Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Thursday 16th December

Home Department

Firearms

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 1976.

On 26th August last I signed the Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 1976, which, as the House will remember, increased with effect from 1st October 1976 the fees payable under Section 32 of the Firearms Act 1968. These are fees for the grant, renewal, replacement or variation of firearm and shotgun certificates.The power to charge a fee for variation of a certificate is given by subsection (1) of Section 32 of the Act which—as originally enacted and as amended from time to time by order—has hitherto provided for a fee to be payable on any variation of a firearm certificate only where the effect is to increase the number of firearms to which it relates. Schedule 1 of the 1976 order, setting out Section 32(1) of the 1968 Act as amended by Article 4 of the order, referred only to variation of a firearm certificate and did not reproduce this necessary limitation.As a result of this inadvertent omission, the order has been interpreted as not merely increasing the fee payable but also extending the requirement for payment of a fee to cover variations which do not increase the number of firearms to which a certificate relates. That was not the intention, and clearly the order should not have been made in this form. I must apologise to the House for making an order which was defective, a defect which also escaped the eagle eye of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments.As soon as this matter was drawn to my Department's attention, a circular was issued to chief officers of police requesting them to charge a fee for the variation of a firearm certificate only in cases where the effect of the variation would be to increase the number of firearms covered by the certificate, and to refund any fees charged for variations not falling within that category. I hope that this will have ensured that nobody will have suffered any financial loss. None the less, I repeat my apologies to the House for this unintentional transgression, which I much regret, and I have made a new order, which is being laid before the House today and will come into operation tomorrow, revoking the existing order and rectifying the position for the future.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland made a parallel order with the same defect. He would like to be associated with the regrets and apologies which I have expressed; and he is taking the same action as I am taking today.

Illegal Immigrants

46.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many illegal immigrants have been apprehended during the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many were apprehended during the previous 12 months;(2) what were the countries of origin of the illegal immigrants apprehended during the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many originated from each country;(3) how many illegal immigrants have been deported during the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many were deported during the previous 12 months.

Provisional figures for the 12 months ending on 30th September 1976 show that, excluding Commonwealth citizens and citizens of Pakistan who entered illegally before 1st January 1973 and who were eligible to have their position regularised under the terms of the Home Secretary's announcement of 11th April 1974, 142 Commonwealth citizens and 143 foreign nationals were dealt with as illegal entrants during the period. Ninety-eight Commonwealth citizens and 112 foreign nationals—some of whom were detained before 1st October 1975—were removed from the United Kingdom during the period. The cases of 25 Commonwealth citizens and eight foreign nationals were outstanding on 30th September 1976, either because documentation was awaited prior to removal or because consideration of the case was incomplete.Corresponding figures for the 12 months ending on 30th September 1975 were 91, 90, 78 and 66, respectively; the cases of nine Commonwealth citizens and eight foreign nationals were outstanding on 30th September 1975.A detailed breakdown of illegal entrants dealt with by country of origin is not readily available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Computers And Privacy (White Paper)

47.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the further steps to be undertaken in implementation of the White Paper on Computers and Privacy.

Further action must await the report of the Data Protection Committee.

Villa Road Commune, Lambeth

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the Villa Road Commune, Lambeth, have been convicted or acquitted of offences relating to the commune.

I appreciate the source of the hon. Member's concern. I regret that records are not kept in such a way as to allow the information to be easily retrieved, and, having looked into the situation, I am forced to conclude the information could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

Mr Peter Hain

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now exercise his power under Section 32 of the Police Act 1964 to investigate the complaints made about the procedure adopted in dealing with the case of Mr. Peter Hain in Wandsworth in October 1975.

I received this week letter from Mr. Hain asking that I should set up an inquiry under Section 32 of the Police Act 1964, and shall let him, and my hon. Friend, know my decision as soon as possible.

Devolution

asked the Lord President of the Council (1) if his officials, in preparing the legislation on devolution, had discussions with officials of EEC institutions;(2) if the Government have formally or informally discussed the subject of devolution for Scotland and Wales with EEC institutions or bodies or with any of the United Kingdom's partner Governments.

No such discussions have taken place, but other EEC Governments are, of course, aware of our general approach on devolution.

Prices And Consumer Protection

Price Commission

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what plans he has for further references to the Price Commission.

I have asked the Price Commission to examine and report on the prices, costs and margins in the importation, processing and distribution of coffee. I have received a number of letters concerning the price of coffee, particularly the wide variations in prices between different shops, and I should like the Price Commission to report to me on the facts. The decision to make this reference does not imply that prices are unjustified or that there is evidence of profiteering.

Reprographic Equipment

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he expects to publish the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the supply of indirect electrostatic reprographic equipment in the United Kingdom.

The report is being published today. The Commission has found that monopoly conditions, as defined in the legislation in force when the reference was made, prevail in the supply of indirect electrostatic reprographic equipment in the United Kingdom because one supplier, Rank Xerox Ltd. (Rank Xerox), supplies at least one-third of the market. The Commission's finding is based on the supply of the reference goods alone, but, in its consideration of Rank Xerox's market power, the Commission took account of the other reprographic processes available and concluded that the company was particularly strong in that segment of the reprographic market where users have a monthly requirement for between 5,000 and 50,000 copies per machine.The Commission has concluded that Rank Xerox's monopoly position does not operate, and may not be expected to operate, against the public interest. It recorded that Rank Xerox is well managed, has made possible the rapid introduction of a technological innovation and has made a substantial contribution to the balance of payments. The Commission has, however, suggested that the position may need to be re-examined if the competition which has developed recently were to fall away.The Commission has considered various of Rank Xerox's policies. First, it has found that Rank Xerox's restrictive patent licensing policy is a thing done for the purpose of preserving monopoly conditions and that it operates and may be expected to operate against the public interest since it has restricted and delayed the development of competition. The Commission has not, however, made any recommendation in this connection because of the recent Consent Order negotiated between the United States Federal Trade Commission and Rank Xerox's United States parent, the Xerox Corporation (Xerox) which inter alia requires Rank Xerox in the United Kingdom to grant, subject to certain conditions, patent licences to competing manufacturers in respect of its patents relating to reference equipment. The Commission noted that, whereas a licensee manufacturing in the United States can require Xerox to provide "know-how" associated with its patents, there is no requirement that "know how" be provided to firms manufacturing outside the United States. Since the effect of this limitation cannot be predicted the Commission suggested that the matter would need to be watched as the new situation unfolds. My right hon. Friend is asking the Director General to monitor the impact of the Order and to report to him in due course, taking account of those remedies for abuse of patent monopoly already available under the Patents Act.Secondly, the Commission concluded that Rank Xerox's policy of only renting and not selling its machines was a thing done as a result of the monopoly conditions and that, having regard to the fact that the policy was practised by a supplier with substantial market power, it operated against the public interest in that it restricted consumer choice by not offering a purchase option and by preventing the development of alternative leasing arrangements by leasing companies. At a late stage in the Commission's work Rank Xerox abandoned its rental only policy and started to offer machines for sale. The Commission recommended that the Director General of Fair Trading should keep under review the sale prices fixed by Rank Xerox with a view to ensuring that these prices make outright purchase a feasible alternative to renting for a reasonable proportion of users. My right hon. Friend is asking the Director General to discuss the issues involved with the company accordingly.Thirdly, the Commission concluded that Rank Xerox's policy of requiring some of the users of its machines to purchase toner—a printing agent—only from Rank Xerox was a thing done as a result of the monopoly conditions and that it operated and might be expected to operate against the public interest because it closed a very substantial market to alternative suppliers of toner. The Commission recommended that the company should charge for toner separately and not include the charge for toner in the rent for machines. My right hon. Friend is asking the Director General to obtain appropriate undertakings from the company.Fourthly, the Commission considered Rank Xerox's group pricing plan (GPP), a discount arrangement under which users or certain groups of users with large copy volumes enter into undertakings that their aggregate monthly billings in respect of all their rented machines will be maintained at or above previously specified figures in return for substantially reduced copy charges. It found that the qualifying expenditure bands on which successive reductions in charges are based had the effect of detering customers from using, or switching to, other suppliers' machines for part of their copying requirements and that this inhibiting effect was more pronounced because Rank Xerox could base its diminishing charges on a wide range of machines, because of the company's dominant position in the reprographic market and because of the scope for grouping establishments. The Commission therefore concluded that the present form of GPP was a thing done for the purpose of preserving the monopoly conditions and operated, and might be expected to operate, against the public interest. The Commission recognised that Rank Xerox might require some time before it was able to propose acceptable new discount or pricing arrangements in place of the present GPP and that, if the company's competitive position were not to be impaired to the public detriment, it should have the opportunity to discuss proposals.The Commission recommended that:

(a) Rank Xerox be required to terminate its present GPP within six months;

(b) any new discount or pricing arrangements, whether or not these involve the aggregation of charges of more than one machine, proposed by Rank Xerox in place of its present GPP should not be brought into operation without the approval of the Director General; and

(c) The Director General should withhold approval unless he is satisfied that the proposed arrangements are unlikely to have serious anticompetitive effects.

The Commission suggested that the Director General should have regard to the effects of any new arrangements on Rank Xerox's profits.

My right hon. Friend has noted that the Commission received evidence from one of Rank Xerox's competitors who criticised the grouping of establishments such as hospital and universities for GPP purposes on the ground that it was artificial and who suggested that the same criticism might apply to the agreement between Rank Xerox and Her Majesty's Stationery Office. The Commission itself did not criticise the grouping of establishments or HMSO's actions and noted that the volume of HMSO's business with Rank Xerox was so great that the level would have to fall quite substantially before HMSO would be unable to obtain a renewal on equally favourable terms. The Commission has, however, suggested that HMSO's agreement might be open to some of the objections applicable to the GPP and that the Director General should discuss with HMSO the effects of its policy on competition in the industry.

My right hon. Friend is asking the Director General to explore with Rank Xerox what modifications may be needed in its present GPP arrangements to remove any significant anti-competitive effects. I understand that in the light of the report the Director General is also discussing with public purchasing authorities generally whether any aspect of public procurement policy requires amendment. None the less, so far as concerns the acquisition of reference equipment, the Government are satisfied that HMSO has properly discharged its duty to obtain best value for money and that it has conformed with long established Government policies to encourage joint purchasing arrangements in the public sector.

The Commission has also considered Rank Xerox's copy bureaux: it has found that no aspect of its operation is against the public interest but has suggested that it is desirable that the bureaux exhibit price lists. My right hon. Friend is asking the Director General to discuss this point with the company.

Finally, my right hon. Friend is asking the Director General to keep under review the development of competition in this market to determine whether a further reference to the Commission may be necessary in due course.

Potatoes

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what action he will take to protect the consumer against rises in potato prices resulting from excess profit margins.

I have already asked the Price Commision to continue the monitoring of potato prices and distributors' margins which they began in January. The current high prices are due to the shortage of supplies. The Price Commission has found no evidence that distributors generally have been exploiting the situation, but one firm which is engaged in both the growing and the marketing of potatoes has been required to take action to eliminate excess profits.

Price Code

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he intends to make any changes to the Price Code.

I have issued a consultative document proposing minor changes to the Price Code which are primarily consequential on the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of increases in excise duties on alcoholic drink and tobacco. Copies of the consultative document are available in the Vote Office.

Civil Service

Parliamentary Papers

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, in view of the fact that the Official Report of the proceedings of 9th December was cut off in column 704 shortly after 7 p.m., that no Official Report of the subsequent proceedings on that day was available on 13th December, to the particular deprivation of Northern Ireland, and that interruptions of the documentation of the House of Commons, to the detriment of parliamentary government and information to the public, have become frequent in recent years, if he will announce before the Christmas Adjournment his proposals for a lasting solution to such problems.

The Official Report for 9th December was restricted due to an industrial dispute at the Parliamentary Press, involving members of the National Graphical Association. It was expected that the matter omitted from the 9th December issue would be included in the Official Report for 10th December, but a continuance of the problem prevented its appearance.Copies of the

Official Report dated 10th December were available in an alternative form before the commencement of parliamentary business on 13th December and these copies included all matter relating to proceedings in the House after 10 p.m. on 9th December. Copies of the proceedings between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on 9th December were avail-

able in an alternative form on 14th December.

Between July 1974 and the commencement of the current Session there have been four occasions when parliamentary papers have not been available to Members in their normal form. The need for good industrial relations is recognised by HMSO and every effort is made to settle any industrial dispute which might affect the normal delivery of parliamentary papers. The hon. Member will, however, recognise that the Parliamentary Press often works overtime against a very tight timetable, and that in such circumstances hasty solutions to difficulties that arise from time to time may not be either equitable or wise.

Employment

Health And Safety (Inspectors)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the suitable qualifications and length of service the Health and Safety Executive considers necessary before an inspector is given power to prosecute under Section 39; how many inspectors appointed since September 1976 have been authorised to prosecute under Section 39; and, if so, what are their ages, qualifications and legal training.

I am informed by the Director of the Health and Safety Executive that those members of its staff appointed by it as inspectors under section 19 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, who were appointed to the staff of the HSE as factory inspectors, mines and quarries inspectors, explosives inspectors, alkali inspectors, nuclear installations inspectors and farm safety inspectors, are authorised by the Executive to prosecute proceedings for offences under the relevant statutory provisions before a magistrate's court in accordance with Section 39 of the Act. The exercise of this power by these inspectors, as of their rights to institute proceedings and conduct them, is controlled by the Executive, taking account of their training and experience. The qualifications for appointment to these inspectorates are laid down by the Civil Service Commission.Other members of the staff of the Health and Safety Executive who are appointed as inspectors under the 1974 Act are not normally authorised to prosecute under Section 39. In the period from 1st October 1976 to 8th December 1976, 20 persons who have been newly appointed to these inspectorates were appointed by the Executive as health and safety inspectors under the provisions of the 1974 Act. Their ages range from 22 to 42—average 30.

Women Homeworkers

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will conduct an immediate inquiry into the conditions and pay rates of women homeworkers; and if he will take steps to end the exploitation involved.

I am arranging for the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service to undertake a study in two wages councils industries where there are substantial proportions of homeworkers.I am also advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the Commission is at present considering proposals to ensure the effective protection, under Part 1 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, of people working for gain in the home, against the risk of accident, or danger to health. The Commission's proposals will be submitted for consideration in due course. It would be premature to act before they have been studied.

Job Creation

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many new jobs have been created in Great Britain over the past decade; and how many were in Scotland.

I regret that my Department does not have this information.

Factory Inspectorate

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors were actually in post at any convenient comparable date in 1974, 1975 and 1976; what, if any, were the number of unfilled Posts on the same dates; and what, if any, reductions are proposed in the number of such posts.

At 1st November 1974, 1975 and 1976, respectively, there were 747, 812 and 894 factory inspectors in post.The rate of recruitment of factory inspectors is designed to match the undertaking given in 1974 by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Employment that the number of factory inspectors would increase by 50 per cent. between 1974 and 1979. This recruitment is, however, constrained by the training capability within the Health and Safety Executive. Recruitment is not designed to match a specified number of unfilled posts at any point in time. No reductions are planned, however, in the current rate of recruitment.

Young Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many qualifying teenagers have been refused unemployment benefit due to disqualification by refusing to seek jobs; and if he will make a statement.

I am sorry that the information is not available. Records of people refusing work and being refused unemployment benefit are not analysed by reference to age.

Asbestos (Railways)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many prohibition notices served under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 have been issued against British Rail in respect of railway installations where stripping of asbestos from locomotives or other equipment occurs; what action has been taken by factory inspectors to supervise such work involving blue asbestos; what protective clothing and other safeguards are provided to railway staff engaged on this work; and if he will make a statement.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 29th November 1976; Vol. 921, c. 56], gave the following information:During the period 1st January 1975 to 30th November 1975 inclusive, my information is that eight prohibition notices under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 were issued by HMFI against British Rail. Of these one was in connection with the Asbestos Regulations 1969, but did not deal with the stripping of asbestos In addition, HMFI issued one notice against contractors working on British Rail premises which dealt with asbestos stripping. However, the figures given above are incomplete because full statistics are not available in several areas, due to industrial action by the Civil and Public Services Association.Under an agency agreement with HSE the responsibility for the enforcement of the HSW Act 1974 and associated legislation, including the Factories Act 1961 and the Asbestos Regulations 1969, in all premises occupied by British Rail was taken over earlier this year by the Railways Inspectorate of the Department of Transport. In the first three-quarters of this year it had issued three prohibition notices against British Rail, none of which was connected with the use of asbestos.Factory inspectors have had as one of their high priorities in 1976 the inspection of premises to which the Asbestos Regulations 1969 was known to apply, and they adopt similar standards to those of the regulations for work elsewhere involving a similar risk from asbestos, even if that work does not attract the requirements of the regulations. Such premises, including those occupied by British Rail Engineering Ltd., whose premises continue to be the responsibility of HMFI, will be, or have been, visited and the regulations rigidly enforced, not only for work involving blue asbestos, but for all forms of asbestos. Inspectors would satisfy themselves that the protective clothing, and other safeguards to the standards required by the regulations, were provided for railway staff, in common with other workers.The Advisory Committee on Asbestos, whose establishment and terms of reference were announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 30th March 1976, is issuing an interim statement to put the risks from asbestos in perspective. The document is with the printers, and publication is expected in January.

Disabled Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if public sector employers have yet agreed to a procedure for publishing information about the numbers of registered disabled they employ.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 5th July 1976; Vol. 914, c. 451], gave the following information:Figures for public sector employers were published in the November edition of the

DE Gazette. I welcome the fact that public sector employers have agreed to this publication and the moves that a number of employers in the public sector, including the Civil Service, about which my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Civil Service Department made a statement on 14th June, have already taken to review their policies for the employment of disabled workers. The figures give cause for concern in many instances but, as the Gazette article points out, they relate only to those disabled employees who have registered and, because registration is voluntary, there are a number of disabled employees who have not registered.

The Manpower Services Commission and the Employment Service Agency, which are now responsible for the quota scheme, have a wide range of supportive services for disabled people in the jobs market. In the light of the figures I am asking the ESA to discuss with public sector employers the employment needs of disabled people and to give appropriate advice. I am also arranging with the Commission for local Disablement Advisory Committees to consider the local situation in their areas. My ministerial colleagues are already considering what more might be done in fields for which they have responsibilities.

In addition, in co-operation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's National Advisory Council, the Commission will be issuing next spring a guide for employers which will stress the induction, training and career development of disabled workers whether registered or not. A major publicity effort is planned for the guide, and I shall be asking my hon. Friends to assist me in ensuring that it receives the maximum attention of all employers, including those in the public sector. The Civil Service has already issued its own Code of Practice on Employment and Disabled People. The aim is to ensure as far as possible that disabled people are given an equal opportunity when recruitment does take place, and that those who are in employment have the same opportunities for advancement as their able-bodied colleagues.

As to the quota scheme, the Manpower Services Commission and ESA will seek to administer this firmly but fairly as part of their unified services for disabled workers. ESA has appointed full-time inspectors to inspect the records which employers with quota obligations are required to keep; they will take over this task on 1st January next from wages inspectors who have previously undertaken it on a part-time basis.

I believe that, taken together, the steps I have outlined offer the best immediate way of tackling the problems illustrated by the Gazette article.

Earnings

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will show, in present-day terms, the real take-home pay for the average worker since December 1973.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th December 1976; Vol. 922, c. 574], gave the following information:For a married man on average earnings with two children not over 11 and no other tax allowances, the information is as follows:

Real take-home pay @ August 1976 prices
£ per week
December 1973	…	…	…	57·29
December 1974	…	…	…	59·40
December 1975	…	…	…	55·02
August 1976	…	…	…	55·32

Average earnings are the New Earnings Survey estimates of the average earnings of full-time male workers aged 21 and over in all occupations at April of each year, updated to December by the monthly index of average earnings, except for 1976 where the latest available estimate is for August 1976.

						Grant per head			Increase
						1974–75	1975–76	1976–77	1975–76 1974–75	1976–77 1975–76
						£	£	£	per cent.	per cent.
Avon	…	…	…	…	…	36·18	50·63	61·50	39·94	21·47
Bedfordshire	…	…	…	…	…	36·87	51·49	64·22	39·65	24·72
Berkshire	…	…	…	…	…	42·12	56·24	66·37	33·52	18·01
Buckinghamshire	…	…	…	…	…	39·15	50·94	62·73	30·11	23·14
Cambridgeshire	…	…	…	…	…	36·05	48·36	58·37	34·15	20·70
Cheshire	…	…	…	…	…	36·06	51·83	63·35	43·73	22·23
Cleveland	…	…	…	…	…	44·66	68·84	88·06	54·14	27·92

Take-home pay is average earnings less tax and national insurance contributions. The calculations take account of tax on the family allowance and "claw-back" although the take-home pay figures do not include family allowance.

It is assumed that the taxpayer was "not contracted out" of the graduated pension scheme in December 1973 and December 1974.

The price index used is the General Index of Retail Prices, all items, for December of each year, except for 1976 where the index relates to August 1976.

Environment

Rate Support Grant

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a list of all rating authorities in England and Wales, showing the amount of rate support grant received by each authority per head of the ratepayers in each area, and the proportionate increase each year in the last three years.

Final figures for the resources and domestic elements of rate support grant for 1976–77 are not yet available.The number of individual ratepayers in each authority's area is not known, and would in any case not be a reliable divisor to provide a guide of the relative rates burden.The table below gives the required information in respect of payments of the needs element only of RSG per head of population. For the purpose of comparison, the figures

^* relate only to the main RSG orders for each year; those for 1976–77 are based on provisional data and will be subject to minor amendments as more-up-to-date data becomes available.

^* These figures take no account of the London Rate Equalisation Schemes.

				Grant per head			Increase
				1974–75	1975–76	1976–77	1975–76 1974–75	1976–77 1975–76
				£	£	£	per cent.	per cent.
Cornwall	…	…	…	33·26	46·68	59·67	40·35	27·83
Cumbria	…	…	…	46·64	63·66	79·46	36·49	24·82
Derbyshire	…	…	…	34·41	50·14	63·84	45·71	27·32
Devon	…	…	…	33·07	44·88	54·92	35·71	22·37
Dorset	…	…	…	30·73	42·60	52·20	38·63	22·54
Durham	…	…	…	35·86	54·13	70·60	50·95	30·43
East Sussex	…	…	…	30·75	43·77	54·57	42·34	24·67
Essex	…	…	…	38·60	51·35	61·14	33·03	19·07
Gloucestershire	…	…	…	34·89	50·66	62·33	45·20	23·04
Hampshire	…	…	…	35·50	48·81	59·26	37·49	21·41
Herefordshire-Worcestershire	…	…	…	36·13	48·30	60·86	33·68	26·00
Hertfordshire	…	…	…	43·51	60·22	72·30	38·40	20·06
Humberside	…	…	…	37·61	57·76	73·44	53·58	27·15
Isle of Wight	…	…	…	29·47	41·92	55·64	42·25	32·73
Kent	…	…	…	37·85	51·18	61·78	35·22	20·71
Lancashire	…	…	…	36·33	53·97	70·25	48·55	30·16
Leicestershire	…	…	…	36·66	52·49	67·01	43·18	27·66
Lincolnshire	…	…	…	38·13	52·39	67·71	37·40	29·24
Norfolk	…	…	…	33·82	46·31	58·60	36·93	26·54
Northamptonshire	…	…	…	34·80	49·77	65·66	43·02	31·93
Northumberland	…	…	…	47·25	63·16	79·28	33·67	25·52
North Yorkshire	…	…	…	42·37	55·11	69·53	30·07	26·17
Nottinghamshire	…	…	…	36·53	54·08	71·32	48·04	31·88
Oxfordshire	…	…	…	35·69	46·83	55·60	31·21	18·73
Salop	…	…	…	37·46	51·54	66·48	37·59	28·99
Somerset	…	…	…	33·55	45·77	59·03	36·42	28·97
Stafford	…	…	…	35·89	50·29	63·12	40·12	25·51
Suffolk	…	…	…	32·18	43·18	53·46	34·18	23·81
Surrey	…	…	…	34·13	43·42	49·13	27·22	13·15
Warwickshire	…	…	…	35·12	50·62	61·90	44·13	22·28
West Sussex	…	…	…	32·55	45·98	54·89	41·26	19·38
Wiltshire	…	…	…	38·94	52·61	62·84	35·11	19·44
Clywd	…	…	…	37·10	52·79	66·33	42·29	25·65
Dyfed	…	…	…	47·80	64·61	82·70	35·17	28·00
Gwent	…	…	…	38·09	56·46	72·64	48·23	28·66
Gwynedd	…	…	…	47·64	65·51	84·15	37·51	28·45
Mid Glamorgan	…	…	…	36·65	53·53	69·94	46·06	30·66
Powys	…	…	…	75·66	105·70	137·32	39·70	29·91
South Glamorgan	…	…	…	39·84	56·84	71·36	42·67	25·55
West Glamorgan	…	…	…	35·58	52·87	67·71	48·59	28·07
Isles of Scilly	…	…	…	81·60	122·18	151·07	49·73	23·65
Bolton	…	…	…	39·94	60·88	81·35	52·43	33·62
Bury	…	…	…	32·72	44·58	57·65	36·25	29·32
Manchester	…	…	…	60·63	87·50	114·64	44·32	31·02
Oldham	…	…	…	37·97	55·31	72·07	45·67	30·30
Rochdale	…	…	…	40·02	59·44	78·43	48·53	31·95
Salford	…	…	…	44·48	66·95	93·00	50·52	38·91
Stockport	…	…	…	36·65	53·28	66·55	45·38	24·91
Tameside	…	…	…	35·49	55·53	73·44	56·47	32·25
Trafford	…	…	…	37·25	57·85	74·85	55·30	29·39
Wigan	…	…	…	37·66	56·84	71·53	50·93	25·84
Knowsley	…	…	…	44·62	72·26	91·85	61·95	27·11
Liverpool	…	…	…	56·02	85·54	109·73	52·70	28·28
St. Helens	…	…	…	36·62	53·80	63·74	46·91	18·48
Sefton	…	…	…	38·64	59·09	76·97	52·92	30·26
Wirral	…	…	…	38·67	59·87	73·26	54·82	22·37
Barnsley	…	…	…	34·44	53·37	68·77	54·97	28·86
Doncaster	…	…	…	39·44	61·87	81·13	56·87	31·13
Rotherham	…	…	…	38·51	56·99	72·79	47·99	27·72
Sheffield	…	…	…	37·11	56·90	72·64	53·33	27·66
Gateshead	…	…	…	36·33	54·17	70·70	49·11	30·52
Newcastle	…	…	…	46·59	68·16	84·65	46·30	24·19
North Tyneside	…	…	…	36·97	55·07	70·82	48·96	28·60
South Tyneside	…	…	…	43·41	69·57	91·48	60·26	31·49
Sunderland	…	…	…	39·04	60·49	76·84	54·94	27·03
Birmingham	…	…	…	46·19	66·24	85·75	43·41	29·45
Coventry	…	…	…	42·70	63·22	78·19	48·06	23·68
Dudley	…	…	…	31·79	45·84	55·57	44·20	21·23
Sandwell	…	…	…	37·02	56·99	76·29	53·94	33·87
Solihull	…	…	…	33·49	50·84	64·08	51·81	26·04

					Grant per head			Increase
					1974–75	1975–76	1976–77	1975–76 1974–75	1976–77 1975–76
					£	£	£	per cent.	per cent.
Walsall	…	…	…	…	37·87	56·23	74·19	48·48	31·94
Wolverhampton	…	…	…	…	38·93	59·49	77·90	52·81	30·95
Bradford	…	…	…	…	42·14	61·76	81·50	46·56	31·96
Calderdale	…	…	…	…	37·90	59·92	76·28	58·10	27·30
Kirklees	…	…	…	…	37·16	55·68	73·43	49·84	31·88
Leeds	…	…	…	…	37·44	54·93	68·01	46·71	23·81
Wakefield	…	…	…	…	35·07	53·44	67·71	52·38	26·70
City of London	…	…	…	…	43·82	48·36	349·76	10·36	623·24
Camden	…	…	…	…	58·29	87·12	130·90	49·46	50·25
Greenwich	…	…	…	…	43·63	64·78	99·69	48·48	53·89
Hackney	…	…	…	…	58·43	84·83	128·12	45·18	51·03
Hammersmith	…	…	…	…	55·27	86·56	125·68	56·61	45·19
Islington	…	…	…	…	64·24	97·80	148·51	52·24	51·85
Kensington and Chelsea	…	…	…	…	51·32	84·84	129·58	65·32	52·73
Lambeth	…	…	…	…	54·40	78·08	115·95	43·53	48·50
Lewisham	…	…	…	…	47·70	72·99	111·24	53·02	52·40
Southwark	…	…	…	…	60·02	88·20	135·70	46·95	53·85
Tower Hamlets	…	…	…	…	68·25	97·45	150·20	42·78	54·13
Wandsworth	…	…	…	…	48·36	72·97	109·50	50·89	50·06
Westminster	…	…	…	…	48·25	81·18	134·30	68·25	65·43
Barking	…	…	…	…	44·16	69·59	92·70	57·59	33·21
Barnet	…	…	…	…	34·06	53·69	71·51	57·63	33·19
Bexley	…	…	…	…	32·65	51·48	70·98	57·67	37·88
Brent	…	…	…	…	42·15	64·50	96·39	53·02	49·44
Bromley	…	…	…	…	30·88	46·12	68·55	49·35	48·63
Croydon	…	…	…	…	35·23	56·20	81·69	59·52	45·36
Haling	…	…	…	…	36·54	55·56	78·16	52·05	40·68
Enfield	…	…	…	…	33·10	52·64	74·14	59·03	40·84
Haringey	…	…	…	…	44·90	70·29	98·91	56·55	40·72
Harrow	…	…	…	…	33·63	51·95	68·64	54·48	32·13
Havering	…	…	…	…	35·90	56·49	77·48	57·35	37·16
Hillingdon	…	…	…	…	33·98	49·56	69·90	45·85	41·04
Hounslow	…	…	…	…	38·15	58·97	86·18	54·57	46·14
Kingston on Thames	…	…	…	…	35·09	54·42	74·70	55·09	37·27
Merton	…	…	…	…	35·69	54·34	75·91	52·26	39·69
Newham	…	…	…	…	48·50	75·71	106·33	56·10	40·44
Redbridge	…	…	…	…	30·48	44·81	63·17	47·01	40·97
Richmond on Thames	…	…	…	…	30·08	46·37	67·11	54·16	44·73
Sutton	…	…	…	…	31·92	49·75	73·56	55·86	47·86
Waltham Forest	…	…	…	…	34·73	55·92	78·61	61·01	40·58

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has so far received from local authorities following his recent announcement regarding the allocation of the rate support grant.

I have received a number of representations about my proposals for the distribution of grant in 1977–78. The Order giving effect to those proposals will need to be approved by the House before it becomes effective.

Housing (Investment)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce details of his system of housing investment plans via local authorities.

Housing investment plans will be discussed in the Green Paper on the housing policy review which will be published as soon as possible next year. Meanwhile, the local authority associations have been invited to take part in preliminary discussions about the new arrangements.

Government Offices (Solihull)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the annual rent of accommodation at Chadwick House, Solihull, which has been rented by the Government and allowed to remain empty; and what proposals he has for the use of these premises or, alternatively, their relinquishment on the interests of the taxpayer.

Chadwick House, Solihull, is partly used as a regional office for Inland Revenue. Alternative uses for the balance of the accommodation are being considered.The annual rent is confidential between the lessor and my Department.

House Purchase

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his new measures to increase the chances of home ownership, particularly for first-time buyers.

Possible measures for assisting people to buy their own homes are being considered in the context of the housing policy review.

Housing Finance Review

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects the Housing Finance Review to be published.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave on 8th December 1976 to the hon. Member for Hampstead (Mr. Finsberg).—[Vol. 922, c. 431.]

Wimbledon And Putney Commons

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the Working Party's report on Wimbledon and Putney Commons; and what action he now proposes to take.

The report was released to the Press on 18th November. I have sent a copy to my hon. Friend and other hon. Members with a constituency interest. Copies have also been placed in the Library.The future financing and management of Wimbledon and Putney Commons is essentially a local matter. It is now for the conservators of the commons and the local authorities concerned to consider whether the report provides the basis for an agreed solution.

Council Housing (Repairs)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has delayed announcement of the amount of money under Section 105 of the Housing Finance Act which local authorities can spend on public sector housing repairs.

Following my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement to the House yesterday, an announcement of local authority allocations under Section 105 of the Housing Act 1974 will be made very shortly.

London

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he expects to conclude his examination of methods by which existing industry, services and jobs may be retained in inner London;(2) when he expects his Department to conclude its review of policies which contribute to decentralisation and population loss in London.

I hope to announce the conclusions of the reviews of inner city policy and overspill in the spring.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what rate he expects rate payments by householders in the inner London area to exceed the national average in 1976–77.

The average domestic ratepayment in inner London for 1976–77 is £144 compared with the average of £100 for England and Wales as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what rate he expects rate payments by householders in the inner London area to exceed the national average in 1977–78.

I am not in a position to be able to forecast domestic rate payments for the inner London boroughs in 1977–78.

Planning Appeals

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment under which statutory provisions relating to planning appeals he operates the recommendations of the Franks Report on Administrative Tribunals concerning openness, fairness and impartiality.

Where a local inquiry is held into a planning appeal the Town and Country Planning (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1974 apply if the appeal is to be decided by my right hon. Friend. If the appeal is to be decided by an inspector, the Town and Country Planning Appeals (Determination by Appointed Persons) (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1974 apply.

Blackpool

Q1.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Blackpool.

I last paid an official visit to Blackpool on 25th April, when I addressed the annual conference of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers. I have at present no plans for a further visit.

Ministerial Salaries

Q4.

asked the Prime Minister from how many Ministers he has received a request that their salaries should be restricted to £5,000 a year.

None.

Economic Policy

Q6.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the progress of his Government's economic policy.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 14th December.

Leyland

Q7.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit Leyland.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Military Intelligence

Q8.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence about the gathering and collation of military intelligence.

Yes.

Tuc And Cbi

Q9.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet the TUC.

Q25.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the TUC.

Q33.

asked the Prime Minister when he will next meet the TUC.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Mr. Ovenden) on 7th December.

Q13.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to meet the CBI.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council gave on my behalf to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 30th November.

Salford

Q10.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to visit Salford.

I was in Salford in September and at present I have no plans for a further visit.

Prime Minister (Engagements)

Q11.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state his official engagements for 16th December.

Q12.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 16th December.

Q14.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 16th December.

Q21.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for Thursday 16th December 1976.

Q23.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 16th December.

Q30.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 16th December.

Q31.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 16th December.

I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton).

Canada

Q15.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any plans to visit Canada.

I visited Canada in September and have no plans at present for another visit.

Cabinet Committees

Q16.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now answer Questions relating to details of Cabinet committees and their membership, other than where foreign policy, defence and security matters are concerned.

No.

National Economic Development Council

Q17.

asked the Prime Minister when he last took the chair at a meeting of NEDC.

Q27.

asked the Prime Minister when he last took the chair at NEDC.

I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbet) on 14th December.

Tyne And Wear

Q18.

asked the Prime Minister when he will next visit Tyne and Wear.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Constitution

Q19.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will enter into talks with the Leader of the Opposition and the leaders of the other parties in the House to establish a constitutional convention to undertake a thorough examination of the constitution and to make recommendations on such changes as are necessary.

No.

Llantwit Major

Q20.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Llantwit Major.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Cabinet Documents (Security)

Q22.

asked the Prime Minister if he has a copy of the report of the Committee of Privy Councillors on Cabinet Documents Security, Command Paper No. 6677, in the Library of No. 10 Downing Street.

Yes.

United States President-Elect

Q24.

asked the Prime Minister when he expects to have talks with the United States President-elect.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Gardiner) on 2nd December.

European Community Heads Of Government

Q26.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to attend a meeting of EEC Heads of Government.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sowerby (Mr. Madden) on 2nd December.

Political Prisoners

Q28.

asked the Prime Minister if, at the next meeting of EEC heads of Government, he will propose a European initiative for an international convention setting down conditions for the humane treatment of political prisoners.

All prisoners, including political prisoners, should be treated humanely in accordance with the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners adopted at the First United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders on 30th August 1955. The United Kingdom is opposed to the imprisonment of people for no reason other than their political beliefs, but a new convention on the treatment of prisoners is not required if the existing Standard Miimum Rules are observed.

Wolverhampton

29.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to Wolverhampton.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Switzerland

Q32.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit Switzerland.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Gosport (Mr. Viggers) on 14th December.

Kingston Upon Hull

Q34.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay a visit to Kingston upon Hull.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Orkney And Shetland

Q35.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay a visit to Orkney and Shetland.

I have at present no plans to do so

Small Businesses (Questionnaires)

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the large number of questionnaires which are sent out by Government Departments and Government agencies to small businesses; and whether he will arrange for a copy of any such questionnaires to be deposited in the Library at the time of dispatch.

The Government collect a wide range of information from businesses which is necessary for administration and the development of policy. Special measures are taken to protect small firms as far as possible from the burden of form-filling. They are excluded from the coverage of many inquiries; in others a proportionally smaller sample is taken of small firms and a simplified questionnaire used. The need for statistical returns is kept under constant examination by the Survey Control Unit of the Central Statistical Office.The depositing of copies of questionnaires in the Library is a matter for the Departments concerned.

The Arts (Finance)

asked the Prime Minister if he will publish the report arising from the Chancellor of the Duchy's study of the finances of the arts.

No. The report itself is made to me personally, and I described the outcome of my right hon. Friend's study in my reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 2nd December.

European Community

Documents (Public Access)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has yet reached any conclusions concerning availability to the public of EEC documents.

I hope shortly to conclude a careful review of the position and will write to my hon. Friend as promised.

Energy

Bnoc (Royalty Receipts)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the royalty payments BNOC is likely to receive for each of the years until 1980 and the average annual receipts over the next five years.

In view of the difficulty of forecasting the availability in the National Oil Account of royalty receipts and BNOC's own future revenues, it is not possible to give a firm indication of BNOC's use of this former source of funds between now and 1985.

Bnoc (Capital Commitments)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the total capital commitments of the BNOC over the next five years.

The February 1976 Public Expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 6393) showed £250 million—1975 Survey prices—for BNOC's capital expenditure in 1976–77. Figures for later years were not given because the necessary information was not available so soon after BNOC's establishment. Estimates for the five years 1976–77 to 1980–81 are in the process of preparation for inclusion in the White Paper which will be published early next year.

Windscale (Radioactive Contamination)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy why British Nuclear Fuels delayed notification of a leakage of radioactive water at Windscale.

British Nuclear Fuels Limited reported the leakage to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate under existing working arrangements.As I informed the House on Monday, 13th December in reply to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. King) I have given instructions that in future I shall be immediately informed when incidents, however apparently insignificant, occur on nuclear installations for which I am answerable to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if the source of the leakage of radioactive water at Windscale has now been isolated.

No. As I informed the House on Monday 13th December in reply to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. King), I will report again to the House as soon as I have further advice from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what advice British Nuclear Fuels received from officials of the Health and Safety Executive, in connection with making a public statement as soon as the leakage of radioactive water at Windscale was detected; and what response was made.

I am informed that officials of the Health and Safety Executive did not advise British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. on the subject of a public statement when the contamination at the Windscale site was reported to them and that they have no duty to do so.

Departmental Staff (Training)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many staff training conferences have been planned by his Department for the foreseeable future; what is the planned subject for discussion at each of them; when they are to be held; and what is the estimated cost of each in terms of (a) travelling expenses, (b) accommodation expenses, (c) salaries and allowances paid to participants for their time and (d) salaries and fees paid to lecturers and course organisers.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th December 1976; Vol. 922, c. 716], gave the following information:The Department of Energy relies for most of its routine training courses on the Civil Service College or the Department of Industry. A small amount of energy related training is carried out during normal working hours on official premises and very little additional expense is therefore incurred. This pattern is expected to continue to the extent that resources allow though it will be kept under review.

Scotland

Scottish Trades Union Congress (Demonstration)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he or any of his Ministers have been invited to attend the STUC demonstration against unemployment on 11th December.

No.

Transport Subsidies

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what subsidies or other payments from Government

REVENUE GRANTS
Recipient	Purpose	Amount £
Shipping Services:
Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd.	Grants for the maintenance and improvement of Highlands and Islands shipping services.	2,600,000
David MacBrayne Ltd.		1,000,000
Orkney Islands Shipping Company Ltd.		400,000
Air Service:
Loganair Ltd.	Grant for the maintenance of Highlands and Islands air services.	97,000
Local Transport:
Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive	Support for local rail services	6,900,000
Borders Regional Council	Transport research	5,000

CAPITAL GRANTS AND LOANS
Recipient	Purpose	Grant £	Loan £
Piers and Harbours:
Regional and Islands Councils	Improvement of Piers and Harbours.	590,980	—
Harbour authorities	Improvement of Piers and Harbours.	1,329,846	23,228
Local Transport:
Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive	Underground modernization and central owl level railway electrification.	7,500,000	—

Renfrew Area Health Board

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Renfrew District Council and trade unions within Renfrewshire regarding the proposal of the area health board to reduce staff by 400.

None.

A70 (Ayrshire)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been central Government expenditure on road developments and improvements over the past six years on the Ayrshire section of the A 70.

£0·4 million in specific grant. Central Government expenditure

funds are made to assist transport in Scotland; and if he will break down the sum into the recipient bodies, associations, authorities, or other organisations receiving any such payments.

The Secretary of State for Scotland is responsible for the following specific grants and loans payable in the current financial year 1976–77. In addition, grants by local authorities to transport undertakings are relevant expenditure for rate support grant. Assistance on a Great Britain basis, for example, to British Rail, and the development of airports has not been included.by way of rate support grant cannot be separately identified.

Rockall

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to which county of Scotland the Rockall Act allocated Rockall.

The Island of Rockall Act 1972 made provision for the incorporation of Rockall into the district of Harris, in the county of Inverness. Under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 the administrative authority for the district of Harris is the Western Isles Islands Council.

Sheep Scab

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many outbreaks of sheep scab were confirmed in Scotland during the last six months; and if he will make a statement.

There were no outbreaks of sheep scab in Scotland during the last six months. This year's compulsory dipping campaign is being assessed in consultation with the farmers' unions.

Transport

Motor Cyclists

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many motor cyclists in 1975 held current full licences; and how many held current provisional licences.

121,184 full licences for Group D motor cycles only were issued in 1975; but the number of full licences issued for groups including Group D was 6,413,765.On provisional licenses, because applicants for them are not required to say which types of vehicle they propose to drive, or ride, I regret that that information is not readily available.

A35

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what major improvements will be carried out and what are the estimated costs of these improvements which will be essential before the A35 can be designated as a primary route for heavy vehicles;(2) if he will list, and indicate the estimated cost of, all improvements which it will be necessary to make to the road between Honiton and the Devon boundary before this part of the A35 can be designated as a primary route for heavy vehicles;(3) how many objections have been received to plan to designate the A35 in the West Country a primary route for heavy vehicles.

The A35 is part of the primary route network. No decisions have been taken on the proposals in the Consultation Document "Outline of a Possible Lorry Route Policy" issued in January. Meanwhile, local authorities have been advised to use the motorway and primary route network as a framework for their own traffic and lorry plans. I understand that Devon County Council has put forward proposals for a county lorry route scheme which would include the A35. There are no specific standards laid down which roads included in county lorry plans must meet. My Department has received two letters expressing concern about this proposal.

Nationalised Industries (Finance)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what contribution is to be made from nationalised industries for which he is responsible towards the savings announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15th December.

I have told the Chairman of British Rail that the cash limit on grant to the British Railways Board in 1977 will be reduced by £15 million. The Chairman shares my hope that this saving can be achieved by reductions in costs, and that it will not of itself require fare increases in 1977 additional to those already planned. The other nationalised industries for which I am responsible are not affected.

Roads (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the the effect of reductions in the programmes of expenditure on roads and local transport in England following the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15th December.

Reductions in expenditure will be obtained by a moratorium from yesterday on all new contracts for about six months on all construction of motorways, trunk roads, local roads, car parks and public transport projects. Existing invitations from my Department to tender for schemes that would have started in the next few months will be withdrawn. I am conscious of the serious effects which these measures will have on road users and on the highway construction industry, but, much as my right hon. Friends and I regret these effects, we accept them as necessary in order to secure the benefit to the country of the measures which my right hon. Friend announced and explained in the House yesterday.

Industry

British Steel Corporation (Advertising)

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much money has been spent in each of the last four financial years on advertising by the British Steel Corporation; and what is the estimated additional revenue raised by this advertising.

This is a matter for the Corporation, to which the hon. Member should write.

British Leyland

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the total amount of public funds which have been given to British Leyland since British Leyland first made an application.

£200 million was subscribed in October 1975 under the British Leyland Act 1975 for shares pursuant to the rights issue. The first instalment of loan finance under the Ryder Report programme has not yet been paid. British Leyland has also taken advantage from time to time of the various schemes of assistance available to industry under the Industrial Development Act 1966, the Investment and Building Grants Act 1971 and the Industry Act 1972.

Skelmersdale

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give details of the number of companies which have closed down in the Skelmersdale New Town since 1964, giving, in each case, (a) the total amount received from the Government by way of Government grants, and so on, (b) the number of male and female jobs lost and (c) the amount of compensation, if any, which was repaid to the Government.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Engineering Products

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list any types of engineering equipment imported into the United Kingdom which could be manufactured in the United Kingdom.

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

Overseas Development

Philippines

asked the Minister for Overseas Development is he is satisfied with the amount of overseas aid given by the United Kingdom to the Philippines; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Philippines is not among the most needy countries, on which our aid is being increasingly concentrated in accordance with the new aid strategy. Therefore we have been giving that country a small amount of technical co-operation but no capital aid. The Philippines Government is aware that we would be willing to consider more requests for technical co-operation than we are receiving. In co-operation with that Government the Comonwealth Development Corporation is investigating the possibilities of investing in suitable projects.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what amount of aid has been given to the Philippines in each of the past five years.

The following amounts of British Government aid have been disbursed in the last five years, all on technical co-operation:

				£
1971	…	…	…	108,000
1972	…	…	…	111,000
1973	…	…	…	135,000
1974	…	…	…	190,000
1975	…	…	…	241,000

South-East Asia

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will publish in the Official Report the amount of overseas aid given by United Kingdom to countries in South-East Asia in each of the past five years.

The following is the information requested by my hon. Friend.

GROSS DISBURSEMENTS TO COUNTRIES IN SOUTH EAST ASIA—CALENDAR YEARS 1971–1975
£'000
			1971		1972		1973		1974		1975
Country			Total	of which T/C	Total	of which T/C	Total	of which T/C	Total	of which T/C	Total	of which T/C
Commonwealth—
Brunei	…	…	5	5	2	2	50	48	50	48	53	53
Hong Kong	…	…	1,505	88	1,196	83	106	96	91	91	710	132
Malaysia	…	…	5,960	1,095	6,117	774	4,825	1,920	5,452	1,715	7,020	1,834
Singapore	…	…	7,659	375	7,525	388	7,364	508	4,470	410	420	418
Asian Institute	…	…	95	54	87	45	100	53	82	57	82	77
General: Unallocable by country	…	…	CR 6	CR 6	24	24	—	—	—	—	—	—
TOTAL COMMONWEALTH	…	…	15,219	1,611	14,952	1,316	12,445	2,628	10,142	2,322	8,285	2,514
Non-Commonwealth—
Burma	…	…	268	268	289	289	329	329	659	659	473	473
Cambodia	…	…	115	17	251	50	269	69	301	63	66	66
Indonesia	…	…	5,835	410	6,771	602	8,148	634	8,866	790	6,777	1,413
Korea(South)	…	…	116	116	178	178	301	301	239	239	410	410
Laos	…	…	886	129	876	159	885	166	851	132	858	146
Philippines	…	…	108	108	111	111	135	135	190	190	241	241
Thailand	…	…	501	501	586	586	1,159	612	2,649	678	2,462	509
Vietnam(South)	…	…	449	70	48	55^*	165	68	184	63	114	75
Asian Institute	…	…	190	109	175	89	201	107	164	115	165	154
Mekong Valley	…	…	56	56	81	81	78	78	80	80	65	65
General: Unallocable by country	…	…	7	7	53	53	—	—	—	—	—	—
TOTAL NON-COMMONWEALTH	…	…	8,531	1,791	9,419	2,253	11,669	2,498	14,182	3,009	11,631	3,552
TOTALS SOUTH EAST ASIA	…	…	23,750	3,402	24,371	3,569	24,113	5,125	24,324	5,330	19,916	6,066
^* Difference due to recovery of £8,000 financial grant previously over-issued.
T/C= Technical Co-operation.
Totals may not add precisely due to rounding.
Source: British Aid Statistics 1971–75.

Portugal

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will ensure that no payments are made to Portugal in respect of the recently announced loan of £5 million unless and until proper compensation is paid by the Portuguese Government to all British citizens who have suffered loss of agricultural land, goods or capital as a result of the recent land reforms in that country.

To do so would be inconsistent with our normal aid policy. The purpose of the loan is to help the Portuguese people. Claims for compensation by United Kingdom citizens dispossessed as a result of agrarian reform in Portugal are a separate matter. Her Majesty's Government will continue to press the Portuguese Government, who have stated that there will be compensation, to deal quickly with such claims and have made it clear that they expect

		Exports £ million fob	Percentage change 12 months ending October 1971	Imports £ million cif	Percentage change from 12 months ending October 1971
South Africa	…	669	+71	599	+147
Nigeria	…	713	+349	337	+147
Libya	…	129	+395	138	-27
Egypt	…	171	+653	62	+275
Algeria	…	100	+286	91	+393
NOTE: These figures exclude trade in (1) gold coin and (2) other coin of legal tender.

Ussr

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his policy towards the imports of goods from the USSR which indicate production at uneconomic rates.

The prices of imports from the Soviet Union are a matter for commercial negotiation. The anti-dumping legislation provides a remedy against imports from any source, including State trading countries, which are unfairly priced and which are damaging United Kingdom industry.

Paper And Board

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will reinstitute a licensing system for the import of duty-free quotas of pulp, newsprint, paper and board imports.

There is now no tariff quota for woodpulp. The annual tariff

compensation to be prompt adequate and effective.

Trade

African Countries

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will tabulate in the Official Report the visible and invisible trade figures, respectively, separating exports and imports in both instances, between the United Kingdom and the Republic of South Africa together with the four other most important trading partners in Africa for the most recent year, and for each country showing the percentage change in trade over the last five years.

Figures for trade in invisibles with individual countries are not available. Following is information for visible trade during the 12 months ending October 1976:quotas for paper and paperboard have never been licensed and there appears to be no justification for its introduction. In the first two years of the tariff quota for newsprint importers required certificates issued by the Department of Trade in order to claim relief from import duty. It was feared that otherwise the newsprint might not go to the publishers of newspapers and periodicals for whom it was intended. As experience suggested that such fears were groundless, certification was abandoned in 1976 and no case has been made out so far for restoring it in 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why the duty-free quotas of pulp, newsprint, paper and board imports have been increased for 1977; and if he will make a statement.

No duties are levied on imports of woodpulp, which is an essential raw material for the United Kingdom's paper industry, and since 1975 there have been no duty-free quotas. The United Kingdom's prescribed share of the EEC newsprint quota has not been increased over that for 1976.There have been no increases so far as paper and paperboard are concerned either, except in the case of Finland where increases in respect of three out of 22 quotas have been granted. Two of these cover products not made in the United Kingdom and the increases amount to no more than 1¾ per cent. of the total quotas for Finland in 1976. The Finnish economy is particularly dependent on paper exports and this is recognised by the Community in a declaration in the EEC/Finland Free Trade Agreement alone.An order was laid before the House on 10th December providing for 1977 duty-free quotas for paper and paperboard.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he proposes to lay before the House the order giving effect to the 1977 duty-free quota levels for paper products.

As stated in my answer to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) today, this order was laid before the House on 10th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will specify the grades and types of paper products for which he has agreed increases in duty-free quotas for 1977; and by what percentage the quota for each type has been increased.

The increase in duty-free quotas for imports of paper products for 1977 agreed for Finland are in the following grades: Kraft liner, other unbleached Kraft paper and board and semi-chemical fluting paper. The percentage increases agreed for each grade are, respectively, 6·33 per cent., 6·89 per cent. and 8·73 per cent. above the 1976 quota levels. The first two increases do no more than to bring the quota levels up to the maxima permitted by the arrangements, whilst the third still leaves the quota over 20 per cent. below the maximum.As I said in reply to my hon. Friend's question of 8th December—[Vol. 922, c.

281]—the three quotas together amount to an increase of less than 1¾ per cent. of the

total quotas for Finland in 1976. The grades increased are, and have been in the past, regarded as less sensitive than others from the point of view of the home industry. I am satisfied, as I said in my earlier answer, that the increases cannot cause further unemployment.

Japan

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the amount of inward investment by Japanese companies in the United Kingdom for the years 1974, 1975 and the estimate for 1976; and what proportion of this investment has been in the development areas.

The information available relates to Japanese net direct investment in the United Kingdom, excluding oil and insurance, in 1974 and is given in Table 27 of the Business Monitor M4 Overseas Transactions 1974, a copy of which is in the Library. Similar information in respect of 1975 is due to be published next year. Inward direct investment covers a wide range of financial transactions between overseas companies and the accounting centres of their United Kingdom operations and it is not possible to allocate such transactions to their individual operating units in different areas of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the amount of inward investment by British companies in Japan for the years 1974, 1975 and the estimate for 1976.

The information available relates to United Kingdom net direct investment, excluding oil, in 1974 and is given in Table 17 of the Business Monitor M4 Overseas Transactions 1974, a copy of which is in the Library. Similar information in respect of 1975 is due to be published next year.

Overseas Trade Board

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the reduction of £700,000 in the funds available to the British Overseas Trade Board.

The Government have recognised the need to cut public expenditure and to make economies in the cost of Civil Service manpower. My right hon. Friend has asked the BOTB to contribute to these economies by reducing its direct expenditure for next year by about £700,000 out of a total of about £19 million at current prices, and by a reduction of 100 out of 1,050 in manpower over the next 18 months. My right hon. Friend has been advised by the board that these measures will involve some curtailment of its services but will not damage the main thrust of its promotional activities.

Films

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how much financial assistance is given by the Government to aid the commercial exploitation of British films overseas.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th December 1976; Vol. 922, c. 518], gave the following information:Assistance is available, as for other products, for the promotion of British films overseas under the British Overseas Trade Board's Joint Venture and Outward Mission Schemes. Under the Joint Venture Scheme the BOTB may provide support for a group of British exhibitors sponsored by a trade association or other recognised body at an established overseas trade fair. The Outward Mission Scheme provides for support to sponsored groups of British exporters travelling outside Western Europe. No applications for such assistance have been received from makers or distributors of British cinematographic films.

Meat

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied with existing regulations concerning the control of the withdrawal of meat unfit for human consumption from the market; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.Under the Food and Drugs Act 1955 authorised officers of port, health and local authorities have powers to examine and to seize any food intended for human consumption which appears to be unfit. Subject to subsequent confirmation by a justice of the peace, such food can be condemned as unfit for human consumption. I am satisfied that these powers are ade- quate for food intended for human consumption. When food originally intended for human consumption is voluntarily withdrawn from the market, because of doubts raised about the fitness, the responsibility for ensuring the safe custody and disposal rests with the manufacturers or importers of the food.

Education And Science

Student Fees

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what organisations have made representations to her concerning the proposed increase in tuition fees to students for the year 1977–78:(2) if she will publish in the

Official Report the names of organisations which have made representations to her concerning the proposed increase in tuition fees to students for the years 1977–78; and if she will make a statement.

Following is a list of the national organisations that have made representations to my right hon. Friend. In addition a number of other bodies and interests, including academic institutions and student unions, have made representations on fees and related issues.NATIONAL ORGANISATIONS FROM WHICH COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED

Association of Adult Education
Advisory Board for the Research Councils
Association of County Councils
Association of Metropolitan Authorities
Association of University Teachers
Committee of Directors of Polytechnics
Council for Education in the Commonwealth
Commonwealth Secretariat
Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals
University Grants Committee
National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education
National Union of Students
National Union of Teachers
United Kingdom Council for Overseas Student Affairs
Welsh Joint Education Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the proposed increase in student tuition fees for the year 1977–78, details of which have been sent to her by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made in the House on 25th November—[Vol. 921, 187–191]—by my right hon. Friend. I will be replying to my hon. Friend's letter. In general it is our intention to keep a careful watch on the effect our recommendations have on student numbers and the provision of courses.

Warwick University And Lanchester Polytechnic, Coventry

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many

					Undergraduates	Postgraduates
					Full-time	Full-time	Part-time
Science	…	…	…	…	792	172	8
Engineering and technology	…	…	…	…	255	21	25

In October 1976 the university admitted 419 undergraduates to the first year of courses in science and technology, against a target of 422. A further 275 undergraduates and 115 postgraduates—97 full-time and 18 part-time—are on courses in the School of Industrial and Business Studies. 94 undergraduates were admitted in October 1976, against a target of 92.So far as Lanchester Polytechnic is concerned, provisonal figures for 1976–77 of all students on all courses lead-

UNIVERSITIES (GREAT BRITAIN)
				Undergraduates		Postgraduates
				Full-time	Part-time	Full-time	Part-time
Science	…	…	…	48,581	437	11,913	3,821
Engineering and technology	…	…	…	29,024	24	6,861	2,232

FURTHER EDUCATION (ENGLAND AND WALES)
			All levels, full-time and part-time
Science	…	…	37,094
Engineering and technology	…	…	433,645

Statistics of admissions targets for individual courses are not available on a national basis.

Social Priority Schools

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the criteria for determining whether or not a school can be designated a social priority school; what is the current annual cost of the social priority schools allowance scheme and how this compares with the cost in previous years; what estimate has been made of the number of extra teachers who could be employed, at no extra cost, if the social

students are taking science-based or industrial-based courses at Warwick University and Lanchester Polytechnic, Coventry; if there are any vacancies on such courses; and what is the comparison with the national position.

Regarding the University of Warwick, I understand that its provisonal student numbers in science and technology based courses for the 1976–77 academic year are:ing. to recognised qualifications in science and technology are:

	Full-time and Part-time
Science	1,033
Engineering and technology	1,474

The Polytechnic has reported 104 vacancies on approved—i.e., advanced—courses in 1976–77. Statistics of vacancies on non-advanced courses are not collected.National statistics of student numbers for 1976–77 are not available. The figures for 1975–76 were:priority areas scheme was abolished; and if she will make a statement.

Social priority schools are designated by a designating committee consisting of the members of the Burnham Primary and Secondary Committee, which is required to have regard to the following criteria:—

i. the social and economic status of the parents of children at the schools;

ii. the absence of amenities in the homes of children attending the schools;

iii. the proportion of children in the schools receiving free meals and belonging to families in receipt of supplementary benefits under the Ministry of Social Security Act 1966;

iv. the proportion of children in the schools with serious language difficulties; and

v. the proportion of retarded, disturbed and handicapped children.

The annual cost of the scheme, which was introduced in June 1974, has risen from about £12½ million then to about £13½ million now. This is equivalent to the cost of employing about 4,000 newly qualified teachers.The scheme is currently under review by the Burnham Primary and Secondary Committee.

Policy (Annotated Agenda)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the criteria by which organisations have been chosen for discussion with her on the Annotated Agenda on the future of education; and which organisations have been invited to meet her.

Representatives of the organisations listed below have been invited to take part in the initial round of consultations; they were selected because of their major interest in education. Many other organisations have been sent a copy of the Annotated Agenda and their views will be taken into account.ASSOCIATIONS INVITED TO MEET THE SECRETARY OF STATE

Teacher Associations

National Union of Teachers
National Association of Schoolmasters
National Association of Head Teachers
Joint Four:
Association of Head Mistresses
Head Masters Association
Association of Assistant Mistresses
Assistant Masters Association
National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education.

MAINTAINED SCHOOLS (INCLUDING NURSERY AND SPECIAL) ENGLAND AND WALES
Pupils in receipt of free school milk
Year (October)		On health grounds	As a percentage of eligible pupils in attendance	On age grounds	As a percentage of eligible pupils in attendance	In special schools	As a percentage of eligible pupils in attendance
		(000's)		(000's)		(000's)
1971	…	28	1·0	1,832	94·8	85	95·0
1972	…	85	3·0	1,850	95·1	88	93·5
1973	…	87	3·0	1,842	95·1	89	94·3
1974	…	76	2·7	1,849	95·1	91	94·5
1975	…	54	2·0	1,865	93·8	95	93·9
All figures relate to a day in October when the census was taken for the years in question.
Comparable figures for 1970 are not available since returns for that year did not distinguish between primary school pupils and junior pupils in all-age schools who were eligible for free milk on age grounds and pupils of all ages in special schools.
Figures for 1976 are not yet available.

National Association of the Teachers of Wales
Association of Polytechnic Teachers
Association of University Teachers

Local Authority Organisations

Association of Metropolitan Authorities
County Councils Association
Welsh Joint Education Committee
Association of Education Committees
Confederation of British Industry
Trade Union Congress
Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals of the Universities
Association of Principals of Colleges
Technician Education Council
City and Guilds of London Institute
Schools Council
Society of Education Officers
National Association of Inspectors of Schools Education Advisers
Universities Council for Education of Teachers
Council for National Academic Awards
Church of England Board of Education
Methodist Board of Education and Youth
Catholic Education Council for England and Wales
Committee of Directors of Polytechnics
Business Education Council

School Milk

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children claimed free milk in Great Britain in each year from 1970; if she will analyse this information for pupils receiving free milk on (a) grounds of age and (b) grounds of health; and if she will analyse the totals of the numbers claiming free milk because of age as a percentage of eligible pupils in attendance, and those receiving free milk on grounds of health as a percentage of pupils in attendance in the eligible age groups.

pursuant to her reply [Official Report, 6th December 1976; Vol. 922, c. 46–7], circulated the following information:

Social Services

Child Health Service (Report)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the report of the Committee on Child Health Services will be published; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have today published the Report of the Committee on Child Health Services under the Chairmanship of Professor Court (Cmnd. 6684–2 Volumes). I wish to express our thanks to Professor Court and his colleagues for all the work that they have done over the last three years to produce a valuable and farseeing report which will stimulate widespread debate on the future pattern of the child health services.As the Committee says in its report, while the improvements in the health of our children during this century have been spectacular and heartening, much remains to be done. The Committee's report highlights the change in the pattern of childhood ill-health which has left chronic illness, handicap and ill-health arising from family stress and breakdown as the principal health problems for children today. The point is also made that children already suffering disadvantage for social and geographical reasons often suffer double disadvantage on account of poor services; and that in the long run only a combined approach from housing, health, education and social services can even begin to eradicate the causes of the initial disadvantage. This applies particularly to inner urban areas. The Government share these convictions, and are doing all they can, within the resources available, to correct the maldistribution of services and to improve their co-ordination.The Committee also emphasises that much childhood ill-health is preventible, and a primary aim of today's services must be to promote good health and to prevent disease. The Committee stresses the importance of encouraging parents and young people to take a greater personal responsibility for their health, and welcomes the consultative document "Prevention and health: everybody's business" (HMSO) published earlier this year.The Committee's recommendations, which call for major changes in the overall pattern of child health services, must be widely discussed before decisions are taken on the principles involved. The Committee recognised that many of its recommendations have very significant resource implications, particularly in respect of manpower and training, and must therefore be seen as longterm objectives which, if accepted in principle, can be achieved only over a long period as the economic recovery of the nation proceeds and the present very severe restraints on public expenditure can be eased. It is against this background that discussions will need to take place. There are, however, a number of recommendations involving little or no additional resources. Moreover, in the spring my predecessor my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mrs. Castle) and my colleague, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, published consultative documents on priorities for the health and personal social services during the next three or four years. Like the Court Committee, we suggested that services for children were among those needing priority, and we emphasised particularly improvements in special care for the most vulnerable new-born babies; and expansion of health visitor services for preschool children. We referred also to the importance of maintaining the quality of health services for schools.We shall be asking interested organisations and individuals for their early comments on the report. The recommendations and the comments we receive will be among the many factors to be taken into account in preparing plans for the future development of the health services.

Surveys And Returns

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will specify the nature and purpose of the 20 surveys and statistical returns referred in 1976 to mid-November by his Department to the Survey Control Unit of the Central Statistical Office.

The information requested is as follows:

1. Non-accidental injury to children: a questionnaire survey undertaken by the Department of local authority Directors of Social Services to investigate progress towards the establishment of area review committees to examine instances of non-accidetnal injury to children.

2. Hodgkin's disease: an interview survey, by the Department in conjunction with an independent research organisation, of close relatives of patients with Hodgkin's disease undertaken as part of a research project to evaluate the Medical Oncology Unit at St. Bartholemew's Hospital.

3. Hygiene and eating aids: a survey by an independent research organisation designed to evaluate the use and availability of hygiene and eating aids for disabled people undertaken with a view to issuing guidance and advice.

4. Hygiene and eating aids pilot survey (see 3 above).

5. Stairlifts for the disabled: a questionnaire survey by the Department of a sample of local authority Social Services Departments to investigate the provision and use of stairlifts for the disabled.

6. Regional planning for children awaiting adoption and fostering services: a survey commissioned by the Department of five local authority social services departments and eight voluntary societies in the East Midlands designed to examine the present structure, policies, and practice in adoption and foster care services with a view to planning on a regional basis.

7. Care of the elderly: a survey in Avon, commissioned by the Department, of community volunteer help for single persons and couples aged 75 or more living alone to determine whether the systematic use of voluntary help led to a measurable effect in terms of social well-being.

8. Research on severe closed head injury: a study commissioned by the Department, of 250 patients with head injuries severe enough to cause unconsciousness of a week or more, designed to provide information on long-term prognosis.

9. Survey of doctors choice of speciality: a survey of attitudes and factors underlying the choice of career and specialty within the medical profession commissioned by the Department to assist in manpower planning.

10. Organisational influences on social workers and their clients: a survey, commissioned by the Department, of families in Sheffield to investigate factors affecting them and the delivery of social work care in order to improve the deployment of social workers.

11. National childhood encephalopathy study: a study commissioned by the Department to examine the immunisation histories of children with encephalitis and similar illnesses (and a control group) in order to assess the risks of serious neurological disorders that may arise following immunisation of infants.

12. Patients and their doctors, 1977: a survey commissioned by the Department of patients and general practitioners to ascertain changes in general practice and the doctor—patient relationship between 1964 and 1977.

13. Allocations of resources to the elderly, practical alternatives to permanent residential care: a survey commissioned by the Department to investigate factors which can influence or prevent permanent admission of the elderly to residential care.

14. Material welfare of longer-stay hospital patients: small scale exploratory research undertaken by the Department as part of its general continuing interest in the material welfare of longer-stay hospital in-patients and those in residential care.

15. Earning capacity of invalidity pensioners: a survey by the Department to examine the effects of the earnings rule on invalidity pensioners and to investigate the availability and conditions of such employment.

16. Therapeutic work and other activities by invalidity pensioners in hospitals, day centres and elsewhere: a survey of invalidity pensioners commissioned by the Department to investigate the incidence of and opportunities for such activities and the circumstances in which they take place.

17. Therapeutic work and other activities by invalidity pensioners in hospitals, day centres and elsewhere: a survey of local authorities, hospitals and voluntary organisations to complement survey 16 above.

18. Visual handicap: a survey of some aspects of visual handicap undertaken in 1969 for which a report was published in 1976.

Two of the 20 surveys in 1976 mentioned in my repy of 22nd November—[Vol. 919, c.

989–901]—were administrative returns mistakenly notified to the Survey Control Unit. Some of the 18 surveys mentioned above were undertaken in earlier years and again reported to the Survey Control Unit for information when the reports were published in 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of surveys and statistical returns sponsored in whole or in part by his Department which are being carried out at the present time, specifying their nature and purpose.

My Department collects information from local authorities by means of 23 activity and 20 staff annual statistical returns. Their purpose is to help to ensure that authorities are exercising their social services functions under my guidance. These returns include information on the numbers and circumstances of the people provided with services and the staff employed.

The precise number of statistical surveys being carried out at the present time which my Department has sponsored is not readily available. However, data collection is currently being undertaken in the following surveys sponsored in whole or in part by my Department:

Undertaken by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys

1. General Household Survey: multi-purpose continuous survey commissioned by Cabinet Office on behalf of Government Departments.

2. Family Expenditure survey: continuous survey commissioned by Employment but used extensively by my Department.

3. Retirement survey: to examine changing patterns of work and retirement and the factors which influence people to retire or continue at work.

4. Surgical Footwear: to examine whether there are problems in the supply and fit.

Undertaken by the Department or other organisations:

1. Hygiene and eating aids: a survey by an independent research organisation designed to evaluate the use and availability of hygiene and eating aids for disabled people undertaken with a view to issuing guidance and advice.

2. Care of the elderly: a survey in Avon, commissioned by the Department, of community volunteer help for single persons and couples aged 75 or more living alone to determine whether the systematic use of voluntary help led to a measurable effect in terms of social well-being.

3. Survey of doctors' choice of speciality: a survey of attitudes and factors underlying the choice of career and specialty within the medical profession commissioned by the Department to assist in manpower planning.

4. Organisational influences on social workers and their clients: a survey, commissioned by the Department, of families in Sheffield to investigate factors affecting them and the delivery of social work care in order to improve the deployment of social workers.

5. National childhood encephalopathy study: a study commissioned by the Department to examine the immunisation histories of children with encephalitis and similar illnesses (and a control group) in order to assess the risks of serious neurological disorders that may arise following immunisation of infants.

6. Patients and their doctors, 1977: a survey commissioned by the Department of patients and general practitioners to ascertain changes in general practice and the doctor-patient relationship between 1964–77.

7. Allocation of resources to the elderly, practical alternatives to permanent residential care: a survey commissioned by the Department to investigate factors which can influence or prevent permanent admission of the elderly to residential care.

8. Relationship between the supplementary benefit organisation and local authority social services departments: a study commissioned by the Department to examine functions, policies, and practices of social services departments and of the supplementary benefits organisation at regional and local level.

9. Placement of young offenders in care: a survey by the Department of local authority social services departments to investigate their experiences in placing young offenders following the 1969 Children and Young Persons Act and the problems that may arise.

Returns or surveys involving the collection of information from within the National Health Service and from local social security offices are excluded.

National Insurance

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the money raised from Scotland on national insurance for the last available financial year.

Excluding the Treasury supplement, it is very broadly estimated that about 9 per cent.—around £600 million in 1975–76—of all contributions payable to the National Insurance Fund, the National Health Service, and the Redundancy Fund relates to persons resident in Scotland.

Dietitians (Macdonald Report)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he has taken following the report by Professor Macdonald's working party on dietitians in the National Health Service.

The report "Dietitians of the Future" was prepared in April 1975 by a working party appointed by the Dietitians Board established under the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act, to review the future rôle and functions of dietitians and the education and training appropriate to them. The report's recommendations are primarily directed to the profession itself and the Dietitians Board, but my Department has taken note of those recommendations which have a bearing on the development of the dietetic service within the National Health Service.

Supplementary Benefit (Eec Nationals)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what supplementary benefit payments have been made, during the year to date, to EEC nationals in the United Kingdom.

This information is not collected; EEC nationals who fulfil the conditions for entitlement can get supplementary benefit on the same terms as native-born citizens.

Supplementary Benefit And Pensions

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been (a) the ordinary rate of supplemen-

SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT, SICKNESS BENEFIT AND RETIREMENT PENSION AS A PERCENTAGE OF NET EARNINGS^*

Supplementary Benefit including rent addition

Ordinary rate

Long-term rate‡

Sickness Benefit

Retirement Benefit

Year (October)†

Single person

Married couple

Single person

Married couple

Single person

Married couple

Single person

Married couple

Per cent.

1965

…

36·1

51·7

—

27·0

41·2

27·0

41·2

1966

…

39·5

56·3

42·4

59·0

26·2

40·1

26·2

40·1

1967

…

38·9

55·5

41·8

58·2

28·4

43·4

28·4

43·4

1968

…

38·6

55·1

41·6

57·9

26·6

40·8

26·6

40·8

1969

…

39·1

56·3

41·9

58·9

27·5

42·4

27·5

42·4

1970

…

39·0

56·0

41·5

58·4

25·0

38·4

25·0

38·4

1971

…

37·6

53·9

39·8

56·1

27·1

41·8

27·1

41·8

1972

…

35·3

51·1

37·6

53·3

25·7

39·8

25·7

39·8

1973

…

36·0

49·3

39·4

53·2

24·8

38·7

26·1

40·7

1974

…

34·6

49·6

40·5

57·3

25·6

39·5

29·7

45·5

1975

…

39·2

56·5

46·2

65·5

27·8

43·0

33·3

50·6

1976§

…

38·5

51·2

44·8

59·3

25·0

38·5

30·0

45·3

^*Estimates made by the Department of Health and Social Security based on average gross weekly earnings of male, adult full-time manual workers as determined by the Department of Employment's October inquiry in to the earnings of manual workers employed in manufacturing and certain other industries and the monthly index of average earnings, less tax and national insurance contributions.

†National Insurance benefit rates used for 1969 and 1975 and supplementary benefit rates used for 1966, 1969, 1970 and 1975 are those for November.

‡The long-term addition was introduced in 1966. The long-term rate started in 1973.

§The latest date for which earnings information is available is August 1976 and it is provisional. The benefit rates used are accordingly those introduced in November 1975 (although there has since been an increase in benefit rates—operative from November 1976) but the supplementary benefit rates used take account of the average rent addition in August 1976.

Invalid Vehicles

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now make a further statement regarding a replacement vehicle for the invalid tricycle.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has as yet identified a possible successor vehicle to the invalid tricycle; and what steps he has taken up to the present date.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department is at present looking at an alternative vehicle to the tricycle.

tary benefit, including rent, ( b) the long-term rate, including rent, ( d) sickness benefit and ( e) retirement pension for the single house-holder and a married couple as a percentage of net average income for each year since 1965.

Information is not available on which to answer the Question in relation to net income. The following table sets out the information in relation to net earnings:

While the mobility allowance is now the main mobility benefit for new claimants, my right hon. Friend and I are keeping in touch with development projects which may lead to a better choice of vehicles becoming commercially available to them.For the drivers of tricycles issued under the pre-1976 vehicle scheme we expect to be able to provide replacements, as the tricycles wear out, at least up to 1981. They will also have the alternative choice of the mobility allowance regardless of age limit and without further medical test. As the phasing-out of the tricycles proceeds, we shall be looking on home and world markets for another specialised vehicle for the drivers who then need one. My right hon. Friend will shortly be writing to give this assurance to all the disabled people concerned.

Hackney Hospital (Casualty Department)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if a defibrilater has been installed in the casualty department of Hackney Hospital; when it was commissioned; and if he is satisfied with the arrangements for dealing with a casualty suffering from a cardiac arrest.

There is a cardiac arrest team sited at Hackney Hospital with the necessary equipment to deal with such an emergency anywhere in the hospital. To reduce reaction time a portable defibrilater is on order specifically for the casualty department and delivery is expected in about one month.

Geriatrics

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many geriatric beds there are in the

			Number of patients on waiting lists for
	Number of Geriatric Beds	Facilities for elderly patients requiring psychiatric treatment include	Geriatrics	Elderly severely mentally infirm
Ormskirk District of Lancashire area.	106	Beds set aside in the Psychiatric Department of Ormskirk and District General Hospital.	1	None
St. Helens and Knowsley area	240	Combined psychiatric/geriatric beds at Rainhill hospital and acute psychiatric beds at Whiston hospital.	21	12
Wigan area	434	104 combined psychiatric/geriatric beds.	32	None

Unemployment Benefit (Eec Nationals)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what unemployment benefits have been paid, in the year to date, to EEC nationals in the United Kingdom.

No separate record is kept of the amount of United Kingdom unemployment benefit paid in this country to nationals of other EEC member States.

National Insurance Fund

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what level of

Ormskirk, St. Helens and Knowsley and Wigan Health Authority areas, respectively; what facilities exist in these areas for those classed as geriatrics who need psychiatric treatment; how many are on the waiting list, in each speciality, in these areas, respectively; and what action is being taken, or planned, to reduce the waiting time.

Developments being undertaken which will have the effect of reducing waiting times include the provision of a 56-bed—50-place day unit for the elderly severely mentally infirm and an 80-place day unit for mentally ill patients, planned to commence in 1978–79 in Ormskirk; the opening of a new 56bed—50-place day unit for the elderly severely mentally infirm at Leigh in Wigan in 1977 and a geriatric unit of 28 beds and 50 day places at Wheelley, Wigan Area Health Authority, in 1979–80; and in St. Helens and Knowsley area, a programme of rationalising and redesignating available medical beds.Information on the present position is set out below:long-term and short-term unemployment is assumed for 1977–78 in the calculations of the level of national insurance contributions required to enable the National Insurance Fund to meet its expected commitments for that year; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 6 of the Report by the Government Actuary on the draft of the Social Security (Contributions, Re-rating) Order 1976 (Cmnd. 6688).

Fluoridation

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of people who are drinking naturally fluoridated water.

I assume that the Question relates to areas where the water supply constantly contains fluoride naturally at about the optimum level for dental protection of one part of fluoride per million parts of water. The only notable instance in England is Hartlepool, where the water undertaking serves about 100,000. In several other areas this level of naturally occurring fluoride is not constantly attained, because of variations in water supply arrangements.

Pay Beds (Debts)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to the reply to the hon. Member for Ealing, North on 24th February, whether he will now undertake an examination of the loss sustained by National Health Service hospitals on unpaid debts for pay beds, with a view to bringing forward proposals.

Bad debts arising from pay bed patients are not separately identified in accounts received centrally from health authorities. To identify them would require a disproportionate effort.

Casualty Cases (North-West Kent)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, how many casualty cases were dealt with at each

Health District					Hospital		Waiting periods
Canterbury/Thanet	…	…	…	…	Kent and Canterbury	…	2–4 weeks
					Margate	…	2 weeks
					Ramsgate	…	1 week
Dartford and Gravesham	…	…	…	…	West Hill	…	2–3 weeks
					Joyce Green	…	3 weeks
					Gravesend and North Kent	…	12–15 weeks
Maidstone	…	…	…	…	West Kent	…	4–9 weeks
					Preston Hall	…	1–10 weeks
Medway	…	…	…	…	Medway	…	10–12 weeks
South East Kent	…	…	…	…	Folkestone	…	3–7 weeks
					Ashford	…	6–8 weeks
					Buckland (Dover)	…	2–11 weeks
Tunbridge Wells	…	…	…	…	Queen Victoria	…	2 weeks
					Edenbridge	…	1 week
					Pembury	…	1–3 weeks
					Kent and Sussex	…	5–8 weeks
					Sevenoaks	…	4–9 weeks

Invalid Vehicles

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many invalid tricycles have been ordered for 1977–78.

casualty unit in the Dartford and Gravesend and the Medway health districts during the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what proportion at each hospital sought treatment between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m.

The total attendances at accident and emergency departments in the year ending 30th September 1976 were:

Gravesend and North Kent Hospital	26,359
West Hill Hospital, Dartford	48,444
Medway Hospital	44,311
Sheppy Hospital	5,132

Figures are not normally available regarding the proportion of attendances occurring within particular periods, but a special survey covering Gravesend and North Kent and West Hill Hospitals showed that over the nine months from 1st January 1976 to 30th September 1976 the proportions of attendances between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. were 9·6 per cent. and 17·9 per cent., respectively.

X-Ray Examinations (Kent)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the waiting period for contrast X-ray examinations at each hospital in the Kent Area Health Authority.

The waiting periods often vary for different types of contrast examinations but are, in such cases, within the ranges given below:

Final contracts have been let for 1,500 vehicles for delivery during the financial year beginning 1st April 1977.

Social Services

Unemployment Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate as to the amount of money being paid in unemployment benefit to those persons out of work under 25 years of age.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th December 1976; Vol. 922, c. 614], circulated the following information:I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. It is however estimated that as at 3rd May 1976 the weekly amount of unemployment benefit, including earnings-related supplement, payable to unemployed persons then under 25 years of age, was £2·4 million.

National Insurance Claimants

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants for national insurance benefits were refused payment because of contribution deficiences in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and in how many of these cases it was subsequently established that national insurance deductions had been made from the claimant's earnings and not forwarded by his employer.

Information about the number of persons disallowed national

					Hours Worked
					Male		Female
					Highest	Average	Highest	Average
Week ended—
5th November 1976	…	…	…	…	67·5	60·94	70	62·2
12th November 1976	…	…	…	…	67·75	59·75	72·5	61·3
19th November 1976	…	…	…	…	77·5	55·5	72·5	60·3
26th November 1976	…	…	…	…	74·75	61·4	67·5	60·2

The lowest number of hours worked in any one week is, of course, dependent on annual leave and sickness and other absences.All members of the CSU are entitled to an overtime rate of time and one half for overtime worked between Monday and Friday; duties at weekends and on

insurance benefits because of a contribution deficiency is not available in the form requested. On 31st May 1975, out of 933,000 claimants incapable of work, 29,000 had been disallowed benefit for that day because of a contribution deficiency. On 3rd May 1976, out of 1,200,000 persons registered as unemployed, 221,000 had been disallowed unemployment benefit for that day for the same reason. These are the latest dates for which figures are held. Information in this respect is not available for other benefits, nor are statistics kept in a way which shows the number of cases where it was subsequently found that the claimant's employer had made national insurance contribution deductions in the relevant period.

Northern Ireland

Civilian Search Unit (Londonderry)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the overtime rate for (a) a male and (b) a female member of the Civilian Search Unit in Londonderry;(2) what is the (

a) average, ( b) highest, and ( c) lowest number of hours worked weekly by male and female members of the Civilian Search Unit in Londonderry during the last month for which figures are available.

Following is the information:public holidays attract payments at double time.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the gross weekly wage of (a) a male, and (b) a female in the Civilian Search Unit in Londonderry; and what is the hourly rate in each case;

(2) what is the total cost of operating the Civilian Search Unit in Londonderry for the last month for which figures are available.

Male and female members of the Civilian Search Unit receive the same rates of pay which are based on a 40-hour week. The current gross weekly earnings, including shift and footwear allowance, but excluding overtime, together with the hourly rate, are as follows:

		Gross Weekly Wage	Hourly rate
		£	£
Search Officers	…	57·61	1·44
Deputy Superintendent	…	70·43	1·76
Superintendent	…	78·11	1·95

The estimated total cost of operating the CSU in Londonderry during November 1976 was approximately £38,000.

Royal Victoria Hospital (Burns Unit)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of creating and equipping the burns unit in the Royal Victoria Hospital; when it was completed; on what date it will be opened; and how many people are currently awaiting treatment for severe burns.

The burns unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital, completed on 10th March 1975 as part of a major redevelopment at the hospital, cost £157,549 to build and equip. Part of the new development is occupied, and discussions are in progress to expedite the opening of the unit. No patients are kept waiting for treatment for severe burns.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will impose

ASSISTANCE TO WALES FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY: JANUARY 1973 TO DECEMBER 1976
£ million^*
	1973	1974	1975	1976
A. European Coal and Steel Community—
(i) Article 54 (loans): Steel Industry—
1. BSC Port Talbot (coke ovens. Phase 1)	—	—	35·00	—
2. BSC Port Talbot (rebuilding No. 4 blast furnace and raw material handling scheme).	—	—	7·00	—
3. GKN Cardiff (electric arc furnace continuous casting plant and mills).	—	—	—	20·00

conditions on the use of sums paid out under the Criminal Injuries to Property (Compensation) Act (N.I.) 1971 to ensure that such funds do not reach terrorist organisations, but are used so far as is practicable to restore premises to their former use.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the detailed proposals for amending generally the law on compensation for criminal injuries to property which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland intends to publish as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will take steps to amend the law governing compensation awards so as to give proper recognition to the special responsibility of the State towards those who lay down their lives in its defence;(2) if he will introduce legislation to ensure that in compensation for injury payments shock will be more narrowly defined than has so far been the case.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to a Question from the hon. Member for Bexleyheath (Mr. Townsend) on 2nd December.

Wales

European Community Grants

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total value of grants from EEC sources committed in respect of projects in Wales since 1st January 1973 to the latest convenient date.

The following table shows that grants and loans totalling £211·34 million have been allocated in respect of projects in Wales since 1st January 1973:

(ii) Article 55 (grants): Steel Industry—
1. BSC Stripmills Divisional Laboratories. Newport-research project into properties of electro technical steel.	0·22
(iii) Article 56 (loans): Steel Industry—
1. BSC Ebbw Vale (tin plating plant)	—	—	15·55	—
2. BSC Tafarnaubach (steel-coating plant)	—	—	—	1·25
3. Natural Gas Tubes Ebbw Vale (welded tube mill)	—	—	—	0·95
4. Natural Gas Tubes Ebbw Vale (spiral weld mill)	—	—	—	1·36
(iv) Article 56 (re-adaptation grants): Steel Industry—
1. Re-adaptation benefits allocated to redundant steelworkers.	—	0·02	0·51	0·38
B. European Investment Bank Loans—
1. BSC Llanwern (modernising of stripmill)	14·70	—	—	—
2. BSC Port Talbot (new sinter plant for the preparation of raw materials).	—	8·00	—	—
3. BSC Port Talbot (new coal handling and blending system)	—	—	—	12·60
4. BSC Shotton (new installation of coating lines)	—	—	17·50	—
5. Post Office (improvement of telephone services in Wales)	—	—	17·50	—
6. British Rail, Holyhead (improving Sealink services)	—	—	—	5·50
7. CEGB/Electricity Council Dinorwic (Welsh hydroelectric scheme).	—	—	—	26·00
C. European Social Fund Grants†	2·70	3·50	5·00	n.a.
D. Agricultural Grants (EAGGF)‡	0·83	0·31	0·33	0·07
E. European Regional Development Fund Grants Committed—
1. Infrastructure schemes and advance factories	—	—	5·80	4·44
2. Industry schemes	—	—	0·40	3·92
NOTES:
^* Figures notified to Departments. Approval dates where known.
† It is not possible to accurately break down these figures by projects.
‡ In addition Wales benefits from grants awarded in 1973 and 1974 to a bulk milk collection system for England and Wales.
In addition, Wales derives benefit from certain loans and grants allocated to the coal and steel industry in the United Kingdom, including the following:
(a) ECSC loans (under Article 54 of the Treaty of Paris) for modernising groups of collieries, totaling £55 million;
(b) ECSC Article 54 loans for underground plant and equipment, totalling £68million;
(c) ECSC Article 55 grants towards research and development in the coal industry, totalling £11·3 million;
(d) ECSC Article 56 grants for re-adaptation of coal and steel workers, totalling £15·2 million;
(e) loans by the European Investment Bank, totalling £7·20 million for developments at five collieries.
It is not possible to say how much of these sums has related specifically to Wales.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Rabies

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from local authorities requesting financial assistance in preparing local rabies outbreak contingency plans; and what replies he has made.

Very few local authorities have made direct representations on this matter, but during recent consultations on anti-rabies contingency planning the local authority associations stressed the current financial difficulties of their members and said that any central Government assistance would be welcome.Under the Local Government Act 1972 the expenditure of local authorities on diseases of animals work is met from the rates and is taken into account for rate support grant purposes in the normal way. Expenditure on anti-rabies contingency planning must be contained within the overall limits of local authority finance.Local authorities have been advised to confine the purchase of essential equipment to that which will not be immediately available in an emergency, and to share with neighbouring authorities. The Ministry also is building up a central stock of certain items and will review the situation, both at central and local levels, from time to time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to encourage the co-operation on a regional basis of authorities responsible for anti-rabies precautions.

Local authorities have been recommended, through their associations, to form area or regional pools for anti-rabies equipment. Co-operation between neighbouring local authorities and other bodies involved in rabies outbreak control is being continuously stressed. My Department's regional veterinary officers will shortly be holding co-ordinating meetings with all the appropriate authorities and organisations at regional level.

Ducks (Imports)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made in Brussels over the importation of ducks into the European Community and the level of the sluice gate price.

The questions of the importation of ducks into the European Community and the level of the sluice gate price have been discussed with the Commission both by my officials and representatives of the industry.

Pig Producers And Pigmeat

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he proposes to extend any further assistance to pig farmers at the present time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he is taking to ensure the profitability of the British pigmeat industry in 1977;(2) what steps he intends to take to ensure that a viable British pigmeat industry will continue.

We are aware of the difficulties many pig producers are facing and believe that the best way to help them would be to secure a reduction in the monetary compensatory amounts applied to imports of pigmeat products by introducing a change in the way they are calculated. I believe this to be also the view of the industry. We have secured a small change in the method of calculation of pigmeat monetary compensatory amounts which led to an 8 per cent. reduction from 8th November. But this is not enough, and we are continuing to press for a more fundamental change in the way these amounts are calculated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the import subsidy presently being received by Danish pig producers to import into the United Kingdom.

The current levels of accession and monetary compensatory amounts together payable on pigmeat and pig products from Denmark are as follows: pig carcases £249/ton; bacon sides £334/ton; canned ham £654/ton.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much on average feed costs have gone up for the pig producers in the United Kingdom during the last 12 months; and by how much returns have increased in the same period.

It is estimated that average costs of pigfeed compounds in Great Britain have increased by about 35 per cent. since November 1975. Average pig prices in the United Kingdom are currently about the same as a year ago.

Pig Herd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present size of the pig herd; and what it was 12 months ago.

The latest available data was obtained from the sample inquiry in England and Wales in September 1976, which showed that the total number of pigs was 6,873,000 head compared with 6,463,000 head in September 1975. Within these totals the breeding herd had increased in size by 8 per cent. from 693,000 head in September 1975 to 748,000 this year.

Beef

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether there is any factor, other than EEC policy, which would prevent the United Kingdom from importing cheap beef from Argentina and elsewhere.

Imports of beef into the United Kingdom from third countries are subject to commercial policy and veterinary considerations. From the point of view of commercial policy the Community's beef import regime currently regulates through the safeguard clause and other special arrangements the maximum quantities of beef from third countries which may be imported into the United Kingdom. The use of the safeguard clause is due to be replaced with the revised EEC import regime based on variable levies to which my right hon. Friend referred in his statement on 26th November—[Vol. 921, c. 337–45]. From the point of view of animal and public health our national rules will continue to apply to third country imports until the end of 1977 and will take account of the prevailing disease situation in Argentina and other third countries. Other factors which will affect our ability to import beef from third countries, including Argentina, are our purchasing power, the existence of trading links and the requirements of our consumers.

Badgers

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the gassing of badgers in the counties of Gloucestershire and Avon.

I refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to my hon. Friends the Members for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) and Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Watkinson) on 3rd and 10th December, respectively. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of my Department's recent publication "Bovine Tuberculosis in Badgers", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken to make sure that the badger does not become extinct in the Souh-West of England.

I have been asked to reply.There appears to be no likelihood of badgers becoming extinct in the South- West. It has been found necessary to gas badgers in limited parts of the region to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis, but experience suggests that there will be no shortage of badgers to re-colonise these areas once the disease problem has been overcome.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to introduce Deildrin sheep dip; and if he will make a statement.

I would again refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 12th January 1976 to the hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. Steel)—[Vol. 903, c. 43.] The situation is unchanged.

Pigmeat

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list figures for the importation of pigmeat for each of the last six months.

Following is the information in respect of the most significant categories of pigmeat imported into the United Kingdom during the latest six months for which figures are available:

'000 tons
1976		Pork	Bacon and Ham	Canned
May	…	0·71	23·45	10·22
June	…	1·00	20·20	10·10
July	…	1·83	22·24	12·44
August	…	1·31	20·27	7·49
September	…	1·26	26·98	10·95
October	…	1·29	22·66	10·22

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many bacon factories and pigmeat processing plants have closed since 28th February 1974.

37 bacon factories have been closed since 28th February 1974 and five opened. Information about the closure of other pigmeat processing plants is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the statistics regarding the pigmeat industry as supplied to him by the Meat and Livestock Commission.

:The collection and dissemination of market information is a statutory function which the Meat and Livestock Commission performs for the benefit of the livestock and livestock product industries. I am not aware of any dissatisfaction with the statistics the Commission produces regarding the pig industry. My Department makes considerable use of certain of these statistics.

Questionnaires

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what

Name of Survey	Frequency	Number of respondents
1. Agricultural and Horticultural Census Return—June	Annual	220,000
2. Agricultural Census—December	Annual	45,000
3. EEC Survey of Wine Stocks	Annual	2,000
4. Potato Stocks (Potato Marketing Board)	Annual	29,000
5. Production and Stocks of Animal Feedingstuffs Raw Materials	Annual	207
6. Return of Trade (Covent Garden Market Authority)	Annual	204
7. Sample Census and Livestock Enquiry—March	Annual	30,000
8. Sample Census and Livestock Enquiry—September	Annual	30,000
9. Seedsmen's Return	Annual	1,400
10. Vegetables for Human Consumption and Flowers—October	Annual	17,000
11. Sample Pig Enquiry	Half-yearly	1,000
12. Fruit and Vegetables—Purchases Inquiry	Quarterly	200
13. Potato Grower Salesmen and Direct Sales Authority Returns (Potato Marketing Board)	Quarterly	4,000
14. Return of Stock Slaughtered by Type of Animal	Quarterly	789
15. Commitments to Export Home Produced Barley	Monthly	68
16. Crude and Refind Vegetable Oils: Use, Production and Stocks	Monthly	15
17. Crush and Stocks of Oilseed and Nuts: Production of Vegetable Oil	Monthly	8
^*18 and 19. Distillers Receipts and Stocks of Grain	Monthly	24
^*20 and 21. Grain for Malting: Receipts and Stocks	Monthly	52
22. Potato Merchants Returns (Potato Marketing Board)	Monthly	2,500
23. Production of Cereal Breakfast Foods and Raw Materials	Monthly	7
24. Production and Marketing of Hatching Eggs and Chicks	Monthly	215
25. Production and Stocks of Animal Feedingstuffs Raw Materials	Monthly	312
26. Production and Stocks of Concentrates; Use of Raw Materials	Monthly	5
27. Return from Manufacturers of Margarine and Compound Cooking Fat	Monthly	24
28. Return from Oatmeal Millers	Monthly	20
29. Return of Stock Slaughtered by Type of Animal	Monthly	236
30. Seed Crushers Return	Monthly	8
^*31 and 32. Stocks of Cereals and Feedingstuffs held	Monthly	95
33. Coarse Grain Cereal Products and By-Products Import Commitments	Weekly	130
^* 34 and 35. Flour Millers Returns	Weekly	110
36. Imports of Bacon and Ham	Weekly	25
37. Miscellaneous Feedingstuffs Import Commitments	Weekly	117
38. Pigs Slaughtered, Carcases Used, Bacon and Ham Produced	Weekly	220
39. Purchases of British Corn in England and Wales	Weekly	1,250
40. Return of Stock Slaughtered by Type of Animal	Weekly	317
41. Wheat and Flour Import Commitments	Weekly	92
42. Agricultural Wages and Employment Enquiry	Continuous	4,250
43. Deadweight Prices for Pigs (Meat and Livestock Commission)	Continuous	34
44. Orchard Fruit Census	Irregular (less than annual)	7,000
45. Statistical Office of the European Communities: Survey of Agricultural Earnings	Ad Hoc	600
^* Separate questionnaires for Northern Ireland; counted as two surveys.

Potatoes

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps the Potato Marketing Board is tak-

was the number of questionnaires requiring an answer which were sent out by his Department and by agencies responsible to his Department to employers and self-employed persons during the most recent 12 months period for which figures are available; and how many copies of each questionnaire were sent.

Forty-five during the 12 months ended 30th June 1976. Details are given in the following table. Questionnaires originate in my Department except where shown.ing to investigate the price of potatoes to establish the level of profit made by the farmer, wholesaler and retailer.

The Potato Marketing Board operates a market intelligence service which gives details of recent producer, wholesale and retail price ranges of potatoes. While it has some information about average costs of growing potatoes, it would not be appropriate for it to assess individual producer profit levels—which depend on the marketable yield of the potatoes grown—or profit levels at the wholesale or retail stage. My hon. Friend will know that the Price Commission is reporting on distributors' margins each month.

Smallholdings (Administration)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will advise local authorities concerned with the administration of smallholdings to appoint representatives of agricultural workers to membership of the responsible committees.

Year				Regular whole-time workers	Regular part-time workers	Seasonal or casual workers	Salaried managers
1976 (Provisional)	…	…	…	165,000	58,000	63,000	6,000
1975	…	…	…	171,271	62,100	60,206	6,063
1974	…	…	…	179,096	62,543	64,216	5,947
1973	…	…	…	188,885	63,489	67,809	5,275
1972	…	…	…	192,646	61,904	61,438	4,439
1971	…	…	…	198,764	61,051	63,393	—
1970	…	…	…	204,045	59,490	65,301	—
1969	…	…	…	234,831	39,628	56,832	—
1968	…	…	…	246,840	41,706	55,699	—
1967	…	…	…	262,433	44,610	65,284	—
NOTE:
(a) The figures from June 1968 are not directly comparable with those for previous years because:
(i) since 1968 there have been minor changes in the definition of a holding for the purposes of the agricultural census;
(ii) since 1970 managerial and clerical workers have been included but non-principal partners have been excluded;
(iii) since 1972 salaried managers have been returned separately.

National Finance

Imports (Prices)

16.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what formula he uses for calculating any increase in import prices resulting from a fall in the value of sterling.

On the basis of past relationships, a fall in the value of sterling could be expected to lead, after a short lag, to the same proportional rise in import prices of basic materials and fuel; and a less than proportional rise in import prices of food and manufactures. For imports of goods in total, I would expect a 1 per cent. fall in the value of sterling—equivalent to a 1·1 per cent. increase in world prices measured in sterling—to

My right hon. Friend is sympathetic to the idea of worker representation on these committees. He recently received representations from the NUAAW on the matter and is awaiting further information from them.

Agricultural Workers

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many full-and part-time workers have left the agricultural industry in England during the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

I regret this information is not available. The statistics available are as follows and relate to those employed in agriculture, including horticulture, in England in each of the last 10 years.result in an increase of 0·9 per cent. in United Kingdom import prices. But if there is no equivalent change in the value of the green pound there could be a smaller effect on import prices of food.

International Monetary Fund

24.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next plans to meet Mr. Johannes Witteveen.

I have at present no plans to do so.

26.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet the representatives of the IMF.

I shall no doubt meet the IMF officials who will be coming to the United Kingdom for the regular annual consultation in May next year.

43.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next plans to meet the Chairman of the IMF.

I have nothing to add to what I told the hon. Member on 11th November.

Budget

14.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give the date for the introduction of his next Budget.

An announcement will be made in due course.

Inflation

17.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect the present rate of inflation has had on reducing standards in suburban areas.

Its precise effect on any one community will depend to a large extent or the area's particular social and economic composition.

23.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is proposing to reduce the adverse effects of inflation on life in areas of high deprivation.

Inflation is a national problem, and successful counter-inflation measures will benefit all sections of the community. Specific steps have already been taken to protect the least well off, through the flat-rate elements in pay policy and through uprating social security benefits to keep pace with inflation.

34.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the current rate of inflation; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Neubert) and my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley).

Tax Threshold (Low-Income Families)

25.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representa- tions he has received urging the lifting of the tax threshold to benefit those on low incomes.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on these lines.

Government Borrowings

27.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the total amount of debt per head of the population of the United Kingdom which he has incurred through internal and external borrowings, together with the corresponding amounts outstanding when he took offce in 1974.

Statistics of outstanding public sector debt are compiled only in respect of 31st March each year. On 31st March 1974 it is estimated to have been £950 per head, net borrowing in the 2½ years since then has amounted to about £425 per head.

37.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to obtain another loan from international sources to replace the International Monetary Fund loan when it has been spent.

I expect that further borrowing abroad will be quite unnecessary by the time the IMF standby may have been drawn down.

Interest Rates

28.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he remains satisfied with the present level of interest rates.

Higher interest rates were required during the autumn to validate the Government's financial policies. But my right hon. Friend has no desire for the present levels to continue any longer than is necessary.

Value Added Tax

29.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the value added tax threshold would have to be raised to take into account inflation since the last change in the threshold.

The VAT registration exemption limit was introduced in the Finance Act 1972. It would become about £9,000 a year if it were to be raised in line with changes in the Index of Retail Prices.

Urban Decay

30.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what results he forecasts that his recent statement will have on urban decay.

Measures which help to correct the present imbalance in the economy, and provide a sound basis for future growth, increase our ability to tackle effectively the problems of urban decay.

Short-Term Benefits (Taxation)

31.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in considering how to treat short-term benefits in the same way as earnings for tax purposes.

This matter is still under consideration.

International Monetary Fund (Loan)

32.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in negotiating the proposed loan from the International Monetary Fund.

38.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on his negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement I made to the House yesterday.

£ Sterling

33.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to prevent further diminution in the value of the £ sterling.

The measures announced yesterday will make a major contribution to exchange market stability.

Public Expenditure

35.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to maintain social expenditure by reducing military expenditure.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave him on 11th November, and to the statement my right hon. Friend the Chancellor made on 15th December to which I have nothing to add.

40.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when Her Majesty's Government propose to publish their next White Paper on Public Expenditure.

We shall publish a White Paper on Public Expenditure as soon as practicable.

Stabilisation Programme

36.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now set out the main points in Her Majesty's Government's two to three-year stabilisation programme to which he referred in the House on 30th November.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made to the House yesterday.

Wealth Tax

39.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what expenditure has taken place to date in establishing the facilities necessary for the introduction of a wealth tax.

The staff engaged on planning for a wealth tax have cost about £1 million. The accommodation costs so far committed which are attributable to the tax are of the order of £2 million capital expenditure and £0·6 million annual rent.

Treasury Staff

41.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many members of the Treasury staff of the rank of Under-Secretary or above have had experience of not less than a year in manufacturing industry; and what proportion this represents.

None.

Irrecoverable Tax

42.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria are laid down by his Department for the classification as irrecoverable of surtax, income tax and capital gains tax, respectively; and if he will make a statement about the way in which he proposes to reduce the percentage of irrecoverable tax.

Tax is recorded as irrecoverable when it remains unpaid after all the possibilities of collection action have been exhausted. The heads under which any of the taxes mentioned, if found to be irrecoverable, are currently written off are shown in Table 20 of the 118th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Command 6302). I am satisfied that the Inland Revenue is vigilant to see that uncollected tax is kept to very small proportions.

Travelling Expenses

44.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the heavy increases in rail commuter fares which have already taken place and those planned for the new year, he will consider giving the same tax relief on travelling expenses already enjoyed by self-employed persons to those paying tax under PAYE.

The rules governing the tax treatment of travelling expenses do not normally permit relief in respect of commuter journeys from home to work for self-employed persons any more than for employees paying tax under PAYE.

Japanese Trade

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the EEC policy of asking the Japanese to restrict imports into the United Kingdom is attributable to the under-valuation of the yen in relation to sterling.

Exports from Japan to the United Kingdom and to other markets would be assisted whenever Japanese relative competitiveness is not fully reflected in the value of the yen on the foreign exchange markets. The responsibilities of surplus countries in respect of appropriate exchange rate policies were recognised at the recent IMF meeting in Manila. Policies for general balance of payments adjustment may, however, need to be complemented by specific measures in cases where the revival of particular industries is threatened by an excessive increase in the level of imports, and the United Kingdom has accordingly sought assurances from Japan about the likely level of imports in those areas. Such understandings now cover a wide range of imports from Japan.

Pay And Prices Policy

45.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange for representatives of industrial management to join representatives of the CBI and the TUC in further talks about the next stage of his Government's pay and prices policy in view of the fact that industrial management carries much of the detailed responsibility for implementing such policies.

The Government are always ready to consider representations from any source about the development of the attack on inflation.

Revenue (Scotland)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of revenue from Customs and Excise duty from Scotland for the last available financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of revenue on hydrocarbon oil from Scotland for the last available financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of revenue raised from Scotland on tobacco and alcoholic drink for the last available financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the corporation tax contribution from Scotland for the last available financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the income tax contribution from Scotland for the last available financial year; and what is his estimate of the contribution from Scottish employees whose tax is collected outside Scotland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of revenue raised by taxes on capital in Scotland for the last available financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of revenue raised on motor vehicle duties in Scotland for the last available financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of revenue from value added tax from Scotland for the last available financial year.

The information requested is contained in the table below:

TAXATION ATTRIBUTABLE TO SCOTLAND—1975–76
£ million
Income tax	…	…	1,270
Surtax	…	…	5
Corporation tax	…	…	140
Estate duty/capital transfer tax	…	…	30
Stamp duties	…	…	20
Capital gains tax	…	…	10
Value added tax	…	…	295
Hydrocarbon oil duty	…	…	130
Tobacco duties	…	…	190
Duties on alcoholic drink	…	…	195
Betting and gaming duties	…	…	25
Car tax	…	…	15
Motor vehicle duties	…	…	60
Other expenditure taxes	…	…	50
Total	…	…	2,435

NOTES—These estimates show the amount of taxation borne by companies on their operations in Scotland and persons resident in Scotland, not the amount of taxation collected in Scotland. The estimates are derived by allocating total receipts for the United Kingdom on the basis of other statistics such as those contained in the Annual Survey of Personal Incomes and the Family Expenditure Survey.A separate estimate of income tax paid by Scottish employees, but collected outside Scotland, is not readily available. However, the estimate above for income tax includes such contributions.Some figures are provisional.Companies' capital gains are chargeable to corporation tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the total revenue raised from Scotland in the last available financial year; and how this compares with the total revenue raised in Great Britain.

I am not clear what type of revenue the hon. Member has in mind; and in any event, estimates even of the yield of particular sources of revenue which is attributable to a particular part of the country frequently raise difficult conceptual and statistical problems. Most of the available information has already been given to the hon. Member in reply to other Ques- tions. If he wishes for further specific information I will do my best to provide it.

Oil Industry (Revenue)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the petroleum revenue tax and corporation tax likely to be recovered from petroleum companies and consortia operating in the North Sea in each of the ensuing 10 years.

At present I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Sillars) on 5th July.—[Vol. 914, c. 414.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of revenue gains at constant prices for the Exchequer from North Sea oil in the present financial year, and in each year between 1977 and 1980 inclusive.

At present I have nothing to add to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member on 5th July.—[Vol. 914, c. 414.]

Scottish Assembly

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect cuts in public expenditure programmes will have on the Scottish Assembly's block grant; and what is the expected reduction in that block grant at constant prices in the year 1978–79 when compared with the current financial year.

Since the Scottish administration does not yet exist it is not possible to say what agreement would be reached with its members regarding the size of the block fund or the effect of any planned cuts in public expenditure.

Scottish Budget

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, taking the assumptions on which the last Treasury Scottish budget was based, and adding any revenue from North Sea oil, what is his estimate of the net borrowing requirement of that budget.

Since oil revenues will accrue to the United Kingdom as a whole there is no satisfactory basis on which such revenues can be attributed to Scotland.

Construction Industry (Sub-Contractors)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many sub-contractors who have ben refused a new style tax exemption certificate have appealed.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) on 8th November.—[Vol. 919, c. 66].

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what circumstances during an appeal against a tax inspector's refusal to issue a tax exemption certificate the Commissioners can disregard failure to have complied with tax obligations over the previous three years by a sub-contractor in construction.

The power to disregard failures to comply with tax obligations rests with the Board of Inland Revenue and not with the appeal Commissioners.

European Community Budget

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the United Kingdom's gross and net contribution to the EEC budget in the present financial year.

Estimates of contributions to and receipts from the Community Budget for 1976–77 were published in the White Paper "Public Expenditure to 1979–80" (Cmnd. 6393). They are as follows:

			£ million
Gross contribution	…	…	480
Receipts	…	…	310
Net contribution	…	…	170

National Insurance Surcharge

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the extra cost to Churches and charities of the imposition of the national insurance surcharge.

It is not possible to give a reliable estimate of the cost of NHS to charities and Churches, but it is estimated that the aggregate cost to these organisations should not exceed £10 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his intention to make the national insurance surcharge a permanent feature of the taxation system.

My right hon. Friend keeps all forms of taxation under review, and the national insurance surcharge will be no exception. Any decision about its future will be made in the light of its effects, which will be carefully monitored.

Construction Industry

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether construction companies based overseas are eligible to apply for a tax exemption certificate.

Yes, if they meet the conditions set out in Schedule 12 to the Finance (No. 2) Act 1975.

Income Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list any countries that have higher starting rates for income tax than the 35 per cent. rate in the United Kinugdom and any countries that have a top limit of income tax above the 83 per cent. in the United Kingdom.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th December 1976; Vol. 922, c. 549–50], gave the following information:I assume that the hon. Member is referring to rates of tax on earned income. Up-to-date information is not available about every country in the world, but I am not aware of any country with a starting rate higher than 35 per cent. I understand that top marginal rates higher than 83 per cent. apply in the following countries:

Algeria—100 per cent.

Egypt—96·6 per cent.

Japan—83·7 per cent.^*

Portugal—84·4 per cent.

Tanzania—95 per cent.

^* Includes normal rate of local income taxes; the top national rate is 67·5 per cent.

National Insurance Contributions

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employers are more than (a) three months, (b) six months and (c) nine months in arrears with payment of their employees' national insurance contributions; and how many employees are affected in each case.

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

Defence

Army Medals (Applications)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for medals are now in process of being dealt with or are awaiting attention in the Army Medal Office.

Approximately 38,000 applications, recommendations and requests for replacements for various medals are being processed.

Civilian Staff

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of where the 35,000 civil servant redundancies in his Department by 1st April 1979 are to occur.

The Department is aiming to achieve a net reduction of 35,000 civilian jobs by 1st April 1979. The reductions will be effected by the various measures, including closure of defence establishments, outlined in the 1975 and 1976 Statements on Defence Estimates (Cmnd. 5976 and 6432).The consequential rundown in civilian manpower will be achieved in a number of ways, including natural wastage, selective controls on recruitment, staff trans- fers and, only where it becomes unavoidable, redundancy. Until all these processes are complete, and this will not be before April 1979, I cannot give any meaningful indication of what the final number of redundancies as a result of the cuts in defence expenditure may be or where they will occur.

Departmental Houses

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his Department's houses are currently empty.

About 13 per cent. in the United Kingdom, according to the latest available figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the ratio of his Department's houses to defence Service personnel in each of the following years: 1965, 1970 and 1975.

The earliest year for which complete figures are available is 1967. The ratios of Service married quarters to Service manpower in the United Kingdom were as follows:

1967	…	…	…	1:3·5
1970	…	…	…	1:2·9
1975	…	…	…	1:2·6

The change in the ratio in recent years reflects tendencies towards earlier marriage, greater provision of married quarters for the Royal Navy, and reductions in the numbers of hirings.

Volume 922: debated on Thursday 16 December 1976

Written Answers To Questions

Home Department

Firearms

Illegal Immigrants

Computers And Privacy (White Paper)

Villa Road Commune, Lambeth

Mr Peter Hain

Devolution

Prices And Consumer Protection

Price Commission

Reprographic Equipment

Potatoes

Price Code

Civil Service

Parliamentary Papers

Employment

Health And Safety (Inspectors)

Women Homeworkers

Job Creation

Factory Inspectorate

Young Persons

Asbestos (Railways)

Disabled Persons

Earnings

Environment

Rate Support Grant

Housing (Investment)

Government Offices (Solihull)

House Purchase

Housing Finance Review

Wimbledon And Putney Commons

Council Housing (Repairs)

London

Planning Appeals

Blackpool

Ministerial Salaries

Economic Policy

Leyland

Military Intelligence

Tuc And Cbi

Salford

Prime Minister (Engagements)

Canada

Cabinet Committees

National Economic Development Council

Tyne And Wear

Constitution

Llantwit Major

Cabinet Documents (Security)

United States President-Elect

European Community Heads Of Government

Political Prisoners

Wolverhampton

Switzerland

Kingston Upon Hull

Orkney And Shetland

Small Businesses (Questionnaires)

The Arts (Finance)

European Community

Documents (Public Access)

Energy

Bnoc (Royalty Receipts)

Bnoc (Capital Commitments)

Windscale (Radioactive Contamination)

Departmental Staff (Training)

Scotland

Scottish Trades Union Congress (Demonstration)

Transport Subsidies

Renfrew Area Health Board

A70 (Ayrshire)

Rockall

Sheep Scab

Transport

Motor Cyclists

A35

Nationalised Industries (Finance)

Roads (Expenditure)

Industry