asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has arranged any further meetings with the leaders of the NUM.

My right hon. Friend and I have no further meetings with the leaders of the NUM arranged at present. We have frequent contact with them and would expect them to get in touch with us if they wish to discuss any important matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the increase in the labour costs of the National Coal Board by the proposed increase in the employer's share of the national insurance contributions; and whether he expects this to have any effect on coal prices.

The NCB estimates an increase in labour costs in the next financial year of approximately £21 million as a result of the increase in employer's national insurance contributions, but it is too early to say what the effect on coal prices will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much will be added to the labour costs of the electricity boards and the Central Electricity Generating Board by the proposed increase in the employer's share of the national insurance contribution; and whether he expects this to have any effect on electricity prices.

The Electricity Council estimates that about £15 million would be added to the costs of electricity boards in England and Wales in 1977–78. It is to early to say whether this will need to be reflected in electricity prices, but in any event its effect would be negligible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the capital projects to be abandoned, curtailed or delayed by the nationalised industries responsible to him as a result of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's announcement on 22nd July.

There will be a reduction of £107 million on the capital investment programmes in 1977–78 of the coal, gas and electricity industries. £40 million of this will be found by deferring expenditure on the steam-generating heavy water reactor (SGHWR) at Sizewell. The allocation of the remaining reduction of £67 million will be as follows: electricity industry £25 million, BGC £22 million. NCB £20 million. It will be for the industries to consider how to adjust their programmes.As a consequence of deferring the SGHWR, expenditure by the UKAEA on research for that project will be reduced by £5 million. It will also be spending £4 million less on research into the fast reactor.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much will be added to the labour costs of the gas boards by the proposed increase in the employer's share of the national insurance contributions; and whether he expects this to have any effect on prices.

I am informed that the British Gas Corporation estimates the cost in a full year to be about £7 million. It is too early to say what will be the effect on prices since this is merely one of several factors entering into any review of the corporation's tariffs.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the designation of further areas of the Continental Shelf.

An additional 17,922 square kilometres of the Continental Shelf have been designated, by an Order in Council made on 23rd July, as areas in which the United Kingdom's rights to the sea bed and subsoil and their natural resources may now be exercised.The designation Order, which is made under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964, involves three separate areas:

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give, for the latest and most convenient stated date, the total costs of the non-contributory pensions of civil servants; to what extent there would be a saving on public expenditure if civil servants paid for their pensions on a similar basis to local government officers, police, firemen, miners and other public servants; and if, in view of the Government's policy of further cuts in public expenditure, he will introduce this system.

Expenditure on Civil Service pensions is met from the Vote for Civil Superannuation, etc.—Class XIV, Vote 6—the net Estimate for which in 1976–77 is £276·16 million. The increases due to be paid from 1st December 1976, which I announced on 19th July, are expected to cost £31 million in a full year and will thus increase expenditure in 1976-77 to about £286.5 million.As I explained in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) on 8th December 1975, civil servants forgo pay to help meet the cost of their pensions equally as if their pensions were contributory. A contributory scheme on a similar basis to those for local government employees, policemen, firemen, miners and other public servants would therefore imply correspondingly higher pay for civil servants. It would also require a more complex and costly administrative machine to operate such a scheme; a change from the present basis would therefore be likely to lead to an overall increase in public expenditure.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give details of the total number of persons in receipt of pensions who will receive increases, recently announced under the pensions increases to former civil servants, judges, etc., the total weekly or annual amounts of pensions drawn; and to what extent these total annual or weekly amounts will be increased by the upgrading of such pensions; and whether, in view of the Government's declared policy of cutting Government expenditure, he will stop or reduce these increases.

At present there are over 1 million public service pensioners who are covered by the provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971. Not all these will receive this year's increase, as some will be ineligible—for example, because they are below the qualifying age. The total cost of the public service pensions for the financial year 1976–77 is estimated to be about £1,140 million. The increase payable from 1st December 1976 will be 13·8 per cent., with increases of 19·2 per cent. and 8·8 per cent. for those who retired between 1st July 1975 and 31st December 1975 and between 1st January 1976 and 30th June 1976 respectively. The cost of the increase for the public services in a full year will be about £114 million.The average public service pension is now less than £17·50 a week, and the average increase will be only about £2·40 a week. The Government believe that pensioners with this level of income should not be a prime target for expenditure cuts.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how much he estimates will be added to Civil Service labour costs by the proposed increase in the employer's share of the national insurance contribution; and where the money will be found.

It is estimated that about £60 million will be added to the Civil Service labour costs in the financial year 1977–78 by the proposed increase in the employer's share of the national insurance contribution. Departmental budgets will make allowance for the extra contributions at whatever level of staffing is agreed for that year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were for motoring offences in the Leek parliamentary constituency in each of the past five years.

In 1971 and 1973 there were 2,627 and 3,251 convictions respectively for motoring offences in the magistrates' courts at Biddulph, Cheadle and Leek in the Leek Parliamentary Constituency. Figures for 1972, 1974 and 1975 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mr. Andrew Cunningham was sentenced; for what period; for what offences; to what extent he served this sentence in an actual prison and an open prison, respectively; and how much of the sentence was served before he was paroled on 3rd June 1976.

Mr. Cunningham was sentenced on 26th April 1974 at Leeds Crown Court to a total of five years' imprisonment on conviction of one offence of conspiracy and eight offences of corruption. This was reduced on appeal to four years' imprisonment. He was held in closed conditions until 25th June 1974 when he was transferred to the open prison at Ford. Apart from a total of 95 days which he spent in closed conditions for the purpose of court proceedings, he remained at Ford prison until 30th June 1976, when he was released on parole. At the time of his release, Mr. Cunningham had served 799 days of a total sentence of 1,461 days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a detailed list of the approaches he has had for the release on parole of Mr. Andrew Cunningham; to what extent approaches have been made by Members of Parliament; and whether his parole was at the normal time.

It would not be right to disclose in any individual case details of representations which may have been made to my right hon. Friend. There is no normal time for the grant of parole but the earliest date on which he could have been increased on parole was 23rd August 1975 and his date of release without parole but with full remission would be 22nd December 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the reasons why Mr Andrew Cunningham was paroled on 3rd June and whether it is his intention to parole Mr. Pottinger and Mr Poulson; and if any consideration was given to any repayment of money by him to Mr. Poulson.

Mr. Cunningham was released on parole on 30th June. The Parole Board recommended his release on that date and my right hon. Friend accepted the recommendation. It is not the practice to give reasons for the grant or refusal of parole in individual cases, but a statement of the criteria used is available in the Library. Mr. Pottinger was released on parole in March. The next review of Mr. Poulson's case for parole will commence early next year and we cannot forecast the result. The fact that Mr. Cunningham repaid money to Mr. Poulson was known to the Parole Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an Exchequer-financed fund, to be administered through the NCSS, to support the structure of the councils of voluntary service at local level, and to promote voluntary effort generally in urban areas.

We are aware of the problems being experienced by some councils of voluntary service in urban areas and are considering a number of possible ways in which they might be resolved. The problem is a complicated one and it it will be some time before we are able to reach a conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that according to the 1971 Census there were 20,000 people born in the New Commonwealth living in Newham against a total population of 270,000 and that these figures in 1976 were 80,000 and 250,000, respectively, he will give extra financial support to this area to overcome the problems connected with such immigration.

We are aware of the results of the 1971 Census. Reliable information is not available on which to base later estimates of the number born in the New Commonwealth living in particular local authority areas. I do not know the source of the 1976 figures quoted by my hon. Friend, nor the definition used in arriving at that of 80,000: any estimates for 1976 made now of the population born in the New Commonwealth and living in particular local authority areas must be highly speculative. As to financial support I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to his Questions on 29th June and 14th July.—[Vol. 914, c. 88; Vol. 915, c. 171–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he is aware of the stresses and strains in the London borough of Newham resulting, in part, from large immigration; and whether he will give an assurance that the 1975–76 grants under Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 of £263,431 will not be reduced during the years 1976 to 1979 under the Government's proposed public expenditure cuts and that he will arrange to increase these grants during this period;(2) whether he will give the reasons why, since 1967–68 until 1975–76, the grants made under Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 to Bradford of £48,998 have increased to £641,815, to Brent of £60,705 to £312,854, to Ealing of £78,018 to £721,442, to Haringey of £54,335 to £544,990, to Leicestershire of nil to £932,842 and to Newham of £24,332 to £263,431; and if he will forthwith increase the last figure.

We are aware of the stresses of life in our inner city areas, many of which contain a substantial number of immigrants.Local authorities may claim Government grant at the rate of 75 per cent. under Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 on the cost of employed staff to deal with the difference in language or customs between Commonwealth immigrants and the indigenous community. Section 11 grant is available for all expenditure of this description in areas with substantial numbers of Commonwealth immigrants. The amount of grant-aided expenditure incurred by any individual local authority is a matter for that authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the figures of immigrants and their dependants living in Great Britain are based upon the 1971 census; to what extent these figures have risen or fallen since the 1971 census; and when he expects to publish the 1976 figures, or figures later than 1971.

Comprehensive information about the size of the immigrant population is collected only at the time of the census of population, which last took place in 1971. Estimates of the size of the population are the responsibility of the Registrar General who has published figures, in Population Trends 2, for that part of the immigrant population living in Great Britain which is of New Commonwealth and Pakistan ethnic origin. The estimate for 1971 is 1,486,000 and for mid-1974 is 1,744,000. I understand that later estimates will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers have been murdered in the course of duty in each of the past five years.

In England and Wales, none.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all the statutory alternatives to imprisonment, indicating in each case when they were introduced and for what category of offender they are intended.

The following is a list of non-custodial measures and other powers available to the courts in dealing with those over 17 years of age—other than mentally disordered offenders—who have been convicted of offences punishable with imprisonment other than offences where the penalty is fixed by law. The date shown is the date on which the provision was introduced or re-enacted in substantially its present form. Some provisions have existed in a somewhat different form or for specific offences for a longer period. Within the limits prescribed by law, the choice of sentence is a matter for the court to decide in the light of the circumstances of the offender and of his offence.

Absolute discharge	1948
Conditional discharge	1948
Binding over	1361
Probation (see note 1)	1907
Financial Penalties
Fine (see note 2)
Forfeiture of property (see note 3)	1870
Restitution Order	1968
Compensation Order (see note 4)	1973
Criminal bankruptcy Order (see note 5)	1973
Attendance centre Order (see note 6)	1948
Suspended sentence of imprisonment (see note 7)	1967
Community service Order (see note 8)	1973
Disqualification from driving, for non-traffic offences (see note 9)	1973

NOTES1. A probation order may include a requirement relating to residence (in an approved hostel or home or other approved place), or (in certain areas only) attendance at a day training centre, or treatment for a mental condition.2. Fines have been part of the criminal law for very many years.3. Now available only where the offender is punishable with two years imprisonment or more, or for particular offences.4. More limited powers to order compensation were previously available.5. A criminal bankruptcy order may be made only where the total loss or damage exceeds £15,000.6. For offenders between the ages of 17 and 21, available only in S.E. London and Manchester.7. Since 1973, a suspended sentence of more than six months may be accompanied by a supervision order.8. Available in the whole or part of 52 out of 56 probation and after-care areas in England and Wales.9. Available in the Crown Court where the offender is convicted of an offence punishable with imprisonment for two years or more and where a motor vehicle was used for the purpose of committing or facilitating the offence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will introduce legislation to prevent business and political organisations obtaining advantages through connections with parallel organisations purporting to be religious cults;(2) whether he will introduce amending legislation to make charities accountable to Parliament and to ensure that only bona fide charities are registered as such.

Before reaching a decision on the need for further legislation on charities we would prefer to await the report of the committee set up by the National Council of Social Service, which we will consider in the light of the recommendations already made in the Tenth Report from the Expenditure Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take action, by legislation or otherwise, to prevent the collection of moneys for charities which are linked with wholly-owned subsidiary limited companies where such companies have purely commercial aims.

Charitable collections are controlled by the provisions of the House to House Collections Act 1939 and by street collection regulations in force in most areas of the country; and the misappropriation of the proceeds of such collections is already an offence. It is not clear to us that further action is required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what control he now has over the accordance of charitable status to organisations, purporting to be religious, whose members have been convicted of breaking the law with regard to collections or the keeping of proper accounts.

None. Charitable status is a matter for the courts. Registration as a charity, which is conclusive evidence of charitable status, is a matter for the Charity Commissioners, and their decisions depend solely on whether the organisation has purposes which are charitable in law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take action to prevent the use of so-called charitable organisations to assist distribution of articles by manufacturing and other profit-making companies.

No. Some charities sell commercially produced goods as part of their normal fund-raising activities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to modifying the present system of electoral registration so that the elector remains on the register of the constituency where he lives unless he informs that local authority that he has moved elsewhere.

Electoral registration was fully considered by the Speaker's Conference of 1972–74, but it did not recommend any change in the law on the lines suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters have now been forwarded to him concerning complaints about the methods of conversion and sales techniques of the Unification Church.

			1976 Parliamentary	Amount by which each exceeds or falls short of Electoral Quota
Constituency (a)			Electorate (b)	Number (65,753) (c)	Percentage (d)
Newton	…	…	99,615	33,862	51·5
Ormskirk	…	…	99,132	33,379	50·8
Meriden	…	…	98,538	32,785	49·9
Basildon	…	…	96,469	30,716	46·7
Horsham and Crawley	…	…	95,535	29,782	45·3
South Norfolk	…	…	95,287	29,534	44·9
Wirral County	…	…	94,926	29,173	44·4
Rother Valley	…	…	94,719	28,966	44·0
Lichfield and Tamworth	…	…	94,517	28,764	43·7
North Norfolk	…	…	94,128	28,375	43·2
Abingdon	…	…	93,245	27,492	41·8
Bromsgrove and Redditch	…	…	93,114	27,361	41·6
South Fylde	…	…	92,883	27,130	41·3
North Somerset	…	…	92,838	27,085	41·2
Don Valley	…	…	92,576	26,823	40·8
Basingstoke	…	…	92,224	26,471	40·3
Brigg and Scunthorpe	…	…	92,084	26,331	40·0
East Hertfordshire	…	…	92,075	26,322	40·0
Thurrock	…	…	91,514	25,761	39·2
Bury St. Edmunds	…	…	91,164	25,411	38·6
Harwich	…	…	90,953	25,200	38·3
Wallsend	…	…	90,595	24,842	37·8
Maidstone	…	…	90,182	24,429	37·1
Buckingham	…	…	89,580	23,827	36·2
Bebington and Ellesmere Port	…	…	89,539	23,786	36·2
Ipswich	…	…	89,005	23,252	35·4

46.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many television licences, for colour and monochrome sets, respectively, were valid on the latest date for which the figures are available; and what were the corresponding figures: (a) a year earlier and (b) two years earlier.

There were 8,871,106 colour and 9,008,196 monochrome television licences in force on 31st May 1976. The corresponding figures for the two preceding years were:

	Colour	Monochrome
31st May 1974	5,795,421	11,558,914
31st May 1975	7,732.128	9,888,672

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in theOfficial Report the information sent by him to the hon. Member for Lichfield and Tamworth on 21st July about the size of parliamentary constituencies and the extent to which they are above or below the quota for an English parliamentary constituency.

The information is as follows: