asked the Lord President of the Council why the menus and wine lists of the Members' Dining Room were not ready on the reassembly of the House on 19th April.

I have been asked to reply.The wine lists and menus were ordered from Her Majesty's Stationery Office on 5th and 7th April respectively, for delivery by 18th April. All the menus were delivered to the House before 19th April. However, there have been delays in the production of the wine lists owing to pressure of work at the Parliamentary Press.

asked the Lord President of the Council what reply he has sent to NALGO's representations concerning

					1972	1973	1974	1975	1976
Total	…	…	…	…	5,320	4,834	7,959	6,825	7,955
of which
West Germany			…	…	553	458	1,665	1,877	2,127
Austria		…	…	…	1,102	478	412	276	453
Sweden		…	…	…	1,225	454	516	414	398
Spain	…	…	…	…	554	936	1,497	1,035	1,245
Japan	…	…	…	…	109	277	913	726	1,783

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list in the Official Report all anti-dumping measures, quotas, levies, or other restrictions imposed since 1st January 1976 on imports of steel, stating in each case the country of origin of the imports affected.

Since 1st January 1976 four provisional charges to anti-dumping duties have been imposed:—

stainless steel bars and billets from Spain: ad valorem 10 per cent.

steel reinforcing bars from S. Africa: £38 per tonne

steel light sections from Spain: £31·50 per tonne

steel light sections from Japan: £20 per tonne

The investigation into Spanish stainless steels has now been completed and substantive duties of 8 per cent., 10 per cent. and 16 per cent. ad valorem, according to the Government's devolution proposals for Wales in the Scotland and Wales Bill.

I have offered to meet the General Secretary to discuss NALGO's representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the volume of imports of tool steels, high speed steels and stainless steel bars in each of the last five years in total and from each of the following countries: West Germany. Austria, Sweden, Spain and Japan.

Figures for tool steels and high speed steels are not available, as imports are not recorded in sufficient detail in the overseas trade statistics to distinguish them separately. Imports of stainless and heat resisting steel bars were as follows:metallurgical composition, have been imposed, with effect from 22nd April 1977, on certain such products.The United Kingdom has no unilateral quotas on imports of any steel. We do, however, benefit from a series of "indicative ceilings" on imports into the EEC of certain steels from Austria and Sweden.The Department and the Spanish Government recently agreed new minimum price levels from Spain, updating the previous agreement of February 1976.Discussions between the EEC Commission and the Japanese Government last autumn led to forecasts by the Japanese Government of a reduced level of exports of certain special steels in 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list those accountancy firms which have received consultancy contracts from his Department in the past three years, stating the subjects of such consultancy and the fees paid in each case.

No consultancy contracts have been placed with accountancy firms on behalf of my Department in the past three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what restrictions are placed by

Metric tons
			1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976
Sperm oil	…	…	14,341*	11,490*	7,233*	8,534	11,474	7,747	8,528
Spermaceti	…	…	23	1,121	70	103	338	119	201
Total	…	…	14,364	12,611	7,303	8,637	11,812	7,866	8,729
* Excludes refined sperm oil which is not shown separately in these years

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the Civil Aviation Authority report on Concorde's noice performance during the first 12 months operations from Heathrow will be published.

The Civil Aviation Authority today published a report on the noise data from the first 12 months of scheduled Concorde operations at Heathrow Airport, London. Copies of the report are being placed in the Library.The report contains an assessment of the impact of the 327 scheduled Concorde flights in the first 12 months on overall noise exposure as measured by the Noise and Number Index. It concludes that the effect of this number of flights has been very small indeed and in no area has the NNI increased by more than one unit.The noise levels of Concorde measured at a number of sites along the flight paths are compared with those of other aircraft measured at the same sites. On arrival, Concorde is shown to be on a par with the Boeing 707 in the immediate vicinity of the airport. On departure Concorde has been shown to be within the range of noise levels caused, at the permanent monitoring sites, by subsonic aircraft using the same runways.

Country and port details are suppressed, but monthly total quantities and values of imported sperm whale oil are published.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish the annual figures for imports of sperm whale for every year since 1970.

Following is the information for sperm whale products which are separately distinguished in the overseas trade statistics:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the technical reasons why more low-power local broadcasting facilities, including Citizens Band services, cannot be introduced in the United Kingdom.

The Government propose, in the light of the recommendations in the Annan Report on the Future of Broadcasting, to consider whether, and, if so how, more low-power local broadcasting stations might be provided. But Citizens Band radio is not a broadcasting service and I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Rathbone) on 19th October 1976—[Vol. 917, c. 368]—and to my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) on 21st October 1976.—[Vol. 917, c. 1634–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the percentage increase in educational programmes within Her Majesty's prisons corresponds with the percentage increase for all other expenditure relating to such prisons.

The increase in estimated expenditure on educational services in Prison Service establishments, 1977–78, as stated in reply to the hon. Member's Question of 14th March—[Vol. 928, c. 8]—is minimal—1ess than 0·1 per cent.—compared with 1976–77. Estimated net current general expenditure on prisons, 1977–78, is approximately 2·8 per cent. higher than in 1976–77.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the Annan Committee's recommendations, he will review the position concerning concessionary television licences for the elderly and chronically sick, and for old people's homes and sheltered housing with communal facilities, as well as the possibility of allowing retired persons to obtain a concessionary television licence.

Yes. The Government will be considering the whole question of licence concessions in the light of the Annan Committee's recommendations that no further concessions be introduced and that the concessionary licence available to residents in some old people's homes should be phased out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those accountancy firms which have received consultancy contracts from his Department in the past three years, stating the subjects of such consultancy and the fees paid in each case.

Coopers and Lybrand Associates Limited conducted a review of computing requirements in part of the Home Office in 1975, at a cost of £10,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces in the United Kingdom have introduced vehicles with automatic transmission; what were the reasons for their introduction; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Attorney-General if he will call a conference of magistrates to discuss sentencing policy for assault in cases such as those involvinging members of fox and stag hunts.

Sentencing conferences and exercises for magistrates are held periodically. Most of these are convened locally, and all magistrates in the area are invited to attend. On these occasions the magistrates consider appropriate sentences in respect of offences normally arising in the area concerned. Particular attention is given to crimes involving violence. My noble Friend regards the present arrangements as satisfactory and sees no reason to convene an additional special conference of the kind suggested.

asked the Attorney-General what recent meetings he has had with the Director of Public Prosecutions.

I meet the Director of Public Prosecutions as often as the need arises and I last met him on 31st March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those accountancy firms which have received consultancy contracts from his Department in the past three years, stating the subjects of such consultancy and the fees paid in each case.

My Department has employed accountancy firms for survey work but not as consultants.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to increase the number of registered disabled persons employed in the Scottish Office and the Scottish Prison Service; and when he expects to achieve the 3 per cent. target in each case.

The officers in my Department with particular responsibility for the recruitment and career management of disabled persons will continue their efforts to achieve the 3 per cent. target, acting in accordance with the code of practice drawn up for the employment of such persons in Government Departments and working closely with the specialist staff of the Employment Service Agency. Little progress can be expected, however, at a time when many of the disabled staff who were taken on immediately after the last war are reaching retirement age, and while recruitment generally is on its present low scale. It has also to be recognised that there are severe limitations on the employment of disabled persons in the Prison Service where the nature of the work demands, in most posts, a high standard of physical fitness.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many buildings he has added to the list of buildings of special or historical interest in Scotland in each of the past five years and of that number how many were in Glasgow; and what financial assistance the Scottish Development Department gave during this period towards repairs of listed buildings in Scotland.

The numbers of items added to the statutory list for Scotland, and for Glasgow in particular, are set out below:

	Scotland	Glasgow
*1972	2,874	—
1973	218	3
1974	405	12
1975	114	10
1976	258	—
1977 (Jan-Mar)	76	57
* The 2,874 items now statutorily listed were shown previously in a provisional non-statutory list. Glasgow was not involved, as a statutory list had been prepared for the local authority and no conversion of their provisional to statutory listing was required.

On the recommendation of the Historic Buildings Council for Scotland, in the same period grants have been awarded totalling £2,006,000 for repairs to listed buildings of outstanding architectural and historic interest and also grants totalling £372,000 for the enhancement of outstanding conservation areas; a substantial part of the latter has gone towards the repair of listed buildings.In addition, from the package of measures to help the construction industry, £120,000 was made available by the Government in 1976–77 to Glasgow District Council for the repair of listed buildings in Glasgow. Glasgow District Council has made representations to the Secretary of State about listing in Glasgow and my hon. Friend will receive a copy of the reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many consultant rheumatologists there are in each of the health board areas in Scotland.

The numbers of consultant rheumatologists in Scotland in each of the health board areas with doctors in this speciality are as follows: Greater Glasgow, three; Lothian, three; Grampian, one. In these and other areas patients with problems associated with rheumatism and arthritis are treated by consultants in general medicine with experience in this field, consultants in rehabilitation, and orthopaedic surgeons.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those accountancy firms which have received consultancy contracts from his Department in the past three years, stating the subjects of such consultancy and the fees paid in each case.

The information requested is as follows:

1975–76—Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Co.—Design and implementation of a management accounting scheme at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh. £43,200.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what respects Blackhall School does not meet the requirements laid down in the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967 (S.I., No. 1199), amended by S.I., 1973, No. 322.

I am asking Lothian Regional Council to send this information to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes any future alteration in the rating and valuation system on mining operations carried on by the National Coal Board; and if he will make a statement giving the anticipated cost for the National Coal Board arising from the new system compared with the present one.

Powers are available to me under Section 6 of and Schedule 1 to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 to make an order determining, by a method specified in the order, the aggregate amount of the rateable values of National Coal Board lands and heritages. I have no present intention of initiating the consultation with the National Coal Board and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities which would be preliminary to making such an order, the cost of which for the National Coal Board would depend entirely upon the valuation formula specified.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost of administering the parental contribution in the Scottish Education Department students' allowance scheme.

About £250,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet received the final report of the public inquiry held at Bannockburn on 3rd December 1976, about the application by Stirling District Council to revoke the Bannockburn smokeless zone orders; and if he will make a statement.

The report of the public inquiry was submitted on 15th March. It is being considered, and the decision will be made very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the message he has received as President of the Council of Ministers of the European Community from the President of the Executive Committee of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) on co-operation between the two bodies.

On April 18th the President of the Executive Committee of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance addressed to my right hon. Friend, as President of the EEC Council of Ministers, the response of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance to the Community's communication of 18th November 1976 to the CMEA. The CMEA's response represents a further step in the confidential exchanges between the Community and the CMEA which it is hoped will lead to formal negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those African countries to which an ambassador or high commissioner has been accredited but where he or she is not permanently in situ.

The following are the African countries to which a British ambassador or high commissioner has been accredited but where he is not permanently resident:

Benin, Burundi, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Togo, Upper Volta.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries in Africa where there is a British diplomatic post.

There are resident British diplomatic posts in the following African countries:—

Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somali Democratic Republic, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zaire, Zambia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those accountancy firms which have received consultancy contracts from his Department in the past three years, stating the subjects of such consultancy and the fees paid in each case.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not maintain records which would conclusively answer this question. But so far as can be determined no such contracts have been placed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the past three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of (a) full-time and (b) part-time members of the Ulster Defence Regiment

Subject	Accountancy Firm				Total of fess paid in past 3 years
					£
(i) Investigation of contractors' costs claimed	Thornton Baker & Co.			…	43,868
against defence contracts.	Deloitte & Co.	…	…	…	909
(ii) Examination of contractors costs on behalf of Saudi Arabian Government	Touche Ross & Co.		…	…	48,656
(iii) Monitoring of Ministry of Defence loan to Yarrow (Shipbuilders) Ltd	McLintock (Thomson) & Co.				16,522
(iv) Leading internal audit teams on study of bill	Coopers & Lybrand		…	…	19,864
payment and pay systems at selected RN, Army and RAF Depots	Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co.				1,876
(v) Assisting in training of Department's professional accountants in techniques of computer system control	Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co.				5,151

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will inquire into the incident in Rio de Janeiro involving the frigate HMS "Danae" and the escaped prisoner Mr. Ronald Biggs; and if he will issue guidance to naval captains as to the conduct of ships visiting foreign ports.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemsworth (Mr.

The figures were:

	Non Regular Permanent Staff	Part-time Members
31st March 1976	1,528	6,137
30th June 1976	1,521	6,171
30th September 1976	1,581	6,039
31st December 1976	1,632	5,984
31st March 1977	1,669	5,962

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those accountancy firms which have received consultancy contracts from his Department in the past three years, stating the subjecting of such consultancy and the fees paid in each case.

No consultancy contracts have been placed with accountancy firms by the Ministry of Defence in the past three years. The following services have, however, been provided by accountancy firms in support of the work of the Department's professional accountants:Woodall) on 22nd April.—[Vol. 930, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the staff reductions in his Department's headquarters set out in his answer to the hon. Member for Tynemouth of 19th April were as a result of the posts concerned being transferred out of London rather than abolished.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the current annual cost of his Department's headquarters (a) for Service staff, (b) for civil staff and (c) for other costs.

The total expected cost to the defence budget of the Ministry of Defence Whitehall organisation in 1977–78, as shown in Annex B to the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1977 (Cmnd. 6735), is £ 111 million at 1977–78 Estimates prices. This figure includes Property Services Agency Headquarters staff engaged on defence work. The breakdown is as follows:

	£M
Service staff	19
Civilian staff	77
Other administrative expenditure	15
	111

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will issue to Her Majesty's Forces a brief statement of Her Majesty's Government's latest position in regard to the gratuities of short-service officers; and if he will publish it in the Official Report.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 25th March 1977; Vol. 928, c. 697], gave the following information:The main points of the detailed guidance now issued to all units are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department's definition of gipsies is confined to genuine romanies or includes didicois and the growing number of scrap metal merchants.

Gipsies are defined in the Caravan Sites Act 1968 as persons of nomadic habit of life, whatever their race or origin, but this does not include travelling showmen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will undertake to make a census of the gipsy population, in view of the fact that the population of gipsies appears to have nearly trebled in recent years and is continuing to grow.

The results of previous attempts to take a formal census by means of a simultaneous national count cast doubt on the reliability of this method when applies to gipsies. However, on the basis of information provided from time to time by local authorities and the gipsy organisations, the Department has arrived at an estimate, which it considers to be fairly realistic, of about 8,000 families in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will allow an extension of six weeks beyond the date of 22nd April set for the submission of comments on his Department's consultative document containing proposals to amend the laws relating to ancient monuments, in view of the need for adequate time to be available for detailed consideration by interested parties.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to defer the special planning inquiry relating to the expansion of Windscale.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those accountancy firms which have received consultancy contracts from his Department in the past three years, stating the subjects of such consultancy and the fees paid in each case.

The information is as follows:

Name of firm with subject matter and fees paid
	£
Cooper's and Lybrand
To examine the financing of the central YMCA building project	13,560
Binder Hamlyn Singleton and Fabian
Study of financial aspects of private sector house-building	14,820
Whinney Murray & Co.
Drake and Scull Construction. Monitoring of financial aspects in building construction	3,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what guidance he has issued to local authorities about the level of interest rates to be charged on local authority mortgages;(2) if he will issue a circular advising that local authority mortgage rates should be reduced in line with the recent action by the Building Societies Association;(3) if he will advise local authorities not to increase mortgage rates.

In general, I am sure that authorities do not need to be formally advised of the desirability of bringing their mortgage rates down in line with the general fall of interest rates. But the rates of interest charged by local authorities with approved home loans schemes are related to the costs of their own borrowings which are not necessarily the same as those of the building societies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the amount of rates paid by the National Coal Board for the years 1950, 1960 and each of the past four years; and, in view of the effect of the present method of assessment of rating on the accounts of the National Coal Board, if he will consider changing the present rating system.

My Department has no record of the rates paid by individual ratepayers, and I suggest my hon. Friend asks the National Coal Board direct for the information he seeks in the first part of his Question. The rateable values of most of the Board's properties are at present determined by a formula prescribed in the National Coal Board (Valuation) Order 1963. My right hon. Friend is at present considering proposals for amending the formula.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what alterations he has considered in the rating or valuation on mining operations by the National Coal Board; what would be the financial implications of any such alteration; and if he will make a statement.

Detailed proposals for amending the current method of determining the rateable values of the mining and associated properties occupied by the National Coal Board were contained in a consultation document sent to the Board and the local authority associations on 20th December 1976, a copy of which is available in the Library. My right hon. Friend is not yet ready to announce his decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the salary scale of surveyors in his Department.

Professional surveyors serving in my Department are paid on salary scales ranging from £3,450 per annum the minimum of the professional

		Building Surveyors	Estate Surveyors	Land Surveyors	Quantity Surveyors	Totals
1974	…	180	400	3	457	1,040
1975	…	202	439	3	497	1,141
1976	…	210	399	3	462	1,074

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what proportion of the recent allocation of £1,290,000 for grain storage in Kenya during 1977–79 will result in export orders for British manufacturers; and what proportion will be spent on the erection of Cyprus bins to be constructed in Kenya using local labour and materials.

This project is for an expansion of short-term grain-holding facilities in bag stores rather than for strategic bulk storage in Cyprus bins. 30 per cent. of our aid will be for United Kingdom procurement and the balance for local costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to lay the revised Highway Code before the House.

Before the Summer Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many licensed vehicles he estimates are at pre sent used on roads in Great Britain; what proportion are private and what proportion business vehicles; and on what he bases his estimates.

17,768,000, according to the 1976 census. I regret that no figures

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many surveyors were employed by his Department in 1974, 1975 and 1976, respectively.

The number of professional surveyors employed on 31st December each year were as follows:are available to distinguish private from business use.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicle owners have been prosecuted because their vehicles were unlicensed during each of the past five years for which records are available; how many and what percentage of such owners were convicted and acquitted, respectively; and what penalties were imposed on those who were convicted.

The information requested is as follows:

Year	Prosecutions	Total Value of Penalties
		£
1972	160,321	1,388,826
1973	156,162	1,596,746
1974	142,905	1,747,350
1975	156,286	2,460,574
1976	165,000	2,800,000
	(estimated)	(estimated)

The precise proportion of acquittals is—I regret—not available, but it is certainly not more than 5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue he estimates is likely to be lost during the year 1977 due to non-payment of vehicle licence fees.

I have in hand at the moment a special survey designed to provide precisely this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, how many, and what proportion, of vehicle owners found not to have paid their licence fees were not prosecuted during the years 1975 and 1976; how many, and what proportion, were merely permitted to pay the appropriate licence fee; how many, and what proportion, were charged additional

							1975	1976 (estimated)
Total unlicensed but not prosecuted		…	…	…	…	…	445,000	435,000
							(74%)	(73%)
Including
(a) back duty only paid	…	…	…	…	…	…	180,000	160,000
							(31%)	(27%)
(b) back duty plus "additional sum" paid				…	…	…	162,000	130,000
							(27%)	(23%)
Figures for the total value of "additional sum" penalties paid in those years are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what additional steps he intends to take to track down unlicensed vehicles on the roads.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) on 4th April.—[Vol. 929, c. 316–17.]

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will warn owners and drivers of unlicensed vehicles on roads that such vehicles are not covered by insurance, whereby they are committing criminal offences.

No, because my hon. and learned Friend's tenet is incorrect.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Armthorpe—Hatfield section of the M18 motorway to be opened to traffic.

This summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has yet received representations from Cornwall County Council regarding the level of bus subsidies in the Duchy; and if he will make a statement.

I have just received a letter from the county council explaining the difference between forecast and actual expenditure on bus revenue support in 1976–77. I shall reply as soon as possible.

Figures rounded to the nearest 1,000 are as set out below, with proportions in brackets:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why a claim in respect of loss and damage arising out of the Al Cawledge diversion made on behalf of Mr. H. Sordy of Greensfield Farm on 7th August 1975 has not yet been resolved; and when he expects to resolve it.

Determining liability for loss or damage from construction works can be a lengthy business, especially when any items are in dispute. I regret that examination of this case took longer than we would have liked. The Department has now instructed the district valuer to negotiate a settlement with Mr. Sordy's agents under Section 20 of the Compulsory Purchase Act 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those accountancy firms which have received consultancy contracts from his Department in the past three years, stating the subjects of such consultancy and the fees paid in each case.

The following contracts were awarded to accountancy firms and associated consultancy business:

• Arthur Andersen & Co. Advice on disposal of overseas subsidiaries of the National Freight Corporation.
• Arthur Andersen & Co. Crew costs of bus operators.
• Binder Hamlyn Singleton Fabian. Monitoring financial situation of French Kier companies.
• Binder Hamlyn Singleton Fabian. Report on commencing capital debt of the National Freight Corporation.
• Binder Hamlyn Singleton Fabian. Examination of financial viability of Drake and Cubitt, building contractors.
• Coopers and Lybrand Associates Limited. Cost-benefit analysis of the Channel Tunnel project.
• Coopers and Lybrand Associates Limited. International cross channel transport studies.
• Coopers and Lybrand Associates Limited. Review of the financial position and prospects of the National Freight Corporation.
• Economists Advisory Group. Port investment and pricing.
• Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. Financial advice on affairs of the Ports Industry.
• Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. Review of attribution of costs to the rail freight business.
• Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. Study of information requirements associated with the provision of passenger grants to British Rail.
• Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. Audit of rail passenger grant claims under Section 39 of the Transport Act 1968.
• Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. Audit of grant claims under EEC Regulations 1191/69 and 1192/69.
• Price Waterhouse & Co. Review of the financial position and prospects of the Port of London Authority.
• Touche Ross & Co. Protection of the Exchequer interest in the termination of the Channel Tunnel project.

Aggregate fees in round terms amounted to just over £½ million.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will confirm the anticipated start of the A13-A12 section of the M25 in late 1977.

Yes, subject to the satisfactory completion of the outstanding statutory procedures and to the availability of funds at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has received from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and other organisations concerned with road safety on the benefits of automatic transmission; and if he will make a statement.

This has not been the subject of general representations to me, but the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents discussed its possible advantages for buses in its February publication of "Care on the Road". Advantages claimed include smooth take off when the bus starts, and a built in safeguard against the bus moving off with the doors open. I accept that automatic transmission has advantages both for buses and other vehicles, but there are also disadvantages such as reduced engine braking, a lower degree of control in certain driving conditions, and increased fuel consumption. On balance, therefore, I doubt whether I would be justified in taking a decisive line either for or against the increased use of automatic transmission in vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what recent discussions he has had with Rolls-Royce Ltd. about future development of the RB211 engine in conjunction with Lockheed Aircraft.

I have had no recent discussions with Rolls-Royce Ltd. on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many applications for selective financial assistance under the Industry Act have been (a) approved, (b) rejected and (c) are under consideration in the latest convenient 12 months for the establishment of workshops and co-operatives; and how this compares with the position one and two years earlier.

One formal application, which was unsuccessful, was received in the 12 months to 31st March 1977. Three successful applications were received in 1974–75, and one successful and one unsuccessful application was received in 1975–76. These figures exclude discussions with potential applicants where the proposal was not pursued or alternative arrangements were made, for which statistics are not available and excludes recent applications from the established co-operatives of Meriden and KME.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the firm orders for different makes of civil and military aircraft placed with the new British Aerospace Board and its subsidiary companies and outline the medium and long-term civil and military projects, even if the subject of collaborative agreements with United States or European companies, which will provide future orders, and work for subcontractors to the aerospace industry.

Orders are a matter for British Aerospace. On medium and long-term civil aircraft projects I have nothing to add to my answer to previous Questions from the hon. Members for Chingford (Mr. Tebbit) and Chertsey and Walton (Mr. Pattie). Military projects are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

asked the Secretary of State what were the reasons which led him to exclude the Bridlington travel-towork area from development area status, although it is part of Humberside.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was not satisfied that Bridlington's circumstances justified its designation as a development area.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what action he is taking to increase the number of registered disabled persons employed in his Department; and when he expects to achieve the 3 per cent. target.

It is the general rule that in recruiting staff directly my Department draws particular attention to the fact that registered disabled persons may apply. I am unable to forecast when the 3 per cent. target will be reached as much depends upon rates of recruitment and the number and capabilities of registered disabled persons seeking employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what amount of Government funds was made available in Government Expenditure Plans, Command Paper No. 6721, in support of the corporate plan for Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd.

Rolls-Royce is funded by the National Enterprise Board for which provision in Command Paper 6721 is given in table 2.4. It will be for the National Enterprise Board to decide, in consultation where necessary with the Department of Industry, on the allocation from these resources in support of the corporate plan for Rolls-Royce Ltd.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what tonnage of tool steels, high speed steels, and stainless steel bars produced in the United Kingdom in 1976;and what is his estimate of such production in 1977.

Statistics of production are not available. Deliveries from United Kingdom production for home and export markets are as follows:

DELIVERIES OF FINISHED STEEL PRODUCTS IN 1976
	tonnes
Tool, die and magnet steel
Non-alloy	1,466
alloy	14,158
High speed steel
alloy	9,045
Stainless steel bars
rods and bars in coil	8,229
other bard not in coil	9,591
bright bars	5,053
forged bars	986

Source: Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau. Estimates for 1977 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry from information available to him from Community sources, if he will estimate the investment due to take place in the steel industry as part of the Davignon programme within each member country of the European Coal and Steel Community and in total over the next five and 10 years; and whether he is satisfied that the increase in productivity and rate of rationalisation of resources will be adequate to sustain a fully competitive industry in Great Britain.

No specific proposals for the achievement of longerterm objectives in the Community steel policy have been put forward. The British Steel Corporation already has in hand a large capital investment programme designed to achieve a fully competitive steel industry in Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list those accountancy firms which have received consultancy contracts from his Department in the past three years, stating the subjects of such consultancy and the fees paid in each case.

Consultancy contracts placed with accountancy firms, and with management consultant companies associated with accountancy firms, on behalf of my Department in the last three financial years are listed below.I am writing to my hon. Friend about expenditure incurred on these contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress is being made in the discussions that are taking place regarding the threatened closure of the Plessey factory in Kirkby; if the company have yet agreed to keep the factory open and bring in alternative products; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions between Plessey, the Department of Industry and the Department of Employment about the 4,000 redundancies notified by Plessey are continuing urgently.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the explanation of the difference between Table 13 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report, published in March, which forecasts a gross trading loss, including capital receipts, before depreciation, for the British Steel Corporation of £50 million in 1977–78, and Table 3.3 of the Public Expenditure White Paper, Command Paper No. 6721-II, published in February, which forecasts a gross trading profit, including capital receipts, before depreciation, for the British Steel Corporation of £204 million in 1977–78; and if he will make a statement on the quarter billion pound deterioration.

The figures in Cmnd. 6721-II were, as the White Paper stressed, a tentative indication of the individual industries' financing requirements. Although published in February, these figures were based on industry estimates produced during 1976. The figures in the Financial Statement and Budget Report represent later estimates based on more up-to-date information.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry with whom and on what dates he has had discussions concerning the future of the power plant manufacturing industry.

Ministers have had a number of discussions—more than 30—with all the interested parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he intends to respond to the report on consumer representation in the nationalised industries, which his predecessor commissioned from the National Consumer Council on 26th April 1975.

The Government intend to respond to the NCC report in the White Paper which will be published in response to the NEDO report on the rôle of the nationalised industries in the economy and the study of industrial democracy in the nationalised industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will list those accountancy firms which have received consultancy contracts from his Department in the past three years, stating the subjects of such consultancy and the fees paid in each case.

No consultancy con tracts have been placed with accountancy firms on behalf of my Department in the last three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what study he has made of the latest proposals by the brewers to increase beer prices; if he will refer these proposed increases to the Price Commission; and if he will make a statement.

All proposed price increases by the major brewers are, as a matter of course, prenotified to the Price Commission, which may modify or reject them if they do not comply with the terms of the Price Code.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has received from the British Youth Council a copy of its Report on Youth Unemployment—Causes and Cures; what he estimates to be the cost of the proposals; and what consideration he will give to the working party's recommendations.

EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN CORNWALL
(Thousands)
					All industries and services		Manufacturing industries	Agriculture and horticulture	Mining and quarrying	Hotels restaurants, etc.
					Males	Females
June 1975	…	…	…	…	73	48	21	8	6	9
Change between June 1970 and June 1975		…	…	…	+3	+7	—	-1	—	+1
Change between June 1965 and June 1970		…	…	…	-1	+4	+8	-3	—	-2
The numbers of employees in employment in the fishing industry were less than 1,000 throughout the period.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, in view of the situation developing in Richmond and Barnes due to the the present dispute involving refuse collection, whether any approach has been made by the parties in the dispute to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, I have received a copy of the British Youth Council's report. It makes a number of wide-ranging proposals, the cost of which would be very difficult to estimate. Nevertheless I will give the recommendations every consideration. The Prime Minister and I will be meeting members of the working group later this month to discuss the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many men and women, respectively, are currently employed in Cornwall; and how this compares with the position five and 10 years ago;(2) if he will list the numbers of people in Cornwall employed in manufacturing, farming, fishing, mining/quarrying and tourism, respectively, at present, five years ago and 10 years ago, respectively.

Employment estimates for Cornwall are available for each midyear and the latest are for June 1975. These estimates are analysed according to the Minimum List Headings of the Standard Industrial Classification, which does not provide a separate classification for tourism. In the following table, information is given for hotels and residential establishments (MLH 884) and restaurants, cafes and snack bars (MLH 885).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is aware of the situation developing in Twickenham due to the present dispute involving refuse collection; whether any approach has been made by the parties in the dispute to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that a dispute between the London borough of Richmond-upon-Thames and its refuse collectors has affected Richmond, Barnes and Twickenham. The original dispute, which started in February 1977, was about manning; now there is a dispute over additional payment for clearing the backlog of rubbish.The matter is being considered today within the appropriate local government machinery for dealing with industrial disputes. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has not been approached for assistance, and does not normally intervene in disputes until the appropriate machinery has been exhausted.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many references have been made to both (a) the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service and (b) the Central Arbitration Committee of the ACAS under the provisions of Schedule 11, Part II, to the Employment Protection Act; and whether he will list them and the outcome of each.

I understand that the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has received four claims formally reported under Part II of Schedule 11 to the Employment Protection Act, up to and including 18th April. One of these claims has been referred by the service to the Central Arbitration Committee for a decision but has not yet been heard. None of the four claims has yet been settled.It is not the practice of the service or the committee to give details of individual claims before they are settled. Details of claims heard by the Central Arbitration Committee are subsequently published in the committee's awards.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all references to the Central Arbitration Committee of ACAS under Schedule 11 to the Employment Protection Act indicating (a) the outcome, (b) the average earnings of the employees involved and (c) the union responsible for bringing each case.

I understand that the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has referred 93 claims under Schedule 11 to the Employment Protec- tion Act to the Central Arbitration Committee, up to and including 18th April. Two of these claims have been heard by the committee, but in neither case has an award yet been made. One claim was withdrawn after being referred to the committee but before the hearing had taken place. It is not the practice of the service or the committee to give details of individual claims before they are settled. Details of claims heard by the Central Arbitration Committee are subsequently published in the committee's awards.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of those people with full-time higher education is employed by the public sector.

The exact information requested is not available. However, figures of employment by industry from the 1971 Census of Population suggest that just under half of the people with degrees or equivalent qualifications are employed in public sector industries and services.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress he has made in devising alternative employment schemes for the town of Kirkby in the event of the closure of the Plessey factory.

My Department is in close touch with the Department of Industry and the company about the situation at the Plessey factory at Kirkby. If, in the event, the factory should close all the facilities of the Manpower Services Commission will be available to help.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the number of firms and employees covered by each wages council.

The latest estimates relate to December 1975. The number of establishments is taken from lists held by the Wages Inspectorate; the estimate for the number of workers is derived from the numbers found to be employed in establishments visited by the Inspectorate in recent years. The establishments in question do not form a representative sample for statistical purposes and the

Wages Council

Approximate number of firms

Approximate number of workers covered

Aerated Waters (England and Wales

…

…

…

…

…

629

18,000

Aerated Waters (Scotland)

…

…

…

…

…

…

96

1,500

Boot and Shoe Repairing

…

…

…

…

…

…

3,036

10,000

Button Manufacturing

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

127

4,000

Coffin Furniture and Cerement-Making

…

…

…

…

38

600

Corset

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

177

16,000

Cotton Waste Reclamation

…

…

…

…

…

…

39

750

Dressmaking and Women's Light Clothing (England and Wales)

…

7,137

125,000

Dressmaking and Women's Light Clothing (Scotland)

…

…

478

9,000

Flax and Hemp

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

26

2,500

Fur

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

677

7,000

General Waste Materials Reclamation

…

…

…

…

…

2,296

20,000

Hairdressing Undertakings

…

…

…

…

…

…

33,743

135,000

Hat, Cap and Millinery (Great Britain)

…

…

…

…

344

7,500

Lace Finishing

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

65

1,000

Laundry

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

1,325

65,000

Licensed Non-residential Establishment

…

…

…

…

60,265

350,000

Licensed Residential Establishment and Licensed Restaurant

…

23,934

390,000

Linen and Cotton Handkerchief and Household Goods and Linen Piece Goods

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

207

6,500

Made-up Textiles

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

345

5,500

Ostrich and Fancy Feather and Artificial Flower

…

…

…

…

42

750

Perambulator and Invalid Carriage

…

…

…

…

…

43

3,000

Pin, Hook and Eye and Snap Fastener

…

…

…

…

8

750

Ready-made and Wholesale Bespoke Tailoring

…

…

…

3,555

120,000

Retail Bespoke Tailoring (England and Wales)

…

…

…

1,289

7,000

Retail Bespoke Tailoring (Scotland)

…

…

…

…

…

131

500

Retail Bookselling and Stationery Trades

…

…

…

…

5,551

30,000

Retail Bread and Flour Confectionery Trade (England and Wales)

13,281

62,000

Retail Bread and Flour Confectionery Trade (Scotland)

…

…

2,175

9,000

Retail Drapery, Outfitting and Footwear Trades

…

…

…

54,553

400,000

Retail Food Trades (England and Wales)

…

…

…

…

71,665

300,000

Retail food Trades (Scotland)

…

…

…

…

…

…

8,884

35,000

Retail Furnishing ad Allied Trades

…

…

…

…

…

43,614

200,000

Retail Newsagency, Tobacco and Confectionery Trades (England and Wales)

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

27,116

85,000

Retail Newsagency, Tobacco and Confectionery Trades (Scotland)

3,872

13,000

Road Haulage

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

25,438

210,000

Rope, Twine and Net

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

149

5,000

Rubber Proofed Garment Making Industry

…

…

…

…

46

1,000

Sack and Bag

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

156

2,500

Shirtmaking

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

667

25,000

Toy Manufacturing

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

383

30,000

Unlicenced Place of Refreshment

…

…

…

…

…

19,303

130,000

Wholesale Mantle and Costume

…

…

…

…

…

1,672

64,000

Total

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

418,577

2,908,350

Councils abolished since December 1975:

Industrial Staff Canteen Undertakings

…

…

…

…

28,790

218,000

Milk Distribution (Scotland)

…

…

…

…

…

750

12,500

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those accountancy firms which have received consultancy contracts from his Department in the past three years, stating the subjects of such consultancy and the fees paid in each case.

In the past three years three accountancy firms, or firms with accountancy connections, have received consultancy contracts from the DE Group. One contract, originally awarded by my Department and subsequently taken over by the Employment Service Agency (ESA), was to Coopers and Lybrand Associates Limited. The subject was a management information system, including financial and management accounting in the ESA.I am informed by the Chairman of the Manpower Services Commission that, in addition to the contract which ESA took over, two further contracts have been awarded by the Training Services Agency (TSA) to accountancy firms. The subjects were management accounting in the TSA and human asset accounting and the contracts were awarded to Coopers and Lybrand Associates Limited and Spicer and Pegler respectively. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible about the expenditure incurred on these contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total sum of money allocated for the job creation scheme; and how much has been allocated to the job creation scheme in the various economic planning regions of England and other appropriate districts in the remainder of the United Kingdom.

A total of £130 million has been allocated to the Job Creation Programme. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that this has been allocated as follows:

	£ million
London and South East (including the East Anglian Planning Region)	7·5
North West	28·0
Northern	21·0
South West	6·5
Yorkshire and Humberside	10·0
Midlands (separate figures for the East and West Midland Planning Regions are not available)	6·5
Scotland	30·5
Wales	16·0
Administration costs	2·1
Not allocated	1·9
Total	130·0

The Job Creation Programme does not operate in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications for job creation in the Yorkshire and Humberside area have been rejected because cash resources have not been available to carry them out.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that no applications for projects have been rejected in Yorkshire and Humberside because of lack of Job Creation Programme funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what criteria are used by the local job creation committee when deciding whether a proposal is worthy of support; and whether the criteria vary from committee to committee.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the main criteria used by local action committees in approving projects for the job creation programme are as follows.Projects should:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have been created by the Job Creation Programme in the North Humberside area and the Hull travel-to-work area in particular.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 603 jobs have been provided in the North Humberside area, of which 566 are in the Hull travel-to-work area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many proposals for job creation programmes in the Hull travel-to-work area have been accepted; and how many have been rejected.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 72 projects have been approved and 51 applications have been rejected in the Hull-travel-to-work area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report of those proposals for job creation programmes which have been accepted for the Job Creation Programme and those which have been rejected, stating in each case the number of jobs created, the amount of money required, and the reasons for acceptance or rejection of the proposals.

I regret that the information requested cannot be provided without disproportionate cost to public funds. I am, however, informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, to date, grants totalling £104·7 million have been approved under the Job Creation Programme, for 7,548 projects, to create 74,001 jobs. A total of 3,443 applications, involving 30,699 jobs, at an estimated

RETAIL BOOKSELLING AND STATIONERY TRADES
			Amount of increase (£)		smr (£)
Date at			Men	Women	Men	Women	Notes
1st February 1974		…	—	—	15·40	13·90
25th February 1974		…	1·80	2·30	17·20	16·20
12th August 1974	…	…	0·45	0·70	17·65	16·90	Top-up to £2·25 under para. 116(iv) of S.I. 1973/1785, plus equal pay instalment.
12th August 1974	…	…	2·40	2·40	20·05	19·30	Threshold increase.
16th September 1974		…	0·40	0·40	20·45	19·70	Threshold increase.
18th October 1974		…	0·40	0·40	20·85	20·10	Threshold increase
7th April 1975	…	…	1·20	1·20	22·50	21·30	Threshold increase.
25th August 1975	…	…	3·45	4·20	25·50	25·50	Included equal rates for men and women.
21st June 1976	…	…	2·50	2·50	28·00	28·00	Top-up under £6 limit.
23rd August 1976	…	…	2·50	2·50	30·50	30·50	Earnings supplement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he will review the 32-year-old agreement followed by his Department in order to enable grants to be made to handicapped students going on special courses.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to Circular 68 issued by the then Ministry of Education to local education authorities in November 1945. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Training Services Agency is in consultation with the Department of Education and Science over the operation of the circular.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the amount and operative date of each increase in the statutory minimum remuneration for the lowest grade of adult "other worker" in the Retail Bookselling and Stationery, Retail Bread and Flour Confectionery (England and Wales), Retail Bread and Flour Confectionery (Scotland), Retail Drapery Outfitting and Footwear, Retail Food (England and Wales), Retail Food (Scotland), Retail Furnishing and Allied Trades, Retail News Tobacco and Confectionery (England and Wales) and Retail News Tobacco and Confectionery (Scotland) Wages Council.