asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the fishing industry, both deep sea and inshore, as to the establishment of a 50-mile exclusive fishing zone around the United Kingdom.

Since the trend towards the adoption of wider fishing limits became clear there have been frequent meetings with representatives of all sections of the fishing industry and the Government are fully aware of their views.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, following the Council of Ministers decision that for the 1976–77 marketing year there should be a two-tier intervention price structure for bread-making and non-bread-making wheat, what adjustments are being made to the minimum quality standards applicable to wheat offered into intervention in the United Kingdom.

The minimum quality standards applicable to wheat of bread-making quality will remain the same as those announced in the House on 2nd August 1972 as applicable to milling wheat. For wheat of non-breadmaking quality the minimum specific weight eligible for offer into intervention has now been fixed at 69 kg/hl—55·2 lb/bushel—instead of 72 kg/hl—57·6 lb/ bushel—as previously; the maximum permitted quality of broken grains will be 8 per cent., instead of 5 per cent., as previously; or sprouted grains 6 per cent., instead of 2 per cent., and of shrivelled grains 10 per cent., instead of 5 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, following the Council of Ministers decision that for the 1976–77 marketing year there should be a two-tier intervention price structure for bread-making and non-bread-making wheat, what adjustments are being made to the minmum quantities of wheat for offer into intervention.

My right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture and Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, have decided that in the changed circumstances the minimum quantity of wheat for offer into intervention, whether as breadmaking or non-bread making wheat, should be reduced from 200 tons to 100 tonnes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the people under 30 years of age were convicted of a drugs offence in each year since 1945.

0·081 per cent., 0·066 per cent, and 0·061 per cent, of people aged between 10—the age of criminal responsibility—and 29 inclusive, were convicted in the United Kingdom of a drug offence in the years 1973, 1974 and 1975, respectively.I regret that information for earlier years is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take to reduce the number of prisoners sleeping two or three in a cell designed for one.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 20th May—[Vol. 911, col. 631]—to his previous Question on this subject and to the answer given on 22nd July to a similar Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield and Tamworth (Mr. Grocott)—[Vol. 915, col. 526]. Every effort is being made, within available resources, to increase and improve accommodation and to develop non-custodial treatments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were murdered in the course of duty in 1975.

Three police officers in England and Wales were victims of homicide in 1975; one of these officers, though in unform and assisting a colleague, was not on duty at the time. One of these cases has resulted in a conviction of murder and one in a conviction of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. In the third case no suspect has been found.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the examination into problems of nationality will be completed, in view of the exclusion of this topic from the Sex Discrimination Act.

The review of nationality law, which has been taking account of the present differences in treatment of the sexes in nationality matters, is well advanced, but I cannot yet say when any conclusions will be announced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the nature of the employment performed by those Commonwealth citizens accepted for settlement by reason of exemption from deportation, as given in the Immigration Control Statistics 1975.

Skills, qualifications, or occupations do not bear on the eligibility of Commonwealth citizens for acceptance for settlement by virtue of exemption from liability to deportation under Section 7 of the Immigration Act 1971. The information requested is not therefore recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the nature of the employment performed by: (a) those Commonwealth citizens and (b) those foreign nationals accepted for setlement having completed four years approved employment, as given in the Immigration Control Statistics 1975.

The occupation in which those concerned were engaged on being accepted for settlement extended over a wide range of employments for which work permits had been granted, and included occupations, as set out in the Immigration Rules, for which such permits are not required. I regret that fuller details are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a breakdown of the statistics on dependants given in the "Control of Immigration Statistics 1975", pages 11 and 13, so as to give some indication of the numbers of: (a) young dependent adults between the age of 18 and 21 years, (b) distressed relatives over 65 years of age and (c) parents and grandparents over the age of 65 years, who were accepted for settlement on arrival and for settlement on removal of the time limit, respectively.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he is taking to assess the extent of the abuse of immigration entry rules through fraudulent and bigamous marriages; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will institute more stringent checks on immigrants who seek to remain in Great Britain after contracting a marriage.

These matters are under review as part of the examination of proposals to deal with cases involving a bogus marriage that my right hon. Friend announced on 5th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase the penalties for illegal immigration both for the illegal immigrant and those who arrange such immigration.

The maximum penalty for illegal entry on summary conviction is six months' imprisonment or a fine of up to £200, or both. Directions may be given for the removal of an illegal entrant, or he may be deported on the recommendation of a court.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many times the House of Commons sat after 10 p.m. and after midnight, respectively, in the Sessions of 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76.

The information is as follows:

Session	Number of days when the House sat after 10 p.m.	Number of days when the House sat after midnight
1969–70	92	30
1970–71	156	79
1971–72	144	65
1972–73	131	60
1973–74	45	13
1974	64	28
1974–75	155	94
1975–76 (to 26th July 1976)	121	58

asked the Lord President of the Council what part of the loss incurred by the Refreshment Department can be attributed to the Press Gallery refreshment facilities.

None. Any losses on these facilities are made good by the Newspaper Publishers Association.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish in theOfficial Report the mileage allowance granted to civil servants in his Department and those institutions, offices and research establishments for which he is responsible, respectively, indicating variations for the different grades of seniority and type of car permitted.

Civil servants on my staff are subject to the standard Civil Service rules governing mileage allowances for the use of their private motor vehicles. These are set out in the Civil Service Pay and conditions of Service Code, a copy of which is available in the Library.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will give a date for the publication of the Houghton Committee's Report on the financing of political parties from public funds.

I hope that the report will be published by the early autumn and I shall try to give the House a more definite date before the House rises.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what proportion of public sector pensions is funded, including the nationalised industries.

The pension arrangements of a number of public sector bodies, including those of the nationalised industries, are not subject to ministerial control, and precise information about the many schemes which are subject to control could be collated only at disproportionate cost. It is estimated, however, that a little over one-half of both serving and retired members of pension schemes in the public sector as a whole are subject to funded schemes.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give for the latest convenient stated date the total expenditure on Government hospitality; how this compares with the previous year; what would be the savings per year if such expenditure ceased; and whether, in view of the Government's policy of cuts to public expenditure, he will take action to end this expenditure.

The expenditure from the Government Hospitality Fund for the last four financial years has been:

				£
1972–73	…	…	…	252,478
1973–74	…	…	…	262,061
1974–75	…	…	…	243,537
1975–76	…	…	…	285,209

As I said in reply to another Question from my hon. Friend on 19th July—[Vol. 915, c. 330]—the expenditure involved is modest by comparison with the good will generated among distinguished visitors from overseas; Her Majesty's Government have, therefore, no intention of bringing to an end this necessary courtesy, and its related expenditure.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many members of the pay research unit have been declared redundant since the work of the pay research unit was suspended 12 months ago.

The numbers employed in the unit have reduced by 21 full-time staff and 21 part-time technical advisers during the 12-month period. All the full-time staff and 16 of the technical advisers released have been reemployed to fill vacancies elsewhere in the Civil Service. A further review of the complement has recently been made and an additional significant reduction in the staff will take place shortly.

asked the Prime Minister how many people, and at what cost, are travelling to America, Brazil and Japan in connection with the Central Policy Review Staff study of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The CPRS has been asked by Ministers to review all aspects of the United Kingdom's representation overseas and this necessarily involves visiting representative posts. Four or five members of the CPRS will be visiting posts in North America and three will be visiting posts in Brazil and Japan. The total cost of these visits, including subsistence, will be about £15,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the building programme for airmen's accommodation at RAF Boulmer will be affected by the cuts announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The measures required to achieve the reductions in the planned defence budget for 1977–78 include the rephasing of the works programme and some deferments. It is too early to say what the implications for individual items will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in theOfficial Report the mileage allowance granted to civil servants in his Department and those institutions, offices and research establishments for which he is responsible, respectively, indicating variations for the different grades of seniority and type of car permitted.

There are two rates, the public transport rate—for journeys over 75 miles—and the standard rate, for shorter journeys, where the costs and circumstances of the journey are considered justifiable. The rates are:

	pence per mile
Public transport rate	4·9
Standard rate: (501–1000cc)	9·3
(1001–1750cc)	10·8
(1751cc and over)	11·8

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilians have daily access to the sleeping quarters of soldiers at Elrington Barracks, Londonderry.

Up to 400 civilians may be working in Ebrington Barracks on any given day, and a proportion, depending upon work in progress, may have access to the soldiers' sleeping quarters.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the standard of security at Elrington Barracks, Londonderry.

Security arrangements at Ebrington Barracks have been reviewed since the explosion of a device there on 21st July, and additional measures have been introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many mercenaries, recently recruited for service in Angola, have returned to the United Kingdom and have enlisted in the British Army.

I am aware of one such case.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British Service men are currently in Kenya.

At present, in addition to a small number of British Service men fulfilling long-standing training, surveying and advisory commitments, there are a few British Service personnel in Kenya to assist with Royal Navy ship visits and arrangements for British Army training which takes place from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will issue a general directive to local authorities on the wearing of school uniforms; and if he will make a statement about the use of school uniforms in both primary and secondary schools.

My right hon. Friend does not intend to issue any general directive on the subject of school uniforms, which are a matter for local decision; he recognises that there are widely divergent views about school uniform requirements and he would expect a reasonable and flexible approach to be adopted by local education authorities and schools in the light of local circumstances and views, and having regard to the need not to make excessive demands on parents.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what was the primary school pupil-teacher ratio in Walsall and the average for all local education authorities for the years 1972–73, 1973–74 and 1974–75; and how many local education authorities had a worse primary school pupil-teacher ratio for each of these years;(2) what was the pupil-teacher ratio for all schools within the Walsall Education Authority, and the overall average pupil-teacher ratios for all local education authorities for the years 1972–73, 1973–74 and 1974–75; and how many local education authorities had more pupils per teacher than Walsall in each of these years.

The information is as follows:

	Pupil/Teacher ratios in		Number of local education authorities with a higher ratio than Walsall
	Walsall	England and Wales
Maintained primary schools
1972–73	26·3	25·5	26
1973–74	25·9	24·9	24
1974–75	25·1	24·2	29
All maintained schools*
1972–73	21·2	21·4	69
1973–74	21·6	21·1	34
1974–75	20·8	20·6	50
* Excluding nursery and special schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how much was spent per 1.000 population on further education in Walsall; what was the average for all local education authorities for the years 1972–73, 1973–74 and 1974–75; and how many local education authorities spent less than Walsall per 1,000 population on further education;(2) how much was spent per primary school pupil on books and teaching equipment in Walsall; what was the average for all local education authorities for the years 1972–73, 1973–74 and 197475; and how many local education authorities spent less per primary school pupil in each of these years than the expenditure in Walsall.

This information is available from the annual digests of education statistics, published jointly by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and the Society of County Treasurers. Copies are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many cases or arson or other deliberate damage costing over £1,000 have occurred in inner London schools during each of the last five years for which figures are available.

I am informed by the authority that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the grading system for the GCE O Level in 1966 and for 1976.

Until 1975 GCE O level examination results were reported only as passes or failures. There was no official grading scheme. As from the summer examinations in 1975, results are reported in terms of five grades: A, B, C, D and E, with lesser performances not graded. Grades A, B and C may be considered equivalent to a pass under the former system.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that the reduction in teaching staff now being made by the City of Birmingham Education Department are in conformity with the condition on which the rate support grant for the current financial year was made, namely, that the school staffing establishment should be maintained at the level of 1975–76; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the Birmingham Education Authority has no plans to worsen its teacher/pupil ratio.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will give a detailed statement on how his proposed cuts in public expenditure will affect the arts budget.

Two million pounds will be saved on planned expenditure for 1977–78. About half of this will be found from capital expenditure for housing the arts and for the accommodation of the national museums and galleries. The remainder will be found from current expenditure and my noble Friend and I will decide on the details when I have considered the proposals for the 1977–78 estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing Scottish unemployment for each July and August from 1964 to 1975.

The following table shows the numbers registered as unemployed in Scotland, not seasonally adjusted and including school leavers:

			July	August
1964	…	…	72,938	73,048
1965	…	…	57,780	59,581
1966	…	…	53,278	55,435
1967	…	…	78,622	80,678
1968	…	…	77,930	78,103
1969	…	…	76,066	77,300
1970	…	…	88,398	91,411
1971	…	…	126,230	130,308
1972	…	…	132,400	134,807
1973	…	…	91,989	91,573
1974	…	…	86,760	89,687
1975	…	…	122,775	127,046

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate at the latest available date of the number of jobs now available in the Scottish economy, and how this compares with the position three and five years ago.

The following table shows estimates of the numbers of employees in employment in Scotland at June 1971, June 1973 and December 1975, the latest date for which figures are available. Also shown are the numbers of unfilled vacancies at these dates and at July 1976. The vacancy figures relate only to those notified in employment offices and careers offices and are not a measure of total vacancies. Because of possible duplication, the figures for the two vacancy series shown from December 1975 should not be added together.

	Employees in employment(000's)	Unfilled vacancies
		At employment careers	At offices offices
June 1971	2,003	12,023
June 1973	2,050	23,909
December 1975	2,072*	13,687	1,923
July 1976	—	14,529	1,712
* Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a list showing the percentage figure for unemployment in the Aberdeen area in the months of July 1970 to July 1976, inclusive.

Following is the information for July each year.

Percentage rate of unemployment in the Aberdeen travel-to-work area
July 1970	…	…	3·0
July 1971	…	…	3·2
July 1972	…	…	3·0
July 1973	…	…	1·9
July 1974	…	…	1·5
July 1975	…	…	2·0
July 1976	…	…	3·0

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest percentage rate for male unemployment in the Fylde area.

Rates of unemployment can be calculated for the Blackpool travel-to-work area. At July 1976 the rate of unemployment for males in this area was 9·4 per cent.

EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT—FEMALES
(Thousands)
		Leek		Biddulph		Cheadle		Kidsgrove
June in each year		Total	Full-time included	Total	Full-time included	Total	Full-time included	Total	Full-time included
1965	…	5·3	ֵ	1·1	ֵ	1·5	ֵ	3·6	ֵ
1966	…	5·3	ֵ	1·3	ֵ	1·9	ֵ	3·9	ֵ
1967	…	5·4	ֵ	1·2	ֵ	2·0	ֵ	4·3	ֵ
1968	…	5·2	ֵ	1·3	ֵ	2·0	ֵ	4·8	ֵ
1969	…	5·3	ֵ	1·4	ֵ	2·0	ֵ	4·6	ֵ
1970	…	5·1	ֵ	1·2	ֵ	2·1	ֵ	4·0	ֵ
1971(a)	…	5·0	ֵ	1·4	ֵ	2·2	ֵ	4·1	ֵ
(b)	…	5·2	3·8	1·3	0·9	2·0	1·2	4·0	3·1
1972	…	5·2	3·9	1·4	1·0	2·2	1·3	3·9	3·0
1973	…	5·4	3·9	1·7	1·1	2·2	1·3	4·5	3·3
Estimates up to and including June 1971(a) are based on counts of national insurance cards. Estimates thereafter are obtained from the annual censuses of employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing total unemployment in each Ayr-

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a list showing the percentage figure for unemployment in the Fylde area in the months of July 1970 to July 1976, inclusive.

Following is the information for the nearest corresponding travel-to-work area at July each year:

Percentage rate of unemployment in the Blackpool travel-to-work area
July 1970	…	…	3·3
July 1971	…	…	3·1
July 1972	…	…	3·5
July 1973	…	…	2·2
July 1974	…	…	2·6
July 1975	…	…	4·9
July 1976	…	…	6·8

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many women were in full-time employment in each of the employment areas in the Leek parliamentary constituency on 1st January in each of the past 10 years.

Since 1971 the censuses of employment have provided information about the numbers of female employees working full-time in each local area. Figures are not available, however, for 1974, due to difficulties which arose following the reorganisation of local government. The figures for 1975 will be available shortly and I will send them to the hon. Member. For earlier years employment estimates were based on counts of national insurance cards and did not distinguish separately full-time workers. My Department does not compile information about the numbers of self-employed in local areas.Following is the information available:Shire employment exchange area for each July and August from 1964 to 1975.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing total unemployment in each Ayrshire employment exchange area, in May, June and July 1976.

The following table shows the numbers of unemployed persons registered at employment offices and careers offices in the areas specified:

Employment Office Areas		May 1976	June 1976	July 1976*
Ayr	…	3,028	3,049	3,340
Troon	…	263	312	306
Cumnock	…	1,111	1,107	1,273
Girvan	…	368	356	391
Kilbirnie	…	588	581	685
Irvine	…	961	1,130	1,310
Kilwinning	…	481	521	604
Saltcoats	…	1,697	1,921	2,165
Kilmarnock	…	2,203	2,292	2,523
Newmilns	…	169	173	196
Largs	…	194	203	206
* Provisional figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is able to estimate the contribution by the job creation scheme in each employment exchange area of Ayrshire.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate expenditure of staff time.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, of the total unemployed in each Ayrshire employment exchange area, how many have been unemployed for nil to 13 weeks, 13 to 26 weeks, 26 to 52 weeks, and beyond 52 weeks.

The following table shows the latest information available which is for April 1976:

	Length of time unemployed
Employment Office Areas	Up to 13 weeks	Over 13 and up to 26 weeks	Over 26 and up to 52 weeks	Over 52 weeks
Ayr	1,085	710	655	552
Troon	102	66	54	20
Cumnock	422	220	273	179
Girvan	145	71	53	93
Kilbirnie	266	105	104	77
Irvine	533	247	214	128
Kilwinning	241	89	89	60
Saltcoats	820	419	422	336
Kilmarnock	825	483	486	422
Newmilns	79	38	36	28
Largs	87	53	38	41

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many construction workers are now unemployed in each Ayrshire employment exchange area.

The following table shows the numbers registered unemployed at 10th June who last worked in the construction industry:

Employment Office Area
Ayr	…	…	…	477
Troon	…	…	…	37
Cumnock	…	…	…	162
Girvan	…	…	…	109
Kilbirnie	…	…	…	95
Irvine	…	…	…	337
Kilwinning	…	…	…	163
Saltcoats	…	…	…	669
Kilmarnock	…	…	…	383
Newmilns	…	…	…	25
Largs	…	…	…	48

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of oil-related jobs in Ayrshire; and if he will list the locations by employment exchange area.

I regret that for reasons of confidentiality information is not avail-for areas smaller than the Strathclyde Region. The number of workers employed at 30th June 1976 in companies, in this region, wholly engaged in activities related to the offshore oil industry, was estimated to be 4,200. This estimate does not include workers involved in offshore oil related work in companies only partially engaged in such work nor those in the construction industry.In addition a number of workers are employed on preparation of the platform construction site at Hunterston.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many accidents at work there were in Stockport during each of the last three years.

The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that the total numbers of industrial accidents occuring in Stockport which have been notified to Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate during the past three years were: 1973, 909; 1974, 802; 1975, 780.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of changes in the patterns of unionisation and membership of employers' federations and associations since the evidence published in the Bolton Report, Command Paper No. 4811.

Information about membership of employers' federations and associations and trade union membership at individual firms is not collected on a regular basis by this Department. The evidence published in the Bolton Report (Cmnd 4811) was the result of a special inquiry and no later information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in theOfficial Report the mileage allowance granted to civil servants in his Department and those institutions, offices and research establishments for which he is responsible, respectively, indicating variations for the different grades of seniority and type of car permitted.

Area			Number of projects approved	Number of jobs created	Number of applications rejected or withdrawn	Number of jobs involved in rejected or withdrawn applications
London and South-East England		…	114	1,400	198	2,371
Scotland, East and North	…	…	379	4,502	117	1,375
Scotland, West	…	…	498	5,670	112	1,529
Merseyside	…	…	246	3,572	77	928
Northern	…	…	572	5,884	137	1,453
South-West	…	…	220	2,008	89	632
Wales	…	…	356	3,318	88	910
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	…	214	2,209	126	1,993
Midlands	…	…	194	2,099	120	924
North-West	…	…	189	1,584	83	962

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many written submissions have been received by each of the regional action committees under the Job Creation Programme.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the number of applications received by each area up to 23rd July is as follows:

London and South-East England	…	411
Scotland, East and North	…	536
Scotland, West	…	637
Merseyside	…	413
Northern	…	763
South-West	…	399
Wales	…	581

The following rates are applicable irrespective of the grade of the officer entitled to claim:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications were accepted to date in each region under the Job Creation Programme; how many jobs were created; how many applications were refused; and how many jobs were involved in those that were refused.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information up to 23rd July is as follows:

Yorkshire and Humberside	…	400
Midlands	…	396
North-West	…	382

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the total number of jobs created over the whole country under the Job Creation Programme have been filled by people under the age of 21 years, and how many by those over the age of 21 years.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 32,319 jobs had been created by projects approved up to 23rd July. It is estimated that around 50 per cent. of jobs are filled by people under 18 years of age, and a further 30 per cent. by people between 18 and 24.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his Department's budget for external research for each of the years 1976–77, 1977–78 and 1978–79 (a) as a total and (b) broken down into subtotals relating to trends, industrial relations and other broad policy areas.

Provision has been made in the Department's Estimates for the expenditure of £473,000 on external research in 1976–77 of which £223,000 will be available for research commissioned from the Medical Research Council and £250,000 for other research. Expenditure on other research has been provisionally estimated as follows:

		£
(a) Manpower and employment	…	90,000
(b) Race relations	…	22,000
(c) Industrial relations	…	24,000
(d) Incomes	…	30,000
(e) Job satisfaction	…	84,000

No firm figures can yet be given for 1977–78 and 1978–79, but it is hoped that it will be possible to maintain total expenditure on external research at a similar level.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list for each year since 1970, the January and July unemployment figures for the United Kingdom, England, the South-West Region and the South-West assisted area, respectively; and if he will express these figures as percentages of the total registered work force;(2) if he will list, for each year since 1970, the January and July unemployment figures for the following employment office areas: Liskeard-Looe, Bodmin, Saltash, Torpoint and Gunnislake sub-areas of the Plymouth Employment Area.

I will reply to these Questions as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a list showing the percentage and actual numbers of unemployed in the Ashford, Kent area in the months of July 1970 to July 1976, inclusive.

The following table shows the information for each July from 1970 to 1976 for the Ashford employment office area:

		Rate of unemployment Per cent·	Number unemployed
July 1970	…	2·1	502
July 1971	…	2·2	536
July 1972	…	2·0	478
July 1973	…	1·4	347
July 1974	…	1·5	390
July 1975	…	3·4	847
July 1976	…	5·5	1,383

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the recent unemployment figures for Merseyside.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th July 1976; Vol. 916, c.77],gave the following information:On 8th July there were 86,620 people registered as unemployed in the Merseyside special development area.The increase in the level of unemployment in Merseyside over the last month was broadly in line with the increase in the country as a whole and is in part a reflection of the number of school leavers coming on to the register for the first time. The Government regard the present level of unemployment on Merseyside as totally unacceptable and are particularly concerned about the situation facing school leavers and young people generally. We are currently giving urgent consideration to further measures to help unemployed young people.

asked the Attorney-General how many staff, including all full time judges, circuit and administrators and their staffs, have been in posts at Crown courts in each of the last five years; and how this compares with the numbers prior to the implementation of the Beeching Report.

The total number of circuit judges on 1st April in each of the last five years was as follows:

1972	…	…	…	…	278
1973	…	…	…	…	308
1974	…	…	…	…	314
1975	…	…	…	…	329
1976	…	…	…	…	336

For the numbers of staff, including circuit administrative staff, during that period, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 2nd July.—[Vol. 914, c. 349].It is not practicable to make any valid comparison with the situation as it existed before 1st January 1972, when the Crown court came into existence. Before that date most courts of quarter sessions were presided over by part-time judges and such courts were administered by the local authorities. There was no unified administrative court service before the changes which were made following the Beeching Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, if he will list the projects included in the £700 million investment programme announced in theOfficial Report of 14th July 1976, column 168, allocating separate amounts to each project.

British Nuclear Fuel Limited's 10-year investment programme recently agreed by the Government includes the following:

£245 million—extension and improvement of existing fuel reprocessing facilities for the home nuclear programme.

£40 million—development of the process for vitrification of waste.

£300 million—the construction of further uranium enrichment capacity within the Anglo/Dutch /German centrifuge project as necessary to meet contractural requirements.

£130 million—uranium conversion plant and other revenue raising investment in facilities to support BNFL's Home and Overseas business.

All figures are at November 1975 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for energy what has been the saving to the balance of payments through BNFL reprocessing 17,000 tonnes of spent fuel elements to date; and what is the value of reprocessing work so far undertaken for overseas customers.

It is estimated that the value of Magnox fuel reprocessing undertaken to date in the United Kingdom for home customers is at least £200 million.The revenue from reprocessing work already carried out at Windscale for overseas customers has been about £12 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy on what date he approved the reprocessing contract negotiated between BNFL and the Enrichment and Reprocessing Group of Japan, the term of the contracts and the approximate net value to the United Kingdom.

Negotiations with the Japanese utilities are still taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will indicate how much of the £330 million will be required to provide facilities to meet the Japanese contract; whether all the plant will be located at Windscale, Cumbria; whether he accepts the view of the IAEA that nuclear plant costs have risen on a worldwide basis by between 60 and 115 per cent. in real terms during the past five years; and whether the doubling of BNFL investment announced in October 1975 is due primarily to inflation.

This sum will be required for the construction of oxide fuel reprocessing facilities to undertake such business for Japanese utilities and overseas customers as BNFL secures.It is proposed that the plant will be located at Windscale.I understand that the IAEA survey covered the costs of light water reactor power stations only. Nuclear power plant costs have in common with most large capital projects been subject to sizeable real cost increases over the past few years.The increase in BNFL's investment is due in part to inflation but also to the increasing technical complexity over the whole range of the company's activities and the need to meet higher safety requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether modifications to or reappraisal of the United Kingdom nuclear programme will cut the amount of the investment outlined in his statement of 14th July.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the proven gas reserves discovered up to 31st December 1975 in the United Kingdom sectors of the Irish Sea and of the Celtic Sea, respectively.

No gas reserves have yet been proved in the United Kingdom sector of the Celtic Sea. No reserves estimates can be given for the United Kingdom sector of the Irish Sea as this information is commercially confidential to the operator of the only discovery to date in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to be able to present the reply to the Report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology on Energy Conservation.

The reply will be presented today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish the latest available figures showing the number and proportion of rent officers' decisions in the Greater London area which were taken on appeal to the Rent Assessment Committee; the number and proportion of such appeals initiated by the landlord and tenant, respectively; and the number and percentage which resulted in increases or decreases of rent, respectively.

In the first two quarters of 1976 a total of 2,843 decisions by rent officers in Greater London, about 7 per cent. of all decisions, were referred to the rent assessment committee. It is estimated that about 85 per cent. of referrals were made by the landlord and 15 per cent. by the tenant. Information is not yet available on the results of all of these cases, but of those determined in the first quarter of 1976 about 77 per cent. resulted in an increased rent and 7 per cent. in a decrease.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last three years for the illegal use of hose-pipes by private householders and with what result; and what is the latest estimate of the number of ratepayers using hoses without the necessary permission, and the estimated loss of revenue.

I am informed by the water authorities that there was one successful prosecution this year for the illegal use of a hose-pipe by a private householder but there have been no other prosecutions since the authorities were established in 1974. Several prosecutions are pending.No reliable information is available about the number of ratepayers using hose-pipes without permission, or the associated loss of revenue.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the conversion of Fort Brockhurst at Gosport with a view to the fort being open to the public;(2) what have been the costs up to the present date of the conversion and improvements at Fort Brockhurst at Gosport; and if he will give the anticipated costs to completion;(3) what is the anticipated date upon which Fort Brockhurst at Gosport should be open to the public.

Fort Brockhurst, which is an outstanding example of a 19th century fort, is being repaired and adapted for display to the public as a monument. The cost to April 1976 was £186,000; further expenditure to complete the job over the next two or three years is estimated to amount to £192,000. It is hoped that work will be sufficiently advanced to permit of opening important parts of the fort in 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost to public funds of the visit of the Minister of Sport to the Olympic Games at Montreal.

The cost to public funds was £2,060. I was accompanied by my Private Secretary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many civil servants in his Department are wholly or mainly employed in cost efficiency programmes and/or other methods of improving manpower utilisation (a) within the Establishment and Management Services Division and (b) elsewhere in his Department; and what were the comparable figures in March 1974.

The numbers of staff in organisation and establishments directorates of DOE and PSA were 3,911 in 1974 and are now 4,199. Many of these are substantially concerned with the matters in the Question. For example, in the Management Services Directorate, 255 staff are wholly engaged on work which has as its main purpose the improvement of the efficiency of the Department; in addition there are 42 staff inspectors in DOE Central and PSA. Cost effectiveness and the efficient use of manpower also engage the attention of management throughout the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional mileage of canals has become available for leisure activities in the past year.

Virtually all canals are used for some form of leisure activity. Restoration of any waterway can only enable it to be used more intensively than before, for example, by providing for navigation by powered craft on water previously used for, say, rowing and fishing. I understand that in the past year a total of 10 miles of the British Waterways Board's remainder canals was opened for navigation by pleasure craft.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many local housing authority areas contain a lower percentage of dwellings lacking one or more of the basic amenities of exclusive use of hot water, a bath and inside WC, than the percentage in the metropolitan district of Walsall; and how many of these authorities awarded more improvement grants per 1,000 dwellings than Walsall in each of the years 1972 and 1975;(2) how many local housing authority areas contain a higher percentage of dwellings lacking one or more of the basic amenities of exclusive use of hot water, a bath and inside WC, than the percentage in the district of Walsall; and how many of these authorities awarded more improvement grants per 1,000 dwellings than Walsall in each of the years 1972 and 1975.

This information cannot be provided without disproportionate cost. However, the following information is readily available.

HOUSEHOLDS LACKING EXCLUSIVE USE OF AMENITIES WALSALL AND ENGLAND AND WALES: 1971
	Walsall	Percentages England and Wales
Households lacking exclusive use of:—
Hot water	7·0	8·4
Fixed bath or shower	8·5	12·1
Inside WC	13·0	15·3
One or more of the above amenities	14·8	17·9

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that new legislation involving local authorities in additional expenditure will not be implemented until adequate additional finance has been made available.

No. But I can assure the hon. Member that I attach considerable importance to not adding unduly to local authorities' burdens at the present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will increase the rate support grant cash limits for 1976–77 to take into account increases in local government expenditure resulting from the pay and price rises in excess of the 7 per cent. limit advised by his department.