for small routine announcements such as staff vacancies, notices of a statutory nature, announcements of advisory events or of an advisory character. The estimated cost for the present year is about £100,000. We use a wide variety of daily and weekly newspapers, periodicals, and so on, as the area and the subject require.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what opinion has been given to his Department by the EEC Economic and Social Committee on the Draft Council Directive on the harmonisation of the legislation of member States relating to certain soft drinks; and if he will make a statement;(2) what is the present state of progress of discussions between his Department and the European Council Working Party concerning the preparation of a Draft Directive on non-alcoholic refreshing beverages and soft drinks; and if he will make a statement.

A draft directive on nonalcoholic refreshing beverages was submitted by the EEC Commission to the Council in April 1970. The Economic and Social Committee delivered an opinion to the Council on that draft in February 1971. The draft was twice discussed in a Council Working Party of the Six in the autumn of 1972; officials of my Department attended the second of these meetings as observers. In June 1973, following enlargement, the Commission withdrew the draft for redrafting to take account of products and production practices in the new member States. A new draft is still awaited.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in what organisms in the Irish Sea traces of plutonium have been detected by scientists working for the National Radiobiological Laboratory.

I regret that this information is not readily available. I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the form and amount of severance or redundancy pay available to members of the Armed Services; and how this compares with the provisions of the Redundancy Payments Act.

I would refer my hon. Friend to Annex H of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1975— Cmnd. 5976—which describes the principles of the Armed Forces redundancy compensation scheme. The terms of compensation are more favourable than those prescribed under the Redundancy Payments Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the percentages and totals of his advertising budget allocated to both daily and Sunday newspapers at 31st December 1975 and to 30th June 1976.

Advertising expenditure by the Central Office of Information on behalf of the Ministry of Defence in all media for the 12 months ended 31st December 1975 was £3,558,434. Of this £1,088,427, or 30·6 per cent., was in respect of advertisements in national daily newspapers and £544,454, or 15·3 per cent., in Sunday newspapers. For the six months ended 30th June 1976 advertising expenditure in all media was £2,079,314. Of this £522,629, or 25·1 per cent., was in respect of advertisements in national daily newspapers and £389,858, or 18·7 per cent. in Sunday newspapers.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will describe the training at present being undertaken for civil defence; how many people are engaged on it; what it costs; and whether he considers it to be adequate in present circumstances and in view of the Soviet expenditure and preparations at present being carried out in this field.

In time of war troops would be involved in civil and home defence tasks such as the guarding of key installations, the prevention of sabotage, and military aid to the civil power. Regular troops receive all the training required for these tasks as part of their normal training programme.It is not possible to identify the numbers of people engaged in, or the cost of, training devoted to specific civil defence tasks, but I am satisfied that the preparation of our forces is adequate for the purpose.More general aspects of civil defence are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Secretary State for Defence if he will make a statement on the planting of a bomb which killed a soldier in the sleeping quarters of an army barracks in Northern Ireland.

Just before 10.30 p.m. on Wednesday 21st July a devise exploded in a bedroom on the first floor of the warrant officers' and sergeants' mess at Ebrington Barracks, Londonderry, killing Sergeant David Evans of the 25th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers. The Provisional IRA in Londonderry has apparently claimed that it was responsible. An investigation is in hand and no effort will be spared in seeking out those who carried out this cowardly attack and bringing them to justice. I extend my deepest sympathy to the widow, relatives and friends of Sergeant Evans.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what costs have been incurred so far in preparing the site of the new Ministry of Defence offices at St. Mellons, near Cardiff. constructing or altering roads relevant to the development, constructing new offices and associated facilities and landscaping the site, respectively.

£1,364 on site and soil surveys to date.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the total costs on completion of: (a) preparing the site of the new Ministry of Defence offices at St. Melons, (b) constructing or altering roads relevant to the development, (c) constructing new offices and associated facilities, (d) landscaping and (e) any other activities concerning the transfer of the jobs and employees; and what proportion of the costs under each heading are to be borne by central Government and by local government, respectively.

Planning of the purpose-built office accommodation of St. Mellons is currently at the pre-design stage and it is not possible to give meaningful estimates of costs pending finalisation of the blocks of work to be dispersed between 1980 and 1982 and the eventual customer requirements. However, the only costs to be borne by local Government relate to the provision of the Eastern Peripheral Road forming part of the District Plan for the St. Mellons-Trowbridge Manor Development and giving access to the Ministry of Defence site at St. Mellons. These costs are currently under discussion by the Property Services Agency, the Cardiff City Council and the Welsh Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements his Department has made with the Cardiff City Council to ensure sufficient provision of council houses and mortgage facilities for Ministry of Defence civil servants being transferred to the new offices at St. Mellons near Cardiff.

Preliminary discussions have already taken place with the Cardiff City and South Glamorgan County Councils about the likely needs of dispersed staff for council and private housing in 1980 to 1982. No difficulties are foreseen bearing in mind that both the locally recruited and transferred staffs can be expected to live in a comparatively wide area around the St. Mellons site.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in theOfficial Report a statement giving details of structural deficiencies, if any, in the office facilities, at present occupied by the Ministry of Defence, which are to be vacated upon transfer of the Ministry's administration to St, Mellons near Cardiff.

I have been asked to reply. I am not aware of any.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the financial saving which will result from withdrawal from Masirah.

£3·5 million per annum, at 1976 survey prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many people in the Woolwich area are likely to be declared redundant if the RA Manning and Records Office is relocated in the North.

It is not yet possible to say whether any of the staff of the Royal Artillery Manning and Records Office, Footscray would become redundant on the move of the office to York in 1978. The proposal to move to York is currently the subject of consultations with the departmental staff side and trade unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the reasons for moving the RA Manning and Records Office, which has been linked with Woolwich since 1862, and transferring it to York.

The lease of the Royal Artillery Manning and Records Office, Footscray expires in 1980 and it is proposed to move the office to York in 1978 as part of the plans to relocate the Army's manning and records offices and regimental pay offices on to four sites. The whole reorganisation is expected to achieve substantial savings in running costs and greater efficiency, and is currently the subject of consultations with the departmental staff side and trade unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of providing for children aged seven to 16 years at the Army Museum from 27th July to 28th August, war games, war films, war talks and Army displays.

The additional costs to public funds of the National Army Museum's Children's Club 1976 are estimated at approximately £660. The club extends the work of the museum's education department through the summer holiday, and in 1975 it was very successful in providing the children who attended with an awareness and understanding of the history of the British Army.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he has permitted a contract for a British firm to supply equipment to the Libyan armed forces.

There is no embargo on sales of defence equipment to Libya, but any specific request would be examined carefully in the light of the political, military, economic and security factors involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans have been made to utilise the office premises and associated facilities that will fall vacant upon transfer of the Ministry of Defence's administration to St. Mellons, near Cardiff, and to Glasgow.

I have been asked to reply.Surplus accommodation will be given up as Departments disperse staff from London. In the process some buildings will be allocated to different departments in order to group staff more efficiently or maximise rent savings. Firm plans cannot be drawn up until detailed decisions have been taken on which staff are to be dispersed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total cost to public funds in 1975–76 and in 1976–77, respectively, of paying benefits in respect of the following: attendance allowance, child's special allowance, constant attendance allowance, death grant, family allowance, family income supplement, guardian's allowance, hospital pocket money, industrial death benefit, industrial disablement pension, injury benefit, invalid care allowance, invalidity allowance, invalidity pension, maternity allowance, maternity grant, mobility allowance, old person's pension, rent rebate and allowance, retirement pension, sickness benefit, student grant, supplementary benefit, unemployability supplement and allowance, unemployment benefit, war widow's pension, war disablement pension, war orphan's pension, widow's allowance, widowed mother's allowance and widow's age-related pension; and what percentage of the GNP this total sum represents.

Total public expenditure in 1975–76 in the United Kingdom on social security benefits, rent rebates and allowances and student grants is provisionally estimated as £9,920 million. The corresponding estimate for this year is £12,000 million. Expenditure in 1975–76 was equivalent to 10·2 per cent. of the gross national product at factor cost and I would not expect the percentage to be very different this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of alleged fraud there have been in each of the last three years over the non-payment of income tax; how many cases have been settled by negotiation; how many cases have been taken to court and with what result; and what is the latest estimate of the annual total of unpaid income tax.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Rodgers) on 10th May. — [Vol. 911, c.54.] Particulars of cases of under-assessment are given in Table 17 of the 118th Report of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Inland Revenue (Cmnd. 6302). As regards the last part of the Question, I take it that my hon. Friend has in mind the income tax lost annually through evasion. No estimate of this can be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish indices of public expenditure on goods and services and transfer payments, respectively, both at constant prices, for each financial year from 1946 to the present.

The information readily available relates to calendar years and is as follows:

INDICES OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE* AT CONSTANT PRICES, 1950=100·00
		Public expenditure on goods and services†	Public sector transfer payments‡
1948	…	92·8	108·4
1949	…	99·2	102·7
1950	…	100·0	100·0
1951	…	107·3	97·6
1952	…	117·4	94·4
1953	…	122·9	94·5
1954	…	122·5	95·2
1955	…	118·7	99·6
1956	…	117·7	96·2
1957	…	117·4	97·3
1958	…	115·1	103·6
1959	…	119·1	107·9
1960	…	121·9	118·5
1961	…	127·5	126·2
1962	…	133·7	128·5
1963	…	136·5	133·7
1964	…	144·1	137·4
1965	…	149·0	149·1
1966	…	155·1	149·4
1967	…	167·9	170·4
1968	…	168·1	188·8
1969	…	162·9	188·8
1970	…	165·9	189·3
1971	…	169·0	190·4
1972	…	171·7	203·7
1973	…	177·3	226·2
1974	…	181·3	273·6
1975	…	188·1	263·5
* Including capital expenditure of nationalised industries and other public corporations; the coverage of these bodies has varied over the period.
† Public authorities' current expenditure on goods and services and public sector gross domestic fixed capital formation.
‡ Public sector transfer payments including net lending, revalued by the implied deflator for gross domestic product at market prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if lie will have discussions within the EEC designed to remove the present freedom from payment of tax on the salaries and emoluments of United Kingdom citizens employed by the EEC.

I do not propose to initiate any such discussions. The remuneration of the staff of the EEC is subjected to a graduated tax imposed by the EEC. Ending its exemption from national income taxation would be unlikely to enable United Kingdom tax to be charged on it in many cases, since most of the staff would be effectively exempted under the general Schedule E rules which relieve remuneration for duties performed outside the United Kingdom during a continuous period of absence.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give for the latest annual period of time details of the expenditure on overseas visits by Ministers, their wives and others; for what purposes their visits were made; how they compare with the previous 12 months; and whether the cuts in Government expenditure will reduce these amounts in the future.

The following visits abroad by Treasury Ministers took place in the period 1st July 1975 to 30th June 1976:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a self-employed married woman paying tax under Schedule D is able to claim as an allowance against tax the cost of employing a person to care for her children while she is working.

No. Only expenses incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the business are deductible in computing a self-employed person's taxable profits. The expenses referred to would not satisfy that test.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the procedure an individual should follow in claiming damages to his property caused by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise officials during visits in connection with VAT.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my comments on this subject during the Report stage debates on the Finance Bill.—[Vol. 915, c. 568–9.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish the regulations and guidance under which Her Majesty's Customs and Excise carry out their duties in relation to VAT.

Regulations governing VAT are Statutory Instruments and are published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. In particular, the Value Added Tax (General) Regulations 1975 are published as SI 1975 No. 2204.I do not propose to publish the guidance issued by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to their officers employed on the administration of VAT. To do so could benefit mainly those concerned to evade or avoid payment of the tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what authority Her Majesty's Customs and Excise officials prevent occupiers of premises making telephone calls during visits by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise officials in relation to VAT.

Customs and Excise officials are not authorised to prevent the making of telephone calls except after a person has been arrested for a criminal offence, when the normal rules apply. These rules state that telephone calls should be allowed, provided that no hinderance is reasonably likely to be caused to the process of investigation or the administration of justice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what powers Her Majesty's Customs and Excise have to enter private premises in connection with VAT; and what are the conditions under which they exercise these powers.

I refer the hon. Member to Section 37 of the Finance Act 1972.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will change his present policy so as to enable chairmen of nationalised industries to be supplied with cars at Government expense after they have ceased to hold their office.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set up an independent inquiry into the administration of VAT.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Financial Secretary's reply to the hon. Member for Blaby concerning value added tax,Official Report, 28th June, column 49, to what figure the £625 million additional revenue shown on line 2 of the table would be reduced if at the same time the higher rate of VAT were reduced to 10 per cent.; and what would be the corresponding figure for the increase in the Retail price index.

It is estimated that the additional revenue would be about £550 million a year and the increase in the retail price index less than 1 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list, expressed in sterling terms, the total sum of outstanding foreign currency borrowing for each nationalised industry and for all local authorities which are not covered by a guarantee under the exchange equalisation scheme: (a) calculated on the basis of the exchange rate prevailing at the end of the calendar month in which each loan was made and (b) calculated on the basis of the exchange rates prevailing at the close of business on 18th June 1976.

Following is the information:

	£ million at exchange rates prevailing at the end of the month when loans were taken out	£ million at exchange rates at close on 18th June
Local authorities	30	50
National Coal Board	10	10
Electricity Council	40	75
South of Scotland Electricity Board	15	20
British Gas Corporation	10	20
Post Office	15	15
British Steel Corporation	165	220

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the explanation for the difference of £25 million between the estimate given by the Financial Secretary on 15th July,Official Report, column 1062, of the additional annual revenue that will accrue as a result of the enactment of Chapter II (Benefits derived by Company Directors and others from their Employment) of Part III of the Finance Bill as amended, viz. £80 million, and the estimate of £55 million of additional revenue from the same source given in the Financial Secretary's written reply to the hon. Member for Blaby on 19th July,Official Report, c. 357–8.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of persons registered as bankrupt in the latest available three-month period; and what was the loss to the Exchequer as a result of this in respect of VAT.

During the quarter ending 31st May 1976, the following insolvencies which involved persons registered for value added tax were identified by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

Receiving orders in bankruptcy	809
Compulsory windings-up	572
Creditors' voluntary windings-up	832
Receiverships	300
Trust Deeds (Scottish personal insolvencies)	54

All these cases are still under active consideration and it is not possible at this stage to give the total of the value added tax which will be claimed in respect of these insolvencies, or the percentage dividend to be paid as a result of such claims.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in theOfficial Report an estimate of the probable annual tax revenue being generated by current daily volume of North Sea crude oil being brought ashore.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the rate of inflation for the year ended 20th September 1975 and what is the estimated rate for the year ending 30th September 1976.

The retail prices index rose 26·0 per cent. in the year to September 1975. In the year to June 1976—the most recent figure available—the corresponding increase was 13·8 per cent. The recent White Paper "The Attack on Inflation: the Second Year" (Cmnd. 6507) indicates that it will now take us somewhat longer to achieve our target for reducing the year-on-year inflation rate, in large measure because of higher sterling import prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates would be the value of total public sector receipts in the financial year 1977–78, assuming current rates of taxation and real increases in GDP of 5 per cent. in each of the years 1976–77 and 1977–78; and if he will publish in theOfficial Report a breakdown of his estimate in the form of part A of Table 6 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1976–77".

I shall let my right hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, what advice he has given to local authorities in Wales relative to the requirement of bonds or retention moneys in construction contracts undertaken by local authorities.

Advice on the need for performance bonds is contained in Welsh Office Circular 69/67.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the percentages and totals of his advertising budget allocated to both daily and Sunday newspapers at 31st December 1975 and to 30th June 1976.

My Department's advertising expenditure in daily and weekly newspapers in Wales for the 12-month period ending 31st December 1975 was £3,650; none of this was spent on national daily or Sunday newspapers.For the six-month period ending 30th June advertising expenditure on daily and weekly newspapers in Wales was £1,156. None was spent on national dailies or Sunday newspapers.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many inquiries have been received from industrialists seeking sites in the Cardiff travel-to-work area since the BSC steel closure programme was announced; and how many visits have been made.

632 inquiries and 116 visits.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many inquiries have been received from industrialists seeking sites in the Shotton travel-to-work area since the BSC steel closure programme was announced; and how many visits have been made.

285 inquiries and 21 visits.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many inquiries have been received from industrialists seeking sites in the Ebbw Vale travel-to-work area since the BSC steel closure programme was announced; and how many visits have been made.

401 inquiries and 147 visits.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the firms that have been attracted to the Shotton area since the current round of steel closures by BSC was announced, with the number of potential jobs involved in each case.

Since December 1972 the following firms are known to have already opened in the Shotton area: Christie Hydraulics Ltd., Engineering Concessionaires Ltd., Glendale Furniture Ltd., B. B. Shotblast Engineering Services (Plant) Ltd., Foseco Ltd., and Tillie and Henderson Ltd. In addition Country Produce Ltd., is planning to build a new factory at Sandycroft.Employment figures for the individual projects are confidential. However, the firms concerned estimate that, taken together, these projects could provide some 860 jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the firms that have been attracted to the Cardiff area since the current round of steel closures by BSC was announced, with the number of potential jobs involved in each case.

Since December 1972 the following firms are known to have already opened in Cardiff: Alpine Soft Drinks Ltd., Burroughs Machines Ltd., Celestion Textiles Ltd., Gardners Transformers Ltd., and Portland Chemicals Ltd. Matsushita Electric (UK) Ltd. and the Radio Chemical Centre are also in the process of setting up.Employment figures for individual projects are confidential. However, the firms concerned estimate that taken together, these projects could provide around 1,100 jobs when fully manned.