asked the Minister for the Civil Service how he expects the Report of the Bullock Committee on Industrial Democracy to be implemented in the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3rd February to the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley).—[Vol. 925, c. 261.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average level of earnings for civilian employees at Central Ordnance Depots Chilwell, Donnington and Bicester in 1975 and 1976.

The information requested is:

		1975	1976
		£	£
COD Chilwell	…	2,136	2,459
COD Donnington	…	2,023	2,338
COD Bicester	…	1,751	2,116

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian vacancies currently exist at Central Ordnance Depots Chilwell, Donnington and Bicester, respectively.

The number of vacancies for civilian staff at the three Depots varies from week to week. On 24th February 1977 the number of vacancies which the Depots would normally seek to fill were: COD Chilwell, 0; COD Donnington, 14; COD Bicester, seven.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian retirements are anticipated during the next two years at Central Ordnance Depots, Chilwell, Donnington and Bicester.

Forecasts of expected retirements of civilian staff fluctuate from time to time. The current forecasts for each depot during the next two years are: COD Chilwell, 107; COD Donnington, 71; COD Bicester, 69.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what factors other than impact energy are taken into account when assessing the safety of impact-based riot control weapons.

All relevant factors are taken into account when assessing the safety of impact-based riot control weapons. Two important factors other than impact energy are accuracy and range.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is aware of the finding by the United States Law Enforcement Assistance Administration that for impact-based riot control weapons, including the rubber bullet, impact energies over 90 ft lbs are in the severe damage region; if so, when he received this information; and how he evaluates the injuries from plastic bullets being used in Northern Ireland with impact energies of from 110 to 210 ft lbs over their operational range.

I am not. I am satisfied that the investigations carried out in the United Kingdom have been fully adequate. The risk of injury from plastic baton rounds is evaluated by carrying out comprehensive studies. The permitted range is then defined so as to reduce the risk of injury to a minimum.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied, on financial grounds, that the proposed purchase by the Government of the American Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) is cheaper than any known alternative system taking into account foreign exchange costs, job opportunities and operating costs.

Since cost sharing and other aspects of the proposed NATO Airborne Early Warning system continue to be examined within NATO, I cannot give the comparisons asked.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates of implementation of Service pension increases during the present financial year and the previous four financial years, quoting the increases in the cost of living as well for each of these financial years and the statistics for the financial year to date.

The information is given in the following table:

			Dates of Implementation	Cost of living increase†percentage
1972–73	…	…	1st December*	9·9
1973–74	…	…	1st December*	9·3
1974–75	…	…	1st December*	16·5
1975–76	…	…	1st December*	26·1
1976–77	…	…	1st December	13·8
* Those who retired after 1st April received their first pensions increase, if otherwise eligible, from 1st April in the following year. In certain years senior officers, because their pension codes were operative from 1st January, received their first pensions increase on 1st January following.
† These figures represent the percentage rise in the retail price index over the 12 months ending in the previous June. In accordance with the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971, the basic (1st December) increases applied to all public service pensions are at these rates. Modified rates applied to first increases at different dates.

The percentage rise in the retail price index over 12 months to the latest available figure, January 1977, is 16·6.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, where there is evidence to show that a student grant is not being made up by the parent, she will undertake to have discussions with a view to deducting the equivalent amount from the child allowance for personal income tax.

There are considerable difficulties, both of principle and administration, in the way of using the fiscal system for this purpose. Child tax allowances in any case start to be phased out under the child benefit arrangements from April this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Zambian Government about schoolchildren abducted from Rhodesia and flown to Zambia; and with what result.

The children who left Rhodesia and chose not to return with their parents from Botswana are now reported to be in a Zimbabwe nationalist camp in Zambia. They are not at present under the direct control of the Zambian authorities and we have not, therefore, made representations to the Zambian Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what hope he can give to holders of blocked savings invested in Rhodesia of such funds being remitted to their legal owners resident in the United Kingdom.

The restrictions on the remission of funds to the United Kingdom are imposed by the illegal regime in Rhodesia, and until such time as there is a settlement to the Rhodesia problem there is little hope of the blocked funds being released.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a statement in the Official Report of the housing and living conditions which allow the issue of a communal television licence, where there are a number of sets separately owned by pensioners in sheltered accommodation.

The Old Persons Home television licence authorises the use of a television set in his or her own room by a retired person of pensionable age —or by a relative of such a person living with him or her—who lives in an old persons' home as defined in Regulation 2 of the Wireless Telegraphy (Broadcast Licence Charges and Exemption) Regulations 1970. (S.I. 1970, No. 548).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases he has rejected the recommendations of the Parole Board that a person convicted of a terrorist offence should be released from prison on licence.

The Secretary of State has rejected recommendations on two occasions where the Parole Board recommended release for prisoners who had committed what are normally described as "terrorist" offences. There is no such category in our law, however.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action would need to be taken to provide figures as to the cost of hiring vehicles for the carriage of prisoners.

It would be necessary to ask over 100 establishments to go through their accounts for the year and extract details of the payments made for the hire of vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the names of the members of the committee which is to inquire into the obscenity laws; when he expects it to start work; and what its terms of reference will be.

I shall make an announcement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider special funding of voluntary projects in country parish areas on the peripheries of metropolitan county areas, which are neither urban projects nor contained in the remit of the Rural Development Commission. Mr. John: The Voluntary Services Unit of the Home Office contributes to the costs of development officers in the six metropolitan counties whose main function is the co-ordination of voluntary effort following local government reorganisation. Their services are available to voluntary organisations and projects throughout the counties, including the rural areas.I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment that special projects in the rural fringes of metropolitan counties would not necessarily be precluded from Development Fund assistance and applications are considered, having regard to the availability of funds to the Development Commission and support for the projects from other public sources.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the follow-up to the report of the Working Party on the Protection Against Vandalism.

About 18,000 copies of the report have been sent to those who have an interest in its recommendations, including the police, local authorities, the construction industry, the TUC and the CBI. I have discussed with chief constables the various measures being taken in different parts of the country, and accept their view that most of the action to counter vandalism is best taken locally. The Home Office Crime Prevention Centre is—as recommended by the Report—keeping a record of anti-vandalism measures reported to it by police forces, and Home Office research and publicity is taking account of the report's findings.With my colleagues in other Departments I am intending to hold a conference shortly to see whether any further action can be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he expects the Bullock Report on Industrial Democracy to be implemented in the Prison Service, the police force and other services for which he has responsibility; and if he will make a statement.

The Bullock Committee's proposals relate to the development of industrial democracy in private sector companies. Participation by employees in the management of the public services, including those for which I have responsibility, raises different issues which, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade made clear on 26th January—[Vol. 924, c. 1493–96]—the Government are still considering.

asked the Secretary a State for the Home Department whether he will seek to amend the law so as to provide a substantial mandatory prison sentence for those convicted of sexual intercourse with girls under 16 years of age.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take to improve protection for girls between the ages of 14 and 16 years, in the light of the decision of the Court of Appeal in Regina v. Whitehouse; and if he will make a statement. Mr. John: We are studying this question in the light of the Court of Appeal's decision and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what decision he has reached on Welsh language programmes on the fourth television channel in Wales in the context of the latest review of public expenditure.

The Government remain committed to the project for a fourth television channel in the Welsh language but, in the prevailing economic circumstances, provision cannot at present be made for the necessary expenditure. I do, however, intend to initiate discussions as soon as possible with the broadcasting authorities on how progress might be made on the project so that, once money is available, an immediate start can be made with it. Preparatory work of this kind will, of course, have to take into account any recommendations on the framework of broadcasting generally and the fourth channel in par- ticular which may be made in the report of the Annan Committee on the future of broadcasting which I am expecting to receive soon.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what aid is being given to Botswana; and what proportion of such aid is allotted to refugees and so-called refugees.

For the period 1976–77 to 1978–79 capital aid in the form of loans and grants totalling £10 million has been made available for development projects. In addition, over £2 million is being provided this year for technical co-operation, most of which will be used in supplementing salaries of British personnel working directly for the Botswana Government. British official aid to refugees, including those in Botswana, is provided through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. For 1977 our regular contribution to the Commissioner has been fixed at £350,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the £120 million announced to assist the deprived areas of Glasgow has been spent to date; and on what projects.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the Glasgow East End Project which is now under way. Substantial expenditure has not yet been incurred though work will start this year on projects for building or rehabilitating houses, community projects environmental work and the provision of small factory units and recreational facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many children ascertained as mentally handicapped in the Strathclyde Region are receiving full-time education;(2) how many children ascertained as mentally handicapped in the Strathclyde

I am asking the regional council to let my hon. Friend have the available information.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table of the number of families with one, two, three, four, five, six to 10, and 11 or more children in them for each regional health authority area at the latest date for which figures are available and for the previous 10 years if available.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost to the National Insurance Fund if employer contributions were abolished in respect of (a) employees aged 65 years and over or (b) employees aged 70 years and over.

No detailed statistics are yet available of the effect of the wholly earnings-related contribution introduced in April 1975, but it is thought that the cost to the National Insurance Fund, including the Consolidated Fund supplement, if employer contributions were abolished from April 1977 for those aged 65 years and over would be of the order of £90 million in a full year of which about £20 million is in respect of workers aged 70 years and over.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women over the age of 60 years claimed refunds of national insurance contributions paid after their sixtieth birthday; and what was the total amount paid back by way of such refunds for the most recent appropriate period for which figures are available.

I regret that the information could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what procedure is followed to ensure that women who continue to work after their sixtieth birthday are informed that they no longer have to pay their national insurance contributions.

It is the Department's practice to attempt to communicate with all women approaching the age of 60 for whom a contribution record is held and to tell them in writing about future contribution liability, as this will not necessarily cease at age 60.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the recipients of the over-80 years pension is cared for in local authority residential homes.

This information is not collected centrally, but at 31st March 1976 there were 41,832 residents in local authority homes aged 75–84 years and 36,367 aged 85 and over.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the references to the Occupational Pensions Board, which he announced on Monday, to review and report on the need for measures to improve security for occupational pension rights and expectations, will extend to occupational pension schemes in the public sector.

The terms of the reference impose no restriction on the Occupational Pension Board's freedom to consider practice in public sector or any other occupational pension schemes. It is, however, for the Board to decide the extent of its review of this question within those terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children under the age of 12 years are currently in long-stay hospitals in each health district in England and Wales; and how many of these are not mentally handicapped.

I regret that figures are not available for health districts, nor in the precise form requested. In 1972, the latest year for which figures are available, there were an estimated 11,820 spells of in-patient treatment of children under 15 years of age in non-psychiatric hospitals in England and Wales classified as "long-stay" or "mainly long-stay". There were 7,030 boys with a mean duration of stay of 10·5 days and 4,790 girls with a mean stay of 8·6 days.It is not the practice to designate particular psychiatric hospitals as "long-stay" hospitals.Although precise figures are not available, it is estimated that at the end of 1974 there were about 3,000 children under the age of 12 years in psychiatric hospitals and units in England and Wales, of which about 2,200 had been resident for more than one year. Virtually all of these longer-stay child patients were mentally handicapped.The estimated numbers in each health region are as in the following table.

		All lengths of stay	Lengths of stay 1 year and over
Northern	…	209	130
Yorkshire	…	180	125
Trent	…	257	172
East Anglia	…	59	38
North-West Thames	…	236	175
North-East Thames	…	135	102
South-East Thames	…	168	116
South-West Thames	…	320	238
Wessex	…	181	143
Oxford	…	227	156
South-Western	…	216	164
West Midlands	…	341	259
Mersey	…	228	162
North-Western	…	169	109
Wales	…	112	78

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are his plans for pregnant women in hospital in the event of imminent threat of nuclear war;(2) what are his plans for sick children in hospital at the time of expectation of nuclear war.

Advice has recently been promulgated to health authorities about the planning they should undertake for the organisation of health services in time of war. In order to release the maximum number of beds possible for the care of casualties after attack authorities would be expected to discharge as many patients as possible, including maternity cases and children, to their homes. Decisions about individual discharges would be made in the light of clinical conditions, home circumstances, alternative sources of care, and as far as possible, individual wishes. As a general guide it is suggested that the criteria for selecting patients for discharge should be related to those that would have to be adopted, following an attack with many casualties, for the admission of patients for hospital treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how he expects the Bullock Report on Industrial Democracy to be implemented in the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

The terms of reference of the Bullock Committee were confined to companies. The implementation of industrial democracy in the public services is currently under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what part of the country he expects to be covered by radioactive dust in the event of a nuclear strike on Great Britain; and if he plans immediate rescue work.

The pattern and intensity of fallout will depend entirely on the nature and scale of nuclear attack and on weather conditions at the time. The best protection from fallout would be gained by staying under cover. Early attempts at rescue work before radioactivity had decayed would pose a serious danger to the operational services and to those they might seek to help.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the implementation of EEC medical directives.

I cannot at this stage add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Pavitt) on 14th December.—Vol. 922, c. 636.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the mean waiting time for hospital abortions in the Peterborough health district in 1971 and 1974.

No separate statistics are available in the Peterborough health district on waiting time for hospital abortions in 1971 and 1974. Normal practice was, however, for appointments to be sent out by return of post and for patients to be seen within two weeks. The normal waiting time for operations for termination of pregnancy was two weeks, but more urgent cases were admitted to hospital immediately.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give the estimate of the Joint Committee on Immunisation and Vaccination of the approximate number of cases of whooping cough, from which one case of brain damage is likely to arise; and if he will publish the evidence for the estimate;(2) if, pursuant to his statement in the House on 8th February, he will state whether the four cases of brain damage which the Joint Committee on Immunisation and Vaccination estimates arise each year from whooping cough, are cases of temporary or permanent brain damage;(3) if he requested the Joint Committee on Immunisation and Vaccination to follow up the reported adverse reactions to the whooping-cough vaccine; whether they did so at his request or independently; what action was taken in this follow-up; and if he will make a statement on the results of such further investigations;(4) if he will publish in the

The information requested by my hon. Friend is being assembled and I will circulate it in the Official Report as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services pursuant to his reply of 17th January, whether the view of his joint committee that whooping-cough disease carries a greater risk of encephalopathy than that arising from the vaccine is based solely on its estimated figure of 50 cases in the period 1964 to 1975 arising from the disease and the 20 vaccine induced cases reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines or whether they have additional evidence; and, if so, if he will ask the joint committee to publish it.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th February 1977; Vol. 926, c. 307–10], gave the following information:The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advises me and my right hon. Friends the Health Ministers, and does not normally publish its advice or the evidence on which it is based. However, my Chief Medical Officer intends, in consultation with the joint committee, to write to doctors next month about whooping-cough vaccination, and will include more details of the statistical basis of the committee's recommendations. I will send my hon. Friend a copy in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services pursuant to his reply of 25th January 1977, whether it is the case that publication of reports of research or investigation requested by the joint committee is always left to the discretion of those carrying out the research; and whether he is satisfied with this arrangement.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th February 1977; Vol. 926, c. 307–10], gave the following information:Publication of the results of research funded by my Department is not left to the sole discretion of those carrying out the research. They are, subject to commercial confidentiality as necessary, entitled to publish their own results and are, as I said in my earlier reply—[Vol. 925, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what ways it is expected that the new whooping-cough vaccine now being developed at Porton Down will differ from the one currently being used; when it will be ready for trials; how many children it is anticipated will be required to take part in the trials; and if he will make a statement.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th February 1977; Vol. 926, c. 307–10], gave the following information:The principal difference between the new whooping-cough vaccine being worked on at Porton Down and the one in current use is that the new vaccine would be based on the immunity producing parts of the organism rather than the organism as a whole. It is hoped that by using these components and by adjusting the conditions of cultivation of the organism it will be possible to produce a vaccine with less risk of side effects and giving a higher degree of protection against the disease. It is not possible to forecast when the research and development phase will be successfully completed and until it is, I cannot anticipate the details of trials which would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if there is any overtime work being done on the westbound sections of the M4 between junctions 17 and 18;(2) how long he expects the repairing of the M4 between junctions 17 and 18 on the westbound carriageway to take;(3) what is the cause of roadworks repairs presently being undertaken on the M4 between junctions 17 and 18 on the westbound carriageway.

No overtime has been worked so far. Work on the westbound carriageway is programmed to be completed by 4th March 1977. This will be followed by repairs to the eastbound carriageway which should be completed by 31st March 1977. The roadworks on M4 between junctions 17 and 18 were necessary because of sudden deterioration following the recent heavy rain.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how be expects the Bullock Report on Industrial Democracy to be implemented in the transport industries; and if he will make a statement.

It is much too soon to say.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in view of his decision to abandon the Sheffield-Manchester motorway, he will now announce the abandonment of the Pudsey-Dishforth motorway in order to end the current anxiety.

There are no plans for abandoning the Kirkhamgate-Dishforth scheme. My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to make an announcement on the next stage of the scheme during the first half of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether the British Transport Police have recruited up to their authorised establishment;

Staffing matters such as these are for the Railways Board, which controls and administers the British Transport Police.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make available to hon. Members a copy of the last report of the Chief Constable of the British Transport Police.

I understand that a copy of this report is already supplied annually to the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport in view of the increasing pilferage and vandalism taking place on British Railways property, what additional steps are being taken by the British Transport Police to protect British Railways property.

I am sure that the British Transport Police pursue vigorously the fight against pilferage and vandalism on the railway, but the particular measures taken are a matter for the British Railways Board, and I doubt whether it would be in the public interest for me to seek and publish details of them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what he anticipates will be the effect of the Government of the Republic of Ireland's declaration of an exclusive fisheries zone in the Irish Sea;(2) whether he will give consideration to the banning of beam trawling in the United Kingdom waters in the Irish Sea.

The Government of the Republic of Ireland have not declared an exclusive fisheries zone. Regulations have been issued which would prohibit fishing by vessels in excess of 33 metres registered length and 1,100 brake-horse power within a zone inside the Irish fishery limits. Discussions on these measures are continuing within the Community, although most United Kingdom vessels operating within the waters concerned are believed to be within the size and power limits proposed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, before agreeing to any steps being taken to increase the levies that the Eggs Authority may charge poultry producers, he will ask the authority to submit a report to him on the value and cost of its generic advertising.

In determining the rate of levy for the year 1977–78 the views of the authority and of the representatives of appropriate bodies about all the functions of the Authority including advertising will be taken into account.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the amount paid by egg producers under the Eggs Authority levy, and how this is expressed in terms of 1,000 chicks each; what is his assessment of the value that this brings to the British egg producers; and if he will make a statement on any proposals to reduce the levy to egg producers.

The latest estimate of the amount producers will pay in 1976–77 is £1·6 million; this is based on the current levy of £35 per 1,000 chicks. The authority was set up in 1971 with certain functions; in order to enable it to continue to carry out these functions a levy on producers is necessary. The amount of the levy required is determined each year after consultation with representatives of interested bodies. The levy applicable for the year 1977–78 is currently being considered and a decision will be made shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the current average retail price per stone of first early seed potatoes; and how it compares with each of the five previous years;(2) if he is satisfied with the increase in the price of seed potatoes; and if he will make a statement;

Seed potato prices traditionally command a premium over ware potato prices, which have been high this season due to the shortfall in ware production. Most farmers have already secured their seed supplies for next season, though I am aware that many gardeners buy at this time of year. This trade is small in relation to total seed potato usage and my Department does not collect retail prices of seed potatoes. There is no statutory minimum size for certified seed potatoes grown in Great Britain. For certified seed potatoes grown in Northern Ireland the prescribed minimum size is 35mm for the whole of this season, but this can be varied in particular cases subject to agreement by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the coverage of the concept mentioned in Clause 10 of the Coal Industry Bill "minerals other than coal or petroleum"; and whether it is intended by him to include hardstone, aggregates and so forth used by the building industry and in the construction of roads in the United Kingdom.

Clause 10 of the Bill would give the National Coal Board the power to mine any mineral, other than coal or petroleum, discovered in the course of working and getting or searching or boring for coal. Consequently, it would cover materials of use to the construction industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what consideration he is giving to the implications of devolution on the structure of the electricity supply industry in England and Wales and in particular on the recommendations of the committee of inquiry under the chairmanship of Lord Plowden.

My right hon. Friend will of course have full regard to the implica- tions of devolution in any reorganisation of the electricity supply industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for grants from public funds from Gaelic Athletic Association clubs are still being considered; and what amounts of money are involved.

33 clubs have made applications which, if approved, could involve grants at 33⅓ per cent. amounting to £380,000, but it is impossible to say how many of the projects will be approved and could be fitted into the capital programme. The maximum grant available to any individual voluntary sports club in any five-year period is £30,000. From experience it is known that many initial proposals fail to mature into definite projects and others are considerably reduced in scope due to the difficulties clubs have in raising their share of the expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, having regard to the grants of public funds made to the Gaelic Athletic Association, he will state full particulars of its restrictions upon membership; and whether he will give similar information about other bodies receiving grants from public funds.

I presume the hon. Member is referring to grants under the Recreation and Youth Service (Northern Ireland) Order 1973. The Gaelic Athletic Association restricts membership to those who

"subscribe to, and undertake to further, the aims and objects"

of the Association, and specifically excludes

"British soldiers, navy men and police".

No other voluntary sports clubs grant aided under the Recreation and Youth Service (Northern Ireland) Order 1973 restrict membership in this way, the commonest form of restriction resulting from clubs' being related to a particular school, where membership is restricted to former pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reply he has sent to the complaint of the Church of Ireland clergy of the Rural Deaneries of Kilrea and Maghera expressed at a special meeting with their Bishop, the Right Rev. Dr. Robert Eames, in Londonderry on 1st February 1977 that the present local structure under which the security forces operated was inadequate to assure the law abiding that everything possible was being done to protect their lives and property; and, secondly, to the request made by the Bishop of Down and Dromore, Dr. George Quin, that a stronger line be taken against the Provisional IRA.

No communication from either of these sources has been received by the Northern Ireland Office. I have noted the statements referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of those who escaped from Her Majesty's Prison, Magilligan, in March 1975 have been recaptured; what additional sentences were imposed; how many are still at large; and whether the latter include Mr. Daniel Joseph Keenan whom the Letterkeny District Court directed to be handed over to the Royal Ulster Constabulary in an extradition order subsequently revoked on appeal.

One young prisoner who escaped from Her Majesty's Prison Magilligan in March 1975 was recaptured on the same day and dealt with under the internal prison disciplinary procedure. Mr. Daniel Joseph Keenan was the only other prisoner to escape from the prison during March 1975, and he is still unlawfully at large.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if, in view of his decision to reverse his predecessor's ruling that a proportion of costs incurred by bakers were classified as allowable costs under the Price Code, he will set out his reasons for so doing and the terms upon which he expects the present discount scheme to operate within the code.

Neither my right hon. Friend nor his predecessor has made any ruling under the Price Code. The interpretation of the code and its application are the responsibility of the Price Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the amount of loss to date on operating the Concorde aircraft.

It is not British Airways policy to publish the results of individual parts of their operations in advance of the annual report and accounts. Last year's report showed that for the first three months of Concorde services there was a loss of £2·3 million after charging a full share of allocated overheads, amortisation of £0·9 million and non-recurring launch costs of £1 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what restrictions he proposes to make on the number of Concorde flights at Heathrow.

The number of Concorde flights anticipated at Heathrow will not add noticeably to the overall noise disturbance. Accordingly, I do not propose making any restrictions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, pursuant to his remarks on 10th May 1976; what consideration he has given to the report by Dr. Norman S. Yeowart, PhD., of the University of Salford which stated that there could well be a significant hazard to the hearing of people living near Heathrow Airport from the noise of five or more departure overflights of Concorde per day; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Yeowart's report, which deals with a very complicated subject, is being considered carefully by my scientific and medical advisers, so I am unable yet to make a definitive statement. I can, however, say that the preliminary advice is that the conclusions drawn from his report, that the projected level of Concorde movements at Heathrow will damage hearing, cannot be substantiated.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress has been made by his officials with the Indian civil aviation authorities and Government to obtain overflying rights for Concorde.

None; I am considering when to reopen discussions with India.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he is satisfied that all Danish fishing vessels operating in United Kingdom waters comply with the safety standards laid down by his Department for United Kingdom vessels;(2) if he is satisfied that all Irish fishing vessels operating in United Kingdom waters comply with the safety standards laid down by his Department for United Kingdom vessels;(3) if he is satisfied that all Belgian fishing vessels operating in United Kingdom waters comply with the safety standards laid down by his Department for United Kingdom vessels;(4) if he is satisfied that all Dutch fishing vessels operating in United King- dom waters comply with the safety standards laid down by his Department for United Kingdom vessels;(5) if he is satisfied that all French fishing vessels operating in United Kingdom waters comply with the safety standards laid down by his Department for United Kingdom vessels;(6) if he is satisfied that all West German fishing vessels operating in United Kingdom waters comply with the safety standards laid down by his Department for United Kingdom vessels.

In the absence of internationally accepted safety standards for fishing vessels I have no means whereby to establish whether Danish, Irish, West German, French, Dutch or Belgian fishing vessels operating in United Kingdom waters comply with the safety standards laid down for United Kingdom vessels. The establishment of international safety standards for new vessels of 24 metres in length and over is the object of a conference which, under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO), is to be held in Torremolinos from 7th March-2nd April 1977. I cannot anticipate what form of convention may emerge from this conference, nor when it may come into force.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement about his meeting with the Chairman and Secretary General of the International Air Transport Association concerning the proposal by Her Majesty's Government to recover the costs of aviation security provided at international airports within the United Kingdom by charging airline passengers for this service.

I met Mr. Hammarskjold, the Secretary General of IATA, and Mr. Floyd Hall, the Chairman of its Executive Committee, on 18th February. I explained that, as part of their proposals to reduce public expenditure the Government had decided in principle that the cost of aviation security should be transferred from the taxpayer to the industry from 1st April 1978, and consultations are in progress on how to implement this decision. IATA raised a number of economic and legal objections to this proposal, and asked that the decision should be reconsidered. I pointed out that several other countries, such as USA, Australia and Canada, already made charges for aviation security. I drew attention to the Government's powers under the Protection of Aircraft Act 1973 to enforce security standards, and emphasised that there would be no reduction of these standards. I explained that my right hon. Friend and I had carefully considered the arguments which IATA and other representatives of the industry had put forward but had concluded that the Government should not alter their decision, for which legislation may be required.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will publish in the Official Report a list of those banks exempted from the provisions of the Protection of Depositors Act 1963; and if he will confirm that those in the list are known as Section 127 banks;(2) if he will publish in the

These banks are listed in Appendix A to the Department's Annual Report on Companies. Copies of "Companies in 1975", published in August 1976, are available in the Library. I confirm that banking or discount companies exempted from the Protection of Depositors Act 1963, as amended, are commonly known as "Section 127 banks" and that those treated as banking or discount companies for the purposes of the Eighth Schedule to the Companies Act 1948, as amended, are known as "Schedule 8 banks".

						Number of workers involved in stoppages beginning in year
						Direct	Indirect (as defined above)	Working days lost in all stoppages in progress in year
1974	…	…	…	…	…	1,161,000	461,000	14,750,000
1975	…	…	…	…	…	570,000	219,000	6,012,000
1976*	…	…	…	…	…	437,000	221,000	3,286,000
* Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what response has been made to the Iranian Government's suggestion that oil counter-purchase should be used as a means of financing major civil projects in Iran by United Kingdom companies.

Her Majesty's Government have informed the Iranian Government that they have no objection in principle to the use of oil counter-purchase as a means of financing certain priority Iranian civil projects provided that the arrangements enable contracts to be negotiated on a satisfactory commercial basis by the United Kingdom firms concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will collect and publish statistics of the days lost through strike action in 1974, 1975 and 1976 distinguishing the days lost directly and indirectly as a result of such action for the years 1974, 1975 and 1976, respectively.

The official statistics of stoppages of work due to industrial disputes provide separate figures for the number of workers (1) directly involved in the disputes; and (2) indirectly involved—that is, those not themselves parties to the disputes, but laid off at establishments where the disputes occur. Separate information for these two categories is not compiled in respect of working days lost because of the large amount of work that would be involved.The figures for 1974, 1975 and 1976 are shown in the table below:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration he has given to producing regional retail price indices to reflect more accurately changes in the level of prices of the commodities and services purchased by all types of households in each of the standard planning regions of the United Kingdom.

The matter has been carefully considered. We have no present plans to produce separate regional indices.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action is being taken to prevent a recurrence of the incident at London and Coastal Oil Wharves on 3rd January, when 50,000 gallons of petrol were spilt through negligence and the fire authority was not alerted until hours after the incident; whether he is satisfied that this installation which lies close to other industrial fire hazards and the homes of 32,000 people is properly conducted; and whether he is satisfied that the present level of fines for offences of this kind is adequate.

The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that a thorough investigation of the incident was carried out by inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive and fire officers of Essex County Council which is the licensing authority under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928. After consideration of the circumstances of the incident, legal proceedings were taken by the county council against the firm on 16th February 1977 at Southend-on-Sea Magistrates' Court. A fine of £700 was imposed for two breaches of the conditions of the petroleum spirit licence. Offences against the provisions of the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928 are subject to the penalties of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and, in this case, the fines were very close to the maximum allowable, which is £400 for each offence.I am assured that the procedures for the discharge of tankers at the site have been tightened up as a result of the incident. Inspectors of the HSE and the fire authority are to meet the firm to advise on additional safeguards for ensuring the integrity of the plant.The storage of flammable liquids on this site is also being considered in the context of the Canvey Island/Thurrock investigation which is at present being carried out by the Health and Safety Executive.The firm is required to comply with both the conditions of the petroleum spirit licence issued by the county council and the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which bodies and individuals other than trade unions are permitted to approach the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

Any organisation or individual may seek assistance or advice from ACAS.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report current regional percentage unemployment figures including London and South-East England.

Following is the provisional information at 10th February:

	per cent.
South-East Region	4·5
Greater London	4·2
East Anglia Region	5·4
South-West Region	7·0
West Midlands Region	5·5
East Midlands Region	4·9
Yorkshire and Humberside Region	5·5
North West Region	7·1
North Region	7·9
Wales	7·8
Scotland	8·3

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the numbers of people resident in Scotland whose normal place of work is in England or Wales and who therefore pay their personal income tax to offices outside Scotland.

There is no information centrally available about taxpayers' places of work, and those who work in England and Wales will not necessarily pay tax there. However, in 1974–75 there were about 250,000 taxpayers—counting husband and wife as one—resident in Scotland who had their tax affairs dealt with by districts outside Scotland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give separately, for England, for Wales and for Scotland, the percentage figure for the rate of Exchequer grant, actual or estimated, on local government relevant expenditure for each of the three years 1975–76, 1976–77 and 1977–78.

The percentages¹ are as follows:

England and Wales
1975–76	…	…	…	66½
1976–77	…	…	…	65½
1977–78	…	…	…	61
Scotland
1975–76	…	…	…	75
1976–77	…	…	…	72½2
1977–78	…	…	…	68½

A single rate support grant settlement is made for England and Wales and separate figures for Wales are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing on the basis of 1970=100 for each month since January 1975 the index of hourly wage rates, average weekly earnings and unit labour costs in manufacturing industry, import and export prices for manufactures, and the wholesale prices for manufactures, less food, &c.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the value of the £, taking 1971 as 100, in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the pound as 100p in 1971 its value in each succeeding year is estimated to be 93p, 85½p, 74p, 59p and 51p, respectively. These estimates are based on changes in the General Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in import prices of food, fuel and basic materials in January 1977 as a percentage of 1974, 1975 and 1976 figures, respectively; and how this compared with the increase in hourly wage rates and average weekly earnings in manufacturing industry.

Increases in import prices to January 1977, hourly wage rates in manufacturing industry to January 1977 and earnings in manufacturing to December 1976 from average 1974, 1975 and 1976 values were:

The indices of hourly wage rates, import and export unit values and wholesale prices are published in Tables 17·5, 14·12 and 17·10 respectively of the Monthly Digest of Statistics for January 1977, and in Tables 170, 143 and 175 of previous issues. The base of the index of hourly wage rates is 31st July 1972=100. Estimates of unit labour costs in manufacturing industry are only available for calendar years, but Table 6·4 of the Monthly Digest gives monthly indices of unit wage and salary costs. The seasonal adjustments to the index of average earnings in manufacturing industries have been revised since publication in Table 17·4 of the January issue, and the revised seasonally adjusted series is as follows:

			Index of average earnings all manufacturing industries (seasonally adjusted) January 1970=100
			1975	1976
January	…	…	203·8	246·2
February	…	…	207·6	248·1
March	…	…	210·9	252·8
April	…	…	213·0	254·5
May	…	…	217·7	259·7
June	…	…	220·1	261·6
July	…	…	227·5	262·2
August	…	…	231·1	265·5
September	…	…	233·2	265·6
October	…	…	236·9	268·4
November	…	…	238·8	269·4
December	…	…	246·1	276·4*
* Provisional.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total value of the output of manufacturing industry less food, &c., in the fourth quarter of 1975; and what was the corresponding figure for inputs of imported fuel and basic materials, respectively.

For 1975 as a whole provisional results from the Census of Production suggest that the gross output of manufacturing industries—less food, drink and tobacco—was £78·3 billion. Purchases of fuel and raw materials amounted to £43·5 billion. Information for particular quarters or on the proportion of these inputs that were imported is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what has been the yield to the revenue of the investment income surcharge levied on age-retired persons in the last two financial years; and what is the estimated yield for the current year;(2) if he will publish in the

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total of public investment in the North-East Region between 1966 and 1970, between 1970 and 1974 and in 1975 and 1976; and what is the estimated total for 1977.

This information is not readily available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a list of those banks authorised to deal in foreign exchange and to exercise certain delegated powers under the Exchange Control Act 1947; and if he will confirm that those on the list are known as authorised banks.

The banks authorised under the Exchange Control Act 1947 to act as authorised dealers in relation to gold and all foreign currencies are set out in orders made by the Treasury. I would refer my hon. Friend to the currently relevant statutory instruments which are: SI 1975/571; 1975/1495; 1976/16; 1976/1275; 1976/2208. The relevant banks are widely known as authorised banks—e.g., in the exchange control notices issued by the Bank of England.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost in terms of loss of revenue to the Exchequer if a band of earned income tax relief were introduced for standard rate taxpayers only which reduced the standard rate of tax by three-sevenths for the first £500 of taxable income.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th February 1977, Vol. 926, c. 216], gave the following information:It would not be practicable to restrict such a relief to those paying tax at the basic rate only. If the relief were given to all taxpayers with earned income, the cost for 1976–77 would be about £1,600 million of which about £1,450 million would be relief to those paying at the basic rate only.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is, to the latest convenient date, the number of applicants who have applied for 714 certificates, the number of applicants who have been granted one, the number who have been refused, and the number of applications still undecided.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th February 1977], gave the following information:At the latest count, on 11th February, 283,761 applications had been received, of which 208,664 had been approved, 24,601 had been refused and about 50,000 were under inquiry. The figure for approvals includes some applicants who appear also in the number of refusals because, having originally been refused, they have subsequently been granted certificates after appealing or taking the necessary steps to qualify.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the number of working families who are below the tax threshold; and how many of these are families with children.

I have been asked to reply.Data from the 1975 Family Expenditure Survey are being analysed in order to make estimates for that year, and I will write to the hon. Member when the calculations are completed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the number of development gains tax cases outstanding and the probable tax yield on those cases.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th February 1977], gave the following information:I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total yield of development gains tax to date.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th February 1977], gave the following answer:I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) on 2nd February 1977.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increases in the staff of the Chief Valuer's Department has been necessary to handle work arising from development land tax at (a) central and (b) local level.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th February 1977], gave the following information:One additional post in the Chief Valuer's Office has been created for central liaison on development land tax; in local offices the work on DLT is integrated with other valuation work but the additional cost is estimated at the equivalent of about 165 full-time staff.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of staff currently involved in the administration of development land tax.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th February 1977], gave the following information:The equivalent of about 330, including staff employed in valuation offices on DLT work.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total cost to date of administering development land tax.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th February 1977], gave the following information:The estimated cost to date is about £950,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the latest administrative costs of development gains tax to date.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th February 1977], gave the following information:The work on development gains tax in local tax offices and valuation offices is integrated with work on other taxes. It is estimated that the administrative costs to date have been in the region of £150–200,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated average value of the domestic water bill in the areas served by each of the water authorities in England and Wales for 1977–78.

Based on the latest figures available to me the information is as follows:

North West	17·00
Northumbrian	19·20
Severn-Trent	17·70
Yorkshire	17·55
Anglian	20·80
Thames	15·15
Southern	17·20
Wessex	22·15
South West	26·65
Welsh National Water Development Authority	26·80

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is yet able to make a statement about representations made to him by the hon. Member for Inverness and others about the urgent need to repair Laggan locks on the Caledonian Canal and so enable the canal to be reopened as soon as possible.

The Government recognise the importance of this canal to both the fishing and tourist industries in Scotland. I am happy to say that we have now been able to make arrangements to enable the British Waterways Board to put work in hand on repairing the Laggan lock immediately, and I hope that this will enable the canal to be reopened to traffic this summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to introduce legislation to continue office development permits beyond 4th August next, in view of the fact that the existing law expires on that date; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, I will make a further statement later.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the light of such action as that of the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive in paying staff £100 per head to move from one office to another a few hundred yards away without involving a change of residence, he will further instruct local authorities on cutting down expenditure.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th February 1977j, gave the following information:No. The Government have made their position abundantly clear on the subject of local authority expenditure. This particular case is one for the hon. Member to pursue with the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and the metropolitan county council, if he so wishes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Enivironment what new measures his Department is taking to reduce the lead content in petrol; and what consideration has been given to encouraging the petroleum industry to use alcohol as an anti-knock agent.

I have been asked to reply.The Motor Fuel (Lead Content of Petrol) Regulations 1976 reduced the maximum permitted lead content of petrol from its previous level of 0·55 grammes per litre to 0·50 grammes per litre. This reduction was effective from the end of November 1976. The regulations also provide for a further reduction of 0·45 grammes per litre by 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions his Department has drawn from the improper destruction of a building circa 1200 at 28–32 Queen Street, King's Lynn; and how this will affect future policy.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th February 1977], gave the following information:Listed building consent for the demolition of 28–32 Queen Street, King's Lynn, was given in October 1976 and there is no evidence of any illegal action. However, I am investigating the particular circumstances in which the demolition was carried out.