asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Government will encourage the British fishing industry to establish a permanent fishing fleet based in British territories in the South Atlantic jointly with the Argentine.

It would be premature for me to comment on this proposal at this time when the Government have not been able to establish whether a suitable political and economic framework can be established in the south-west Atlantic.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the comparative prices of wheat and maize at 1st July on (a) the world market and (b) the EEC managed market.

Following is the information requested. (a) It is not possible to determine a single world price for any grain, as the price of all grains varies according to quality and variety. However, on 27th June 1977 the Home-Grown Cereals Authority quoted the following cif prices for July shipment for representative grains of the type normally imported by the United Kingdom:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an assessment of the profitability of pig production if pig producers had access to grain at £38 per ton as against the current EEC price of £80 per ton.

It is not possible to provide a meaningful assessment of likely changes in the profitability of pig production based on the effects of a hypothetical reduction in the cost of feed. Profitability depends on a number of factors, including the price of pigment, which is affected by. amongst other things, the level of output, which would itself be influenced over time by changes in the cost of production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the Greater London Council during the past three months about progress on the construction of the Thames flood barrier; and if he will make a statement.

No discussions have taken place at ministerial level. Officials have, however, maintained the virtually continuous contact which is an integral part of the arrangements between my Department and the Greater London Council. The contacts cover all levels, technical and administrative, and include regular meetings as well as discussions on specific issues as they arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the costs of (a) the construction of the Thames flood barrier, and (b) the associated strengthening of the river walls; and how these compare with the original estimates.

The estimated costs at December 1976 prices compared with the original estimates given in December 1973 are as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what

The United Kingdom is expected to receive about £50 million from EEC funds in respect of butter subsidy paid from its introduction on 1st May 1977 until 31st March 1978. The rate of subsidy to apply from April to December 1978 has still to be determined by the Council of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many rifle ranges in the United Kingdom have been closed in the last five years; what are the names of the ranges; and in each case what was the reason for closure.

Eighteen rifle ranges have been closed in the last five years:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many rifle ranges have been temporarily taken out of use during the last 12 months; for what reason; and when they will be returned to use.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many rifle ranges he plans to close during the next 12 months; what are the names of the ranges; and what were the reasons for closure.

On present plans, two ranges are due for temporary closure in the next 12 months:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in the light of the fact that the rifle range at Beckingham, Notts., is now used by 150 military units at least, and is, therefore, no longer available for use by schools and rifle clubs whether this situation provides adequately for military training.

I am satisfied that training of military units is not suffering as a result of the heavy usage of the Beckingham range.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is the policy of the Army Department to offer ranges

Twenty ranges have been temporarily taken out of use during the past 12 months, of which six have already been reopened and a further four are due to reopen before the end of this year.becoming surplus to requirement first to the Territorial and Volunteer Reserve and then to civilian rifle clubs; how many ranges have been so offered in the last two years; and what were the names of the ranges.

The needs of the TAVR are taken into account before a range is declared surplus to defence requirements. On disposal, the interest of other Government Departments, former owners—in the case of land of an agricultural nature—and local authorities is first considered before sale on the open market, when civilian rifle clubs may bid for the property. Ranges declared surplus in the last two years, generally as part of a barrack complex and associated land, have been dealt with in that way.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many units of the Army Cadet Force and the Combined Cadet Force have ceased to shoot with full bore rifles in the last five years because rifle ranges are no longer available.

This information is not readily available. I am making the necessary inquiries and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many rifle ranges are now available for use by civilian and school rifle clubs; what was the number five years ago; and what is his policy in this respect.

This information is not readily available. I am making the necessary inquiries and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many rifle ranges are now available for use by civilian and school rifle clubs in Leicestershire and in the East Midlands; and what were the same numbers five years ago.

This information is not readily available. I am making the necessary inquiries and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied that sufficient rifle ranges will be available in the future for use by civilian and school rifle clubs.

The training of the Regular Army, TAVR and cadets

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving officers there are in the Royal Navy of and above the rank of rear-admiral; and how this figure compares with the figure in February 1974.

This information is not available for the exact dates requested.The latest figures show that there were 61 Royal Naval officers of the rank of rear-admiral and above on 31st March 1977 and 70 on 31st March 1974. The

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will replace the detachment of Royal Marines in the Falkland Islands with a detachment of Royal Engineers, detailed to build roads.

I am satisfied that the rôle of the garrison in the Falkland Islands is best met by the Royal Marines.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the numerical strength of the Royal Navy in each of the past 10 years.

The latest available information on the numerical strength of the Royal Navy in each of the past 10 years at 1st April of each year is:numbers of Royal Marine officers of equivalent rank—for example, major generals and above—were seven and six respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving officers there are in the Royal Navy at present; and how this figure compares with the number in February 1974.

This information is not available for the exact dates requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish a list of all the non-Governmental organisations which receive grants from her Department; and if she will publish the financial amounts for each of the past two years.

My Department makes grants, subject to parliamentary approval, to several hundred educational establishments and organisations. The principal grants are detailed individually in the Appropriation Accounts or in the Department's annual reports presented to Parliament; the remainder are shown grouped in categories. If the hon. Member seeks further information, I shall be pleased to write to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received from teachers in polytechnics about student sit-ins; and what reply she has given.

I have sent the following reply to a letter from the Association of Polytechnic Teachers:12th July 1977.I am writing in reply to your published letter to me of 24th May about student sit-ins.I agree of course with many of the points you make about the consequences of these disturbances for the staffs and students of the institutions in which they occur. But given that student discipline is a matter for the Governing Body and Director concerned, and that the circumstances differ, in causation and background, from one case to another, I do not believe that guidance "from the top", as you put it, is likely to be helpful. I am concerned about the impact of these events both on the staffs and students of the particular institutions, and on the general public, but I am convinced that solutions can best be found at the local level by those who have clear and direct responsibility.SHIRLEY WILLIAMS.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what grants or other disbursements from public funds have been made to the Institute of Dialect and Folk Life Studies at the University of Leeds.

The institute forms part of the School of English of the University of Leeds, which is supported mainly from public funds, but no grant from public funds is made direct to the institute.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she has any plans to improve university teachers' pay, in view of the situation of the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

The negotiation of any revised salary scales for university teachers will need to take account of the next stage of incomes policy, when that has been announced. My right hon. Friend is aware of the anomalous situation resulting from the timing of the introduction of the July 1975 pay policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many Section 13 notices, for England and Wales, seeking to implement secondary school reorganisation, and affecting how many schools, the Department of Education and Science has received since February 1974; and approximately how many signatures of objection she has received to these notices.

Since 1st March 1974, my right hon. Friend and her predecessors have approved 415 sets of proposals which will result in the establishment of 850 new comprehensive schools in England. In the same period 14 sets of proposals have been rejected, affecting 29 schools. A further 37 sets of proposals affecting 65 schools are under consideration. A number of proposals have been withdrawn by the promoters but records are not kept of these.Matters for Wales are for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.I regret that the information required by the second part of the Question is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children were in maintained nursery education in England and Wales in January 1971, January 1974 and January 1977, respectively.

In 1971 and 1974, the numbers of full-time and part-time pupils attending maintained nursery schools or nursery classes in maintained primary schools in England were 90,146 and 123,591 respectively; comparable figures for 1977 are not yet available but the number of pupils in 1976 was 158,234.Nursery education in Wales is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many departments of religious education in colleges of education in England and Wales there were in 1971, 1974 and 1977; and what is the expected number of departments of religious education in 1981.

The figures give the number of colleges and polytechnic departments of education in England and Wales which offered non-graduate main courses of initial training in religious education in the two earlier academic years shown and plan to offer them in the two later years:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received to postpone the implementation of the Education Act 1976 until full consultation with the parents in the area concerned has been achieved, and secondly until the Government are able to make the full financial resources for reorganisation available.

Letters under Section 2 of the Education Act 1976 have been sent to 36 local education authorities. Oil these nine have requested postponement of the date by which proposals are required under this section until further consultation with parents has been undertaken and one of these also requested an extension on the grounds that it could not give details of timing without a prior commitment from the Department of approval of the necessary capital expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many colleges of education, and how many student places in those colleges, in England and Wales, there were in 1971, 1974, and 1977; and what are the expected numbers for 1981.

In 1971 and 1974, there were 159 colleges and departments of education, excluding colleges of education (technical), in England and Wales with an estimated total capacity of about 117,000 places.In the academic year 1976–77 there were 136 institutions with some 84,700 full-time teacher training students and about 32,000 other places formerly used for teacher education. Four of those institutions with a total of 1,430 places are closing later this summer.No final decisions have yet been announced on the future of the colleges in Wales. It is expected that in England there will be 75 institutions engaged in teacher education in 1981, including colleges merging with universities, with a total of 43,770 places for that purpose. Those institutions will also have about 41,000 places formerly used for teacher training which will be available for other higher and further education courses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many departments of craft and design in colleges of education in England and Wales there were in 1971, 1974, and 1977; and what is their expected number for 1981.

The figures give the number of colleges and polytechnic departments of education in England and Wales which offered non-graduate main courses of inititial training in craft, design and technology in the two earlier academic years shown and plan to offer them in the two later years:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many special scholarships or grants are available to United Kingdom citizens seeking to pursue postgraduate studies on Common Market related subjects at European universities.

It is expected that for the academic year 1977–78 about 30 scholarships will be held by United Kingdom students attending courses at the European University Institute, Florence; the College of Europe, Bruges; and the European Institute of Advanced International Studies, University of Nice.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what action she is taking to improve the utilisation of resources for disabled students in higher and further education;(2) what action she is taking to encourage plans for university and college buildings to take account of the need for facilities for disabled people that she has required from chief architects of local education authorities in plans for schools and further education buildings; and if she will make a statement.

In January 1977 the Department asked local education authorities in submitting plans for school and further education building projects, to show what provision is to be made for the disabled. The Standards for School Premises Regulations 1972 and the Further Education Regulations 1975 are under review and action is being taken to include references to the provisions in the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 and to prepare and issue design guidance in these matters. The University Grants Committee issued design guidance to university building officers about the needs of the disabled in 1972 and decided that it was not necessary to make further approach along the lines of the Department's letter to local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of institutions of higher and further education designate a member of staff to look after the interests of handicapped students; if she will advise all institutions to do so; and if she will make a statement.

My Department does not collect this information but it is known from a recent survey by Her Majesty's Inspectorate that about one-quarter of colleges in the non-university sector arrange for a member of staff to be responsible for the admission of handicapped students and most of these arrange for a member of staff to be responsible for the needs of handicapped students at the institutions. This is ft matter for the institutions themselves according to individual circumstances, but I welcome their increasing awareness of the needs in this area.

asked the Secretaty of State for Education and Science what action is being taken to make schools aware of facilities for disabled pupils in establishments of higher and further education.

Apart from the usual arrangements whereby establishments of further and higher education provide information for schools and others, many colleges are establishing links with schools to ensure that the facilities available, including those for disabled students, are made known to their pupils. In addition, local authority careers and advisory services have greatly improved the quality of advice which they give to handicapped school leavers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is satisfied that all local authorities are, where necessary, providing adequate extra allowances to enable handicapped students to pursue courses of higher and further education; and if she will make a statement.

Mandatory awards made by local education authorities include special provision to cover the needs of disabled students attending degree and similar courses. The rates of discretionary grants, including any special allowances for disabled students, are a matter for local education authorities. Local authority social services departments also provide a wide range of services in kind for students who need them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will ask all establishments of higher and further education to give every handicapped applicant for a course the right to be interviewed on the campus.

Admission arrangements are a matter for the individual institutions but most institutions already offer suitably qualified handicapped applicants the opportunity of such an interview on request.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what resources are available to institutions of higher and further education for the improvement of access and the provisions of special facilities for disabled students.

These resources are, for the most part, determined locally within the total allocations available for capital projects at institutions of higher and further education. The information is not collected by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if she will make a statement on the work of the National Bureau for Handicapped Students which has been supported by her Department for the last three years;(2) what support she intends to give to the National Bureau for Handicapped Students over the next three years; and if she will make a statement.

The National Bureau for Handicapped Students provides information on the facilities available for handicapped students in institu- tions of further and higher education and also aims to arrange appropriate specialist advice for the benefit of both institutions and students. At the time of its foundation, my Department agreed to provide an initial grant of £10,000 per year for up to three years from April 1978. A request for increased grant from April 1970 onwards has been discussed recently with the bureau and will be considered further when more detailed estimates of the bureau's future costs are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children were born at each of the maternity units in the area covered by the Macclesfield constituency in each year since 1964.

Following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many maternity units there are at the present time in (a) Cheshire and (b) the area covered by the Macclesfield constituency.

Nine and two, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children are in care (a) in Cheshire and (b) in the area covered by the Macclesfield constituency at the latest convenient date; and how this figure compares with the position in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976.

On 31st March 1976, the latest date for which information is available, there were in Cheshire 1,492 children in care, compared with 1,471 at 31st March 1975, 1,362 at 31st March 1974 and 1,277 at 31st March 1973. The information requested for the area covered by the Macclesfield constituency is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the relative costs to his Department of a pension payment made by direct credit to a bank or Giro account and by crossed cheque by post;(2) what is the interest earned by his Department on a pension of average size in the interval between despatch and clearance of a payment by crossed cheque.

Pension payments are usually made in cash at post offices but pensioners can request their pension to be paid monthly or quarterly in arrears by means of crossed payable orders drawn on the Paymaster-General's office. The PMG's costs are about 5p an order. Pensions are conditional payments and no facilities exist for direct payment into a bank or Giro account. The Department earns no interest as it is required to imprest the PMG to cover the value of the payable orders as they are issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the conditions upon which a disabled unemployed person over the age of 55 years can be put on the 13-week register of unemployed persons.

An unemployed man, whether disabled or not, over the age of 55 years—50 years for a woman—who is not entitled to unemployment benefit but who is required to attend an unemployment benefit office of the Department of Employment as a condition for receiving supplementary allowance may attend quarterly if:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people have been awarded industrial disability benefit for the disease acro-osteolysis.

None. The disease was prescribed as an industrial disease only as recently as 21st March 1977. Six claims for benefit have been made and are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what capital sums have been invested in hospitals in the Thanet area in each of the last five years; and what is the projected investment for the next five years.

Amounts were:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he considers that the doctor-patient ratio in the area covered by the Macclesfield constituency is satisfactory; and how it compares with the rest of the United Kingdom.

Information is not available in the form requested for the Macclesfield parliamentary constituency. As the number of doctors providing the full range of general medical services per 100,000 population in the Cheshire Area Health Authority, which includes the Macclesfield parliamentary constituency, is 42 compared with an average of 44 for England and Wales as a whole, I do not consider the position unsatisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much unemployment benefit was paid in each of the years 1973 to 1976 and in 1977 to the latest available date to persons unemployed after working in the industries covered by Minimum List Headings 102, 103, 274, 461, 462, 463, 464 and 469, respectively.

This information is not available as expenditure on unemployment benefit is not recorded by the industry in which the claimant previously worked.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1), for the most recent three-month period for which figures are available, if he will publish figures to show how many Giro cheques were issued to pay supplementary benefits, and national insurance payments, respectively, nationally and in Stockport; and how many in each case were reported lost, stolen or not received;(2) for the most recent three-month period for which figures are available, how many Giro cheques were issued in Stockport for supplementary benefit and national insurance payments which were reported as not being received by the person to whom they were issued; how many of these subsequently reappeared; how many were cashed illegally; how many prosecutions for fraud relate to illegally cashed cheques; and in how many cases new cheques were issued.

The information concerning Giro cheques issued in Stockport is not available centrally and could be assembled and presented only with a disproportionate amount of work and cost.Information relating to Giro cheques issued nationally during the last three months of 1976 for the whole range of social security benefits is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning the method of assessment for non-contributory invalidity pension for disabled housewives; and if he will make a statement.

I had a useful exchange of views with my hon. Friend and with the representatives of the Disablement Income Group who accompanied him at a meeting on 27th June. I have had the points raised at the meeting studied and am writing to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the action his Department is taking to ensure a sufficiency of preregistration posts for the projected increase in medical school output.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South (Mrs. Jeger) on Friday 17th June.—[Vol. 933, c. 305.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out in the Official Report the names of those chairmen of area health authorities who, in the last year, have given up their appointments prior to the end of their term of office, the names of

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will now, in the interests of free world trade, act in conjunction with other members of the OECD to bring forward anti-Arab boycott legislation comparable with that passed by the Governments of France and the United States of America.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on when he intends to introduce legislation to neutralise the effect of the Arab boycott on Israel.

My right hon. Friend has no present intention of introducing such legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what action is being taken to persuade the Arab countries concerned to lift their boycott on some British firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he now proposes to take to counteract the effects of the Arab boycott on United Kingdom companies.

Officials at the Department of Trade are available to discuss in confidence with individual firms any problems which they encounter and to assist them without breaching the principle of not recognising the Boycott Office.

The chairmen who have resigned during the period from 1st July 1976 and their successors are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many British firms are believed to be on the Arab boycott blacklist.

The boycott is implemented by the Arab States individually. Neither they nor the Central Boycott Office publish full and up-to-date lists of boycotted firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to conclude the new Air Services Agreement with the United States of America.

Negotiations to complete the remaining details were resumed in Washington on 12th July and will be continued in Bermuda. I hope to sign the new agreement in Bermuda on 23rd July and shall place a copy in the Library of the House as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what aid has been provided by the EEC Regional Fund to Yorkshire and Humberside in 1977 to date; and what estimate he has made of the contribution to the EEC Regional Fund by Yorkshire and Humberside from the establishment of the fund to date by year.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many contracts have been offered assistance under Sections 7 and 8 of the Industry Act 1972 in respect of cost escalation insurance for shipbuilders.

Up to 30th June 1977 cost escalation insurance cover had been offered under Section 7 in respect of orders for 22 ships. No commitments have been made under Section 8. Experience with the scheme has shown that applications in respect of certain export orders for yards outside the assisted areas could be handled more appropriately by ECGD, and it is now dealing with these cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether the nitrophenylesdiamine group of chemicals will be required to be shown on all product labels; and, if so, when.

I am not at present contemplating any such requirement. If current research shows that these chemicals are harmful, the need for appropriate action will of course be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many patented hair dyes contain nitrophenylesdiamines in their formulae.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he expects to receive the report of the National Consumer Council on the involvement of tenants in the repair and improvement of council housing.

I understand that the National Consumer Council hopes to complete the study early in the new year.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he is yet in a position to announce the names of the members of the Welsh Consumer Council following the current review of membership.

The following have agreed to become new members of the Council:

• Mr. F. Clifford John.
• Mr. W. John Jones.
• Mrs. Ann Marie Rees.
• Mr. John Tulk.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether changes are proposed in the arrangements for administering Section 23 of the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971 (as amended) in respect of the discharge of effluent from land terminals receiving offshore oil production.

With the approval of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, responsibility for exercising the power of exemption under that section is to be transferred from me to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, who are already responsible for the general administration of other legislation concerned with the control of pollution. This should make for more convenient administration and should facilitate co-ordination of the control under the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act with the control of pollution under other legislation. The revised arrangements apply to discharges from land based installations and discharges into "controlled waters" as defined in Part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 and will take effect on 20th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether oil has been found off Ardnamurchan Point; and what advice he has given to the local authority about the need to control industrial land use in the area.

No oil discoveries have been made off Ardnamurchan Point.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has authorised the remission of royalties in any case affecting the North Sea in order to facilitate the development of marginal fields.

No refund of royalties has been authorised. One request was made and refused. The field in question is being developed.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is contemplating changes in petroleum revenue tax to assist the development of marginal fields in the North Sea, or whether he is contemplating other changes in the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-Lines Act 1975 to facilitate the same effect

The operation of the fiscal regime relating to the United Kingdom Continental Shelf is the subject of regular review, including the provisions to encourage development of marginal fields.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many fields in the North Sea in his estimation would become economic in development providing petroleum revenue tax were levied at a zero rate.

We know of no case where a decision not to develop has been made because of petroleum revenue tax.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the British National Oil Corporation's oil counts against the 90-day requirements of stocks laid down under the Economic Community Regulations.

The United Kingdom's oil-stocking obligation under Council Directives 68/414/EEC and 72/425/EEC is met by issuing directions under Section 6 of the Energy Act 1976 to those undertakings in the United Kingdom which supply petroleum products into United Kingdom inland consumption, requiring them to hold stocks at levels related to their sales in the previous calendar year. Since the British National Oil Corporation does not at present fall into this category, any oil in its possession does not count towards the obligation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much of the recent European Coal and Steel Community grant of £18 million to the National Coal Board for underground plant will be spent in Wales:(2) how much of the recent European Coal and Steel Community grant of £19 million to the National Coal Board for powered roof supports will be spent in Wales.

An exact answer to these Questions is not possible as the National Coal Board buys much of its equipment for use under a national pool scheme and the distribution of plant and equipment between areas will be determined by needs. But I understand that the Board plans initially to use in South Wales some 8 per cent. of the equipment purchased with both loans—they are loans, not grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many contracts for the purchase of uranium have been negotiated by the United Kingdom with South Africa, including Namibia.

There are no contracts for the purchase of uranium produced in South Africa. There is a contract with Rossing Uranium Limited for the purchase of uranium produced in Namibia, which is not a part of South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current position of the United Kingdom stockpile of uranium for power station requirements.

This information is commercially confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy from what countries the United Kingdom derives its main uranium supplies; and what are the terminal dates of existing contracts.

The current main sources are Canada and Namibia. Details of the contracts concerned, including terminal dates, are commercially confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the United Kingdom is prepared to allow the renegotiation of South African contracts for the purchase of uranium.

There are no contracts for the purchase of uranium produced in South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the purchases of Australian uranium by the United Kingdom have now been made conditional

There are as yet no uranium contracts with Australia. No condition of the kind mentioned has been suggested in our bilateral discussions with the Australians.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list in tabular form the drilling rigs in operation in the North Sea in 1976 showing: (a) their flag derivation, (b) their owners and operators, (c) the oil companies to which they were respectively contracted and (d) in each instance those for which safety or equipment dispensations were given because they did not meet approved standards.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 7th July 1977; Vol. 934, c. 612], circulated the following information:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines have been laid down for the use of electro-convulsive therapy in Scottish hospitals.

In January 1976 the Scottish Home and Health Department advised health boards that a patient should be given on explanation by a doctor before giving his consent to electroconvulsive therapy and that the form of consent should indicate that this has been done. My right hon. Friend does not consider it would he appropriate for him

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers of residential places in homes and hostels in Scotland for both mentally ill and men-

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, apart from Pitlochry Secondary School, how many secondary schools in Scotland or primary schools in Scotland have no permanent school building.

One secondary and 25 primary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers of adult training centre places and places in day centres for mentally ill persons in Scotland in each of the last five years.

The following is the information requested so far as available. Because of local government reorganisation no information is available for 1975. The figures for 1976 are provisional and not strictly comparable with those prior to reorganisation:tally handicapped persons in each of the last five years.

It is not possible to separate the figures for the mentally ill and the mentally handicapped; information for the two groups combined is given below. Because of local government reorganisation no information is available

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications there have been, in each of the colleges of education in Scotland at the latest con-

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken on Recommendation 225 of the Finer Report regarding facilities for mothers with children under the age of 5 years who are in prison or on remand.

At Cornton Vale Institution ample provision has been made for accommodataing babies with their mothers who are serving sentences or on remand. I do not, however, consider that a prison is a suitable place for young children who are old enough to be conscious of their surroundings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what research and experiment into the provision of nursery centres has been carried out, as outlined in Paragraph 8.132 (Recommendation 202) of the Finer Report.

A study has recently been made of pre-school provision in Fife; another study is being carried out for 1975. The figures for 1976 are provisional and are not strictly comparable with those prior to reorganization:venient date, for entry to teacher training courses in 1977.

The numbers of applications received by each college by 1stt June are set out below:in Lothian to assess the demand for and supply of pre-school facilities. An example of a new kind of provision is the Beanstalk Centre in Dunfermline, where the local authority is providing day nursery services and nursery education.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what action he has taken on Recommendation 189 to 194 of the Finer Report, regarding the provision of counselling services to lone parents and the provision of cash payments, without there being an immediate prospect of a child being received into care;(2) what action he has taken on Recommendations 209 to 211 of the Finer Report on the care of children over 5 years;(3) what action he has taken on Recommendations 221 to 223 of the Finer Report on mother and baby homes.

Recommendations 189 to 193, 209 to 211 and 221 to 223 are for local authorities to implement, by extending existing services, training staff and modifying services so that one-parent families can benefit more readily from them. It is for the local authorities to consider the extent to which this is possible within the present financial and staffing constraints and in the light of their assessment of the needs and priorities in their areas. Authorities have power to inspect homes registered under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to ensure that adequate standards are maintained.As regards Recommendation 194, there is no evidence that local authorities in Scotland are reluctant to offer financial assistance until the prospect of a child being received into care is immediate and pressing. The revision of guidance to local authorities on the use of their powers to give assistance in cash is at present the subject of consultations with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Supplementary Benefits Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will draw the attention of district fishery boards to their powers to search boats at sea in their board areas for salmon, nets or any basket, pockets or other receptacles capable of carrying fish, as a means of ensuring the proper conservation of salmon stocks and as an active deterrent against illegal drift netting.

As a result of recent discussions between the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland and the Association of District Salmon Fishery Boards the boards should be fully aware of their powers in these respects.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he now expects work to proceed on the Thornton bypass road in Fife; what are the reasons for the further delay in commencing this scheme; and what is the estimated increase in cost likely to be;(2) if he will reconsider the decision to delay the construction of the Thornton bypass road in Fife.

It is intended that work should start on this scheme as soon as possible. It cannot now be started this year because further work is required on the engineering design particularly of the bridges and the stabilisation of abandoned mine workings. No increase in cost is expected.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the initial estimate of the cost of the Thornton bypass road scheme; what is the compete figure; and what estimate has been made of the cost when the road is actually built.

The cost of the scheme as at present designed is estimated at £9 million at November 1976 prices. The estimate has not substantially altered since my Department took responsibility for the scheme. My right hon. Friend expects the cost to be reduced as a result of the design adjustments now being undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report those district fishery boards which have not held a statutory triannual meeting and which have not appointed any licensed bailiffs.

My right hon. Friend has no responsibilities relating to the meetings of district boards or their appointment of bailiffs. The hon. Member may wish to approach the district boards themselves for the information required.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the increased role that Fife is likely to play in oil-related industry in the next few years, what plans are in hand for improving the road and rail transport systems in the years to 1985.

It is intended that a new trunk route will be provided connecting Central Fife with the M90 motorway at Halbeath. Subject to completion of the necessary statutory procedures this road should be largely complete by 1985. The improvement of non-trunk roads is a matter for the regional council, and it would be for the British Railways Board to consider what improvements in rail transport are necessary to provide for any possible increase in traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in the light of the facts that the new town of Glenrothes is the only new town in the United Kingdom without access to a motorway road system and that this could be retarding industrial development in the area, what immediate steps he intends to take to remedy the situation.

The new trunk road linking Glenrothes to the M90 will be provided as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the White Paper indicating the Government's policies on matters relating to water and sewage.

The Government's decisions on the future of the water industry are set out in a White Paper published today. Copies of this are available in the Vote Office.The main feature is the Government's decision to establish a National Water Authority (NWA) along the lines proposed in the consultative document issued last year. The NWA will provide a strong planning capability at the centre of the industry. One of its main tasks will be to prepare a national water strategy for all water services, and to ensure that the plans and investment programmes of the regional water authorities conform with national policy as expressed in the strategy.The British Waterways Board will be transferred to the NWA as soon as that is set up. The White Paper, however, stresses the need for further work to establish the best permanent arrangements and method of financing for the waterways, and this work will be set in hand immediately.The Government have decided that the Water Research Centre should be brought into the NWA, in order to provide the research capacity essential for the national planning authority. There will be appropriate safeguards to ensure scientific freedom and an effective rôle for outside interests.The Government intend that the regional structure of the industry should be retained at present and reconsidered in the context of future local government patterns. There will, however, be some increase in local authority membership of regional water authorities in England to provide more effective local representation. There will also be some changes in responsibility for water services at local level in the light of the industry's experience since reorganisation.The Government have reaffirmed their view that the private water companies should be brought into the public sector but conclude that this course is not practical at present and will be best dealt with in the context of the future of the regional water authorities. New arrangements are set out for sewerage charges for properties not connected to main drainage, which are intended to give some assistance to those householders who are at present facing very high charges.The outcome of the review owes a great deal to the wide ranging and valuable response to the consultative document. I believe that these changes will benefit both water users and the industry itself. Legislative proposals will be brought before the House as soon as practicable. Meanwhile, administrative adjustments will be made wherever possible along the lines envisaged in the White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance has been given by his Department to district councils with regard to the levying of charges on hospital authorities for the collection of refuse; and what consultations he has had on this matter.

None, although local authorities have been advised to pay close attention to their charging policies for services provided on repayment to ensure that they are realistic.The collection and disposal of hospital wastes presents special difficulties for local authorities and my Department is currently discussing future arrangements with the Department of Health and Social Security.