asked the Minister for Overseas Development what preparations he is making for the conference in 1977 on the common fund for commodity stabilisation.

The United Kingdom Government will play an active and constructive part in the international meetings which will prepare for next year's negotiating conference on a common fund.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what discussions he has had with the appropriate Ministers in other EEC countries on aid and overseas development.

I hope to meet all my Community colleagues at the EEC Council of Development Ministers in a fortnight's time. I hope to see many of them later this week at the high-level meeting of the OECD Development Assistance Committee. Apart from this, I was glad to welcome the Federal German Minister for Economic Co-operation to London last November for discussions. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary and his predecessor have also attended meetings with a number of these colleagues.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service in how many cases since 1972 his Department has agreed to count as pensionable an emolument which is non-pensionable in terms of paragraph 4 of Appendix 1 of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

One exception to the general rules on pensionability of emoluments has been agreed, on an interim basis, to avoid worsening the negotiated pension terms of a particular small group of staff.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what percentages and totals of his advertising budget were allocated to weekly periodicals and the Labour Weekly, in particular, at 31st December 1975 and to 30th June 1976.

Apart from a small provision for advertising for accommodation for civil servants in the London area, the advertising budget available to the Civil Service Department is used solely for recruitment purposes. The journals in which my Department advertises are chosen as those most appropriate to the need, with particular regard to cost effectiveness. No separate budget is allocated to weekly journals, and details of the corresponding expenditure are not readily available. No advertisements were, however, placed in Labour Weekly.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the current rate of daily attendance allowance paid to members of the House of Peers; what was the largest amount and what was the average amount paid to non-ministerial Members of that House in the last year for which figures are available; and on what principle of taxation such payments are exempted from income tax.

The Members of another place are entitled to recover the expenses they actually incur in attending their House, up to a maximum of £13·50 per sitting day. As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) on 7th July 1976—[Vol. 914, c. 559]—the administration of that scheme is entirely a matter for another place, and I have no details of actual amounts paid. Except where it is paid to a Minister or salaried office holder, Peers' expenses allowance is exempt from tax because it represents reasonable reimbursement, to the holder of an unpaid office, of expenses connected with the duties of that office.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what rules and rates apply for the reimbursement of travel costs by members of the House of Lords; what is the legal authority for such payments; whether they are liable to income tax; and, if not, on what principle of taxation they are exempted in the case of journeys the cost of which would not normally be tax deductible.

Members of the House of Lords may recover the cost of fares incurred in attending sittings of their House or its Committees, or, alternatively, may claim car mileage allowance at the rate of 11·8p a mile. The original authority for making such payments rests with House of Commons Resolutions of 18th May 1961 and 18th December 1964, as updated from time to time by subsequent Resolutions. They are not liable to tax because Members of the House of Lords are holders of an unpaid office and any reasonable reimbursement of travelling expenses connected with the duties of an otherwise unpaid office is not taxable as an emolument of that office, even if it would not be admissible as a deduction from the taxable emoluments of a paid office.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in view of the fact that individual shareholders in public companies are being circulated by his Department with requests to disclose whether they are beneficial holders or trustees for others, he will state the reason for requiring the disclosure of such private and personal information.

The inquiry is part of a survey which my Department is conducting to provide an up-to-date estimate of the distribution of listed share ownership between broad categories of holder, such as insurance companies, pension funds, investment trusts, individuals and so on. Some shareholdings may be registered by individuals on behalf of other categories of holder. The inquiry has, therefore, been sent to a small sample of individual shareholders to help estimate the distribution of beneficial as opposed to registered share ownership.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what Government-sponsored research is currently taking place into the development of electrically propelled motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

The wider use of electric vehicles will largely depend on the availability of a battery of superior performance to existing lead-acid batteries. The Government is accordingly concentrating its development effort into participation in a consortium set up to develop the sodium-sulphur battery; the estimated Government contribution over the last 2 years is £1m. Owing to the many formidable problems, both technical and operational, it is not expected that vehicles employing this battery will be in service for some years.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to publish the study of the footwear industry.

The Footwear Study Steering Group has not completed its deliberations and has yet to prepare its report. It will be for the steering group to decide if and when the final report should be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what is his estimate of the ability of the United Kingdom steel industry to satisfy the demand for cold reduced sheet steel during the forthcoming six months; and if he will make a statement;(2) what indication he has had that BSC will be able to satisfy United Kingdom demand for cold sheet steel during the forthcoming six months.

British Steel Corporation has recently been experiencing production difficulties, including the temporary shutdown of the new Llanwern blast furnace, which is now back in operation. The corporation has adequate productive capacity to satisfy prospective demand on it for cold reduced sheet during the next six months and expects to be able to meet such demands.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what reports he has received from BSC on forward planning.

My Department receives forward planning documents and five-year projections from the corporation. Arrangements were set out in Annex B to the Department of Trade and Industry's memorandum to the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries of 18th April 1972 and further described by my officials to Sub-Committee B of the Select Committee on 12th May 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether in the light of his reply to the hon. Member for Gosport on 14th October that Mr. Short's wide experience in Government, which includes his period as Postmaster-General, would greatly assist him in discharging his responsibilities as Chairman of Cable and Wireless Limited, he will make it his practice in future when appointing to this chairmanship to consider persons who have held the post of Postmaster-General.

I have nothing to add to my previous answers on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many people are employed in Economics and Statistics Division 6A(1) of his Department; what grades they are in; and what are the principal activities of that division.

The following staff are employed in this section:

Statistician	…	3
Senior assistant Statistician	…	1
Higher executive officer	…	3
Executive officer	…	12
Clerical officer	…	23
Clerical assistant	…	2
Total	…	44

Part-time staff are counted as half.The main activity of the section is the summarisation of the published annual accounts of a sample of large companies, the results of which are published annually in "Business Monitor M3." It is also responsible for compiling and publishing quarterly statistics of company liquidity, investments by insurance companies and private pension funds, acquisitions and mergers, and insolvencies. At present it is also undertaking a survey of the ownership of listed company shares at the end of 1975. The section is also responsible for analysis and briefing on matters relating to these and other aspects of financial statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what were the percentages and totals of his advertising budget allocated to weekly periodicals and the Labour Weekly, in particular, at 31st December 1975 and to 30th June 1976.

Department of Industry advertising expenditure allocated to weekly periodicals from 1st January 1975 to 31st December 1975 was £13,594 which represents 3 per cent, of the total advertising budget. During the period 1st January 1976 to 30th June 1976 expenditure allocated to weekly periodicals was £9,169 which represents 5 per cent of the total advertising budget.The Department did not advertise in

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what rate of interest the National Enterprise Board is currently charging machine tool manufacturers for their loans.

Under the draft guidelines the NEB is required, when lending to its subsidiaries or other companies

"to charge a rate of interest not less than that paid by commercial firms of the highest standing when raising finance."

The actual rate charged in each case depends upon the circumstances, and is a matter for the NEB.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what rate of interest the National Enterprise Board is currently charging British Leyland for the £70 million provided from NEB sources; and when this loan is due for repayment.

None of this loan money has yet been advanced. The interest will be determined by the requirements of paragraph 13 of the draft guidelines for the NEB. Repayment will be due in 20 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the staff complement, and current annual cost, of his Department's Business Statistics Office.

1,090 and £6·8 million, including the cost of support services borne on the votes of other Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the publications of his Department's Business Statistics Office during the past 12 months, together with the cost of production, the sale price and the number of copies actually sold in each case.

In the 12 months ending 30th September 1976, 386 titles in the "Business Monitor" series were issued by the Business Statistics Office. I am sending a published list of "Business Monitors" to the hon. Member. The current prices of these "Monitors" will be shown on the list, and range from 12p to £4·80. The prices reflect Her Majesty's Stationery Office's costs of production, publishing and selling. Figures of sales cannot be provided without a disproportionate amount of work.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what country is the source of titanium sponge used in the manufacture of titanium for Concorde.

The United Kingdom is the major source of the titanium sponge from which the titanium used by the British manufacturers of Concorde is derived.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has any plans in connection with the future of Norton Villiers factory in Wolverhampton; and if so, whether he will make a statement on the present position.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts) on 22nd October.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what was the total number of cars, buses, commercial vehicles and motor cycles lost in terms of production through industrial action in each year since 1964;(2) what was the total value of production lost through industrial action in each year since 1964 for cars, buses, commercial vehicles and motor cycles at 1976 prices.

This information is not available from official sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many forms for completion requiring or requesting information were sent to each section of industry by each Department of State for the last 12 months; and what were the corresponding figures for the last five years.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his policy with regard to the recommendation of the Bolton Report published on 2nd November 1971 that there should be a review of the problems of small busineses every live years.

My Department keeps the position of the small firms sector under continuous review and I do not think that at this stage it would be useful to undertake an additional special review. However, I shall keep this possibility in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many departmental surveys, involving questionnaires sent to businesses, industry or members

STATISTICAL INQUIRIES BY THE DEPARTMENTS OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE
Subject					Frequency
Industries' sales	…	…	…	…	Quarterly.
Census of production	…	…	…	…	Annual
Mines and quarries	…	…	…	…	Annual.
Wholesaling and dealing	…	…	…	…	Annual.
Motor trades	…	…	…	…	Annual.
Retail distribution	…	…	…	…	Annual.
Property owning	…	…	…	…	Annual.
Catering	…	…	…	…	Annual.
Transport and entertainment	…	…	…	…	Annual.
Film exhibition	…	…	…	…	Annual.
Building materials	…	…	…	…	Quarterly and monthly.
Miscellaneous production and order statistics	…	…	…	…	Various.
Purchases of fuel by large users	…	…	…	…	Quarterly.
Fuel stocks/consumption of large users	…	…	…	…	Monthly or quarterly.
Expenditure on research and development	…	…	…	…	Every two or three years.
Capital expenditure	…	…	…	…	Quarterly.
Investment intentions	…	…	…	…	4 monthly.
Stocks	…	…	…	…	Monthly or quarterly.
Export prospects	…	…	…	…	Quarterly.
Wholesale prices	…	…	…	…	Monthly or quarterly.
Overseas transactions	…	…	…	…	Quarterly and annually.
Company liquidity	…	…	…	…	Quarterly.
Share register survey	…	…	…	…	One-off.
Insurance companies and private pension funds	…	…	…	…	Annual and quarterly.
Retail sales, stocks, HP, TV rental and relay	…	…	…	…	Monthly.
Finance houses and check trading	…	…	…	…	Monthly and quarterly
Catering	…	…	…	…	Monthly.
Motor trades	…	…	…	…	Quarterly.
United Kingdom coasting inquiry	…	…	…	…	Monthly.
United Kingdom passenger movements inquiry	…	…	…	…	When ship docks.
Register proving forms.	…	…	…	…

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many departmental surveys, involving questionnaires sent to businesses, industry or members of the public, his Department has currently in hand; how many civil servants are involved therewith; what is their estimated total cost; and if he will list them in the Official Report.

I have been asked to reply also to the Question 49 addressed to the Secretary of State for Trade.The Departments of Industry and Trade have in hand 31 statistical inquiries, which are listed in the following table. At 1st July 1976, there were 1,200 civil servants involved in collecting and processing the statistics. Their estimated annual total cost, including the cost of support services borne on the votes of other Departments, is £7·7 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection by what percentage the retail price of beer has increased since 1966 and 1971, respectively; and how these increases compare with (a) the increase in the RPI and (b) the increase in the price of milk over the same period.

The information is as follows:

	1966 (average) to September 1976	1971 (average) to September 1976
	Percentage increase in price
Beer	145	88
Retail Price Index (all items)	166	102
Milk	167	85

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he now plans to introduce legislation on the control of estate agents; and if he will make a statement.

It is still the Government's intention to introduce legislation when parliamentary time becomes available.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) if he accepts the recommendations of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on advertising by accountants; and if he plans to introduce legislation;(2) if he accepts the recommendations of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on advertising by stockbrokers; and if he plans to introduce legislation.

As I announced on 6th August—[Vol. 916, c. 1215 and 1209–1215]—when these reports were published, the Government take the view, in the light of the commission's reports, that accountants and stockbrokers should be given greater freedom to advertise than is at present allowed under their existing codes of conduct. The Director General of Fair Trading is in touch with the Stock Exchange and the appropriate professional bodies about the proposed new rules and safeguards on advertising and allied matters. Powers exist to give effect by order to recommendations of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission but it is too early to say whether subsidiary legislation of this nature will be introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations he or the Office of Fair Trading has received suggesting that the retention of RPM in the travel industry may be in the interest of the consumer; and if he will make a statement.

I take it that the hon. Member is referring to the agreement between the members of the Association of British Travel Agents not to sell package holidays below the tour operators' brochure price. I understand that details of this agreement have been submitted to the Office of Fair Trading under the Restrictive Trade Practices (Services) Order 1976, which it is the responsibility of the Director General of Fair Trading to administer.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) if he accepts all the recommendations on consumers and the nationalised industries contained in the report by the National Consumer Council; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he agrees with the recommendation of the NCC that the Airline Users' Committee should be separate from the Civil Aviation Authority;(3) if he agrees with the recommendation of the NCC that regional and district consumers councils of the nationalised industry should be abolished.

As my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection told the House on 3rd August—[Vol. 916, c. 692–3]—the Government are studying the recommendations of the National Consumer Council's report "Consumers and the nationalised industries" in the light of their general examination of the problems of nationalised industries. Consultations with those most closely affected are continuing and I am not yet in a position to make a statement about the report's recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what were the comparative amounts spent in the latest available period by the British Tourist Authority to promote tourism in Great Britain as a whole and in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively.

All British Tourist Authority expenditure, which totalled £8·9 million in 1975–76, is directed to the promotion of tourism, mainly by means of publicity and information services provided overseas. I regret that the authority's accounts are not at present prepared in a form which permits the extraction of figures for England, Scotland and Wales, although many of its promotions focus specially on one individual country or particular districts within it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has had to expand Stansted Airport in recent months.

Representations in response to the Department's consultation document, "Airport Strategy for Great Britain, Part 1: the London Area", have been received from a number of organisations concerned with the future of Stansted Airport. Some of these have favoured its expansion.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the future proposed development of Stansted Airport.

The future development of Stansted Airport will be considered in the light of the consultations taking place on airports policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report a table listing the number of prosecutions and convictions of seamen on a British ship for homosexual conduct in each of the past five years.

The information is not available. The criminal statistics of these offences maintained by the Home Office do not distinguish between merchant seamen and other occupations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the total Government expenditure, including staff costs, in support of the marketing operation of exporters during the years 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76; and what is anticipated for 1976–77.

Total Government expenditure, including staff costs, in support of the marketing operations of exporters was assessed at £32·9 million, net, in 1973–74, £38·8 million in 1974–75 and £48·1 million in 1975–76; the estimate for 1976–77 is £57·8 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what percentages and totals of his advertising budget were allocated to weekly periodicals and the Labour Weekly, in particular, at 31st December 1975 and to 30th June 1976.

Department of Trade advertising expenditure allocated to weekly periodicals from 1st January 1975 to 31st December 1975 was £3,309–31 per cent, of the total advertising budget. Between 1st January 1976 and 30th June 1976 expenditure allocated to weekly periodicals was £2,290–14 per cent, of the total advertising budget.The Department did not advertise in

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the expenditure of the Overseas Projects Group during the years 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76; what is his forecast for 1976–77; and what was the value of contracts won by British firms assisted by the Overseas Projects Group over the same period.

Direct support for exporters by the Overseas Project Group, through the Overseas Project Fund, for the years 1973–74 and 1974–75 amounted to £156,358 and £172,411 respectively. Expenditure in 1975–76 was £674,007. The published estimate for 1976–77 is £850,000. Note that these figures do not include the staff costs of the Overseas Projects Group. The total value of contracts won by British firms which relate to commitments for assistance from the Overseas Projects Fund over the whole period amounted to over £174 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many of the eight contracts for overseas construction work referred to in the answer by the Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Melton on 5th July have now reached the stage of contract award; how many were won by British firms; and what was the total value of any successful tender.

The contract award stage has been reached on one of the projects concerned. It has not been won by a British firm.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will list the additions to, or changes in, published material by his Department of information relating to construction export opportunities as a result of recommendations made by the Construction Exports Advisory Board since December 1975.

My Department has discussed with the Construction Exports Advisory Board and its constituent associations the provision of information on construction export opportunities and in the light of their advice is sending a special circular to Diplomatic Service posts overseas about the export interests and commercial intelligence requirements of the construction and allied industries and emphasising the importance to them of the earliest practicable intelligence on potential export opportunities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what specific changes have been made in the risk cover or financial facilities available from the ECGD to construction firms seeking overseas work as a result of recommendations made by the Construction Exports Advisory Board since December 1975.

I have not received any recommendations from the CEAB for changes in ECGD facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many of the 78 overseas construction projects referred to in the answer by the Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Melton on 5th July which had not then reached contract award have since done so; and how many of them have been won by British firms.

The contract award stage has been reached on three of the projects concerned. None has been won by a British firm.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether any restriction or ban on the import of United Kingdom manufactures is applied by Japan, Taiwan or Indonesia.

Neither Japan, Taiwan nor Indonesia apply discriminatory restrictions on imports of manufactures specifically from the United Kingdom. They do each apply some controls affecting manufactured imports from all countries, as listed below:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the general categories of goods imported by the United Kingdom from Japan, Taiwan and Indonesia, respectively.

Such lists are published monthly in Table II of the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade which Far Eastern non-Commonwealth countries export manufactured goods to the United Kingdom for sale at a discount on their home market basic prices.

No records are maintained of the discounts offered on manufactured goods to the United Kingdom from Far Eastern non-Commonwealth countries; indeed it would hardly be practicable to do so. If, however, an application were to be made for antidumping action against particular exports any discounts allowed would be taken into account when establishing equivalent sales to the home and exports market in order to decide whether dumping was taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has received any request from newspapers for financial assistance; for what purpose any such financial assistance was requested; and if he will make a statement.

As it has stated in recent contacts with the Press, The Observer has asked for Government assistance, but this request was later withdrawn. The Government treat applications for financial assistance in confidence, and it would not be appropriate for me to give the details.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if the trade in titanium between the United Kingdom and Japan was raised in his recent discussions with the Japanese; and, if so, what was the outcome.

I understand that the matter was raised by the CBI in its recent discussions with its Japanese opposite numbers, the Keidanren. The Keidanren representatives agreed to study what Japan could do about this and other difficulties faced by United Kingdom exporters to Japan and to report back to the CBI.

asked the Secretary of Stale for Trade if he will make a statement on progress made towards his objective of equalising tariff rates on titanium within the GATT negotiations.

The European Economic Community has proposed a formula for reducing tariffs which would effect a substantial degree of harmonisation. Discussions on this and other proposals are at present taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether any officials of his Department have made any visits in recent months to British titanium production plants; and, if not, whether any such visits are planned.

No; and none is planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what future as a pilotage authority is envisaged for Trinity House, in view of his statement on 13th October 1976 which confirmed that Trinity House would be consulted in any rearrangement of pilotage administration, and in the light of the intention to remove Trinity House's responsibility as a major pilotage authority outlined in the Government's policy statement on Marine Pilotage published in 1975.

I cannot forecast the specific functions of Trinity House with regard to running pilotage in advance of consultations which are envisaged following new legislation; but I can assure the hon. Member that its experience and the contribution it can make will be taken fully into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has any information about the possibility of an air shuttle between Heathrow and Gatwick; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the British Airports Authority is considering the possibility of an air link between Gatwick and Heathrow but does not yet have any firm proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will consult the BAA with a view to the noise-measurement system for soundproofing grants being changed from NNI to a system accounting for disturbance caused by night flights and individual aircraft;(2) if, in conjunction with the BAA, he will institute research into landing and take-off procedures at Abbotsinch, with a view to finding alternative routes over less densely populated areas;(3) if, in conjunction with the BAA, he will institute a programme of sound monitoring in areas directly in the flight paths of aircraft landing and taking-off at Abbotsinch Airport, in order that quantitative information may be collected.

As the British Airports Authority is responsible for noise abatement matters at its Scottish airports I suggest that the hon. Member get in touch with the authority direct. I am letting the chairman know of the hon. Member's interest, and I am prepared to offer the authority the assistance of my Department should it be needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade in how many cases in 1976 the introduction of new solvency requirements for insurance companies have led to technical insolvency; how many dispensations have been granted; and if he plans to modify the requirement in the light of experience.

All insurance companies authorised since 1st February 1976 to carry on non-life insurance business of any class have been required to meet higher minimum solvency requirements in conformity with our EEC obligations. This has led to no technical insolvencies or dispensation.The Insurance Companies (Valuation of Assets) Regulations 1976 (S.I. 1976/87), which came into force on 1st May 1976, set out rules for the valuation and admissibility of insurance companies' assets for various purposes, including assessment of solvency under the Insurance Companies Act 1974. The majority of companies have not yet had to deposit with the Department audited balance sheets taking account of regulations. As was fully expected, a number of companies will need additional time to rearrange their investments in the light of these new requirements. Up to 22nd October, 17 dispensations have been granted to 14 companies under Section 57 of the Act to allow for this.I have no plans to make significant modifications to the 1976 regulations but I am considering with the industry certain difficulties of detail which have arisen in practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on his proposals for a wider ranging review of insolvency law in England and Wales.

I have set up a committee under the chairmanship of Mr. K. R. Cork, F.C.A., F.I.C.M., to carry out a fundamental and exhaustive reappraisal of all aspects of the insolvency laws of England and Wales with the following terms of reference:

(i) to review the law and practice relating to insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation and receiverships in England and Wales and to consider what reforms are necessary or desirable;

(ii) to examine the possibility of formulating a comprehensive insolvency system and the extent to which existing procedures might, with advantage, be harmonised and integrated;

(iii) to suggest possible less formal procedures as alternatives to bankruptcy and company winding-up proceedings in appropriate circumstances; and

(iv) to make recommendations.

The committee will consist mainly of representatives of the legal, accounting and other professional bodies in England and Wales, and the work is expected to take between two-three years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with the English and Scottish Football Associations with regard to the implementation of the recommendations of the working party on football disturbances.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose) on 18th October.—[Vol. 917, c. 253.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many aliens convicted of offences have, subsequent to their conviction, been recommended for deportation; and how many have been deported in each of the past 10 years.

The information is as follows:

Year		Number of recommendations for deportation bycourts in respect of EEC and other non-Commonwealth nationals	Number of EEC and other non-Commonwealth nationals deported following recommendations by courts
1966	…	113	46
1967	…	133	62
1968	…	182	70
1969	…	246	94
1970	…	302	129
1971	…	289	143
1972	…	320	132
1973	…	282	140
1974	…	370	118
1975	…	503	188

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what authority the Metropolitan Police conduct road blocks, obstructing the highway and causing inconvenience to road users, of the kind held in Great Western Road, London W.10, in the early hours of 8th April 1976; and how often such road blocks are carried out.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the officers concerned in the police action on 8th April to which my hon. Friend refers were exercising their power to stop vehicles under Section 159 of the Road Traffic Act 1972. I understand that police operations of this kind are not uncommon in the Metropolitan Police District, but I regret that I can give no statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the matters for which he is responsible in England and for which he is not also responsible in Scotland at present.

For the most part my responsibilities do not extend to Scotland. The main exceptions were listed in the answer which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member on 18th October.—[Vol. 917, c. 260.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be in a position to reply to a letter from the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed on 14th September 1976 asking him to desist from evicting a widow from service accommodation at a prison at which there are 142 unoccupied houses.

My noble Friend the Minister of State replied to the hon. Member on 22nd October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers of (a) ambulances and (b) fire engines were prosecuted in each of the last three years for motoring offences which occurred when they were answering emergency calls; and how many were found guilty of such offences.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentages and totals of his advertising budget were allocated to weekly periodicals and the Labour Weekly, in particular, at 31st December 1975 and up to 30th June 1976.

The advertising expenditure in all media for the 12-month period ending 31st December 1975 was £1,751,050. Of this £44,193 or 2·5 per cent, was spent in weekly periodicals.For the six-month period ending 30th June 1976 advertising expenditure in all media was £576,798. Of this £22,995 or 4 per cent, was spent in weekly periodicals.There was no expenditure in

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give permission for Mr. Stylianos Stylianou, a Cypriot, about whom the hon. Member for Solihull has written to him, to remain in the United Kingdom at the home of his uncle, to continue his studies.

I am giving full consideration to the hon. and learned Gentleman's representations, which I have only just received, and I will write to him as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has made to the BBC about the film "The War Game"; and if he will make a statement.

None; and the second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider amending the law of arbitration in order to permit appeal to the Court of Appeal; and if he will introduce measures requiring arbitrators to produce or publish the reasons for their decisions.

I have been asked to reply.Although there is no general right of appeal from an arbitrator's award he may be required to state a case for the High Court on a point of law; and the High Court can set aside an award where the arbitrator has misconducted the proceedings. In such cases an appeal already lies from the High Court to the Court of Appeal. My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor is not aware of any criticism of these well-established principles, nor with the rule that an arbitrator is not usually bound to give reasons for his decision, but he will gladly consider any points on which the hon. Member may care to write to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make representations to the Government of South Korea with regard to the recruitment of United Kingdom nationals to his private army by Mr. Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Church sect to South Korea after taking an oath of allegiance to Mr. Moon.

Her Majesty's Government are not aware of any military recruitment by the sect which alone would warrant such representations. If my hon. Friend is in possession of relevant information I should be interested to see it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have issued an invitation to Mr. Brezhnev to visit the United Kingdom either in the current year or in 1977.

In February 1975 my right hon. Friend the Member for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson) as Prime Minister invited Mr. Brezhnev to visit the United Kingdom. This invitation has been confirmed by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. Dates have still to be agreed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will move to establish a Select Committee to investigate and report on the responsibility for the Katyn massacre in 1940.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonweatlh Affairs what percentages and totals of his advertising budget were allocated to weekly periodicals and the Labour Weekly, in particular, at 31st December 1975 and to 30th June 1976.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not have a regular budget to cover advertising expenses and no expenditure was incurred on advertising in either weekly periodicals or the Labour Weekly during the two periods in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received calling for the setting up of an EEC office in the North-West Region similar to those already established in Cardiff and Edinburgh; and if he will make a statement.

None. It would be for the Commission to seek provision for any further information offices beyond the three already established in the United Kingdom. The Commission's Information Office in London at present serves the whole of England. In addition there are a number of centres throughout Britain, in universities, polytechnics and libraries, which receive Community documents and publications. These include centres at Manchester, Salford, Liverpool and Lancaster.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps she is taking to promote research into the hereditary disease retinitis pigmentosa, which affects some 25,000 families; and if she will provide financial help to make up for the closing down of the research unit in Edinburgh.

The Medical Research Council has set up a working party urgently to consider what aspects of research on retinitis pigmentosa are most likely to be effective. It expects to consider a project for clinical studies early next year and a more detailed programme in the summer. It is already supporting research on the genetics of the disease at its Human Biochemical Genetics Unit in London and Clinical and Population Cytogenetics Unit in Edinburgh. Work on the disease which has now ended formed a small part of the research programme of its Brain Metabolism Unit which is not being closed down.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentages and totals of her advertising budget were allocated to weekly periodicals and the Labour Weekly, in particular, at 31st December 1975 and to 30th June 1976.

Advertising expenditure in all media for the 12-month period ending 31st December 1975 was £25,381. Of this, £800, or 3 per cent, was spent in weekly periodicals. None was allocated to Labour Weekly. Advertising expenditure in all media for the six-month period ending 30th June 1976 was £14,686. None of this was spent on advertisements in weekly periodicals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now answer questions relating to the particular allocation of grants by the Arts Council.

No. My noble Friend and I are aware that disquiet has been expressed over certain manifestations of contemporary art. It is for the Arts Council to decide how to deal with this problem. The Arts Council regularly reviews the results of these developments and decides whether they can have its continued support, and public opinion must be one of the factors the council bears in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish details of how much money has been given by her Department to the International Baccalaureate Office over the last 10 years, showing figures for each year; and if such grants were given to the International Baccalaureate Office for use within the United Kingdom, or solely for use within England and Wales.

The total financial support given by my Department to the International Baccalaureate Office to date is:

1. a research grant of £2,000 in each of the six financial years 1969–75;

2. £5,000 in general support in each of the three financial years 1973–76;

3. subject to parliamentary approval of Estimates, £5,000 in general support in each of the financial years 1977–78 and 1978–79.

These grants represent United Kingdom support.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent discussions she has had with the leaders of the teachers' unions about the problem of unemployment among newly-qualified teachers.

My right hon. Friend has had discussions on this and other topics with the National Union of Teachers and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education, and plans to meet the National Association of School Masters/Union of Women Teachers and the Joint Four.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport which matters his Department will be responsible for in England which it will not also be responsible for in Scotland after the implementation of the Government's devolution proposals; and which of these areas are presently the responsibility of the Scottish Office so far as they affect Scotland.

The matter referred to in the first part of the hon. Member's Question are those listed in paragraph 135 of Cmnd. 6348, except for certain functions in relation, for example, to shipping, aviation and inland waterways which in England are the responsibility of other Departments. The second part is a matter for the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to introduce more stringent legislation to control the emission of exhaust pollution by lorries.

The smoke emission limits for diesel engines already imposed by reference to British Standard BS AU 141a are, I believe, adequate; the problem is to ensure that manufacturers meet them. We are discussing tougher quality control procedures with manufacturers' representatives, and intend to introduce them early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now take steps to ensure that form V343 used by his Department in Wales, relating to motor vehicle registration, is available in a bilingual format.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review his policy regarding the making up of unadopted roads in view of the hardship caused to pensioners and other persons on low income as a result of substantial increase in road charges for unadopted roads made up long after houses have been built; and if he will make a statement.

The making up of unadopted roads is, under Part IX of the Highways Act 1959, a responsibility of the local street works authority. The road works are a charge on property, but individual cases of hardship can be mitigated at the discretion of the street works authority by payment by instalments over a period not exceeding 30 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents have occurred on the A1079 trunk road at Kexby in each year from 1972 to 1976, inclusive; and how many of these were fatal accidents.

The following accidents have been recorded:

		1973	1974	1975	1976*
Slight	…	2	3	2	1
Serious	…	—	1	—	—
Fatal	…	—	1	2	—
* To mid-October.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in view of the succession of serious accidents on the A1079 trunk road at Kexby, culminating in the fatal accident on 29th September 1976, he will bring forward the programme of improvements planned for this road.

Modifications have been and are being made to signing to increase the awareness of motorists of the existence of the bend at Kexby Post Office. Providing an improvement can be effected at reasonable cost and any necessary land acquired, a scheme to improve this bend will be carried out whenever funds are available. The accident on 29th September was, I understand, at Wilberfoss some 1¾ miles east of Kexby.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents occurred in each of the last three years involving (a) ambulances and (b) fire engines which were answering emergency calls.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) in what circumstances a regional water authority can be asked to place orders with British concerns;(2) what advice was given to the Anglian Water Authority by the Depart ment of Industry with reference to recent computer tenders;(3) what is the rôle of the Government-appointed members of the regional water authorities with respect to computer orders.

Regional water authorities make their own decisions on purchasing policy. In the particular case that the hon. Member has in mind, the authority was reminded by my Department of the Government's general attitude of support for ICL, and I myself stressed the responsibility of the authority to assure itself of the economic basis for major investment of this kind; but the ultimate decision is for the authority itself to take in the light of all the circumstances. I understand that the authority has now decided to invite re-tenders for the project.Government-appointed members of water authorities do not act as Government representatives and have no special role in relation to computer orders.I am consulting the National Water Council about the whole question of the use of computers within the water industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what legislative authority gives area health authorities powers to make proposals for adding fluoride to water supplies, and water authorities the power to do so.

Under the National Health Service Reorganisation Act 1973 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has a duty to provide such facilities for the prevention of illness as are appropriate. He has directed by regulations that this duty should be exercised by regional health authorities and, on their behalf, by area health authorities. Under the Water Act 1945, water undertakers are required to provide a supply of wholesome water for domestic purposes.Fluoride is a natural component of most sources of water supply and has been shown to reduce the incidence of tooth decay. In view of this, the addition of fluoride to water supplies within concentrations occurring naturally is considered to fall within the scope of the statutory powers of the authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his estimate of the time it will take to restore normal water levels, assuming average rainfall from now on;(2) what plans his Department is making in connection with a national water supply grid system;(3) what would be the estimated cost of constructing a national water grid system;(4) how long it would take to construct a national water grid system;(5) if he will make a statement on the national water situation.

The time necessary to restore normal water levels, assuming average rainfall, will vary across the country depending on the type of catchment area and other factors; underground sources may take up to six months or more to recover, whilst most surface sources could be expected to recover rather sooner. I hope to make a statement on the national water situation shortly in the light of the National Water Council's report "Water Supply Prospects for 1977".The importance that the Government attach to the transfer of water across water authority boundaries and the redeployment of water sources between areas as part of a national strategy was set out in the consultative document "Review of the Water Industry in England and Wales", published in March. As the NWC's report explains, considerable potential already exists for the interchange of supplies, which has been demonstrated during the drought, and other major schemes either under construction or at the planning stage are identified. It is not possible to put a precise cost and time scale to progressive development of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in the light of the recent drought, what steps he intends to take in conjunction with the water authorities to secure better water supplies in years of drought; and if he will make a statement.

I have received the National Water Council's report on water supply prospects for 197·7 and am studying it urgently. I hope to be in a position to make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the sporting centres of excellence as at 30th September 1976; what is the criteria by which they have been approved; and if he will list all the establishments to whom he wrote in early 1976 urging their participation as a centre of excellence.

There are three essential requirements for the establishment of a sporting centre of excellence:' top-class coaching, suitable facilities, and a sufficient number of talented people to make the centre a viable unit and provide a stimulus for one another. Centres meeting these requirements are already in existence, some for many years past. My objective is that their number and the range of activities covered should be extended so as to provide much greater opportunities for gifted sports people.In March 1976 I wrote to all universities, polytechnics and colleges of further education in England and Wales asking them what contribution they could make to the achievement of this objective. The response was very encouraging and regional sports councils throughout the country are co-ordinating proposals for new centres. A number of detailed proposals are under consideration and I am hopeful that some new centres will come into being within a few months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish figures showing, region by region, the current average level of rents for houses in the public sector before and after rebates and the average level of wages in manual employment in those regions and the relationships of the former figures to the latter, expressed in percentage terms; and whether he will publish similar figures for the last eight years.

The available information, which permits only broad comparison because of the timing of the two sets of figures, is as follows:—