asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the annual pay and pension of a senior executive officer as at 31st March 1976 and 31st March 1963, respectively.

The national salary scale for a senior executive officer at 31st March 1963 was £1,568–£2,001. The pension depends on the length of service and, for a man retiring at age 60, reaches a maximum after 40 years' service. A senior executive officer retiring on 31st March 1963 after 40 years and who had been at the maximum of the scale for the previous three years would have qualified for the maximum annual pension of £948 9s. 2d. (£948·46). The salary scale for a senior executive officer at 31st March 1976 was £4,900–£5,900. An officer retiring on that date on his maximum pay and with 40 years' service would have received the maximum annual pension of £2,950.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) whether holders of offices of profit under the Crown will be able to stand as candidates for the proposed direct elections to the European Assembly in 1978;(2) whether he will list in the

The Government are considering the recommendations of the Select Committee on Direct Elections on the appropriate provisions to be made for disqualification from the European Assembly. An updated list of office holders disqualified under the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 and the Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 is reprinted each year as required in those Acts.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will take steps to link inflation-proofed Civil Service pensions to the rise in average wages rather than to the rise in retail prices.

I have nothing to add to what I said to the hon. Member on 13th January, except to point out that had the index of weekly wages been used in past reviews the result in every instance would have been an increase considerably greater than that actually paid, a cumulative increase since 1971 some 50 per cent. higher.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the length of the national gas network in the United Kingdom; and what is the average age of the pipe;(2) what length of new gas pipe is laid and what length of old pipe is replaced annually;(3) what is the average cost per mile of relaying gas pipelines.

I am asking the Chairman of British Gas to write direct to the hon. Member concerning these details.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has on any correlation between age of gas pipe and liability to fracture; and whether crystallisation of the metal or fatigue have given rise to concern for public safety.

I am informed that age is merely one of several factors affecting the liability of gas pipes to fracture, so that there is no close correlation betwen the two. Nor have I any reason to think that metal crystallisation or fatigue are particularly significant factors. I am, however, assured that all these matters will be covered by the inquiry team.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if the inquiry recently set up to look into accidents will consider whether increased pressure employed for the distribution of natural gas as opposed to carbonisation gas has had any adverse effect on hemp-pitch joints sealed with lead;(2) whether the inquiry recently set up to look into accidents will take into account the average depth of gas pipes in urban areas, whether they are laid below the depth of frost penetration in a normal United Kingdom winter and the effect of excessive cold on the safety of the United Kingdom network.

I am assured that the inquiry team will be studying any possible correleation between such factors as pressure or climatic effects, and leaks from the gas distribution system.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many serious leaks were reported to the British Gas Corporation in the past year for which figures are available; and what is his estimate of the general condition of the system.

I am asking the Chairman of the Corporation to write to the hon. Member about the number of reported leaks. No system as extensive and complex as the present gas network can be expected to be completely leak free. Subject to any further proposals which may emerge from the inquiry, I am, however, assured that British Gas has taken and is taking all reasonable steps for the proper maintenance of the system and for the prevention, detection and repair of leaks.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the overrun in both cost and time of the following power stations: Dungeness B, Wylfa, and Hinckley Point B.

This information is not immediately available. I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy on what date the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate review of pressurised water reactor safety will be published.

The NII expects to submit a summary report to me in June, which I will arrange to have published shortly thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is his estimate of the effect of the Batts Ford Bridge project of the declaration of a traffic free pedestrian precinct in the town centre by North Bedford Council;(2) what are the current estimated costs of the Batts Ford Bridge project and that of the western relief road in Bedford; and what is his estimate of the increase in cost likely to be experienced when either project become a reality under DOE planning;(3) assuming the construction of the Batts Ford Bridge project in Bedford, what he estimates would be the implications of traffic moving in and out of the town in areas north of the river.

These are matters which are the responsibility of Bedfordshire County Council as highway authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the volume of traffic which his Department calculates will use the A428 through Bedford in the next five years in view of the construction of a modified A45 north of Bedfordshire; and what implications this project will have for the A428 and Bromham Bridge.

The present volume of 15,000 vehicles per day is expected to increase by about 2 per cent. per annum. The proposed new M1-A1 east-west route to the north of Bedfordshire is unlikely to have significant implications for the A428—including Bromham Bridge—in the locality of Bedford.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of applications received under Section 8 of the Transport Act 1974 for grants for private rail sidings, the numbers granted and under consideration, respectively, the number which he has taken six months or more to determine, and the cost for a typical length of siding excluding site preparations.

The information requested is as follows:

Approved	…	23
Refused	…	6
Withdrawn or not pursued	…	11
Under consideration	…	31

The "under consideration" category includes some cases on which a decision is expected shortly and others at earlier stages of planning, evaluation or consultation about the completion of an application. No case has taken six months to determine once the application has been completed. Siding costs vary very considerably—from less than £25 per metre to more than £75 per metre—and are often only part of the total cost of a project. Projects range in cost from less than £5,000 to more than £2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those enterprises sold or proposed to be sold from the public to the private sector; and if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards such sale.

The only current case of which I am aware is the proposed sale of British Transport Docks Board's towage activities at Newport, which involves two tugs, to Cory Ship Towage Limited. The board believes that this sale will lead to a more efficient towing service being provided in the port. I see no reason to dissent from this view and have no powers to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in order to assist touring caravanners to locate their destinations, he will take steps to amend the form of his Department's directional sign for caravan sites so as to enable the name of the site to be included, thus bringing them in line with the directional signs for historic houses.

We try to keep road signs as simple as possible, and avoid unnecessary legend. For caravanners it is usually enough to know where a site is available, but people intending to visit a particular historic house need more specific guidance. I do not think that this distinction should be changed.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the construction of the southbound extension to the M1 motorway will be completed and ready for use by motorists; whether there has been any delay in its being opened to the public; and for what reason such delay occurred.

Construction of the southbound extension to the M1 has been completed but its opening has been delayed because it cannot safely be used until the Staples Corner interchange is finished and some minor works have been carried out at Fiveways Corner to change the existing temporary traffic arrangement. This change requires statutory orders but, subject to the satisfactory completion of these, we hope that the motorway and interchange will be fully operational by August this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria led to his decision to allow a 16-year-old to drive a motor cycle and a 17-year-old to drive a tractor.

A 16-year-old may hold a licence to ride a moped, but not a motor cycle. If he has passed a driving test he may also drive a tractor on the public highway. The minimum age for holding a licence to ride a motor cycle is 17 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects construction work to begin on the M26 between Sevenoaks and Wrotham; and when he expects it to be completed.

Subject to the satisfactory completion of the remaining statutory procedures and to the availability of funds, construction is expected to start in the summer of this year, and the road to be open to traffic by 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects construction work to begin on the following sections of the London outer orbital road (M25), and when each section is due to be completed of (a) Swanley to Seven-oaks, (b) Sevenoaks to Westerham, (c) Westerham to Godstone, (d) Reigate to Wisley, (e) Wisley to Chertsey, (f) Chertsey to Thorpe, (g) Runnymede Bridge, (h) Egham to Heathrow, (i) Heathrow to M4, (j) M4 to Maple Cross, (k) Hunton Bridge to South Mimms, (l) Potters Bar to Waltham Cross, (m) Waltham Cross to M11, (n) M11 to Brentwood (A12), and (o) Brentwood (A12) to A13.

The sections of the M25 between Sevenoaks and Godstone are under construction and are expected to be open to traffic in the second half of 1979. Subject to the satisfactory completion of the remaining statutory procedures, the section between the A111 and the A10 is expected to start in the autumn of this year and to be open to traffic by the end of 1979. For the estimated starting dates of the other sections of the M25, I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wigan (Mr. Fitch) on 25th January and 1st February—[Vol 924, c. 580; Vol. 925, c. 106–18.]—I would expect the contract periods to be from two to three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she next expects to meet the Chairman of the Arts Council.

My right hon. Friend looks forward to welcoming the new Chairman of the Arts Council when he takes up office next May. In addition, my noble Friend the Minister for the Arts meets the chairman and his colleagues frequently and officials on both sides are regularly in touch.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the financial contribution made by the United Kingdom towards the European Incoherent Scatter Association international project; and if she will report progress.

The Science Research Council's total contribution to the initial cost is expected to be £3·15 million. Contracts for equipment are being let, and it is hoped that the facility will be in full operation in 1979. The council's contribution to operating costs is estimated to rise by then to about £250,000 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give the date of the introduction of a pension scheme for teachers and university lecturers; and whether provision was made for those who had completed 10 years of service before the introduction of the scheme.

The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was introduced on 1st April 1975. Any university staff who were then members of the Federated Superannuation System for Universities—which was established in 1913—or certain other schemes may until 5th April 1980 elect to transfer to USS. There is no minimum qualifying period. Superannuation arrangements for teachers in schools have existed for more than 100 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is satisfied with the numbers of students studying science and engineering in polytechnics; and if she will make a statement.

The substantial increase in enrolments over the last two years is encouraging, but we still want to attract more able young people into science and engineering courses. My right hon. Friend's recent decision to increase the level of payments to students by employers without a reduction of their awards will help, and other measures are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish the number of polytechnics which have absorbed colleges of art since 1970.

Eleven.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what proportion the number of places for the Bachelor of Education Degree is to be cut in England and Wales under her recent proposals.

The policy of successive Governments has been to encourage the development of the Bachelor of Education degree in place of the Certificate in Education as a method of entry to the profession. The number of students currently following non-graduate initial teacher training courses is about 77,000, of whom some 24,000 are on BEd courses. Future BEd numbers will reflect student recruitment and staying-on rates but may well approach 30,000 by 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, of the British teachers (a) taking part in exchanges organised by the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges and the League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers, (b) currently in posts in the European schools and (c) overseas, recruited by the British Council, how many are concerned wholly or in part with the teaching of physical education.

The figures for teachers in primary and secondary schools are (a) 24, (b) 2, and (c) 5. In addition, some others in these groups also teach physical education as part of their general duties, but it is not known how many. The same applies to the British teachers recruited to teach abroad by the Ministry of Overseas Development, as part of the British Aid Programme, of whom there were 360 primary teachers and 2,295 secondary teachers in 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she has concluded her examination of the proposals to change the regional services for museums provided by the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Yes. My noble Friend and I have examined carefully the proposals submitted by the Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum as a consequence of the reductions in staff to which the Government are committed for the civil service. We have also heard representations from the staff of the museum and from the associations of local authorities involved. We have decided to implement the proposals of the Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, which are supported by the museum's advisory council. Though the Department of Regional Services will have to be disbanded, the museum will continue to circulate to local museums and educational institutions about 90 per cent. of all the material at present available to them, namely, five large framed exhibitions, 25 "two-dimensional" exhibitions, and 200 sets of frames with material for colleges and other educational institutions. The director will also review 50 further framed sets in store to determine what can be added to the present circulating material. The museum's present scheme to assist local museums with new purchases, its education services, and its arrangements for making long loans to local museums will also continue.I also hope that the discontinuation of the museum's circulating exhibitions of objects from its permanent collection will be made good under a scheme which my noble Friend is preparing, under which, subject to appropriate safeguards, a Government indemnity can be given to loans to selected local museums. This would enable not merely the Victoria and Albert Museum but any of the national collections to make objects available without requiring payment of insurance. When the new scheme has been fully worked out, parliamentary approval will be sought by means of an Estimate.In addition, my noble Friend has invited the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries to convene later this year a conference—to the cost of which the Government are ready to contribute—on the availability of material for circulation to local museums and galleries. The aim will be to establish what further progress can be made within our resources, which include the greatly increased grants which the Government are making to the area museum councils, in throwing open the national heritage over the country as a whole, including those reserves in the national collections which cannot be permanently exhibited for lack of space.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development to what extent he takes into account the nature of the product to be provided, and the availability of under-used capacity to produce it in the United Kingdom, in determining the amount of aid to be given to any applicant country.

Aid commitments are decided according to the needs of developing countries and our aid strategy. Within that context, commercial considerations are taken into account. The greater part of our bilateral aid is, of course, tied to the supply of British goods and services, but not to the products of particular industries or firms.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what aid has been given to Indonesia over the past 10 years; and if he will state the annual amounts of such aid.

British aid to Indonesia has taken three forms: non-Project aid—loans exclusively to buy goods and services from Britain; capital aid projects—largely tied to United Kingdom procurement; and technical co-operation. The total gross bilateral disbursement of United Kingdom aid for each of the calendar years 1967 to 1975 is as follows:

			£ million
1967	…	…	0·690
1968	…	…	1·098
1969	…	…	2·315
1970	…	…	2·659
1971	…	…	5·835
1972	…	…	6·771
1973	…	…	8·148
1974	…	…	8·866
1975	…	…	6·777

A breakdown of those totals was given in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens) on 11th May last year.—[Vol. 911, cols. 153–4.] Final figures for the calendar year 1976 are not yet available.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will reduce the aid given to Indonesia in the light of that country's invasion of East Timor.

No. The objective of our programme of aid to Indonesia is to assist the poorest people, and that would not be helped by such action.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what is the cause of the delay in the issuing of the Fay Committee Report and if he will make a statement.

I have been in touch with the chairman of the committee about this and understand from Judge Fay that he hopes to complete the report by midsummer, but it may take a little longer.My right hon. Friend the Member for Lanark (Mrs. Hart), in setting up the inquiry, instructed its members to follow as far as possible the procedure of an inquiry under the Companies Act and gave the committee wide terms of reference in order that they might conduct a thorough and far-reaching inquiry into the circumstances that led to the Crown Agents' receiving financial assistance from the Government. It is not unusual for an inquiry of this nature to take up to two years or more to complete. Judge Fay assures me, however, that the committee, which started its work in April 1975, is conscious of my concern, shared by hon. Members, that the investigation should be completed as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he is satisfied with the work of the Price Commission in controlling prices, in the light of the Commission's statements that code profits are in many cases substantially lower than companies' published profits; and if he will make a statement.

Unlike profits calculated under the Price Code, the profits shown in many company accounts make little or no allowance for inflation. Although the Price Code does not permit companies to reflect full replacement costs in their calculations of price increases and profit margins, amendments made to the code last August went some way towards controlling prices on the basis of a truer reflection of companies' profitability.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what has been the outcome of his consideration of a reference to beer prices to the Price Commission.

It is clear that the level of public concern about beer prices remains high, and my colleagues and I have agreed that it is necessary to establish the facts. I have therefore referred to the Price Commission for examination and report:

"the prices and margins in the manufacture and distribution in the United Kingdom of beer which is sold by retail for consumption on licensed premises".

I have asked the Price Commission to report by 31st July 1977. I should emphasise that the decision to make this reference does not imply that prices are unjustified or that there is evidence of profiteering.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether his Department has now completed discussions with local authority associations on the grants in 1977–78 to maintain the coverage of consumer advice centres and price survey schemes in Great Britain at 31st March 1977 level.

My Department has now completed these discussions and is today sending a circular to all local authorities in Great Britain inviting applications for grants for consumer advice centres. We have asked that all applications should reach the Department by 14th March 1977. A circular announcing the continuation of the surveys for a further 12 months from 1st April 1977 was sent to local authorities and organisations operating such schemes on 8th February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that current Government policy ensures the maximum home production of cheese products; and what is the anticipated effects on home-produced cheese of the latest Government attitude towards imported New Zealand cheese in future years.

The Government's policy towards the expansion of milk products production is set out in "Food From Our Own Resources". When the question of future arrangements for imports of New Zealand cheese is considered the position of our own cheese manufacturers will be one of the factors to be taken into account.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the shortfall between supply and demand in the home-produced potato industry in 1977.

The quantity of potatoes available for human consumption from the home crop this season is about 1¾ million tonnes less than the usage in 1974–75 when the supply position was relatively normal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of potatoes consumed in the United Kingdom in 1975 and 1976 was imported; from which countries; and in what amounts.

The relationship between home-produced and imported supplies is more meaningful in terms of potato crop years than calender years. The figures published in the White Paper on the Annual Review of Agriculture 1977 (Cmnd 6703), indicate that the percentages of total supply used for human consumption provided by imports in 1974–75 and 1975–76 were:

		Raw potatoes		Processed potatoes (raw equivalent)
		Early Per cent.	Maincrop Per cent.	Per cent.
1974–75	…	3	—	1
1975–76	…	6	7	8

The percentages in the current crop year are expected to be broadly the same as in 1975–76. Most of our maincrop imports in 1975–76 and 1976–77 have come from the Nertherlands with Cyprus, Egypt, Spain and the Canary Islands supplying most of the imported new potatoes. A more detailed breakdown of the quantities of potatoes and potato products imported is published in the Overseas Trade Accounts of the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how

				Average price of manufactured dairy compounds (1966–67=100)		Average price of milk paid to producers (1966–67=100)
				Index of actual prices	Index of prices expressed in real terms*	Index of actual prices	Index of prices expressed in real terms*
1966–67	…	…	…	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0
1967–68	…	…	…	104·0	101·4	101·1	98·8
1968–69	…	…	…	106·3	98·1	101·5	94·0
1969–70	…	…	…	108·9	95·5	100·8	88·8
1970–71	…	…	…	125·3	101·8	109·1	89·6
1971–72	…	…	…	122·0	91·2	120·4	90·5
1972–73	…	…	…	137·4	95·5	124·6	87·5
1973–74	…	…	…	209·1	130·4	145·2	92·3
1974–75	…	…	…	234·9	122·9	178·1	96·0
1975–76	…	…	…	245·6	104·1	223·0	96·5
1976–77 (first 6 months—provisional)	…	…	…	302·7	116·5	265·9	104·0
*Price index has been adjusted by reference to changes in the retail price index.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the retail cost of tomatoes he attributes to (a) growers' cost, (b) administrative charges, such as grading, undertaken by the grower, (c) transport, (d) packaging, (e) sales cost before retailing and (f) retailers' costs; and what steps he will take to reduce the second of these.

These costs differ widely according to the varied circumstances in which tomatoes are grown and distributed. Any estimated percentages I gave could, therefore, be very misleading. Tomato growers are assisted to reduce costs generally by my Department's Agricultural Development and Advisory Service and through grants on the eligible capital costs of buildings and equipment, which may include grading and labelling machinery.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the amount of water in chickens, which is restricted in the case of frozen chickens,

Indices of prices of dairy compounds in cake form and of producer prices of milk, together with indices showing price movements in real terms, are as follows:is similarly restricted in fresh chickens; and if he will take steps to ensure that all retail points selling chickens, fresh or frozen, should display adequate information about the bird for the use of consumers.

Council regulation (EEC) No. 2967/76 of 23rd November 1976 lays down common standards for the water content of frozen and deep-frozen chickens, hens and cocks only. This regulation will be implemented in full from 1st December 1977. The presence of added water in fresh chickens and the need for labelling requirements concerning added water for all chickens is currently being considered by the Food Standards Committee as part of its review of water in food. United Kingdom legislation already requires that the true nature of all prepacked food should be indicated on the label.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of his review of the antirabies import controls; and if he will make a statement.

It is clear from the extensive and constructive consultations the Government have held that the import control measures in the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 have worked well. However, in order to strengthen those measures in the light of experience we propose to make an amending order to achieve the following:

(1) To ban native animals from boarding vessels carrying animals from abroad;

(2) To define more precisely the security conditions and circumstances under which foreign animals must be confined on board vessels; and to define more clearly the persons responsible for ensuring such confinement;

(3) To provide powers for inspectors and police to seize and, if necessary, to destroy animals not properly confined on board vessels;

(4) To extend to the police the powers, currently available to veterinary inspectors and diseases of animals inspectors, to seize and if necessary to destroy illegally landed animals;

(5) To amend the schedule listing those ports and airports authorised to receive imports of rabies-susceptible animals.

My right hon. Friends will lay the amending order before Parliament as soon as possible.On the need to stiffen the penalties for anti-rabies offences, the Criminal Law Bill now before Parliament seeks to extend the police powers of arrest when dealing with such offences and to increase the maximum fine available to magistrates from £400 to £1,000.The Government have also considered a proposal to introduce a discretionary power for the courts to order the destruction of an animal whose owner is convicted of importing it illegally. The case for such a power rests primarily on whether it would be an effective deterrent. In the light of experience, and bearing in mind the unfettered power of destruction already available to the enforcing authorities for reasons other than punitive ones, there appears to be little evidence that this would result. On the other hand, there are moral and ethical arguments against the destruction of healthy animals as a punitive measure against their guilty owners. On balance, therefore, we have decided that the existing powers of destruction and punishment, together with the new powers we now propose, are adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the approximate interest charge on house loans made by local authorities.

Current estimates indicate that the average is slightly in excess of 11 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will expedite the introduction of community councils into the unrepresenter urban areas of England and Wales along the lines adopted by Glasgow.

In England, representation at community level may be provided through parish councils, with well-established statutory functions and powers. In some urban areas voluntary neighbourhood councils represent local communities. A circular on these matters will be issued after consultation with the Local Government Boundary Commission and the local authority associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he caused a public local inquiry to be held into St. Edmundsbury Council's 1976 compulsory purchase order No. 1 Jacqueline Close, when objections to this had been withdrawn; if a statement of the council's reasons was available to his inspector at the first hearing on 6th October 1976; how many officials from his Department or the local authority were called in evidence; what is the estimated cost to public funds of carrying out this inquiry; why the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds was not informed of it, in view of his previous inspection of the collapsed underground workings beneath Jacqueline Close and negotiations with numerous statutory bodies in connection with remedial schemes; and who is now responsible for public safety at this site.

An inquiry was held to establish the facts about the fitness of these houses in order to reach a decision on the compulsory purchase order. Moreover, certain objections to the order were reinstated at the inquiry. The council's original statement of reasons was made available to the inspector. Two council and no departmental officials were called in evidence. The estimated costs incurred by the Department so far are about £50. The inquiry was advertised in the prescribed way, but it is not the normal practice to notify Members of Parliament of inquiries in their constituencies unless specially requested. The site is still in private ownership, but the local authority has used discretionary powers to fence the site in the interests of public safety.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table in the Official Report of figures relative to (a) the average percentage increase in rents of privately rented properties for 1974, 1975 and 1976, (b) the average percentage increase in prices for 1974, 1975 and 1976, and (c) the average percentage increase in earnings for 1974, 1975 and 1976.

the available information is as follows:

PERCENTAGE INCREASES IN RENTS OF PRIVATELY RENTED UNFURNISHED DWELLINGS, PRICES AND EARNINGS: 1973–76
Year's average		Rents (net of rent allowances) England and Wales	Retail prices (all items) United Kingdom	Earning of all employees Great Britain
1974 on 1973	…	13·5	16·1	17·5
1975 on 1974	…	17·5	24·2	26·6
1976 on 1975	…	Not available	16·5	16·0

The figures on rents are derived from the Family Expenditure Survey for which 1976 data are not yet available.The increase in earnings for 1976 relates to January—November compared to the corresponding period of 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in future years, he will make funds available for the refurbishing of inner city centres through direct central Exchequer grants and not through adjustments within the rate support grant settlement.

The availability of funds for tackling problems of the inner city is one of the matters being examined as part of the present review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what account he took of the effect of the formulae adopted by him for calculating this year's rate support grant as between urban and rural areas.

The effects of the RSG distribution formula on urban and rural areas were taken into account. A central aim was to concentrate grant in those areas with the greatest incidence of social and economic problems.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities in respect of the formulae adopted by him for calculating rate support grant.

My right hon. Friend has received numerous representations by post, and has already seen deputations from Cambridgeshire, Somerset and Warwickshire. Further meetings are planned with other authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have asked for permission to relax their smokeless fuel orders, in view of the high price of smokeless fuel and of the problems which this presents to retirement pensioners.

One local authority, Craven DC, has requested permission to suspend the operation of smoke control in its area. My right hon. Friend, after careful consideration, has refused his consent. In doing so, while having regard to the cost of solid smokeless fuel, he also took into account its greater efficiency as a heating agent compared with ordinary coal, which means that it need not be burnt in the same quantities. He also had regard to the benefits of smoke control in terms of improved public health and amenity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the amounts allocated to each local authority in England and Wales for 1977–78 in respect of (a) grants for local authority housing improvements, (b) municipalisation of housing and (c) improvement grants in the private sector.

I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of council dwellings for the elderly which he knows to have been built or planned during the last five years by local authorities in England has living accommodation below pavement level, other than those planned for Bolton Road, Chiswick.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether the Redditch Development Corporation will be enabled to attain the target of 70,000 population by 1980 in accordance with the

Movement of population to Redditch		1972	1973	1974	1975	1976
From Birmingham	…	800	600	900	700	2,600
From rest of West Midlands conurbation	…	300	400	200	200	400
From elsewhere	…	1,000	700	500	400	900
Total	…	2,100	1,700	1,600	1,300	3,900

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, on the sites so far serviced with roads and sewers by the Redditch Development Corporation, how many houses and how many square feet of offices and factories can be built without incurring further public expenditure on infrastructure prior to development.

My review of policies relating to decentralisation and the inner cities, which includes a reappraisal of the new town programmes, is continuing. For a number of first and second generation new towns, including Redditch, the forward programmes are mainly so far advanced that there is little scope for material change. No decisions have, however, yet been taken. I have no statement to make on the financing of new towns.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much industry and population has moved to Redditch in each of the last five years (a) from Birmingham and (b) from sources other than the West Midlands conurbation, including abroad.

As to Movement of industry to Redditch, a comprehensive analysis of source is not immediately available. A recent estimate shows, however, that over the five years, 1972 to 1976 inclusive. about 45 per cent. moved from the West Midlands conurbation including Birmingham, and about 55 per cent. from elsewhere. The total figures for the five year period are:

Year			Square feet ('000)
1972	…	…	340
1973	…	…	74
1974	…	…	540
1975	…	…	234
1976	…	…	245

As to housing, it is estimated that a further 2,700 houses can be provided on sites which have main services although some additional expenditure—e.g., on access, might be incurred.Industry and offices: Land earmarked for industry and offices, already with main services, could accommodate about 1½ million sq. ft. and ¾ million sq. ft. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce further appointments to the Board of the Redditch Development Corporation.

I am considering further appointments to the Board of the Redditch Development Corporation and I hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will specify the conditions and advantages under which public and private organisations, such as charitable trusts, public companies and trade or professional associations, and private individuals would be acceptable as partners with the Government in funding the preservation for public enjoyment of historic houses and their contents.

The precise conditions and advantages of such arrangements would depend on the circumstances of each particular case and the advice I received from the Historic Buildings Council and others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average annual maintenance cost of a traditional brick-built house as compared with that of maintaining the average system-built house.

I am unable to compare the average annual maintenance cost of a traditional brick-built house with that of an average system-built house because the limited records available for publicly and privately built houses generally make no distinction between the various construction methods employed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the proximity of the new financial year, he will immediately authorise the release to local authorities of details of Section 105 allocations for council housing improvements for 1977–78.

Most, if not all, local authorities have already been advised about their allocations and the necessary formal confirmation together with consent for borrowing purposes will be issued within the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what would be the effect on the balance of payments of substituting traditional brick-built houses for imported system-built houses in both the private and public sectors;(2) what would be the extent of the increases in employment in the construction and brick-building industries resulting from the substitution of traditional brick-built houses for imported system-built houses in both the private and public sectors.

Total imports of these houses are not known, but the numbers in contracts let by local authorities are small and declining, which suggests that the direct effects on employment and the balance of payments would be small. Full analysis would involve assessing the indirect effects of substitution, which in some circumstances could be adverse.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he anticipates that the Elston bypass, A6, will be completed; and what is its access point to Ampthill Road, A418.

I have been asked to reply.Provided the scheme proves to be economically viable, and subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory processes and the availability of funds, completion of the scheme is expected in 1981. The junction of the bypass with Ampthill Road, A418, will be just north of the railway line at Cow Bridge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report the details concerning the police as mentioned in the letter to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West dated 27th January 1977 and the schedule 1 and schedule 2.

Yes. My hon. Friend asked me for information about the number of charges and allegations made against the police in general, and the Metropolitan Police in particular, about the number of cases referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and about the outcome of such cases. He also asked for certain information about particular officers against whom allegations had been made.The following is the text of a letter I sent him on 27th January and of its accompanying schedules:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the equivalent figures in the most recent year for which figures are available for the index of average length of prison sentence passed by the courts in the United Kingdom and a sample of countries of Western Europe.

I regret that the information on which such a comparison might be based is not available to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many charges for motoring offences came before the courts in England and Wales in 1976 and in the latest 12 months for which figures are available; if he will list the major subjects of such offences; and how much time proceedings on these offences occupied as a percentage of total court time.

Information relating to 1975 will be found in Table 1 of "Offences relating to motor vehicles 1975", a copy of which is available in the Library. The 1976 statistics are not yet available.Statistics are not available regarding the time occupied by these proceedings as a percentage of total court time. Inquiries made of a small number of justices' clerks in 1976 suggested that road traffic offences take up about 40 per cent. of the total time spent by magistrates' courts in hearing criminal proceedings; but I cannot vouch for the accuracy of this figure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many men and how many women and what percentage of each, respectively, were acquitted of shoplifting offences in magistrates' courts and in Crown courts, respectively, having pleaded not guilty, during each of the last five years for which records are available;(2) how many and what percentage of men and how many and what percentage of women pleaded guilty to shoplifting offences before Crown courts and magistrates' courts, respectively, during each of the last five years for which records are available.

Information in the form requested is not immediately available, and I shall write to my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of accused persons, who pleaded not guilty in magistrates' courts and in Crown courts, respectively, during the last 12 months for which records are available have been ordered to pay prosecution costs or defence costs, respectively; and what has been the average amount ordered in each of these courts.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the length of trial of a theft case in a magistrates' court and in a Crown court, respectively, where the accused has pleaded not guilty.

I regret that this information is not available.