asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the questionnaires used in the nine surveys carried out by the Central Office of Information related to publicity development and evaluation in 1974 to 1976.

I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why Section 28(6) of the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976, which has now been published, does not contain the amendment passed by the House of Lords on 11th November 1976, which would have imposed time limits within which local authorities must notify their decisions in applications for rehousing under that Act.

Owing to a mistake on the proceedings on the Bill the amendment to which my hon. Friend refers was not incorporated into the text of the Bill to which Royal Assent was given. It thus does not appear in the Act. We have, however, asked local authorities, in our circular on the Act, to notify their decisions within three months of receiving the applications or, if advice has been sought from an agricultural dwelling-house advisory committee, within two months of receipt of that advice. This is what the amendment would have required local authorities to do.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been paid by each of the water authorities in removal expenses for their employees in each year since their inception.

This information is not available in my Department, but my hon. Friend may care to write to the Chairman of the National Water Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the findings of the public inquiry regarding the expansion of Stevenage to be published.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make a decision on this proposal shortly. The inspector's report of the inquiry will then be made available in accordance with usual practice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning appeals were received by his Department in each of the last 10 years; how many of these appeals were withdrawn in each year; and how many were decided.

Following is the information requested:

Year		Number of appeals received	Number of appeals withdrawn	Total number of appeals decided
1967	…	10,090	2,673	8,098
1968	…	9,593	2,765	6,658
1969	…	8,212	2,788	6,192
1970	…	8,362	2,549	5,454
1971	…	9,818	2,788	5,516
1972	…	14,408	3,075	5,916
1973	…	18,326	3,487	10,882
1974	…	13,324	4,175	12,198
1975	…	11,690	4,235	11,486
1976	…	11,656	3,069	9,253

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning appeals were being processed by his Department on 31st December 1976; and how many of these appeals had waited longer than six months, 12 months, 18 months and two years, respectively, for his determination and decision.

8,935 planning appeals were being processed on 31st December 1976; the information sought in the second part of the question is not available in the form requested, but the average periods between receipt and decision taken by appeals decided in December 1976 were as follows:

52 weeks where the appeal was decided by the Secretary of State following a local inquiry (12 per cent. of cases).

36 weeks where the appeal was decided by the Secretary of State on written representations (9 per cent. of cases).

28 weeks where the appeal was decided by an Inspector following a local inquiry (16 per cent. of cases).

22 weeks where the appeal was decided by an inspector on written representations (63 per cent. of cases).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common- wealth Affairs what regulations governing the amount of overtime worked by young persons have been in force in Hong Kong and for how long they have been in force; what changes are proposed in those regulations; and by what date the Hong Kong Government expects to abolish overtime working by young persons.

Amendments to the Hong Kong Factories and Industrial Undertakings Regulations made in 1958 and put into effect in 1959 prohibited overtime working by young persons aged 14 and 15. The same Regulations have been amended on a number of occasions to control overtime working by young persons aged 16 and 17. As from 1st January 1976 the maximum permissible hours of overtime for young persons in this age group was 200 hours a year, but on 22nd December last year the Legislative Council approved the Factories and Industrial (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 1976 whereby the maximum permissible hours of overtime are to be progressively reduced by 50 hours a year, with effect from 1st January 1977. Overtime working by young persons in industrial employment will be completely abolished by 1st January 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Geneva Convention on Rhodesia will be reconvened on 17th January.

Since Mr. Richard's consultations in Africa are still continuing, it has become necessary to defer the reconvening of the Rhodesia conference in Geneva, which was originally planned for 17th January. The conference participants have been informed of this. Mr. Richard is pressing on with his consultations, and the conference will reconvene as soon as he has established a basis upon which it can meet with a good prospect of success.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has reached any further participation agreement.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 1976; Vol. 923, c. 123], gave the following further information:An exchange of letters has taken place between the Government, BNOC and Deminex (UK) Exploration and Production Ltd., and Deminex Oil and Gas (UK) Ltd., both subsidiaries of Deminex-Deutsche Erdoelversorgungsgesellschaft MBH, Essen, Federal German Republic, recording certain points of principle that have been agreed in connection with participation by BNOC in Deminex's interest in the Thistle Field area. The parties are agreed that BNOC should have the right to take at market price up to 51 per cent. of Deminex's pertoleum from the Thistle area after a build-up period, and that BNOC should have additional voting rights under the relevant operating agreements. It is the intention of the parties to conclude a full legal agreement as soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the results of the 1975 National Travel Survey will be published.

The initial results of the 1975–76 National Travel Survey will be available in the first quarter of this year. The first report will be available for publication during the second half of the year.

asked the Secretary for Transport what is the average cost per mile of resurfacing one lane of motorway.

The cost averages about £26,000 per lane miles of motorway.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the M25 London outer orbital road will be completed.

Although the detailed implications for the road programme of the recent cuts in public expenditure are still being examined, it is hoped to complete the M25 in the early 1980s.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report the public statement on the combating of social security abuses referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Pudsey (Mr. Shaw) on 2nd December, Official Report, column 249.

The statement was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the Trent Regional Health Authority currently receives a fair share of the financial budget allocated through his Department.

No. That is why over the last few years the Trent Regional Health Authority has been one of the regions to receive the highest rates of additional revenue funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy on the future development of relations between the pharmaceutical industry and the National Health Service.

My policy is to sustain the existing close relationship between the Government and the industry with the objects of continuing to ensure the supply and responsible promotion of safe and effective medicines for the NHS at reasonable prices; and to encourage the development of the industry through investment, research and the growth of its already substantial export trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what new proposals he is considering for the financing of the Health Service.

None. However, as part of the measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in July 1976, I propose to introduce a Bill providing for the recovery of the full cost of treatment for road accidents. I also propose to increase existing charges for dental and ophthalmic ser-services. The financing of the NHS may be among the matters which the Royal Commission will consider.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he next expects to meet other EEC Social Security Ministers.

I shall take the first suitable opportunity to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the distribution of leaflets on child benefit.

Yes. Copies of the leaflet CH1T were distributed in July 1976 by the Post Office, on the basis of the number of post offices under the control of each head post office, and will be available at least until April 1977. Also, copies of all child benefit leaflets are available in the Department's local offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the long-term unemployment forecast by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Wednesday 15th December 1976, he will now initiate a detailed study of the costs and advantages of a phased reduction of the pensionable age of men to 60 years allowing for job take-up by men from the unemployment register; and if he will make a statement.

The question of a phased reduction of men's pension age was considered in my Department's recent memorandum entitled "Pension Age", of which my hon. Friend has a copy. My right hon. Friend has no plans for a further study of such a reduction in view of its cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent the national insurance contributions to be paid by employees in 1977–78 are expected to be fully required in order to meet claims on the fund.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook) on 7th December.—[Vol. 922, c. 156–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the new national insurance contribution rates.

I have received 18 letters about the new rates and levels of national insurance contributions which, subject to parliamentary approval, will take effect from 6th April 1977. The representations were mainly about the effect of the proposed changes on the self-employed. The draft order specifying the new rates and levels will be debated in the House later today.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest estimated cost of the fluoridation of water supplies.

An estimate of the total cost cannot be provided since capital and running costs vary from one health authority's area to another according to the nature of the water supply system. However, experience has shown that fluoridation is the most effective and economical means of protecting the whole community against dental decay.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the new code of practice for the gas and electricity industries will be adequate to cope with the problem of social security recipients who are threatened with the cutting off of their supplies.

I am sure that the fuel industries' code of practice, together with the other measures the Government have introduced, will go a long way towards helping poorer consumers cope with the problem of paying for fuel.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further statement on progress in implementing the recommendations of the Resource Allocation Working Party.

I am not at present able to add to the reply given to the hon. Members for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Eyre) and Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Osborn) on 21st December 1976.—[Vol. 923, c. 91–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has studied the interim report of the North East Thames Regional Resource Allocation Working Party; and if he will make a statement.

All regional health authorities are responsible for the allocation of funds to their areas. I understand that this report, in following many of the principles of the recommendations made by the National Resource Allocation Working Party, recognised the significance of ministerial response to those recommendations. My right hon. Friend has now made a statement in reply to Questions from the hon. Members for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Eyre) and Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Osborn) on 21st December.—[Vol. 923, c. 91–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of supplementary benefit expenditure was in respect of unemployed persons at the end of 1973 and the end of 1975, respectively.

The information requested is available for financial years only: the proportions are 23 per cent. for 1973–74 and 31 per cent. for 1975–76.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will respond to the most recent report by the Select Committee on Abortion.

The Second Report from last Session's Select Committee on Abortion, published on 16th December, makes several recommendations concerning the working of the 1967 Abortion Act, which the House of Commons will no doubt wish to consider.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether applications for child benefit are proceeding satisfactorily.

Claims have not come in as fast as we had hoped: about 1¾ million claims had been made by the end of last year out of nearly 3 million expected from families with one child. Families with more than one child getting allowances do not have to claim. It is important that one-child families who have not yet claimed do so now, so that claims can be cleared in time for the start of the scheme in April.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much extra revenue the new dental and optical charges are expected to bring in during 1977–78.

An estimated £20 million, in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the assumptions provided to the Government Actuary on which he based his report on the National Insurance Fund's income and expenditure in 1977–78.

No. The report concerned has already been completed and laid before Parliament in accordance with Section 121 of the Social Security Act 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the current balances in the National Insurance Fund and National Insurance Reserve Fund, respectively; and how this compares with the balances 12 months and two years ago.

The National Insurance Reserve Fund and the Industrial Injuries Fund were merged into the National Insurance Fund on 1st April 1975. The latest and the previous two years' balances were:

£ million (investments at cost price)

Balance at 31st March 1976–2,219

Balance at 31st March 1975–2,499*

Balance at 31st March 1974–1,861

* £1,900 million on 1st April 1975 after revaluation of investments of NI Reserve Fund and Industrial Injuries Fund to current market value.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he hopes to conclude his discussions on trade union representations on pension fund boards.

There are a number of details about member participation in occupational pension schemes still to be discussed. I cannot say when our consultations will be concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what payments from the National Insurance Fund were made in respect of industrial injuries in 1976.

For the financial year April 1975 to March 1976, the latest period for which figures are readily available, payments from the National Insurance Fund in respect of industrial injuries benefits totalled £211 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the reorganised NHS provides an improved administrative framework within which it is now possible to look at priorities more comprehensively.

The reorganisation of the NHS provided a unified Health Service within which it is possible to examine priorities across the field of health and personal social services, as set out in the Government's consultative document on priorities in the health and personal social services and implemented through the NHS planning system. This Government's views on the deficiencies of the administrative framework of the NHS, which they inherited from their predecessors, are well known.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the basis of the estimates given by his Department as to the cost of abolishing the earnings rule.

This has already been done using the latest available data.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he intends to take towards a relaxation of the earnings rule, with a view to its eventual abolition.

I have nothing to add to what I and my right hon. Friend said during the debate on the Second Reading of the Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill on 2nd December.—[Vol. 921, c. 1177.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will pay an official visit to Christchurch.

I have at present no plans to do so, though I was in Bournemouth on 15th October 1976 to address the annual conference of the Family Practitioner Services Committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the conditions under which single parents can qualify for FIS.

The conditions are that the parent is in full-time work at the date of claim and normally works at least 30 hours per week, and that the family's total gross weekly income is less than the prescribed amount appropriate to the size of family.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is still his intention to introduce legislation requiring that 50 per cent. of the trustees in a pension fund be appointed by trade unions.

Yes. It is the Government's intention, as soon as parliamentary time permits, to introduce legislation giving recognised independent trade unions the right to nominate 50 per cent. of such trustees.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has yet reached a decision concerning entitlement to unemployment benefits of those who have been dismissed from work because they refuse to joint a union; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's intention has always been that the changes in the law on the closed shop and unfair dismissal should not result in those dismissed in a closed shop situation for failure to join one of the specified unions being disqualified for unemployment benefit on that account. However, the actual decision on whether such persons should be so disqualified, under Section 20(1) of the Social Security Act 1975, rests with the independent adjudicating authorities; and the result of a particular case recently heard before the Chief National Insurance Commissioner is at present awaited. If, in the light of the decision to be given on this case, it transpires that the present law does not in fact meet the Government's intention, it is proposed to take the first available opportunity of introducing amending legislation so as to bring the law on eligibility for unemployment benefit into line with the intention.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now introduce residential qualification for all social security benefits.

No. Any further residential qualification for social security benefits would be inappropriate. Such qualifications for supplementary benefit would make it more difficult to assimilate into the community those who have been allowed to make their homes here; and would have to be waived in cases of hardship. This would severely limit any possible saving in public funds they might hypothetically produce.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to meet the leaders of the postal workers and health service employees, as promised in the debate on the Second Reading of the Social Services (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security met the National Federation of Professional Workers on 9th December 1976, and he and I met representatives of the Post Office Engineering Union and the Council of Post Office Unions on 15th December 1976 and saw a delegation from the TUC on 20th December 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what suggestions he has received from community health councils about raising finance for the Health Service; and whether he has offered any encouragement in his reply.

I know of only one community health council which has raised this question. Fund-raising is not one of the activities which my Department has encouraged community health councils to pursue.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent consultations he has had with the local health authority and with staff representatives about the present conditions and future proposals for the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital.

I have had no recent consultations with the area health authority. I saw representatives of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson staff on 7th October 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many cases of suspected cohabitation investigated in 1975 and 1976 the alleged cohabitation was established; and, of those women who lost benefit as a result of investigation, what percentage reclaimed it successfully within three months.

In 1975, 10,182 cases were the subject of special investigation and benefit was reduced or withdrawn in 4,062 cases. The corresponding figures for the first nine months of 1976—the latest information available—were 6,822 and 2,726 respectively. No record is kept of the number of cases in which the woman concerned may have reclaimed benefit within three months.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost of care and treatment of a rubella baby; and if he is satisfied with the programme of vaccination.

I regret that no estimate is available of the costs of caring for child-rent handicapped by rubella. On the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, rubella vaccine is offered to all girls between their eleventh and fourteenth birthdays and to women of child-bearing age who have been shown to be sero-negative by a preliminary blood test. Since the programme began only in 1970, it will be some years before the benefits of vaccinating girls are fully felt in the child-bearing age group. We are currently examining, in consultation with the Health Education Council, ways of improving uptake among adult women.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his practice to publish each year the perinatal and infant mortality rates in each area health authority and an analysis of the data, indicating the reasons for any increase and decrease over the previous years.

The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) publishes the perinatal and infant mortality rates for health authority areas in England annually; the latest available figures are in "Local Authority Vital Statistics, 1974 Series VS1", available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Figures for 1975 will be published this spring. Analysis of the data, indicating the reasons for any increase or decrease over previous years, is not published but the figures are kept under review by health authorities and in my Department.

asked the Secretary of Sate for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the infant mortality rates in the United Kingdom in the light of the Court Committee's report.

No. There has, however, been a steady reduction in infant mortality, but this has not been as rapid as in some other European countries or as we would wish, and there are wide variations between rates within England.I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to my right hon. Friend's statement on the publication of the report of the Court Committee on child health services on 16th December 1976—[Vol. 922, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the measures which have reduced the perinatal mortality figures in Aberdeen from a high figure to the lowest in Great Britain are being applied in all parts of England; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland gave him today on this matter.The latest published figures do not indicate Aberdeen as having the lowest rate in Great Britain; figures for health authority areas in England were contained in my reply to my hon. Friend on 15th November.—[Vol. 919, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost at November 1976 prices of care of someone severely mentally and physically handicapped by cerebral palsy in a residential home from the age of 16 to 65 years.

Figures are not available for the cost of care in a residential home of people mentally and physically handicapped by particular causes. The weekly cost of caring for a mentally handicapped adult in local authority residential accommodation in England in 1975–76 was about £33. This figure excludes capital and administrative costs. Many mentally handicapped people who also have physical handicaps and cannot live at home will be in mental handicap hospitals. In 1975–76 the provisional weekly cost of caring for patients of all ages in these hospitals was £65, excluding capital but including administrative costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the life expectancy of someone severely handicapped both physically and mentally by cerebral palsy who has reached the age of 25 years.

I regret that information of this kind is not available.

asked the Secretary of State of Social Services if he will list the National Health Service and private hospitals and maternity homes in London which have intensive care units for babies born at risk.

Health authorities are currently reviewing facilities for intensive care of the newborn. At present the NHS hospitals in the London area providing these facilities include:

• Queen Charlotte's Maternity Hospital.
• University College Hospital.
• The London Hospital.
• Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup.
• Greenwich District Hospital.
• British Hospital for Mothers and Babies, Woolwich.
• Kings College Hospital.
• St. Thomas' Hospital.
• Lewisham Hospital.
• Bromley Hospital.
• Farnborough Hospital.
• Northwick Park Hospital.
• Central Middlesex Hospital.
• Charing Cross Hospital.
• Hammersmith Hospital.
• Hillingdon Hospital.

The information requested is not available for private hospitals and nursing homes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements exist for babies born at risk in private maternity homes in London which do not possess an intensive care unit.

Any baby born in a private maternity home in London—or, indeed, anywhere in the country—who needed treatment in an intensive care unit would, if such a unit were not available at the maternity home, be entitled to be transferred immediately to an NHS hospital with such a unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he has given to representations made to him to delay the setting-up of a National Association of Community Health Councils.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to my reply to the right hon. Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Jenkin) on 10th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many registered unemployed persons were receiving neither unemployment benefit nor supplementary benefit in November 1976; and what percentage this figure was of total registered unemployed;(2) if he will publish his estimates of the various categories of persons included in the total of registered unemployed who do not receive any unemployment or supplementary benefit.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what decision he has reached about the future of the Royal Homoeopathic Hospital, in Great Ormond Street.

The health authorities concerned have accepted in principle a proposal to establish a special health authority and to integrate the management of the hospitals on the Queen Square site, including the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital. They are now examining the feasibility of the proposal and will be seeking my right hon. Friend's agreement if in due course they reach conclusions which they find acceptable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether it is his policy that all medicines within the meaning of the Medicines Act 1968 should be treated differently from other goods in order to prevent impulse buying;(2) what evidence he has been given by the Medicines Commission or any other body that the introduction of child-resistant containers for medicines in England and Wales will prove to be safe and effective;(3) what representations he has received from community health councils in England and Wales in support of a ban on self-service or self-selection of analgesics; what proportion of community health councils this represents; and if he will list the number of consumer and other organisations which have indicated to him their support for such a ban.

I will let the hon. Gentleman have replies to his questions as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what use is being made of the site and buildings of the original Royal Free Hospital in Grays Inn Road.

The buildings currently house the Camden and Islington Area Health Authority works and supplies staff, district supplies staff and stores, some laboratory space, and district community health staff. The nurses' residences are used by the nurses of the new Royal Free Hospital. The future of this site is being reviewed in the light of the current needs of the Eastman Dental Hospital and previous agreements with London borough of Camden.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the present arrangements for abortion.

My right hon. Friend's responsibility for providing services for termination of pregnancy relates only to the National Health Service. I am aware that for a number of reasons, one of them being difficulty in providing all the necessary resources, there are considerable regional variations in the NHS services available in England. The planning and running of health services is primarily a matter for health authorities, but my Department has issued guidance on the development of day-care facilities for terminaion of pregnancy so as to facilitate the most effective deployment of the available resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of persons admitted to hospital in England and Wales in each of the years from 1970 onwards suffering from analgesic poisoning and the number of those who died in each year from such poisoning, showing aspirin-induced poisoning separately.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present situation of Mr. Hosenball and Mr. Agee; and if he will make a statement.

Each at his own request will be heard during this month by the independent advisory panel to which I referred in the statement I made on 18th November in reply to a Private Notice Question by my right hon. Friend the Member for Lanark (Mrs. Hart). I will decide whether to make deportation orders when I have received the panel's advice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give details of any cases where persons have been prosecuted and found guilty when pleading innocence where evidence was supplied in any way by the five police officers found guilty in the recent pornographic trial.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that none of the information requested could be provided without the scrutiny of large numbers of individual case papers. This would involve disproportionate effort and expense. I will, of course, be prepared to consider any representations which may be made to me on behalf of particular individuals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been detained under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act to date; how many have been subsequently charged with offences; and with what offences they have been charged.

2,251 people have been detained in Great Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976. An extension of detention under Section 7 of the 1974 Act or Section 12 of the 1976 Act has been approved in 243 cases; a further 507 people were detained for 48 hours or less. One thousand five hundred and one people have been detained pending further examination at ports under the supplemental orders made under the Acts.One hundred and five people detained under the Acts have been charged with offences in Great Britain. Ten of them have been charged with offences under the Acts. Eight of the remainder have been charged with murder, three with attempted murder, 12 with conspiracy to cause explosions, seven with unlawful possession of explosives, six with conspiracy to possess or procure explosives with intent to endanger life, six with contravention of Section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968, five with conspiracy to defraud the Inland Revenue, 16 with theft, one with robbery, nine with burglary, one with assisting offenders, two with causing criminal damage, two with attempting criminal deception, one with handling a stolen vehicle, three with handling stolen property, one with unlawful wounding, one with possession of drugs, three with wasting police time, one with causing an explosion, one with harbouring a person known to have committed an arrestable offence, one with attempted theft, one with assault on police, one with being found on enclosed premises, one with possessing an offensive weapon, one with fraud, and one with an offence under Section 6 of the Road Traffic Act 1972.In addition, three people have been returned to the Irish Republic and there charged, two with burglary and one with robbery. Thirteen people have been returned to Northern Ireland and there charged, one with murder, one with conspiracy to cause an explosion, three with armed robbery, two with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, three with unlawful possession of explosives, two with causing an explosion, and one with unlawful taking of a motor vehicle.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act to date; and under which sections of the Act the charges have been brought.

Seven people have been charged in Great Britain with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976; two under Section 10(1)(a) and Section 10(2), two under Section 10(1)(a), one under Section 1(1)(b), one under Section 9(1) and one under Section 9(2)(a).Three people were charged in Great Britain under Section 1(1)(

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been served with exclusion orders under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act to date; how many have been deported to (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland; how many have appealed against exclusion orders; and how many appeals have been successful.

My predecessor and I have made 93 exclusion orders under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976. Notice of the making of an exclusion order has been served on 85 people, 79 of whom were removed, 56 to Northern Ireland and 23 to the Irish Republic. 19 of the 85 made representations objecting to the order and my predecessor revoked the order in five of these 19 cases. One case is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has to date refused an extension of five days to the police for the holding of a suspect under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and, if so, in how many cases.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any of the charges brought against suspects initially held under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act to date have been dropped before the case was heard; if so, which charges; if any charges have led to an unsuccessful prosecution and if so, which charges; and if any charges have led to a successful prosecution and if so, what was the sentence imposed in each case.

This information could not be made available without disproportionate effort, for the reason given in my reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 11th October 1976.—[Vol. 375, c. 43–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the number of further prosecutions which are pending against police officers and former police officers connected with corruption or in connection with pornography.

I assume that my hon. Friend's Question follows the conclusion of a trial at the Central Criminal Court on 22nd December. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that further trials arising from the same series of investigations are due to commence at that court on 28th February and 18th April. They involve four former officers and one suspended officer, and two former and one suspended officer, respectively. In addition, committal proceedings against one former officer at present stand adjourned until 20th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what 'O' grade courses are to be provided for deaf children at Donaldson's School, Edinburgh; and how many pupils are likely to be involved.

No such courses are proposed, but I understand that the governors of the school are considering the possibility of presenting pupils for the Certificate of Secondary Education.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance he has issued on electoral registration in psychiatric hospitals, with special reference to inpatients who are considered by medical staff not to be suffering from, or appear to be suffering from, mental disorder.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the measures which have reduced the perinatal mortality figures in Aberdeen from a high figure to the lowest in Great Britain are being applied in all parts of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

The factors contributing to Aberdeen's high standard of obstetric care are many and complex, including the early introduction of a comprehensive and well-integrated maternity service, a high hospital confinement rate, and the establishment of a closely-affiliated specialist neonatal paediatric service. The introduction of family planning services has also helped to reduce the number of babies at special risk.Policies similar to those adopted in Aberdeen are now current practice throughout Scotland. It should be noted that while the perinatal mortality rate in Aberdeen is among the lowest it is not currently the lowest in Great Britain. The figure for 1974 was 17 per thousand total births.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his practice to publish each year the perinatal and infant mortality rates in each health board, and an analysis of the data indicating the reasons for any increase and decrease over the previous years.

The Registrar General for Scotland publishes the perinatal and infant mortality rates for health board areas in Scotland annually; the latest available figures are in Part I of the Annual Report for 1974, available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Figures for 1975 will be published during the spring of 1977. A regular analysis of the data is not published but the figures are kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when a decision will be made about the future of the Nimrod aircraft.

The RAF's Nimrod aircraft will remain effective in their maritime reconnaissance roles, which currently include fishery protection and surveillance of offshore installations, for the foreseeable future. As regards the replacement of our Shackleton airborne early warning aircraft, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 14th December 1976 to a Question from the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall)—[Vol. 922, c. 654–5].

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist for the rapid transport by the RAF of babies born at risk to hospitals with an intensive care unit.

Under well-established arrangements local health authorities may request the assistance of Service helicopters to carry seriously ill patients, including babies, to hospital, or from one hospital to another, in the United Kingdom when movement is medically essential and other forms of transport are impracticable. Applications for helicopter assistance are handled by the RAF rescue co-ordination centres, located at Pitreavie Castle and Plymouth, or by the Forward Air Transport Operations Centre in Northern Ireland. In the past 18 months six babies were carried to hospital by RAF helicopters for specialised care.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what action he proposes to encourage the location of new service industries in the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement.

Grants under Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 are available to encourage the establishment and growth of service industry projects within the Oswestry Intermediate Area. Throughout the West Midlands the incentives that we are providing to encourage investment in manufacturing industry should have secondary effects on employment in services.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what investment grants the Government have given Plessey's in each of the last three years.

The amount of investment and regional development grant paid to Plesseys and its main subsidiaries is as follows: 1974, £174,000; 1975, £646,000; 1976, £164,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the amounts spent by Her Majesty's Government on purchases from the British aerospace industry of (a) military aircraft, (b) civil aircraft and (c) guided weapons and space equipment since 1945 at current prices.

The best available estimates of amounts spent in the aircraft industry (MLH 383) since 1945 are:

	million
On Government purchases of military aircraft	£6,900
On Government purchases of civil aircraft	£20
On Government purchases of guided weapons and space equipment	£800

These figures are at prices current at the time of purchase. They exclude financial assistance to the research, development and production of civil aircraft, including Concorde, because such assistance was not associated with Government purchases.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the amount of Government financial assistance given to British aerospace companies since 31st March 1974.

Gross expenditure by my Department in the period 1st April 1974 to 31st March 1976 was as follows:

	£'000
Aircraft and Aero-engine General R & D Programme	16,881
Concorde Aircraft	194,513
RB211 Engine	42,631
Other Aircraft and Aero-engine Projects and Assistance	124,497
National Space Technology Programme	2,654
	381,176

This figure does not include a further £29 million spent on work carried out in Government establishments, universities, and so on, for the benefit of the aerospace industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the total amount of Government aid given to (a) Concorde, (b) the Olympus engine and (c) the RB211 engine at current prices.

Total net expenditure at prevailing prices in the period up to 31st March 1976 was as follows:

				£'000
Concorde	…	…	…	465,145
Olympus Engine	…	…	…	224,505
RB211 Engine	…	…	…	224,534

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the amount of Government launching aid for each civil aircraft project since 1945 together with the sums received by Her Majesty's Government by way of royalties on sales expressed at current prices.

The information is as follows:

GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO AND RECEIPTS FROM THE LAUNCHING OF CIVIL AIRCRAFT PROJECTS SINCE 1945 UP TO 31ST MARCH 1976
£ million
Type			Contributions current prices	Receipts current prices
Aircraft—
Shotland	…	…	2·25	N.A.
Sandringham	…	…
Solent	…	…
Tudor	…	…
Air Horse	…	…
Apollo	…	…	1·25	Nil
Hermes	…	…	1·30	N.A.
Comet 1–4	…	…	10·25	4·11
Ambassador	…	…	1·85	0·15
Princess	…	…	9·10	Nil
Viscount	…	…	1·80	3·00
V-1000	…	…	2·35	Nil
Twin Pioneer	…	…	0·05	0·05
Britannia	…	…	6·40	5·10
Rotodyne	…	…	3·05	Nil
Argosy	…	…	0·10	Nil
Herald	…	…	1·10	0·05
VC-10	…	…	10·25	1·07
Trident	…	…	26·10	1·01
BAC 1–11	…	…	19·05	3·53
Islander	…	…	0·05	0·06
Jetstream	…	…	1·20	0·10
Airbus	…	…	1·15	Nil
HS 146	…	…	7·11	Nil
Concorde	…	…	278·90	0·30
			391·11	18·53

GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO AND RECEIPTS FROM PRODUCTION COSTS TO 31ST MARCH 1976
£ million
			Contributions current prices	Receipts current prices
Concorde	…	…	184·80	57·30

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many undertakings have qualified for removal grant upon moving into an area for expansion; and what has been the cost to public funds of such grants in each of the last four years.

Up to 30th November 1976, offers of removal grant have been made under Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 as follows:

Financial Year	Number of Projects	Value (£'000)
1972–73	23	205
1973–74	129	1,840
1974–75	188	4,697
1975–76	172	4,174
1976–77	78	4,573
Total	590	15,489

Individual Companies				Amount £ million	Date of Commitment
Kearney and Trecker Marwin Ltd.	…	…	…	1·900	19th July 1976
Data Recording Instruments Company Ltd.	…	…	…	0·500	9th January 1976
Chrysler (UK) Ltd.	…	…	…	162·500	5th January 1976
Seaforth Maritime Ltd.	…	…	…	0·950	5th July 1976
Drake and Cubitt Ltd.	…	…	…	2·340	1st September 1976

Schemes of Assistance				Amount £ million	(Commitments made throughout the year)
Accelerated Projects Scheme	…	…	…	73·158
Wool Textile Scheme (Phase 1)	…	…	…	3·156
Clothing Scheme	…	…	…	0·822
Ferrous Foundry Scheme	…	…	…	22·123
Machine Tool Scheme	…	…	…	2·742
Paper and Board Scheme	…	…	…	0·962
Poultrymeat Processing	…	…	…	0·682

Prospective commitments in 1976 under the Offshore Supplies Interest Relief Grant Scheme are estimated at £37 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many Government factories are at the moment standing unoccupied; and where they are located.

At 30th November 1976 the number of unoccupied Government factories in England was 136, including 38 terraced units—that is, small individual factory units contained in blocks of terraced factories. The following table shows the state of their availability:

Immediately available	75 (23 TUs)
Allocated to prospective new tenant	27 (12 TUs)
Undergoing Modernisation/Renovation	34 (3 TUs)

They are located as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list all payments made or commitments entered into under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 in the year 1976 giving the dates relevant thereto.

Commitments made under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 in the year 1976 were:

• Clay Cross
• Cleator Moor (4)
• Consett (3)
• Cramlington (2)
• Doncaster (3)
• East Middlesbrough (3)
• Hartlepool (6)
• Helston
• Houghton-le-Spring (5)
• Hull
• Huyton
• Jarrow
• Knowsley (15)
• Lancaster
• Meadowfield
• Millom (3 including 2 DC)
• Nelson
• Newquay
• Normanton
• North Tees (3)
• Pallion (3)
• Penryn (3)
• Plymouth
• Rothbury (DC)
• St. Helen Auckland
• St. Helens
• Shildon
• Skelton (2)
• Southwick (4)
• Stanley (2)
• Sunderland (4)
• Team Valley (11)
• Teesside (4)
• Truro
• Tynemouth (3)
• Wadebridge
• West Chirton (2)
• Wigan (3)
• Workington (3).

(DC=factories being built at the request of Development Commission).

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many advance Government factories are under construction at the moment; and where they are located.

At 30th December 1976, 100 Government advance factories were under construction in England. They are located at:

• Altham (3)
• Ashington
• Barrow (2)
• Berwick (DC)
• Birkenhead (5)
• Blackpool (2)
• Blyth (2)
• Bradford (3)
• Brighouse
• Bromborough (2)
• Burnley
• Camborne
• Cleator Moor (2)
• Cramlington
• Doncaster (4)
• Gillmoss, Liverpool (3)
• Grimsby (4)
• Halifax
• Hartlepool (10)
• Hebburn (3)
• Houghton-le-Spring
• Irlam, Greater Manchester (2)
• Jarrow
• Knowsley, Liverpool (2)
• Lancaster
• Leeming Bar (DC—2)
• Longbenton, Newcastle (3)
• Newquay
• Okehampton (DC—2)
• Plymouth (3)
• Rochdale
• Rotherham (4)
• Sandon Dock, Liverpool
• Speke, Liverpool (5)
• Stanley (4)
• Sunderland (4)
• Team Valley, Gateshead (4)
• Teesside, Thornaby (2)
• Truro
• West Penwith, Hayle
• Whitby
• Wigan
• Worksop.

(DC=Advance factories being built at the request of the Development Commission).

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many applications for industrial development certificates for new industrial develop- ment in intermediate areas have been refused in each of the last five years.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many industrial development certificates have so far been granted and how many refused for speculative industrial redevelopment of old industrial sites containing obsolete industrial premises outside the assisted areas.

Up to the end of November 1976, 16 certificates have been issued for projects coming within the arrangements announced on 26th February 1976. No project within those criteria has been refused, but two or three applications for projects which on investigation were found to be outside the scheme were either rejected or withdrawn. Some other projects have been discussed informally, but did not lead to applications as they were found to be outside the criteria.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps the Government are taking to encourage nationalised industries to develop long-term ordering programmes for plant and equipment and to align nationalised industry specifications with overseas requirements for similar plant and equipment.

In order to give the nationalised industries and their suppliers a longer time in which to plan and greater certainty about the level of future orders, the Government introduced in 1975 new procedures for approving the capital investment programmes of the nationalised industries. Under these procedures, the Government takes decisions on nationalised industry investment programmes in the summer of each year—in advance of the main public expenditure decisions—and approves a substantial proportion of their programmes for four years ahead instead of three.Following discussion in the NEDC in December 1975, Sir Raymond Brown was invited to examine the scope for applying techniques used in the Defence Sales Agency to improve the exports by suppliers of plant and equipment to the major nationalised industries, in particular through the alignment of United Kingdom specifications with those required in world markets. His first report, on exports by the telecommunications suppliers to the Post Office, has recently been submitted to the NEDC and is now being considered by the Government. An assessment is also being made by him of the feasibility and practicability of applying the principles underlying the recommendations in this report to the other major nationalised industries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Her Majesty's Government will refuse to give relief against double taxation in respect of any tax paid to the Government of the Transkei homeland in South Africa.

Whether taxes paid to the Transkei authorities would qualify for double taxation relief is a matter of law. I understand that no claim for relief has yet been made in respect of them. They appear not to qualify, but their legal status is obscure and it would be wrong to prejudge the issue in the absence of a claim.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs he estimates will be created and lost in Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, respectively, in consequence of the measures he announced on 15th December.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20th December 1976; Vol. 923, c. 72], gave the following information:I estimate that on the basis of conventional calculations the measures announced on 15th December will reduce employment in the United Kingdom by about 130,000 by the end of 1978. However, as my right hon. Friend said in his speech on 21st December, such calculations ignore the beneficial effects of improved confidence both at home and abroad which the measures are designed to achieve. No separate estimates have been made of the effects on employment in Scotland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Griffiths) on 2nd December 1976, Official Report, c. 233, he will make a statement on the practice of the Revenue regarding what is acceptable as reasonable removal expenses and as proper control of such expenses.

Whether such expenses are regarded as reasonable depends on all the circumstances of the particular case; it is not possible to lay down any formula. They are regarded as properly controlled if the inspector is satisfied that the sums actually paid out are of the kind and amount which have been accepted as reasonable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate in the net increase in unemployment in 1977–78 which will result from the measures he announced in the House on Wednesday 15th December, excluding any job creation or job saving measure.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20th December 1976; Vol. 923, c. 73], gave the following information:I estimate that on the basis of conventional calculations the net increase in unemployment resulting from the measures announced on 15th December, excluding the industry and employment measures, will be about 40,000 by the end of 1977. However, as my right hon. Friend said in his speech on 21st December, such calculations ignore the beneficial effects of improved confidence both at home and abroad which the measures are designed to achieve.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the number of jobs that will be lost as a result of the cuts in Government expenditure announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15th December; and how many of these are expected to be in the private sector.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20th December 1976; Vol. 923, c. 73], gave the following information:I estimate that on the basis of conventional calculations the net reduction in employment resulting from the cuts in Government expenditure announced on 15th December will be about 140,000 by the end of 1978, most of which will occur in the private sector. However, as my right hon. Friend said in his speech on 21st December, such calculations ignore the beneficial effects of improved confidence both at home and abroad, which the complete package of measures is designed to achieve.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the loss of revenue in (a) income tax and (b) national insurance contributions, dividing the total between employers and employees, from persons made unemployed for each year since 1970.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23rd December 1976; Vol. 923, c. 310], circulated the following reply:I regret that the information on which to base such estimates is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, for taxation purposes, he differentiates, or intends to differentiate, on bills paid for goods and services in shops, restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, boarding houses, self-catering apartments, air fares, rail fares, bus fares, taxi fares, and hair dressers, between those who are and those who are not, United Kingdom citizens or others liable for direct taxation in the United Kingdom regardless of income.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 10th January 1977], gave the following information:There is no differentiation at the moment. I keep all forms of taxation under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each EEC member country, the items of expenditure paid by "tourists" which are subject to additional taxation for the sole cases that the expenditure concerned is incurred by a "tourist" to or in the country concerned.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 10th January 1977], gave the following reply:I regret the information is not available.