asked the Minister of Overseas Development what projects are being considered currently by her Department for British aid to Bolivia.

I am at present considering a project for providing mining equipment for certain mines in the public sector in Bolivia. My Department is also considering several small technical co-operation projects in the field of rural development.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the National Disabled Passengers' Association concerning the outdoor mobility needs of severely disabled people who can neither walk nor drive nor use public transport; and what reply he has made to this newly formed association.

My right hon. Friend and I recently received letters from Miss Hilary Jones about her intention to set up such an association. I understand that a steering committee has been formed and that efforts are going ahead to get the association firmly established. Associations of this kind can be of very great value in emphasising the varying needs of different groups of disabled people and I keep closely in touch with many such bodies. I am writing to Miss Jones to assure her of the Government's commitment to mobility help based on the disability of the disabled person and not just his or her ability to drive; and also to wish her well in forming this new association.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether, following representations by the Disablement Income Group, he will introduce amending legislation to allow payment of the attendance allowance without a second six-months' qualifying period when a disabled person becomes entitled to the attendance allowance a second time and when that disabled person has been in receipt of that allowance at some time within the previous four years;(2) whether the Attendance Allowance Board has considered the question of a disabled person having his attendance allowance stopped following a temporary improvement in his condition and, following his again becoming entitled to the allowance, having to serve a second six months' qualifying period before his attendance allowance can be reawarded; what recommendations the Board has presented to him; and what representations he has received on this question.

The conclusions reached by the Attendance Allowance Board are that a person should not have to serve a second six months' qualifying period where the medical requirements for attendance allowance are again satisfied after an interval of not more than two years since the cessation or reduction in the rate of the allowance. It considers that the easement should apply only where the medical requirements are likely to be satisfied for at least six months. I am now giving urgent consideration to the Board's conclusions and hope to be able to make a further statement in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the electrically operated invalid tricycles is still being issued to disabled drivers who require it.

Yes. In the financial year ending on 31st March 1977, 109 of these vehicles were issued to new applicants and as replacements to existing users.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what the present retirement and other social welfare benefits just prior to the application of the recently announced increase will be worth if the general increase in the cost of living for the past six months is maintained for the next six months; and if he will give similar details taking account only of rent, heat, light, fares and the other necessities usually met by those in receipt of welfare benefits.

On the assumption that, in the 12 months from November 1976 to November 1977, the rate of increase in the general index of retail prices is the same as occurred between October 1976 and April 1977—the latest six-month period for which information is available—the estimated value of present benefits in November 1977, at November 1976 prices, would be:

Retirement pensions and other long-term national insurance benefits:

Single person—£12·58.

Married couple—£20·15.

Sickness and unemployment benefit:

Single person—£10·60.

Married couple—£17·19.

As to the second part of my hon. Friend's question, the indices for pensioner households reflect the spending patterns, apart from housing, of pensioners who have at least three-quarters of their income in the form of state pensions. On the basis of those indices, and applying similar assumptions, the estimated value of retirement pensions in November 1977, at November 1976 prices would be:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in view of the fact that persons from any country can land in Great Britain, plead impoverishment and receive financial assistance, what limits, if any, are placed on these grants; what action is taken to ensure that the claimants are really in need; and whether he will make a statement.

In general the supplementary benefit entitlement of people from abroad is governed by the immigration conditions, if any, attached to their stay. Benefit is usually withheld from people, such as visitors, who have been admitted for a temporary period on the understanding that they will maintain themselves during their stay. If something has to be done to prevent serious hardship, payment is limited to cover urgent needs while the person makes other arrangements for his support, or return home. Others, including people admitted here for settlement who are able to satisfy the various conditions, may receive supplementary benefit at the appropriate rates. Claims by people from abroad are subject to the normal detailed inquiries into income and resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in view of the concern felt by persons in Great Britain who have regularly contributed towards insurance funds, rates and taxes who find that the only benefit they receive is retirement pension, and of the fact that others are able to draw twice as much in benefits without making any contribution, whether he will take action to remedy this situation.

Anyone in Great Britain, including any pensioner, who satisfies the relevant conditions may receive supplementary benefit, which is assessed according to the needs and resources of the individual claimant and his dependants. I have no proposals for changing this basic principle of the supplementary benefits scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give a detailed list of persons resident in the United Kingdom who are claiming supplementary and other welfare payments for their wives and dependants not resident in the United Kingdom; and what action is taken to ensure that these dependants really exist and that payments made are actually used for the maintenance and upkeep of the dependants for whom the claim is made.

Supplementary benefits and other related welfare benefits are not payable in respect of wives and dependants who are not resident in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether social security payments for any number of children born in or out of wedlock can be claimed by a man with more than one wife even where there is no birth certificate or other documentary evidence of the children being the offspring of the claimant; and, when these children are domiciled in countries other than Great Britain, what steps are taken to ensure that the children are actually in existence and being maintained by the claimant who receives benefits.

Entitlement to increases of national insurance benefit for children is linked to payment of child benefit, and evidence of birth is always required before that is awarded. Generally any person— not necessarily a parent—who has a child living with him or who supports a child living elsewhere can claim child benefit for it, but child benefit is not normally payable in respect of a child living abroad. Where a man lives with his wife, or wives, but their marriage is not recognised in the United Kingdom, and there is entitlement to child benefit, he can claim an increase of national insurance benefit for her child or children, if either he is also a parent or he is meeting the major cost of maintaining the child, or children, in his own home. Increases of benefit are not payable for children resident abroad except where the EEC regulations on social security for migrant workers or the terms of a bilateral reciprocal agreement on social security provide for this. When local inquiries are necessary they are carried out by the social security authority of the country concerned. Supplementary benefit is payable for any child who lives as a member of a claimant's household and for whose requirements the claimant must provide.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he Will give the average time taken by his Department to send formal acknowledgements of receipt and replies to letters sent to him generally and by Members of Parliament in particular; how these times compare with a stated period as long ago as may be conveniently recorded; and what action he has taken or intends taking to expedite these replies to the taxpayer and their elected representatives.

Figures of this kind are not readily available. We aim to reply as quickly as possible to all correspon- dence but are seeking at all times ways of improving performance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the average annual percentage decline in the number of pharmacies since the end of 1966.

The average annual percentage decline in the number of registered pharmacies in Great Britain between 1966 and the end of 1976 has been 2·3 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the review body's report on hospital practitioners' salaries and conditions of work as a matter of urgency.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced the publication of the report in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton (Mr. Wilson) on 26th May—[Vol. 932, c. 531–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now able to make a statement about rate relief for the disabled following his study of the implications of the decision in the case of Vandyk v. Oliver.

Yes. I regret the length of time there has been in considering this matter. This has arisen mainly because of the obscurity of the present legislative provisions and the difficulty of elucidating the present state of the law in the light of the judgment given in the other place in the case of Vandyk v. Oliver.The legal position is not free from doubt, but I am advised that where relief has been given in the past to ratepayers in England and Wales in connection with improvements to dwellings to meet the needs of disabled persons, the Vandyk judgment would only affect that relief in a small number of cases. Disabled persons who are already receiving relief will be glad to know this, and I am able to assure those few disabled people who have been relieved of rates in circumstances where the Vandyk decision raises doubts that it is not the intention of valuation officers to initiate action to get that relief withdrawn or reduced.As far as outstanding appeals are concerned I hope that this statement and the detailed advice which will be given to officers involved will enable settlements to be reached in most cases. Inevitably a few appeals still have to be heard by the courts to determine whether relief is appropriate in the light of the Vandyk judgment.For the future I have decided that disabled people should not be left in a situation in which obscurities of the law leave them in doubt about the rating reliefs to which they are entitled, and in which they are at risk of having these reliefs severely curtailed because of fresh interpretations of the law in new decisions of the courts. I therefore intend at the earliest available opportunity to introduce legislation which would create greater certainty by spelling out the circumstances in which relief is applicable, and specifying either the amount of relief or how it will be determined for each circumstance.A feature of the change I propose is that relief would be given by way of a deduction from the rate bill instead of, as now, by a deduction from the rateable value.The organisations concerned in the matter—both the local authority associations and those interested in the problems of the disabled—will be consulted about the details of the proposals in a consultation document which the Department will shortly be sending out.Institutions for the care of the disabled which get relief under the present law will continue to receive it under the new proposals.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is answering a separate Question today on rate relief for the disabled in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what arrangements there are for automatic revision of housing cost yardsticks in line with increases in building costs;

The housing cost yardstick has been reviewed quarterly since June 1975 and the increase since that date is 8 per cent. Such reviews are based primarily on the movements of tender prices, which themselves reflect movements in such factors as labour costs, material costs and the competitive state of the market, as well as future trends. The result of the next review is due to be announced on 23rd June.In addition, there are special yardstick allowances for wheelchair and mobility housing. These are set out in Circular 92/75 and are under continuous review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance his Department is prepared to give to track down obnoxious odours in industrial areas; if he is aware of the hardship caused to people in the Eccles, Swinton, Salford and Pendlebury area by industrial and other effluent coming from the Trafford Park area; if he will instruct his regional officers to do all they can to assist, since the excuses for such excess effluent and atmospheric pollution are often too easily accepted; and if he will make a statement.

Local responsibility for dealing with air pollution problems arising from industrial activities rests with district councils and, in the case of works registered under the Alkali Acts, with Her Majesty's Alkali and Clean Air Inspectorate. Regional water authorities have power to control the quality of effluent from sewage works and industrial premises. I am confident that the Trafford Borough Council, the North Western Water Authority and the relevant District Alkali and Clean Air Inspectors act as appropriate to control noxious or unpleasant emissions from industrial premises in the Trafford Park area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list by name the publications, studies and films produced by the National Building Agency in 1976–77 which were funded by the grant in aid from his Department.

Grant in aid in 1976–77 funded the following:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion, expressed both as a percentage and as a monetary figure, of the National Building Agency's grant in aid of £330,000 in 1976–77 went towards (a) the studies and publications listed by the Minister for Housing and Construction on 20th April, (b) capital expenditure requirements and (c) general expenses.

Grant in aid for 1976–77 was allocated as follows:

(i) studies and publications, etc., for the housing association movement, £125,000 (37·9 per cent.).

(ii) studies and publications, etc., relating to Housing Action Areas and Rehabilitation £65,000 (19·7 per cent.).

(iii) other technical studies, and development of information services, £45,000 (13·6 per cent.).

(iv) capital expenditure, £40,000 (12·1 per cent.).

(v) general expenses, £55,000 (16"7 per cent.).

Final figures for the Agency's expenditure under these heads will not be available until the Agency's accounts for the year are finalised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the specific nature of the capital expenditure requirements of the National Building Agency which were grant aided by his Department in the last financial year; and why the Agency was unable to finance this expenditure either by commercial loans or through its own fee income.

The capital expenditure financed by grant in aid in 1976–77 related to fixtures, fittings and office machinery required in connection with the expansion of the Agency's regional offices in 1975–76 and required in the various offices of the Agency in 1976–77. The level of grant in aid is determined having regard to the work to be carried out on behalf of central Government and the extent to which aid is necessary to enable the Agency to carry out its objects efficiently.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present relationship between the Housing Corporation and the National Building Agency; whether they still have the same chairman; and whether he has any proposals for further integration or otherwise.

The intention that the Housing Corporation and the National Building Agency should work in close liaison was announced in the White Paper "Widening the Choice—The Next Steps in Housing" (Cmnd. 5280, April 1973). The National Building Agency continues to assist the voluntary housing movement on both a fee paid and grant-financed basis.The chairmanship of the Agency is no longer held jointly with the chairmanship of the Housing Corporation. This does

	Estimated cost £000s	Purpose	What they are replacing
Gateshead	158	Local office several departments.	Existing unsuitable accommodation.
Immingham extension	97	Local office several departments.	Existing unsuitable accommodation.
Liverpool, Everton, District	100	Local office several departments.	Existing unsuitable accommodation.
Liverpool, Norris Green	120	Local office several departments.	Existing unsuitable accommodation.
Kirkby, St. Chads	60	Local office several departments.	Existing unsuitable accommodation.
Warrenpoint Dock, Northern Ireland.	82	Local office several departments.	Existing unsuitable accommodation.
Kensington, District Works Office.	145	District Works Office for PSA.	Present site needed for V. & A. museum.
Southend Computer Centre	2,800	Computer centre for Customs and Excise.	Existing computers in Southend.
Moorfoot, Sheffield	13,500 approx.	New dispersal HQ for Manpower Services Commission.	Existing London buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, pursuant to his reply of 17th May to the hon. Member for Staffordshire South-West, he

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the intended grant in aid for the National Building Agency in 1977–78; and whether he will consider paying it on a fee basis for work done rather than allocating a specific lump sum each year.

The grant in aid provision for 1977–78 is £390,000. A substantial amount of the grant will finance projects specifically carried out for the Government. Payment in the form of grant in aid for an agreed programme of work has administrative advantages.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new office buildings are scheduled to be commenced by the Property Service Agency during the next 12 months; and if he will list them, indicating their estimated cost and purpose and what they are replacing.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20th May 1977; Vol. 932, c. 304], gave the following answer:The information is as follows:

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20th May 1977; Vol.

Scheme		Function		Method of construction	Completion date
1. To rehouse staff from buildings which are either overcrowded or unsuitable for other reasons:
Heaton Street, Gainsborough	…	Local office for several departments		C	1977
North Shields on Tyne	…	Local office for Customs and Excise		C	1977
Belle Vale, Liverpool	…	Local office for several departments		C	1978
Clarendon Street, Hyde	…	Local office for several departments		C	1978
Beaufort House, Harlow	…	Local office for Inland Revenue		C	1978
Watford	…	Local office for Inland Revenue		C	1977
Tiverton	…	Local office for several departments		C	1977
Newquay	…	Local office for several departments		C	1977
Princes Street, Swindon	…	Local office for several departments		C	1978
Shrewsbury	…	Local office for DHSS		C	1978
Church Hill Street, Smethwick	…	Local office for DHSS		C	1978
Kirkcaldy	…	Local office for several departments		C	1977
Bathgate	…	Local office for DHSS		C	1979
Stranraer	…	Local office for DHSS		C	1977
Wick	…	Local office for several departments		C	1977
Benton, Newcastle	…	Part of Central Records Office for DHSS		C	1978
2. To rehouse staff in one central building from a series of scattered regional or local offices:
Bootle	…	Collection Accounts Centre for Inland Revenue.		C	1979
Preston New Road, Blackpool	…	Bonds and Stocks Office, Department of National Savings.		C	1977
Durham House, Washington	…	Child Benefit Office, DHSS		C	1977
St. Dunstan's House, London	…	Tribunal Courts for Lord Chancellor's Department.		C	1979
Shipley	…	Collection Accounts Centre for Inland Revenue.		C	1977
Cathays Park, Cardiff*	…	Offices for Welsh Office and ECGD		C	1979
Llandrindod Wells	…	Divisional office for MAFF		C	1978
Fiveways House, Birmingham	…	Regional Offices for DHSS and DOE		C	1978
Cumbernauld	…	Accounts computer centre for Inland Revenue.		S	1978
3. New requirements or additional accommodation:
Titchfield	…	Census Office, OPCS		C	1978
Benhall, Cheltenham	…	Laboratories and Offices for GCHQ		C	1978
Crownhill, Plymouth	…	Not yet known†		S	1978
Norcross, Blackpool	…	Dispersal from London		S	1978
C=Conventional methods.			S=Systems built.
* Provides Dispersal HQ for part of ECGD at present accommodated in London offices.
† Originally planned as a capital tax office.

Almost all buildings constructed for PSA are built by conventional techniques, as opposed to the system built method. But conventional techniques sometimes have to be adapted to meet specialised needs. System buildings are marked with an S in column 3.All these buildings are primarily to rehouse existing staff, rather than new personnel, either because they have outgrown their existing accommodation or to enable them to reorganise. Several of the larger buildings—Bootle, Blackpool, Washington, Shipley, Cumbernauld, Southend—will house large computers and the associated clerical activities. Some additional staff will be housed at the new

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the approximate value of indemnities given to owners for total loss of objects loaned to his Department in connection with the temporary exhibition of paintings being held in the Fine Rooms at Somerset House from 7th July to 9th October 1977.

The total value of indemnities given is approximately £6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to compel all householders to insure the contents of their homes against damage or loss by tire, theft, flood or natural disaster.

I have been asked to reply.I see no case for departing from the principle followed by successive Governments that the prime responsibility for an individual's property rests with that individual. If my hon. Friend has a particular case of distress in mind, perhaps he could send me details.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now able to make a statement about the provision of rate relief for the disabled in Scotland.

Yes. The present legislation in Scotland concerning the provision of rate relief for the disabled is unsatisfactory in that it is difficult to administer and uncertain in its effects and the Government propose to take an early opportunity to introduce legislation to improve the situation. I have in mind for Scotland a scheme which would afford relief by way of rebate on the rate bill instead of by a reduction in rateable value, and which would define more clearly the circumstances in which entitlement to relief will arise. There may, however, be some differences between the Scottish schemes and that for England and Wales

Motorway		At/between		Approximate location
A1(M)	…	A1(M)/A183 interchange	…	Near Chester le Street.
Ml	…	Junctions 5 and 7	…	Hertford.
Ml	…	Junction 9	…	Friars Wash.
Ml	…	Junction 22	…	Ibstock.
Ml	…	Junction 26	…	Nuthall interchange.
Ml	…	Junction 27	…	Pinxton Hollow.
M4	…	2 miles west of Junction 10	…	Berkshire.
M5	…	At Chapman's Hill (between Junctions 1-3)	…	Halesowen to West Bromwich.
M6	…	Junctions 6 and 7	…	North-east of Birmingham.
M6	…	Junctions 8 and 10	…	Wednesbury to A454 junction west of Walsall.
M6	…	Junction 15	…	South of Newcastle under Lyme.
M6	…	Golden Fleece interchange	…	South of Carlisle.
M62	…	Junctions 15 and 17	…	Pendlebury to Prestwich.

Preventive measures have already been taken on a number of these sections.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to come to a decision on the green route Al-Ml link road in Northamptonshire.

Detailed investigations are at present being carried out within the preferred corridor for the M1-A1 link announced in August 1975 in order to establish the most suitable route for publication in draft orders under the statutory procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has statistics to show if there are areas on the motorways on which more than one set of accidents have occurred; how many such areas there are; and what is their geographical location.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested, but a number of motorway sections have been identified by my Department's regional offices as having had more accidents than the national average for the motorway network. These are:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much money has been spent on the Headway and Co-operative Headway measurement and control system projects;(2) how many persons have been involved in the Headway and Co-operative Headway measurement and control system.

There were two such projects between 1972 and 1976. One cost about £64,000, with the expense equally shared between the Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL) and Joseph Lucas Ltd. The other was carried out by the Royal Radar Establishment (RRE) as contractor for TRRL, at a cost of £242,000.Two Lucas and five RRE staff have been involved, not all full-time, as well as four man-years of effort at TRRL.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what contacts he has had with other countries to discuss the problems of warning and safety on the motorways.

There are regular meetings of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) and the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) to consider national and international work on road safety. Motorways are frequently discussed, and the ECMT has recognised the international importance of our own matrix warning system.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the total cost at current prices of the construction of the A13-A12 section of the M25 motorway.

Approximately £37½ million at November 1976 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with progress on the construction of the Fish- guard motorway, with particular reference to the flyovers at Greenford, Middlesex, and Northolt, Middlesex; and if he will make a statement.

Both schemes are proceeding satisfactorily. The main contract for the flyover at Greenford is about to start and work should be completed by summer 1979. The Northolt scheme is expected to be completed by the end of 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to announce a route for the road linking Crewe and the A52 to the M6 at the existing Barthomley interchange from which there is access to roads on only one side of the motorway.

Detailed investigation of the several alternative routes for the A52 Barthomley Link to the M6, suggested by members of the public following public consultation in 1975, is almost complete. My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to announce the preferred route later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, following the decision to reduce the rate of duty on petrol in August to its pre-Budget level, the estimated ratio of the motor taxation income and the public road costs attributable to any class of vehicle during the financial year 1977–78, on the same basis as the information on page 112 of the Government consultative document on transport policy, is expected to fall below one to one; and if non-business cars are still expected to pay two and a half times their costs or 2·5 to 1.

No class of vehicle will have a revenue to cost ratio below 1:1. For non-business cars the ratio, including car tax, will be 2·3:1.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what volume of traffic, in vehicle miles per year, uses the trunk road and motorway network in Great Britain; and what proportion this volume is of total vehicles miles travelled.

Approximately 45,000 million vehicle miles in 1976, 28 per cent, of the total vehicle miles travelled on public roads in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to receive the report of the Warnock Committee of Inquiry into the education of handicapped children.

The Committee is expected to report early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action she intends to take on the recommendations of the survey conducted by the Dyslexia Institute on concessions for dyslexic candidates in GCE and CSE examinations.

These recommendations are directed primarily at the examining boards and schools rather than at central Government, but I share the general concern about the issue which they highlight. I understand that, in October, the Standing Conference of the Regional Examining Boards is to consider the question of dyslexic candidates and a report is expected towards the end of the year. Similarly, representatives of the GCE boards are to try to establish a common policy and expect to make a statement later this year. The Schools Council, which co-ordinates national arrangements for secondary school examinations, is keeping in close touch with both the CSE and the GCE boards. I welcome these developments and hope that progress can be made despite the complexities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in view of the fact that Merseyside Probation and After Care Service is unable to accept any more community service orders, what steps he is taking to rectify the situation;

I understand that the courts were informed of a numerical limit to the number of community service orders which could be administered by the Merseyside Probation Service at any one time. My information is that the number of orders in force is currently below that limit and that new orders are now being made. I am glad to say that I have now been informed that this numerical restriction is being withdrawn.Limitations on recruitment of staff which have been necessitated by the economic situation apply to all probation areas, and there can be no exceptions to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been imprisoned in the Merseyside area following the withdrawal of a community service order.

It is not possible to know how many people sentenced to imprisonment by courts in the Merseyside area would have been made subject to a community service order if that alternative had been available to them at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters were received in the Home Office in the calendar year 1976 from women who married men from overseas countries, complaining that their husbands left them after getting the requisite stamp in their passports giving them a right of residence in the United Kingdom.

No record of the numbers of such letters has been maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the concern caused to residents on subsidiary roads near motorways which are frequently flooded with traffic when there are accidents on nearby motorways, if he will advise chief officers of police to ensure that where such roads are flooded with traffic there shall be patrols to allow the elderly, the disabled and young children as well as able-bodied persons to cross the roads in relative safety.

This is a matter for the individual chief officer of police concerned. My inquiries suggest that chief officers do all they can, within the resources available to them, by deploying extra mobile and foot patrols, to ease the burdens on other road users when traffic is unavoidably diverted from motorways.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why London traffic wardens, who have law enforcement duties similar to those of the police, are permitted to strike; what information he has on the reason for their strike on Thursday 27th May; and whether he will make a statement.

Traffic wardens employed in the Metropolitan Police District are members of the Metropolitan Police civil staff and as such they are not governed by the provisions of Section 53 of the Police Act 1964 or of the Police Discipline Code.As for events on Thursday 26th May, I understand that a number of wardens, some of them on and others off duty, attended a meeting called by the Civil Service Union in protest against proposed reductions in traffic warden strength. These reductions result from the application to the police service of the restrictions on public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he is aware that in the current year to date at Dover harbour there has been a 22 per cent. increase in persons entering the United Kingdom to a total of 2 million persons, and that there were 10,509 ferry crossings, excluding hovercraft, compared with 8,589 in the corresponding period last year; what are the figures for other ports of entry; and what action was taken at all of these ports of entry to ensure that these persons returned to their countries of origin;(2) in view of the fact that the increase of continental visitors to Dover Harbour rose by 22 per cent. to more than 2 million to date in 1977 has meant more work for the Immigration and Customs officers, what increases have been made in the staff and what action taken to ensure that all these persons had right of entry, were not a charge on public funds, and that all returned according to the law and did not remain as illegal immigrants.

My right hon. Friend is responsible only for the entry of persons subject to immigration control, and for these, provisional figures show that in the first quarter of 1977, 232.000 people were given leave to enter the United Kingdom at the ports of Dover East and Dover West—an increase of 46 per cent. over the first quarter of 1976. The corresponding provisional figures for all other ports are: 1,762,000 and 25 per cent., respectively. Most of the increase at Dover was of EEC nationals.All passengers are required to satisfy the immigration officer whether they are patrial and, if they are not, whether they fulfil the requirements of the Immigration Rules; but the selective checks that are made to establish whether passengers have left by the end of the period of limited leave to enter do not fall on the staff at the ports.There has been no increase this year in the immigration staff at Dover.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take action to diminish the difference in treatment between the many British people or British passport holders who are prevented from or delayed in entering Great Britain and the numbers of foreigners principally from Arab countries who are allowed to enter and purchase properties and businesses in Great Britain.

No such action is necessary. People who are eligible for or hold United Kingdom passports but who are subject to immigration control are treated no differently from others so subject, except that United Kingdom passport holders, mainly in East and Central Africa, who are heads of household are enabled to settle here with their close dependants on obtaining a special voucher from the annual quota.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, as the police force is a civilian force, he will now permit them the right to take other employment after completion of their normal work on the same basis as allowed to other employees in private or public employment.

Because of the special position of the police, the question of additional employment outside the service is governed by regulations. An officer can take up other employment, but only with permission of his chief officer. Any proposals to change these arrangements would be a matter, in the first instance, for the Police Advisory Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to introduce legislation to repeal the Official Secrets Act and replace it by a Freedom of Information Act in view of the resolution passed by the Prison Officers' Association at their annual conference held at Weymouth on Thursday 27th May; and whether he will make a statement.

The Government propose to introduce a Bill to repeal and replace Section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 as soon as possible but, as my right hon. Friend announced in his statement on 22nd November 1976, it cannot be in the current Session.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the average time taken by his Department to send formal acknowledgements of receipt and replies to letters sent to him generally and by Members of Parliament in particular; how these times compare with a stated period as long ago as may be conveniently recorded; and what action he has taken or intends taking to expedite these replies to the taxpayer and their elected representatives.

Letters from hon. Members are usually acknowledged within a day of two of their receipt. Many letters require inquiries to be made outside the Department and interim replies explaining the position are sent when appropriate. The average time taken to send a final reply during the first quarter of this year was 28·8 working days; this was three days longer than in the comparable period in 1975 but the volume of correspondence was substantially greater. On the general question and the action taken, I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the Question by the hon. Member for Wycombe (Sir J. Hall) on 23rd December 1976.—[Vol. 923, c. 265.]Comparable information in respect of other correspondence is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the dispute with the Civil and Public Services Association in Gibraltar.

I am pleased to say that agreement has been reached with the CPSA and the staff returned to work on 30th May.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give the average time taken by his Department to send formal acknowledgements of receipt and replies to letters sent to him generally and by Members of Parliament in particular; how these times compare with a stated period as long ago as may be conveniently recorded; and what action he has taken or intends taking to expedite these replies to the taxpayer and their elected representatives.

Statistics of this kind are not readily available. It is, however, normal practice for letters sent to this Department which are to receive a ministerial reply to be acknowledged upon receipt and for a full reply to be sent whenever possible within a period of two weeks from receipt. Other letters are not acknowledged but are dealt with by officials as expeditiously as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give the average time taken by his Department to send formal acknowledgements of receipt and replies to letters sent to him generally and by Members of Parliament in particular; how these times compare with a stated period as long ago as may be conveniently recorded; and what action he has taken or intends taking to expedite these replies to the taxpayer and their elected representatives.

Standing instructions in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office state that any officially addressed communication from a non-governmental organisation or a member of the public should be acknowledged without delay and a reply sent promptly. Letters from Members of Parliament are always acknowledged immediately upon receipt and a substantive reply is usually sent within seven days. If a substantive reply cannot be given within this period an interim reply is sent. Since its creation it has been the practice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to deal expeditiously with all such correspondence and continued supervision is exercised to ensure that standing instructions are observed. It is not considered that the time scale in operation can be improved upon.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now give the date of publication of the Report from the Central Policy Review Staff on Overseas Representation.

I cannot yet do so. The report is being printed and will be submitted to my right hon. Friend shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent discussions with the Icelandic Government about the future of reciprocal fishing rights between the EEC and Iceland.

In accordance with a decision of the EEC Council of Ministers on 5th April a joint Presidency/Commission Delegation visited Reykjavik for talks with the Icelandic Government on 8th-10th June. I represented the Presidency. Commissioner Gundelach represented the Commission. We emphasised to the Icelandic Government the importance and urgency of making satisfactory arrangements for fishing by EEC member States, not least the United Kingdom, in Icelandic waters and underlined that this was a key element in EEC relations with Iceland.It was agreed that the Commission's negotiations with Iceland, which have been stalled for some months, would resume at an early date. This was our principal immediate objective. We hope the negotiations will open the way for a satisfactory agreement, including renewed access for British trawlers, but there are still considerable differences between the two sides on the scope of any future agreement. The Government are determined to ensure that British interests are safeguarded in future arrangements. I have had the text of the joint communiqué issued after the meeting placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 14th June 1977.

asked the Prime Minister if he twill list his public engagements for 14th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 14th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 14th June.

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan).

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements during the Whitsun Recess.

I have been asked to reply.It is not in accordance with my right (horn Friend's usual practice to do so. However, if my hon. Friend has anything specific to raise, my right hon. Friend will be glad to consider it.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the level of co-ordination between the Secretary of State for Education and Science and the Secretary of State for Employment over employment opportunities for school leavers.

I have been asked to reply. Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he will direct Government Ministers and departmental officials to substitute regular non-attributable briefings with attributable briefings to the media.

I have been asked to reply.No. These matters fall within the responsibilities of individual Ministers.

asked the Prime Minister if the views expressed on the judiciary by the Lord President of the Council in Bournemouth on 15th May 1977 represent Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the views expressed on the judiciary by the Lord President of the Council in Bournemouth on 15th May 1977 represent Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech of the Lord President of the Council made in Bournemouth on 15th May 1977 concerning the failure of the judiciary to protect the liberty of the people represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister whether the speech of the Lord President of the Council to the Union of Post Office Workers Conference in Bournemouth on 15th May 1977 on the rôle of the judiciary represents Government policy.

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Members to the replies which my right hon. Friend gave to the right hon. Lady the Leader of the Opposition and other hon. Members on 17th May.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will raise the question of direct elections to the European Parliament with the Heads of Government of the EEC countries during their June meeting in London.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the Government's record on combating inflation.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the Government's record to date in combating inflation.

I have been asked to reply.We have come a long way since August 1975, when inflation was running at over 26 per cent. But we shall not be satisfied until inflation has been brought down to the levels of our main international competitors.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to participate in the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe follow-up conference in Belgrade.

I have been asked to reply.I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave him on 22nd February.

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

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

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

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

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

I have been asked to reply.I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave him on the 3rd February.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any plans to visit Quebec, County Durham.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to make an official visit to Brockhurst.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Secretaries of State for Employment, Environment, Industry, Social Services and Energy in the matter of social and industrial policy for inner city areas like that of Newcastle upon Tyne.

I have been asked to reply.Yes; but if my hon. Friend has any particular problem in mind my right hon. Friend will arrange for it to be considered.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to visit Rochdale.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

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

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the patronage system; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.Ministers are accountable to this House for the appointments they make and the way in which they make them. My right hon. Friend is generally satisfied with the present arrangements.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the progress of his discussions at the Commonwealth Prime Minister's Conference.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement on Thursday.

asked the Prime Minister when he expects to receive the reports which he commissioned from the National Enterprise Board on the future of the Plessey organisation on Wearside and Merseyside.

I have been asked to reply.The Government is considering a report which the NEB prepared at my right hon. Friend's request about the investment potential of the areas affected by the Plessey closures on Wearside and Merseyside. I understand that that report will be published soon, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry hopes to make a statement to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether he will arrange, as a matter of urgency, for appropriate signs to be erected on the A494 trunk road in the vicinity of the Tan-yr-Unto bend, Llanbedr DC, Ruthin, Clwyd, drawing attention to the dangerous nature of the bend;(2) whether, pending consideration of possible improvements to the A494 trunk road at, and in the vicinity of, Tan-yr-Unto bend, Llanbedr DC, Ruthin, Clwyd, he will make the area of the bend subject to a 20 mph speed limit.

I refer the hon. and learned Member to the replies given to him on 25th January and 7th April 1977. Signs are to be erected as soon as possible indicating advisory speed limits of 15 mph downhill and 20 mph uphill.—[Vol. 924, c. 532–3; Vol. 929, c. 603.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will give the average time taken by his Department to send formal acknowledgements of receipt and replies to letters sent to him generally and by Members of Parliament in particular; how these times compare with a stated period as long ago as may be conveniently recorded; and what action he has taken or intends taking to expedite these replies to the taxpayer and their elected representatives.

Letters addressed to Welsh Office Ministers are acknowledged on the day of receipt. The other information requested is not readily available, but it remains my policy that all correspondence should be answered expeditiously.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total sum obtained from EEC funds for the development of tourism in Wales; and how much has been thus received each financial year from 1973–74 onwards.

To date, grant commitments totalling £354,839 under the European Regional Development Fund have been approved in respect of tourism projects in Wales. The first claims amounting to £235,000 are to be paid shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will endeavour to obtain the maximum financial assistance from EEC funds devoted to the promotion of tourism to pay for the cost of, and occasioned by, recreational traffic on Welsh rural roads.

Yes. Last month I announced that the Commission had committed grants totalling over £100,000 in respect of local authority road schemes in Wales associated with tourist traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he was informed of the appointment of the receiver for the Penrad Group Ltd.

The receiver was in fact appointed by me and the Midland Bank Ltd. on 23rd May 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will revise his estimate of the value of the Government investment in Penrad Ltd. at £533,000 as given to the hon. Member for Croydon, North-West on 26th May 1977, in view of the fact that a receiver was appointed for the group on 23rd May 1977.

The figure of £533,000 given in my reply of 26th May was calculated on the normal basis for arriving at a present-day value of the funds made available to the company in 1975 and 1976. If the hon. Member has in mind the sum it is expected to realise in view of the appointment of the receiver, this cannot yet be assessed at this early juncture.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much Government money has been spent to date on the development of sites for building concrete platforms at Portavadie, Hunterston and elsewhere; and what steps have been taken to ensure that such investment is both advantageously used and profitable.

Government expenditure actually incurred to date on the concrete platform sites at Portavadie, Hunterston (consultancy fees), Kishorn and Ardyne Point is £21 million. In addition, the Government are guaranteeing bank loans to the developer of Hunterston up to £7 million together with accrued interest; the guarantee to be discharged on receipt of the first platform order.The Government are negotiating with several contractors interested in the use of Portavadie for the next round of orders.With regard to Hunterston, an extension of the guarantee period beyond July 1977 is being negotiated with the developer.The Government cannot direct orders to particular sites or favour particular contractors, but they are in constant touch with the oil companies about their ordering intentions and they are aware that a healthy platform industry is very much in their interests. We see no reason why most, if not all, future concrete platform orders for the United Kingdom Continental Shelf should not be won on a competitive basis by United Kingdom contractors.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection is he has received any representation regarding the high cost of soft-mix drinks in public houses, in view of the high prices charged to landlords, owners and managers of public houses; if he is aware that this reflects increases in prices charged all round; and if he will make a statement.

Following a number of representations last year my right hon. Friend referred the question of soft drink and mixer prices to the Price Commission for examination and report. Its report, published on 31st March 1977, contained a number of recommendations which we are discussing with interested parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer to the Price Commission the high cost of purchasing whisky by owners, tenants and landlords of public houses since this restrictive policy causes such prices to be too high as reflected in the prices charged in public houses; and if the will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no plans at present for such a reference.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of prices of goods and services which were in operation on or about 1st May 1974 and similar details for 1st May 1977.

Volumes LXXXI1 No. 5 (May 1974) and 85 No. 5 (May 1977) of the Department of Employment Gazette give average retail prices for about 80 important items of food on 23rd April 1974 and 19th April 1977 respectively. Average prices for other goods and services in the retail price index are not separately published. A full list of the headings under which price information is collected for the retail price index is given in the March issue of the Department of Employment Gazette each year.The index numbers for the main groups of the retail price index on the dates already mentioned were as follows:

January 1974=100
	23-4-74	19-4-77
Food	103·2	189·6
Alcoholic drink	109·5	181·2
Tobacco	114·6	206·5
Housing	107·2	166·3
Fuel and light	103·2	202·9
Durable household goods	105·1	163·7
Clothing and footwear	106·7	153·8
Transport and vehicles	108·6	189·1
Miscellaneous goods	106·6	185·9
Services	102·5	170·0
Meals out	104·8	178·8
Retail Price Index—
All items	106·1	180·3

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will give the average time taken by his Department to send formal acknowledgements of receipt and replies to letters sent to him generally and by Members of Parliament in particular; how these times compare with a stated period as long ago as may be conveniently recorded; and what action he has taken or intends taking to expedite these replies to the taxpayer and their elected representatives.

Information in the form requested could only be supplied at a disproportionate cost. My normal practice is to send a substantive answer within 15 days of receipt of a letter. If this does not prove possible then an interim reply is normally sent. I keep the arrangements under review, but do not envisage taking any special action to expedite replies to letters received by my Department as I am confident that correspondence is being dealt with as quickly as possible within the resources available.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what action he proposes to take on the report of the Price Commission on intruder alarms.

This report was published on 31st May and I have placed a copy in the Library of the House. The Commission's principal conclusion is that there should be more competition between firms in the intruder alarm industry, although net percentage profit margins were not found to be excessive. Fees and charges were found to have increased at a rate similar to that of the retail price index, but some users, particularly those with small systems, had been faced with increases of up to 100 per cent. The Commission found a close association between insurance companies and the industry.The Commission recommended that prospective users should obtain competitive quotations before choosing any particular system, and that they should have more opportunities to buy systems outright rather than renting them. It also recommended clearer contracts to enable customers to be more fully aware of their rights, with rents being shown separately from annual maintenance charges and suitable warranty or guarantee provisions.The report suggests that customers should be free to select a maintenance company other than the installer if they so wish.I am proposing to discuss the Commission's findings with the industry and other interested organisations. I shall make a further statement when these discussions are completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to make a statement following the completion of consultations about the reorganisation of secondary education in Northern Ireland.

My noble Friend the Minister of State, Lord Melchett, will be making a statement on this subject tomorrow, 15th June. Copies of this statement will be available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many claims for social security benefits were disallowed by the insurance officers during the recent stoppage in Northern Ireland; and on what grounds the claims were disallowed.

At 8th June 1977, the latest date for which statistics are available, 23,507 claims to unemployment benefit made as a result of the recent stoppage were disallowed by the insurance officers. The majority were disallowed because either the claimants neglected to avail themselves of a reasonable opportunity of suitable employment or a guarantee was payable under the Industrial Relations (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will give the average time taken by his Department to send formal acknowledgements of receipt and replies to letters sent to him generally and by Members of Parliament in particular; how these times compare with a stated period as long ago as may be conveniently recorded; and what action he has taken or intends taking to expedite these replies to the taxpayer and their elected representatives.

I regret that to give an answer in the form requested would incur unjustifiable expense. Correspondence which is to receive a ministerial reply, which includes all letters from MPs, is acknowledged immediately upon receipt, and in general substantive replies have recently been sent within 10 working days. When it is not possible to give a substantive answer within that period an interim reply is sent, and a full reply is dispatched as soon as possible thereafter. I have no plans to change this system.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what assistance has been given by his Department to the Wimpey construction company or its subsidiaries in furthering their business interests abroad during the past two years.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th June 1977], gave the following information:George Wimpey and Co. Ltd. and its subsidiary companies make such use of the services for exporters provided by my Department as they consider helpful in furthering their business interests abroad.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on a scheme for the avoidance of taxation, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Basildon.

I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Jubilee crowns have been minted; how many are in circulation; and what steps he has taken to ensure that these coins are in the hands of the general public and not mainly commercial dealers.

Approximately 21·8 million cupro-nickel Jubilee crowns have been minted to date. Of these, some 20·7 million were issued to banks and post offices before the Jubilee holiday.No bulk issues have been made from the Royal Mint to United Kingdom dealers. When it became clear that demand by Jubilee day would exceed supply, the banks and the Post Office were asked to give priority to children and counter notices were distributed urging the public to co-operate towards this end.Minting is continuing at the rate of 1 million per week, with the intention that all the public's demands may be met in full.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many citizens of the Republic of Ireland are employed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise; and where they are posted.

This question could be answered only at the cost of disproportionate time and effort, by checking the birthplace and date of birth of each of the staff employed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, some 29,300.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list the Customs posts on the Irish border and their distance therefrom.

The United Kingdom Customs man 14 land boundary posts. Their distance from the border is as follows:

• Culmore—1½ miles
• Buncrana Road—1 mile
• Killea—on the border
• Mullenan—½ mile
• Strabane—200 yards
• Belleek—on the border
• Tullyhommon—on the border
• Belcoo—on the border
• Mullan—1½ miles
• Newtownbutler—3¼ miles
• Aughnacloy—1 mile
• Middletown—3 miles
• Carnagh—½ mile
• Upper Fathom—2½ miles

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the average time taken by his Department to send formal acknowledgements of receipt and replies to letters sent to him generally and by Members of Parliament in particular; how these times compare with a stated period as long ago as may be conveniently recorded; and what action he has taken or intends taking to expedite these replies to the taxpayer and their elected representatives.

It has been the practice for a considerable time to send acknowledgements to letters from hon. Members and members of the public as soon as possible after receipt and replies, wherever practicable, within 14 days. However, where inquiries have to be made it is not always possible to reply within this time. I keep the matter of correspondence under constant review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an announcement about the proposed sale of British Petroleum stock.

The invitation to underwrite the sale of 66,785,591 ordinary stock units of £1 each of the British Petroleum Company Ltd. at £8·45 per unit was made this morning, and has been successfully completed. The Bank of England are issuing a Press notice giving more particulars. The detailed terms of the offer will be advertised in the Press on 19th and 20th June. Copies of the prospectus and application forms will be available at main post offices and from the Bank of England and branches, main branches of many banks in the United Kingdom, the banks underwriting the offer and the brokers to the offer. Preferential consideration will be available to occupational pension schemes— including insurance company funds related solely to such schemes—and employees of the BP Group in the United Kingdom and certain other territories. Certain preferential consideration will also be available for sub-underwriters. In addition, we have been concerned to give favourable treatment to small investors and whilst it would be wrong to limit in advance the discretion that must necessarily be exercised when making allocations in the event of over-subscription, this concern will be taken into account.A Supplementary Estimate will be presented to the House to provide for the expenses of the sale, including any arising from indemnities given to the underwriters, the company, the directors and certain officers of the company, and the Bank of England, through a token Subhead.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the yield of capital transfer tax on transactions inter vivos from the inception of the tax to the latest convenient date; how many assessments and individual taxpayers are involved; and in what proportion of cases the tax has been met by donees.

pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 13th June 1977], gave the following information:Capital transfer tax assessed at lifetime rates totalled £24·1 million up to 20th May 1977. Payment of lifetime tax in the same period amounted to £38·2 million; this includes tax paid in advance of an assessment being made. There were 1,366 assessments on individual taxpayers in this period; a small proportion related to second or subsequent assessments on one taxpayer. The tax was assessed on the footing that the donee was to beat the tax in 44 per cent. of these cases. In addition, there were 5,479 assessments on trusts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the revenue cost in 1977–78, assuming full implementation of the Budget proposals, of extending to: (a) all widows and (b) widows who are employed or self-employed earners the same tax allowance as is granted to single persons of 65 years and upwards under section 8(1A) and 8(1B) of the Taxes Act.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th June 1977], gave the following information:The estimated costs are for

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the revenue cost in 1977–78, assuming full implementation of the Budget proposals, of granting: (a) all widows and (b) widows who are employed or self-employed earners a tax allowance of £1,015 instead of the proposed single person's allowance.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th June 1977], gave the following information:The estimated costs are for

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, when he uses the phrase "assuming full implementation of the Budget proposals" in answering questions from hon. Members, he means assuming a basic rate of 33 per cent.