asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects to publish the 1977 Defence White Paper.

My right hon. Friend expects to publish this year's Defence White Paper towards the end of February.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish details of the numbers of RAF aircraft in each year since 1968 on the same basis as those given on 2nd July 1968.

The figures are:

1968	…	…	…	…	1,902
1969	…	…	…	…	1,738
1970	…	…	…	…	1,668
1971	…	…	…	…	1,610
1972	…	…	…	…	1,610
1973	…	…	…	…	1,601
1974	…	…	…	…	1,603
1975	…	…	…	…	1,502
1976	…	…	…	…	1,468

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the Naval Harrier will enter service; when HMS "Ark Royal" is to be withdrawn from service; and whether the Royal Navy's Buccaneer and Phantom aircraft are to be handed over to the RAF before the Naval Harrier comes into service.

The Sea Harrier is expected to enter service in mid-1979. As regards the disposal of HMS "Ark Royal" and her aircraft, it is not the normal practice to give information of this nature in advance.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the use made of RN Armament Depot at Broughton Moor of: (a) the Royal Navy and (b) other NATO forces; and why the depot is now to be closed.

The RN Armament Depot at Broughton Moor was used between 1939 and 1961 to meet Royal Naval armament storage requirements. Since 1962 it has stored ammunition on behalf of the Federal German Ministry of Defence which is withdrawing its stocks from Broughton Moor by the end of this year. The future of the depot is still under consideration, but I am hopeful that it will have a continuing defence rôle.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the level of compensation currently given to families of soldiers killed or maimed by IRA terrorists in Northern Ireland.

I am satisfied with the terms of the Armed Forces Pensions Scheme which of course provides for servicemen who are injured and the families of those who die in Northern Ireland. If the hon. Gentleman is referring to compensation awarded under the Criminal Injuries (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968, the level of compensation is for the courts which award it, and it is not appropriate for me to comment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from NATO concerning the recent defence cuts.

Our Allies have, naturally, voiced their serious concern about the further reductions in defence expenditure, but they realise that we intend to keep the effect of our front line contribution to NATO to the absolute minimum. I stressed in the House on 12th January that we were anxious to have the views of our Allies and to work closely with them on the detailed measures necessary to achieve these savings, and I explained how we would achieve this in the coming weeks and months.—[Vol. 923, c. 1455–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of Her Majesty's Forces will lose their jobs as a result of the recent defence cuts.

I do not anticipate any additional Service redundancies as a result of the reduction in the 1977–78 defence budget. We shall be studying in consultation with NATO how the defence budget reduction in 1978–79 is to be achieved. It is therefore too early to say what effects on Service manpower there may be.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the percentage of gross national product devoted to defence during the last five years; and what is his estimate of the percentage of gross national product devoted to defence in the USSR during the same five-year period.

Over the last five years, the United Kingdom has devoted about 5·6 per cent. of GNP to defence as compared with 5·4 per cent. for NATO as a whole. Current estimates are that the USSR has devoted 11 per cent. to 12 per cent. of GNP to defence over the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress she has made with her plans to encourage the provision of short in-service courses for teachers in subjects for which there is a shortage of teachers.

Ten teacher training institutions have recently been invited to investigate the possibility of providing one-year retraining courses in craft, design and technology, for both serving teachers and those who are not currently in teaching service. The Department hopes shortly to make a similar approach to selected institutions with respect to retraining courses for mathematics teaching.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate has been made of the demand for higher education in 1980, 1981 and 1982 in the light of the increased size of the 18-year-old age groups in those years.

The present assumption for planning purposes is that there will be some 560,000 full-time and sandwich course students in higher education in Great Britain by the 1981·82 academic year. This is generally consistent with the policies set out in the last Public Expenditure White Paper—Cmnd. 6393 but additionally takes account of the recommended increases in tuition fees and the proposed limitation on total numbers of overseas students in this country announced by my right hon. Friend on 25th November last.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied with the legislative provisions which assign the responsibility for ensuring the school attendance of a married person of compulsory school age to the parent; and if she will make a statement.

I recognise that difficulties can arise, but I do not think that a change in the law would bring about an improvement of any general educational benefit. I hope that local authorities will carefully consider alternative remedies, including home tuition, before prosecuting the parents of a married 16 year old.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what consideration she has given to requests for financial assistance for students who study by correspondence; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend does not consider that it would be appropriate to give guidance to local education authorities in respect of correspondence students. Authorities have discretionary powers to help any students who are not entitled to mandatory awards, including those taking courses by correspondence.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress she has made in her investigations, undertaken jointly with the Minister of Transport, into the licensing of mini-buses for school transport; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has recently received from the hon. Member for Wirral (Mr. Hunt) details of the Passenger Vehicles (Educational and Other Purposes) Bill, including this subject which he presented to the House on 22nd December last. She is carefully considering, in the light of the investigations to which the hon. Member refers, whether the Bill can be given Government support; but the matter is primarily one for her right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, since it involves the provisions of the Road Traffic Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice she has given to local education authorities, and in particular to Hampshire education authority, concerning the need to maintain pupil-teacher ratios in both the primary and secondary schools.

Guidance on the implications of the 1977–78 rate support grant settlement was issued to all local education authorities last month in Circular 14/76 which made it clear that the settlement is designed to enable authorities to maintain in the school year 1977–78 their current staffing ratios in primary, secondary and special schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when work is expected to start on the new National Library on the Somers Town site; and what action she is taking regarding properties previously acquired on the Bloomsbury site and not now required by Her Majesty's Government.

Work on the detailed design of the new buildings is continuing with a view to a start on the construction of a substantial first phase in 1979–80 if economic conditions at that time permit. Action on the Bloomsbury properties is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment. I understand that par ticular have been given to the Government departments, local authorities and the Housing Corporation to determine their needs, and this process should be completed in the near future. The properties not so required will be disposed of in an orderly way by auction or tender.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will issue a direction for an attendance order in the case of Mrs. Daniel's children at Windsor Grammar School taking into consideration the wishes of parents regarding the desire for single-sex education.

The Secretary of State has been asked by the Berkshire Education Authority, in accordance with Section 37(3) of the Education Act 1944, to determine what school should be named in a school attendance order which the authority is to make with respect to Mrs. Daniel's son. In accordance with normal practice Mrs. Daniel is being invited to make representations which will be fully considered by the Secretary of State, together with all the information already available, before a decision is made.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many children in maintained secondary schools in Norfolk are in temporary school accommodation;(2) how many children in maintained primary schools in Norfolk are in permanent school accommodation;(3) how many children in maintained primary schools in Norfolk are in temporary school accommodation;(4) how many children in maintained secondary schools in Norfolk are in permanent school accommodation.

I regret that this information is not available in my Department, because the information the authority provides in support of bids for building programme allocations, is not in this form.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many children in maintained secondary schools in Norfolk are in sub-standard accommodation;(2) how many children in maintained primary schools in Norfolk are in substandard accommodation.

Statutory standards for school premises are set in regulations made under Section 10 of the Education Act 1944. Since 1945 all major and certain minor school building projects have been approved against these requirements. The Department does not collect for areas of particular local education authorities, information about

University or College	Undergraduates	Postgraduates	Total
Aston	4,127	1,000	5,127
Bath	3,018	482	3,500
Birmingham	6,586	1,747	8,333
Bradford	3,713	689	4,402
Bristol	5,851	890	6,741
Brunel	1,991	473	2,464
Cambridge	9,159	2,136	11,295
City	2,123	358	2,481
Durham	3,714	649	4,363
EastAnglia	3,215	408	3,623
Essex	2,006	486	2,492
Exeter	3,523	688	4,211
Hull	3,972	567	4,539
Keele	2,133	407	2,540
Kent	2,886	470	3,356
Lancaster	3,607	596	4,203
Leeds	7,658	1,902	9,560
Leicester	3,238	771	4,009
Liverpool	6,253	1,188	7,441
London Graduate School of Business Studies	—	236	236
London	27,623	10,157	37,780
Loughborough	3,350	512	3,862
Manchester Business School	—	136	136
Manchester	8,691	1,910	10,601
University of Manchester: Instituteof Scienceand Technology	2,692	1,111	3,803
Newcastle	5,571	1,271	6,842
Nottingham	5,066	1,046	6,112
Oxford	9,003	2,797	11,800
Reading	4,548	1,022	5,570
Salford	3,726	497	4,223
Sheffield	6,128	1,267	7,395
Southampton	4,748	979	5,727
Surrey	2,546	496	3,042
Sussex	3,412	1,054	4,466
Warwick	3,699	465	4,164
York	2,427	498	2,925
University of Wales	14,641	3,345	17,986
Aberdeen	4,805	581	5,386
Dundee	2,494	287	2,781
Edinburgh	8,005	1,351	9,356
Glasgow	8,511	912	9,423
Heriot Watt	2,323	225	2,548
St.Andrews	2,881	211	3,092
Stirling	1,994	256	2,250
Strathclyde	5,235	1,066	6,301
Total Great Britain	222,892	49,595	272,487

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish for each university in receipt of grant from the University Grants Committee the number of full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students in each university during the academic year 1976–77 as returned to the University Grants Committee at 31st October 1976.

:The information is set out in the following table:—

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is her latest estimate of the number of primary school places required in Norfolk by 1980;(2) what is her latest estimate of the number of secondary school places required in Norfolk by 1980.

I regret that this information is not available in my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many children are attending maintained primary schools in Norfolk;(2) how many children are attending maintained secondary schools in Norfolk.

In January 1976, the latest date for which information is available, the numbers of children attending maintained primary and secondary schools in Norfolk were as follows:

	Full-time pupils	Part-time pupils
Primary schools	69,743	1,163
Secondary schools	44,709

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the

				Primary schools	Secondary schools	Total
Non-metropolitan counties	…	…	…	5,600	300	5,900
Metropolitan counties and Greater London	…	…	…	1,900	300	2,200
Total England	…	…	…	7,500	600	8,100

The survey was not intended or structured to provide estimates of the number of such schools for individual local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many people are currently illiterate; and how this figure compares with 1967 and 1957, respectively.

The information is not available and its collection would be difficult even if there were an agreed definition of literacy and suitable tests to measure it. Present estimates are that over 100,000 adult literacy students are

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how long the great debate on education is expected to last; and what conclusions she hopes to draw from it.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I have today given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) and the hon. Member for Carshalton (Mr. Forman). It is at this stage too early to say what conclusions might be drawn from the discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the Official Report a list showing the number of pre-1903 schools still in use in English Metropolitan and shire counties.

According to a 10 per cent. sample survey held in 1975, the numbers of schools containing at least some pre-1903 teaching accommodation are estimated to have been as as follows:now under tuition compared with some 50,000 a year ago and fewer than 10,000 before that.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the Official Report figures to show the staffing ratios of primary schools with 200 or more pupils in Norfolk, compared with those of all English education authorities.

This information could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the Official Report a list showing the staffing ratios in each of the English shire counties.

Pupil-teacher ratios for each local education authority in England and Wales were published by my Department on 16th December and are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the duties of Her Majesty's Inspectors in addition to inspecting private schools.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate's chief duties are to monitor educational standards and developments within maintained and non-maintained schools and higher and further education and to report to, and advise my right hon. Friend on a national basis. Other functions include liaison with local education authorities and other bodies, preparing publications and in-service courses, and consulting with those concerned with education in the United Kingdom and overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what results the withdrawal of Her Majesty's Inspectors from State schools in recent years has had on secondary education.

No withdrawal has taken place.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied with education standards in the United Kingdom in comparison with those of Great Britain's main industrial competitors.

Comparisons between the standards achieved by different countries, often with widely differing systems of education, are rarely profitable. My right hon. Friend takes the view that we can never be wholly satisfied with educational standards, and one of the purposes of the present debate on education is to discuss how standards might be improved.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department's circular dated 22nd December 1976, No. 123/76, on the reduction of local authority expenditure will apply to the Richmond upon Thames council's proposal for constructing multi-storey car parks.

The circular would apply if construction of the new car park was to begin during the six months starting 15th December 1976. But I understand that this is not the case.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport in view of Government cuts, if he will make a statement on what his plans are for the proposed widening of the Archway Road A1.

Plans for improving Archway Road are not affected by recent cuts in public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a list of garages disqualified from carrying out MoT tests in 1976.

The withdrawal of a garage's authorisation to conduct MoT tests does not necessarily reflect on its standard of service; but, as in such circumstances the official test documents are aso withdrawn and the testing sign removed, it can neither advertise nor conduct tests. I doubt, therefore, whether any useful purpose would be served by publishing a list as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what research is being carried out on air bags as an alternative to safety belts.

Most research on air bags is carried out in the United States and we keep abreast of developments there. In this country, and Europe generally, research into car passenger restraint systems is centred on the seat belt.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate his Department has made of the cost to industry of the hold-ups on the southbound lane of the M1 south of the Watford Gap Service Station on Monday 10th January 1977;(2) in view of the repairs being done to the south-bound lane of the M1 south of the Watford Gap Service Station, why arrangements were not made on Monday 10th January to close one lane on the north-bound lane and so enable two lanes of traffic to move south;(3) what instructions he has issued to ensure that traffic hold-ups on motorways are kept to a minimum when repairs are being undertaken.

The length of carriageway being maintained on 10th January was considered too long to enable the traffic to be switched to the other carriageway with safety. In the event, the decision proved wrong and delays to traffic were excessive. Steps are being taken to avoid so far as possible such an event happening again.There is insufficient information available to determine the cost to industry of the hold-ups that occurred on this occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many objections have been received by him to plans for the A35-A31 Bere Regis bypass; and when it is expected that construction will begin.

The scheme has not yet advanced to the point at which formal objections are invited. By an announcement on 22nd December 1976, the Department invited public comment by 7th February 1977 on what appears to be the only practicable route for a by-pass. To date there has been no response. The starting date for construction will depend on the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and the availability of funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what procedures it is intended to follow and what dates he has in mind regarding public inquiries in relation to the proposed Ipswich southern bypass.

The procedures will follow the Highways (Inquiries Procedures) Rules 1976 (SI 1976 No. 721), which require at least 42 days' notice to be given in announcing an inquiry. My right hon. Friend cannot yet give a firm date for the inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why the drive and drinking advertising campaign will not include the North-East so that that area will also benefit from the resulting reduction in death and injuries due to car accidents.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas) on 10th December.—[Vol. 922, c. 393.]

asked the Prime Minister what are his powers of patronage as First Lord of the Treasury.

The First Lord of the Treasury advises the Sovereign on appointments to Crown livings in the Church of England and makes certain Museum and Gallery appointments.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 18th January.

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

asked the Prime Minister if he will visit Didsbury.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to meet the chairmen of the nationalised industries.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Watkinson) on 9th December.

asked the Prime Minister when he intends to meet the President of the United States of America.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Carlshalton (Mr. Forman) on 13th January.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what shortfalls occurred in ACP sugar quotas under the Lomé Convention for the years 1975 and 1976; what respective reallocations have been made; and what changes have been made in the quotas for 1976 and 1977.

The normal delivery period for sugar under Protocol No. 3 to the Lomé Convention, and under related agreements with Belize, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla and Surinam, and with India, ends on 30th June of each year. There have been only two completed delivery periods. There were no shortfalls in the first of these—1st February to 30th June 1975—but in the second six countries did not fulfil their delivery obligations. These were Fiji, Mauritius, People's Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Uganda and Surinam. With the exception of Kenya and Surinam, all made representations to the Commission on the grounds that non-delivery was due to reasons of force majeure. The Commission accepted the claims of Fiji and Mauritius, and in the latter case allowed Mauritius at her request to make up the deficit in the current delivery period. The Commission rejected the claims of Congo and Uganda, and their quotas for 1976–77 and subsequent years, along with those of Kenya and Surinam, have been reduced by the extent of the shortfall.No decision has yet been taken regarding reallocation.The table below shows, for each of the six countries concerned, the 1975–76 quota, the shortfall in that year, and the quota for 1976–77 and subsequent years.

SUGAR QUOTAS AND SHORTFALLS UNDER PROTOCOL No. 3 TO THE LOME CONVENTION AND RELATED AGREEMENTS
country		Quota 1975–76	shortfall 1975–76	Quota 1976–77 et.seq.
Fiji	…	163,600	25,701	163,600
Mauritius	…	487,200	65,465	487,200*
Congo	…	10,000	10,000	0
Kenya	…	5,000	5,000	0
Uganda	…	5,000	2,041	2,959
Surinam	…	4,000	3,903·8	96·2
* The fact that Mauritius is making up her 1975–76 deficit does not alter her quota for 1976–77 since the deficit is deemed to have been made up in the 1975-76 delivery period.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the dangers of illegal fishing in the South-West, he will seek powers to restrict the outlets for the sale of salmon by licensing all salmon dealers and their premises.

Water authorities already have power to control illegal salmon fishing in their areas, which extend six miles out to sea. The suggestion that salmon sales should be restricted to licensed dealers has been considered many times over the years, but we are doubtful whether a licensing system could be properly enforced without cumbersome and restrictive procedures on a national basis.

asked the hon. Member for Kingswood, as Second Church Estates Commissioner representing the Church Commissioners, why the Commissioners have put forward proposals involving the demolition of a Grade I listed building, namely, All Saints Church, Annesley, Nottinghamshire.

The remains of the old church of All Saints, Annesley, were declared redundant under the terms of the Pastoral Measure 1968 on 3rd February 1975. The future of a building declared redundant has to be settled within three years of the declaration of redundancy by a redundancy scheme which may provide for one of three courses:

(i) Appropriation to another use and subsequent disposal by sale, lease or gift.

(ii) Preservation by the Redundant Churches Fund.

(iii) Demolition.

The ruins are adjacent to Annesley Hall, and the most satisfactory solution for their future would be as a "feature" or monument in connection with the hall and estate, but the present owners of the hall are disposing of their property and negotiations with them over a period of 18 months have come to nothing.In accordance with the statutory procedure, the Commissioners consulted the Advisory Board for Redundant Churches as to the future of the ruins and the board advised that in their present poor condition they were not worthy of preservation by the Redundant Church Fund. The board indicated that, subject to the removal elsewhere of certain important features, it would raise no objection to demolition. As it was understood that the Department of the Environment contemplated scheduling the ruins under the Ancient Monuments Acts, it also was consulted. It decided not to proceed with scheduling, but asked that, in the event of demolition, it might have an opportunity for archaeological investigation. It is some time since the ruins were listed under the Town and Country Planning Acts and graded 1, and it seems unlikely that they would merit such high grading if they were currently inspected.In the circumstances, and in view of the dangerous condition of the ruins and the consequent inadvisability of deferring a decision, the Commissioners decided that they had no other choice than to issue a draft redundancy scheme providing for demolition. The procedure allows a period of not less than 28 days during which anyone may make representations with respect to the draft scheme and this period expires on 24th January. Some representations against the scheme for demolition have already been received and will be considered by the Commissioners in due course. In doing so they will take into account any change of circumstances and will consult the Bishop of Southwell.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the terms of reference of the inquiry which he has initiated into recent gas explosions; and when he expects to receive their report.

The terms of reference of the inquiry were included in the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) on 10th January. I am not yet in a position to say when the report will be received.—[Vol. 923, c. 347–48.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of capital expenditure by the local authorities in 1950, 1960, 1970, 1975 and 1976 was represented by loan charges.

The following table shows loan charges as a percentage of the gross current expenditure of local authorities together with the percentage of gross capital expenditure financed from loans.Comparable information is not yet available for 1976–77.

		England and Wales
Year		Loan charges as percentage of gross current expenditure	percentage gross of capital expenditure financed from loans
1950–51	…	12·9	92·3
1960–61	…	18·5	85·4
1970–71	…	19·6	77·9
1975–76	…	17·5	78·2*
* Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will hold a public inquiry into the opening of a fourth passenger terminal at Heathrow Airport.

Before proceeding with any proposal to provide a fourth terminal at Heathrow the British Airports Authority will, I understand, consult the local authorities. At the present time consideration of whether a public inquiry might prove to be appropriate would be premature.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the approximate estimated saving of lowering the temperature standard in local authority accommodation of typical modern design specially designed for old people approved by his Department by 1°C (a) on the capital cost of heating equipment and (b) on the average annual running costs, assuming gas-fired central heating at current gas price levels.

The saving on the capital cost of heating equipment would not be significant. The running cost of a typical one-bedroom dwelling for old people is estimated at around £120 per annum, of which we would expect about £40 to be the fuel cost for space heating. On this basis a reduction of 1°C in the average running temperature could result in a saving of about £3 per annum. Occupiers do not, of course, necessarily operate a heating system at the design temperature but for reasons of health and comfort systems should be capable of achieving current design temperatures when necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average cost of a three-bedroom council house built 10 years ago in South-East England; what would be the current levels of loan charges and subsidy from central Government; and if he will give an estimate of the current average market price for houses of this standard based on assessments made by district valuers in cases of council house sale, neglecting any discount offered.

The average cost of a three-bedroom council house built in 1966 in South-East England was about £3,700. The loan charges in 1976£77 would be about £400. The subsidies now payable in respect of houses built before April 1975 are not related to individual dwellings.Council house sale prices are not normally assessed by district valuers. But the limited amount of information available on the prices at which council houses of different sizes, quality and locations in the South-East were sold in the latter part of 1976 suggests that a typical figure might be about £10,000 before discount.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current average cost of constructing a three-bedroom council house in South-East England; and what is the level of subsidy payable on such a house.

The average cost of constructing a three-bedroom house in South-East England in 1976 was about £13,000. Assuming an average loans fund interest rate of 11 per cent., average management and maintenance costs of about £140 and an average weekly rent of £6·75 for a new house in the South-East outside London, the level of Exchequer subsidies including rent rebate subsidy, would be about £1,000 in the first year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to make known his decision on the claims of those local authorities who are seeking stress area status.

The local authorities concerned were notified of my right hon. Friend's decision on 11th January. The following districts have been added to the list of districts designated as areas of housing stress which was annexed to Circular 80/76:

• Barnsley
• Bristol
• Colderdale
• Doncaster
• Grimsby
• Hartlepool
• Kirklees
• Plymouth
• Reading
• Rochdale
• Rotherham
• Sunderland
• Wakefield

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there is any programme of public meetings undertaken by his Department on "The Need for the Department of the Environment Today", similar to the programme being undertaken by the Admiralty Board on "The Need for the Royal Navy Today"

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what are the latest available figures for house building completions in the United Kingdom in the public and private sectors, respectively; and what were the comparable figures in each of the last five years;(2) what are the latest available figures for house building starts in the United Kingdom in the public and private sectors, respectively; and what were the comparable figures for each of the last five years.

New housing starts and completions in the United Kingdom for the period January to November 1976 and for the comparable period in the year 1971 to 1975 were as follows:

		starts (thousands)		completions (thousands)
		Public sector	private sector	public sector	private Sector
1971	…	135	192	151	175
1972	…	122	215	120	183
1973	…	109	209	104	177
1974	…	142	103	120	134
1975	…	167	142	151	141
1976	…	173	151	155	141

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the results of the latest reviw of his Department's housing cost yardstick; and how this compares with the results of the four previous quarterly reviews.

The results of the review do not warrant change to the existing yardstick levels. The five previous quarterly reviews have resulted in increases of 6 per cent. over the levels set in June 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the increasing resources being made available to the Scottish and Welsh Development Agencies, what representations he has received to allocate extra funds to the Development Commission to ensure that a five-year period of factory building can be completed in Devon and Cornwall.

The Development Commission has represented to me very strongly its need for extra funds to build advance factories in many areas of rural depopulation including Devon and Cornwall. Any extra funds for the Commission would have to be found from the totals announced on 15th December but no decision has so far been taken to allocate more to it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will estimate the number of staff that would be saved by the abolition of: (a) domestic rates (b) business rates and (c) all rates.

An estimate cannot readily be made from the information available, but I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were employed by the PSA in each quarter since the agency was established.

The following are the figures:—

1972
October	…	…	…	…	…	47,070
1973
January	…	…	…	…	…	47,215
April	…	…	…	…	…	46,878
July	…	…	…	…	…	45,669
October	…	…	…	…	…	45,341
1974
January	…	…	…	…	…	44,766
April	…	…	…	…	…	44,266
July	…	…	…	…	…	43,452
October	…	…	…	…	…	43,527
1975
January	…	…	…	…	…	43,457
April	…	…	…	…	…	43,852
July	…	…	…	…	…	43,997
October	…	…	…	…	…	44,850
1976
January	…	…	…	…	…	44,673
April	…	…	…	…	…	44,437
July	…	…	…	…	…	43,809
October	…	…	…	…	…	43,673
1977
January	…	…	…	…	…	43,250

These figures do not include locally engaged staff overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will order an inquiry into the administration of the emigration department at Dacca in view of recent complaints about procedures for handling emigrants' applications.

No. I am aware that, because of the heavy burden of work upon the Immigration Department at the High Commission in Dacca, delays do occur in handling applications and particularly those in which there are serious doubts about the validity of the applicants' claims. The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department has been visiting this and other posts in the Indian sub-continent and my right hon. Friend will be considering any recommendations that she may make about the procedures employed. But I am generally satisfied that the post handles applications sympathetically and efficiently. I believe that the hon. Member's concern arises from the case of Mr. Ibrahim Ali, which is the subject of a separate question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why, and on whose authority, civil servants in the emigration department at Dacca are issuing letters advising would-be emigrants that no purpose will be served by their writing to the emigration department to inquire about the case.

Between 400 and 500 incoming letters are handled each week at the Dacca Immigration Section. To help reduce the time spent processing correspondence and so to speed business generally a sentence was included in a local stock letter of acknowledgement seeking to discourage repeated inquiries. It is recognised that this sentence could create a wrong impression and it is no longer to be used.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why entry permits have not been issued at Dacca to the wife and four children of Mr. Ibraham Ali (Ref. A158106) as authorised on 3rd September 1974.

Because serious doubts arose about some parts of Mr. Ibrahim Ali's application, the original authorisation to issue an entry permit was suspended pending further examination. There were further discussions with Mr. Ali, but these did not resolve the difficulties and it was decided that a representative of the High Commission in Dacca should visit Mr. Ali's village to undertake further investigation. This visit is to take place during the week beginning 17th January. I shall write shortly to give the hon. Member further information about this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of Ocean Island and the phosphate on the island; and if he is satisfied that the Banaban people now on Rabi have been sufficiently compensated.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 13th, January to my hon. Friend the member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South (Mrs. Jeger).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost to Great Britain up until 31st December 1976 of the Rhodesian Conference in Geneva.

Although the exact cost of the Rhodesia Conference up until 31st December 1976 will not be known until all bills have been met and expenditure brought to account, it is unlikely to differ greatly from the latest estimate of 299,600.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date the term of office of the Governor of Hong Kong comes to an end.

Her Majesty The Queen has approved the extension of the Governor's term of office until November 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to make a statement on the appointment of the new Governor of Hong Kong.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given today to another of his Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to appoint to the Governorship of Hong Kong someone with political experience.

I would not wish to speculate on what advice my right hon. Friend might give to Her Majesty The Queen when the time comes to appoint a new Governor of Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what emoluments the Governor of Hong Kong receives in addition to his salary.

The Governor of Hong Kong receives no emoluments in addition to his salary. He is paid an entertainment allowance by the Hong Kong Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present salary of the Governor of Hong Kong; and how much of this is taxable.

The Governor of Hong Kong's present salary is $HK330,000—approximately £41,000 at the current rate of exchange. The Governor's salary, which is paid by the Hong Kong Government, is not taxable.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent discussions between the Governor of Hong Kong and the Minister of State.

My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and the Governor of Hong Kong discussed the Hong Kong Government's plans for further progress in labour, social and allied fields in Hong Kong, as set out by the Governor in his statement at the opening of the current session of the Legislative Council on 6th October 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many passports or other travel documents were issued in 1976 to persons originating from the Republic of South Africa, by Her Majesty's High Commission in Botswana; and how many were issued in each of the five previous years.

Passport statistics are not maintained in a form which makes it possible to provide this information.Figures for passports issued at the British High Commission Gaberone are:

1976 (January-November)	…	921
1971	…	252
1972	…	281
1973	…	501
1974	…	768
1975	…	803

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table, showing, since 1st January 1976, the total grants made from EEC regional funds to the United Kingdom, and also giving details of the amounts and percentages allocated to the North-East and Scotland, and the grant per head of population for the country as a whole and the specified region.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will ensure that the cost of providing police protection for the Royal Family during the Silver Jubilee celebrations is met from central funds and does not fall on the resources of local police forces.

Protection of the Royal Family is a normal duty of the police service and I see no reason for making special financial arrangements for the carrying out of this function during the Jubilee Year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the interests of safety, he will encourage the improvement of arrangements between the police and the gas board about reporting gas leaks; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a Question from the hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Mr. Hayhoe) on 14th January.Under the Inquiry announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy on 10th January, all the circumstances surrounding recent incidents will be examined and possible improvements to existing procedures will be considered.Any evidence of a specific failure of communication between the police and emergency gas services would be a matter in the first instance for the gas board and the chief officer of police for the area concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will appoint an independent person to inquire into the dispute over police pay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now appoint an arbitrator on pay as requested by the Police Federation.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations have been made to him by Irish political prisoners serving sentences in the United Kingdom regarding discrimination; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will make a statement about the treatment of Irish political prisoners serving sentences in the United Kingdom.

I am responsible for prisons only in England and Wales. There are no political prisoners here; no such status is recognised. Nor is it the policy of the Government to grant it. All convicted prisoners are in prison because the courts have found them guilty of criminal offences—including, for example, multiple murders and the causing of explosions.I am unable to give details of each and every representation alleging unfair treatment that has been made to me by a prisoner connected with Irish organisations. I am satisfied, however, that these prisoners are not discriminated against. They are treated in accordance with the Prison Rules and Home Office administrative directions relating to convicted prisoners including, where appropriate, the special procedures applied to all prisoners presenting a high security risk.

asked the Lord Advocate what effect the operation of cash limits (a) has had in the current year and (b) will have had to the end of the current financial year upon the number and location of staff in his Department.

The effect of cash limits upon my Department during the current year has been that every vacant post has been very carefully scrutinised before a replacement has been authorised. This has resulted in vacancies remaining unfilled for longer periods and so has led to a reduction in the number of staff in post at any given time.Allocation of staff in the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service has also been affected as transfers have been restricted in order to economise in payments of transfer expenses.Furthermore in order to come within the Department's cash limits it has been found necessary to dispense with 30 of the authorised posts in the Procurator Fiscal Service. This has been achieved by not recruiting for these posts rather than by creating redundancies.In consequence of the foregoing the staff in the Procurator Fiscal Service is 30 below the authorized complement. In view of the continuing increase in the level of crime this will put pressure on the Procurator Fiscal Service and work will not be carried out as expeditiously or efficiently as I would wish. In addition some desirable transfers of staff will have to be delayed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to change the situation whereby a father living apart from his wife may claim tax allowances for his children though he pays no maintenance for their upkeep.

No. Where both parents claim child tax allowance, it is apportioned either by agreement or in proportion to maintenance provided. Any problems in this area will disappear with the introduction of child benefits and the phasing out of child tax allowances over the next three years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider permitting a percentage of rates paid by domestic occupiers as an allowance against income tax; and what would be the cost to the revenue should 25 per cent. be so conceded.

The Layfield Committee recommended against the deduction of domestic rates in assessing personal income for tax. The cost of allowing a deduction for 25 per cent. of domestic rates in Great Britain cannot be estimated precisely, but is thought to be somewhere about £100 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the United Kingdom's export competitiveness of the appreciation of the £ sterling from $1·57 to $1·70; and what effect this will have on the balance of trade, taking into account the impact on imports.

According to the Treasury model, a rise in the sterling/dollar rate from $1.57 to $1·70 would ultimately lead, other things equal, to a fall in export price competitiveness of about 2 per cent. The actual impact on the balance of trade would depend crucially on the timing of exchange rate changes: very short-term fluctuations are probably of little significance in determining the volume of trade flows.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what has been the weighted average appreciation of the £ sterling from the low point reached in 1976; what, according to the Treasury formula for the effectiveness of exchange rate changes, would be the increase in imports of manufactures and the fall in exports of manufactures as a result; and what will be the consequences in 1977 on domestic credit expansion manufacturing output and employment.

Sterling moved from an effective depreciation of 48·7 per cent. on 28th October to 43·2 per cent. on 13th January. Significant effects on trade volumes are unlikely to result from very short-term fluctuations in the exchange rate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of total imports in November and December comprised manufactured goods.

Manufactured goods, which includes semi-manufactured and finished manufactured goods, comprised 52·1 per cent. and 55·3 per cent. of all imported goods in November and December respectively. Figures for imports of services during this period are not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what factors he ascribes the increase in the volume of imports during a period of sterling devaluation.

Movements in the volume of imports reflect the influence of a large number of factors, including—with a lag—international competitiveness, a major element in which is the rate of exchange. Between the first half of this year and the three months ending November the volume of imports has risen by over 8 per cent., with the biggest increases in food and manufactures, partly as a result of the impact of the drought and some reduction in destocking. As my right hon. Friend told the IMF, we expect the improved competitiveness of British industry to limit more effectively the continuing penetration of the domestic market.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his estimate of the price competitiveness of United Kingdom manufactures in the fourth quarter of 1976 by comparison with the first and third quarters;(2) what measures he proposes to offset the effect on export competitiveness caused by the 8 per cent. increase in the dollar price of British manufactures since June 1976.

It is not possible to make a reliable estimate of export price competitiveness in recent months until data on competitors' prices are complete. Given the movements in the exchange rate, however, it is probable that between the first and fourth quarters of 1976 export price competitiveness improved substantially. Over this period there was also a substantial improvement in the relative profitability of exports in relation to home sales. In general, no single indicator of competitiveness is suitable for use on its own. There may be short-run fluctuations in individual indices which do not reflect the trend in competitiveness.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a growth in net exports is the only area of potential growth in the economy, given the definition of and restrictions upon domestic credit expansion agreed with the IMF.

No. Although the growth of net exports is a major element in the Government's economic strategy, it was made clear in my right hon. Friend's statement of 15th December and in the economic forecast published at that time, that other areas of growth are likely, including manufacturing investment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward measures to remedy the current situation in which three out of four engineering firms are working below target capacity because of a shortage of export orders.

I believe that the Government's economic strategy for the next few years provides excellent opportunities for firms to expand exports and reduce the level of below capacity working.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will instruct the Bank of England to reduce the minimum lending rate.

Treasury Ministers and officials are in regular contact with the Bank on questions of monetary policy, including the appropriate level of the minimum lending rate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will instruct the Bank of England not to use money obtained through the IMF loan in order to support sterling.

I am aware of my hon. Friend's views on this matter and can assure him that they are borne in mind. But, as he is aware, it is not the practice to comment on intervention policy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applicants for tax exemption certificates in the construction industry have: (a) had certificates granted, (b) been refused certificates and (c) had their applications referred back for further investigation; and what have been the reasons for certificates not being granted.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses are registered for VAT purposes; and how many of them are visited by VAT inspectors in a year.

About 1¼ million traders are registered for VAT and up to 400,000 control visits are made to businesses each year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will estimate the total number of staff in the Inland Revenue that would be saved if there were self-assessment for Schedule D taxpayers.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will estimate the total number of staff in the Inland Revenue that would be saved by the abolition of children's allowances, tax relief on mortgage interest payments and life assurance payments, dependent relative allowance, blind person's allowance, housekeeper's allowance, daughter's services allowance and the tool allowances, respectively.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will estimate the total number of staff in the Inland Revenue that would be saved if the old age pension and the age allowance were raised on the same day.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will estimate the total number of staff in the Inland Revenue that would be saved if capital transfer tax, capital gains tax, stamp duty and development land tax were abolished.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer in the current financial year if: (a) the income tax threshold were raised to £500 and (b) the starting rate of tax was lowered to 30 per cent.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th January 1977; Vol. 923, c. 569], gave the following information:The cost for 1976–77 of raising by £500 the income tax allowances for single persons, earning wives, married persons and the aged and at the same time reducing the basic rate from 35 per cent, to 30 per cent. would be about £5,900 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current rate of inflation.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th January 1977; Vol. 924, c. 49], gave the following information:Over the 12 months to November 1976 the Retail Price Index rose by 15·0 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he distinguishes between individual and company outflows of capital.