asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to designate further categories of buildings under the Fire Precautions Act.

We shall be making an order later this year, to have effect from 1st January 1977, designating under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 premises at present covered by the Factories Act 1961 and the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on recent progress made in the field of Civil Defence.

Within the limits on available resources there has been steady progress in preparing Civil Defence plans both centrally and by local public authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the proportion and number of prisoners eligible for parole who are released within one month of the earliest date permissible.

in 1975 about 1,900 prisoners, one-fifth of those eligible in that year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to introduce a Bill which will include proposals on film censorship.

I have no present plans for legislation to change the system for censoring films.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many aliens are now in the United Kingdom; and, of these, how many are visitors, students and holders of work permits, respectively.

Records and statistics are not maintained in a form which enables this information to be provided. At the time of the 1971 Census there were about 818,000 people resident in the United Kingdom who were both born in a foreign country and had one or both parents born in a foreign country. But it does not follow that they were all aliens.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to introduce legislation to amend the conspiracy laws with special reference to trades disputes.

I hope that it may be possible to introduce legislation to amend the law of conspiracy early next Session, but I cannot anticipate the content of the Queen's Speech.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to investigate the cause of demonstrations by prisoners in certain of Her Majesty's prisons and, in particular, Walton Prison in Liverpool.

Any demonstration by prisoners is fully investigated by the Prison Department as a matter of normal procedure. The reason given by prisoners at Liverpool for the demonstrations in June last was the restriction in regime occasioned by a reduction in staff availability.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is considering making it easier for taxi-cab operators to obtain licences in London.

The licensing of London taxis is the responsibility of an Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. The number of licensed taxis in London has increased in recent years and I am not aware of any general difficulty in obtaining licences. I am sure that the Assistant Commissioner would be very willing to look into any specific problems the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to let Mr. Thorsen enter the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will use his powers to prevent the entry into the United Kingdom of persons who have declared their intention to make within the United Kingdom films which are obnoxious to the great majority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to prevent the entry of Mr. Thorsen into the United Kingdom for the purpose of making a film which is obnoxious to Christians.

I share the strong feelings that have been expressed about the proposed film, but the appropriate time to consider whether there are grounds to exercise my powers to refuse entry to an EEC national is when the person concerned arrives at a port and can be questioned about the nature and proposed duration of his visit. Accordingly, the formal decision in Mr. Thorsen's case will be made if and when he seeks admission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has ceased to supply statistical information relating to threats against the police force by criminals armed with firearms.

Such information has never been regularly published, but is available on request. If the hon. Member lets me know what information he requires I shall be glad to send it to him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what percentage the West Midlands Police Force is below establishment strength; and if he will make a statement.

12·8 per cent. in an authorised establishment of 6,509. The strength has grown by 118 since the beginning of the financial year, and the police authority has made provision for total growth of 240 by 31st March 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as to the violence at a public meeting organised by the NCCL in Manchester on 30th November 1975, which resulted in injuries being suffered by persons present and as to why, although several arrests were made, no one has been charged with offences arising out of the incident.

The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester tells me that a full report of the police inquiry was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who advised that the evidence in the case was insufficient to justify the institution of criminal proceedings. The Director also said that on the evidence available to him it did not seem that the police could in any way justifiably be blamed for the lack of evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to achieve better race relations, he will set up a multi-racial committee to inquire into the prevalence of mugging in London.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what examination his Department has made of the causes of the increase in mugging in London and other metropolitan areas; what proposals he has for dealing with this problem; and if he will make a statement.

I fully share the concern of my hon. Friend and many others about the prevalence of violent attacks on strangers in public places of the kind colloquially described as "mugging". There is no simple explanation of increases in crime of this kind, nor any easy solution. Its prevention and detection are primarily the responsibility of the police, with whom my Department maintains close contact. I myself discussed the problem yesterday with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, who informed me of the special attention, including high priority in manning, that he has been giving to policing in the areas of London where this is a special problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report on any special measures being taken by Chief Officers of Police, and in particular by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, to deal with mugging and the general increase of violent crime; what steps he is taking to ensure that police forces are recruited up to strength; and when he expects to receive the report of the Criminal Law Revision Committee on offences against the person.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Butler). As regards the second part of the Question, police forces are free to recruit up to authorised establishments, and in the first eight months of 1976 the strength of the police service in England and Wales increased by 2,481 to 109,619. As regards the third part of the Question, it is too early to say. The Criminal Law Revision Committee published a Working Paper in August on Offences against the Person on which it has asked for comments by 25th March 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now issue deportation orders on Mohamed Roundi, Hassan Shailon and Mustapha Amnsor all citizens of Morocco, convicted of raping a 21-year-old girl.

I am having inquiries made into these cases and will write to the hon. Member when I have considered them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will confirm that no further action will be taken regarding a bail hostel in Kew following the decision of the Richmond on Thames Planning committee.

It is for the SW London Probation and After-Care Committee to decide what further action it should take following refusal of planning permission to use premises at 96 North Road, Kew, as a bail hostel.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current cost to public funds of the Race Relations Board.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 30th June.—[Vol. 914, c. 183.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the staff of the Race Relations Board at its inception; and what is the Board's staff at present.

Sixteen in 1966–67 under the Race Relations Act 1965; 88 on 18th October 1976 under the Race Relations Act 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have been reported to the Race Relations Board since its inception; and how many prosecutions there have been as a result.

Only civil remedies were provided for unlawful discrimination by the Race Relations Acts 1965 and 1968. I am informed that before its reconstitution on 25th November 1968 the Board and its conciliation committees received 1,478 complains, none of which resulted in civil proceedings. Between that date and 30th September 1976, 8,446 cases had been registered by the Board and 45 of these resulted in civil proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost of investigating cases reported to the Race Relations Board.

I regret that this information is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many verdicts of justifiable homicide have been reached by inquest juries in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

In 1971, nil; 1972, one; 1973, three; 1974, nil; 1975, nil.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Qasim Jan alias Akbar Jan, due to be deported on 30th September from Her Majesty's Prison, Winson Green, has left the United Kingdom.

This man's removal, which is not as a deportee but as a seaman deserter, was deferred while I considered representations by an hon. Member. I have done so and new arrangements for Mr. Jan's removal are being made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the report of the Law Commission on the matrimonial jurisdiction of the magistrates' courts; what has caused the delays in the production of this report; and whether the Government intend to introduce legislation on the subject.

The report has been received and is published today. This is a wide and difficult subject which needed prolonged consideration and consultations. The report is a most valuable one and I am very grateful to the Law Commissioners for the time they have devoted to this important task. I hope to be able to make a further statement shortly about future action on the report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Chief Inspector of the Prison Service will have completed his report on the causes of the August/September disturbance at Hull Prison; and when this will be available to hon. Members.

The Chief Inspector of the Prison Service is already at work, but I cannot yet forecast when his task will be completed. As I explained in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) on 14th October—[Vol. 917, c. 154.]—the question of publication will be among the matters I shall wish to consider when I have received and studied the report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he is making for representation of prisoners at the forthcoming inquiry into the Hull Prison riot; and whether he will allow lay representation at this inquiry.

The inquiry is already in progress. The Chief Inspector of the Prison Service will, in the first instance, receive written statements from prisoners and from any other individuals who believe they have relevant factual information to bring to his notice. It will be for the Chief Inspector to consider and decide in each case whether he wishes to seek amplification of a written statement and by what means—e.g., by correspondence or by way of personal interview with the writer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what study he has made into the conditions of au pair girls and men in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

The rules covering the admission of au pair girls are kept under review but we have no proposals to change them at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what percentage the average number of convictions for murder, attempted murder and serious assault, respectively, in the five most recent years for which figures are available, exceed the average figures for the five years ended 1963, which was the year before the introduction of the Bill to abolish capital punishment.

The average number of persons found guilty of murder, of attempted murder and of serious assault, which for this purpose is taken to be wounding or other acts endangering life, in England and Wales during the years 1971 to 1975 inclusive exceeds the average number of persons found guilty of these offences during the five years ended 1963 by 129 per cent., 22 per cent. and 70 per cent., respectively.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 21st October.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state his official engagements for 21st October.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for Thursday 21st October.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet. I have also had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. Later today I propose to travel to Portsmouth to be present at the dinner to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar, which is to be held in HMS "Victory".

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the coordination between departmental Ministers on the investment programmes of the nationalised industries.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to make an official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on 14th October.

asked the Prime Minister when he next proposes to make a broad- cast about the economic policies of the Government.

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

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to south-east London.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he last attended a meeting of the NEDC.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Watkinson) on 19th October.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to attend the NEDC.

I hope to take the chair at the next meeting of the National Economic Development Council on 3rd November.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

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

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on 14th October.

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

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Watkinson) on 14th October.

asked the Prime Minister how many times he has met the CBI during the Summer Adjournment.

asked the Prime Minister how many times he met the CBI during the recess.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet the TUC and the CBI.

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

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Secretary of State for Social Services, the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Secretary of State for the Environment concerning the problems associated with battered wives and children.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will pay an official visit to Bretton.

I have at present no plans to do so.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has for visiting the Channel Islands.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about Government policy towards the use of waterways.

The Government's policy remains to encourage the transfer of as much freight as possible from road to waterways wherever it is economically, socially and environmentally sensible to do so. We recognise, however, that the future role of the waterways for freight carrying is limited and that the emphasis in their use is now clearly leisure and recreation. In the consultative document on the Review of the Water Industry published in March, we put forward for discussion the proposal that the British Waterways Board should be merged with a new National Water Authority which would then become the nucleus of a national navigation authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost of Government Departments' typist chair covers.

£1·39 per set.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the basis for issuing carpets to offices belonging to Government Departments.

Low-loop nylon pile tufted carpet is the standard floor covering for Government Department offices, it having been shown that its total cost, including maintenance, is lower than the total cost of using linoleum. Better quality carpet is provided for senior officials.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many square yards of carpet have been issued to Government offices during the last six months; and what was the cost of these carpets.

944,000 sq. yds., at a cost of £2,610,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about progress being made on research into the uses of refuse, particularly of plastics.

My Department is participating in two pilot projects for the mechanical sorting of household waste to permit recycling of as many of its components as practicable. One of the products it is hoped to obtain is a plastic-rich fuel. In addition, the Director of the National Anti-Waste Programme is in touch with the newly-formed Materials Recovery Committee established by the British Plastics Federation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of filing cabinets purchased by the Property Services Agency in the last six months; and what was the total cost of these filing cabinets.

Approximately 12,000 at a cost of about £620,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the details of the office schematics colour coordination plan by his Department's Property Services Agency.

The office schematics colour brochure is too lengthy to publish in the Official Report. I have arranged for copies to be available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a circular to local authorities advising them that, where a tenanted building not owned by the authority is to be partially demolished by the authority as a consequence of the posting of a dangerous structure notice and in the absence of necessary works by the landlord, the tenants should be rehoused by the local authority prior to the commencement of demolition work.

In the case of partially demolished buildings, the need for rehousing depends on the individual circumstances and it would not, therefore, be appropriate to issue general advice on the lines suggested. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, I shall be interested to receive details.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report of the working party investigating the question of direct building by local authorities; and whether he can give an assurance that no legislation on this subject will be considered, dratted or presented to Parliament until all concerned, including Members of the House, have had an opportunity to comment on the working party recommendations.

It will be some time before the departmental working party which is reviewing the organisation and operation of local authority direct labour organisations will complete its task. The legislation which is proposed to rationalise the framework within which local authorities run these organisations is not dependent on the outcome of that work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will outline the work carried out to date by the Building Integrity Division of the Building Research Establishment; what projects of investigation are currently in progress; what reports have been produced; and when they will be published.

The new division has not quite reached its initial strength. It has already established links with many outside organisations and is now engaged in further recruitment and in reviewing its own scope, programme and procedures. It intends to work first on aspects of structural integrity affecting human safety, and in particular on problems involving roofing, wall ties and cladding. It has not yet produced any reports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Northampton Development Corporation houses are empty and awaiting tenants within the development corporation area.

At the end of September, 445 dwellings owned by Northampton Development Corporation stood empty, of which 328 had been allocated to tenants who were waiting to move in.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many borough council houses are empty in Northampton and awaiting occupation and how many are empty and awaiting redecoration.

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what preparation his Department has made for the Inland Revenue has issued comprehensive guidance on the operation of the new checking of the materials/labour breakdown that a sub-contractor will have to submit to a local government contractor

ENGLAND AND WALES
Year				Total Rates	Domestic Rates	Domestic Rates per head of population	Average Domestic Rate Payment hereditament
				£m.	£m.	£	£
1971–72	…	…	…	1,924	863	18	53
1972–73	…	…	…	2,198	989	20	60
1973–74	…	…	…	2,446	1,104	23	65
1974–75	…	…	…	2,986	1,204	26	74
1975–76	…	…	…	3,868	1,553	32	92
1976–77	…	…	…	4,277	1,754	36	100

These figures take no account of rate rebates or of the special domestic rate relief schemes in 1973–74 and 1974–75.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the programme for repairs to the mechanisms of the Great Clock of the Palace of Westminster.

The Department of the Environment is not required to check such material-labour breakdown. No estimate has been made of the additional costs to local authorities that may be entailed, but I understand that the Inland Revenue has had extensive discussions with representative outside organisations so as to keep the administrative costs down to a minimum while maintaining the effectiveness of the scheme. The Inland Revenue have issued comprehensive guidance on the operation of the new Tax Deduction Scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the total amount of rates paid to local authorities in England and Wales, expressed as a sum per head of population; and what were the comparable figures in each of the past five years;(2) what is the average domestic rate payment to be made by householders in 1976–77; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous five years.

The estimated figures are as follows: —

I cannot be specific about the commencement and completion dates for the repairs at the present time. It is only now apparent that further specialist tests will have to be carried out to establish the full extent of the damage caused by the recent failure which rendered the quarter chime mechanism inoperative.Initial tests by the National Physical Laboratory had suggested that cracks might also be expected in the main frame, the hour striking mechanism and the time mechanism. This was borne out by subsequent tests on a shaft taken from the hour striking mechanism which showed a deep crack, not visible externally, similar to the one that caused the original failure.The Atomic Energy Research Establishment has therefore been asked to carry out further non-destructive tests on the mechanisms. These commenced on 18th October and will continue until 25th October. While every effort will be made to complete the work as soon as possible, the overall time scale will very much depend on the extent of any further necessary work revealed by the tests. It will be necessary to stop the clock from midday Saturday 23rd October until midnight Sunday 24th October while some of the further tests are carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1), in view of the disquiet surrounding traffic forecasting, when he expects to be in a position to announce (a) the name of the chairman, and (b) the membership of the independent inquiry into investment appraisal methods for road schemes;(2) when he will announce the terms of reference of the independent inquiry into investment appraisal methods for road schemes.

Shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why he cannot now publish the results of the questionnaire issued by his Department on the alternative routes for the future development of the A27 in the Worthing area.

A decision on the preferred route involves consideration of engineering and economic factors, and the views of interested bodies, as well as those of individual members of the public expressed through the questionnaire. To publish the questionnaire results alone would be misleading and could intensify problems of blight.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he was consulted by the Bank of England before the latter lent £70 million to Slater Walker.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 13th October [Vol. 917, c. 142–3.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his estimate of the cost to consumers of the increase in mortgage rates recently announced compared to the increase in the cost of food which would result from the devaluation of the £ sterling from $1·66 to $1·50, assuming no devaluation of the green pound;(2) what is his estimate of the cost to consumers of all the measures taken since the Budget to restrict the money supply; and how this compares with the estimated effect of a devaluation in the £ sterling from $1·66 to $1·50, assuming no devaluation of the green pound.

Measures taken since the Budget are likely to affect consumers in two main areas: (i) the increase in employers' national insurance contributions announced in July, which will eventually add about 1 per cent. to consumer prices; (ii) the increase in the mortgage rate associated with the recent increase in the minimum lending rate, which is estimated to add about ½ per cent. to the retail prices index.It is estimated that a 10 per cent. fall in the value of the pound sterling against a weighted average of other convertible currencies without a corresponding green pound depreciation would in due course result in an increase of rather more than 2 per cent. in retail prices.Because the effect of the assumed depreciation on food prices would depend on changes in the sterling value of a number of other currencies apart from the dollar—i.e., on the precise pattern of all the relevant exchange rates after the depreciation—it is not possible to answer my hon. Friend's Question on this point.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government's proposal to raise employer national insurance contributions by two percentage points will apply to the self-employed.

The self-employed will not be liable to pay the national insurance surcharge.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much is currently on loan from Her Majesty's Government to overseas Governments; how much has been paid out in new loans in the last year; and what is the average rate of interest on these loans.

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 UK Government—amounts outstanding". Loans disbursed in 1975 included £23·8 million arising from new agreements entered into during that period. These new loans, which are all carried on the overseas aid programme, bore an average interest rate of 2·42 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much is currently being borrowed by Her Majesty's Government from overseas Governments; how much has been raised in new loans in the last year; and what is the average rate of interest being paid on these loans.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14th October to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) by how much child tax allowances will need to be reduced to provide tax-free child benefits as from April 1977 as outlined by the Department of Health and Social Security on 23rd September 1976, assuming that no extra cost to Government finances is incurred;(2) whether he proposes to reduce child tax allowances on a uniform basis as from April 1977 to finance tax-free child benefits or whether child tax allowances for first children will be reduced by an amount different from that for second and subsequent children.

It is proposed that child tax allowances for 1977–78 should be reduced by the value of the tax and clawback which would under the Government's earlier proposals have been levied on child benefit. The level of child benefit, which will not be subject to tax and clawback, will be, as earlier proposed, £1 per week for the first child and £1·50 for others. On this basis, which would involve no extra expenditure, child tax allowances would be reduced below their current level by £104 for first children and £130 for second and subsequent children.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tax reliefs are provided to encourage industry to invest, and what effect they have, in conjunction with other tax matters such as stock appreciation relief, on the tax burdens of the individual company and the corporate sector as a whole.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total amounts paid by way of EEC Customs duties and import levies on food imports in 1973 and each succeeding year; and what estimate is made of such amounts for each year until 1979.

Net receipts of protective duties on imported foodstuffs and levies on agricultural imports were:

(£ million)
		Protective Duties	Agricultural Levies
1973	…	35·0	24·0
1974	…	54·7	25·5
1975	…	72·9	42·5

The Budget estimate of revenue in the financial year 1976–77 from agricultural levies is £60 million. A separate estimate for import duties on foodstuffs is not available. It is not the practice to give estimates for future years before the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, respectively, the total of public expenditure expected for 1976–77 and for 1977–78, together with what he expects the gross national product to be for each year.

Expenditure on programmes this year should be within the estimate, including the contingency reserve, published in Cmnd. 6393, and expenditure next year will be held within the reduced total which was announced on 22nd July. The latest estimates of gross national product, up to the second quarter of this year, were issued in the CSO Press notice of 8th October 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is now in a position to report the conclusion of his Department's review of the arrangements for supervising the securities market; and if he will make a statement.

In June 1974 my predecessor announced in the House that my Department would carry out a review of present arrangements for supervision of the securities market. This review has shown that early action is needed in certain areas. The recent decision to appoint a committee of inquiry to review the functioning of financial institutions, which will among other things examine arrangements for the supervision of these institutions, does not remove the need to make a number of improvements in the existing system as quickly as possible.In the course of my Department's review we have consulted a wide range of representative bodies, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their co-operation in providing helpful analysis and comment. We have also studied the system of supervision in other countries, particularly in North America; my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State with special responsibility for companies, aviation and shipping, recently visited the United States and Canada to make a firsthand study of the supervision arrangements in those countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how the volume and value of trade in motor cars with the EEC Six in each direction in 1976 to date compares with the estimate made at the time of the publication of the White Paper on the economic consequences of joining the EEC.

At the time of the White Paper no estimates were made of the level of trade in passenger motor cars expected in 1976. Recorded trade in the first eight months of this year was as follows: —

TRADE IN PASSENGER MOTOR CARS WITH THE EEC SIC IN JANUARY—AUGUST 1976
Imports into the United Kingdom		Exports from the United Kingdom
	Value £ million		Value £ million
Thousands	cif	Thousands	fob
216	361	43	71

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will impose selective import controls on micro-electronic equipment and cars from Japan and south-east Asia.

Following inter-industry discussions about cars in July the Japanese forecast no conspicuous change in their share of the United Kingdom market; we are watching developments closely.We will consider any proposal which is put to us about micro-electronics, but the interests of the user industries would have to be taken into account. The £10 million micro-electronics support scheme is already in operation to help strengthen our micro-electronic capability. This sum of money was planned to be used over a period of seven years, of which there are three years remaining. The Industry Strategy Sector Working Group on Components is discussing other measures to improve our productive capacity.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, since 1st January 1976, imports under the Customs tariff heading "Whalebone and the like" are recorded separately in the statistics in relation to the controlled "Whalebone" and the uncontrolled and the like.

No. "Whalebone and the like" is included with "horns, antlers, hooves, nails, claws and beaks of animals" in tariff heading 05.09 and figures are only compiled for this heading as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why, prior to 1st January 1976, "Whalebone and the like" were restricted imports by virtue of his open general import licence, but since that date only "whalebone" has been restricted.

I have been asked to reply.The phrase "and the like" had no significance in relation to the control of whale products prior to 1st January 1976 and was, therefore, not used in specifying the list of goods controlled after that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which health and local authorities have opened new adult training centres for mentally handicapped adults in the last two years, and which plan to do so in the next two years; and in both instances what special provision has been made for severely handicapped young people.

The information available centrally relating to local authorities in England is as follows:(

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when his Department expects to complete the preparation of the Entitlement Appeal (reference Blackpool M2/418945) on behalf of Mr. George McDonald, late of the Royal Artillery, who is now living at 314/15 Barton Road, Artarmon, New South Wales, 2064, Australia, and whose appeal dates from 29th May 1975.

The statement of case will be completed within the next four weeks. I am writing to the hon. and gallant Member about the reason for the delay. In brief, it arises from the fact that the claim is in respect of seven conditions and that my Department has had to seek information from six different hospitals in Australia.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the controls that exist over the charges made for treatment and accommodation by private nursing homes.

In general, private nursing homes' charges for treatment and accommodation are matters to be decided by private agreement between the patient and the nursing home. However, private nursing homes regarded as concentrating on abortion have been required since 1975 to satisfy my Department that the range of total costs—including doctors' fees—incurred by patients treated for termination of pregnancy on their premises are not unreasonable. Once my right hon. Friend is so satisfied, proprietors of these nursing homes are required to seek his approval to any proposed changes in these costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average number of patients seen per week by a hospital consultant working full time for the National Health Service.

I regret that this information is not available centrally. It is doubtful whether any such average figure would be significant since consultants in some specialities—for example, pathologists—see patients relatively infrequently. The number of patients seen by other consultants varies widely with the nature of the speciality and the clinical condition of the patients: the acutely ill may be seen several times a week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many resident patients at St. Bernard's Hospital, Hanwell, went out to work daily during each of the last six months and what was the total maintenance charge assessed by the hospital in respect of each patient's accommodation in accordance with his Department's ruling concerning such charges.

About 30 people went out to work daily during the last six months and I am assured that assessment for maintenance has been in accordance with departmental guidance, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review his policy regarding payments to dentists for conducting checks on patients who have no natural teeth, in the light of the importance of such examinations to the health of such patients; and if he will make a statement.

No. I do not consider that a review is necessary. Where treatment is provided to an edentulous patient, the dentist is entitled to claim an examination fee unless the treatment is limited to the repair of a denture.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give an undertaking not to change the interval for dental check-ups, at present every six months for adults and four months for children; and if he will make a statement.

The statement of dental remuneration for practitioners in the NHS general dental services provides that the fee for "clinical examination, advice and report" is not payable where the dentist has been paid or is entitled to be paid for treatment of the patient under this item carried out at any time during the preceding five calendar months for patients over 21 and four months for those under 21. However, this is not a mandatory interval for dental check-ups, and the time which elapses between courses of treatment does not depend on this provision.We have no plans at present to review these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will expand the fluoride application provided by dentists to children where such application comes from their parents or guardians; and if he will make a statement.

The topical application of fluoride to children's teeth can be carried out only by a dentist or by an ancillary dental worker acting under his supervision. Such treatment therefore tends to be expensive in terms of resources, particularly manpower, in relation to the results received. Reports of benefits from such treatments vary considerably and do not on present evidence warrant the diversion of resources from other forms of treatment that would be needed to make them freely available under the general dental service of the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of the disquiet felt by patients and the dental profession regarding the inadequacy of services for gum care, he will take steps to make sure that such treatment is freely available on the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any disquiet over the adequacy of services for gum care. The scale of dental fees, which sets out details of treatment available under the general dental services, contains a number of items comprehensively covering peridontal treatment. In 1975 there were over 9 million cases of treatment in this category in England costing a total of over £15 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the Post Office Engineering Union with regard to occupational pensions and unemployment benefit; and if he will make a statement.

About 60 representations on this subject have been received from officials and individual members of the Post Office Engineering Union. The Council of Post Office Unions, representing the POEU among other unions, has also written and will be bringing a deputation to explain in detail its concern about the proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what estimate he has made of the risk to pregnant mothers if Zachary Merton Maternity Unit is closed down and they have to travel from the periphery of the area served by Southlands Hospital under emergency conditions to have their babies at Southlands Hospital;(2) if, in his consideration of the closure of the maternity unit at Zachary Merton Hospital, he took into account the cost and time relatives visiting mothers and children in Southlands Hospital would expend if they need to travel by public transport from the periphery of the area served by Southlands Hospital.

No recommendation from the regional health authority on the future of the maternity unit at Zachary Merton Hospital has yet reached me. I have no doubt that the authority will take these points into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average cost in 1974–75 and 1975–76 of

		Total payments for general medical services	Cost per consultation	Total payments for consequential pharmaceutical services	Cost per head of population for drugs etc.
		£m.	£	£m.	£
1974–75	…	210	1·15 to 1·50	280	6·10
1975–76	…	280	1·50 to 2·00	370	8·00
1976–77	…	315 (estimated)	1·70 to 2·30	450 (estimated)	9·70

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the effect of the work to rule in the Scottish offices of his Department.

I regret that in parts of Scotland there have been difficulties as a result of industrial action. The effects of this action vary from office to office but in general arrears of work are accumulating across the whole range of local office activities. A result is that claims for benefit are not being cleared as quickly as usual, there is delay in dealing with correspondence and telephones are sometimes not answered. The worst effects are on supplementary benefit payments where, in addition to delays in processing new claims, adjustments to continuing benefit rates—for example, to take account of changes in local authority rents—are taking longer. There are frequent contacts with the unions concerned and everything possible will be consulting a general practitioner (a) at his surgery and (b) in the patient's own home; and what will be the estimated costs for each in 1976–77.

General medical practitioners are not paid according to the number of visits by or to patients and there is no charge on patients for consultations. No returns of these visits are therefore made to family practitioner committees. Surveys indicate, however, that the number of consultations per patient per year is three to four and that about one-fifth of all consultations take place at the patient's home. These consultation rates enable figures to be derived from total payments by the NHS of the average cost per consultation but not of the difference between home visits and surgery consultations. Approximate figures for England for the three years are as follows:done to resolve the dispute with them as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present discrepancy between the green pound and £ sterling.

The gap between the two rates is 38·8 per cent., giving a calculated monetary compensatory amount percentage of 37·3 for the current week.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what volumes of food, commodity by commodity, were imported from EEC countries in 1972 and each succeeding year; and what proportions those imports formed of total imports and total consumption.

The information is given in the following table. Imports are shown as a proportion of total new supplies—imports plus home production. For ease of comparison figures for Denmark and

QUANTITIES IMPORTED FROM EEC COUNTRIES
			1972*		1973
			'000 Long Tons	Percentage	'000 Long Tons	Percentage of Total New Supplies
Wheat and flour (wheat equivalent)	…	…	1,119	13	1,464	17
Barley	…	…	40	ֵ	156	2
Oats	…	…	17	1	4	ֵ
Maize and maize meal	…	…	699	22	1,407	41
Potatoes (excluding Channel Islands	…	…	66	1	45	1
Potatoes from Chancel Islands	…	…	43	1	47	1
Beef and veal (dcw)†	…	…	96	8	70	6
Mutton and lamb	…	…	4	1	2	ֵ
Pork	…	…	29	4	12	2
Bacon and ham (product weight)	…	…	295	48	272	49
Poultrymeat	…	…	9	1	7	1
Oils and fats	…	…	335	21	357	22
Butter	…	…	135	30	183	42
Cheese	…	…	65	20	82	26
Eggs in shell	…	…	1	ֵ	15	2
Sugar	…	…	43	1	70	2
Fish	…	…	81	7	64	5
Dried fruit	…	…	4	2	6	4
Citrus fruit	…	…	29	5	20	3

			1974		1975
			'000 Long Tons	Percentage of Total New supplies	'000 Long Tons	Percentage of Total New Supplies
Wheat and flour (wheat equivalent)	…	…	1,359	15	2,313	29
Barley	…	…	672	7	433	5
Oats	…	…	8	1	22	3
Maize and maize meal	…	…	1,732	54	1,660	55
Potatoes (excluding Channel Islands	…	…	72	1	253	5
Potatoes from Channel Islands	…	…	32	ֵ	—	—
Beef and veal (dcw)†	…	…	211	16	185	13
Mutton and lamb	…	…	2	..	2	..
Pork	…	…	6	1	14	2
Bacon and ham (product weight)	…	…	261	50	248	52
Poultrymeat	…	…	7	1	7	1
Oils and fats	…	…	404	27	442	31
Butter	…	…	321	65	358	68
Cheese	…	…	99	30	117	31
Eggs in shell	…	…	19	2	17	2
Sugar	…	…	362	13	649	23
Fish	…	…	51	4	43	4
Dried fruit	…	…	4	3	6	5
Citrus fruit	…	…	24	4	31	6
* Denmark and the Irish Republic are included.
† Dressed carcase weight.
The signֵindicates less than 500 tons or½per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report the terms of reference and the names and qualifications of the members of the Potato Marketing Board.

The function of the Potato Marketing Board is to administer the Potato Marketing Scheme 1955, as amended. There are no terms of refer-

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will

QUANTITIES IMPORTED FROM NON-EEC COUNTRIES
			1972*		1973
			'000 Long Tons	Percentage	'000 Long Tons	Percentage of Total New Supplies
Wheat and flour (wheat equivalent)	…	…	3,094	35	2,279	26
Barley	…	…	689	7	131	1
Oats	…	…	8	1	4	1
Maize and maize meal	…	…	2,403	77	2,034	59
Potatoes (excluding Channel Islands)	…	…	307	4	296	4
Beef and veal (dcw)†	…	…	237	20	261	22
Mutton and lamb	…	…	322	59	259	53
Pork	…	…	74	11	6	1
Bacon and ham (product weight)	…	…	49	8	37	7
Poultrymeat	…	…	1	ֵ	3	1
Oils and fats	…	…	1,001	63	1,045	63
Butter	…	…	215	48	150	36
Cheese	…	…	84	25	53	17
Eggs in shell	…	…	ֵ	ֵ	2	—
Sugar	…	…	1,990	65	1,863	68
Fish	…	…	107	10	110	10
Dried fruit	…	…	145	98	139	96
Citrus fruit	…	…	548	95	595	97

Nine socio-economic advisers have been appointed in England and Wales in connection with this work. Reports on the implementation of the directive in the United Kingdom are made to the Commission at regular intervals, but it is not customary to publish reports on the contribution made to this work by individuals.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what volumes of food, commodity by commodity, were imported from non-EEC countries in 1972 and each succeeding year; and what proportions those imports formed of total imports and total consumption

The information is given in the following table. Imports are shown as a proportion of total new supplies—imports plus home production. For ease of comparison, figures for Denmark and the Republic of Ireland have been excluded from the figures for 1972.