asked the Secretary of State for Energy what action he is taking to assist old people in making full and economical use of the fuel they purchase.

The Department of Energy gives advice on economical use of fuel as part of the "Save It" campaign—for example, through the free booklet "Compare Your Home Heating Costs" and others, and has also encouraged local authorities to make use of the Job Creation Programme to insulate the roofs of their buildings, including dwellings which old people live in. A number of other forms of advice and assistance are also available from a variety of sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what criteria are used in calculating the correspondence between the rise in price of petrol with the reduction in consumption.

Estimates of the effects of changes in the price of petrol on consumption are made by reference to the results of recent studies which have analysed previous experience of such changes. Some such results were published in February 1977 by the Department in Energy Paper No. 17, Report of the Working Party on Energy Elasticities.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has held recently on energy policy.

I am in regular contact with a wide range of interests concerned in energy policy matters, at home and abroad. I have recently held discussions in the United States, Saudi Arabia, the USSR and, of course, in Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the anticipated increase broken down into figures for each individual research activity into alternative energy sources in the current year and the forthcoming year; and what assessment for commercial success his Department places upon each research activity.

Within the main programmes approved to date my Department's spend on research and development on alternative sources is expected to increase between the two years approximately as follows: solar energy by 65 per cent.; wave power by 30 per cent.; and geothermal energy by 25 per cent. One of the objects of the present stage of the R & D programme is to get the data which will make possible a meaningful assessment of the chances of commercial success in each activity.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will now publish a White Paper setting out his proposals for the reorganisation of the electricity supply industry in relation to the Plowden Report.

I expect to make a statement very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received from consumer consultative councils about the Drax B proposal.

The convening chairman of the electricity consultative councils wrote to me on 24th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to invite applications for the new round of North Sea oil licence allocations.

I am unable to say at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the United States Administration about the future control and supply of enriched uranium so far as it affects the United Kingdom and internationally.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley).

asked the Secretary of State for Energy on how many occasions he has met the Chairman of the National Coal Board during the past 12 months to discuss methods of how to increase the export of coal to the countries of the EEC; and if he will make a statement on the future plans for exporting coal.

Coal exports are a recurrent subject in discussions with the Chairman of the National Coal Board, and my right hon. Friend and I are satisfied that the Board, whose prime responsibility it is, is doing all it can to increase them. However, the plain fact is that although it is the lowest cost producer in the EEC, to which most of its exports go, in the present depressed state of the world market our coal is often not competitive with supplies from the major exporters—USA Australia, Poland, etc.—and direct price reductions to meet this competition would be extremely expensive. The problem is fully recognised within the European Community and various proposals for helping the situation are under discussion. Some of them are shortly to be debated in the House. In all this, both the Board and the Department are losing no opportunity to emphasise the importance to the Community as a whole of a thriving coal industry, and the Board is keeping up the pressure on coal importers and consumers in all its potential markets.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he will outline his Department's policy on the power generating industry, so far as it affects the firms of Babcock and Wilcox and Clarke Chapman Ltd.

As my hon. Friend will know, the problems and the future of the power plant industry are urgently being examined in the light of the measures proposed in the CPRS report.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what number of jobs his Department estimates may be saved in the power plant manufacturing industry by bringing forward the ordering of the Drax B power station.

On its own, an order for Drax B may have little effect on long-term employment in the industry, stability for which is likely to be achieved only by a series of measures based on those proposed in the CPRS report.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the British Leyland share, in its bus and truck division, of the United Kingdom market for buses and trucks during the years 1975–76, 1974–75, 1973–74 and 1972–73. respectively.

Figures for trucks for the years 1973 to 1975 have been published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The other information is not available from published sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the total British Leyland share of the United Kingdom car market during the years 1975–76. 1974–75, 1973–74 and 1972–73 respectively.

This information is published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has received the NEB report on British Leyland; and if he will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) on 13th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will name the second director he has nominated to the board of Chrysler United Kingdom Limited.

I have nominated Mr. Roy Granthtam as the second of the two Government-nominated directors to serve on the board of Chrysler United Kingdom until 31st December 1979. I am pleased to say that the board has approved the appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what proposals or suggestions the Government have put to the board and management of Reyrolle Parsons Ltd. about the proposed transfer of its turbine generator interests to GEC.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th May 1977] gave the information information:A number of options are being urgently considered by the parties concerned, including the NEB.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he has had any representations from the retail traders for the reimposition of a system of resale price maintenance.

My Department has received representations to this effect from a small number of retail traders.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will make a statement about the implementation of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

I have made an order which will bring into force further provisions of the Consumer Credit Act.The provision in the Act making the creditor liable jointly with the supplier in respect of a misrepresentation or breach of contract where the credit is extended under a pre-existing arrangement between the supplier and the creditor will be effective from 1st July. From 1st October it will be an offence to canvass or solicitor debtor-creditor agreements (cash loans) off trade premises except where the visit has been requested in writing or in certain limited circumstances allowed by the Director General of Fair Trading. The provision in the Act prohibiting the sending of unsolicited credit cards will be effective from 1st July and from the same date it will be an offence to send to a minor any document inviting him to borrow money, obtain goods or services on credit or hire or to apply for information on credit or hire.Copies of the order are not at present available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Copies of the text have, however, been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he has yet received the Report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the take-over bid by Duckham/BP for Century Oils Limited; and when he expects to publish his decision.

My right hon. Friend received the report on 4th May and is considering it. He will announce his decision and lay the report before Parliament as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development when she expects to receive the report from officials in her Department on maximising the use of appropriate intermediate technology in developing countries.

The report has just been completed, but I have not yet been able to consider it in detail.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will make a statement about British participation in the meeting of the Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia (IGGI) on 5th-6th April in Amsterdam.

We made a further commitment of £2·5 million of capital aid, and said that our technical co-operation programme would remain at least at last year's level. As in the recent past, we shall seek to increase the proportion of our aid to be committed to rural and semi-rural development, in the interests of the poorest people. However, we expressed our deep concern about the human rights position in Indonesia, and our hope that the release of political prisoners will be speeded up. I trust that it will.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will list the items in the British aid programme to Mozambique and specify their value.

The items agreed for purchase under the £5 million programme loan which is being disbursed at present, and their respective maximum values, are as follows:

	£
Vehicles and spare parts	3,340,000
Air-conditioning equipment	337,000
Textile machinery	375,000
Tractors and spare parts	63,000
Aircraft spares and tyres	325,000
Electrical generating plants, transformers supporting equipment aid substation	480,000
Agricultural hand tools	80,000

asked the Minister of Overseas Development why no financial contribution has been made or is intended by Her Majesty's Government to the United Nations' University.

With the present constraints on public expenditure, I am unable to give a high priority to a direct financial contribution to the United Nations' University, though some modest indirect help is being given through my Ministry's Tropical Products Institute. I hope that the university will not hesitate to draw on British academic and intellectual resources for the carrying out of its programme.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if consideration has been given to increasing aid for overseas development to the figure indicated in July 1976; and if she will make a statement.

I should certainly like to be able to do more for the developing countries, having regard to the grave implications for them of the reductions in the aid programme in 1977–78 and 1978–79 of which my predecesor told the House on 17th January.—[Vol. 924, c. 23.] We shall of course be re-examining the figures for the aid programme in the next public expenditure review, but I cannot anticipate the outcome.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what action she is taking to increase the amount of aid given by Her Majesty's Government for overseas aid; and when she expects the Government promises in July last as to the amount of such aid will be kept.

As I said in the reply I have given to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, North-East (Mr. Park) today, I should certainly like to be able to do more for the developing countries, having regard to the grave implications for them of the reductions in the aid programme in 1977–78 and 1978–79 of which my predecessor told the House on 17th January. We shall, of course, be re-examining the figures for the aid programme in the next public expenditure review, but I cannot anticipate the outcome.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated cost to the poultry industry of adopting the EEC grading of eggs into seven grades instead of the three United Kingdom grades: (a) in replacement machinery and (b) in cost of labour and packing.

It is not possible to make a precise estimate of these costs, but they will be limited. Discussions indicate that most packers will not need to replace machinery but will be able to continue to use existing equipment. Detailed advice on the requirements of the new system is being circulated after further discussion with the trade and producer organisations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what are the activities of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the British Egg Marketing Board; who are its members; and what is its cost to public funds;(2) what are the activities of the Egg Quality Committee of the British Egg Marketing Board; who are its members: and what is its cost to public funds.

Committee and Address	Chief Officer	Chairman
Cornwall Sea Fisheries Committee, County Hall, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3AY.	A. L. Dennis, M.A., LL.B. (Clerk)	J. C. T. Trewin
Cumbria Sea Fisheries Committee, The Courts, Carlisle, CA3 8LZ.	A. Fraser, M.A. (Secretary)	J. E. Lovell
Devon Sea Fisheries Committee, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, Devon, EX2 4QD.	C. V. Lucas, LL.B. (Clerk)	W. Badcock
Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee, 2nd Floor, 10 Tuesday Market Place, King's Lynn, PE30 1LD.	J. R. Aldous (Clerk and Chief Fishery Officer)	A. T. West
Isles of Scilly Sea Fisheries Committee, Council of the Isles of Scilly, Town Hall, St.Marys, Isles of Scilly, TR21 0LW	J. Woosnam (Clerk)	R. Lethbridge
Kent and Essex Sea Fisheries Committee, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1XQ.	W. G. Hopkin (Clerk)	J. V. Story
Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee, University of Lancaster, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4XY.	G. J. Barr (Clerk Superintendant and Chief Fishery Officer)	S. Baxter
North Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee, Kingston House, Bond Street, Kingston-upon-Hull, North Humberside, HU1 3EU.	J. Haydon W. Glen, C.B.E., LL.B. (Clerk)	T. H. Turner
Northumberland Sea Fisheries Committee 27 Grainger Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 5JY.	J. D. R. Bradbeer (Clerk)	Lt. Col. G. H. Davidson
Southern Sea Fisheries Committee, 108 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, Dorset.	R. Sturt, B.A. (Secretary)	C. C. Lucas
South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee, 15 The Kingsway, Swansea, SA1 5JW.	J. Rhydderch (Clerk and Chief Fishery Officer)	G. Evans
Sussex Sea Fisheries Committee, Lloyds Bank Chambers, 28/29 Grand Parade, St. Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN27 6DR.	S. L. Clarke (Clerk)	J. R. Leach

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in how many cases in each of the last five years his Department has been (a) consulted about and (b) registered an objection against specific proposals to develop agricultural land for other purposes; and in what proportion of the cases where a departmental objection has

The Egg Marketing Board was wound up in 1971. These two committees therefore no longer exist.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the chairman and secretary of each of the sea fisheries committees in England and Wales, together with the address to which communications to each committee should be sent.

The information is as follows:been made the planning application for development has been either refused by the local authority or by the Government on a "call-in" basis.

I regret that this precise information is not available. A running sample survey since 1972 shows that an objection was made in one-fifth of the cases referred involving the development of agricultural land for other purposes. Disproportionate effort would be required to establish the outcome of these cases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria he applies when appointing members of sea fisheries committees; and how often such appointments are reviewed.

Under the Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1966, my right hon. Friend is required to appoint

"persons acquainted with the needs and opinions of the fishing interests of the district".

Appointments are made for periods not exceeding four years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of acres of arable land in England and Wales; and what is the current arable land loss rate from all causes in England and Wales.

The arable land returned at the June 1976 Agricultural Census for England and Wales totalled 13,638,000 acres. It is estimated that an average of 76,100 acres a year was transferred out of agriculture to all other uses in the six years ending June 1975, the latest period for which this information is available. It is regretted that separate figures for arable land transfers are not maintained.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what account he takes, in his study of the use of monofilament nets, of the action taken to conserve salmon stocks in Irish waters and the restrictions applied to the use of such nets; and if he will make a statement.

I have asked to see the evidence which the Salmon Research Trust of Ireland provided to the Irish Government before their recent action to ban the use of these nets. I hope that this will be useful in the research which my Department is undertaking. The results of the Ministry's work last year off the North-East Coast were inconclusive, because conditions were atypical. The programme of investigation is being repeated this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total staffing establishment of that section of his Department which is wholly or mainly concerned with scrutinising planning applications to prevent the loss of good agricultural land; and how many of these staff are based in: (a) London and (b) elsewhere.

This work is one of the responsibilities of the Land Service within the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service. The present complement of the Land Service is 503. The number of staff undertaking this work as part of their duties comprises two based in London and 253 elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, when considering a planning application which would involve the loss of good agricultural land, his Department takes into account the overall land loss throughout the country in any particular year, or whether it decides solely on the basis of the merits or otherwise of the particular site in question.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 17th March.—[Vol. 928, col. 291.]

Latham asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food upon what criteria his Department decides whether an area of agricultural land is of significant size to warrant consideration of whether to register an objection against its being developed for urban or other non-agricultural use.

The size criterion applied is that in Article 15(1)(i) of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1977 (SI 1977, No. 289) for consultation by a local planning authority with my Department, namely, where in the opinion of the authority there is a likely loss of either 10 or more acres of land used for agriculture or less than 10 acres that would lead to further loss.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in what proportion of cases where his Department is consulted over proposals to develop agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes his staff actually visit the site to assess the worth of the land by personal examination.

My Department's standing instructions require an inspection in all cases unless the divisional surveyor is satisfied that he already has sufficient information.

asked the Attorney-General when he intends to introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of Lord Phillimore's Committee on Contempt of Court.

My noble Friend and I are considering the recommendations of the Phillimore Committee in consultation with other Ministers concerned.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the latest estimated cost of implementing the proposals in the Hardman Report.

The costs of the dispersal programme are being reassessed

Department		Functions charged to the Fund	Functions arranged on repayment	Visits charged to the Fund
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	…	12	1	1
Cabinet Office	…	—	1	—
Civil Service Department	…	1	8	—
Defence, Ministry of	…	11	6	1
Education and Science	…	5	—	—
Employment	…	2	—	—
Environment	…	7	10	—
Foreign and Commonwealth Office	…	94	75	22
Health and Social Security	…	10	4	2
Home Office	…	3	2	—
Lord Chancellor	…	3	3	—
Overseas Development	…	7	4	—
Prime Minister's Office	…	20	20	—
Scottish Office	…	9	—	—
Trade and Industry	…	53	19	11
Treasury	…	5	28	—
Welsh Office	…	—	—	1

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many functions were arranged for each Department by the Government Hospitality Fund on a repayment

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what would be the total cost at present prices of the scheme to transfer 4,000 civil servants and their familes from London to the Cardiff area.

The costs of the dispersal programme as a whole are being reassessed in the light of the current review of the timetable.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he is satisfied with the progress made in the programme to transfer Civil Service jobs to Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

The programme has been and is being implemented with all possible speed.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many functions and visits involving expenditure from the Government Hospitality Fund, either as a direct call on the fund or on a repayment basis, were sponsored by each Government Department in the financial year 1976–77.

The number of functions and visits charged to the fund and the number of functions arranged on a repayment basis for Departments during the financial year 1976–77 were as follows:basis in each of the financial years 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76; and what was the total cost attributable to each Department.

The number of functions—shown in brackets—and their total cost arranged for each Department by the Government Hospitality Fund

Department		1973–74		1974–75		1975–76
		£		£		£
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	…	(2)	367·94	—		(6)	2,602·53
Cabinet Office	…	(5)	812·92	—		(2)	330·83
Civil Service Department	…	(8)	1,864·48	(12)	3,061·08	(9)	2,232·29
Customs and Excise	…	—		—		(2)	420·57
Defence, Ministry of	…	(17)	7,788·22	(11)	4,094·60	(15)	6,930·58
Education and Science	…	(5)	1,409·52	(4)	581·14	(2)	984·13
Employment	…	—		—		(1)	1,370·02
Environment	…	(15)	7,372·00	(10)	2,867·38	(10)	3,117·04
Export Credits Guarantee	…	(2)	687·85	(1)	330·85	(1)	470·13
Foreign and Commonwealth Office	…	(134)	25,889·85	(163)	26,623·22	(128)	24,224·28
Health and Social Security	…	(5)	1,047·95	(5)	1,941·43	(1)	120·24
Home Office	…	(3)	360·13	(6)	1,297·72	(4)	1,278·47
Lord Chancellor's Office	…	—		(1)	106·86	(1)	1,028·28
Northern Ireland Office	…	—		(1)	151·12	—
Overseas Development	…	(1)	232·27	(3)	1,474·26	(6)	1,724·99
Paymaster General's Office	…	—		(1)	126·34	(1)	878·03
Post and Telecommunications	…	(1)	53·05	(1)	45·84	—
Prime Minister's Office	…	(61)	19,134·99	(25)	5,497·93	(30)	7,870·21
Trade and Industry	…	(12)	4,008·33	(8)	2,55·83	(21)	8,459·28
HM Treasury	…	(29)	2,446·52	(31)	3,281·69	(28)	8,103·25
Welsh Office	…	—		(1)	425·10	(1)	114·38

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in the light of the forthcoming sale of outstanding works of art at Mentmore, what consideration she will give to publicising in advance of such sales the Government's intentions towards specific objects for which export licences may be refused.

Export licences are required for works of art over 100 years old and worth £4,000 or more. If the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art were to recommend that an export licence should not be granted immediately my right hon. Friend would have to consider the recommendation on the merits of the particular case.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps she is now taking to ensure that boys and girls, who stay on at school because of the difficulties in finding work, receive the kind of education and training that will fit them for the highly skilled jobs in industry and commerce; and if she will make a statement on future policy.

Pupils who stay at school beyond compulsory school

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make a statement on the development of engineering education in the universities.

The University Grants Committee recently asked universities to make proposals for courses based on engineering which would be attractive to students aiming at careers in manfacturing industry. These courses would be of testing quality, with a high standard of entry, and could last four years instead of three. The UGC has considered the proposals put forward, and has decided to encourage courses of this kind at Birmingham University; Imperial College, London; in Manchester, at the University, the University Institute of Technology, and the Buisiness School; and at the University of Strathclyde, drawing on resources from other Scottish Universities. The UGC is also exploring similar proposals from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and the Brunei University of Technology, and will be considering proposals for Wales. It is intended that the first entry to these courses, which will be strictly limited, will be in autumn 1978. I consider that this development will help to raise the standard of recruitment to management in British manufacturing industry, and will set a new objective for able boys and girls still at school.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the Official Report the increase in real terms in educational expenditure on young persons in the years from 1972 to 1976.

This information is to be found in Table 2.10, of Volume II of the White Paper, "The Government's Expenditure Plans" (Cmnd. 6721-II). At 1976 survey prices, expenditure on education, excluding libraries, in Great Britain was:

£ million
1971–72	6,032
1972–73	6,426
1973–74	6,765
1974–75	6,799
1975–76	6,976

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the proportion of employees covered by national agreements in (a) central Government, (b) local government (c) the nationalised industries and (d) other public bodies, the percentage increases in earnings for those in each of the four categories who are covered by national agreements, and who are not covered by national agreements respectively, in 1974, 1975 and 1976; and, in the case of those employees in each of the four categories who are covered by both national and local agreements, what is the proportion of their earnings determined by each kind of agreement.

The figures requested are not available. However, in each branch of the public sector, all the main categories of employees are covered by national collective agreements and supplementary local agreements are exceptional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he or any of his ministerial colleagues intend to visit Cornwall to assess the effects of continuing high unemployment.

I intend to visit Cornwall at an early opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees of his Deparment who have been appointed to posts in Welsh-speaking areas during the past five years have been sponsored by the Department to undertake part-time courses in the Welsh language.

Since the Department of Employment Goup was set up in 1974 four members of staff serving in Wales have been given assistance with external courses in the Welsh language. Information about courses approved before 1st January 1974 could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what policy his Department follows in relation to ensuring that the staff in the local employment offices in Welsh-speaking areas are fluent in the Welsh language and can discuss matters with the general public in the language of their choice.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it is the policy of the Employment Service Agency to ensure that, in the Welsh-speaking areas of Wales, at least one member of the staff in each employment office or jobcentre is able to converse with Welsh-speaking clients. As far as possible, the Agency also aims to have at least one Welsh-speaking member of staff in its offices in non-Welsh speaking areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the largest industrial amount of illegal underpayment of wages in the last year for which figures are available; how many employees were affected; and what was the outcome of the operation.

It is not possible to identify the largest underpayment from central records. Each of over 11,000 inspection records would need to be examined. The information could not, therefore, be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers were found to be illegally paying low wages in each of the last five years: and how many were prosecuted in each year.

The following is the information required:

Year	Number of Establishments Underpaying Wages	Number of Prosecutions
1976	8,993	—
1975	8,468	2
1974	6,347	2
1973	7,524	—
1972	6,584	—

asked the Secretary of State for Employment under what circumstances prosecutions are brought for the illegal underpayment of wages.

In the case of first offenders, prosecution is considered only if the offence is flagrant. In the case of other offenders, prosecution is always considered, but it is sometimes not possible to proceed because workers are unwilling to give evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to publish the results of the Wages Inspectorate "low-pay blitz" on Wolverhampton.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment for how long the job provided for Mr. T. Dan Smith under the Job Creation Programme will last.

I understand from the Manpower Services Commission that Mr. T. Dan Smith is employed by the Howard League for Penal Reform, which is sponsoring a 52-week project under the job creation programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have been created for the Howard League for Penal Reform under the Job Creation Programme; and at what cost to public funds.

I understand from the Manpower Services Commission that a grant of £5,337 has been approved under the Job Creation Programme for a project, sponsored by the Howard League for Penal Reform, which will create two jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he received any representations from the Council of Engineering Institutions regarding the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations between publication of the proposals and the laying before Parliament of S1.1977 No. 500.

None was received either by my right hon. Friend or by the Health and Safety Executive.

Price asked the Secretary of State for Employment what new opportunities for youth employment were initiated in 1976 in the London borough of Lewisham; and what steps will be taken during 1977 to increase the number of jobs and training places available in the borough.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) that the special employment and training measures which it administers have created the following opportunities for young people in the borough of Lewisham:(

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the levels of unemployment in the London borough of Lewisham in January, April, July and October of 1975, 1976, and in respect of 1977 for January and April only, expressed as a percentage of the total work force.

The following table gives the information available for the employment office areas of Lewisham and Deptford, which most closely represent the London borough of Lewisham. Rates of unemployment can be calculated only for the whole of Greater London and not separately for Lewisham and Deptford.

NUMBER REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN THE EMPLOYMENT OFFICE AREAS OF LEWISHAM AND DEPTFORD
	1975	1976	1977
January	—	5,889	7,438
April	4,145	6,452	7,197
July	4,687	6,957
October	5,610	7,000

Because of industrial action by some staff in the Department of Employment Group, information for January 1975 is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the levels of unemployment in the Greater London Council area in January, April, July and October of 1975, 1976, and in respect of 1977 for January and April only, expressed as a percentage of the total work force.

Following is the information available. Rates of unemployment are calculated by expressing the numbers unemployed as a percentage of the total number of employees, including the unemployed.

GREATER LONDON
	1975	1976	1977
	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.
January	..	3·6	4·3
April	2·2	3·8	4·1
July	2·5	4·1
October	3·1	4·1

Because of industrial action by some staff in the Department of Employment Group, information for January 1975 is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for unemployment among registered disabled workers in Southampton, Eastleigh and the adjacent travel-to-work area; what percentage of all registered disabled workers in the area this represents; and what is the corresponding figure for general employment in the area.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that on 14th April 1977, the latest date for which figures are available, 422 registered disabled people were unemployed in the travel-to-work area which comprises Southampton, Eastleigh, Hythe, Romsey and Woolston. This figure represents 12·8 per cent. of all registered disabled people in the area. The total number of people unemployed in the area was 9,044 or 5·1 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the levels of unemployment in England and Wales in January, April, July and October 1975, 1976, and in respect of 1977 for January and April only, expressed as a percentage of the total work force.

Following is the information available. Rates of unemployment are calculated by expressing the numbers unemployed as a percentage of the total number of employees, including the unemployed.

ENGLAND AND WALES
	1975	1976	1977
	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.
January	3·1	5·3	5·8
April	3·4	5·2	5·6
July	3·9	5·9
October	4·7	5·6

Because of industrial action by some staff in the Department of Employment Group, the full monthly count of the numbers unemployed in January 1975 was not made and the figure given is an estimate based on simplified procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the meeting of the European Community Standing Committee on employment on 5th May 1977, at which Her Majesty's Government were represented.

I represented the United Kingdom Government at this meeting in Brussels which was chaired by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Employment. The agenda for the eleventh meeting of the Standing Committee covered three important items in the field of social affairs: employment prospects in the Community to 1980, the review of the European Social Fund and the co-ordination of the Community's financial instruments. There was a full and useful discussion of the first and second items based on papers prepared by the Commission. For the third item the Standing Committee received a communication from Commissioner Giolitti on the co-ordination of financial instruments in the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is yet able to announce the areas which will benefit from the increase in capacity of community industry announced on 3rd March.

I am pleased to announce that my right hon. Friend has approved increased provision in 19 areas where community industry is already active. The Community Industry National Management Board is preparing recommendations for further allocations of the extra places to which my hon. Friend refers.The areas where expansion has been approved are:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the increase in unemployment among young persons in the years from 1972 to 1976.

The numbers registered as unemployed are analysed by age in January and July each year. The following table shows the number of unemployed young people under 18 years of age in Great Britain during the period January 1972 to January 1977:

(000's)
1972
January	55·8
July	56·9
1973
January	47·0
July	27·0
1974
January	—
July	33·4
1975
January	—
July	105·0
1976
January	106·1
July	268·4
1977
January	122·4

Because of industrial action by some staff in the Department of Employment Group information for January 1974 and January 1975 is not available.The statutory school leaving age was raised from 15 to 16 under the provisions of the School Leaving Age Order 1972 and the School Leaving Age (Scotland) Regulations 1972, which came into operation in September 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average length of time between a young person leaving school and entering employment for the first time in each of the years from 1972 to 1976.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he refused an entry visa to Ricardo Yanez Espinoza who had been detained in one of the concentration camps in Chile, and who applied to come to the United Kingdom following the closure of this camp last November and is now in hiding in Chile.

When an application was made on Sr. Yanez' behalf and, subsequently, when notice of appeal against the refusal of that application was lodged, there was no indication that his case fell into one of the categories for admission. If my hon. Friend has more up-to-date information on the position of Sr. Yanez, I am willing to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many urban aid programme projects were started in the London borough of Lewisham in 1976; and what was their total value.

Work was started in 1976 on four projects approved for grant-aid under the urban programme to a value of £47,260 capital and £23,950 annual running costs. In addition, four holiday projects approved to a value of £3,240 were run in 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he remains satisfied with the morale of the Probation Service, in the light of the recent working document of the National Association of Probation Officers Members' Action Group.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to bring forward legislation implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Standards of Conduct in Public Life, Command Paper No. 6524.

Consultations are now going on with the local authority associations and other bodies closely affected by the Royal Commission's proposals. The Government will announce their conclusions in due course. It is too early to say when we shall be able to bring forward legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to ensure that candidates at the next General Election declare interests in line with the requirements of existing hon. Members.

This would be an appropriate matter for consideration by a Speaker's Conference on Electoral Law, as recommended by the Select Committee on Members' Interests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any further statement to make on the answer given to the hon. Member for Croydon, North-West on 20th April 1977.

NUMBERS RESIDENT IN VARIOUS LOCAL AUTHORITIES AT THE TIME OF THE 1971 CENSUS BY PLACE OF BIRTH OUTSIDE THE UNITED KINGDOM
			Place of Birth
			New Commonwealth (including Pakistan)	Republic of Ireland	Other Countries outside the United Kingdom	All countries outside the United Kingdom
Avon	…	…	13,240	8,230	14,810	36,280
Bedfordshire	…	…	15,515	12,205	17,855	45,575
Berkshire	…	…	20,800	10,725	19,865	51,390
Buckinghamshire	…	…	10,450	5,705	16,325	32,480
Cambridgeshire	…	…	7,420	3,960	20,675	32,055
Derbyshire	…	…	10,050	6,630	10,215	26,895
Gloucestershire	…	…	6,385	4,550	9,430	20,365
Hampshire	…	…	25,835	13,010	30,500	69,345
Hertfordshire	…	…	15,425	15,450	25,855	56,730
Kent	…	…	22,260	11,935	25,835	60,030
Lancashire	…	…	18,955	12,950	15,370	47,275
Leicestershire	…	…	28,150	8,260	14,345	50,755
Northamptonshire	…	…	6,070	6,955	10,700	23,725
Nottinghamshire	…	…	14,565	8,025	15,575	38,165
Oxfordshire	…	…	9,655	7,150	22,715	39,520
Salop	…	…	3,100	1,880	4,355	9,335
Suffolk	…	…	5,785	3,085	21,970	30,840
Warwickshire	…	…	8,195	6,715	7,510	22,420
West Sussex	…	…	8,585	5,275	15,470	29,330
Aylesbury Vale	…	…	2,445	1,550	3,830	7,825
North Bedfordshire	…	…	5,505	2,210	7,595	15,310
Birmingham	…	…	69,140	45,905	14,380	129,425
Blackburn	…	…	5,415	1,430	2,160	9,005
Bolton	…	…	7,570	2,305	3,220	13,095
Bradford	…	…	22,815	4,405	11,145	38,365
Bristol	…	…	8,775	4,970	7,745	21,490
Calderdale	…	…	2,925	2,830	3,365	9,120
Charnwood	…	…	2,375	910	2,425	5,710
Coventry	…	…	15,190	15,850	5,920	36,960
Derby	…	…	7,765	3,325	4,375	15,465
Dudley	…	…	4,835	1,245	2,000	8,080
Gloucester	…	…	2,685	1,160	1,710	5,555
Gravesham	…	…	3,340	1,030	1,285	5,655
Ipswich	…	…	2,490	720	3,505	6,715
Kirklees	…	…	14,390	3,790	4,645	22,825
Leeds	…	…	14,725	8,735	11,480	34,940
Leicester	…	…	23,280	4,920	6,560	34,760
Luton	…	…	8,335	7,670	3,335	19,340

I regret that the reply of 20th April to the hon. Member which was printed in the Official Report—[Vol. 930, c. 85–8.]—inadvertently contained some discrepancies. A corrected and extended version of the table contained in that answer appears below giving details of the number of persons born outside the United Kingdom who were resident in the various local authority areas at the time of the 1971 Census. Separate figures are given for those born in the New Commonwealth—including Pakistan—in the Republic of Ireland, and in other countries outside the United Kingdom. The first column includes those in respect of whom certain local authority expenditure may be eligible for grants under Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966. No more recent information is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the gross salary required to give a Cabinet Minister who is married with no children the same net income as he enjoyed in 1965.

Assuming for 1977–78 full implementation of the Budget proposals, in money terms a gross ministerial salary of £7,575 per annum would be required to give the same net income after tax and national insurance contributions as that enjoyed in 1965–66 when the ministerial salary was £8,500 per annum. Expressed in real terms, the gross ministerial salary required would be £51,163 per annum—using as price index the average General Index of Retail Prices—All Items, for the tax year 1965–66, and for 1977–78 the index for March 1977.This calculation is based only on the ministerial salary and does not take account of either the abated Parliamentary salary receivable by a Minister who is also a Member of the House of Commons or of any other income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to public funds of the National Debt Commission; and how many people it employs.

The gross cost of the National Debt Office is about £480,000 per annum, including some £300,000 in respect of salaries and administration costs. The Commissioners are statutorily empowered to recover costs in respect of many of their functions and all but about £50,000 of the gross costs was so recovered in 1976–77. At 1st April 1977 the number of staff employed was 58.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the procedure for members of the public to make donations to relieve the National Debt; how this is brought to the public's attention; and if he will consider launching a campaign to encourage donations.

Members of the public may make donations to relieve the National Debt by sending them to the Controller General, National Debt Office, Royex House, Aldermanbury Square, London, EC2V 7LR.The address of this office appears in published works of reference, but is not given any special publicity. Members of the public inquiring about making donations are informed of the procedure on request. I have no plans for launching a campaign to encourage donations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the size of the National Debt on 1st March 1974 and 1st March 1977.

To the nearest available dates to those asked for the National Debt was as follows: 31st March 1974, £40,124,527,285; 31st March, 1976, £56,571,585,311.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what person or persons have the power to allow proceedings to be compounded under Section 288 of the Customs and Excise Act 1952; and what are their names and qualifications.