asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what rate of national insurance contributions employers and employees should pay from 6th April 1978 where an employer who had applied to contract out had not received his contracting out certificate by then.

I recently referred draft regulations to the Occupational Pensions Board allowing contracted-out rate contributions to be paid provisionally in certain circumstances pending receipt of a contracting-out certificate. I have now received the board's report, and the necessary provisions will be made and laid in the form of a commencement order within about a fortnight, together with the board's report.The effect of the order will be that, where an application to contract-out is sent to the board by 23rd March, 1978 and the employer asks for the contracting-out certificate to take effect from 6th April, 1978 but has not received a certificate by the latter date, the contracted-out rate of contribution should be paid provisionally from that date. Details of the new provisions, including the length of time for which the lower contribution can continue to be paid, will be set out in the order and will, I understand, be described in a memorandum which the board intends to issue to pension practitioners as soon as possible. They will also be described in a departmental leaflet (NP 37) which will become available during January.The regulations as referred to the board proposed a deadline of 14th March with power to extend this to a later date. The board says in its report, however, that it is anxious to reduce to a minimum the uncertainty which already surrounds the timetable leading up to 6th April 1978, and therefore recommends a firm and unalterable deadline. It suggests making it 23rd March 1978. The slightly later date would help more employers and would effectively set the deadline at the beginning of the Easter holiday period. I readily accept this recommendation. It will mean that there can be no question of any further extension of the deadline and I earnestly hope that employers and their pension advisers will strive to get their applications in well before that date.As employers intending to contract out are required to give three months' notice of their intention to the employees concerned, to their recognised independent trade unions and to certain other people, the deadline means that, where employers and employees want to pay the lower, contracted-out, rate of contributions from 6th April 1978, the notice of intention, if it has not yet been given, should be given at the very latest in the week before Christmas of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in the light of the concern felt by the 17,000 ambulance men over their low wage rates and poor conditions of work, what action he intends to take to deal with these problems to avoid industrial action being taken.

The pay and conditions of service of ambulance men are determined by the ambulance men's Whitley Council. The Council has received formal notice that a claim for improvements in the nationally negotiated rates will be tabled shortly. I am sure that the Council will deal with this and with any matters raised affecting conditions of service as expeditiously as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list in the Official Report those regional health authorities and area health authorities which have provided specific funding for kidney research in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Local research in England is organised by regional health authorities and by the London postgraduate teaching hospitals. Each of these authorities has its own research committee on whose advice projects are approved. The following table indicates (^*) the health authorities which supported proposals concerned with kidney research during the last three financial years:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether mentally handicapped persons, adults or children, are dealt with in all respects as physically handicapped persons; if they are differentiated in any way; what are the differences; and what are the reasons for such differentiation.

It would not be appropriate for mentally handicapped people to be provided with identical services to those for physically handicapped people as their needs differ. My concern is that the needs of all handicapped people, whatever their handicap, are met in the most appropriate way. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, I would be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he considers the provision of facilities for dental treatment in the Tarporley area to be adequate; and if he will make a statement.

In Tarporley itself there are no dentists providing National Health Service general dental services but services are available in such places as Chester, Nantwich, Crewe, Winsford and Northwich. In the area of the Cheshire family practitioner committee as a whole, the ratio of dentists to population is only slightly less than the national average. Additionally community dental services are provided in the health centre in Tarporley for patients in the school and priority classes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is able to estimate the cost of social security payments in Scotland as a result of unemployment reaching and staying above the figure of 100,000.

The latest available six months expenditure on payments of unemployment benefit and supplementary allowances to the unemployed in Scotland (February to July 1977) is £73·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to make it compulsory for all travel agencies to issue E111 forms to all individuals or parties intending to travel abroad; and if he will make a statement.

Form E111 is an EEC form which certifies that the holder is covered by the EEC social security regulations and is entitled to medical treatment when staying in another EEC country under the same terms as that country's insured nationals. Not all persons are entitled to form E111and only designated health and social security authorities are in a position to provide this certificate.Travel agencies have been advised, through the Association of British Travel Agents, how to obtain stocks of DHSS leaflet SA28 for issue to travellers to EEC countries. The leaflet explains the arrangements for medical treatment for these visitors and incorporates the application for form E111.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the much lower take-up of mobility allowance by children than expected, he will now seek to amend the Social Security Act 1975 to reduce the age limit to 2 years, the same as for the attendance allowance and if he will make a statement.

The possibility of extending the scope of mobility allowance to children aged 2 to 5 is one of the many competing claims for inclusion which we will consider when resources permit. We keep the scheme under constant review and will build upon what has already been achieved as soon as we can.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why it is not possible for mobility allowance to be payable by Girocheque as is the practice with unemployment and supplementary benefits; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North (Mr. Fletcher) on 22nd November.—[Vol. 939, c. 1294.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will reconsider his policy on special epilepsy hospitals, in the light of the recent statement by the British Epilepsy Association;(2) if it remains his policy to phase out specialist epilepsy hospitals and to disperse patients to more general care hospitals.

People with epilepsy have access to specialist health services, when these are needed. In a proportion of cases special hospital provision for assessment, treatment and rehabilitation may be required. Three special centres for this purpose are currently being evaluated as part of a wider research project on the care of people with epilepsy. The first results are expected next year. My Department's current policy for the care of the very small number of people with epilepsy who may require a more sheltered environment remains that set out in the Read Report, "People with Epilepsy" 1969.In considering the further development of services for people with epilepsy in the light of the research study report, I shall take account of other evidence and representations made, including those of the British Epilepsy Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the fact that the Mexborough Montagu Hospital serves a large area consisting of several large pits and other heavy industrial plants, if he will take urgent action to ensure that the casualty department, which has recently been closed, is kept open on a 24-hour daily service.

I refer my hon. Friend to my predecessor's reply to him on 27th January 1976. The casualty department closed on 20th November because of a shortage of medical staff. Rotherham AHA is trying urgently to recruit replacement medical staff in order to reopen the casualty department as soon as possible. [Vol. 904 c. 173–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk North, Official Report, 15th November 1977, columns 124–5, if he will give a breakdown of the figures, and show net weekly spending power, using the same assumptions, of a single mother from earnings of £30, £35, £40, £45, £50, £55 and £60.

I shall be writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many kidney machines have been purchased by his Department during the year 1977; and how many of those purchased were manufactured (a) in Great Britain and (b) abroad.

During the year 1977 my Department has so far purchased 279 kidney machines all of which were manufactured in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many manufacturers of kidney machines in the United Kingdom have supplied machines to his Department under contract during the present year.

Two.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the original, full pre-construction and construction schedule for the nucleus hospital at Woodside in Newham; if work started last month; and if he will publish the revised programme.

The hope expressed when the start was authorised in August 1975 was for completion of the first phase by the end of 1979.Following preliminary work the North East Thames Regional Health Authority appointed design consultants in autumn 1976 and estimates made then were for major precontract site works to start in mid 1977 with the main contract following in 1978.This is the first nucleus hospital to use my Departments' standardised designs and problems have taken longer to resolve than expected. The current programme is for precontract piling, roads and drains to be completed in 1978 with a start on the main contract in the first quarter of 1979. This would enable the hospital to accept patients before the end of 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on Friern Hospital consequent upon a report to the regional health authority about conditions at the hospital.

At its meeting yesterday the North East Thames RHA considered the report of the Friern Hospital of its appointed monitoring team and has issued a statement setting out its position.In its statement the authority makes it clear that it cannot confirm the allegations made in the report of unlawful practice in relation to informal patients at Friern Hospital. It also places on record its complete confidence in the professional integrity and skills of the consultant and other staff at the hospital.I welcome this statement and agree with it. Friern Hospital has reason to be proud of its many outstanding achievements. I very much regret and deplore that its dedicated and highly competent staff should have been exposed to much speculation, comment and unjustifiable allegations in the media as a result of unauthorised disclosure of parts of the report even before the authority have reached any conclusions on the matter. I have every sympathy for the difficult position in which they have been placed and trust that this will now be ended.There are a number of issues raised in the report including the organisation of the hospital, the use of day hospitals, the development of services for the elderly severe mentally infirm and rehabilitation therapy services which the regional health authority has, quite properly, referred to the Camden and Islington AHA for further study. Again I welcome this approach.The Government are currently reviewing the Mental Health Act and are well aware of the genuine doubts expressed in a number of quarters as to the extent to which the provisions of the Act bear upon the care and treatment of informal patients. I shall be pleased to consider in the context of that review any observations which the North East Thames RHA or any other RHA may decide to refer to me arising from the practice followed at hospitals in its region.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that local authorities are sufficiently assiduous in drawing possible entitlement to benefits to the attention of persons with whom they are in contact, in particular with those attending day centres; if he will encourage them to mount specific attempts to increase take-up in the light of the increase in benefits payable where this has been done; and if he will make a statement.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th November 1977; Vol. 939, c. 893–4], gave the following information:The responsibility for information about social security benefits rests with my Department and thus the primary source of advice will normally be an individual's local social security office. In addition, my Department provides information by means of a wide range of leaflets, posters, specialist articles, Press advertisements, Press releases, radio, TV advertisements, exhibitions and corres- pondence, as well as arranging for speakers and interviews. As I know my hon. Friend appreciates, I am constantly seeking other ways in which information supplied by my Department can be improved and made more effective.Local authorities also make a contribution in providing information and advice about benefits to disabled people, including their rights under the Chronically Sick and. Disabled Persons Act, and make use of my Department's publications or draw on them to produce their own information material.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to recruit village postmasters, ministers of religion and other suitable people as part-time registrars in rural areas in order to spare bereaved relatives long journeys at times of great personal distress and difficulty.

No steps need to be taken. Except for certain people, including ministers of religion, anybody may become a part-time registrar. The county councils responsible for registration arrangements in rural areas, operating within the statutory restrictions designed to prevent irregular registrations, generally arrange for a registrar's geographical area of responsibility to be large enough to provide the experience necessary to deal with the technicalities of the job. Special facilities are usually available for anybody who has real difficulty in getting to a registrar's office.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the works under construction or still outstanding or in preparation on the A38 dual carriageway between Birmingham and the M1 at Alfreton, including local flyovers and proposed crash barrier installations and the estimated date of completion of each.

The following works are under construction:

Streethay to Streeton—central reserve safety barriers (completion date, January 1978);

Branston Service Road (completion date, December 1977);

Barton Turn Interchange (completion date, January 1978—already in use);

Minor Improvements, Ashbourne Road Island (completion date, January 1978); and

Safety fence extension near Findern (completion date, December 1977).

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will bring forward proposals to permit all students attending full-time courses and not in receipt of wages to obtain travel permits for half fare even when they have attained the age of 14, 15 or 16 years as the case may be.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the repy I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts) on 25th November 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many officially approved tachograph calibration stations have so far been set up in the United Kingdom; where they are located; and what is the ultimate number of such calibration stations which the Department intends to establish.

38 calibration centres had been approved by 25th November. They are located as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles have so far been fitted with officially calibrated tachographs; and what is the total number of vehicles which will require to be so fitted after 1st January 1978 when the EEC regulation will apply generally to all the stock of goods vehicles over three and a half tons weight.

Approximately 565,000 United Kingdom vehicles are within the scope of Regulation (EEC) No. 1463/70. I regret that information on the number of vehicles in which the tachograph has been calibrated and sealed at a Government-approved calibration centre is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will submit to the EEC a proposal for Community Funds to be made available to construct an additional Tyne Tunnel so as to prevent the present delays occurring at the existing tunnel during peak periods.

The Tyne Tunnel is the responsibility of Tyne and Wear County Council and I am not aware of any proposal to construct a second tunnel.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will carry out a nationwide survey into persistent maintenance problems on motorways; what action he is taking to reduce the burden of motorway maintenance; and if he will make a statement.

The motorways are under constant surveillance. Necessary works are carried out in the most cost effective way, and every effort is made to keep delays and disruptions to a minimum.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the most recent figures for the average daily traffic flows on the M69, Coventry-Leicester, motorway since it was opened in July; and what is the current design capacity of the road.

Traffic counts were taken between 21st–30th October; the average number of vehicles per day was 17,000. The motorway was designed for a traffic range of 45,000–72,000 vehicles per day by 1992.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will prevent the transport of dangerous chemicals by road for the duration of the firemen's strike.

There is no evidence that the degree of risk involved could justify the severe disruption of industry and commerce which such a ban would cause.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the representations he has received since his announcement that the line of the Kirkhamgate to Dishforth M1 extension was to pass to the east of Leeds, and the sentiments expressed.

Representations have been received as follows:In favour of the route east of Leeds:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the report of the inquiry into the compulsory purchase orders for the Water Orton section of the M42 held in June 1976, along with his interim observations, as was done with the same inspector's report into the A12 Chelmsford bypass in July 1976.

The inspector's report will be publish when I make my promised announcement on this scheme early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of (a) prisoners and (b) young prisoners are estimated to be illiterate; what percentage has reading ages below 8 years, and what percentage below 10 years; and if all these prisoners have access to remedial education classes.

There is no precise definition of what constitutes an illiterate. In the assessment of reading ability, variations occur according to the particular test used. In a sampled population of prisoners 3 per cent. were assessed as being unable to read; 8·1 per cent. as having a reading age of less than 8 years; and 15·4 per cent. as having a reading age of less than 10 years. For young prisoners the figures were 3·5 per cent., 7·6 per cent. and 20·6 per cent. respectively. All these prisoners have access to remedial education classes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to announce the number of mentally ill people held in imprisonment; and what steps are being taken to transfer them to hospital.

I can confirm that there are, in the opinion of prison medical officers, some hundreds of people in prison suffering from mental disorder whose condition warrants detention in hospital for medical treatment, including a substantial number suffering from mental illness. I am not yet ready to offer a more precise estimate. The transfer of a prisoner to a hospital for treatment under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1959 is in practice authorised only with the agreement of the hospital authorities and difficulties can, therefore, arise where the hospital staff consider that they are unable to offer treatment or do not have appropriate facilities. In a number of cases because such difficulties have been foreseen the prison authorities have judged it not worth while to seek a place. Discussions are taking place with the Department of Health and Social Security to explore what can be done to improve the position, but the problem is a difficult one.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, as a means of resolving the firemen's dispute, he will suggest paying a tax-free attendance allowance such as is paid to members of the House of Lords, but only at 50 per cent. of that received by peers.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on incidents where firemen have during the period of their strike given aid and support in any way in saving life, property and releasing persons involved in accidents.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will attempt to resolve the firemen's industrial dispute by advising the offer of the same wages and conditions as apply to the Ford fire fighting forces; and what actual percentage

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the committee, under Lord Edmund-Davies, into the pay and conditions of the police;

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions are currently proceeding between the Fire Brigades Union, the National Joint Council and his Department; and whether any such discussions are official or unofficial.

On the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades the two Sides consist of the employers, representing the fire authorities and, so far as pay of the lower ranks of the fire service is concerned, the Fire Brigades Union representing the employees. The last formal meetings which I had with the two Sides of the Council was on 18th November, but I have remained in regular touch with the Joint Secretaries of the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what has been the net increase or decrease in the number of policemen serving in the Cheshire Constabulary in each of the past five years;(2) what has been the manning level of the Cheshire Constabulary as a percentage of establishment at the beginning of each of the past five years.

The figures are as follows:if he will undertake to publish the report in full; and if he will make a statement.

The committee will be examining negotiating machinery and the rôle and constitution of the police representative bodies as well as pay. How and when the committee reports must be for it to decide, but I expect it to report on police pay without waiting to complete its study of all aspects of its terms of reference. I will consider the form of publication when the committee reports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of charges of bribery and corruption in the police force made in the book "The Fall of Scotland Yard", he will move to appoint a Select Committee to investigate all aspects of this matter.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will name the institutions normally used for children detained under Section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.

Children and young persons ordered to be detained under Section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 may be held wherever the Secretary of State directs, but for the younger age group allocation is usually to a local authority community home or a youth treatment centre, while older detainees are likely to go to a borstal or a young prisoner centre; occasionally a hospital placement is necessary. Those sentenced to longer periods of detention are likely to be moved to a different type of establishment as they mature.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what advice he has given to chief constables of police about the need to control expenditure in the light of the costs of policing public marches in urban areas.

None. Arrangements for the policing of public marches and demonstrations are operational matters for chief officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the fact that the practice of local authorities in implementing sections of the Shops Act relating to Sunday trading varies so considerably and causes unfair competition, he will issue a circular on the desirability of uniformity of practice.

The Shops Act 1950 provides local authorities with certain discretionary powers—in regard, for example, to the opening of shops on Sundays at holiday resorts—which need not be exercised uniformly. In August 1974 the Home Office sent a circular to district councils reminding them of their responsibility for enforcing the Act, and we see no need for a further circular at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a junior attendance centre for girls in the Greater London area on an experimental basis.

I am considering whether attendance centres might be suitable for young girl offenders, but I cannot yet say whether experimental centres will be established or, if so, where they would be located.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy with regard to the proposals contained in the Report of the Wolfenden Committee on "The Future of Voluntary Organisations"; and if he will make a statement.

The Government appreciate the work that has gone into this report, produced by a committee set up by the Joseph Rowntree Memorial Trust and the Carnegie United Kingdom Foundation, and will give it the most careful consideration, together with any representations on it which may be received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a complete list of the legislation under which firemen carry out fire prevention and precautions duties.

The Fire Services Act 1947 and the Fire Precautions Act 1971 impose specific responsibilities on fire authorities which are undertaken by members of fire brigades. In addition the following public statutes impose requirements in respect of which members of fire brigades may be called upon to give advice relating to fire prevention and precautions. The list excludes legislation applying only to Scotland.

• Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963
• Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963
• Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960
• Children Act 1948
• Cinematograph Acts 1909 and 1952
• Consumer Protection Act 1961
• Education Act 1944
• Explosives Acts 1875 and 1923
• Gaming Act 1968
• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• Home Counties (Music and Dancing) Licensing Act 1926
• Housing Acts 1961 and 1969
• Licensing Act 1964
• Mental Health Act 1959
• National Assistance Act 1948
• Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act 1948
• Nursing Homes Act 1975
• Pet Animals Act 1951
• Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928
• Private Places of Entertainment (Licensing) Act 1967
• Public Health Act 1936
• Public Health Acts (Amendment) Act 1890
• Riding Establishments Act 1964
• Theatres Act 1968
• Town and Country Planning Act 1971

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking with regard to Commonwealth citizens and citizens of Pakistan who gained entry to the United Kingdom before 1973 by employing deception and whom the courts have declared to be illegal immigrants.

On 11th April 1974 my predecessor informed the House that he would not exercise powers, conferred on the Home Secretary under the Immigration Act 1971, to remove a limited class of Commonwealth citizens and citizens of Pakistan—that is, only those who entered this country in breach of the immigration laws before 1st January 1973—because the provision of the Act putting them in jeopardy was retrospective.At that time and until recently it was generally thought that the administrative power to remove an illegal entrant was confined to those who avoided going through the immigration control. Recent court judgments have declared that illegal entrants also include those who gained admission through the control but by deception of various kinds. This has always been a criminal offence, carrying with it liability to deportation on the recommendation of the court—but not, it was hitherto thought, removal under administrative powers.I strongly condemn illegal entry; it is both an offence under our law, and a threat to harmonious community relations. I do not shrink from firm action to deal with it, and it will remain the Government's normal practice to send away those who entered in this way on or after 1st January 1973. But I have decided, after taking account of the fact that, of the persons affected by the recent judgments, those at risk from the retrospective power will have been here for a minimum of nearly five years and that they may now be at risk of blackmail and coercion, to extend to them the opportunity offered by my predecessor to come forward and apply to the Home Office to have their position regularised. This offer will be widely publicised; but it cannot remain open indefinitely, and I have decided that the final date for considering applications, both under this announcement and that of my predecessor, will be 31st December 1978.Following are fuller details of my decision:The power to remove illegal entrants contained in the Immigration Act 1971 will not be used to send away Commonwealth citizens and citizens of Pakistan who entered the United Kingdom illegally before 1st January 1973, provided that the necessary conditions, set out below, are met. A person is an illegal entrant if he evaded the immigration control altogether. The courts have recently declared that he is also an illegal entrant if he gained entry by deceiving the immigration authorities about his identity or entitlement to enter. This applies not only where he carried out the deception himself, but also where it was carried out by someone on his behalf, whether or not he knew of the deception.Examples of entry by deception are the use of a forged or fraudulently obtained passport; claiming falsely to be a dependant of someone lawfully settled here; claiming falsely to have previously been lawfully settled in the United Kingdom; and withholding from the immigration officer facts which are material to a person's entitlement under the immigration laws.Any leave of entry, whether for a limited or an indefinite period, obtained by deception of the immigration officer is nullified by the deception. So presumably is any consequent grant of settlement, or limited leave, by the Secretary of State without knowledge of the deception.The decision covered by the announcement applies to all Commonwealth citizens and citizens of Pakistan who last entered illegally before 1st January 1973, whether by avoiding the immigration control or by deceiving the immigration authorities, subject to the following exceptions. Seamen deserters, stowaways and those who entered the United Kingdom while the subject of deportation orders cannot benefit, whatever their date of entry. Nor can foreign nationals other than citizens of Pakistan, nor can anyone, of any nationality, who last entered illegally on or after 1st January 1973, or who overstayed after entering the country lawfully. Those who entered the country illegally before 1st January 1973 but have since left it voluntarily, without having first successfully applied under the terms of this announcement or of the previous Home Secretary's announcement of 11th April 1974, do not qualify. People who do not stand to benefit under this announcement and who come to notice as having entered illegally will normally be removed from the United Kingdom, unless there are very substantial reasons—usually of a compassionate nature—for not doing so. Such cases will be considered individually on the merits of their circumstances.Any Commonwealth citizen or citizen of Pakistan who qualifies to benefit under the terms of the announcement should apply to the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Department or to the nearest Immigration Office. An applicant will have to show that the claimed facts of his entry are true and will be required to produce any relevant documentary evidence in his possession. Subject to this, an applicant will be given permission to remain in the United Kingdom indefinitely.If someone who has had his position regularised under the terms of this announcement has dependants overseas, those dependants, such as a wife or husband, or children under 18, may, if they qualify under the normal immigration rules, then apply for an entry clearance to the entry certificate officer at the appropriate British diplomatic post in their country, to enable them to join their sponsor.Anyone who believes that he qualifies to apply for his position to be regularised under the terms of this announcement must do so before the end of 1978. Applications received on or after 1st January 1979 will not qualify. However, illegal entrants who would have qualified had they applied in time will be dealt with on the individual merits of their circumstances at the time, and will only be removed from the United Kingdom on the personal authority of a Minister.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had concerning the effects of the recent International Sugar Agreement on sugar producers of the ACP Associated States of the EEC.

My right hon. Friend has had no such consultations. During the UN Sugar Conference at which the new International Sugar Agreement was negotiated consultations were held between the Community delegation and those of the ACP sugar-producing States.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from farmers concerning the effects of capital transfer tax.

They have registered their appreciation of the additional capital transfer tax relief recently proposed by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer but have also expressed concern about the effect of the tax on farm structure and investment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many abattoirs in England and Wales meet EEC standards; and if he will list them;(2) how much spare capacity there is at abattoirs which meet EEC standards.

51 abattoirs in England and Wales are currently approved to export fresh meat to other EEC countries. These slaughterhouses serve the domestic as well as the export market. I cannot say to what extent there is currently spare capacity.The list of EEC approved abattoirs is as follows:Rowlands (Food Providers) Ltd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now review the three-month moratorium in the payment of grants under capital grant schemes.

As my hon. Friend told the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 10th November 1977—[Vol. 938, c. 196]—the arrangements for the three-month deferral of payment of grants under the capital grant schemes cannot be abandoned for the time being.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received from the shire counties on the subject of the rate support grant.

In the period proceeding the 1978–79 settlement my Department has received a large number of repre-

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the report of the After Six project monitoring the effects of the Rent Act 1974 will be published; and if he will make a statement.

In 1975 the Department commissioned a small research project from the "After Six Housing Advisory Service Trust Limited" to investigate some effects of the Rent Act 1974 in Greater London. Following changes in the organisation of "After Six" the project was later transferred to and completed by the Consultancy Services

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing average local authority domestic rates as a percentage of average male manual earnings in 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and 1977.

The following table sets out the available information. Separate figures of domestic rates paid by manual workers are not available and it would be misleading to attach any significance to the percentage which average total domestic rate payments bear to average manual earnings. However, the changes in the two series, shown as indices, show in broad terms the extent to which domestic rates have risen at a different rate than manual earnings.Organisation of the Middlesex Polytechnic. The report of the project, "Some Effects of the 1974 Rent Act in London" was published today by the Middlesex Polytechnic and submitted to the Department. I am placing a copy in the Library.The project analysed applications for possession orders made by resident and non-resident landlords of furnished accommodation before and after the passing of the Rent Act 1974 and advertisements for furnished lettings in

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total promised by the building societies to local authority nominees for mortgages in the second scheme; and how much has actually been provided on mortgages since this second scheme began.

£157 million has been made available by the building societies for lending to local authority nominees in England in 1977–78. In the first half year advances amounting to £51·25

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on Lord Porchester's Report, "A Study of Exmoor".

As the House was informed on 6th April last, my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food appointed Lord Porchester to undertake a study of changes in the moorland areas of the Exmoor National Park, because they felt that the exceptional character of the moor as a national heritage and the need to balance and safeguard the various interests concerned called for special and immediate study.My right hon. Friends are greatly indebted to Lord Porchester for the fair and expeditious way in which he has conducted the survey and prepared his report. This is being published today and copies are available in the Library.The report establishes that since 1947 the total area of moorland in the national park has been reduced by some 12,000 acres. Within the critical amenity area defined in 1968, 40,000 acres of moorland remain of which some two-thirds is either common grazings or publicly owned or unsuitable for agricultural improvement. Lord Porchester expects that farmers may wish to convert more of the privately owned improvable land but cannot predict the timing or extent of this.Since the critical amenity area was defined and a voluntary notification procedure was introduced with the co-operation of the National Farmers' Union and the Country Landowners Association, the rate of conversion within the critical amenity area has averaged 100 to 150 acres a year.Lord Porchester's comprehensive and thoughtful recommendations in relation to the remaining moorland will now need careful consideration by Ministers and I am sure by others to whom they are addressed. Among the matters that Ministers will need to consider in consultation with the interests affected are whether the report has a bearing on any other national park, what precise legislation would be required to implement it and the financial implications of the recommendations.My right hon. Friends intend to treat this as a matter of urgency and hope to reach decisions on the report early in the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will compare the net value of the recent wage increase of 13 per cent. to a farm worker earning the basic rate, assuming he has a wife and two children and is paying rent of £6 per week and rates of £2 per week, with the net value of the 14 per cent. increase in benefit of a man when unemployed, assuming he has similar circumstances, after allowing for tax and national insurance deductions and any welfare payments to which they are entitled and taking account of the fact that the farm worker is already paying tax.

The matters raised would be ones for detailed reply by my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Social Services. I understand, however, that the Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales has not yet made an award and no valid comparison can therefore be made at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of registered disabled in the unemployment figures; and how this compares with the figure five years ago.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that only registered disabled people in Section 1 of the unemployed register—i.e. those who are capable of open employment as distinct from those in Section II who are considered capable of employment only under sheltered conditions—are included in the general unemployment figures. On 13th October 1977, the latest date on which information is available, Section I of the unemployed register comprised 63,908 registered disabled people who represented 4·4 per cent. of all unemployed people in Great Britain. Comparable figures for October 1972 were 73,588 unemployed registered disabled people and 9·3 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the operating subsidy to all places of sheltered employment and to those run by Remploy, local authorities, and volun-

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he is taking to maximise the abilities of employees in sheltered workshops by the provision of modern technology; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Employment Service Agency encourages workshops to develop modern processes and techniques, and provides financial support. Final decisions on such changes however, rest with workshop management. A balance is required between increasing capital per employee and maintaining the number of severely disabled people who can be employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the Manpower Services Commission has concluded its consideration of the specific proposals arising out of its review of the fares to work scheme for disabled people which it was stated in reply to the hon. Member for Eccles on 19th July had been completed; when a decision

Following is the available information:Discussions are proceeding on proposals to improve workshops' access to public sector work, and to provide support for new types of production that would be involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the capital grants to all places of sheltered employment and to those run by Remploy, local authorities, and voluntary organisations, respectively, in each of the years 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, and the estimates for 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80; and if he will make a statement.

The capital grants paid from Government funds to all places of sheltered employment are:will be reached; and if he will make a statement.