asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) how many applications for industrial development certificates were withdrawn in the United Kingdom in each of the past three years;(2) how many applications for industrial development certificates were refused in England in each of the past three years;(3) how many applications for industrial development certificates were granted in the United Kingdom in each of the past six years.

The table below shows the number of industrial development certificates granted and refused for the years 1971–76, and for the first five months of this year, for schemes of 15,000 sq. ft. and over in Great Britain. The control does not operate in Northern Ireland.

Year		Granted	Refused
1971	…	1,254	55
1972	…	1,490	41
1973	…	1,772	73
1974	…	1,246	57
1975	…	860	16
1976	…	1,062	5
1977 (January-May)	…	482	4

The number of industrial development certificates refused in England in each of the above years is the same as the number refused in Great Britain.Statistics are not available in respect of applications withdrawn.Since July 1972, IDCs have not been required in the development and special development areas. Following the design designation of the Edinburgh and Cardiff areas in August 1974, the IDC control ceased to apply in those areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many applications for industrial development certificates were refused for the Leek parliamentary constituency in each of the past six years.

Statistics for industrial development certificates are not available in respect of parliamentary constituencies. In the employment office areas of Biddulph, Cheadle, Leek and Kidsgrove, which approximate to the parliamentary constituency of Leek, no industrial development certificates have been refused during the past six years.

asked the Secretary of Stale for Industry how many applications for industrial development certificates were refused in the Bristol area over the last six years; and if he will list them.

Only three applications for industrial development certificates have been refused in the Bristol area since 1971—one in each of the years 1971, 1975 and 1976. Applications for industrial development certificates are normally made to the Department in confidence, and information concerning the applications, including the applicants' names, cannot be disclosed.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will give a general direction to the British Steel Corporation not to seek political references on potential employees.

This is a matter for the British Steel Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many applications have been received under the clothing industry scheme; what is the total amount of assistance offered since the commencement of the scheme; and how many applications have been rejected.

By 24th June 1977, 346 applications for assistance had been received; £2,117,000 had been offered towards the costs of approved projects; and 45 applications had been rejected.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many applications have been received under the poultrymeat processing scheme; what is the total amount of assistance offered since the commencement of the scheme; and how many applications have been rejected.

124 applications have been received under the poultrymeat processing scheme. The total amount of assistance offered since the commencement of the scheme is £2,597,306 and the number of applications rejected is four.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many applications have been received under the textile machinery industry scheme; what is the total amount of assistance offered since the commencement of the scheme; and how many applications have been rejected.

21 applications have been received under the textile machinery industry scheme, of which two have been withdrawn or rejected. The total amount of assistance offered to date is £47,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many applications have been received under the paper and board industry scheme; what is the total amount of assistance offered since the commencement of the scheme; and how many applications have been rejected.

By 4th July, 43 applications had been received. Assistance totalling £5·56 million has been offered since the commencement of the scheme. Two applications have been rejected.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many applications have been received under the printing machinery industry scheme; what is the total amount of assistance offered since the commencement of the scheme; and how many applications have been rejected.

23 applications have been received under the printing machinery industry scheme, of which three have been withdrawn or rejected. The total amount of assistance offered to date is £677,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many applications have been received under the machine tool industry scheme; what is the total amount of assistance offered since the commencement of the scheme; and how many applications have been rejected.

226 applications have been received under the machine tool industry scheme, of which 19 have been withdrawn or rejected. The total amount of assistance offered to date is £6,224,000

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many applications have been received under the ferrous foundry industry scheme; what is the total amount of assistance offered since the commencement of the scheme; and how many applications have been rejected.

513; £35·86 million; 21.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many applications have been received under the non-ferrous foundry industry scheme; what is the total amount of assistance offered since the commencement of the scheme; and how many applications have been rejected.

52 applications have been received to date since this scheme was announced on 24th January. Applications are being processed and no offers of assistance have yet been made. Five applications have been rejected as being ineligible under the terms of the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has any plans for replacing the jobs being lost by the intended closure of the British Steel Corporation plant at Greenwich.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 5th July 1977; Vol. 934, c. 483], gave the following information:The Manpower Services Agency will do everything possible to help those made redundant. Qualifying firms in Greenwich stand to benefit from the various schemes of assistance to promote investment in individual industries as well as from the selective investment scheme. Schemes to be assisted under the policies for inner cities outlined in Cmnd. 6845 may also provide jobs for the people concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in response to the continuing widespread opposition in South Angus to the Tayside Health Board's proposals to alter the status and function of Arbroath Infirmary, he will make a statement on his reasons for agreeing to these Tayside Health Board proposals.

Before agreeing in principle with Tayside Health Board's ultimate aim to withdraw specialist in-patient services from Arbroath Infirmary, my right hon. Friend took account of all the representations which have been made. The over-riding consideration is that specialist in-patient services should be provided in hospitals where a full range of trained staff and supporting services for the basic specialties and 24-hour cover by doctors are available. The investment of resources on this scale cannot be justified in hospitals of the size of Arbroath Infirmary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been spent so far on adapting the Royal High School for an Assembly; and how much further expenditure is planned in the present financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total expenditure is, to the latest available date, on the conversion of the Royal High School in Edinburgh to other purposes.

Expenditure to mid-June is £1·087 million including £0·65 million for purchase. Expenditure planned for the present financial year is the balance of the estimate of the total cost of £2 million which was announced in the reply to my hon. Friend the

AVERAGE UNREBATED RENT (£ PER ANNUM) OF COUNCIL HOUSES IN SCOTLAND
				Adjusted by percentage change in average earnings in manufacturing industry
Date			Rent	September 1976	April 1977
28th November 1970	…	…	74	175	186
28th November 1974	…	…	138	186	197
30th September 1976	…	…	180	180	191

The average unrebated rent at April 1977 was estimated to be at least £190.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to fill the vacancies on the Crofters Commission; and whether he will consider appointing two women.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the present mem- Member for Kirkcaldy (Mr. Gourlay) on 7th April.—[Vol. 929; c. 653–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to visit Blackford.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had regarding the downgrading of Aberdeen's development area status.

Representations have been received from a number of sources, including some hon. Members, local authorities, and from industry in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what the average rent of council houses in Scotland would now be if the average figures for 1970 and 1974 respectively, had been increased in an equivalent percentage to the increase in average industrial earnings over the period concerned;(2) what was the average rent of council houses in Scotland in 1970 and 1974, respectively, and at the latest convenient date.

The information is as follows:bership of seven is sufficient to enable the Commission to carry out its functions. It will continue to be his practice to consider the appointment of women members when vacancies occur.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with, and what representations he has had from, the Dutch authorities regarding the North Sea herring ban.

None, other than the discussions which took place at the relevant meetings of the Council of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the grants paid for transport services in Orkney and Shetland in 1976–77 were in respect of capital projects.

The breakdown of expenditure on transport services for Orkney and Shetland in 1976–77 in terms of capital and revenue accounts was as follows:

		£000
	Capital	Revenue
Sea, including improvements to piers and harbours	1,159	323
Air	272	119

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in view of the concern, particularly in Strathclyde Region, about the rise in crime and the serious shortage of police, what steps he will take to remedy the situation.

I share the concern about the present level of crime in Scotland, and in Strathclyde in particular. I understand that Strathclyde Regional Council and the Chief Constable are considering together whether improvements can be made in police cover.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what net increase in

SUPPORT FOR BUS SERVICES IN SCOTLAND
£ million at outturn prices
		1972–73	1973–74	1974–75	1975–76	1976–77
Local Authority Revenue Support Payments*	…	0·7	2·6	4·3	8·4	8·2
Fuel Duty Rebate	…	3·0	3·3	4·4	5·3	5·8
New Bus Grant	…	1·7	2·9	2·9	3·9	6·5
* Includes payments to local authorities' own undertakings and to the Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive.

The Government's proposals for the future are set out in the White Paper on

The Green Paper has been published as a basis for discussion with the many interests concerned. Whether there will be any significant effect on public expenditure on housing depends on decisions yet to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what represetations he has had from the Strathclyde Regional Council about the shortage of police; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek powers to hold a referendum on the reintroduc-tion of capital and corporal punishment; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much public money has been made available for public bus services in Scotland in each of the last five years to the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.

The following is the information:Transport Policy presented to Parliament on 27th June.

asked the Prime Minister (1) if, pursuant to his answer, Official Report, 30th June column 541, that a man should be free within limits not to join a trade union, if he will define the limits;(2) if, pursuant to his reply,

I have nothing to add to my reply of 30th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the value of drugs prescribed under the National Health Service by chemists in Northern Ireland for the past three years.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 5th July 1977] gave the following information:The estimated ingredient cost of drugs dispensed by chemists in Northern Ireland in the last three years is:

				£ million
1974	…	…	…	8·7
1975	…	…	…	11
1976	…	…	…	14·4

These figures do not include the cost of dressings or appliances, allowances for containers, or dispensing fees, profits or allowances for overhead expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if, in view of the fact that British lamp manufacturers have adopted undesirably low standards of durability and reliability for their products, as illustrated in an article entitled "Throwing light on planned obsolescence" in the New Scientist on 2nd June 1977, he will refer to the Director-General of Fair Trading the matter of the quality and reliability of British-made lamps.

I am unable to accept that British manufacturers of discharge lamps have adopted undesirably low standards of durability and reliability for their products.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will make a further statement on price control, setting out the reasons why he now expects success with the policy.

My right hon. Friend's views were set out at length during the Report stage and Third Reading debates on the Price Commission Bill. There is nothing further to add at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list in the Official Report the exports of Scotch whisky to Australia, by value and volume, and by bottle and bulk, for each of the last five years.

Exports of Scotch and Northern Irish whisky—which are not shown separately in the overseas trade statistics—to Australia were as follows:

		Bulk		Bottled
		Thousand proof gallons	£ million f o b	Thousand proof gallons	£ million f o b
1972	…	1,316	3·5	428	1·5
1973	…	1,819	4·5	439	1·7
1974	…	1,818	5·6	494	2·2
1975	…	1,829	6·8	494	2·5
1976	…	2,021	6·9	356	2·4

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what policy he is adopting in considering applications from insurers under Section 68(4) of the Insurance Companies Act 1974 for alteration of the requirements of regulations governing long-term policies.

The purpose of the Insurance Companies (Linked Properties and Indices) Regulations 1975 (S.I. 1975 No. 929) is to safeguard the interests of the policyholder by ensuring that benefits under linked long-term insurance policies may only be determined by reference to the value of suitable assets or to suitable indices of asset values. This is also my overriding concern in considering dispensations from these Regulations under Section 68(4).The regulations restrict the assets and indices of asset values by reference to which benefits under linked long-term policies may be determined to a list that follows closely the suggestions made in paragraph 137 of the Report of the Committee on Property Bonds and Equity-Linked Life Assurance chaired by Sir Hilary Scott (Cmnd. 5281). In the light of events since the Scott Committee reported in 1973, I am adopting a cautious line in considering future requests from insurers for dispensations under Section 68(4).I will be guided by the following principles, which are to be read together: (i) I should not permit benefits to be linked to any asset not already permitted under the regulations that is not a permitted investment for a unit trust authorised in Great Britain—in other words, not a security within the meaning of Section 26 of the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958.(ii) As for unquoted securities, in which authorised unit trusts are permitted to invest a limited proportion of their assets, I do not consider it appropriate for me to attempt to identify those which are acceptable as assets to which benefits may be linked in the way suggested in paragraph 137 of the Scott Committee report. I do not, therefore, propose to use my powers under Section 68(4) to permit benefits under policies to be linked to securities for which there is no quotation on a recognised stock exchange, unless the security is simply a vehicle for investing in permitted assets.(iii) In the case of all other applications for the linking of benefits to non-permitted assets, including applications in respect of unquoted securities that are simply a vehicle for investing in permitted assets, I shall only be prepared to exercise my powers under Section 68(4) where I can readily be satisfied that the proposal is likely to be advantageous to prospective policyholders and not detrimental to other sections of the public, and that the following criteria are met: (a) that a generally acceptable and reasonably reliable market value for the property can be obtained; (b) in the case of types of property for which there is no continuously available market price, that there is a professional body whose members are qualified to act as independent valuers for that property; (c) that the market in the property is not too narrow or specialised; and (d) that the proposal does not increase the chance of loss to the policyholder through fraud or conflict of interest.In a few cases benefits under existing schemes are already, with my consent, linked to the value of assets not permitted under the regulations. I am considering whether these schemes meet the criteria in paragraph 2 above; if not, I shall be prepared to consider transitional arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps his department is taking to combat the recent substantial loss of trade with the non-oil producing developing world.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 4th July 1977; Vol. 934, c. 440], gave the following information:We are currently examining how we can increase our exports to developing countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are presently employed in the administration of the National Health Service; and what were the comparable figures in each of the past nine years.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Hor-sham and Crawley (Mr. Hordern) on 24th March.—[Vol. 928, c. 655–9.] I regret that, because of collection and validation difficulties, figures for 1976 are not yet available. For years before 1971, a comparable series cannot be constructed because of the reclassification as administrative and clerical of some staff formerly allocated to other staff groups and because comprehensive statistics are not available for England alone on administrative and clerical staff of former local health authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons have attended a Supplementary Benefits Commission reception centre more than once in each of the last four years; and what are the criteria for re-visits.

Information about the number of repeat admissions to reception centres is not available, but the criteria for a person's readmission are the same as for his or her initial admission

WAITING TIMES—SEPTEMBER 1976
Region by Area Health Authority		Total numbers of all cases	Percentage of urgent cases waiting more than one month	Percentage of non-urgent cases waiting more than one year	Mean waiting time in weeks for cases discharged in 1974*
Northern
Cleveland	…	51	33	17
Cumbria	…	50	—	—
Durham	…	19	—	—
Northumberland	…	28	100	37
Gateshead	…	4	—	—
Newcastle	…	42	—	12
North Tyneside	…	14	100	—
South Tyneside	…	2	—	—
Sunderland	…	—	—	—
Regional Total	…	210	75	12	2·4
Yorkshire
Humberside	…	24	—	—
North Yorkshire	…	4	—	—
Bradford	…	27	—	—
Calderdale	…	12	—	—
Kirklees	…	28	—	—
Leeds	…	46	25	—
Wakefield	…	59	—	—
Regional Total	…	200	23	—	2·1
Trent
Derbyshire	…	27	24	—
Leicestershire	…	21	60	100
Lincolnshire	…	42	—	13
Nottinghamshire	…	138	61	—
Barnsley	…	59	—	15
Doncaster	…	—	—	—
Rotherham	…	—	—	—
Sheffield	…	11	—	36
Regional Total	…	298	53	11	2·0
East Anglia
Cambridgeshire	…	14	—	—
Norfolk	…	71	—	23
Suffolk	…	107	—	10
Regional Total	…	192	—	15	3·1
North West Thames
Bedfordshire	…	144	—	16
Hertfordshire	…	188	44	25
Barnet	…	41	38	—
Brent/Harrow	…	2	—	—
Ealing/Hammersmith/Hounslow	…	10	—	—
Hillingdon	…	30	—	—
Kensington/Chelsea/Westminster	…	39	—	—
Regional Total	…	454	27	16	5·6

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide figures to show the number of elderly people awaiting admission to a hospital bed or in need of geriatric accommodation in each health authority area; and if he will indicate the average waiting time in each case.

Following are the figures for patients waiting for admission to geriatric departments in hospitals:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he remains satisfied with the doctor-patient ratio in the Leek parliamentary constituency; and how it compares with the res; of the United Kingdom.

Information is not available in the form requested for the Leek parliamentary constituency. Relevant figures about the number of doctors providing services in the National Health Service are as follows:

	Hospital doctors per 100,000	Doctors providing the full range of general medical services per 100,000
Staffordshire Area Health Authority (includes Leek Parliamentary Constitu ency)	*	38
England and Wales	59 (64)†	44
* Figures for hospital medical staff are not held centrally for non-teaching areas.
† Whole time equivalent (with actual number given in brackets) at 30th September 1976.

We are not satisfied with these disparities and the Government remains committed to reducing inequalities in the distribution of medical staff across the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to make an announcement authorising those who have been provided with an invalid car since 1976 to surrender the vehicle and secure a private car allowance.

There are three categories. Those whose tricycle was supplied under the rules of the old scheme, which ended at the beginning of 1976, are already free to switch to a private car allowance under those rules. They will also be able to switch to the mobility allowance under regulations which will be laid before the House shortly. Those who were found eligible for mobility allowance under the new scheme but chose to have a tricycle instead can switch to the mobility allowance—but not to a private car allowance —at any time. Those whose tricycle was provided under the new scheme transitional arrangement for giving tricycles to people in age groups not yet able to claim the mobility allowance can switch to cash only by claiming mobility allowance once their age group has been phased into the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the items of medical equipment which are in shortest supply in NHS hospitals; where the most severe shortages are; and what is the estimated cost of meeting the shortages.

Health authorities decide their own priorities and the items of medical equipment to be purchased having regard to their other commitments and the funds available. If the hon. Member has any particular item of equipment in mind and will let me know, I will look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to encourage cost-consciousness throughout the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend and I attach the utmost importance to the most effective use of resources in the National Health Service and to the need to concentrate resources on direct patient care. Among our immediate objectives are the more effective use of the domestic, laundry, catering and purchasing activities, a reduction in the amount of expenditure on sales promotion which pharmaceutical companies can charge to the National Health Service, and savings in management costs. Like other areas of public expenditure, most of the National Health Service has had to discipline itself to live within cash limits, and in 1976–77 health authority current spending was within ½ per cent. of the revenue cash limit of £3,500 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, of the £863,944 spent in the financial year 1975–76 on domestic and other general services in National Health Service hospitals in England, how much was attributable to the hospitals' own labour and materials and how much to independent contractors.

The expenditure is not identified in this way in the accounts submitted to my Department, but it is estimated that the total of nearly £864 million spent on these services in 1975–76 included payments to independent contractors of up to £32 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff employed in National Health Service hospitals are currently engaged on domestic services, housekeeping services, home warden services and ancillary services; and what is the cost of the same.

The whole-time equivalent number of staff employed in the Health Service in the categories requested is given below. I regret that it is not possible to provide statistics for hospital staff alone.

ENGLAND, 30TH SEPTEMBER 1975
Domestic Services—
in the Administrative and Clerical Group, excluding home wardens and assistants	1,292
home wardens	440
home warden assistants	139
	1,871
in the Ancillaries Group	65,690
	67,561
Catering Services—
in the Administrative and Clerical Group	1,306
in the Ancillaries Group	29,270
	30,576
Laundry Services—
in the Administrative and Clerical Group	330
in the Ancillaries Group	8,991
	9,321
Other Ancillary Staff (e.g. porters, drivers, Central Sterile Supplies Department staff, stores staff)	63,775
Total	173,103

Information is not separately available on the cost of the staff in those services who form part of the Administrative and Clerical Group. However, the total cost in 1975–76 of all staff in the Ancillaries Group, who form the great majority of those listed, was £535·8 million. For the overall cost of the services referred to, I would refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's reply to him on 16th May.—[Vol. 932, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list any unilateral actions taken by any member of the EEC since 1st January 1973 in areas for which his Department is responsible for negotiating on behalf of the United Kingdom, following inability of all EEC members to agree on common action.

My Department maintains no systematic record of unilateral actions which may have been taken by member States in default of Community agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the rate of infant mortality in the area covered by the Macclesfield constituency in the most recent year for which figures are available; and how this figure compares with the previous four years.

The infant mortality rates —deaths of children under one year of age per thousand live births—for the area in question are as follows:

1971	…	…	…	10·6
1972	…	…	…	10·2
1973	…	…	…	17·0
1974	…	…	…	18·8
1975	…	…	…	11·1

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what extra resources will be allocated to Staffordshire to assist the education authorities to provide additional places in further education.

As announced by my right hon. Friend last week, the Government's response to the MSC working party's report "Young People and Work" has two consequences for education. The extra capital and recurrent resources being made available to provide additional places in further education colleges to assist the needs of the young unemployed will be fully reflected in further education building programmes and in the 1978–79 and subsequent rate support grant settlements. In addition, the extra resources will be made available to reimburse local education authori-ites for their contributions to the MSC programme of opportunities for young people. The allocation of these resources will be determined locally according to what needs to be provided by the education service to support individual parts of the programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is her policy towards the initiative of the Southampton Steering Committee for In-Service Education and Training, representing all teacher's organisations, the college of education, the university's education department, the Quinculum Development Centre and the local education authority, in arranging a series of regional conferences on educational matters;(2) whether she intends to accept the invitation to attend any of the regional conferences on education organised by the Southampton Steering Committee for In-Service Education and Training.

My right hon. Friend welcomes local initiatives of this kind. My right hon. Friend was invited to address one of a series of conferences organised by the Southampton Steering Committee but was unable to attend. I agreed to attend in her place. I was later informed by an officer of the Hampshire LEA that the LEA as such had not been aware of the arrangements for the conferences, and on behalf of the authority he withdrew the invitation. I understand that arrangements to hold the conference are, however, still under discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will set out fully the circumstances leading to the withdrawal of the Undersecretary of State from opening the discussion conference of teachers and representatives of the local community planned to take place in Southampton on 12th July 1977.

I was invited to address one of a series of conferences organised by the Southampton Steering Committee but I was unable to accept the invitation. My hon. Friend the Undersecretary of State agreed to attend in my place. She was later informed by the area education officer of the Hampshire LEA that the invitation was withdrawn on the grounds that the timing was inappropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) to what extent his cuts in expenditure for 1977–78 will reduce the increased expenditure for Interpol in 1977 of £159,825; and when these cuts are likely to be implemented;(2) why, in the light of cuts in Government expenditure, he has increased the grants and costs to Interpol from £96,655 in 1976 to £159,825 in 1977.

The General Assembly of Interpol decided in 1976 that the cost of the budgetary unit upon which all members' subscriptions are based should be increased in 1977 to meet the increased costs of Interpol's General Secretariat. The change in the cost of the unit accounts for most of the increase in the British contribution. The remaining increase is due to changes in the exchange rate. I am satisfied that, within the overall limits of public expenditure for the Home Office, and taking into account the value of Interpol to the police in the detection of crime, the increased contribution is justified.The contribution for 1977 has been paid as provided in the approved Estimate for the General Protective Services, England and Wales 1977/78 Class IX, Vote 8.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were for motoring offences in the Leek parliamentary constituency in each of the past three years.

In 1975 and 1976 there were 2,951 and 2,922 convictions respectively for motoring offences in the magistrates' courts at Biddulph, Cheadle, and Leek in the Leek parliamentary constituency. Figures for 1974 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were for dangerous driving in the United Kingdom in each of the past three years.

The information in relation to England and Wales is as follows:

1974	…	…	…	9,797
1975	…	…	…	10,269
1976	…	…	…	10,126

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the proposed number of electors per member of the European Parliament in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and each of the regions of England, on the basis of the regional list proposal recently published by the Government.

The information requested is as follows, and is based on the provisional 1977 electorate:

Region		Proposed number of Electors per Member ('000s)
Scotland	…	473
Wales	…	514
Northern Ireland	…	344
Northern England	…	465
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	513
North-West England	…	533
West Midlands	…	535
East Midlands	…	550
East Anglia	…	438
South-West England	…	526
South-East England	…	513
Greater London	…	523

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions have been recorded for soliciting by women and for importuning by men, respectively; and if he will consider amending legislation so that prosecution for soliciting or importuning must be corroborated by the complainant and not just by the usual plain clothes police officers.

In 1975 in England and Wales 3,289 females were found guilty of offences against Section 1 of the Street Offences Act 1959 and 614 males of offences against Section 32 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956. I do not consider it appropriate that there should be a requirement that the complainant should give evidence in such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the terms of the proposed review of the negotiating machinery for police pay and the names of those who are to undertake it.

I hope that very shortly I shall be able to announce the terms of reference and membership of the review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that existing statutory provision is effectively preventing ill-treatment of performing wild animals in circuses.

I have no reason to believe that the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925, the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act 1912 are inadequate. If the hon. Member has evidence to the contrary, I should be glad if he would write to me.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many copies of the publication "Overseas Development" are printed; to whom they are distributed; and what is the total cost.

There are six issues a year, each of 9,000 copies. Distribution is:

Foreign Governments, international organisations	3,425
Ministry of Overseas Development and allied staffs	1,411
Other Government Departments	504
United Kingdom non-governmental organisations	1,372
Subscribers (e.g. commercial companies, educational institutions, individuals)	1,450
Members of Parliament (at their request)	80

The printing and distribution costs amount to £7,500. Approximately £1,300 is recovered from non-official subscribers.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she has reached a decision about aid to Bolivia whilst the mining areas remain occupied by the army.

Not yet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment with reference to the arrangements for local authority lending for house purchase in 1977–78 under which English local authorities will receive mortgage allocations totalling £273 million for 1977–78, of which £157 million is expected to be provided by the building societies, what part of this latter £157 million is classified as public expenditure.

Advances by the building societies to applicants referred to them by local authorities under the new support scheme do not count as public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements have been made to ensure that local authorities are advised promptly as to how applications to building societies for mortgage finance under the arrangements between the authorities and the societies have been treated so that the authorities can take full advantage of their total allocation on a month-by-month basis.

The close liaison arrangements which we asked the local authorities and building societies to set up should provide for the supply of this information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what allocations have been made to district councils in Nottinghamshire, to the Nottingham City Corporation and to the Nottinghamshire County Council for 1977–78 both for direct lending by the authorities and for lending by building societies to applicants referred to them by the authorities out of the total of £157 million expected to be provided by the societies; and what allocations have been made by the Government.

The following mortgage lending allocations have been made to councils in Nottinghamshire for their own direct lending and for building society support lending in 1977–78:

	Direct lending allocation £000	Building society support lending allocation £000
Nottinghamshire County Council	150	Nil
Ashfield District Council	286	557
Bassetlaw District Council	189	369
Broxtowe District Council	449	872
Gedling Borough Council	277	539
Mansfield District Council	139	274
Newark District Council	160	Nil
Nottingham City Council	474	1,053
Rushcliffe Borough Council	202	393

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the operation of the arrangements for local authority mortgage lending in 1977–78, in particular with regard to mortgage finance for small terraced properties in the industrial North.

The arrangements announced by my right hon. Friend on 8th February this year place special emphasis on the need to provide mortgage finance for the purchase of older property. A thorough-going review of progress is now being undertaken by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce new arrangements for local authority lending for house purchase under which the building societies make a block loan available to local authorities so that they are able to lend and administer money in accordance with provisions for which they are solely responsible.

Sums made available to local authorities under such an arrangement would count against the overall public expenditure provision for house purchase loans. However, the building societies have approved loans totalling £156 million in the past 18 months under the support scheme and agreed to lend £157 million in the financial year 1977–78 to house purchasers nominated by local authorities in England. The Green Paper on housing policy urges building societies and local authorities to build on this foundation of co-operation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he will give to increasing the allocation of funds for house purchase and improvement loans to Coventry City Council for the year 1977–78.

On completion of a review of the lending arrangements of local authorities in England, we shall decide, after consulting the local authority associations, what adjustments might appropriately be made in the individual financial allocations. The needs of all local authorities will be carefully examined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can give an estimate as to the extent catering establishments in the Royal parks are used by visitors from overseas.

No statistics are available, but the caterers for the central parks think that 50 per cent. of their customers may be overseas visitors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will employ a full-time catering expert to supervise catering operations in the Royal parks;(2) if he will arrange for some competent person or persons to inspect and report on the standards of cleanliness in the catering establishments in the Royal parks.

The Civil Service Catering Organisation at present gives the Department expert advice on Royal parks catering arrangements. A working party is reviewing all aspects of the administration of this catering, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will wish to have the benefit of its report —which should be available soon—before reconsidering the present arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will terminate the contracts for Trust Houses Forte to run the catering in Hyde Park, Regent's Park and Hampton Court as soon as possible, having regard to the opinion expressed by one of the judges in a competition recently arranged by his Department that they have an unspeakably low standard and the adverse opinions of other judges.

When the judges' comments have been fully considered, they will be discussed with the caterers concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why catering contracts for the Royal parks are given to the catering compam'es which will give his Department the largest percentage of the profits, in the light of the likely effects on the quality of the catering.

The financial return is only one of the factors taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will take any action in response to the advice of the Nature Conservancy Council regarding the position of the otter in England and Wales;(2) if he has received advice from the Nature Conservancy Council in regard to the inclusion of the otter in Schedule 1 to the Conservation of Wild Creatures and Wild Plants Act, or about the position and population of the otter in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the Joint Otter Group's report that otters in England and Wales are endangered including by factors restricted under the Conservation of Wild Creatures and Wild Plants Act 1975, he will place the otter on Schedule 1 to that Act.

Following the publication of the report of the Joint Otter Group, the Nature Conservancy Council has advised that the otter is endangered in certain areas by a variety of factors and that steps should be taken to prevent any further decline in its numbers and, if possible, to improve its status. The council will now be actively participating in a programme of habitat restoration and management, which I understand will include the establishment of otter havens on a non-statutory basis. I welcome these practical conservation measures, and my Department is ready to offer what help it can towards their implementation.The council also recommended that statutory protection should be given to the otter in England and Wales, but I am seeking further information from the council about its conclusions to enable a decision to be taken on whether the otter can properly be added to Schedule One to the Conservation of Wild Creatures and Wild Plants Act 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the dwelling and housing survey referred to in the Green Paper on Housing Policy.

The survey will provide up-to-date information on housing circumstances in England at national and regional level and in the larger areas of housing stress. About 375,000 households will be interviewed. In each of the London boroughs and in areas of housing stress outside London—listed below— sample sizes will average about 7,000 households.First results are likely to be available early next summer. The total estimated cost is £2 million to £2½million

STRESS AREAS TO BE SURVEYED
Region	Area
Northern	Newcastle
Northern	Sunderland
Yorks and Humberside	Sheffield
Yorks and Humberside	Bradford
Yorks and Humberside	Kirklees
Yorks and Humberside	Leeds
Yorks and Humberside	Wakefield
South Western	Bristol
West Midland	Birmingham
West Midland	Dudley
West Midland	Sandwell
North Western	Liverpool
North Western	Manchester
North Western	Salford
North Western	Wigan

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conclusions he has been able to reach on prospects for successful negotiations on Rhodesia following the recent visits by the group of British and American officials.

The Anglo/US Consultative Group has returned to Africa for further discussions. The Group will report back within the next few days, and on the basis of its findings, and of other urgent consultations now taking place, my right hon. Friend will decide how best to proceed with the present initiative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any further plans to visit South Africa.

My right hon. Friend has no firm plans to visit South Africa. In the context of Rhodesia, my right hon. Friend has made it clear that he is ready to return to Africa later this month if it would help to achieve a negotiated settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government intend to ratify the Geneva Convention extending prisoner-of-war status to terrorists.