asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in theOfficial Report a list of those weapons production or development projects which will be eliminated, reduced or deferred as a result of the proposed cut of £100 million announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Harrogate (Mr. Banks) on 29th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the proposal by his Department to close the naval depot at Bandeath, what is his policy towards the conversion of the depot into an industrial estate in order to provide more jobs in West Stirlingshire.

Any proposal for an alternative use of the Bandeath depot which would provide employment in the area would be very welcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has considered proposals from the Northern Ireland Housing Exceutive for modification of its housing selection scheme; and whether that scheme as modified will both ensure the equitable allocation of public authority housing and also encourage religious and political integration in housing estates.

I have approved in principle proposals made by the Housing Executive to modify its housing selection scheme. These proposals were made by the Executive after a review committee had considered the existing scheme and comments made on its operation by a large number of interested parties. The basis of housing allocation will continue to be in accordance with an objective system of classification and pointing. Due regard will continue to be paid to the wishes of applicants in respect of the areas in which they want to live. It is not, however, a function of the scheme to aim at the achievement or the preservation of any particular religious or political balance in a particular area or estate.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has completed the review of the financial relationship between the Government and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive which he announced on 31st January 1975; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. The present system of financing the executive is based on the arrangements which existed when housing was the responsibility of 65 housing authorities. Several additional measures have had to be taken in recent years to deal with problems arising from the civil disturbances and the level of inflation. Under these arrangements there are each year large losses which have to be written off; such losses are to a large extent the result of the present structure of grants and subsidies to the Executive and of the limits which the Government have imposed—in the interests of national policy on prices—on rent increases.I propose, therefore, to publish later this year legislative proposals which will provide for the replacement of the present system of grants, subsidies and deficit payments by new arrangements based on a single grant to the executive. This grant would be determined each year after consideration of the executive's likely income and expenditure.As far as rents are concerned, it will be my policy to close the gap in rent levels between NI and the rest of the United Kingdom. However, the speed at which this gap is closed will take into account a number of relevant factors including national policy on prices and the review of housing finance in England and Wales which has been initiated by the Government and which is likely to have important implications for NI.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many scheduled offences have been committed in Northern Ireland in each quarter since 1st January 1973; for how many of these offences persons have been charged and convicted, respectively; and what was the nature of the offences.

Statistics of offences and charges are not readily available in the form requested. Detailed information on offences committed and cleared, and persons proceeded against is, however, to be found in Appendix 1 of the Chief Constable's Report for 1975 a copy

1973				January to March	April to June	July to September	October to December
Murder	…	…	…	26	14	22	9
Attempted murder	…	…	…	13	33	19	23
Firearms offences	…	…	…	199	169	128	136
Explosives offences	…	…	…	53	61	53	69
Theft Act	…	…	…	70	57	27	32
Other	…	…	…	69	41	51	44
				430	375	300	313
1974
Murder	…	…	…	19	19	20	17
Attempted murder	…	…	…	14	19	15	27
Firearms offences	…	…	…	144	145	149	106
Explosives offences	…	…	…	47	39	36	39
Theft Act	…	…	…	42	91	47	52
Other	…	…	…	36	66	90	83
				302	379	357	324
1975
Murder	…	…	…	36	24	35	43
Attempted murder	…	…	…	27	32	9	20
Firearms offences	…	…	…	85	142	104	129
Explosives	…	…	…	21	23	22	34
Theft Act	…	…	…	73	74	70	97
Other	…	…	…	24	27	19	27
				266	322	259	350
1976
Murder	…	…	…	40	10
Attempted murder	…	…	…	13	38
Firearms offences	…	…	…	70	112
Explosives	…	…	…	63	35
Theft Act	…	…	…	45	33
Other	…	…	…	63	61
				294	289

Convictions are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General. However, I understand that the number of persons convicted of all scheduled offences was 1,074 in 1974, 1,090 in 1975 and 477 in the first six months of 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing the total number of persons charged and convicted, respectively, for scheduled offences for each quarter since 1st January 1973, indicating the nature of the offence.

Statistics of persons charged with scheduled offences as such are not available. The following numbers of persons were charged with terrorist-type offences during the periods in question:

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the present division of departmental responsibility for the safety of offshore workers engaged in oil and gas exploration and exploitation.

A detailed study has recently been completed of responsibilities for the health and safety workers involved in offshore gas and oil exploration and exploitation in order to see whether existing arrangements meet present day needs and make the best use of the knowledge and experience of the Government Departments and agencies concerned.In the light of the recommendation arising from this study, the Government have decided to extend the application of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 by Order in Council to cover workers engaged in the offshore oil and gas industry, including divers. The Health and Safety Commission will, therefore, take on responsibility for the occupational safety of workers on all oil and gas offshore installations, including submarine pipelines and pipelaying operations. This will mean that one agency will be responsible for ensuring that common standards of occupational safety are applied both on and offshore.But occupational risks are not the only hazards facing offshore workers, and in view of the knowledge and experience developed by the Department of Energy on the technical aspects of structural safety and the "blow-out" risks involved in tapping the reservoir my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy will retain his existing responsibilities for safeguarding offshore workers against such dangers.The responsibility for inspecting offshore installations will remain with the Petroleum Engineering Directorate of the Department of Energy which will, therefore, act as the agent of the Health and Safety Commission as regards occupational safety.The structural safety of pipelaying vessels will be the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade to accord with his existing responsibilities for safety of ships and seafarers which in general remain undisturbed.These arrangements will produce a more rational redistribution of responsibility than exists at present. Nevertheless, there will be a continuing need to ensure the effective co-ordination of Govern- ment activities offshore and I have, therefore, decided to set up an interdepartmental Committee on Marine Safety at official level to keep this under review. It will be under the chairmanship of the Department of Trade.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service to what extent his authorisation is required for expenditure on refurnishing of premises, meals, installation of wine cellars and other incidental expenses by the Royal Commission on the Press.

My authorisation is not required for expenditure on either refurnishing of premises or capital works required in connection with the Royal Commission on the Press. I am, however, responsible for the salaries and related administrative expenditure of the Royal Commission.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what will be the total addition to Civil Service staff costs in 1977–78 of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's increase of 2 per cent, on employers' national insurance contributions; and whether it is the Government's intention that this will be met through an increase in the appropriate cash limit blocks or through a reduction in numbers employed.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South-West (Mrs. Wise) on 27th July 1976—[Vol. 916, c. 130.] Cash limits for 1977–78 have not yet been settled.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing (a) the number of days lost through strikes in the Gas Corporation and (b) the number of days lost through absenteeism in the Gas Corporation for each year since 1964.

I understand from the British Gas Corporation that the number of days lost since 1964 through industrial disputes has been negligible, except in 1973 when about 300,000 man days were lost. Details of days lost through accidents are published in the annual report and accounts of the corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the price index for domestic gas on 1st January for each of the last six years, taking this price on 1st January 1970 as 100.

The price index for domestic gas derived from that published by the Department of Employment as a part of the General Index of Retail Prices, for dates closest to those required is set out below:

20th January 1970	…	…	100
19th January 1971	…	…	102
18th January 1972	…	…	111
16th January 1973	…	…	116
15th January 1974	…	…	117
14th January 1975	…	…	126
13th January 1976	…	…	169

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the increase in the retail price of paraffin.

Consequent upon the notification by the oil companies last month to the Price Commission of an increase in the prices of oil products, the Government have agreed to the companies' request for an increase in the maximum retail price of paraffin. The rise in price

PERSONS DETAINED, UNDER PROVISIONS OF IMMIGRATION ACT 1971, AS HAVING ENTERED THE UNITED KINGDOM ILLEGALLY ON OR AFTER 1ST JANUARY 1973 1975
				number of persons
		Commonwealth citizens	Foreign Nationals	Total
Detained during 1975	…	86	102	188
Removed	…	78	76	154
Allowed to stay indefinitely	…	2	3	5
Allowed to stay for limited period	…	2	1	3
Allowed to stay as having entered U.K. before 1st January 1973	…	7	12	19
Found not to be illegal entrants	…	3	2	5
Awaiting removal or decision 31st December 1975	…	17	8	25

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employment exchange areas there are in Scotland; and if he will list the 15 with the highest rate of unemployment.

There are 67 employment office or travel-to-work areas in Scotland for which separate rates of unemployment can be calculated. The following table shows the areas with the highest rates of unemployment at 10th June:Some of those dealt with in 1975 were first detained before 1975. It is not possible, save at disproportionate cost, to identify separately the outcome in 1976 of the 25 cases awaiting decision at the end of 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the illegal immigrants detected in 1975 and referred to by him in theOfficial Report of 5th July 1976, column 984, remain at present in the United Kingdom.

The action taken during 1975 in respect of those detected and detained as illegal entrants is shown in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the representatives of recognised animal welfare organisations serving on each of the 12 committees on animal welfare.

I am arranging for this information to be obtained and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an inquiry into the relations between the West Mercia Police in general and the Metropolitan Police and Detective Chief Superintendent Bob Booth in particular in the course of the Lesley Whittle police investigations; and if he will make a statement.

No. We are confident that chief officers are fully aware of the lessons to be drawn from this investigation. They have already discussed it collectively, and we do not believe a formal inquiry would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had from sporting clubs and other bodies about the effects of Regulations issued under the Lotteries Act 1975; and what action he proposes to take in the light of these representations.

In response to our consultative document about regulations under this Act, numerous representations have been received from sporting clubs and other bodies. Their comments will be carefully considered before regulations are drafted and submitted to Parliament for approval.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in issuing Regulations under the Lotteries Act 1975, as proposed in the consultative document issued by his Department, he will ensure that there is strict parity between societies and local authorities, particularly with regard to distribution, advertising and location of sale outlets.

As I made clear during the passage of the Bill—[Standing Committee B, 11th March, c. 39]—our intention is that neither societies nor local authorities should have any discriminatory advantage in these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the fact that many persons are at present claiming income tax relief on their children now resident in countries outside of Great Britain who were born in accordance with polygamous religious practice, to what extent these children are entitled to claim British passports and entry into the United Kingdom by virtue of their father's having a British passport; and whether he will give the actual or estimated numbers of such children who can claim this right.

As I stated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 26th July—[Vol. 916, c.9–10]—declarations made to the Inland Revenue for tax purposes confer no entitlement upon anyone to enter or settle in the United Kingdom. The same holds true for the issue of British passports. Children living abroad whose fathers hold British passports do not necessarily have any claim to hold British passports themselves. This depends on their individual circumstances at the time of their application. It is not therefore possible to give numbers in the form requested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many out of the total number of immigrants to the United Kingdom in 1975 were not citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

The available information is given in Table 4 of Cmnd. 6504 (Control of Immigration: Statistics 1975). In general, those accepted for settlement whose passports were issued by independent Commonwealth and foreign countries will not be citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies. Of the remainder, holding passports issued by the United Kingdom and colonial and similar territories, not all will technically have citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange to consult with the Licensed Cab Drivers Association, the Cab Section of the Transport and General Workers Union and other interested representative bodies of London taxi drivers and owners with a view to revising the rules in order to provide adequate ventilation in the driver's compartment of London taxicabs.

The design and construction of London taxicabs are largely governed by the conditions of fitness from time to time laid down by the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to whom the representative bodies should address any proposals for modifications. In recent years several improvements to the ventilation system have been introduced and the Commissioner will be pleased to consider any further proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the estimated expenditure of public funds in 1975 on maintaining in detention passengers initially refused leave to enter who were subsequently admitted, and on removing overseas passengers initially refused leave to enter who were subsequently returned to the United Kingdom by the countries to which they were sent.

The estimated expenditure of public funds in 1975 on the detention, otherwise than in prisons or police stations, of passengers who were not initially given leave to enter but who were subsequently admitted was £93,000. This includes expenditure both where leave to enter was initially refused and where the passenger was detained while a decision was reached as to whether or not he should be given leave. It is not possible to separate the expenditure on the two types of case. No records are kept which would enable the second part of the Question to be answered; but these cases are quite rare and removal costs would normally be the responsibility of the carrying company.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will arrange for the leaflet on visits of parties of disabled people to the House of Commons to be reproduced in theOfficial Report for the information of specialist journals in the disablement field and of others who will wish to know of this publication.

If my hon. Friend will give the Serjeant at Arms the list of those specialist journals he has in mind the leaflet will be sent to them.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will refer to the appropriate Select Committee on Procedure the suggestion previously made by the hon. Member for Epping Forest that hon. Members successful in the Ballots for Private Members' Bills and motions should not be eligible to enter again during either the same Session or the same Parliament.

The organisation of private Members' time would already be within the terms of reference of the Select Committee on Procedure.

asked the Lord President of the Council (1) if he will move that the problems arising from immigration into the West Midlands area be referred to the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs;(2) if he will move that the regional industrial problems of the West Midlands area be referred to the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs;(3) if he will move that the problems concerning the servicing of exports from the West Midlands area be referred to the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs;(4) if he will move that the unemployment and training problems of the West Midlands area be referred to the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs;(5) if he will move that the problems of prices in the West Midlands area be referred to the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs.

I would gladly consider with those concerned whether these subjects might be referred to the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will move that the taxation problems affecting businesses and individuals in the West Midlands area be referred to the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs;(2) if he will move that the housing transport and local government financial problems of the West Midlands area be referred to the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs;(3) if he will move that the health facilities and hospital problems of the West Midlands area be referred to the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs.

I have been asked to reply.I would gladly consider with those concerned whether these subjects might be referred to the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, further to his reply on 25th June 1976 regarding Glasgow District Council's scheme for the establishment of community councils, he can now state when approval either in part or in whole will be given to the proposals.

Glasgow district's community councils scheme is necessarily very complex, and the district submitted with it 138 outstanding representations; subsequently, I received 23 more. These require careful consideration, and I am sorry that I cannot yet forecast when approval can be expected. Many of the provisions must be considered in relation to the district as a whole, and approval to parts is not practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the proposal by the Ministry of Defence to close the naval depot at Bandeath, he will urge the Scottish Development Agency to convert the depot into an industrial estate, in order to provide more jobs in West Stirlingshire.

This is a matter for the Scottish Development Agency which is well aware of my hon. Friend's concern in this matter.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether, in view of the decision by the hon. Members for Paisley (Mr. Robertson) and South Ayshire (Mr. Sillars) to refuse the Labour Party Whip, the Scottish Labour Party will now qualify for official aid to Opposition parties; and, if so, what will be the cost to the taxpayer.

Under the terms of paragraph 3 of the Resolution of the House of 20th March 1975 the conditions of qualification for financial assistance are that a party must have at least two Members elected to the House as members of that party at the preceding General Election or that the party should have one such Member and have received at least 150,000 votes at that election. The hon. Members referred to therefore fulfill neither qualification.

asked the Lord President of the Council when he intends to publish the report of the committee on financial aid to political parties.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Brotherton) on 28th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he has given any undertaking to other member States of the EEC that they will be given access for fishing purposes to any areas within a new internationally-agreed 200-mile British exclusive economic zone which lie beyond the limits of the present common fisheries policy;(2) whether he will seek to embody his proposals for a variable British fishing limit within the EEC, in an amendment to the Treaty of Accession rather than in a directive.

The present common fisheries policy applies to the maritime waters coming under the sovereignty or within the jurisdiction of each member State. It would therefore automatically apply to the whole of the waters within a member State's 200-mile limit when the limit of fisheries jurisdiction is extended to 200 miles. The Government are actively pursuing within the Community the necessary revision of the CFP, including the establishment of reserved coastal bands. It is too early to say precisely what legal form would be most appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when and in what form he expects the publication of the EEC Document on the Direct Elections as agreed by the recent Heads of State meeting.

The European Council meeting on 12th and 13th July agreed on the text of a statement on direct elections which was issued to the Press. A copy was placed in the Library of the House. The Council of Ministers may reach final agreement on the formal text embodying the Community scheme at its meeting in September. I cannot yet predict when and in what form this will be published but a copy will be made available to the House as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are Her Majesty's Government's latest proposals for implementing the decision on direct elections to the European Parliament agreed unanimously by the Nine Heads of Government at the European Council on 12th and 13th July; and whether he will make a statement.

The European Council held in Brussels on 12th and 13th July agreed on the number and distribution of seats in a directly elected European Assembly and asked Foreign Ministers to settle outstanding issues on the implementation of direct elections. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister subscribed to the general agreement on these matters on the understanding, which was accepted by his colleagues, that whilst the British Government would use their best endeavours to hold elections in Britain during the spring of 1978 a number of practical difficulties might prevent those elections from being held. The United Kingdom was prepared at the subsequent Foreign Affairs Council to agree an Instrument which incorporated all the decisions taken at the European Council the week before. During the Foreign Affairs Council other countries expressed. concern that the provision accepting that practical difficulties might make the 1978 date impossible applied to Great Britain alone. A new Instrument was prepared with the intention of accommodating this point. That Instrument does not contain a legal commitment to hold direct European elections on any date. Its preamble, which is not legally binding on the member States, reaffirms the aim of the Nine to hold elections in the spring of 1978. But the actual decision to do so will, if the Instrument is endorsed, be taken at a Foreign Affairs Council when the Nine Governments, acting unanimously, will take the final decision on the first election date.The Government were unable to endorse a scheme of this sort on the day it was presented to the Council as it was necessary to ensure that the new Instrument safeguarded British interests. Having examined the Instrument the Government are satisfied that it does so. The Government will support the acceptance of the new Instrument at the Foreign Affairs Council on 20th September. At that time the Government's representative will emphasise that although we will use our best endeavours to hold elections in 1978 it may not be possible for us to do so. We appreciate that, because of the form of the new Instrument, if elections are not possible in Britain they will not be held anywhere in the Community. But, if that is the form of Instrument which our colleagues prefer then we are prepared to endorse it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether an EEC economic zone of 200 miles will impinge on Great Britain's national interest in the North Sea and in the Western Approaches;

Although the Council of Ministers has agreed on acceptance of the principle of 200-mile economic zones as part of the member States' common negotiating positions at the Law of the Sea Conference, no proposals have been put forward for an EEC 200-mile economic zone. The United Kingdom has already sovereign rights under international law for the exploitation of our Continental Shelf resources, and these will not be affected by the introduction of a 200-mile economic zone. The British position at the Law of the Sea Conference is that all islands should count for the generation of economic zones.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in theOfficial Report the substance of discussions held in the Foreign Office on 1st July with the United Nations Working Group of Experts on Southern Africa of the Commission on Human Rights.

No. It is not our practice to make public the details of such meetings. I have, however, arranged for the press release agreed at the conclusion of the discussions to be placed in the Library and I would refer my hon. Friend to the brief statement I made in reply to a Question on 21st July from the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall).—[Vol. 915, c.494–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of British passport holders currently resident in Hong Kong.

The total number of Hong Kong British passports issued between 1st January 1965 and 31st December 1975 was 334,406, of which about 325,000 are still believed to be valid. No estimate is available of how many British passport holders are currently resident in Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of dependants of British passport holders currently resident in Hong Kong who would have an automatic right of entry into the United Kingdom.

It is estimated that the number of British passport holders currently resident in Hong Kong with a right of entry into the United Kingdom is not likely to be more than a few thousand. No estimate is available of the number of their dependants.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what methods of consultation exist between Her Majesty's Government and Gibraltar's House of Assembly.

The channel of communication between Her Majesty's Government and the House of Assembly is through the Governor, who consults with both the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition from time to time as and when necessary. The latter have access to the Governor whenever they wish to consult him on any subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial support is being given to Gibraltar; and how long it will continue.

Following talks with the Gibraltar Government in November 1974 my right hon. Friend, the then Minister for Overseas Development, announced agreement on an aid programme for the three financial years beginning 1975–76 on projects estimated at that time to cost £7·6 million. Aid in the form of technical co-operation, including provision for teacher-training in the United Kingdom, is also being given. There will be a review of progress on the programme after the second year, and we will consider the case for further aid in the circumstances then prevailing. Her Majesty's Government's commitment to support and sustain Gibraltar in the face of Spanish restrictions is a major consideration, particularly in the provision of aid funds, and will be maintained for as long as the need arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in order to maintain Gilbraltar's constitutional links with the United Kingdom, he will consider the creation of a guaranteed and permanent economic link.

This proposal was put forward by the Gibraltar Constitution Committee and discussed during the talks in London on 24th and 25th June between the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Gibraltar Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition. Her Majesty's Government were unable to agree to the establishment of such a link for the reasons set out in their Memorandum dated 26th June 1976, copies of which are placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he proposes to announce the extension of Great Britain's fishing limits to 200 miles on the same day as Norway, Canada and the United States of America.

No decision has yet been taken on the timing of the extension of the United Kingdom's fishing limits.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he proposes to negotiate reciprocal fishing arrangements directly with Norway prior to the extension of the limits to 200 miles.

No. We have agreed that the Community will negotiate reciprocal fishing arrangements with third countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total cost of (a) all secondary and school building projects, (b) all primary and infant school building projects and (c) other educational building projects completed in each of the last five years in the area covered by the Macclesfield constituency.

The Department does not maintain records of school building projects by reference to parliamentary constituencies, but I am informed by the Cheshire Education Authority that the tender prices of major building projects started were as follows:

		Primary	Secondary	Nursery and Special Education
1972–73	…	421,767	116,000	—
1973–74	…	222,123	—	62,578
1974–75	…	176,471	768,350	237,579
1975–76	…	167,552	335,158	37,480
1976–77	…	—	541,730	—

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is in a position to report how women have taken advantage of the provisions made by his Department in education and training as well as literacy, in view of the emphasis on these subjects recommended for the United Nations Decade for Women.

Opportunities to take advantage of education facilities are open equally to men and women. Women represented about 60 per cent. of the enrolment for a large sector of adult education classes in 1974, the latest year for which I have statistics. In further education establishments, principally meeting the needs of the 16 to 19 age group, there were 852,800 women students, some 46 per cent. of the total. Women comprise 35 per cent. of those adults who have responded to the adult literacy campaign. The trend has been for the proportion of women to men in the overall student total to rise over the last few years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied that the incremental system of salary payments in the teaching profession will in general be self-balancing in the current financial year.

The Burnham Committees, which are the relevant negotiating bodies, considered estimates of the cost of increments earlier this year in dealing with the settlement of teachers' salaries for the current financial year but concluded that no offset against the £6 limit was justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he will revise his proposals for university fees for overseas students so as to make transitional provision for students already enrolled on courses, who may be prevented from continuing them by the increase;(2) whether he will revise his proposals for university fees so as to make transitional provision for British students who are not in receipt of any local authority grant because they have changed to a longer course, repeated a year, have had their career disrupted by the closure of a course or institution, or failed to satisfy the residence qualifications for a grant.

My right hon. Friend's proposals for tuition fees are at present under consultation. He will be making a further statement in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the likely intake of trainee teachers at Brentwood College of Education in September 1976 and September 1977, respectively;(2) if there are any proposals to close Brentwood College of Education;(3) what is the minimum intake of trainee teachers required to justify the Brentwood College of Education remaining open.

Under proposals approved in August 1975 Brentwood College is to be amalgamated in September of this year with Mid-Essex Technical College to form the Chelmer Institute of Higher Education. The authorised intake to teacher training at the Institute for September 1976 is 155; the figure proposed for 1977 is 95. It is not possible to say what intake will be necessary for the successful continuance of teacher education. This will depend on the nature and scope of the support which the teacher education courses can draw from the combined resources of the institute.

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food what proposals he has in mind to assist egg producers now faced with sharp increases in the price of feed and falling returns for their products.

It is true that feed prices have risen and that producers returns have fallen over the last two or three months from the higher levels they reached in the spring. Increases announced in recent weeks in packer to producer prices indicate that producers returns are now rising again. In addition the EEC Commission has increased export restitutions for imports to third countries from 9·5 va's to 13 va's per 100 kgs as from 1st August and this should help to firm up the Community market as a whole.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any evidence to suggest that the exclusion of agricultural machinery used for contract hire from assistance under the EEC agricultural development programme is leading to an uneconomic use of such machinery.

Grant under the EEC's farm modernisation directive 72/59/EEC is restricted to items which have been purchased. I am not aware of any difficulties arising from this rule.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to the EEC Commission about subsidies granted on reimportation of British meat into the United Kingdom.

The EEC Commission in consultation with member States keeps the level of both monetary and accession compensatory amounts for beef under constant observation and changes are made in the arrangements if there is evidence that the subsidies payable are causing distortion of trade. Trade in beef between the United Kingdom and the Continent can involve the export of beef from this country for storage or processing in another member State and subsequent reimportation for sale on our market. There is no evidence that any abnormal trade is taking place because of the incidence of compensatory amounts and my right hon. Friend has no plans to make representations to the EEC Commission about the present arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much contaminated meat has been refused entry at British ports during the past 12 months.

Information notified by port health authorities indicates that since July 1975 approximately 300 tons of meat were rejected at British ports because the affected consignment contained contaminated meat.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to prevent the reimportation of contaminated British meat through the port of Dover.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) on 21st July.—[Vol. 915. c.523–4.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much the cost of 1 lb of bacon and a 2 lb packet of sugar has decreased as a result of the subsidy from the European Community.

Although compensatory amounts are payable from Community funds as subsidies on imports of bacon and sugar, the retail price is determined by a number of factors and it is not possible to isolate the effect of such payments in any meaningful way.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his most recent estimate of the capital costs of constructing the Thames flood barrier; how this compares with the original estimate; and what are the main reasons for the variation.

The cost of the Thames flood barrier, at March 1976 prices and excluding the cost of downstream defence works, is expected to be about £158 million. This compares with the estimate of about £88 million made when the designs were completed at the end of 1973. Of the £70 million increase, £60 million is due to wage and price increases over the intervening period. The remaining £10 million is due to modifications and additions to the design.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the monthly value of food subsidies currently being received by Great Britain from the European Community.

There are various ways in which payments by the Community subsidise food prices in the United Kingdom. Payment of monetary compensatory amounts as import subsidies in the United Kingdom averaged £15 million a month in the three months ending 30th June, and in the same period the monthly Community contribution to our general butter subsidy averaged just over £1 million. Comparable figures are not available for payments made in other member States on their exports to us.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will list the organisations with which he has had consultations about the proposed poultry meat regulations.

The following organisations have been consulted:

• Association of British Abattoir Owners.
• Association of District Councils.
• Association of Meat Inspectors.
• Association of Metropolitan Authorities.
• Association of Sea and Air Port Health Authorities.
• Association of Environmental Health Officers.
• Board of Deputies of British Jews.
• British Medical Association.
• British Poultry Breeders' Association.
• British Poultry Breeders' and Hatcheries' Association.
• British Poultry Federation.
• British Poultry Meat Association.
• British Turkey Federation.
• British Veterinary Association.
• County Councils' Association.
• College for the Distributive Trades.
• Consumers' Association.
• Egg Producers' Retail Association.
• Farm and Food Society.
• Federation of Fresh Meat Wholesalers.
• Food Manufacturers' Federation.
• Guild of Public Health Inspectors.
• Institute of Chartered Auctioneers and Estate Agents.
• Institute of Food Science and Technology.
• Institute of Meat.
• Islamic Cultural Centre.
• Joint Animal By-Products Parliamentary and Advisory Committee.
• Joint "Clean Pluckeds" Poultry Committee.
• Joint Consultative Council for the Meat Trade in the United Kingdom.
• Joint Industrial Council for the Slaughterhouse Industry.
• Licensed Animal Slaughterers and Salvage Association.
• Livestock Auctioneers' Market Committee for England and Wales.
• Livestock Traders' Association of Great Britain Limited.
• London Boroughs' Association.
• Meat and Livestock Commission.
• Meat Manufacturers' Association.
• Multiple Food and Drink Retailers' Association.
• National and Local Government Officers Association.
• National Association of British Market Authorities.
• National Association of Wholesale Suppliers to the Meat and Allied Trades.
• National Cold Store Federation.
• National Council of Associations of Fresh Meat Wholesalers.
• National Council of Shechita Boards.
• National Farmers' Union.
• National Federation of Fishmongers.
• National Federation of Meat Traders' Associations.
• National Federation of Licensed Kosher Butchers and Poulterers.
• National Federation of Wholesale Poultry Merchants.
• National Federation of Women's Institutes.
• National Joint Council for Local Authorities (Employers' Side).
• Parliamentary Committee of the Co-operative Union Limited.
• Raw Fat and Bone Processors' Association.
• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
• Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
• Smithfield Traders' Association.
• Society of Medical Officers of Health.
• The Royal Society for the Promotion of Health.
• Trades Union Congress.
• Union of Shop Distributive and Allied Workers.

In addition, there has been formal consultation with the Food Hygiene Advisory Council as required by Section 82 of the Food and Drugs Act 1955.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total amount of public money provided to private industry in 1974, 1975 and so far in 1976.

The information is as follows:

	£m at historic prices
1973–74	693
1974–75	820
1975–76	1195
April-June, 1976	198**
** estimated

These figures relate to net payments to private industry, detailed in the 1976–77 Supply Estimates as Class IV Votes 1, 2, 3 (Subheads B1(1) and B1(2)) Vote 4 (Subheads A1(1), A2, A5, and AZ) Vote 5 (Subheads A, B, D and E), Vote 7 (Subheads A to E) and Vote 11 (Subheads A and C).

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the present estimated cost of the NCB modernisation and development programme; and what is the percentage inflation currently affecting mining plant and equipment.

In reply to the second part of the Question, the figure is not available.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy advises that the NCB is currently undertaking a review of Plan for Coal and its cost. It is hoped to publish the results of that review later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many sectoral studies published by NEDO call for Government action to improve the supply of trained engineers; and what action he proposes to take on the matter.

About a third of the sectoral reports prepared for the first round of the industrial strategy call for action of various kinds by Government to improve the supply of trained engineers. The various points raised are being followed up by Government Departments and other bodies to ensure that the manpower resources available to industry are adequate in both quantity and quality. Sectoral working parties will be asked to consider a number of specific proposals for helping to prevent shortages of professionally qualified engineers, and the NEDC itself will discuss this whole issue in the light of the report by NEDO and the MSC which will be available shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing (a) the number of days lost through strikes in the British Steel Corporation and (b) the number of days lost through absenteeism in the British Steel Corporation for each year since 1964.

The British Steel Corporation tell me that information for the years 1967, when the corporation was set up, to 1971 is not readily available. Information since 1971 is as follows:

Financial year		Days lost through strikes	Days lost through absenteeism other than for sickness or accidents
1972–73	…	550,000	1,125,000
1973–74	…	320,000	1,129,000
1974–75	…	410,000	1,400,000
1975–76	…	300,000	1,260,000

These figures cover manual workers only. Figures for non-manual workers are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many industrial development certificates were granted in the United Kingdom in each of the past six years.

The table below shows the number of industrial development certificates issued for the years 1970–1975, and for the first half of this year, for schemes of 15,000 sq. ft. and over in Great Britain. The control does not operate in Northern Ireland.

1970	…	…	1,676
1971	…	…	1,254
1972	…	…	1,490
1973	…	…	1,772
1974	…	…	1,246
1975	…	…	860
1976 (January to June)	…	…	540

Since July 1972, IDCs have not been required in the development and special development areas. Following the designation of the Edinburgh and Cardiff areas as development areas in August 1974 the IDC control ceased to apply in those areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps have been taken to improve information, statistics, and monitoring of the general state of the small business sector since the publication of the Bolton Report in 1971.

Following a recommendation of the Bolton Committee, the Department's Small Firms Division, has, as one of its main responsibilities, the examination of all available information with a view to monitoring the state of the small firms sector. The need to limit the burden of form filling of course inhibits improvement to statistics of small firms. However, the new system of retailing statistics now being developed will yield annual estimates for small firms with a lower burden of form filling on them than the previous system of five-yearly estimates. Also results relating to small firms from the new sequence of annual censuses of production have been published since 1971. More comprehensive information may ultimately become available from material, derived from the administration of value added tax, which is provided to the Business Statistics Office under Section 55 of the 1973 Finance Act for the development of a Central Register of Businesses.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what new information has become available since the publication of the Bolton Report (Command Paper No. 4418) on the "five symptoms of ill-health" in the small business sector, about lack of new entrants, ageing of the small firm population, over concentration, rate of business failure and too few high fliers.

Such information as can be obtained from existing sources on the five symptoms forms part of the general body of statistical and other information which is drawn on to monitor the state of the small firms sector and it would be not be meaningful to consider it in isolation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish details of public funds given to important services, which are wholly or mainly financed by Government and which are mainly intended for, or used by, small firms.

The only such service currently provided by my Department is the Small Firms Information Service, and the most recent cost figures for this were provided by my hon. Friend the then Minister of State, Department of Industry, on 3rd February in answer to a Question from the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby).—[Vol. 904, c.543.]—Small firms can, of course, also make use of a wide range of more general services provided by the Government and my hon. Friend announced new schemes for the sector, on which no expenditure has yet been incurred, on 14th April 1976 in answer to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, North-West (Mr. Robinson) — [Vol. 909, c.600–1.]—In rural areas under the auspices of the Department of the Environment, the Development Commissioners and the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas provide factories for and financial and other assistance to certain small firms; over £4·5 million was provided for this purpose in 1975–76.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will direct the Post Office to produce interim reports in January each year.

A direction would not be appropriate. But the Chairman of the Post Office will, no doubt, have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what research is currently being conducted into alternative uses for waste car tyres.

My Department published in March this year a report commissioned from the Rubber and Plastics Research Association and entitled "A study of the reclamation and re-use of waste tyres". It is now being considered by the Waste Management Advisory Council in the context of the national anti-waste programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will outline the intended scale of involvement of the National Enterprise Board in overseas construction contracts.

This is a matter for the board's commercial judgment within the terms of the draft guidelines. But I have noted with approval that the board has proposed to participate in these major projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much public money has been committed to Data Recording Instrument Company by the NEB and the NRDC (a) by means of loans, (b) by subscribing to equity and (c) by acquisition of shares from either other shareholders or by the purchase by the NEB of shares, from the NRDC; and if he will give from them the amounts for each separately.

It is not the normal practice of the NRDC to disclose loans that it makes. The NRDC holds 1·2 million shares bought at different times at undisclosed prices. The NEB has announced that it has subscribed for 2 million new £1 shares at par, and has bought 400,000 shares from existing shareholders. I understand that the price for the latter shares was also £1 each. In addition, the company has been lent £500,000 by my Department under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what will be the total addition to employee costs in the Post Office, the British Steel Corporation and the National Coal Board, respectively, in 1977–78 of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's increase of 2 per cent. on employers' national insurance contributions.

I understand from the industries concerned that the increase in employers' national insurance contributions, which it is proposed should take effect in April 1977, could be expected to add something like the following to their costs in the first year: Post Office, £30 million; British Steel Corporation, £15 million.The National Coal Board is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why, in view of the Government's incomes policy, the salaries and related employment costs of the English Tourist Board for the year ended 31st March 1976 rose to £742,884 from £537,264 in 1975; and what action he proposes to take to reduce this form of Government expenditure.

Staff salaries and related employment costs for the board are linked to the Civil Service scales and thus to the Government's incomes policy. The number of staff was increased during the year ended 31st March 1975 from 114 to 141 and to 150 by 31st March 1976 in order to enable them to undertake the voluntary accommodation registration scheme, strengthen the board's research and information services and help with tourist project assistance for development areas. I am examining the possible need for economies consistent with consolidating our tourist drive.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many sectoral studies published by NEDO call for Government assistance to set up export marketing corporations; and what action he proposes to take on the matter.

None of the sectoral studies published by NEDO calls for Government assistance to set up export marketing corporations. However, reference is made in 10 of the published reports to the need for greater co-operation by manufacturers in various forms to achieve a higher level of exports. The sector working parties concerned have indicated in most cases that action to achieve this lies with the industry and relevant trade association to pursue. We shall certainly examine what further action, such as the establishment of joint overseas marketing arrangements, is required when all the sector working party reports have been fully examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the visible trade deficit within the EEC on a balance of payments basis for the last 12 months.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 29th July 1976],gave the following information:Estimates of United Kingdom visible trade with the EEC on a balance of payments basis are made quarterly. The latest available figures up to the first quarter of 1976 were published in

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will publish in theOfficial Report the mileage allowance granted to civil servants in her department and those institutions, offices and research establishments for which she is responsible, indicating variations for the different grades of seniority and type of car permitted.

The car mileage allowances are the same for all grades. They are payable according to circumstances as follows:

Standard rates
Car engine size:
501 cc to 1000 cc	…	9·3p a mile
1001 cc to 1750 cc	…	10·8p a mile
1751 cc and over	…	11·8p a mile
Public Transport rate	…	4·9p a mile

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what was the expenditure of the 46 industry consultative consumer councils in 1975 on public relations, including advertising as a separate item if possible.

Total expenditure on publicity during the financial year 1975–76 by the 42 consumer councils for which I have responsibility is expected to be approximately £38,000. This figure does not include the publicity expenditure incurred by the electricity consultative councils and gas consumers' councils before 1st August 1975; these costs were previously financed by industry. The cost of advertising within the overall publicity total is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what discussions her Department has had with cot manufacturers about the introduction of regulations based on the revised safety standards recommended by the British Standards Institutions to BS 1753.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) whether, in view of recent cases of infants who have been accidentally strangled when their knitted garments became hooked upon the protruding ends of the guide rods of their cots, she will take immediate steps to introduce regulations based on the safety requirements of the revised standards of the British Standards Institution (BS 1753);(2) whether she will immediately forbid the sale of all children's cots which do not satisfy the revised standards of the British Standards Institution (BS 1753);(3) how many children have died in England and Wales in each of the past five years as a result of accidental strangulation caused by their knitted garments becoming hooked upon the protruding ends of guide rods of cots which do not satisfy the requirements of the revised standards of the British Standards Institution (BS 1753);(4) whether, in view of recent cases of infants who have been accidentally strangled when their knitted garments became hooked upon the protruding ends of the guide rods of their cots, he will take immediate steps to inform the public of the dangers of children's cots which do not satisfy the revised standards of the British Standards Institution (BS 1753) and urge the appropriate adaptation of such cots;(5) whether, in view of recent cases of infants who have been accidentally strangled when their knitted garments became hooked upon the protruding ends of the guide rods of their cots, he will take immediate steps to inform the public of the dangers of children's cots which do not satisfy the revised standards of the British Standards Institution (BS 1753) and urge the appropriate adaptation of such cots.

I have been asked to reply also to Questions Nos. 136 to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services and 42 to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.Comprehensive information on an annual basis is not available, but I am aware of five deaths of children from this cause in England and Wales since 1972, of which four have occurred within the last year. Despite inquiries, it has not been possible to ascertain whether the cots involved complied with BS 1753. The British Standards Institution is urgently engaged in reviewing this Standard, in consultation with my Department, and with manufacturers and consumers and medical interests. I shall certainly consider sympathetically making regulations based on the safety provisions of a revised Standard, after further consultation with manufacturers and others interested. Meanwhile, I am urgently considering, with my Department's medical advisers, what advice can be given to parents on avoiding accidents of this type.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerninfg the present difficulties of the constructional and building industries in the Principality; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.I met a deputation from the Building and Civil Engineering Joint Advisory Committee for Wales on 26th July. We had a full discussion of the state of the construction industry in the Principality.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the latest estimate of the total of income tax and national insurance contributions deducted from wage earners whose wages are less than the supplementary benefit to which they would be entitled if they were not working;(2) what is the latest estimate of the total of income tax and national insurance contributions deducted from families with earnings below the FIS entitlement level.

				Marginal rate†of tax in
				Income (Percentage of average earnings)*	1950–51	1960–61	1970–71	1973–74	1976–77
				Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
Single person	…	…	…	50	10	16·53	32·08	30	35
				100	20	30·14	32·08	30	35
				200	36	30·14	32·08	30	45
				300	36	40·14	36·67	40	60
Married couple	…	…	…	50	—	6·81	32·08	30	35
				100	20	24·31	32·08	30	35
				200	36	30·14	32·08	30	45
				300	36	40·14	36·67	40	60
Married couple with 1 child not over 11.				50	—	—	—	30	35
				100	20	24·31	32·08	30	35
				200	36	30·14	32·08	30	40
				300	36	30·14	36·67	30	60
Married couple with 2 children not over 11.				50	—	—	—	—	35
				100	10	16·53	32·08	30	35
				200	36	30·14	32·08	30	40
				300	36	30·14	36·67	30	60
Married couple with 3 children not over 11.				50	—	—	—	—	—
				100	—	6·81	32·08	30	35
				200	36	30·14	32·08	30	40
				300	36	30·14	36·67	30	60
Married couple with 4 children (2 not over 11 and 2 over 11 but not over 16)				50	—	—	—	—	—
				100	—	—	32·08	30	35
				200	20	30·14	32·08	30	35
				300	36	30·14	36·67	30	55
* Average earnings have been taken as the Department of Employment's estimate of average earnings of full-time male manual workers aged 21 and over at April of each year, except for 1976–77 where the April 1975 estimate has been updated to April 1976 by the index of average earnings.
The figures take account of the effects of family allowance and clawback where applicable.
† The rate of tax on an additional £1 of weekly earnings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether inspectors of taxes have now been instructed to try to assess profits on sales of commodities by individuals to income tax instead of capital gains tax as in most cases at present; and, if so, what additional yield is expected to result.

There has been no change in the view of the Inland

I regret that the information on which to base an estimate is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing marginal tax rates for a single person, a married couple and a married couple with each of one, two, three and four children, earning 50 per cent., 100 per cent., 200 per cent. and 300 per cent. of average earnings, in 1950, 1960, 1970, 1973 and 1976.

The figures are are follows:Revenue on the correct treatment of such profits for tax purposes. Inspectors of taxes were reminded some time ago that where transactions involving the purchase and sale of commodities amount to "an adventure in the nature of trade" the profits are assessable under Case I of Schedule D.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many organisations have authority to print and redeem luncheon vouchers which are the subject of income tax concessions.

No authority is required. Provided that vouchers meet the conditions laid down, namely, that they are not transferable, are used for meals only, are available to lower paid staff, and do not exceed 15p for each working day, the concession is available, regardless of the arrangements for printing and redemption.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many directors of public companies registered in the United Kingdom receive fees or other emoluments attributable to their directorship in countries in which the United Kingdom tax law does not operate.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Her Majesty's Customs and Excise has increased its staff in post from 24,932 on 1st March 1974 to 29,390 on 1st April 1976; and if he will publish details of where and in what activities these increases have taken place.

The main reasons for increase in the numbers of staff in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise between 1st March 1974 and 1st April 1976 were the strengthening of VAT administration and control, and increased trade with the European Economic Community. The extra staff are located in headquarters and local offices throughout the country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there have been or will be any changes in the cash limits previously announced for 1976–77.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 29th July 1976],gave the following information:Parliament has been informed of five changes to cash limits in answers to Questions given by the responsible Ministers. Two of the changes reflect a transfer of provision between Department of Energy cash blocks. The other three are policy decisions to increase the level of a service from the contingency reserve within planned expenditure totals. I do not rule out further changes but I do not anticipate many.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many war widows have been issued with provisional assessments to income tax for 1976–77; and what arrangements have been made to inform them of the changes which would arise from the enactment of the present Finance Bill.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will further elucidate the intention of the phrase "the revenue under the existing basis, which is estimated to be £25 million, arising from the scales in the Finance Bill" in his reply of 27th July to the hon. Member for Blaby.

I regret that, owing to a transcription error, the reply given to the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Lawson) on 27th July was incorrect. It should have read as follows:

"The figure of £80 million given by the Financial Secretary on 15th July [Official Report, c. 1062] referred to the total revenue expected under the benefit provisions, that is to say the revenue under the existing basis, which is estimated to be £25 million, plus the additional revenue arising from the scales in the Finance Bill, which is estimated to be £55 million as given in the Reply to the hon. Member on 19th July [Official Report, c. 358]."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much of the standby credit of £3,000 million announced on 7th June was used by 29th July;(2) whether any of the standby credit of £3,000 million announced on 7th June was used between 23rd July and 30th July; and how much.

I would refer to the answer given to the hon. Member on 23rd July.

asked the Chancellor of the table breaking down the expenditure cuts Exchequer whether he will publish a announced on 22nd July into the following categories: current and capital expenditure, goods and services and transfer payments expenditure, expenditure by central Government, local government and the rest of the public sector and expenditure on wages and salaries and other public expenditure.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 29th July 1976],gave the following information:The precise allocation of the cuts has in some cases yet to be settled. I will write to the hon. Member with the figures when they are available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the estimates in Command Paper No. 6393 of the relative price effect in 1976–77 and 1977–78 still stand.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 29th July 1976],gave the following information:The estimates of the relative price effect in 1976–77 and 1977–78 published in Cmnd. 6393 are likely to be amended in the light of more up-to-date information. Revised figures will be published in the Public Expenditure White Paper later in the year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will publish a table showing the public expenditure projected for each programme in 1977–78 in Command Paper No. 5519, revalued at 1976 Survey prices;(2) whether he will publish a table showing the total of public expenditure and expenditure on each programme projected for 1977–78 in Command Paper No. 5519, revalued at 1976 survey prices.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 29th July 1976],gave the following information:Projections for 1977–78 published in volume terms in Cmnd. 5519 and revalued to 1976 Survey prices are as follows:

	£ million
Defence	6,137
Overseas services	1,297
Agriculture, fisheries and forestry	523
Trade, industry and employment	1,429
Nationalised industries capital expenditure	4,163
Roads and Transport	3,021
Housing	2,725
Other environmental services	2,932

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish figures for the shortfall (a) in total public spending, and (b) in the capital expenditure of the nationalised industries, anticipated in successive public expenditure White Papers, for each financial year from 1969–70 to 1979–80 and, on the same price base, the amount of shortfall in each of those years to date.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 29th July 1976],gave the following information:Section A of the table below shows the general shortfall provision, the allowance made, that is, for the tendency for expenditure to fall short of the sum of the estimates for programmes and debt interest. Section B shows the similar provision made in the estimates of the nationalised industries' capital expenditure programme for the tendency of total fixed investment by all these industries to fall short of the sum of the estimates made for individual industries. All figures have been adjusted to 1975 Survey prices; since the adjustment cannot be precise, they are rounded to the nearest £25 million.Figures are also shown at the foot of these tables for the "actual shortfall" in years to 1974–75. This is the difference, at 1975 Survey prices, between the estimate of expenditure in each year made in the Public Expenditure White Paper published during that year and the outturn as estimated in the White Paper of the following year. The figures may therefore include the consquences of some policy changes as well as estimating errors. They do not take account of any subsequent revisions; the cost of incorporating these, at 1975 Survey prices. would be disproportionate.