asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in the negotiations for procurement of Milan for the British Army.

A Memorandum of Understanding for the procurement of the Milan man-portable medium range anti-tank guided weapon system is being signed today with the Governments of France and the Federal Republic of Germany. The Government announced in September 1975 that we intended to procure Milan, subject to the achievement of satisfactory terms. These have been obtained and include manufacture in Britain of all the systems required, following a small initial direct purchase to accelerate introduction into service with operational units.British manufacture will be undertaken by the British Aircraft Corporation's guided weapons division as prime contractor. Arrangements have also been made between BAC and the Franco-German consortium Euromissile, and accepted by the Governments of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, leading to full participation by BAC in sales to other countries. In all, by the early 1980s, about 2,000 jobs could result for British industry.As a part of the arrangements the three countries have agreed to collaborate in any future enhancement of the Milan weapon system. We have also decided to carry out joint studies to explore the scope for collaboration in the development of the next generation of anti-tank guided weapons systems.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will give further details of the class of travel used by the representatives of the House of Commons Refreshment Department Committee of Inquiry on their visit to France, Holland and Germany, respectively, from 30th March to 1st April 1976; and whether the visit and class of travel was approved by the Chairman's Liaison Committee.

All flights were first-class except that from Amsterdam to Dussel-dorf. The Committee was Government appointed and the question of authorisation by the Chairman's Liaison Committee did not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will take the chair at the Geneva conference on Rhodesia.

As my right hon. Friend told the House on 20th October, he has given this matter very careful consideration, but, for a number of reasons, has come down firmly against the proposition that he should chair the Geneva conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have been made in the list of United Kingdom representatives at the North Atlantic Assembly.

My noble Friend Lord Raglan has replaced the late Lord Hoy as a representative from the Government at the North Atlantic Assembly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to introduce legislation dealing with the problem of homelessness in Scotland;(2) what representations he has received concerning the problem of homelessness in Scotland.

Plans for introducing legislation would be premature while discussions continue with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities with a view to evolving generally accepted working arrangements between social work and housing authorities for dealing with homelessness and associated problems. My right hon. Friend's Departments are frequently in touch with organisations concerned with the plight of the homeless. Representations on the specific question of responsibility for housing the homeless have been made in the context of comments on the recommendations of the Morris Report on Links between Housing and Social Work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the number of teachers under 60 years of age in the case of women and under 65 years of age in the case of men, in the service of Scottish education authorities, whose length of service would not entitle them to a full pension under the Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme, if they were to retire at the age of 60 and 65 years, respectively.

Of teachers employed by Scottish education authorities 32,662 women under 60 and 11,097 men under 65 would not have the 40 years' service required to entitle them to a full pension of half pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the number of teachers over 65 years of age in the case of men and over 60 years of age in the case of women, in the service of Scottish education authorities whose length of service does not entitle them to a full pension under the Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme.

Of teachers employed by Scottish education authorities 111 men over 65 years of age and 1,206 women over 60 years of age do not have the 40 years' service required as entitlement to a full pension of half pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fact that minutes of education committees and meetings of governors of technical colleges and other similar institutions which are made available to the public under the Education (Scotland) Act 1962 and schemes of administration relevant to such colleges, do not contain copies of papers referred to brevitatis causa, thus restricting the value of the minutes to the public, if he will seek statutory powers to make provision of such material obligatory.

I am in sympathy with the hon. Member's general intention, but I think that this is a matter for administrative guidance rather than for statutory powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to issue guidance to courts to encourage a wider use of social inquiry reports for certain categories of offenders, in the light of recommendations of the Thomson Committee on Criminal Procedure (Second Report).

I have the Thomson proposals under consideration together with other issues relating to the provision of social enquiry reports.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether he is prepared to permit the National Nuclear Corporation or the Nuclear Power Company to reassess the values of SGHWRs, AGRs, and PWRs in the light of current United Kingdom conditions;(2) when he proposes to make a further statement about the construction of the proposed SGHWR power station to be situated at Sizewell, Suffolk;(3) what is his estimate of the cost of a prototype SGHWR, reference design with two 660 MW sets, proposed to be built in the United Kingdom, compared with the cost of building AGRs and LWRs of similar capacities.

On the advice of the Atomic Energy Authority I am currently taking stock of progress with the SGHWR programme. The National Nuclear Corporation has proposed that the Nuclear Power Company should carry out an assessment of the SGHWR, AGR and PWR systems. I have agreed to this proposal on the clear understanding that the carrying out of the assessment will in no way jeopardise the nuclear industry's ability to start work on site on SGHWR early in 1979. The Government are in no way committed to the conclusions. I understand that the assessment can be completed in six months. It will include the preparation of estimates of the comparative costs of the three systems.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will compensate the CEGB for the losses incurred as a result of the continuing industrial dispute which has halted construction work at the Isle of Grain power station; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce amendments to the Criminal Justice Act 1972 to increase the powers of the magistrates' courts.

We need more experience of the working of the non-custodial measures provided by this Act for both the Crown Court and magistrates courts before contemplating adding to them. The limit on the power of magistrates to order compensation is under consideration in the context of the recommendations by the James Committee to increase the maximum level for certain fines in magistrates' courts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were employed by the Community Development Project; and how many of that total worked in its information and intelligence unit.

Each of the 12 local community development projects had an initial authorised complement of six, plus secretarial and clerical support, and each employed additional staff, often on a part-time basis, for specific social action or research tasks. It is not possible without disproportionate cost to give the total number of additional staff employed from time to time. At the time of its closure on 30th September 1976 the information and intelligence unit employed five full-time staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the activities of the Community Development Project; and what reports were published by its information and intelligence unit since its inception in 1969.

The Community Development Project is a programme of action-research based in areas of special social need in England, Scotland and Wales. Its general purpose is to develop a better understanding of the conditions of those living in the older urban areas and to explore new ways of meeting their needs. The following reports have been published by the information and intelligence unit:

• Inter-Project Report (February 1974).
• Forward Plan (May 1975).
• Rates of Decline (January 1975).
• Poverty of the Improvement Programme (July 1975).
• Local Government Becomes Big Business (September 1975).
• Cutting the Welfare State (Who Profits) (November 1975).
• Whatever Happened to Council Housing? (April 1976).
• Profits Against Houses (September 1976).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many copies of the report of the Community Development Project entitled "Profits Against Houses" have been printed; what was the overall cost: and what income has been received from sales up to the present date.

5,000 copies were printed at a cost of about £2,000. It is estimated that up to 18th October approximately 950 copies had been sold. Net receipts from these sales are expected to be about £360.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to public funds of the Community Development Project in the last 12 months of its operation; and what sums of public money were made available to it since its inception.

Expenditure in the financial year 1975–76 on the Community Development projects in England and Wales, excluding expenditure on social action projects and central support activity, is estimated at £492,000; expenditure from the inception to the end of the project is estimated at £2·2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what agreement exists between his Department and the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service regarding the salary paid to Mr. John Ennals.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to stop anyone in the

					1975–76	1976–77	1977–78
					£	£	£
Firearm certificates	…	…	…	…	474,704	771,022	1,043,172
Shotgun certificates	…	…	…	…	504,961	980,308	1,471,862

The estimated cost of providing the service in 1975–76 was £795,772 for firearm certificates and £1,019,764 for shotgun certificates. The comparable estimated costs in 1976–77, at present pay and prices, are £875,358 for firearm certificates and £1,121,740 for shotgun certificates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will increase to take account of inflation the fines payable in convictions for the stealing of eggs from protectel species of birds.

The maximum fines payable, originally fixed in 1954, were increased fourfold this year by the Protection of Birds (Amendment) Act 1976 We have in mind the probability of a further increase when a legislative opportunity arises.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in deciding to devolve responsibility for summer time to the Scottish Assembly

I have no plans to seek additional powers. There is an offence of blasphemy at common law. Although the Home Secretary has no responsibility for the institution of proceedings in particular cases I have no doubt that the prosecuting authorities would look carefully into any alleged offence at the relevant time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual yield of the fees for firearms and shotgun certificates (a) at present, and (b) as proposed from 1st October 1976; and what are the costs of providing the service in each case.

The estimated revenue from the fees for firearm and shotgun certificates is as follows:and administration, it is the Government's intention that the Scottish Assembly, if it so wishes, should be entitled to make the time of day different in Scotland from that which it is in England at particular times of the year.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest estimate of the number of people on the electoral register entitled to vote in the United Kingdom who are not United Kingdom citizens.

There is no information on which to base such an estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give an assurance that there will be no redundancy among staff in his Department as a result of the expenditure cuts in the Gloucestershire area, particularly in Cheltenham.

If the administration savings required of my Department were to be achieved solely by reducing the number of staff employed some 4,000 of existing posts would need to be given up by April 1978. It is expected that, since natural wastage is currently running at some 7,000 a year, the reduction should generally be achieved without recourse to redundancy measures. It is impossible, at this stage, to say what particular effect the implementation of the measures proposed to achieve the cuts will have on the Department's South-Western Region, which covers the county of Gloucestershire, but there is no reason to think that the effect there will be any different from that in the Department as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the likely impact on the service provided by DHSS of the proposed cut-backs in departmental expenditure.

My Department provides a direct service to the public mainly through its social security administration. The ways in which cut-backs in expenditure will be made are still under consideration. Our general principle is that as far as possible savings should be made by simplification of the social security system rather than by reductions in the service provided by local offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what way normal established departmental procedures, for example regular visiting are being waived to cope with pressure of work.

Normal procedures are not being waived because of pressure of work to any considerable extent at present. Where some waiving is necessary regular visiting is usually replaced by correspondence or by interviewing claimants at local offices instead of in their homes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to publicise the use of kidney donor cards; and whether he is considering any other measures whereby a person wishing to donate his kidneys in the event of death can identify this fact.

My Department will continue to make kidney donor cards available to the public through existing outlets, and a "filler" film urging people to carry cards has appeared on television during advertising intervals on over 100 occasions. I am presently examining with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport the possibility of sending out a special version of the card with first provisional driving licences. I am always prepared to consider suggestions for improving arrangements for securing more kidney donors.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement regarding the adequacy of the facilities for treating adults and children suffering from kidney failure; and what additional resources in manpower, equipment and finance are required to bring this aspect of health treatment up to standard.

Facilities for the treatment of chronic renal failure are inadequate to meet the total need. In 1972 a Joint Committee of the Royal Colleges estimated that between 23–39 patients per million population per year, with an upper age limit of 55–60, might benefit from treatment by regular dialysis and/or transplantation. More recently the medical criteria for regarding patients as suitable for treatment have widened, thereby increasing the potential demand, and in 1975, 15 new patients per million population in England were accepted. In general those patients between the ages of 15 and 45 who are suitable for dialysis can be offered treatment, but outside that range not all patients can be treated.It is not possible to give an accurate estimate of the resources that would be needed to meet total need. My Department is currently seeking to determine the costs of the various methods of treatment for chronic renal failure. I hope to make the results available later.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give an assurance that there will no reduction in the allocation of resources for the treatment of people suffering from kidney failure, notwithstanding any possible cuts in the allocation of money to the National Health Service.

It is for health authorities to allocate resources to particular services, having regard to their own assessment of local needs and priorities, the total amount of finance available to them, and in the light of guidance on priorities given by the Department. We have no plans to advise health authorities to reduce services for chronic renal failure.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons per million of the British population are receiving treatment for advanced kidney failure; what is the figure for other advanced countries; whether he is satisfied with this situation; and what steps he proposes to take.

Following is a table showing the number of kidney patients alive on treatment by dialysis and transplantation at 31st December 1975. These figures are produced by the European Dialysis and Transplant Association whose policy is not to publish statistics relating to countries below the European average.

Country	Patients per million population
Switzerland	136·1
Denmark	132·4
Japan	128·9
USA	127·0
Israel	117·0
Canada	103·0
Belgium	102·7
France	102·2
Australia	97·4
Netherlands	90·2
Federal Republic of Germany	87·7
Sweden	85·4
Italy	81·2
Finland	71·0
Norway	67·4
United Kingdom	62·0
EUROPE	56·6

I am naturally dissatisfied when any aspect of the National Health Service fails to meet the full need, and this particular area of the service is no exception. The extent to which facilities for dialysis can be increased is for health authorities to determine, having regard to the resources available to them, and in the light of guidance on priorities given by the Department. There is also a need for more transplants to take place, but this is governed by the availability of cadaver kidneys which remains insuffi- cient. My Department will continue to encourage members of the public to become kidney donors, and as far as possible to encourage clinicians to be aware of the possibility of helping kidney patients in this way and to co-operate with transplant teams in the identification of potential donors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Social Services if he will make a statement concerning the position of the estimated number of children requiring kidney transplants.

In the United Kingdom about 100 children each year suffer chronic renal failure which might be treated by dialysis and/or transplantation. In 1975, 35 new patients were accepted for treatment. There are currently 37 children on the waiting list for a transplant.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients in psychiatric hospitals in the Wessex region have undergone psychosurgery.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply to him on 30th April—[Vol. 910, c. 205–6.] The Wessex Regional Health Authority informs me that since then one operation which would fall into the psychosurgery category has been carried out in the region. Information on the number of patients in psychiatric hospitals in the region who have at some time undergone psychosurgery is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will extend the invalid care allowance scheme to apply to those categories which fall short of the requirements for attendance allowance, but are precluded from taking up employment because of caring for an aged or infirm relative.

No. This is not one of our existing priorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many families in Aberdeen are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(2) how many families in Perth are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(3) how many families in Inverness are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(4) how many families in Dundee are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(5) how many families in Edinburgh are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(6) how many families in Glasgow, are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(7) how many families in Greater London are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, 50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(8) how many families in Birmingham are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(9) how many families in Liverpool are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(10) how many families in Manchester are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(11) how many families in Leeds are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(12) how many families in Sheffield are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(13) how many families in Coventry are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(14) how many families in Nottingham are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(15) how many families in Kingston upon Hull are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(16) how many families in Bradford are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(17) how many families in Stoke are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100, per week, respectively.(18) how many families in Leicester are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100, per week, respectively.(19) how many families in Newcastle are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100, per week, respectively.(20) how many families in Cardiff are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively:(21) how many families in Portsmouth are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(22) how many families in Plymouth are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(23) how many families in Southampton are in receipt of social, security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively;(24) how many families in Sunderland are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively:(25) how many families in Swansea are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively:

The information requested could not be provided without disproportionate effort and expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many neurosurgeons are currently engaged in the National Health Service (a) full-time and (b) part-time, in England and Wales; and what is their range of salary;(2) how many neuroradioligists are currently engaged in the National Health Service in England and Wales; and what is their range of salary;

At 30th September 1975 there were 82 consultant neurosurgeons—29 whole-time, 50 part-time and three honorary, 35 consultant neuropathologists, and 38 consultant clinical neurophysiologists employed in the National Health Service in England and Wales. Figures for neuroradiologists are not collected separately, as the sub-specialty is included in the general specialty of radiology.The range of salary for all consultants in the National Health Service is from £7,536, plus supplement of £312, to £10,689 per annum. In addition, consultants are eligible for distinction awards worth between £2,025 and £10,689 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest estimate of deficiencies in the number of (a) neurosurgeons, (b) neuroradiologists, (c) neurophysiologists and (d) neuropathologists engaged in the National Health Service in England and Wales; and what action is taken to make good the shortfall in each of the four categories.

There are no official norms for the number of staff in these specialties. Authorities do not appear to be experiencing any difficulties in filling existing consultant posts in neurosurgery, neurophysiology or neuropathology, and we estimate that there should be adequate trained manpower in these specialties to meet the likely demand from authorities for new posts this year. Information on the sub-specialty of neuroradiology is not collected separately.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it was intended, under the mobility allowance scheme, that double leg amputees who surrendered their invalid three-wheelers in order to claim the mobility allowance would have to have a medical examination to determine whether or not they qualified to receive it; and if he will make a statement about the procedure to be followed in such cases described above.

The medical criteria for mobility allowance are not identical to those under the former invalid vehicle service. The new scheme incorporates, however, for the first time ever, a statutory appeals procedure. As to the future, we have announced that we propose to introduce legislation to enable existing beneficiaries under the former scheme to transfer automatically to mobility allowance if they wish to do so. Once this comes into effect further medical examinations will not be required in such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he has asked the Medicines Commission to review its recommendations on the sale of certain analgesics; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn and Hatfield (Mrs. Hayman) on 8th July, and my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Coventry, South West (Mrs. Wise) on

Period			(a) Compulsory Purchase Orders Submitted	(b) Compulsory Purchase Orders Confirmed
1st January 1976 to 30th September 1976	…	…	953	718
1st January 1975 to 31st December 1975	…	…	1,042	1,001

The time taken to reach a decision on an order can vary widely, depending on such factors as whether or not the order is opposed, its size and complexity, and the fluctuation in workload. The numbers of compulsory purchase orders confirmed, as shown above, do not, therefore, relate to the numbers submitted in the same periods.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Building Research Establishment has yet concluded its research into the experience and attitudes of mobile home residents and site operators; and whether its finding will be published.

The BRE surveys for the mobile homes review have been com-

asked the Attorney-General what were the costs of bringing the Crossman Diaries case, Attorney-General v. Times Newspapers and Attorney-General v. Jonathan Cape.

I regret that this information cannot yet be provided. The bills of costs of two parties to the proceedings are being referred to a Taxing Master of the Supreme Court and I cannot say when the outcome of those references will be known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many compulsory purchase orders have been (a) submitted to him and (b) confirmed by him to date in 1976; and what are the corresponding figures for the last 12 months to the latest convenient date.

The numbers are as shown below:pleted and the findings are expected to be published in the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many passes have been issued for the parking of cars on the Horseguards Parade in each year since 1945.

Records are only available from 1965. For each year since then the numbers have been 871, 813, 640, 541, 547, 549, 596, 600, 608, 636, 667 and 672.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the titles of the publications produced by the urban planning division of the Building Research Establishment in 1974, 1975 and 1976.

This division has published in the period in question 14 reports, five of which have dealt with shopping facilities. Others have dealt with housing problems and mobility, with land use and transportation, and with problems of planning methodology. One substantial study—1975—dealt with new town growth issues arising at Bracknell. I am sending the hon. Member a list. The division also sponsors extra-mural work, on which the research contractors report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will instruct the Chairman of the Thames Water Authority to rescind the regulation stopping the operation of car washers, in view of the improvement in water supplies.

This is a matter which the authority itself must decide in the light of its assessment of the water supply situation in its area. I would certainly hope that it would feel able to lift this particular restriction soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what suggestions he made in his recent discussions with the North West Water Authority concerning the possibility of using Lake District water to supply Merseyside, over the period during which these new arrangements might operate, the amount of water which might be supplied daily; and whether he proposed that the emergency drawings from Ullswater and Lake Windermere, which are already authorised, would be extended beyond 31st January 1977.

Reallocation of the present water supply arrangements for Merseyside would only become necessary if the severe water shortages recently experienced elsewhere were to be repeated. In that event up to 8 million gallons per day—i.e., about 6 per cent. of the normal yield of the Lake District sources, might have to be diverted from Manchester to Merseyside.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the figures for the sales of dwellings owned by local authorities and new towns in the United Kingdom for the first half of 1976, broken down by region and local authority area, showing also which properties were bought for sale; and what was the proportion of pre-war and postwar dwellings sold.

I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much revenue was gained from council house sales annually from 1966 onwards.

I regret that this information cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy regarding encouragement of cavity wall insulation; and, in view of the fact that such an alteration increases rates payable, if he will alter his policy on this matter in the interests of energy conservation.

We have drawn attention to the advantages of cavity fill for suitable property in our pamphlets "Warmth Without Waste" and "Warmth Kept In", and have issued a type relaxation of the building regulations to facilitate carrying out this work.A rating assessment is based on the rental value of a property, and any improvement which would increase that value should in principle be reflected in the rateable value. We have no proposals at present to alter this situation, but the position on dwellings is that Section 21 of the Local Government Act 1974 would have the effect of ignoring improvements of this kind until the next general revaluation. As regards other buildings, we are not aware of any evidence that the addition of cavity wall insulation on its own would significantly increase the rateable value.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the reasons for two postponements of the local inquiry he has ordered concerning Land Rover Services Ltd., College Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham.

The inquiry into the appeal against the enforcement notice was rearranged for 26th October, as the earlier date proved difficult for the appellants. The inquiry has now been cancelled at the request of the Birmingham City Council because of a procedural defect in making the enforcement notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what feasible preparation of whale fats and whale oil, excluding sperm oil, are excluded from control under Amendment No. 18 of the open general import licence; and why these have been decontrolled since 1st January 1976.

I have been asked to reply.No feasible preparations of whale fats and oils except sperm oil are to my knowledge excluded from control under Amendment No. 18 of the open general import licence. There has been no change since March 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children in England and Wales between the ages of 11 and 18 years are receiving secondary education; and how many of those children receive it from comprehensive schools.

In January 1976 there were 3,846,510 pupils aged 11 to 18 inclusive attending maintained secondary schools in England and Wales; of these, 2,888,231 were attending schools within the comprehensive system.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will arrange for the charges for election meetings held in schools during a General Election to be set at 1974 levels until candidates' election expenses are raised to take account of the increases in the current level of hiring charges.

The Representation of the People Act 1949 allows local education authorities to make an economic charge for the use of school premises for election meetings. My right hon. Friend cannot restrict their powers in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the present position at the Norton Villiers factory in Wolverhampton.

The Government have offered up to £200,000 of assistance on a once-for-all basis under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 to a new company, Wolverhampton Industrial Engines Ltd., as a contribution to the cost of acquiring from the liquidator to Norton Villiers Ltd. the business of manufacturing Villiers industrial petrol engines and such parts of the Wolverhampton factory and its plant and machinery as are necessary and of continuing the manufacture there and sale of Villiers engines.Assistance has been offered in the form of a loan of up to £195,000 and a subscription of £5,000 for non-voting shares in the company. The loan, which will be unsecured, will be at the broadly commercial interest rate of 13½ per cent. per annum, and will be repaid between 31st December 1981 and 31st December 1984. The first two years of the loan will be interest free. The Government assistance will be matched by an equal contribution, in the form of equity subscription, from private sources, including a leading City institution. The compnay will also obtain necessary overdraft facilities on normal banking terms.The Government's offer is conditional on the provision of satisfactory evidence that the finance required, other than the Government contribution, has been obtained; that arrangements have been reached with the liquidator to Norton Villiers Ltd. for the purchase of the appropriate assets; that a chairman and board of directors has been appointed; that an agreement has been concluded between management and employees on the conduct of industrial relations in the company; and that the company will be free to carry on business without impediment from any other company.The new company is expected to employ about 100 at the start, rising to about 200 in due course.With this assistance Villiers petrol engines, the only such engines made in this country for the general industrial market, would continue to be made here, benefitting the balance of payments and providing employment at Wolverhampton.The responsibility for the former motor cycle business of Norton Villiers Ltd. remains with the liquidator to that company.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry which matters his Department will be responsible for in England, but not in Scotland, after the implementation of the Government's present devolution proposals.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will continue to administer selective financial assistance under Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972. Otherwise, my responsibilities in England will remain the same as those in Scotland except for the English equivalents of the responsibilities to be discharged by the Scottish Executive in relation to certain functions of the Scottish Development Agency.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps he has taken and what steps he intends to take to find an employer who will take over the former Thorn factory in Skelmersdale.

The Department continues to give Skelmersdale the highest priority in the steering of new mobile projects. Working closely with the Skelmersdale Development Corporation the Department brings the attention of industrialists to the availability in Skelmersdale of vacant site and factories, including the factory formerly used by Thorn Colour Tubes Limited.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he wil give an assurance that it remains the policy of the Government to allow the former Thorn factory in Skelmersdale only to be used for manufacturing purposes.

This factory is owned by Thorn Colour Tubes Limited. Every effort will be made by this Department and the Skelmersdale Development Corporation to interest manufacturers in its use.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list in the Official Report the various types of Government grants, loans, tax concessions, etc. which are available to encourage manufacturers to move into the former Thorn factory in Skelmersdale.

Skelmersdale New Town forms part of the Merseyside Special Development Area. As a result, the full range of regional industrial incentives—regional development grant, regional selective assistance and regional employment premium—is on offer to firms setting up or expanding there. Investment by a manufacturer would qualify for the normal first year allowance of 100 per cent. against corporation tax.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the return on assets employed on a historical cost basis of the NEB for the period ended 30th June 1976, as contained in the NEB interim statement of account.

I cannot add to the information given in the NEB's interim statement of accounts. This was prepared in accordance with paragraph 8 of the Stock Exchange Listing Agreement, with which the NEB is required to conform under the draft guidelines.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the names of the companies and the amount of the loans made to each company under the scheme to provide machine tool manufacturers with finance for stock.

This information is a matter for the NEB.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has plans to improve access by United Kingdom industry to accumulating scientific and technical knowledge.

Yes. The Department of Industry is to participate jointly with the British Library, the Chemical Society and the Institution of Electrical Engineers in forming a company to develop and operate "on-line" computer-based search services on scientific and technical information files. Parliamentary approval for loans to this company by the Department will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the General Industrial Research and Development Vote, Class IV, Vote 3. Pending that approval, any necessary expenditure within a ceiling of £20,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund. The expenditure envisaged in 1976–77 will be contained within the existing provision in Supply Estimates and also within the cash limits set for the current year under Block DI 2.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report those countries exporting coal to the United Kingdom together with the tonnages and prices at the latest available date.

Following is information for January to August 1976 derived from the import statistics under SITC(R) heading 321.4:

	Metric tons	Average value per Metric ton £ c.i.f.
Australia	1,248,028	21·78
U.S.A	538,993	38·13
Federal Republic of Germany	106,216	41·95
Netherlands	93,611	23·09
Poland	93,308	29·48
Belgium (and Luxembourg)	57,123	28·80
North Vietnam	20,244	33·39
Soviet Union	19,918	24·32
Irish Republic	11,479	18·46
South Africa	9,010	34·42
Morocco	5,914	40·00
France	3,130	47·35
Bulgaria	590	50·00
Norway	110	121·33
Canada	7	19·14

Average values are not true prices. The figures are affected by differences in the kinds of coal imported.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade to what extent the United Kingdom imports polychlorinated biphenyls for industrial use; where they come from; and in what quantities.

Detailed statistics of trade in polychlorinated biphenyls are not recorded. Such information as there is indicates that imports were of the order of 10 metric tons in 1975, the major supplier being France.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what information he has about the current state of export order books in manufacturing industry generally, and in engineering particularly; and how the recent fall in the value of the £ sterling has affected these orders.

Index numbers of export orders for the engineering industries up to July will be published today in Trade and Industry and export orders by tonnage for new merchant shipbuilding are published up to the second quarter of this year in the "Monthly Digest of Statistics" (Table 91). These publications are available from the Library of The House; statistics of export orders are not collected for other manufacturing industries.New engineering export orders have been encouraging, with marked growth in recent months, and there was a modest increase in new export orders for ships in the second quarter. Engineering order books, however, have not yet commenced to recover and orders on hand for exported ships have continued to fall.It is too soon for the orders figures to have been affected by the recent fall in the sterling exchange rate, and it will never be possible to isolate the precise effect from many other factors, especially rising costs, that simultaneously determine competitiveness and trading performance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade to what extent his Department's estimates of the United Kingdom's balance of trade in the next 12 months have taken into account the declared intention of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries to increase the price of oil by between 15 and 25 per cent.

Assessments made by my Department of possible developments in the United Kingdom's balance of trade take into account factors relevant to movements in the value of both imports and exports.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the values of manufactured goods exported to and imported from (a) the original six EEC countries and (b) the Federal Republic of Germany, for each years since 1970.

Following is the information:

UNITED KINGDOM TRADE IN MANUFACTURED GOODS
£ million
	EEC "Six"		Federal Republic of Germany
	Imports c.i.f.	Exports f.o.b.	Imports c.i.f.	Exports f.o.b.
1970	1,292	1,453	500	404
1971	1,519	1,603	593	426
1972	2,034	1,836	776	468
1973	3,088	2,504	1,253	628
1974	4,445	3,450	1,698	798
1975	4,890	3,977	1,745	1,000
Jan.-Sept. 1976	4,867	4,105	1,723	1,002

asked the Secretary of State for Trade in how many cases in the last two years permission has been given for the variation of the trust deeds of unit trusts in order that investment may be made in overseas securities through foreign currency borrowing other than through the investment currency market.

Provision for investment in overseas securities by means of foreign currency borrowing is a common feature of the deeds of unit trust schemes authorised by my Department. During the past two years we have dealt with some 200 supplemental deeds amending earlier trust deeds. A number of these have included provisions of this nature, but it would take a disproportionate amount of time to identify them separately. If my hon. Friend wishes to raise a specific issue, perhaps he would write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what percentage of the assets of insurance companies was invested in public sector securities on 31st March 1976;(2) what percentage of the assets of insurance companies was invested in company securities such as ordinary shares, preference shares and debentures on 31st March 1976;(3) what percentage of the assets of insurance companies was invested in industrial and commercial mortgages and loans on 31st March 1976.

Figures of the book value or nominal value of assets held by insurance companies are collected only in respect of 31st December each year. At 31st December 1975 the percentages for United Kingdom public sector securities, company securities and mortgages and loans in the United Kingdom were 26, 34 and 6 respectively. The figure for company securities includes unit trust units and overseas securities; that for mortgages and loans covers all United Kingdom mortgages and loans, except those for house purchase.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will list the names of those United Kingdom companies known to his Department which manufacture top-loading cassette tape decks or mechanisms;(2) if he will list the names of those companies in the EEC known to his Department which manufacture top-loading cassette and tape decks or mechanisms.

I have been asked to reply.My Department has been told by Thorn Consumer Electronics Limited and North East Audio Limited that they manufacture top-loading cassette decks in the United Kingdom and that Thorn Consumer Electronics Limited also manufactures the mechanisms. I do not know whether there are producers elsewhere in the EEC.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the change in real and percentage terms in the total investments of insurance companies and pensions funds between the first quarter of 1975 and the first quarter of 1976;

	Holdings of investments at end of year			Change as a percentage of holdings at end of 1974	Net investment in 1975
	1974 £m.	1975 £m.	Change £m.		£m.	As a percentage of holdings at end of 1974
Total investments	33,750	42,140	8,390	25	4,820	14
Investment in company securities (including unit trust units) of which:	12,670	17,730	5,060	40	1,680	13
Ordinary shares (including unit trust units)	8,880	13,760	4,880	55	1,600	18
Preference shares	340	350	10	2	40	11
Debentures	3,450	3,620	170	5	40	1

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what restrictions are placed on exports to Uganda of items suitable for use by the police and internal security forces in that country.

The information available is given in the table below. The figures of holdings are in respect of 31st December, because information on investments held by insurance companies and by private and public sector pension funds, other than those of local authorities, is collected only in respect of 31st December each year. Corresponding figures for local authority pension funds are collected in respect of 31st March, and have been adjusted to make them approximately comparable with the other figures for the end of the year.There are important difference in the valuation of holdings by the different institutions; holdings of insurance companies are at book values or nominal values while the holdings of pension funds are nearly all at market values. Net investments are at cash values and differ appreciably from the change in holdings because of differences in valuation.Investments cover purchases of existing shares as well as new issues and cover the shares of commercial and financial companies as well as industrial companies. Separate figures for the latter are not available.

Group 1 of Schedule 1 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1970 lists arms, military stores and appliances which are subject to export licensing control to all destinations. A number of items which may be suitable for use by the police and internal security forces are included in this list.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list, expressed in sterling terms, the total sum of outstanding foreign currency borrowing for each nationalised industry and for all

			£ million at exchange rates prevailing at the end of the month when loans were taken out (to nearest £5 million)	£ million at exchange rates at close on 15th October (to nearest £5 million)
Local authorities	…	…	30	55
National Coal Board	…	…	10	10
Electricity Council	…	…	40	80
South of Scotland Electricity Board	…	…	15	25
British Gas Corporation (and Gas Council)		…	5	15
Post Office	…	…	15	20
British Steel Corporation	…	…	165	240

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what overseas foreign borrowings were repaid by nationalised industries and by local authorities in the period since 1st March 1974; and what has been the difference in sterling terms between the value of the borrowings in sterling terms at the time when each loan was made and their value in sterling terms when repayment was made.

There have been no further repayments since the answer I gave on 25th June to a similar Question from the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase in unemployment he expects as a result of the measures taken since 1st September to restrict the money supply.

It is not possible to make precise estimates, and the impact will depend on how long interest rates remain at current levels. However, as my right hon. Friend said in the debate on the economic situation on 11th October 1976—[Vol. 917, c. 46}—a failure to restore confidence would have had far more damaging economic consequences. The level of confidence does far more to determine investment decisions, and, in turn, future employment prospects, than the level of interest rates.

Following is the information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the devaluation of the £ sterling by reference to the deutschemark has been of a greater or lesser percentage since 1st January 1973 than the widening of the trade gap in manufactured goods traded between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany (a) before and (b) after the recent revaluation of the deutschemark.

The trade gap in manufactured goods has increased since 1973 by a greater percentage than the depreciation of sterling against the deutschemark, both before and after its recent realignment within the snake.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the value of the £ sterling would have to be reduced from $1·66 to enable the United Kingdom to pay the foreign exchange cost of abolishing the green pound, assuming no change in other factors.

The overall balance of payments effect of abolition of the green pound would plainly be adverse, but there is no clear way of isolating any consequential exchange rate effect.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about Her Majesty's Government's policy in relation to the lifting of controls upon the free movement of capital within the EEC, and the United Kingdom's obligations under the Treaty of Accession.

As my right hon. Friend the then Paymaster General said in the reply he gave to the hon. Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen) on 18th December 1975—[Vol. 902, c. 704]—exchange control restrictions on capital movements have been authorised under the EEC Treaty in view of our balance of payments difficulties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report the months since March 1974 when industrial production has exceeded the level achieved in February 1974 during the three-day working week at the time of the miners' strike.

It is estimated that industrial production, seasonally adjusted, exceeded the level achieved in February 1974 in each month from March 1974 to March 1975 and possibly again in May 1976.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in conditions of export-led growth, what is his estimate of the rate at which export prices will rise as compared with import prices.

It is not possible to answer this Question in general terms. The relative growth of export and import prices depends on a variety of factors.

Place	Sector	Amount£	Terms
Workington, Cumberland	Integrated circuit control modules	50,000	14 years at 10½ per cent.
Liverpool	Sugar confectionery	220 000	11 years at 9¼ per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many loans have been obtained from the European Investment Bank in 1974 and 1975 by companies and bodies in United Kingdom; and what have been the principal amounts, rates of interest and repayment terms.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many loan applications originating from (a) the United Kingdom (b) the North-West of England and (c) Cheshire, have been refused by the European Investment Bank in 1974 and 1975; and what grounds have been given for their refusal.

Negotiations between the European Investment Bank and potential borrowers are confidential and this information cannot be disclosed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many loans have been obtained from the European Investment Bank in 1974 and 1975 by companies and bodies in the Cheshire; and what have been the principal amounts, rates of interest and repayment terms.

The European Investment Bank did not grant any loans for projects in Cheshire in either 1974 or 1975.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many loans have been obtained from the European Investment Bank in 1974 and 1975 by companies and bodies in the North-West of England; and what have been the principal amounts, rates of interest and repayment terms.

The European Investment Bank did not grant any direct loans for projects in the North-West of England in 1974 and 1975. In 1974 two projects were, however, financed from loans provided by the bank to the Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation for on-lending to small and medium-sized firms in the assisted areas. Details are as follows:

In 1974 the European Investment Bank granted nine loans totalling £79·9 million and, in 1975, 16 loans totalling £186·5 million for companies and bodies in the United Kingdom. The details are:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the most recent estimates of the values, respectively, of British-owned overseas portfolio investments and of British-owned fixed assets outside the United Kingdom; and which 12 overseas countries rank first in importance as far as such investments are concerned.

The most recent estimates of United Kingdom direct and portfolio investments overseas are published in table 32 of "United Kingdom Balance of Payments 1965–75" published by the Central Statistical Office, which is available in the Library. No country breakdown is available of portfolio investments. For direct investments, excluding oil companies, there are statistics relating to end-1971 in the Department of Industry's "Business Monitor M4 1972, Part II," which is also available in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total contribution of all United Kingdom insurance concerns to net overseas earnings in 1976; and how many persons were employed in such concerns.

The overseas earnings of insurance concerns established in the United Kingdom amounted to £452 million in 1975. No comparable figure is available for earnings of overseas insurance companies in the United Kingdom, nor for United Kingdom insurance earnings net of those foreign earnings. In the same year, United Kingdom gross earnings on the invisible account were £11,038 million and the net surplus on invisible was £1,531 million.In June 1975, 266,300 people were employed in insurance concerns in the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of value added tax collected in each of the fiscal years ended in April 1975 and April 1976, respectively; and what were the total costs of its collection and for any investigatory matters thereto appertaining.

Net receipts of VAT in the financial years ended 31st March 1975 and 1976 were £2,509·5 million and £3,454·9 million respectively. It is estimated that the costs of collection were about £50 million in 1974–75 and about £70 million in 1975–76. These estimates include the costs of investigation which is not separable from other aspects of the administration and control of VAT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for altering that part of VAT which requires firms to pay VAT on unpaid debts.

I am afraid I cannot yet add to what I said on this subject at Committee stage of the Finance Bill on 11th May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he estimates that the volume of imports of manufactures will fall as a result of the under-valuation of the £ sterling.

If United Kingdom price competitiveness increases, whether through depreciation or relative price movements, the volume of imports of manufactures can hardly fail to be lower than it would otherwise have been, provided that our industry is not prevented by capacity constraints from producing the goods which substitute for imports.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether at the latest meeting of EEC Finance Ministers, Her Majesty's Government asked for a variation of the EEC directive on the harmonisation of tobacco taxation so as to ensure that the present price differential between small cigarettes and king-size cigarettes might be maintained; if not, why not; and, if such a variation was sought, what decision was arrived at.

No. There was a meeting of EEC Finance Ministers yesterday, at which my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary was present, but tobacco harmonisation was not on the agenda.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about apparent discrepancies which have occurred in the granting of certificates of independence under Section 8 of the Employment Protection Act; and what action he proposes to take.

We have received a variety of representations about the present arrangements for the granting of certificates of independence. Consultations are at present taking place with the main interested organisations about what might be done to improve what appears to the Government to be an unsatisfactory situation. I am not yet in a position to say what action we will take.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the number of men who have been appointed and serve upon industrial tribunals.

There are at present 1,769 men serving as lay members of industrial tribunals.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the increase in earnings of the tunnelling workers on the Dartford Tunnel and in Newcastle comes within the current phase of incomes policy.

The civil engineering industry, like all other industries, is expected to observe the provisions of the incomes policy. I am not aware of any settlement on these two projects which infringe the pay limits.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement concerning the dispute at the Isle of Grain power station.

I understand that the Central Electricity Generating Board is making new contractural arrangements which may help in resolving this dispute. Officials of the unions concerned have met the CEGB and expect to discuss the matter further with the Engineering Employers' Federation and Babcock and Wilcox on 25th October. I hope that this long running dispute will soon be resolved.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the present rate of unemployment for young people in Skelmersdale;(2) how many young people in Skelmersdale have been unable to obtain a job since leaving school in 1974 and 1975;(3) how many of those who left school in July 1976 in Skelmersdale are still unemployed.

There are difficulties about calculating a rate of unemployment for young people, and we do not do this. The total number of persons under 20 years of age registered as unemployed in Skelmersdale on 8th July—the latest available statistics—was 910. The latest statistics of unemployed school leavers were collected on 9th September when 313 were registered in Skelmersdale. The statistics do not distinguish between the different dates of leaving school, but it is known that no 1974 school leavers were included. Five 1975 leavers were still registered and of the remainder the majority registered on or after 28th May this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present rate of unemployment for all groups in (a) the Skelmersdale New Town and (b) the rest of the Ince constituency; and how this compares with 1974 and 1975.

Skelmersdale is a part of the Ormskirk travel-to-work area. The remainder of the Ince constituency is partly in the Wigan travel-to-work area and partly in the Leigh travel-to-work-area. Unemployment rates are calculated only for the whole of a travel-to-

Travel-to-Work Area		September 1974	September 1975	September 1976
Ormskirk (including Skelmersdale)	…	5·0	9·8	12·8
Wigan (including Ashton-in-Makerfield and Hindley)	…	3·9	6·4	9·0
Leigh (including Atherton and Golborne)	…	2·8	5·1	6·2