asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on his proposals for the management of the Government's shipbuilding, ship repairing and marine engine building interests.

The Government are greatly concerned at the delay to the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Bill and the damage this is causing to the long-term future of the aircraft and shipbuilding industries. The Government are wholly committed to securing the enactment of this Bill at the earliest opportunity.Meanwhile I propose to establish a company—National Shipbuilders and Repairers Ltd.—that will hold in trust on behalf of the Government publicly owned shareholdings in shipbuilding, ship repairing and marine engine building companies and undertake functions of management and of monitoring on behalf of the Department of Industry.The boards of the companies will continue to be responsible for direct management and control of all activities of the companies, including, for example, selling, industrial relations and wage negotiations.The new company will have a crucial rôle in seeking orders for the British shipbuilding industry to support the marketing effort of the individual companies.The company's chairman will be Sir Anthony Griffin, and Mr. Michael Casey, the Under-Secretary at present responsible for shipbuilding matters in my Department will be its chief executive; he will also be appointed acting managing director of the Organising Committee for British Shipbuilders which is preparing for public ownership. The board will include full-time members of the Shipbuilding Organising Committee for their remaining periods with the Organising Committee and Mr. John Chalmers and Les Gregory who will be non-executive directors. There will be further appointments.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will take steps to provide a limited selection of international newspapers in the Members' Tea Room, Smoking Room and Lady Members' Room in place of the large number of unread local papers now available in those Rooms.

I am asking the Services Committee to consider this matter.

asked the Lord President of the Council if, further to his answer, Official Report, 1st February, column 86, he will make a statement on the proposal that Members of Parliament should receive reports from Government Departments at the same time and on the same embargo basis as the Press; and what progress he has made in his review of the matter.

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection by how much food prices have risen since February 1974.

The Food Index rose by 74·5 per cent. between 19th February 1974 and 14th December 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection by how much he now expects the rate of price inflation at the end of 1977 to be below the current year-on-year level.

I am not prepared to give a forecast of this kind. The Treasury forecast which was published on 15th December and based on the general outlook at that time indicated that inflation would be at about 15 per cent. at the end of 1977 and on an improving trend. The success of the December measures and the subsequent evidence of economic recovery have improved the general outlook.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will now publish the accident figures for firework injuries in 1976.

The figures are not yet available. When they are I will, with permission, circulate them in the Official Report, as in previous years.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, when he expects to be able to introduce legislation on the subject of VAT inclusive pricing.

Not before the Consumer Protecttion Advisory Committee has reported to me on the proposals which the Director General of Fair Trading made on 19th January for controlling the practice of quoting VAT-exclusive prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will make regulations to implement the Consumer Credit Act.

Shortly I hope to make a detailed announcement about the orders and regulations soon to be made about the next stage of licensing, the credit reference agency and extortionate credit bargain provisions. Other provisions will be implemented as soon as possible, bearing in mind the need to protect consumers and have adequate consultation and the necessity to reduce the burden on local authorities and traders.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what action he proposes to take following the reports of the Monopolies Commission in allowing the professions to advertise.

I fully endorse the views of my predecessor, announced on 29th July and 6th August 1976, that solicitors, vets, and accountants should have greater freedom to advertise. I regret that in discussion with the Director General of Fair Trading the professional bodies concerned have shown themselves reluctant to consider any significant change in their present practice. I urge them to heed the Monopolies Commission's findings and to reach an early agreement, in the public interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will make a statement on the proposed EEC directive for contracts negotiated away from the place of business.

I fully support the draft directive's main provision, that consumers who buy expensive goods and services at the door should be protected against sharp practice. But our attitude to the detail of the draft will need to take account of consultations my Department is now conducting with representative bodies in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer the profit margin on potatoes and brussels sprouts to the Price Commission.

The Price Commission has already been asked to monitor prices and distributive margins for potatoes, brussels sprouts and certain other vegetables. Copies of its special monthly reports have been placed in the Library. In addition, the Commission's quarterly report published on 27th January summarises its most recent findings.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will set up an inquiry into brewing profits and beer prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will initiate an inquiry into the beer trade to consider brewers' profits, beer price increases and variation in beer prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will set up an inquiry into brewery profits.

I have at this stage nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wallsend (Mr. Garrett) on 13th December.—[Vol. 922, c. 576.]

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will adjust the Price Code so as to ensure that price increases by the brewers do not lead to excessive profit increases.

The Price Code restricts the profit margins of firms in the brewing industry in the same way as for other industries. All major brewers are required to give advance notice of price increases and regular reports of profit margins to the Price Commission, whose function is to ensure that price increases and profit margins conform with the code.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will make a statement on the practical effect of the Price Code on profits in the light of recent price and profit increases by Messrs. Whitbreads brewery considered by the Price Commission.

The Price Code limits individual price increases by manufacturing and service firms and imposes ceilings on the net profit margins of every firm related to past performance. The code was modified last August to enable industry to raise the funds needed to finance investment and safeguard employment. I cannot comment on the application of the Price Code to individual firms, which is a matter for the Price Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will adjust the Price Code so as to ensure that beer price increases do not lead to increased profits for 1976–77 and 1977–78 of more than 20 per cent. and 10 per cent., respectively.

The Price Code controls profit margins and not profit levels, and I see no reason at this stage to change this.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what discussions he has had, and with whom, about setting up an inquiry into brewery profits and beer prices.

I have received a number of representations, but have had no formal discussions on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer concentration of power in the brewery industry to the Monopolies Commission.

The Monopolies Commission reported in 1969 on the supply of beer for retail sale on licensed premises, but if my hon. Friend has any additional evidence that the brewers are conducting their affairs in such a way as to prevent, restrict or distort competition, perhaps he would care to write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will make a statement on the recent Price Commission's report that the commission is unable to express any view on the movement in profit margins; and what action he intends to take.

The Price Commission has stated that certain changes made to the Price Code last August make it impossible to continue to publish tables comparing the average profit margins of large companies in the latest quarter with average profit margin reference levels. It also stated that it would continue to try to rebuild the statistics. I understand and regret the difficulties, but I believe that it would have been wrong to have refrained from necessary modifications to the Price Code merely on the grounds of disruption to a statistical series.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will now introduce a price control system which effectively controls profits and relates price increases to profits.

I do not intend to make major changes to the Price Code before the present price control powers expire on 31st July. I am considering what form prices policy should take thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what are the latest figures for the rise in retail price index.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Reading, North (Mr. Durant), Lewes (Mr. Rathbone) and Eastbourne (Mr. Gow), and to my hon. Friend the Member for West Stirling-shire (Mr. Canavan).

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether, in the light of subsequent events, he plans to review the working of the Bread Prices (No. 2) Order 1976; and whether he will make a statement.

As I said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, North (Mrs. Miller) on 13th December—[Vol. 922, c. 577–8]—I will be keeping the situation under close review to see what changes take place in the price and availability of bread.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) whether the Price Commission was able to take account of contributions to political parties by the breweries in computing cost, profits, investment, and their effect on prices;(2) whether the Price Commission was able to take account of contributions by GEC to political parties and Common Cause in deciding whether or not to allow price increases.

Contributions to political parties are not allowable as cost increases under the Price Code and may not, therefore, be used by companies in calculating price increases.

asked the Attorney-General what is the average sum awarded as damages for personal injury in, respectively, the county courts, the High Court and all courts.

The High Court, where the more serious cases are heard, is the only court for which separate figures are collected on a regular basis. The average sum awarded in 1975 as damages for personal injuries was £11,735. In 1974 figures were specially collected for awards of damages by county courts. For that year the average award in those courts was £334 and the average for the High Court was £9,730, giving an average for county courts and High Court together of £6,435.

asked the Attorney-General what is the average sum, awarded for solicitors' costs and disbursement, respectively, on the taxation of costs in personal injury cases in, respectively, the county court, the High Court and all courts.

The information available about the taxation of costs in the county courts and in each Division of the High Court, including the average amounts at which bills were allowed, is contained in Section E of the Judicial Statistics for the year 1975 (Cmnd. 6634). Information is not available separately for personal injury cases nor for solicitors' costs.

asked the Attorney-General what additional cost would be incurred by the legal aid fund if all trade unions were to cease to provide legal assistance to their members for personal injury claims falling within the present jurisdiction of the county court; and what further additional cost would be incurred if such assistance were withdrawn in respect of all claims in which the estimated damages award did not exceed £1,300.

In order to make such an estimate it would be necessary to know the total number of personal injury claimants financed by trade unions, the proportion of such claimants whose claim succeed, and the number who are financially eligible for legal aid. I regret that this information is not available to me.

asked the Attorney-General what proportion of personal injury claims in which proceedings are started in the High Court and county court, respectively, are financed by trade unions or are initiated by solicitors regularly instructed by trade unions.

Litigants in the High Court and the county courts are required to disclose only their own identity and that of their solicitor, if any. The fact that proceedings may be financed by a trade union or initiated by solicitors regularly instructed by trade unions is not recorded by the courts. Accordingly I regret that this information cannot be provided.

asked the Attorney-General (1) what proportion of personal injury claims in which proceedings are issued in the High Court and county court, respectively, is issued by firms of solicitors taking proceedings in more than 100 cases each year; how many of such firms have made representations to him or to the Lord Chancellor concerning proposals to extend the limit of the jurisdiction of the county court in personal injury claims; and whether any of the firms making representations favour such extension;(2) what representations he has received from which trade unions, or from solicitors representing which trade union, relating to proposals to extend the jurisdiction of the county court in personal injury claims; and whether any such representations were in favour of such proposals.

No record is maintained of the total number of proceedings issued each year by individual firms of solicitors. Accordingly I am unable to say what proportion of personal injury proceedings are issued by firms who take proceedings in more than 100 such cases a year or how many such firms have made representations to myself or to my noble Friend on the subject of the extent of county court jurisdiction.My noble Friend has received representations on this matter from five firms of solicitors, only two of whom can be identified as representing particular unions, namely the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers and the National Union of Public Employees.My noble Friend has also received representations from the following trades unions: Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers, Electric, Electronic, Telecommunication and Plumbing Union, Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union, National Society of Printers, Graphical and Media Personnel, National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers, National Union of Bank Employees, National Union of Mineworkers, National Union of Public Employees, Transport and General Workers Union, Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians.Two of the five firms of solicitors have stated that they would not object to an increase in the jurisdiction of the county courts provided that this did not prejudice the bringing of cases in the High Court.

asked the Attorney-General what is the total sum recovered in the most recent year for which figures are available in claims for damages for personal injuries; and what is the best estimate he can make of the proportion of that sum recovered (a) before proceedings were started, (b) after proceedings were issued but before trial and (c) after the trial had started.

There is no duty on anyone to inform the court of the terms of any settlement reached before proceedings are started, and the court is often not given this information even after proceedings have been begun. No separate record is kept of the exceptional cases where this information is provided to the court, and I regret, therefore, that this information is not available.

asked the Attorney-General what proportion of awards for damages for personal injury in the most recent year for which figures are available were, respectively, below £1,000 between £1,000 and £2,000 and above £2,000.

The following table distinguishes between cases in the High Court and the county courts. High Court figures are given within the monetary bands which are used for the regular collection of statistics. Separate figures are not available for the band between £1,000 and £2,000. Figures for the county court are available only for the year 1974.

PROPORTION OF AWARDS OF DAMAGES IN PERSONAL INJURY CASES FALLING WITHIN CERTAIN MONETARY BANDS
	Percentage of all awards by court
	County Courts	High Court
Amount of award	1974	1974	1975
Not exceeding £1,000	99	22	17
Greater than £1,000 but not exceeding £5,000	1	43	43
Exceeding £5,000		35	40

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the total number of civil servants in the United Kingdom, the total cost of their salaries and collectively provision for pension and provision for buildings, heating, lighting, subsistence rates, transportation, stationery, etc., involved in running the Civil Service at the latest convenient date; and what is the average cost per civil servant including all overheads per annum.

The number of staff in post in the Civil Service on 1st October 1976 was 746,107. The provision in the 1976–77 main Estimates for Civil Service remuneration is £2,619 million, and for pensions and general administrative expenditure—postage, telephones, travel, subsistence, etc.—is £1,034 million. The annual average per civil servant of these costs is about £4,900. It is not possible without incurring disproportionate expense to identify the average cost per head of the Civil Service of items such as accommodation, heating, lighting and stationery whose cost is borne on allied service Votes.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what arrangements are being made to facilitate the transfer of staff for training and experience purposes between central Government and local authority departments.

Schemes for the secondment of administrative and specialist staff—usually for three to 24 months—between the Civil Service and other employers, including local authorities, have been operating for several years. Most of these secondments are arranged by the employing Department direct with its contacts outside.

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 information:I am pleased to announce that an understanding has been reached with ICI covering the basic terms for BNOC's participation in the company's interests in petroleum from the Ninian oilfield. This provides for BNOC to have access, after an initial interval to up to 51 per cent. of ICI's oil from Ninian. In return, there will be provisions for BNOC to give ICI the option to purchase at market price oil of camparable quantity and quality to that purchased by BNOC from the company for use primarily in support of ICI's United Kingdom petrochemical operations. Subject to any over-riding agreement which may be reached between BNOC and the Ninian partners collectively on participation votes, ICI will also, transfer to BNOC a portion of its voting rights in Ninian. A legal agreement to give effect to these understandings will be drawn up between the parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he estimates the total and royalty revenues from North Sea oil will be from 1980 onwards.

Regrettably, because of the uncertainties surrounding future developments, costs and prices, I cannot add to the answer given on 25th February 1976 by my right hon. Friend the then Paymaster-General to the hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeet).—[Official Report, 25th February 1976; Vol. 906, c. 701–2.].

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total input of primary fuel for the production of electricity in the United Kingdom; and how this is divided up between (a) coal, (b) oil, (c) nuclear and (d) other, as coal equivalents and as percentages.

Information on the quantities of primary fuel used by the public electriciity supply industry in the United Kingdom is published regularly in Table 9 of "Energy Trends", copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The latest figures published in the January issue for the period January-November 1976 are given below together with the corresponding percentages:

Primary fuel	Million tons of coal or coal equivalent	Percentage
Coal	67·0	70·2
Oil	14·5	15·3
Nuclear	10·0	10·5
Other (Hydro and natural gas)	3·9	4·0
Total	95·4	100·0

The coal and oil figures include very small quantities used for the production of steam for sale. The oil figure includes a small amount used for lighting up coal-fired boilers. Nuclear and hydro electricity are expressed in terms of the coal equivalent of the primary fuels that would be needed if the same amount of electricity was produced in conventional steam stations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total output capacity of the public electricity supply industry in the United Kingdom; and how this is divided up between (a) coal, (b) oil, (c) nuclear and (d) other, as megawatts and as percentages.

The latest available figures for output capacity of public electricity supply power stations in the United Kingdom are for the end of September, 1976. They are as follows:

Type of station			Output Capacity (Megawatts)	Percentage
Coal fired	…	…	43,284	62·6
Oil fired	…	…	11,580	16·7
Dual fired*	…	…	4,946	7·1
Nuclear	…	…	4,621	6·7
Other †	…	…	4,751	6·9
Total	…	…	69,182	100·0
* Stations fired by both coal and oil, or coal and natural gas.
† Hydro (including pumped storage) diesel and gas turbine stations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many pipelines are in operation or in the course of contruction which bring gas or oil into each member State of the EEC from or through territory of the USSR or her satellites; what is their capacity; and what proportion of the energy needs of each member State this represents.

According to my information, two pipelines bring natural gas from the USSR into the EEC via Czechoslovakia. One, with a capacity for 10 billion cubic metres per annum, runs through Austria to Italy—Genoa. The other, with a capacity estimated at 3 billion cubic metres per annum, runs through the Federal Republic of Germany, terminating at Nuremburg.In 1975 the USSR exported gas to Italy equivalent to about one-sixteenth and to the Federal Republic of Germany about one-thirtieth of their energy needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much expenditure he has incurred, with the consent of the Treasury, in acquiring for the Crown shares or other securities in the National Nuclear Corporation Limited or its subsidiaries.

None. Expenditure incurred by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority in the acquisition of its 35 per cent. shareholding in the National Nuclear Corporation Limited has amounted to £3,793,150, exclusive of incidental expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how much public money has been allocated so far to (a) capital payments from the Government and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority to British Nuclear Fuels Ltd and Radio Chemical Centre Ltd, respectively, and (b) guarantees given in relation to advance payments made by customers of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd;(2) how much public money has been allocated so far to (

Capital payments to the two companies under Sections 11–13 of the Atomic Energy Authority Act 1971 are as follows:

British Nuclear Fuels Limited
Additional equity purchases by the UKAEA	£15 million
National Loans Fund loan	£10 million
The Radiochemical Centre Limited
Additional equity purchases by the UKAEA	£5 million

The payments to BNFL have already been made. Of the £5 million provision for TRC, £1 million was paid in January 1977 and the balance is due to be made available in stages through to the end of 1977–78.No guarantees have so far been given to either company, but the Government have indicated that if the Nuclear Industry (Finance) Bill now before Parliament is enacted they will guarantee a sterling credit of £100 million that has been raised by BNFL.It is not necessary to allocate money in respect of any guarantee unless and until there is an expectation of having to make payments under it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he anticipates announcing the composition of the appropriate consultative bodies so that the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976 may be enacted.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 26th January to my hon. Friend the Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan).—[Vol. 924, c. 656.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many orthopaedic beds are available in the area covered by the Greater Glasgow Health Board.

Approximately 700.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the number of orthopaedic consulants and surgeons employed in each hospital in the area administered by the Greater Glasgow Health Board.

The number of consultant orthopaedic surgeons employed in each hospital in the area administered by the Greater Glasgow Health Board is as follows:

Hospital	No. of Consultants
Western Infirmary	…	6
Royal Hospital for Sick Children	…	4
Victoria Infirmary	…	4
Glasgow Royal Infirmary	…	6
Stobhill Hospital	…	1
Mearnskirk Hospital	…	1
Southern General Hospital	…	4

These consultants are listed by their hospitals of main employment but several also undertake work in other hospitals in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that a second orthopaedic surgeon is appointed to Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow.

My right hon. Friend has approved in principle the establishment of a second consultant post in orthopaedic surgery at Stobhill Hospital; but the Greater Glasgow Health Board has been asked to review the number and distribution of orthopaedic consultants in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what response he has been receiving from district authorities throughout Scotland to his consultation paper on the encouragement of tenant management and housing co-operative schemes.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities commented on the consultation paper issued last June and subsequently on the draft of the circular now shortly to be issued to local authorities. The Convention agreed that tenants should be more involved in housing management but emphasised that the means of participation must reflect local circumstances and that progress would be limited by the financial and manpower resources available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider raising the rateable value limit of £120 in housing action areas in Glasgow to facilitate improvement grant for those owner-occupiers wishing to improve their homes.

The rateable value limit in Glasgow was raised to £120 on 2nd April 1976, and I have no evidence that it is an impediment to the improvement of houses in action areas in Glasgow which are below the tolerable standard or lack standard amenities, but I am prepared to consider any evidence which my hon. Friend may have to the contrary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement of his proposals for reforming the penal system.

I am considering the possibility of legislation on aspects of criminal justice in Scotland but have not as yet reached any firm conclusions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the reasons for the delay in announcing his decision on the draft community council scheme submitted to him by Falkirk District Council; and if he will now give a likely date for his decision.

My right hon. Friend is giving careful consideration to a novel issue which has been raised in the scheme submitted by Falkirk District Council against which a number of representations have been made. He hopes to reach a decision in the near future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the marketing boards; what representations he has received relating to their future rô and how far this relates to EEC policy.

The Government's policy on the marketing boards remains unchanged: in any discussion of their future in the EEC we shall seek to maintain those functions of the boards which are essential to the orderly marketing of the products concerned. The TUC, the farmers' unions and a number of hon. Members on both sides of the House are among the many organisations and individuals who have given me their views on the boards: these representations have without exception supported the boards' continued existence. The boards' activities have naturally to be consistent with the Treaty of Rome and EEC regulations, and talks are being held with the Commission to find legal solutions which fully meet the Government's aims.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will seek to amend the Fisheries Limits Act 1976 so as to prevent vessels which have been prosecuted for illegal fishing from being removed from British ports together with their catches, in view of the fact that the Act does not permit confiscation to take place until after sentence has been passed.

Under Section 8 of the Sea Fisheries Act 1968 a British sea fishery officer has power to detain a foreign fishing boat and its crew in port until the completion of legal proceedings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will seek to enter into a planning agreement with Messrs. Whitbreads and the other major brewers and to include in such agreement an examination on an annual basis of profits in relation to costs and investment;(2) what discussions he has had with the breweries on planning agreements.

Leaders of the brewing industry have attended informal general discussions which my officials have held with senior management in the food and drink industries. I will continue to pursue the question of planning agreements with the major companies in the food and drink industries in the order in which progress can most advantageously be made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, following the NEDC meeting on 2nd February, he will publish in the Official Report details of the recommendations made by the sector working party on the food and drinks industry; and what action it has now been decided to take on these recommendations.

As I told the hon. Member on 24th January, it is for the EDC for Food and Drink Manufacturing itself to decide what further information to publish about the progress of its work, including its recommendations. However, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry said in reply to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Dean) on 3rd February, copies of the main papers on industrial strategy taken at the NEDC meeting on 2nd February, amended only to remove commercially confidential information, have been placed in the Library. These papers summarise the latest reports from the Sector Working Parties, including that of the EDC for Food and Drink Manufacturing, set out the Government's general response, and make clear that the recom- mendations will be considered individually.—[Vol. 924. c. 443–4; Vol. 925, c. 252]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what view the EEC Commission has taken of the Government's decision to introduce a temporary subsidy for pigmeat; and if he will make a statement.

I informed the House on 20th January of the Government's decision to introduce a temporary subsidy for pig producers. The EEC Commission was formally notified on the same day. The Commission has adopted the preliminary view that the subsidy threatens to distort competition and affect trade between Member States, without facilitating the development of the sector in question. The Commission has accordingly initiated proceedings provided in Article 93(2) of the Treaty of Rome and has asked for immediate comments from all member States and other interested parties. The Commission also stated that according to Article 93(3) the subsidy may not be put into effect until the procedure under Article 93(2) has resulted in a final decision.In their reply the Government have pointed out that, so far from distorting competition, the subsidy serves to correct in part the distortion of competition resulting from the present unjustifiable method of calculating monetary compensatory amounts on pigmeat, and that it has no adverse effect on trade. They have also pointed to a number of grounds quite apart from that of facilitating the development of the pigmeat sector, on which the subsidy could be considered to be compatible with the common market. In the light of these comments they have asked the Commission to reconsider its view.Meanwhile, the Government have decided, in the light of the Commission's provisional view, to apply to the Council of Ministers under Article 93(2) for a decision that this temporary measure should be considered compatible with the common market.In the meantime the subsidy, which I regard as essential in present circumstances to protect both the immediate interests of our pig producers and our supplies of home produced pork and bacon in the longer term, is already in operation on the basis of the financial arrangements which I announced on 20th January.—[Vol. 924, c. 607–13.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is satisfied that children of gipsies moving about the country are receiving satisfactory formal education.

In general, no. It is the statutory duty of all parents to ensure that their children receive efficient full-time education and enforcement is the responsibility of local education authorities. The nomadic habits of many gipsy families give rise to serious practical difficulties in making satisfactory arrangements for these children and in enforcing attendance. I gladly acknowledge the good work which is going on in some areas—often as a result of collaboration between authorities and with voluntary bodies—to cope with this form of educational disadvantage.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many appeals were made during 1976 by parents against decisions of the London borough of Hillingdon Education Committee not to support applications for children to be educated at schools outside the borough but within the Greater London area in accordance with Section 31 of the London Government Act 1963; how many were allowed and how many rejected; and if she will publish in the Official Report the names of the appellants and the decision taken in each case.

Two parents resident in Hillingdon complained to the Secretary of State in 1976 that the Hillingdon education authority was refusing to support the admission of their children to schools maintained by other authorities in the Greater London area. By virtue of Section 31(8) of the London Government Act the Hillingdon authority's support was not a necessary condition for the children's admission to the schools concerned; there was therefore no question for the Secretary of State to decide. It is not my right hon. Friend's practice to publish the names of complainants but I would be happy to write to the hon. Member about any particular case he may wish to raise.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to the Secretary of State for Social Services' answer in the Official Report, 1st February, column 84, if he will specify measures the Government have taken to put into effect the very high priority they give to expanding United Kingdom medical schools and providing a larger number of doctors overall.

The Government have been continuing to provide places to increase the annual entry to medical schools from under 2,000 in 1962 to over 4,000 in the early 1980s. Within the last seven years three new medical schools have been established, at the Universities of Nottingham, Southampton and Leicester, and major rebuilding has been carried out at many other schools. The number of first registrable medical qualifications awarded has risen from about 1,800 in the early 1960s to 2,750 in 1975–76.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning revised arrangements for public notification of publication of EEC documents.

I am glad to confirm that arrangements are being made to publish regularly in The London Gazette the titles of the EEC draft instruments and consultative documents which are listed on the House of Commons weekly demand form for EEC documents. I hope to bring the arrangements into effect shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total cost to date of the Geneva conference and the associated journeyings of Mr. Ivor Richard and his colleagues.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Brotherton) on 31st January 1977. Further costs incurred since then have not yet been collated.—[Vol. 925, c. 73]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Rhodesian children who recently crossed into Botswana are under the exclusive control of the Botswana authorities or whether they are also being cared for by ZAPU or other Rhodesian guerrilla organisations.

The children who have not returned to Rhodesia with their parents are at a refugee centre in Botswana. The centre is not administered by the Botswana authorities. Our present information is that it is run by Rhodesian refugees.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the amount which was paid to Her Majesty's Government by the Republic of Ireland in compensation for the burning of the British Embassy in Dublin; and whether there are plans for the building of a new embassy.

The Embassy offices destroyed in 1972 were leased, as was stated in a Written Answer on 28th February 1973. A claim of £22,385 for damage to the contents has since then been paid in full. The present offices are owned by Her Majesty's Government. There are no plans for a new building.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom has ratified the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The United Kingdom ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on 20th May 1976 and at the same time accepted Article 41 of the Covenant on State to State complaints.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list those countries within the Warsaw Pact from which, since February 1974, Her Majesty's Government have withdrawn the United Kingdom ambassador temporarily or otherwise as an indication of disapproval of some breach or alleged breach of human rights or act of repression.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list those countries outside the Warsaw Pact from which, since February 1974, Her Majesty's Government have withdrawn the United Kingdom ambassador temporarily or otherwise as an indication of disapproval of some breach or alleged breach of human rights or act of repression.

Chile; Spain.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Queen's Messengers are currently serving in his Department; and what arrangements exist for using their services to carry the diplomatic bags of other Commonwealth countries.

There are currently 49 officers in the Corps of Queen's Messengers. The diplomatic bags of some other Commonwealth countries are carried by the Queen's Messengers on certain routes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of allowing widows with dependent children to earn the same income free of tax as a married woman.

The estimated cost of giving widows with dependent children an additional allowance equal to the wife's earned income allowance, i.e., £735 for 1976–77, would be about £10 million. However, a widow with dependent children is already entitled to the additional personal allowance as well as her lower personal allowance so that her allowances already amount to £1,085, plus the child tax allowances—for 1976–77 £300 for the child under 11.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the limit at which the investment income surcharge begins would have to be raised to take account of inflation if it were to return to the same level as at March 1976 and March, 1974, respectively.

For taxpayers aged 65 or over the increases required are about £175 and £1,775 respectively. For other taxpayers the figures are £115 and £2,275.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many hon. Members are allowed to receive all their travel expenses, including those to and from their homes and constituencies, and home to Westminster, tax free; and for what reasons such concessions are made.

Under the rules of Schedule E, all honourable Members are enttitled to receive tax free the expenses of travel which are necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. This includes travel within the constituency and travel between the constituency and Westminster and also travel between home and Westminster or constituency where the home is reasonably close to either.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many searches were carried out by persons connected with Her Majesty's Customs and Excise during December 1976 of the MV "Crail" bound for Saudi Arabia; who took part in these searches; what were the costs involved; and what was the purpose.

The MV "Crail" reported its cargo as timber loaded in Sweden and remaining on board for carriage to Saudi Arabia. It was inspected by Customs staff on 7th and 8th December 1976 using Army sniffer dogs. As a result, the Customs did not consider that they would be justified in taking the unusual step of requiring discharge at their expense of a cargo in transit to another country. No special Customs costs arose since the staff concerned acted in the course of their normal duties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an estimate of the relative price effect in 1977–78 and 1978–79; if so, whether he will publish it; and whether he will publish estimates of the relative price effect in 1977–78 and 1978–79 on the assumptions that (a) the public sector wage and salary bill will rise in money terms by 8 per cent. in 1977–78 and 4 per cent. in 1978–79 and (b) the public sector wage and salary bill will rise in money terms by 8 per cent. in 1977–78 and 16 per cent. in 1978–79.

Estimates of the relative price effect for 1977–78 and 1978–79 will be published in the second volume of the Government's expenditure plans. I regret that the assumptions given in the second part of the question are not sufficient to enable a calculation of the relative price effect to be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish table 10 of Command Paper No. 6721-I expressed in terms of demand on resources.

The expected effects of the main entries in Table 10 of Cmnd. 6721-I were incorporated in the statements about the economic situation and prospects made at the time the changes were announced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the total programme expenditure in 1976–77, excluding nationalised industries is within the Command Paper No. 6393 total of programmes plus contingency reserve, measured in cost terms including the relative price effect as well as when measured in pure volume terms.

Estimates in cost terms will be published in the second volume of Cmnd. 6721.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the likely total public expenditure for 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79 in actual terms based upon the estimates at 1976 Survey Prices and adjusted by the inflation rate since 1976, using 15 per cent. where an estimate has not yet been made.

The normal vehicle for projections of public expenditure at current prices is the Financial Statement and Budget Report published with the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the principal occasions in 1976 and 1977 when he has given in public a quantitative or qualitative statement about the future trend of the price level, particularly in 1977.

Since the beginning of 1976, the principal occasions on which my right hon. Friend has made public statements about the future trend of the price level were his Statement in the House on 15th December 1976—Hansard, Vol. 922, c. 1526–37—and his speech to the Overseas Bankers Club on 31st January 1977, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how the increase in hourly wage rates and seasonally adjusted average earnings in manufacturing industry since 1970 compares with the increase in export prices for manufactures and the wholesale prices for manufactures less food, &c., in each of the years 1973 to 1975 and in the latest month for which figures are available;(2) what was the percentage increase in import and export prices of manufactures during 1976; what were the corresponding figures for wholesale prices excluding food, hourly wage rates and weekly earnings in manufacturing, and unit labour costs; and what was the percentage fall in the value of sterling.

Data on import and export prices of manufactures, and on the value of sterling, can be found in tables E12, B18 and B22 of the Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics No. 16. Data on hourly wage rates, average earnings in manufacturing and unit labour costs can be found in Tables 130, 127 and 134 respectively in the Department of Employment Gazette for January 1977, and in the DE Press Notice on earnings dated 28th January. Data on wholesale prices—less food, drink and tobacco—can be found in Table 2 of Trade and Industry, dated 21st January 1977. Copies of these publications are available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in the dollar price of United Kingdom exports of manufactures in August 1976 compared with 1970 and 1975; what are the corresponding figures for Germany, the United States of America and Japan; what was the movement of the sterling rate against the dollar between August and December; and what estimate he makes of increases in Germany, United States and Japanese export prices for manufactures over this period in their own currencies, in order to make an assessment of United Kingdom competitiveness.

The requested figures on export prices are given in the table below. The pound depreciated by 6·3 per cent. against the dollar between August and December. Relatively little information is available on manufactured export prices of other countries over this period, and although estimates are made for internal purposes it is not customary to publish these.

Manufactured exports prices, dollar terms1970=100
		1975	August 1976
United Kingdom	…	176	177
USA	…	159	169
Germany	…	195	1961
Japan	…	178	1811
1 Q3 1976 figure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the review of the new presentation for nationalised industry information in White Papers, which is referred to in paragraph 18 of Cmnd. Paper No. 6721-I, will be made available for public discussion; and when he expects the review to be completed.

The Select Committee on Expenditure will be informed of the proposals resulting from this review before any changes are made to the presentation of public expenditure in White Papers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the short-term social security benefits which do not constitute income for income tax purposes; what is the total annual expenditure on each; and what is his estimate of the gain to the revenue if each were made taxable.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if lie will express the net loans, credit facilities and other public sector borrowing agreed from 1st March 1974 to date, in terms of debt per head of United Kingdom population.

The total amount of foreign currency borrowing by Her Majesty's Government and the public sector in the period, expressed in terms of debt per head of United Kingdom population, is about $300. This figure includes amounts agreed but not yet drawn under the new IMF standby and under the $1·5 billion loan, but does not include the special facility for the sterling balances agreed in January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he considers will be the effect on any future negotiations on the rationalisation of duty on spirits within the EEC of the increase in United Kingdom excise duty imposed since January 1977.

None. Proposals made in 1972 for harmonisation of the spirits duty within the EEC relate only to the structure of the duty, and not to rates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what differential duty is enjoyed by Cognac and other French spirits within France compared with imported British spirits.

In France, the total level of excise duty on spirits is the combination of the appropriate consumption tax and any production tax. From 1st February, for cognac the total excise duty is Fr 3,490 per hectolitre of pure alcohol—equivalent to £10.66 per proof gallon—but for Scotch whisky it is Fr 5,800 per hectolitre of pure alcohol—£17·72 per proof gallon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he considers will be the effect on the duty in EEC countries on British spirits of the increase in British excise duty since January 1977.

None. British spirits imported into other EEC countries bear the tax rates imposed by those countries at the levels determined by their respective Governments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of raising the starting point of higher rates of tax with other higher rates adjusted accordingly but retaining the same difference between the bands as exist at present to £8,000 and £10,000, respectively.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the additional revenue which would be obtained by taxing short-term national insurance and supplementary benefits; and what would be the loss in revenue of not taxing long-term benefits such as pensions.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with representatives of the holders of official sterling balances about their intention to exchange these for the new foreign currency bonds; and if he will make a statement.

I hope that these disdiscussions will begin later this month. I shall provide the House with further information after they have been concluded and foreign currency bonds have been issued.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what criteria he bases the judgment in Command Paper No. 6721-I, "The Government's Expenditure plans" page 14, paragraph 56, that North Sea oil, by easing the balance of payments constraints, will give the United Kingdom the opportunity to secure a major strengthening of the industrial base, and through this a renewed growth in employment.

Governments in the United Kingdom have frequently had to choose between running the economy at a low pressure of demand with high unemployment or allowing the balance of payments to move into deficit. The coming of North Sea oil will bring a considerable advantage to the balance of payments and so will enable the Government to maintain a higher level of activity in the economy than would otherwise have been possible. This not only stimulates the demand for domestic output but should also stimulate investment by improving its profitability and in both ways help to achieve renewed growth of employment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families will be worse off under the new child benefit scheme as a result of the proposed reduction in the child tax allowance; and what is the estimated total extra cost of running the scheme for these families.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 28th January 1977; Vol. 924, c. 802], gave the following information:The great majority of families will gain 30p a week from April this year as the combined result of the introduction of tax-free child benefits for all children including the first child and the proposed reduc- tion of child tax allowances. I am aware that there are some taxpayers for whom in particular circumstances the reduction of child tax allowance in 1977–78 may not always be matched by child benefit received. This is inevitable in the context of a major reform of the structure of family support and given the fact that rules of entitlement to child benefit necessarily differ in detail from those for child tax allowances. It is not possible to estimate the numbers involved but they are relatively small. It would not in any case be possible to isolate the cost of running the scheme for specific groups of families.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what notification of impending tax changes in 1978–79 and thereafter has been sent to United Kingdom taxpayers currently in receipt of child tax allowances whose children live overseas when it was sent; and if he will publish the details in the Official Report.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2nd February 1977; Vol. 925, c. 188], gave the following information: All taxpayers subject to PAYE are now being sent form P3 (CB) with their 1977–78 notices of coding. This form refers to the Government's intention to phase out tax allowances for children under 11 by April 1979, sets out the general arrangements for these allowances in 1977–78, and invites the parents of children living outside the United Kingdom to claim under the special arrangements for them in 1977–78—which were announced in my right hon. Friend's statement of 14th December. No announcement has yet been made concerning arrangements in 1978–79 or subsequently for children living overseas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action has been taken by his Department to ensure that local authorities are aware of the contents of Inland Revenue leaflet P3(CB) so that they are in a position to reply to queries raised by parents who have received the leaflet regarding adjustment of the parental contribution to take account of reduced child tax allowances.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 3rd February 1977; Vol. 925, c. 311], gave the following information: Local authorities will be aware of the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services on 23rd September 1976 in which he said that adjustments will be made in the parental contribution scales for student grants to take account of the loss of child tax allowances.All aspects of the student support system are currently under review by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, including adjustment to the parental contribution scale to take account of the proposed reduction of child tax allowances. She hopes to announce the results in the spring.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will set up an inquiry into the effect on consumers of the Sunday trading restrictions on trade.

No. The inquiry conducted 12 years ago by the Crathorne Committee on the Law on Sunday Observance did not result in any general agreement on whether or how the law should be amended. I have no reason to think that a further inquiry would have a different result.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the authorised establishment of the Royal Observer Corps and the Auxiliary Fire Service; and what was the actual establishment of these two services on 31st December 1976.

The authorised establishment of the Royal Observer Corps was 11,904 and the actual membership on 31st December 1976 was 9,964. The Auxiliary Fire Service was disbanded in 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the annual expenditure on Civil Defence and related matters in each of the last three financial years.

Gross home defence expenditure by Civil Departments was £19·5 million in 1973–74, £18·9 million in 1974–75 and £23·3 million in 1975–76.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Civil Defence procedures in the United Kingdom were last reviewed; whether he will publish the detailed results of that review; and when the next review will be carried out.

Procedures are kept under continuous review. The last comprehensive policy study was in 1971, the results of which were given to the House on 5th August 1971.—[Vol. 822, c. 369–70.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants have been employed on Civil Defence and related matters on 31st March 1976, 1975 and 1974.

Home Office civil servants employed mainly on civil defence matters as at 31st March numbered in 1976–385; 1975–401; and 1974–395.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how, and by whom, parole boards are appointed; what qualifications are required; and how many parole boards are now in operation.

The chairman and members of the Parole Board are appointed by the Home Secretary in accordance with Section 59(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1967. Schedule 2 to the Act requires that the Parole Board shall include among its members: (a) a person who holds or has held judicial office; (b) a registered medical practitioner who is a psychiatrist; (c) a person appearing to the Secretary of State to have knowledge and experience of the supervision or after-care of discharged prisoners; and (d) a person appearing to the Secretary of State to have made a study of the causes of delinquency or the treatment of offenders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many defendants on remand in Brixton Prison during 1976 were acquitted; and how long they were on remand.

I regret that the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many defendants are now on remand in Brixton Prison; and how many have been on remand for one, two, three, four, five or six months or more, respectively.

On 15th January, the latest date for which information is readily available, 820 persons were in Her Majesty's Prison Brixton on remand to await trial. I regret that the other information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs will next meet to discuss the laws relating to cannabis; and when it is likely to report.

The Advisory Council's Working Group on Cannabis has already met to consider this matter and will meet again in March. The group is unlikely to report its findings to the council before the legal issues arising in the case of Regina v. Goodchild are finally resolved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department who are the members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs; by whom they were appointed; and what are their qualifications.

The members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs are appointed by the Home Secretary. The Chairman is Sir Robert Bradlaw, CBE, DSc, FRCS, FDSRCS, who is Hon. Professor of Oral Pathology, Royal College of Surgeons of England, and Emeritus Professor of Oral Medicine, University of London. The membership is as follows:

• T. H. Bewley, MA, MD, FRCPI, FRCPsych, Psychiatrist.
• My hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop).
• J. C. Bloomfield, OBE, FPS, FBOA, JP,^* Retail pharmacist.
• I. McG. Boden, MA, Pharmaceutical industrialist.
• A. Bristow, Consultant to the Health Education Council.
• H. E. Carter, MRCVS, Veterinary surgeon. D. Cox, Youth worker.
• Mrs. M. J. Davis, BA, Headmistress.
• Miss A. H. Dixon, Social worker.
• Dr. J. Griffith Edwards, MA, DM, DPM, MRCP,^*Psychiatrist.
• F. D. Flower, MBE, BA, BScEcon, Principal, College of Education.
• W. C. Fordyce, BSc, MEd, Deputy Director of Education.
• Dr. W. W. Fulton, FRCGP, General practioner.
• Sir Ronald Gibson, CBE, LLD, FRCS, FRCGP, General practitioner.
• Professor J. D. P. Graham, MD, FRCPEdin, FRFPS, FRSE,^* Professor of pharmacology.
• Mrs. J. Hart, MA, University lecturer.
• Dr. I. Pierce James MA, MB(Camb), MRCPsych, MANZCP, DPM(Lond), Forensic psychiatrist.
• Professor W. I. N. Kessel, MD, FRCP, FRCPEdin, FRCPsych, Psychiatrist.
• D. J. King, MD, MRCPsych, Psychiatrist.
• E. Lewis, SRN, RMN, DMS, Nurse.
• P. A. Myers, QPM,^* Chief constable.
• M. J. Power, JP,^* Lecturer in social administration.
• W. E. C. Robins, Metropolitan stipendiary magistrate.
• Mrs. R. Runciman, BA, Interviewer, Citizens' Advice Bureau.
• Dr. B. C. Saunders, CBE, MA, PhD, ScD, DSc, FRIC,^* Academic scientist.
• R. E. Searchfield,^* Social worker.
• J. W. P. Taylor, BA, Principal, College of Education.
• ^* Indicates member of the Working Group on Cannabis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many segregation units there are in prisons for use as (a) isolation units, (b) psychiatric units, (c) segregation units and (d) solitary confinement; how many are currently in use; and how many are being constructed.

Segregation units, as such, exist only in dispersal prisons. They were established following the Report of the Advisory Council on the Penal System in 1968 on "The Regime for Long-Term Prisoners in Conditions of Maximum Security". But every prison has some accommodation where prisoners can, when necessary, be segregated from the rest of the prison community. No central record is maintained of the degree of use which varies from day to day. Such accommodation is not used "as psychiatric units". There is no provision in Prison Rules for placing prisoners in "solitary confinement" and in this connection I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to his Question on 26th May 1976—[Vol. 912, c. 204]—No new units are being constructed other than as part of new prisons or enlarged complexes or, in one instance, to enable accommodation at present used as a segregation unit to be used for another purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list those prisons with screens on the cell windows and indicate in each case the number of cells involved;(2) what is the function of the screens on prison cells; and of what material they are made.

Over the years, screens have been fitted to the windows of prison cells for a number of different reasons, viz, to block the passage of contraband; to prevent missiles and other matter being thrown from cells; and to provide some degree of privacy for prison staff and other members of the public whose houses or premises are overlooked. The materials used varied according to the main purpose and wire mesh, expanded metal, metal laths, translucent glass and plastic have been used. In the time available it is not possible to give the information in the form requested but it can be said that screens of one sort or another exist at 36 establishments containing between one and 650 cells.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has so far been the cost of putting screens on the windows of prison cells.

Some establishments fitted screens to their windows more than 20 years ago, and it is not possible to give a total cost for such work. In recent years, it is estimated that costs have varied from less than £10 up to £100 a screen, according to the type of material used and the difficulty of installation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons prisoners are put in cells with screens on the windows; how long in each day they are so confined; and for how many days.

The majority of cells fitted with screens are for normal occupation, but are chosen for screening because of their proximity to the wall or because they overlook private houses or staff accommodation. All such cells are occupied in accordance with the normal routine for the part of the establishment in which they are situated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he proposes to adopt for giving effect to future increases in television licence fees.

On the last occasion when television licence fees were increased, my predecessor made an announcement on 29th January 1975 of new levels of fees to come into effect on 1st April following. The difficulties which ensued were the subject of a report by the Parliamentary Commissioner and a judgment by the Court of Appeal. I have been considering how best to minimise the risk of a recurrence of these difficulties next time the licence fees have to be increased, and I propose to adopt the following procedure.The next increases in the licence fees will come into effect at midnight of the day on which they are announced. I intend to time the actual announcement of the increase so as to ensure that people who have replaced expiring licences promptly are not affected by the increase, and that people whose licences are due for replacement at the begininng of the following month are given some notice of the new fee before the licence expires and has to be replaced. But I must stress that any licence issued pursuant to an application made after the increase has taken effect will be at the new, higher fee.Those who already hold a licence will be able to apply to post offices or to the National Television Licensing Centre for a replacement licence as from the first day of the month of expiry of the previous licence, and the replacement licence will expire on the anniversary of the expiring previous licence. Where an application is made earlier than that date, the licence will run the date of issue for a period of 12 months counting from the first day of the month of issue. Where the application is made after the end of the month in which the previous licence expires, so that there has been an interval during which the receiver has been in use unlicensed, the new licence will expire on the anniversary of the expiry of the previous licence. Where a licence is being issued for the first time the licence will run from the date of issue for a period of 12 months counting from the first day of the month of issue. In each case, the licence will be issued at the fee current at the date of application.It follows from what I have said that, if a licence holder applies for his replacement licence early in the last month of currency of the old licence, he will be issued with a replacement licence for the full period of 12 months following the expiry of the old one at the then current rate of licence fee, even if an increase in the fee is announced later in that month. The fact that the licence fee increase will take effect on the day on which it is announced also means that if a licence holder delays applying for a replacement licence until late in the last month of currency of his existing licence, and an increase in the rates of fees has been announced and has come into effect before he makes his application, he will be required to pay at the new higher rate for his replacement licence.In this context, I should like to remind the House and the public that a 25p television licence stamp has recently been introduced which people may buy at any post office to save towards the cost of their licence. Advance purchase of these stamps would clearly help to cushion the impact of a licence fee increase when the money has to be found.As to the date of the next increases, I have made no decision. It is clear that the finances of the BBC will necessitate increases before the end of this year. Hon. Members will understand that I shall not be able to give any advance indication of the date on which the increases will be announced and come into effect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his decision on the planning inquiry that has been held into an application by the Co-operative Society to build a hypermarket at Scunthorpe.

Since I wrote to my hon. Friend on 8th December the inspector's report of the inquiry has been submitted and is under consideration. My right hon. Friend's decision will be issued shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish his proposals for relaxing planning controls on the extension of certain classes of buildings.

A list of proposals for relaxation of planning controls was circulated by the Department last July to more than 90 representative organisations and bodies. I am currently considering the great number of representations received, and on 3rd February I met representatives of the local authority associations to discuss their views. I shall announce my intentions as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will examine the need for a substantial increase in the level of grant to local authorities for the reclamation of derelict land, in order to hasten this process.