asked the Lord President of the Council what is the number of employees in both Houses of Parliament who were receiving in salaries and expenses £ 135 or more per week.

In accordance with Mr. Speaker's statement of 20th May 1975 a complete statement of the complement of staff of this House showing their rates of pay is annexed to the Annual Report of the Commissioners for regulating the Offices of the House of Commons. This is available in the Library.Apart from staff of this House, there are 39 personnel employed in both Houses of Parliament who receive £135 or more per week in salaries and expenses—including overtime.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he has completed his review of the legislation involving holiday caravans; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend expects to publish the report of the mobile homes review in the near future. The review covered only permanent residences but I hope that the follow-up to the report will provide an opportunity of considering the problems facing owners of holiday caravans and, if possible, of taking appropriate action.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) in view of the fact that the prices of torch and transistor batteries have regularly increased during the period of wage restraint, whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain whether these increases have been justified during the period of wage restraint and whether they fall within the Government's prices and incomes policy;(2) in view of the continuous rise in the prices of newspapers and periodicals during the period of wage restraint, whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain whether these increases were justified and fall within

		15th October 1974	14th June 1977	Increase per cent.
		1974=100
Food	…	110·4	193·7	75·5
Alcoholic Drink	…	115·4	184·0	59·4
Tobacco	…	121·6	216·1	77·7
Housing	…	107·1	164·3	53·4
Fuel and light	…	116·0	214·5	84·9
Durable household goods	…	113·7	166·0	46·0
Clothing and footwear	…	115·1	155·7	35·3
Transport and vehicles	…	115·0	193·2	68·0
Miscellaneous goods	…	120·1	187·8	56·4
Services	…	111·7	173·3	55·1
Meals out	…	113·8	184·0	61·7
Retail Price Index—all items	…	113·2	183·6	62·2
Average retail prices for about 80 important items of food are published in the Department of Employment Gazette, Volume LXXXII No. 11 gives this information for October 1974, whilst Volume 85 No. 6 contains the latest published data.
The main factors which will have contributed to the above increases are a 41 per cent. increase in general unit wage costs between fourth quarters of 1974 and 1976, a 54½ per cent. increase in import unit values between October 1974 and June 1977 (to which a 26½ per cent. depreciation in the effective exchange rate for sterling will have contributed significantly) and the phasing out of the nationalised industries deficits.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will originate an investigation into the current prices and distributors' margins for potatoes and salad vegetables; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Scunthorpe (Mr. Ellis) on 25th July 1977.—[Vol. 936, c. 3–5.]

Individual price increases are a matter for the Price Commission. I shall, however, bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind in considering subjects for examination by the Commission on my right hon. Friend's direction.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will publish in the Official Report as comprehensive a list as may be available of the prices of goods and services at a date in October 1974 and the latest available date; and what were the reasons for these increases in view of the success of the Government's wage control during this period.

Index numbers at October 1974 and June 1977 for each of the main groups of the retail price index and the percentage change over this period are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what has been the effect on the retail price index of the removal of each of the food subsidies over the last year, step by step.

The precise effect on the retail price index of changes in the food subsidies cannot be calculated. The subsidies are paid at the first-hand level and when there are large stocks in the distributive chain on which subsidy has already been paid, as has commonly been the case for butter, cheese, flour and tea, a change in the subsidy rate is not immediately reflected at the retail level. In addition, the milk subsidy is paid as a global amount for a year under the pro-

							RPI effect points
9th August 1976—
Bread: —½p for large and small loaves	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·05
26th September 1976—
Tea: —8p per lb. (abolition)	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·08
14th November 1976—
Butter:— 3p per lb.	…	…	…	…	…	…	+0·06
Cheese:—3p per lb.	…	…	…	…	…	…	+0·04
1st December 1976—
Milk: —1p per pint	…	…	…	…	…	…	+0·33
28th December 1976—
Butter: —4p per lb. (abolition)	…	…	…	…	…	…	+0·08
Cheese: —4p per lb	…	…	…	…	…	…	+0·06
2nd January 1977—
Bread: —½p for large loaves	…	…	…	…	…	…	+0·04
1st April 1977—
Milk: —½p per pint	…	…	…	…	…	…	+0·17
1st May 1977—
Flour: l p per lb. (abolition)	…	…	…	…	…	…	+0·02
Butter: +l0p per lb. (reintroduction)	…	…	…	…	…	…	-0·20
17th July 1977—
Milk: +lp per pint	…	…	…	…	…	…	-0·33
Bread:
—1p for large loaves (abolition)	…	…	…	…	…	…	+0·10
—½p for small loaves (abolition)	…	…	…	…	…	…
Cheese: —3p per lb. (abolition)	…	…	…	…	…	…	+0·04

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will set up an inquiry into the prices being charged by brewers, public houses, hotels and other places licensed to sell alcohol in Northern Ireland; what has been the yearly increase in prices for each category of drink in the past 10 years; and what have been the margins of profit of the brewers and distillers.

The Price Commission was asked last February to examine and report on the prices and margins in the manufacture and distribution in the United Kingdom of beer which is sold by retail for consumption or licensed. Its report, which is expected very shortly, should cover recent trends in prices and profit margins although it is for the Price Commission to determine the extent to which it can supply information separately for the different parts of the United Kingdom. Until we have received this report we shall not be in a position to decide what further action is necessary, but I should be interested to have details of any particular cause of complaint. I regret that the detailed figures requested for the

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer to the Price Commission the levels of payments made by the BBC to occasional broadcasters.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will introduce legislation to seek to make the selling of coal on log effect gas fires illegal.

There are no powers under the Consumer Protection Act 1961 to prohibit the sale of any class of goods. However, the application of the Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Regulations 1973 (SI 1973, No. 2106) to these fires is under consideration at present. Any question of a breach of the Gas Safety Regulations 1972 is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will list all Acts of Parliament for which his Department is responsible that require companies to disclose information, stating under each Act what information has to be disclosed, how, by when, and to whom.

Under the Price Commission Act 1977 there are powers to require disclosure to the Price Commission of information about prices and profits.Under the Prices Act 1974, as amended by the Prices Act 1975, the keeping and, where appropriate, disclosure of information to duly authorised officers is required both by companies receiving subsidies, and by companies selling goods subject to price regulation orders.Under the Fair Trading Act 1973, the Director General of Fair Trading may require various information for the purpose of deciding whether to make a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission may require information in connection with its investigations.Under the Restrictive Practices Act 1976 the Director General of Fair Trading may require information in connection with the registration and judicial investigation of restrictive trade practices.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when the Price Commission is due to make its report on beer prices; what action he intends to take against companies which have increased their beer prices prior to the Price Commission issuing its report; and what was the level of profits of brewery companies in 1975, 1976 and up to the present date.

We expect to receive the Price Commission's report on beer very shortly. Information about the profits of the brewing industry was given in the report prepared by the Brewing Sector Working Party of the Food and Drink Manufacturing EDC—available from the National Economic Development Office—and further details should be included in the Price Commission's report. As I explained in reply to the hon. Members for Coventry, North-East (Mr. Robinson) and Walsall, South (Mr. George) on 21st July, the present powers enabling my right hon. Friend to refer general questions to the Price Commission do not provide for action to hold back proposed price increase pending the Commission's report.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer to the Monopolies Commission the dominant market position of the six largest brewers in the United Kingdom.

The Monopolies Commission reported in 1969 on the supply of beer for retail sale on licensed premises and the Price Commission will shortly report on prices and margins in the industry. If my hon. Friend has any evidence that the brewers are conducting their affairs in such a way as to prevent, restrict or distort competition, perhaps he would care to write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will list for all bodies (other than committees) to which he appoints members other than civil servants, the authority for making the appointment.

Information about statutory bodies—other than committees—to which my right hon. Friend makes paid appointments is included in "A Directory of Paid Public Appointments made by Ministers", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Since publication of the directory, the authority for making appointments to the Price Commission has been amended to Price Commission Act 1977.My right hon. Friend also makes unpaid appointments to some of the bodies referred to above and to the following statutory bodies—other than committees—for which he is responsible.British Hallmarking Council

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he has yet received the report from Sir Frederick Warner on the sector working party recommendations in the field of engineering standards and specifications, with a view to improving export prospects; and if so, what action has been taken on the report.

My right hon. Friend has received the report from Sir Frederick Warner and extensive consultations are taking place on its recommendations. I intend to present a progress report at the October meeting of the National Economic Development Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what action he proposes to take to bring down the cost of fried potatoes and crisps in line with the reduction in the cost of potatoes to one-third of their cost at the same time in 1976.

I have at this stage nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Dearne Valley (Mr. Wainwright) on 25th July.—[Vol. 936, c. 8–10.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. King) on 15th November 1976, concerning the recommendations from the sector working party on the wool textile industry, whether the Government have made any progress in securing tariff reductions against British textile exports, in the context of tariff negotiations in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

It is our objective to secure reductions in the negotiations; but the relevant stage of the negotiations has not yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will give the salary and expenses and other emolu- ments paid to or received by the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and members of the English Tourist Board for each of the years since 1974 and the number of hours worked weekly or annually for these payments.

The salaries of the Chairman and of all other members of the English Tourist Board since 1974 have been as follows:

			Chairman	Each Board Member
			£	£
1974	…	…	6,300	1,000
1975	…	…	6,415	1,000
1976	…	…	6,415	1,000
Current	…	…	6,415	1,000

The appointments are part-time; the salaries are decided on the basis that the chairman averages three days a week and each board member two days a month. Particulars of exact hours worked are not available. Members are entitled to claim reasonable travel subsistence and incidental expenses necessarily incurred as a result of their work for the board. The board has revised its accounting procedures so that in respect of future financial years information will be able to be made available on expenses of board members.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the percentage increase in imports and exports of manufactures, excluding precious stones, in the first half of 1977 compared with the same period in 1976; and what was the corresponding increase for the EEC Six.

The figures are:

UNITED KINGDOM TRADE IN MANUFACTURES
(Overseas Trade Statistics Basis)
			Percentage change First half 1977/ First half 1976
	…	World*	World†	EEC Six†
Exports	…	+26	+26	+36
Imports	…	+35	+35	+32
* Trade in total manufactures other than precious stones (SITC 667).
† For confidentiality reasons, figures of imports of precious stones from the EEC Six are not available. The percentage changes for EEC Six (and also, for comparison, for the World) have been derived from figures of trade in manufactures other than non-metallic mineral manufactures (SITC division 66). This division is the smallest appropriate aggregate for which country information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if for each Act of Parliament for which his Department is responsible that require companies to disclose information he will state what information has to be disclosed, how, by when, and to whom.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list for all bodies—other than committees—to which he appoints members, other than civil servants, the authority for making the appointment.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, in view of the sale in Japan at £20,000 of a Jaguar car costing £9,000 in Great Britain, what steps he is taking to seek to reduce the non-tariff barriers operated by the Japanese against British goods; what he is doing by means of discussion to reduce the technical barriers operated by Japan against British cars such as the regulation laying down a necessity for three centimetres of unobscured deflector glass; and what discussions are taking place to increase the number of cars sold to Japan.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th July 1977; Vol. 936, c. 156], gave the following information:As a result of representations which we and the EEC Commission have been making to the Japanese authorities to urge them to encourage increased imports

	Relative Export Prices*	Relative Export Profitability†	Import Price Competitiveness‡
1970=100
1975	96·0	102·4	102·5
1976	95·0§	97·6	95·1
1977—
1st quarter	97·3§	95·6	96·3
2nd quarter	97·3§	97·4	98·4
June	96·9§	97·9	98·3
*UK Export Prices (manuf.).
Competitors Export Prices (manuf.)
†UK Wholesale Prices (manuf. excl. food).
UK Export Price (manuf.).
‡UK Wholesale Price (manuf. excl. food).
UK Import Price (fin. manuf.).
§ Estimates, subject to revision.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the White Paper on worker participation will be published.

I hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his estimate of the Index of Competitiveness for June 1977, based on known facts and trends in the other countries concerned.

I have been asked to reply.No single measure can adequately measure competitiveness. Competitiveness refers both to domestic and exports markets and may change with relative prices, profitability and/or costs. The three indices quoted below give a broad indication of our competitive position.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the rapid deterioration of the façade of Wellington Barracks, why his Department has not commenced repairs following his assurance to the hon. Member for Richmond, Surrey; and if he will initiate action forthwith to repair and maintain this important national building on a key site in the capital.

Preparations for the rehabilitation of these important façades and the immediately associated building work are naturally taking time, but planning is well advanced and prospective tenderers have already been sought by advertisement. The main contract should start on site early in 1978. When completed the restored buildings will once more be occupied by elements of the Household Division.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, for all bodies, other than committees, to which he appoints members, other than civil servants, the authority for making the appointment.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he remains satisfied with the adequacy of measures taken to prevent classified information being made available to private security firms.

Yes. If my hon. Friend has any evidence that these measures are not adequate, I shall welcome hearing from him.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether a serving officer in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, the name of whom has been supplied to him, sought official permission before joining Thor Security Systems, which offers services on bomb disposal; what contacts with the company he retains; and what connections the company had with the Armed Services during his period as a director.

No. His application was received shortly after he was appointed director. It was rejected and the officer resigned his directorship of the firm. He now holds no appointment with the firm. We have no record of any contacts between the company and the Armed Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Service houses, flats or other dwellings there are; how many of these are empty at the present or recent date; for how long on average they have been empty; and if he will make a statement on the situation and on his intentions to make them available to households other than those of employees of the Ministry of Defence.

As at the latest date for which figures are available, there were about 102,000 Service married quarters and civilian staff houses in the United Kingdom, of which 14,000 were vacant. Details are not available as to the average length of time that all these quarters have been vacant, but about 3,000 of them have been vacant for more than six months for other than normal management reasons.As I explained in the debate on the Armed Forces' conditions of service—[Vol. 933, c. 665–8]—about 4,000 married quarters have been released for sale since 1974. We are continuing to try to dispose of all properties identified as surplus to our long-term requirements as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many quarters owned by his Department in the area of the North Wiltshire District Council stand empty at the present time.

The latest available figures show some 600 quarters vacant in the area of the North Wiltshire District Council. The majority of these are at Colerne, where they are being held for an Army unit, which it has been announced will take up occupation in 1978.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give separately the total number of Members of both Houses of Parliament who were, at the latest stated date, receiving from public funds in salaries, expenses or other payments £135 or more per week.

As indicated in my reply of 26th July to another Question from my hon. Friend, my Department does not maintain centrally information about Government appointments held by peers or of the amounts paid to them from public funds in connection with those appointments.At 31st March 1977 all Members of this House were receiving from public funds salaries, expenses—including those for secretarial assistance and travelling—and other payments totalling over £135 per week.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether, in view of the fact that many peers are drawing incomes of many thousands of pounds per year for several State appointments, in addition to their £16·50 a day tax-free attendance allowance, as an example to the trades unions, he will seek to restrict the incomes of those peers, especially the attendance allowances.

As I have already indicated to my hon. Friend—[Vol. 916, c. 807]—the salaries of State appointments are the same irrespective of who is appointed. For many of these appointments, the salary increases that were due on 1st January 1975 have indeed been withheld during the period of pay restraint, even though technically they could have been paid since the recommendations predate the introduction of the counter-inflation policy. Peers' expenses allowance is a reimbursement allowance, and I have already explained to my hon. Friend—[Vol. 914, c. 559]—that it is for the recovery of expenses actually incurred in attending another place.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the peers holding full and part-time paid and expenses-paid State appointments; and to what extent they have to take action to ensure that these State appointments do not conflict with their outside interests.

As I have previously indicated to my hon. Friend—[Vol. 914, c. 103 and 559]—my Department does not maintain centrally information about Government appointments held by peers.Peers who are members of public boards are expected to follow the guidance about speaking in another place, which was given in that House by Lord Addison on 21st March 1951. They are also, like other board members, expected to avoid political activities on matters affecting the boards of which they are members. Whole-time members are further expected to abstain from any controversial political activity. There are no other general rules regarding conflicts of interest which affect members of all public boards. The possibility of any such conflict arising is taken into account when specific appointments are considered and in the case of appointments to certain boards the disclosure by board members of their outside interests is a statutory requirement.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list for all bodies, other than committees, to which he appoints members, other than civil servants, the authority for making the appointment.

I make no appointments of this sort.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service on how many occasions, for the longest and most convenient period of time, the Government have declined to implement the review reports of review bodies on wages and salaries in addition to that of Members' salaries.

None. The Government have not declined to implement any of the reports issued by the Review Bodies on Top Salaries, Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration and Armed Forces' Pay since the bodies were set up in 1971.Apart from the reports on Members' salaries, referred to in my hon. Friend's Question, a decision on the implementation of a Review Body report has been deferred on two other occasions.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a statement about the internal review of Government policy for the procurement of computers for Government use.

The arrangements under which computers are currently purchased for central Government use were reported to this House on 2nd March 1971—[Vol. 812, col. 4191—as follows:(1) to acquire large computers—those more powerful than Atlas—and computers leading into them by single tender action from ICL, subject to satisfactory price performance and delivery date, save in exceptional circumstances where the penalties of transferring from another manufacturer would be too great;(2) to acquire other computers by single tender action where there are reasons for seeking compatibility or flexibility, subject to the same proviso about price, performance and delivery;(3) in all other cases, including those in which the appropriate manufacturers are unable to meet the conditions specified in (1) and (2), to seek competitive tenders, including so far as possible at least one offering a system manufactured in the United Kingdom and to award the contract strictly on the merits of the evaluation.The Government have decided to continue for the time being substantially the same arrangements for purchasing computers for the central Government. Subject to the important provisos set out in 1971, computers in the power range corresponding to the ICL 1904S, 2960, 2970, 2976 and 2980 machines will in future be acquired by single tender action from ICL. As before, these arrangements to not commit the Government to purchasing a large computer within this power range where it would be more efficient to meet a particular requirement by a system made up of smaller machines.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the last meeting of the EEC Council of Ministers.

I attended the EEC Council of Ministers in Brussels on 26th July. My hon. Friend the Minister of State was also present and attended a negotiating session with the Greek Government on 25th July.The Council had been mandated by the European Council in June to resolve the question of where the JET nuclear fusion project should be sited. The Belgian Presidency conducted informal soundings amongst Foreign Ministers to try to establish a consensus in favour of either Culham or Garching. It again proved impossible to secure a decision. It was agreed, however, that there would be contacts between Britain and Germany in early September, with the involvement of the Presidency. The Council will then make a further effort to reach agreement on 20th September. In the meantime, the contracts of personnel working at Culham on the design of JET will be extended to 30th September.On external fisheries matters, it was agreed that the Commission should continue its contacts with a number of West African States with a view to obtaining satisfactory conditions for Community fishing off their coasts, a matter of particular concern to the Italian Government. The Council also agreed to roll forward the existing fisheries quotas for Spain until the end of September.Guidelines were agreed for the further negotiations with Canada which the Commission will now hold on uranium supplies to Euratom countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a forecast of business in the Council of Ministers of the EEC during August and September 1977.

The Council will not meet during August but as full a forecast as possible of business likely to appear on the agenda for September has been deposited in the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support efforts to carry out the most recent United Nations resolution on Cyprus.

Yes. The British Government fully support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General to promote a just and peaceful settlement to the Cyprus problem through the intercommunal talks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the health and well-being of a British citizen, Mr. Maurice Jones, and his wife and child, who are currently being held incommunicado by the authorities of the German Democratic Republic.

Mr. Jones has now returned to this country of his own volition. The Question by my hon. Friend does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of any broadcast by the East German or Soviet radio stations on the subject of Mr. Maurice Jones in so far as these are monitored by the Foreign Office wireless station.

I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the BBC Summary of World Broadcasts for 20th and 22nd July 1977, which he will find in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to seek the extradition from East Germany of Mr. Maurice Jones who failed to surrender to his bail.

Mr. Jones has now returned to this country of his own volition. The Question by the hon. Member does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from other signatory nations of the Helsinki Accords on the subject of Mr. Maurice Jones, suggesting that his allegations against the British police and sudden departure from Great Britain are prima facie evidence that Her Majesty's Government are not living up to the agreements on human rights reached at Helsinki.

My right hon. Friend has received no such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he will ask the Government of the German Democratic Republic to arrange for friends to interview Mr. Maurice Jones, now in East Berlin;(2) whether he will instruct Her Majesty's Government's representative in the German Democratic Republic to see Mr. Maurice Jones and establish if he has applied for political refuge.

Mr. Jones has now returned to this country of his own volition. The Questions by my hon. Friend do not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long the Arms Control and Disarmament Department has been in existence.

A separate Disarmament Department was formed in 1968. It became the Arms Control and Disarmament Department in 1972, when it also assumed responsibility for the Arms Control and Disarmament Research Unit—itself established in 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what are the activities of the Arms Control and Disarmament Department.

The Department is responsible for implementing the whole range of Government policy in the field of arms control and disarmament, under the direction of the Minister of State with special responsibility for disarmament, apart from work connected with the mutual and balanced force reduction and strategic arms limitation talks negotiations, which is handled by the Defence Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many political prisoners have been released by the Indonesian Government subsequent to the assurances given by the Indonesian authorities to Her Majesty's Ambassador in Jakarta that those who were not being brought to trial would be set free.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the assurances about which I informed the House in answer to a Question on 20th July from the hon. Member for Leek (Mr. Knox). These assurances were conveyed to our Ambassador on 18th July. I am unaware of any releases that may have taken place since that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will raise at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights the matter of atrocities committed by Indonesia in East Timor.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens) on 21st July.—[Vol. 935, c. 653.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will hold further discussions about the atrocities in East Timor with the Indonesian Government.

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens) on 21st July, we have already been in touch with the Indonesian Government about allegations of atrocities, which they have denied.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's expressed concern about political prisoners in Indonesia, he has taken steps to find out the number of prisoners and their names from the Indonesian Government.

The Indonesian Government announced on 1st December 1976 that they held 30,934 political detainees, whom they intended to release or bring to trial by 1979. We have not asked for the names of those in detention; but, as I informed the hon. Member for West Stirlineshire (Mr. Canavan) on 22nd July, the names of some released detainees are known.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for all bodies, other than committees, to which he appoints members, other than civil servants, the authority for making the appointment.

I regret that the information requested is not readily available. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as it is.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Chilean subjects have been admitted to the United Kingdom during the period of the present Chilean Government; and how many applications for admittance are presently under consideration.

I have been asked to reply.I understand that my hon. Friend has Chilean refugees in mind. 2,212 people had been admitted to the United Kingdom by the end of June as refugees from the Chilean régime. 2,190 of these were Chilean nationals. 298 applications involving 466 people were under consideration in the Home Office on that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will wait for the completion of the National Coal Board's drilling programme and a survey of the extent and location of the national coal reserves before authorising any development of the Vale of Belvoir coalfield.

The National Coal Board will need to continue with exploration after completion of the current programme in 1980. To defer all decisions on new mines until the extent and location of the country's coal reserves had been fully surveyed would mean an unacceptable delay in building up the new production capacity we shall need. The National Coal Board intends to submit applications for planning consent for new mines as and when sufficient information about reserves and other aspects has been gathered to justify the applications. If the Board receives planning consent for mining in the North Leicestershire coalfield, it will then seek my right hon. Friend's agreement that it should go ahead in the light of the economic appraisal of the project.

Evans asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will give his estimate of the amount of coal reserves in Wales.

The total coal resources in seams two feet or more thick and not more than 4,000 feet deep in Wales amount to some 25,000 million tons, as assessed in 1975 for the last World Energy Conference. The operating reserves available at existing collieries amount to between 300 and 350 million tons.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has received representations from Scandinavian States about the amount of United Kingdom sulphur landing on North European soil derived from the United Kingdom coal-fired power stations.

I am aware of the concern of the Scandinavian States about the deposition of sulphur compounds, but I have received no representations from them regarding sulphur deposition in North Europe which might be attributed to United Kingdom coal-fired power stations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will approve an inquiry to consider the implications involved in the provision of a commercial fast breeder reactor to commence as soon as the decisions following the Windscale inquiry are made; and if he will make those arrangements and offer the advice for which his Department is responsible to ensure that this fast breeder inquiry proceeds without delay.

I am currently reviewing the future development of the fast reactor in this country, including our policy on the construction of a full-scale demonstration reactor. I am considering with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment how best to implement the Government's undertaking, set out in the recent White Paper (Cmnd. 6820), to settle and announce, before any decision is taken on such a reactor, a special procedure for wider public debate.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will arrange to discuss with the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers the possibility of a tax-free attendance allowance of £16·50 per day instead of the claim for £135 per week subject to tax.

No. The pay of mineworkers is a matter for negotiation between the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list all Acts of Parliament for which his Department is responsible that require companies to disclose information, stating under each Act what information has to be disclosed, how, by when and to whom.

This information is being prepared and I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish a list in order of thermal efficiency at the point of consumption of the main forms of domestic space heating and of domestic water heating.

Domestic heating efficiency at the point of consumption varies substantially according to type, manufacturer, age, method of installation and use, so that it is impractical to generalise. Furthermore, efficiency values on their own give a false impression of the cost and suitability of a heating system, which also depends on the initial cost, the type of dwelling, level of insulation, the price of delivered fuel or energy, the pattern of consumption, method of control, etc.However, modern well designed and carefully controlled heating systems,

					Per cent.
Space heating	…	Electricity	…	Radiant and convector space heaters	100
				Storage heaters	80–90
		Gas	…	Radiant/Convector fire	50–60
				Convector (balanced flue)	65–70
				Central heating boiler	60–70
		Oil	…	Central heating boiler	60–70
		Solid fuel	…	Open fire	25–40
				Open fire with back boiler	35–50
				Room heater with back boiler	60–70
				Central heating boiler	60–70
Water heating	…	Electrical	…	—	75
		Gas	…	The efficiencies quoted refer to a variety of appliances.	40–55
		Oil	…		40–50
		Solid fuel	…		40–50

It should in addition be pointed out that the above thermal efficiencies do not include the efficiency of production, conversion and distribution of domestic fuels and energy up to the point of consumption, which varies widely between some industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list for all bodies, other than committees, to which he appoints members, other than civil servants, the authority for making the appointment.

The information is included in "A Directory of Paid Public Appointments made by Ministers" published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, copies of which are available in the Library. To these bodies should be added the British National Oil Corporation, for which the authority is the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether a decision has been taken on the recommendations of the working party which was set up to consider the problems of power station coal in South Wales; and if he will make a statement.

As my hon. Friend knows, I have chaired the working party—comprising my hon. Friend the Under-

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he appointed Mr. Joe Gormley as a part-time member of the National Development Corporation at a salary of £1,000 per annum; how many actual meetings he has attended since appointment; how many hours he has worked for this Corporation; and what is the hourly rate of pay on this basis.

Mr. Gormley was appointed on 1st March 1977. Under the Development of Inventions Act 1967, it is

Thousands
		December 1957	December 1967	September 1976
France	…	6,314	4,105	3,026
Belgium	…	1,590	1,121	804
Netherlands	…	1,047	657	356
Federal Republic of Germany	…	6,028	4,672	3,592
Italy	…	5,441	4,324	3,657
United Kingdom	…	22,004	4,259	2,424

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West on 17th November, what action has been taken following the recommendation from the sector working party on the electrical engineering industry that the Government should make a commitment towards a more stable home market for domestic electrical appliances.

The Government have made it clear to the domestic electrical appliance industry on a number of occasions that they recognise the need for a stable home market for the industry and that this need will be borne in mind when the Government are formulating their fiscal policies.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West on 16th November 1976, what action has been taken on the recommendation from the sector working party on the manmade fibres industry concerning discussions between the EEC and the United States about man-made fibre cloth imports and differential feedstock prices the Corporation's own responsibility to regulate its procedures for the holding of meetings and the conduct of its business.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what were the number of spindles in the spinning industry (cotton system) in 1957, 1967 and 1976 in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Western Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, respectively, and if the figure is not available in 1976, in 1975.

The number of spindles in place in the cotton system spinning industry was:in favour of United States industry, which they recommended should be extended to man-made fibres and yarns.

The question of the comparative advantage gained by United States producers of man-made fibres and man-made fibre products from lower priced oil feedstock is still under consideration within the Department and the Man-Made Fibre Sector Working Party.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West on 16th November concerning the sector working party on the electrical components industry, if he will state whether the Department intends introducing a new investment scheme under Section 8 of the Industry Act, whereby selective financial support, covering development through to product launch, can be given to priority product areas.

A scheme to assist the electronic components industry under Section 8 of the Industry Act was announced on 24th January 1977. Details of the scheme are in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West on 16th November, what further reports have been received from the sector working party on the computer industry, and what action has now been taken to implement its recommendations.

The sector working party prepared a general report on the progress of its work for the NEDC meeting on 2nd February. As to specific actions, in reply to a Question from the hon. Member on 23rd March I reported that the sector working party had offered advice on means to strengthen the United Kingdom computer industry, and the confidential discussions which resulted from that are continuing. The sector working party has also made a statement on the future operation of the Government's procurement policy. This has been taken into account in the Government's review.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West on 16th November concerning the sector working party on the mechanical handling equipment industry, whether he has received any major proposals from the British Steel Corporation for investments in this industry and what action has been taken on these proposals.

I have received no such proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West on 17th November, what action has been taken following the recommendation from the sector working party on the heating and ventilating equipment industry that the Government and public authorities should make information on future public sector demand and on the marketing strategies of the fuel industries available to the sector working party and to the companies in the industry.

The sector working party has been asked to specify the type of information which would be of most use to the industry and this is a subject of continuing research. The sector working party hopes to begin consultations in the near future with appropriate public sector authorities which will cover information about future demand and the strategies of the fuel industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West on 17th November, what action has been taken following the recommendation from the sector working party on the heating and ventilating equipment industry that the Government should conduct more stable economic policies so far as they affect the construction industry.

In his Budget the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that an additional £100 million would be provided over the next two years for construction work in inner city areas. On 2nd May the Minister for Housing and Construction announced that an extra £30 million was being provided for public sector housing improvement, in order to assist the construction industry. On 15th July the Chancellor released a further £100 million for the construction industry generally, including £40 million for housing improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has yet received the report from the working party under Lord Seebohm, set up by the Rolle Committee, concerning the recommendation from the sector working party on the process plant fabrication industry that fabricators, their suppliers and bankers should explore ways of enabling the industry to win exports during periods of world over-capacity.

No. Useful work has been done on bonding, but I understand that study of other problems continues.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. King) on 15th November, whether the new guidelines for local authorities have yet been published, as recommended by the sector working party on the chemical industry, relating to physical planning.

As part of the Government's industrial strategy the Secretaries of State for the Environment and Transport recently issued a Circular—DoE 71/77 and DTP 4/77—urging local authorities to give priority to industry across the whole range of their functions, and specifically in the fields of planning, housing and transport. The circular refers in particular to the need to give priority to the handling of all industrial planning applications, to adopt a flexible approach to development controls and to consult with industry in drawing up local plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. King) on 15th November 1976, whether any action has yet been taken to implement the recommendation from the sector working party on the chemicals industry that urgent consideration should be given to the completion of two crackers before 1985, to meet United Kingdom expected growth of consumption.

I understand that two companies have current plans for new ethylene crackers in the United Kingdom, to come on stream in the early 1980s.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. King) on 15th November 1976, whether any action has been taken in response to the recommendation from the sector working party on the wool textile industry that there should be an urgent examination of the impact of the imminent increases in water and effluent charges on the industry's competitiveness, and a comparison of these charges with those borne by the industry's competitors in the EEC, with a view to securing immediate relief and eventual harmonisation of such charges in the EEC.

A joint working party of the Yorkshire Water Authority and the Wool Textile Delegation, with observers from my Department and the Department of the Environment, was set up in March to examine these matters. The working party has held two meetings and is making progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. King) on 15th November 1976 concerning the recommendations from the sector working party on the wool textile industry, whether he will state what action has been taken in response to the proposals from the European Development Council for further financial assistance under the Industry Act to encourage mergers.

A further scheme of assistance for the wool textile industry, under Part II of the Industry Act 1972, was announced on 29th November 1976. Details were given in Hansard.—[Vol. 921, c. 32–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey. North-West on 18th November 1976, what response he has received from the number of leading companies to which he has written, drawing their attention to the recommendation from the sector working party on the plastics industry that they should review their investment programmes, with a view to identifying projects needing early approval in order to take maximum advantage of home and export market opportunities.

Companies are continuing to come forward with investment projects in the plastics sector to take advantage of the markets identified by work in the industrial strategy.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West on 18th November concerning the sector working party on the office equipment industry, what action has been taken further to strengthen selected vital areas of the United Kingdom electronic infrastructure.

Since December of last year the Government have announced the selective investment scheme, the electronics component scheme and the product and process development scheme which are applicable to this sector of industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West on 18th November concerning the sector working party on the office equipment industry, whether the Government have yet sponsored any research into the scope for joint procurement; and, if so, if he will give details.

Further consideration has indicated that commercial and technical factors tend to discourage joint procurement in the office machinery industry and the SWP has decided not to pursue the matter for the time being.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the Government and the National Enterprise Board will now withdraw from any part in negotiations over proposed mergers of turbo-generator manufacturing and boiler-

	British Expenditure £ million	French Expenditure £ million	Both Countries £ million
Actual costs from 29th November 1962 to 31st December 1976 at the prices and exchange rates prevailing when the costs were incurred	504	509 (6119 MF)	1,013
Estimated costs from 1st January 1977 to completion of programme at January 1977 prices and at an exchange rate of £1=8·5 francs	61	67	128
Totals	565	576	1,141

The latest estimates of the manufacturers' total production costs to the end of 1978 are £369 million in the United Kingdom and 3,390 million francs in France. This is divided as between actual past expenditure and estimated future expenditure as follows:

	Britain £m.	France Fr.m.
Actual costs to 31st December 1976 at the prices and exchange rates prevailing when the costs were incurred.	255	2,395
Estimated costs from 1st January 1977 to 31st December 1978 at January 1977 prices and at an exchange rate of £1=8·5 francs.	114	995
Totals	369	3,390

Without taking account of possible receipts from further sales or leases the making companies following the order for Drax B and the Central Electricity Generating Board's withdrawal of its offer of a minimum plant ordering programme.

The Government have no powers to force the objective recommended by the CPRS of an eventual restructured industry; it depends on the voluntary agreement of the companies concerned. The NEB will play a part if required.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his latest estimate of the development and production costs of Concorde, and production receipts; and under what contractual arrangements and statutory authority such expenditures are being incurred.

The latest estimate of the manufacturers' total development costs in Britain and France is £1,141 million. The expenditure is divided as follows between actual past expenditure and estimated future expenditure:latest estimates of the manufacturers' receipts from the sale of aircraft, engines and spares to the end of 1978 is £157 million in the United Kingdom and 1,475 million francs in France. This is divided as between actual past receipts and estimated future receipts as follows:

	Britain £m.	France Fr.m.
Actual receipts to 31st December 1976 at prices and exchange rates prevailing when income was received.	99	1,148
Estimated receipts from 1st January 1977 to 31st December 1978 at January 1977 prices and at an exchange rate of £1=8·5 francs.	58	327
Totals	157	1,475

Development and production of the aircraft in Britain are carried out under procurement contracts placed on my behalf by the Secretary of State for Defence with the British Aircraft Corporation Limited and Rolls-Royce Limited. All contracts provide for the payment of the firms' fair and reasonable costs and for incentive payments related to performance. Both firms are required to remit to the Government all receipts arising from activities and sales achieved through the provision of the contracts.Development expenditures are incurred under the powers conferred on me by Section 1(1) of the Civil Aviation Act 1949 and production expenditures under Sections 8(1) and 8(2) of the Industrial Expansion Act 1968, from moneys voted by Parliament.The limit of £250 million on production loans and guarantees contained in the Concorde Aircraft Act 1973 does not apply to the method of financing currently in use. Net Government expenditures and commitments under such arrangements are not expected to exceed this figure by the end of the financial year 1977–78. I will, however, continue to keep the House informed.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West on 18th November concerning the recommendations from the sector working party on the rubber industry, whether detailed project planning has yet been undertaken to determine raw material requirements, market opportunities and capital availability.

Discussions about a possible United Kingdom polyisoprene project have continued in the Synthetic Rubber Working Party of the Petrochemicals Sector Working Party. These have drawn on evaluations of such a project that have been prepared by industry, information from the Department of Energy on feedstock availability and the views of rubber consumers, co-ordinated by my Department, on the possible market for polyisoprene. A gas-gathering pipeline system would be an important influence on feedstock availability. The working party will continue studying this and the other factors affecting the project's commercial viability.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list all Acts of Parliament for which his Department is responsible that require companies to disclose information, stating under each Act what information has to be disclosed, how, by when and to whom.

The following Acts of Parliament, for which the Department of Industry is responsible, include measures which may be used to require companies to disclose information. Copies of the Acts are available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what action has been taken to remedy the shortage of medium-term finance in the scientific instruments sector of industry.

The product and process development scheme announced recently offers support for the development of new products and is open to companies in the scientific instrument sector. In addition, a scheme of assistance for the automation and instrumentation sector is likely to be introduced in the near future. These measures should go a considerable way to alleviate any shortage of medium-term finance for this sector of industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. King) on 15th November, whether any action has been taken on the recommendation from the sector working party on the clothing industry that the Government should urgently consider modifications to the Industry Act Scheme, proposed by the Economic Development Committee at its meeting on 30th June 1976.

Improvements to the terms of assistance available under the clothing scheme were given in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, North (Mr. Ford) on 7th December 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. King) on 15th November 1976 concerning the recommendation from the sector work party on the knitting industry that an export agency should be created to help small firms with documentation and similar matters, what action has been taken to implement this recommendation.

Following an offer from my Department to consider making funds available for a feasibility study, representatives of the industry are considering whether to proceed with the proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West, on 16th November concerning the sector working party on the non-ferrous foundry industry, what action has been taken on recommendations (a) and (b), which were under consideration by the Department.