asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the number of Press and information officers employed by the Government, breaking down the total between Government Departments, and giving an estimate of the total cost of these civil servants.

I am having the information collected and will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Attorney-General (1) whether he will refer new evidence supplied by Mrs. Skala and Mrs. Simpson to the Director of Public Prosecutions with a view to considering whether this constitutes sufficient evidence to enable the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute Shelagh Farrow as an accomplice to a murder committed by Trevor Hardy;(2) whether, in the light of the evidence disclosed at the trial of Trevor Hardy for three murders, he will refer the papers to the Director of Public Prosecutions with a view to considering the prosecution of Shelagh Farrow for receiving stolen goods :(3) whether, in the light of new evidence concerning the original statement of Shelagh Farrow providing a false alibi for convicted triple murderer Trevor Hardy, he will refer the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions with a view to considering proceedings against her for perjury, or signing a false statement.

I have written to my hon. Friend confirming that I have undertaken to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Openshaw (Mr. Morris) to consider these questions again with the Director of Public Prosecutions when I have received from him in writing the further representations on behalf of their constituents.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the conditions and pay of Her Majesty's Forces in Belize.

The British forces in Belize are engaged in active operations, and some of the conditions under which they are serving are inseparable from such operations. Arrangements have been under way for some time, and will continue, to improve both supplies and facilities, particularly in the south of Belize. The level of pay and local overseas allowances taken together, and expressed in terms of the value of the Belize currency, has not been affected by the recent adjustment in the exchange rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the object of the tests of high-powered water cannon on sheep at Porton.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 19th November 1976 —[Vol. 919, c. 758].

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what have been the changes in the real value of the basic pay of, respectively, a lieutenant-colonel, a captain, a second lieutenant, a sergeant, a corporal and a private soldier serving with a Regular infantry regiment during the period November 1974 to date; and how this compares with the situation of established members of the Civil Service

Rank							1974 Pay£	1977 Pay(at 1974price levels)£	Percentage change
Lieutenant-Colonel with 4 years in rank				…	…	…	107·24	87·36	-18·54
Captain with 6 years in rank		…	…	…	…	…	68·53	60·75	-11·35
Second Lieutenant	…	…	…	…	…	…	39·27	35·97	-8·40
Sergeant, Scale B, Band 5		…	…	…	…	…	48·37	43·31	-10·46
Corporal, Class I, Scale B, Band 2			…	…	…	…	44·10	40·36	-8·43
Private, Class I, Scale B, Band 2			…	…	…	…	35·84	32·72	8·71
Corresponding figures for established members of the civil Service who were on the nearest equivalent salary levels in 1974 are as follows:

Grade						1974 Pay£	1977 Pay(at 1974 price levels)£	Percentage change
Principal with 6 years in grade	…	…	…	…	…	105·36	87·85	-16·62
Higher Executive Officer (maximum)		…	…	…	…	68·67	59·80	-12·92
Executive Officer (Highest age point plus 2 increments)					…	39·56	36·89	-6·75
Executive Officer (Highest age point plus 7 increments)					…	48·79	45·13	-7·50
Executive Officer (minimum plus 4 increments)				…	…	44·08	40·38	-8·39
Clerical Officer (maximum)	…	…	…	…	…	36·07	34·30	-4·91

In 1976 and 1977 pay increases for both the Armed Forces and the Civil Service were the maximum permitted under the pay policies then operating and thus had precisely the same effect on equivalent military and Civil Service salaries. The small variations in percentage changes for the two categories result from the 1975 Pay Reviews: these reflected movements in pay of the appropriate analogues, which are of course different for the Armed Forces and for the Civil Service.In both the above tables 1977 rates have been expressed in 1974 terms by dividing the actual rates by the ratio of the general retail price indices as published in the

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what stocks of CR gas are held; for what purpose it is manufactured; and what uses are contemplated;

The following are illustrative examples of changes in the real value of weekly basic pay for the Service ranks requested :(2) whether there have been any exports of CR gas from the United Kingdom.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 25th March 1977—[Vol. 928, c. 693].

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there have been any discussions with the United States authorities on the development of CR gas as a riot control agent.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 25th March 1977—[Vol. 928, c. 694].

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether CR gas has been tested for possible carcinogenic effects; and with what result.

Yes, with negative results. My hon. Friend may be interested in the article written by Dr. Ballantyne entitled "Riot Control Agents-Biomedical and Health Aspects of the use of Chemicals in Civil Disturbances "which was published recently in the Medical Annual 1977. Testing will continue and the results will continue to be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Indonesians are among foreign personnel who have received training at the Special Air Service training centre near Hereford.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley) and to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-East (Mr. Edwards) on 8th and 9th November respectively. —[Vol. 938, c. 63, and c. 105–106].

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many senior RAF officers have refused to accept station commands during the past year due to their inability to meet the personal financial burden implicit in appointments that involve entertaining; and if he will make a statement.

My inquiries will take a little time, and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will authorise an early and substantial increase in the scale of RAF station commanders' entertainment allowances, to enable them to discharge their duty to the Service and the Community in a manner commensurate with the dignity of the Royal Air Force.

An increase has just been authorised and will be promulgated shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities appoint boards of governors whose membership is not different in composition from the authority committees responsible for the schools in question; and if she will list them.

A study conducted between 1965 and 1969 showed that more than 20 local education authori- ties then had arrangements of this kind. Chapter 2 of the Taylor Report on school government suggests that the number is now much smaller, but I regret that de-detailed information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the real average cost of a school meal in England and Wales, as opposed to the subsidised price of 25p and how much of the subsidy per meal comes from (a) Her Majesty's Government, and (b) the local education authority.

The average cost of a school meal is about 50p. Central Government do not pay a specific share; the cost to local education authorities is relevant expenditure for rate support grant. For 1977–78 the level of rate support grant is 61 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what progress the Institute of Hearing Research has made in its investigations into cochlea implants; (2) what steps he is taking to ensure consumer representation on the Institute of Hearing Research; (3) what is the size of the staff of the Institute of Hearing Research; how many new people have been employed there since the Institute was established; and what are their specialities; (4) how much money was originally allocated by the Government for capital and running costs for the Institute of Hearing Research; how much money has been actually spent so far on the Institute; and what is the present allocation of money for capital and running costs; (5) if she will list in theOfficial Reportthe medical disciplines involved in the Institute of Hearing search; what contact officials of the Institute have made with specialists abroad. and what subjects they have studied.

The information is not readily available, but I will arrange for it to he circulated in theOfficial Reportat an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will list the numbers of (a) girls and (b) boys on whom corporal punishment was inflicted in primary and secondary schools in 1976.

Statistics on the use of corporal punishment in schools are not collected by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total amount and value of concessionary coal provided by the National Coal Board for its employees in each of the past three years.

The total amount and value of concessionary coal over the past three years is as follows:

	Coal m. tons	Value £m
1974–75	2·15	25
1975–76	1·95	33
1976–77	1.·	39

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the meeting of the Council of Energy Ministers in Luxembourg on 25th October 1977.

The EEC Energy Council met under Belgian Presidency in Luxembourg on 25th October. At this meeting Ministers adopted three recommendations on the rational use of energy, and reached agreement on Community support measures for technological projects in the hydrocarbons sector, on Community arrangements for reducing the consumption of energy in the event of oil supply difficulties, and on Community surveillance of imports of coal originating in non-EEC countries.In discussions on two other coal proposals, designed to encourage construction of power stations to burn coal and to give aid to finance coal stocks, the United Kingdom emphasised the need for the Community to support its indigenous coal industry. However, no agreement was reached on these proposals, and it was decided that the Council should return to the subject at its next meeting.There was also discussion on the situation of the Community's refining industry and on a proposal for aid for demonstration projects in the field of energy saving, on both of which discussions will be continued.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if warning signs are displayed on vehicles transporting plutonium.

I have been asked to reply.The Radioactive Substances (Carriage by Road) (Great Britain) Regulations, for which I am responsible, call for the placarding of vehicles with a "hazard diamond" label when vehicles carry radioactive materials including plutonium. The hazard diamond contains the internationally approved trefoil symbol and the word "Radioactive" as a warning to the emergency services and members of the public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Reportthe number of assaults on other prisoners for which inmates of prisons and remand centres were punished under the Prison Rules in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, and to the most convenient date.

The information requested is given in the following table. I regret that corresponding information for 1972 and 1973 is not available.

Year	Assaults
1974	431
1975	524
1976	569

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspectors are employed by his Department to ensure compliance with the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876; how many experiments which are liable to inspection under the Act were carried out in each of the last three years; whether he has any plans to increase the number of inspectors; and, if not, whether he is satisfied that the present establishment of inspectors is adequate.

As can be seen from the detailed figures given in Table 1 of Experiments on Living Animals 1976, House of Commons Paper No. 1, Session 1977–78, the total number of experiments on living animals in each of the years 1974 to 1976 was approximately 5½ million. The majority of experiments are concentrated in a small number of establishments and this facilitates effective inspection by the 14 members of the Cruelty to Animals Inspectorate. The number of inspectors is kept under regular review but must have regard to the necessary restraints on manpower in the public services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have been arrested in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

I regret that this information is not readily available and could not be provided without disproportionate expense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider extending to all retirement pensioners the concessionary television licence provision.

No. It is estimated that this would mean the loss of about one-third of the licence revenue.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the demonstrations which have been held outside the Grunwick factory, of the casualties to police and others which have arisen, and of the alleged breaches of the peace caused, he will discuss with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis the advisability of seeking powers to permit such future demonstrations to be held in more suitable venues such as Hyde Park.

No.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will publish in the Official Reporta detailed list giving the number of persons in his Department who were, on 1st November 1977, in receipt of salaries of £135 or more per week; how long they have received such salaries; and what were their designations or gradings.

As at 1st November 1977, 18 employees in No. 10 Downing Street were receiving £135 or more per week in salaries. It is not the practice to publish in theOfficial Reportdetails of the remuneration of individual civil servants nor the length of time for which particular salaries have been in payment to individuals; but the figure of 18 comprises: one deputy secretary; one senior policy adviser; one chief press secretary; one policy adviser; three assistant secretaries; two chief information officers (B); two principals; two principal information officers; four assistant private secretaries; one office manager.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will advise all Ministers that when taxpayers write to them and their Departments they should ensure that a reply is sent to such letters, in the light of the fact that the letter from Mr. M. D. Barnard of Stratford, was not answered until the hon. Member for Newham, North-West wrote and protested to the Secretary of State for Transport.

As my hon. Friend is aware, Ministers already understand the need to ensure that correspondence from members of the public is dealt with promptly. I understand that my hon. Friend has taken up the individual case to which he refers with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will inquire into the reliability of the two photocopying machines provided for the use of Members on the Interview Floor; and whether he is satisfied with the present maintenance arrangements.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 20th July. Since then the serviceability record shows:

asked the Prime Minister what criteria Her Majesty's Government apply to invitations to Ministers to speak at gatherings and conferences where large fees are payable by those attending and profits are made by the promoters.

It is for each Minister to consider such an invitation on its merits with particular regard to whether it will provide an appropriate occasion for an exposition of Government policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the real average cost of a school meal in Scotland as opposed to the subsidised price of 25p;

		Social Work (Scotland)Act 1968 Sections 8,9 and 10		Health Services and Public Health Act1968 Section 64	Education (Scotland) Act 1962 Section 75, as amended by the Education (Scotland) Act 1969 Section 12		Total
Year		Capital £	Current £	Current £	Capital £	Current £	Total £
1973–74	…	19,000	217,000	17,000	221,000	213,000	0.·7
1974–75	…	5,000	296,000	20,000	498,000	294,000	1·1
1975–76	…	85,000	438,000	31,000	630,000	316,000	1·5
1976–77	…	65,000	589,000	43,000	457,000	352,000	1…5

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to increase home improvement grants in Scotland during the coming Session.

A draft of the Housing (Amounts of Approved Expense) (Scotland) Order 1977 was laid on 3rd November and the Housing (Standard Amenities Approved Expense) (Scotland) Order 1977 was made on 12th October and laid before Parliament on and how much of the subsidy per meal comes from (a) Her Majesty's Government, and (b) the local education authority.

About 49p at Government 1976 prices. The Government do not pay a specified percentage of the subsidy, but the estimated net cost of the school meals service is included in relevant expenditure on which rate support grant is paid; in 1977–78 the rate of grant is 68½ per cent. The balance of relevant expenditure is met by the local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total sum granted to voluntary organisations in each of the years 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77; what is the size of the grants budgeted for 1977–78, 1978–79 and 1979–80: and if he will detail them.

The total grants paid by my right hon. Friend to voluntary organisations in the social work, health and youth and community fields in each of the years 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77 are shown in the following table. Grants for 1977–78 are expected to be not less than for 1976–77. Final decisions have not yet been taken about grants in later years.26th October. Subject to the approval of the House, these will raise the ceilings for grant on standard amenities and repairs and for discretionary grant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he does not intend to permit the Royal Mint to produce gold sovereigns during Jubilee Year; and whether he will reconsider his decision.

It is not intended to issue gold sovereigns dated 1977. The production of sovereigns has never been on an annual basis, and the decision on a minting programme for any particular year is based on demand and the level of existing stocks. The Royal Mint has been producing gold sovereigns dated 1976 throughout the Jubilee Year and this continuation of the current programme, which was commenced in the middle of 1976, is not expected to be completed until about the end of this year. In these circumstances coins produced under the next minting programme will be dated 1978.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will confirm that the yield of capital gains tax would be reduced from £330 million to £80 million by the introduction of an indexing measure.

It is impossible to estimate the precise effect of an indexing measure on the future yield of capital gains tax, and so much would depend on the form it took and its effect on the future pattern of disposals. However, it is probable that a measure which took into account the rates of inflation of recent years would have a very substantial effect of the order mentioned on the present yield.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply of 24th June, what has been the fall in net take-home pay, in real terms, of a married worker with two young children drawing the average industrial wage, since October 1974, and since March 1974, respectively; and how much extra in total gross pay in current terms, he would have had to earn since each of those dates to maintain the purchasing power of his take-home pay at constant levels.

Taking into account the changes in the retail prices index between (a) March 1974, (b) October 1974 and August 1977, the real net income of a married man with two children not over 11, drawing the average industrial wage has fallen by 5·8 per cent. and 8 per cent., respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a detailed list in theOfficial Reportgiving the number of persons in his Department who were, on 1st November 1977, in receipt of salaries of £135 or more per week; how long they have received such salaries; and what were their designations or gradings.

As at 1st October 1977, the latest date for which information is available, there were 189 staff in the Treasury whose basic pay and other pensionable emoluments totalled £135 a week or more. Of the staff concerned, 139 are in the Administration Group and the remainder are spread over a number of other occupational groups. Information on the length of time staff have received such salaries cannot be provided without disproportionate expenditure of time and resources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total revenue from levies charged on cereals imported into the United Kingdom in 1976 and the first half of 1977; and how far this was offset by monetary compensatory amounts.

The total revenue from levies charged on cereals imported in 1976 was £12·5 million and in the first half of 1977 was £34·5 millionDuring 1976 the amount of monetary compensatory amounts refunds paid to importers of cereals was £35·7 million and in the first half of 1977 was £1·2 million. These figures relate to the period up to 17th May 1976 on both intra-Community trade in respect of all member States and on third country trade, but since then United Kingdom monetary compensatory amounts on imports from other member States, except Italy, have been paid in the exporting member State, and information about them is not available at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total revenue from levies charged on import of dairy products into the United Kingdom in 1976 and the first half of 1977; and how far this was offset by monetary compensatory amounts.

The total revenue from levies charged on import of milk and milk products in 1976 was £24·5 million and in the first half of 1977 was £3·2 million.During 1976 the amount of monetary compensatory amounts refunds paid to importers of milk and milk products was £17·1 million and in the first half of 1977 was £·2 million. These figures relate to the period up to 17th May 1976 on both intra-Community trade in respect of all member States and on third country trade, but since then United Kingdom monetary compensatory amounts on imports from other member States, except Italy, have been paid in the exporting member State, and information about them is not available at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the companies which are no longer carrying out Government contracts as a result of agreeing to wage settlements in excess of the Government's guidelines.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) on 8th November. —[Vol. 938, c. 77].

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer where obligatory and non-obligatory expenditures of the EEC are set out or defined in any Community Treaty or other document; and on what basis compulsory or non-compulsory expenditures are defined in any consultation procedure between Assembly and Council.

The terms "obligatory" and "non-obligatory" expenditure and "compulsory" and non-compulsory "expenditure do not appear in any Community Treaty nor are they defined in any formal document. They are used for convenience to describe the two categories of expenditure defined in the Treaties as

" expenditure necessarily resulting from this Treaty or from acts adopted in accordance therewith ",

which is referred to as obligatory or compulsory expenditure, and

asked the Chancellor of the Excheuer what would be the cost at 1977 survey prices of freeing repair and maintenance work from value added tax.

The cost of zero rating repair and maintenance work in the construction industry would be about £125 million a year at current prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the position in the other EEC countries on the payment of value added tax by trade associations.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Braintree (Mr. Newton) on 30th June. —[Vol. 934, c. 309–10]. —As from 1st January 1978 the position in the Community will be governed by the Sixth Directive on VAT, and I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the Value Added Tax (Trade Unions and Professional Bodies) Order which was laid before the House yesterday to bring the United Kingdom position into conformity with the directive.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated value of privately owned overseas portfolio investments belonging to persons living in the United Kingdom; and what is the corresponding figure for overseas fixed investment.

The market value of portfolio investments overseas owned by the United Kingdom private sector for the end of each year 1966 to 1976 is published in Table 11.1 of "United Kingdom Balance of Payments 1966–76" (The Pink Book) a copy of which is in the Library. The corresponding figures for fixed investment are not available, but estimates of the book value of stocks of direct —and oil companies' —investments overseas are given in the same table.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of child tax allowances and family allowances/child benefit payments to one, two, and four-child families expressed as a percentage of (a) gross, and (b) net average earnings in 1964, 1968, 1970 and each subsequent year, respectively.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what communications he has received from the Confederation of Health Service Employees concerning the economy in general and the National Health Service in particular; and what has been the nature of his replies.

My right hon. Friend has received one letter from the General Secretary of the Confederation of Health Service Employees. I will send a copy of my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exhcequer if he will state the loss in revenue that would follow from a reduction to 30 per cent. of the basic rate of income tax.

£1,810 million in a full year, based on 1977–78 income levels and the allowances proposed in the Chancellor's statement of 26th October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will publish in the Official Reporta table showing for 1973–74 and 1977–78 the effective rate of tax plus social security contributions for a man with two children aged under 11 years having income, all earned, equivalent to the national average earnings, twice the average, and three times the average, making necessary adjustments for family allowance and child benefit;(2) whether he will publish in the

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 8th November 1977; Vol. 938, c. 77-8], gave the following information:The figures are as follows:

Year and earnings	Effective rate of tax plus social security contributions Per cent.
1973–74
Average earnings	21·6
Twice average earnings	26·1
Three times average earnings	28·7
1977–78
Average earnings	24·1
Twice average earnings	30·2
Three times average earnings	36·9

The effective rate has been taken to be the percentage of total income, including family allowance for 1973–74 and child benefit for 1977–78, taking in income tax and national insurance contributions.Average earnings for both years are based on the New Earning's Survey's estimates of the average weekly earnings of full-time adult male workers in all occupations, both manual and non-manual. For 1973–74 the average of the April 1973 and April 1974 NES estimates has been used and for 1977–78 the April 1977 NES estimate has been updated to August 1977 by the monthly index of average earnings.It has been assumed that the employee was not contracted out of the graduated pension scheme in April 1973.For 1977–78 the figures take account of the Chancellor's proposals of 26th October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to end the situation whereby tax relief on a mortgage taken out by a woman before marriage is paid to a husband even where he does not take on the repayments.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 10th November 1977; Vol. 938, c. 192], gave the following information:I do not think special steps are necessary. Where a woman continues after marriage to make the mortgage repayments on a property which remains her only or main residence, relief for the interest paid will be given, on request, against her earnings, provided both husband and wife agree. if the spouses cannot agree it is open to the wife to elect for separate assessment of her income, which will ensure that she receives relief for mortgage interest paid by her against her share of the total tax payable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current investigation by the Inland Revenue City 20 Office into the tax affairs of Smithfield market meat porters.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th November 1977; Vol. 938, c. 127–8], gave the following information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing planned public expenditure in 1976–77 and the outturn for that year, broken down into cash-limited and non cash-limited expenditure, central and local government, and current and capital expenditure both at current prices and survey prices.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 7th November 1977; Vol. 938, c. 38], gave the following information:Public expenditure in 1976–77 is now estimated to have been around £2¼ billion, at 1977 Survey prices, below the level indicated in Cmnd. 6721. Of this figure, about £1¾ billion was in central Government expenditure. Both cash-limited and other expenditure was affected. Most of the rest was in local authorities' expenditure. Provisional figures for cash limited expenditure in 1976-77, at current prices, were published in Cmnd. 6902 in August. These showed under-spending of £660 million on central Government cash blocks and £450 million on local authority blocks, some of which relate to the authorising of starts rather than expenditure itself. Not all cash-limited expenditure is directly included in public expenditure. Up-to-date and more detailed estimates will be included in the next public expenditure White Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of average male national earnings was represented in 1973–74 and is estimated to be represented in 1977–78 following recent tax changes, by the tax threshold for a single person, married couple, and a married couple with one, two, three and four children, on a basis comparable with Written Answer,Official Report,20th July 1977, columns, 579–81.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 8th November 1977; Vol. 938, c. 79], gave the following information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total of monetary compensatory amount paid to other member States of the EEC during 1976 on account of imports of food into the United Kingdom.

I have been asked to reply.About 221 million units of account. Converted at the budget rate of 2.4 units of account to £1, this amounts to about £92 million.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will publish a table listing all the loans or grants made to overseas countries by her Department since April 1974 showing in each case the name of the recipient country, the total value of the loan or grant, the rate of interest, where appropriate, and the purpose for which the money was required.

New loan and grant commitments made to overseas countries since April 1974 total £714 million. Details of all loans and grants and the annual requirements against them appear in the Supply Estimates. Appendix I, Class II, Vote 8 lists each recipient country, the total commitment, the rate of interest where appropriate and, so far as is possible when the loan or grant is made, the purpose for which it is intended.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will list the projects upon which the TUC has so far expended its grant of £75,000 each year out of the overseas aid budget; and what steps her Department is taking to monitor the TUC's expenditure.

I understand from the TUC that the grant has so far been used for a conference of Commonwealth trade unionists attending the ILO Conference held in Geneva earlier this year, and on training in Britain for trade unionists from Cyprus, Kenya and Barbados. As regards monitoring, the TUC administers the grant within the terms of an agreed memorandum setting out the purposes for which it can be used. An annual progress report on the grant has to be submitted to my right hon. Friend. There is also regular informal contact between my Ministry and the TUC on various matters related to the use and administration of the grant.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she has yet set up any feasibility studies into the subjects recommended for such studies by the Shackleton Report on the Falkland Islands; and whether she will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on Wednesday 9th November. That reply, together with the reply given to the hon. Member for Surbiton (Sir N. Fisher) on 13th June, gives the present position on feasibility studies in the Falkland Islands. I am, however, always willing to consider any proposals for further studies put to me by the Government of the Falkland Islands.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what financial aid is being given by the Government to the study and promotion of industrial cooperatives in developing countries.

Approval was recently given to a grant of £37,707 to the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) for a two-year study of the key factors behind the successful operation of industrial cooperatives in developing countries. The ICA will publish the lessons drawn from the study. We shall also assist industrial co-operatives in developing countries through our technical co-operation programme.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if she will state the amount of aid given to Nevis for the last five years for which figures are available; and for what purposes or projects the aid was given.

Identifiable disbursements to Nevis —excluding projects covering both St. Kitts and Nevis and projects undertaken on a regional basis —were as follows:

Financial year	£000
1972–3	196
1973–4	111
1974–5	10
1975–6	253
1976–7	350
Total	920

Aid has been concentrated on projects in the fields of renewable natural resources and economic and social infrastructure.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what proposals the Government have for sales to the private sector of Government factories built and owned by the English Industrial Estates Corporation, the Scottish Development Agency and the Welsh Development Agency, respectively.

The Government and the development agencies are always ready to consider leasehold sales of Government factories to intending or existing occupiers.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if. in view of the continuing decline in industrial jobs in Greater London, he will take steps to provide a bigger share of resources for the provision of industrial employment opportunities in Hackney, South, and Shoreditch and other areas of Greater London.

The offer of a partnership to the boroughs of Hackney and Islington announced in my right hon. Friend's statement of 8th November will mean that greater resources can be brought to bear on the industrial and other problems of those boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to be able to make grants under the Footwear Industry Scheme.

The relevant recommendations in the Footwear Study Steering Group's report are still under consideration and the precise form of financial assistance which might be given to the footwear manufacturing industry has yet to be finalised.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress he has made in his discussions on planning agreements with footwear retail chains.

Discussions with a number of footwear companies, including both the retail and manufacturing sides, are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list in theOfficial Reportthe total sum allocated to the United Kingdom from the Regional Fund administered by the European Economic Community for the years 1975, 1976 and to the latest available date; how this sum has been allocated to the regions; and if he will list the recipients together with amounts received.

The European Commission has agreed that contributions totalling £136·7 million from the European Regional Development Fund may be paid towards the costs of 1,591 projects in the assisted areas of Great Britain and in Northern Ireland, £35·9 million was approved in 1975, £59·1 million in 1976 and £41·7 million in 1977 to date.The £136·7 million is allocated to projects in the regions of England and in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales as follows:

England
	£000
Northern	41,858
North-West	12,740
Yorkshire and Humberside	4,809
East Midlands (assisted area)	833
West Midlands (assisted area)	14
South-West (assisted area)	1,978?
Total	62,232
Northern Ireland	22,042
Scotland	33,552
Wales	18,914
Total United Kingdom	136,740

Lists of these projects have been published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (Vol. 19, No. C267 of 12th November 1976) and in

asked the Secretary of State for Industry who are the auditors of British Shipbuilders and British Aerospace and of their subsidiary companies; and, in the case of the subsidiaries, which firms have been replaced as auditors.

Under Section 17(7) of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977 my right hon. Friend has appointed Arthur Young McClelland Moores & Co. and Thomson McLintock & Co. as joint auditors for British Shipbuilders, and Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co., as auditors of British Aerospace. The appointment of auditors of sub- sidiary companies is a matter for the corporations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) with reference to the comparative Social Security Tables for member States of the European Communities position at 1st January 1977, published by his Department, whether family allowances in Germany, Italy and Luxembourg are now taxable.

The information given in the comparative Social Security Tables for member States of the European Communities, published by my Department, is provided by the social security authorities in each State. The information provided early this year by Germany was that in certain circumstances family allowances there may be taxed; Italy and Luxembourg also informed us that their family allowances were taxable. Confirmation of the position could be obtained only by further inquiry of the tax authorities in those countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a progress statement on his search for a specialised vehicle to replace the invalid tricycle.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his Question on 8th March —[Vol. 927, c. 466]—which confirmed that, as phasing out proceeds and the pattern of need becomes clearer we shall be looking on home and world markets to help drivers who will still need a specialised vehicle when their tricycles can no longer be replaced. I then said that my Department and the Department of Transport were jointly considering what further research was desirable. Detailed proposals have now been prepared for a research study to begin shortly. While my right hon. Friend has re-emphasised his stated aim of ensuring that no one who is now mobile is made immobile by the phasing out of the tricycle. It would be inappropriate to take definitive decisions on how this aim should be fulfilled until the results of our new research are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether any national organisation for disabled people has submitted to him proposals for vehicle purchase or lease schemes for disabled people that depart from the principle of the mobility allowance of providing as much help for disabled non-drivers as for disabled drivers; whether he will name the organisations involved and reproduce relevant extracts from any documents associated with any such proposals in theOfficial Report; and whether he will make a statement on the Government's reaction to them.

I have been continuing the discussions referred to in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford. South (Mr. Shaw) on 28th July —[Vol. 936, c. 499–500]—and I hope to make a statement very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Reportthe names of all those authorities which have now decided to fluoridate the public water supply; and what percentage of the country's water supply is now fluoridated by artificial means.

All 90 English area health authorities have decided in favour of fluoridation except Barnsley, East Sussex, North Tyneside, Isle of Wight and Win-al. Implementation, however, depends on the co-operation of the water authorities. About 9 per cent. of the population of England at present receives fluoridated water.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what expenditure he proposes to allocate by way of grant for the fluoridation of public water supplies in the Alnwick and Berwick-upon-Tweed districts; and what steps he has taken to ascertain the views of the elected local authorities of the two areas, including the Alnwick District Council and the Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council.

I welcome the Northumberland Area Health Authority's decision to extend fluoridation of water supplies to that part of its area which includes Alnwick and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Local consultations are a matter for the area health authority, but I understand that the authority has included this proposal in its operational plans which it has discussed through the established procedure with local authorities in its area. My Department has agreed to contribute some £50,000 to the capital cost of the entire project from the funds which, as announced in the consultative document "Priorities for Health and Personal Social Services in England ", have been earmarked for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the costs of bringing all retirement pensions, and all other pensions paid to recipients living abroad, where reciprocal agreements do not exist, up to the levels of pensions to be paid from November in the United Kingdom.

About £45 million for retirement pensions and about £4 million for widow's benefits, guardian's allowances and child's special allowances. All other pensions, when paid abroad, are at the levels payable in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will appoint a committee for district nurses on the same lines as the committee for hospital nurses.

I have recently met representatives of the district nurses to discuss their desire to have a statutory committee for district nursing in the proposed legislation —which the Government still hope to introduce this Session —on the Briggs Committee recommendations for new statutory bodies —i.e., a United Kingdom Central Council and national boards —for nurse education and training. I was able to assure the representatives that the Bill would in fact provide for the establishment of statutory committees of the new bodies for particular fields of nursing and that the Briggs Co-ordinating Committee, which under my chairmanship represents all sections of the nursing and midwifery professions, had now set up a working group to consider the committee structure of the new bodies, with particular reference to district nursing and psychiatric nursing.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will ask the Attendance Allowance Board to reconsider its recent guidelines for applications for allowance from people undergoing haemodialysis sessions; and to reduce the lower limit for the duration of sessions that would qualify for allowance.

The medical requirements for attendance allowance relate to the amount of attention and/or supervision which an individual requires and are laid down in the Social Security Act 1975. Under the Act it is for the Attendance Allowance Board to decide whether or not these requirements are satisfied in each individual case. The Board is an independent statutory body and it would not be proper for me to attempt to influence decisions. The guidelines referred to indicate the sort of claim which is expected to succeed on the Board's present interpretation of the law; but each case has to be decided on the facts of the case and in accordance with the law. Any one who is dissatisfied with the Board's decision can ask for that decision to be reviewed; and if he or she considers that the Board's decision on review is erroneous in law, he or she can apply for leave to appeal to the National Insurance Commissioner on questions of law.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people who undergo haemodialysis sessions have been awarded attendance allowance in each of the last three years; and what reduction in the number of people qualify for attendance allowance who undergo haemodialysis sessions he expects to follow as a result of the Attendance Allowance Board issuing guidelines in June 1977 restricting the eligibility for allowance in such cases.

Information on the number of such awards made over each of the past three years is not available but, as at 30th September each year, the number of people in receipt of attendance allowance whose main need of attention and/or supervision was shown as being due to haemodialysis are given in the table below. It is not possible to make any estimate for the future of the effect the Board's present interpretation of the law will have on these numbers. Each case must be decided by the Board on the facts of that case in accordance with the law set out in the Social Security Act 1975.

NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN RECEIPT OF ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE ON ACCOUNT OF HAEMODIALYSIS AS AT 30TH SEPTEMBER EACH YEAR
Rate	1975	1976	1977
Higher rate	200	200	200
Lower rate	1,400	1,700	2,000
Total	1,600	1,900	2,200

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent, and by what instrument, access to the National Health Service by persons not resident in the United Kingdom has been extended in consequence of membership of the European Community.

Before our accession to the Community visitors to the United Kingdom from other EEC countries, in common with other foreign visitors, were not denied urgent treatment under the NHS. Regulations EEC 1408/71 and 574/72, which came into force in this country in April 1973, provide for reciprocity in social security, including medical treatment, between member States. Since that date, employed persons who are nationals of other EEC countries and pensioners who were previously employed persons and their families, are entitled to urgent treatment under the NHS when visiting this country. In limited circumstances, persons in these categories may also come specifically for treatment. Treatment in either case is provided at the cost of the institution responsible for medical treatment in the country from which the visitor comes, but there are arrangements between the individual member States for offsetting the costs of treating visitors to either country.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients coming from countries without reciprocal health agreements with Great Britain have been treated on the National Health Service, excluding emergency cases.

People from countries with which the United Kingdom has no reciprocal agreements, and which are outside the EEC, who come to the United Kingdom to seek treatment are expected to come as private patients. It is not known how many succeed in obtaining NHS treatment as a result of misunderstanding or misrepresentation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to increase the private facilities available in National Health Service hospitals to meet any unusually large demand in areas, such as London, where overseas patients come for treatment.

Under the terms of the Health Services Act facilities for private medical practice are to be progressively withdrawn from NHS hospitals and I have no power to increase them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much he calculates that the population of England. Scotland and Wales, respectively, will have increased by 1991.

According to the latest population projections, which are based on the provisional mid-1976 figures, the population will increase over the 15 year period 1976–1991 by the following amounts:

	Thousands	(per cent.)
England	477	1·0
Scotland	79	1·5
Wales	120	4·3

For England and for Scotland these increases mask declines in the first part of the period. Details of the assumptions used in the projections will be published shortly in Population Projections 1976–2016, OPCS, Series PP2 No. 8. Summary statistics were published in OPCS Monitors PP2 77/1 (May 1977) and, for Wales only, PP2 77/2 (November 1977).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pharmacies in Cheshire have closed (a) in the last 12 months; and (b) during the last four years.

In the 12 months ended 31st August 1977 four pharmacies closed and none opened. In 1976 three pharmacies closed and three opened; in 1975 eight closed and five opened. Due to boundary changes at the time of NHS reorganisation comparable figures for earlier years are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in theOfficial Reportmany part-time workers who are registered as unemployed are drawing unemployment benefit. giving the figures separately for men and women.

I regret that this information is not available. Unemployment benefit is not normally payable for any day on which a person works, however, nor is it payable for a single day of unemployment occurring within a period of six consecutive days. Moreover, once it has been established that a person does not ordinarily work on every day of the week, unemployment benefit is not usually payable for any day falling within a week in which the person has been employed to the full extent which is normal in his case.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now publish the report on conditions at Friern Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

I am studying the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what effect, in pence per week, payment of the housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension to a disabled married woman will have on the total income of a family with a disabled husband in receipt of (a) supplementary benefits at the ordinary rate, (b)supplementary benefits at the long-term rate, (c) non-contributory invalidity pension and supplementary benefits at the ordinary rate, (d) non-contributory invalidity pension and supplementary benefits at the long-term rate, (e) noncontributory invalidity pension and (f) contributory invalidity pension;(2) what effect, in pence per week, payment of the housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension to a disabled married

woman will have on the total income of a family with a non-disabled husband in receipt of (

As regards contributory and other non-means-tested benefits, the general principle is that if a wife satisfies the conditions for benefit both by virtue of her own circumstances and as her husband's dependant she may not draw both benefits but qualifies for the most advantageous to her of the two. In most circumstances, unless contributory invalidity pension is in payment to the husband, housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension is at a higher level than the benefit which would otherwise be payable in respect of a married woman. Therefore, some increase in family income will follow.One of our aims in introducing noncontributory invalidity pension was to try to reduce reliance on means-tested benefits, such as supplementary benefit, for people not in employment this can only be done by providing a source of income which is not itself dependent on a means test, but which is nevertheless taken into account in assessing entitlement to supplementary benefit. Whether a family continues to be entitled to supplementary benefit, as with the overall family income, will depend on other circumstances, such as the amount of any rent, other income or capital, in the way laid down in legislation approved by Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for the housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension have been received from disabled married women; and how many disabled married women he expects will be receiving this new benefit on 17th November, the day on which payment starts.

Up to 1st November 1977, 42,000 claims had been received for the housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension (HNCIP). As my hon. Friend knows, from his detailed discussions with my Department before we introduced HNCIP, the benefit of £10.50 a week will become payable to disabled married women under 60 who are incapable both of their normal household duties and of work from 17th November. Payment orders may be cashed from 23rd November. We expect about 15,000 awards to have been made by 17th November, but some 3,000 beneficiaries may not have received order books by 23rd November. In addition, we are now dealing with a substantial number of claims. In these cases also, I regret that it will be impossible to provide an order book by 23rd November, should an award be made. I must emphasise that benefit will, of course, be awarded from 17th November for everyone who qualifies from that date. The delays are caused by a somewhat shorter take-on period than we originally planned; the timing and volume of claims; and the need in most cases to arrange a medical examination and report.The Pensioners Payment Bill, currently before Parliament, provides that the £10 Christmas bonus will be paid in addition to HNCIP for married women, for the week of 5th December, if not paid with some other benefit, such as attendance allowance. This may involve extra delay in the issue of new order books, but I hope that the majority of order books, special payments and arrears can be cleared by mid-January.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will ensure that all general practitioners are informed that it is illegal to make a charge for signing postal vote certificates for electoral purposes.

The terms of service for doctors in the National Health Service (General Medical and Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 1974 already make it clear that general practitioners should not charge their patients for signing such certificates if they are required on grounds of physical incapacity.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to increase the diagnosis and treatment of infection in pregnancy; and if he will make a statement.

Doctors are already aware of the need to identify and treat infections in pregnancy. The Memorandum on Maternal Care, issued to general practitioners, stresses the importance of taking a full medical history and of undertaking careful examinations. Specific tests for bacteriuria, syphilis and tuberculosis are recommended, and the memorandum points out the opportunity given by antenatal examination to take a cervical smear; this will enable vaginal infections not already diagnosed by examination to be identified. In addition, my Department recommends that all women of child-bearing age should be tested for rubella antibodies and that, if found to be susceptible to rubella, they should be vaccinated. This aims to protect women against rubella before they become pregnant but any woman found to be unprotected during her pregnancy would be vaccinated as soon as possible after it is over.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what trials of drugs which will delay birth are being undertaken in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement;(2) what trials are being undertaken in the United Kingdom of the value of cerclage operations or the use of a ring-pessary in the treatment of cervical incompetence; and if he will make a statement.

Research currently being supported by the Medical Research Council with funds transferred from my Department includes (i) a programme on the endocrine control of myometrial contractility with special reference to parturition and (ii) a project to study the effects on the foetus and its post-natal development of obstetric procedures with special reference to methods employed to induce or inhibit the onset of labour. My Department's Reproduction and Allied Services Research Liaison Group has endorsed the suggestion of the Working Party on Infant and Perinatal Mortality and Morbidity for (i) a clinical trial of the effectiveness of cervical suture in patients with a past history of midtrimester abortions or terminations of pregnancy (ii) hormone studies of plasma 17 beta cestradiol and progesterone in certain high-risk groups and (iii) a randomised, controlled multi-centre trial of the various commonly used and new myometrial depressants.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will mount a specific publicity campaign to encourage early reporting of pregnancy to a doctor; and if he will reconsider the introduction of payment of a special grant to women who do so, in line with French and Finnish practice.

We are deeply concerned about the 20 per cent. of women who fail to report their pregnancy by the sixteenth week. My right hon. Friend is holding a conference, full details of which he will announce later, in the spring of next year, to consider ways of improving the take-up of antenatal services. I outlined the reasons for my reservations about linking grants or benefits to clinic attendance in my reply to my hon. Friend on 28th June —[Vol. 934, c. 147–8]—and I still regard these as valid.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence is available of the response to the immunisation programme from children in the different socio-economic classes; and if he will make a statement.

The system of routine annual immunisation statistics does not identify children by socio-economic classes, and current information is not available from any study.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will establish a confidential inquiry into perinatal deaths following the use of induction or delaying drugs.

The first confidential inquiries into perinatal deaths are now taking place in Scotland, and we shall be studying them closely, to see what specific or general lessons we may learn from them. Any decision about such inquiries before then would be premature.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of children in the United Kingdom aged 1 to 4 years who have not received a measles vaccine or a complete series of oral polio vaccine.

The number of children in the United Kingdom aged 1 to 4 years, who have not received measles vaccine estimated on the data available at 31st December 1976 is 1,750,000.The number of children in this age group in Great Britain who have not received a complete series of oral polio vaccine is estimated to be 864,000.Similar information in respect of children in Northern Ireland is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the population of babies in the United Kingdom who were born after 40 or 41 weeks' gestation in each of the last five years; what action he is taking to reduce the causes of preterm birth; and if he will make a statement.

Since information about gestational age is not collected centrally, I regret that the figures requested are not available. Measures to reduce the chances of premature birth are a matter for the clinical judgment of the obstetrician in each case; but I have already indicated to my hon. Friend our interest in further research in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action his Department takes to ensure that individual health authorities discharge their responsibility for maintaining the statutory requirements and codes of good practice relating to food hygiene.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total sum granted to voluntary organisations in each of the years 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77; and what is the size of the grants budgeted for 1977–78, 1978–79 and 1979–80.

The total sums paid to voluntary organisations by the Welsh Office were as follows:

	£
1973–74	196,815
1974–75	409,497
1975–76	486,979
1976–77	511,084

Payments for 1977–78 are expected to be not less than those in 1976–77. Final decisions have not yet been taken for 1978–79 and 1979–80.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many qualified teachers are currently unemployed in Wales.

At the latest count, taken in September 1977, the number of qualified teachers unemployed in Wales was 946.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to expand the number of speech therapists in Wales.

While an expansion will be generally welcomed, the number of speech therapists employed is for area health authorities to decide within their own judgment of priorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now make a statement on his intentions about the continuation or otherwise of the raising of tolls on the A487 trunk road over the Cob at Porthmadog.

I cannot at present add to the answer given by my hon. Friend to the hon. Member on 4th July. —[Vol. 934, c. 430.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an assurance that the Milk Marketing Board will provide an artificial insemination service to all areas of England and Wales as long as the regulations in Statutory Instrument 1977 No. 1260 are in force.

The Board is licensed under the regulations to provide an inseminator service in an area covering most, but not all, of England and Wales. I am not aware of any intention by the Board to cease providing this service. but should it cease to do so in all or any part of its area a licence application from any other organisation would be considered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the Milk Marketing Board in England and Wales is subject to more restrictive controls than the Scottish Milk Marketing Board over do-it-yourself artificial insemination, for its own artificial insemination service to remain viable.

The controls over artificial insemination applicable in the area covered by the Milk Marketing Board differ from those applicable in the area covered by the Scottish Milk Marketing Board only in that amount of semen which may be stored in farm flasks in Scotland is more than is permitted in England and Wales. This reflects differing operating and geographical factors in the two areas. My right hon. Friend the Minister is considering a proposal by the National Farmers' Union and the National Cattle Breeders' Association that the Scottish limit should apply throughout Great Britain.

asked the Minister for Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he will direct the Milk Marketing Board, in its application of S.I., 1977, No. 1260, not to enforce a monopoly of the supply to farmers who undertake do-it-yourself artificial insemination of such products as paper towels, thermometers and protective gloves.

The regulations in question do not give the Board a monopoly of the supply of these products. and the Board is not in a position to enforce one.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many complaints he has received in the last year about alleged ill-treatment of animals being exported for food; how many of these have led to prosecution; and if he is generally satisfied that the Balfour regulations are being operated satisfactorily.

My right hon. Friend the Minister has received several hundred complaints in the past year, including 32 detailed reports mostly from the RSPCA Some of these reports are still being investigated, but so far none has provided evidence to justify prosecution. Because of continuing public concern, we are at present examining the more recent developments in this trade.The Balfour Assurances lapsed after 1973, when the export trade in live animals was suspended. The trade is now conducted in accordance with a motion passed by the House on 16th January 1975 permitting export of live food animals to be resumed, under strict veterinary control, within the EEC and to such other countries as could offer equivalent welfare safeguards.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he proposes to make an order under Section 8 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 to regulate the export of live food animals in the interest of their welfare; and if he will make a statement.

We had hoped to make this order within one year of the passing of the Act. But we are now engaged on the examination of the live animal export trade, which my right hon. Friend announced on 26th July, and we deem it necessary to delay consideration of the order until the outcome of the current review is known.