asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will pay an official visit to a cold store where part of the beef mountain is stored.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations he has received from interested persons or bodies that Regulation 5(2) of the Electrical Appliances (Colour Code) Regulations 1969 should be revoked; what representations he has received asking that Regulation 5(2) should be extended; and what action he intends to take.

I have received no representations of either kind. But I am asking the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Household Electrical Equipment to consider the matter in the light of the marking requirements in Regulation 12 of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what has been the six-monthly percentage increase in the Retail Price Index, excluding seasonal food, for each month since January 1976.

6·7, 6·1, 6·6, 6·7, 6·4, 6·2 and 6·4.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what has been the increase in the price of materials and fuel purchased by manufacturing industry over the past 12 months.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to the hon. Member for Hove (Mr. Sainsbury).

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is his latest estimate of the effect on the Retail Price Index of the increased employers' contribution to national insurance.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to the hon. Member for Pudsey (Mr. Shaw).

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he is satisfied with the current operation of the Unsolicited Goods and Services (Amendment) Act 1975.

I am satisfied that the Unsolicited Goods and Services legislation has largely dealt with the problems which led to its enactment.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection on what grounds his Department decided not to refer to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission the proposed merger between Tate and Lyle and Manbre and Garton.

Primarily because a unified cane sugar refining industry offers the best prospects of keeping the loss of jobs on rationalisation to a minimum, particularly in areas of high unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is his forecast of the trend in prices in the coming year.

My Department does not publish forecasts of the trend in prices, but the effects of the depreciation in sterling and the drought are likely to check the progress which has been made to date and cause the rate of price increases to stabilise at or around the present level for some months.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will make a statement on the rate of price increases at the latest convenient date.

I have nothing further to add to my earlier answers on the rate of inflation.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will take steps to protect tourists and other visitors to London from overcharging by stallholders selling canned drinks, ice cream and other goods.

Too many street traders seem to take advantage of tourists in this way. Most of them are unlicensed. As they are already operating outside the law they would be unlikely to be influenced by further legislation. I think magistrates could help by imposing appropriate penalties when these people are caught.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is his estimate of the effect on food prices, over the next year, of the drought; and if he will make a statement.

At this stage it is too early to assess the precise effects of the drought on food supplies and prices. Some foodstuffs will, of course, not be affected, but the overall effect on the food index will, for some months, be considerable.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what are the estimated weekly savings in food expenditure because of food subsidies to a single retirement pensioner and a married couple with two children, respectively.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts) and Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when Section 4(5) of the Education Act 1944 relating to annual reports to Parliament of the Central Advisory Councils was last complied with; and what representations her Department has received since 1967 concerning failure to implement the mandatory provisions of Section 4.

The last annual report in which a Secretary of State gave an account of the work of the Central Advisory Councils was presented to Parliament in March 1968. Since 1967 Ministers in the Department of Education and Science have replied to eight paliamentary Questions on the subject of Central Advisory Councils—all but one of them before 1972—and have been involved in one exchange of correspondence. There was also an Adjournment debate on this subject in October 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his estimate of the effect on industrial output over the next year of the drought; and if he will make a statement.

So far, the effect of the drought on industrial output has been slight, and provided rainfall generally reaches at least three-quarters of the long-term average, I would hope to see no major constraints imposed on industry next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in view of the amendment to the 1962 ICAO Convention introducing the word "then" before the word "accepted" and the ICAO Bulletin of 29th November 1962 interpreting the intention of this as meaning "at the time supersonic aircraft were ready to be introduced into commercial service", he will amplify his statement to the Washington Concorde hearings in which he asserted that the ICAO noise rules applicable to Concorde were less onerous than was actually the case.

My hon. friend the Minister of State, in replying to questions at the Washington hearings on Concorde in January, expressed the interpretation of the 1962 ICAO Resolution that has been followed by the Concorde manufacturers. He made it clear that Concorde's noise was broadly comparable with subsonic aircraft operating in 1962, not with that of high by-pass engined aircraft now operating.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much of the aid available under the Machine Tool Industry Scheme has been taken up at the latest date.

Formal offers of assistance under the Machine Tool Industry Scheme totalling £2,937,000 have been or are about to be made. Applications still under consideration are likely to account for a further £2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the take up of aid under the Machine Tool Industry Scheme since the scheme was reorganised.

The revision and extension of the scheme which was announced in August has prompted a large number of additional inquiries but these have not yet reached the stage of firm applications.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the various schemes of aid and assistance to industry for which his Department is responsible and which do not operate in the West Midlands.

Regional development grant for plant and machinery is not paid in any part of the West Midlands. As the Oswestry intermediate area lies within the region all other schemes of assistance to industry for which I am responsible are available to qualifying firms in part or all of the region.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the response of companies and trade unions to his invitation to study the NEDO working party reports.

My right hon. Friend wrote to about 250 company chairmen asking them to discuss the implications of the reports with those who work in their companies, and to 50 trade union secretaries asking them to ensure that their members participated fully in the strategy work.I am very gratified by the response. The overwhelming majority of chairmen and secretaries who have so far replied have expressed a strong desire to see the strategy succeed. Many letters raise constructive points to which my Department is giving careful attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the British Steel Corporation's proposals for a new plate mill at Redcar.

I have made it clear to the corporation that the Government fully accept the case for substantial new investment in United Kingdom plate mill capacity at a suitable location. The corporation is now considering how this might best be achieved in the light of updated forecasts of future demand at home and abroad and will then make a recommendation to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, how many of the 1976 Queen's Awards have not yet been presented to the winners; and if he will make a statement on reasons for delay of any outstanding presentations.

I have been asked to reply.Some 78 of the 115 of the 1976 awards have been presented. Mutually agreed arrangements for presentations are made between the winners and the Lord Lieutenants who make them on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen and some seven firms have asked for the ceremony to be delayed until emblems are available. The presentation of the award normally incudes the delivery of the grant document of appointment and the emblem of the award encapsulated in a transparent mounting. The suppliers of the emblems have had a number of technical and other difficulties in manufacturing the emblems and these together with the changes in the emblems consequent on the 1975 review of the scheme have made it impossible to supply the emblem for most of the 1976 award presentations made to date. Initial supplies of the emblems are now being received and it is hoped that the situation will improve in the near future and that winners will receive emblems with the least possible further delay.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a detailed breakdown on the money spent and allocated so far on the Royal High School site for a Scottish Assembly.

£1·05 million has been allocated for 1976–77 of which £650,000 has been spent on the acquisition of the former Royal High School site.

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 reasons; and what effect the devolution proposal for an Assembly in Edinburgh will have on this.

During the year to 30th September 1976, 123 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 112 beds which had previously been taken out of use for staffing reasons were brought back into use. Under the proposals in Cmnd. 6348 the Scottish administration will be responsible for health matters in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has had from political parties regarding the transfer of responsibi- lity for elections from sheriffs to local authorities.

None, following the earlier comments received from political parties and others in response to a consultative paper issued by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to introduce legislation for the transfer of responsibility for elections from sheriffs to local authorities.

As indicated in the reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. White) on 14th May last, the Government intend to introduce such legislation as soon as possible.—[Vol. 911, c. 295–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given to local authorities regarding the opportunities for insulating roofs of houses occupied by the elderly, the physically handicapped and low-income groups through the Job Creation Programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost in Scotland in 1977 of the scheme originated by the Department of Energy in conjunction with the Job Creation Programme for insulation of roofs of houses occupied by the elderly, the physically handicapped and low-income groups.

Local authorities in Scotland have been informed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy that work on roof insulation for their houses can be sponsored through the Job Creation Programme. No estimate of the overall cost has been made; it is for local authorities to decide how their shares of the cost can be included in existing programmes.

asked the Attorney-General how many complaints he has received about the conduct of bailiffs engaged in debts recovery, in the last two years; if he will list the statutes giving power to bailiffs to commission or employ others to assist in debt recovery; and if he will consider legislation to clarify and define the powers of bailiffs engaged in debt recovery in respect of rent arrears.

The only bailiffs for whom my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor is responsible are those appointed by him by virtue of the Courts Act 1971. The number of complaints in relation to bailiffs is:

1974	…	…	3
1975	…	…	3
1976 (to 1st August)	…	…	4

Bailiffs' duties include the execution of judgments of the county courts, of which judgments for debt form the major part. County court bailiffs have no power to commission or employ other persons to assist in debt recovery.No legislation to clarify and define the powers of bailiffs engaged in debt recovery is planned at the present time.

asked the Attorney-General if he will enumerate the statutes which regulate private bailiffs commissioned to recover debts; what are the main provisions of that legislation; and whether he will review that legislation in view of the increasing use of such bailiffs, particularly by local authorities, in respect of rent arrears.

The statutes which regulate private bailiffs commissioned to recover debts are the Law of Distress Amendment Act 1888 and the Law of Distress Amendment Act 1895. This legislation regulates who may act as a bailiff to seize and sell goods for rent arrears and what goods may and may not be seized.My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has no plans to review this legislation at the present time.

asked the Attorney-General if he or the Director of Public Prosecutions has received a final report of the investigation by the Scotland Yard Criminal Branch on the affairs of Pergamon Press and its founder-Chairman, Mr. Robert Maxwell; and if he will make a statement.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has not yet received the final report on this investigation.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many Members have agreed to receive a reduced parliamentary salary in compliance with his statement to the House in which he announced an increase in remuneration for Members.

To date, 137 hon. Members have agreed to receive a reduced parliamentary salary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take following the demolition of Norwood Hall, Herries Road, Sheffield 5, which is a listed building.

I regret that the Sheffield City Council found it necessary to demolish the Hall. However, I understand that it considered it to be in such poor structural condition that it had to be demolished for reasons of safety. I propose to take no further action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what his policy is on water metering for domestic users.

The National Water Council has recently estimated that the cost of installing meters in all properties at present provided with an unmeasured water supply would be between £650 million and £950 million. I do not think that metering could produce any benefits sufficient to justify expenditure on that scale.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora by applying conventional controls to certain readily recognisable skins of wild animals.

The convention was implemented in the United Kingdom on 1st January 1976. What we then regarded as all the readily recognisable skins of species of animals listed in the convention were brought under control. However, we hope, with experience, to overcome the recognisability problems in other cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will calculate the cost of rectifying the nail sickness in the roof of the Royal High School in Edinburgh.

The extent of nail sickness—the corrosion of nails pinning down roof slates—is not know precisely, but an adequate allowance has been made in the estimated conversion cost for items of deferred maintenance such as this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what criteria he selected the six contractors whom he invited to tender for work at the Royal High School in Edinburgh; whether he proposes fixed price or cost-plus contracts; and what are the grounds on which one of the six firms he approached has declined to tender.

The firms invited to tender by the Property Services Agency for the conversion of the former Royal High School buildings were chosen in accordance with normal selective tendering procedures based on knowledge of their general experience in the type of work concerned and the amount of Government work already under contract. It is not usual practice to let contracts lasting more than 12 months on a fixed price basis, and the contract was let on a schedule of rates for the various types of work involved. It would be a breach of commercial confidence for the agency to specify reasons, where known, why a particular firm declined to tender when invited to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the English counties and/or districts where the county does not act on behalf of the district has so far submitted five-year rolling programmes to him for acquisition of land after 1977 under the Community Land Act 1975; and, in each case where a submission has been made, what is the projected land of (a) expenditure and (b) receipts from disposal for each district in each year.

I have received proposed programmes from the authorities noted below. The estimates of expenditure and receipts contained in these programmes are currently under discussion. I do not think that it would be appropriate to list figures which, at this stage, are no more than projected levels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the level of resources which the regional offices of his Department have indicated to county councils which will be available for land acquisition in their areas during 1977–78 under the Community Land Act 1975, indicating the monetary figure for each county council separately.

Various figures have been discussed informally with some authorities seeking to help them in formulating their programmes. But these have not been firm indications, and the actual levels will depend on local priorities and needs to bring forward land for development. Final decisions will be taken against the figures published in Cmnd. 6393.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will set out in tabular form, for each county in England (a) the bids submitted to his Department by each district council, and the county council itself, for acquisition of land under the Community Land Act 1975 and (b) indicating which bids have been approved, rejected or deferred by his Department, naming the actual site, the proposed use and the monetary value of the bid, or loan sanction, in each case.

No. To do so would, in many cases, prejudice authorities' negotiations to bring forward development land.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of vacancies advertised by his Department over the past six months in the national Press; what was the average cost of each of these advertisements; if he is satisfied that no overspending has occurred; and whether the jobs advertised were notified to the local employment exchange.

During the period 1st April to 30th September 1976, 20 advertisements for staff vacancies were inserted in the national Press and London evening papers. These covered 12 different job categories and a total of 340 vacancies.The average cost of the advertisements was £474·25p, including production costs, resulting in an average cost per vacancy of £28. I am satisfied that this represents no overspending.In accordance with the normal Civil Service Commission instructions the Department always notifies all appropriate staff vacancies to the local employment exchanges. However, the Civil Service Commission has a requirement that vacancies for posts in the Civil Service should be seen to be available in "open competition" and this is best achieved by additionally advertising in the local and/or national Press.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of houses which lack basic amenities and could qualify for standard improvement grants.

No estimates are available in the precise form requested. The 1971 Census indicated that just under 3 million households in England and Wales lacked exclusive use of one or more of the three basic amenities—hot water, a fixed bath or shower, and an inside WC.Since that date over 1¼ million dwellings in the public and private sectors have received improvement grants, and many of these have gone towards the cost of provision of basic amenities.The 1976 English House Condition Survey, covering a sample of some 9,000 dwellings in England, is now taking place and its results will make possible an accurate national estimate of the number of houses which lack basic amenities and could qualify for grant. A survey on a similar basis is also taking place in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the number of houses which stand empty for more than six months; and how many of these are owned by local authorities.

The most recent comprehensive estimate of the number of empty dwellings is provided by the 1971 Census, which recorded 675,880 dwellings in England and Wales, about 3·9 per cent. of the total housing stock, as "vacant on Census night".Information about vacant council dwellings in England and Wales is obtained annually from the Department's Relets Enquiries. The results for 1975 will be available shortly; the 1974 survey recorded that on 31st December 1974 about one-half of 1 per cent. of local authority housing revenue account dwellings, approximately 22,000, were vacant and available for letting, and about a further three-quarters of 1 per cent., approximately 34,500, were vacant for modernisation, repair or conversion.There is no equivalent annual survey of empty houses in private ownership.Neither the 1971 Census information nor that in the annual Relets Enquiries indicates how long dwellings had been empty.As my right hon. Friend said in reply to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Wainwright) on 6th August—[Vol. 916, c.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have a combined application form for both rent and rate rebates; and if he will issue a circular advising local authorities to do this.

Precise figures are not available, but a recent sample check suggests that most housing and rating authorities now use combined application forms and that others are considering doing so. The use of a combined form was recommended in DOE Circular 41/74 issued on 15th March 1974, and authorities were reminded of this in a recent circular letter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if waistcoats made from the furskin of the snow leopard are restricted imports.

The point has not been tested. Coats and jackets are restricted: I am considering whether waistcoats should be explicitly added to the list.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his findings concerning the likelihood of a series of wet seasons in 1977 and 1978.

None. The weather forecasts issued by the Meteorological Office are for 30 days ahead. I understand there are, as yet, no reliable methods for predicting rainfall for periods of up to one or two years. The Meteorological Office and the Climatic Research Unit of the University of East Anglia have been commissioned to carry out a preliminary study on the feasibility of predicting long-term changes in rainfall and air temperatures over the United Kingdom. The results of this preliminary study will not be available before March 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the Property Services Agency is exempt from planning land building regulation controls; and if he will make a statement.

I assume that the Question refers to planning and building regulation controls. The position of the Property Services Agency in relation to these controls does not differ from that of Government Departments generally. While the Crown is not subject to the statutory application of the Town and Country Planning Acts, it follows analogous non-statutory procedures by which it complies with the spirit of the legislation. So far as building regulation control is concerned, there is power in the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 to make the Crown subject to the technical requirements of the regulations. This will be done as soon as resources permit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider giving help to smaller businesses by making allowances available against income tax for work done and expenses incurred in recording VAT returns and PAYE.

Any expenditure which is actually incurred in carrying out PAYE or VAT obligations for a business already ranks as an allowable trading expense for tax purposes. I do not think it would be justifiable to go beyond this.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take, having regard to the fact that the sums lost by tax evasion are 10 times greater than those lost by social security frauds.

My hon. Friend will be aware that the Finance Act 1976 strengthened the enforcement powers of the Inland Revenue. My right hon. Friend is continuing to keep the problem of tax evasion and the measures required to reduce it under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his recent decision to withdraw the Civil Service support staff from the National Savings Committee.

The withdrawal of the 580 Civil Service staff support to the National Savings Voluntary Movement over the period to March 1978 represents some of the savings in manpower and related expenditure to be made by the Department for National Savings as part of the overall savings announced by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Civil Service Department, to the House on 29th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the ruling that Members of Parliament will be liable to tax on their travel warrants from their homes to Westminster and to their constituency and on their petrol allowance will apply to travel facilities made by Ministers when travelling to and from their homes and to places overseas when engaged on official business.

The reimbursement of travelling expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of official duties is not taxable; and the total cost of journeys made overseas by Ministers on official business is treated as so incurred.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state what the situation is with regard to Ministers who have London homes supplied by the State in and around Westminster and the vicinity of the House of Commons when they travel to and from these and their second and third homes and their constituency so far as tax on their travel expenses.

The expense of travel between a home in or close to Westminster and a home in or close to his constituency would be regarded as incurred in performing the Minister's duties as an hon. Member, and reimbursement would not be taxable. The expense of any other travel between two homes, or of travel to the constituency from a home away from Westminster, would not be regarded as so incurred and would therefore be taxable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the situation whereby a silver clasp added to a necklace makes the whole article liable for VAT at the highest rate whereas a cloth coat trimmed with fur is not so liable; and if he will take steps to alter this situation.

Following the practice of successive administrations under purchase tax, we have not regarded cloth coats merely trimmed with fur as less essential items to be charged at the higher rate of VAT. The same considerations do not apply to articles of jewellery which unlike clothing represents less essential consumer expenditure. My right hon. Friend has no plans to alter the situation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why so-called Asian sweets have been reclassified for VAT purposes as food and thus exempt from tax, whereas ice cream, with similar characteristics of origin, use and purpose, is classified as confectionery and subject to tax.

Asian "sweets" are not confectionery items but are more akin to certain cakes, which are zero-rated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the demanding by Customs officers of a declaration of the species of an imported animal or plant, as set out in his notice to importers and exporters on conservation controls, paragraph 8, is a duty performed in pursuance of statutory controls.

Yes. A declaration of the species of an animal or plant may be required from its importer or his agent under Section 28 of the Customs and Excise Act 1952 which provides that an entry—i.e., the documentation which has to be lodged with the Customs—in respect of imported goods shall contain such particulars as the Commissioners of Customs and Excise may direct.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received that repairs, improvements and renovations to historic buildings should be exempted from VAT and whether he will make a statement.

About 10 representations in these terms have been received from hon. Members and interested bodies in the past 12 months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what purpose thick cork coverings have been stuck to the walls of some small upstairs rooms of the scheduled building at 6–7 Kensington Palace Gardens; why one of these rooms was also equipped with a ceiling loudspeaker; what use was intended for the fixed metal filing cabinet still in place concealing a hole in the wall; when the work was done; and if it was carried out with the consent of the freeholders.

The building, scheduled in 1969, is part of the Crown Estate which is administered by the Crown Estate Commissioners. They inform me that their consent was not obtained for any work of the sort mentioned, which was internal and did not affect the external character of the building. They believe that the work was probably done in 1960 but they do not know its purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provision is made by Her Majesty's Government for compensating borrowers from agencies such as the European Investment Bank for increased interest charges and capital repayments which may occur as a result of currency fluctuations.

United Kingdom public sector bodies borrowing in foreign currencies, from the European Investment Bank or elsewhere, can normally avail themselves of the exchange cover scheme. Under this, the proceeds of the foreign currency borrowing are sold to the Exchange Equalisation Account in exchange for sterling at the exchange rates then prevailing. The EEA undertakes to provide foreign currency for the service and repayment of such borrowing at the same rate of exchange, rather than the market rate at the time of the payments, and in return receives part of the interest rate benefit.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what financial or technical assistance was given to Mauritius in 1974–75 and 1975–76; what is being given in 1976–77; and what will be given in 1977–78 if present plans are unchanged.

Gross disbursements of bilateral aid to Mauritius in 1974–75 and 1975–76 were as follows:

Type of aid	Financial year 1974–75	Financial year 1975–76 (provisional)
	£	£
Grants	Credit of 19,649*	15,765
Loans	1,701,600	885,400
Commonwealth Development Corporation Loans	100,000	—
Technical Co-operation	374,576	360,754
Pensions	57,614	165,891
TOTAL	2,214,141	1,427,810
* Total Grants Credit	19,649

of which:267: Disaster Relief Aid.Credit 19,916:Recovery of Development Aid issued to Mauritius in 1970–71 under Class II, Vote 5, Subhead. B. (Source: Appropriation Account 1974–75, pp. 10–11. Class II Vote).During the financial years 1976–77 and 1977–78, technical Co-operation and capital aid are expected to continue at about the same level as n 1975–76.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what financial or technical assistance was given to the Seychelles in 1974–75 and 1975–76; what is being given in 1976–77; and what will be given in 1977–78 if present plans are unchanged.

Gross disbursements of bilateral aid to the Seychelles in 1974–75 and 1975–76 were as follows:

Type of aid	Financial year 1974–75	Financial year 1975–76 (provisional)
	£	£
Capital Aid	2,010,002	2,935,452
Technical Co-operation	858,843	996,262
Total	2,868,845	3,931,714

Consequent on Seychelles becoming independent it is expected that the levels of disbursement will increase throughout the years 1976–77 and 1977–78.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what financial or technical assistance was given to Tanzania in 1974–75 and 1975–76; what is being given in 1976–77; and what will be given in 1977–78 if present plans are unchanged.

Gross disbursement of bilateral aid to Tanzania in 1974–75 and 1975–76 were as follows:

Type of aid	Financial year 1974–75	Financial year 1975–76 (provisional)
	£	£
Grants	—	3,694,769
Loans	—	—
Commonwealth Development Corporation Loans	172,000	180,000
Technical Co-operation	269,448	421,093
Pensions	1,120,395	831,224
TOTAL	1,561,843	5,127,086

Technical co-operation and capital aid are expected to increase in 1976–77 and 1977–78 as our resumed aid programme gets under way.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of his declared intention to make the A36 road the main road link between the port of Southampton and the Bristol area, South Wales and the West Midlands, what plans he has for improving that stretch of the A36 which runs through the parish of Willow, Hampshire.

The A36 trunk road is the link between Southampton and the Bristol area. That section which runs through the parish of Willow is lightly trafficked and I have no present plans for its major improvement. I am examining the need for minor improvements, mainly at junctions with the trunk road.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to introduce legislation following the recommendations of Lord James's Committee on the Distribution of Criminal Business, in particular so far as the recommendations apply to driving offences.

As far as driving offences are concerned, when a suitable opportunity occurs.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many lives he estimates were lost and how many injuries were suffered by drivers and passengers, respectively, in road accidents in the United Kingdom during each of the last five years for which records are available, in circumstances in which such drivers and passengers, respectively, were wearing seat belts which did not work properly.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give a date for the designation of the A21 road as a trunk road; and if he will make a statement on the expected completion date of the improvements already planned along its length in the counties of Kent and East Sussex.

1st April 1977, subject to completion of necessary statutory procedures. Improvements to the road would then fall to be made within the national trunk road programme. It is too early to say what priority they would merit.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will introduce regulations to require motor vehicles to display decals recording compliance with Ministry of Transport tests and third party insurance requirements, respectively.

Only if I have evidence that the present system, whereby the possession of a valid insurance certificate and vehicle test certificate, when appropriate, are prerequisites for the issue of the tax disc, is leading to significant evasion.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the public inquiry will be held into the route of the M25 motorway north of the M4 to Maple Cross; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Dodsworth) on 27th July.—[Vol. 916, c. 174.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now request the United States Government to remove Polaris and its bases from the United Kingdom forthwith.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my predecessor on 25th June—[Vol. 913, c. 643.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what naval vessels are currently assigned to the protection of oil rigs and other oilfield installations in the North Sea.

HMS "Jura" is assigned full time to the protection of oil rigs and other oilfield installations in the North Sea and to fishery protection duties. She will return to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, from which she is on loan to the Royal Navy, on 16th December and will be replaced by HMS "Jersey" the first of the five Island Class ships specifically ordered for offshore protection tasks. HMS "Reward" was similarly assigned full time to these duties until her loss on 10th August 1976 following a collision in fog in the Firth of Forth. She was to have remained in service on the offshore tasks until March 1977 when she would have been relieved by HMS "Orkney", the second of the Island Class. Her duties have been undertaken instead by operational frigates on a rotational basis. The ship nominated to carry out "Reward's" next planned patrol is HMS "Lincoln", which, together with HMS "Jaguar" was brought forward from the Standby Squadron earlier in the year. Similar arrangements will remain in force until HMS "Orkney" comes into service next year. Other ships are also routed through the area on an opportunity basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why a distributor of foreign cars is being given facilities to advertise Russian cars, at attractive terms, on notice boards at Army camps.

Goods and services are advertised on notice boards at Army camps at the discretion of commanding officers. There is no regulation that forbids the advertisement of foreign goods or services, and it is unlikely that a commanding officer would discriminate against an advertisement solely because it concerned a foreign product.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the net cost to the United Kingdom balance of payments during each of the past 10 years to the latest available date of maintaining British forces in the Federal Republic of Germany.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my right hon. Friend the Member for Jarrow (Mr. Fernyhough) on 22nd July 1976.—[Vol. 915, c. 567–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will pay tribute to the work of Lord Feather for the Dockyard Advisory Board; and if he will announce the present composition and terms of reference of the board.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th August 1976; Vol. 916, c. 1060], gave the following information:Yes. With his wealth of experience Lord Feather's advice as a member of the Royal Dockyards Policy Board was greatly appreciated and he will be sadly missed.The present composition of the Board is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what reports he has received on Slater Walker Securities Limited; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received copies of reports prepared by the company's accountants, the Singapore Stock Exchange and the inspector appointed by the Singapore Government. Further information is

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the number of recruits to the TAVR during each quarter in the last five years.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 8th June 1976; Vol. 912, c. 619–20], gave the following information:A small statistical error has been observed in the information previously given. The following table sets out the corrected information:being sought from other sources. He has also exercised his powers under Section 109 of the 1967 Companies Act and as a result criminal proceedings for breaches of Section 54 of the Companies Act 1948 have been instituted. When the reports and further information have been fully considered we shall decide whether other action is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress is being made towards the transfer of airline operations from Heathrow to Gatwick; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions are taking place between the Department of Trade, British Airports Authority, Civil Aviation Authority and airlines, about the allocation of air traffic between Heathrow and Gatwick to utilise effectively the additional capacity which is now being provided at Gatwick.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when it is proposed to commence a fourth terminal at Heathrow Airport.

Consultations are proceeding on this project, but no decision has been taken by the British Airports Authority on when it would wish to begin construction of a fourth terminal at Heathrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will make a progress report on Operation Clean-up in relation to illegal discounting of airline tickets;(2) if he plans discussions with the Board of Airline Representatives in the United Kingdom (BARUK) with regard to progress on Operation Clean-up.

The Board of Airline Representatives in the United Kingdom keeps in close touch with my Department about Operation Clean-up. The campaign has been extended since I answered a Question from the hon. Member on 17th May.—[Vol. 911, c. 371.] The Department is considering several cases the board has drawn to its attention. The continued success of the campaign will, however, call for a sustained effort by the airlines and travel industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has had discussions with the CAA on the criteria for IATA approval of travel agents in the light of recent developments.

My Department has kept in touch with the Civil Aviation Authority, which has now completed its analysis of the whole of the relevant IATA resolution, following its decision to withdraw approval of the turnover criterion. The authority is starting discussions with United Kingdom IATA airlines and with bodies representing United Kingdom travel agency interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has had discussions with the Civil Aviation Bureau in the USA on the simplification of trans-Atlantic air fares structure; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions about a simplification of the structure of trans-Atlantic air fares have been held between the Civil Aviation Authority and the US Civil Aeronautics Board. Proposals for simpler fares structures have also been put forward by some airlines. However, neither the authorities nor the airlines concerned have yet reached agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why it is his policy that the bulk of British private investment shall be in overseas developed countries; and if he will take steps to direct the reversal of this policy.

The choice of location for private investment is essentially a matter for commercial decision by the individual companies concerned. But in recognition of the benefits which private investment can bring to developing countries, provided it accords with their national priorities, the Government have a number of measures which help British investors in developing countries. These include double taxation agreements, bilateral investment protection agreements, a scheme for helping pre-investment studies and the Export Credits Guarantee Department's investment insurance scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if BEA and BOAC have now fully merged; or whether the two boards of directors are still in operation.

The Overseas, European and Regional Divisions of British Airways have a wide degree of autonomy and each has its own board of management. All three are integral parts of British Airways, however, and subject to the decisions of the Main Board, which includes the Chief Executives of Overseas and European Divisions.

asked the Secretary of State for 'Trade how many complaints were received about aerial spraying throughout Great Britain; how many of these complaints came from the county of Norfolk; and how many of these complaints were deemed to be justifiable.

Matters relating to aerial spraying are the concern of the Civil Aviation Authority. I have, therefore, drawn the Chairman's attention to the hon. Member's Question and asked him to write to the hon. Member with the information he seeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what action has been taken during the past 12 months to prevent the dumping of footwear from Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America respectively.

I will reply to my right hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade who appoints the members of the Board of Governors of the Fisheries Organisation Society.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th August 1976; Vol. 916, c. 1097–98], gave the following information:The Governing Body of the Society consists of the President, not more than nine representatives of subscribing members, and not more than nine representatives of affiliated societies. These are all elected at the ordinary general meeting of the Society. The Governors may co-opt not more than four additional members and there may be one representative of my Department. One member may be appointed by the Governors in consultation with the Development Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish a list of members of the Board of Governors of the Fisheries Organisation Society and their occupations.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th August 1976, Vol. 916, c. 1097–8], gave the following information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) how many inshore fishermen are members of the Fisheries Organisation Society;(2) what is the total membership of the Fisheries Organisation Society;(3) how many inshore fishermen have resigned from the Fisheries Organisation Society this year.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th August 1976; Vol. 916, c. 1097–98], gave the following information:According to its 1976 year book, at 31st December 1975 the Fisheries Organisation Society had 681 full members, 240 associate members, 38 special members and 51 group members. 113 local societies were affiliated to the FOS. The Fisheries Organisation Society estimates that it represents about 5,000 inshore fishermen by virtue of their membership of affiliated societies. The Fisheries Organisation Society inform me that 77 members have resigned since 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many fishermen serve on the Board of Governors of the Fisheries Organisation Society.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th August 1976; Vol. 916, c. 1097–98], gave the following information:17 members of the Board of Governors are active fishermen or have formerly been so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the establishment of an international sea bed authority exercising direct and effective control over all activities related to the exploration for commercial purposes and exploitation of the sea bed beyond national jurisdiction.

At the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, Her Majesty's Government are working for the establishment, within the framework of a generally acceptable international agreement, of an International Seabed Authority to supervise the exploration for and exploitation of the mineral resources of the sea bed beyond the continental margin. This regime should guarantee access for States and their companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will take steps to secure the appointment of a permanent UN commission on international traffic in weapons of war, with the duty of formulating international conventions aimed at the registration of international arms sales and the progressive limitation of such traffic between sovereign States.

I share my hon. Friend's objective. However, proposals for the registration of international arms sales made to the United Nations First Committee in 1965 and 1968 were not adopted, mainly because of opposition from developing countries which did not wish their arms purchases to be publicised. There is no evidence that a new proposal of this kind would be any more favourably received today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out in the Official Report the assignment of specific responsibilities to all Ministers in his Department, including Overseas Development, and separately, the assignment of duties connected with the European Economic Community.

No. Ministerial responsibilities, including overseas development and the EEC, remain as set out in the current edition of the list of Ministerial Responsibilities, copies of which are available on request from the Whips' offices, except that my right hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Dr. Owen), has succeeded my right hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Sparkbrook (Mr. Hattersley) as Minister of State, and that responsibility for personnel and administration (policy aspects) has been transferred from the former to the right hon. the Lord Goronwy-Roberts. In addition, my right hon Friend the Member for Newham, North-East (Mr. Prentice) will undertake additional duties within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office so that a second Cabinet Minister will be available to deal with the extra burdens arising from the Presidency of the EEC, which falls to the United Kingdom on 1st January 1977, and the Commonwealth Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings took place and over what time period between him or other departmental Ministers and representatives of the USSR Government concerning the Katyn Memorial to Polish prisoners.