asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those local innovatory projects which have ventured into a new field not previously tried and which satisfy the terms of reference for which VSU funds have been made available since VSU funds were established.

It would be misleading to categorise projects on the narrow basis that they are entering new fields. Local projects funded by the VSU where this was one of the primary criteria are, however, as follows:

• NACRO Hammersmith project.
• Scoutreach Nottingham project.
• Family Day Centre project.
• Onward Industries project.
• Newham Community Renewal project.
• Rathbone in Liverpool project.
• South Wales Anti-Poverty Action Committee.
• Gulbenkian Area Resource Centre.
• Community Transport.
• Handicapped Adventure Playgrounds Association.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much has been spent on disseminating information on local projects grant aided under the VSU fund which have produced lessons of national significance;(2) what steps he has taken to disseminate information on local projects grant aided under the VSU fund which have produced lessons of national significance;(3) how many local projects of an innovatory nature have produced lessons of national significance; and if he will list them in the

None of the local projects funded by the VSU has yet been running long enough for valid conclusions to be drawn about its national significance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been spent from VSU funds in grant aiding local projects in exceptional circumstances.

Prior to 31st March 1976, the VSU made grants amounting to £378,759 towards what were essentially local activities. In the current financial year, the unit has so far committed £500,907 for similar purposes.

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

Central study facilities are available at the Home Defence College, near York. In addition, local and other public authorities arrange their own training for key wartime staff in a variety of ways. It is not possible to say how many people are engaged at any one time nor to identify the costs, as these activities are carried on as part of the officer's normal duties. We consider the level of activity appropriate in all the present circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what changes he has made or intends to make, following recent legal decisions, in the practice of his Department regarding immigration cases involving persons given limited leave to enter under the Immigration Act 1971 whose applications for an extension of stay are refused; and whether he proposes to consult with organisations advising affected applicants;(2) what action he proposes to take in the case of persons given limited leave to enter or remain under the Immigration Act 1971 whose applications for an extension of stay have been refused and who were informed by his Department that they had a right of appeal, but who are now found, following recent legal decisions, to have no right of appeal; and what is the estimated number of such cases;(3) what action he proposes to take to ensure that all persons given limited leave to enter or remain under the Immigration Act 1971 are aware of changes in the practice of his Department in the treatment of applications for an extension of stay and appeals against refusal.

My right hon. Friend is urgently considering the implications of the decision in the case of Regina v. The Immigration Appeal Tribunal ex parte Jayaratnam Suthendran from which, although the detailed reasons of the Appellate Committee are awaited, it is apparent that only a person who has a concurrent limited leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom under the Immigration Act 1971 may appeal to an adjudicator under Section 14(1) of the Act. Joint representations from several organisations concerned with immigrants about the implications of this judgment have been received and are receiving full consideration.The number of people currently affected by the judgment is estimated to be about 3,000, of whom some 1,250 applied for variations after the limited leave expired. My right hon. Friend accepts that it is not satisfactory that people who applied for variations during the currency of a limited leave may lose appeal rights because of the time needed to consider their cases. He is considering remedies but is not yet in a position to announce his conclusions.The need for special advice about appeal rights to people given limited leave to enter or remain under the Act of 1971 is being examined as part of our review of the effects of the decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in theOfficial Report a list for the latest available year, of immigration into the United Kingdom by British citizens and aliens by country of origin and the number of work permits issued to foreign subjects analysed by country of origin.

The available information has already been published in Tables 2, 3 and 4 of Cmnd. 6504—Control of Immigration: Statistics, 1975—and in pages 478 and 479 of the Department of Employment Gazette for May 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is now the average cost per mile for the hire of taxicabs in the London area for a typical journey, in the provinces and the country as a whole, respectively; and how this compares with the comparative indices or costs for 1st April 1976, 1975 and 1970.

I regret that the information is not immediately available in the form requested. I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report as to why detectives who received corrupt payments with regard to pornography have been granted immunity from criminal and disciplinary proceedings.

No. I understand that the circumstances which I think the hon. Member has in mind are not as suggested in the Question. As the relevant case is, however,sub judice, it would be improper for my right hon. Friend to intervene or comment in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects that his consideration of the recommendations of the James Committee concerning, the normal maximum penalty for magistrates' courts is likely to be completed.

We agree that there is a case for increasing the normal maximum fine, but we are not yet in a position to make any further statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he has received from chief constables or constabulary representatives reports regarding increases in crime at night as a result of reduction in public lighting by certain local authorities;(2) if he will estimate the increased costs to the police service resulting from the number of assaults on the person due to the increase in crime at night caused by reductions in public lighting.

We have received no reports of any increase in crime which can be attributed to reductions in public lighting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in theOfficial Report the list of constabularies maintained by authorities other than police authorities which his hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State undertook to send to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Griffiths) during debate on Lords Amendments to the Police Bill.

At this stage I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member on 6th May 1975, but we will write to the hon. Member when our inquiries are complete.—[Vol. 891, c.411–12.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food when he will be able to give the fishing industry an assurance of the fishing grounds that will be available.

I am fully aware of the urgency and importance of this issue, but it must depend upon the outcome of the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference, upon discussions within the Community and upon future negotiations with countries outside the Community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement of his policy for sheepmeat.

Our policy for sheepmeat has been, and will continue to be, to ensure adequate supplies at reasonable prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement of his policy for the dairy industry.

In the United Kingdom	…	...	168·16	ua/100 kg. for	…	…	Butter of 80 per cent. fat
			172·36				Butter of 82 per cent. fat
In Ireland	…	…	205·22	ua/100 kg. for	…	…	Butter of 80 per cent. fat
			210·35				Butter of 82 per cent. fat
In the rest of the Community	…	…	218·08	ua/100kg. for	…	…	Butter of 82 per cent. fat

Expressed in terms of pence per lb., using the present United Kingdom repre-

In the United Kingdom	…	…	43·4	p/lb. for	…	…	…	Butter of 80 per cent. fat
			44·5					Butter of 82 per cent. fat
In Ireland	…	…	53·0	p/lb. for	…	…	…	Butter of 80 per cent. fat
			54·3					Butter of 82 per cent. fat
In the rest of the Community	…	…	56·3	p/lb. for	…	…	…	Butter of 82 per cent. fat

It is not possible to quote minimum intervention prices for Cheddar cheese because only in Italy is cheese—of certain

Government policy towards domestic agriculture was set out in the White Paper "Food From Our Own Resources" (Cmnd 6020). This indicated that priority should be given to the development of economic milk production in the United Kingdom and Government policy has been directed to this end. We are confident that the measures taken following this year's annual review provide the United Kingdom dairy industry with a sound base for efficient expansion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the home market for butter is supplied by British farmers.

Home produced butter accounted for 23 per cent. of total new supplies in the first five months of the year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the EEC farm and gate price in pence for lb. of butter and cheese; what is the corresponding average export price now charged by Canada, Australia and New Zealand; and what are the corresponding wholesale prices in the United Kingdom.

Prices received for these products by individual producers may vary throughout the Community. The floor prices provided for butter by the intervention arrangements of the common agricultural policy are:sentative rate of £1 =1·75560 units of account, these prices are:local varieties—bought by intervention agencies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement of his policy for private forestry.

The conclusions of the last review of forestry policy announced on 5th July 1974 represent the Government's current views. However, on 13th July my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Treasury announced the setting up of an inter-departmental review of the whole question of how forestry is affected by Government policies on taxation, grants and amenities.—[Vol. 876, c.288–90; Vol. 915, c.425.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the present stocks of butter and beef, respectively, held in the United Kingdom by the Intervention Board and in private storage.

Subject to final verification, about 14,600 tons of beef and 6,400 tons of butter were held in stock by the Intervention Board on 23rd July 1976. On the same date about 2,700 tons of beef and almost 35,000 tons of butter were in store in the United Kingdom under Community-financed private storage arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that his responsibility for food policy operates in the best interests of both farmer and consumer.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. Monro) on 8th July.—[Vol. 914, c.634–5.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement of his policy for potato production.

Our objective continues to be to provide, at reasonable prices for consumers and with fair returns for producers, the types and qualities of potatoes which consumers and users require and the achievement of a reasonable degree of market stability. To this end, we aim for United Kingdom self-sufficiency in main-crop potatoes except in years of unusually low yields.As to the future, I would not like to speculate upon the outcome of the current discussions in Brussels on proposals for an EEC potato regime, but it is my right hon. Friend's intention to ensure that any measures finally agreed take account of potato production and marketing in the Community and the interests of both producers and consumers in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the availability of animal fodder for the winter months.

It is too early to make an accurate assessment. After a good first cut of hay many areas in the South are now suffering from drought, but in the North there are large quantities of high quality hay and silage and fodder crops are promising. I would expect any shortages in the drought-affected areas to be covered by the usual movement of fodder. Winter supplies should be adequate, given reasonable weather from now on and careful use by farmers, but my officials are monitoring the situation closely.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he has given to the establishment of an Agricultural Land Commission.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average level of subsidy per pound on pigmeat and pig products imported into the United Kingdom from Denmark and Holland.

The current levels of accession and monetary compensatory

AVERAGE UNIT VALUES OF UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS OF CERTAIN COMMODITIES—JUNE 1976
Commodity	EEC countries* £per tonne c.i.f.		Non-EEC countries £per tonne c.i.f.
Common wheat (soft)	France	78·91	Canada	82·64
	Denmark	73·98
Barley	West Germany	76·49	Spain	70·32
			Canada	70·41
Maize	France	71·66	U.S.A	73·81
	West Germany	73·17	Canada	72·62
Rice (short grained milled)	Italy	160·56	Australia	185·80
Raw sugar beet and cane	France	196·81	Jamaica	148·75
			Australia	196·68
			Cuba	178·31
Butter	Netherlands	1,080·64	New Zealand	610·39†
	Denmark	1,036·58
Cheddar-type cheese	Netherlands	800·31	New Zealand	527·00†
Eggs in shell	France	443·58	Finland	250·14
	Netherlands	355·71
Lamb	Irish Republic (fresh or chilled)	869·79	New Zealand (frozen)	616·10
Bacon sides (salted)	Denmark	772·80	Poland	839·78
	Irish Republic	906·92	Sweden	860·25
Lard	Belgium	227·98	U.S.A	229·37
	Italy	255·02	Romania	430·60
Apples, fresh	France	174·02	Australia	207·92
	Italy	169·57	South Africa	214·60
Tomatoes	Netherlands	419·23	Spain	497·00
	Irish Republic	266·92
* These prices are after accession compensatory amounts and monetary compensatory amounts have been paid where relevant.
† Special minimum import price.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the comparative level of food prices in the EEC and on world markets.

Because of differences in the quality, grading and presentation of products, any comparison of prices of foodstuffs from different sources can be made only in broad terms. Subject to these reservations, I append a table showing the latest information on EEC and world prices for the more important commoditiessteps he has taken to publicise the new rules and increased levels of grant available under the Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme; and if he is satisfied with the rate of take up.

The publicity arrangements for the amended Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme were described in the reply given to the hon. Member for Howden (Sir P. Bryan) on 18th June.—[Vol. 913, c.301–2.]—As to take up, there is considerable interest among the farming community, and I am satisfied that this will result in an increased number of successful proposals for development plans.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to counter the plum tree disease now particularly prevalent in the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the disease known as Plum Pox or Sharka Disease. The action promised in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. Johnson) on 18th December 1975—[Vol. 902, c.721–3]—is now in full operation. Briefly, we are requiring the destruction of infected and suspect trees, etc., on the nurseries that supply growers with plum trees. Compensation is paid for any apparently healthy trees that have to be destroyed in order to prevent the disease from spreading. Similar drastic action would not be justified on plum orchards, but with guidance from the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service growers should be able to achieve a satisfactory level of control. The National Fanners' Union was fully consulted about these measures.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that modern crop farming methods often damage the landscape, destroy the habitat of much wild life and adversely affect the quality of the soil, what steps are being taken to advise those farmers whose land is thus affected how to overcome these disadvantages, and others how to avoid them.

The effects that modern crop farming methods can have on the landscape, the habitat of wildlife and the quality of the soil are taken into account by my Department's Advisory Service when giving advice to farmers. For ex- ample, special care is taken on the siting and the colour of new buildings; the need to avoid harm to wildlife by unnecessary hedge removal and inadequate management of hedges; and the planting of copses on unusable small corners of fields for shelter and as habitat for wildlife. There is no evidence that the quality and structure of soils are significantly affected by pesticides.

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will investigate subterfuges in the marketing of fruit and vegetables used to the disadvantage of consumers, such as painting peaches with lipstick, soaking shrivelled oranges in water and delivering underweight boxes of fruit and vegetables.

No. Local authorities already have ample powers under existing legislation to investigate the practices to which my hon. Friend refers and to take such action to prevent them as they consider necessary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research has been, or is now being, conducted in fluorosis in cattle grazing on land dressed with phosphate fertilizer or in close proximity to certain industrial plants, airborne fallout from which contains fluoride.

Studies have been carried out on the risk of fluorosis in cattle grazed on land dressed with phosphate fertilisers. Expert opinion is that there is no such risk. The problem of poisoning of animals grazing near fluoride emitting industrial plants has been studied over many years in the United Kingdom and in other countries. Industrial fluorosis of cattle in the United Kingdom is now at a low ebb, and present studies are confined to monitoring in the vicinity of the developing aluminium industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with the EEC about the future of statutory marketing schemes in the United Kingdom.

My officials have recently had discussions with representatives of the EEC Commission about the relationship between our statutory marketing schemes and the Community arrangements after the end of the transitional period.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many full-time pest officers are employed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (a) in the field and (b) in research; and how many full-time pest officers were employed 10 years ago in the same categories.

The numbers of pest officers engaged full-time by my Department in the control of pests harmful to agriculture and stored food products are 75 inspectors and advisers in the field and 174 scientific staff in research. The

PER TONNE—AVERAGE FOR JUNE 1976
		"World Price" cif United Kingdom*‡				Accession compensatory amounts for United Kingdom Units of account
			Units of account †converted at the market rate for sterling	EEC Threshold price Units of account	EEC Common levy Units of account§		Monetary compensatory amounts for United Kingdom	Net levy on United Kingdom imports║
		£					£	£
Wheat	…	82·64	117·99	150·45	39·17	26·62	14·93	-6·34
Maize	…	73·81	105·38	137·40	30·31	23·35	10·05	-8·68
Barley	…	70·41	100·52	138·00	27·10	25·08	10·23	-5·46
* Average unit value of United Kingdom imports. Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom—Customs and Excise tabulation sheets.
†£1 = 1·427714 ua.
‡ Soft wheat and barley from Canada, and maize from the USA.
§ The EEC Common levy on any day is the margin between (A) the lowest offer price recorded on the previous day at the Community frontiers, adjusted to its equivalent at Rotterdam cif and to a standard quality, and (B) the prevailing Community threshold price. This margin usually differs from the margin between the United Kingdom average import price and the prevailing Community threshold price.
║ The net results from subtracting the United Kingdom accession compensatory amount from the EEC common levy, converting the result to sterling using the representative rate, converting this to its market exchange rate equivalent and then subtracting the monetary compensatory amount. A negative levy is a subsidy on United Kingdom imports.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will tabulate the quantity of sugar produced and consumed in the United Kingdom from beet and cane, respectively, in each year since 1970; and what

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the world price of wheat, maize and barley, respectively, in July 1976; what was the EEC reference price in France; and what were the levies and compensation amounts payable in the United Kingdom.

World prices for wheat, maize or barley vary according to differences in quality, grading and presentation and there is no EEC reference price for these grains.Subject to these reservations the latest available information is given below. The average unit values of United Kingdom imports of third country grains for June 1976 have been used to illustrate a world price, and the EEC threshold price is given as a substitute for a reference price.the trends will be for the rest of the decade, bearing in mind to accept EEC policies of greater independence of supplies, to utilise to the full sugar cane refinery capacity in the United Kingdom and to meet long standing commitments to Commonwealth sugar producers.

The following table shows United Kingdom stocks, production, imports, disposals and exports of sugar for

UNITED KINGDOM SUGAR STATISTICS 1970–75
(thousand long tons white value*)
	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975
Opening stocks	903	854	949	1,058	859	550
Home production†	838	955	1,017	823	758	656
EEC imports—
Raw	23	1	11	53	40	100
Refined	108	42	32	16	321	548
Imports other than EEC	1,833	1,968	1,996	1,867	1,767	1,541
Disposals‡	2,661	2,634	2,649	2,615	2,897	2,164
Exports	190	237	298	343	298	348
Closing stocks	854	949	1,058	859	550	883
* Conversion rate used 95:100 (home grown); 96:100 (imported raws).
† Production from home-grown sugar beet.
‡ Excluding sugar in imported manufactured foods but including sugar used in the manufacture of other foods subsequently exported.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been the imports of cane sugar from Commonwealth sugar producers in each year since 1970, and at what price; and whether he is satisfied that commitments undertaken jointly with the EEC

Year					Raw sugar		Refined sugar
					long tons tel quel	£	long tons	£
1970	…	…	…	…	1,729,287	91,693,149	498	24,039
1971	…	…	…	…	1,877,130	98,734,173	4,881	272,067
1972	…	…	…	…	1,847,017	115,328,500	8,613	740,122
1973	…	…	…	…	1,618,356	112,743,869	312	28,662
1974	…	…	…	…	1,452,114	160,091,348	69	14,371
1975	…	…	…	…	1,229,910	301,329,536	10,814	2,831,912

Most of this cane sugar was imported under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement and, in 1975, under the Lomé Convention and related agreements in the cases of India, St. Kitts and Belize. There were shortfalls totalling 60,390 tons and 332,186 tons respectively against the CSA negotiated price quotas for 1973 and 1974. The Commonwealth sugar producers fully met their quotas under the Lomé Convention and related agreement for the delivery January-June 1975, which was the only complete delivery period in 1975.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, following the undertaking about commodity agreements at UNCTAD IV, what has been the outcome of negotiations on sugar supplies, between sugar producers in the developing countries, including Lomé Convention countries, the United Kingdom, and the EEC; and what are the prospects for a new International Sugar Agreement.

The amounts of cane sugar, raw and refined, imported into the United Kingdom from Commonwealth sugar exporters between 1970 and 1975 are shown in the table below, together with the corresponding values:

Following the timetable laid down at UNCTAD IV, the United Kingdom, as part of the EEC, hopes to join in discussions this autumn with the developing country sugar producers and others to examine the prospects for a new international sugar agreement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he has received a report yet from the scientific advisers to his Department on the effect on crab claws being taken and landed;(2) whether he will introduce legislation to prevent crab claws being taken and landed.

Scientists in my Department have investigated the effect which the taking of crab claws has upon crab stocks. On the basis of the information at present available they do not consider that this practice constitutes a threat to United Kingdom crab stocks. The situation will be kept under review and my right hon. Friend has no present proposals for legislation on this subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide details of the increases in agricultural investment which are recorded this year; and if he will comment upon the areas in which increased investment is most marked.

The latest available information is given in table 23 of the 1976 Annual Review White Paper (Cmnd. 6392) laid before the House on 8th March. A revised figure for 1975 will be published later this year in "National Income and Expenditure 1965–1975" but it is not the practice to make mid-year assessments of total investment in agriculture. The higher rates of capital grant introduced in June should, however, lead to increased investment in grassland utilisation and conservation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made in considering the Report of the Advisory Council for Agriculture and Horticulture on Agricultural Exports.

Substantial consideration of the recommendations in the report must await the comments of interested parties, which I have asked for by 27th August, but I should like to re-emphasise that I fully accept the basic recommendation for stronger export promotional activities built on the present British Agricultural Export Council. I have every confidence that there will be wide, spread support for this objective from the industries concerned and that means can, therefore, be found to raise adequate funds. I propose, when comments have been received on the report, to hold consultations to this end. Meanwhile I am pleased to announce that the British Overseas Trade Board has agreed, subject to parliamentary approval, to provide further interim financial support to the BAEC.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has yet received the inspector's report on the Colcon Inquiry; when he expects to publish it; and when he expects to announce his final decision on the route to be taken by the new A55.

No. That being so, it would be premature to forecast the timing of ensuing action.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much land has been acquired by the Land Authority for Wales; how much land it is proposed to acquire; and at what cost during, the authority's first year of operation.

No land has been acquired so far, but the authority has served notices of intention to acquire in 18 cases comprising in total 54·9 hectares—136 acres. The approximate cost of this land is just over £1 million. The full cost of all prospective acquisition during 1976–77 is expected to be about £3 million, which includes overheads. Programmes for the next four years are now being prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of pupils in Welsh schools was receiving free school meals at the latest convenient date; and what was the proportion in 1966.

The proportion of children in maintained primary, secondary and special schools in Wales who received free meals is estimated to have been 6·8 per cent. in October 1966 and 12·0 per cent. in May 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average frequency of visits by Her Majesty's inspectors to primary and secondary schools, respectively, in Wales.

No regular cycle of visits to individual primary or secondary schools can be maintained by Her Majesty's Inspectors. Most primary schools in Wales are visited for a variety of reasons on average about once in two years. Secondary schools are visited more frequently.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what effect the latest cuts in public expenditure will have on the plans to provide further outpatients facilities at Llandough Hospital, at Llandough, Penarth, South Glamorgan.

No direct effect, since this development had not been envisaged as taking place in 1977–78. The provisional NHS capital programme for the next decade is currently under review and we expect to announce decisions later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for ensuring the future use of the surgical facilities available at Sully Hospital, at Sully, South Glamorgan.

The area health authority is reviewing the future rôle of the hospital but does not contemplate development of surgery there.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of GCE O-level candidates in Welsh schools obtained two or more grade one passes in 1965; and what were the respective equivalent percentages for each of the previous eight years.

I understand from the Welsh Joint Education Committee that the information requested for 1965 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The committee introduced the system of gradings at "O" level only in 1965 and corresponding information for earlier years is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what change has occurred in the staff-pupil ratios in primary and secondary schools in Wales during the past five years; and what further changes he envisages during the next five years.

The pupil-teacher ratios for maintained primary and secondary schools in Wales for each of the last five years are as follows:

Academic year		Maintained primary schools	Maintained secondary schools
1971–72	…	24·5	18·0
1972–73	…	24·2	17·6
1973–74	…	23·8	17·6
1974–75	…	23·1	17·3
1975–76	…	22·8	17·1

As the White Paper on public expenditure—Cmnd. 6393—makes clear, provision has been made to 1979–80 in Wales for staffing at the standard achieved this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of persons resident in Wales are deemed to be illiterate; and how this compares with the proportions in 1956 and 1966.

For reasons explained in the Bullock Report "A Language for Life", it is impossible to say with certainty what percentage of the adult population is illiterate.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales which body, for the purpose of planning under the 1973 Act, is the local planning authority for the Snowdonia National Park.

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the North Wales Hydro-Electric Power Act 1973. For the purpose of that Act, the local planning authority is the Gwynedd County Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will direct local authorities in the provision of free school transport, to have more regard to the nature and physical circumstances of the route between a pupil's home and his or her school.

Local education authorities are required to provide free transport for journeys in excess of the prescribed walking distances and have discretion to make more generous arrangements. I am satisfied that in exercising this discretion authorities take proper account, within the resources available to them, of the nature and circumstances of the routes in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received to date about the employment prospects for newly-qualified teachers; and what is his latest assessment of their prospects of employment in teaching.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations, from Wales as from elsewhere, about the employment prospects for newly-qualified teachers. I have as yet nothing to add to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend to Questions from my hon. Friends the Members for Goole (Dr. Marshall) and Enfield, North (Mr. Davies) and the hon. Member for Isle of Ely (Mr. Freud) on 6th July 1976.—[Vol. 914, c. 1144–45.]

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what was the total cost to the taxpayer of public sector pensions in 1970–71 and 1975–76; and what is the anticipated total cost in 1976–77.(2) what percentage of GNP was absorbed by public sector pensions in 1970–71 and 1975–76; and what is the anticipated percentage in 1976–77.

I can answer only for the public service schemes over which I have a responsiblity, mainly those applying to civil servants, teachers, and members of the National Health Service, the police and fire services, local government and the Armed Forces. The cost to the taxpayer of the benefits paid by these schemes must take account of contributions paid, directly or indirectly, by deductions from salary, and cannot readily be accurately calculated, but the following figures give a reasonable approximation: 1970–71, £200 million; 1975–76, £450 million; 1976–77, £650 million. These figures represent approximately 0·5 per cent. of the gross national product in 1970–71 and 1975–76. No estimate is available of GNP in 1976–77.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether in view of the savings to the Exchequer caused by the operation of the non-contributory pension scheme for civil servants, he will extend this system to include local government officers, police, firemen, miners and all other public servants.

Whatever the advantages in such a move, it must be recognised that any change would entail heavy initial administrative costs, and I am not convinced that the public interest would at present be served by a general upheaval in those pension schemes for which I have a co-ordinating responsibility.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service why the Government do not use their own job centres and other facilities for staff recruitment in preference to Press advertising and commercial employment agencies.

The Civil Service Commission which is responsible for the recruitment of all permanent civil servants, has to do so by fair and open competition, making vacancies known both to those seeking work and to those already employed. This normally necessitates the use of Press advertising. Commercial employment agencies are seldom if ever used, but all vacancies are notified to the Employment Service Agency.Individual Government Departments, to whom the initial responsibility for recruitment to junior grades has been delegated, follow the same rules for their local recruitment operations.

asked the Ministers for the Civil Service what was the total number of civilians employed in the Civil Service in 1974; what is the number currently employed; and what is estimated to be the number employed in 1979.

The total numbers of civil servants in post on 1st April 1974 and 1st April 1976 were 692,036 and 747,614 respectively. Following the measures announced in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Burnley (Mr. Jones) on 29th July, I expect that by 1st April 1979 the Civil Service will number several thousand fewer than in 1976.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service to what extent special advisers are permitted to undertake party political activities; and whether he is satisfied that the regulations regarding such activities have been followed at all times.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hove (Mr. Sainsbury) on 10th May 1976—[Vol. 911, c. 23–24]. I have no evidence that the memorandum of guidance is being disregarded.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further consideration has been given to the amendment of the Mental Health Act 1959.

I am sure that the time has now come for us to consider legislating to amend the 1959 Act. With this as the objective a consultative document seeking views on the main areas covered by the Mental Health Act 1959 is being published by HMSO today.The 1959 Act, which applies to England and Wales only, marked a significant change in policy towards the mentally disordered; in particular, it limited the use of compulsory powers of admission and detention of patients and aimed to ensure that as far as possible the mentally disordered were treated in the same way as other patients.The Act is generally accepted as having been enlightened and forward-looking, but it has of necessity been considerably amended in the course of the last 10 years—especially as regards the parts dealing with local authority services, the education of mentally handicapped children, and private nursing homes. And it now seems appropriate to review, in the light of the considerable changes there have been in the mental health field during the past 16 years, those central parts of the Act which concern the use of compulsory powers, the rights of detained patients, and the safeguards afforded to them and to the staff who have to operate those powers.The consultation document is the work of an interdepartmental committee of officials comprising representatives of the Department of Health and Social Security, the Home Office, the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Welsh Office with observers from the Scottish Home and Health Department and the Department of Health and Social Services, Northern Ireland. The committee has had before it views on the working of the Act put forward by various bodies and individuals and, in particular, reports by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, MIND, and the British Association of Social Workers. It has also had the benefit, in relation to mentally abnormal offenders, of the report of the Butler Committee (Cmnd. 6244). The document does not cover those parts of the Act which have been repealed or which are the subject of separate and wider consideration, for example, the registration of homes for the mentally disordered. Nor does it cover matters which are the subject of other legislation, for example electoral registration.The consultative document sets out the various changes to the Act which have been suggested and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. On issues on which a preference one way or the other emerges it points to the sorts of solution which seem most appropriate whilst on others it simply states the arguments and seeks views.The Government's aim remains that of the 1959 Act—to achieve the best balance between the rights of individuals and the needs of society. The document therefore concentrates on issues relating to the circumstances in which it is right for society to deprive a mentally disordered person of his liberty and the conditions and safeguards under which this should be permitted. It also discusses the circumstances in which it is right to impose upon a mentally disordered patient treatment to which he has not consented or to which he is incapable of giving a valid consent. The arrangements for protecting patients against unnecessary infringement of their liberty, including unnecessarily prolonged detention, are discussed; as are the arrangements for protecting staff against proceedings brought against them for actions carried out in the course of their duties under the Act. The arrangements for protecting the public against, for example, the premature discharge of detained patients into the community are also considered.These are all very important issues and I hope that the document will give rise to a lively public debate. Copies are available in the Vote Office and are being sent to a wide range of bodies for consultation, but it is also being put on sale to the general public. We hope that all with an interest will let us have their comments. The document asks for these by 15th November but I have decided to extend this to 1st December, at the latest, to allow as much time as I can for interested organisations to formulate their views.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the precise length of time for which each Ministry of Defence house in (a) Marlington and (b) Fould has been empty.

I assume that my hon. Friend's Question relates to Ministry of Defence houses at Marchington and Fauld. The seven officers' and three airmen's married quarters at RAF Fauld were declared surplus to requirement in November 1973, but since RAF Fauld was an explosive storage depot, clearance of explosives was required before final disposal of the property. Clearance of the site is almost complete and disposal will proceed as soon as all the buildings are certified free from explosives. None of the 10 houses has been in use since 1972.The information on the Army married quarters at Marchington is not readily available. The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army will be replying separately.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the ratio of operative to administrative personnel in his Department for each of the following years; (a) 1960, (b) 1965 (c) 1970 and (d) 1975.

I regret this information is not available in the form requested. I would, however, refer my hon. Friend to the Defence White Papers for the years 1965, 1970 and 1975 where, in the annexes, he will find an analysis of uniformed and civilian personnel showing the fields of activity in which they were engaged.The three analyses are not directly comparable because of changes both in departmental organisation and convention. From these analyses it will be seen that Service men and civilians are complementary and both are to be found in most of the fields. It will be seen also that the 1975 White Paper showed that about half the civilians were employed on research development, production, repair and associated facilities; nearly another quarter in direct support of the combat and reserve forces; and the balance on training, administration, communications, meteorology, and family, personal and other support services. In contrast, for Service personnel nearly two-thirds were employed in the combat and reserve forces, a fifth on training, and the balance on other support activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, from information available to him, he will give further details of the characteristics and deployment of the new Soviet medium-range ballistic missile capable of hitting all the major cities of Western Europe referred to in paragraph 17 of his Statement on the Defence Estimates 1976; whether this is in addition to the 600 medium-range ballistic missile warheads already deployed against targets in the United Kingdom and Western Europe; and if he will make a statement.

The new missile, which will replace the 600 Soviet intermediate and medium-range ballistic missiles currently targetted against the United Kingdom and Western Europe, has a range of some 2,400 miles. Each carries three independently targetted nuclear warheads. The initial deployment of these missiles is expected to begin soon, and may even have already begun, but the scale of deployment is not yet known.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what effect the cuts in expenditure will have upon the level of activity and the size of the work force at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Lower Darwen, Lancashire.

Studies are being undertaken to determine the precise items to to be affected by the £100 million reduction in defence expenditure in 1977–78 and these will be completed by the time the Defence Estimates for 1977–78 are finalised. Present indications are that it is unlikely that the level of activity and the size of the work force at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Lower Darwen, will be affected, given the growing workload of the Royal ordnance factories organisation for overseas customers and the expected increase in the total number employed by the organisation referred to in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1976 (Cmnd. 6432).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what factors he attributes the increase in the cost of maintaining Polaris submarines from £58 million last year to £78 million in the current year; and if he will abolish them as a measure in his reduction of public expenditure.

It is not the practice to publish a breakdown of the costs of the strategic nuclear force. The increase in costs shown is chiefly due to inflation. The Government's commitment to maintain the force is clearly stated in the 1976 Defence White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if part of his proposed £100 million savings on arms spending will be on the multi-rôle combat aircraft and the anti-submarine warship.

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's reply to the hon. Member for Harrogate (Mr. Banks) of 29th July 1976. —[Vol. 916, c.404–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the £100 million savings proposed in arms spending will be on military equipment, on Servicemen's accommodation and on civil servants.

I have nothing to add to the answers my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence gave to the hon. Member for Harrogate (Mr. Banks) on 29th July and my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Moonman) on 4th August.—[Vol. 916, c.404–406; c. 809–810.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any serving members of the Armed Forces have been in Zaire in the last two years; and, if so, how many and for what purpose.

75 Service personnel participated in the Zaire River Expedition from October 1974 to February 1975 and one Army officer attended the celebrations in November 1975 to mark the tenth anniversary of the foundation of the Popular Republic of Zaire. There is also a defence Attaché in Zaire.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any serving members of the Armed Forces, including the Special Air Service, have been in Angola in the last two years; and, if so, how many and for what purpose.

A RAF VC10 evacuated British and other foreign nationals in July 1975 and the crew of one RAF VC10, and a small ground handling party, subsequently assisted with the Portuguese evacuation during September and October 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether Vietnamese has been taught to members of the Special Air Service;(2) what languages are currently being taught to members of the Special Air Service.

A wide range of language training is available for the Services as a whole. It is not the practice, however, to give details of the specialist training or capabilities of the Special Air Service Regiment.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he can now say, following his consideration of the Oakes Report, what steps he is taking to consult with the gas and electricity boards about disconnection of supply; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Thomas) on 2nd August.—[Vol. 916, c. 540–41.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current price for a therm of gas, a unit of electricity and a hundredweight of coal for domestic consumers in the United Kingdom and in the other member countries of the EEC.

I regret that no more recent comparison is available than that given in my reply to the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley) on 23rd March.—[Vol. 908, c. 168–70.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the current comparative electricity generating costs, expressed in pence per kWh, of (a) oil, (b) coal, (c) gas, (d) nuclear power and (e) hydro-electric power.

This information is being obtained and I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether he will list by name and geographical location the coal mines which have been (a) newly opened, (b) where new seams have been opened up of existing mines and (c) where previously closed mines have been reopened since the publication of "Plan for Coal", indicating also whether those mines involve: (d) winding shafts, (e) drift techniques or (f) are opencast; what is the extra tonnage of coal which will be extracted from each mine when it is fully operational; and what the target for that will be;(2) whether he will list, by county and approximate geographical location, the sites of (

I am asking the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to the hon. Member about the extent and location of the Board's development and exploration programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a ministerial broadcast urging retirement pensioners not to switch off their heating during the coming winter; and if he will advise the gas and electricity boards to issue a joint statement in leaflet form assuring retirement pensioners that their heating source will not be disconnected merely for lack of means to pay their current bills.

I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Thomas) on 2nd August —[Vol. 916, c. 504–41.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library a complete transcript of the proceedings at the recent National Energy Conference.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19th July, 1976; Vol. 915, c. 1255–7],gave the following further information:I have now placed in the Library a copy of the complete transcript of the National Energy Conference proceedings. I expect the full conference proceedings and the conference papers to be published within the next month.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will publish in theOfficial Report a list of the bodies, both

	Body	Number of appointments
University College of Wales, Aberystwyth	Court and Council	3
Royal College of Art	Court	1
University of Aston	Council	2
University of Bath	Court	3
University of Birmingham	Court and Council	1
University of Bradford	Court	3
University of Bristol	Court	3
Brunel University	Court	3
University College, Cardiff	Council	2
Chelsea Physic Garden	Committee of Management	1
City University	Court	4
Appeal Tribunals under Children Act 1948	Welfare Panel	3
Cranfield Institute of Technology	Court	5
University of East Anglia	Court	3
University of Essex	Court	3
University of Exeter	Court	2
Heriot-Watt University	Convocation	3
Royal Holloway College	Council	1
University of Hull	Court	3
University of Keele	Court	3
University of Leicester	Court	3
National Library of Wales	Court	12
National Library of Wales	Council	5
University of Liverpool	Court	1
Loughborough University of Technology	Court	3
University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology	Court	4
National Museum of Wales	Court	12
National Museum of Wales	Council	5
University of Nottingham	Court	3
University College of North Wales, Bangor	Court	3
Victoria University of Manchester	Court	5
Open University	Council	4
Open University	Academic Advisory Committee	8
University of Reading	Court	3
University of Salford	Court	1
University of Sheffield	Court	3
University of Southampton	Court	3
University of Surrey	Court	2
University College, Swansea	Court	3
New University of Ulster	Court	4
University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology	Court	3
University of Wales	Court and Council	3
University of Warwick	Court	3

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contingency plans he has made for the evacuation of British nationals from Uganda.

It is not our practice to reveal details of contingency plans for the evacuation of British subjects.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied that all British nationals in the remoter parts of Uganda have been told of the decision of the British Government to break off diplomatic relations with Uganda.

We have not specifically notified British subjects in Uganda of the break in diplomatic relations, but the break has been extensively covered by both the BBC World Service and the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, and I would expect all British subjects in Uganda to have learned of it through these means. Before the break was announced, we informed as many as we could reach of the community throughout Uganda that we were re-emphasising our advice to them to leave Uganda as soon as possible, and that they should not count on the continued presence of the High Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that British nationals in the remoter parts of Uganda are given an opportunity of leaving Uganda if they wish to do so.

The British Interests Section of the French Embassy in Kampala will be able to advise any United Kingdom citizens who wish to leave Uganda.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will revise the criteria for the sale of arms in the United Kingdom; and if, in particular, he will prohibit sales to countries involved in conflict or likely to become so involved.

It is already the policy of Her Majesty's Government to consider all the material factors, including the end-use of the equipment, before approving any request for the export of arms.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the Secretary General of the United Nations with a view to advancing negotiations to implement the United Nations resolution on Cyprus.

Her Majesty's Government have been in very recent contact with Dr. Waldheim and urged him to fix a date for the resumption of intercommunal talks. We consider that only those talks offer a prospect of finding a lasting solution to this problem, in keeping with the provisions of United Nations' resolutions on Cyprus. The responsibility for making progress, however, lies squarely with the parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Kingdom citizens were known to be in the vicinity of the Icmesa factory at Seveso at the time of the emission of gas, or at any time between the emission and the evacuation of the populace; if special medical facilities are being made available to such persons on their return to the United Kingdom; and if precautions are being taken to prevent the importation of dioxin into the United Kingdom on the belongings of those affected.

My right hon. Friend has had no reports of United Kingdom citizens being in the vicinity of the factory at the time of the explosion or between that time and the subsequent evacuation. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has informed me that

(a) his medical officers have received inquiries from a few patients who passed through the area; these were given special advice concerning treatment;

(b) only those who were contaminated during or immediately after the explosion are likely to suffer any ill effects and that it is not necessary to adopt precautions to prevent the importation of dioxin into the United Kingdom on the belongings of those affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will transfer the 1977 Commonwealth Conference to Tyne-mouth or Whitley Bay, in view of the apparent lack of suitable accommodation in London.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what conclusions he has reached on the advice received by him relating to the likely efficacy of a 50-mile British fishing limit for the preservation of fish stocks.

Coastal belts under the exclusive control of the United Kingdom are an important element in the conservation of the fish stocks on which our fishing industry depends, but would not in themselves ensure the preservation of the main stocks which extend over a much wider area. An adequate conservation policy requires arrangements agreed within the EEC for the waters of EEC member countries in addition to agreements with those third countries with which some stocks are shared.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many inquiries have been received from industrialists seeking sites in the Garnock Valley since the BSC steel closure programme was announced; and how many visits have been made.

Most of the inquiries about industrial sites received by the Scottish Economic Planning Department relate to Scotland generally and not to particular areas. Records are, however, maintained of the areas suggested to inquirers, and since the Steel Closure Review was published on 6th August 1975 the Garnock Valley, including Irvine New Town, has been suggested to 67 industrialists seeking locations in Scotland. Four visits have been made.

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

Since the Steel Closure Review was published on 6th August 1975 the following firms have been established in the area:

Glen Carpets	Beith
Newage Engineers Ltd	Irvine
Fraser & Borthwick Engineering Services Ltd	"
Morrison Whyte UK Ltd	"
Gemina Star Upholstery	"
Thomas Graham & Sons Ltd	"
Glasgow Valve & Fitting Co.	"
Mackenzie Golf (Scotland) Ltd	"
Apollo Design	"
Bowman Office Equipment	"
Bola Engineering	"
Andrew Wright Ltd	"
Millens Auto Services	"
Dawn Construction	"

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how often he has resided at his official home at Bute House, Edinburgh, since taking office;(2) how often the Secretary of State for Scotland has resided at his official home at Bute House, Edinburgh, since March 1974.

Both my predecessor and I have used Bute House regularly whenever in Edinburgh. It has also been used on occasions by other Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by how much the recently announced additional resources for the SDA will increase the agency's budget for 1976–77 and 1977–78.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for St. Ives (Mr. Nott) by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 30th July.—[Vol. 916, c.471.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospital beds in the past 12 months have been taken out of use due to lack of staff or financial resources.

During the year to 31st July 1976, 76 beds were taken out of use because of shortage of staff and 22 for financial reasons. These figures exclude beds temporarily out of use during holiday periods. In the same period 55 beds which had been taken out of use for staffing reasons were brought back into use.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which bodies are responsible for securing wayleave or ownership of land through which will travel gas pipes and railways to serve the Hunsterton steel development.

These are matters for the British Steel Corporation as developers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had to date about the activities of the Church of Scientology in Scottish schools; and what reply he has sent.

I have received no such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to set up a study group in Scotland with a similar remit and function to the Department of the Environment-sponsored group at the Centre of Environmental Studies which has been formed to monitor trends in housing and local government finance.

Since the Centre for Environmental Studies is a Great Britain body there is no need to set up a separate study group in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he plans to meet representatives of Aberdeen Harbour Board to discuss delay in the construction of the new fish market: and if he will make a statement.

I am aware that Aberdeen Harbour Board is facing a number of difficulties, engineering and financial, in connection with its fish market reconstruction scheme. The offer of Government grant at the rate of 60 per cent. for improvements for the benefit of the fishing industry remains open, and my Department is ready to have further discussions with the board on the detailed technical issues outstanding.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be able to authorise Glasgow District Council to start work on the gallery to house the Burrell Collection.