asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ban the import and sale of an American cataput known as Falcon II for which no licence is required but is capable of killing at a range of 200 yards.

No. I am not persuaded that legislation is necessary since it is already an offence under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 to have a weapon of this type in a public place without reasonable excuse.

COMMONWEALTH CITIZENS AND FOREIGN NATIONALS ACCEPTED FOR SETTLEMENT EITHER ON ARRIVAL OR ON REMOVAL OF TIME LIMIT—1960–1976
						Commonwealth Citizens	Foreign Nationals	Total Commonwealth Citizens and Foreign Nationals
1960	…	…	…	…	…	—	16,433	16,433
1961	…	…	…	…	…	—	15,689	15,689
1962	…	…	…	…	…	18,814*	15,606	34,420*
1963	…	…	…	…	…	59,806	15,349	75,155
1964	…	…	…	…	…	55,900	19,211	75,111
1965	…	…	…	…	…	57,352	20,615	77,967
1966	…	…	…	…	…	52,318	18,948	71,266
1967	…	…	…	…	…	64,968	18,346	83,314
1968	…	…	…	…	…	64,318	20,093	84,474
1969	…	…	…	…	…	48,084	21,862	69,946
1970	…	…	…	…	…	42,390	20,917	63,307
1971	…	…	…	…	…	48,838	23,467	72,305
1972	…	…	…	…	…	72,508	19,681	92,189
1973	…	…	…	…	…	34,044†	21,118†	55,162
1974	…	…	…	…	…	42,078	26,800	68,878
1975	…	…	…	…	…	50,928	31,477	82,405
1976‡	…	…	…	…	…	49,300‡	31,500‡	80,700‡
* Figures for Commonwealth citizens cover the period July—December 1962.
† Citizens of Pakistan are included under "Commonwealth Citizens" until 31st August 1973 and under "Foreign Nationals" from 1st September 1973.
‡ Provisional.

The table shows that between January 1963 and December 1976 some 1,052,000 Commonwealth citizens and foreign nationals were accepted for settlement—an average of about 75,000 per year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to public funds of the Community Development Project's report entitled "Gilding the Ghetto" how many copies were printed how many have been sold to date; and what income has been received from sales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of immigrants accepted for permanent settlement into the United Kingdom in each year since 1952, the total so far since that date, and the average number for each year.

The table below gives the available information in respect of people subject to immigration control. Commonwealth citizens first became subject to control on 1st July 1962. Figures for foreign nationals accepted for settlement before 1960 are not readily available.

The cost of printing and production is estimated at £3,000. 5,000 copies were printed. It is estimated that approximately 1,554 copies have been sold up to 7th March, including 1,250 copies sold for redistribution to retail outlets. Net receipts from these sales are expected to be £528·40p.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many more pamphlets are to be published at public expense by the Community Development Project in 1977.

It is not possible at this stage to say how many reports will be published by local Community Development Project teams during 1977. I understand that the CDP Inter-Project Editorial Team intends to publish its last report later this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what public funds are to be made available to the Community Development Project in the year 1977–78.

Expenditure on the remaining Community Development Projects in England and Wales in 1977–78, excluding expenditure on social action projects and central support activity, is estimated at about £219,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many letters the Television Licence Records Office has received from people in Wales, by county, if available, about (a) the use of the Welsh language, (b) the lack of the use of the Welsh language, and (c) the format of bilingual forms used by that Office;(2) approximately how many people in Wales receive bilingual forms from the Television Licence Records Office in any one year;(3) how many forms issued by the Television Licence Records Office in Bristol are (

In 1976 the National Television Licence Records Office (NTVLRO) received some 400 letters from people in Wales about the use of the Welsh language in forms, none about its lack of use, and one about the format of bilingual forms. Records are not kept of the county of origin of such letters. All households in Wales are sent bilingual forms by the NTVLRO and over 1 million people in Wales were sent them in 1976. There are seven such forms, all of which are in both a bilingual and an English-only style. Their titles and serial numbers are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he has completed his consultations on the Price Commission's report on spectacles; and if he will make a statement.

In its report on the supply of private spectacles the Price Commission suggested that what was wanted was more competition, less reticence about prices and a more rational and more open system of pricing. To this end it made a number of recommendations, on which there have been intensive consultations with the organisations which represent optical practitioners.In these consultations the spokesmen for opticians have stressed that theirs is a Para-medical profession characterised by high standards of training and demanding profesional examinations, and one regulated by ethical standards upheld by the General Optical Council, which was established under the Opticians Act of 1958 and is empowered to make and enforce rules which opticians must respect as the condition of continuing ability to practise. These rules include restrictions on advertising. Opticians consider that continuity of eye-care is clinically important and, while they wish patients to have a free choice of practitioner, they do not consider it to be consistent with the standards of the profession or the interest of its patients for opticians to compete with each other for custom.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will give the number of occasions when he has requested the Director of Public Prosecutions to advise him whether he should or should not prosecute.

I have asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to advise me in relation to a prosecution on at least five occasions this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report a summary of beef and veal production in the United Kingdom by amount and value together with summaries of export and import to and from the EEC and third countries, respectively.

						Imports		Exports
						Quantity	Value	Quantity	Value
						('000 tonnes)	(£ million)	('000 tonnes)	(£ million)
EEC	…	…	…	…	…	176	151	91	101
Third countries		…	…	…	…	49	43	3	4
Total		…	…	…	…	225	194	94	105

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in the light of the recommendation in the 1977 "Good Food Guide" that there should be a State run restaurant, he will give a commitment not to implement such a suggestion.

The "Good Food Guide" in fact suggested the establishment of a British Food Centre, which would not necessarily entail State participation. We have no proposals at present to pursue such a suggestion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food how much of the intervention butter sold in accordance with EEC Regulation 1717/72 has been sold to non-profit-making organisations in Northern Ireland; and if he will list the organisations which purchased this butter, and the price paid per pound.

About 73 tonnes of intervention butter has been sold to butter packers acting as agents for non-profit making organisations in Northern Ireland. The price ex-store has varied from

The latest available information about home production of beef and veal in the United Kingdom relates to the period February 1976 to January 1977, adjusted to 52 weeks. Total production over this period was 1·036 million tonnes. The most recent information about the value of home production is that published in the White Paper "Annual Review of Agriculture 1977" (Cmnd. 6703) and relates to the year June 1975 to May 1976, with a forecast for the following year.Details of United Kingdom imports and exports of carcase beef and veal over the period February 1976 to January 1977 are shown in the table below.7·34p per lb., on accession, to the current price of 22·43p. The price paid to packers will have reflected costs and margins offset by the consumer subsidy on butter where applicable.The following organisations in Northern Ireland have been registered under this scheme:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why his Department is refusing to confirm a draft byelaw submitted by the North West Water Authority, in conformity with Section 28(6) and Schedule 3, Part II, to the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, requiring commercial salmon fishermen to paint the net licence number on the boat in which it is used; and how many officials of his Department have so far been involved in this matter.

My Department has pointed out to the water authority that the byelaw in question may be ultra vires because of a conflict with the Merchant Shipping (Fishing Boats Registry) Order 1927; clarification of the legal position is being sought. The answer to the second part of the Question is "Three".

asked the Minister for the Civil Service why copies of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976, which received the Royal Assent on 22nd November 1976 and became operative on 22nd December 1976, were not available to the clerks of magistrates' courts until 13th January 1977; and if he will seek to ensure that in future Acts of Parliament affecting the courts do not become operative until copies of the Acts have been made available.

There was an unfortunate delay in distribution of promulgation copies of this Act to clerks of magistrates' courts and others entitled to them. Steps have been taken to avoid a recurrence. Departments normally try to ensure that wherever possible Acts do not come into force until one month after Royal Assent and this usually allows sufficient time for printing and distribution.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report a table giving the number of cases referred to industrial tribunals in each year since 1965, and for the first two months of 1977.

The number of cases registered by industrial tribunals is as follows:

1965–66	10,759
1967	12,456
1968	10,673
1969	10,679
1970	11,336
1971	9,514
1972	14,827
1973	14,517
1974	16,448
1975	35,897
1976	47,673
1977 (to 25 February)	6,768

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications have been made under the job release scheme in Wales at the latest date for which figures are available; how many of these were from the unemployment register; and what has been the estimated additional cost of this scheme under each category to date.

A breakdown of applications made in Wales is not available, but the number of applications approved in Wales on 8th March was 783; of these 628 were from the unemployed register. The total cost of allowances would be 936,000 in Wales, assuming a full year's payment in each case.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the number of persons being supported by the work experience programme in Wales at the most recent available date, together with the total number of young persons who have to date benefited under this scheme; and what is the total expenditure on this scheme in Wales to date.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, by 5th March, 6,545 young people were known to have started on work experience schemes, including 685 in Wales. Expenditure on maintenance allowance for young people participating in schemes in Wales is estimated at £285,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in Wales have been placed on industrial courses and occupational selection courses under the training opportunities scheme to date; and what has been the expenditure on these courses in Wales.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, from the beginning of 1976 to 7th March 1977, 1,395 young people have completed short industrial courses, and 125 have completed occupational selection courses, in Wales. A further 366 young people in Wales are at present in training on such courses. It has cost same £1·35 million to provide training on these courses during this period.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of civil servants employed to look after the agricultural section of the Health and Safety Regulations for 1976; and what is the projected number for 1977.

On 1st October 1976 there were 12 inspectorial and administration staff employed full-time on health and safety policy work in agriculture in Great Britain. 113 inspectorial and administration staff were employed fulltime and 296 field officers were employed for about 30 per cent. of their time on health and safety work in agriculture in England and Wales. In Scotland there were 17 agricultural inspectors, who were also responsible for undertaking wages inspection work.On 1st October 1977 it is projected that there will be a total of 231 staff employed full-time on agricultural health and safety duties in Great Britain.Support staff for the field inspectorate—clerks, typists and messengers—have been excluded in both cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the civil servants in his Department he estimates will retire within the next 12 months.

I estimate that about 1·5 per cent. of civil servants in the Department of Employment Group will retire in the 12-months period commencing 1st April 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement of his policy towards the proposals submitted by the European Commission to the Council of Ministers resulting from their review of the Social Fund.

The Commission of the European Communities has not yet made to the Council of Ministers proposals relating to the review of the European Social Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of registered unemployed persons in the Basingstoke area at the latest available date and on the corresponding date on each of the last three years.

Following is the information:

Numbers registered as unemployed in the Basingstoke Employment Office area
February 1974	522
February 1975	657
February 1976	1,319
February 1977	1,877

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications have been made by private persons to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consent to private prosecutions under the Health and Safety at Work Act and how many such requests have been granted in each six month period since the Act came into force.

I have been asked to reply.The answer to my hon. and learned Friend's Question is "None".

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement concerning the dispute at Hopkinsons, Birkby, Huddersfield, in view of the fact that the dispute has been going on for some considerable time; and if he will indicate the efforts which have been made by his officials, both at regional and national level, to help resolve the problem.

I greatly regret that this protracted dispute has not yet been resolved. I understand that the main issue at stake is the demand of the AUEW (TASS) that all its members who have been dismissed by the company should be reinstated. The independent Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has held several meetings with the parties to the dispute and continues to keep in close touch with the situation. I am confident that ACAS will not let slip any opportunity for making progress towards resolving the dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was given in rate support grant to local authorities in England and Wales, respectively, in 1975–76.

The total amount of rate support grant paid to local authorities in England for 1975–76 was £5,357·4 million. The corresponding amount for Wales was £427·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is intending to use the power available to him in Section 62(3) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974 to authorise local authorities to charge fees in connection with the performance of their prescribed functions relating to the Building Regulations.

I have asked officials to consult with representatives of local authorities and others concerned about the practicability of charging fees for applications under the Building Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the functions of the Construction Industry Manpower Board; who are its members; what fees and salaries are paid to them; and what is the overall cost of the board to public funds.

The terms of reference of the board are:

"To advise the Secretary of State for the Environment on:

(a) the extent and effect of sub-contracting by the self-employed in the construction industry in the light of Government measures to tackle the abuses of the lump and of developments in the industry generally, and on

(b) the desirability of statutory or other measures to increase the stability of employment in the construction industry and, in particular, the desirability of establishing a statutory authority to implement measures for that purpose which could also include a register of employers and employees".

The members of the board are:Sir William Harris—ChairmanMr. F. J. ChappleMr. R. CowanMr. G. HendersonMr. P. F. JerrardMr. K. McAlpineMr. G. F. SmithThe chairman receives a fee of £25 per day. No other fees or salaries are paid. Since the board was established in February 1976, fees and expenses have totalled £200.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Construction Industry Manpower Board to introduce a register of employers and employees in the building industry.

The board's function is advisory. It is not possible to say when the board will report on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the reductions in rateable value arising from Section 45 of the General Rate Act 1967 and applying to 14,242 dwellings on 1st January 1977 were in respect of (a) disabled persons' garages, including sheds for invalid tricycles or wheelchairs and (b) hereditaments with other facilities for disabled people; and how many applications for such reductions in rateable value are in abeyance for garages, including sheds, and other facilities for disabled persons following any uncertainties which may have arisen as a result of the reversal by the House of Lords of the decision of the Court of Appeal in Vandyk v. Oliver.

I regret that the information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many interest-free loans for car purchase are currently being repaid by members of the Diplomatic Service; and what is the total present value of the outstanding part of all such loans.

On 28th February 1977 864 loans for car purchase were in the process of repayment. The total value of loans outstanding on the same date was £566,627·67.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he proposes to offer a grant-in-aid to the British Youth Council for 1977–78.

Her Majesty's Government propose to offer a grant-in-aid to the British Youth Council for 1977–78 of up to £15,000, mainly towards the Council's administrative expenditure and towards membership dues to the Council of European National Youth Committees. Parliamentary approval will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate in due course. In the meantime an advance will, if necessary, be sought from the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the effect on British firms operating in South Africa of the banning of trade unionists by the South African Government.

These bannings have made the task of British firms in promoting good industrial relations practice in South Africa more difficult. Her Majesty's Government share the grave concern shown by public opinion in this country on this matter. These banning orders have been imposed on persons who have been working to secure for black and other non-white South African workers their rights which should be normal in a civilised society. These orders run counter to our most fundamental concepts of human freedom. We hope that the South African authorities will reconsider their actions and come to accept that trade unions, including black trade unions, have a proper and necessary rôle to play in building a society in which all South Africans can live and work together in peace, freedom and equality.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list in the Official Report the total number of employees in each of the Scottish shipyards in 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and at present, giving a breakdown into management, skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled jobs.

It is not possible to give figures in the detail requested. The Census of Employment results for Scotland show the following, for Order X of the Standard Industrial Classification:—

Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering
	Total	Males
	(000's)	(000's)
1975	42·9	40·3

asked the Secretary of State for Industry why earlier action was not taken to counteract the effect of Post Office cut-backs on the telecommunications industry in the light of warnings given by the hon. Member for Beeston and supported by the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Whitlock) on 4th November 1975, which specifically dealt with reduction of staff by Plessey and advocated constructive remedial measures which the Government are only now considering.

On the points made by the hon. Member, the Post Office have stepped up their marketing budget greatly in recent years, and have for some time given their Regional Directors discretion to introduce temporary local reductions in the connection charge for a new telephone. They are pressing ahead, in co-operation with the main manufacturers of telecommunications equipment, with the development of System X. And the proportion of Post Office equipment orders placed overseas remains extremely small. If the hon. Member is concerned about any particular aspects of his original proposals I shall be pleased to hear from him.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will ensure that in future the annual Estimates of expenditure to be undertaken in Wales under Welsh Office responsibility are debated in the Welsh Grand Committee before they are finally adopted.

I shall arrange for this matter to be considered through the usual channels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement concerning Her Majesty's Government's policy for the proposed common fund.

At a negotiating conference on a common fund, which began in Geneva on 7th March, the following statement was made by the head of the United Kingdom delegation on behalf of the European Economic Council as a whole:

"The Community is attending the conference in order to participate fully and constructively in negotiations on a common fund as a means of financing commodity price stabilisation measures. These negotiations will give an answer to the question whether or not agreements can be reached on the establishment of a common fund of whatever kind. We do this on the basis of the broad, stated aim of the 'overall approach and integrated programme' set out in Resolution 93(iv), which is 'to improve market structures in international trade' and 'to achieve stable conditions in commodity trade, including avoidance of excessive price fluctuations'. In assessing the results of the negotiations the Community will of course place great weight on how wide a measure of agreement can be reached amongst developed and developing countries on a common fund, on its functions in relation to individual commodity agreements, and on the impact it might have on the good functioning of the world economic system. On the basis of its commitment to participate constructively in the negotiations, the Community hopes that detailed discussions will be started promptly on the various aspects of a fund. The Community hopes that these negotiations on a common fund will be productive."

This statement, which reflects an agreement reached at the Council of Ministers of the Community on 8th March, represents the position of Her Majesty's Government as well as that of the other member Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the long-term strategy to reduce night noise disturbance around Heathrow and Gatwick.

For several years my Department has restricted night jet operations at Heathrow and Gatwick. The number of permitted night flights has been settled annually for each coming season, and the restrictions gradually tightened in accordance with the Government's policy of progressively reducing night noise disturbance around the two airports.It is my intention to replace this process of annual decision making with a long-term strategy for the reduction of night noise disturbance, thus giving local people some assurance about the future, and providing the industry with a basis for planning and shaping its operations. I am sending out today a consultative document seeking the views of all concerned in order to help me reach a decision on the strategy to be adopted. A copy of this has been placed in the House of Commons Library.This document reviews the present state of knowledge on the relationship between noise and sleep disturbance in order to identify typical thresholds of disturbance; it then compares these thresholds with the performance of aircraft currently in service at Heathrow and Gatwick. The evidence appears to show that a substantial reduction in night noise disturbance can basically only be achieved either by continued reductions in the number of permitted night flights leading to closure or by gradually phasing out night flights by the noisier aircraft, but allowing the quieter ones to continue. Views are also sought on the hours of restriction, the possibility of relating airport charges at night to noise disturbance and on the introduction of a system of night runway alternation at Heathrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he intends to make representations to the French Government about the boom effect of French Concorde when passing down the English Channel at supersonic speed.

Discussions have already taken place with the French on this subject and we are co-operating with them on the measurement of the booms.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the criteria for judging whether emergency restraints should be introduced to restrict the import of any category of textile goods.

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind action under Article 3(6) of the GATT Multi-Fibre Arrangement. This permits emergency action in cases where imports are causing serious market disruption which, were the normal procedures for the imposition of restrictions under the arrangement observed, would give rise to damage difficult to repair. The criteria relevant to a determination of a market disruption are set out in Annex A to the Arrangement; briefly these require that there should be a sharp and substantial increase, or imminent increase, of imports of particular products from particular countries and that the imported products are offered at prices substantially below those prevailing for similar goods of comparable quality in the domestic market.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what forecast he has made of (a) the increase in world trade in manufactures in 1977, and (b) the increase in United Kingdom exports of manufactures in 1977.

I have been asked to reply.I would ask my hon. Friend to await publication of economic forecasts in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he pays the fees of inspectors in highway inquiries.

Inspectors for trunk road inquiries are appointed jointly by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and Transport. As a matter of administrative convenience the inspectors' fees are paid by my Department, which also meets the cost of other highways inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the quantity of krypton which was released in the incident to which he refers in his answer of 8th March concerning transport of irradiated fuel.

The quantity of krypton released was about 250 milicuries over several days. This is less than that allowed by the international regulations for certain packages in transit (see Section II, Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials 1973 Revised Edition, published by the International Atomic Energy Agency). I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has yet had any consultations about the safety of introducing hard shoulders on the offside of four-lane carriageways; if so, who was consulted; and what was the outcome.

Not yet. But the proposal would certainly require consultation with representative organisations, as it would involve amendment of the motorway regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of his policy to maintain the minimum staff required to execute the current road programme, what action is being taken to reduce staff in the road construction units.

The number of staff needed to carry out the road programme is currently under review with chief engineers of the RCU sub-units concerned. Complements are being adjusted as necessary in accordance with the agreements with participating county councils.

asked the Prime Minister if he will visit Stockport.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Lord Mayor of London.

On 15th November 1976.

asked the Prime Minister when he last visited Helsinki.

I last visited Helsinki as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in August 1975.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list the responsibilities he has allocated to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury is responsible, within the Treasury, for all public expenditure matters. He deals also with other Treasury business as agreed between him and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the heads of nationalised industries.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council gave on my behalf to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson) on 10th March.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement about his recent discussions with members of the United States Administration.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made to the House earlier today.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any plans to visit the United States of America.

I visited Washington from 9th to 12th March at the invitation of President Carter and I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made to the House about my visit earlier today. At present I have no plans for a further visit to the United States of America.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he next proposes to meet the CBI.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth) on 17th February.

asked the Prime Minister when he next proposes to meet the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he will next meet the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the TUC.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett) on 3rd February.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the CBI.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on 17th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will dismantle the Treasury with a view to separating the revenue from economic planning.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council gave on my behalf to the hon. Member for Kensington (Sir B. Rhys Williams) on 10th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 15th March.

asked the Prime Minister what official engagements he has on Tuesday 15th March.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 15th March 1977.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 15th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 15th March.

asked the Prime Minister what are his official engagements for 15th March.

asked the Prime Minister what are his public engagements for 15th March.

asked the Prime Minister what are his commitments for Tuesday 15th March 1977.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Morrison).

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any plans to visit Longbridge.

I have at present no plans to do so.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he expects to make an official visit to Northwood.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit the London borough of Hillingdon.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit Birmingham.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit Birmingham.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Litterick).

asked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library a list of the topics he proposes to raise with the EEC Heads of Government during their forthcoming meeting in London.

I have already made it clear that I will raise the subject of unemployment at the next meeting of the European Council—which will be held in Rome on 25th and 26th March—but I am unable to list in advance all the topics which others might raise.

asked the Prime Minister when he is next going to have talks with the Governor of the Bank of England.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Tottenham (Mr. Atkinson) on 22nd February.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, in estimating the cost of electricity production from nuclear sources, he takes into account the costs involved in reprocessing, the commissioning and decommissioning of reprocessing plant, research into fission technology and the decommissioning and guarding of the nuclear power stations.

These are factors in the cost of nuclear power and I shall take them into account in reaching decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current average cost of decommissioning (a) a nuclear power station and (b) a reprocessing plant.

No nuclear power stations or reprocessing plants have been decommissioned in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes to rule out depletion of North Sea oil resources, provision for which has been made in the Model Rules under the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act 1975, until after 1990 following a report that has been submitted to his Department.

No. We propose to maintain the powers provided by the Petroleum and Submarine Pipelines Act 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how the amount of gas now being flared as waste in the Northern North Sea fields compares with the total gas consumption in the United Kingdom.

190 million cubic metres of gas were flared in the United Kingdom sector of the northern North Sea in January 1977. During the same period 4,920 million cubic metres of gas were sent out by British Gas Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he intends to implement the declaration of September 1973 that the Atomic Energy Authority-Rio Tinto Zinc contract for Namibian uranium would be terminated.

I have nothing to add to the statement made to the hon. Member by the then Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 9th December 1974, when she indicated that, in the context of a comprehensive review of Government policy towards South Africa, it had been decided not to interfere with the contract for the supply of uranium from Namibia.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will provide a breakdown of how funds allocated for the development of solar energy will be spent.

My Department's funds will be allocated broadly in accordance with the relative priorities indicated in the recently published report by the Department's Energy Technology Support Unit, "Solar Energy: its potential contribution within the United Kingdom", Energy Paper Number 16. This will mean that over the next four years just over three-quarters of the £3·6 million allocated will be devoted to water and space heating, some 16 per cent. to biological systems and the remainder to the collection and collation of insolation data.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether any loans have been granted to the National Coal Board with his authority under Section 2(5) of the Coal Industry Act 1973.

In January and September 1975 my right hon. Friend gave authority under this section, with the appoval of the Treasury, to the National Coal Board making loans to its subsidiary, NCB (Exploration) Limited. That subsidiary was transferred to the British National Oil Corporation in January 1976 and the loans repaid to the Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the exploration programme over the next three years for the discovery of more new coal reserves in the United Kingdom; and what is the estimated cost.

The National Coal Board's exploration programme for the next three years is still being finalised. I have asked the Chairman of the Board to write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy by how much workable United Kingdom coal reserves have been increased as a result of the exploration programme recommenced recently by the National Coal Board; what has been the cost to date of this exploration work; and what is the estimated value of the new reserves proved to date.

During the past three years it is estimated that economically workable coal reserves have increased by 1,500 million tons as a result of the national exploration programme. The cost o fthis exploration has amounted to about £25 million. The estimated value of these new reserves is £30,000 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the quantity and quality of newly discovered coal reserves in Warwickshire; whether these reserves can be exploited from existing mines at Daw Mill and Coventry; and what plans are under consideration to develop the new discoveries.

Some 100 million tons of general purpose coal have been added to the reserves for Daw Mill and Coventry collieries as a result of recent exploration. Reserves of a comparable quantity are reckoned to extend further south towards Kenilworth but exploration in this area is incomplete, and no plans can yet be made concerning their future exploitation. Plans are, however, being considered for exploiting the additional reserves available to Daw Mill and Coventry collieries. These could include the construction of a new drift entry at Daw Mill.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the coal in the new Warwickshire coalfield; and if he will make a statement.

The National Coal Board's exploration has proved the existence of more than 200 million tons of workable coal reserves in an area west of Coventry and north of Kenilworth. I welcome this sizeable addition to our coal reserves.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps have been taken to ensure that any thefts of nuclear material from the Windscale reprocessing plant can be detected by means of nuclear material accounting; and what is the minimum size of theft that is detectable.

Assurance that thefts of nuclear material from the Windscale reprocessing plant can be detected is obtained primarily from rigorous security procedures of which accounting procedures are only one part. These procedures, the nature of the process—involving remote handling behind concrete shields or in glove boxes—and the material accounting systems employed give a high degree of assurance that no material can be removed from the plant undetected. The security arrangements are kept under continuous review. As far as the nuclear material accounting procedures are concerned, the main area of difficulty lies with the accurate measurement of the quantity and plutonium content of the irradiated magnox fuel fed to the plant. The procedures in use give rise to a number of uncertainties and the management is currently examining the possibilities for improvement. It would not be in the public interest to disclose the minimum size of theft that is detectable by means of nuclear material accountancy.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total storage pound capacity of nuclear reactors in the United Kingdom; and how much spent fuel is stored in these pounds.

The total storage capacity at nuclear reactor sites operated in the United Kingdom by the CEGB, SSEB, BNFL and the AEA is approximately 3,000 tonnes. At present some 1,250 tonnes of irradiated fuel is being stored.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the spent fuel storage capacity of the Windscale reprocessing plant; and how much spent fuel is currently stored there.

There is storage capacity at Windscale for 1,850 tonnes of irradiated Magnox and AGR fuel. Some 1,260 tonnes of fuel are currently stored there.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy why it has been found necessary to utilise one of the decommissioned Calder Hall reactors as a storage capacity for spent fuel; how much fuel is currently stored there; and for how long these arrangements are expected to be in operation.

Because of the accumulation of Magnox fuel in the Windscale storage ponds, one Calder reactor is being partially used as a store so as to help ensure continued ability to accept fuel from the generating boards. At present the reactor contains about 70 tonnes of spent fuel. The arrangement will continue until the storage position has eased. The reactor has not, however, been decommissioned.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if any discrepancies have been found between the stated amount of nuclear material in any shipment and the actual amount of material for shipment between nuclear installations within the United Kingdom and for international transits to and from United Kingdom.

Relatively minor discrepancies between amounts of nuclear material quoted by a shipper and those found by a recipient do occur from time to time. When these differences are significant immediate efforts are made to resolve them by examination of the conditions of measurement. Two measurement situations arise, namely (i) when the data quoted by the shipper is only estimated, as precise measurement is not possible—e.g., irradiated fuel movements—but the receiver is able to convert the material to a measurable state; in this case the receiver's figure is invariably considered to be the best value; (ii) when both shipper and receiver are able to perform weighing, sampling and analysis to determine the nuclear material content of the consignment; if significant differences occur, further measurements are made and, in practice all significant differences have, in fact, been resolved.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland bow many business executives have been murdered in Northern Ireland since 1st January 1977; and how many attempted murders there have been on business executives.

In attacks on the civilian population in Northern Ireland since 1st January 1977, four members of the business community have been killed and three injured. In four other instances the houses of business men were attacked without causing injury.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the statutory provisions which place an obligation upon those who hold an appropriate licence to keep accounts of the use or disposal of the detonators in their possession;(2) what statutory arrangements are in force for the regular inspection by the police of magazines at quarries where detonators are held in store;(3) what statutory arrangements are in force for the regular inspection by the police of detonators held by construction companies employed on civil engineering works;(4) what statutory system of accounting for the use of detonators by shotfirers at the quarry face, is in force;(5) if he will list the statutory provisions which place an obligation upon those who hold an appropriate licence or a police certificate to report losses of detonators to the police;(6) what statutory system is in force for accounting for detonators by licence holders; and if such accounts are open to inspection by statutory authority.

The acquisition, use and disposal of detonators are controlled under the Explosives Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 and regulations made thereunder, in particular the Explosives Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1970, 1971 and 1976.No person may acquire or use a detonator unless the prior consent of the police is obtained. This consent specifies in detail the number to be acquired, the purpose of acquisition and use, and the method of transportation. Comprehensive records of transactions must be maintained in prescribed form by seller and user, and these are subject to strict police scrutiny. Since the movement and use of detonators are directly supervised by the police, any discrepancy would be immediately apparent. Shotfirers must be licensed, and their licences are renewable annually. Any detonators unused after a blasting operation are destroyed, also under police supervision.No person in Northern Ireland is permitted to keep detonators for private use, which includes use in quarries or by con- struction companies. Storage in licensed stores is also prohibited save under special exemption, which is granted only in very exceptional circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many detonators recovered intact from unexploded bombs have been traced to source; and in how many cases the illegal theft of a detonator has been detected.

I would not be prepared in the interest of security to disclose this information.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will consider reconstituting the Advisory Committee on Co-operatives sponsored by her Department so that the maximum use can be made of practical British experience in helping the development of co-operatives overseas.

I will certainly consider this as part of a current review of our aid to co-operatives, which I am anxious to encourage.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is her latest estimate of the amount of aid being given by the United Kingdom to Uganda and to Mozambique during each of the two years ending 5th April 1978; and whether she will give a breakdown of such aid.

Uganda receives no aid from the United Kingdom except supplementation payments to 10 British personnel employed by the Ugandan authorities under a commitment predating the suspension of aid in 1972. These are estimated to cost about £40,000 a year up to 5th April 1978. Disbursements from the £5 million programme loan to Mozambique are expected to be substantial in 1977–78, and disbursements from the £10 million commitment to project aid will arise as project allocations are approved.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish the number of places in local authority residential homes, by regional planning area, for children and young people: (a) who have been placed in authority care after appearance before the courts and (b) who have simply been taken into care for their own protection;(2) if he will make a statement on his policy towards mixing juvenile offenders and children only needing residential care due to domestic disruption at home in the same community homes.

The Children and Young Persons Act 1969 combined approved schools, childrens homes and other establishments for children and young people into an integrated system of community homes for children in the care of local authorities. If a child requires residential treatment, it is for the local authority to determine which home is most likely to meet his individual needs, giving first consideration to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child, irrespective of the reason for his entry into care. I am glad to say that after initial difficulties local authorities are now operating this system with increasing confidence and skill. Because of this places are not allocated separately for children and young people who have been taken into care following court appearances and those in care for other reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive all the reviews of children's regional planning committees.

At a meeting of regional planning committee chairmen last December there was agreement on the need to revise these plans. Some committees are already doing so, but others wish to base their plans on March 1978 figures. I hope to receive their reviews as soon as possible after that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled persons, previously aided by one of the Government's schemes for mobility up to the end of 1975, are not eligible for the mobility allowance.

I take it that the hon. Lady has in mind the vehicle scheme provided under the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968. All the people who hold benefits awarded ender that scheme will have the main medical and age criteria for mobility allowance deemed to be satisfied under the terms of Clause 11 of the Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill at present before Parliament. Those who might have become new beneficiaries under the vehicle scheme, had it continued, include people over pensionable age and those who would have been found eligible under category 3 but who are not so severely disabled as to meet the medical criteria for mobility allowance. The total number annually may be estimated at 2,000. On the other hand, some 40,000 people have so far claimed successfully under the mobility allowance scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take on the conclusion reached by the Health Service Commissioner on Case No. W 350/75–76 contained in his Second Report for Session 1976–77.

My Department has discussed the matter again with representatives of the dental profession and my right hon. Friend is now considering whether any change of practice is desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances his Department pays supplementary benefit to a person in full-time employment; how many persons have thus received benefit in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what has been the total cost to public funds in respect of such a period.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Brotherton) on 13th December 1976. Apart from the circumstances there described, payment of supplementary benefit to a person in full-time work is made only in cases of urgent need, and the Supplementary Benefits Commission usually requires repayment of the benefit. Because these payments are infrequent, no statistical records are kept although any net cost to public funds must be extremely small.—[Vol. 922, c. 503–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of the civil servants in his Department he estimates will retire within the next 12 months.

It is estimated that 2·6 per cent. of the civil servants in my Department will retire in the 12-month period beginning 1st April 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he estimates that the new computer to process child benefit claims for one-parent families will be installed at Washington New Town.

The new computer should commence work on processing child benefit claims for one-parent families at Washington early in 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the aggregate of outstanding refunds in respect of overpaid contributions for retirement pension on 1st January 1977.

An estimate of the amount outstanding at 1st January 1977 by way of refunds of overpaid national insurance contributions for the tax year 1975–76 is approximately £2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services since the introduction of the revised national insurance scheme, what is the average waiting period for refund.

Refunds fall into two categories: refunds of excess Class 1 and Class 2 contributions, dealt with entirely at Newcastle, and refunds of erroneous contributions which have to be referred to local offices for investigation. Once the details of the overpayment are identified (and this can only be when contribution details are received from the employers involved) and a formal application form completed, the average time to process such applications is two to three weeks and nine to 10 weeks respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has had regarding interest on non-payment of contributions under the revised national insurance scheme; and if he will make a statement.