asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he proposes to lay orders to bring about metrication in the retail sector.

Most goods in the retail sector may already legally be sold in metric quantities but in the Weights and Measures Etc Act 1976 the Government took enabling powers to phase out the use of imperial units. My Department's report published earlier this year outlined a suggested framework for the completion of the metrication changeover, and detailed consultations are now taking place on this.As a first step, orders cutting off imperial prescribed quantities for sugar and establishing metric prescribed quantities for cocoa and chocolate powders were laid before Parliament on 12th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what subjects are currently being investigated by the National Consumer Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what matters are at present under investigation by the National Consumer Council.

At my right hon. Friend's request the Council is at present considering tenant involvement in the repair, maintenance and improvement of council housing. It also investigates a wide range of subjects on its own initiative.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will give a general directive to the Price Commission to minimise the administrative burden imposed on small firms as a result of its inquiries.

One of the intentions of the Price Commission Act is to reduce the administrative burden on firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he last discussed prices policy with representatives of the TUC.

I frequently meet representatives of the TUC to discuss prices policy questions. I last did so on 13th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what has been the percentage incrase in the price of apples since May 1976.

The average retail price of cooking apples rose by 9 per cent. between May 1976 and June 1977. The price of dessert apples increased by 66 per cent. largely because of a marked reduction in supplies from South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand due to poor crops.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the current annual rate of increase in the retail price index.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will give the latest year-on-year percentage increase in prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the current annual rate of inflation.

I refer hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Dearne Valley (Mr. Wainwright) and the hon. Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Bottomley).

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what has been the rate of increase in the retail price index during the period phase 2 has been in operation.

Between August 1976 and June 1977 the retail price index has risen 15.8 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will list those domestic food products where the average known retail prices have risen by more than 20 per cent. in the last 12-month period for which figures are available.

Some cuts of lamb, some varieties of fruit and vegetables and of fish; milk, cheese, margarine, lard, bread and flour, chicken, tea and coffee.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he last met representatives of the Food and Drink Industries Council.

On 1st June 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if, in view of the adverse reaction from traders to a number of the questions contained in the Form No. CC2/ 75 in respect of applications for a standard licence under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, he will advise the Director General of Fair Trading to modify and amend the questions on this form.

Since the Act imposes on the Director General the duty of administering the licensing system, the questions in the form are a matter for him.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations he has received on the Consultation Document Prices Policy, Command Paper No. 6861.

I have received representations from industry urging relaxations both in the margin controls and in the safeguards under Clause 9 of the Price Commission Act. I have also been urged by representatives of consumers and wage earners to ensure that the safeguard regulations are not so closely related to historic levels of profit as to undermine the effectiveness of the prices policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if following the Law Commissions' reports, he will seek to impose strict liability on manufacturers for defective products which cause death or injury.

I have read with interest the Law Commissions' report and I have noted that it proposes a system of strict liability without fault for death or personal injury caused by defective products. I intend to consult widely on the implications of introducing strict liability as recommended and on the proposed EEC directive about which the Law Commissions were critical.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what further steps he intends to take to control prices.

From 1st August, price controls will be based upon the permanent new investigatory powers set out in the Price Commission Act and until 31st July 1978 the continuation of margin controls. In addition, we have announced special action on particular prices in the context of the overriding need to reduce the rate of inflation in the coming year.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what protection he proposes to give to consumers from the activities of organisers of one-day sales.

The Director General of Fair Trading is still considering whether some form of control over one-day sales is needed. If he is satisfied that such sales adversely affect the economic interests of consumers it is open to him to propose an order under Part II of the Fair Trading Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is his latest estimate of the cost of food subsidies during the current financial year and during the year ending 5th April 1979.

About £ 220·5 million in 1977–78. In 1978–79 expenditure will depend upon the rate of the EEC butter subsidy then applicable; this has not yet been decided by the Council of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what specific use he proposes to make of the £3 million proposed in the Price Commission Bill to be used for the general purpose of consumer protection.

A grant of about £3·5 million is being made available this year to cover the costs of 120 consumer advice centres and over 250 local price surveys.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations he has had from consumers about advertisements for fixed-interest deposits by the Post Office and other deposit-taking bodies.

None. These advertisements are, like other advertisements, subject to the general provisions of the code of advertising practice and I am not aware of any need for special action in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether, in addition to the current investigation by the Prices Commission of the prices and profit margins of the major breweries, he will refer to the Commission the increase recently proprosed by the brewers; when he expects the Commission to report on this matter; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protecton if he will take immediate steps to refer to the Price Commission, at present considering brewers' prices and profit margins, the current proposals for an increase in the price of beer.

The current round of price increases by the major brewers has already been scrutinised by the Price Commission to make sure that they con-from to the Price Code. The Commission has shown itself willing and able to but back proposed price increases which are not in line with the code, but I understand that in these cases it has found no grounds for objecting. We hope to receive very shortly the Commission's report on the brewing industry and we shall consider the need for further action in the light of that report.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many cases have been investigated by the Price Commission involving increased rents and charges imposed in respect of holiday caravan sites.

This is a matter for the Price Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he expects to circulate regulations in implementation of the EEC directive on cosmetics to interested parties; and if he will make a statement.

The draft regulations, now in course of preparation, will be circulated to interested bodies for comment within the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is now the index, or average cost per meal, for eating out in London, and outside London, respectively; and how this compares with comparative indices for 1st April 1977, 1st April 1976, 1st April 1974 and 1st April 1970, respectively.

Information collected for the General Index of Retail Prices shows that in June 1977 the average cost of meals in restaurants and cafes was 3 per cent., 22 per cent., 79 per cent., and 213 per cent. higher than in April 1977, April 1976, April 1974 and April 1970, respectively. No comparable information is available on a regional basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection in view of the regular increase in the price of bread during the period of wage restraint, whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain whether these price increases were justified and fell within the Government's prices and incomes policy.

All increases in the price of bread since April 1973 have had to be pre-notified to the Price Commission and scrutinised by them to ensure that they are justified under the terms of the Price Code. The Commission has shown itself ready to cut back proposed price increases whenever it thinks it right to do so. In addition, the recent report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission has indicated that all three of the major groups made substantial losses on bread baking in both 1974 and 1975, although other baking and milling activities were in general very profitable. I understand that for commercial reasons the major bakers are not for the time being implementing the price increase of ½ a loaf which they had notified would take effect from 18th July. In these circumstances I do not consider that a further investigation of bread prices is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will consider funding Walsall District Council in its intention to maintain a shoppers shop, in view of the decision taken by the West Midland County Council in this matter.

I was pleased to hear of Walsall District Council's initiative and would have been willing to consider any reasonable application from the Council for funding under the consumer advice grant scheme for this financial year. Any responsible body or person may apply for a grant to maintain consumer advice centres. The terms of the Local Government Act 1972, however, require that a district council should have approval from the county council of the area to provide consumer advice. I am aware of other county councils giving such approval, but I understand that in this instance West Midlands County Council has rejected Walsall District Council's application. I very much deplore this decision, which effectively seeks to deprive Walsall residents of a valuable consumer advice service.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer the recent increases in tea prices to the Price Commission; and if he will make a statement.

My hon. Friend will recall that last March I asked the Price Commission to examine and report on the prices, costs and margins in the importation, blending, packaging and distribution of tea, including the causes and effects of movements in world prices. The recent price increases by major companies have had to be prenotified to the Commission to determine whether they are justified under the terms of the Price Code.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many consumer advice centres have been closed by local authorities in the West Midlands; how many are scheduled to be closed at the latest date for which this information is available; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the West Midlands County Council has decided to close the three centres in Coventry, Birmingham New Street and West Bromwich in the next two months, and the other six by early next year. I very much regret the council's policy and deplore its decision to refuse Walsall District Council the powers to assume responsibility for its local centre.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will give the percentage increase in prices excluding seasonal foods over the last six months.

The increase in the retail price index excluding seasonal foods in the six months ended June 1977 was 9·4 per cent.

asked the Attorney-General when he expects the Royal Commission on Civil Liability and Compensation for Personal Injury to complete its work and to publish its report.

The report of the Royal Commission is expected before the end of the year. A decision on publication of the report will be taken when it has been received.

asked the Attorney-General what is the average age of the High Court judges.

The average age of the puisne judges of the High Court is just over 61 years.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will decline to make any money available for the broadcasting of Parliament in view of his recently declared intentions of cutting Government expenditure.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the debate that will take place this week on this subject.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will arrange for time clocks, such as those used in ski races or similar devices, to be installed in the Chamber so that hon. Members can see for how long they have been speaking in debates.

No. The Services Committee decided that stop-clocks in the Chamber were not desirable when they considered this matter.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give the total number of civil servants and other Government-paid employees who were at 1st July 1977 receiving in salaries and expenses £135 a week or more.

The only individual records of salaries and expenses which are held by my Department are of civil servants' basic pay and other pensionable emoluments. On 1st April 1977, the latest date for which information is available, there were 23,000 civil servants or rather fewer than one in 30 whose basic pay and other pensionable emoluments totalled £135 or more a week.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he now expects to announce revised starting dates for the Ministry of Defence office in St. Enoch Square, Glasgow, and the Foreign Office building at East Kilbride; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25th April—[Vol. 930, c. 241].

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will amend the paragraph on reference questionnaires concerning applicants for certain posts in the Government service to the effect that the Government have decided that no one may be employed in Government service in connection with work, the nature of which is vital to the security of the State, if he is, or has recently been, a member of the Communist Party or in such a way as to raise reasonable doubts about his reliability, is or has recently been, sympathetic to Communism, associated with Communists or Communist sympathisers, or is susceptible to Communist pressure and that for convenience and brevity the term Communist is used to cover Communist and Fascist alike, in order to ensure clarity of purpose.

The wording, to which my hon. Friend refers appeared in three standard letters to referees which were used in connection with the personnel security procedure known as positive vetting. It referred to the policy announced by the then Prime Minister on 15th March 1948. In the interests of clarity and economy these three letters have recently been replaced by one simplified standard letter and report form which no longer contains this particular wording. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy for his information.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether the development programme for Mozambique will be expanded in the light of that country's continuing economic difficulties.

Yes. In response to the appeal to the international community for further assistance made by the United Nation Secretary-General on 30th June, I have offered the Government of Mozambique a further interest-free loan of £5 million towards the purchase of a range of British spares and maintenance items which are required urgently for economic development.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will announce the school building programme for 1978–79.

The authorised starts in 1978–79 on primary and secondary school building in England will total £135·8 million. Local education authorities are being informed of their individual allocations. They are also being invited to submit proposals for the nursery education building programme for 1978–79 which will total £3·4 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will announce the building programme for higher and further education for 1978–79.

My right hon. Friend has agreed that planning should proceed on major further and higher education build ing projects, expected to start in 1978–79, to a value of about £40 million at current prices. This includes £9 million for the universities, subject to further discussions with the University Grants Committee about future needs. The total also includes £6 million towards starting projects to provide the additional 10,000 places in non-advanced further education which my right hon. Friend announced recently, and it can be expected that much of the remainder will also be allocated to projects to help accommodate the forecast increased numbers of school leavers wishing to take non-advanced courses. My Department is in touch with local education authorities and providing bodies in England and Wales about the choice of individual projects in both advanced and non-advanced further education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) why Irish children resident in the United Kingdom are not to be permitted to learn their mother tongue and cultural background and children from Italy are to be offered these facilities in British schools;(2) what guidance she is preparing for the use of local educational authorities who will be required to extend their curricula to include the teaching of Danish, Italian, Dutch, German and Vlaams as well as French in order to comply with the EEC directive on the education of immigrant children.

The directive covers only the children of EEC nationals employed in EEC countries, but the member States have agreed that the measures called for in the directive should also apply to other migrant workers' children whose educational needs are the same. There is, therefore, no question in practice of discriminating between children on grounds of nationality and children of migrant workers of the Republic of Ireland will enjoy the same rights as those from Italy. When the directive was discussed it was made plain that it did not confer any individual entitlement to tuition in school in the mother tongue and culture, and no substantial expansion of provision of this kind in the schools can be expected in present circumstances. In deciding what measures to promote the teaching of the mother tongue and culture are suited to their particular systems of education and national circumstances, member States are also entitled to take into account the possibility of obtaining the co-operation of the countries of origin of the children concerned.The official text of the directive is not yet available and meanwhile my right hon. Friends are considering what guidance should be offered to local education authorities on its implementation in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what increase in funds she proposes to offer local education authorities to allow them to comply with the terms of the EEC directive on the education of immigrant children in the language of their mother tongue.

None. In present economic circumstances we do not expect the adoption of the directive to lead to any substantial increase in expenditure by local education authorities on provision of this kind. Within the limits of the funds already available my right hon. Friend is prepared to consider assisting research and development projects likely to yield useful information on this aspect of languages.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the Official Report both the total grants and a breakdown of the grants given by her Department in support of the work of voluntary bodies.

Grants made to certain national voluntary bodies in 1975–76, under the Educational Services and Research Grant Regulations 1946, are listed in Appendix A of my Department's Annual Report. My Department also makes grants to a large number of voluntary schools, colleges and other institutions; these are summarised in the Supply Estimates and Appropriation Accounts for the relevant Votes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average cost per place in primary education and secondary schools in the Bolton metropolitan district.

Education Estimates Statistics, published jointly by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and the Society of County Treasurers, copies of which are in the Library, give the following costs per pupil:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many boarding school places are available in local education authority schools; and how this compares with the number available in 1970.

In January 1976, the latest year for which figures are available, there were 9,599 pupils boarding in schools maintained by local education authorities, compared with 10,309 in January 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what sum Her Majesty's Government are devoting to cancer research in the financial year 1977–78.

pursuant to her reply [Official Report, 27th June 1977; Vol. 934, c. 19–20], circulated the following information:The Medical Research Council's total expenditure in 1976–77 on research relevant to cancer, including its subscription to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, amounted to £9·618 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many unfilled undergraduate places there were (a) in universities, and (b) in polytechnics in the latest years for which figures are available.

In terms of the physical capacity of academic buildings, there were about 30,000 empty places in science and technology, excluding medicine, in the adademic years 1974–75 and 1975–76, and 27,000 in 1976–77–22,000 in universities and 5,000 in polytechnics. About half these places will be filled as students admitted in 1976 proceed to the later years of their courses. The remaining places will allow admissions to rise by about 4,000 in universities and about 1,000 in polytechnics.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the ratio of full-time to part-time courses

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what discussions have taken place between his Department and the Hampshire County Council about the future of Eastleigh Airport; and if he will make a statement.

There have been no discussions with the Hampshire County Council about Southampton (Eastleigh) Airport. However, the county council's written comments on the development of airports in their area are in each polytechnic in the latest year for which figures are available.

The ratio of full-time to part-time courses in each polytechnic is not available. Provisional figures for the numbers of students by mode of attendance in November 1976 together with the ratios of numbers of full-time and sandwich course students to the total numbers of part-time students are as follows: being carefully considered in the Government's review of airports policy, on which it is hoped to make a statement in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will define the maximum tolerable noise levels for aircraft using Heathrow on both landing and take off using Beaver school, near London Airport, as a yardstick; if he will define the tolerable noise limits for the playground and the classroom with double glazing, respectively; and if he will state the effect of frequency of air noise on children.

The Beavers Lane schools suffer more from aircraft noise disturbance than any other schools in the vicinity of Heathrow. The British Airports Authority will be making a grant for the noise insulation of the school with the object of allowing verbal communication between teacher and pupils within the school without interruption from aircraft. The frequency of noise can obviously affect the concentration of children.

asked the Secretary of State of State for Trade if he will take steps to abolish non-voting ordinary shares and enable the holders of non-voting ordinary shares to receive ordinary shares with full voting rights instead.

I have no such intention at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take steps to ensure that company reports indicate as accurately as possible the effects on the figures they show of inflation, capital spending allowances and stock appreciation tax relief.

Proposals have already been put forward by the accountancy profession, in Exposure Draft 19 issued by the Accounting Standards Committee, which would if implemented require companies to provide the information on their taxation position sought by my hon. Friend. As to the effects of inflation on company accounts, I have nothing to add to the answer I have given today to his separate Question on current cost accounting.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he intends to take to bring about the general acceptance of current cost accounting as a basis for company reports instead of the figures which are now published by nearly all companies in their reports.

On 7th July, the Government reaffirmed their desire that current cost accounting should become the basis for the preparation of company accounts as soon as practicable. The Accounting Standards Committee is well aware of the urgent need to work out a generally acceptable basis for an account- ing standard, as they indicated in their statement of 29th June, and I am confident that the efforts of the Morpeth Group will be directed towards achieving this objective.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will ensure that fuure trading agreements with Spain involve equal concessions on both sides, and that such arrangements do not unfairly discriminate against the British paper and board industry.

The basis of the forthcoming negotiations between the Community and Spain will be balanced concessions by both sides. As regards paper and board, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 20th July 1977 to the hon. Member for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire (Mr. Reid).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will now announce the appointment of a successor to Sir Alexander Glen as Chairman of the British Tourist Authority.

I shall make an announcement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what action he proposes following the publication of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Press, especially in regard to its proposals on the Press Charter.

I have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) on 7th July. Questions on the Press Charter are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will locate the new aviation authority in the North West Region.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Feltham and Heston (Mr. Kerr) on 27th April —[Vol. 930, col. 348].

asked the Secretary of State for Industry why he failed to call any meeting of the Council of Ministers to discuss industrial policy matters throughout the entire period of Great Britain's presidency of the EEC.

The Council of Ministers (Foreign Affairs) is competent to deal with all questions as required, including industrial policy matters. Several such matters were handled by the Council during the United Kingdom Presidency, including steel and shipbuilding but there was at no time a sufficient body of industrial policy matters requiring the Council's attention to justify calling a special meeting of the Council attended by Industry Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give a general direction to the Post Office Board that it provide facilities for its telephone customers to pay their accounts monthly.

No. But I understand that the Post Office is already working out budget account arrangements for telephone subscribers.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry on how many occasions British Leyland has given advance warning to his Department that there is a prospect of an order by British Leyland for machine tools or equipment being placed overseas; and what action his Department takes when it receives such warnings.

The Department was recently notified of several major propects where foreign purchases were contemplated. These have been discussed with the company before it has taken its final decisions. The purpose of such discussions is to ensure that the company gives full and proper consideration to available British alternatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will now afford development area status to Manchester district and North-East Lancashire, in the light of the decline in industry and job opportunities in the North-West and inner city areas.

As Manchester and North-East Lancashire are intermediate areas they are already eligible for a wide range of assistance to promote investment and employment. I do not consider that 1 would be justified in designating them as development areas. Manchester and Salford are among the local authorities to which the Government has offered partnership agreements in order to tackle the problems of the inner cities.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many industrial development certificates have been approved in the South Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency in each of the past 10 years.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what proportion of the total sperm oil produced by the whaling industry is represented by the 8,500 metric tons imported in 1976; why it is increasing; and what steps are being taken to reduce it;(2) if he will prohibit the importation of sperm oil; and what steps are being taken to find a substitute for sperm oil.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what recent appointments have been made to the National Enterprise Board.

Prior to the appointment of Mr. Murphy as Chairman of the Board, effective from 1st August 1977, the most recent appointment was that of Mrs. Caroline Miles on 1st March 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the current volume of inland telegrams; and if he will publish a table showing the number of inland telegrams in each of the last six years.

The information for the six years to 31st March 1976, as published in the Post Office Report and Accounts, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will now place in the Library a copy of the provisional document on "Industry, Education and Management", and if he will make a statement.

A revised version has now been prepared and I have today placed a copy in the Library. This discussion paper, which has been prepared by officials after consultations with senior managers, trade unionists and educationalists, is being made generally available. I hope that many hon. Members will read the paper and will be encouraged to promote discussion and positive action on the important issues it covers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the total number of houses acquired by local authorities in Scotland which were included in council house improvement schemes approved in 1976; and what was the local cost of acquisition;(2) how many houses acquired by each authority in Scotland were included in council house improvement schemes approved in 1976–77; and in each case how many were estimated to be below the tolerable standard.

1,915 houses, acquired at a cost of £0·654 million were included in council house schemes approved in 1976–77.Details of the number acquired by each authority and the estimated number of these which were below the tolerable standard are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) standard grants, (b) conversion grants, and (c) improvement grants were approved for owner-occupied and other houses, respectively, in each authority in Scotland in 1976–77.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he will instruct Scottish colleges of education that there should be no discrimination against students from outwith Scotland who apply for admission;(2) whether he will publish in the

The selection of students for admission to courses of teacher training is a matter for the colleges of education. In a letter of 24th

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the total number of people employed in the Devolution Division of his Department;(2) what work is currently being carried out in the Devolution Division of his Department.

There are at present 10 officers in the division. They are working

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimate of the number of households and dwellings in each tenure in Scotland at the end of 1976.

The available estimates are:almost entirely on the revision of the Scotland and Wales Bill, in the context of the statement by my right hon. Friend, the Lord President on 14th June.—[Vol. 933, cols. 225–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the perinatal and infant mortality rates in 1976 for Scotland and for each health board.

The perinatal mortality rates—i.e., stillbirths and deaths in the first week of life—per 1,000 births —live and still—and the infant mortality rates—i.e., deaths in the first year of life —per 1,000 live births for 1976 in Scotland and each health board area are given in the table below:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when, and by what means, the Glasgow District Council advised him that hundreds of jobs in its direct labour department would be put at risk in the event of the Local Authority (Works) Scotland Bill not being enacted.

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 19th July.—[Vol. 935, col. 491.] The reference on 12th July by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State was to East Fife, Glasgow and Dundee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportions, respectively, of public and private sector housing in Scotland meet the three-inch roof insulation standard recommended by the Department of Energy.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what royalties have been paid by the SSEB to the AEA for use of designs for the Hunterston B power station using AGR technology in response to the agreement listed in paragraph 8 of Appendix 3 of the Select Committee Report on Science and Technology, Session 1966–67; and what revision of the level of royalties per unit produced has taken place before or since the review date of 1974.

None. The agreement provided for the payment of royalties on AGR stations commissioned before 1st January 1975; the first unit at Hunterston B was not commissioned until February 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when and where the National Council for Further Education in Scotland will be established; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is considering setting up a Council for Higher Education. There would, however, have to be consultation with the interests concerned before any final decision is taken, and he is not yet able to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will arrange for inspectors from Her Majesty's Inspectorate to visit any relevant college or colleges in Scotland which might be designated as a centre of excellence, with a view to giving expert evidence to the Government in this connection in the interests of sport in Scotland;(2) whether he will take measures to ensure that a suitable college or colleges in Scotland are designated as a centre or centres of excellence, in accordance with the terms of the White Paper on Sport and Recreation;(3) if it is his policy to encourage the creation of centres of excellence in Scotland in colleges, in accordance with the terms of the White Paper on Sport and Recreation.(4) whether he is now considering the possibility of designating any college in Scotland as a centre of excellence in the interests of sport; and which college or colleges are now being considered as possible centres of excellence.

The White Paper on Sport and Recreation applied to England, Wales and Northern Ireland only, but the Scottish Sports Council has been asked to examine the possibility of establishing centres of excellence in Scotland. It has been consulting various bodies with an interest in this matter, including the relevant colleges of education, and my right hon. Friend expects to have its report before the end of the year. When the Council's recommendations have been received, my right hon. Friend will consider them carefully. As part of the consultations on my right hon. Friend's proposals for teacher training from 1977 onwards issued in January, the Council submitted suggestions for the possible future use of the Dunfermline College of Physical Education for sports purposes and these are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he will make a statement on the recommendations of the Committee reporting on Reparation by the Offender to the Victim in Scotland;(2) whether he will introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the Report on Reparation by the Offender to the Victim in Scotland.

As indicated in the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Pollok on 21st July 1977—[Vol. 935, c. 664–51—it is proposed to initiate consultations with interested bodies and organisations on the Committee's recommendations. My right hon. Friend will consider the question of legislation in the light of these consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the autumn programme of the Royal Naval Presentation Team stating where it will be working, and the cost of each presentation.

The details of the autumn programme of the Royal Navy Presentation Team will not be finally settled for some weeks. When they are I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the cost of the Royal Naval Presentation Team is spent (a) on the hiring of halls, (b) on lecturing and teaching equipment, and (c) on refreshments.

1 per cent., 11 per cent. and 7 per cent. respectively of the total annual expenditure on the Royal Navy Presentation Team, including personnel and administrative costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the Meteorological Office's practice of expressing temperatures mainly in degrees centigrade and of phasing out fahrenheit.

Yes. This practice is entirely consistent with Government policy on metrication.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of staff in his Department who were on 1st July in receipt of salaries and expenses of £135 per week or more; and if he will give similar details for those in the three Armed Services.

There are about 4,700 Ministry of Defence civil servants and 7,200 members of the Armed Forces whose pay and other pensionable emoluments total £135 or more a week.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the assumed taxation rates and allowances referred to in footnote 2 to paragraph 20 of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body's Sixth Report; what is now the position in the light of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's most recent proposals; how far paragraph 20 of that report reflects the present position in regard to the after-tax remuneration of different categories of married and unmarried Service men and women living in service accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

The Review Body on Armed Forces Pay is an independent body, and Government Ministers are not privy to its deliberations. However, I understand that the position described in the Sixth Report—paragraph 20 and footnote 2—in fact reflects only the changes in personal allowances, the extension of the basic rate band and changes to the higher rate hands announced in the Chancellor's Budget Statement to the House on 29th March 1977 and the previously announced reductions in child tax allowances, they affect the recommended supplements. On the basis of the Chancellor's most recent proposals, the general position set out in paragraph 20 of its Sixth Report remains unchanged, though the net supplements after tax for some of the categories concerned will, of course, be marginally increased.As I made clear to the House on 16th June 1977 and again to the hon. Member on 11th July 1977, the Armed Forces Pay Review Body was not looking at total pay. On that basis no member of the Armed Forces is to my knowledge worse off as a result of the pay review and the Chancellor's latest measures will have a more marked effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will indicate the nature of the differences which exist between the criteria considered in determining whether to approve arms sales to Argentina, and the criteria in the case of Chile.

As I informed my hon. Friend on 18th July—[Vol. 935, c. 346.] —any proposals for the supply of defence equipment to Argentina would be considered according to our normal criteria, which include all the relevant political, security and financial considerations. In the case of Chile, the Government decided in 1974 that no new export licences for arms would be granted, but that existing contracts for the supply of naval vessels and related spares and equipment would be honoured.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the normal criteria, including all the relevant political, security and financial considerations, which determine whether arms sales abroad are approved in the case of any particular country.

The criteria include the proposed end-use of the item in question, the needs of the British Forces, the security of the United Kingdom, the internal political and economic situation and external political circumstances of the country concerned, the United Kingdom's economic and foreign policy interests, our international commitments, the conditions of any collaborative undertakings in which we may be engaged and any other factor which may be relevant to the particular sale in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett) Official Report, 27th June, c. 56, he will publish details of the expected date of the completion of the review of technical progress, time scales and costs of the 7511 torpedo and the date when he expects to have the results of the initial under-water trials; whether he is considering the neartip version of the American Type 46 torpedo as an alternative to the British 7511 torpedo; and what he meant by promoting standardisation of lightweight torpedoes.

It is too early to say when the current review of the 7511 project will be completed. There is a continuing programme of trials. A number of these have already been carried out, and the results are being evaluated. As is normal practice on such projects, we have kept our NATO allies informed of our progress on 7511, so that they can take into account any implications it may have for their own equipment programmes. We are also considering all the options open to us, including the possibility of foreign purchase.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if a decision has yet been made to replace the 7511 project with an alternative system from the United States of America; and what is his estimate of the cost of it to the balance of payments.

No such decision has been taken. The cost to the balance of payments of any alternative to the 7511 project would depend on such factors as the size of the order, the precise system to be adopted and whether any licensing arrangements for manufacture within the United Kingdom were made.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, following publication

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving officers are currently in receipt of rent rebates.

About a dozen.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many storage areas are currently being prepared for the storage of cereals under the requirements of the common agricultural policy of the Common Market; what is the cost of such preparation; how much of the cost will be borne by the Common Market's own funds; and what is the total tonnage of cereal which he estimates will be stored by the end of 1977.