asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Police Federation of England and Wales continues to refuse to negotiate its conditions of service through the Police Council; and if he will make a statement.

The Police Federation of England and Wales continues not to recognise the Police Council, but I met their representatives last week and I hope a solution to these problems will be found in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Standing Advisory Council on Race Relations.

Arrangements for setting up the council are now well in hand. Local authority and community relations bodies and both sides of industry have appointed representatives to the council and I hope soon to issue invitations to join the council to a number of members of the minority communities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has yet received the final report and recommendations of the Post Office Telecommunications Consultancy Service with regard to possible improvements in the equipment and facilities of the Telephone Enquiry Bureau of the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Department; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. In accordance with its recommendations, new and better equipment for dealing with the department's telephone traffic is being provided. The equipment will take some months to manufacture and install, but the improved system should be operational within the next 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will set up an independent inquiry into recent disturbances at Hull prison and their origins, and publish its findings.

As announced on 17th September, I decided that the Chief Inspector of the Prison Service should undertake an inquiry with the following terms of reference:

"To inquire into the cause and circumstances of the events at H.M. Prison, Hull, during the period 31st August to 3rd September, 1976; and to report."

The inquiry is already in progress. The question of publication will be among the matters I shall wish to consider when I have received and studied the report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many licences have been granted by the Home Office in each of the past five years for the use of animals in cosmetics tests.

Licences issued under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 relate to the qualifications of the licensee and not to the experiments which may be performed under its authority. Information about the number of experiments in which animals are used to test cosmetics is not available. But the revision of the Annual Return of Experiments which is in hand is intended to make more information of this kind available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the Littlewood Committee's recommendations have been implemented.

Almost half the recommendations endorsed the retention of existing controls or proposed that statutory force should be given to restrictions now imposed administratively. As regards the more important of the remaining recommendations, partial implementation has been achieved by an increase in the size of the Cruelty to Animals Inspectorate and the addition of four non-scientific members to the Advisory Committee on the Administration of the Act. In addition, we are at present reviewing the membership and functions of the committee and the amount and type of information published in the Annual Return of Experiments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the results of the review on citizenship, particularly regarding the nationality of children born abroad to British parents.

The review continues but it is not yet possible to say when it will be completed.

ALL INDICTABLE CRIMES KNOWN TO THE POLICE*
	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975
Barking	4,971	4,831	4,971	5,077	5,967	6,374
Barnet	8,913	9,147	9,420	9,443	11,269	12,726
Bexley	4,079	4,336	4,750	4,814	5,685	6,588
Brent	8,940	9,930	10,401	10,685	12,917	14,410
Bromley	6,964	7,734	8,178	9,165	10,301	11,438
Camden	17,539	18,395	18,821	18,519	20,354	20,907
Croydon	10,477	11,220	11,014	11,112	13,220	14,581
Ealing	9,111	10,401	11,602	11,434	13,816	15,269
Enfield	5,690	6,418	6,266	6,010	7,715	9,303
Greenwich	7,554	8,284	8,378	8,550	10,143	10,693
Hackney	11,081	11,501	11,736	11,943	13,922	14,604
Hammersmith	10,058	10,231	11,066	11,177	12,406	13,071
Haringey	8,326	9,315	9,660	9,781	11,711	13,740
Harrow	4,208	4,310	4,656	4,524	5,737	6,501
Havering	5,704	6,253	6,566	6,613	8,838	9,873
Hillingdon†	5,986	5,769	6,621	6,974	8,396	8,864
Hounslow‡	6,399	7,127	7,577	7,542	10,117	10,085
Islington	12,002	13,274	12,996	12,436	13,718	14,876
Kensington and Chelsea	20,318	21,275	21,507	21,573	23,131	23,248
Kingston	4,282	4,748	4,296	3,903	4,920	5,409
Lambeth	15,898	16,240	18,111	18,030	21,509	23,847
Lewisham	10,126	10,611	11,146	12,257	14,721	16,426
Merton	4,514	4,782	4,753	4,660	5,271	6,175
Newham	9,705	9,976	10,023	9,586	11,653	12,128
Redbridge	5,794	6,389	6,457	6,199	7,590	8,189
Richmond	4,975	5,285	5,269	5,492	6,146	6,984
Southwark	12,670	13,054	14,246	15,002	17,632	19,804
Sutton	3,377	3,791	3,588	3,472	4,575	5,077
Tower Hamlets	10,776	12,114	11,714	11,928	13,507	15,069
Waltham Forest	5,996	6,925	6,891	6,089	8,247	8,341
Wandsworth	11,207	12,625	13,082	13,278	14,423	15,881
Westminster	43,856	43,876	48,013	47,627	51,630	55,416
* Excluding criminal damage where property to the value of less than £20 was damaged. The figures exclude crimes reported by Thames Division which cannot be attributed to any particular London borough.
The figures for 1970 and 1971 are not comparable with those for later years because of changes in the law on criminal damage as a result of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.
† Excluding that part of Heathrow airport which is in the borough of Hillingdon.
‡ Excluding that part of Heathrow airport which is in the borough of Hounslow.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many houses owned by the Prison Service are currently unoccupied at Her Majesty's Prison, Acklington.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now publish a revised table showing the totals of indictable crimes known to the police in each of the Greater London boroughs for the years 1970 to 1975 inclusive.

I very much regret that there were some slight inaccuracies in the table published in the Official Report on 10th June in reply to a Question by the hon. Member—(Vol. 912. c. 705–706].—The following table sets out the corrected figures:

142, out of the total of 259 needed for the prison and young offenders' establishment when fully developed. My noble Friend will write to the hon. Member when he has had inquiries made about the interim position.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Secretaries of State for Prices and Consumer Protection and Energy in the matter of implementing the Oakes Report on fuel payments.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection and the Secretary of State for Energy in implementing in the Oakes Report on Fuel Payments.

Yes. The Government's position on this report was stated to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy on 2nd August. Progress is being made in the discussions between the Government and the electricity and gas industries.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the effectivness of his Government's economic policies.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the effectiveness of his Government's economic policies.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the effectiveness of Her Majesty's Government's economic policies.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with progress in implementing the Government's economic policies.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) on 12th October.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the effectiveness of his Government's economic policy.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 12th October.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the progress towards his Government's objectives of lowering unemployment, reducing inflation and upholding the value of sterling.

We have made a good beginning, but there is much more to be done and we shall persevere.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to pay an official visit to Denmark.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14th October.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for Thursday 14th October.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and attended the Memorial Service for Lord Feather. I shall also be meeting Mr. Chavan, Foreign Minister of India, as well as having other engagements.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Industry in relation to the Government's industrial strategy.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham).

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to make an official visit to Western Germany.

I visited the Federal Republic of Germany in June. I have no immediate plans to do so again, but I am in close and regular touch with Herr Schmidt.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to make a ministerial broadcast.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a ministerial broadcast on the state of the national economy.

I refer my hon. Friend and hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. MacGregor) on 27th July.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the Heads of the Group of 10 Governments.

There are no plans for a meeting.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI and TUC.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Conway (Mr. Roberts) on 12th October.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit Australia.

I have been invited to visit Australia, and would welcome an opportunity to do so at a convenient moment. I have no precise dates in mind at present.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the Governor of the Bank of England.

I have no immediate plans to do so, but my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer maintains close contact with him and meets him frequently.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his visit to Merseyside.

I went to Merseyside on 3rd September during my visit to the North-West. My visit greatly helped my understanding of the area and its problems. I had valuable talks with trade unionists, managers, members of the Economic Planning Council and local councillors. These highlighted the matters of major concern to Merseyside—high unemployment and the need for extensive physical renewal.As I stressed repeatedly during my visit, it is of fundamental importance to secure the regeneration of industry if we are to devote more resources to acute urban problems such as those on Merseyside. There are great opportunities for industrial expansion, as I saw, for instance, when I visited Skelmersdale and when I visited the site of a new factory being built to help provide more jobs in the inner area, part of the largest advance factory programme ever mounted by Government on Merseyside.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with co-ordination between the Departments of the Environment and Industry relating to the mineral industry; and if he will indicate which Department has primary responsibility for it.

Yes. There is very close co-ordination between the Departments concerned. Responsibility for the minerals industry is divided between Departments according to the use to which minerals are put. Minerals for the construction industry are dealt with by the Department of the Environment, fuel minerals by the Department of Energy and minerals for general industrial use by the Department of Industry. The Department of the Environment is responsible for land use planning as it affects minerals.

asked the Prime Minister when he expects to announce the results of his consultation with party leaders about the reconvening of the Speaker's Conference on electoral matters.

Some points are still outstanding, but an announcement will be made as soon as they are resolved.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the membership of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.

Yes. The Queen has approved that the following be reappointed members of the Royal Commission:

• The Marchioness of Anglesey
• John Gildas Collingwood, Esquire, B.Sc., F.I.Chem.E., C.Eng.
• Professor Sir Richard Doll, O.B.E., F.R.S., D.M., M.D., F.R.C.P., D.Sc.
• Professor Ronald Ewart Nicoll, M.Sc., F.R.I.C.S., F.R.T.P.I.
• Sir Ralph Verney, Bt., K.B.E., J.P.

Her Majesty has also approved that the following be appointed members:

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what will be the cost to the Exchequer of redundancy payments and early retirement pensions payments of cuts proposed for the Civil Service in 1977–78.

The reductions in forecast numbers resulting from the planned savings in expenditure on Civil Service manpower and related expenditure are unlikely to result in a general redundancy problem. Nevertheless, it is possible that there may be difficulties in a few locations or areas of work. My officials are in touch with the other Departments making reductions, with a view to establishing whether any problem that cannot be dealt with by inter-departmental transfers will arise. Until this work is completed it is not possible to estimate the likely cost, if any, of redundancy payments, etc.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the charges for admission to Stonehenge during the last two and a half years.

Since 1974 the charges have been higher in summer than in winter. There is a reduced rate for retirement pensioners and children. The details are:

	Full Rate	Reduced Rate
1973	10p	5p

	April-September	October-March
1974	20p	10p	5p
1975

			April-September	October-March
1976	40p	10p	10p	5p

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the yield from admission charges to Stonehenge during each of the last three years; and what application has been made of such moneys.

Receipts from admission charges were:

		£
1973	…	55,261
1974	…	81,751
1975	…	83,719
1976 January-June)	…	57,206

These sums have been appropriated in aid of the Vote from which monuments in the Department's care arc maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received to date from local authorities about the incidence of his expenditure cuts on those local authorities who have consistently kept within his earlier guidelines.

The expenditure cuts announced on 22nd July related to capital expenditure in 1977–78: the guidelines issued relate to current expenditure in 1976–77. I have not, therefore, received any representations as suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Lord President of the Council who authorised the green clocks in the Chamber and why, if such timepieces are deemed necessary, something more in keeping with the Chamber was not installed.

The installation of digital clocks in the side Galleries of the Chamber was authorised in accordance with a resolution of the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) of 28th January 1975. The decision on the design of the clocks was taken after consideration by the Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee of the Services Committee.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will remove the digital clocks from the Chamber of the House and substitute others which are smaller, less distracting and which fit in with the dignity and decor of the Chamber.

No. I refer my hon and learned Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) today.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if lie will publish in the Offical Report a list of bodies, both official and non-official, to which he has the right to make unpaid appointments and indicate for each body the number of such appointments.

This information is not readily available, but I will try to help the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many specialist civilian staff of his Department will be moved to Norfolk to fill jobs created as a result of the reorganisation at RAF Sculthorpe.

About 25.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many new jobs are being created as a result of the reorganisation at RAF Sculthorpe; and if he will make a statement.

Following the reorganisation at RAF Sculthorpe there will be 86 United Kingdom civilians employed there, compared with a total of 22 formerly. There will, therefore, be a net gain of 64 jobs. A number of the original 22 posts will be regraded.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the new jobs being created as a result of the reorganisation at RAF Sculthorpe will be available to local people.

About 39.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects that his Department will complete its appointments of personnel for the new jobs created by the reorganisation at RAF Sculthorpe.

It is anticipated that most of the appointments will be made by the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the measures taken to combat poaching by foreign trawlers within the British 12-mile limits; and what steps he is taking to make these measures more efficient.

I am entirely satisfied with the measures taken to combat poaching by foreign trawlers. The Fishery Protection Squadron of the Royal Navy is responsible for ensuring that British fishery limits are respected; moreover, if the need should arise, other ships and aircraft could be called up at short notice to assist.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of any members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces seconded to serve in the forces of foreign countries who are at present held as prisoners overseas as the result of being captured during the course of hostilities.

There is none.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions she has had with the chairman of the Science Research Council in view of the financial difficulties facing the Science Research Council.

	Home students		Overseas students
Academic year	Men	Women	Men	Women	Total
Students admitted
1970–71	560	204	50	8	822
1971–72	616	210	49	7	882
1972–73	633	273	37	10	953
1973–74	625	281	13	9	928
1974–75	636	277	22	5	940
Students obtaining qualifications
1970–71	537	140	15	4	696
1971–72	486	130	23	7	646
1972–73	497	162	19	2	680
1973–74	502	157	26	9	694
1974–75	458	162	43	11	674

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what

I am expecting to have a general discussion with the Chairman of the Science Research Council soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she intends to set up a National Advisory Council for Adult Education, which was proposed in the Russell Report; and if she will make a statement.

My Department issued in July a discussion paper on the proposed establishment of a National Advisory Council for Adult and Continuing Education for formal comment by the local authority associations as representatives of the largest providers of adult education and, at that stage, for the information of other interested parties. We are now considering our next action in the light of the local authority associations' response.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many dental students have commenced training at British dental schools in each of the last five years; and how many have been successful in qualifying, by sex and origin of students.

The numbers of students admitted to courses leading to first registrable dental qualifications at dental schools in Great Britain, and the numbers obtaining such qualifications, for the last five available years, were:action she intends to take on each recommendation of the report of the National Union of Students Disabled Students Research Unit for which her Department has responsibility; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has written to the National Union of Students accepting its proposal for a meeting with officials to discuss the important problems raised in this report. The recommendations will be reviewed in the light of that meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions she has had with the Schools Council regarding proposals for a common system of examining at 16-plus.

I am still considering the Schools Council's proposals for a common system of examining at 16-plus. I have not had discussions with the council about them so far, but will do so at the appropriate time.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report a list of bodies, both official and non-official, to which he has the right to make unpaid appointments and indicate for each body the number of such appointments.

My right hon. Friend makes unpaid appointments to the bodies listed below. The number of appointments currently held on this basis is shown in each case:

Advisory Committee on Fixed Offshore Installations	11
Advisory Council on Energy Conservation	15
Advisory Council on Research and Development for Fuel and Power	12
Nuclear Power Advisory Board	8
Offshore Energy Technology Board	15

asked the Secretary of State for Energy which organisation will administer the £25 million fuel bills subsidies scheme for pensioners; and when the said organisation will start work.

Details of the administration are being finalised, and my right hon. Friend shall make a statement in good time for pensioners and others in receipt of supplementary benefit or family income supplement to claim their discount on their winter bills from electricity boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how he decided to allocate the £25 million he has set aside to assist the less well off with their fuel bills.

I have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy gave in answer to my hon. Friend's Question of 2nd August. My right hon. Friend will be announcing the finalised details of the scheme shortly.—[Vol. 916, c. 540.]

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish figures for the last 10 years showing the number of lighters in use on the River Thames, the amount of freight carried by lighters and the number of registered lightermen employed.

I am informed that the figures are as follows:

(1)		(2)	(3)	(4)
Year		Number of Lighters in use on River Thames	Amount of freight carried by Lighters million tonnes*	Number of registered lightermen employed
1966	…	5,245	9·6	3,328
1967	…	5,134	7·9	3,214
1968	…	4,228	7·4	2,916
1969	…	3,962	6·8	2,103
1970	…	3,640	5·7	1,817
1971	…	2,598	4·9	1,649
1972	…	2,220	3·8	1,272
1973	…	2,172	3·9	1,232
1974	…	2,052	3·7	1,139
1975	…	1,788	2·9	954
* Includes GLC refuse.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if it is proposed to complete the M25; and, if so, when it will be completed.

The M25 is the Government's highest priority road scheme. Completion is currently expected in about 1983, subject to satisfactory completion of the necessary statutory procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is aware that a constituent of the hon. Member for Eccles applied for renewal of a car licence on 13th April 1976, but had not received his licence by 11th September 1976 though the cheque for this licence was promptly cashed by his Department; if he will make sure that such things do not happen again; if he will compensate the car owner for the loss of the use of his vehicle for over five months; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of the course of events and regret the circumstances but cannot add usefully to the letter I sent my hon. Friend on 30th September when I repeated the apology already given to my hon. Friend's constituent.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will issue a general directive to the National Bus Company that it should purchase British-built buses.

No. The National Bus Company buys almost exclusively British-built buses, and I understand that it intends to continue to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in view of the likely cost of £40,000 to Essex County Council of converting the digit "3" in "30" from a flat top to a round top, and in view of the economic state of the country, he will introduce new regulations to give existing road signs a longer life.

Under present regulations, speed limit signs with a flat-top "3" would become illegal on 1st January 1978. Local authorities have been notified this week of my proposal to make amending regulations extending the time limit, but I first have to undertake the normal statutory consultation with interested bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now introduce legislation to amend the Road Traffic Act 1972 so as to enable a court when dealing with an offender liable to be disqualified from holding a driving licence, to order that the offender should be disqualified from holding a licence for all vehicles except Class L on the driving licence.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to amend the Road Traffic Act 1972 to permit milk roundsmen to drive slow moving electrically powered milk floats without holding an ordinary driving licence.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to end the ban on the transfer of cherished numbers by staff of the Swansea Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre; and whether he will make a statement.

Proposals have been put to the unions concerned. I await their response.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he can give to motorists who wish to place cherished numbers on their cars.

To await the outcome of current discussions in the negotiating machinery, bearing in mind that in selling a vehicle the vendor loses any entitlement to its registration mark.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he can give of the number of motorists who have been affected by the ban imposed by staff at the Swansea Vehicle Licensing Centre.

About one in 1,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether it still remains Government policy that the transfer of cherished numbers should continue.

Yes, but under tighter rules than hitherto.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development whether the Crown Agents' accounts for 1975 have yet been published.

Yes. They were published on 10th September and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development whether he is prepared to offer assistance to the Rhodesian refugees in Mozambique.

As was stated in the reply given to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South-West (Mrs. Wise) on 6th August, assistance to refugees is the responsibility of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to whose funds Her Majesty's Government contribute. In addition, however, Her Majesty's Government has also offered to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees a special contribution of £100,000 for Rhodesian refugees in Mozambique to be used for the provision of alternative accommodation and welfare facilities, and in the longer term for the support of the High Commission's assistance in agriculture, health and education. Parliamentary approval for an initial contribution of £50,000 will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate, for the Overseas Aid: Subhead B6 of Class II 8 Vote. Pending that approval, the necessary expenditure will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund—[Vol. 916, c. 1119.]

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will make a statement on the British Government's position on the proposed International Fund for Agricultural Development and report on recent developments.

This fund has not yet been set up because the agreed pledging target of $1,000 million has not been achieved. The Secretary-General of the United Nations has addressed an appeal to all interested countries in an attempt to mobilise additional funds and Her Majesty's Government have in response offered, subject to the approval of Parliament, £3 million additional to the original pledge of £15 million of which I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Mr. Graham) in reply to his Question on 24th October 1975. When the likely incidence of expenditure is known, parliamentary approval will be sought in the next estimate for the Overseas Aid Vote. Our contribution will be made available in the form of a non-negotiable, non-interest bearing promissory note payable on demand.We have made it clear that our offer is made in the hope of encouraging other countries to increase their present contributions in such a way as to at least attain the target of $1,000 million, while preserving the broad principle of rough parity between OECD and OPEC country contributions to which we continue to attach importance.As a result of the Secretary-General's appeal, the pledged total now stands at $967·736 million, made up as follows:

				$ million
Category 1	…	(OECD)	…	538·036
Category II	…	(OPEC)	…	420·000
Category III	…		…	9·700(in convertible currencies)

Category III comprises those developing countries which will be eligible for assistance from the fund.It is hoped that the gap between the total contributions pledged and the $1,000 million target will be bridged in the near future. In anticipation of the target being reached, two important steps have already been taken. The text of the IFAD Agreement has been agreed, adopted and initialled by all interested countries, including the United Kingdom; and the IFAD Preparatory Commission has been set up to work out proposals for a wide range of matters including rules of procedure and regulations to govern financing by the fund. This preparatory commission has just completed its first full working session and will meet again in Rome in the week beginning 13th December 1976 to review the status of pledges to the fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will outline the qualifications currently required for the descendants of United Kingdom passport holders in African countries to obtain passports of the "United Kingdom and Colonies", in cases where they are the grandchildren of the original United Kingdom passport holders at the time of independence.

A man who acquired citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies by birth, registration or naturalisation in a former United Kingdom dependency in Africa retained that status if, when the country concerned attained independence, he failed to acquire the local citizenship or he had certain connections with the United Kingdom or a remaining dependency. His children born after the relevant independence date are citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies wherever born. His son's child will be a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies if the place of birth of the son or the child is in the United Kingdom or a territory which was or is a colony, protectorate, protected state or trust territory at the time of the birth concerned. Alternatively, the son's child will be a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies if born in a foreign country and the birth is registered at a British consulate, or the son is in Crown service when the child is born.A citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, however his citizenship is derived, qualifies to hold a British passport.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the progress of the constitutional discussions in Rhodesia.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement my right hon. Friend made on 12th October.—[Vol. 917, c. 240–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will discuss with African member States of the United Nations the possibility of a peacekeeping force to supervise the transition to majority rule in Rhodesia;(2) if he will seek to arrange discussions through the Commonwealth Secretariat on the possibility of a Commonwealth peacekeeping force to supervise the transition to majority rule in Rhodesia.

No. A major aim of the forthcoming conference on Rhodesia will be to reach an agreement acceptable to all the parties concerned on the formation of an interim Government to pave the way to a rapid, but orderly, transition to majority rule, thus making unnecessary any international peace keeping force in Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with President Samora Machel about the future of Rhodesia and relations between Mozambique and Rhodesia.

I last met President Samora Machel in Maputo on 1st October as part of a continuing process of consultation on problems connected with Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with Joshua Nkomo, Bishop Muzorewa and Robert Mugabe concerning the future of Rhodesia.

The Government have maintained, and continue to maintain, regular contact with all three nationalist leaders through Her Majesty's representatives in Africa. I last met Joshua Nkomo and Bishop Muzorewa on 4th October in Salisbury.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Asians with British passports are resident in Rhodesia.

This information is not available. However, the 1969 Rhodesian census shows that 558 Rhodesians of Asian descent then claimed United Kingdom citizenship.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a list of bodies, both official and nonofficial, to which he has the right to make unpaid appointments and indicate for each body the number of such appointments.

My right hon. Friend makes honorary appointments to the following bodies:

The Imperial War Museum	2
The Commonwealth Foundation	1
The Commonwealth Institute	22
The Southern Rhodesia (Higher Authority for Power) Order 1970	2
The Advisory Committee on Rhodesian Travel Restrictions	4
The Unofficial Advisory Group on UN Affairs	14
Marshall Scholarship Commission	8
School of Oriental and African Studies	3
University College of Wales (Aberystwyth): Wilson Chair of International Politics Advisory Board	1
Advisory Panel on Arms Control and Disarmament	19
Anglo Soviet Consultative Committee	10
Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind	1
Great Britain/China Centre	1
Great Britain/East European Centre	1
The Universities China Committee	1
Commonwealth Telecommunications Council	1
Lloyd Foundation	1
The British Council	1

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protests have been made to the Government of South Africa against the imprisonment of David and Susan Rabkind.

We were active in making forceful representations to the South African Government after the arrest of Dr. and Mrs. Rabkin. But we have not made representations since their conviction under South African law on charges to which they had pleaded guilty. Consular officials have seen them both since they were sentenced and will con- tinue to give whatever assistance they properly can.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now apply diplomatic, economic or other pressures on South Africa in the light of her refusal to terminate her illegal occupation of Namibia by the date laid down by the Security Council, namely, 31st August 1976.

The Security Council's decision, in its Resolution No. 385, was to reconvene on or before 31st August to review South Africa's compliance with its terms. When the Council met on 31st August, it was agreed to defer discussion. The debate began on 28th September and is still in progress. We have throughout been maintaining strong diplomatic pressure on the South African Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what harbour improvements for fishery and other purposes, respectively, are in progress and are planned.

The new port of Warrenpoint is nearing completion and major improvement programmes are in hand, or planned for Belfast and Larne. Local authorities with the assistance of Government funds are carrying out maintenance, improvement and remedial works at seven small harbours. A dredging programme is planned for Coleraine, and a report on improving the harbour facilities at Rathlin Island is in preparation. In addition, a technical survey has been undertaken to determine how Northern Ireland's small harbours can best be brought up to a reasonable standard of repair.As regards the main fishing harbours of Kilkeel, Portavogie and Ardglass, dredging operations are in progress at the first, and improvements to the facilities of all three harbours are planned for the near future. I will write to the hon. Member sending him details of the above schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is satisfied with the representation of Northern Ireland interests in the European Economic Community; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes, Northern Ireland's interests are taken fully into account in the formulation of United Kingdom policy towards the Community. There is well-established machinery for close liaison between Departments in Belfast and London and the Office of the United Kingdom Representative in Brussels.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement about the Northern Ireland Fish Producers' Organisation.

The Northern Ireland Fish Producers' Organisation has a membership representing the owners of approximately 90 fishing boats. It was established in 1975 in accordance with EEC regulations and given official recognition by the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture on 2nd January 1976.The organisation has been operating a market support system within its economic area since 26th April 1976; this area covers the whole of the Northern Ireland coast and the North-West coast of England from St. Bees Head to the Scottish border. The organisation qualifies for compensation from EEC funds when fish landed by members fails to reach at least the official EEC withdrawal price when offered for sale for human consumption.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now take steps to raise the turnover exemption limit for registration for value added tax.

No. The legal provisions relating to the exemption limit are kept under continuous review. My hon. Friend the Financial Secretary, during the debate on Clause 14 of the Finance Bill on 11th May, pointed out some of the advantages of registration and the difficulties which would be involved in a change in the exemption limit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to remove the imposition of value added tax from charges made by local authorities for emptying of cesspools and septic tanks at domestic properties by local authorities.

I will bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind, but local authorities are in competition with private contractors, so it would not be possible to relieve local authority charges alone.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next proposes to visit the IMF.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next proposes to meet the Chairman of the International Monetary Fund.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to negotiate further loans from the International Monetary Fund.

I announced on 29th September that I had informed the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund of my intention to apply for a standby which would make available the United Kingdom's remaining credit tranches in the fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the dates in 1974, 1975 and 1976 and the amounts of money borrowed from the IMF; and what were the interest rates for each year.

No drawings were made by the United Kingdom in 1974 or 1975. In January 1976 the United Kingdow drew the remaining portion, £174 million of the gold tranche, the rest of which had been drawn in 1972. At the same time a drawing of £573 million from the 1975 IMF oil facility was also made. In May 1976, £473 million was drawn from the first credit tranche. Table 11.5 of Financial Statistics gives full details.The rate of interest payable on the oil facility drawing is 7⅝ per cent. per annum for the first three years, 7¾, per cent. for the fourth year and 7⅞ per cent. for the next three years. The rate of interest on credit tranche drawings is 4 per cent. for the first year and rises by ½ per cent, to a maximum of 6 per cent. No interest is payable on gold tranche drawings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he proposes to bring forward further economic measures in the near future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to bring forward economic measures in the near future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to introduce further economic measures.

I would refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the rate of inflation at the latest date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual rate of inflation at the latest convenient date.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker), and to the hon. Members for City of Chester (Mr. Morrison) and for Hazel Grove (Mr. Arnold).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that, calculated on the same basis, the public spending borrowing requirement (PSBR) ratio of the United Kingdom is lower than that of Japan and Western Germany; and if he will reconsider his policy of cutting back public expenditure.

I take it my hon. Friend is referring to a comparison of general Government financial balances as a proportion of GNP recently published in Economic Trends. It was there made clear that the figure for Japan was not comparable with those for other countries. As for public expenditure, I have nothing to add to my statement of 22nd July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to announce any further cuts in public expenditure; and if he will make a statement about the level of public expenditure.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Gow).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what modifications he intends to make to the Government's economic targets as announced in his statement of 22nd July and in his speech of 2nd August as a result of the drought.

The drought and the hot weather will undoubtedly have an effect on output in agriculture and in some other industries, and on the price of certain foods. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture has already announced, on 5th October certain measures including increases in the guaranteed prices of milk and sheep to help ensure that effects on agricultural output are minimised. There is not enough firm evidence available to assess what effect, if any, the drought is likely to have on any of the targets announced in the statement of 22nd July and in the speech of 2nd August.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the present level of investment in industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Watkinson) earlier today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is currently the total of loans and borrowings in foreign exchange of the nationalised industries, local governments, and Government agencies, the proportion for which a liability has been accepted to repay at a rate of exchange for sterling other than currently ruling; and what is the consequent total contingent liability at the latest rate of exchange.

All these loans are repayable in the currencies in which they were taken. The total outstanding is equivalent to £5·7 billion at current market rates, but repayments of principal occur only as loans mature, mainly after 1979. The amount of sterling necessary to repay the maturing loans will depend on the exchange rates then ruling.

$ million (to nearest $10 million)
				Her Majesty's Government
				$2·5 billion loan	IMF drawings	Standby credit facility	Nationalised Industries	Local Authorities
1970	…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—
1971	…	…	…	—	—	—	170	20
1972	…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—
1973	…	…	…	—	—	—	2,180	560
1974	…	…	…	1,500	—	—	2,170	760
1975	…	…	…	1,000	—	—	970	—
1976—	…	…	…
1st quarter	…	…	…	—	1,210	—	700	—
2nd quarter	…	…	…	—	840	1,030	1,100	—
3rd quarter	…	…	…	—	—	na	850*	—
* Provisional estimate.

Precise information of total interest payments to date on foreign currency borrowing by nationalised industries and local authorities is not readily available, but they are running at current interest rates at an annual rate of about $0·7 billion. Information about interest payments on central Government borowing in foreign currencies is published annually on a financial year basis. The latest available information relates to 1974–75, when the only relevant borrowing was the Her Majesty's Government $2·5 billion loan on which interest payments were equivalent to £14·3 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before considering other import controls, he will restrict the import of tobacco.

In his Budget Speech on 6th April 1976 my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out the Government's policy in this area. We have said that general import

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing total overseas borrowing by the public sector in each year since 1970, and in each quarter to date of 1976, distinguishing between loans to central Government, local authorities and nationalised industries and also showing the cost of debt interest in each year.

I assume the hon. Member is interested in the medium-term foreign currency borrowing of the United Kingdom public sector for domestic purposes. The extent of such borrowing in the years 1970–75 and the first three-quarters of 1976, allocated between Her Majesty's Government, nationalised industries and local authorities is as follows:controls are not a solution to our economic problems since they would provoke retaliation against our exports, disrupt those manufacturing industries dependent on imports of components and semi-manufactures, and run counter to our obligations to several international organisations. We remain ready, however, to impose temporary selective controls where the future of viable United Kingdom industries is placed in jeopardy by excessive imports. In the case of tobacco, there is, of course, no United Kingdom industry benefit from controls over imports of this raw material.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the figures for uncollected income tax are available for 1975; and, if so, if he will publish them in the Official Report.

The figure of income tax outstanding at the end of the account to 31st October 1975 was £744·7 million. Of this amount £300·1 million was presently collectible at that date out of £333 million estimated to be ultimately recoverable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of Customs officers employed at Dover, Folkestone, Harwich and Newhaven, compared with the number employed at these ports immediately prior to the entry of the United Kingdom into the EEC.

The number of staff employed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise at the four ports immediately prior to the United Kingdom's entry into the EEC, and at 1st October 1976, were:

		31st December 1972	1st October 1976
Dover	…	375	650
Folkestone	…	50	97
Harwich	…	248	285
Newhaven	…	75	84
Total	…	748	1,116

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what losses have been sustained by nationalised industries on foreign currency loans to them because of the fall of the value of the £ sterling over the last 12 months; and if it is the intention of the Government to compensate the nationalised industries affected.

Most foreign currency borrowing by nationalised industries is under the exchange cover scheme, which protects the industries from the effects of exchange rate changes. The exchange risk is borne by the Exchange Equalisation Account, with the industries concerned paying for this insurance by surrendering to the Exchange Equalisation Account part of the interest benefit from borrowing in foreign currencies rather than sterling.A small proportion of nationalised industry borrowing is, however, on an uncovered basis; the total outstanding was equivalent to £310 million at end-September 1975 exchange rates, compared with £390 million at end-September 1976 exchange rates. No losses are, however, incurred by the nationalised industries until the loans are actually repaid, which in many cases will not be for several years, and their size will depend on the exchange rates ruling at the time of repayment, and so cannot be predicted. The Government have no intention to pay compensation for any losses on these loans.