asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what amount the green pound would now require to be devalued to bring it into line with the value placed on £ sterling in all other transactions; and by how much such a devaluation would increase the total food bill of the British consumer.

The green pound is the conversion rate between the pound and the unit of account for agricultural purposes. Monetary compensatory amounts are at present fixed on the basis of the differential between the green pound conversion rate and the market rate of exchange for sterling against the European monetary unit of account. To bring the present green rate into line with that market rate would require a green rate devaluation of 28 per cent.Any prediction of the effect of a green pound devaluation on food prices depends upon assumptions about the extent to which market prices would be affected by the change in institutional arrangements and about related but separate Government decisions on matters such as the guaranteed and retail prices of milk. As the assumed devaluation becomes greater, the necessary assumptions become more uncertain and no precise estimate can be made of the effect of a 28 per cent. green pound devaluation. It has, however, been estimated that a 10 per cent. devaluation of the green pound might, given certain assumptions and after a time lag, increase average retail food prices by about 2½ per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amount of funds is allocated from his Department's budget for counselling in staff training and improved meeting performance.

The information is not available in the form requested. My Department has a departmental training officer who provides advice and guidance on training matters, but it is the responsibility of line managers to ensure that their staff receive the training necessary for the efficient performance of their duties, and the amount of effort devoted to this will vary according to particular circumstances.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will list the statutory powers, and other means available to him, to control or influence the number of people employed by, and the wage and salary bill of, local authorities or other public sector bodies not part of central Government.

The relevant statutory powers are Agriculture Act 1967, Section 58(9) and paragraph 9 of Schedule 6, in relation to the Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation; Agriculture Act 1970, Section 12(1) and (2), and paragraph 9 of Schedule 1, in relation to the Eggs Authority; Industrial Training Act 1964, paragraph 10 of the Schedule, as amended by the Employment and Training Act 1973, paragraphs 2, 4 and 9(d) of Part III of Schedule 2, in relation to the Agricultural Training Board.In addition, under the terms of an agreement with the National Institute of Agricultural Botany, the numbers and grades of the staff of the Institute performing statutory work on behalf of my Department are subject to my approval.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures are presently being taken in Gloucestershire concerning badgers with suspected bovine tuberculosis.

Five teams of specially trained staff of my Department are currently working in those localities in North Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire where badgers have been found to be infected with bovine tuberculosis. Two of these teams are operating in an area around the town of Thornbury, comprising parts of North Avon and Gloucestershire, in which a comparatively high number of cattle herds have been found to be infected with tuberculosis in recent years. Parts of this area are being cleared of badgers and will be kept free of them for a period in order to establish whether operations on this scale will eradicate the disease in the area.The remaining three teams are operating in other areas in the three counties where herd breakdowns have occurred and where the disease has been found to exist in badgers and no other origin for the disease in cattle has been establishedA full account of the measures we have taken in these and other counties in the South-West is contained in a Report published by my Department on 3rd December and to which I referred in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on that day.—[Vol. 921, c.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many badgers have been gassed in Gloucestershire because of suspected bovine turberculosis.

It is not possible to state the number with any precision. Up to 3rd December 1976. 510 sets in Gloucestershire have been gassed but many are likely to have been unoccupied at the time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria are adopted in deciding whether or not to use gas to kill a badger which might have bovine tuberculosis.

Operations to eliminate badger colonies are undertaken when there is clear evidence, confirmed by laboratory tests, that they are infected with bovine tuberculosis. Gassing, which is the most humane and effective method, is used in the great majority of cases but when this is impracticable other methods are adopted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food what are the risks of bovine tuberculosis in the country at large.

Bovine tuberculosis in cattle was virtually eliminated in Great Britain during the campaign carried out in the 1950s. The incidence of the disease in recent years has been about 0·04 per cent. Over two-thirds of the reactors have been in South-West England, where the problem of tuberculous badgers has been encountered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the procedures to be adopted by the Nature Conservancy Council when it is consulted under Section 9(3) of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, or are given notice under Section 10(7) of that Act; and if he will make a statement.

Under Section 9(3) my right hon. Friend, or my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, as the case may be, is required to consult with the Nature Conservancy Council before making an order enabling the destruction of a wild species in a specified area. The Council has given an assurance that when it is consulted under this subsection it will in turn consult in particular the appropriate voluntary nature conservation bodies and local authorities and will take their views into account in the advice it gives concerning the proposed order.Under Section 10(7) the Nature Conservancy Council must be given notice before powers of entry are exercised on a nature reserve maintained or managed by the Council. In addition there are a number of other sites which are of high national importance for nature conservation. Most of these have already been notified by the Council as sites of special scientific interest, and include many nature reserves for which the voluntary nature conservation bodies are responsible. There are also a small number of statutory local nature reserves. The Council intends to draw up administrative arrangements with the Ministry to ensure that as far as possible the procedure of Section 10(7) will be followed for these sites, which will then be treated in the same way as national nature reserves in relation to operations carried out under Section 10. The Council has had discussions with the voluntary nature conservation bodies and is in touch with the local authority associations on how these arrangements might operate in practice.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make a statement on his recent visit to Washington and the discussions that he had there.

I visited Washington from 13th-17th November. While there I discussed general economic and financial questions with leading members of the United States administration. Our talks were wide ranging, open and friendly, and marked by a spirit of warmth, understanding and good will.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the basic gross weekly pay of a soldier of the following ranks, private, lance corporal, corporal and sergeant.

The minimum gross weekly rates, excluding any payments for qualifications or for length of service, but including the £6 per week pay supplement, are as follows:

			£
Private	…	…	38·76
Lance Corporal	…	…	46·18
Corporal	…	…	54·79
Sergeant	…	…	62·70

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has that the UDR has been infiltrated by an alleged loyalist fifth column.

None. The UDR has a deserved reputation for impartiality and, as I advised my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose) on 28th October, I am satisfied that the security procedures to exclude members of extremist organisations from the regiment are as stringent as they can be.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total strength of the UDR at the last available date; and how many members are serving full-time.

On 30th November 1976 the total strength of the UDR was 7,709. Of these 1,622 were members of the non-Regular permanent staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for membership in the UDR were received in July, August, September, October and November 1976, respectively; and how these compare with the corresponding figures for 1975.

The number of applications was as follows:

			1976	1975
July	…	…	149	271
August	…	…	275	248
September	…	…	376	326
October	…	…	285	244
November	…	…	245	255
Total	…	…	1,330	1,344

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for membership of the UDR were not successful from 1st July 1976 to 30th November 1976; and how these compare with the corresponding figure for 1975.

From 1st July to 30th November 1976, 323 applications were rejected, compared with 233 during the same period last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many full-time members of the UDR serving on guard duties in Belfast have been attacked while on duty by IRA terrorists; what type of weapon were used; and what arrests were made;(2) how many full-time members of the UDR serving on guard duties in Belfast have been attacked when off duty by IRA terrorists; what type of weapons were used; and what arrests were made.

I regret that it would require disproportionate effort to provide all the information requested, particularly in respect of previous years. Since 1st November 1975 there have been 33 serious attacks by terrorists, including 16 shooting attacks, on members of the UDR in Belfast. 20 of these attacks were on personnel who were off duty.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his future intentions as to the retention of the Nimrod aircraft; and what effect he expects any proposed alteration in present arrangements to have on the constituency of Moray and Nairn.

Each of the maritime reconnaissance squadrons at RAF Kinloss is being supplemented, from 1st January 1977, by one Nimrod aircraft for offshore duties. The effects on the hon. Lady's constituency are not likely to be significant.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to amend the forces family pension scheme to include pensions for widows in cases where retirement has taken place before the marriage, in order to conform with the contracting out provisions of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975.

The effect on occupational pension schemes in the public sector, including the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, of this and other requirements of contracting out under the Social Security Pensions Act 1975 is under consideration. I can, however, confirm that from April 1978 there will be provision, under the Act, for a pension for a "post-retirement" widow of a Service pensioner. As with all improvements in public sector pension schemes, this one cannot be applied retrospectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total strength of the Army in Northern Ireland on 1st October 1976; and what were the corresponding numbers for 1975 and 1974.

Approximate troop strengths, excluding the UDR, in Northern Ireland on the dates quoted were:

1st October 1974	…	…	15,000
1st October 1975	…	…	15,000
1st October 1976	…	…	14,500

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the industrial dispute in Gibraltar Dockyard.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 30th November.—[Vol. 921, c. 78.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had about conditions in Walton Prison, Liverpool; if he is satisfied with these conditions, both for prisoners and prison staff; and if he will make a statement.

We understand that discussions between the Governor and staff about the régime at Liverpool Prison have been continuing, and as a result it has been possible to introduce improved facilities, with particular reference to education classes, physical education and longer workshop hours. The scope for further improvements at this, as at other establishments, will be affected by current overcrowding and the need for economic restraint.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he is having about a possible amnesty on convicted prisoners in connection with the Queen's Jubilee.

None. Such a suggestion was made to me recently, but I have concluded that an amnesty would be inappropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amount of funds is allocated from his Department's budget for counselling in staff training and improved meeting performance.

I regret that the information is not available, since expenditure of this kind is not separately indentifiable. Home Office training staff provide advice and guidance on training matters, and it is primarily the responsibility of line managers to ensure that their staff make use of the facilities provided so that they receive the training necessary for the efficient performance of their duties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the statutory powers, and other means available to him, to control or influence the number of people employed by, and the wage and salary bill of, local authorities or other public sector bodies not part of central Government.

My right hon. Friend has relevant powers under the following:

(a) Police Act 1964 (numbers of police officers, pay and conditions of service of police officers and police cadets);

(b) Metropolitan Police Acts 1829–1959 (numbers of police officers and pay and conditions of service of Metropolitan Police civil staff);

(c) Coroners (Amendment) Act 1926 S.5 (appellate function in respect of coroners' salaries);

(d) Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 Schedule III (conditions of service of probation officers);

(e) Justices of the Peace Act 1949, Section 26 (expenditure by Magistrates' Courts Committees);

(f) Race Relations Act 1968 Section 14(6) and Schedule II (Race Relations Board);

(g) Race Relations Act 1968, Section 25(2) and Schedule IV (Community Relations Commission);

(h) Gaming Act 1968 Section 43 and Schedule I (Gaming Board for Great Britain);

(i) Criminal Justice Act 1967 Section 59 and Schedule II (Parole Board);

(j) Immigration Act 1971, Schedule V (tribunal members, adjudicators and staff of the Immigration Appellate Authority);

(k) Sex Discrimination Act 1975 Section 53 and Schedule III (Equal Opportunities Commission);

(l) Civil Defence Act 1948, Section 3 (grants to local authorities and police authorities in respect of expenditure on their civil defence functions);

(m) Local Government Act 1966 Section 11 (Commonwealth immigrant grant);

(n) Local Government Grants (Social Need) Act 1969 (the urban programme grants);

(o) Immigration Act 1971 Section 23 (Grants to the United Kingdom Immigrant Advisory Service).

In respect of local authorities I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will be writing to the hon. Member for Putney in connection with experiments on animals as promised in the Written Answer, 30th November 1976, Official Report, column 75.

As soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of bombs and incendiary devices planted inside the new security zones in Belfast; and what were the amount of claims received by the Northern Ireland Office as the result of these.

Since 29th March, when the revised city centre security arrangements came into operation, 16 bombs and 12 incendiary devices have been planted within the barriers. Claims assessed at £385,000 have so far been received in respect of those incidents, together with a further 56 claims in respect of which no estimate has yet been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civilians are employed as searchers in the centre of Belfast; and what is the estimated cost of salaries per annum.

Two hundred and eighty-nine search officers are employed in the centre of Belfast. The estimated cost of their salaries, including overtime and allowances, is £1¼ million in the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to form a forest and wildlife service in Northern Ireland; and what representations he has received.

From time to time representations have been made on this matter, but I have no plans to alter present arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many applications for membership in the RUC were not successful for the period July to November 1976; and how these compare with the corresponding figure for 1975;(2) how many applications for membership in the RUC Reserve were not successful for the period July to November 1976; and how these compare with the corresponding figure for 1975.

The answer is as follows:

Unsuccessful Applications to Join
	RUC
1st July—30th November 1975	356
1st July—30th November 1976	344
	RUC Reserve
1st July—30th November 1975	693
1st July—30th November 1976	825

The figures do not necessarily relate to applications made in the periods in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many applications for membership in the RUC were received in July, August, September, October and November 1976, respectively; and how these compare with the corresponding figures for 1975;(2) how many applications for membership in the RUC Reserve were received in July, August, September, October and November 1976, respectively; and how these compare with the corresponding figures for 1975.

The answer is as follows:

APPLICATIONS TO JOIN
	RUC		RUC Reserve
	1975	1976	1975	1976
July	200	205	330	376
August	194	265	338	335
September	387	263	420	490
October	339	226	372	323
November	173	274	235	345

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what amount of funds is allocated from his Department's budget for counselling in staff training and improved meeting performances.

The information is not available in the form requested. My Department has a departmental training officer in both London and Belfast who provides advice and guidance on training matters, but it is the responsibility of line managers to ensure that their staff receive the training necessary for the efficient performance of their duties and the amount of effort devoted to this will vary according to particular circumstances.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what amount of funds is allocated from his Department's budget for counselling in staff training and improved performances.

The information is not available in the form requested. My Ministry has a departmental training officer and supporting staff who provide advice and guidance on training matters, but it is the responsibility of line managers to ensure that their staff receive the training necessary for the efficient performance of their duties and the amount of effort devoted to this will vary according to particular circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will make arrangements to monitor expenditure incurred by local trading standards departments in enforcing the Consumer Credit Act 1974; and if he will seek powers to reimburse these departments from licence fees received under the Act.

At a recent meeting with local authority representatives, as part of a general discussion on implementation of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, I invited them to let me have their best estimate of expenditure so incurred, but it is necessary to recognise that in many cases it is impracticable for local authorities to distinguish this area of work within their consumer protection duties as a whole. Payment for part only of local authority activity in enforcing consumer protection legislation from licence fees would be anomalous and inappropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what has been the total cost to date to his Department of all work undertaken under the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

Because the staff concerned are not engaged full time on the Consumer Credit Act it is impossible to give an exact figure, but since the Royal Assent the cost, mainly staff costs, has been in the region of £240,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the price of a standard loaf of bread now; and how that compares with the price in each December since 1973.

Because of problems of definition no information is availble about the price of standard bread as such. A good indication is, however, given by the average retail price in the United Kingdom of 28oz. white sliced and wrapped loaves, details of which are as follows:

Date	Average retail price in pence
11th December 1973	12·1
10th December 1974	14·0
9th December 1975	16·4
12th October 1976	19·2
(latest available)

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what was the retail price index at the start of the present Government's incomes policy; and what has been the percentage increase since then.

In July 1975 the Retail Price Index stood at 138·5— January 1974=100. By October 1976 it had increased by 18·1 per cent. to 163·5.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what amount of funds allocated from his Department's budget for counselling in staff training and improved meeting performance.

The information is not available in the form requested. My Department has a departmental training officer who provides advice and guidance on training matters, but it is the responsibility of line managers to ensure that their staff receive the training necessary for the efficient performance of their duties, and the amount of effort devoted to this will vary according to particular circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will publish a table, based on the family expenditure surveys, comparing average weekly expenditure by group total in 1970, valued first at 1970 prices and secondly at 1975 prices, with average weekly expenditure by group total in 1975, taking (a) single adult households with income of £27 in 1970 and of £56 in 1975, (b) single adult households where the householder is over 65 years, income £5·50 and £12, (c) one man, one woman and two children households with income of £28 in 1970 and £57·50 in 1975 and (d) one man, one woman and four children households with income £30 and £60·50.

I do not consider the effort required to compile this information a justifiable use of the resources of my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will list the statutory powers, and other means available to him, to control or influence the number of people employed by, and the wage and salary bill of, local authorities or other public sector bodies not part of central government.

I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is replying as regards local authorities. I exercise statutory control under the Acts shown below in respect of certain bodies concerned with consumers' interests; as regards other bodies with which I am concerned there is consultation of a formal or informal nature, often in the course of discussion on financial estimates.

• Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946.
• Transport Act 1968.
• Post Office Act 1969.
• Gas Act 1973.
• Counter-Inflation Act 1973.
• Fair Trading Act 1973.
• Statutory Corporations (Financial Provisions) Act 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will confirm that for families with four children whose earnings increased from £50 in November 1975 to £55 in November 1976, net weekly spending power during sickness or unemployment is now £13·44 higher than it was in November 1975, so long as they are in receipt of tax refunds, and £8·59 higher than in November 1975 during the first six months of sickness or unemployment, whether or not they are eligible for tax refunds, compared with an increase in spending power of £5·47 for families who are at work.

During weeks 3 to 28 of unemployment, a married man with four children aged 3, 8, 11 and 16 with previous earnings of £55 who became unemployed now would have a net weekly spending power—that is, after he had met his rent and rates—£8·59 greater than a man in similar family circumstances who had become unemployed a year ago after previously earning £50 if, in the former case, he had a rent of £5·38, rates of £2·18 and work expenses of £1·75 a week and in the latter case a rent of £4·94, rates of £1·88 and work expenses of 75p a week, and assuming in both cases that he had full entitlement to flat-rate benefit and earnings-related supplement, and that he had taken up all the means-tested benefits to which he was entitled. If income tax refunds were payable in addition, the figure would be £11·19. The net weekly spending power of a family of this size with earnings of £55 in November 1976 would be £5·27 greater than that of a similar family in November 1975 with earnings of £50 a week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled people are currently in receipt of supplementary benefit; and what were the comparable figures for 1966 and 1971.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that different categories of disabled people receive assistance according to their needs.

I replied to a Question from the hon. Gentleman on cash provision for disabled people on Thursday 9th December.In respect of services for the disabled, there is still much to be done to achieve a satisfactory level of assistance. I am glad to be able to say, however, that there has been substantial and, in many localities, highly commendable further progress in implementing the provisions of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act.Verification of the figures for the number of households assisted under Section 2 in 1976 is not yet complete, but the provisional number is 300,000. This is an increase of nearly 30 per cent. over the previous year. Progress made in identifying and registering disabled people under Section I of the Act was no less substantial. Including blind, partially sighted, deaf and hard of hearing people, the provisional total for all registers at 31st March 1976 was some 854,000. This represents an increase of some 88,000 over the previous year thus reflecting the importance given by authorities to an on-going programme of identification as the first step in providing assistance according to need.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he intends to take to ensure that any reduction in the rate support grant does not first affect the services for the severely disabled.

It is intended to issue a joint circular on the rate support grant settlement 1977–78 containing, inter alia, broad guidance on priorities for the local authority personal social services. In current economic circumstances, we believe the general strategy should be to protect field and domiciliary services at the expense of the scale and standard of institutional care.A different balance of provision may be necessary in order to meet the needs of mentally ill and mentally handicapped people. The development of a more effective pattern of community care, not least in the fields of mental illness and mental handicap, will be assisted by the use of resources available through joint financing arrangements.In planning their own spending, we expect that local authorities will want to act as humanely as possible in the provision they make for the severely disabled.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families who benefited under the former system of grants towards disabled persons' vehicles, do not now benefit from the mobility allowance scheme; and if he will review the mobility allowance scheme to broaden its applicability.

Over 3,000 of the 52,000 beneficiaries of the former invalid vehicle scheme, who include 20,000 people with a private car allowance, have already switched to the mobility allowance. Some of the remainder are ineligible for the mobility allowance at present. However, I am glad to say that Clause 12 of the Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which is now before the House, proposes to confer power for regulations to extend the allowance to beneficiaries of the former vehicle scheme whether or not they would otherwise be eligible on age grounds or would satisfy the medical criterion for the allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the publicity arrangements acquainting the general public with their entitlement to child interim benefit; and what is the estimated take up of this benefit.

Yes. The figures suggest that some 80 per cent. of an estimated¼ million lone parents who stand to gain from making a claim are receiving child interim benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the Supplementary Benefits Commission has asked for the repayment of the first-class rail fare from Dover to Bradford which was given to a member of Bradford University Peace Movement.

I understand that the Commission has this matter under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether social security officers have powers to decide whether to grant first-class or second-class railway tickets to claimants who are stranded away from home.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Smith) on 2nd December.—[Vol. 921, c. 259–60.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what amount of funds is allocated from his Department's budget for counselling in staff training and improved meeting performances.

The information is not available in the form requested. My Department has a departmental training officer who provides advice and guidance on training matters, but it is the responsibility of line managers to ensure that their staff receive the training necessary for the efficient performance of their duties and the amount of effort devoted to this will vary according to particular circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list the statutory powers, and other means available to him, to control or influence the number of people employed by, and the wage and salary bill of, local authorities or other public sector bodies not part of central government.

The only relevant specific statutory power in relation to health authorities is that Schedule 1 of the National Health Service Reorganisation Act 1973 provides that my approval may be required for the determination of the remuneration of officers employed by health authorities. No overall control is exercised on the total numbers of staff employed or of the wages and salaries bill as a whole. While authorities are free, therefore, to decide on the proportion of their expenditure devoted to staff costs, these costs must be met within the financial constraint of their cash limit allocations. There are controls on the numbers of certain categories of staff employed, which are decided in consultation with the Authorities and other interests concerned.I regret that similar information in respect of other bodies for which I am responsible is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware of the dissatisfaction among disabled people at the different net incomes which can arise from similar gross incomes depending upon whether they consist of untaxed invalidity benefit, earnings or unearned income; and, notwithstanding his reply to the hon. Member for Exeter on 30th November, if he is able to provide statistics quantifying these differences according to size of family and level of income.

I am aware, as are my ministerial colleagues who are responsible for tax matters, that tax and contribution liability on earnings, together with the substantial improvements, which have in themselves been generally welcomed, that we have made in the range of untaxed benefits, have to som extent narrowed the gap between benefit and earnings and, in a very small number of cases, put the beneficiary ahead of the earner. We are also aware that liability to pay tax on, for example, mobility allowance can depend on whether other income is taxable and not just the amount of other income. I am afraid however that no statistics on these matters are available which would help the hon. Member. Theoretical alternatives to the present situation present very considrable problems of administrative cost, or have other substantial public expenditure implications.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing the financial allocation to each of the counties of Wales in the last financial year under the urban programme; and what proportion of such grants were made for projects being undertaken by local authorities in conjunction with voluntary organisations.

Urban programme funds are not allocated to counties as such, but are awarded for the most attractive and relevant projects submitted by local authorities. The figures in respect of approved projects expected to commence in 1975–76—Phase 11—and approved holiday projects to be carried out in 1975—Phase 13—are as follows:

PHASE 11
(Projects due to commence in 1975–76)
	Sums Approved* (proportion in respect of voluntary projects in brackets)
County	Capital £	Non-Capital (per annum) £	Non-Capital (one year only) £
Clwyd	41,590 (—)	12,503 (—)	—
Dyfed	22,000 (—)	—	—
Gwent	47,392 (37%)	4,000 (—)	3,519 (83%)
Gwynedd	57,000 (—)	—	—
Mid Glamorgan	70,000 (—)	6,600 (—)	4,500 (—)
Powys	—	—	—
South Glamorgan	61,713 (27%)	24,700 (49%)	7,000 (100%)
West Glamorgan	59,911 (37%)	—	1,150 (—)

PHASE 13
(Easter and Summer Holidays 1975)
	Sums Approved* (proportion in respect of voluntary projects in brackets)£
Clwyd	745 (—)
Dyfed	—
Gwent	4,342 (46%)
Gwynedd	330 (—)
Mid Glamorgan	4,250 (35%)
Powys	1,500 (—)
South Glamorgan	1,860 (45%)
West Glamorgan	3,033 (63%)

Project	Local Authority	Cost of project £	Number of persons benefited
Approved Easter Holiday Projects—1976
Holiday scheme for young people, Penarth	Vale of Glamorgan BC	330	100
Holiday Playscheme at Barry (Gladstone Gardens)	Vale of Glamorgan BC	250	N.A.
Easter Playscheme at Dyfatty/Brynmelin areas	West Glamorgan CC	327	60
Creative Arts project at Rhos	West Glamorgan CC	137	30
Approved Summer Holiday Projects—1976
Summer Playschemes, Bettws	Newport BC	848	N.A.
Summer Playscheme, Alway and Ringland	Newport BC	576	200
Coedeva Adventure Playground—Camping	Torfaen BC	666	200
Playleader schemes—Equipment and salaries	Islwyn BC	1,000	120
Venturama 1976—Camp for deprived children from Barry area.	South Glamorgan CC	300	10
Prince of Wales Award: Youth Action, 1976—Camp for children from deprived areas (Cardiff East).	South Glamorgan CC	215	12
North Ely Holiday Playscheme	South Glamorgan CC	375	260
Holiday for deprived children (Llanrumney area)	South Glamorgan CC	990	80
Holiday for children at risk (Ely area)	South Glamorgan CC	545	44
Summer vacation activities for severely subnormal schoolchildren.	South Glamorgan CC	1,000	100
Summer school for immigrant pupils	South Glamorgan CC	1,000	100
Llanedeyrn Summer Festival project	South Glamorgan CC	500	N.A.
Gypsy summer school	South Glamorgan CC	350	30
Summer Playgroup for children of battered women	South Glamorgan CC	250	15
Merthyr Tydfil District Holiday project	Mid Glamorgan CC	710	30
Intermediate Treatment holiday scheme, Rhymney Valley District.	Mid Glamorgan CC	740	32
Junior Gateway holiday project for ambulant mentally handicapped pupils.	Mid Glamorgan CC	1,000	50
Camping holiday for children from Taff-Ely District	Mid Glamorgan CC	500	20
Hendrefadog (Rhondda) summer playscheme	Mid Glamorgan CC	459	50
Penrhys Holiday Playscheme	Rhondda BC	560	250
Rhos Park Adventure Playscheme	West Glamorgan CC	360	60
Holiday playscheme for deprived children (Penlan and Mynyddbach area).	West Glamorgan CC	650	20
Language programme for immigrant children	West Glamorgan CC	350	6
Holiday activities for mentally handicapped children	West Glamorgan CC	700	12
Children's holiday project (Brynmill area)	West Glamorgan CC	472	500
Summer project for children	West Glamorgan CC	500	N.A.
Adventure Playscheme (Alltwen)	West Glamorgan CC	360	70
Adventure Playground, Trebanas	West Glamorgan CC	360	70
Adventure Playground, Ynysmendwy	West Glamorgan CC	360	70
Adventure Playscheme, Glynteg	West Glamorgan CC	360	70
Children's Playscheme, Dyfatty/Brynmelin areas	West Glamorgan CC	560	100
Lone Parent Holiday Project	West Glamorgan CC	238	N.A.
Portmead and Blaenymaes Environmental project	Swansea City Council	462	140

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the holiday projects which have been approved under the urban programme for the current financial year, indicating the cost of each project and the number of persons that have benefited from them.

Information relating to the Easter and Summer Holidays 1976 is given below.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what towns in Wales have been accepted so far for aid under the urban aid provisions of the Local Government Grants Act 1969.

Grant may be paid only where local authorities incur expenditure "by reason of the existence in any urban area of special social need". The relevant towns in the case of projects approved under Phase 14—projects to be started in 1976–77 and Phase 15—holiday projects, 1976—of the Urban Programme are shown in the following list, although it does not follow that listed schemes necessarily benefit the whole of the town in question. A comprehensive list covering all earlier phases as well could only be compiled at disproportionate cost.

• Ammanford
• Bangor
• Barry
• Blaenavon
• Bridgend
• Briton Ferry
• Caernarfon
• Cardiff
• Colwyn Bay
• Conwy
• Cwmbran
• Holyhead
• Merthyr Tydfil
• Newport
• Pembroke
• Penarth
• Penrhys, Rhondda
• Pontardawe
• Pontypool
• Pontypridd
• Port Talbot
• Swansea
• Tylorstown
• Wrexham

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing the approximate cost yardstick for building a semi-detached three-bedroomed council house over each of the last 10 years; and whether he believes the present yardstick figures to be realistic.

The housing cost yardstick is related to the number and size of families to be housed on a site rather than to individual dwellings. I shall write to the hon. Member with a fuller explanation.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what amount of funds is allocated from his Department's budget for counselling in staff training and improved meeting performances.

The information is not available in the form requested. The Welsh Office has a training officer who provides advice and guidance on training matters; and a management services unit which advises on operational effectiveness. However, the proportion of their time spent on counselling is not separately identified or costed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students are taking science-based or industrial-based courses at Scottish universities at present; what percentage of the whole student population in Scotland this represents; and how these figures compare with the position in each of the last five years.

The following information relates to students taking courses in medicine, dentistry and health, engineering and technology, agriculture, forestry, veterinary science and other sciences at Scottish universities from 1970–71 to 1975–76, the latest year for which figures are available:

Academic year	Numbers	Full-time and Sandwich Students as a percentage of all students in Scottish universities
1970–71	18,654	51·0
1971–72	19,501	51·6
1972–73	19,511	51·0
1973–74	19,492	50·0
1974–75	19,701	49·6
1975–76	19,885	49·0

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what amount of funds is allocated from her Department's budget for counselling in staff training and improved meeting performance.

It is not possible to identify the true cost of counselling in staff training because the total comprises many elements of which the direct costs, attributable to a training vote, forms only a small part. The machinery for annual staff reporting and job assessment reviews help the Departmental training officer to arrange courses of instruction to meet training needs identified by line managers in al parts of the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list the statutory powers, and other means available to him, to control or influence the number of people employed by, and the wage and salary bill of, local authorities or other public sector bodies not part of central Government.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on the position of local authorities. I will write to the hon. Member about the position of other public sector bodies not part of central Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many students studying for Bar examinations in 1975, 1974 and 1973 received grants from local authorities;(2) which local authorities make grants to students wishing to study for the Bar.

My Department does not collect this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she hopes to be able to announce her proposals for the contraction and further reorganisation of the teacher training system.

My right hon. Friend is now considering the advice tendered by her Advisory Committee on the Supply and Training of Teachers at its last meeting and she hopes to announce her decision in January about the size of the teacher training system which should be retained.It is my right hon. Friend's intention at the same time to announce her proposals for the further mergers, closures and other steps which would provide the most effective teacher training system within the limits decided upon.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the North Sea oilfields which are expected to be in production between 1980 and 1984, showing an estimate of the annual yield from each and the revenue expected from each field.

It is not possible to forecast precisely which fields will be in production in 1980–84, apart from the existing commercial fields on which details are available in the Appenrix 2 of the 1976 Brown Book. The Brown Book forecast of the likely level of total United Kingdom oil production in the early 1980s is based on a general appreciation of all possible new field developments and not on a prediction as to which will come on stream by then.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many commercial oilfields have been discovered in Scottish East Coast inshore waters.

No commercial oilfields lie within the three mile limit of United Kingdom territorial waters.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what was the original estimate of the life of the gas fields in the English sector of the North Sea; and on how many occasions since the original finds this estimate has been updated;(2) at current depletion rates, when he expects gas fields in the English sector of the North Sea to be exhausted.

The United Kingdom Continental Shelf is one. There are no sectors. At current depletion rates gas from fields under contract in the Southern Basin, opposite the mainland of England, should be available for the duration of the contracts which expire between 1990 and 1997. Thereafter there is likely to be further gas available in both these and uncontracted fields, but additional capital expenditure would be needed to produce it. Estimates of reserves are reviewed annually and published in the Brown Book.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the Scottish economy's annual requirement for oil; and what requirement would be in 1982 if the Scottish economy increased its demand by 5 per cent. per annum.

Scottish oil demand in 1975, in crude oil equivalent terms, was about 9 million tonnes. If this demand grew by 5 per cent. per annum it would reach about 13 million tonnes in 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what amount of funds is allocated from his Department's budget for counselling in staff training and improved meeting performance

The information is not available in the form requested. My Department has a departmental training officer who, among other responsibilities, supervises a full-time training section of three officers. This section provides advice and guidance on training matters and, together with line managers, is responsible for ensuring that the staff of the Department receive the training necessary for the efficient performance of their duties.The amount specifically allocated to staff training in 1976–77 is £15,000. In addition, the costs of the full-time training staff amount to £27,500 per annum. Department of Energy staff also have access to training facilities at the Department of Industry and at the Civil Service College.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the present position in respect of the proposals of the report of the Plowden Committee on the organisation of the electricity supply industry.

As I said in reply to Questions on 29th November, discussions are still in progress and I will make a statement when these are completed.—[Vol. 921, c. 450–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the names of the members of the Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee, the posts they hold and their professional and scientific qualifications, the current terms of reference of the Committee and the arrangements in force for giving advice to the Health and Safety Executive and the Nuclear Installation Inspectorate.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 17th December 1975. The Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee met for the last time in October 1976. It is to be replaced by a new committee, the details of which will be published when it is set up, which I hope will be soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the bridges and tunnels in England and Wales where tolls are charged; and what is the expected income from each in the current year.

The information for England is below. Bridges and tunnels in Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. Revenue figures are available to the Department only for the five major publicly owned crossings and only for the year 1975–76.

	1975–76 Revenue (£000s) (provisional figures)
Crossing
Dartford Tunnel	1·406
Mersey Tunnel	3·691
Tyne Tunnel	1·094
Severn Bridge	1·217
Tamar Bridge	0·939
Dunham Bridge
Selby Bridge
Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge
Sandwich Bridge
Shard Bridge
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Rixton and Warburton Bridge
Whitchurch Bridge
Whitney Bridge
Aldwark Bridge
Batheaston Bridge
Cartford Bridge
Eling Bridge
Swinford Bridge

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he will introduce legislation to reform the licensing system of minibuses used by voluntary organisations;(2) what is his policy with regard to the findings and proposals in the report of a working party convened by the National Association of Youth Clubs, the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services, and the National Council of Social Service on the licensing of minibuses; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is giving urgent consideration to the recommendations in this report, which was published only on 2nd December, and which deals in a most constructive and responsible manner with the complex problems faced by voluntary bodies and schools in operating minibuses without breaking the law on the licensing of public service vehicles. He will make a further statement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are regarded by his Department as critical for decisions relative to the placing of pedestrian crossings on trunk roads.

Principally, conditions relating to the site, the extent of pedestrian need, and the quantity of traffic on the road. Guidance on these factors is contained in Circular Roads 19/74 addressed to local authorities in England and Wales; I am sending a copy to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many new miles of motorway or dual carriageway have been constructed in England in the past five years.

For the five years to 1st April 1976:

	Motorway (miles)	Dual carriageway (miles)
Trunk roads	510	350
Local authority roads	42	400

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what amount of funds is allocated from his Department's budget for counselling in staff training and improved meeting performance.

The information is not available in the form requested. Staff training is provided as a common service for the Department of Environment and Transport. The progressive improvement of management skills generally, and an enhanced appreciation of the rôle of progressive training on the job, are important objectives of the overall training programme for the two Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the expenditure in each of the last two years on schemes to improve the lighting of road junctions on A class roads in England and Wales; and what is the projected expenditure on similar schemes in each of the next three years.

My right hon. Friend is only responsible for road lighting on trunk roads—including motorways—in England. Responsibility for lighting non trunk "A" roads rests with the appropriate highway authority.In general terms, junctions on "A" class roads in England are lighted within the limits of a road lighting scheme which might include several junctions, although some junctions are lighted in isolation if there is a special need.The cost of lighting junctions is not accounted for separately and this information could not readily be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will announce the name of the chairman and the terms of reference of the independent inquiry into investment appraisal methods for road schemes.

Yes. The Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment is to be Sir George Leitch.The terms of reference are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce a scheme to grant persons living in second home areas who wish to purchase a house for their own fulltime occupation but cannot do so because of the distortion in the price of houses caused by demand for second homes.

No, but the hon. Member will recall the action taken in 1974 to limit tax relief on loan interest, broadly speaking, to loans for the purchase or improvement of a borrowers' only or main residence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report which local authorities in England and Wales operate direct labour departments; how many employees they each employ; and what is the profit or loss they each made in the latest year for which figures are available.

The hon. Member should seek information for individual local authorities from the authorities themselves.Following is an analysis of direct labour operatives.

NUMBERS OF DIRECT LABOUR OPERATIVES EMPLOYED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES* IN ENGLAND AND WALES. APRIL 1976
Number of operatives employed	Number of authorities
0	1
1–15	—
6–10	3
11–19	6
20–30	23
31–50	42
51–70	42
71–99	54
100–249	135
250–499	62
500–999	61
1,000 and over	28
All authorities	457
* Local authorities are the GLC, London boroughs, counties and districts.

In all, these English and Welsh local authorities employed 147,000 operatives in April 1976. In addition to these manual workers, the local authorities employ administrative, professional, technical and clerical staff on the design, management and control of construction work which may be carried out either by direct labour or by contractors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of funds is allocated from his Department's budget for counselling in staff training and improved meeting performances.

The information is not available in the form requested. Staff training is provided as a common service for the Departments of Environment and Transport. The progressive improvement of management skills generally, and an enhanced appreciation of the rôle of progressive training on the job, are important objectives of the overall training programme for the two Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of the survey of telephone usage referred to in his reply to the hon. Member for Ealing, Acton on 6th December 1976, Official Report, column 23.

£394.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he will not publish the survey of telephone usage which reveals that 360 telephone calls for the Test Match score were made from one of his offices in one week last summer.

The survey was commissioned solely for internal administrative planning reasons and its content has little relevance outside this limited field.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the variations in rate charges required in each water authority area in England and Wales to produce the partial equalisation envisaged in the consultative document and the corresponding figures if full equalisation were to be implemented.

The Water Charges Equalisation Bill provides for full equalisation of the unit cost per unmeasured property of the financing charges of each water authority which are attributable to capital expenditure incurred before 1st April 1976 in the provision of unmeasured water supply. It does not, for the reasons set out in the consultative document, operate directly on the charges to the consumer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the statutory powers, and other means available to him, to control or influence the number of people employed by, and the wage and salary bill of, local authorities or other public sector bodies not part of central Government.

Local authorities are responsible for determining the number of employees needed to meet their statutory duties and other responsibilities, and for determining their employees' conditions of service, and I exercise no statutory control in these matters. For the education service the Remuneration of Teachers Act 1965 provides for the Secretary of State to be represented on the Burnham Committees which consider the pay of teachers.Local authorities are expected to observe the pay limit set out in the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation—The Second Year", and powers are available under Section 4 of the Remuneration, Charges and Grants Act 1975 to reduce or withhold sums payable to a local authority by way of rate support grant or supplementary grant for transport purposes if a local authority acts in breach of the pay policy.More generally, local authorities are constrained by the Government's overall expenditure plans for local government set out each year in the RSG settlement and the Government's White Paper on public expenditure. In this connection a quarterly survey of manpower is conducted jointly by Government Departments and local authority AssociationsI will write to the hon. Member about the position of other public sector bodies not part of the central Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received from individuals or organisations suggesting that, in the event of a planning application being received to mine coal in the Vale of Belvoir, it should be the subject of a planning inquiry commission under Section 47 of the Town and Country Planning Act; and what has been the general nature of his replies.

Seven. Replies have indicated that the matter would be considered if and when an application is made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what amount of funds is allocated from his Department's budget for counselling in staff training and improved meeting performance.

I attach importance to training members of the Diplomatic Service in these and related aspects of good management practice. Such training is an integral part of a variety of training courses run by my training department. In addition, selected officers attend appropriate courses at the Civil Service College and other outside institutions. It is not practicable to compile detailed figures for the cost of only one element of an integrated programme for training staff with management responsibilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what amount of funds is allocated from his Department's budget for counselling in staff training and improved meeting performance.

The information is not available in the form requested. My Department has a departmental training officer who provides advice and guidance on training matters, but it is the responsibility of line managers to ensure that their staff receive the training necessary for the efficient performance of their duties. The amount of effort devoted to this will vary according to particular circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his estimate of the under-utilisation of industrial capacity at the present time.

I regret that it is not possible to make such an estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will list the statutory powers, and other means available to him, to control or influence the number of people employed by, and the wage and salary bill of, local authorities or other public sector bodies not part of central government.

I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is replying as regards local authorities. I exercise statutory control in respect of the English Industrial Estates Corporation under the Local Employment Act 1972. As regards other public bodies with which I am concerned, there is consultation of a formal or informal nature, often in the course of discussion on financial estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if in the light of his Written Answer of 15th November, Official Report, columns 421–2, he will explain how the survey of company share registers will improve financial statistics.

I refer the hon. Member to my letter to the hon. Member for Wells (Mr. Boscawen) which I have placed in the Library, following the answer I gave him on 22nd November.—[Vol. 919, c. 932.]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many new patents were issued in the scientific field to the 10 largest United Kingdom industrial companies, to the eleventh to fiftieth largest United Kingdom industrial companies and to the fifty-first to three-hundredth largest United Kingdom industrial companies.

I have been asked to reply.I regret that some of the information requested is either not available or can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. As on average over 97 per cent. of accepted patent applications become patents they give a good indication of the incidence of patents. The table below gives the number of applications accepted between 18th February and 15th September 1976 and in the names of the largest 10, the next largest 40 and the next largest 250 United Kingdom companies as classified by sales at pages 224–226 of the 1975 edition of "Europe's 5000 Largest Companies". The numbers quoted do not include applications in the

							Overseas Trade Statistics basis £ million
				1973	1974	1975	June-October 1975	June-October 1976
Exports fob	…	…	…	360	638	1,185	993	1,311
Imports cif	…	…	…	933	2,759	2,397	2,051	2,655
Crude Balance	…	…	…	-573	-2,121	-1,212	-1,058	-1,344

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether it remains his view expressed in the Official Report, 23rd June 1975, that selective import controls must be considered in the context of the EEC on their merits.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what amount of funds is allocated from his Department's budget for counselling in staff training and improved meeting perfomances.

The information is not available in the form requested. My Department has a departmental training officer who provides advice and guidance on training matters, but it is the responsibility of line managers to ensure that their staff receive the training necessary for the efficient performance of their duties, and the amount of effort devoted names of subsidiaries or employees of the companies referred to.

Companies	Number of Applications Accepted
1–10	646
11–50	571
51–300	585
Total	1802

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is able to publish figures showing the trend in United Kingdom trading with Middle East OPEC countries.

The Middle East countries which are members of OPEC are Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.Recent figures for trade with these countries, in total, are as follows:to this will vary according to particular circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, pursuant to his replies to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Bar on 18th February 1975, column 377, 8th June 1976, column 643 and 20th October 1976, column 490, he will now name the British companies employing South African workers who have refused to co-operate with his Department in supplying on a regular basis information relating to the wages and conditions of South African workers.

My right hon. Friend expects to be able to do so soon after the Christmas Recess after assessing the information available to him at the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the total import bill of the United Kingdom for the years 1971 to 1975, inclusive; and what was the percentage increase in import volume for each of these years.

Following is the information:

UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS ON A BALANCE OF PAYMENTS BASIS
	Value £ million	Percentage change in Volume on previous year
1971	8,530	+4
1972	9,843	+12
1973	14,106	+15
1974	21,119	+1
1975	21,972	-7

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in view of the breakdown of talks over the future of the duty-free quota system, he will resist any proposals to increase the level of duty-free import quotas for paper products from Scandinavia in 1977.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to his Question of 8th December—[Vol. 922, c. 281.]