asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when a start is to be made on the Holy Rosary School, Aintree, Liverpool.

The Sefton Education Authority has included the Holy Rosary School in its list of the school building projects to be started in the 1977–78 financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated additional cost of school transport arising from the reorganisation of secondary education.

The information needed to determine whether secondary reorganisation has contributed to the general increase in public expenditure on school transport and, if so, by how much, is not available, and could be obtained only by a special survey, the cost of which could not be justified in present circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of children in regular receipt of free school meals and her Department's estimate of the number of children entitled to receive such meals; on what basis her Department's calculation is made; what are the total sums involved; and what were the corresponding figures in the past five years.

The school meals census in October 1975 showed that 784,000 pupils were receiving free meals. The estimated annual cost to public funds of remitting the meals charge was £22·8 million. Figures of pupils with an entitlement to free school meals are not known, but my Department estimates that the percentage of pupils who receive free school meals remains fairly constant at about 80 per cent. of those entitled to free meals. This calculation is based on information derived from supplementary benefit and family income supplement statistics and from analyses made by the Department of Health and Social Security of the family expenditure surveys.The earlier figures are as follows:

MAINTAINED SCHOOLS (INCLUDING NURSERY AND SPECIAL) IN ENGLAND AND WALES
Year(October)			Numbers of pupils receiving free school meals	Estimated cost of meals charges remitted
			000's	£000's
1970	…	…	627	10,753
1971	…	…	805	18,354
1972	…	…	850	19,482
1973	…	…	795	18,126
1974	…	…	750	17,010

The charge for a school dinner was 1s. 9d. (8·75p) in 1970, 12p in 1971 to 1974 and 15p in 1975.The figures relate to a day in October on which the school meals census was taken for the years in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the number of children in regular receipt of school uniform grants and her Department's estimate of the number of children entitled to receive such grants; on what basis her Department's calculation is made; what are the total sums involved; and what were the corresponding figures in the past five years;(2) what is the number of children in regular receipt of school clothing grants and her Department's estimate of the number of children entitled to receive such grants; on what basis her Department's calculation is made; what are the total sums involved; and what were the corresponding figures in the past five years.

The powers of local education authorities to make uniform grants and to help with essential clothing are discretionary and we have no information on the numbers of pupils assisted or of those entitled to assistance. Total expenditure under these heads in 1975–76 is estimated at £5·7 million. Corresponding figures for the five years 1970–71 to 1974–75 were respectively £1·6 million, £1·9million, £2·4 million, £2·7 million and £3·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of people in receipt of school maintenance grants and allowances and her Department's estimate of the number of persons entitled to receive such grants; on what basis her Department's calculation is made; what are the total sums involved; and what were the corresponding figures in the past five years.

The powers of local education authorities to grant educational maintenance allowances are discretionary and regular returns of numbers are not made to my department. The most recent detailed information available derives from an ad hoc survey which showed that for the autumn term 1974 the total number of allowances awarded in England and Wales was 6,880. Total expenditure by authorities for the years 1970–71 to 1975–76 respectively amounted to £1·886 million, £2.210 million, £1764 million, £1520 million, £1·041 million, and £1·475 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will review the ultimate sentence of paragraph 17 of Command Paper No. 6678 concerning education policy making, in view of the fact that such a policy is contrary to the provisions of Section 4 of the Education Act 1944.

No. My right hon. Friend is aware of the position, but thinks it right not to take a precipitate decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which of the standing and ad hoc committees mentioned in paragraph 17 of Command Paper No. 6678, her reply to the select committee recommendations on education policy making, have the initiatory powers possessed by either Central Advisory Council under Section 4 of the Education Act 1944.

The ad hoc and standing bodies mentioned in paragraph 17 of Command Paper No. 6678 were set up because, compared with Central Advisory Councils, they were, as the paragraph says,

"more suited to needs as they have arisen".

To examine the terms of reference of all the bodies which might be thought relevant to the question would require a disproportionate staff effort, but, generally speaking, they were set up to examine particular areas of interest and would not have possessed powers to examine other areas on their own initiative.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of people in receipt of higher education awards for designated courses and her Department's estimate of the number of people entitled to receive such awards; on what basis her Department's calculation is made; what are the total sums involved; and what were the corresponding figures in the past five years.

The number and cost of awards made by local education authorities, DES and Scottish Education Department to students attending courses designated under the Local Education Authorities Awards Regulations 1975 or similar courses in Scotland are set out below:

		Number of awards	Expenditure(£ million)
1971–72	…	360,482	127·7
1972–73	…	367,860	130·0
1973–74	…	366,864	137·0
1974–75	…	369,839	174·4
1975–76(estimate)	…	390,000	225·0
1976–77 (estimate)	…	390,000	275·0

Up to 1974–75 the figures are based on returns from awarding authorities; subsequently they are estimated on the basis of provisional student numbers and recent levels of grant.Provided they satisfy the regulations, students attending these courses will receive an award on application. The number of students who do not apply is not known but is likely to be very small.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the complement of Her Majesty's Inspectorate for Schools in England and Wales for the years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76, respectively, and the overall estimated cost for each of those years.

The information is as follows:

		Complement as at 1st April		Estimated salary cost during year
		England	Wales	(£'000)*
1969	…	496	44	2,090
1970	…	496	44	2,182
1971	…	500	44	2,360
1972	…	500	45	2,639
1973	…	500	48	2,990
1974	…	478	48	3,838
1975	…	478	48	4,378
1976	…	478	48	—
* Based on numbers in post, normally below complement because of unfilled vacancies. Cost of supporting staff is additional.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many independent schools seeking recognition as efficient were formally inspected in the years 1969 to 1976; and how many were rejected as being below standard;(2) how many of Her Majesty's inspectors are at present seconded for the inspection of independent boarding schools;(3) how many independent boarding schools were inspected between 1969 and 1976; and how many, if any, were found to be below the required standard;(4) how many registered independent schools have been visited by Her Majesty's inspectors between the years 1969 and 1976.

This information could not be provided without disproportionate cost. There are 2,246 registered independent schools, of which 1,299 are recognised as efficient. Included in the total are 934 independent boarding schools, of which 815 are recognised as efficient.Her Majesty's inspectors are not seconded or assigned solely to the inspection of the independent schools. In the course of their duties they inspect formally and informally both maintained schools and independent schools, registered and recognised.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the maximum penalties available to the courts in cases where foreign vessels are convicted of fishing inside British territorial waters; and whether he is satisfied that they are severe enough, particularly in cases where confiscation of catch is considered to be inapplicable because of uncertainty as to how much of it was taken outside British waters.

Under the Sea Fisheries Act 1968 the maximum penalty which may be imposed on foreign vessels found fishing where they are not entitled to do so is a fine of £500 on summary conviction; fishing gear and catch may also be confiscated. Under the Fishery Limits Bill which was laid before Parliament last week, the Government propose to increase the maximum fine on summary conviction to £50,000 with provision for an unlimited fine on indictment; fishing gear and catch will continue to be liable to confiscation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress made in dealing with the problem of bovine tuberculosis in badgers.

Since the discovery of the part played by tuberculous badgers in certain limited areas of the country in the spread of tuberculosis in cattle, much experimental and investigative work has been carried out. This work has confirmed the view originally taken about the susceptibility of badgers to bovine tuberculosis and the transmission of the disease from badgers to cattle. Gassing operations have been carried out since August 1975 by Ministry staff at the locations in South-West England where the disease has been diagnosed in badgers.A report of the work done up to 31st August this year is being published today. The report also describes the work of the Consultative Panel on Badgers and Tuberculosis since it was established in September 1975. I am arranging for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which countries in membership of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Conference have exceeded their quota of fish in any species for which quotas were agreed for 1976.

I have been asked to reply.According to the latest information circulated by the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission the following countries have exceeded the 1976 quotas, to which they agreed, for the stock specified:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the 1977 quota for haddock for the whole of the United Kingdom.

I have been asked to reply.The amount of any United Kingdom haddock quota for 1977 is dependent upon negotiations within the EEC as to its internal regime in 1977 and the interrelated negotiations between EEC and third countries as regards both Community fishing in their waters and their fishing in EEC waters.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cause of the delay in informing the fishing industry of the increase of 10 per cent. in the haddock quota, borrowed from the 1977 quota.

I have been asked to reply.There was no delay. This provision for borrowing was agreed at the April session of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission which was attended by representatives of the industry, and the provision was covered in the Commission's Press notice of 26th April.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many North-East Atlantic Fisheries Conference countries have agreed haddock quotas for 1977.

I have been asked to reply.At the meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission last week the question of quotas for 1977 was not discussed. With the expected extension by many countries of their fishery limits to 200 miles in 1977 the allocation of haddock and other quotas in the areas with which the Commission has been concerned will fall to be settled by the coastal States involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in the event of the last Polaris submarine in service with the US Navy being phased out, if the cost of maintaining support facilities for the missile will be borne by Great Britain, by the United States of America or shared between them.

In the event of the last Polaris submarine in service with the US Navy being phased out, the cost of maintaining support facilities for the missile in the United Kingdom Strategic Nuclear Force will continue to be borne jointly by the United States of America and Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will take action within the NATO Co-ordinating Committee (COCOM) to encourage an agreement being reached to limit the quality, if not the quantity, of arms sold to the Third World.

The purpose of COCOM is to maintain a strategic embargo against certain communist countries including the Soviet Union and China, and not to discuss limitations on the sale of arms to the Third World.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist for providing military assistance to the civil police in the protection of airports against terrorist attack.

Army units are available at short notice to assist the police if required. Arrangements exist for military assistance, to include, where appropriate, the provision of armoured reconnaissance vehicles, which may be wheeled or tracked depending upon the particular unit involved. Joint exercises take place from time to time to test these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the experience, the interests and the ability, referred to by the Minister in assessing the membership of the Sports Council, that secured the appointment of Mr. P. Stephenson on 27th August 1976 to the Sports Council.

The appointment of individuals to membership of the Sports Council is at the discretion of my right hon. Friend. Brief details of the background of the five members appointed on 27th August were given at the time of the announcement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has given local authorities about staff cuts in their attempt to cope with the reduction in the rate support grant.

The rate support grant Settlement for the 1977–78 financial year announced on 22nd November 1976 implies an overall reduction of about 20,000 to 30,000 in the total number of local government jobs in England and Wales. My right hon. Friend has already made clear that this reduction is within the rate of natural wastage for local authority employment as a whole. For this reason the Government do not consider that reductions of this order need entail any general recourse to redundancies, though the precise situation is bound to vary from authority to authority.Following the practice established in previous years the Government intend to issue an explanatory circular once the House has approved the Government's proposals for 1977–78. The order and report on the order will be laid before the House shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he anticipates he will be in a position to issue a new circular to local authorities on guidelines for dealing with gipsies and other travellers and on the provision of caravan sites.

My right hon. Friend expects to issue this circular in the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list how each county council in England and each London borough council has individually complied with the provisions of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 and has provided permanent sites to which gipsies and other itinerants can he directed.

At 30th November 1976 county councils in England and London borough councils had provided 100 permanent sites, offering accommodation for 1,588 gipsy caravans. In addition there were 26 temporary sites, offering accommodation for another 420 caravans. Details are given in the table below.The following county and London borough councils have not yet provided sites:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will enable deserted wives to claim rate rebates in respect of rate payments which they make on the family home and where they are not the registered ratepayer.

I will consider this matter in the course of the general review of rating legislation following the report of the Layfield Committee of Inquiry into Local Government Finance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department will be commissioning any research in connection with the current review of the Rent Act.

The Department has already commissioned a national survey from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. This will indicate the nature and extent of the changes in tenure patterns that have taken place since the 1971 census and find out what attitudes towards private lettings are held by tenants and landlords currently in the private rented sector and by owner-occupiers who are not at present letting accommodation. The Department is also intending to commission at least one additional smaller-scale research project to investigate in detail the reasons behind changes in tenure observed in particular areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now announce his proposals on quality assurance in the construction industry, with special reference to type approvals, following his Department's conference on the topic about two years ago.

As I told the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) on 30th November—[Vol. 921, c. 721—we are considering the possibility of setting up a system of type approvals, which could form an important part of arrangements for quality assurance generally. I will make an announcement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report the number of people in regular receipt of rent rebate and allowances and his Department's estimate of the number of people entitled to receive such rebate and allowances; on what basis his Department's calculaion is made; what are the total sums involved; and what were the corresponding figures in the past five years.

Following is the available information:

RENT REBATES AND ALLOWANCES*: NUMBERS GRANTED, NUMBERS ELIGIBLE AND COSTS ENGLAND AND WALES: 1971–76
NUMBERS GRANTED
(thousands)
Date		Rebates	Allowancet†
March 1971	…	350	—
March 1972	…	270	—
May 1973	…	700	48
April 1974	…	840	132
April 1975	…	870	161
April 1976	…	970	203

ESTIMATED NUMBERS ELIGIBLE
(thousands)
Date		Rebates	Allowancet†
March 1971	…	—	—
March 1972	…	—	—
May 1973	…	1,000	—
April 1974	…	1,100–1,200	500–600
April 1975	…	1,100–1,200	400–500
April 1976	…	Not available

COST OF SCHEMES
(£ million)
Financial Year			Rebates	Allowance†
1970–71	…	…	18	—
1971–72	…	…	17	—
1972–73	…	…	70	5
1973–74	…	…	87	11
1974–75	…	…	107	17
1975–76	…	…	130	29
* Tenants receiving supplementary benefit are excluded.
† Numbers of allowances granted and their cost relate to unfurnished and furnished tenancies combined. Estimates of numbers eligible relate to unfurnished tenancies only.

The estimates of numbers eligible to receive rebates and allowances are based on analysis of the Family Expenditure Survey data.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list, for each water authority area in England and Wales, respectively, (a) the average domestic precept per pound of rateable value for unmeasured water supply in 1976–77 and (b) the average payment in respect of these water charges per domestic household in 1976–77.

The information is as follows:

1976–77
Water Authority	Average domestic poundage	Average domestic bill
North West	9·4p	£15·10
Northumbrian	10·2p	£15·06
Severn-Trent	8·7p	£15·15
Yorkshire	11·7p	£14·86
Anglian	9·7p	£16·96
Thames	4·9p	£13·72
Southern	7·5p	£15·00
Wessex	9·7p	£17·46
South West	12·2p	£20·25
Welsh National WDA	19·0p	£22·76

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report the number of people in regular receipt of rate rebates and his Department's estimate of the number of people entitled to receive such rate rebates; on what basis his Department's calculation is made; what are the total sums involved; and what were the corresponding figures in the past five years.

The latest figure available of the number of householders in receipt of a rate rebate in England and Wales relates to the year 1974–75 when about 2·2 million rebates were granted. The number of those receiving rebate regularly is not known. From data derived from the Family Expenditure Survey, it is estimated that this represents about 60 per cent. of those entitled to a rebate in that year. The total sum rebated in 1974–75 was £96 million.The figures for the old rate rebate scheme in operation prior to 1974–75 are given below:

			No. of recipients (thousands)	Total amount of rebates (£ millions)
1970–71	…	…	796	14·62
1971–72	…	…	807	18·37
1972–73	…	…	905	23·33
1973–74	…	…	910	28·00

Reliable data are not available on those entitled to rebate in these years. The figures for 1975–76 are likely to be available in the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make available suitable positive briefing about Great Britain's economy for use by hon. Members travelling abroad.

My right hon. Friend's Department sponsors production monthly of a leaflet entitled "Talking Points on Britain's Economy", which is designed to help those making visits overseas or receiving foreign visitors to speak positively about Britain. Copies are available from the Vote Office. I hope all Members who are travelling abroad will find this publication helpful.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost of advertisements placed in all newspapers in each of the last five years in order to recruit employees for (a) the prison and borstal services and (b) the Home Office.

The following figures represent the cost of advertisements placed on behalf of my Department:For posts in the prison service:

			£
1972–73	…	…	302,376
1973–74	…	…	340,054
1974–75	…	…	381,595
1975–76	…	…	168,703
1976–77(to date)	…	…	51,396

For posts elsewhere in the Home Office:

			£
1972–73	…	…	345
1973–74	…	…	8,478
1974–75	…	…	13,267
1975–76	…	…	26,766
1976–77 (to date)	…	…	9,766

They do not include the cost of advertisements placed on behalf of the Civil Service Commission for prison governors and other grades for whose recruitment the Commission is responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what criteria are applied when deciding what size of advertisement to insert in newspapers in order to recruit applicants for any specific job in (a) the prison and borstal service and (b) the Home Office;(2) what criteria are applied to assess how much can be spent in advertising any post vacant in

The same criteria apply in relation to all posts where the Home Office is responsible for recruitment. They are economy; the urgency of need to fill the post; the state of the labour market and the degree of competition from other employers; the information which needs to be included; the requirement to ensure a fair and open competition; and the choice of the medium which is most likely to meet this requirement and attract applications.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is normal practice for applicants for posts with the prison and borstal service to be given free postage for application purposes.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has made a decision on the application from a group of voluntary organisations for funds for setting up information services for homeless young people at Euston and at Victoria Coach Station; and if he will make a statement.

I am not convinced that the proposed information booths are the best or the most economic way of providing the services required. I am currently considering alternative possibilities in consultation with other interested Ministers and I hope to reach a decision in the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average length of time taken to transfer property surplus to Home Office requirements to other Government Departments in the last two years; and how many properties at present owned by his Department, or transferred from his Department to another Government Department, respectively, are at present empty.

In the last two years, two semi-detached houses and four flats in Harlesden were transferred to the Department for Health and Social Security seven months after notice was given that they were surplus to requirements. All the accommodation is now occupied.Including houses temporarily vacant pending a change of occupant, approximately 350 houses owned by the Department are at present empty. This figure excludes some 200 sub-standard houses and 250 houses at former Service camps being converted to prisons.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times the Inland Revenue has enforced distributions by private companies under the shortfall provisions in the fiscal years to 5th April, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, and 1976, respectively, and to the latest convenient date in the current year.

Neither the shortfall nor the apportionment provisions which succeeded them give the Inland Revenue power to enforce distributions. It is not known to what extent either close companies generally or those which are private companies may have increased their distributions to avoid shortfall assessments or apportionments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated yield of the capital gains tax in the current financial year.

The estimate shown in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1976–77 is £400 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the fact that the legitimate and reasonable expenditure on food necessarily consumed during the course of travel is allowable as an expense against tax for the employee of a company, he will seek to amend the law so that the identical expenditure incurred by a self-employed person is also allowable; and whether he will make a statement.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he knows of any current scheme for the avoidance of tax on trading profits or rents by artificially created deductions; and what action he proposes.

The Inland Revenue has recently seen documents outlining an artificial tax avoidance scheme under which arrangements are made to sell an estate or interest in land with provision for it to be reconveyed at a reduced price. The object of the scheme is to produce large sums qualifying for relief under Section 83 or 134 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970.The Inland Revenue will be examining this scheme, and any others with the same

				Total tax paid	Tax paid at composite rate*	Tax paid at excess over basic rate†	Tax paid as Investment Income surcharge†
				£m	£m	£m	£m
1973–74	…	…	…	371	306	35	30
1974–75	…	…	…	545	450	50	45
1975–76	…	…	…	685	560	70	55
* Amounts paid by the Building Societies at composite rate.
† These estimates are derived on the assumption that the interest received represents the top slice of all taxable income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied that the current tax régime as applied to North Sea oilfields provides sufficient incentive for an optimum percentage extraction of resources.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce changes in the tax system for North Sea oil development to encourage a higher percentage extraction of total reserves.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set out in the Official Report the information about building society taxation contained in the Financial Secretary's letter to the hon. Member for Melton dated 26th November, following the hon. Member's parliamentary Question on 15th November.

The estimated tax paid in respect of building society interest received by taxpayers is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list in the Official Report the names of all those companies for which the Treasury has consented to dividend increases in excess of the statutory norm since April 1973.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2nd December 1976; Vol. 921, c. 236], gave the following information:As provided in S.I. 621 of 1973 the names of all companies which have obtained Treasury consent to declare ordinary dividends in excess of the statutory limitation have been published regularly in the

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the foreign currency earnings from tourism for the last five years; and what are the comparable figures for the following industries: steel, cars, chemicals, coal and shipbuilding.

FOREIGN CURRENCY EARNINGS (GROSS)
£ million
			Travel	Iron and steel products	Road motor vehicles	Chemicals	Coal	Ships and boats
1971	…	…	486	403	988	884	22	65
1972	…	…	546	376	915	962	17	114
1973	…	…	681	433	1,100	1,272	27	124
1974	…	…	837	553	1,305	2,144	64	127
1975	…	…	1,114	683	1,737	2,179	84	215
1976—
	First quarter		317	167	512	683	17	33
	Second quarter		365	207	561	738	16	57

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any other EEC country allows essential expenditure on travel to work to be set off against income tax; and if he will publish abbreviated details of each such scheme.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 29th November 1976; Vol. 921, c. 46], gave the following information:Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands are the only countries which allow deductions specifically for this type of expenditure. In Germany the deduction is limited, where the journey is by private transport, to 0–36 DM per kilometre if by car and 0·16 DM per kilometre if by motor cycle, and in Luxembourg to a maximum of the cost of public transport for a journey of 40 kilometres. In the Netherlands there is a scale of fixed allowances ranging from 151 fl for a journey of less than 10 kilometres, to 1,530 fl for one of more than 50 kilometres.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any other EEC country allows relief against company taxation on assistance given to employees in respect of their travelling to and from work; and if he will publish abbreviated details of each such scheme.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 1st December 1976; Vol. 921, c. 389], gave the following information:Estimates of spending by all foreign visitors to the United Kingdom, excluding international air and shipping fares, are shown in the table below, together with estimate figures for exports of iron and steel products, road motor vehicles, chemicals, coal and ships and boats.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 1st December 1976 Vol. 921, c. 189], gave the following information:The only EEC country which has a specific provision affecting payments of this kind is Belgium where I understand the first 5,000F of such expenditure per employee would be deductible in computing a company's taxable profits, but the balance over 5,000F would be allowed only if it satisfied certain conditions. In other EEC countries relief would be available to the extent that the payments satisfied the normal rules applying in those countries to the deductibility of business expenditure for tax purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total amount of damage and claims submitted to the Northern Ireland Office during the August 1976 anti-internment demonstration.

Some 700 preliminary notices of intention to claim compensation have been received to date by the Northern Ireland Office under the Criminal Injuries to Property (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 in respect of damage to property in the two-week period ended 20th August 1976. Until all claims have been received and assessed it is not possible to state the precise amount, but, on the current averages for settlement and the information already available about the substantial nature of one claim, the cost to public funds could be in the region of £1½ million.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will make a statement about his discussions with the voluntary agencies associated with the Voluntary Committee on Overseas Aid and Development (VOCAD) and the Standing Conference of the United Nation's Second Development Decade on the establishment of a consultative council and a development education fund.

Last summer I invited a small working party composed of people from certain voluntary agencies to consider proposals I had made about the establishment of a consultative council. I discussed the Working Party's recommendations with a cross-section of agencies earlier this week. I have now decided to set up a Council on International Development with a membership of about 40 people selected both from organisations whose primary interest is in development questions or developing countries and from industry, trades unions and other organisations whose interests are affected by or could have an effect upon Britain's relations with developing countries. Members will be appointed as individuals. I hope that the Council will provide an opportunity for a regular and efficient dialogue on development matters between Ministers at my Ministry and a wide circle of people representative of the interests of our national community.It is proposed that the Council will hold its first meeting in the early part of 1977.Subject to the approval of Parliament, I also intend to allocate £150,000 from the aid programme to a development education fund for expenditure on education and information work on overseas development matters, this work to be carried out in the United Kingdom by non-governmental organisations. This is the first time that official funds will be available for such purposes and I am setting up a small committee to advise me on their use. The Voluntary Committee on Overseas Aid and Development—VOCAD—itself is to be wound up at the end of this year, but its education unit will continue as an independent organisation. I have undertaken to support the unit for at least two years from the development education fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will list in the Official Report the commodities in the food index, giving the current prices and the prices at February 1974.

Retail prices of about 80 important food items calculated from information gathered by the Department of Employment for the General Index of Retail Prices are published monthly in the Department of Employment Gazette. The prices for 19th February 1974 and 12th October 1976 can be found in Issue No. 4 of Volume LXXXII and No. 11 of LXXXIV.For the following categories of food in the Food Index an average price is not published. This is because the diversity of items within each of the categories makes the notion of an average meaningless. These are: breakfast cereals, etc.; biscuits; cakes; milk, canned, dried, etc.; proprietary drinks; soft drinks; jams; vegetables, canned, dried and frozen; fruit, canned and dried; sweets and chocolates; ice-cream; sauces, pickles, etc.; pet foods.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) how many free licences have been issued to voluntary community advice centres and similar bodies so far under the Consumer Creditor Act 1974;(2) how many applications for licences under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 have been received so far; and how many licences have been issued.

These are matters for the Director General of Fair Trading, and I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he has plans to reduce the enforcement burden placed upon local trading standards departments by the Consumer Credit Act 1974, or to reimburse these departments for their work from the licence fees received under this Act.

As implementation proceeds I am examining all aspects to reduce the enforcement burden as far as possible consistent with providing adequate protection to the consumer. There is no power to reimburse from licence fees the enforcement costs of local trading standards departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will alter the timetable for the introduction of the Consumer Credit Act 1974; and if he will make a statement.

I am keeping implementation of the Act under constant review, bearing in mind the necessity to provide adequate protection for consumers; to reduce the burden on local authorities; to avoid an excessive burden on traders at any one time and to have adequate consultation with interested parties on all relevant matters. I hope to make a statement shortly about the next stage of licensing together with provisions relating to extortionate credit bargains and disclosure by credit reference agencies of files kept by them on consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the number and percentage of Scottish local authority houses which are at present being constructed with integral flues; and what is his policy towards the provision of chim- neys as an alternative future energy option in Scottish houses.

These statistics are not collected centrally, but a recent survey showed that about half the public sector houses approved by my Department in 1975 were constructed with integral flues. The Scottish Housing Handbook specifies the minimum standard of space heating and gives design guidance on heating arrangements in public sector houses. The choice of heating systems is a matter for the authority concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what grant is paid to the Scottish Association for Mental Health; and how this compares with grants paid to comparable organisations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Grant of £1,030 was paid to the Scottish Association for Mental Health in 1975–76. I understand that in 1975–76 grant of £105,000 was paid to the National Association of Mental Health—MIND—in relation to its activities in England and Wales, and that grant of £4,000 was paid to the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health. Direct comparisons of the amounts of grant given to different organisations can be misleading as the basis on which grants are made may differ greatly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what steps he is taking to ensure adequate maintenance of schools and other public utility buildings and especially those built cheaply since the last war;(2) if he is satisfied that adequate steps are being taken to ensure the continued safety of Scottish schools built since the last war; and what steps he is taking to see that dangers due to materials such as high alumina cement and minimum cost construction methods are being kept to a minimum by adequate and regular inspection;(3) what effects spending cut-backs have had on the provision of surveillance and maintenance of schools and other public utility buildings.

Responsibility for the maintenance, surveillance and safety of schools and other public buildings owned by local authorities, irrespective of age and form of construction, rests with the authorities themselves. I am sure that local authorities are fully aware of their responsibilities in this connection and can be relied upon to ensure that their properties are maintained in a safe condition, notwithstanding current financial restraints.Where a particular risk is discovered, local authorities and other building owners are alerted. In the case of buildings in which high alumina cement concrete was used technical advice was made available on the identification of buildings at risk, safety precautions, remedial measures and continuing surveillance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the proportion taken by rate bills of average personal disposable income of householders paying rates in Scotland, in each year since 1950.

Statistics of houselholders' personal disposable incomes are not available. On the basis of the household disposable income and rate payment statistics available from 1962 to 1974 the estimated percentages taken by rates areas follows:

Year					Percentage
1962	…	…	…	…	3·44
1963	…	…	…	…	3·58
1964	…	…	…	…	3·55
1965	…	…	…	…	3·54
1966	…	…	…	…	3·54
1967	…	…	…	…	3·27
1968	…	…	…	…	3·46
1969	…	…	…	…	3·49
1970	…	…	…	…	3·36
1971	…	…	…	…	4·15
1972	…	…	…	…	3·65
1973	…	…	…	…	3·40
1974	…	…	…	…	3·12

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration is being given currently to the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) Oceanspan concept.

As my predecessor informed the hon. Member on 7th Feb- ruary 1975, economic planning decisions have been taken with full regard to the development possibilities referred to in the Scottish Council's Oceanspan reports. This continues to be the case. [Vol. 885, c. 489–90.]

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost per passenger to the taxpayer of subsidising the Plymouth-Gunnislake, Liskeard-Looe, and Par-Newquay branch lines; and what is the equivalent average figure for all branch lines in the country for which British Rail receive a grant under the provisions of the Transport Act 1968.

In 1973, the last year for which this information is available, the subsidy per passenger mile for these lines was as follows:

Plymouth-Gunnislake	…	…	8·5p
Liskeard-Looe	…	…	6·1p
Bodmin Road-Ncwquay	…	…	5·2p

The equivalent average figure for all services that were supported under the Transport Act 1968 in 1973 was 3·7p. The number of main line services which received support under this Act was so small as to have no significant effect on this figure.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many full-and part-time workers have left the agriculture industry in Wales during the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that this, information is not available. The statistics available relating to those employed in agriculture, including horticulture, in Wales in each year were given in my reply on 2nd February 1976.—[Vol. 904, c. 510.] Final figures for June 1975 and provisional figures for June 1976 are:

		1975	1976
			Provisional
Regular workers	whole-time	12,832	12,000
Regular workers	part-time	4,968	5,000

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the progress made on the A44 road improvements in Ceredigion; and if he will make a statement.

Completion of the second stage of the improvement at Bwlch Nant yr Arian has been delayed because of unforeseen ground conditions. I expect the works to be completed before the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales are on the waiting list for cardiac surgery; if he is satisfied with the progress made to reduce the waiting period for patients; and if he will make a statement.

In Wales cardiac surgery is undertaken only at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. At mid-November 136 people were on the waiting list there as compared with 239 at the beginning of the year. This very satisfactory progress should be further accelerated when plans to increase the number of cardiac surgery beds, now being worked out, are fulfilled.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when the report of the Chief Medical Officer for Wales for 1975 will be published.

This report is published today.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he is taking to create jobs and training opportunities in the Western Isles.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that under the job creation programme, up to 1st December, 62 projects in the Western Isles had been approved providing 625 jobs at a cost of £476,861. The Training Services Agency has recently reviewed the training needs of the Western Isles. The Agency is continuing to develop training in the Lews Castle College on Stornoway and is also making use of facilities at the Lews Offshore Ltd. Training School

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when his inspectors last visited Grunwick Processing Laboratories Ltd.; and if he will place a copy of their report in the Library.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to wages inspectors. As this establishment is not covered by a wages council my inspectors have no power to visit it.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the pay restraint policy agreed between Her Majesty's Government and the Trades Union Congress allows payments beyond the agreed limits to be made to individuals who have accepted additional responsibilities.

Under the pay policy, individual employees who have taken on additional responsibility which is clearly identifiable and significant may be paid the appropirate rate in terms of the existing pay structure without the increase counting against the pay limit.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why his Department has ruled that the new salary structure negotiated for Trustee Savings Bank managers and assistant managers as a result of the passing of the Trustee Savings Bank Act 1976 is outside the terms of the social contract.

There is no provision within the terms of the voluntary incomes policy for increases in pay which result from the implementation of newly negotiated restructuring schemes, including the introduction of incremental scales, to be paid outside the pay limit.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is now in a position to answer the hon. Member for Wirral's Question of 22nd November 1976 regarding surveys, questionnaires, censuses or similar investigations carried out on behalf of or by his Department in 1974, 1975 and 1976 to date; and, if not, why not.

I have now replied to the hon. Member's previous Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the main findings of the study of strike activity which his Department has carried out.

The November 1976 issue of the Department of Employment Gazette contains some results of a research study of industrial stoppages carried out within the Department. The research is an important contribution to the understanding of the pattern of industrial conflict in this country.The most important finding is that, in manufacturing industry, industrial stoppages are concentrated in a small minority of plants, while the overwhelming majority of plants are completely free of stoppages. From an analysis of stoppages in manufacturing industry during three years of relatively high strike activity ending in 1973, the research shows that in any one year 98 per cent. of plants had no stoppages. In an average year over 80 per cent. of employees in manufacturing work in plants that are free of industrial stoppages.Analysis has also been carried out of the incidence of stoppages by region of the country. Although it was found that certain areas, inevitably, had a higher overall level of stoppages than others, it was found that in all sub-divisions of Great Britain stoppages were concentrated in a small minority of manufacturing plants.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people are currently in receipt of social security benefits;(2) how many people were in receipt of social security benefits for each of the years 1945 to 1975.

Information is not available in the form requested, but the hon. Member may find useful the figures given below, for the years 1954–1975. Columns (2) and (4) set out the total number of benefits and allowances—including national insurance benefits, supplementary benefit, industrial injuries benefits, war pensions, family income supplement and family allowances—which, on average, were being paid in any week in the years specified. Since many people receive more than one benefit, the total number of beneficiaries is much less than the total number of benefits and allowances.

AVERAGE NUMBER OF BENEFITS IN PAYMENT
Year					Number (million)
1954	…	…	…	…	11·5
1955	…	…	…	…	12·0
1956	…	…	…	…	12·0
1957	…	…	…	…	12·5
1958	…	…	…	…	13·0
1960	…	…	…	…	13·5
1961	…	…	…	…	14·0
1962	…	…	…	…	14·0
1963	…	…	…	…	14·0
1964	…	…	…	…	14·5
1965	…	…	…	…	15·0
1966	…	…	…	…	15·5
1967	…	…	…	…	16·0
1968	…	…	…	…	16·5
1970	…	…	…	…	17·0
1971	…	…	…	…	17·0
1972	…	…	…	…	18·0
1973	…	…	…	…	18·5
1974	…	…	…	…	18·0
1975	…	…	…	…	8·5

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the average benefit per head paid from the National Insurance Fund to employed persons earning over £1,600 per annum in the last year for which records are available;(2) what was the average benefit per head paid from the National Insurance Fund to self-employed persons earning over £1,600 per annum in the last year for which records are available.

I regret that the information requested about the self-employed is not available and that similar information about the employed could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table comparing for 1948 and 1976, at current prices and at 1976 prices, the value of (a) family allowance, (b) child additions for unemployment and sickness benefit and (c) child additions for national assistance/supplementary benefit, calculated according to the average of the rates for children up to age 18 years; and if he will show in each case the value of welfare milk and free school meals, wherever applicable.

I will publish the reply in the Official Report as soon as the Retail Price Index figure for November 1976 is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what powers the North-East Thames Regional Health Authority has to write off debts in respect of fees from private patients; what sums have been so written off in each of the last five financial years; and what rights the public have, including recourse to district audit, to inform themselves of the nature of the treatments and establishments concerned.

All regional health authorities have powers to write off bad debts for sums not exceeding £500 per case. Accounts submitted to my Department by health authorities do not separately identify the unpaid fees of private patients. Subject to medical confidentiality, it is within the discretion of a health authority to make information, including auditor's reports, available to the public but there is no legal requirement so to do.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the purchasing power of the State retirement pension now; and what was the comparable figure at the same date in 1975.

The standard rate of retirement pension rose to £15·30 (single) and £24·50 (married) on 15th November. In cash terms these rates were 15·0 per cent. (single) and 15·6 per cent. (married) higher than those introduced a year earlier. The figures are not yet available from which to measure the rise in prices between November 1975 and November 1976, but, up to October 1976, it was 13·4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons have been convicted of obtaining or attempting to obtain moneys from his Department by false social security claims or similar actions in the county of South Yorkshire during the last two years.

The Department's records are not kept in such a way as to show the number of prosecutions taken in individual counties.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the number of persons regularly receiving home-help service and his Department's estimate of the number of persons entitled to the service; on what basis his Department's calculation is made; what are the total sums involved; and what were the corresponding figures in the past five years.

Information about the number of individuals receiving a home-help service is not held centrally. The number of households receiving this service in England in the year ending 31st March 1976 and in each of the previous five years, is given in the following table. Most of these households received the service on a regular basis.

A		B	C
Year		Numbers of households in receipt of home-help service	Gross expenditure
		Thousands	£ million
1970	…	443·2	27·255
1971–72	…	473·9	34·860
1972–73	…	524·0	39·710
1973–74	…	565·3	51·120
1974–75	…	615·0	73·258
1975–76	…	652·8	Not yet available

These figures are based on local authority returns. Those in column B for years prior to 1972 relate to year ended 31st December and thereafter to year ended 31st March.All figures in column C relate to year ended 31st March.They include administrative costs for the years 1970–71 and 1971–72 but not thereafter, due to a change in the basis of local authority returns.It is not possible to give an estimate of the number of households or persons who might be entitled, under the terms of Section 13(1) of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, to receive home-help service. Questions of priority in respect of those who apply for service are matters for local authorities to decide in the light of local cirumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services who has the responsibility for deciding proposed changes in the pattern of maternity care in the Newham Health District; and if he has received any requests or recommendations from the North-East Thames Regional Health Authority in this regard.

It is for health authorities to provide maternity services within the resources available to them. Where community health councils disagree with health authorities' major proposals for change these may be referred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. No such referral in respect of Newham has been received from the North-East Thames Regional Health Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what current investigations are being made by his Department into the causes of bronchitis and emphysema; and if they will be categorised as industrial diseases.

The Medical Research Council, which is the main Government-funded body conducting or supporting research in this field, has for many years supported a substantial programme of research into bronchitis and emphysema and current work includes studies of the immunological, genetic and infective aspects of these conditions. Four of the Council's own research establishments are concerned with research into bronchitis and emphysema and the Council has also awarded several research grants in hospitals and university departments. In addition, a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, first produced by the Council's Committee for Research on Chronic Bronchitis in 1966 and recently revised, has become a standard epidemiological tool in the study of chronic bronchitis. In addition to funds provided to the Council by the Health Departments my Department also supports other research in this field. Research is separately undertaken by universities and medical schools.A close watch is kept on results as they become available. On present evidence I am afraid that I cannot hold out any hope of prescribing these diseases as industrial diseases. To do so under the criteria laid down in the Social Security Act 1975 we should have to be able to distinguish clinically between those cases of bronchitis and emphysema which do arise from a person's occupation and those which do not. This distinction is not possible in the present state of medical knowledge; and the direct link between an occupation and a disease must be established before a disease is prescribed as an industrial disease, since this attracts the special benefits of the industrial injuries scheme. Though bronchitis and emphysema are not themselves prescribed, they may nevertheless be taken into account in assessing disablement under the Act where they accompany the prescribed disease, pneumoconiosis.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report the number of people in regular receipt of supplementary pensions and his Department's estimate of the number of people entitled to receive such pensions; on what basis his Department's calculation is made; what are the total sums involved; and what were the corresponding figures in the past five years;(2) whether he will publish in the

I will publish the available information in the Official Report as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list in the Official Report the life expectancy rates over the past 50 years in 10-yearly

				Life expectancy at age
Socio-economic group				15	45
Employers in industry etc.	…	…	…	56·2	27·5
Managers in industry etc.	…	…	…	57·0	28·4
Professional workers—self-employed	…	…	…	58·1	28·9
Professional workers—employees	…	…	…	57·0	28·3
Ancillary workers and artists	…	…	…	57·3	28·6
Foremen and supervisors, non-manual	…	…	…	58·0	28·8
Junior non-manual workers	…	…	…	55·7	27·2
Personal service workers	…	…	…	53·9	26·1
Foremen and supervisors, manual	…	…	…	57·4	28·4
Skilled manual workers	…	…	…	55·3	26·9
Semi-skilled manual workers	…	…	…	55·0	27·0
Unskilled manual workers	…	…	…	53·3	26·1
Own account workers (other than professional)	…	…	…	57·5	28·4
Farmers—employers and managers	…	…	…	55·7	27·8
Farmers—own account	…	…	…	58·6	29·3
Agricultural workers	…	…	…	55·7	27·6
Armed Forces	…	…	…	50·4	22·0
Inadequately described occupations	…	…	…	55·8	28·5

The differences between the socioeconomic groups reflect differences in mortality from 15 to 64 years of age and take no account of differences outside these ages. From age 65 the national age specific mortality rates are assumed for all groups.Comparable figures for other years are not available.Classification by socio-economic groups was introduced in 1951. A table showing numbers of men surviving from age 20 by socio-economic groups was published as an appendix to the Registrar General's Decennial Supplement, 1951, Occupational Mortality II, Volume 2.

asked the Secretary of State for for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report the number of people exempt from prescription charges and his Department's estimate of the number of people entitled to receive such exemption; on what basis his Department's calculation is made; what are the total sums involved; and what were the corresponding figures in the past five years.

I will publish the available information in the Official Report as soon as possible.

Information relates to life expectation of males by socio-economic groups calculated on deaths in the period 1970–72 as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report the number of people exempt from dental charges and his Department's estimate of the number of people entitled to receive such exemption; on what basis his Department's calculation is made; what are the total sums involved; and what were the corresponding figures in the past five years.

I will publish the available information in the Official Report as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many full-time equivalent State registered (a) contractual and (b) non-contractual chiropodists are employed in each health region in each of the last two years; and what is their average annual remuneration from the NHS resources;(2) how many State registered chiropodists today work in AHA clinics in each regional health authority; and how many there were in each of the last two years.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 25th October 1976; Vol. 918, c. 74], circulated the following information:

A. FULL-TIME AND SESSIONAL CHIROPODISTS
SEPTEMBER 1974
Regional Health Authority					Full-time	Part-time (normally sessional) (w.t.e.)	Total (w.t.e.)
Northern	…	…	…	…	44	27·0	71·0
Yorkshire	…	…	…	…	64	97·6	161·6
Trent	…	…	…	…	28	64·9	92·9
East Anglia	…	…	…	…	27	33·8	60·8
North-West Thames	…	…	…	…	42	29·7	71·7
North-East Thames	…	…	…	…	81	79·5	160·5
South-East Thames	…	…	…	…	56	64·9	120·9
South-West Thames	…	…	…	…	46	30·6	76·6
Wessex	…	…	…	…	25	14·5	39·5
Oxford	…	…	…	…	40	29·0	69·0
South-Western	…	…	…	…	59	61·0	120·0
West Midlands	…	…	…	…	44	54·4	98·4
Mersey	…	…	…	…	20	33·9	53·9
North-Western	…	…	…	…	116	158·9	274·9
Boards of Governors	…	…	…	…	None	0·6	0·6
Total	…	…	…	…	692	781·2	1,473·2

SEPTEMBER 1975
Regional Health Authority					Full-time	Part-time (normally sessional)(w.t.e.)	Total (w.t.e.)
Northern	…	…	…	…	49	15·8	64·8
Yorkshire	…	…	…	…	73	51·2	124·2
Trent	…	…	…	…	46	64·6	110·6
East Anglia	…	…	…	…	25	16·3	41·3
North-West Thames	…	…	…	…	35	26·9	61·9
North-East Thames	…	…	…	…	98	50·0	148·0
South-East Thames	…	…	…	…	79	30·7	109·7
South-West Thames	…	…	…	…	52	16·0	68·0
Wessex	…	…	…	…	29	3·5	32·5
Oxford	…	…	…	…	35	22·9	57·9
South Western	…	…	…	…	52	37·9	89·9
West Midlands	…	…	…	…	54	40·3	94·3
Mersey	…	…	…	…	33	12·6	45·6
North-Western	…	…	…	…	144	54·9	198·9
Boards of Governors	…	…	…	…	None	0·6	0·6
Total	…	…	…	…	804	444·2	1,248·2
w.t.e.=whole time equivalent.
Full-time chiropodists, and many sessional chiropodists, are employed on contracts of service.
The part-time figures for 1974 include an unknown number of chiropodists working on a fee-pertreatment basis. The figures for 30th September 1973 are comparable with those for 1975: no regional breakdown is available; but for England as a whole the 1973 figures were 675 full-time, 574 part-time and 1,249 total.
Information on total remuncration is not available, but the average annual salary of full-time staff is currently approximately £3,500. The current Senior II grade rate for a three-hour session is £8.04.