asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants are currently employed in Scotland, Wales and in each of the eight English regions which are served by regional economic planning councils; how many civil servants are currently employed in the London area as classified in the Hardman Report of 1974; and what were the figures for each of these categories for the past five years.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible, but it may not be possible to provide all the information requested.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will bring up to date the table of Civil Service

CIVIL SERVICE MANPOWER
	Staff in Post at 1st March 1974			Staff in Post at 1st July 1976
Department	Non-Industrials	Industrials	Total	Non-Industrials	Industrials	Total
Cabinet Office	599	—	599	666	—	666
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food*	14,328	1,133	15,461	14,782	1,179	15,961
HM Treasury	997	—	997	1,126	—	1,126
HM Customs and Excise	24,932	—	24,932	29,181	—	29,181
Inland Revenue	69,659	33	69,692	79,912	29	79,941
Department for National Savings	13,435	132	13,567	13,049	98	13,147
Department of Education and Science†	3,858	83	3,941	3,999	105	4,104
Department of Employment‡	32,080	1,577	33,657	47,261	1,883	49,144
Department of Energy	1,364	82	1,446	1,340	10	1,350
Department of the Environment§	42,034	27,480	69,514	45,680	26,492	72,172
Ordnance Survey	4,151	371	4,522	3,999	350	4,349
Foreign and Commonwealth Office	9,967	250	10,217	9,825	234	10,059
Ministry of Overseas Development	2,123	48	2,171	2,303	56	2,359
Home Office	24,858	3,652	28,510	28,417	3,700	32,117
Lord Chancellor's Office and Courts etc.	9,428	—	9,428	9,948	—	9,948
Land Registry	4,838	5	4,843	4,958	6	4,964
Civil Service Department	3,492	1,601	5,093	3,783	1,607	5,390
Central Office of Information	1,188	63	1,251	1,299	65	1,364
HM Stationery Office	3,142	4,037	7,179	3,303	4,069	7,372
Scottish Office	9,052	755	9,807	9,937	706	10,643
Scottish Courts Administration etc.	731	4	735	741	4	745
Department of Health and Social Security	82,331	209	82,540	93,034	258	93,292
Office of Population Censuses and Surveys	2,706	18	2,724	2,570	23	2,593
Department of Trade¶	16,550	805	17,355	7,813	43	7,856
Department of Industry¶	—	—	—	9,294	769	10,063
Department of Prices and Consumer Protection	—	—	—	378	—	378

The number of staff in post, by Department, on 1st March 1974 and 1st April 1976 is given below.The main changes in staff numbers between 1st April and 1st July took place in the Ministry of Defence (_2,780) as a result of the continued rundown in accordance with the defence review, and the Department of Employment (+1,437) to deal with increases in work due to rising unemployment and to meet the programmed expansion of work on vocational training, employment services and Health and Safety inspection. Generally staff numbers for the remainder of the Civil Service remained fairly constant.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 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 information requested is as follows:

Name of body	Number of Appointments
Advisory Committees on the Magistracy in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside (19 Committees)	150
Council of Lancaster University	1
Court of Liverpool University	1
Court of Salford University	1
Governing Body of Royal Grammar School, Lancaster	1
Governing body of Whalley Grammar School	1
Kings School, Pontefract (Foundation Governors)	3

		Latest Estimate of Commissioning Date					Nominal Capacity in Megawatt sent out
Station		1st Reactor	2nd Reactor
Hinkley Point B	…	Commissioned September 1976	December 1976	…	…	…	1,320
Dungeness B	…	Late 1978	Early 1979	…	…	…	1,200
Hartlepool	…	Early 1979	Mid-1979	…	…	…	1,320
Heysham	…	Mid-1979	Late 1979	…	…	…	1,320

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the fossil fuel power stations under construction and their dates of commissioning.

I am advised by the CEGB that the latest estimates of com-

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will hold a public inquiry into the National Coal Board's proposals for a new opencast site at Whittonstall, Northumberland.

If and when the National Coal Board applies for an authorisation to work this site I will decide whether or not to hold a public inquiry in the light of the proposals themselves and of such objections as may be made to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the date for commissioning the remaining AGR's in the present programme and their anticipated capacities.

I am advised by the CEGB that the latest estimates of commissioning dates and anticipated capacities are as follows:missioning dates for the fossil-fired power stations currently under construction—excluding gas turbines—are as follows:

Station		Resulting Net capability (MWso)	Estimated commissioning date
Grain	…	3,300	1977 (1st Unit)
Ince B	…	1,000	1978 (1st Unit)
Littlebrook D	…	1,980	1979 (1st Unit)

asked the Attorney-General (1) if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the 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;(2) if he will publish in the

There are no bodies to which the Solicitor-General or I make unpaid appointments.The Lord Chancellor appoints to the bodies listed below the number of unpaid members indicated. In the cases marked with an asterisk the number appointed by the Lord Chancellor is limited by statute; the figures given for the remaining bodies are those appointed by the Lord Chancellor now in post.

Rule Committees
County Court Rule Committee	11
Crown Court Rule Committee	9
Magistrates Courts Rule Committee	10
Matrimonial Causes Rule Committee	9
Supreme Court Rule Committee	8
*Rule Committee under the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1963	2
Advisory Bodies
250 Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace in England and Wales (excluding Lancashire)	1909
8 Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace in Northern Ireland	69
Advisory Committee on Juvenile Court Panels in Northern Ireland	12
78 Advisory Committees on General Commissioners of Income Tax	651
Advisory Committee on Training of Magistrates	16
Advisory Council on Public Records	13
Legal Aid Advisory Committee	11
16 Circuit Advisory Committees	204
Law Reform Committee	11
Statute Law Committee	25
The Ecclesiastical Committee (The Lords Members)	15

asked the Attorney-General how many court administrators are attached to the Wales and Chester circuit.

There are three courts administrators in the Wales and Chester circuit.

asked the Attorney-General how many officers of senior executive and higher executive grade are attached to the Crown Court in South-East Wales, in South-West Wales and in North Wales and Chester, respectively; how many of these officers in each of these areas are natives of Wales; how many are able to speak Welsh; how many have learnt Welsh in officially sponsored courses; and how many are undergoing such training.

In South-East Wales, 12, of whom nine were born in Wales; one speaks Welsh and learnt on an officially sponsored course.In South-West Wales, six, of whom five are Welsh born; two sneak Welsh.In North Wales and Cheshire, seven and three respectively; two speak Welsh.Whereas two members of the Court Service staff have attended the officially sponsored Welsh courses none is doing so at the present time.

asked the Attorney-General what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take to give effect to the recommendations as to the staffing of the courts in Wales, and in particular the Crown Court, made by Lord Justice Edmund Davies to Lord Hailsham of Marylebone when he was Lord Chancellor.

Lord Edmund Davis thought that attention required to be given to the staffing of courts with clerks who were competent in Welsh. As my answer to another of the hon. Member's Questions today shows, there is a nucleus of Welsh-speaking staff in Crown centres in Wales, and courses I the Welsh language are available for those who are prepared to undertake them when their court duties make this possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is intended to bring into force the Easter Act 1928.

It remains the Government's view that it would not be appropriate to take steps to bring the Act into operation without the full concurrence of the Churches.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of the representations made by a deputation of parents and former members of the various bodies known collectively as the Unification Church, he will consult with the Charity Commissioners, police authorities and others to seek further detailed evidence of the methods of indoctrination, division of families, financial affairs and political connections of these organisations.

We are awaiting some information from the United States before deciding whether any further action is called for on our part.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the reasons for allowing 10,000 Pakistanis to enter Great Britain for permanent settlement in the current year.

There is no fixed quota for the number of citizens of Pakistan accepted for settlement on arrival in any one year. Those accepted now consist almost entirely of dependants of persons already settled in the United Kingdom. Their number increased from 2,688 in the first six months of 1975 to 5,236 in the corresponding period this year, mainly as a result of an acceleration in the rate of issue of entry clearances aimed at reducing the waiting period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what type of information concerning British citizens is passed by British police forces to Interpol and what opportunity individual citizens have to check the accuracy of such information.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the type of information generally transmitted to Interpol by British police forces relates to the criminal records of persons convicted in this country, who may or may not be British subjects.There is no right for convicted persons to inspect these records, which are used mainly for police purposes in this country, and similarly there is no right for them to inspect the same records when information is transmitted to Interpol.There are other situations in which information can properly be sent to or be requested from Interpol—for instance, concerning missing persons, the identification of dead bodies and stolen property but no exhaustive list can be produced, and the total of all these other categories forms only a minor part of the information provided compared with the supply of information related to criminal records.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what agreement the United Kingdom has become a member of Interpol.

The International Criminal Police Commission was set up in 1923. The United Kingdom, after sending an observer in 1927, was first represented at the commission's annual conference in 1928 and contributed to the commission's expenses from 1930 until the war. United Kingdom membership was resumed when the commission was re-established after the war and maintained when the organisation adopted its present title of the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) and constitution in 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are employed in the British National Central Bureau of Interpol: and under whose control it operates.

I am informed that 18 police officers and 14 civilian staff are employed in the British National Central Bureau of Interpol which operates under the control of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to announce its award to the three Welsh Guardsmen who were injured in an IRA bomb attack on a public house at Caterham in 1974: and how many members of the Armed Services are awaiting information about their awards.

I understand that a number of applications to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board from Welsh Guardsmen injured by the bomb which exploded at Caterham in August 1975 are still unresolved. It is not the policy of the Board to announce publicly awards to individual applicants. If the hon. Member cares to send me particulars of the individuals about whom he is concerned I will make enquiries. The board, however, does not classify unresolved applications according to the occupation of the applicant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently being detained in isolation from their fellow prisoners.

54 on 31st August 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners committed suicide in British prisons in each of the last five years.

The following table gives the numbers of suicides recorded in penal establishments in the last five years according to the findings of coroners to whom all deaths of persons in custody are reported in accordance with Rule 19(2) of the Prison Rules 1964:

1971	…	…	…	…	13
1972	…	…	…	…	13
1973	…	…	…	…	14
1974	…	…	…	…	6
1975	…	…	…	…	14

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are taken into account in the choice of members to serve on the Executive Committee of the United Kingdom Immigration Advisory Service.

My right hon. Friend has no responsibility in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those bodies, not directly connected with his Department, that channelled their vehicle purchase orders through his Department in order to achieve higher discount rates, in the year ended April 1976.

Under standing instructions all Government Departments acquire their official vehicles through the Ministry of Defence. In addition, during the financial year 1975–76, the Ministry, with an appropriate charge for departmental expenses, has purchased vehicles for other public bodies, as follows: Agricultural Research Council, Council for Small Industries, Civil Aviation Authority, Northern Ireland Health and Social Services, Natural Environment Research Council, The British Council, Crown Estate Commissioners, The Medical Research Council, University of London, University of York, University of Wales, National Savings Committee, Nature Conservancy Council, Forestry Commission, Wanadyke District Council, Warwickshire County Council, Wessex Water Authority, Yorkshire Water Authority.By agreement with the Department of Health and Social Security, this Department also buys vehicles for individual hospital boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the number of civil servants engaged in the Ministry of Defence, and the number of active Service men, in each of the last 10 years, and in 1945, 1950, 1955 and 1960.

The number of civil servants employed by the Ministry of Defence, including the Royal ordnance factories, and the number of Service men at 1st April in each year is shown below. The figures for civil servants are not directly comparable, taking one year with another, because of changes in departmental responsibilities. Detailed figures for these changes are not available for the period 1945 to 1964, but there were two notable transfers of staff in that period. Some 40,000 staff were transferred from the Ministry of Supply to the War Office in 1959 and some 50,000 staff were transferred from the Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry to the Ministry of Public Building and Works in 1963. Over the period 1964–1976 there has been a net transfer into the Ministry of Defence of about 32,000, mainly from the Ministry of Aviation Supply and the Atomic Energy Authority.

		Civil Servants	Service Men
1945	…	158,000*	5,035,000+
1950	…	296,000†	785,000
1955	…	328,000†	903,000
1960	…	321,000†	559,000
1967	…	369,000	450,000
1968	…	356,000	430,000
1969	…	338,000	405,000
1970	…	327,000	393,000
1971	…	345,000	373,000
1972	…	324,000	380,000
1973	…	320,000	377,000
1974	…	315,000	358,000
1975	…	317,000	347,000
1976	…	311,000	346,000
* United Kingdom non-industrial staff only.
† United Kingdom based staff only of the Admiralty. War Office and Air Ministry.
+ United Kingdom personnel only.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the most up-to-date recruiting figures for the UDR.

During the 12 months up to 30th September 1976, 1,491 recruits were enrolled into the UDR. Of these, 224 were women.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report an up-to-date list of all the payments for damages made to persons in connection with interrogation in depth.

The information is as follows:

			£
Mr. J. Auld	…	…	16,000
Mr. J. Clarke	…	…	12,500
Mr. M. Donnelly	…	…	11,250
Mr. K. Hannaway	…	…	12,000
Mr. P. McClean	…	…	14,000
Mr. F. McGuigan	…	…	11,750
Mr. S. McKenna	…	…	12,000
Mr. G. McKerr	…	…	10,000
Mr. P. McNally	…	…	11,250
Mr. M. Montgomery	…	…	11,000
Mr. L. Rogers	…	…	11,500
Mr. P. Shivers	…	…	15,000
Mr. B. Turley	…	…	15,000
			£163,250

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland 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.

As the list is lengthy I have sent a copy to the hon. Member and I have put further copies in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new jobs have been created in Scotland in each of the last 12 months.

Information in the form requested by the hon. Gentleman is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many unpromoted teachers over the age of 65 years are at present employed in local authority and grant aided schools in Scotland; and how many of these are employed in teaching mathematics, science and technical subjects in secondary schools.

The latest available figures relate to September 1975. At that time the equivalent of 500 whole-time posts in education authority schools and 13 in grant-aided schools in Scotland were filled by unpromoted teachers who had passed their 65th birthday and who were employed on a whole-time or part-time basis.Of these teachers, the following—wholetime equivalent—numbers in secondary schools had as their main teaching subject:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest position regarding the timetable for the construction of the remaining section of the M90 between Bridge of Earn and Glenfarg.

Negotiations are proceeding into an objection to a compulsory purchase order. Until this is resolved it is not possible to forecast when a start might be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he or officials of his Department have consulted with opposite numbers in the French Transport Ministry as to the success of prohibiting young children from travelling in the front seats of motor vehicles.

I understand that the French delegation for road safety has no information about any reduction in casualties since the decree was made on 26th August 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will initiate an investigation into the need for a pelican crossing on the Hinckley Road, Braunstone, Leicester, near the Wycliffe School.

No. Leicestershire County Council is the highway authority for this section of Hinckley Road, Braunstone, and investigations into the need for individual pedestriain crossings are its responsibility. The council has submitted a proposal for the Department's approval, but additional information has been requested in justification of the project.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will take steps to expedite the installation of a pelican crossing on Braunstone Lane, Leicester.

No. Leicestershire County Council is the highway authority for Braunstone Lane, Leicester. The Department has recently approved the siting of a pelican crossing between Sunway and Cantrell Road and the installation of the equipment is now a matter for the county council.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement about the excessive delays in the transference of cherished number plates;(2) what steps the Government are taking to ensure the return to normal working at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre;(3) if he will make a statement about the nature or the dispute at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea.

No new applications for transfer of cherished registration marks

					1974	1975
(a) London-Perth-Perth-London	…	…	…	…	20,997	20,471
(b) London-Stirling-Stirling-London	…	…	…	…	5,255	4,697
(c) London-Inverness-Inverness-London	…	…	…	…	3,649	4,463

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to amend the Rag Flock and other Filling Materials Act 1951 to ensure that imported articles are covered by it.

Some doubt has been expressed recently as to whether the Act does apply to imported articles. I would be willing to consider representations in this matter to see whether action needs to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will appoint a committee to examine whether the implementation of the Bains Report and the appointment of chief executive officers by most local authorities has resulted in more efficient local government administration; and if he will make a statement;

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many motor cars were carried by the Motor-rail service from: (a) London—Perth, Perth—London (b) London—Stirling, Stirling—London and (c) London—Inverness, Inverness—London in the years 1974 to 1975.

The numbers of cars carried by the Motor-rail service in the relevant years on these routes is as follows:(2) what is his estimate of the cost of implementing the management structures as recommended by the Bains Report and which have been adopted by most local authorities in England and Wales.

The Department has commissioned a research study by the Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham, to monitor the development in practice of local authority management structures. Reports on this study are being published from time to time and copies will be placed in the Library. There are no plans to set up a further committee.It is impracticable to estimate the cost to authorities of implementing Bainstype management structures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if whales' teeth are controlled imports; if he will clarify the statement in his Department's Notice to Importers and Exporters of 15th December 1975, relating to conservation controls on animals and plants and their derivatives, at paragraph 13, that present controls on whale products and plumage will also be unchanged; and if whales' teeth were controlled imports before 1st January 1976.

Imports of whales' teeth were brought under control on 1st January 1976. Prior to that date they were not controlled.The Notice to Importers and Exporters to which the hon. Member refers listed among the items controlled the teeth of any animal. Paragraph 13 of the explanatory notes merely drew attention to the retention, unchanged of the existing controls on whale products and plumage.No licence to import whales' teeth has so far been issued by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion, according to the latest available estimates, of dwellings lacking each of the basic amenities are in the private rented sector.

Following is the available information:

DWELLINGS LACKING BASIC AMENITIES: PROPORTION IN PRIVATE RENTED SECTOR. ENGLAND AND WALES, 1971
Amenities lacked	Privately rented as percentage of all tenures
WC inside dwelling	44
Fixed bath in a bathroom	52
Wash basin	45
Sink	36
Hot and cold water at 3 points	44
One or more of the above amenities	48
All dwellings with or without amenities	16

Privately rented sector accommodation includes accommodation provided with a job, accommodation rented with a farm or business and accommodation rented from a housing association.Up-to-date information on this and other matters will be provided by the house conditions surveys now taking place in England and in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for what parts of England orders under Section 21 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 repealing Schedules 5 and 6 to that Act have not yet been made.

In England, orders repealing Schedules 5 and 6 to the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 have been made only for Greater London, Leicestershire—excluding Rutland district—and the following local government areas as they existed prior to 1st April 1974:

• Coventry County Borough
• Solihull County Borough
• Herefordshire
• Warwickshire
• Worcestershire (i.e., excluding Worcester County Borough)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many departmental surveys, involving questionnaires sent to members of the public, his Department has currently in hand; what is their estimated total cost: and if he will list them in the Official Report.

The number of surveys carried out on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment in the field during the fourth quarter of 1976 is 11. The total cost of the surveys is about £570,000. The largest survey is the English House Condition Survey, costing £250,000 which was the subject of a Written Answer in the Official Report for 15th October 1976—[Vol. 917, c. 217–8.]The full list is shown below:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost involved in the proposed survey of the structural condition of houses in England by his Department; and what is the number of persons required to implement it.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction to the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) on 15th October—[Vol. 917, c. 217–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the figures for the number of local government employees in the County of Devon for each of the years 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.

Information is not available to my Department on the numbers employed by individual local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the figures for the total salaries paid to local government employees in Devon for each of the years 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.

I regret that this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has given the regional water authorities about lifting the restrictions imposed on the use of water; and when it is proposed to lift the restrictions in each water authority area.

This is a matter which each of the authorities must decide in the light of its own particular circumstances. Restrictions on non-essential uses under the Drought Act remain in force only in Thames and for certain uses or areas in Anglia, Severn Trent, Wessex and Yorkshire. Hosepipe bans also still apply in a number of areas. The authorities concerned are all keeping the situation under constant review and relaxing restrictions as soon as they believe it is safe to do so, having regard to necessary reserves for next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how water stocks in England and Wales at the latest date for which figures are available compare with the stocks 12 months and 24 months previously.

An important proportion of the water supplied in England and Wales is derived from underground sources, the full potentials of which cannot be assessed with certainty, and there are accordingly no overall figures of water stocks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are currently employed by water authorities in the United Kingdom; and what is the total cost in wages and salaries of employing them.

The National Water Council tells me that the latest firm figure available for staff employed by regional water authorities in England and Wales is 58,385, at 31st March 1975. The cost of these staff was £174,091,000 in 1974–75, the latest year for which figures are available. I do not have responsibility for the water industry in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent on "save water" campaigns in the Press and on TV and radio during the month of October; and how much more will be spent during the remaining days of the month.

The National Water Council's campaign this month has been confined to television; between lst-15th October the council spent £138,890, and expects to spend £28,083 during the rest of the month. I have no figures for the expenditure incurred by the individual water authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now list the persons or organisations who have sent comments to him on his suggested amendments for making building regulations to conserve energy contained in departmental letter BRA/668/20; and whether he is now in a position to announce further progress on this matter.

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman giving the list he asks for, which includes over 80 names. We are now considering the comments received with a view to making formal proposals for new regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what organisational and staffing changes are expected to result from the elevation of the former Civil Service Management Division into a separate Department; how the change will affecting staffing costs; and what and how many additional principals, assistant secretaries, senior assistant secretaries, deputy secretaries and permanent secretaries will be required.

The only organisational change arises from the need to have a separate establishment and accounts branch to service the new Department. That branch comprises 23 posts, a few of which have been immediately offset by the suppression of posts elsewhere. The total staffing requirements and costs of the new Department will, however, be accommodated within the reduced totals previously approved for the Northern Ireland Civil Service.Only one additional senior post—at Principal level—is required and that has been offset by the suppression of a Prin-

			1st January 1974	1st January 1975	31st August 1976
Permanent Secretary	…	…	12	12	10
Deputy Secretary	…	…	14	16	14
Senior Assistant Secretary	…	…	12	17	19
Assistant Secretary	…	…	57	70	73
Senior Principal	…	…	19	20	19
Principal	…	…	179	216	216
Deputy Principal	…	…	361	411	452
Staff Officer	…	…	497	569	634

Organisational changes accounted for the reduction of two in the number of Permanent Secretaries and for an increase of two Senior Assistant Secretaries and three Assistant Secretary. There is no

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what organisational changes have taken place in the Northern Ireland Civil Service since 197475; what are the changes in individual departments; and how far the changes contributed to an increase or decrease in the number of staff officers, deputy principals, principals, senior principals, assistant secretaries, senior assistant secretaries, deputy secretaries and permanent secretaries.

From 1st January 1974 the following organisational changes have taken place in the Northern Ireland Civil Service:

1st January 1974, the following Departments were created—Manpower Services, Environment, Housing Local Government and Planning and the Office of the Executive. The Ministry of Development was abolished.

1st January 1975, the Youth Employment Service was absorbed into the Department of Manpower Services.

1st April 1975, the Department of Community Relations was abolished and its functions merged into the Department of Education.

1st April 1976, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning was abolished and its functions merged into the Department of the Environment (NI).

1st October 1976 the Department of the Civil Service was created.

The following table shows the number of staff in each grade between Permanent Secretary (NI) and Staff Officer in the NICS from 1974 to date:change in the number of Senior Principals, and below that level analysis of the reasons for the increases could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will give an estimate of the number of persons suffering from the effects of poliomyelitis in the under-developed countries; if he will give the most up-to-date estimate of the number of children and adults who contract this disease every year in the under-developed countries; if he will indicate what steps his Ministry is taking to help eradicate this disease and to provide relief for present victims; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot give any estimate of my own, but according to the records of the World Health Organisation, 8,015 new cases of poliomyelitis were reported from developing countries in 1974.My aid programme includes provision for projects directed at the improvement of the health and welfare of people in the developing countries and at the increase of the capacity of these countries to provide health services appropriate to their needs. I am now considering the best way in which I can help the WHO's expanded programme of immunisation, which includes immunisation against poliomyelitis.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what steps his Ministry is taking to promote a free flow of raw materials and equipment to assist disabled persons in developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

My Ministry has hitherto had no occasion to promote action of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers, but if I were to receive any suitable proposal I would certainly give it sympathetic consideration.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he intends to provide any technical co-operation for Mozambique by means of the Commonwealth Fund for Mozambique.

Technical co-operation will be provided multilaterally in the form of a contribution to the Commonwealth Fund for Mozambique, which is administered by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation, for 30 per cent. of its expenditure up to a limit of £300,000. A sum of £90,000 will shortly be advanced to this fund to meet expected initial disbursements. Parliamentary approval to this new service will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the Overseas Aid Vote. Pending that approval, the necessary expenditure will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is Her Majesty's Government's intention to resist the proposal to operate the Common Market cigarette tax structure in the United Kingdom from the beginning of 1978.

Adoption of the EEC structure for taxation of cigarettes is not a proposal still to be debated in Brussels, but a commitment which has bound the United Kingdom since our accession. When the EEC first directive on the harmonisation of the structure of tobacco taxation was adopted at the end of 1972, the previous Government asked for and obtained a five-year derogation, to allow time for our industry to adapt This derogation expires at the end of 1977 and a duty structure which conforms to the first directive must be introduced by 1st January 1978. in his last Budget my right hon. Friend took the first steps to phase in such a structure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total sum owing to the United Kingdom by Commonwealth and other Governments; which countries are the principal debtors; how much each owes; and what representations have been made to them to speed up repayment of these loans, or to restrict the credits in view of the United Kingdom's financial and economic situation.

I would refer the Hon. Member to Table 24 on page 27 of the CSO's "United Kingdom Balance of Payments 1965–75", entitled "Loans by the United Kingdom Government—amounts outstanding". No representations have been made to the Governments concerned to speed up repayment of these loans or to restrict the credits; the terms for repayment of these loans are laid down in the relevant loan agreements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been imprisoned following prosecutions in connection with VAT offences; and what is the length of imprisonment to which each offender has been sentenced.

Since the introduction of VAT 25 people have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment in connection with VAT offences. Individual sentences were as follows:

Length of sentences			Number of offenders
6 months	…	…	…	10—all suspended
9 months	…	…	…	1—suspended
1 year	…	…	…	7–6 suspended
2 years	…	…	…	4
2½ years	…	…	…	1—suspended
3 years	…	…	…	1
4 years	…	…	…	1

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the cost of mortgage interest tax relief for the years 1975–76 and 1976–77, stating the rate of interest on which the estimate is based; and if he will publish similar information for each of the last eight years.

The estimated cost of tax relief on mortgage interest payments for 1975–76 and 1976–77 is £865 million and £1,100 million, respectively. The estimate for 1976–77 takes account of the recently announced increase in the building societies' recommended rate for mortgage loans to 12¼ per cent. These figures relate to interest paid on all qualifying mortgages, and the rate of interest may depend on the source of the loan. For building societies, which represent much the largest proportion in the total, the rate of interest is based on the societies' recommended lending rate, which was 11 per cent. for 1975–76 and 10½ per cent. for this year, until the recent increase to 12½ per cent. The figures for earlier years are as follows:

		Cost of tax relief on all mortgage loans	Average interest rate received by building societies on mortgage loans*
	…	£ million	Percentage
1967–68	…	180	7·2
1968–69	…	195	7·5
1969–70	…	235	8·1
1970–71	…	285	8·6
1971–72	…	310	8·6
1972–73	…	365	8·3
1973–74	…	510	9·6
1974–75	…	695	11·1
* Average for nearest corresponding calendar year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the public sector borrowing requirement would be increased in a full year as a result of the increased tax relief on mortgages and other qualifying loans, respectively, resulting from a 2 per cent. increase in the minimum lending rate.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th October 1976, Vol. 917, c. 334], gave the following information:Changes in mortgage lending rates do not necessarily reflect precisely the changes in minimum lending rate. Assuming however, for illustrative purposes that the recently increased building societies' recommended lending rate of 12¼ per cent. had applied throughout 1976–77, it is estimated that the increased cost of tax relief on mortgage interest in a full year would have amounted to about £150 million. The public sector borrowing requirement would also, of course, be affected by the increased tax liability of lenders as a result of higher interest rates. It is not possible to estimate the increase in tax relief for interest paid on other qualifying loans.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the income to the Exchequer from North Sea oil in 1980; and what effect he estimates it will have on the balance of payments in that year.

An estimate of Government revenues from North Sea oil was given in the answer to the hon. Member for Ayrshire South (Mr. Biffen) on 18th October—[Vol. 917, c. 336.] The latest published estimates for the potential effects of the North Sea oil programmes on the United Kingdom balance of payments were published in the Treasury's "Economic Progress Report", No. 76 of July 1976, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent estimates of the United Kingdom's balance of payments have taken into account the declared intention of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries to raise the price of oil by between 15 per cent. and 25 per cent.

The Government forecasts take into account as fully as possible all the available information in this, as in other areas, which affect the balance of payments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the point to which the value of sterling needs to fall sufficiently to establish a balance in the United Kingdom's current trading position, after taking into account the adverse effect of devaluation on the terms of trade; and how long it would take to produce its effect.

Econometric evidence suggests that there are long lags between changes in the value of the currency and the full effects on flows of trade, so that the existence of a trade imbalance in any particular month or quarter does not necessarily imply a need for a change in the value of the currency. Moreover, the net trading position depends not just on the value of the currency but on a variety of other factors, including relative prices and costs and relative pressures of demand between our own economy and those of our competitors, and the world terms of trade between manufactures and primary products.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total cost of administering the collection of dinner money from those children required to pay; and how many man-hours per week it is estimated this administration takes.

This information is not available and could not be obtained without a special inquiry of all local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimates her Department has made of the cost of paying all discretionary awards, which at the moment are paid at a reduced rate, at the full grant rate.

In 1974–75, if major awards made by local education authorities in England and Wales had all been paid at the full rate the additional cost would have been about £1 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimates her Department has made of the cost of abolishing the parental contribution to the student grant, if the tax allowance for a student were (a) abolished and (b) retained.

For 1976–77, the approximate costs are estimated to be (a) £55 million and (b) £120 million. I draw the hon. Member's attention to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services on 23rd September, when he said that child tax allowances for students would be progressively reduced from April 1977 and that adjustments would be made to parental contribution scales to take account of the loss of these allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if the Code of Practice on the Disclosure of Information to Trade Unions for Collective Bargaining ensures that relative information is defined with sufficient clarity to avoid unnecessary information being produced at great cost to industry;(2) whether the new Code of Practice on the Disclosure of Information to Trade Unions for Collective Bargaining will contain clauses to ensure that trade unions have an obligation to employ trained staff capable of understanding and interpreting the information given to them;(3) what arrangements will be made in the Code of Practice on the Disclosure of Information to Trade Unions for Collective Bargaining to ensure that failure by managements to provide information that would cost sums to produce out of all proportion to their value will not be construed as a breach of the code;(4) whether the trade union negotiators who have access to price sensitive information under the Code of Practice on the Disclosure of Information to Trade Unions for Collective Bargaining will be treated as insiders in respect of any share dealings by themselves and their families;(5) whether he will ensure that no price information is given to trade unions under the Code of Practice on the Disclosure of Information to Trade Unions for Collective Bargaining that is not available to shareholders and other non-unionised employees;(6) whether he will ensure that under the Code of Practice on the Disclosure of Information to Trade Unions for Collective Bargaining, companies have an obligation to supply trade unions with a copy of the annual audited accounts, such other information as is made available to shareholders and relevant information relating to pay, conditions of service, employment and productivity and that this additional information is made available to shareholders and reported on by the company's auditors on an annual basis.

These Questions all touch on matters contained in the draft Code of Practice on the Disclosure of Information to Trade Unions for Collective Bargaining published by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service on 7th July, for public comment. I will see that they are brought to the attention of the service.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) when he expects to publish the Code of Practice on the Disclosure of Information to Trade Unions for Collective Bargaining;(2) what steps he intends to take to ensure that trade union negotiators are trained in the understanding and interpretation of the information contained in the Code of Practice on the Disclosure of Information to Trade Unions for Collective Bargaining.

I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will ensure that the Code of Practice on the Disclosure of Information to Trade Unions for Collective Bargaining will not lay down legal obligations on an employer to disclose information; and if he will remove the onus of defending non-disclosure from the employer thus ensuring that failure to comply with such a voluntary code will be inadmissible as evidence before the Central Arbitration Committee.

Sections 17–21 of the Employment Protection Act, which are not yet in force, lay down legal obligations on an employer to disclose information for collective bargaining purposes to the trade unions recognised by him for collective bargaining. Among other things the information should be information which it would be in accordance with good industrial relations practice to disclose. It is with respect to this requirement that the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is to produce a code of practice under Sections 6 and 17 of the Act. The code will not impose any legal obligations on an employer and failure to observe it will not of itself render him liable to any proceedings. The code is admissible in evidence if proceedings are brought before the Central Arbitration Committee concerning the legal obligations laid down by the Act. The committee is required to have regard to any provisions of the code which it considers to be relevant to the matter at issue but not so as to exclude any other relevant evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will introduce legislation to bring employees who normally work both in the United Kingdom and overseas within the protection of the unfair dismissal rules as regards their work in the United Kingdom.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th October 1976; Vol. 917, c. 309], gave the following information:The developing case law on this is being carefully watched, but it is too early for consideration to be given to amending legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales 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 am responsible for the following unpaid appointments:

Body	No. of Unpaid Appointments
National Park Committees:
(a) Pembrokeshire	6
(b) Brecon Beacons	9
(c) Snowdonia	9
Historic Buildings Council for Wales	6
Ancient Monuments Board for Wales	13
Boundary Commission for Wales	1
Welsh National Water Development Authority	14 (including 4*)
Area Health Authorities	124
Welsh Health Technical Services Organisation	5
Community Health Councils	87
Welsh Nurse Training Committee	3
Welsh Nursing and Midwifery Committee	4
Welsh Medical Committee	9
Welsh Committee for the Development of Health and Social Research	15
Sports Council for Wales	22
Welsh Council	37
Council for the Welsh Language	13
Welsh Language Translation Advisory Panel	9
Place Names Advisory Committee	4
Celtic Sea Advisory Committee	9
Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board	8
Welsh Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee	24
Central Midwives Board	1

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many building and civil engineering workers were unemployed in Wales in September 1976 compared with the same month in each of the preceding four years.

I have been asked to reply.The following table shows the numbers of people registered as unemployed in Wales who last worked in the construction industry. Industrial analyses are now made quarterly and the latest is for August 1976:

August 1972	…	…	…	10,395
August 1973	…	…	…	7,448
August 1974	…	…	…	9,455
August 1975	…	…	…	13,883
August 1976	…	…	…	15,182

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the anticipated rate of decline in the secondary school population in Wales from 1979.

It is estimated that the number of children at maintained secondary schools in Wales aged between 11 and 15 at the beginning of the school year will decline by 22 per cent. between 1979 and 1989 and will rise by about 25 per cent. between 1989 and 1999. The estimates necessarily become more speculative for the later period. It is not possible to make meaningful estimates of the number of secondary school pupils staying on beyond the statutory school age.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many expatriate civil servants there were in the administrative grades of the Hong Kong Government at 1st October 1976 compared with each of the 10 preceding years; and if he will make a statement as to his policy on expatriate recruitment for the colony.

There were 111 administrative officers on overseas terms of service at 1st October 1976. This represented 57 per cent. of the total number of administrative officers in the Hong Kong Government. The figures for each of the previous 10 years are necessarily detailed and are in the table below. The recruitment of expatriate officers is undertaken only when local candidates are not available in sufficient numbers and, in certain categories, in order to maintain the special relationship with Britain.

HONG KONG: OVERSEAS AND LOCAL OFFICERS IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE GRADES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE
			Overseas officers	Local officers	Overseas officers as percentage of Total
1966	…	…	75	25	75
1967	…	…	76	24	76
1968	…	…	72	33	69
1969	…	…	70	40	64
1970	…	…	71	46	61
1971	…	…	67	50	57
1972	…	…	73	52	58
1973	…	…	84	65	56
1974	…	…	93	77	55
1975	…	…	104	79	57
1976	…	…	111	85	57

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will strengthen the trade attaché representation in Peking, China, at the United Kingdom embassy there.

There are no plans at present to strengthen our commercial staff in Peking, although its size is kept constantly under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to pay an official visit to India.

My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the situation in Southern Africa.

I hope to make a statement on this subject in today's debate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the visit of the Secretary-General of the CENTO alliance to the Turkish occupied region of Cyprus at the invitation of Mr. Denktash was undertaken with the knowledge of the British Government.

Members of CENTO were informed in advance that the Secretary-General would be visiting northern Cyprus in an entirely private capacity.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on Rhodesia.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Shoreham (Mr. Luce) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of arrangements for the Geneva Conference on Rhodesia.

My right hon. Friend announced in his statement to the House on Wednesday 12th October that invitations had been extended to Mr. Mugabe, Bishop Muzorewa, Mr. Nkomo and Mr. Smith. As a result of further consultations, my right hon. Friend has now extended an invitation to Rev. Sithole, and has asked him to nominate additional delegates.Delegations will convene in Geneva from tomorrow, 21st October, and the formal opening will be on Thursday 28th October.