asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish a table, in conjunction with that published in his answer to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) showing the consumption of tobacco, per head of the population in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, Ireland, Norway and Denmark; and if he will make a statement.

The available information is as follows:

Office Machinery (including Computers)	13·2	11·3
(SITC 714)

Source: OECD Statistics of Foreign Trade and UN Commodity Trade Statistics. Figures for world exports of these commodities are not available. OECD members account for about 80 per cent. of world exports of manufactures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the increase in United Kingdom exports of machinery in the three months February to April 1977 compared with the same period in 1976; and what are the comparable figures for the United States of America, Germany, Japan, France, Italy, Belgium and Holland.

The latest available information is as follows:

EXPORTS OF MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT (SITC SECTION 7) PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN THE LATEST THREE MONTHS ON THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER
				Per cent	Period
United Kingdom	…	…	…	5·0	February 1977–April 1977
United States of America	…	…	…	5·4	February 1977–April 1977.
Federal Republic of Germany	…	…	…	25·7	November 1976–January 1977.
Japan	…	…	…	32·0	December 1976–February 1977.
France	…	…	…	11·9	December 1976–February 1977.
Italy	…	…	…	9·5	October 1976–December 1976.
Belgium	…	…	…	28·9	October 1976–December 1976.
Holland	…	…	…	51·4	November 1976–January 1977.
Source: OECD Statistics of Foreign Trade Series A June 1977.
Up-to-date information on machinery alone is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is satisfied that adequate facilities exist for coping with the present levels of incoming tourists; and what action he is taking, independently and in co-ordination with local authorities and other interested parties, to effect improvements.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether proposals are still being considered by the EEC for the mutual recognition of qualifications and freedom of establishment, throughout the Community of architects, nurses,

Profession	Secretary of State/Minister responsible	Stage Reached
Architects	Environment	Draft directive under consideration by Council Working Group.
Nurses	Social Services	Two directives on general nurses were adopted by the Council on 27th June 1977.
Midwives	Social Services	Draft directives under consideration by Council Working Group.
Dentists	Social Services	Draft directives under consideration by Council Working Group.
Pharmacists	Social Services	Draft directives which were put to the Council by the Commission in 1969 have been formally withdrawn. The Commission is expected to put forward further proposals to the Council during 1977.
Veterinary Surgeons	Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.	Draft directive under consideration by Council Working Group.
Chartered Accountants and Financial Advisers.	Trade	The Commission is thought to be considering producing a proposal on this subject; they are already working on one on auditors' qualifications.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make representations to reinstate the North Atlantic

The Treaty of Rome already provides for freedom of establishment throughout the Community. However, differences in the qualifications required for the pursuit of a variety of professions and in the arrangements which govern professional activities in the member States can impede free establishment. The Commission has therefore proposed, and will continue to propose, measures designed to promote the mutal recognition of professional qualifications. Responsibility for the consideration and negotiation of draft directives rests in this country with the Government Department which sponsors the profession concerned.textile airfreight rate, which was cancelled following the renegotiation of the Bermuda Agreement.

Representations have been made to the United States Government about the CAB's rejection of British Airways' contract rates and bulk commodity rates. Their action is not the result of renegotiation of the Bermuda Agreement and the tariffs article of the new agreement will help to avoid such disputes in future.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what is the volume of imports of tool and high-speed steel which he expects to enter the United Kingdom from Austria during 1977 and 1978; and what was the volume actually imported during 1976;(2)what is the volume of imports of stainless steel billets which he expects to enter the United Kingdom from Spain during 1977 and 1978; and what was the volume imported during 1976;(3)what is the volume of steel sections and flats which he expects to be imported into the United Kingdom from South Africa during 1977 and 1978; and what was the volume imported during 1976;(4)what is the volume of steel sections and flats imported from Spain during 1976; and what is his estimate of the volume which will be imported during 1977 and 1978.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to be informed of the result of the investigation into the imports of tool steel from Sweden which was announced on 9th May.

Because this investigation had not been completed when responsibility for anti-dumping action passed to the European Commission on 1st July, we are now considering with the industry the question of the submission of the case to Brussels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to be informed of the results of current consideration of the importation of steel sections and flats from Japan.

A substantive duty of £11 per tonne was imposed on 7th July on non-alloy steel light sections from Japan, following my Department's completion of its investigation into claims that this product was being imported into the United Kingdom from Japan at dumped prices. The evidence concerning imports of non-alloy steel flat bars from Japan is currently being evaluated and an announcement will be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the recent trade figures for trade with Israel.

As is apparent from the answers that I gave on 29th June 1977 and 4th July 1977, over the 12-month period to the end of May 1977 our exports to Israel increased in value by 5 per cent. over the previous corresponding period. The value of total trade between the United Kingdom and Israel increased over the same period by 17 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was estimated to be the total cost of the hotel development incentive scheme at the time of the passing of the Development of Tourism Act 1969; and what the scheme has finally cost.

The Financial Memorandum associated with the passage of the statute stated that the future rate could not be closely estimated but that it was possible that annual expenditure could rise to about £8 million. The first year of effective expenditure was 1970–71. Actual expenditure to the end of the last financial year has been about £57 million. A handful of claims are still outstanding.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has made in respect of proposals from the Association of Distillers of Australian Whisky to the Temporary Assistance Authority, Canberra, that imports of Scotch whisky should be restricted to 70 or 80 per cent. of 1975–76 imports, with imports over this quota paying a $6 per litre surcharge.

, pursuant to his reply[Official Report, 5th July 1977; Vol 934, col. 480], gave the following information:Her Majesty's Government have expressed their concern to the Australian authorities in support of the representations made by the Scotch Whisky Association to the Temporary Assistance Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are arrangements for the Royal Ulster Constabulary at subdivisional levels.

Ship		Owner	DWT	Type of ship
1704	…	Woodstock Shipping Company Limited	333,000	Tanker.
1705	…	Pomona Shipping Company Limited	333,000	Tanker.
1708	…	Golden West	117,850	Bulk Carrier.
1709	…	Furness Withy and Company Limited	66,000	Tanker
1710	…	Furness Withy and Company Limited	66,000	Tanker
1711	…	Consortium of United Kingdom bankers (for charter to shell)	58,950 cubic metres.	LPG Carrier
1712	…	Consortium of United Kingdom bankers (for charter to shell)	58,950 cubic metres.	LPG Carrier.

Ship No. 1704 is due for delivery before the end of 1977. Ships No. 1705–1710 are due for delivery by January 1979. The recently ordered Shell ships (Nos. 1711–1712) are due to be delivered in 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what inquiry has been made into allegations of terrorist intimidation and interference at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast; and whether he will make a statement.

The Royal Victoria Hospital site has been subjected to theft, attacks upon staff, vandalism and other forms of crime some of which is terrorist inspired. In all cases these matters are reported to and investigated by the police. The administration of the hospital is the responsibility of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board, which is paying close attention to the situation. I am naturally concerned that there should be an early improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the current order book for ships being built by Harland and Wolff.

Yes. Harland and Wolff Limited currently has seven ships on its order book. The details are:present situation regarding recruitment of civil servants for the proposed Scottish and Welsh Assemblies.

We shall seek to ensure, in the light of progress, that staff for the Scottish Assembly and civil servants for the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly are available when they are required.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will take steps to provide a decent standard of lavatories, locker accommodation and washrooms for the staff of the House of Commons Refreshment Department, and to ensure that no one is engaged without a medical check and that all staff have periodic medical checks.

I have been asked to reply.The present welfare conditions of the staff of the Refreshment Department are not adequate. Lavatories and washrooms are of a reasonable standard, but are not now sufficient for our permanent staff. The provision of additional rest-room accommodation is being considered, but accommodation within the House is dependent on the outcome of the scheme for changes mentioned in paragraph 5:6 of the report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Refreshment Department.In the interests of hygiene, staff are expected to co-operate with the health authorities at all times. Other medical checks are not considered necessary by the Treasury Medical Adviser.

the Lord President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals to establish two consumer councils, one for staff and one for Members, to facilitate communication between the catering staff and their customers thus removing the need for a Catering Sub-Committee.

I have no such proposals to make at the present time. The managerial functions of the present Catering Sub-Committee extend considerably beyond those of a consumer council.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will initiate discussions with the appropriate authorities in the other place on the desirability of placing all catering arrangements within the Palace of Westminster under a single management for operational purposes and to maximise efficiency and best use of resources.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion, but any such initiative must clearly depend on the wishes of both Houses.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals to make the Refreshment Department a full department of the House of Commons with a budget borne on the Vote of the House.

I believe that proposals along these lines would be in the general interests of the House. If the House agrees to the establishment of the new departmental structure proposed in the Bottomley Report, on which it is intended to bring forward legislation, this might provide the appropriate framework for such a change.

asked the Lord President of the Council when he expects to submit proposals to write off the bank overdraft and terminate the private banking arrangements of the House of Commons Refreshment Department.

In the Government's view it is essential that the Refreshment Department should first introduce a proper system of budgetary control. Consideration will then be given to the present overdraft.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what recent representations he has received from the Civil Service unions regarding cuts in public expenditure.

I have received one representation in recent weeks about the planned reductions in expenditure on Civil Service manpower and related administration.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service which, if any, companies he has recommended be excluded from use by the Government hospitality unit; and for what reasons.

None.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what progress is expected in the next 12 months on the policy of dispersal of Civil Service jobs to the regions.

About 2,000 jobs are expected to be dispersed from London to the regions.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what were the five Government advertisements which appeared in the Morning Star at a total cost of£1,490.

The five Government advertisements to appear in the Morning Star were on behalf of the counter-inflation publicity campaign; the Royal Commission on Legal Services; the Employment Protection Act: the youth employment subsidy; the Equal Opportunities Commission.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when the Official Report for 18th May last will be printed; and if he will outline full reasons for the delay.

The official Report for 18th May last will be printed as soon as possible. The delay is the result of recent industrial relations difficulties at St. Stephen's Parliamentary Press and the need to produce the volume of current Parliamentary papers.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will set up a planning unit within his Department.

No. Adequate arrangements for ensuring the fullest consideration of all aspects of my right hon. Friend's responsibilities already exist.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has yet approved a capital investment programme for the British Aerospace Corporation.

British Aerospace's capital investment programme will be covered in its corporate plan: the first plan has to be formulated in 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress has been made in placing orders for Polish ships in British shipyards; and in particular, what orders are being placed in Sunderland shipyards.

A negotiating team went to Warsaw again last week to continue negotiations for this important deal. But my right hon. Friend will not expect me to disclose any of the commercial details at this stage of negotiations, nor is it possible at this stage to say to which yards orders would be allocated.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to receive the British Steel Corporation's report and accounts for 1976–77.

My right hon. Friend expects to receive the report and accounts shortly before their publication on 19th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many meetings of the Council of Ministers, Ministers from the Department of Industry attended or presided over during the period of Great Britain's presidency of the EEC; and what advances in European industrial policy were made during this period.

There were no meetings of the Council of Ministers to discuss industrial policy matters. Progress in European industrial policy in a number of areas was carried forward at official level.The Minister of State for Industry, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Ardwick (Mr. Kaufman) chaired a meeting of the Council of Ministers (Research) on 28th-29th March. The meeting was also attended by the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Huckfield).

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish estimates for the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and the United States of America, in

EXPORT UNIT VALUE INDIES FOR MANUFACTURED GOODS IN DOMESTIC CURRENCIES
		1955	I960	1965	1970	1975	197
United Kingdom	…	65	72	79	100	193	23
Federal Republic of Germany	…	88	94	97	100	131	134
Japan	…	93	97	88	100	195	195
United States of America	…	69	81	84	100	159	170
Source: United Nations Monthly Bulletin of Statistics.

DOMESTIC WHOLESALE PRICES OF MANFACTURED PRODUCE
		1955	1960	1965	1970	1975	1976
United Kingdom	…	67	74	83	100	189	220
Federal Republic of Germany	…	88	88	94	100	136	141
Japan	…	86	88	90	100	157	165
United States of America	…	80	86	88	100	158	166
Source: OECD Main Economic Indicators and IMF International Financial Statistics.

LABOUR COST PER UNIT OF OUTPUT IN MANUFACTURING EXCEPT AS SHOWN
		1955	1960	1965	1970	1975	1976
United Kingdom	…	63	74	79	100	197	221
Federal Republic of Germany	…	n.a.	n.a.	83	100	143	141*
Japan	…	74	78	96	100	192	186†
United States of America	…	80	89	85	100	127	128
*Mining and manufacturing.
† All industry.
Source: OECD Main Economic Indicators

RADIO OF THE DOLLAR PRICE OF MANUFATURING EXPORTS TO WORLD PRICE OF EXPORTS OF MANUFACTURES
		1955	1960	1965	1970	1975	1976
United Kingdom	…	0·94	0·98	1·03	1·00	0·97	0·96
Federal Republic of Germany	…	0·98	·98	1·00	1·00	1·07	1·07
Japan	…	1·18	1·16	0·99	1·00	0·98	0·97
United States of America	…	0·87	0·96	0·94	1·00	0·87	0·93
Source: United Nations Monthly Bulletin of Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the European Commission was consulted or informed about the Government's decision to widen the differential in regional selective financial assistance in favour of special development areas before the decision; and, if so, what was their response.

Naturally the Commission was notified, in accordance with our obligations under Articles 92–94 of the Treaty of Rome, of our intention

The information expressed in index form, is as follows:to increase the level of aid available in special development areas.The Commission raised no objections to the proposed changes, on the understanding that the Commission ceilings on aid would continue to be observed.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) on what date EEC Regional Commissioners approved Great Britain's various sectoral schemes; (2) what conditions have been imposed by the EEC Commission on Great Britain's ferrous foundry scheme, under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972; (3) what conditions have been imposed by the EEC Commission on Great Britain's non-ferrous foundry scheme, under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, in view of the small proportion of companies engaged in manufacturing construction and distribution which benefit from the results of comprehensive censuses carried out by his Department and of the proportion of such companies which find that the time taken up in dealing with requirements for censuses has a damaging effect on their ability to run their businesses efficiently, if he will review this activity of his Department.

All statistical inquiries are kept under continuous review to ensure the burden of form-filling on the business community is kept to a minimum consistent with fulfilling requirements and statutory obligations under the Statistics of Trade Act, 1947 and to the European Economic Communities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Bill on direct elections to the EEC to become law; and if he will make a statement.

The Government hope that the Bill will become law in time to enable the first elections to the European Assembly to be held in May-June 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the details of the Metropolitan Police concerning the formation and rôle of Department C11 from inception to date.

The Criminal Intelligence Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Metropolitan Police, which is now part of C11, was set up in March 1960 with the rôle of collating, evaluating and disseminating information relating to organised crime and the more skilled and dangerous active professional criminal This is still the greater part of its present-day function; additionally, it assists other divisions and branches engaged in operations against serious crime.The Commander C11 is also responsible for the National Central Bureau of Interpol and the Central Drugs and Illegal Immigration Intelligence Units.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the annual cost of running Department C11 of the Metropolitan Police for each year since its inception.

The Commissioner informs me that in the current financial year the cost of C11, excluding the Central Drugs and Illegal Immigration Intelligence Units and the National Central Bureau of Interpol, is estimated to be about £800,000The information requested for each of the earlier years is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what safeguards exist to prevent information on British subjects gathered by Department C11 of the Metropolitan Police from being passed via Interpol to other countries.

Other countries have no direct access to the records of the Metropolitan Police Relevant information from the Criminal Intelligence Branch, or other records, about particular criminals or crimes may be supplied to the police in other countries which are members of the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) through the National Central Bureau at New Scotland Yard where the staff concerned consider this is justified to assist operations against crime This reciprocal exchange of information facilitates operations against such major crimes as drug trafficking, forgery, fraud and trafficking in stolen vehicles and airline tickets.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if information gathered by Department C11 of the Metropolitan Police is placed on computer or linked with information obtained by the Drug Intelligence Unit, Immigration Intelligence Unit and the Special Branch.

Information about crime, criminals and their associates is not at present held on a computer, but, as the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis stated on page 15 of his report for 1976 (Cmnd. 6821), such information is being transferred to a separate new computer system in New Scotland Yard, which will not be linked to or associated with any other computer system.The Criminal Intelligence Branch liaises with the Central Drugs and Illegal Immigration Intelligence Units, with Special Branch and with other forces from whom intelligence can be obtained as and when necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the present situation at the National Stud

The National Stud is one of a large number of stud farms in the Newmarket area where there has been an outbreak of genital infection in horses In May 1977, on veterinary advice, the National Stud suspended all covering and was closed to visitors.In view of the potentially serious implications of the infection for the thoroughbred breeding industry as a whole, the Horserace Betting Levy Board, which has responsibility for the National Stud, asked Professor Sir David Evans, Chairman of its Veterinary Advisory Committee, to co-ordinate the intensive research into this matter at the various specialist laboratories throughout the country.As a result it was possible quickly to isolate the organism responsible—which is described as an unidentified Gram-negative coccobacillus—and to commence treatment of infected mares. Mares at the National Stud are now responding to treatment. It was subsequently found that the six stallions at the Stud had a similar organism, and on veterinary advice it was decided not to recommence covering for the remainder of the 1977 season, which ends on 15th July The treatment of stallions has already commenced.The Levy Board was conscious of the need to ensure that all relevant information was made available on the widest possible basis and arranged for this to be disseminated through recognised channels and published in the veterinary press. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has undertaken to keep Ministries overseas informed of all developments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet able to answer the letter from the hon. Member for South Ayrshire which asked him to state the methodology used to determine whether there were incremental costs involved in the recent pay award to the police.

It has been necessary to consult the Police Council on the matter but a reply to the letter from my hon. Gentleman was dispatched on 7th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the inspector has yet submitted his report following the inquiry into hang gliding at Mill Hill, Shoreham; when he hopes to reach a decision on this report; and whether he will publish its findings.

After careful consideration of the report, which I received in March, I have decided to confirm the byelaws submitted to me by Adur District Council. I shall be sending copies of the report to interested parties and to the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the change in the output per person employed between February 1974 and the latest convenient date.

This information is available only quarterly Between the first quarter of 1974 and the first quarter of 1977 it is estimated that output per person employed rose by about 3 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for Certificate 715 had been received up to and including 5th July and, of these, how many had been (a) approved and a certificate issued, (b) approved and a letter of approval issued, (c) refused and (d) how many were still under consideration.

At 10th June 1977—the latest date for which information is available—337,000 applications had been received, of which 270,000 had been approved. Of the remainder 31,000 had been refused, 19,000 had not been pursued, and the majority of the balance were awaiting action by the applicants to nut their tax affairs in order.Between March and June, approximately 50,000 letters of approval had been issued, and all those applicants should by now have received their certificates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the EEC proposals for the introduction of the new European unit of account, and in particular the extra cost to the United Kingdom of such a proposal and on how it would affect the forecasts in the White Paper, Command Paper No. 6721, page 9, for the years therein mentioned.

The Commission proposed, in 1976, that with effect from 1st January 1978 the European unit of account should replace the present unit of account in the legal Acts adopted by the Institutions of the European Communities The Commission has also prepared the preliminary draft budget of the European Communities, which was sent to the Council of 15th June, in the European unit of account.Her Majesty's Government have made it clear that we would agree to the introduction of the European unit of account only if it were done in such a way that the United Kingdom contribution to the Community budget would not be increased as a result The Commission's proposed method of calculating the United Kingdom's contribution, in the event of a change, meets this condition and is acceptable to Her Majesty's Government However, it has not yet been accepted by all the other member States.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average annual surplus or deficit in the current account of the balance of payments in the periods 1945–51, 1952–64, 1965–70, 1971–74 and 1975–76.

Current balance figures for 1945 are not available For the years from 1946 the annual average surplus or deficit on the current account of the balance of payments are now estimated as follows:

£ million
1946–51	…	…	…	— 108
1952–64	…	…	…	69
1965–70	…	…	…	116
1971–74	…	…	…	— 729
1975–76	…	…	…	—1,563

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in all forms of taxation on table wines, fortified wines, beers and spirits, respectively, since February 1974.

Since February 1974 the excise duties on table wine, fortified wines, beers and spirits have increased as follows:

Per cent
Table wine	333
Fortified wine(15–18 per cent alcohol)	154
Fortified wine(18–22 per cent alcohol)	199
Beer	141
Sprits	75

All these goods are subject to the standard rate of VAT, which was reduced from 10 per cent. to 8 per cent. on 29th July 1974.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of value added tax he estimates was contributed by foreign tourists visiting the United Kingdom in the 12 months to the most recent convenient date; and what percentage this represents of the total.

On the basis of estimates of expenditure by all categories of overseas visitors—whether on holiday, business or study—the amount of VAT contributed by tourists, visiting the United Kingdom in 1976, is thought to be somewhere about £100 million, representing about 2·6 per cent. of the total VAT revenue· Within this amount about half was attributable to overseas visitors here on holiday.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the savings on a year's imports, were the value of the £ sterling to equal $1·74.

Any estimates are subject to a wide margin of error, but if the value of the £ sterling were $1·74, compared with $1·72, and if the value of sterling against all other currencies were also 1·2 per cent higher, the value of imports of goods might be 0·6 per cent. lower, equivalent to £200 million of the 1976 import bill This estimate allows for (i) a rise of 0·4 per cent. in the volume of imports because of worse competitiveness and (ii) no change in the level of activity or wages Because the impact of an exchange rate change is quicker on import prices than volumes, the short-term effect on the value of imports would be larger than 0·6 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much an asset purchased for £100 in April 1965 would have to be worth at the present date to maintain its real value.

In May 1977—the latest date for which information is available—the sum of £310 had internal purchasing power approximately equivalent to that of £100 in April 1965.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has made any further alteration to his previous target of 3 per cent unemployment by the end of 1979; and what progress has been made towards his objectives.

As my right hon. Friend emphasised in his Budget State- ment, it remains the Government's overall economic objective to achieve the fastest possible return to a high and sustainable level of output and employment· But the extent to which we can fulfil that aim within any given timescale depends not only on securing improvements in our own industrial performance but also on developments in the wider world economy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the total sums currently invested in the 15th and 16th Issues of National Savings Certificate, the Retirement Issue of the National Savings Certificate, the index-linked SAYE scheme and Premium Bonds.

The fifteenth issue of National Savings Certificates is the same as the retirement issue. The latest available figures are:

£million
	principal	Accrued Interest or Index linked increase
Retirement (15th) Issue National Savings Certificates	492·1	68·2
16th Issue National Savings Certificates	919·5	Nil
SAYE (Index linked)	97·9	4·1
Premium Savings Bonds	1,218·0	Nil

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many other OECD countries have an investment income surcharge or its equivalent; and at what rates.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revenue received in 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77 from investment income surcharge paid by women on their maintenance income awarded through the courts.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many women have paid the investment income surcharge on maintenance awarded through the courts in the latest year for which figures are available.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he proposes to relieve garage owners of the burden of 5p a gallon on their stocks of petrol when the excise duty is reduced.

It would not be practicable to give relief on actual stocks of petrol held by garages, but my right hon. Friend has tabled an amendment to the Finance Bill which will authorise Customs and Excise to make suitable arrangements for repaying duty by reference to the normal pattern of deliveries so as to encourage garages to maintain stocks in the period immediately before the change in the duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received the Lord Committee report on employee participation in the public sector.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 5th May.—[Vol. 931, c. 257].

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to publish the Lord Committee report on employee participation in the public sector.

Officials advise Ministers on various policy questions related to the nationalised industries, but this advice is not published.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates would be the annual cost if capital allowances were made available on new hotel construction, taking the rate of applicable allowances as the average rate pertaining in the other EEC countries, and defining a hotel as in the Development of Tourism Act 1969.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 4th July 1977; Vol. 934, c. 402–3], gave the following information:Because of the variety and complexity of tax systems in the different EEC countries it is not possible to construct a meaningful average of the rates of depreciation and other capital allowances for hotels.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the fact that there are still many applications for Certificate 715 outstanding, if he will extend the date to which a letter of approval will suffice beyond 5th July.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 7th July 1977; Vol. 934, c.] gave the following information:It is estimated that there are about 17,000 applications for certificates still being dealt with Of these, approximately 5,000 have been successful and certificates will be issued within about 14 days Virtually all the rest are awaiting action by the applicants to put their tax affairs in order. In these circumstances, I do not believe that an extension of the special transitional arrangements beyond 5th July is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the price per comparable unit of account of coal, gas, heating oil and motor spirit, respectively, in each of the member States of the EEC; and what is the price of electricity to industrial and domestic consumers, respectively, per comparable unit of account, in each of the member States of the EEC.

The following table sets out the latest available information. Prices for each fuel are comparable in time but the dates vary as between different fuels Differing national consumption patterns, wide variations in prices that can occur within countries and fluctuating exchange rates all contribute to the difficulty of comparing prices internationally Comparisons are especially difficult in times of rapidly rising prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the progress of the implementation of the national insulation programme.

The Department of Energy is now conducting, jointly with other Departments, a major review of possible further Government action to promote energy conservation This will include consideration of ways to secure economic levels of insulation in buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made in his discussions about providing energy stamps purchasable at Post Offices to provide a method of meeting gas and electricity bills by instalments.

There is nothing yet to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Swansea, East (Mr. Anderson) on 17th May 1977—[Vol. 932, c. 107.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the British Gas Corporation is still responsible for the conversion, free of charge, of any gas appliances not already converted for use with natural gas.

British Gas accepts responsibility for conversion of town gas appliances within Great Britain when the premises are converted to natural gas, and for 12 months thereafter Beyond that time it will accept responsibility if the owner of the appliance has moved house from a town gas area or if it can be shown that British Gas missed the appliance at the time of conversion or converted it unsatisfactorily.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of agricultural land was sold in 1976 and was bought by farmers, institutions or foreign buyers.

In the transactions notified to the Inland Revenue in the year ended 30th September 1976, which is the latest information available, just under 2 per cent. of agricultural land in England and Wales changed hands Some 76 per cent. of the land was bought by individuals—usually farmers—20½ per cent. by property and other companies, financial institutions and public authorities, and 31 per cent by "others", which would include foreign Governments.I regret that it is not possible to identify separately the purchases made by foreign nationals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if any records of land ownership covering land other than that owned by the Secretary of State, the Crown Estates Commission, the Forestry Commission, the Highlands and Islands Development Board, the Nature Conservancy, the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, the South of Scotland Electricity Board, or the National Trust for Scotland are held in the Scottish Office or any of its departments.

No, the Register of Sasines, which is public, holds records of land ownership.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the use of isosorbide in the treatment of hydrocephalus.

I am advised that isosorbide is used where hydrocephalus is only slowly progressive The decision to use this drug and the treatment regime adopted is a matter for the clinical judgment of the doctor in charge of the case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the risks associated with the shunt treatment of hydrocephalus.

I am advised that, apart from the inherent risks attached to any operation, infection is the major problem in this particular operation There is also some danger of ventricular bleeding, and an increased anaesthetic risk because of increased intracranial pressure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many shunt surgery operations have been carried out on hydrocephalic spina bifida babies in each of the last five years.

Statistics are not yet available for the years 1975 and 1976 Shunt operations carried out on hydrocephalic spina bifida babies in each of the preceding five years were:

1970	…	…	…	51
1971	…	…	…	105
1972	…	…	…	71
1973	…	…	…	59
1974	…	…	…	57

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the availability and use of computerised axial tomography in the detec-

Region		Total rateable value	Rateable value of industrial subjects included therein	Percentage value of industrial subjects to total rateable value
Borders	…	4,879,688	330,102	6·8
Central	…	20,063,091	5,712,911	28·5
Dumfries and Galloway	…	7,139,603	594,542	8·3
Fife	…	18,935,423	2,277,566	12·0
Grampian	…	24,555,495	2,468,179	10·1
Highland	…	9,420,596	1,229,412	13·1
Lothian	…	51,467,301	3,491,452	6·8
Strathclyde	…	163,106,430	17,531,485	10·7
Tayside	…	24,189,517	1,943,922	8·0
Orkney	…	421,410	25,249	6· 0
Shetland	…	463,641	20,603	4·4
Western Isles	…	766,762	69,280	9·0
All Scotland	…	325,408,957	35,694,703	11·0

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland for Scotland what representations he has received from the Association of Lecturers in Colleges of Education in Scotland about the present difficulties in education, with special reference to the circumstances at Aberdeen College of Education.

The comments made by the Association of Lecturers in Colleges of Education in Scotland on my right hon. Friend's consultative paper on "Teacher Training from 1977 Onwards" do not include any particular reference to the circumstances at Aberdeen College of Education.

Computerised axial tomography is available in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen The extent to which this facility is used in the detection of hydrocephalus in babies with spina bifida is determined by the clinical practice of the clinicians in charge.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the proportions of rateable valuation as in cash and as in percentage as are taken by industrial subjects in the regional and island authorities of Scotland.

The following table shows, both in value and percentage, the proportion which industrial subjects constitute of the total rateable value of regional and islands authorities in Scotland for the year 1976–77.

asked the Sectary of State for Scotland (1) what redundancies are planned to affect the staff of the Scottish colleges of education;(2) what plans he has to redeploy staffs of the colleges of education in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Lady to my right hon. Friend's statement of 19th May on "Teacher Training from 1977 Onwards", copies of which are in the Library.—[Vol. 932, c. 271–74.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the prent number of staff at Aberdeen College of Education; and how this compares with a comparable date in each of the last five years.

The number of staff at Aberdeen College of Education is at present 399, of which 166 are academic staff The numbers of staff on 1st April of the last five years are as follows:

			Total Staff	Academic Staff
1972	…	…	393	155
1973	…	…	427	169
1974	…	…	425	170
1975	…	…	442	176
1976	…	…	430	167

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications were made for grants under the urban aid programme in the last 12 months; how many were granted and at what cost; and how many and at what cost were made specifically in relation to Dundee.

Of 90 applications in the year ending 30th June, 52 have been approved at a capital cost of £253,490 and a revenue cost in the first year of £556,823. 18 applications were refused and 20 are under consideration One application related specifically to Dundee and was approved at a cost of £4,450.

the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which home-loss payments, representing the attachment of a person to the house which he loses, are payable to tenants who are forcibly removed from their homes for redevelopment.

Eligibility for home-loss payments is governed by the terms of the Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended; If the hon. Member has a particular point in mind I invite him to write to me about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the date when the Damhead Bridge, Coupar Angus, will be replaced.

I understand that Tayside Regional Council, as highway authority for this road, expects the im- provements to the bridge to be completed by about November this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report how many heads of households were living on incomes below the appropriate family income supplement level for each year since 1972.

On the assumption that the hon. Member is referring to the numbers of families normally in full-time employment with gross incomes below the appropriate prescribed amounts for family income supplement (FIS) but not receiving FIS, the information requested is as follows:

Year			Numbers of families
1972	…	…	About 80,000
1973	…	…	About 50,000
1974	…	…	About 20,000
1975	…	…	About 20,000

These estimates are derived from a DHSS analysis of the incomes and other information recorded by respondents in the Family Expenditure Survey. They are subject to considerable uncertainty be-because of small sample numbers and deficiencies in the information available for determining eligibility for FIS.An estimate for 1976 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how much of the extra £380 million a year added to social security benefits for one-parent families referred to by his right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security on 21st June 1977 represents general up-ratings of benefits and how much represents special help for one-parent families in recognition of their special needs;(2) if he will itemise the £650 million a year of social security benefits paid to one-parent families referred to by his right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security on 21st June 1977 into the individual benefits paid, showing in each case the cost and the number of lone parents in receipt;

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is now satisfied that there are adequate arrangements for United Kingdom citizens to use health service facilities in third countries, comparable with those in the United Kingdom and at the basic cost.

There is no general power under the National Health Service Acts to pay for treatment received by United Kingdom citizens abroad Access to other national systems of health care can normally be achieved only on a non-reimbursement basis through bilateral reciprocal agreements Our ability to make agreements of this kind depends on the existence of adequate standards and methods of health care provision, and on the willingness of other countries to enter into such agreements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those countries with which there are

NUMBERS OF FAMILIES RECEIVING FAMILY INCOME SUPI'LEMENT AND AVERAGE PAYMENTS
Year			Two-parent families	Average payment	Motherless families	Average payment	Fatherless families	Average payment
(at December)			(Thousands)	(£)	(Thousands)	(£)	(Thousands)	(£)
1971	…	…	47	1·50	1	1·47	23	2·21
1972	…	…	48	1·78	1	1·74	33	2·51
1973	…	…	50	2·31	1	2·36	43	2·83
1974	…	…	32	3·25	1	3·41	37	3·41
1975	…	…	28	3·83	1	4·20	31	4·20
1976	…	…	42	4·66	1	4·19	34	5·05
The scheme started in August 1971.
Figures relate to Great Britain, and the numbers of families are rounded to the nearest 1,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications for family income supplement have been made and how many have been approved for families living in (a) the social security region which includes Nottingham and (b) the country as a whole.

Information on the number of applications for family income supplement (FIS) is available only for Great adequate reciprocal social service arrangements for tourists, and for which he does not recommend holidaymakers to take separate insurance cover.

Details of reciprocal agreements covering medical treatment are given in my Department's leaflets SA 28 and SA 30, copies of which I am sending to the hon. Member. Since these leaflets were published, an agreement with the German Democratic Republic has been signed and has come into operation Illness in countries with which we have reciprocal agreements can involve expense, as national legislations may require the patient to bear part of the costs of treatment Even where treatment is provided free there may be additional non-medical expenses Some insurance cover may, therefore, be advisable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) one-parent and (b) two-parent families with dependent children have been in receipt of family income supplement since the scheme's inception; and if he will list the average payment for both groups for each of the years listed.