asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will allow hon. Members to attend the course in psychological operations provided at the Joint Warfare Establishment at Old Sarum, Wiltshire;(2) if he will issue an invitation to hon. Members to visit the Joint Warfare Establishment at Old Sarum, Wiltshire.

I should be glad to arrange for hon. Members to visit JWE Old Sarum, to see the training carried out there. It is, however, not the usual practice to offer bun. Members facilities to attend military courses.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the costs of the decontamination of the Nancekuke site.

To mitigate the effects of the rundown the decontamination of the Nancekuke site will be carried out by staff now there. In consequence, the process may extend as much as two years beyond the date of closure. In view of the uncertainties inherent in this long time scale it would not be practicable at this stage to give an estimate of the total costs involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the demolition of laboratories at Nancekuke.

After it has been made safe it is normal for a site to be disposed of with buildings as they stand. No departure from this practice is anticipated in the case of Nancekuke.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the period required for building a Type 42 destroyer and the greatest number of people employed at a given point during its construction.

HMS "Sheffield", the only ship of the class yet to be completed, took just over six years to build. The two Type 42 destroyers ordered this year should take significantly less time. At the peak, about 700 men are directly employed on building a Type 42 destroyer.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters were normally carried by HMS "Hermes" for the landing of the Royal Marines and their stores when she was used primarily as an amphibious ship.

In the amphibious rôle, HMS "Hermes" carried Wessex V, Sea King and Scout helicopters. It is not the normal practice to disclose the numbers of aircraft deployed from Royal Navy vessels.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the reorganisation of the TAVR.

As a consequence of the restructuring of the Regular Army a detailed examination has been carried out into the mobilisation rôles of all units of the TAVR. As was stated by my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State on 23rd February 1976—[Vol. 906, 33–4]—although there are no far-reaching changes, the study has emphasised the closer integration of the Regular Army and the TAVR foreseen in last year's Statement on the Defence Estimates (Cmnd. 5976) (Chapter I, Paragraphs 47–51).TAVR infantry battalions have been assigned to each of the new field forces being established in the United Kingdom and three more battalions have been assigned to NATO.Although the 44th Parachute Brigade will disband on 1st April 1978 the three TAVR parachute battalions will continue in the order of battle and will retain a parachute capability. The supporting units of the brigade will be allocated new rôles within the restructured TAVR.Studies have yet to be completed on the rôle of units of the Medical Services the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, and an announcement will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is intended to hold an airborne landing at battalion strength or above by the Parachute Regiment before the end of 1976.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British soldiers on active service in Northern Ireland have been (a) charged with and (b) convicted of criminal offences over the last five years; and if he will show their ranks and regiments in each case, and the type of offences committed.

I can give figures for the period 30th March 1972 to 31st March 1976 in respect of offences involving shooting or assault, which are as follows:

	Number charged	Number convicted
Offences involving shooting	28	13
Offences involving assault	204	112

These figures include members of the UDR. To break these figures down by rank and regiment would require disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she will decide whether or not to approve the proposal of the Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum to abolish the regional loan service; how many exhibitions have been sent on tour by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the last 12 months; and in how many towns they have been presented.

When the Director's final proposals for effecting cuts in the staff of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Staff Side comments are received my right hon. Friend and my noble Friend will consider them in relation to all the relevant circumstances. 69 exhibitions were sent out by the Museum's Loan Service in the last 12 months, which were shown on 297 occasions in 119 towns. In addition, 194 collections of objects were sent to 846 exhibitions in 152 colleges of art and polytechnics during the last academic year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she intends to hold meetings with the newly formed British Students' Association similar to those she already holds with the National Union of Students.

My right hon. Friend is always ready to consider an approach from any representative body, but she believes that the National Union of Students continues to reflect the views of the overwhelming majority of students on the matters which are discussed at the regular meetings with the NUS.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further progress has been made in the EEC's consideration of the need to establish EEC offices in the Maghreb countries; and if he will make a statement.

The position is unchanged since the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on 3rd November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement of his policy on treatment of United Kingdom citizens' mail in the light of the testimony of Mr. Thomas Greenish, Executive Vice-President of Western Union International, to the Congressional Sub-Committee on Government Information and Individual Rights, that his company is passing copies of all cables sent by British citizens to the United States, to the British Embassy in Washington;(2) how many copies of cablegrams sent to the United States by people resident in Great Britain have been given to the British Embassy in Washington by Western Union International during the last complete month; and how much this cost;(3) if the British Embassy in Washington is currently collecting copies, from Western Union International, of all cablegrams sent from Great Britain to the United States; and what has happened in the past;(4) how many copies of cablegrams sent by British citizens to the United States have been collected by the British Embassy in Washington from Western Union International during the last 12 months; and how much this operation cost the British taxpayer;(5) how long the British Embassy in Washington has been receiving copies of all cablegrams sent by British citizens to the United States via Western Union International; and under what statutory authority such action has been taken;(6) why the British Embassy in Washington collects copies of every cablegram transmitted by British citizens to the United States via Western Union International.

Section 4 of the Official Secrets Act 1920 was last reviewed in 1967 by the Committee of Privy Counsellors (Command 3309), and I do not intend to make a further statement or publish more information.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the result of discussions held with the Maldivian Government about the future of the Anglo, Maldivian Agreement of 1965; and if he will make a statement.

As a result of discussions held in Male in early October. the Anglo-Maldivian Agreement of 1965 was terminated on 7th October. The RAF with drew from Gan on 29th March. We no longer enjoy any defence facilities in the Republic of Maldives.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the effectiveness of law enforcement in so far as it is within his responsibility.

It would be a rash Home Secretary who admitted to unqualified satisfaction; but I am sure that within the available resources the police are effective and strive continuously and successfully to improve their effectiveness. If the hon. Gentleman has any particular problem in mind no doubt he will let me know.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why George Henry Ince has been transferred from Long Lartin Prison to Bristol Prison.

Mr. Ince was transferred from Long Lartin Prison to Bristol Prison in the interests of security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the hon. Member for Newham, North-West had to wait from 2nd October until 1st November to be informed that his letter concerning his constituent Mr. M. Amin had been passed to the Commissioner of Police for the City of London; why it took a month for this to be done; what was contained in this letter to occasion such delay; and whether he will take action to expedite replies in such cases.

I have already apologised to my hon. Friend for the delay in informing him that we had sought the comments of the Commissioner of Police for the City of London about this case. Following his interim reply of 1st November, my noble Friend wrote to my hon. Friend on 10th November to inform him of the Commissioner's comments. It inevitably takes some time to deal with cases such as this where inquiries have to be made outside the department, but I have reminded officials of the need to ensure that there is no avoidable delay in dealing with letters to Ministers from hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he took, before deciding to increase the fees for firearms and shotgun certificates, to establish the possible scope for economies in the administration of the current procedures for issue and renewal of these certificates.

We are satisfied that the fees set by the Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 1976 are the lowest required to cover the costs of the procedures relating to the issue of firearm and shotgun certificates and the registration of dealers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reasons Mr. Basil Nkoma, who left Southern Rhodesia to avoid conscription to the armed service of the Smith regime, was refused an entry visa to the United Kingdom at the British Embassy in Lisbon;(2) for what reasons Mr. Robert Moore, who left Southern Rhodesia to avoid conscription to the armed service of the Smith régime, was refused an entry visa to the United Kingdom at the British Embassy in Lisbon;(3) for what reasons Mr. Barney D'Souza, who left Southern Rhodesia to avoid conscription to the armed service of the Smith regime, was refused an entry visa to the United Kingdom at the British Embassy in Lisbon;(4) for what reasons Mr. Rangit Dulapp, who left Southern Rhodesia to avoid conscription to the armed service of the Smith régime, was refused an entry visa to the United Kingdom at the British Embassy in Lisbon;(5) for what reason, Mr. Timothy Moore, who left Southern Rhodesia to avoid conscription to the armed service of the Smith régime, was refused an entry visa to the United Kingdom at the British Embassy in Lisbon;(6) for what reasons Mr. Dudley Moore, who left Southern Rhodesia to avoid conscription to the armed service of the Smith regime, was refused an entry visa to the United Kingdom at the British Embassy in Lisbon.

I am seeking full information about these refusals and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Lord President of the Council why the larger price lists due to be displayed in the bars of the Refreshment Department as indicated in his reply to the hon. Member for Hampstead on 6th August have not yet been put up.

Larger price lists have been placed in the bars. A copy is being forwarded to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were injured in the Provisional IRA bomb explosion in Ballymena on 6th November, and had to receive medical treatment; and how many have serious injuries.

Thirty-seven persons were hurt in the attack of whom 10 were detained in hospital. Two were very seriously injured.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimate amount of damage caused by the Provisional IRA bomb in Ballymena on 6th November.

No precise figure can yet be given. The preliminary estimate by the loss adjustor engaged by the Northern Ireland Office for the purposes of any compensation claims under the Criminal Injuries to Property (Compensation) Act (NI) 1971 has indicated that the cost of the damage on this occasion may be of the order of £250,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the size of the Provisional IRA bomb planted in Ballymena on 6th November; whether any warning was given; what was the approximate time of its planting; and how soon afterward it exploded.

The device was estimated by the Army to have consisted of up to 500 lb of home-made explosive. It exploded without a warning having been received. It is not yet known when the car containing the device was left outside the Raglan Bar. The device exploded at half-past eight on the evening of 6th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many houses and shops were damaged by the Provisional IRA bomb in Ballymena on 6th November; and how many of these properties will have to be demolished.

Over 40 preliminary notices of intention to claim compensation have been received. It is not yet possible, however, to say exactly how many buildings were damaged or destroyed, but a detailed examination of a number of shops and dwellings damaged in the explosion is now being carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrests have been made by the RUC in connection with the Provisional IRA bombing of Ballymena on 6th November.

I understand from the Chief Constable that no arrests have yet been made but that investigations are being vigorously pursued.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will set up a committee to consider giving relief from rating to recreational and community centre hereditaments in Northern Ireland.

A committee chaired by Professor Lawrence of Queen's University has been set up with the following terms of reference:

"to consider the rate liability of bodies providing facilities for sport, recreation and community activities for the public or a substantial section of it and in doing so take account of the practice in comparable fields in Great Britain".

The other members of the committee are Mr. H. A. Frazer, Mr. Robert Lynn and Mr. P. H. Nicholl, and the first meeting was held on 22nd October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide the latest data showing the total of direct taxes and employee's social security contributions as a percentage of gross national product in EEC member countries, the USA and Japan.

The following table shows direct taxes—taxes on income—and social security contributions as a percentage of gross national product at factor cost. The total of social security contributions comprises contributions by employers, employees, the self-employed

TAXES ON INCOME AND SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTIONS AS A PERCENTAGE OF GNP IN 1974
	Taxes on income		Social Security contributions
	Total	of which paid by households	Total	of which paid by households*
Former SNA
Belgium	15·9	12·5	12·8	9·9
West Germany	14·4	12·7	13·5	4·9
Italy	7·4†	5·8†	13·0†	..
Luxembourg	19·0	..	12·5	..
Japan	12·5	6·2	4·5	..
United Kingdom	16·2	13·0	6·7	3·0
New SNA
Denmark	33·3	31·6	1·0	0·2
France	8·4	5·0	16·1	4·2
Irish Republic	10·6†	8·7†	3·5†	1·6†
Netherlands	17·7	14·3	20·1	9·8
United States	14·3†	10·1†	7·7†	3·6†
United Kingdom	17·2	13·9	6·7	3·0
United Kingdom 1975	18·2	16·1	7·3	3·0
* Comprises contributions by employees, self-employed and non-employed.
† Figures relate to 1973.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the per capita contribution of taxation in each of the years 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76 in Wales, Scotland and England, respectively.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the comparative cost of producing £1 coins instead of £1 notes; and what would be the estimated average life of £1 coins.

It would be undesirable for commercial reasons to pub-

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the net cost to public funds of each person unemployed, taking into account the cost of unemployment benefit, rent and rate rebates, school meal and health charges and all other social security costs and making allowance for the loss of revenue in terms of national insurance, income tax, indirect taxation and other forms of revenue.

The net cost to public funds of an unemployed person varies according to that person's circumstances, in particular his family status, dependants, housing tenure, potential employment income, national insurance contribution record and length of time spent on the unemployment register. No single cost figure would be meaningful.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the same form as the table he gave in the Official Report for 5th August 1976, Written Answers, columns 997–8, comparable information on the gross income, tax payable, residual net income and real purchasing power of (a) a single man on adult male manual average weekly earnings, (b) a single man on twice adult male manual average weekly earings, (c) a single man on three times adult male

	Year	Income	Tax payable	Residual net income	Real purchasing power*
		£	£	£	£
(a) Single man on average earnings†	1973–74	38·1	8·00	30·10	30·10
	1974–75	43·6	10·42	33·18	28·81
	1975–76	55·7	14·95	40·75	29·08
	1976–77	65·1	17·84	47·26	28·37
(b) Single man on twice average earnings	1973–74	76·2	19·43	56·77	56·77
	1974–75	87·2	24·81	62·39	54·17
	1975–76	111·4	35·15	76·25	54·42
	1976–77	130·2	42·13	88·07	52·86
(c) Single man on three times average earnings	1973–74	114·3	31·53	82·77	82·77
	1974–75	130·8	42·11	88·69	77·01
	1975–76	167·1	63·14	103·96	74·19
	1976–77	195·3	76·97	118·33	71·02
(d) Retired couple—total income equal to half average earnings‡	1973–74	19·05	—	19·05	19·05
	1974–75	21·8	—	21·80	18·93
	1975–76	27·85	0·16	27·69	19·76
	1976–77	32·55	0·93	31·62	18·98
(e) Retired couple—total income equal to average earnings	1973–74	38·1	6·96	31·14	31·14
	1974–75	43·6	8·90	34·70	30·13
	1975–76	55·7	10·64	45·06	32·16
	1976–77	65·1	14·51	50·59	30·36
(f) Retired couple—total income equal to twice average earnings	1973–74	76·2	22·29	53·91	53·91
	1974–75	87·2	29·31	57·89	50·27
	1975–76	111·4	41·86	69·54	49·63
	1976–77	130·2	50·46	79·74	47·86
(g) Retired couple—total income equal to three times average earnings	1973–74	114·3	39·76	74·54	74·54
	1974–75	130·8	52·52	78·28	67·97
	1975–76	167·1	77·50	89·60	63·94
	1976–77	195·3	94·05	101·25	60·77
* Based on annual increases in the general index of retail prices from April 1973.
† Average earnings have been taken as the New Earnings Survey estimates of the average weekly earnings of full-time adult male manual workers at April of each year.
‡ The figures for the retired couple take account of the total amount of NIRP receivable during each income tax year, including, for the year 1976–77, the increases already announced to come into effect from 15th November.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what income is now necessary to give a married man with two children the equivalent purchasing power after tax of an income in 1974 of £1,000 a year, £2,000 a year, £3,000 a year, £5,000 a year, £7,000 a year and £10,000 a year, respectively, on the basis that (a) the whole income is earned, (b) the whole of the income is from investments and (c) half the income is earned and half is from investments;(2) what income is now necessary to give a married man with two children the equivalent purchasing power after tax of an income in 1970 of £1,000 a year, £2,000 a year, £3,000 a year, £5,000 a year, £7,000 a year and £10,000 a year, respectively, on the basis that (

I will let the hon. and learned Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of money loaned by the European Investment Bank to the United Kingdom in each year since 1973.

£32·9 million in 1973, £79·9 million in 1974, £186·5 million in 1975 and £163·9 million so far in 1976.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the revenue loss to the Exchequer through the non-taxation of (a) unemployment benefit and (b) sickness benefit.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the increase in revenue in 1976–77 if the standard rate of VAT were increased to 10 per cent., 11 per cent. and 12 per cent.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Lawson) on 28th June—[Vol. 914, c. 49].

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many sub-contractors in the construction industry have so far applied for a new-style tax exemption certificate; how many have been refused a tax exemption certificate; how many have been referred back for further investigation; of those refused a tax exemption certificate, how many have been so informed; what percentage of those refused a new-style tax exemption certificate held an old-style certificate; and on what grounds the Inland Revenue is refusing to grant new tax exemption certificates to sub-contractors.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what would be the loss in revenue to the Exchequer in 1976–77 if the maximum rate of tax on earned income were reduced to 50 per cent. and the other present rates were reduced also as indicated: present 35 per cent. to 20 per cent., present 40 per cent. to 25 per cent., present 45 per cent. to 30 per cent., and present 50 per cent. to 35 per cent., and all rates currently above 50 per cent. to 50 per cent. as a maximum;(2) what would the loss in revenue to the Exchequer in 1976–77 if the maximum rate of tax on earned income were reduced to 50 per cent. and the rates were reduced also as indicated: 35 per cent. to 15 per cent., 40 per cent. to 20 per cent., 45 per cent. to 25 per cent., and 50 per cent. to 30 per cent., and all rates currently in excess of 50 per cent. to 50 per cent. as a maximum;(3) what would be the loss in revenue to the Exchequer in 1976–77 if the maximum rate of tax on earned income were reduced to 50 per cent. and the other present rates were reduced as indicated: present 35 per cent. to 25 per cent., present 40 per cent. to 30 per cent., present 45 per cent. to 35 per cent. and present 50 per cent. to 40 per cent. and all rate currently above 50 per cent. to 50 per cent. as a miximum.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many applications have been received from self-employed people for sub-contractor's tax certificates under the current regulations; and how many have been granted;(2) how many applications from self-employed people for sub-contractor's tax certificates under the current regulations have been refused; and what were the reasons for refusal;

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any further objects have recently been accepted in lieu of estate duty or capital transfer tax.

Yes, certain chattels associated with Attingham Park, Shropshire, and with Lindisfarne Castle, Northumberland, have been accepted and transferred to the National Trust to be held for the enjoyment of the public.A sheet of studies by Paolo Veronese in pen, ink and wash for his work "The Finding of Moses", the collection of the late Sir Arthur Elton relating to the history of technology and the Newhailes collection comprising the books and manuscripts of Lord Hailes the eighteenth century historian have also been accepted in lieu of estate duty, while a twelth century English ivory liturgical comb has been accepted in lieu of capital transfer tax. The Minister with special responsibility for the arts will shortly announce the destination of the sheet of studies, Sir Arthur Elton's collection and the liturgical comb after taking advice from the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries, while the Secretary of State for Scotland will announce the destination of the Newhailes collection after taking advice from the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts and a recently constituted panel set up to advise on the allocation of printed books.The total cost borne by the National Land Fund after allowing for exemption from estate duty, capital transfer tax and capital gains tax is £298,611.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the per capita sum of identifiable public expenditure in each of the years 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76 in Wales, Scotland and England, respectively.

Following is the information:

IDENTIFIABLE PUBLIC EXPENDITURE PER HEAD
	1973–74	1974–75*	1975–76*
	£	£	£
England	431	568	733
Scotland	517	697	931
Wales	452	622	829
* Provisional.

Identifiable public expenditure is defined as expenditure which can be identified from official records as having been incurred in a particular country; but excluding expenditures on defence and overseas services, which are undertaken for the United Kingdom as a whole.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures of total public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product for each of the years 1963–64 to 1975–76 on the basis of the new presentation recommended by Treasury witnesses to the General Sub-Committee of the Expenditure Committee.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 11th November 1976; Vol. 919, c. 242–3], gave the following information:I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the Member for Farnham (Mr. Macmillan) on 11th November [Vol. 919,

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider establishing two rates of interest for minimum lending rate so that the private sector of industry can borrow money required for investment in new machinery, plant or other wealth-creating enterprises at a lower cost than that imposed on non-productive borrowing.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 11th November 1976; Vol. 919, c. 251–2], gave the following information:My right hon. Friend has examined this and other schemes for two-tier interest rates, but has concluded that they would be impracticable. In particular, there could be no assurance that investment financed at the lower rate under the scheme would be "additional": the result in many cases would be to free the funds already available to investors, which would otherwise have been used for that investment, so enabling funds to be deposited at the higher rate of interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of interest he is proposing for the official rate of interest for 1977–78 as the basis of calculation for loans under section 66 of the Finance Act 1976.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 11th November 1976; Vol. 919, c. 250], gave the following information:It is not necessary to prescribe an official rate of interest for the year 1977–78 since the relevant provisions of Section 66 do not come into force until the year 1978–79.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what would be the average capital per acre of investment required in land, stock and equipment for a new farm today of the following types: (a) arable, (b) mixed, (c) dairy and (d) hill; and what are the current average net pre-tax yields per acre of such farms.

The capital required for a new farm would depend on so many factors, including, for example, its location, and the particular system of farming to be followed, that any estimate would be unsatisfactory. Financial yields vary from year to year depending on weather and other factors. "Farm Incomes in England and Wales 1974/75" contains information about capital assets (tables 83–89) and about average net farm incomes per hectare (table 50). A copy is available in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many jobs were lost to Great Britain by the export of live lambs for slaughter in the current year.

I have been asked to reply.Live exports, which account for 2 per cent. of total British sheep and lamb production, are only one of a number of factors affecting the level of employment in slaughterhouses and elsewhere at any time. I have no information as to jobs lost as a consequence of live exports.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will report on the position regarding maintenance of value payments due in respect of the United Kingdom contributions to the first three replenishments of the resources of the International Development Association.

The maintenance of value obligations accepted by the United Kingdom in the arrangements for the replenishments, under the authority of the Overseas Aid Act 1968 and statutory orders made under it, are being met by the deposit of non-negotiable non-interest bearing notes, additional to those originally deposited for our contributions. A further deposit of a note for £3,206,019·76 was made on 1st November. This sum is based on disbursements made by the Association from our contributions during the period 1st January 1976 to 30th June 1976.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what criteria must obtain before a national newspaper is used by Government Departments as a vehicle for official notices or advertisements.

Under normal circumstances a national newspaper cannot be considered for these purposes unless it provides independently audited figures of its United Kingdom circulation. Once these figures are available, the cost of buying space is taken into account and the newspaper is ranked on a cost-efficiency basis showing its cost per 1,000 circulation in comparison with other publications. Depending upon the budget availability of any particular campaign and its targets in terms of coverage and frequency, a selection is made of those publications which are most cost efficient in meeting the campaign requirements.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what weight he gives in assessing the suitability of publications for Government advertising to the proportion of their circulation which goes overseas.

Publications in which Government advertising campaigns are run are selected on the basis of their cost-efficiency in reaching the specified target audience in comparison with alternative media choices. With very minor exceptions, these are directed at audiences in the United Kingdom, so it is only United Kingdom circulation figures with which we are concerned.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he expects to be available meaningful estimates of the cost of moving 5,000 Ministry of Defence staff and their families from London to the Cardiff district, including the administrative costs of the forward planning, and the cost of new offices and housing the families in new homes.

The move of Ministry of Defence posts to Cardiff is due to be completed in 1982. Provisional estimates of the net costs up to 1984–85, when capital expenditure will be completed, amount to about £39 million. Continuing savings of about £7 million will accrue in each subsequent year. Figures at 1976 prices. In addition there are the important economic and social benefits to be taken into account.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) how many engineers have: (a) applied, (b) been interviewed and (c) been accepted for promotion to principal within the Home Civil Service in each year since 1973;(2) how many scientists have (

pursuant to his replies [Official Report, 8th November 1976; Vol. 919 c. 42], gave the following information:94 staff are shown in records held centrally as possessing qualifications at degree or similar level in scientific subjects or engineering and as having entered the grade of Principal in the Administration Group in 1973, 1974 and 1975. Of these 43 were promotees from other grades, made up as follows:

	Scientific qualifications	Engineering qualifications
1973	9	2
1974	15	5
1975	8	4

The remaining 51 consist of 20 who entered the Principal grade by level transfer from other grades and 31 direct entrants from outside the Civil Service, made up as follows:

	Level transfers	Direct entrants
Scientific qualifications	12	11
Engineering qualifications	8	20

The number of applicants for promotion and of those interviewed are not available. The promotion procedures do not necessarily require staff to apply in order to be considered for promotion and in a minority of cases promotions are made without interview.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much he spent on energy research in the United Kingdom and Scotland, respectively, in the current financial year.

Expenditure for which my right hon. Friend has responsibility, including that of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority in direct support of the power programme plus fusion, on energy research and development will amount to some £137 million gross in the current financial year. Of this some 20 to 25 per cent. will be spent in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will report upon the efficacy of the tripartite discussions initiated by his Department with a view to maintaining continuity of work at yards building production platforms and modules; and how many jobs have been safeguarded as a result of Government policy.

The Offshore Industry Liaison Committee, formerly the Tripartite Committee, has proved a most useful forum for regular exchange of information between Government, oil companies, platform and module fabrication companies and trade unions. The discussions have fostered a spirit of cooperation and have helped the various interests to understand better each other's difficulties and concerns.Amongst the subjects which have been examined by the Committee to date are the present hiatus in platform orders and the competitiveness of United Kingdom industry. In the near future the Committee will be looking in greater detail into factors affecting United Kingdom competitiveness and the reasons for cost escalation in the North Sea.The tripartite talks are one of several efforts being made to alleviate so far as is possible the difficulties for platform and module yards; another is the Government's policy to have smaller more frequent rounds of licensing to avoid the severe fluctuations of the past.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what share of the North Sea oil exploration and development market is now estimated by the Department as having been won by the United Kingdom and Scotland, respectively.

In 1975 British firms won 52 per cent. of orders placed for equipment and services for the United Kingdom Continental Shelf. Separate figures for Scotland do not exist.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans to increase full-time research work within his own Department or by external sponsorship into the utilisation of waste heat from power stations.

The Combined Heat and Power Group under the chairmanship of my Chief Scientist has initiated a number of studies both within the Department and outside. In addition, the electricity supply industry has been carrying out detailed studies of specific sites. The work of the group is now in the final stages and plans for any future studies will depend on its recommendations, which I expect to receive in a few months' time.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is prepared to encourage the formation of supervisory boards in each of the following industries: coal, gas and electricity.

The Government will be considering the question of board structure in the light of the report from the NEDO study of the nationalised industries, and from the Bullock Committee on industrial democracy in the private sector and related official studies of the public sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy in view of the National Economic Development Office proposals relating to the structure of nationalised industries, whether it is his intention to defer action on the Plowden proposals until he has digested the implications of NEDO and has had time to consider the further recommendations of the Bullock Committee following their publication shortly.

As my hon. Friend the Minister of State made clear in reply to Questions on 25th October, the Plowden Report is still under consideration. I will announce the Government's conclusions as soon as possible.—[Vol. 918, c. 44–5].

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has had any representations on shortages of household coal.

I received some representations during the summer about local shortages and more recently from the hon. Member himself about the position in north-east Scotland. The Chairman of the National Coal Board wrote directly to the hon. Member about this on 29th October, and I am advised by the Board that it is continuing the special efforts the chairman mentioned to increase supplies of house coal to Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give a general direction to electricity boards and the Gas Corporation to pay the full market rate of interest on security deposits.

No. The electricity boards voluntarily increased their interest rate to 10 per cent. in April from the statutory level of 4 per cent. They will continue to keep the rate under review in line with prevailing circumstances. For gas the revision of the current rate is already under active consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from tenants' associations and other bodies in respect of the Clorius meter system where these have been installed as Dart of district heating schemes; and if he will make a statement.

No direct representations have been received about the Clorius meter system from tenants' associations. In response to a request from the National Consumer Council early this year my Department provided information about the Clorius meter. It is, of course, for local authorities to decide whether or not to meter a district heating scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report the list of direct labour schemes which he sent to the hon. Member for Melton on 8th November, following the hon. Member's Question on 2nd November.

Yes. The Questions referred to the number of local authorities who received loan sanction to build dwellings by direct labour and the number of such built for sale. The available schemes listed contained dwellings for information is listed below. None of the sale.

Local Authority	Name of Scheme	Tender price £	Number of dwellings
Burnley	Anne Street Development Phase 2	95,291	14
	Oxford Road/Tarlehon Street	436,787	39
Blackburn	Andley/Scotland Road Redevelopment Phase IA	440,000	61
	Denville Street Redevelopment	1,118,117	144
	George Street, Darwen	258,891	28
	Thompson Street	305,027	43
Manchester	Upper Lloyd Street, Moss Side	2,067,080	292
	Wembury Street, Harpurley	1,543,202	199
	Old Elm Street	931,750	120
	Hatfield Street	2,292,519	309
	Cannel Street, Ancoats	1,829,701	210
	Parkfield Street, Rusholme	812,426	96
	Brampton Street, Newton Heath	3,608,675	412
St. Helens	Bradleigh Road Estate, Newton-le-Willows, Phase III Section I	647,830	81
Wigan	Barrow Street Whelley	255,181	38
Rotherham	Model Village Maltley	410,743	60
Scunthorpe	Chatterton Crescent	133,710	19
	Barnes Crescent Infill	162,525	23
Doncaster	Victoria Road, Church Road, Edlington	33,356	4
Kingston-upon-Hull	Bransholme Area NA3, North	879,696	142
	East of Beverley Road	1,268,167	196
Wakefield	Harewood Park, Phase I, Pontefract	845,671	91
	Hobbs Field Featherstone	377,713	50
	Field Lane Upton	303,469	42
Sheffield	Sky Edge Avenue	4,606,000	408
Barnsley	Carrfield Lane	760,573	90
Kettering	Buccleach Street, Kettering	76,174	12
Derby	Coleridge Street	17,307	2
	Donnington Close	365,034	58
	Woodlands Lane, Phase A	296,835	46
	Weston Park Avenue, Phase I	1,486,110	190
Boston	Hardwick Road Phase IX	35,100	6
Lincoln	Carholme Road	220,976	38
	Carholme Redevelopment, Phase III	217,383	36
Birmingham	Hawkesley Centre	1,175,516	96
	Topcroft Road	45,559	4
	Victor Road/Lodge Road, Winson Green	28,506	3
	Edge Hill Road, Northfield	56,899	8
	Kitwell, North Worcestershire	5,666,474	535
	Clarence Road	33,665	4
Sandwell	Hargate Lane	129,607	21
	Union Street Smethwick	330,118	36
	Brook Road, Warley	1,136,148	152
	Exeter Road Smethwick	1,032,275	114
	Horseley Heath, Great Baidge	174,119	26
	Old Wallsall Road, Phase II	250,600	29
Stoke-on-Trent	Temple Street, Fenton	241,217	33
	Mill Hayes Road, Burslem	194,491	21
	Smithpool Road, Fenton	117,378	13
	Bartlem Street, Longton	418,344	39
Shrewsbury-Atcham	Caradoc View, Hanwood	21,000	2
Cannock Chase	Site 116, Jubilee Street, Rugeley	37,768	4
	St. Michael's Road, Brereton	110,369	10
Walsall	Fallings Heath, Phase III	484,859	47
	Blockhall/Bull Street	826,913	84

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his most recent estimate of the proportion of those qualified for (a) rent rebates, (b) rent allowances and (c) rate rebates who do not claim the entitlement; and what action he is taking to publicise the availability of these benefits.

On the latest estimates, the proportions are (a) 20–25 per cent., (b) 65–70 per cent. and (c) 35 per cent. The main statutory responsibility for publicising these schemes lies with local authorities, and my right hon. Friend keeps under review the adequacy of this publicity. In addition, the Department regularly produces and distributes up-to-date informatory leaflets, undertakes research on take-up, and issues guidance and advice to local authorities as appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many residential properties are in the ownership of his Department in Greater London, Greater Manchester, Avon, Sussex and Warwickshire; how many of these are unoccupied; and what is the average length of time which such properties remain unoccupied.

The information set out hereunder is based on the position at 1st August 1976, and the empty quarter numbers shown in brackets refer to properties which had been unoccupied for more than 28 days.

Greater London	300	(21)
Greater Manchester	4	(Nil)
Avon	6	(Nil)
Sussex	40	(5)
Warwickshire	3	(Nil)

It is estimated that the average length of time which properties normally remain unoccupied is from two to six weeks, depending upon the amount of work required between occupations. In some cases, however—for example, where substantial renovation is required or a property becomes available for sale—this can prove to be a period of months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimate of the cost of the regional water authorities going over to direct billing.

I have recently discussed the question of direct billing with representatives of the local authority associations and the water authorities. In the light of that meeting I have asked the National Water Council to supply me with further detailed information about water authorities' direct billing plans. The costs involved vary in different parts of the country for both the water authorities and the local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were employed by the water authorities in the area now covered by the North West Water Authority taking into account those previously employed by local authorities who were employed exclusively on matters concerned with sewerage; and how the figures compare with the 9,000 employed today.

Before reorganisation of the water industry predecessor authorities to the North West Water Authority employed 5,590 staff in water simply and 1,110 on river authority work. It is not possible to say how many staff in addition were employed exclusively on sewerage and sewage disposal work. Staff dealing with these functions were often engaged on other work, and were not separately distinguished.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will order an inquiry into the methods by which James and Hazel Wilson defrauded his Department of £75 to £80 a week for 11 months, in order to improve security arrangements.

The facts of this case, in which action by members of the staff of my Department led to the arrest and conviction of the defendants, have been known to me for some time and I had already announced on 21st September last various measures my Department is taking to strengthen our defences against this type of fraud.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to ensure the spread of best practice of treating cerebral palsy uniformly throughout the United Kingdom in view of the fact that 50 per cent. of all such cases could be prevented by an application of this knowledge.

Cerebral palsy is best prevented by comprehensive ante-natal and neo-natal care, with full foetal monitoring and resuscitation facilities. So far as England is concerned, advice issued by my Department to general practitioners in December 1975 recommended that women should be encouraged to have their babies in hospitals where such facilities are available and that attendants on mothers delivered elsewhere should also be familiar with modern resuscitation techniques. We also asked health authorities in Engust this year to review facilities, including resuscitation, for neonatal care and for special and intensive care for babies.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further consideration has been given to paying benefits into a recipients' current bank account if desired; and if he will make a statement.

Exploratory discussions are being held with officials of the Inter-Bank Research Organisation about the possibility of making payments direct to bank accounts, but these are at an early stage. Much work remains to be done

Region	Number of Neurosurgery Beds*	Population (millions)	Number of Beds per million population
North West Thames	36·0	3·5	10·3
Brent and Harrow AHA	23·6	—	—
Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow AHA	20·6	—	—
Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster AHA	10·2	—	—
North East Thames	155·0	3·7	41·9
Barking and Havering AHA	43·8	—	—
Camden and Islington AHA	42·2	—	—
City and East London AHA	68·5	—	—
South East Thames	55·0	3·6	15·3
East Sussex AHA	2·7	—	—
Greenwich and Bexley AHA	51·7	—	—
Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham AHA	0·3	—	—
South West Thames	82·0	2·9	28·3
West Sussex AHA	27·3	—	—
Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth AHA	54·5	—	—
* Numbers of beds are expressed as decimals where they are shared with specialties besides neurourgery: Regional totals have been rounded up.

In addition, neurosurgical beds are provided at two London hospitals controlled by boards of governors: 15·9 beds at the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, and 42 beds at the Bethlem and Maudsley Hospital in South-East London. The National Hospital for Nervous Diseases also provides neurosurgical services, but all beds there are counted under the general heading of "neurology".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons qualified as clinical neurologists in each of the last five years or, as appro-

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the optimum figures recommended by a coordinating group of his Department and regional representatives for neurosurgery in the Thames Regions compare with the numbers of beds available in the different regions, their location and current population.

The co-ordinating group accepted a figure of 25 neurosurgery beds per million population as a basis for further planning. In 1975 the ratio of neurosurgery beds to population in each Thames region and their location by areas was as follows:priate, entered the National Health Service in these capacities; how many went abroad to take up positions with this qualification; and how many are currently in training.

The numbers appointed to paid consultants posts in neurology in England and Wales for the first time during the 12 months ending 30th September of the years stated were:

1971	6
1972	7
1973	6
1974	8
1975	10

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many clinical neurologists are currently engaged in the National Health Service in England and Wales; and whether there is any evidence of shortage of such staff.

At 30th September 1975, there were 139 consultant neurologists. Authorities do not appear to be experiencing any difficulty in filling existing consultant posts and there should be adequate trained manpower to meet the likely demand for new posts this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further action he intends to take, other than issuing the leaflet "You and Your Pet", to publicise the health hazards of keeping pets; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans for further action.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what changes

Size of family	Net earnings (after deducting tax and National Insurance contributions £	Comparable current level of net earnings £
Married couple with:
1 child aged 2	38·19	33·29
2 children aged 2 and 4	40·98	35·58
3 children aged 2, 4 and 8	43·83	37·83
4 children aged 2, 4, 8 and 11	47·68	40·93
5 children aged 2, 4, 8, 11 and 16	53·98	46·13

For parents in one-parent families claiming free milk and vitamins on grounds of low income, the amount of earnings which will be disregarded when calculating entitlement to free milk and vitamins will be increased from £4 to £6 from 15th November. The effect of this increase, in addition to those which I have described, will be to increase still further the income level at which one-parent families can get free milk and vitamins.

Under the Welfare Food (Amendment No. 3) Order, 1976. which will come into operation on 15th November, the income level at which families can get free milk and vitamins will be raised. This will be done by increasing the tolerance margin which is used in calculating an applicant's requirements when entitlement to free milk and vitamins on grounds of low income is assessed. The tolerance margin, which is the amount added to the calculation of an applicant's requirements over and about the normal supplementary benefit level, will be raised by £1·50 to £2·50. The increase will come into effect simultaneously with the general up-rating of Social Security Benefits and the coming into operation of the Supplementary Benefits Bill.Some examples of the levels of earnings, after deducting tax and National Insurance contributions, up to which families will qualify are given in the table below, together with the comparable current level of net earnings. The examples assume that only one parent is working, that the family pays rent and rates of £5 a week, after deducting any rebates, and that fares to work and other employment expenses amount to £1·75 a week.Some examples of weekly expense which may be saved by families who get free milk and vitamins are:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what procedures are observed by his Department to bring to the attention of recipients of industrial injury benefit their possible entitlement to disablement benefit when industrial injury benefit ceases and workers return to employment.

When payment of injury benefit ceases, the claimant is notified of his possible entitlement to industrial disablement benefit by means of a standard letter which also directs his attention to leaflet NI 6 (Disablement Benefit) obtainable from local social security offices. A similar notification is sent when a favourable decision is given on an application for an industrial accident declaration or a declaration that incapacity is due to a prescribed disease.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost of medical examinations arranged or required by his Department both generally and in regard to cases involving industrial injury benefit.

Examinations by the regional medical officer cost on average £5·50 where the claim is for sickness benefit or invalidity pension; and £6·50 where the claim is for injury benefit.

asked the Secretary at State for Social Services whether he intends to allow community health councils to appoint observers to family practitioner committees to act in a similar rôle to the community health councils' observers on area health authorities.

My right hon. Friend's consent is not required to such an arrangement, which is already in operation in a number of areas by agreement between the community health councils and family practitioner committees concerned. We are, however, currently considering whether it would be helpful for us to issue any general guidance on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends to allow community health councils to appoint observers to joint consultative committees of local authorities and area health authorities to act in a similar rôle to the community health councils' observers on area health authorities.

Community health councils are already free to appoint observers to attend meetings of such committees, if this is acceptable to the committees. It is for individual committees to determine their own procedures and decide whether observers should attend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends to alter the National Health Service (Service Committees and Tribunals) Regulations 1974 (S.I., 1974 No. 455) to make it clear that a secretary of a community health council is not a "paid advocate" within the meaning of the regulations and is therefore allowed to represent a member of the public at a service committee hearing.

My legal advice is that the secretary of a community health council should not ordinarily be regarded as a "paid advocate" within the meaning of the regulations as they now stand. The whole question of assistance to and representation of parties at service committee hearings is, however, one of those on which my Department has recently invited the comments of all interested bodies, including family practitioner committees and community health councils, as part of a general review of the service committee procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the savings in respect of the proposed restriction on unemployment benefit (on the conditions stated in the Minister's reply to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury on 9th November), if it applied in the whole of the year 1976–77; and how much is attributable to earnings related and other benefits, respectively.

There is no intention of applying the proposed restrictions on unemployment benefit during any part of 1976–77. However, it is estimated that the proposal would save £14 million during the first 12 months from its operative date. On the assumption that any restriction on unemployment benefit is applied first to any earnings-related supplement, it is estimated that £4 million of the saving is attributable to earnings-related supplement and that the remaining £10 million is attributable to flat-rate benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the estimates from the Family Expenditure Survey of the numbers of (i) households and (ii) persons who, in 1975, were living on incomes (a) below the supplementary benefit level, (b) at the supplementary benefit level and (c) on incomes up to 140 per cent. of the supplementary benefit level.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2nd November 1976: Vol. 918, c. 550], gave the following information:The estimates for Great Britain relating to the end of 1975 are set out in the following table:

(Thousands)
	Number of
	Families	Persons
1. with incomes below supplementary benefit level and not in receipt of it	1,150	2,030
2. Receiving supplementary benefit	2,490	3,770
3. Others with incomes up to 140 per cent. of supplementary benefit level	4,520	9,390
Total	8,160	15,190

NOTES: