Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday 25th January 1977

Energy

Power Stations

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, of the steady ordering of power stations recommended by the CPRS, what proportion are expected to be conventional fossil-fuelled and what percentage nuclear.

The CPRS report is still being considered.

Electricity Prices

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what estimate he has made of the eventual increase in the price of electricity to the domestic consumer resulting from the recent negotiations between the miners and the National Coal Board on the terms for early retirement; and if he will make a statement.

It is too early to say what the effect will be.

Participation Agreements

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

, pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 21st December 1976, Vol. 923, c. 123], gave the following further information:The following is the text of a joint statement made today by the Department of Energy, the British National Oil Corporation and Texaco North Sea U.K. Limited:

Her Majesty's Government, BNOC and Texaco have today signed a Memorandum of Principles setting out the arrangements to be concluded between them to give effect to Her Majesty's Government's policy of securing majority State participation in commercial oilfields discovered by Texaco under existing licences. It is proposed that definitive agreements should be completed by April 30, 1977.

At the present time Texaco holds a sub-licence interest in the Argyll Field which is being produced commercially. Texaco also holds interests in various licences within which discoveries have been made and work is currently under way to evaluate the potential for commercial development. Texaco is also continuing exploration activity within their licence area. Should any of Texaco's discoveries be declared commercial then they will become subject to the Memorandum and proposed agreements.

The Memorandum of Principles has substantially the same form as the arrangements recently concluded with Shell and Esso. As in the case of Shell/Esso the agreements provide for consultation between HMG, advised by BNOC, with respect to the Company's petroleum operations in the UK and allows for BNOC to become a joint licence holder with Texaco in commercial oilfields discovered under existing licences. BNOC will have the right to acquire at market prices up to 51 per cent. of Texaco's share of oil produced from such discoveries. The agreement also provides for the sale by BNOC to Texaco of up to 100 per cent. of this oil following such consultation with HMG and the Company on a basis which protects the Company's commercial activities.

The Company has declared its intention to use any UKCS oil from existing licences in support of its UK feedstock requirements; to optimise the use of UKCS oil in relation to the UK market; and to trade at fair prices, using its best endeavours to safeguard the UK Government's petroleum revenues and maximise the benefit to the UK balance of payments. The agreement will give BNOC the right to information customarily enjoyed by co-licensees together with an effective voice and, in fields where other companies have interests, a vote (hut not a veto), in the development and operation of the fields and associated facilities. It also allows for training by Texaco of BNOC personnel.

The arrangements as concluded and implemented will fully meet HMG's participation objectives while safeguarding the interests of Texaco.

The following is the text of a joint announcement made today by the Secretary of State for Energy, the BNOC, Mobil, Texas Eastern and Amerada Hess:

Her Majesty's Government, the British National Oil Corporation (BNOC), Mobil, Texas Eastern and Amerada Hess have signed Memoranda of Principles setting out the arrangements to be concluded between them to give effect to the policy of HMG of securing majority State participation in commercial oilfields discovered under existing licences, leaving the companies no better and no worse off financially.

The Memorandum signed with Mobil is in substantially the same form as those recently agreed with Shell and Esso, and in addition contains certain specific provisions relating to the Beryl Field, the participants in which also include Texas Eastern, Amerada Hess and the Britsh Gas Corporation (BGC). As with other participation agreements, BNOC will have the right to acquire up to 51 per cent. of Mobil's petroleum production at international market price except where Mobil is a joint licensee with BGC (as in the case of the Beryl Field) where the percentage will be reduced to take account of the interests of the BGC. Similarly, there are provisions for BNOC to sell back any crude oil taken from Mobil in order to meet the UK marketing and refining needs of Mobil. The Company has declared its intention to use any UKCS oil from existing licences in support of its UK feedstock requirements; to optimise the use of UKCS oil in relation to the UK market; and to trade at fair market prices using its best endeavours to safeguard UK Government petroleum revenues and maximise the benefit to the UK balance of payments. The Memorandum covers all future commercial fields discovered under existing licences held by Mobil.

The Memoranda signed with Texas Eastern and Amerada Hess relate solely to their interests in petrolum production under licence P139, the licence covering the Beryl field in Block 9/13. BNOC has the right to acquire at international market price up to 45½ per cent. (which again allows for the BGC interest) of the companies' petroleum production from the Beryl field. In the case of crude oil, the right commences on 1 January 1979. Should either company engage in refining in the UK, then BNOC will be willing to sell back oil to the company under arrangements similar to those reached with Mobil.

Each of the above Memoranda provide for BNOC to have the right to information and an effective voice with specific voting rights under the Beryl field operating agreement.

European Parliament

Q5.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to pay an official visit to the European Parliament.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Secretary Of State For Energy

Q6.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now dismiss the Secretary of State for Energy.

asked the Prime Minister if he will dismiss the Secretary of State for Energy.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) on 20th January.

Prime Minister (Engagements)

Q7.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25th January.

Q11.

asked the Prime Minister what are his official engagements for Tuesday 25th January.

Q16.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state his official engagements for 25th January.

Q20.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his engagements for 25th January 1977.

Q24.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements on 25th January.

In addition to my duties in this House I shall be holding meetings with ministerial colleagues and others.

Tamworth

Q8.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

Tuc And Cbi

Q9.

asked the Prime Minister what he proposes to discuss at his next meeting with the TUC.

The agenda will depend on the purpose of the meeting and the circumstances at the time.

Q15.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC and CBI.

Q19.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC and CBI.

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

Q25.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

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

Defence Chiefs Of Staff

Q10.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his meeting with the Defence Chiefs of Staff.

No.

Q13.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the Defence Chiefs of Staff.

Q21.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the Defence Chiefs of Staff.

Q27.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the Defence Chiefs of Staff.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Arundel (Mr. Marshall).

Mr Andy Bevan

Q12.

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint Mr. Andy Bevan to the Policy Unit at No. 10 Downing Street.

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint Mr. Andy Bevan to the Policy Unit at 10 Downing Street.

No.

New Waltham

Q17.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

Shetland

Q18.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will pay a visit to Shetland.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Cornwall

Q22.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

Nationalised Industries

Q23.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the heads of nationalised industries.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Cartwright) on 9th December.

General Haig

Q26.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met General Alexander Haig.

I have not met General Haig since I became Prime Minister.

Newport (Middlesbrough)

Q28.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Newport, near Middlesbrough.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Central Policy Review Staff (Report)

asked the Prime Minister what was the total cost of the study which resulted in the report by the Central Policy Review Staff "The Future of the UK Power Plant Manufacturing Industry".

About £142,000.

Prime Minister (Visits)

asked the Prime Minister if he will list all the official visits he has made to foreign countries since he became Prime Minister; and if he will give the total cost to public funds of each visit.

The list is as follows:

June 1976: Puerto Rico for Economic Summit cost £50,000.
June 1976: Bonn for Anglo-German talks cost £2,000.
July 1976: Brussels for European Council cost £3,000.
September 1976: Canada cost £32,750.
November 1976: Paris for Anglo-French talks cost £2,700.
November 1976: The Hague for European Council cost £2,440.
These figures include all relevant expenditure including the costs of other Ministers and of officials.

Royal Commission On Distri Bution Of Income And Wealth

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any changes to announce in the membership of the Royal Commission on the Distribution of Income and Wealth.

Yes. The Queen has approved that Deryk Vander Weyer, Esquire, be appointed a member of the Royal Commission on the Distribution of Income and Wealth in succession to Leslie Murphy, Esquire, whose term of office has expired.

Statutes (1950–1976)

asked the Lord President of the Council how many Acts of Parliament were passed in each of the Sessions for 1950 to 1975–76.

With the exception of Order Confirmation Bills, Provisional Order

Week ending
			3rd December	10th December	17th December	23rd December	14th January	Total
			£	£	£	£	£	£
Takings	…	…	2,918	2,542	6,593	6,091	346	18,470
Net Profit	…	…	430	394	1,056	876	48	2,804

Bills and Bills for the confirmation of a scheme, the number of Bills which received Royal Assent in each Session form 1950 to 1975–76 was as follows:

Session				Number of Bills which received Royal Assent
1950	…	…	…	38
1950–51	…	…	…	67
1951–52	…	…	…	68
1952–53	…	…	…	54
1953–54	…	…	…	74
1954–55	…	…	…	30
1955–56	…	…	…	83
1956–57	…	…	…	63
1957–58	…	…	…	76
1958–59	…	…	…	77
1959–60	…	…	…	72
1960–61	…	…	…	65
1961–62	…	…	…	59
1962–63	…	…	…	60
1963–64	…	…	…	97
1964–65	…	…	…	82
1965–66	…	…	…	21
1966–67	…	…	…	128
1967–68	…	…	…	76
1968–69	…	…	…	63
1969–70	…	…	…	53
1970–71	…	…	…	89
1971–72	…	…	…	76
1972–73	…	…	…	74
1973–74	…	…	…	15
1974	…	…	…	42
1974–75	…	…	…	83
1975–76	…	…	…	88

House Of Commons

Kiosk Sales

asked the Lord President of the Council what has been the turnover per week of the sales kiosk outside the Members' Cafeteria since the time the kiosk was established up to the latest week for which figures are available; and what has been the weekly total excess of retail prices over wholesale prices.

I have been asked to reply.The turnover per week in the sales kiosk outside the Cafeterias, and the net profit per week after deduction of VAT and overheads are as follows:

The Catering Sub-Committee does not think it appropriate to disclose its purchase prices.

Defence

Civil Defence

15.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the contribution made by his Department towards Civil Defence.

Yes.

Expenditure

16.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what effect recent changes in defence expenditure will have on employment of both military and civilian personnel at HMS "Raleigh" and HMS "Fisgard", Torpoint.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence told the House on 12th January.—[Vol. 923, c. 1455.]

29.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a further statement about defence cuts.

I have nothing to add to what I told the House during the debate on 12th January.

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of gross domestic product is spent on defence by the United Kingdom; and what estimate he has of the percentage spent by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

It is estimated that, on the NATO definition of defence expenditure, the United Kingdom devoted about 5·1 per cent. of GDP to defence in 1976. For an estimate of a comparable figure for the USSR I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 18th January.

Nato (Expenditure)

19.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of their gross national product is spent on defence by European members of NATO; and what savings would be made if United Kingdom military expenditure were reduced to the average level of such countries.

The latest available information giving the percentage of GNP devoted to defence by the member countries of NATO will be included in the Statement on the Defence Estimates to be published shortly.

Scientists And Engineers

20.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many qualified scientists and engineers are currently engaged in defence research; and whether this number is estimated to increase or decrease in 1978.

The number of scientists and engineers with a degree or equivalent qualifications engaged on Research and Development in the Ministry of Defence was 7,678 on 1st January 1976. As part of the economies required in defence manpower, the number is expected to fall by the end of 1978.

Army Firing Range (Pentlands)

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the future of live firing by the Army on the Pentland Hills.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer to his Question of 3rd November 1976.—[Vol. 919, c. 137.]—We have since formally notified the local planning authority, the Midlothian District Council, of our intention to build the new ranges at Castlelaw. We shall still consider an alternative site outside the Pentlands if a suitable one, which can be obtained readily, is proposed. It is not yet known whether work would have to be deferred following recent cuts in defence expenditure.

Naval Review

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made for hon. Members to attend the Naval Review at Spithead on 28th June 1977.

In accordance with Her Majesty the Queen's express wish that there should be no undue expenditure on Silver Jubilee celebrations, invitations to guests to witness the review will be on a more limited scale than on previous comparable occasions. Nevertheless, we do intend to make places available to Members of both Houses although, depending on the response, it may be necessary to hold a ballot. I intend to notify the arrangements through the usual channels as soon as possible.

Attack Capability

23.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about the possible consequences for Great Britain and NATO of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics possessing an effective first-strike capability.

An effective first-strike capability denotes the capacity to use strategic weapons to destroy an adversary's own strategic systems before he has the opportunity to use them. If such a capability existed it would be destabilising and dangerous. But it does not exist. Both the United States and the USSR have an invulnerable second strike capability and neither side could make a first strike with impunity.

Nuclear Weapons

26.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the response to the proposal by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics that there be international agreement that neither NATO, or the Warsaw Pact nations, should be the first to use nuclear weapons in the advent of an East-West conflict.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the final communique issued after the last meeting of NATO's Council of Ministers on 9th and 10th December, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

28.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the rôle of first-use of nuclear weapons in NATO strategy.

NATO's defensive strategy aims to demonstrate to any would-be aggressor that the risks he would run would be unacceptably high. Since we are dealing with a nuclear power, a triad of forces, conventional, theatre nuclear and strategic are needed to make this deterrent credible. Only if this failed would we need to use any forces and the precise use of the triad would depend on the circumstances. But clearly we cannot renounce the use of any of the means for defending ourselves if attacked.

North Sea

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with current measures adopted to protect North Sea oil rigs.

Yes.

Anti-Submarine Cruisers

27.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about progress on the construction of the through-deck cruiser programme.

Two ASW cruisers are now under construction for the Royal Navy. HMS "Invincible" will be launched in May this year. HMS "Illustrious" was ordered last May, and is at an early stage of building.

Warships

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cumulative effect of defence cuts, including the defence review of 1975 and all subsequent costs, on the shipbuilding programme of the Royal Navy.

There is nothing I can add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Harrogate (Mr. Banks) on 15th November last—[Vol. 919, c. 363–4.]

Officers (Speeches And Publications)

32.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether all officers of the highest rank in the three Services should receive ministerial clearance for their published views on political subjects; and what disciplinary action is taken against them if they do not ask for such clearance when they should.

Under existing regulations Service personnel are not permitted to engage in political controversy. Prior departmental clearance is required for public speeches and lectures and material intended for publication when these are concerned with official matters. In the case of the most senior officers it has long been the practice for ministerial agreement to be sought before any public statements are made.

Central Ordnance Depots

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will distribute any information his Department has on the alternative suggestion of three slimmed-down central ordnance depots to hon. Members and participation in the current consultations;(2) whether as a result of various requests over the fair deal proposals covering central ordnance depots, he has authorised the costing of the alternative proposal for three slimmed-down central ordnance depots.

I have authorised the release of this information to the departmental Staff and Trades Union Sides as part of the fair value consultative process, and arrangements will also be made to make the same information available to hon. Members who have a particular interest in the reorganisation of the central ordnance depots.

Gibraltar (Industrial Dispute)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now call off the lock out imposed on the United Kingdom employed staff in Gibraltar, members of the Civil and Public Services Association; and if he will make a statement on what steps are now being taken to resolve the dispute.

As I have already made clear in an answer I gave on 20th January to my hon. Friend the member for Salford, East (Mr. Allaun), there is no question of those involved in the dispute being locked out. They were suspended from pay for refusing to work normally for several weeks and are free and welcome to return to normal working at any time. Discussions with the CPSA, aimed at bringing the dispute to an end, are continuing.

Northern Ireland

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the events which took place in Shandon Street, Belfast, on the evening of 18th January 1977, he will give the reasons for the actions of the Army unit involved; and whether compensation will be paid to those residents who had their homes wrecked during search operations.

At about 21.50 hours on 18th January a shot was fired from an unknown location at an Army patrol in the New Lodge area of Belfast. In the immediate follow-up a number of buildings in the area were entered in an attempt to find the gunman. In Shandon Street, a social club together with 14 occupied and six derelict houses were searched. Some damage was done in the course of these searches. The Army unit concerned has already made good certain minor damage, and the normal arrangements will apply for compensation in respect of legitimate activity by the security forces.

Missiles

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cumulative effect of defence cuts of the defence review of 1975 and all subsequent cuts on the programme of construction and development of missiles for the Royal Navy, Army and RAF, respectively.

The defence review and subsequent cuts have led to the cancellation of the Beeswing and Hawkswing anti-tank weapons for the Army and to the deferment of the introduction of an alternative to Hawkswing. Improvements to the Ikara anti-submarine missile system will not be pursued. In addition, some long-term planning assumptions about the size and date of missile development and production programmes have been modified as a result, in part, of financial considerations.

Training

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cumulative effect of defence cuts of the defence review of 1975 and all subsequent cuts on the training of the three Services, in particular in respect of fuel, ammunition and track mileage.

The defence review and other cuts announced in 1975 and February 1976 have not in themselves produced any measures which affect training by restrictions on track mileage. The effects on consumption of ammunition and fuel have been marginal. The precise method of achieving the subsequent cuts in defence expenditure, including those announced in December 1976, is still being studied.

Army Communications Equipment

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cumulative effect of defence cuts of the defence review of 1975 and all subsequent cuts on the programme for communications equipment for the Army.

Apart from the deferment of some minor items as part of the 1975 defence review there has been no effect on the Army's programme for communications equipment.

Armoured Vehicles

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cumulative effect of defence cuts of the defence review of 1975 and all subsequent cuts on the programme of Army fighting vehicles for the British Army.

As part of the 1975 defence review the Vixen wheeled reconnaissance vehicle was cancelled and reductions were made in the follow-on orders for the Sultan, Spartan and Samaritan tracked vehicles. This has meant that older vehicles, the Ferret scout car and the FV 430 series of armoured personnel carriers have had to be kept in-service longer than originally planned. Subsequent reductions in the defence budget have not affected the armoured fighting vehicle programme.

Dockyards

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied that it is necessary to maintain the Royal dockyards in their present state, having regard to the present size of the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement.

The capacity of the Royal dockyards is maintained at the level required to support the fleet. Under present plans, all of the dockyards have now, and for the coming years, a heavy load of naval refitting and repair work.

Home Department

Life Sentences

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are serving life sentences at the present time.

On 31st December 1976 the number was 1,263. This includes persons detained during Her Majesty's Pleasure under Section 53(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 or for life under Section 53(2) of that Act, and 27 persons who had been previously released on licence and subsequently recalled to prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men were sentenced to life imprisonment during the years 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976.

The information is as follows:

MALES SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
England and Wales
1972	…	…	…	88
1973	…	…	…	111
1974	…	…	…	142
1975	…	…	…	138

Information for 1976 is not yet available.

Drinking And Driving

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men and women were sent to prison for offences involving drinking and driving in each of the years 1972 to 1976.

The information is as follows:

PERSONS SENTENCED TO IMMEDIATE IMPRISONMENT FOR OFFENCES OF DRIVING OR BEING IN CHARGE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE UNFIT THROUGH DRINK OR DRUGS
England and Wales
			Males	Females
1972	…	…	393	—
1973	…	…	441	1
1974	…	…	465	1
1975	…	…	495	—

Information for 1976 is not yet available.

Open Prisons

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 42,000 men and women in prison can be regarded as suitable for open prison conditions.

On 31st December 1976 there were 3,383 persons in open prisons in England and Wales. No meaningful estimate is possible of the number of persons at present in closed establishments for whom transfer to open conditions may be recommended in due course following observation and classification.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used for selecting men or women for open prisons.

Male prisoners in security Category D, and female prisoners who, although not categorised, are regarded as equivalent to the male Category D, are those whom it is considered can be reasonably trusted in open conditions. Eligibility for transfer to an open prison is, however, subject to certain exceptions, including the prisoner's physical and mental condition; and each case is decided individually in the light of all known circumstances of the prisoner's character, past record and present circumstances. In some areas there are also local agreements restricting the types of male prisoners who may be transferred to a particular prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of closing down open prisons in 1975 and 1976.

No open prisons were closed in 1975 or 1976. Three open prisons were closed in 1974 and two open borstals in 1975. I regret that the financial information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Fines (Non-Payment)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men and women were sent to prison for non-payment of fines in the years 1973 to 1976.

The information requested is given in the following table:

PERSONS AGED 21 AND OVER RECEIVED INTO PRISON IN DEFAULT OF PAYMENT OF A FINE
			Males	Females
1973	…	…	8,842	493
1974	…	…	10,602	508
1975	…	…	11,902	615
1976	…	…	12,944	682

The 1976 figures are provisional.

Prisons

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men and women were sharing three in a cell during the years 1972 to 1976.

The following table shows for each year the highest number of prisoners located three in a cell:

Year			Males	Females
1972	…	…	6,642	Nil
1973	…	…	4,221	Nil
1974	…	…	4,122	Nil
1975	…	…	5,295	12
1976	…	…	5,709	9

Drunkenness

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men and women were sent to prison in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976 for drunkenness.

The information is as follows:

PERSONS SENTENCED TO IMMEDIATE IMPRISONMENT FOR OFFENCES OF SIMPLE DRUNKENNESS OR OF DRUNKENNESS WITH AGGRAVATION
England and Wales
			Males	Females
1972	…	…	554	23
1973	…	…	482	15
1974	…	…	423	13
1975	…	…	490	33

Information for 1976 is not yet available.

Fraud

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men and women were sent to prison in the years 1972 to 1976 for fraud of any kind.

The information is as follows:

PERSONS SENTENCED TO IMMEDIATE IMPRISONMENT FOR OFFENCES OF FRAUD
England and Wales
			Males	Females
1972	…	…	1,480	68
1973	…	…	1,360	69
1974	…	…	1,320	73
1975	…	…	1,445	84

The information for 1976 is not yet available.The above figures do not include those imprisoned for forgery offences.

Theft

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men and women were sent to prison in 1972 to 1976 for theft with no violence.

The information is as follows:

PERSONS SENTENCED TO IMMEDIATE IMPRISONMENT FOR OFFENCES OF THEFT
ENGLAND AND WALES
				Males	Females
1972	…	…	…	7,207	368
1973	…	…	…	6,367	398
1974	…	…	…	6,759	397
1975	…	…	…	7,987	491

The figures do not include persons convicted of robbery or burglary.Information for 1976 is not yet available.

Vagrancy

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men and women were sent to prison in the years 1972 to 1976 for vagrancy.

There is no offence of vagrancy as such. The following table gives details of those convicted of offences of "begging" and "sleeping out" under the Vagrancy Act 1824.

PERSONS SENTENCED TO IMMEDIATE IMPRISONMENT FOR VAGRANCY OFFENCES
England and Wales
					Males	Females
1972	…	…	…	…	178	2
1973	…	…	…	…	165	3
1974	…	…	…	…	146	6
1975	…	…	…	…	117	2

Information for 1976 is not yet available.Particulars of persons convicted of other offences under the Vagrancy Acts are to be found in the annual volumes of "Criminal Statistics".

Police

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the 38 police forces that permit police officers to wear beards, and the two or more who do not, indicating in each case the conditions required to be observed by officers wearing beards;

(2) if he will list the seven police forces which require police officers growing beards to do so only on night duty, or during periods of annual leave;

(3) if he will name the two police forces which allow police officers to wear beards provided they are not of certain types, for example, Chinese beards.

I regard this as a matter for local discretion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from chief police officers, collectively through the Association of Chief Police Officers and individually, about the effect of cuts in police budgets on police manpower, cadet training, civilian aides, traffic wardens, equipment and vehicle mileage.

I have been informed by the Association of Chief Police Officers of its concern at limitations on police recruitment below authorised establishments which are being required by some police authorities and restrictions on civilian staff and some services necessitated by reductions in expenditure on the police service. I have arranged to meet the officers of the association to discuss the position. Representations on the same lines have also been received from three individual chief officers.

Bill Of Rights

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will now publish a consultative document on a Bill of Rights;(2) whether he will seek to give statutory authority to the European Convention on Human Rights; and if he will list the statutes which would require to be amended to this end.

My predecessor published a discussion document on this subject last June. As he indicated in the foreword, the Government believe that the question of legislation on human rights calls for further study and discussion before conclusions are reached. Chapter III of the document examines in some detail the likely consequences of incorporating the European Convention on Human Rights, including the effect on existing legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an assurance that he has no intention of legislating for a Bill of Rights.

As my predecessor indicated in a discussion document on the subject published last June, the Government believe that the question of legislation on human rights calls for further study and discussion before conclusions are reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from outside bodies with regard to a Bill of Rights.

Since the Government published in June 1976 a discussion document on the question of legislation to protect human rights, the only bodies which have made representations on this subject direct to the Home Office are the Beckenham and the Lincoln constituency Labour Parties, the Lincoln and District Trade Union Council and the Leasehold Reform Committee. The purpose of the document was to stimulate public discussion, and the Government are taking careful note of views expressed in Parliament, in public speeches, and in pamphlets and other publications.

Bookmakers

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of bookmakers in the United Kingdom.

Information in the form requested is not available. The numbers of bookmaker's permits, betting agency permits and betting office licences in force in Great Britain on 1st June 1976 were 8,221, 23 and 13,865 respectively. Further information is contained in the Betting Licensing Statistics, June 1975-May 1976, published on 20th December 1976 by HMSO.

Police (Pay)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in order to improve the morale of the police service and to encourage recruitment thereto, he will publicly declare his commitment to ensuring that pay and conditions of service for police officers will be carefully reviewed with a view to there being a generous award made to them in the next round of pay negotiations.

It would be premature to speculate on what will follow the end of the present round of pay policy in July this year, and in these circumstances no such commitment can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the fact that civilian staff have been allowed a pay increase of up to £6, he will now take steps similarly to increase the pay of serving police officers.

No. The next settlement for the police must be in accordance with pay policy as it applied in the relevant review date—1st September 1976—which means a pay limit of 5 per cent. with a maximum of £4 and a minimum of £2·50 a week. During the previous phase of pay policy, when the ordinary limit was £6 a week, the police had a much greater increase, amounting to, in round terms, an average of 30 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not appoint an independent person to inquire into the dispute over police pay, as has been done in other cases in the past.

The present dispute over police pay turns on the interpretation of pay policy as announced in last year's White Paper (Cmnd. 6507). This is not a matter which lends itself to independent adjudication or arbitration.

Mr Richard Nixon

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will exercise his powers to exclude Mr. Richard Milhous Nixon of the United States from the United Kingdom.

Decisions whether to admit persons subject to immigration control are taken when the need to do so arises.

Commission For Racial Equality

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now in a position to complete filling of vacancies on the Race Relations Commission; and if, in doing so, he will bear in mind the need to appoint West Indians and Asiatic persons from places outside the London area.

I hope to announce the full membership of the Commission for Racial Equality shortly. In making appointments I shall have in mind the need to include people with a wide range of relevant experience and background.

Metropolitan Police Recruitment

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with police recruitment in the Metropolitan area; and if he will make a statement.

For some months the Metropolitan Police intake of recruits has been at the highest rate the force can absorb. As a result, despite the marked increase in pensionable wastage during 1976, the strength of the force rose during the year by 1,018 to 22,245, compared with a gain of 377 in 1975, and 67 in 1974. I hope this satisfactory growth will continue, as there are still almost 4,400 vacancies to be filled.

Deportation

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the assurance given to the House on 15th June 1971 by the then Home Secretary, Official Report, c. 376, that a person under threat of deportation in the interests of national security will be given by his Department such particulars of all allegations as will not entail disclosure of sources of evidence, remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

Standards Of Conduct In Public Life

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has yet reached any conclusions on the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Standards of Conduct in Public Life (Command Paper No. 6524).

The Government are carefully studying the Royal Commission's recommendations and consulting other bodies who are affected. We shall in due course inform the House of our conclusions.

Cannabis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take arising from the recent decision by the Court of Appeal that the possession of canabis leaves is not a criminal offence.

I have nothing to add at this stage to the reply I gave to the Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Mitchell) on 21st January.—[Vol. 924, c 347.]

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Parliamentary Questions

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date his Department decided to refuse to answer Questions concerning food imports into the United Kingdom; what the reasons for that decisions were; and why he made no statement to the House concerning it.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade is responsible for the publication of overseas trade statistics and it has long been normal practice for his Department to answer Questions about statistics on the general value and volume of food imports, if such Questions do not raise other matters within the responsibilities of my Department.

Northern Ireland

Christmas Parole

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many detainees were released on Christmas parole; for how long they were released; what public funds they were awarded during the period of their release; and how many detainees have not yet returned to prison.

There were no detainees in Northern Ireland at Christmas and this remains the case.

High Court (Civil Actions)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average lapse of time between the date of setting down and the date of hearing of a civil action for damages for personal injury in Northern Ireland.

An examination of the actions listed for trial in the High Court in the next three weeks shows that the average interval between setting down and date of trial is 18 months. This does not take account of actions which are settled after setting down and before being listed for hearing.

Education And Science

Corporal Punishment

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response her Department has made to the inquiry from the European Commission

PUPIL-TEACHER RATIOS
		January 1974		January 1975		January 1976
		Primary	Secondary	Primary	Secondary	Primary	Secondary
Bolton	…	27·3	16·9	26·3	16·6	25·7	16·8
Bury	…	26·1	17·4	25·9	17·6	24·4	17·2
Manchester	…	25·0	16·5	24·3	16·4	23·6	16·1
Oldham	…	27·4	18·3	25·6	18·0	24·8	17·0
Rochdale	…	26·0	16·6^*	25·1	16·6^*	24·4	16·0^*
Salford	…	27·3	17·7	26·9	17·3	25·7	16·7
Stockport	…	27·5	17·6	27·0	17·0	27·0	17·1
Tameside	…	26·3	18·4	25·3	18·6	24·4	16·9
Trafford	…	25·9	17·4	25·1	17·0	23·1	17·0
Wigan	…	25·5	17·2^*	25·1	17·1^*	24·5	16·6^*
^* Including middle schools deemed secondary.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list in the Official Report the pupil-teacher ratio in primary and secondary schools, respectively, in each of the local education authorities in the present county of West Yorkshire, for each of the last 10 years.

METROPOLITAN DISTRICTS
					Bradford	Calderdale	Kirklees	Leeds	Wakefield
Maintained Primary Schools^*
1973	…	…	…	…	23·9	24·8	25·1	26·5	25·6
1974	…	…	…	…	22·4	24·0	24·4	26·0	25·2
1975	…	…	…	…	21·2	24·0	23·6	25·9	24·8
1976	…	…	…	…	21·9	24·3	23·9	25·1	23·8
Maintained Secondary Schools†
1973	…	…	…	…	17·4	17·2	17·7	18·3	17·6
1974	…	…	…	…	17·7	17·4	17·9	18·9	18·4
1975	…	…	…	…	17·4	17·1	17·7	18·6	18·1
1976	…	…	…	…	17·9	17·6	17·6	18·5	17·9
^* Including immigrant centres and middle schools deemed primary.
† Including middle schools deemed secondary.

for Human Rights relating to the complaint by a parent from Strathclyde Region about the use of corporal punishment in schools.

None. This is more directly the concern of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Pupil-Teacher Ratios

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list in the Official Report the the pupil-teacher ratio in each metropolitan district in Greater Manchester for each year since 1974.

The information in respect of maintained schools in each metropolitan district in Greater Manchester for the years 1974 to 1976, is as follows:

Information about pupil-teacher ratios in the metropolitan districts of West Yorkshire is not readily available prior to 1973. The respective ratios for the years 1973–76 are as follows:

Medical Students

asked the Secretary of Education and Science what were the figures of intakes of medical students in England and Wales and in each of the regional health authority areas, for each of the years since the

					Academic Year
Regional Health Authority				1974–75	1975–76	1976–77 (provisional)	1979–80 (estimated)
Northern	…	…	…	110	130	130	130
Yorkshire	…	…	…	132	131	129	216
Trent	…	…	…	168	278	301	414
East Anglia	…	…	…	227	225	231	220
Thames:
North West	…	…	…	303	307	308	1,190
North East	…	…	…	407	438	455
South west	…	…	…	—	—	80
South East	…	…	…	303	297	303
Wessex	…	…	…	116	102	130	130
Oxford	…	…	…	107	103	101	100
South western	…	…	…	134	122	128	120
West Midlands	…	…	…	161	163	161	160
Mersey	…	…	…	157	155	149	150
North western	…	…	…	199	200	202	200
Wales	…	…	…	126	151	149	150
Total England and Wales	…	…	…	2,650	2,802	2,957	3,180

Notes:

1. It is not possible to provide separate estimates of 1979–80 admissions for each of the four Thames regions.

2. Students admitted to medical courses in one Region may undertake their clinical studies in another.

Arts Council

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report the amount of the Arts Council grant in aid for each of the years 1970 to 1976 at constant 1970 prices.

There is no separate price index for arts expenditure, so it is not possible to give accurate figures at constant prices. However, by using the General Index of Retail Prices the following approximate figures can be given in terms of the prices prevailing at April 1970:

Year				£ million
1970–71	…	…	…	9·3
1971–72	…	…	…	10·2
1972–73	…	…	…	10·9
1973–74	…	…	…	11·7
1974–75	…	…	…	12·0
1975–76	…	…	…	13·0
1976–77	…	…	…	16·0 (estimated)

Calthorpe School, Birmingham

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is

reorganisation of the Health Service; and what are the target figures for 1979.

The numbers of students admitted to first degree courses in medicine by universities in each regional health authority area for the period requested, and estimated admissions for 1979–80, are shown below:the current staff-pupil ratio at Calthorpe School, Birmingham; and if she is satisfied that this is adequate to fulfil the educational purposes of a school of this kind.

I understand from Birmingham Local Education Authority that Calthorpe Special School has 275 pupils and 35 teachers, all full-time. There are 103 non-teaching staff, many of whom are employed less than full time. Staffing of schools is the responsibility of the local education authority, in the particular circumstances, including, in the case of special schools, the handicaps and special needs of the children.In deciding on the level of staffing at Calthorpe, the authority has no doubt taken into account the guidance given in my Department's Circular 4/73.

Teachers (Mentally Handicapped Children)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the current staff-pupil ratios in special schools for mentally handicapped children in England and Wales; what is her Department's estimate of the optimum ratio; and what ratio her Department hopes to achieve within the next two years.

In January 1976 there was an average of one qualified teacher per 9·7 pupils in maintained special schools for the mentally handicapped in England and Wales. Full details are not available of non-teaching staff. The Department's Circular 4/73 gives advice on the staffing standards for special schools and classes and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. This shows that there is no single optimum ratio. The extent to which improvements may be made in the next few years will depend on the resources available.

Headmasters And Headmistresses

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if any report or study is being prepared on the rôle and significance of headmasters and headmistresses in the educational system.

No such report or study is being prepared in the Department, but the Taylor Committee can be expected to say something in its report on the rô of headmasters and headmistresses in the management and government of schools.

Nursery Schools

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many nursery places there are in Gloucestershire;(2) what is the number of nursery places in Gloucestershire as a percentage of the number of children between the ages of 3 and 5 years;(3) how many nursery places there are in Tewkesbury District Council, Forest of Dean, Stroud District Council and Gloucester District Council, respectively.

There are no nursery places in occupation in Gloucestershire in January 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many nursery places there are in the United Kingdom;(2) what is the number of nursery places in the United Kingdom as a percentage of the number of children between the ages of 3 and 5 years.

In January 1976 there were some 115,000 full-time equivalent nursery places in occupation at maintained schools in England and Wales. The number of under-fives in attendance either full-time or part-time was about 180,000 and this figure represents about 12·3 per cent. of the population aged 3 and 4 years.

Departmental Studies

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many reports are currently being prepared at the instigation of her Department.

I shall be writing to my hon. Friend with the required information in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many reports have been commissioned by her Department in the last five years; and if she will name them.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of HMSO Sectional List 2, which lists all the main non-parliamentary publications issued by this Department through HMSO.

Commonwealth Day

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps she is taking to advise local education authorities to draw to the attention of schools the new Commonwealth Day on 14th March.

An administrative memorandum will shortly be issued to local authorities and schools informing them of the change in date. I will ensure that my hon. Friend receives a copy.

Wales

A494 (Llanbedr)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales why there has been a delay of over two years in the completion of the building of a footpath on the A494 trunk road at Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, Ruthin, Clwyd, between Llanbedr DC Post Office and Pentre Smithy; and what steps he intends to take to ensure that this work is expeditiously concluded.

Construction of footway alongside the trunk road at Llanbedr DC has been delayed by considerable difficulties in acquiring the necessary land. Efforts are being made to resolve an outstanding objection to the draft compulsory purchase order. If they are successful work could start in the next financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, with a view to reducing the danger of accidents on the A494 trunk road at the Tan yr Unto corner, Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, Ruthin, Clwyd, he will take steps to ensure that an appropriate speed limit be enforced in the general area and double-white lines be placed on the A494 carriageway for a suitable distance.

Double white lines, warning signs and a skid resistant surface have been provided; and advisory speed limit and the possible extension of the double white lines are being considered.

Industrial Investment And Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was Wales's share of United Kingdom fixed capital formation for the nationalised industries and of capital expenditure by manufacturing industry for each of the last 10 years.

Figures covering all the major nationalised industries' investment in Wales are only available for the financial years 1974–75 and 1975–76. The data relate only to those elements which can be identified territorially. On this basis capital expenditure by these industries in Wales was 6·4 per cent. of the United Kingdom total—the sum of the regionally identifiable components—in 1974–75: in 1975–76 it was 6·9 per cent.Wales's share of United Kingdom capital expenditure by all manufacturing industries is published in the Digest of Welsh Statistics, No. 22, 1976 (Table 5.25) for the years 1966–1974. In 1975, the latest year for which information is available, it is estimated that some 7·8 per cent. of United Kingdom manufacturing investment was located in Wales.

Roads (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total expenditure on road building and road improvements in Wales within his responsibilities during 1976; what were the corresponding figures for the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

The information for the financial year 1975–76 is £44·04 million. Information for the previous 10 years will be found in the Digest of Welsh Statistics (Table 6·04 1976 edition).

Local Government Reorganisation

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is satisfied with the results of the reorganisation of local government in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

No; the Government's intention, which is made clear in Cmnd. 6585, is to ask the Welsh Assembly to consider the local government structure in Wales.

Pigmeat

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the level of pigmeat production in Wales in 1977.

Pigmeat production in the United Kingdom in 1977 has been forecast to be about 2½ per cent. above the level of last year. Separate figures for Wales are not available.

Environment

R And D Richardson Ltd (Planning Application)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present status of the planning application submitted by R. & D. Richardson Ltd. in respect of the former Birchley rolling mill site; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed that the local planning authority—Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council—has received no planning application from R. & D. Richardson Ltd.

Rate Rebates

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the actual or estimated cost of rate rebates in England and Wales for the financial year 1975–76; and what is the estimated cost for the current financial year.

In 1975–76 rate rebates totalling £117·4 million were granted in England and Wales. The estimated figure for 1976–77 is £140 million.

Housing (Elderly Persons)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many units of accommodation specially designed for old people received approval from his Department for subsidy as conforming to the standards of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government circular 82/69 in each of the last five years.

The number of such dwellings in England for the construction of which local authorities have resolved to accept a tender are:

1971	…	…	…	…	20,844
1972	…	…	…	…	17,883
1973	…	…	…	…	22,350
1974	…	…	…	…	26,674
1975	…	…	…	…	24,942

The figures for 1975 are provisional; those for 1976 are not yet available. The figures do not include dwellings to be built by the Greater London Council as these are not available.

Local Government Staffs

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list in the Official Report the total number of employees, including uniformed staff, during each of the last 12 months of the Greater Manchester metropolitan county council and the West Yorkshire Metropoltian County Council;(2) if he will list in the

Official Report the total number of employees during each of the past 12 months of each metropolitan district council in Greater Manchester;

(3) if he will list in the Official Report the total number of employees during each of the past 12 months of each of the metropolitan district councils in West Yorkshire.

Information is not available to my Department on the numbers employed by individual local authorities. I suggest the hon. Member asks the authorities concerned for this information.

Homeless Persons

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many families are registered as homeless in each of the county districts of the Greater Manchester County Council area; how many families are registered throughout the United Kingdom as homeless; and how many single young people are homeless in the Greater Manchester area.

During the period July to December 1975, the latest period for which statistics are currently available, district councils in Greater Manchester accepted responsibility for the provision of accommodation for the following number of homeless households:

Bolton	…	…	100
Bury	…	…	77
Manchester	…	…	510
Oldham	…	…	29
Rochdale	…	…	95
Salford	…	…	139
Stockport	…	…	44
Tameside	…	…	75
Trafford	…	…	22
Wigan	…	…	34

The corresponding figure for all local authorities in England was 16,370.I expect the figures for the first half of 1976 to be available very shortly.Questions relating to the other parts of the United Kingdom are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland and Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.Figures are not available on the number of homeless single young people.

Departmental Inspectorate

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further consideration has been given to the Franks Committee recommendation that the Inspectorate of his Department should be transferred to the Lord Chancellor's Department.

The matter was considered again following the formation of the Department of the Environment in 1970, and it was decided that no fresh factors had emerged since the Franks Committee reported to suggest that their proposal should be taken further. The question of who should be responsible for the panel of inspectors who conduct highways inquiries on behalf of my right hon. Friend and myself is one of the matters being looked at in the review of highways inquiries procedures currently under way with the Council on Tribunals.

Departmental Correspondence

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take action to prevent officials in his Department, when dealing with a single series of correspondence with members of the general public, from concealing their identity, by, inter alia, simply signing per pro their superior.

My Department's office instructions provide that unless there are special reasons to the contrary, letters should be signed by the officer dealing with the case and should bear his or her name, location and telephone number.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of constructing the new Crown court buildings in Merthyr Tydfil.

The courthouse at Merthyr Tydfil is a joint DOE/County Council project combining Crown and magistrates' courts. The estimated total cost is £1,735,000 to which the DOE will contribute some £877,000 for the Crown court element.

Local Councillors (Attendance Allowance)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the names and qualifications of the members of Mr. Derek Robinson's committee of inquiry into the future of the attendance allowance system for local authority members.

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) on 22nd December, the other members of the committee are the hon. Mrs. Charles Morrison, Mr. H. Atcherley, Mr. J. Jack and Mr. D. W. C. Morgan. The hon. Mrs. Charles Morrison is a member of the Annan Committee of Inquiry into Broadcasting and a former Wiltshire county councillor and alderman; Mr. Atcherley is Chairman of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, and a member of the Top Salaries Review Board; Mr. Jack is the retired General Secretary of the Scotitsh TUC and a member of the Scottish Postal Board; and Mr. Morgan is the former Chief Executive of Rhymney Valley District Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report of the committee of inquiry into the future of the attendance allowance systems for local authority members.

I have asked the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Derek Robinson to report expeditiously.

Departmental Estates Division

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the work to date of the Director of Estates Services; whether the staffing complement of this directorate remains 18, as stated in the reply given by the right hon. Member for Deptford (Mr. Silkin) on 8th March 1976 to the hon. Member for Melton; what reorganisation of his Department has been carried out; and what is the future programme of work.

In addition to his day-to-day management responsibilities, the Director has been preparing proposals for the future organisation, complement and responsibilities of his directorate. The complement remains 18 posts.

Community Land

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the work to date of the multi-disciplinary team set up to implement the Community Land Act 1975; whether the staffing numbers and establishment costs remain as stated in the reply by the right hon. Member for Deptford (Mr. Silkin) to the hon. Member for Melton on 8th March 1976; what specific action has so far ensued from the team; and whether staffing reductions are contemplated in the light of the cut-back of public expenditure in implementing the Act.

The team provides professional advice on the Community Land Act, and to the Environmental Board, both on a continuous basis. It also supplies the Secretariat to the Environmenttal Board. There is provision for 11 staff. Salaries and general administrative expenses in 1976–77 are estimated at £83,000. Staffing requirements will be kept under review.

Planning (Public Participation)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in relation to inner city area policies, he will advise local authorities to implement the recommendations of the Skeffington Committee on people and planning when seeking to improve people's environmental conditions.

Policies and proposals to improve environmental conditions in structure and local plans are the subject of public participation at the formative stage of plan preparation. The Government's comments on the Skeffington Committee recommendations on the organisation of public participation on structure and local plans were sent to local authorities with Circular 52/72.Public participation in connection with housing improvement has been strongly recommended since 1969. Guidance has been issued to local authorities particularly in Circulars 13/75 and 14/75. The importance of openness in the conduct of public business and good communications between local authorities and the people they serve was brought to the attention of all concerned with local authority affairs in Circular 45/75.There is no doubt that local authorities need to work closely with people in inner areas, but it would be premature, in the light of the current review of inner city policy, to say what forms that should take.

British Urban Development Services Unit

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any commissions have so far been won by the British Urban Development Services Unit of his Department; and whether he has set a date by which sufficient commissions must be won to cover its commercial cost, failing which it will be disbanded.

No; but negotiations are very far advanced for a major project in Saudi Arabia. This is not a field in which quick results are to be expected, and it would be premature to consider the possibility of disbandment on the experience to date which is on the whole encouraging.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has set a financial target for rate of return on assets of the British Urban Development Services Unit; and, if so, what that rate is for the current financial year.

As previously stated, it is the intention that all the costs of the Unit shall over time be recovered in full from the charges made for its services.

Cesspools

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, following his review of the water industry, he will make a statement on the charges and responsibility for emptying cesspools.

The forthcoming White Paper on the review of the water industry will certainly cover this issue.

Departmental Staff

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many civil servants are assisting the Minister responsible for sport and recreation in connection with his duties relating to water supplies; which building they are operating from; what duties they were performing before the Minister was given responsibility for water supplies; and what is his estimate of the cost to public funds of the total personnel required to service the Minister in carrying out these duties.

The hon. Member has misunderstood the position. My right hon. Friend's continuing oversight of the future prospects for water supply in the context of his general responsibilities for water and the water industry will require no additional staff.

Location Of Offices Bureau

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of the Location of Offices Bureau in each of the last five years.

The information is as follows:

Financial Year				Expenditure £
1971–72	…	…	…	130,360
1972–73	…	…	…	128,513
1973–74	…	…	…	132,451
1974–75	…	…	…	148,835
1975–76	…	…	…	173,001

Employment

Houghton Regis (Chimney Demolition Proposal)

33.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, following representations made to him by the hon. Member for South Bedfordshire concerning the proposal to demolish an APC-owned chimney in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, he will have urgent talks with the Health and Safety Commission and request that no such demolition takes place before the end of May 1977, in view of the need to evacuate local residents, and if permission be granted for the demolition whether through public discussion will be undertaken beforehand; and if he will make a statement.

I hope by now that the hon. Member will have received the letter dated 21st January 1977 from the Factory Inspectorate area director in which he outlines proposals for a public meeting to consider all the issues concerning the demolition of this chimney. Both locally-based and specialist members of the Factory Inspectorate are closely involved with the proposals. The Health and Safety Executive does not have unlimited power to prohibit demolition by blasting but may issue ar prohibition notice if an inspector is of the opinion there will be a risk of serious personal injury to either the workers or the general public.The decision is a difficult one since it involves weighing the greatly increased risk to the demolition workers if the chimney is demolished by hand against the well-being of the nearby residents who will be required to leave their homes for a few hours if blasting takes place.As no final decision has been made concerning the method of demolition and all parties concerned are agreed on the thorough public discussion proposed by the hon. Member, I do not think it is appropriate for me to initiate urgent talks with the Health and Safety Commission at this stage.

Work Experience Programme

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been engaged as a part of the work experience programme in England and Scotland, respectively; and at what cost.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that under the work experience programme, by 15th January 1977, 2,686 young people were known to have been engaged in England at a cost of £1,194,000 and 270 in Scotland at a cost of £132,000.

Industrial Disputes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many working days were lost as a result of stoppages per 1,000 employees in England and Scotland in 1976 in each industry defined in the standard industrial classification.

Industrial analyses of stoppages of work due to industrial disputes, showing the number of working days lost per 1,000 employees, are compiled only for the United Kingdom as a whole and are published annually in the Department of Employment Gazette. The figures for 1976 are not yet available but will be published in a few months' time.

Job Creation

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much has been spent to date on the Job Creation Programme in England and Scotland, respectively; and how many jobs have been created in each country.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that to date grants totalling £49·5 million in England and £21 million in Scotland have been approved for job creation projects. These will provide up to 35,500 jobs and 16,500 jobs respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what percentage of workers employed under the job creation scheme have subsequently found permanent employment in England and Scotland, respectively.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that this information is not available. However, a recent sample survey showed that approximately one-third of employees in England and in Scotland found jobs immediately following employment under the job creation programme.

Youth Employment Subsidy

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been employed in England and Scotland, respectively, as a result of the youth employment subsidy; and at what cost.

As at 14th January 1977, 4,129 applications for subsidy had been approved in respect of young people obtaining employment in England and 470 in Scotland. Assuming that all the employment lasts for the full period of 26 weeks for which subsidy is payable, the costs will be £1,073,540 and £122,200 respectively.

Community Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places are available under the community industry scheme in England and Scotland, respectively; and how many were taken up in each country during 1976.

2,700 places are available in the Community Industry Scheme in England and 850 in Scotland. On 17th December 1976 there were 2,461 young people employed by the Community Industry Scheme in England and 824 in Scotland. At the beginning of 1976, 1,700 places were available in England and 1,360 were occupied. The comparative figures for Scotland were 550 and 467 respectively.

Closed Shop

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if his policy of neutrality in connection with relations between employer and employee indicates his willingness to support the principle of balloting the work force where there is disputation as to the wishes of the work force at any establishment, to be enrolled within a closed shop.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member's similar Question on 21st December 1976.—[Vol. 923, c. 155.]

Professional And Executive Recruitment Service

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have been placed in the current year to date by the Professional and Executive Recruitment Service; and what is the percentage of such placements to applicants registered.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that in the current financial year to date 7,000 vacancies have been filled by PER. The number of placements when expressed as a percentage of the number of persons enrolling with PER in the same period is approximately 4½ per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is now the average cost per placement of each job placed by the Professional and Executive Recruitment Service; and what is the average salary for each job placed.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the most recent information on the average cost per placement by PER is as given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South-West (Mrs. Wise) on 11th October 1976.—[Vol. 917, c. 48.]The average salary for each job now being filled by PER is £3,600.

Jobcentres (Salary Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is now the estimated salary cost per jobcentre of those employed in the jobcentres.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the estimated salary cost per jobcentre of those employed in the jobcentres is about £55,000.

Energy Sector

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the total working population of the United Kingdom is employed in the energy sector.

At June 1975, 2·5 per cent. of the working population of the United Kingdom was employed in industries associated with energy—that is, coal mining, petroleum and natural gas, coke ovens and manufactured fuel, mineral oil refining, lubricating oils and greases, gas and electricity.

Advisory, Conciliation And Arbitration Service

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is used in disputes affecting the Civil Service; and, if so, on how many occasions it has been used and in how many cases its intervention has been successful.

I understand that the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has been used in disputes affecting the Civil Service, but there are no separate figures available.

Construction Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many construction workers are at present unemployed in (a) the West Country and (b) the United Kingdom; and what proportion these figures represent of the total work force in the region and the country as a whole.

At August 1976, the number of registered unemployed people in the South-West Region who last worked in the construction industry was 15,690, representing 14·8 per cent. of all employees—employed and unemployed—in that industry and region. The corresponding figures for the United Kingdom were 206,581 and 14 per cent. As a proportion of employees in all industries and services, the corresponding percentages were 1·0 in the region and 0·9 in the United Kingdom. The numbers unemployed are analysed by industry quarterly. However, because of industrial action by some staff in the Department of Employment group, the count for November 1976 was incomplete and the latest comprehensive figures are for August.

Wages Council (Unlicensed Places Of Refreshment)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the members of the Unlicensed Places of Refreshment Wages Council.

The names of the members of the Unlicensed Places of Refreshment Wages Council are as follows:

Independent Members

Dr. M. R. Fisher.
Prof. W. E. Cavenagh.
Dr. M. N. Rendel.

Representatives of Employers

A. P. Barbieri.
R. V. Drewett.
W. C. Duff.
N. A. Excell.
L. C. Grainger.
G. L. Kingham.
C. R. Payne.
G. H. Sissons.
B. A. C. Ferriss.
L. D. West.
J. D. Wilkinson.
M. Melluish.
Miss S. E. King.
G. C. Gardner.
M. F. Zimmerman.
G. W. H. Bate.
B. Hibbard.

Representatives of Workers

T. H. Burlison.
Mrs. V. D. Donald.
J. V. O'Regan.
E. G. Romp.
D. Ryland.
A. Mitchell.
R. Keating.
J. Stevens.
B. R. Armstrong.
J. A. Coker.
P. J. Lonergan.
C. M. Martinez.
H. S. Muddel.
L. H. Watson.
Mrs. M. White.
Mrs. M. I. Jennings.

(1 casual vacancy to be filled).

Wages Council (Retail Foods)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the members of the Retail Foods Wages Council.

The names of the members of the Retail Food Trades Wages Council (England and Wales) are as follows:

Independent Members

W. Monaghan.
O. B. Popplewell.
Mrs. B. M. D. Smith.

Representatives of Employers

F. Eastwood.
R. Melluish.
F. P. G. Dugdale.
T. E. Hughes.
L. V. Hamer.
P. T. Fenwick.
G. W. H. Bate.
D. D. Caravias.
J. A. Hooper.
D. C. Perris.
L. E. Reeves-Smith.
J. Watson.
E. White.
W. E. Birmingham.
H. L. McDowell.
T. D. Matkin.
A. J. Sutor.
I. G. MacWilliam Kain.
R. E. G. Fisher.
E. B. Colwell.
R. C. Loadsman.
R. F. Hinton.
D. W. Harrison.

Representatives of Workers

Miss E. Baker.
N. Barker.
Mrs. O. Bryson.
J. Flood.
Mrs. H. Hammacott.
E. E. Harding.
W. J. Jones.
A. Johnstone.
G. A. Alders.
J. Phillips.
W. Fellows.
D. Campbell.
F. H. Soan.
D. Whitaker.
W. Tait.
C. L. Whitehead.
R. C. Dryden.
R. J. Ferris.
J. A. Van Ryssen.
R. Marsh.
M. F. J. Halpine.
Miss R. Stephen.
A. T. Hughes.

Reduction Of Redundancy Rebates Bill

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the organisations from which he has received representations in connection with the Reduction of Redundancy Rebates Bill and summarise their contents.

No formal written representations to my Department can be traced.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the organisations that his Department has consulted in connection with the Reduction of Redundancy Rebates Bill.

There has been no consultation by my Department with any organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the effect of the Reduction of Redundancy Rebates Bill will have on Scottish industry and employment, particularly in the small business sector.

It is not considered that Scottish employers will be affected differently from employers in other parts of the United Kingdom. The reduction in the rebate may possibly reduce the number of redundancies declared although its financial effect on both large and small businesses generally will be relatively small.

Training Opportunities Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he takes to ensure that trainees under the training opportunities scheme are genuinely seeking to find gainful employment at the end of their training course; and what power he has to recover all or part of the cost of such courses from trainees who are in a position to contribute from their own financial resources.

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

Merseyside

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further steps he is taking to improve employment prospects for school leavers in Kirkby.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19th January 1977; Vol. 924, c. 216], gave the following information:A wide range of special measures for alleviating unemployment among school leavers and other young people are being deployed in Kirkby. At present 118 young people are employed on job creation projects and community industry, and under the youth employment subsidy scheme applications from employers for grants to employ 24 young people have so far been dealt with. Under the work experience programme three schemes have been approved in Kirkby and five young people are currently participating. Expanded training facilities have enabled 30 young people to commence first-year off-the-job apprenticeship training at Kirkby Further Education College under the industrial training board special awards scheme and a further six are currently being trained on short industrial courses provided by the Training Services Agency. Many more young people will be assisted by these courses during the coming months. Although precise figures are not available, many young people have obtained apprenticeship or junior operator training with employers by means of premium training grants paid by ITBs.Under the Government's arrangements for the strengthening of the Careers Service in areas of severe unemployment, one additional careers officer and one employment assistant have been appointed to the Knowsley careers office. These officers are wholly engaged in obtaining employment or training opportunities for all unemployed young people in the area, which includes Kirkby. The adequacy of these measures in Kirkby, as elsewhere, is kept constantly under review.Other facilities, such as wider opportunities courses, preparatory courses in literacy and numeracy and special industrial courses at skillcentres, are available to youngsters in Kirkby who are prepared to travel to other Merseyside districts.

Employers And Employees

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his best estimate of the total number of employees employed by companies (a) under 1,500 workers in the United Kingdom, (b) 1,500–2,000 workers in the United Kingdom, (c) 2,000–2,500 workers in the United Kingdom, and (d) over 2,500 workers in the United Kingdom; and how many companies fall into each of the above categories.

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

Chemical Factory, King's Lynn (Explosion)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to receive the report of the Factory Inspectorate into the explosion at the Dow Chemical factory in King's Lynn in June 1976; and when it is likely to be published.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20th January 1977; Vol. 924, c. 322], gave the following information:I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the report prepared by the Factory Inspectorate into the explosion at the Dow Chemical plant is likely to be published early in April 1977. I shall, of course, receive a pre-publication copy to be sent to the hon. Member.

Industry

Post Codes

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is considering introducing legislation to compel letter writers to use post codes; when it is planned; what sanctions will be used; and if he will make a statement.

No.

Employment (Wales)

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the number of jobs for males and females, respectively, that are expected to arise in manufacturing industry in Wales over the next four years, analysing the data by standard planning sub-division and comparing these figures with the corresponding ones one year earlier.

I have been asked to reply.Information is not available in the form requested. However, since I assume responsibility for Section 7 assistance under the Industry Act 1972 in July 1975 12,660 new jobs are expected to arise within four years from offers of financial assistance and 4,450 jobs have been safeguarded. In addition employment is still expected to arise from offers of assistance made in earlier years; from the letting of Government financed factories; from payment of regional development grants, and residual payments under the Local Employment Acts. Finally many more jobs will arise throughout the manufacturing sector in Wales as the United Kingdom economy as a whole revives.

Nationalised Industries

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the Government's attitude towards the recommendations of the National Economic Development Office urging the establishment of a policy council to reconcile the political and commercial objectives of State corporations.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave on 18th November 1976 to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedwellty (Mr. Kinnock)—[Vol. 919, c.

663].

Prices And Consumer Protection

Endowment Mortgages

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer to the Director-General of Fair Trading the arrangements for granting endowment mortgages; and if he will make a statement.

The Director General announced last October an agreement with the Building Societies Association about certain aspects of the arrangements for granting endowment mortgages. I suggest that any matters arising should be drawn to the Director General's attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what information he has with regard to the number of individual complaints about possible non-observance of the arrangements that have been agreed between the Office of Fair Trading and the Building Societies Association as they affect endowment mortgages.

I understand that the Office of Fair Trading has received a large number of inquiries about the arrangements but no complaints. Individual complaints—if any arise—should be taken up in the first instance with the building society concerned and subsequently, if necessary, with the Building, Societies Association.

Consumer Advice And Protection Service (Wales)

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what effect, if any, it is expected that the Government's devolution proposals will have on the administration and financing of the Consumer Advice and Protection Service in Wales.

The Scotland and Wales Bill does not provide for the devolution of consumer protection to the Welsh Assembly. The local authorities will remain responsible for its administration, as at present. The Welsh Assembly will become responsible for rate support grant for all local authority services including consumer protection. The devolution proposals will not prevent my Department from offering specific grants to Welsh local authorities and other organisations to finance particular consumer protection or advice activities, but there will be no obligation to apply for such grants.

Spectacles And Contact Lenses

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will now make a statement about the outcome of his discussions with opticians and manufacturers on the recommendations of the Price Commission on the prices of privately supplied spectacles and contact lenses.

My right hon. Friend is still engaged in discussions with the professional and other bodies concerned and has agreed to a request to postpone his original target date for their conclusion. He will make a statement as soon as he has finished his consultations.

Bread Delivery (Industrial Action)

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer the action of the bread delivery men to the Monopolies Commission.

No.

Prices And Consumer Protection

Unit Pricing

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what response he has received to the report of the Price Commission on the differences in unit pricing between large and small packs and what further steps he plans to take to improve the position of purchases of small packs.

We have received a favourable response from interested parties. The Department has held discussions with manufacturers' and distributors' representatives and the main consumer organisations which are considering the suggestions made by the Commission, particularly that of increased promotional activity. For our part, local authorities have been asked to extend their price survey arrangements to cover small packs and 69 special surveys on small packs have so far been approved.

Accidental Poisoning

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what further steps he is now taking in an effort to reduce the number of poisoning accidents involving household products.

I have placed in the Library copies of a report which my Department published in September 1976, based on a study into child poisoning from household products carried out for it by the Institute for Consumer Ergonomics. As indicated in that report, my Department is investigating a number of possible ways of reducing this problem. Action being taken includes consultations about the increased voluntary use of child-resistant closures and improvements in labelling; development of the use of symbols on warning labels; and research into the special problem presented by paint solvents, such as turpentine and turps substitute.There will be continuing publicity about the need to keep all household products out of the reach of children.

In addition, my Department is participating in discussions about a proposed EEC directive on the labelling and packaging of household products.

Prices Information

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection under what circumstances his Department seeks prices information dating back to pre-1938 in the course of inquiries with private businesses; what sort of businesses are likely to be involved; and how often this kind of information is sought.

I am not aware of any case in which my Department has sought such information from any private business.

Pharmaceutical Products

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will refer the pricing policies of Roche Ltd. to the Price Commission.

No. The company in question was recently the subject of a searching inquiry by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. The prices of a large proportion of its medical products are subject to the supervision of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services under the voluntary price regulation scheme. The company's products which are not covered by the scheme are subject to the provisions of the Price Code.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer the increase in his retail price of Declinax, Vallium and Librium to the Price Commission; and if he will make a statement.

I see no reason for such a reference. The prices of Vallium and Librium were reduced following the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report in 1973. All these products are now within the voluntary price regulation scheme administered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

Scotland

Ambulance Services

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many job opportunities for ambulance men will be lost due to the cut-back in outpatients' ambulance services at the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow;(2) what is the approximate number of outpatients using the outpatients' ambulance service at the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow; and what proportion of these will be affected by the decision to cut back on this service.

Glasgow South Ambulance Depot, whose main reference hospital is the Southern General, is responsible for transporting about 77,000 outpatients annually. The Management Committee of the Common Services Agency has considered the financial situation of the service and has agreed that a detailed examination will be made of its use of resources with a view to effecting such economies as will allow the present level of services to patients who need ambulance transport to be maintained. Consultation will take place with the trade unions concerned before any proposed measures that might affect the interests of their members are taken.

Homelessness

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy towards the extension to Scotland of legislation on homelessness so that Scottish housing authorities will have the statutory duty to house the homeless, as recommended by the Morris Committee Report.

Following the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook) on 10th November 1976—[Vol. 919, c. 159]—when my right hon. Friend agreed in principle that the primary responsibility for securing accommodation for the homeless should lie with housing authorities, Scottish local authorities are now working towards an agreed code of practice for housing and social work authorities in dealing with homelessness and associated problems. I therefore regard it as inappropriate to legislate, at least at present.

Corporal Punishment In Schools

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what response his Department has made to the inquiry from the European Commission for Human Rights relating to the complaint by a parent from Strathclyde Region about the use of corporal punishment in schools.

None so far, but Her Majesty's Government will be responding soon to a request from the Commission for observations on the admissibility of this petition.

Smokeless Zones

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the Official Report of the inquiry into the Bannockburn smokeless zone order, held on 3rd December 1976; and if he will make a statement.

Part I of the report of the inquiry, containing the factual material, will shortly be issued to the parties. Part II, containing the reporter's conclusions, will be made available as soon as possible, depending on the volume of comments on Part I.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those communities within a 15-mile radius of Roughmute which are now smokeless zones.

There are in operation 58 Smoke Control Area Orders for defined areas within 15 miles of Rough-mute, relating to the following communities: Airdrie, Alloa, Bannockburn, Bishopbriggs, Bonnybridge, Carron and Carronshore, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Denny Falkirk, Glasgow (Provan), Grangemouth, Larbert, Laurieston, Livingston, Milton of Campsie, Motherwell, Redding, Skinflats, Stenhousemuir, Tullibody.

Prefabricated Houses

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prefabricated concrete system-built houses and flats have been constructed in Glasgow over the past five years; what percentage of these houses and flats are at present known to be suffering from dampness problems; and what percentage have now been declared to be uninhabitable.

About 1,300 local authority dwellings of this kind were completed in Glasgow in the period 1972–76. The maintenance and management of houses belonging to local authorities is their responsibility and I do not maintain statistical information as to the condition of their houses.

John Hastie Factory

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Scottish Development Agency bought the John Hastie factory from John Hastie before the appointment of a receiver, or subsequently direct from the receiver; what was the consideration for the purchase; and on what terms the factory has been made available to Vickers Ltd.

The details of this transaction are a matter for the Scottish Development Agency.

Environment Conservation (Inspectorate)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken in Scotland to meet the criticisms of the Fifth Report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution that the Inspectorate had not sufficiently adapted to changes in society's attitude to pollution and to public accountability; and how successful these have been.

The conclusions and recommendations of this wide-ranging report are under study generally, and individual aspects cannot be considered in isolation.

Re-Chem International

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether Her Majesty's Industrial Pollution Inspectorate, in reporting that combusion at Re-Chem, Roughmute, took place at sufficiently high temperatures to destroy practically all the organic residues in the flue gases, also took account that inorganic materials might be released in the emission from the stack.

Yes. As a result special equipment was installed through which the flue gases pass to reduce, as far as possible, the quantities of inorganic materials emitted.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what facilities Re-Chem International has at Roughmute for liquid scintillation counting for radioactivity and for neutron activation analysis to measure levels of antimony, arsenic, bromine, chlorine, cobalt, iron, manganese, mercury and sodium.

Disposals of radioactive substances are made to Re-Chem International in accordance with authorisations made by the Secretary of State for Scotland under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. The conditions of these authorisations specify the maximum levels of activity which can be sent. As the total quantities authorised are very small there is no need for the firm to have equipment for liquid scintillator counting. Facilities for neutron activation analysis are not available at the works as this method of analysis is a highly specialised technique not suitable for routine analytical control.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will order an inquiry into the operations of Re-Chem International at Roughmute.

At this time, the Secretary of State sees no need for an inquiry. The causes of the complaints which were raised in 1975 and early 1976 have been largely rectified.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether Re-Chem International processes arsenicals, mixed contaminated solvents, cyanides and bags containing mercury-contaminated wastes at Roughmute; and whether all such substances are thoroughly analysed before being processed.

The firm has a satisfactory system for destruction of cyanides and for disposal by burning of mixed solvents contaminated by organic materials. Dressed grain containing traces of mercury has been incinerated but arsenicals and materials with a substantial inorganic content are not incinerated. Since the sender of materials for disposal must indicate the contents of each despatch under the Deposit of Poisonous Waste Act 1972, only limited analysis is needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether wind tunnel tests to study smoke dispersion from Re-Chem International at Roughmute were made before the company started operating; and, if not, how long after opening such tests were initiated.

Wind tunnel tests were not made before the company opened. After the commissioning of the plant in early 1975 it became clear that there were difficulties in dispersion and wind tunnel tests were carried out later in that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what facilities exist at Re-Chem International, Roughmute, to monitor radioactivity.

Maximum levels of activity in material sent to the firm for disposal are limited by the authorisations issued by the Secretary of State for Scotland under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. Check measurements are made periodically by Her Majesty's Industrial Pollution Inspectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether Re-Chem International emits only steam and carbon dioxide; and whether he accepts that the safety of the plant is guaranteed by exhaustive laboratory testing and process performance monitoring.

Measurements made by Her Majesty's Industrial Pollution Inspectorate have shown that salt has been omitted along with traces of other particulates and organic substances. There is no evidence that emissions from the plant are injurious to public health.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the recommendations of the Fifth Report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, that decisions on emission which directly affect the daily lives of many people should not be taken by a small specialist body consulting only with industry and that greater anticipation was needed so that the assumptions and problems on which the decisions depended were more widely understood, were taken into account in the decisions on the siting and operations of Re-Chem International at Roughmute, Stirlingshire; and if he will make a statement.

Decisions on the siting and operations of the plants taken in 1974, some 18 months before publication of the Royal Commission Report in January 1976.

Industrial Pollution

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what cause the SSEB attributes corrosion in a pylon in the Roughmute area.

Officials of the Scottish Development Department have been in touch with the board, which has reported that during the latter part of 1975 it was observed that the plume from a nearby works was passing through the top part of a 275 kV tower, situated on the south bank of the River Carron, in certain atmospheric conditions of humidity and wind. An examination of the tower soon after this revealed that the galvanising was slightly discoloured and there was some minimal corrosion, but this was not sufficient to affect the integrity of the tower. However, the company concerned raised the height of the stack, since when the plume has not been seen to pass through the tower and there has been no further trouble.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in its investigation of damaged vegetation on the south bank of the River Carron, Her Majesty's Industrial Pollution Inspectorate measured any other substance in the leaves apart from sodium chloride and sulphate; and, if so, whether he will now arrange for the appropriate results to be published.

An analysis of the trace elements in the damaged vegetation has now been completed and will be published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he accepts that damage to vegetation on the south bank of the River Carron was caused solely by common salt.

The damage was caused by common salt aggravated by the drought.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from residents in Larbert, Stenhousemuir and the surrounding area about atmospheric pollution.

In 1975 my right hon. Friend received 21 representations, and in 1976, 14. Many of these subjects of complaints have now been rectified. In addition, a petition containing some 500 signatures was submitted. A local liaison committee has been set up to help local residents to make representations, to provide them with information about the firm and as a forum for discussion.

Scottish Certificate Of Education Examination Board

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, why, in view of his constraints on local authority spending, the contribution to the Scottish Certificate of Education Examination Board by the Dumfries and Galloway Region has been increased from £33,111 to £46,956.

The expenditure of the Scottish Certificate of Education Examination Board is wholly borne by education authorities, who have through the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, a number of representatives on the Board and its finance and other committees. The Board's expenditure is divided between authorities by reference to the rate support grant distribution formula and their contributions are treated as reckonable expenditure for the purposes of calculating rate support grant.The Board's estimates, drawn up on a calendar year basis, show that the increase in expenditure between 1975 and 1976 was largely due to the increase of 3·5 per cent. in presentations for the SCE examinations between 1975 and 1976; the move late in 1975 to new and larger offices at Dalkeith, necessitated by the substantial increase in presentations in recent years; an increase of 10 per cent. in 1976 in the fees paid to examiners, markers and invigilators; the inclusion for the full year 1976 of National Joint Council salary awards which only partly affected 1975; and the implementation at the end of 1975 of staff reorganisation following an evaluation of the Board's operations by a local government management team.

The figures quoted by the hon. Member are not wholly correct: the contributions due to be paid by the Dumfries and Galoway Regional Council in the financial years 1975–76 and 1976–77 were, in fact, £33,111 and £43,735 respectively.

Overseas Students

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what inquiries he has made to discover whether overseas students might apply for a considerable number of vacancies in teacher training colleges in Scotland, paying their own way; and if he will make a statement.

The majority of overseas students at present in colleges of education attend the Scottish Centre for Education Overseas at Moray House. This centre is not directly affected by the proposals in my right hon. Friend's consultative paper of 17th January but any views about the provision of courses for overseas students will be considered during the consultations that have been initiated.

Teachers

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish his estimates for the number of teacher training entrants to colleges of education for each year, during the next 10 or 15 years; and if he will make a statement;(2) whether he estimates there will be an increased requirement for teachers in the schools throughout Scotland in the late 1980s; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's consultative paper of 17th January, copies of which were placed in the Library.

Dunfermline College, Cramond

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how it is intended to accommodate those studying at Dunfermline College, Cramond, West Edinburgh, at Dundee College, in view of the fact that there are 200 residential places at Dunfermline College, and Dundee College has only 190 residential places, most, if not all of which are already filled;

(2) how the transference of Dunfermline College of Physical Education, Cramond, West Edinburgh, to Dundee would effect saving, bearing in mind that there are 579 students, 70 members of the teaching staff, and more than 100 other employees at the college in West Edinburgh, who live in the Edinburgh area.

The detailed arrangements at individual colleges and their financial implications cannot be precisely forecast at this stage since they will depend on the outcome of the consultations indicated by my right hon. Friend's paper of 17th January.

Teacher Training

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether 400 lecturers will become unemployed in Scotland if the Government's Consultative Document on Colleges of Education is implemented.

This depends on decisions yet to be made about future numbers of college staffs, and on the extent to which any redundant lecturers seek and obtain other employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what would be the total redundancy payments payable, if 400 lecturers in colleges of education in Scotland become unemployed in pursuance of Government policy.

It is not possible to provide this information at present, since the amount of compensation would depend upon the age, length of service and salary of each individual.

Trade

Newsprint (Belgian Imports)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether Belgian newsprint imported into the United Kingdom is in receipt of Belgian Government support; if so, what information he has about the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed that the Belgian Government have given no support to exporters of Belgian newsprint to the United Kingdom.

Aircraft Noise

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will make a further statement regarding progress being made to reduce aircraft noise affecting the London borough of Ealing;(2) if he will make a statement on endeavours to abate the nuisance of aircraft noise in general.

Through the continuing application of noise abatement measures, plus their strengthening whenever practicable, and the progressive introduction into service of new quieter aircraft, I hope that disturbance from aircraft noise will be reduced, both generally, and in places like Ealing which lie fairly close to major airports.

South Africa (British Employers)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will name the British companies which have refused to co-operate with his Department in supplying information on the wages and conditions of workers in their employ in South Africa.

The information is being assembled to enable my right hon. Friend to do so in the near future.

Potatoes

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the annual tonnage and the sterling value of imports of (a) new potatoes, (b) main crop potatoes and (c) potato products in the last five years, 1971 to 1976 inclusive, giving estimates where actual figures are not available, and the best estimate for 1977.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20th January 1977; Vol. 924, c. 267], gave the following information:Imports of potatoes and potato products during the six years 1971 to 1976 are shewn in the table below; imports in the current year depend on a number

			New potatoes		Main crop potatoes		Potato products
			Thousand metric tons	£ million cif	Thousand metric tons	£ million cif	Thousand metric tons	£ million cif
1971	…	…	261	14·4	0	0	26	3·9
1972	…	…	272	17·3	0	0	24	3·7
1973	…	…	226	21·0	4	0·3	24	4·2
1974	…	…	229	21·4	2	0·2	22	5·0
1975	…	…	188	22·9	181	16·2	22	6·4
1976	…	…	257	65·9	372	56·7	78	27·1

Social Services

Elderly Persons (Hospital Beds)

34.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has received any representations from the Stockport Health Authority or the North-West Regional Authority in connection with the acute shortage of beds for elderly mentally ill patients in the area.

I have received no such representations, although I understand that there are deficiencies in hospital facilities, both for in-patients and for day-patients. These are being taken into account by the Area and Regional Health Authorities in their planning. Work has already started on the provision of a psychiatric unit and a unit for the elderly mentally severely infirm at Stepping Hill Hospital.

Naproxen

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will prohibit the prescribing of naproxen within the National Health Service, in view of the evidence sent to him by the hon. Member for Brent, South.

The safety of naproxen has been thoroughly examined on several occasions and I am at present advised that there is ample evidence for safety independent of the one study being discussed between the United States Food and Drugs Administration and the manufacturer. Naproxen was authorised for clinical trial in this country in 1971 and for marketing in 1973, on both occasions on the advice of the Committee on Safety of Medicines. It is included in the first category of drugs now being considered by the Committee on the Review of Medicines who take account of all available data and of clinical experience of the use of the drug with patients.

of uncertain factors and no reliable estimate is possible.

There are, therefore, no present grounds for withdrawing the licences for products containing naproxen.

Fraudulent Claims

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases involving, respectively, unemployment benefit and sickness benefit in 1975 and 1976 were the subject of special investigation by his Department; and in how many of the cases investigated benefits were withdrawn or reduced.

In 1975 Special Investigators of the Department of Employment investigated 6,169 unemployment benefit cases and established fraud in 3,439. Department of Health and Social Security records of special investigation do not differentiate sickness benefit cases investigated from the rest. In 1975 DHSS Special Investigators cleared 28,625 cases, fraud or other irregularity being established in 13,307 of them. Figures are not yet available for 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what investigations by his Department are being made into the allegation of Mr. Dennis Reeves, sentenced at Halifax Magistrates' Court on 4th January 1977 to six months' prison for social security frauds, that he knew lots of people were fiddling.

This accusation was followed up by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the time limit after which his Department is prohibited from prosecuting in cases of alleged benefit abuses; and how many cases have been abandoned for this reason in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Proceedings can be instituted within 12 months of the commission of an offence, or within three months of the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the Secretary of State for Social Services to justify a prosecution comes to his knowledge. A serious case need never be closed simply because of these time limits.

Brent Health District

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report tables showing the numbers, categories and grades of administrative staff employed in connection with the provision of National Health Services in the present districts covered by the Brent health district at 31st December 1976 and similarly those employed by the hospital, local executive councils and local health authorities at 31st December 1971.

I regret that this information is not readily available in the form requested. I will write to my hon. Friend.

Bookmakers

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many investigations have been made by his Department in each of the last three years, into allegations that bookmakers in Glasgow used persons registered as unemployed as "runners".

Records are not kept in this form, but the available information does not suggest this is a current problem.

Alcoholics

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of homeless alcoholics.

No reliable estimate is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of people requiring (a) the service of detoxification centres and (b) those of hostels for alcoholics.

One of the purposes of setting up experimental detoxification centres is to help ascertain the extent of the need for such services. There is no reliable estimate of the number of persons requiring the services of hostels for alcoholics.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total sum of money being allocated for detoxification units.

A number of different services play a part in detoxification units, and the costs are met from different sources, rather than by a special allocation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further plans he has to deal with the problem of alcoholics and particularly homeless alcoholics; and if he will make a statement.

We shall be reviewing policies in the light of advice which we expect to receive this year from the Advisory Committee on Alcoholism on the prevention of alcoholism and the pattern of services for alcoholics; also in the light of views expressed on the Department's Consultative Document "Priorities for Health and Social Services in England" and on the White Paper "Better Services for the Mentally Ill" (Cmnd 6233). These have already called the attention of health and social services authorities to the need to develop more locally based treatment services and the special need to develop more effective services for homeless alcoholics; and gave advice on the forms which services might take and the need for experiment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the level of grant aid allocated to voluntary hostels for alcoholics per bed; when this was set and what it would have to be now to have kept pace with inflation; and what plans he has to increase it.

Grants to voluntary organisations for hostels for alcoholics are for capital up to £3,000 per new place and for running costs up to £475 per place. These rates apply from 1st April 1976. They are reviewed annually to take account of rising costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will detail those points of the recommendations of the Report of Habitual Drunken Offenders that have been implemented; and what plans he has to implement the others.

The recommendations which concern my Department are those relating to treatment and rehabilitation services including the provision of experimental detoxification centres referred to in another reply today. In 1973 my Department assumed responsibility for making grants to support hostels for alcoholics—including three formerly part of the Home Office after care scheme. Circular 21/73 "Community Services for Alcoholics" emphasised the importance of a community based service reflecting a number of the recommendations. The consultative document "Priorities for Health and Social Services in England" has drawn the attention of health and local authorities to the urgent need to develop an integrated range of services within the resources available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons have been admitted to mental hospitals and units suffering from primary or secondary degrees of alcoholism in each year from 1971.

The number of individual patients admitted is not known. The number of admissions to mental illness hospitals and units in England and Wales was as follows:

Years		Primary diagnosis of alcoholism or alcoholic psychosis	Secondary diagnosis of alcoholism
1971	…	9,230	671
1972	…	10,167	683
1973	…	11,565	693
1974	…	12,495	689
1975	…	12,751	681

Prescriptions

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many free prescriptions were granted on grounds of low income to (a) those receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement, and (b) to those receiving neither supplementary benefit nor family income supplement in 1975 and 1976.

Information is not available on the numbers of prescriptions issued to persons in these categories. In England in 1975 about 1·3 million persons covered by supplementary benefit or family income supplement were entitled to exemption from or refund of prescription charges. Applicants entitled to exemption on other low income grounds received 13,000 exemption certificates and 5,000 refunds: these also covered any dependants. Similar information for 1976 is not yet available.

Earnings Disregard

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why supplementary benefit order books still contain instructions to the claimant to inform the supplementary benefit office when their earnings exceed £2 in any week when the disregard was raised to £4 in November 1975 and, for one-parent families, to £6 from this November.

When the supplementary benefit earnings disregard for single parent families was increased on 15th November it was decided, in the interest of economy, to use up existing stocks of order books but to include in them a note explaining the increase. All books issued to single parents have been amended to ask claimants to report earnings over £6 a week.

One-Parent Families

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list what expenses may be disregarded by one-parent families on supplementary benefit on top of the £6 disregard.

Before the £6 disregard is applied to earnings, these are reduced by any statutory deductions from wages such as tax and national insurance contributions and any expenses reasonably incurred in connection with work such as fares and the cost of child minding.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will write to all one-parent families on supplementary benefit informing them they may earn £6 in a week before losing any supplementary benefit, explaining to them what expenses may be disregarded on top of this £6 and, in particular, that child minding fees may be disregarded.

Nearly all single parent claimants have been sent a form explaining the increase from £4 to £6 a week in their earnings that can be disregarded in working out entitlement to supplementary benefit and have had their order books amended accordingly. All such claimants earning more than £4 a week on the date of the increase had their benefit increased accordingly. For some time now order books have contained notes explaining the allowable expenses that can be deducted from earnings before applying the disregard and these indicate that the cost of child minding is such an expense.

Classified Documents

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all publications used by DHSS officials, which are classified as (a) restricted and (b) secret; and which of the publications are available in the Library.

None of the instructions used by my officials in the administration of the social security schemes is classified restricted or secret. They are marked "For official use only" and are not available to Members of Parliament.

Supplementary Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will have the supplementary benefit "A" Code made available in the Library.

I considered this matter with the Supplementary Benefits Commission last year and decided that it would be undesirable to make the present code available. But in connection with the present review of the Supplementary Benefits Scheme consideration will be given to whether any revised code should be made more publicly available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish a table similar to Table 10 of the Supplementary Benefits Commission Annual Report 1975, and including November 1976, to show levels of supplementary benefit for households of different size, as a percentage of net incomes from earnings equal to 60 per cent. of average male manual earnings in each year;(2) if he will bring up to date Table 10 of the Supplementary Benefits Commission Annual Report 1975, to show levels of supplementary benefit and households of different size, as a percentage of net income from average male manual worker earnings in November 1976.

The information requested is not yet available but I will write to the hon. Gentleman when it is.

Occupational Pensioners

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of occupational pensioners who register for work merely in order to avoid the obligation to buy a weekly national insurance stamp.

As at 8th July 1976, the latest date for which figures are available, 24,000 male occupational pensioners aged between 55 and 64 were estimated to be registering as unemployed and in receipt of national insurance contribution credits only. However, it is not known how many were registering mainly for this purpose. An occupational pensioner who is neither employed nor in self-employment has, under the Social Security Act 1975, no obligation to pay national insurance contributions.

Departmental Staff

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action has been taken in 1976 against social security clerks who have made public complaints about the size and nature of social security benefits.

Only one such case arose in 1976. It is still under consideration and is being dealt with in accordance with the Department's normal rules and procedures relating to the conduct of staff.

Unemployment Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what statutory provision unemployment benefit which has been overpaid to claimants can be recovered.

Section 119 of the Social Security Act 1975 provides that, where a decision has been reversed or varied on appeal, or revised on review, any benefit that was overpaid as a result of the original decision is to be repaid unless the beneficiary, or any person acting for him, has throughout used due care and diligence to avoid overpayment.

Unemployed Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will revise the operation of the rules governing the amount of work that unemployed persons are permitted to engage in without loss of benefit, bearing in mind that demoralisation inherent in enforced idleness is important second only to direct economic loss.

A person who is registered as unemployed but who nevertheless is engaged in some employment can, in certain circumstances, earn up to 75p a day before his unemployment benefit is withdrawn. This limit is intended to ensure that the amount of work done is so negligible as to be consistent with the full-time employment for which the person must be available, and to prevent the total net income that could be derived from unemployment benefit plus earnings becoming a disincentive to full-time work. I have no proposals for a change in these provisions.

Cirrhosis Of The Liver

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people have been diagnosed as dying from cirrhosis of the liver in each year from 1971.

The number of deaths in England and Wales attributed to cirrhosis of the liver were as follows:

		With mention of alcohol or alcoholism (ICD 571·0)	Without mention of alcohol or alcoholism (ICD 571·0)
1971	…	169	1,401
1972	…	184	1,478
1973	…	298	1,506
1974	…	330	1,424
1975	…	393	1,442
1976	…	(not yet available)

Employees' Earnings

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there is any difference between the information on employees' earnings, etc., which non-Civil Service employers are required to provide for the Department of Health and Social Security and the information required from Civil Service Departments concerning their employees; and, if so, what that difference is and what is the basis for that difference.

No. Section 127 of the Social Security Act 1975 provides for the application of the Act to persons employed by or under the Crown with the exception of Her Majesty's Forces in like manner as if they were employed by a private person.

Medical Consultants

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the figure of consultants per 100,000 population in England and Wales and in each of the regional health authority areas, for each of the years since reorganisation of the Health Service.

The following table gives whole time equivalent consultants per 100,000 population in post at 30th September in the stated years. Figures for 1976 are not yet available.

NUMBERS OF WHOLE-TIME EQUIVALENT HOSPITAL MEDICAL AND DENTAL CONSULTANTS PER 100,000 POPULATION
		30th September 1974	30th September 1975
England and Wales^*	…	20·74	21·31
Northern	…	22·02	22·49
Yorkshire	…	19·27	19·91
Trent	…	14·78	15·10
East Anglia	…	20·64	21·33
North West Thames	…	24·42	25·11
North East Thames	…	24·66	25·19
South East Thames	…	23·23	23·59
South West Thames	…	19·61	20·73
Wessex	…	19·85	20·55
Oxford	…	20·24	20·59
South western	…	17·93	18·08
West Midlands	…	19·51	19·47
Mersey	…	18·97	19·98
North western	…	19·09	20·17
Wales	…	19·46	20·36
^* Includes staff of post-graduate teaching hospitals which are not included in any individual regional figure.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for how many years current allocations of consultant posts would need to be continued to bring the figure of consultants per 100,000 population in the Trent Regional Health Authority up to the national average.

If regions were allocated the same number of new consultant posts each year as they were in 1976–77, and if all of these posts were filled, then the number of consultants per 100,000 population in the Trent Region would equal the then current national average some time between 1985 and 1990. On the same assumptions, consultant staffing in Trent would equal the present national average by 1980.

Whooping Cough

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the number of whooping cough cases since 1960, sub-dividing the total number into those for (a) babies under one year, (b) children and (c) adults; and if he will give the number of fatalities, and the proportion of those catching the disease who had been immunised for each of the groups;

WHOOPING COUGH (ENGLAND AND WALES)
		Notifications					Deaths
		1 year	1–14	15+	All ages	Index All ages	1 year	1–14	15+	All ages
1960	…	5,869	50,922	1,088	58,030	100	26	10	1	37
1961	…	2,436	21,388	556	24,469	42	19	8	nil	27
1962	…	1,026	7,101	200	8,347	14	18	6	nil	24
1963	…	4,117	29,820	681	34,736	60	29	7	nil	36
1964	…	3,624	27,072	786	31,594	54	32	10	2	44
1965	…	1,433	11,191	271	12,945	22	15	6	nil	21
1966	…	2,097	16,916	328	19,417	33	22	1	nil	23
1967	…	3,024	29,552	791	33,531	58	24	3	nil	27
1968	…	1,753	15,110	429	17,367	30	15	nil	nil	15
1969	…	628	4,185	143	4,994	9	4	1	1	6
1970	…	2,006	14,213	295	16,597	29	13	2	nil	15
1971	…	2,155	14,104	493	16,844	29	22	4	nil	26
1972	…	263	1,746	53	2,069	4	2	nil	nil	2
1973	…	330	2,045	45	2,437	4	2	nil	nil	2
1974	…	2,175	13,502	425	16,225	28	12	1	nil	13
1975	…	1,394	7,120	302	8,910	15	11	1	nil	12

WHOOPING COUGH IMMUNISATION (ENGLAND AND WALES)—PERSONS UNDER 16 YEARS
		Total number persons under 16 immunised	Index number 1960=100	Percentage of population under 16 years immunised	Index number 1960=100
1960	…	626,401	100	5·6	100
1961	…	690,070	110	6·1	109
1962	…	578,474	92	5·1	91
1963	…	619,201	99	5·4	96
1964	…	679,382	108	5·9	105
1965	…	697,653	111	6·0	107
1966	…	693,805	111	5·9	105
1967	…	711.254	114	6·0	107
1968	…	629,183	100	5·2	93
1969	…	457,407	73	3·8	68
1970	…	620,381	99	5·1	91
1971	…	642,533	103	5·2	93
1972	…	632,495	101	5·1	91
1973	…	588,516	94	4·8	86
1974	…	457,753	73	3·7	66
1975	…	259,810	41	2·1	38

Child Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements he proposes for the payment of child benefit other than through visits to the post office and whether he will

(2) if he will give the figures since 1960 for, ( a) the annual number of whooping cough immunisations, ( b) the percentage of the appropriate age group vaccinated and ( c) the number of notified cases of the disease; and if he will express each of these as index numbers taking the figures for 1960 as 100.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1977; Vol. 924, c. 148–9], gave the following information:The available figures are given in the attached tables. The proportion of notifications relating to persons immunised is not known.authorise schemes for automatic monthly or quarterly debit to bank accounts where convenient to the recipient.

I have no proposals at the present time, nor is the payments system yet sufficiently computerised, to pay child benefit in the generality of cases otherwise than by order book encashable at Post Offices. For the longer term, however, as I explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 12th November—[Vol. 919, c. 307–8]—the possibility of payments direct to bank accounts is being explored.

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the waste disposal unit has been installed in the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital when a local pig farmer has offered to pay for the waste material to feed his pigs.

The hospital was designed by the former South-Western Regional Hospital Board whose policy was that waste disposal in central wash-up areas, kitchens and dining rooms should be by mechanical means. This policy was decided in the main in the interests of better hygiene control, thus minimising the dangers of cross-infection.

Drugs

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Arundel on 17th January, what advice he has given to the medical profession in order that it can promote economies in prescribing drugs which will assist in the saving of £6 million in the National Health Service drugs bill; and by what methods he hopes to secure better value for the money spent.

It would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to advise doctors how to prescribe drugs for their patients. However, the profession has been invited to join officials in informal discussions about possible methods by which savings might be made without detriment to patients, and better value for money secured. The profession has accepted the invitation.

Vaccination

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what investigative action has been taken to date by his Department since the publication in January 1974 of a paper co-authored by Dr. John Wilson, which showed that 12 out of 36 children with brain damage ascribed to vaccination had contraindications; and whether his Department issued further advice on contraindications after consideration of Dr. Wilson's paper;(8) if he will request the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to publish the evidence on the basis of which it recommended that the whooping cough vaccine should continue to be recommended as a joint procedure;(9) if he will give a precise meaning to the words "low" and "serious" as used by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation in its report published in the

British Medical Journal on 20th September 1975, which said that the incidence of serious hazards was low;

(14) if he will make a statement on the progress being made by the Sub-Committee of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which is looking into the complications arising from vaccination; and if he will undertake to publish the report when it is received;

(16) what advice his Department gave to doctors about the use of whooping-cough vaccine prior to the start of the immunisation scheme in 1957, in the light of papers published by Byers and Moll in America in 1948, and by Harris and Anderson in the United Kingdom in 1950, each of which reported on encephalophy after vaccination and suggested contraindications; and how this advice differs, if at all, from that which his Department currently gives.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19th January 1977; Vol. 924, c. 251–3], circulated the following information:No advice on whooping-cough vaccination was issued by the Department before 1957. Routine vaccination was recommended only after a long period of trials to test the efficacy and safety of the vaccine. Current advice is contained in the Chief Medical Officer's letter 17/74 issued in June 1974.The evidence on which the policy recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is based was outlined in a statement, an edited version of which was published in the

British Medical Journal of 20th September 1975. In this statement "serious" means something which endangers life or could cause permanent disability. "Low" means substantially less than would have occurred naturally if vaccination had not been introduced.

Serious complications occur so infrequently that it will take some time for sufficient evidence to be gathered from current research studies to justify a conclusion. The question of publishing any interim report is mainly for the persons concerned with the research and no decision is possible at present.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation considered the paper by Dr. John Wilson and the Chief Medical Officer wrote to all NHS doctors in June 1974 to give specific advice on contra-indications.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for what reasons his department refused the request of the Association of Vaccine Damaged Children to examine the 300 cases of children with brain damage ascribed to vaccine damage.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19th January 1977; Vol. 924, c. 251–3], circulated the following information:In a letter dated 24th March 1976 the association was informed that the correct procedure would be for the doctor responsible for each child's treatment to report the case to the Committee on Safety of Medicines. I am, however, considering the matter further and would ask my hon. Friend to await my promised statement.

Tax Refunds

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for which means tested benefits tax refunds are treated as income in assessing eligibility.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 21st December 1976; Vol. 923, c. 105], gave the following information:The position for the main income support means-tested benefits—rent and rates rebates and rent allowances, family income supplement, free school meals, free milk and vitamins and supplementary benefit—is that PAYE tax refunds are only taken into account in assessing eligibility for free school meals and, to a very limited extent, for supplementary benefit and free milk and vitamins. The general rule for supplementary benefit and free milk and vitamins is that PAYE tax refunds are regarded as part of the earned income to which they relate. Refunds in respect of past earnings which are received during a period of unemployment are regarded as income properly relating to the period when the claimant was working and are therefore not taken into account as income during the period of unemployment. An exception to this rule is made specifically for claimants who have not severed connection with an employer, for example, those who are temporarily stood off or who are on strike. In their case the PAYE refunds are taken into account at the time they are received.

Transport

Road Construction Programme

35.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide a list of all major road schemes, with estimated starting dates, at present in the preparation pool.

I am arranging for the schemes to be listed in the Official Report as soon as possible.

Roads (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total expenditure on road building and road improvement within his responsibilities in the last three financial years.

Total expenditure on new construction and improvement of trunk roads including motorways in England in the last three financial years was £258 million in 1973–74, £284·2 million in 1974–75 and £375·3 million in 1975–76. All figures are at prices prevailing at the time. Expenditure in real terms has fallen slightly since 1973–74.

Service Licences

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many applications to the Traffic Commissioners for service licences from private operators have been approved since 1st October 1976.

The information is not readily available and the cost of providing it would be disproportionate.

Commuter Associations (Vehicle Licensing)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of the growing number of commuter associations and similar groups who want to run regular coach services to their place of work, what plans he has to amend the Road Traffic Acts so as to relax the licensing procedure.

I have no plans to do so. It is open to anyone who wishes to operate a bus service to apply to the Traffic Commissioners for a road service licence—and for a public service vehicle licence if he does not already have a vehicle with one. The Commissioners consider applications on their merits, in the light of the general criteria laid down in the Road Traffic Act 1960. If an applicant is aggrieved by their decision he has a right of appeal to me. No appeal by a commuter association has been received in recent years, and I have no evidence that the law in any way prevents the wishes of such associations from being properly considered.

Traffic Commissioners

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost to public funds of the Traffic Commissioners.

The costs of the Traffic Commissioners and their staff are recovered from the licensing fees. Current fee levels meet the whole of this cost, thus avoiding any burden on public funds, and in addition contribute to working off an earlier deficit.

Driver And Vehicle Licensing Centre

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Inland Revenue officials have access to the computer data of the Swansea Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre.

No one has direct access to the centre's records, though, following local authority practice over many years, the centre does provide the Inland Revenue with limited information on request.

Road Accidents (Preston)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he can provide statistics in respect of road accident deaths for age groups, separately, 17 to 18 years, 18 to 19 years, 19 to 20 years and 20 to 21 years in respect of Preston and district for the period January to July 1976 and August to December 1976.

Statistics of road accidents and casualties in local areas are a matter for the local authority concerned. I suggest that my hon. Friend gets in touch with the Lancashire County Council, which is the local highway authority.

Preston Dock

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the reply he has received from the leader of Preston Borough Council to his letter of 10th January 1977 regarding Preston Dock.

No. It would be wrong for me to break normal practice in correspondence of this kind even when I have no personal objection to publication.

Kirkhamgate-Dishforth Road

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he received an analysis of the public participation exercise conducted on the proposed Kirkhamgate-Dishforth road; and when he intends to publish it.

The results of the public consultation are still being analysed; an announcement is likely during the early part of this year.

Civil Service

Pay

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants receive wages/salaries which are less than the FIS entitlement level, assuming that they have (a) two dependent children, (b) three dependent children and (c) four dependent children.

The current prescribed amounts for family income supplement, effective from 20th July 1976, for families with two, three and four dependent children are, respectively, £43·50 per week, £48 per week and £52·50 per week. At current pay rates, about 25 per cent. of full-time non-industrial civil servants have pensionable pay of less than £43·50 per week; about 35 per cent. have pensionable pay of less than £48 per week; and about 45 per cent. have pensionable pay of less than £52·50 per week. Some of these civil servants are, however, on salary scales which progress to maxima well above these points.There were 558,898 full-time non-industrial civil servants in post on 1st October 1976.This information does not take account of other details of family circumstances, such as total family income which are essential for any assessment of eligibility for family income supplement. Pensionable pay excludes overtime earnings and certain other fluctuating emoluments.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will estimate the total Civil Service salary bill in 1975 and 1976; and how much of the increase was due to automatic graded increases.

The provision made in the Supply Estimates for wages and salaries of United Kingdom-based civil servants for 1975–76 and 1976–77 was £2,543 million and £2,697 million respectively. Both figures exclude staff in the trading funds for whom there is no Estimate, and the 1976–77 figure excludes the Winter and Spring Supplementary Estimates which have not yet been fully analysed. As the hon. Member knows from the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation" (Cmnd 6151) the TUC guidelines make specific provision for the payment of automatic increments provided that this does not raise the overall wage bill by more than the pay policy allows. I am satisfied that their continued payment has been consistent with the provisions of the White Paper.

Pensions

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the total cost of index-linked pensions for former public service employees in each year since 1971; and what is the estimated cost for 1977.

The table below shows the total cost, for each financial year since 1971, of pensions paid to former public service employees covered by the major public service schemes, that is civil servants, teachers, National Health Service and local government staffs, policemen, firemen and members of the Armed Forces, and estimates the cost for 1976–77. The figures include only retirement pensions paid on the grounds of age or ill-health and therefore exclude payments to widows, children and other dependants and non-recurring payments such as lump sums, transfer values and refunds of contributions.

				£m
1971–72	…	…	…	345
1972–73	…	…	…	400
1973–74	…	…	…	480
1974–75	…	…	…	555
1975–76	…	…	…	700
1976–77	…	…	…	925

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Barclays Bank International

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the fact that Barclays Bank International has now stated that it cannot press its South African subsidiary company, Barclays South Africa, to refrain from lending money to develop the South African armed forces, despite the recent joint statement between Barclays Bank International and the British Foreign Office in which the former undertook to ensure that such loans as his recent investment of Rand 10 million in South African defence bonds would not be made again, if he will ask Mr. Frank Dolling, the senior general manager of Barclays International, to meet him again without delay.

The Senior General Manager of Barclays International, Mr. F. Dolling, stated to me that it was the bank's policy to do whatever possible to ensure that such actions as the recent investment in South African Defence Bonds will not recur. I have no reason to doubt Barclays' determination to implement its own policy in this respect. I see no need, therefore, for a further meeting.

Passports

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British passports have been issued during the last 12 months to children born in the United Kingdom to parents of foreign nationality who were working in the United Kingdom, and who intended to return to their native country when their work permits expire.

This information is not on record.

Foreign Visitors (Official Tours)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many foreign visitors were taken on tours of the country outside London at public expense over the last convenient date; and how many of these tours included visits to each of Oxford, Stratford on Avon, Edinburgh, and the Lake District.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th January 1977, Vol. 924, c. 75–6], gave the following information:Of the 624 foreign visitors for whose expenses my right hon. Friend's Department was responsible during the period from 1st April to 31st December 1976, 388 were taken on tours outside London. Taking into account the wishes of the visitors themselves, arrangements were made for visits by 57 to Oxford, 43 to Stratford-on-Avon, 115 to Edinburgh and nine to the Lake District. Some visitors went to more than one of these places. I am not in a position to answer for the other Departments which make arrangements for foreign visitors.

National Finance

Income Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the starting rate and the top rate of income tax, in league order with the highest at the top, of each of the following countries: United Kingdom, Germany, United States of America, France, Japan and Sweden.

The following is the information requested for the income year 1976 (United Kingdom 1976–77 fiscal year):

A. STARTING RATES OF INCOME TAX
Employment Income
				Per cent.
United Kingdom	…	…	…	35
Germany	…	…	…	22
USA	…	…	…	14(15)
Japan	…	…	…	10(14)
Sweden	…	…	…	4(29·2)
France	…	…	…	3·6

Investment Income
				Per cent.
United Kingdom	…	…	…	35
Germany	…	…	…	22
USA	…	…	…	14(15)
Japan	…	…	…	10(14)
France	…	…	…	5
Sweden	…	…	…	4(29·2)

The rates shown are the lowest that can apply irrespective of family circumstances.The figures in brackets include: (

a) for USA, the starting rate of California income tax; ( b) for Japan, the starting rates of provincial and municipal income taxes; ( c) for Sweden, the average rate of local income tax.

USA—The starting rates given for employment income are the lowest possible. Some taxpayers are subject to a progressive withdrawal of tax credit at their tax threshold which can increase the effective marginal rate of tax at that point to as much as 25 per cent.

Japan—Depending on their circumstances, some taxpayers receive a percentage relief against their employment income which has the effect of reducing the marginal rate of tax at their tax threshold. For example, a married man with two children receives a 30 per cent. relief which reduces his effective starting rate to 7 per cent. (9·8 per cent. including provincial and municipal taxes).

France—The starting rate of income tax on employment income takes into account the 10 per cent. minimum expenses deduction, and the 20 per cent. employment income relief applicable at this level.

B. TOP RATES OF INCOME TAX
Employment Income
		%
United Kingdom	…	83
Japan	…	67·5 (83·7)
Sweden	…	57 (82·2)
Germany	…	56
France	…	54
USA	…	50 (55·5)

Investment Income
		%
United Kingdom	…	98
Japan	…	75 (93)
USA	…	70 (73·3)
France	…	60
Sweden	…	57 (82·2)
Germany	…	56

NOTES:

The figures in brackets include: ( a) for USA, the top rate of California income tax after taking into account its deductibility for federal income tax at this level; ( b) for Japan, the top rates of provincial and municipal income taxes; ( c) for Sweden, the average rate of local income tax.

		Percentage of value in 1946–47
		1956–57	1966–67	1976–77
Single person's allowance	…	149	219	570
Married person's allowance	…	154	209	519
Child tax allowance:
Child not over 11	…	226	260	526 (435)
Child over 11 but not over 16	…	226	316	588 (496)
Child over 16	…	226	372	640 (549)
Retail Price Index	…	156	206	531

The Retail Price Index is taken from Table 2 of "The Internal Purchasing Power of the Pound", published by the Central Statistical Office and relates to the nearest calendar year except for 1976–77 where the index is the average for the first 11 months of 1976.

The figures in brackets are net of the family allowance deduction ("clawback"). The figures take account where appropriate of the effect of earned income relief and the relief given for national insurance contributions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the levels of

		1966–67		1971–72		1976–77
	1961–62 Value of allowances	Value of allowances	Value at 1961–62 prices	Value of allowances	Value at 1961–62 prices	Value of allowances	Value at 1961–62 prices
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Single person	203	283	237	418	264	735	238
Married couple	332	437	367	598	377	1,085	351
Married couple with 2 children aged between 11 and 16.	653	797	669	1,061 (1,007)	669 (635)	1,755 (1,703)	568 (552)
Married couple with 4 children (2 not over 11 and 2 between 11 and 16).	910	1,093	917	1,459 (1,297)	920 (818)	2,355 (2,199)	763 (712)

The figures take account where appropriate of the effect of earned income relief and of the relief given for national insurance contributions in 1961–62. For 1971–72 and 1976–77 the figures in brackets show the value of

The top rate of income tax on employment income in France takes into account the 10 per cent. minimum expenses deduction.

The top rate of income tax on employment income in Japan takes into account the 10 per cent. employment income relief applicable at this level.

Tax Allowances

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish indices of single, married and child tax allowances and of the retail prices index in 1946, 1956, 1966 and 1976.

The figures are as follows:tax allowances in respect of (

a) a single person, ( b) a married couple, ( c) a married couple with two children aged between 11 and 16 years and ( d) a married couple with four children, two aged under 11 years and two aged between 11 years and 16 years, for the financial years 1961–62, 1966–67, 1971–72 and 1976–77, both in cash terms and in real terms related to 1961–62 prices.

The figures are as follows:the allowances net of the family allowance deduction ("clawback").The price index used is the average General Index of Retail Prices—All Items, for each financial year except for 1976–77 where the average index relates to the fist eight months of that year.

Company Taxation (Stock Relief)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the total deferred tax liability of United Kingdom companies arising from the stocks appreciation provisions now in force.

The net reduction in corporation tax payments by companies in the three years ending 31st March 1977, as a result of stock relief, is estimated at approximately £3,000 million. For the great majority of companies, whose stock levels are maintained or increased, this deferral should extend into the indefinite future.

Alcohol (Tax Yield)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total revenue from Customs and Excise Duty and VAT on alcohol in the year 1975–76; and what is the estimated revenue for 1976–77.

Receipts of duty together with an estimate of the VAT on alcoholic drinks were £1,945 million in 1975–76. The estimate for 1976–77 is £2,325 million.

Tobacco (Tax Yield)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated revenue from taxation, including VAT, from tobacco for 1976–77.

£2,055 million.

School Fees (Insurance)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to amend the laws relating to insurance schemes which enable tax to be avoided by the arrangements made for the payment of school fees.

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

Discount Rates

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, from international sources available to him, he can indicate what level the equivalent of MLR stands in each of the group of 10 countries; and what were those interest rates six months and 12 months ago.

It is not possible to identify an exact equivalent of MLR in other countries. The following table shows official discount rates for other countries, together with MLR for the United Kingdom:

		21st January 1976	21st July 1976	21st January 1977
United Kingdom	…	10·75	11·5	13·25
United States	…	5·5	5·5	5·25
Japan	…	6·5	6·5	6·5
Canada	…	9·0	9·5	8·5
France	…	8·0	8·0	10·5
Italy	…	6·0	12·0	15·0
Germany	…	3·5	3·5	3·5
Netherlands	…	4·5	5·0	5·0
Belgium	…	6·0	7·0	8·0
Sweden	…	6·0	6·0	8·0

Regional Employment Premium

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial incentives, or other policies, he proposes to introduce in place of regional employment premium.

As my right hon. Friend made clear in his statement on 15th December, there will be an increase in the resources of the National Enterprise Board and the Scottish and Welsh Development Agencies, a new selective investment scheme, and more money for further sectoral schemes in support of the industrial strategy. In addition there will be an increase of £120 million in 1977–78 and 1978–79 in our spending on specific measures to reduce unemployment, which includes extending the closing date for applications for the temporary employment subsidy scheme and the job creation programme until the end of April 1977.

Borrowing Costs

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of his undertaking given in his 1976 Budget Statement, he has received adequate representations on the subject of the tax treatment of currency borrowing costs from the representatives of the concerns directly affected and the accountancy and legal professions.

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

Tax Arrears (Interest)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will ask the Board of Inland Revenue to report to him on the advantages of granting discretion to the Inland Revenue to defer the reckonable date from which interest on overdue tax turns in cases where the present system causes difficulties.

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

Public Expenditure (White Paper)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the next public expenditure White Paper will be published.

It is proposed to give a general account of the Government's expenditure plans in a White Paper on Thursday 27th January. On this occasion the general part of the White Paper is being published in advance of the rest.

Allowances (Departmental Staff)

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.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 924, c. 109–10], gave the following information:The staff that would be saved by the abolition of each of these allowances would be as follows:

Children's allowance	1,400
Tax relief on mortgage interest payments	1,350
Tax relief on life assurance payments	1,200
Dependent relative allowance	550
Blind person's allowance	15
Housekeeper's allowance	80
Daughter's services allowance	5
Flat rate Schedule E expenses allowances (including tool allowances)	50

I would take this opportunity to apologise for an error in my answer of 13th December to a similar Question from the hon. Member [Vol. 922, c. 545]. In that answer the staff saving for the Schedule E expenses allowance was inadvertently shown as 15.These individual savings total some 4,650 staff. If all the allowances were abolished the resulting simplification of the personal tax system would be likely to lead to further savings but it is not possible to quantify the amount.

Travellers On Business

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on his proposal that special tax treatment of salaries of those temporarily abroad on business will only apply if this is for a continuous period of 30 days or more; and if he will make a statement.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th January 1977; Vol. 924, c. 412–3], gave the following information:In response to the invitation in its consultative document containing proposals for changes in the tax treatment of employees working overseas, the Inland Revenue has received a considerable number of representations. Many of these criticise the proposal that relief should be conditional on a continuous period of absence of at least 30 days. My right hon. Friend will be taking all these representations into account before deciding what changes should be made.

Inland Revenue Department (Parliamentary Commissioner)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions the Inland Revenue was the subject of investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner during the last 12 months for which figures are available; on how many occasions a completed investigation showed maladministration; and on how many occasions the Inland Revenue has still to rectify a complaint which the Parliamentary Commissioner had accepted as having some basis of maladministration.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th January 1977, Vol. 924, c. 413], gave the following information:The latest period for which figures are readily available is the calendar year 1976. During the year 114 complaints against the Inland Revenue were received by the Parliamentary Commissioner, but he also had to deal with 36 cases brought forward from 1975 on which his inquiries were not finished. At the end of 1976 he had completed his investigation of 100 of these cases, leaving 50 to be continued in 1977. In the 100 completed cases the Parliamentary Commissioner rejected the complaint in 39, discontinued his inquiries in seven, and reported on 54. Of the 54 he found that there were elements of maladministration in 26, which had been rectified in all but one.

Investment Capital

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate, to the latest date, of the total investment capital to have left the United Kingdom and gone to other Common Market countries since the date of Great Britain's entry to the EEC.

I have been asked to reply.

United Kingdom investment overseas is generally financed without export of investment capital. However, between March 1972 and March 1974 official exchange of up to £1 million per project per year was available to United Kingdom companies to finance direct investments in EEC countries. Under this rule, between 1st January 1973 and 31st March 1974, £249 million of official exchange was used to finance direct investments, other than those of oil companies, in the EEC. Since March 1974, the exchange control rules ensure that official exchange is available only to finance the very few projects that promise a rapid and continuing return to the United Kingdom balance of payments, which in the main are to increase exports. About £6 million a year for the EEC is authorised under these arrangements. Other than this, exchange control ensures that overseas investment by United Kingdom residents is financed by foreign currency borrowing or out of profits that are allowed to be retained which involve no investment capital outflow.

Volume 924: debated on Tuesday 25 January 1977

Written Answers To Questions

Energy

Power Stations

Electricity Prices

Participation Agreements

European Parliament

Secretary Of State For Energy

Prime Minister (Engagements)

Tamworth

Tuc And Cbi

Defence Chiefs Of Staff

Mr Andy Bevan

New Waltham

Shetland

Cornwall

Nationalised Industries

General Haig

Newport (Middlesbrough)

Central Policy Review Staff (Report)

Prime Minister (Visits)

Royal Commission On Distri Bution Of Income And Wealth

Statutes (1950–1976)

House Of Commons

Kiosk Sales

Defence

Civil Defence

Expenditure

Nato (Expenditure)

Scientists And Engineers

Army Firing Range (Pentlands)

Naval Review

Attack Capability

Nuclear Weapons

North Sea

Anti-Submarine Cruisers

Warships

Officers (Speeches And Publications)

Central Ordnance Depots

Gibraltar (Industrial Dispute)

Northern Ireland

Missiles

Training

Army Communications Equipment

Armoured Vehicles

Dockyards

Home Department

Life Sentences

Drinking And Driving

Open Prisons

Fines (Non-Payment)

Prisons

Drunkenness

Fraud

Theft

Vagrancy

Police

Bill Of Rights

Bookmakers

Police (Pay)

Mr Richard Nixon

Commission For Racial Equality

Metropolitan Police Recruitment

Deportation

Standards Of Conduct In Public Life

Cannabis

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Parliamentary Questions

Northern Ireland

Christmas Parole

High Court (Civil Actions)

Education And Science

Corporal Punishment

Pupil-Teacher Ratios

Medical Students

Arts Council

Calthorpe School, Birmingham

Teachers (Mentally Handicapped Children)

Headmasters And Headmistresses