asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied in present circumstances that a £400 maximum fine for football hooligans is adequate.

Football hooligans may be charged with many different offences for which there is a wide range of penalties, including imprisonment. We are satisfied that in general these are adequate, but some are being reconsidered by our Department in the course of a general review of maximum summary fines.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will co-ordinate with police forces and football authorities in the creation of a national policy to prevent hooliganism and violence.

I hope to discuss the issues raised by the deplorable incidents at the match between Aston Villa and Glasgow Rangers on 9th October with chief officers of police and with representatives of the football organisations, after I have received and considered a report on the match from the Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police. I am keeping in touch with other Ministers concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he considers that the present establishment level of the Metropolitan Police is satisfactory; and when the establishment figure was created.

The present establishment is 26,628, having been increased by 573 when the Metropolitan Police assumed responsibility for policing Heathrow Airport in November 1974. The strength of the force on 31st August was 4,596 below this figure, and although recruitment is going well we do not consider that a review of the establishment would serve any useful purpose at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the level of police recruitment in the Metropolitan Police for each month of 1976.

The information is as follows:

1976		Recruitment	Wastage	Net gain in strength
January	…	145	100	42
February	…	151	72	84
March	…	148	78	70
April	…	159	67	86
May	…	199	101	88
June	…	190	89	119
July	…	318	144	183
August	…	236	108	133
TOTAL	…	1,546	759	805

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the cost of a firearms certificate in each of the last 10 years.

The fee for the grant of a firearm certificate was 5s. until 1969, when it was increased to £2. 10s. It was subsequently increased to £3 10s. in 1971, £7 in 1975 and £12 in 1976. Since 1969 the fees have been set at a level intended to cover the costs of operating the firearms controls without requiring subsidies from rates or taxes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any discussions were held with the Long Room Committee before the recent announcement of increases in the charge for the issue and renewal of firearm certificates.

The Long Room Committee was given advance notice of the Government's decision to increase the fees, but the decision was not discussed with the Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the increase in charges for the renewal of a firearms certificate from £4·50 to £10 and the administrative procedures involved in reissuing such certificates.

It is the Government's policy that the costs of operating the controls under the Firearms Act 1968 should be recovered from the fees charged for firearms certificates and the registration of firearms dealers. The fees introduced by the Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 1976, based on a survey of the costs of operating the controls in a representative sample of police forces in 1975, are set at the lowest level required to cover police expenditure. The costs involved in the renewal of a firearm certificate arise mainly from the inquiries made by the police to establish the continued suitability of the applicant and of the security arrangements for the firearm.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration was given to the effect on the sporting use of firearms before the increases in the charges for the granting and renewal of firearms certificates from 1st October 1976 were introduced.

We have no reason to believe that the increased fees will lead to any significant decrease in the number of people holding firearm certificates for sporting purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the resentment caused by the increased fees both for the issue and replacement of firearms certificates, he will publish details of the average cost of issuing a certificate and of issuing a replacement certificate in the Metropolitan Police area.

The average cost of issuing a firearm certificate in the Metropolitan Police area in 1975 was £50·96. The average cost of issuing a replacement was £42·43, when the number of firearms covered by the certificate was increased, and £17·80, when the number of firearms was not increased.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the electorate size of 24,114 for the Newcastle Central constituency compares with the average size of electorate for constituencies in England.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 27th July to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield and Tamworth (Mr. Grocott) in which the information was set out.—[Vol. 916, c. 138–52.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present prison population in England and Wales; and what were the figures in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971.

On 30th September 1976 the total population in prison department establishments was 41,790. On the corresponding date in the other years the numbers were:

1966	…	…	33,923
1967	…	…	34,611
1968	…	…	32,319
1969	…	…	35,619
1970	…	…	40,257
1971	…	…	39,545

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider introducing legislation to reduce the opening hours of take-away food shops.

We have no plans for such legislation at present, but if the hon. Member has in mind any problems arising in his own constituency, I would draw his attention to the provision for the control of take-away food shops contained in Part IV of the Greater London Council (General Powers) Act which received the Royal Assent on 6th August this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for manslaughter there have been between January and August 1976; what was the average sentence for each conviction; and how many convictions there were for manslaughter in 1970, for a comparable period.

Information for 1976 is not yet available.The following table gives details of sentences for 1970 and for 1975 the last year for which figures are available:

PERSONS FOUND GUILTY OF THE OFFENCE OF MANSLAUGHTER: BY TYPE OF SENTENCE
					Sentence
											Imprisonment
												Immediate
Year					Total found guilty	Hospital or Restriction Order	Probation Order	Borstal Training	Suspended	Up to and including 2 years	Over 2 years up to and including 3 years	Over 3 years up to and including 4 years	Over 4 years up to and including 10 years	Over 10 years	Life	Other
1970	…	…	…	…	190	39	15	1	13	22	29	12	34	—	12	13
1975	…	…	…	…	262	29	22	9	19	17	48	29	54	5	16	14

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now received the report from the National Council for Social Services on charities: and if he will make a statement.

No. This inquiry into charity law was commissioned by the National Council of Social Service and I understand that the council expects to publish the report in December this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to introduce legislation based on the final report of the Working Party on Vagrancy and Street Offences.

As announced on publication of the report, the Government have accepted it in principle. We propose to take suitable legislative opportunities to give effect to its recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the dispute between the Police Federation and the Police Council relating to negotiations on a pay claim under phase one of the Government/TUC incomes policy.

I refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) on 11th October—[Vol. 917, c. 41–2.]—and

Name of Body	Number of unpaid appointments	Remarks
Boards of Visitors (Prisons etc.)	1,350
Common Police Services, Central Committee on.	26
Conservators of Wimbledon and Putney Commons.	1	Similar appointments are made by the Secretaries of State for Defence and the Environment.
Criminal Law Revision Committee	12
Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, Advisory Committee on Administration of.	14
Data Protection Committee	13
Fire Brigades Central Advisory Council for England and Wales.	2
Fire Services Central Examinations Board	5
Fire Service College Board	6	Two other members are appointed by the Secretary of State for Scotland.
Fire Service Research and Training Trust	5	Jointly with the Secretary of State for Scotland.
Frequency Advisory Committee	14

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give details of those matters for which his Department will be responsible in Scotland, after the implementation of the Government's present devolution proposals.

Apart from summer time—responsibility for which is to be devolved—the matters for which I shall retain responsibility in Scotland will be the same as at present. They include the law of treason and other aspects of the criminal law affecting State security; measures against terrorism; extradition; nationality and immigration control; community relations; the Race Relations and Sex Discrimination Acts; broadcasting and radio regulation—subject to what is said in paragraph 154 of Cmnd. 6438; dangerous drugs; and poisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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.

The number of appointments, excluding civil servants who serve in the course of their duty is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976; and how many were held for more than 48 hours.

643 and 109, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested under the supplemental orders made under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974; how many were held for more than 48 hours; and how many were held for more than seven days.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a similar Question from her on 13th April.—[Vol. 909, c. 465.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role he plays in the work of the Police Council; and whether the invitation to enter into discussions with the Police Federation on the form of negotiating machinery that would meet the needs of the police service has been accepted by him.

Officials of my Department sit as members of the Official Side of the Police Council. I have met representatives of the Police Federation to discuss the present difficulties and I should be glad to have further talks with them, and with representatives of the other interested bodies, in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recommendations for deportation have been made in each of the past 10 years, and up to September 1976; and how many people have been deported.

The information given below, which relates to recommendations for deportation by courts, is not entirely in the form requested; additional information could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

Year	Number of recommendations for deportation by courts	Number of deportation orders made following court recommendations
1966	569	300
1967	531	321
1968	659	346
1969	764	479
1970	793	496
1971	824	498
1972	809	482
1973	677	423
1974	638	284
1975	875	361
1976	775	341
(to 31st August)

Deportation orders may be made in a particular calendar year following court recommendations made earlier.I would remind the hon. Member that deportation may take place otherwise than on the recommendation of a court. In addition, persons recommended for deportation may be removed from the country under arrangements for supervised departure, without formal deportation. Others leave the country voluntarily before a decision on a recommendation to deport is reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for centralising court administration along the lines of the Courts Act 1971.

We have no plans for centralising the administration of magistrates' courts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of Lord Justice Edward Sutcliffe's remarks in the Central Criminal Court about the sentences which he was able to give young men, all under 18 years of age involved in a four-man rape case as being a mockery of the young woman's suffering, he will bring forward an amendment to the Children and Young Persons Act to make imprisonment a mandatory sentence for those of all ages found guilty of rape.

No doubt the hon. Member has by now seen Judge Sutcliffe's further statement in which he corrected the impression conveyed in his earlier remarks. The Crown Court has power under Section 53(2) of the Chidren and Young Persons Act 1933, as amended, to order a young person aged under 17 who is found guilty of rape to be detained for such period, not exceeding the maximum term of imprisonment with which the offence is punishable in the case of an adult, as may be specified in the sentence. The maximum term of imprisonment for rape is life. Where such detention is ordered the offender concerned is liable to be detained in such place and on such conditions as the Secretary of State may direct. I see no need for any amendment to these provisions; in particular, I would not favour a mandatory sentence.

asked the Lord Advocate what is the Government's policy with regard to prosecutions for breaking the law in respect of homosexual activities between consenting adults in private in Scotland.

There is no collective responsibility on the Government to make any decisions relating to prosecutions in Scotland. As Lord Advocate I have responsibility for the public prosecution of crime in Scotland and it is my responsibility to decide whether to prosecute, in what court and on what charge. I have not changed the policy adopted by previous Lord Advocates not to prosecute cases of homosexual activities between consenting adults in private. That policy was formulated for reasons similar to those which prompted the Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution, to make their recommendation relating to this matter. Before qualifying for such consideration, both parties must be over 21, each must have clearly and freely consented, and the place must be private in the sense that the public have no right of access to it and that what is done there cannot be observed by the public.

asked the Lord Advocate how many prosecutions there have been in Scotland in each of the last 10 years for homosexual activities between consenting adults in private.

There is no record of any prosecution in Scotland in any of the last 10 years for homosexual activities between consenting adults in private.

asked the Lord Advocate which legislation concerning sexual offences in Scotland is not included in the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Consolidation Bill presently being considered by Parliament.

The main statutory provisions concerning offences in Scotland with a sexual connotation which are not included in the Bill are the Burgh Police (Scotland) Act 1892, Sections 380, 381, 401 and 403; the Vagrancy Act 1824, Section 4, as applied to Scotland by the Prevention of Crime Act 1871, Section 15; and the Incest Act 1567. Local Acts are also excluded from the Bill.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what discussions he has had, and with whom, concerning the offer by Alginate Industries Limited to make a substantial investment in the Falkland Islands; and what were the results.

The Managing Director of Alginate Industries Limited presented his views to my officials on 25th August, during a discussion with members of the Falkland Islands Committee on the economic survey of the Falkland Islands undertaken by Lord Shackleton. The views put forward at that meeting are being taken into account in the Government's consideration of the report.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development 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.

The following is the information required:

Bodies and Number of Appointments
Advisory Committee on the Selection of Low Priced Books for Overseas	11
British Council (Executive Committee)	1
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission	15
Imperial College of Science and Technology (Governing Body)	1
Inter-University Council for Higher Education Overseas	1
Overseas Students Fees Award Committee	2
Queen Elizabeth House Oxford (Governing Body)	4
School of Oriental and African Studies (Governing Body)	1
Technical Education and Training Organisation for Overseas Countries (Board of Governors)	3
Royal Veterinary College (The Council)	1
Tropical Products Institute Advisory Committee	9
Trypanosomiasis Panel	11
Indian Pension Funds:
The Indian Civil Service Family Pension Fund (Transferred) Scheme	4
The Indian Military Service Family Pension Fund (Transferred) Scheme	4
The Indian Military Widows and Orphans Fund (Tranferred) Scheme	4
Superior Services (India) Family Pension Fund (Transferred) Scheme	4
Overseas Service Pensions Scheme (Advisory Board)	*4
Overseas Superannuation Scheme (Advisory Board)	*4
Centre for International Briefing (Farnham Castle) (Governing Body)	2
Advisory Council at the International Cooperative Training Centre	1
Institute of Development Studies (Governing Body)	18
National Council of Social Service (International Committee)	1
Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind	2
Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind (The Council)	2
British Post-Graduate Medical Federation (Governing Body)	2
Bureau of Hygiene and Tropical Diseases (Managing Committee)	12
Economic and Social Committee for Overseas Research	18
Imperial Cancer Research Fund (Governing Body)	1

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the law or regulations of the EEC which would prevent Great Britain from introducing food rationing.

The effect, if any, of our EEC obligations could only be judged at the time in the light of the details of any proposals in this field that might be put forward.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to reintroduce the subsidy on lime; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans to reintroduce the lime subsidy. My Department will, however, take every opportunity through the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service and by other appropriate means to remind farmers of the need to determine what liming is necessary and then to carry through the right liming programme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tons of hay have been exported to other EEC countries during the last three months; and if he will make a statement.

Exports of hay from the United Kingdom to other EEC countries: during the period 1st July 1976 to 30th September 1976 were as follows:

		Quantity tonnes
Netherlands	…	4,486
France	…	1,658
Belgium/Luxembourg	…	506
Irish Republic	…	19
Denmark	…	10
Germany	…	7
		6,686

These exports represent only about 0·1 per cent. of total United Kingdom production and supplies to United Kingdom farmers should not be significantly affected.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the rate of expansion in the dairy industry; and if he will make a statement.

The drought has temporarily impeded the recovery in the dairy industry which began in the last quarter of 1975 and extended into 1976. But the recent improvement in grazing conditions, together with the increase in the guaranteed price for milk announced on 5th October, should help ensure that the milk sector is in a position to resume expansion towards the levels envisaged in the Government's White Paper "Food From Our Own Resources".

asked the Minister for the Civil Service 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.

I have made the following unpaid appointments:

Computer Agency Council	7 members
Advisory Committee on the Appointment of Advertising Agents	7 members

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how often a civil servant has been adjudged for the purposes of Section 8(2) of the Civil Service Scheme to have been convicted of an offence involving gross misconduct against the State; and what effect such an adjudication has had on the accrued pension rights of the civil servants concerned.

Action under Section 8(2) of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme, introduced from 1st July 1972, has been taken in one such case. The personal pension was reduced by some 50 per cent. and the associated lump sum was withheld.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what would be the cost to public funds of paying immediately increases in public service pension which under present arrangements are postponed until the age of 55 years or later.

It is estimated that the cost in 1976–77 of paying cumulative pensions increase immediately to those public sector pensioners below age 55 from whom it is at present withheld until that age would be of the order of £39 million.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list those public service pensions which are revalued to take account of inflation but where the increase is postponed until the age of 55 years or later; and how many pensioners are included in each category.

Under the Pensions (increase) Act 1971, as amended

					Leicestershire		Former Leicester CB
					Primary	Secondary	Primary	Secondary
1971–72—
Started	…	…	…	…	7	1	6	1
Completed	…	…	…	…	1	1	2	—
1972–73—
Started	…	…	…	…	3	2	3	—
Completed	…	…	…	…	6	—	7	2
1973–74—
Started	…	…	…	…	4	2	1	—
Completed	…	…	…	…	6	—	4	—
1974–75—
Started	…	…	…	…	2	2	1	—
Completed	…	…	…	…	4	3	—	1
1975–76—
Started	…	…	…	…	6	—	1	—
Completed	…	…	…	…	—	—	1	—

The starts relate to the building year in which the work was approved.Completion relates to the year when the premises were taken into use, as

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary and secondary schools, respectively, have been commenced and completed, respectively, in the city of Leicester and in that part of the county of Leicester which is not comprised in the city, respectively, during each of the last five years for which records are available; and how many during the first nine months of 1976.

My Department's records, which are complete only up to 31st March 1976, show the following figures for new school department provision:notified to the Department by the local education authority.A department is a portion of a school which normally has a separate head teacher; thus the figures do not include other building work such as extensions to schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is prepared to take to deal with vandalism in schools.

Problems of vandalism and wilful damage in schools are best tackled locally, by the schools themselves and the responsible departments of local authorities. Authorities are aware of the problems and their responsibilities; a group of them, the Consortium of Local Authority Special Programme, have, for example, recently prepared a useful note on practical steps against such damage. My Department offers advice, by discussion and through its publications, on the design and care of schools to reduce risk to life and premises by fire and other causes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to receive the report of the Warnock Committee on special education for handicapped children.

The Warnock Committee began its work in September 1974 on the footing that it would take three or four years to complete. The committee is pressing ahead within this time scale.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will give details of those matters for which her Department will be responsible in Scotland, after the implementation of the Government's present devolution proposals.

After devolution the Department of Education and Science will be responsible in Scotland for university education and for the research councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the annual cost of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art; and what was the cost to public funds of the Committee's current Report, Command Paper No. 6624.

The Chairman and members of the Reviewing Committee, including the directors and keepers who serve on the committee for particular meetings, give their services free, but can claim travelling and subsistence expenses. In the last three years these expenses have been:

1973–74	…	…	…	£151
1974–75	…	…	…	£224
1975–76	…	…	…	£324

Secretarial and administrative services are provided as part of the work of my Department and are not separately costed.The cost to Her Majesty's Stationery Office of publishing the recent report is estimated at nearly £1,100. Part of this cost will be recovered by income from sales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the latest estimate she has of the capital and current expenditure of the Inner London Education Authority in each of the next five years.

I have no information about the Inner London Education Authority's forecasts of future expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps she is taking to ensure that the Inner London Education Authority will reduce its expenditure to reflect the falling demand for its services.

It is for the authority to decide what level of expenditure is appropriate to the demand for its services; but all local education authorities have been advised to economise as quickly as opportunity permits where pupil numbers are falling and in general to seek savings in expenditure during the remainder of 1976–77.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the latest projection she has made of the number of primary and secondary pupils in the Inner London Education Authority in each of the next five years.

I understand from the ILEA that its projections of numbers of pupils in primary and secondary schools respectively for the next five years are as follows:

Primary Schools:
January 1977	…	…	189,700
January 1978	…	…	179,500
January 1979	…	…	168,600
January 1980	…	…	158,700
January 1981	…	…	151,100
Secondary Schools:
January 1977	…	…	180,800
January 1978	…	…	178,100
January 1979	…	…	174,800
January 1980	…	…	169,700
January 1981	…	…	163,000

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average cost on revenue account for each primary pupil and each secondary pupil in the country as a whole, in the inner London Education Authority, in the outer London boroughs, and in Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool, respectively.

This information is contained in the annual digests of education statistics published jointly by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and the Society of County Treasurers, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what the Arts Council grant in aid will be for 1977–78; and when this will be announced.

The Arts Council grant in aid will be included in the Supply Estimates for 1977–78 when these are presented to Parliament next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what changes she proposes to make to the rules governing the provision of free transport by local authorities for school pupils; if she intends to alter the statutory walking distances; and if she intends to implement the proposals put forward by her Department's working party in 1975.

My right hon. Friend is considering these matters but is not yet able to make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the conditions laid down by the Department attaching to the commercial use of HMS "Belfast" at the time of its disposal from public service.

HMS "Belfast" was made over to the HMS "Belfast" Trust in 1971, when my Department relinquished all responsibility for her, on condition that should the trust wish to dispose of the ship she should be sold for the best price reasonably obtainable and the proceeds of sale, less legitimate expenses, would revert to the Ministry of Defence. No other conditions were imposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what income is earned from the game shooting on the Otterburn and Redesdale ranges; whether this income exceeds the staff costs of providing a gamekeeper; and whether a charge is levied for the use of military vehicles at shoots.

I am looking into the matters to which the hon. Member has referred and I shall write to him in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he is giving in deciding where to implement his latest cuts in defence expenditure to the relative proportion of 241,000 civil servants to 334,436 active service men and women.

I have nothing to add to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Members for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) and Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. Clark) on 12th October 1976.—[Vol. 917, c. 227–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the fact that his Department employs more than twice as many civil servants as the DHSS and three times as many as the Inland Revenue, he will take steps to transfer any staff surplus to his Department's requirements to these and other short-staffed departments.

Procedures already exist for the transfer of surplus staff to other Departments where there are suitable vacancies.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will undertake an inquiry into the potential problems caused by nuclear theft and terrorism.

As was made clear in the Government statement on the Sixth Report by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, the Ministry of Defence, in common with other Departments, keeps measures to prevent the illegal acquisition of nuclear materials by terrorists or other criminal groups under continuous and close review. Over the last two years security precautions have been greatly strengthened.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what additional measures he intends to introduce to increase the level of coal burn in power stations.

Despite a 3 per cent. fall in the amount of electricity supplied by the CEGB between 1974–75 and 1975–76, the amount of coal consumed by it rose from 64.8 million tonnes in 1974–75 to 67·5 million tonnes in 1975–76. I am advised by the CEGB that coal consumption this year is likely to show a further increase. Working parties are currently examining coal burn in Scotland and South Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied with the progress of work in the extraction of uranium from sea water; and if the UKAEA has sought supplementary funds for this project.

The prospects for the large-scale extraction of uranium from sea water were recently reassessed by a working party on which the UKAEA, CEGB and BNFL were represented. It was concluded that it is unlikely that there is a site within the United Kingdom where this could be done on a scale which could contribute significantly to the country's uranium requirements. Even if a suitable site could be found, the cost of extraction would probably be several hundred dollars per pound of uranium. The UKEAE is not seeking funds for this project at present, but is keeping in touch with developments elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what further steps he has taken to control coal imports; and if he will make a statement.

As my hon. Friend knows, in 1974, at a time of shortage, the CEGB entered into certain import contracts. These have been the subject of protracted discussion, and as a result they are being put under joint management with the NCB, and imports of steam coal this year will be considerably less than last year. In addition the CEGB has agreed to consult my right hon. Friend if any question of further imports should arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied with the systems of inspection at British nuclear fuel establishments with particular reference to the protection of public health.

British Nuclear Fuels Limited's operating establishments are licensed nuclear sites under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965. As such they are subject to strict control, including inspection, by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive in the interests of the protection of both workers and the general public against potential hazards from operations on the sites. I am satisfied with these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the average age for (a) all those engaged in the mining industry, (b) surface workers, (c) all underground and (d) all faceworkers.

I have asked the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to my hon. Friend with this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he intends to publish all the evidence considered by his Department for and against SGHWR; and, if so, when.

I have already published papers submitted to me by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and the South of Scotland Electricity Board, and I shall be prepared to consider pub-

STOCKS OF COAL* AT END OF PERIOD: GREAT BRITAIN
								thousand tons
						Distributed	Undistributed	Total
August, 1974	…	…	…	…	…	14,401	6,700	21,101
August, 1975	…	…	…	…	…	20,041	6,882	26,923
August, 1976f†	…	…	…	…	…	22,482	10,723	33,205
* Excluding distributed stocks held in merchants' yards, etc. and stocks held by the industrial sector.
† Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the laws or regulations of the EEC which would prevent Great Britain from introducing petrol rationing.

There is none.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether a person who is not born in the United Kingdom is eligible for appointment as a constable in the Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary.

Yes, provided the applicant is a British subject and satisfies the residential requirements that apply to all applicants for employment in Government Departments dealing with classified information. An applicant for employment in the UKAEA Constabulary would normally need to have resided in the United Kingdom for a period of 10 years immediately prior to his application.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the latest available figures for coal stocks, both distributed and undistributed; and what are the comparative figures for 1974 and 1975.

Figures for stocks of coal in Great Britain are regularly published in Table 5 of "Energy Trends", copies of which are available in the Library of the House. For convenience, the latest published figures are given below:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many armed Atomic Energy Authority constables there are at each plant; and if he will make a statement.

It would not be in the public interest to give this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the Standing Orders for the Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary provide for officers to wear uniform at all times when carrying firearms.

The instructions direct that uniforms shall invariably be worn by officers on duty, unless the Chief Constable specifically orders otherwise. The duties for which firearms are issued are carried out in police uniform.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received concerning the current work stoppage on the Isle of Grain power station site; what assessment has been made of the impact of the dispute upon the finances and forecast installed capacity of the Central Electricity Generating Board; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations about the provision of protective clothing for certain workers on the site which has caused the present stoppage, and also about the effects of the dispute on the local community. The CEGB estimates that the delay caused by the complete stoppage of work that has now occurred is adding about £1·2 million per month to capital costs. The power station was originally due to start producing electricity in the autumn of 1975; work is now currently about two years behind schedule.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will now reveal the arrangement that the United Kingdom Government have reached with the Commission on the siting of the joint European Torus.

The JET project, including its site, is still being discussed with our Community partners and the Commission and will be on the agenda for the Council of Research Ministers on 21st October.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what equivalent facilities now exist for members of the general public in respect of documents listed in the House of Commons demand form for EEC printed papers.

I am reviewing the situation and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a complete copy of the proposals for a Rhodesian settlement handed by Dr. Kissinger to Mr. Ian Smith, and accepted by him.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the terms of Mr. Ian Smith's statement in Salisbury on 24th September 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decisions have been taken about the convening of a constitutional conference on the future of Rhodesia.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has yet appointed a new ambassador to Chile; and when he will be instructed to present his credentials.

No new ambassador has been appointed. The embassy in Santiago remains under a chargé d'affaires.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he issued an invitation to the Czechoslovak Foreign Minister to commence arrangements for Czechoslovak school teachers to work in schools in the United Kingdom: if so, when this will be implemented: and if a reciprocal arrangement has been made from the United Kingdom.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the forthcoming "independence" of the Transkei indicating whether Her Mojesty's Government proposes to offer aid to the new State.

My right hon. Friend announced on 28th September that Her Majesty's Government will not recognise the Transkei on the occasion of its purported independence on 26th October. In the absence of recognition we could not provide official development assistance to the Transkei.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any British nationals captured during the course of hostilities in Oman are held as prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

No such captures have been reported.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy and practice by which civil servants accompanying overseas parliamentary delegations who are travelling economy class may use first-class air travel.

The rules for class of air travel by Diplomatic Service staff, which are the same as those for other civil servants, are as follows. Staff in Grade 3 and above—equivalent to Home Civil Service grades of Under-Secretary and above—may travel first class by air on duty. Staff in Grade 4—equivalent to Assistant Secretary in the Home Civil Service—may travel first class by air on journeys of more than four hours' continuous flying time. Other staff normally travel economy class, though they may be authorised to travel first class in exceptional circumstances—for instance, if accompanying a Minister.Where a Diplomatic Service officer is formally appointed to accompany a parliamentary delegation I would expect the officer concerned to travel if possible in the same class as the delegation, although the entitlements set out above would still apply.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it his intention to ensure that at least present owners of the invalid tricycle will retain their trike, if they wish to do so, after the phasing-out period has ended; and if they will then be given a replacement vehicle.

We intend to keep trikes in service, for those who want to continue to use them, for as long as possible. For at least five years, we expect to be able to supply replacements and spares for present users of trikes supplied under the old scheme. I hope it will be possible for people who still want trikes to continue to use them for some time after that; for just how long will necessarily depend on the availability of spares and servicing arrangements. On the question of a replacement vehicle, I cannot at present add to what my right hon. Friend said in his statement to the House on 23rd July—[Vol. 907, c. 2229–2242.].

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost of the current type of tricycle when last made available to a handicapped person and the comparative cost of a standard type vehicle adapted to provide similar facilities.

It is not the custom to disclose contract prices. The cost of a tricycle varies according to the nature of the special features needed, as does that of an adapted standard car.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report in tabular form the names of those organisations or persons in the United Kingdom to which financial support is being given from public funds for research into all forms of dental disease; and if he will specify the nature of each project, its duration and expected date of completion.

Government funded research in the United Kingdom into all forms of dental disease is carried out mainly by the Medical Research Council, from support by the Department of Education and Science and under commissions from the health Departments. The health Departments also support some research directly from their own funds.The list below includes all the relevant projects funded under the above arrangements but excludes other research undertaken in universities and medical and dental schools.