asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the report of the Camping Working Party; and, if so, when he expects such legislation to be introduced.

Legislation is likely to be needed, but it will not be introduced in the next Session of Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the fact that in some areas rent officers are fixing fair rents for housing association houses and flats far above those for identical council property, particularly in New Towns, if he will consider transferring rent fixing on housing association properties to local authorities and by relation to council, and not private, rents in the area.

We are considering in the context of the housing policy review the problems arising in some places from the disparity between the rents registered for housing associations and the rents of comparable local authority housing. The latter are of course affected by the pooling of rents for old and new property and by the willingness of local authorities making rate fund contributions to the housing revenue accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many district auditor reports critical of direct labour have been submitted in the last 12 months; and which councils are involved.

Auditors' reports since 1st November 1975 have drawn attention in 13 cases to the need for improvements, mainly in the provision of management information or the control of bonus schemes, in the operation of local authority direct labour organisations in England engaged on construction work. The 13 authorities are the Northumberland County Council, the Knowsley, Manchester, St. Helens, Solihull, Sunderland and Walsall Metropolitan District Councils and the Chester-le-Street, Darlington, Easington, Sedgefield, Tiverton and Wear Valley District Councils.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the criteria for housing stress areas; and if he will list all stress areas in England.

I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave to the hon. Member for Mitcham and Morden (Mr. Douglas-Mann) on 5th August and to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Smith) on 12th October.—[Vol. 916, c. 984–6; Vol. 917, c. 87.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of derelict land were restored in Staffordshire Moorlands District Council in each of the past six years.

The figures are as follows: 1971, 35 acres; 1972, 25 acres; 1973, 40 acres; 1974, 5 acres; 1975, 12 acres; 1976, to date, 3 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to be able to make a statement about the future of the attendance allowance system for local authority members.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to receive the report of the Cripps Inquiry into the working of the Caravan Sites Act 1968.

Mr. Cripps hopes to submit his report before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present maximum permitted level of the lead in petrol compared with the levels permitted in Bonn, New York and

			Location
	United Kingdom	Bonn	New York	Tokyo
Maximum permitted lead level (grammes/litre)	0·55*	0·15	0·42	0·28†
0·02‡
A reduction to 0·15 grammes/litre in the United Kingdom would have a substantial effect on oil refining costs, both in terms of additional capital investment and increased crude oil requirements, but extensive technical studies would be needed to quantify them.
* This level is being observed voluntarily by the oil industry. Regulations will be introduced to make a level of 0·50 per litre mandatory with effect from 30th November 1976 and 0·45 grammes per litre from 1st January 1978 respectively.
† No statutory maximum lead level exists in Japan. This figure is the recommendation of the "Japanese Standards Institute".
‡ Recommendation of the Japanese Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many housing schemes he has approved in the past three months in respect of each Kent district; how many he has rejected; how

KENT
				Approved in past 3 months		Under consideration
Local Authority				Number of Schemes	Number of Dwellings	Number of Schemes	Number of Dwellings
Ashford	…	…	…	0	0	12	739
Cantetbury	…	…	…	0	0	10	471
Dartford	…	…	…	0	0	9	233
Dover	…	…	…	0	0	18	680
Gillingham	…	…	…	1	33	6*	97
Gravesham	…	…	…	0	0	6	280
Maidstone	…	…	…	0	0	12	552
Medway	…	…	…	0	0	21	572
Sevenoaks	…	…	…	0	0	8	727
Shepway	…	…	…	1	14	15	718
Swale	…	…	…	0	0	14	768
Thanet	…	…	…	0	0	6	162
Tonbridge & Mailing	…	…	…	1	32	11	689
Tunbridge Wells	…	…	…	1	38	18	732
* In addition, three schemes are proposed in Gillingham for which the number of dwellings is yet to be determined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the report on the study of storage of water in The Wash will be published.

The Central Water Planning Unit's report is being published

The information is as follows:many are still under consideration; and how many houses are involved in each case.

Particulars for individual authorities are given in the following table. No schemes have been rejected:today. The study has established that construction of storage reservoirs on the foreshore of the Wash is a practicable proposition, though it is estimated that water from a reservoir there would cost at least 50 per cent. more than water from comparable inland reservoirs in South-East England. The report concludes that, on present estimates of demand and tak- ing account of other possible ways of augmenting supplies, a storage scheme in the Wash is unlikely to be required this century. It will be for the Anglian Water Authority to take into account the outcome of the study in preparing its long-term plans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will collect statistics of injuries suffered by the users of local authority-owned buildings caused by the breaking of glass windows or doors.

I have no plans to do so.Research into accidents in and around buildings, including accidents caused by breaking of glass windows and doors, is currently being undertaken by the Building Research Establishment.I understand that the Health and Safety Executive has arrangements for obtaining over a limited period particulars of some reportable accidents involving injury from collision with glass doors, windows and partitions at premises subject to the Factories Act 1961 and the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the total cost of the new Welsh Office administrative building being constructed in Cardiff.

The total estimated cost of the new building being erected in Cathays Park is £18·620 million. It will house staff of the Export Credits Guarantee Department, dispersed from London, as well as the Welsh Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost of installing bomb-proof windows on the Welsh Office administrative building being constructed in Cardiff; and why they are being installed.

Anti-shatter film and protective curtains are being provided in this building at an estimated cost of £26,500 to reduce possible injury from flying glass.

asked the Lord President of the Council what was the cost of the interest paid on the Catering Sub-Committee's overdraft during the years ended 31st March 1974, 1975 and 1976; what steps he is taking to eliminate the catering overdraft; and what interest rate was charged on the catering overdraft in 1974, 1975 and 1976 and by whom.

The cost of interest on the overdraft, which is with Drummonds Branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland, in the years ending 31st March 1974, 1975 and 1976 was £9,113, £23,364 and £44,191 respectively. The Catering Sub-Committee do not think it would be appropriate for the rate of interest to be disclosed.The Report of the Committee chaired by my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Mr. Mikardo) suggested a number of ways in which the financial position of the Refreshment Department might be improved, and these are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the numbers of persons in Scotland who were readmitted to psychiatric hospitals in 1975, specifying those persons readmitted for a second, third and fourth time and over.

In 1974, the latest year for which statistics are available, there were 14,239 readmissions to psychiatric hospitals in Scotland out of a total of 25,271 of all admissions. Statistics of second, third, and fourth readmissions are not available for Scotland as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the number of persons readmitted to Bellsdyke Hospital, Larbert, in 1975, giving the numbers of patients readmitted for a second, third and fourth time and over;(2) what estimate he makes of the number of persons readmitted to Bells-dyke Hospital, Larbert, in 1975 who could have settled back into their own communities if there had been enough support and aftercare available.

The hospital records show that in 1975 there were 942 admissions to Bellsdyke Hospital, of which 119 were second admissions, 25 third admissions and four fourth admissions. Without disproportionate cost in professional consideration of the details of individual cases, no estimate can be made of how many readmissions could have been avoided if enough support and aftercare had been available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he makes of the number of persons readmitted to psychiatric hospitals in Scotland in 1975 who could have settled back into their own communities if there had been enough support and after-care available.

No official estimate can be given but it is generally agreeed by psychiatrists that a number of patients currently in psychiatric hospitals could be discharged if a greater amount of suitable community support were available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the total population for each health board area and the number of places in psychiatric hospitals for each area.

The information is set out in the table below:

Health Board		Population (000's)*	Beds in Psychiatric Hospitals†
Argyll and Clyde	…	459	1,132
Ayrshire and Arran	…	374	653
Borders	…	99	345
Dumfries and Galloway	…	144	1,009
Fife	…	336	772
Forth Valley	…	269	1,078
Grampian	…	449	1,771
Greater Glasgow	…	1,106	3,836
Highland	…	182	982
Lanarkshire	…	565	1,802
Lothian	…	754	2,455
Orkney	…	18	—
Shetland	…	18	—
Tayside	…	402	1,885
Western Isles	…	30	—
Scotland	…	5,206	17,720
* Estimated home population at 30th June 1975.
† Average available staffed beds in mental illness hospitals in half-year ended 30th September 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the acreage owned by him, by the Forestry Commission, by the Highlands and Islands Development Board, the Nature Conservancy Council, or other public agency, in the counties of

					Secretary of State acres	Forestry Commission* acres	Nature Conservancy Council	Highlands and Islands Development Board
Aberdeenshire	…	…	…	…	2,930	61,000	—	—
Banffshire	…	…	…	…	—	44,000	—	—
Kincardineshire	…	…	…	…	4,467	25,000	—	—
* Approximate figures. Statistics are maintained for individual forests, not counties. All land acquired by the Commission in Scotland is owned by the Secretary of State.

Information on land owned by other public agencies is not held centrally but may be obtained direct from these agencies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Chief Constable of Aberdeen is still responsible for law and order on oil rigs and other offshore installations; and what vessels are available to him to exercise these duties.

The police responsibility in relation to offshore installations is to respond to situations which require a police presence. Grampian police have this responsibility in relation to installations operating from Aberdeen. The Grampian Police Authority does not own any vessels, but arrangements have been made for police officers to go to the rigs in any circumstances where they need to.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the necessary directive that in all future purchases by the Forestry Commission it will also seek to acquire lochs which lie adjacent to the land which it is seeking to buy.

No, but the Forestry Commission will continue its practice of acquiring any water rights that might be available with land that it is purchasing, where there is a potential recreational benefit and the price is reasonable.

The acreage of land held by my right hon. Friend for health service and road development purposes is not readily available. The remainder of the information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will undertake a survey of the number of privately-owned lochs adjacent to Forestry Commission land, with a view to discussing with owners the possibility of granting limited access to the public to the amenities presented by these lochs.

No, but the Forestry Commission is always prepared to negotiate with other riparian owners for increased public access to lochs adjacent to land owned by the Commission where the demand and the cost is in keeping with the local plans for recreational development.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest figures for the number of people employed in educational administration by the Scottish Education Department.

The staff in post in the Scottish Education Department, excluding the staff of the Social Work Services Group and the Royal Scottish Museum, at 1st October 1976 was 545.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest available figures for the number of teachers employed in education authority schools in Scotland (a) in teaching posts and (b) in non-teaching posts.

At the time of the annual school census in September 1975 the equivalent of 55,855 full-time teachers were employed in education authority schools. 958 of the teachers employed in primary and secondary schools for the whole of the census week had no class teaching duties during that week. Information is not readily available about the corresponding number in nursery and special schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were employed by local government in administering and servicing education at mid-year 1974–75 and 1975–76.

Staffing returns for 1974–75 were not provided by all the former education authorities. At the start of 1976 monitoring arrangements for local government staff numbers were introduced by way of the Joint Watch on Manpower, from which the following figures have been obtained:

	Fulltime	Part-time	Total
March 1976 (last quarter of 1975–76)	30,481	34,128	64,609
June 1976 (first quarter of 1976–77).	29,951	33,588	63,539

These figures include administrative and clerical staff in the authorities' education departments, school caretakers, cleaners and canteen staff, non-teaching staff employed on careers guidance and library staff employed by libraries either located in or servicing educational establishments.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants are likely to be made redundant as a result of public expenditure cuts already decided by the Government.

I cannot yet give a figure, but we expect that the numbers will be small. By adjusting recruitment and other measures we hope to transfer as many surplus staff as possible to posts which become vacant—e.g., as a result of natural wastage. But some redundancy will be unavoidable, particularly in localities where there is no other Civil Service work or amongst surplus staff whose work is so specialised that they cannot readily switch to other jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many of the 14 occasions on which the deportee Mr. J. J. Dundon re-entered the United Kingdom illegally he did so by entering Northern Ireland.

We have no evidence to suggest that on any of these occasions he entered by way of Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to confirm the byelaws relating to model aircraft flying re-submitted to him by the London borough of Bromley on 14th September.

In view of the large number of representations I have received both for and against these byelaws I have decided to order a public local inquiry to be held.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unlicensed street traders were prosecuted within the Metropolitan Police area during the first nine months of 1976 compared with the same period of 1975; and if he is satisfied that the existing police powers are sufficient to deal with the problem of illicit street trading in the capital.

I regret that this information is not available.In those parts of the Metropolitan Police District where street traders are licensed, the responsibility in general for prosecuting unlicensed traders rests with the local authority. The police prosecute only in cases where the trader is alleged to be obstructing the highway; they do not keep separate statistics of such prosecutions. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is satisfied that where there is a licensing system his officers

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the figures in each of the past five years of (a) prosecutions of men aged over 21 years for homosexual conduct in private with a consenting partner aged over 16 years but under 21 years, (b) prosecutions against the younger partner in such cases and (c) convictions in such cases.

Information in the form requested is not available. Information in the table below relates to males aged 21 and over tried for offences of buggery

MALES TRIED AT THE CROWN COURT FOR OFFENCES OF CONSENTING HOMOSEXUAL CONDUCT, AND THOSE FOUND GUILTY—ENGLAND AND WALES
	Number of person
	1971		1973
Offence	For trial	Found guilty	For trial	Found guilty
Buggery by a man of the age of 21 or over with another male person under the age of 21, but aged 16 years or more, with consent.	11	11	14	14
Attempted buggery by a man of the age of 21 or over with another male person under the age of 21, but aged 16 years or more, with consent.	2	2	7	7

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the figures in each of the past five years of (a) prosecutions of men aged over 16 years but under 21 years for homosexual conduct in private with a consenting partner of the same age range, (b) prosecutions in such cases of the other person and (c) convictions in such cases.

Information in the form requested is not available. The following table relates to males aged 17 and under 21 tried for offences of buggery; it covers such acts with or without consent, and with partners of all ages.

MALES AGED 17 AND UNDER 21 TRIED AT THE CROWN COURT FOR OFFENCES OF BUGGERY—NUMBER OF PERSONS
Year			Total number for trial	Total found guilty
1971	…	…	19	19
1972	…	…	11	11
1973	…	…	16	15
1974	…	…	21	20
1975	…	…	18	18

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were released from prison after serving sentences in (a) 1973, (b) 1974 and (c) 1975.

The figures are as follows:

Discharges of sentenced prisoners
1973	…	…	…	40,011
1974	…	…	…	40,467
1975	…	…	…	44,918

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the proportion of prisoners who have no family home to return to on discharge.

It is regretted that the available information is too limited and varied for a reliable estimate to be given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average working week of a convicted prisoner in prison in England and Wales.

Information in the form which my hon. Friend requests is not available, but the estimated average of workshop hours, covering all categories of inmate and based on daily manning levels, is at present about 22 hours a week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average interval of time between an immigrant's applying for a grant to return to his country of origin and the granting of such application;(2) how many applications for grants to assist in the repatriation of immigrants were outstanding at the most recent convenient date;(3) how many applications for grants to assist in the repatriation of immigrants have been made in each of the last five years; and how many were refused;(4) what are the figures for each of the last five years of the numbers of immigrants given grants to assist them in returning to their country of origin, indicating in each case which these are.

Applications for assistance and the numbers of individuals assisted under Section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971 were as follows:

Financial year	Applications made	Individuals assisted
1971–72	Not available	Nil
1972–73	301	115
1973–74	238	240
1974–75	171	156
1975–76	181	219
April-September 1976
1976	86	59

The average length of time between the initiation of an application and its approval in the last financial year was two and a half months. 151 applications were outstanding on 30th September 1976.I regret that it is not possible without disproportionate expense to say how many applications in the last five years were refused, were withdrawn or, where assistance was given, to which country a person proceeded and whether it was that person's country of origin, but some information on destination was given in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Brotherton) on 16th February.—[Vol. 905, c.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the sentences available for children and young persons in cases of rape and serious violence against the person.

Cases of rape and serious violence against the person by juveniles fall within the special provisions of Section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1961. This provides that where a person under 17 is convicted on indictment of an offence for which an adult may be sentenced to imprisonment for 14 years or more, the court may, if it is of the opinion that none of the other methods by which the case may legally be dealt with is suitable, sentence the child or young person to be detained in such place and under such conditions as the Secretary of State may direct for a specified term not exceeding the maximum term of imprisonment with which the offence is punishable in the case of an adult.A person under the age of 18 who is convicted of murder may not be sentenced to imprisonment for life, but under Section 53(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, as amended by the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965, the court is required to sentence such a person to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure; if so sentenced, he shall be liable to be detained in such place and under such conditions as the Secretary of State may direct. I am satisfied that these provisions are adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is responsible for dealing with civil or industrial unrest in offshore installations, or providing assistance if required on board ships within an exclusive economic zone of 200 miles; and what vessels are available for this purpose.

The police force responsible for the port from which a particular offshore installation operates will respond to incidents aboard that installation requiring police attention. Criminal offences and breaches of discipline which occur on board a United Kingdom ship in or outside territorial waters are subject to United Kingdom law, and the police may provide assistance if requested by the ship's master. The proposed 200-mile exclusive economic zone is unlikely to affect the powers of the police in these matters. To respond to incidents the police may hire vessels or make use of transport facilities provided by operating companies or the Ministry of Defence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the measures taken on the position between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, or otherwise in Northern Ireland, to prevent or detect the entry of persons previously deported from the United Kingdom.

While citizens of the Republic of Ireland who return to any part of the United Kingdom in breach of a deportation order are removed when detected, we do not consider that costly preventive measures would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the increase in muggings and other forms of violence, he will initiate a recruitment campaign to increase the number of special constables, particularly in the towns and cities.

Chief officers are already encouraged to recruit as many special constables as they can usefully train and deploy, although their use will not necessarily be appropriate in situations involving a risk of violence. Local recruitment campaigns are supported by advertisements in the national Press, a series of which is planned to appear next month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the passports issued by the Government of the Transkei will be recognised for purposes of entry into the United Kingdom.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced on 28th September, the Government have decided not to recognise the Transkei as an independent State. Transkei passports are, in consequence, not acceptable for the purposes of the Immigration Act 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why the charges for the survey of inshore fishing vessels made by his Department are about four times the cost of the same survey, if it was made by a professional surveyor in private practice; and if he will use the cheaper services available.

Fees charged for departmental surveys of inshore fishing vessels have been calculated so as to recover as precisely as possible the cost to the Government of providing the service. I have no evidence to support the assumption that for identical surveys by similarly qualified professional surveyors in private practice the cost to owners would be cheaper. In any event I would not be prepared to delegate responsibility for statutory safety surveys to private practitioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if the inshore fishing boat survey regulations applying to vessels operating in the Sussex Sea Fisheries District are the same as those applying to similar boats working in the Thames Estuary.

The survey requirements of the Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Rules 1975 (S.I. No. 330/1975) apply to every mechanically-propelled seagoing fishing vessel of 12 metres in length and over registered in the United Kingdom. "Seagoing" means proceeding outside the limits of smooth water or partially smooth water areas and those vessels operating in the Thames Estuary which do not proceed outside these limits are not subject to the survey requirements. Smooth or partially smooth water areas along the Sussex coast are very restricted, but the same considerations apply.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the decline in the United Kingdom's share of the EFTA and £ sterling area markets for manufacturers since joining the EEC.

Following is the information:United Kingdom percentage share of EFTA imports of manufactures for the year prior to joining the EEC and the three years since accession:

1972	…	…	11·6
1973	…	…	10·5
1974	…	…	10·0
1975	…	…	9·6

Source: OECD Statistics of Foreign Trade "Series B".United Kingdom percentage share of total imports of the sterling area for similar periods.

MAIN MANUFACTURING COUNTRIES EXPORTS OF MANUFACTURES (SITC SECTIONS 5–8)
					Seasonally adjusted
	1975				1976
	2nd quarter	3rd quarter	4th quarter	1st quarter	2nd quarter	3rd quarter
Value—United Kingdom share percentage	9·2	9·0	9·5	9·4	*	*
Volume indices (1970=100) United Kingdom	128·6	126·6	133·4	137·2	143·2	139·4
Main manufacturing countries	138·6	141·2	145·9	149·0	*	*
Relative volume (United Kingdom divided by main manufacturing countries).	92·8	89·7	91·4	92·1	—	—
* Not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the value of export credit guarantees taken up by the power engineering industry during each of the last three years for which this information is available.

The Export Credits Guarantee Department's statistics are not kept on a basis that would enable this sector, as such, to be identified, and thus I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received from the power engineering industry about the availability of export credit facilities; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the United Kingdom's share of world trade by price and volume, respectively, in each of the last four quarters for which figures are available.

The available information is as follows:

The Government are aware of the situation of the power plant industry and various representations have been made. These are being studied Individual firms belonging to the power engineering industry make regular use of the facilities of the Export Credits Guarantee Department and are in regular touch with the Department about their needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) how many paying subscribers have used the British Overseas Trade Board export intelligence service during the years 1974, 1975 and 1976 to the latest available date;(2) how many outward trade missions were conducted by the British Overseas Trade Board during the years 1974, 1975 and 1976 to the latest available date;

The figures requested are as follows:

Paying Subscribers to the Export Intelligence Service
30th September 1974	…	…	…	5,713
30th September 1975	…	…	…	6,826
30th September 1976	…	…	…	7,533
Outward Trade Missions
1974	…	…	…	179
1975	…	…	…	222
1976 (Estimate)	…	…	…	250
Overseas Exhibitions Supported
1974	…	…	…	312
1975	…	…	…	335
1976 (Estimate)	…	…	…	344

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a further statement of his policy on the reduction of the direct expenditure of the BOTB by about £700,000 over the next 18 months, in the light of the BOTB's aim of assisting exporters so that British industry may be better placed to take full advantage of the expected upturn in world trade when it comes.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 18th October—[Vol. 917, c. 354–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will report on the progress of the consideration by the European Commission of the implications of the ruling of the Court of Justice in case 167/74 which laid down that the general rules of the Treaty of Rome applied to air transport.

I think the hon. Member is referring to case 167/73. The Commission has held a number of meetings with member States to consider the implications of this ruling. These discussions will continue when we have further proposals from the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what new vessels will be required to enforce marine safety regulations, routing and traffic separation schemes, special channels for ships carrying hazardous cargoes and safety zones around offshore installations within a 200 mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ);(2) what new types of vessels will be required to enforce marine pollution and sanitation regulations and dumping procedures, within a 200 mile exclusive economic zone.

Identification of vessels contravening the requirements of traffic separation scheme in the Dover Strait is undertaken by aircraft and naval vessels and the adequacy of these arrangements is kept under review. Any prosecutions are undertaken by the flag State. More generally, any machinery for enforcement in an exclusive economic zone would need to be considered in the light of the outcome of the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade who has been consulted regarding the effects of changes in marine pilotage in Scotland; and when he hopes to make a statement on the Government's intentions.

Consultations on the effects of changes in marine pilotage in Scotland have recently been held with all the main pilotage authorities in Scotland, the United Kingdom Pilots Association, the marine pilotage branch of the Transport and General Workers Union, the General Council of British Shipping, the Scottish Guild of Pilots and the Scottish Office. Discussions with these organisations on how Scottish interests should be represented on the proposed Central Pilotage Board are continuing and a statement will be made when definite proposals have been agreed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what new steps the Government has taken in 1976 to help present and potential exporters to increase their exports with the falling value of the pound.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 27th October 1976; Vol. 918, c. 245.], gave the following information:The Government's proven export promotion schemes and services have been in great demand in 1976 by both present and potential exporters. Given the several new schemes introduced towards the end of 1975, the emphasis has been on trying to secure full and effective use of the help already available. This is one of the themes of both the British Overseas Trade Board's Export Dynamics Conferences and Export Year. Nevertheless, on 4th August I did announce that the Export Credits Guarantee Department would offer additional facilities for exporters contracting for payment in foreign currencies. This new facility is of course relevant to the sense of my hon. Friend's Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of pay negotiations with the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland continues not to recognise the Police Council. I refer the hon. Member to the replies which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) on 11th October; and to the hon. Member for Ravensbourne (Mr. Hunt) on 14th October.—[Vol. 917, c. 41–2; c. 153.]

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the after-care facilities available for the mentally sick and mentally handicapped in Northern Ireland; and how this compares with the rest of the United Kingdom.

A wide range of after-care facilities is provided by the Health and Social Services Boards and voluntary organisations. These facilities and services, in general, compare well with those provided in Great Britain. They are extended and improved continuously as additional human and financial resources become available.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to end the payment of social security funds to support IRA terrorists, temporarily released over Christmas and other holidays.

Prisoners on parole from prisons in Northern Ireland are not entitled to social security payments.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost to social security funds of payments to wives or other members of the families of IRA terrorists during the coming Christmas period to meet increased family expenses because of the temporary release of such IRA terrorists.

The Northern Ireland Office grants short periods of parole at Christmas to selected prisoners of good behaviour who are nearing the end of their sentences. This applies to all categories of prisoners. Those prisoners who claim affiliation to the Provisional IRA very rarely choose to take Christmas or summer parole. Therefore, if the scheme is continued on the same basis as last year, the cost of increasing supplementary benefit awards to Provisional IRA prisoners' families would represent a minute fraction of the total estimated cost of £250.

We intend to continue with the consultations which have been initiated on this subject. We do not intend to make any decision on the holding of a conference until we have had the opportunity of informing ourselves of the views of the wide range of interests involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to implement the recommendations of the Quigley Report.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have given today to a Question from the hon. Member for Antrim South (Mr. Molyneaux).

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the cost to the taxpayer of terrorist damage to property in Northern Ireland that might have been avoided or ameliorated but for the trade dispute between the firemen and their employers; and what is his estimate of the cost in the terms of jobs lost or at risk by reason of the said damage to property.

According to my latest information no jobs will be lost or at risk as a result of the industrial action which the firemen have been taking. I am not able to estimate how much higher compensation payments will have to be; but I can say that the money would have been better spent elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the outcome of the inquiry into the alleged delay of the police answering the numerous calls to the house of the hon. Member for Belfast, West (Mr. Fitt) on 9th August 1976.

Neither my predecessor nor I considered that there was any need for a formal enquiry. I am satisfied that the police and the Army reacted promptly and did everything they could to protect the household of the hon. Member for Belfast, West (Mr. Fitt).

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many families in the Belfast area are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively, and also in the areas of Armagh, Bangor, Ballymena, Craigavon, Coleraine, Dungannon, Down-patrick, Lisburn, Lame, Enniskillen, Londonderry, Newry, Newcastle, Omagh and Strabane, respectively;(2) how many families in Northern Ireland are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many families in Belfast are in receipt of social security benefits totalling over £20, £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively.

The information is not readily available and could only be obtained with a disproportionate use of resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, having regard to the housing conditions in east Belfast, he will take steps to expedite the redevelopment of Area 23.

A vesting order for Area 23 came into effect on 23rd September 1976. The timing and phasing of redevelopment is currently under discussion, but the Housing Executive has been asked to give priority to improving the living conditions of the families left in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of houses and/or housing units in Londonderry city in 1970 and in Londonderry rural district at the same time; and what is the total at present.

Owing to the reorganisation of local authority boundaries in 1973 it is not possible to provide information in the form requested. However, the 1971 Census of Population records that

	October 1970	June 1970	October 1976	June 1975
Persons registered as unemployed in the area served by the Londonderry Employment Service Office.	3,164	—	5,178
Employed		25,589	—	27,888
Self-Employed*		2,197	—	—
* Estimates of the number self-employed are no longer available except from the census of population gures. The most recent census was in 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has for reducing unemployment in the Province and for regenerating the Northern Ireland economy.

There are already in existence several schemes to alleviate unemployment in Northern Ireland. I shall shortly be making an announcement about the application in Northern Ireland of the further measures to reduce unemployment among young people, announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment on 23rd September.Within the framework of the Government's overall economic strategy for the United Kinugdom. I am considering ways of bringing about a sustained improvement in Northern Ireland's economic performance. In doing so, I shall bear in mind proposals made in the report of the Review Team on Economic and Indus-

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were unemployed in Londonderry city in October 1970; how many were (a) employed and (b) self-employed in October 1970; and what are the same numbers in October 1976.

Owing to the system of collection of employment data it is not possible to give the precise information requested. The following information is available:trial Strategy for Northern Ireland, published on 15th October 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been convicted of crimes of violence in Northern Ireland up to the present date in the current year.

During the period 1st January to 30th September 1976, 639 persons were convicted on indictment of offences specified in Part I of Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1973, as amended. The majority of such offences involved or were associated with violence.