asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the latest estimates available for Great Britain's energy resources; and if he will will make a statement.

Following is the information:UNITED KINGDOM ENERGY RESERVES AND RESOURCES

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to make known to United Kingdom industry the results of research, supported by his Department and directed at improving the efficiency and safety of exploratio nand exploitation of offshore oil and gas.

My Department already publicises non-confidential reports on this subject through the R & D Abstracts of the Technology Reports Centre and also directly to United Kingdom firms known to be interested.It is now supporting a small editorial unit in the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) to produce a free quarterly newsletter, "Offshore Research Focus", giving news of research in progress supported by the Department of Energy. The newsletter is aimed primarily at scientists, technologists and engineers interested in developments in the United Kingdom offshore industry. The first number is issued today and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.CIRIA will also publish on behalf of the Department of Energy interim reports of specific projects in hand and guides to civil engineers describing laboratory work distilled from the research supported by my Department.It is hoped that, through this new publishing initiative, industry will be kept informed with the minimum of delay of developments in this vitally important area of offshore technology.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what action he has taken to implement the proposals in the Helsinki Final Act to organise co-operation between the signatory powers in the use of energy resources, including petroleum, natural gas and coal and the rational use of power stations.

The Final Act of the Helsinki Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe considers that the field of energy resources, in particular petroleum, natural gas and coal, is suitable for strengthening long-term economic co-operation, and that there is the possibility for joint projects including the exchange of electrical energy within Europe with a view to utilising the capacity of electrical power stations as rationally as possible. As emphasised in the Final Act there is already much work done by relevant international organisations and it was the wish of all signatories to take advantage of the possibilities offered by these organisations, and particularly by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) for giving effect to the provisions of the final documents of the Conference. The United Kingdom already participates fully in international co-operation in the areas mentioned and Her Majesty's Government has been co-operating with the Secretariat of the ECE in its efforts to pursue further international collaboration on suitable projects.

PRODUCTION OF HARD COAL
1,000 tonnes
					1972	1973	1974	1975	1976
United Kingdom
Scotland		…	…	…	9,849	10,517	8,677	9,945	9,434
Northern		…	…	…	15,187	16,450	12,876	14,940	13,401
Yorkshire		…	…	…	30,461	33,931	28,049	32,766	31,033
North Western			…	…	10,653	12,382	10,874	12,390	11,568
South Wales		…	…	…	9,545	9,202	7,386	8,752	7,987
Midlands		…	…	…	31,940	35,990	30,901	37,258	36,256
Kent	…	…	…	…	767	905	647	730
Licensed mines			…	…	678	654	578	625	582
Opencast		…	…	…	10,439	10,123	9,230	10,413	11,943
Total		…	…	…	119,519	130,154	109,218	127,819	122,204
Federal Republic of Germany				…	108,690	103,654	101,484	99,161	96,325
France	…	…	…	…	29,763	25,682	22,895	22,414	21,879
Italy	…	…	…	…	151	5	4	2	2
Belgium	…	…	…	…	10,500	8,842	8,111	7,478	7,238
Netherlands		…	…	…	2,942	1,829	801	—	—
Ireland	…	…	…	…	75	64	68	48	53

OUTPUT PER MANSHIFT*
Kilograms
					1972	1973	1974	1975	1976
United Kingdom
Scotland		…	…	…	2,950	2,984	2,863	2,893	2,894
Northern		…	…	…	2,738	2,832	2,604	2,879	2,728
Yorkshire		…	…	…	4,067	4,154	3,709	3,840	3,731
North Western			…	…	3,097	3,325	3,460	3,259	3,345
South Wales		…	…	…	2,386	2,200	2,080	2,068	2,163
Midlands		…	…	…	4,446	4,514	4,338	4,468	4,217
Kent	…	…	…	…	2,101	2,446	2,042	1,870
Licensed mines			…	…	··	··	··	··	··
Opencast		…	…	…	··	··	··	··	··
Total		…	…	…	3,460	3,643	3,350	3,493	3,406
Federal Republic of Germany				…	4,249	4,321	4;196	4,062	4,151
France	…	…	…	…	2,709	2,767	2,799	2,761	2,785
Italy	…	…	…	…	2,801	··	··	··	··
Belgium	…	…	…	…	2,638	2,555	2,597	2,426	2,524
Netherlands		…	…	…	3,276	3,809	4,219	—	—
Ireland	…	…	…	…	··	··	··	··	··
* Average output per manshift of all underground workers except under-officials.
·· Not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total coal production and output per man-shift in each EEC member State, and in each United Kingdom coalfield, in each of the last five years.

Statistics on coal production and productivity in the United Kingdom and the other coal-producing countries in the EEC are published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities in "Energy Statistics", available in the Library of the House. For convenience, the information for the latest five years, using the definitions of SOEC, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many persons so far have benefited from his Department's scheme to pay 25 per cent. of fuel bills for persons on supplementary benefit; what has been the total cost so far to public funds; and what percentage of those helped were retirement pensioners.

Claims from about 290,000 households at a cost to public funds of just under £2 million have so far been reported to Departments. This is less than I would have expected at this stage. It is not possible to say how many claims came from retirement pensioners but some 60 per cent. of recipients of supplementary benefit who are eligible for the discount are in this category. I am most anxious that everyone eligible for the discount should claim. Claims should be made as soon as possible after the electricity bill arrives or the prepayment meter box is emptied.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on participation by the National Coal Board in the exploration for coking coal in Queensland, Australia; what is the percentage participation by the National Coal Board; what is the estimated National Coal Board investment; how it will be financed; and what are the marketing arrangements.

This is primarily a matter for the National Coal Board. However, the board tells me that in return for providing technical services it has a 10 per cent. interest in Capricorn Developments Ltd., which has been formed to undertake an exploration project at German Creek, in Queensland. As the present contract is for exploration only questions of production development or of marketing have not yet arisen.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many copies of Conservative Monthly News are purchased by his Department to keep Ministers and senior civil servants informed of current Conservative policy and thinking.

None. However, an internal Press cuttings service within my Department circulates information relating to energy matters which appears in the national and regional Press.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will conduct a study to estimate the number of sites which could be restored or newly developed, for the operation of privately owned waterwheels for the generation of power; why waterwheels continue to fall into disuse; and what action is required to promote this source of energy;(2) if he is investigating the potential of electricity generation from waterwheels; what is his estimate of the number of privately owned water turbines currently operating; and what is the scope for extending this contribution to renewable energy sources;(3) what progress he has made in consultation with the National Water Council, the National Association of Water Power Users, and other interested parties, to encourage the extension of privately operated water turbines; and what efforts he is making to remove disincentives.

In response to representations, we have suggested to the National Association of Water Power Users that our Department, in consultation with the association and with others, should seek to establish the level of energy savings at issue here and any other relevant facts. We are awaiting the association's response.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what assurances he has given to British Nuclear Fuels about the use of troops to deliver essential safety supplies to nuclear plants when this is being prevented by strike pickets.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress he has made in reviewing the Energy Saving Loan Scheme; how many inquiries have resulted in how many loans to date; what is the current rate of interest charged; when he expects to lower the minimum loan to £5,000; what has been the total sum advanced to date; and how many loans are under active negotiation.

The review of the Energy, Savings Loan Scheme, including its extension to the commercial sector, is in an advanced stage and we hope to be able to make an announcement fairly soon. Thirty-four applications have so far been received, of which 21 were subsequently withdrawn. Three loans, totalling £97,000, have been made to date and 10 are currently under consideration. The present rate of interest is 14 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to launch the Energy Quick Advisory Service; how it will operate; what is the budget; and how many consultants are expected to participate.

We expect the Energy Quick Advisory Service to be launched within the next three months. Until negotiations are further advanced, it is not possible to indicate the number of consultants who are likely to be involved in operating this service on behalf of the Department or to give an estimate of its cost. The service will cover all sectors other than the domestic sector and will provide free advice on straightforward problems.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish the list of those organisations accepted by his Department as eligible to claim grants under the Energy Survey Scheme.

The Energy Survey Scheme is open to all organisations in the industrial, commercial and public sectors on the basis of one grant per site. Only the domestic sector is excluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will report the response to date for the Energy Survey Scheme.

We have so far received 16 applications for reimbursement of part of the consultants' fees incurred under this scheme. Users of the ESS need not and in general do not consult the Department in advance, so that the first intimation received of their use of the scheme is the application for reimbursement. Nevertheless, we are aware, through our contacts with potential user organisations and consultants, that there is a good deal of interest in the scheme, which we are anxious should become more widely known and fully used.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he discussed with the Shetland Islands Council the number of pipelines to be laid to Sullom Voe; and if he will make a statement.

I had no discussions with the Shetlands Islands Council on this matter during my visit to the Shetlands on 14th-15th March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the arrangements which replace the United Kingdom's derogations from Community animal health legislation adequately safeguard the country's freedom from foot-and-mouth and other diseases; and if he will make a statement.

The Council of Ministers reached agreement in December 1976 on a number of important animal health measures. These measures were carried into Community law by Directive 77/98 which was published in the Official Journal on 31st January, and I have placed in the Library a statement describing the implications of the agreement in greater detail. My right hon. Friends and I are fully satisfied that the new arrangements will afford adequate protection to the United Kingdom's livestock from foot-and-mouth disease and will provide a better Community framework within which further disease control measures can be instituted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the estimated or approximate price at which the butter, which was recently sold to the Russians at 17p or thereabouts, was taken into intervention, the cost of storage during such time as it was in intervention, the cost of the various compensatory payments and any other costs chargeable to that butter, expressed in pence per pound.

There is no evidence that intervention stocks of butter were involved. The sale of butter to the USSR was negotiated by a private trader within the normal framework of Community export refund arrangements.

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the Gas Council about the provision of natural gas to the horticulture industry; what is his estimate of the comparative price at present paid by British growers per gallon as opposed to that for oil; how this compares with the price paid by Dutch growers for natural gas; what system of payment or subsidy has been used by the Dutch Government to enable the Dutch Gas Authority to extend supplies to the Dutch horticultural industry; and what plans he has to enable British Gas to make fuel available to British growers at competitive prices.

My Department is keeping in touch with the discussions between the British Gas Corporation and representatives of United Kingdom growers about the provision of natural gas, and I understand that the Corporation can now in most cases offer continuous supplies of natural gas to United Kingdom horticulturists who are in or near a gas supply area.The Dutch Government have in the past made grant-aid available to help growers to link up with the natural gas network. A new scheme for 1977–78 will, if approved by the EEC Commission, come into operation in May. A similar type of aid is available in this country under the Horticulture Capital Grant Scheme and the Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme, which also provide grant for works and equipment on the holding.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many unmarked detonators recovered from an unexploded bomb have been traced as having been manufactured for use (a) in Great Britain, (b) overseas, or (c) as part of old unmarked stock.

It would not be in the interests of security to give details of individual finds. There is, however, reason to believe that most of the unmarked British-made detonators recovered in Northern Ireland represent old stock.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much grant has been paid to the Callyhanna Community Association since its foundation; what the money was intended to be used for; and whether the books, vouchers and accounts of both the paying authority and of the association have been scrutinised by the local government auditor, or other official auditors.

A sum of £500 was paid to Cullyhanna Community Association in 1974 by the Newry and Mourne District Council. It is the only such grant paid to date and was towards the cost of improvements and renovation of a parochial hall, formerly used as a school, in Cullyhanna. The Local Government Auditor has completed his examination of the district council's accounts for the year ended 31st March 1975. The association's accounts are not subject to audit by the local government or other official auditor.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what decision was taken on 19th January 1977 by the Northern Health and Social Services Board on the Strategic Planning Team report about the siting of a new acute hospital in the area.

At its meeting on that date the board resumed consideration of the Report on the Development of Hospital Services in the Northern Area. It voted on a number of issues, including the siting of four or five acute hospitals, but did not reach final conclusions on this matter or on the report as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the letter sent to the members of the Northern Health and Social Services Board by Dr. Dugdale, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, after the January meeting of the Board; and whether this letter was sent on his instructions.

No such letter was issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what decision was taken on 9th March 1977 by the Northern Health and Social Service Board on the Strategic Planning Team report; and if he will institute an immediate inquiry into the pressure put on members of the Board to reverse their previous decision.

The board concluded, in the words of its statement issued after the meeting of 9th March 1977,

"that in the best interests of the people of the whole of the Area of the Northern Board it should endorse, in principle, the recommendations set out in the Report".

This conclusion has now been communicated to the Government, with whom the final decision rests. No pressure was put on members of the board, and my noble Friend has no intention of instituting any inquiry into this matter. The board's final conclusions were reached of its own volition after full and mature deliberation extending over several meetings.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development (1) if, in the light of the 6,000 Ministry of Defence posts now allocated to Glasgow, the move of 1,100 Ministry of Overseas Development posts to that area is necessary, particularly in view of the reservations expressed in the Hardman Report concerning the strain on her Department if such a move were to take place;(2) if the move of 1,100 posts in her Department to the Glasgow area was made on the basis of cost alone; and if she will provide the detailed figures for the estimated cost of such a move;(3) what effect the move of 1,100 posts to Glasgow will have on the efficiency of her Department and its ability to draw up a comprehensive aid programme to assist rural development projects.

The dispersal programme announced by the Government in July 1974 has always provided for 1,000 ODM posts to be dispersed to the Glasgow area as well as 6,000 from the Ministry of Defence. They involve posts in the Overseas Manpower Division, Pensions Department, Accounts Department, and Statistics Department of ODM headquarters; and the Directorate of Overseas Surveys.I am confident that my Department will still be able to implement our aid strategy effectively, though there will inevitably be some loss of efficiency. The Government consider that this must be accepted for the sake of the benefits to the Glasgow area.The costs of the dispersal programme as a whole are being reassessed in the light of the moratorium on new building starts announced at the end of last year, and I cannot yet give the figures.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what steps have been taken to ascertain the extent to which British hydrographic aid is needed to facilitate trade with developing countries; and from which countries such aid has been sought in the past few months.

£500,000 will be available in 1977–78 from the British aid programme towards the costs of the Royal Navy survey fleet, so that it can undertake marine surveys requested by developing countries. Following inquiries by British Government representatives overseas, requests for aid and enquiries have so far been received from Bangladesh, the British Virgin Islands, Cyprus, Ghana, Guyana, Malta, Montserrat, the New Hebrides, Oman, the Philippines, St. Helena, St. Lucia, Thailand, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Tuvalu.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many copies of the Conservative Monthly News are purchased by his Department to keep Ministers and senior civil servants informed of current Conservative policy and thinking.

No copies of the Conservative Monthly News are purchased for the Ministers and senior civil servants in the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will publish a table showing the current number of civil servants and the current annual cost to public expenditure of administering (a) the Price Code, and (b) the Consumer Credit Act; and whether he will estimate the cost to industry and commerce of seeking to comply with these Acts and the regulations made under them.

(a) The Price Code is administered by the Price Commission. I understand that its staff time and costs cannot readily be apportioned between the administration of the Price Code and the Commission's other functions. At the beginning of March 1977 the Commission had in total a staff of 660 and its grant for the financial year 1976–77 is £4·851 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he is satisfied with the regulations concerning the sale of African yellow scorpions to the public.

I have been asked to reply.Under the Pet Animals Act 1951 a pet shop requires a licence from the local authority which has power to attach conditions to such a licence. I have no reason to believe that these powers are inadequate to deal with scorpions, but I will gladly consider any evidence suggesting that further control is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the benefits of new road building to industry and commerce.

It has been estimated that the savings in working time alone provide a return on investment of about 8 per cent-10 per cent. in real terms for a typical trunk road scheme. This is in addition to savings in nonworking time and accidents, and represents a direct increase in productivity for industry and commerce.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total cost, in 1976, of rate-funded concessionary bus fare schemes; and what additional costs were borne on these schemes by the Exchequer.

Expenditure on concessionary fare schemes for the elderly by local authorities in England and Wales was about £61 million in 1975–76 and is expected to be about £74 million in 1976–77—both at outturn prices. The aggregate of estimated expenditure on concessionary fares is relevant for rate support grant but within the block grant received by each authority it is not possible to isolate an amount in respect of any particular items such as concessionary fares. Concessionary fares expenditure is not eligible for transport supplementary grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many concessionary fare schemes are provided by local authorities; how many of these are in local authority areas which operate municipal bus services and how many are not; if he will list all the schemes in both these categories; and if he will also list those local authorities with municipal bus services that do not provide any rate-funded scheme of concessionary bus fares.

A survey undertaken in August 1976 indicated that at that time there were 274 concessionary fare schemes operated by county or district councils in England and Wales: under these schemes concessions were offered to elderly people in Greater London, the six metropolitan counties, all of Wales and 239 of the English non-metropolitan districts—the eligibility qualifications vary, however, Elderly residents of all the

Thousand Tonnes
Year			1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976
Foreign Trade	…	…	5,628	5,560	4,895	4,596	5,409	5,569	4,754	4,741
Coastal Trade	…	…	2,132	2,099	1,533	1,317	1,170	1,020	662	618
TOTAL TRADE		…	7,760	7,659	6,428	5,913	6,579	6,589	5,416	5,359

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why it took him five weeks to acknowledge a letter dated 2nd February asking him to meet the right hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. du Cann), the hon. Member for Tiverton the right hon. Member for Devon, North (Mr. Thorpe) about progress on the North Devon trunk road.

Acknowledgement took five days, but I regret the

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, following the recent meeting between the Under-Secretary of State in his Department and the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington on the subject of concessionary bus fares for pensioners, he will indicate precisely what recommendations he has made to the National Bus Company on the question of the preparation by it of schemes to supplement or replace the present arrangements whereby local ratepayers fund pensioners' concessionary fare schemes.

The Chairman of the National Bus Company has told me that the company is studying the possibilities for introducing fare concessions for elderly, blind and disabled and I have told him that I look forward to seeing the findings of this study.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the figures for the trade passing through the Hull Docks in each of the past eight years.

The quantities of freight passing through the British Transport Docks Board port of Hull during the period 1969 to 1976 were as follows:further delay in giving a substantive reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport which roads have been detrunked in each of the past 10 years; how many miles in each case; whether each road detrunked was replaced by an alternative road which was trunked; and, in the case of each road, what major improvements had been identified but not carried out at the time of detrunking.

I regret the information is not available in the form requested. Since 1973–74 about 275 miles of road have been detrunked in England, in most cases following the opening of roughly corresponding lengths of newly constructed trunk road. No major identified improvements were outstanding on the superseded roads at the time of detrunking.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he uses to determine the economic value of a motorway; and at what point or points a motorway scheme is deemed economically non-viable.

Cost-benefit analysis can be used to quantify some of the benefits of a road scheme, while others must be assessed qualitatively. A scheme is considered non-viable if, taking all factors into account, benefits appear insufficient to justify the costs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his attention has been drawn to the letter of 23rd February from the Town Clerk, Manchester, addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Department of the Environment concerning "Municipalisation — Section 105 and Private Sector Improvement Grants" for Manchester; and if he will review the situation and revise the allocations.

I am aware of the representations made by the city council. A detailed examination of the situation has been undertaken within the Department and I am at present considering the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review his allocation of £178,000 to the London borough of Ealing for mortgage lending in 1977–78, in view of his circular 123/76 which said that such allocations would not be further reduced.

No. The total allocation to local authorities for mortgage lending in 1977–78, announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 22nd July 1976 was unaffected by the changes in public expenditure subsequently announced in December 1976 and summarised in Circular 123/76.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the fact that all local authorities are required to make returns regarding numbers of homeless families in bed and breakfast on the Department of the Environment's H.2. forms, he will explain why these returns have not been published and further publish in the Official Report the number of homeless families in bed and breakfast in all local authority areas as at 1st January 1975, 30th June 1975, 1st January 1976, 30th June 1976, and 1st January 1977.

My Department's statistics have indicated the number of homeless households in all types of temporary accommodation.Separate figures about the number in bed and breakfast accommodation have not been included, because of incompleteness in returns and because of more detailed technical difficulties. I can assure the hon. Member that consideration is being given to ways of overcoming these.A recent analysis, however, has indicated that about 1,500 homeless households were accommodated in bed and breakfast in London on each of the dates 30th June 1975, 31st December 1975 and 30th June 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement on the recommendation of the Stevens Committee on Mineral Planning concerning the holding of planning inquiries in private.

My right hon. Friend will publish his views later in the year when he has completed his consideration of the Stevens Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Under-Secretary of State's recent visit to Liverpool.

I visited Merseyside on 14th March to attend a meeting of the Sports Council. I also took the opportunity of seeing work in progress on the Crown courts project in Liverpool and on the Inland Revenue office building at Bootle. I also visited the proposed site for dispersal offices at the Exchange Station in Liverpool.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many housing sites are being put up for sale by housing associations because of lack of funds for their development; and if he will publish a list of such projects, the cost of acquisition of each site, the capital sum denied for each development, the estimated loss on each resale and the extent to which public money will be required to make good each such loss.

On 19th Novembe I gave the House full details of the 27 Housing Corporation projects, which were cancelled as part of the July 1976 public expenditure savings. The projects were chosen by the corporation, in full consultation with the Department, because they represented lower priorities than new projects now being approved in areas of housing stress. We do not yet know the exact loss which will be incurred on the resale of each site, or on abortive fees, but the total loss, which will fall upon public funds, is estimated to be about £4 million, as against a saving of £34 million estimated total cost of the schemes had they proceeded.

asked the Secretary of State (I) if he is satisfied that the new arrangements whereby additions to yardstick for wheelchair and mobility housing for disabled people come out of an overall fixed budget will not adversely affect the provision of such housing; and if he will make a statement;(2) what changes are being made in the arrangements for financing housing for disabled people.

My right hon. Friend is making no changes which specifically affect the arrangements for new house building for disabled people. The introduction of housing investment programmes will enable authorities to continue to respond to our drive for more housing for disabled people in the light of a more comprehensive assessment of needs and I shall certainly look to authorities to do this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what use is now to be made of the accommodation in Old Saint Andrew's House, Edinburgh, about 50 per cent. of the entire property, which was to have been used for purposes related to a Scottish Assembly.

The accommodation will continue in civil service use until it is required for other purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will appoint a committee to advise him on the promotion of book exports.

I am not aware of any need to appoint a committee, having in mind the close contacts which my Department and the British Overseas Trade Board have with the industry and in particular with the Book Development Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many companies in the city of Leicester have failed to file returns under the Companies Acts for 1974–75 and 1975–76, respectively.

Records are maintained by registered number on incorporation and not by geographical area.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his latest estimate of the number of people affected by noise at Gatwick as measured by the population living within the 35 noise number index contour at the following dates: 1970, and 1975; and what is his estimate for 1980.

NNI contour calculations were not prepared for 1970, but, using 1972 instead, the comparative figures are as follows:

	Thousands
1972	30
1975	34
1980	61

The 1980 estimate assumes a passenger throughput of 10 million and 106,000 aircraft movements.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many representations he has received in the last 12 months concerning the rate of climb of aircraft taking off from Heathrow.

Precise figures on the number of representations which have included the point are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what plans he has for further legislation regarding safety at sea.

A short Bill to permit early ratification of the Safety of Life at Sea Convention 1974 has been introduced into the House of Lords. A longer Merchant Shipping Bill covering such matters as discipline on board ship, safety standards, pilotage, limitation of damages paid to seafarers and carriage of passengers is in course of preparation and consideration is being given to introducing it in the next Session.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he now expects to introduce a new Merchant Shipping Bill.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull today.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will now review the Customs regulations which permit the return without let or hindrance of the personal effects of British subjects who have been working on contract in Rhodesia, but which order the confiscation of any part of such effects which are sent separately as presents to persons in this country.

No. While unsolicited gifts sent separately are allowed entry provided their value is small, this is not the moment to extend this concession.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade for what purpose the Companies Registration Office is seeking to establish contact with the late Arthur Bourchier of the Garrick Theatre, London.

I presume the hon. Member refers to a reminder letter addressed to Mr. Bourchier as a director of a company in default on its statutory obligations. Such letters are sent in all cases of continued default unless the Registrar has been notified officially by the company that the individual is no longer a director.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, in his consultations on the Bullock Report, which specific recommendations of the majority and of the minority reports, respectively, the Government have already accepted or rejected as the case may be; and upon which recommendations in both reports the Government retain an open mind.

As I made clear in my statement on 26th January, the Government are committed to a radical extension of industrial democracy by representation of the workforce on company boards, and to the essential rôle of trade unions in this process. We have not come to any conclusions on the specific recommendations in either the majority or minority report.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether exports of manufactures are rising faster or more slowly than the exports of manufactures by EEC countries as a whole, and by Germany, Japan, France and the United States individually.

The availability of information on exports of manufactures by the individual main manufacturing countries varies. Information on value, some of which is still provisional, is available for the first half of 1976 for all the countries covered in the question, but figures for EEC relate to the original six member countries. Exports of manufactures by Ireland and Denmark are comparatively small. Between the first halves of 1975 and 1976, the dollar value of exports of manufactures by the United Kingdom increased slightly faster than those of the original EEC and faster than France, but more slowly than for Japan, United States and the German Federal Republic. The picture remains the same for the individual countries for a comparison based on the first three quarters of 1975 and 1976, but complete information for the third quarter of 1976 for the EEC is not available. The latest information is published in Table 13, page 656, of the 11th March issue of Trade and Industry. The table also contains information on the volume of exports of manufactures by the main manufacturing countries, although, generally, this is less up to date than the value figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will review the provision of long-term overseas credit to assist the sales of British aircraft of Third World countries and in particular to assist the marketing of the HS748 and, if developed, the HS146.

I see no reason to do so. I am satisfied that the existing arrangements for ECGD to offer support for export sales on credit of British aircraft, including the types mentioned, provide a full back-up. Where it is alleged that other Governments may have broken internationally agreed rules, we thoroughly investigate and would if necessary offer matching terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has made to the French Government about discriminatory taxation measures against Scotch whisky.

We have made repeated representations to the French authorities concerning the increases in duty on Scotch whisky that came into effect on 1st February and which have exacerbated the discriminatory treatment of Scotch whisky that existed prior to that date. These representations were in addition to the proceedings initiated by the European Commission against France on the same subject. The Commission is continuing with its Article 169 procedure and in December 1976 sent France a reasoned opinion in which the Commission took account of the exacerbation of discriminatory treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what consultations he had with the fishing industry before he laid the Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) (Amendment) Rules 1977 before Parliament; and whether he has considered alternative appeal procedures to those which will apply under the rules.

Organisations representing fishing vessel owners, skippers, fishermen and others concerned were consulted on the draft text. Consideration was given to one proposal for a simpler statutory appeals procedure but this could not be adopted under existing legislation. In response it was explained that appeals to senior professional staff of the Department and to the Secretary of State could be made before the new appeals procedure was invoked.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many copies of Conservative Monthly News are purchased by his Department to keep Ministers and senior civil servants informed of current Conservative policy and thinking.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether it is the policy of the British Overseas Trade Board now to allow a second company representative on outward missions but only where that representative is a shop floor trade unionist working in the applicant company.

The Board's grant is limited to one representative per company but should the company see advantage in also including a shop floor representative, a second grant is offered. This does not necessarily mean that a company could not send additional representatives at its own expense, but this would be a matter for discussion with the trade association or chamber of commerce organising the mission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many companies are involved in the Business Statistics Office's inquiry into retail trading for 1977; and what is the total cost of this exercise to date.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the visible trade deficit with the EEC on a balance of payments basis for the quarter December 1976 and January and February, provisional, 1977 expressed on a yearly basis.

Figures of visible trade with the EEC on a balance of payments basis are compiled only for calendar quarters. The latest available information relates to the fourth quarter of 1976, in which the United Kingdom's visible deficit with the EEC was £2,296 million at an annual rate. Our crude trade deficit with the EEC in the same period was £2,468 million at an annual rate, and in the three months December 1976-February 1977 was £2,500 million at an annual rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement about trade with the EEC in agricultural products.

Trade in agricultural goods with the EEC countries is developing steadily in both directions. In the four years 1972 to 1976 our exports of food and live animals to these countries rose nearly four times in value, from £150 million to £570 million, and our imports from them rose by just over three times, from £650 million to £1,994 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will bring forward legislation to liberalise and bring conformity to the Sunday trading laws, particularly in the context of sales of food.

We have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the need to state reasons in any decision to refuse parole to a prisoner.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield and Tamworth (Mr. Grocott) on 10th March.—[Vol. 927, c. 607.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many times and in connection with what offences each of the diplomatic missions accredited to the Court of St. James have claimed diplomatic privilege in each of the last five years for which records are available;(2) in how many theft cases during each of the past five years diplomatic missions accredited to the Court of St. James have invoked diplomatic privilege;(3) in how many cases involving violence during each of the past five years diplomatic missions accredited to the Court of St. James have invoked diplomatic privilege;(4) in how many cases involving sexual offences during each of the past five years diplomatic missions accredited to the Court of St. James have invoked diplomatic privilege;(5) in how many criminal cases other than those involving sex, violence or theft during each of the past five years diplomatic missions accredited to the Court of St. James have invoked diplomatic privilege.

The following tables shows the number of offences alleged to have been committed in the years 1972–76 by persons entitled to diplomatic immunity where the possibility of criminal proceedings was not pursued in consequence of

OFFENCES ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN COMMITTED BY PERSONS ENTITLED TO DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY
						1972	1973	1974	1975	1976
Violence against the person			…	…	…	1	4	1	3	3
Sexual offences	…	…	…	…	…	2	—	3	1	2
Offences against the Theft Act 1968				…	…	20	19	22	25	25
Road traffic offences*		…	…	…	…	222	208	227	225	248
Other offences	…	…	…	…	…	11	8	8	5	2
TOTAL	…	…	…	…	…	256	239	258	256	280
* Excluding those dealt with by fixed penalty notices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Libyan diplomat involved in the recent rape case left Great Britain prior to, or after, the conclusion of police inquiries into that case.

The Libyan Ambassador has notified my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs that the appointment of the diplomat concerned was terminated with effect from 11th March. He is understood to have left the country on the same day, at which time police inquiries into the case had not been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases involving parking violations each of the diplomatic missions

FIXED PENALTY NOTICES CANCELLED ON GROUNDS OF DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY
					Number of notices cancelled
					1972	1973	1974	January to May 1975	October to December 1975	1976
Afghanistan		…	…	…	65	106	42	6	20	91
Algeria	…	…	…	…	73	116	149	73	51	322
Argentine Republic			…	…	423	466	780	297	262	1,092
Australia	…	…	…	…	33	39	93	37	17	69
Austria	…	…	…	…	23	37	31	12	37	84
Bahamas	…	…	…	…	—	—	—	2	—	3
Bahrain	…	…	…	…	52	201	95	58	50	444
Bangladesh		…	…	…	4	214	409	135	88	441
Barbados	…	…	…	…	210	491	458	80	127	403
Belgium	…	…	…	…	125	293	270	61	42	178
Bolivia	…	…	…	…	17	28	85	56	28	156
Botswana	…	…	…	…	1	5	5	5	2	23
Brazil	…	…	…	…	—	412	493	167	141	1,200
Bulgaria	…	…	…	…	563	657	925	530	451	2,510
Burma	…	…	…	…	66	113	223	41	35	412
Cameroon	…	…	…	…	253	418	289	56	37	338
Canada	…	…	…	…	124	231	289	70	34	324
Chile	…	…	…	…	—	236	199	102	50	287
China	…	…	…	…	18	35	138	113	52	333
Colombia	…	…	…	…	39	75	35	13	33	320

The following table, compiled from provisional figures available from the Metropolitan Police, gives particulars of the total number of fixed penalty notices cancelled annually on grounds of diplomatic immunity for the years 1972 to 1976, except for the period June to September 1975 for which, because of a major revision of the Metropolitan Police computer system, figures broken down by diplomatic mission are not available. It is not possible to give a breakdown by diplomatic mission of the final annual figures derived from statistical returns from all police forces in England and Wales. This information cannot be given in six-monthly periods without disproportionate cost.