asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many policemen and women (a) occupy police houses and (b) have a rent allowance in lieu of a police house.

I regret that this information is not readily available but my noble Friend will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long baboons have been used in connection with the effects of lead in petrol; if they have suffered any ill-effects; if the use of these animals is continuing in such tests; and, if so, to what extent.

We are not aware from records that any experiments concerned with the effects of lead in petrol have been carried out on baboons in the United Kingdom but I will investigate any case known to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now review the administrative procedures for assessing the mental health of prisoners with a view to improving the prison service's capacity for identifying mentally ill prisoners and providing for their treatment to safeguard the public.

The Butler Committee on Mentally Abnormal Offenders made a detailed examination of these difficult problems and its proposals are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has completed his review of administrative procedures in connection with the release of patients from Broad-moor; and if he will make a statement.

The review has not yet been completed. Consultations are proceeding on proposals for an extension of the existing arrangements for obtaining the opinion of an independent advisory body on the discharge or transfer of patients subject to the special restrictions set out in Section 65 of the Mental Health Act 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now seek to amend the law in order to give magistrates power to imprison people who contravene the animal quarantine regulations, following his discussions with chief police officers about increasing penalties.

No. There is already available, for a second or subsequent offence under the Diseases of Animals Act 1950, as amended, one month's imprisonment on summary conviction. A person charged with knowingly contravening the terms of the Rabies (Dogs, Cats and other Mammals) Importation Order 1974 may be tried on indictment when the maximum penalty to which he is liable is an unlimited fine or 12 months' imprisonment, or both.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when information on the number of electors on the 1976 register for each constituency will be available.

A summary of this information is now in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether civil servants are shown any adverse reports concerning their service which may become a matter of record for disciplinary purposes; whether this is regarded as an entitlement; and whether there are any circumstances in which such reports are kept secret from the civil servant concerned.

The Civil Service disciplinary procedure which all Departments must follow provides that any officer who faces a serious disciplinary charge should be given a written statement defining the charge and particulars of the facts relied upon to support the charge. These facts may include the contents of a written report upon the officer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement as to the relative costs and advantages and disadvantages of providing a new central building for employment purposes, as opposed to renovating the present central Rochdale Employment Exchange;(2) when the structural alterations are to be carried out to the Rochdale Employment Exchange, Maclure Road; what such alternations will comprise; and what the cost will be.

It is the Government's policy wherever possible to house the Employment Service in job centres separately from the unemployment benefit office. A search is accordingly being made in the centre of Rochdale for suitable premises for a job centre. Meanwhile the unemployment benefit office is shortly to be modernised as part of the general programme to bring the worst Government offices up to a reasonable standard. The staff of the unemployment benefit office, who are overcrowded, will occupy the whole building when staff of the Employment Service move out. The improvements include alterations to the main entrance, improved lighting, heating, ventilation and toilets, rewiring, and work to comply with the fire regulations. The estimated cost is £41,000. No estimate can be given of the cost of the job centre until particular premises have been found and surveyed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the guidelines that he used in arriving at his conclusions as to what was and what was not a housing stress area for the purpose of capital expenditure on housing; and if he will make a statement.

The list of stress authorities was drawn up partly on objective data from the 1971 census about both overcrowding, which gives some indication of housing shortage, and lack of bathrooms, which is a rough measure of the quality of the stock. Both items are indicative of a need to increase the stock but may also yield to other measures. For this reason, and also to update this information, we were guided by additional information from our regional offices about housebuilding performance since 1971 and housing needs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many commissions have so far been won by the British Urban Development Services Unit of his Department; and what sums have been allowed to it for winning commissions, including all relevant expenditure thereon, during the current financial year.

None; but a number of projects are under negotiation. No sums have been specifically allocated for the securing of contracts since all expenditure incurred by the unit is directed to this end.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current staffing establishment of the British Urban Development Services Unit of his Department; and what is the estimated budget for administration costs, including salaries and overheads of this unit during the current financial year.

Seven, excluding clerical and typing staff. It is the practice to augment the complement by short-term secondment of officers form the new town development corporation to help in preparing proposals for specific projects. Expenditure on the unit for 1976–77 is estimated at about £175,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will issue a warning to drivers whose cars pass the MOT test that the visual test on safety belts cannot guarantee that such belts are operative and safe.

The only test method which can absolutely guarantee that a seat belt installation is operative and safe is a trial in the accident situation. Clearly this is impractical. But I shall bear in mind my hon. and learned Friend's suggestion that drivers should be warned.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in view of the recent collapse of two firms of forwarding agents, resulting in losses for over six hundred migrants to Australasia, he will now extend operators' licensing to all firms offering removal services to the general public.

No. The operators' licensing system is designed to ensure high standards of lorry operation mainly in the context of road safety. It is not a guarantee to customers against the commercial failure of a business.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current balance of tactical and strategic nuclear weapons in the possession of NATO and Warsaw Pact blocs.

I refer my hon. Friend to the assessment of the military balance given in the 1976 Defence White Paper (Cmnd. 6432) which sets out the Warsaw Pact nuclear threat and NATO's response to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the purpose of the British nuclear test which took place in Nevada on 26th August.

The test was necessary in order to maintain the effectiveness of the British nuclear deterrent.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will reconsider his policy towards nuclear war in the light of the findings of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Her Majesty's Government subscribe to NATO's deterrent strategy of flexibility in response which is designed to prevent nuclear war. There is nothing in the recently published views of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute that leads us to change our policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the results of operation Purple Oyster; and if he will make a statement.

Exercise Purple Oyster 2/76 was the latest in a series of exercises to test arrangements for the protection of offshore oil and gas installations. Many valuable lessons were learnt during the exercise and I am satisfied with the progress which has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of extra recruitment into the Armed Forces of the Crown during the last 12 months in terms of the yearly budget for the Services.

About £24 million was spent on recruitment to the Armed Forces in 1975–76. This amounts to about one half of 1 per cent. of the defence budget.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will establish an inquiry into the effectiveness of his Department in meeting its quota obligations in respect of the employment of disabled workers in defence establishments.

I do not think an inquiry is necessary. On 1st June 1976, 5,650 known registered disabled persons were employed in the Department, that is, about 2¼ per cent. of the total staff. However, this figure does not fully reflect the extent to which disabled people are employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the progress he is making towards changing the command structure in BAOR.

Reorganisation in BAOR is proceeding according to plan. The first major steps, involving the restructuring of 4th Guards Brigade and 12 Mechanised Brigade and the creation of 2nd Armoured Division, are now taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to discuss with NATO the rôle of British ground forces in West Germany.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of men and women in Great Britain's reserve forces; and how this was divided between the three Services at 1st October 1976.

At 1st September 1976 there were some 243,000 men and women in the United Kingdom reserve forces. Of these, Naval and Marine reserves comprised about 34,000, the army reserves about 176,000 and the Royal Air Force reserves about 33,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the operation of the security forces in Northern Ireland.

Operations by the Armed Services continue in support of the civil power in Northern Ireland at levels related to the particular security situation in each area of the Province. These operations which are aimed at preventing terrorists from acquiring and using arms and explosives and at assisting the police in bringing to justice those who commit acts of violence, continue to meet with success: so far this year 975 persons arrested by the security forces have been charged with terrorist offences and some 650 terrorists' weapons, almost 58,000 rounds of ammunition and over 20,000 lb. of explosives have been found.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent conversations he has had with the United States Government, and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, on standardisation of defence equipment; and if he will make a statement.

I shall be discussing equipment standardisation personally with the United States Secretary of Defence, Mr. Rumsfeld, later this week, and expect to have similar talks with the Federal German Defence Minister very shortly. My officials are also in the closest touch with the United States and German Governments on this question.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met the other NATO Defence Ministers.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker), Northwich (Mr. Goodlad) and Faversham (Mr. Moate).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for placing orders for naval craft to enforce future fishing limits and to guard oil rig installations in the North Sea.

As my right hon. Friend, the former Minister of State for Defence announced on 11th February—[Vol. 886, c. 221]—five new Royal Navy ships are being provided for offshore tasks including the enforcement of future fishing limits and the protection of oil installations in the North Sea. The first is due to come into service in December and the remainder during 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current earnings of the Hydrographer in foreign currency.

Foreign currency earnings from the export of charts and navigational publications are expected to amount to £2·75 million in this financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the replacement programme of the vessels used by the Hydrographer over the next 10 years.

It is not our practice to disclose information about replacement plans for any naval ships so far ahead.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of Admiralty charts are obsolescent.

Any map or chart is to some extent obsolescent as soon as it is published. However, all 3,400 Admiralty charts are constantly updated from the data available to the Hydographer.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now appoint a national hydrographic advisory committee.

There are no plans to appoint a national hydrographic advisory committee but an Interdepartmental Hydrographic Strategic Review Body has been set up following recommendation 7 of the Hydrographic Study Group. This body held its first meeting on 12th May 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps are being taken to ensure that the Hydrographer has sufficient resources over the next decade to carry out a full programme of work in (a) priority areas for defence, (b) priority areas for shipping, (c) platform tow-out routes, (d) energy source exploration and (e) energy bathymetry, all in United Kingdom home waters;(2) what steps are being taken to ensure that the Hydrographer has adequate resources over the next decade to maintain

a programme of surveying in (

It has been decided that the Royal Navy hydrographic fleet should be retained at its present size for the time being. During 1977–78 the Department of Energy and the Ministry of Overseas Development, as well as the Ministry of Defence, will contribute towards the running costs of the ships identified in the defence review as surplus to strict minimum defence requirements. The basis of the operation of the Hydro-graphic Service thereafter is being reviewed with the aim of ensuring that in the long term, and paying particular attention to its commercial potential, the fleet will continue to be able to carry out a full programme of surveying in support of all national requirements. This programme would include work in United Kingdom waters and overseas, the priorities for which would be considered by the Hydrographic Strategic Review Body.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist between the United Kingdom and the USSR for the reciprocal exchange of Admiralty charts.

					1st January 1976 to 28th September
		1973	1974	1975	1976
Reported by Her Majesty's Survey Ships:
New wrecks located	…	55	215	90	87
New data on previously located wrecks	…	162	260	116	142
Reported from all other sources	…	247	282	494	497

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; and what effect the devolution proposal for an Assembly in Edinburgh will have on the SDA's work.

On the first part of the Question, 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].On the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraphs 138 and 281

The United Kingdom and the USSR exchange nautical charts when requested by each other, and as required for the safety of international shipping. These arrangements take place under the auspices of the International Hydro-graphic Organisation which the USSR has recently applied to join.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will initiate discussions with the 46 national charting agencies for the standardisation and harmonisation of the chart styles, languages, scales and limits.

This will not be necessary owing to the considerable progress which is being made in the standardisation of nautical charts and documents under the auspices of the International Hydro-graphic Organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many wrecks in waters around the United Kingdom were reported to the Hydrographer in 1973, 1974, 1975 and to date in 1976.

The numbers of such wrecks reported to the Hydrographer in the years 1973 to date are as follows:of Cmnd. 6348 "Our changing Democracy" as supplemented by paragraph 20 of Cmnd. 6585 "Devolution to Scotland and Wales—Supplementary Statement."

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the small business sector's contribution to jobs in the Scottish economy in general, and in manufacturing in particular; and what effect the devolution proposal for an Assembly in Edinburgh will have on this sector.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Sillars) on 5th August. The provisional figures given in that reply have now been confirmed.—[Vol. 916, c. 953–4.]—It is not proposed that the Scottish Assembly will have direct responsibility for these matters, except in so far as responsibility for the Scottish Development Agency is to be devolved.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied with the availability of North Sea gas for commercial use in Scotland; whether there has been any change in the anticipated demand for 1976–77; and if he will make a statement.

A significant increase in large supplies of gas to industry in Scotland depends, as in England, on the arrival of supplies from the new gas fields being developed in northern waters. These are being brought in as quickly as possible, and should then suffice to meet the demands now foreseen.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy in what parts of the United Kingdom gas boards are now not able to fulfil signed contracts for the supply of gas for commercial use in 1976–77.

I am informed by the British Gas Corporation that it is fulfilling their obligations under signed contracts throughout Great Britain, though in a few cases discussions are continuing with the firms concerned as to the timing of additional supplies under such contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what priority is being

Country				Date of Independence			Total of Passports issued since Independence to December 1975
Botswana	…	…	…	30th September 1966	…	…	3,975
The Gambia	…	…	…	18th February 1965	…	…	312
Ghana	…	…	…	6th March 1957	…	…	8,203
Kenya	…	…	…	12th December 1963	…	…	167,180
Lesotho	…	…	…	4th October 1966	…	…	907
Malawi	…	…	…	6th July 1964	…	…	14,226
Nigeria	…	…	…	1st October 1960	…	…	15,661
Sierra Leone	…	…	…	27th April 1961	…	…	3,463
Swaziland	…	…	…	6th September 1968	…	…	2,678
Tanzania	…	…	…	9th December 1961 (Tanganyika)	…	…	32,519
				10th December 1963 (Zanzibar)	…	…
Uganda	…	…	…	9th October 1962	…	…	60,193
Zambia	…	…	…	24th October 1964	…	…	56,072

On the assumption that the relevant Vote is approved, my Department plans to spend £500,000 on the services of the Hydrographer in 1977–78. There is no further departmental demand at present for these services.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what sums from his Departmental Vote are allocated in 1976–77 to meet the cost of the work of the Hydrographer; and what percentage of his Department's expenditure this represents.

In 1976–77 my Department will spend £376,000—less than half of 1 per cent. of its Vote—on the Hydrographer's services.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many new United Kingdom passports have been issued by the High Commissions, in those countries of Africa which were once dependent on the United Kingdom, since conclusion of the independence treaties, regardless of the national origin of the father of the applicants.

The total numbers of United Kingdom passports issued in each of the countries since independence until the end of 1975, the latest date for which complete figures are available, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will negotiate with the Governments of Fiji, New Zealand and Australia for a contribution from them towards the work of the Hydrographer in the south-west Pacific;(2) if he will negotiate, with the Governments of Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, a contribution from them towards the cost of the work of the Hydrographer in the Gulf.

If appropriate circumstances were to arise I would be prepared to give serious consideration to such action.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will negotiate with the appropriate United Nations agencies for a contribution to the work of the Hydrographer outside United Kingdom waters.

It would be inappropriate to approach the United Nations or its agencies on this question at this time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give all

Currency				Rate at end-January 1970	Rate at close on 7th October 1976	Percentage change in rate
United States dollar	…	…	…	2·4025	1·6685	—30·5
French fran	…	…	…	13·3170	8·2600	—38·0
Deutschemark	…	…	…	8·8610	4·0750	—54·0
Lira	…	…	…	1,512·20	1,403·75	—7·2
Swiss franc	…	…	…	10·3450	4·0875	—60·5
Danish kroner	…	…	…	180130	9·7450	—45·9
Swedish kroner	…	…	…	12·4160	7·1000	—42·8
Belgian fran	…	…	…	119·2900	62·4500	—47·6
Dutch guilder	…	…	…	8·7330	4·2525	—51·3
Yen	…	…	…	859·3300	480·5000	—44·1
South African rand	…	…	…	1·7210	1·4510	—15·7

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the amount of tax reliefs claimed for the 500,000 children overseas for which such claims have been made; and, as there are an estimated one and a half million wives and other dependants for whom claims have been made and allowed, if he will take steps to collate

I assume that the hon. Member refers to overseas loans raised by the nationalised industries and local authorities for domestic purposes. Lists of outstanding loans to, amongst others, nationalised industries and local authorities until the end of May 1976 were placed in the Library of the House of Commons on 14th October 1975, 19th March 1976 and 10th June 1976. I will now arrange for a further list covering the period from June 1976 to end-September 1976 to be deposited there.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report the change in the exchange rate from January 1970 to the most recent convenient date between the £ sterling and the major currencies mentioned in his reply of 5th April [Official Report, columns 83–6), including the percentage devaluation or revaluation as appropriate in each case.

The information is as follows:the actual number and publish these details in the

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to him on 28th July and to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mr. Goodhart) on 7th July [Vol. 916, c. 303; Vol. 914, c. 598]. The collection of information about wives and dependants would be disproportionately costly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has yet issued regulations to activate Section 2(4) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; and, if not, whether he will do so forthwith.

Proposals for such regulations have recently been submitted to me by the Health and Safety Commission. I am now giving these proposals urgent consideration, in consultation with my colleagues.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the salary cost of (a) the Factory Inspectorate and (b) its supporting staff.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the estimated gross salary cost for the current financial year 1976–77 for the Factory Inspectorate is £5,262,521 and for its supporting staff £1,637,146.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the total number of persons who have entered and completed courses under the training opportunities scheme during the last year for which figures are available; and how many persons over 45 years of age are within that total.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, during 1975, 60,724 people completed a course of training under the training opportunities scheme. In December 1975, there were 33,729 people undergoing training, of whom 13·8 per cent. were over 45 years of age. In July 1976 and August 1976 the percentages were 11·8 and 12·1 respectively. The number of persons over 45 years of age who completed training is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many primary and secondary teachers in Scotland were unemployed on 1st October 1976.

At 9th September 1976, the latest date for which information is available, the numbers of unemployed people in Scotland who were registered for employment as primary and secondary teachers were 411 and 214 respectively.

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

On 9th September there were 85,612 people registered as unemployed in the Merseyside special development area and the unemployment rate is still at nearly twice the national rate. The Government regard this level of unemployment with grave concern. The area stands to benefit from the additional measures to alleviate unemployment which were announced on 3rd August and 23rd September. However, the Government accept that there is still a very long way to go before the employment problems of Merseyside are solved.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he intends to take to alleviate the present high level of unemployment on Merseyside.

Merseyside has special development area status and is benefiting from the measures which the Government have taken to alleviate the worst effects of the recession; so far over 13,000 people have been assisted on Merseyside as a result of the temporary employment subsidy scheme, the job creation programme, and the recruitment subsidy for school leavers scheme. The Manpower Services Commission allotted an extra £1 million to job creation in Merseyside early in September and has now allotted another £2 million to Merseyside out of the extra funds for job creation announced on 23rd September. In addition I would expect the area to benefit from the work experience programme, the job release scheme when it begins on 3rd January 1977, and from the increased support for training announced on 23rd September.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the Under-Secretary's recent visit to Merseyside.

My recent visit to Merseyside, on 20th and 21st September, provided a welcome opportunity to meet local trade unionists, employers, and local authority representatives as well as local staff of my Department and of the Manpower Services Commission and its agencies. By gaining some firsthand knowledge of the area I have acquired a keener appreciaion of the considerable problems which it faces. I regret that because of the difficulties in Parliament I had to delay my visit for so long.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has ensured, in drawing up the provisions of the Youth Employment Subsidy Scheme announced on 3rd August 1976, that young people who have taken advantage of the special training and employment schemes sponsored by his Department are not thereby put at a disadvantage in satisfying the six months unemployment rule.

Yes; the scheme provides that subsidy is payable in respect of the engagement of young people aged under 20 who have been continuously registered as unemployed for six months or more. For the purposes of the scheme we would allow the following to count as registered unemployment: Full time training under a "TOPS" or similar TSA recognised scheme—ie, where a TSA training allowance has been paid—or under an ITB training award scheme; rehabilitation under an ESA sponsored scheme where allowances have been paid, and time spent under the community industry, job creation, or work experience programmes.

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

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 11th October 1976; Vol. 917, c. 45], gave the following information:A number of aids to employment for which my Department is responsible do not operate outside the assisted areas, which do not include the West Midlands apart from the Oswestry intermediate area. These are the nucleus labour force scheme operated by the Employment Services Agency, some training services to employers operated by the Training Services Agency throughout Britain but for which fees are waived in assisted areas—sponsored training, the mobile instructor scheme, instructor training courses, international trade procedure courses and training within industry courses—and the Regional Employment Premium which is administered by my Department. The job release scheme which will operate from 3rd January 1977 will be limited to assisted areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current staffing establishment of the Land Authority for Wales; and what is the fully authorised level of establishment.

35 established staff are currently employed by the authority. An interim complement of 200 was initially agreed, but experience suggests that the final figure will be less than this.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what progress he has made concerning plans to rationalise the cane sugar refining industry; and if he will make a statement concerning his approach to a future monopoly in this industry.

The Government's general approach to the problem of rationalising the cane sugar refining industry was set out in the reply given by my predecessor to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange (Mr. Parry) on 4th August 1976.—[Vol. 916, c. 778–80.] He emphasised the Government's concern that reorganisation should not only produce an efficient and well-organised industry, but also pay due regard to the need to sustain employment.Discussions are now proceeding with Tate and Lyle, following their acquisition of a controlling interest in Manbre and Garton. The Government intend that there should be a full opportunity for representatives of the employees, and other interested parties, to state their views and for these to be taken fully into account before any final decisions are taken. Meanwhile the company has made it clear that there is no question of closing any refinery before the end of September 1977 at the earliest.In deciding not to refer the proposed acquisition of Manbre and Garton to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission under the provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection took account of certain undertakings given by Tate and Lyle. These were that they would, for so long as customers require, produce and offer for sale in the United Kingdom, at fair prices, each product in the complete range of sugar, starch and starch sweeteners at present produced by the two companies; recognise any special terms and conditions on trade and service enjoyed by customers of Manbre and Garton in the past; and maintain for three years as a separate identifiable business and separate profit centre the starch and starch sweeteners part of Manbre and Garton. The company has also agreed to set up a special unit to monitor any customers' complaints and to audit prices, service and quality; and an independent committee is to be established to look into complaints referred to it by the company's customers and to report periodically to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection and myself. These arrangements offer valuable safeguards for the interests of users of sugar and starch products in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects his review of the use of caramel colouring in food and drink to be available; and if he will make a statement.

Caramel is one of the colours permitted for use in food by the Colouring Matter in Food Regulations 1973, as amended. The need to use the permitted colours and their safety in use is currently being evaluated by the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee. It is too early, as yet, to say when the committee's report will be published. But we are keeping a close watch on the general situation and we will not hesitate to take action in advance of the committee's report should the need arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many civil servants were made redundant following the ending of the lime subsidy.

The duties of office and field staff engaged on lime subsidy work will come to an end as the scheme runs down during the current financial year. Every effort will be made to avoid redundancies by redeploying the staff affected to any suitable vacancies which may occur elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what measures he intends to take to help alleviate the present high level of unemployment on Merseyside.

All the measures introduced by the present Government to reduce unemployment are available in Merseyside. We also made Merseyside a special development area in order to increase the regional incentives available there and we shall continue to call the attention of industry to these incentives.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on proposals submitted to him at a recent meeting by hon. Members representing Merseyside constituencies regarding matters affecting his Department.

At the meeting on 3rd August there was a most useful exchange of views on Merseyside's needs for industrial investment and employment. We shall continue to do everything we can to facilitate industrial development there.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he can now name the proposed headquarters of the Shipbuilding and Aircraft Corporation.

My right hon. Friend will make announcements about the location of both of these headquarters when he is in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total assistance to industry under the accelerated projects scheme; and how this aid was distributed by industry and region.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what measures he proposes, in the interest of consumer protection, to regulate the activities of unlicensed and unbonded operators offering international removal services to the public.

I have recently written to the High Commissioners for Australia, Canada and New Zealand drawing their attention to the need for prospective emigrants to be advised to use only reliable and reputable firms for transporting their effects. I am also considering what further steps may be necessary to safeguard emigrants' interests in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will list in the Official Report the average profit per barrel of beer in each category produced by brewers in the United Kingdom in the years 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976.

This information is not availabe and cannot be realistically estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he proposes to introduce a postal sales service in respect of company records; and if he will make such records available also in microfiche form.

There is no immediate prospect of resuming the selective service for the postal sales of copies of documents contained in the public files of registered companies, which was suspended in October 1975 as an economy measure. It is, however, proposed that a new service will be introduced during 1977 for the postal sale of copies of the complete microfiche record of documents lodged by any company registered in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will seek to impose a levy on maritime insurance companies to help meet the cost of expanding the services of the Hydrographer.

Such levies could only be imposed on British companies and would put them at a disadvantage compared with overseas companies. Accordingly it is not considered justified to seek this form of cost recovery.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will hold discussions with the General Council of British Shipping about the need for expansion of the services of the Hydrographer;(2) if he will seek to impose a levy on shipping companies to help meet the cost of the work of the Hydrographer which is essential for the safety of ships at sea.

Following previous consultations of this kind further meetings with the general council of British Shipping will take place, the next later this month to assess the future needs of merchant shipping for hydrographic surveys. During these meetings we will consider the question of the funding of the hydrographic services.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many new marine works including offshore structures and pipelines, were notified to the Hydrographer in 1974, 1975 and to date in 1976.

My Department sent the following notifications direct to the Hydrographer in the years shown:

	1974	1975	1976 (to date)
General tidal works	70	99	80
Permanent offshore oil/gas installations	13	10	15
Pipelines	12	13	5

In addition, as required by the terms of my consent to drilling operations by exploration rigs, the following notifications were sent to the Hydrographer by oil/gas operators;

	1974	1975	1976 (to date)
Exploration rigs	98	114	69

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.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 11th October 1976; Vol. 917, c. 33], gave the following information:During the past 12 months a countervailing duty of 8 per cent. was imposed from 29th April 1976 on subsidised men's fashion leather footwear from Brazil and an application for the imposition of antidumping duties on men's leather sandals from Poland and Czechoslovakia was accepted for investigation on 27th September 1976. Several other complaints have been made by the United Kingdom industry about allegedly dumped and subsidised footwear imports from various sources. We are in touch with the industry about these but in most cases it has not so far been possible to produce sufficient evidence to justify formal action under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act 1969.In addition to anti-dumping investigations, voluntary restraint levels have been agreed for 1976 in respect of leather footwear, excluding sandals, from Eastern Europe. Czechoslovakia, Romania and Poland, the principal East European suppliers of low cost footwear, have undertaken to continue during 1976 their 1975 restraint on exports of men's leather footwear to a level 5–10 per cent. below their 1974 exports.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the fact that a person who has contributed to the National Insurance Fund is entitled to benefits for his one wife and children, whereas a person who has not contributed can claim supplementary assistance for all his wives, married and common law and the children there-from, and that such benefits can total £100 or more per week making it virtually impossible for him to obtain work without financial loss he will take steps to change this system to treat both contributors and non-contributors on the same basis.

Payment of means-tested supplementary benefits and contributory national insurance benefits is based on fundamentally different principles; and a man with more than one wife and entitled to both types of benefits would be treated differently under the separate schemes. It is neither necessary nor appropriate to make changes of the kind suggested. A man can be paid supplementary benefit for all the wives and dependent children for whom he is responsible, but there would be no saving of public money if—as would probably be her right—a second wife and dependent children claimed supplementary benefits separately; and where a man is in full-time work he must support all his dependants without supplementary benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take action to relieve the anxiety caused particularly to men in their late 50s and early 60s, who remain unemployed after their unemployment is exhausted and who, because they have saved for their retirement when 65 years of age, are not entitled in many cases to any supplementary benefit until such times as most of the said savings have been spent.

No. Unemployment benefit has always been limited in duration, and the present system effectively bridges the gap between employment for most claimants. The longer-term unemployed need a more flexible kind of benefit, provided by the supplementary benefits scheme, which ensures help to any whose resources are insufficient to meet their living expenses. In assessing supplementary benefit, savings and capital of less than £1,250 are completely ignored; but it would be wrong to disregard completely more substantial sums of capital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if additional money will be made available to the London borough of Brent to meet additional transport costs which will fall upon the social services estimates when disabled persons at present attending the Brent Work Centre and various classes and clubs no longer have their own tricycles.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on 23rd July.—[Vol. 915, c. 2229–42.]As my right hon. Friend then made clear, we expect disabled people who have invalid tricycles issued under the old scheme to be able to keep them for at least five years. He also made it clear that alternative mobility help would he made available to anyone whose tricycle would not ultimately be replaced. Other disabled people, including those who did not want or would not use a tricycle, through the mobility allowance, would be receiving outdoor mobility help for the first time. It is not intended to make special additional allocations of money available to local social services authorities; but, as I know my hon. Friend appreciates, the overall effect of our policy is to increase substantially the amount of money spent on outdoor mobility help and the number of people helped.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate has been made of the number of disabled persons who at the moment use an invalid tricycle to get to work but may be unable to remain in employment as a result of the withdrawal of the tricycle and payment of invalidity allowances.

Far from any sudden withdrawal from disabled people of tricycles we expect to be able to keep the tricycle service in being for them for at least five years. Moreover, a disabled person who was given a tricycle for employment purposes will no longer risk losing all mobility help if he loses his job. This is an important step forward and will help many disabled people in seeking further employment. Under new legislation which the Government will introduce, it will be open to "old scheme" tricycle holders to switch to the mobility allowance.The allowance is already bringing mobility help to some 25,000 new beneficiaries; and I am sure it is helping many of them to obtain employment or to continue in their present jobs. Apart from this, the travel to work scheme run by the Employment Service Agency may provide help to registered disabled people, whether holders of mobility allowance or not, who are too disabled to use public transport and who incur substantial additional costs in travel to work. It is not yet possible to estimate the number of existing tricycle holders who will be affected in any particular way in five years' time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department will take steps to ensure that there is no shortage of human tissues needed for medical research; and if, in particular, new efforts could be made to ensure adequate material for the MRC Neuro-Chemical Pharmacology Unit at Cambridge.

My Department is producing a health notice which will remind health authorities that human tissue may be used for therapeutic purposes and for purposes of medical education and research subject to the provisions of the Human Tissue Act 1961. The notice will stress the importance of maintaining supplies of the necessary material. I understand that the MRC Neuro-Chemical Pharmacology Unit at Cambridge receives adequate supplies of tissue for its research work—e.g., into the causes of schizophrenia and Huntington's Chorea.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in his present negotiations with the tobacco industry, he will seek a further voluntary provision to secure the application of health hazard warnings on all publications where 20 per cent. of the total circulation is in Great Britain.

I will consider the proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many members of the Medicines Commission have been previously engaged in a pharmaceutical industry; how many are at present holding industrial posts; how many accept fees for consultation services to the pharmaceutical industry; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that this information is not available. Section 2 of the Medicines Act 1968 lays down that the members of the commission shall include at least one person with wide and recent experience in each of the following activities:

(a) the practice of medicine, other than veterinary medicine;

(b) the practice of veterinary medicine;

(c) the practice of pharmacy;

(d) chemistry other than pharmaceutical chemistry;

(e) the pharmaceutical industry.

In making appointments Ministers take these requirements into account and seek to maintain a proper balance. The commission's report for 1975 gives details of members' affiliations.Members are not precluded from accepting fees for consultation services to the pharmaceutical industry and no register of consultancies is kept. When the commission considers representations about the advice given to Ministers as the licensing authority by the Committee on Safety of Medicines or the Veterinary Products Committee any member with an interest in the company concerned would be required to disclose that interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to complete his consultations with the Royal Colleges, the British Medical Association and other bodies regarding promotional expenditure for drugs; how many meetings have now been held; and if he will publish in the Official Report a list of publications on which advertising will be an allowable cost before 22nd November 1976.

Expenditure on promotion, including advertising, is an allowable cost under the Voluntary Price Regulation Scheme but will be subject to the limitation I announced on 22nd July which will reduce the allowed cost from 14 per cent. of the industry's sales to 10 per cent. by 1979. I hope that consultations about the proposal to exclude from this limitation advertising in journals which derive or will derive a significant part of their income from subscriptions will be completed by the end of the year. No list of individual publications can be compiled until consultations have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken to ensure that reductions in financial allocations to the regional health authorities covering the London area have not been carried by health districts where facilities are already below levels of their respective region.

It would be impossible to achieve the fairer distribution of resources to the health service in England without restricting allocations to those parts of the country which have been relatively well provided in the past. Decisions on allocations within regions are a matter for the judgment of the regional and area health authorities in the light of all relevant information available to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has considered the recommendations of the Resource Allocation Working Party in connection with the Merseyside Health Region's financial allocations for 1977–78; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Mr. Ovenden) on 11th October.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the future pattern of maternity services in the Crewe Health District.

The Cheshire Area Health Authority proposes that maternity services in the Crewe Health District should be based in the obstetric unit at Leighton Hospital which is to include facilities for general practitioner maternity services. This proposal has not yet been the subject of formal consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultations have been held in connection with the proposed closures of Davenham Hospital, the Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre and Tarporley War Memorial Hospital.

The consultative procedures to be followed in relation to proposals for the closure or change of use of health buildings are set out in Circular HSC(IS)207 which was issued to all health authorities in October 1975. No consultations have been undertaken in connection with the future use of Davenham Hospital, since the Cheshire Area Health Authority has been awaiting my Department's approval for it to proceed to formal consultation, which was given on 6th October. The AHA issued a consultative document in July this year on its proposal for the closure of Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre. There have been no formal consultations about the future of Tarporley War Memorial Hospital, the AHA having resolved to defer a decision thereon until January 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about his future plans for (a) Davenham Hospital, (b) Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre and (c) Tarporley War Memorial Hospital.

It is for the Cheshire Health Authority to plan the part to be played by these hospitals in the future health services of the area. I understand that it is proposing to withdraw the general practitioner maternity services from Davenham Hospital and has in mind its possible development as a community hospital. It is at present considering comments on a consultative document proposing the closure of Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre. The area health authority is expecting to produce a consultative document early next year about the future of Tarporley War Memorial Hospital. Any closure or change of use would depend on the outcome of its consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what special transport facilities he considers would be necessary, and what would be the cost, if the following hospitals were closed: (a) Davenham Hospital, (b) Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre and (c) Tarporley War Memorial Hospital.

The nature of such special facilities, if any, would largely depend on the future pattern of hospital services which has yet to be settled. If it were proposed to close or change the use of any health building, the consultative document issued in accordance with Departmental Circular HSC(IS)207 would have to cover, among other matters, the implications for patients, such as travelling and transport.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services with how many countries Her Majesty's Government have reciprocal welfare arrangements which include payment of benefit for citizens outside their own countries; and how many people from the United Kingdom and EEC countries, respectively, have availed themselves of such facilities, and how many from others with whom such arrangements exist.

Reciprocal arrangements with the other eight EEC member States, and with 16 other countries outside the Community, provide in varying degrees for payment of benefit abroad beyond what would otherwise be possible. The number of persons who have received benefit outside their own countries under these arrangements, some of which have been in force for many years, is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the Cheshire Area Health Authority will publish its strategic plan for the future pattern of the health services in Cheshire.