asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the review of the fixed rate sterling export and shipbuilding credit scheme.

Under an agreement with the Government the clearing banks make finance available at fixed rates of interest for exports sold on credit terms of two years or more and which are guaranteed by the Export Credits Guarantee Department. Since 1972 ECGD has operated a scheme under which it refinances a proportion of such lending which is determined in relation to the banks' deposit base, and also guarantees the banks a commercial rate of return on their unrefinanced lending. Fixed rate finance is also provided for home shipbuilding sales under a parallel scheme administered by the Department of Industry.The agreement with the clearing banks was last reviewed in 1974 and fell to be reviewed again this year. The Government's objective has been to reduce public expenditure on refinancing which had increased substantially over recent years. Renegotiations with the clearing banks have now been successfully concluded.The clearing banks have agreed to increase further during the rest of this financial year their own unrefinanced contribution to the existing scheme. A new scheme will be introduced on 1st April 1978. Under this scheme the banks will carry substantially more of the lending on their own books without refinancing. Government expenditure on refinancing will be reduced in consequence. The effect will be shown in the White Paper on Public Expenditure to be published next month.Under the new scheme, eligibility both to arrange lending syndicates and to provide finance will, subject to ECGD's customary underwriting discretion, be open to all banks which are authorised by the Bank of England under the Exchange Control Act 1947 and are registered as companies in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a statement on the progress that is being made towards harmonisation of the export credit guarantee and export credit insurance systems of the member States of the EEC.

The harmonisation of export credit facilities has been the subject of continuing discussions within the Community for some years. The Commission has recently tabled new proposals for harmonising certain principles of export credit insurance. These proposals have yet to be examined in detail within the Community, and the work involved is likely to continue for some time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he can now announce the results of the studies which have been carried out on the question of cover for the risks incurred by United Kingdom contractors arising from joint and several liability in very large overseas projects.

My predecessor announced on 18th December 1975 a facility whereby ECGD would insure the risk of losses arising in these contracts from the insolvency of a sub-contractor or consortium partner. Experience has, however, shown that this criterion of insolvency is too narrow to meet all situations where overseas buyers require suppliers to be jointly and severally liable for excess costs.Accordingly, for an experimental period of three years and on a selective basis, ECGD is now prepared to extend its facility, on payment of appropriate premium, so as to insure United Kingdom exporters against a proportion of such losses which may arise in a situation falling short of the actual insolvency of a United Kingdom subcontractor or consortium partner, though excluding causes of loss which should properly be the subject of

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list in the Official Report the quantities of benzidine azo dyes imported into Great Britain in each year from 1965 to 1975, giving the countries of origin, the names or colour indices of the principal dyes and the main purposes for which the dyes were used.

This information is not available from the overseas trade statistics, which do not separately identify benzidine azo dyes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what, in each of the last five years, were the total imports by volume and value of (a) finished coated board and (b) coated board in reel form from countries outside of the EEC and EFTA, listed by name; and what were comparable imports from the EEC and EFTA countries within and in excess of quota arrangements.

The overseas trade statistics do not distinguish between finished and unfinished paperboard or, with one exception, between reels and sheets. They also identify only a few kinds of coated paperboard. The extent of the available information is indicated under SITC(R) item 641.95 in the Guide to the Classification for Overseas Trade Statistics, copies of which are held in the House of Commons Library.If my hon. Friend would care to indicate which of these import headings are of interest to him I should be pleased to say how they relate to any quota arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to publish the White Paper on Airport Strategy; and what representations he has received in respect of it.

My right hon. Friend hopes to publish the White Paper early in 1978. Representations on the airport strategy consultation document were received from many of the 1,000 organisations and individuals which were invited to comment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether the credit to be granted for the Anglo-Polish shipping deal is under Section 1 or Section 2 of the Export Guarantees Act 1975.

I refer to my answer to the hon. Member for St. Ives (Mr. Nott) on 12th December 1977.—[Vol. 941, c. 2324]. The approval given in principle by ECGD for the Anglo-Polish shipping deal is in fact in respect of cover under Section 2 of the Export Guarantees Act 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how much financial assistance has been given to industry in the form of international trade support in 1976–77.

The best measure of this assistance is expenditure by the British Overseas Trade Board and the Export Credits Guarantee Department. In 1976–77 direct expenditure on export promotion by the British Overseas Trade Board amounted to £15,166,969, net of receipts. Net expenditure by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in support of export business amounted to £472,406,068.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Tarporley.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list the trade union leaders whom he has invited to No. 10 Downing Street to discuss industrial disputes in which their members are involved.

No. It is not the usual practice to list past engagements.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 10th November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Thursday 15th December 1977.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements on Thursday 15th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 15th December 1977.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 15th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state his public engagements for 15th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 15th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 15th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 15th December.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state his official engagements for 15th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 15th December.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 15th December.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be holding further meetings with ministerial colleagues and others.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Scotland.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has responsibilities in Scotland for agriculture, fisheries and forestry; economic development; local government, housing, planning, roads and transport; education and social work; health services and home affairs.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Leominster.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with the other EEC Heads of Government.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on 7th December.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Arnold) on 8th November.

asked the Prime Minister when next he intends to meet the Chairman of the European Commission.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sowerby (Mr. Madden) on 13th December.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the heads of nationalised industries.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on 17th November.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government have yet reached a decision about the pay of nationalised industry board chairmen and members; and whether he will make a statement.

The Government have given careful consideration to the difficult question of the pay of nationalised industry board chairmen and members. The recommendations of the Review Body on Top Salaries for salary levels at 1st January 1975, on which the Government deferred a decision in the wider national interest, were for increases of the order of 30 per cent. on average, and considerably more for some individuals. Substantial absolute sums were involved. Inevitably, therefore, the salaries of this group are at present significantly out of line with their counterparts elsewhere.But, in deciding how far they can go, the Government must have regard to the measures which are still being taken in the national interest to control inflation and which continue to demand very considerable restraint from all sections of the community. The Government therefore have to consider not only what scope there is within the current pay guidelines, but also how the absolute sums involved relate to what the community as a whole is being asked to bear.The Government have concluded that at the present time a general increase of 5 per cent. with effect from 1st January 1978 is the most that can be allowed but that up to 10 per cent. should be paid to the less-well-paid members of the group tapered so as to ensure that the lower percentage applies at salaries above £13,000 a year.The Government recognise that this will still leave nationalised industry board members significantly out of line with their counterparts elsewhere. They will wish to look again at the way forward when the Review Body on Top Salaries makes its recommendations for April 1978.

asked the Prime Minister if, pursuant to his statement that some firms in the private sector are giving way in negotiating pay deals outside the Government's guidelines—Official Report, 22nd November 1977, column 1312—he will publish the evidence; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Chertsey and Walton (Mr. Pattie) on 12th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Secretaries of State for Industry and Employment in the matter of future employment problems in areas depending on the steel industry.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Worthing.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence concerning the provision of emergency fire-fighting services.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the longstanding rule that Cabinet secrets should not be publicly disclosed for 30 years, he will arrange for all Cabinet Ministers to be included in this restriction so far as their writings and memoirs are concerned and that they should not write on any matters connected with their ministerial appointments until after 30 years of holding office.

My right hon. Friend the Member for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson) announced on 22nd January 1976 the Government's acceptance in full of the recommendations of 308the report of the Committee of Privy Counsellors on Ministerial Memoirs (Cmnd. 6386). Former Ministers are thus expected to conform to the principles and procedures set out in the report.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his talks with Prime Minister Begin of Israel.

I refer my hon. Friend to my statement of 7th December and the subsequent exchanges.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit Canberra.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with co-ordination between the Department of the Environment and the Department of Transport in connection with the commercial use of inland waterways.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest figures relating to the employment of registered disabled people in the public sector.

Figures for public sector employees were published in the November edition of the Department of Employment Gazette. The figures, which show a further decline in the proportion satisfying quota, give continued cause for concern. It is only right for me to emphasise, however, that they relate only to those disabled employees who have registered. Registration is voluntary and we know that there are many disabled people in employment who have not registered or who are registered and prefer not to disclose the fact. This point has been made by chairmen of nationalised industries and public boards in their reply to requests last December to review their policies towards employing disabled people. In some instances they have suggested that if all disabled people in their employment registered they could have satisfied quotas. At the same time they have assured me that they would do their utmost to increase the numbers of disabled people in their employment.Other initiatives have also been taken. The Civil Service Department issued last December a code of practice on the employment of disabled people to all Government Departments and each Department has appointed a disabled persons liaison officer. Both the Department of Health and Social Security and the National Joint Advisory Council of the electricity supply industry subsequently issued similar guidance to health authorities and regional electricity boards respectively. In addition, last April I asked the chairmen of over 200 disablement advisory committees to consider what further advice their committees can give to stimulate the employment of disabled people in their areas. Disablement resettlement officers of the ESA have been active in discussing this question with public sector employers. Nationally, the ESA, together with the Civil Service Department and the Civil Service Commission, are continuing to explore the question of recruitment and career development of disabled people in Departments generally.As to enforcement of the quota scheme, the ESA, in setting up its programme of quota inspections for 1977–78, will be concentrating to a greater extent on employers in both the private and public sectors whose observance of the quota is apparently unsatisfactory.The House will also want to know that wider initiatives have also been taken by the Manpower Services Commission. Following the issue by the Commission of the guide to employers entitled "Positive Policies" in May 1977, disablement resettlement officers are continuing a long-term programme of visits to employers to encourage implementation of its guidelines. Furthermore, the Commission has also recently drawn up a development programme for its employ- ment and training services for disabled people over the next five to 10 years. The programme, which includes a substantial number of proposals for improvements and developments and gives indications of relative priorities, will he published in the new year.Although it would appear that these initiatives have borne little fruit so far, it must be remembered that the figures published in the

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to set up a National Pay Arbitration Board.

No. Extensive provision already exists for arbitration on pay and related issues, implementation of awards being subject to Government pay policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with local authorities in the Torrington area of Devon about providing work opportunities for unemployed persons.

My right hon. Friend has not had such discussions, but officials of the Manpower Services Commission have co-operated with both the Torridge District Council and the Devon County Council in launching projects under the job creation programme and the work experience programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he next intends to meet the Chairman of the Manpower Services Commission.

My right hon. Friend meets the Chairman of the Manpower Services Commission regularly and would expect to do so in the normal course of events shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the number of additional people coming into the employment register in England and Wales in the forthcoming year when compared with the previous two years.

Provisional estimates of the labour force in England and Wales indicate an increase of approximately 220,000 between June 1975 and June 1976. It is not possible to indicate precisely the increase in the subsequent year to June 1977 or in the forthcoming year to June 1978. Projections, on certain assumptions, suggest an underlying trend rate of increase of about 170,000 a year over this period but actual changes, in individual years, are liable to show fluctuations about the underlying trend.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if funds can be made available under the job creation scheme for cutting down diseased elm trees; how such application should he made: and, if funds cannot at present be made available, if he will set up a scheme by which local authorities would receive funds for this purpose.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that funds have been made available under the job creation programme for suitable projects involving the cutting down of diseased elm trees in areas where there are unemployed people with the necessary skills. Organisations, including local authorities, wishing to sponsor a project should contact the programme's nearest area office. Applications under the programme must be received by 31st December 1977 but projects of this type will be eligible under the Commission's special temporary employment programme, details of which will be announced shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if funds can be made available under the job creation scheme for repair to and restoration of Grade I listed buildings such as Highcliffe Castle. Dorset, if such buildings are in the ownership of local authorities.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that where labour costs cannot be funded from other sources funds can be made available under the job creation programme for suitable projects involving work on listed buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his monitoring of the observance of the Government's pay guidelines has provided any information on industrial action taken against the 12-month rule in support of pay-increases in the printing industry; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. My Department is able to maintain a broad picture through continuing contact with employers' organisations, major companies, and with smaller companies which seek advice. The 12-months rule should be observed in the printing industry, as elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he proposes for the relief of unemployment in the Malton area of North Yorkshire, in the light of the recent heavy redundancies in the bacon curing industry affecting the town and its environs.

I was concerned to learn of a number of proposed redundancies in the bacon curing industry in the Malton area. The main form of assistance that my Department can offer in such cases is the temporary employment subsidy, and the firms involved are aware of this scheme. For any redundancies that do occur the Manpower Services Commission will do all it can to help the workers affected find or train for new jobs. The special employment measures introduced by my Department have so far helped over 660 people in the Malton area, and we would welcome any fresh applications for the youth employment subsidy, or under the new youth opportunities programme and special temporary employment programme which are being introduced in 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he will institute an immediate inquiry into how £60,000 was awarded by the Manpower Services Commission to an Indian terrorist group known for its practice of homosexuality and ritual murder;(2) whether he will make a statement on the criteria by which £60,000 has been awarded by the Manpower Services Commission to the Anand Marg, the Indian terrorist group;(3) whether he will give details on the basis on which the Manpower Services Commission has made a £60,000 award to the Anand Marg, the Indian terrorist group.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time jobs, other than jobs within the Manpower Services Commission itself, are being created by the Manpower Services Commission in the current year; and what is the cost to the taxpayer of each job so provided, taking account of the full cost of the Manpower Services Commission's administrative and operational expenditures.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that about 63,000 temporary full-time jobs will have been created in 1977 under the job creation programme. The estimated net cost to the taxpayer of each job created is about £700, taking account of savings in unemployment and social security benefits, of national insurance contributions and of taxes reverting to the Exchequer, as well as the administrative and operational expenditure incurred in running the programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those occupations in which workers work on Sundays without receiving a specific premium payment for Sunday shifts.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 29th November 1977; Vol. 940 c. 147], gave the following information:A wide range of both non-manual and manual groups of workers do not receive specific premium payments for Sunday work, particularly in continuous process industries, agriculture and the provision of services to the public. Regular or occasional Sunday work may nevertheless be taken into account when their rates of pay are determined. Comprehensive detailed information is not available. Those not receiving specific premium payments include Post Office engineers; police and fire services; air transport pilots, airport around staff; nuclear fuel manufacture; wholesale newspaper distribution; some catering workers; the Armed Forces; the Merchant Navy at sea; the clergy, and some other professional, managerial and technical staff eg journalists, doctors and senior management.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much was spent on employment services, industrial training, redundancy fund payments and other labour market services in 1976–77.

The estimated expenditure during the financial year ended 31st March 1977 is as folows:

Employment Services	£96·9 millions
Industrial Training	£256 millions
Redundancy Fund Payments	£101·1 millions
Other Labour Market Services	£ 141·2 millions

The figures for employment services include £2·7 million for recruitment subsidies for school leavers and the youth employment subsidy whilst that for other labour services includes £128·7 million in respect of the temporary employment subsidy, the job creation programme and the job release scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the value of recent oil drillings at Worgret/Wareham, Dorset.

The results of drilling cannot be released yet as they are confidential. The value of this work lies in the additional geological knowledge that has been gained.Perhaps I could take the opportunity to say that I have placed in the Library the draft of a consultative document setting out the arrangements, including provision at my discretion for 51 per cent State participation in production licences, which I propose for forthcoming onshore petroleum licensing. The document will be printed shortly and will be made available to onshore exploration companies, the Confederation of British Industry, the TUC and any other parties which may be interested, for comment as they may wish. I hope that licensing on the basis of arrangements proposed can proceed early in the new year. This in turn should facilitate further onshore petroleum drilling activity, and the acquisition of additional geological knowledge.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the report of the inquiry into serious gas explosions is yet ready for publication.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 28th June 1977; Vol. 934, c. 111], supplied the following further information:The 21 recommendations of the King Report mainly concern matters which are either the responsibility of the British Gas Corporation or such that British Gas is best placed to take suitable action. The chairman has now informed me of the actions that have been and are being taken to implement these recommendations. British Gas is conducting a sustained public relations campaign on gas safety, which is currently concentrating on the importance of reporting gas leaks and which will also cover the need to ensure that gas appliances and fittings are properly installed and maintained. This I particularly welcome, given the extent to which the King Report showed explosions to be caused either by mistakes or ill-considered actions by the public, including deliberate interference with the gas supply. The many other steps which the Corporation is taking are detailed in a separate document which it is releasing today. The statement covers such items as an accelerated programme of replacement of mains and services, a considerably increased annual cost; and the adoption as soon as supplies are available of self-sealing plug-in flexible connectors for new domestic cookers which the Corporation installs. I am arranging for a copy of the document to be placed in the Library of the House. As to the recommendations which involve Government Departments, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport tells me that the statutory undertakers are being reminded of the current arrangements that require them to co-ordinate their work with each other and with local authorities to reduce damage to each other's services.The Chief Constables' Traffic Committee has taken note of the recommendation that existing restrictions on parking or movement of vehicles on pavements or verges should be enforced more vigorously. As to the suggestion that vehicles heavier than are now permitted should be subject to restrictions, he will examine carefully the consequences for loading on roads of any new vehicle types proposed by the EEC or in any other context.The Transport and Road Research Laboratory has long been conducting an extensive programme into the effect of loads on underground pipes. It will examine the evidence on which the King Report based its recommendations in this respect.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has been considering the committee's proposals for amendment of Building Regulations to cover the sealing of pipe duct and cable entries. There are certain technical problems which have to be overcome. Alternative means by which greater use of such sealing—already widespread for certain applications—might be encouraged are under discussion.As regards the committee's recommendation on the collection and publication of more comprehensive statistics of accidents generally, preliminary indications are that it would be difficult and costly to assemble these on a timely and consistent basis, but the Government are continuing to examine the possibilities.I am glad, therefore, to be able to assure the House that the lessons learnt from the King Report are being conscientiously and promptly applied. There can be no more effective way of maintaining and enhancing the already high standards of gas safety to which the report paid tribute.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about his policy towards differential pricing in the supply of energy in the public sector.

Energy prices should continue to reflect the differing circumstances and costs of each fuel.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the most recent estimate of the capital cost of a 600 MW fast breeder reactor at 1977 prices; and how this compares with earlier estimates in real terms.

To provide adequate demonstration on a commercial scale, design work on a commercial demonstration fast reactor is concentrated on a

£ million
(estimated)
						1973–74	1974–75	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78
British Nuclear Fules Ltd.			…	…	…	5·3	9·9	23·9	26·0	49
UK Atomic Energy Authority				…	…	0·2	0·4	1·4	1·9	0·5
URENCO	…	…	…	…	…	—	1	12	17	13

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on Hunterston B indicating the nature and extent of the defect recently discovered.

I have been asked to reply.On 13th October 1977, it was found that a quantity of sea water had entered one of the two reactor pressure vessels at Hunterston B through a gas circulator cooling system following the shut-down of that reactor for planned routine maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the earliest date by which one commercial fast breeder reactor could become fully operational in the United Kingdom if permission to place a contract were given immediately to the Central Electricity Generating Board.

Subject to planning and safety clearances, the earliest practicable date for commencement of construction of a 1300MW(e) commercial demonstration fast reactor would be during 1982 for start-up around 1989.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total capital investment in the United Kingdom in the nuclear fuel cycle of enrichment, fuel fabrication, reprocessing in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976; and what is the estimated figure for 1977.

I am advised that the total capital investment in the United Kingdom in the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium enrichment, in these years is as follows:Subsequent inspection showed heavy deposits of salt on the periphery of the floor of the pressure vessel underneath the boilers. The salt water had been prevented by a baffle from passing under the reactor core and samples taken from other parts of the gas path have not indicated significant salt pollution elsewhere. The South of Scotland Electricity Board has instituted a board of inquiry into the cause of the incident. It has not yet completed its report, but I am advised by SSEB that the indications are that, once the salt has been removed, the reactor can be returned to full-load operation. It is not yet clear, however, whether the salt can be removed by water washing or whether it will be necessary to replace part of the insulation, in which case remedial work could take up to 12 months and cost £3 million. The board is also incurring additional costs while the reactor is out of service in supplying electricity generated more expensively by other stations.SSEB has assured me that the incident does not reflect on the design, safety or operational characteristics of the AGR system and that there was no radiological hazard either at the time of the incident or subsequently. The second reactor at Hunterston B continues to operate normally.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his most recent estimate of the United Kingdom's need for installed nuclear power capacity in 1985, 1990 and 1995; and on what assumptions in relation to the supply of oil, gas, coal and alternative energy sources these calculations are based.

The Department of Energy's most recent supply and demand assumptions to the end of the century for a reference case are set out in the working document on energy policy—Energy Commission Paper Number 1—of which are available in the Library of the House. The supply assumptions include provision for the following amounts of nuclear capacity, including existing plant, regarded as a prudent view of the maximum contribution that can be provided in the time-scale:

1985	10½ GW sent out
1990	13 GW sent out
1995	19½ GW sent out

Annex I of the working document sets out the assumptions made for the various energy sources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is in a position to make a statement about the outcome of the recent discussions with the International Monetary Fund.

I have written to the Managing Director of the IMF, Mr. Witteveen, in the following terms:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the tax liability of civil servants, local government officials and other public sector employees is reduced when they are sick and on full pay, whereas the tax liability of members of Her Majesty's forces when they are sick and on full pay remains unchanged.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 7th March 1977.—[Vol. 927, c. 385.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of Mot-ability's funds will result from tax concessions to charities, businesses or individuals.

I have no information on which to base an answer but in any case it would not be appropriate for me to indicate the extent of any tax reliefs springing from the status of a particular organisation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the value of the social wage per head of the United Kingdom working population at constant 1972 purchasing power.

Following is the information requested:

Social wage at constant 1972–73 prices:£ per head of the United Kingdom working population.
1972–73	629
1973–74	680
1974–75	755
1975–76	747
1976–77	742

The figure for 1976–77 is provisional.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum is currently equivalent to £7,000 in 1971.

In October 1977—the latest date for which information is available—£16,300 had internal purchasing power approximately equivalent to that of £7,000 in 1971. This estimate is based on movements in the general index of retail prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the fact that the £ sterling is worth only a quarter of what it was in 1957, what it is currently worth compared with October 1974.

In October 1977—the latest date for which information is available—the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling was approximately 61 per cent. of its value in October 1974.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions during the last five years Treasury permission has been sought under the exchange control legislation for the export of private capital to Uganda; on how many such occasions this has been granted; on how many occasions it has been refused; and in what projects the capital thus exported was invested in Uganda.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply today to his Question relating to exchange control permissions for investment in South Africa.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many ocasions during the last five years Treasury permission has been sought under the exchange control legislation for the export of private capital to South Africa; on how many such occasions this has been granted; on how many occasions it has been refused; and in what projects the capital thus exported was invested in South Africa.

The records of the Bank of England, which acts as the Treasury's agent on exchange control, are not kept in a form in which matters relating to proposed investments in individual countries can conveniently be identified. I regret therefore that this information cannot be provided without undue cost and effort.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what official information he based his statement concerning the comparison between remittances and child tax allowances for overseas children in his letter to the former Chairman of the Community Relations Commission of 23rd March; and if he will publish this information.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much expenditure from public funds is currently being devoted to job subsidy and job creation, in the wider sense not only of employment subsidy and job creation schemes but by the State subsidy of various products and industry.

Details of public expenditure in these areas will be shown in the public expenditure White Paper to be published early in the new year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of abolishing investment income surcharge on income from maintenance payments to separated or divorced people.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the loss to the Exchequer if the first £1,000 of investment income were exempt from income tax.

There is no governing date for presentation of the Crown Agents accounts for audit but in June 1975 the Minister of Overseas Development directed that audited annual accounts should be submitted to him normally not later than six months after the end of the financial year. I understand the actual dates of presentation for audit and certification were as follows:
Year of Account (calendar year)		First Draft Accounts
		Office Account	Joint Consolidated Fund	Joint Miscellaneous Fund	Realisation Account
1969*	…	August 1970	—	—	—
1970†	…	May 1971	July 1971	July 1971	—
1971	…	May 1972	June 1972	June 1972	—
1972	…	August 1973	August 1973	August 1973	—
1973	…	November 1974	July 1974	July 1974	—
1974	…	June 1975	June 1975	June 1975	—
1975‡	…	February 1976	March 1976	March 1976	June 1976
1976	…	February 1977	April 1977	April 1977	April 1977

Year of Account (Calendar year)		First Draft Consolidated Accounts	Latest Subsidiaries Accounts Certified by Commercial Auditors	Final Draft of full Accounts	Certification by C&AG
1969*	…	—	—	—	9th November 1970
1970†	…	June 1971	October 1971	10th December 1971	12th January 1972
1971	…	January 1973	December 1972	7th January 1973	23rd August 1973
1972	…	July 1974	January 1974	20th January 1975	31st January 1975
1973	…	February 1975	January 1975	16th June 1975	20th June 1975
1974	…	June 1975	July 1975	8th July 1975	9th October 1975
1975‡	…	June 1976	July 1976	27th August 1976	3rd September 1976
1976	…	April 1977	July 1977	13th July 1977	20th July 1977
* C&AG responsible for audit of Office Fund only; Director General of Overseas Audit Service responsiblefor Joint Consolidated Fund and Joint Miscellaneous Fund.
†Form of account determined by Treasury 30th September 1971.
‡ Realisation Account came into being 17th June 1976.
The audit of Crown Agents accounts is carried out by Treasury direction under section 3 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. Subject to that, the adequacy and effectiveness of audit control operated by the Exchequer and Audit Department is a matter for the Comptroller and Auditor General.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many years during the period 1969 to 1976 the annual accounts of the Crown Agents for overseas Governments have been presented late for audit; what were the periods of delay in each case; and if he is satisfied with the adequacy and the effectiveness of audit control operated by the Exchequer and Audit Department.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report the average level of interest payable to depositors with the National Savings Bank over each of the last five years; and how this compares with the average level payable by joint-stock banks.

The average levels of interest are as follows:

	National Savings Bank		Joint Stock Banks Deposit Accounts† Per cent.
	Ordinary Account* Per cent.	Investment Account Per cent.
1973	4	8	9½
1974	4	9	9½
1975	4	9	7½
1976	4	9	7½
1977	5	9¾	5¾‡
* Annual interest on National Savings Bank Ordinary Accounts is free of all rates of United Kingdom income tax as follows:—
(a) For the 1973–74 year of assessment—the first £21.
(b) For the years 1974–75 to 1976–77—the first £40.
(c) For the year 1977–78 and subsequent years of assessment—the first £70.
† Rates quoted are based on those payable on deposit accounts with the London Clearing Banks.
‡ Based on figures to July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the percentage of the population which holds deposit accounts with (a) the National Savings Bank and (b) joint stock banks.

It is estimated that some 26 per cent. of the total population of the United Kingdom hold active accounts with the National Savings Bank. There are no comparable official statistics on deposit accounts with the joint stock banks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the number of additional people coming on to the employment register in the forthcoming year when compared with the previous two years.

Provisional estimates of the labour force in Scotland indicate an increase of approximately 24,000 between June 1975 and June 1976 and 16,000 between June 1976 and June 1977. The increase in the year to June 1978 is projected to be similar to the 1976–77 figure. Any projection is, however, subject to uncertainty, the outcome being affected by such factors as migration trends and the proportion of the population—particularly married women—who seek to enter the labour force.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the reasons for the recent malfunction of the Hunterston AGR, including design fault or operational inefficiency; what will be the approximate cost of restoring the reactor to normal working and the time scale involved; and if any radiological hazard to either the work force or the general public arose.

On 13th October 1977 it was found that a quantity of sea water had entered one of the two reactor pressure vessels at Hunterston B through a gas circulator cooling system following the shut down of that reactor for planned routine maintenance. Subsequent inspection showed heavy deposits of salt on the periphery of the floor of the pressure vessel underneath the boilers. The salt water had been prevented by a baffle from passing under the reactor core, and samples taken from other parts of the gas path have not indicated significant salt pollution elsewhere.The South of Scotland Electricity Board has instituted a board of inquiry into the cause of the incident which has not yet completed its report, but I am advised by SSEB that the indications are that, once the salt has been removed, the reactor can be returned to full load operation. It is not yet clear, however, whether the salt can be removed by water washing or whether it will be necessary to replace part of the insulation, in which case remedial work could take up to 12 months and cost £3 million. The Board is also incurring additional costs while the reactor is out of service in supplying electricity generated more expensively by other stations.SSEB has assured me that the incident does not reflect on the design, safety or operational characteristics of the AGR system, and that there was no radiological hazard either at the time of the incident or subsequently. The second reactor at Hunterston B continues to operate normally.

asked the Lord President of the Council which of those recommendations involving change put forward in the Report of the Renton Committee on the Preparation of Legislation have so far been implemented; and which others the Government intend to implement and not to implement, respectively.

asked the Lord President of the Council why the Statute Law Committee has not yet announced its decision on the report of its Sub-Committee on recommendations 108 and 109 of the Renton Committee on Legislation; and when an announcement will be made.

The Renton Report contained 121 separate recommendations.As regards those recommendations which related to the staffing of the Parliamentary Counsel Office, I would refer to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence) on 14th November.—[

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will move to set up a Select Committee on local government and the rate support grant.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 22nd November.—[Vol. 939, c. 610.]

asked the Minister for the Civil Service to what extent the salaries of the highly paid individuals such as chairmen of nationalised boards have fallen since their last salary adjustment, atoning for inflation; to what extent the Boyle Committee recommended increases; to what extent these proposed increases will have to be adjusted to account for inflation and to restore them to their original purchasing value; and when he expects to implement the Boyle Committee recommendations and pay these increases.

The salaries of the members of the four groups within the standing remit of the Review Body on Top Salaries would need to be increased by 8·2 per cent. to keep them in line with the movement in the index of retail prices between January 1977, when the majority of these people last received an increase, and October 1977, which is the last date for which figures are available.The last report of the Review Body which considered the salaries of these groups—Report No. 6, published in December 1974 as Cmnd. 5846—recommended average increases of 28·8 per cent.The recommended salaries would need to be increased by 60 per cent. to keep them in line with the movement in the index of retail prices since December 1974.As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) today.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what Government appointments were held, or are held, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time; and what were the salaries and pension rights claimable or now being drawn by Sir Claude Hayes, Sir David

Sir Claude Hayes following a career in the Home Civil Service and Her Majesty's Forces from 1938 to 1968, held the following Government appointment:
									Salary on appointment	Final salary
1968–74 Chairman, Crown Agent for Overseas Governments and Administration			…	…	…	…	…	…	£6,300	£17,000
Sir David Pitblado following a career in the Home and Diplomatic Civil Service from 1935 to 1971, from which he retired as Second Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Department, held the following Crown appointment
									Salary on appointment	Final salary
1971–76 Comptroller and Auditor General						…	…	…	£14,000	£18,675
Sir Geoffrey Wilson following a career in the Home and Diplomatic Civil Service from 1940 to 1970, from which he retired as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Development in 1970, held the following Government appointment:
									Salary on appointment	Final salary
1971–77 Chairman, Race Relations Board						…	…	…	£8,500	£11,038·48
My Department can trace no information in respect of Sir John Mottram.
Sir Frank Figgures following a career in the Home Civil Service from 1946 to 1971, from which he retired as Second Permanent Secretary, Her Majesty's Treasury, held the following Government appointments:
									Salary on appointment	Final salary
1971–73 Director-General, NEDO					…	…	…	…	£11,000	£15,750
1973–74 Chairman, Pay Board				…	…	…	…	…	£16,000	£16,454·40
Sir Stephen Luke following a career in the Home and Diplomatic Civil Service from 1930 to 1958 held the following Government appointment:
									Salary on appointment	Final salary
1959–68 Senior Crown Agent for Overseas Governments and Administration		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	*	£6,300
* Not immediately available.
Sir Matthew Stevenson following a career in the Home Civil Service from 1931 to 1970, from which he retired as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Local Government, held the following Government appointments:
									Salary on appointment	Final salary
1971–72 Chairman, Committee of Enquiry into the Crown Agents	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	Fee £18·90 per day
1971–76 Part-time member, British Steel Corporation								…	£1,000	£4,000

Service in the Home and Diplomatic Services was remunerated according to grade and position on the relevant pay scales which were published at the time. No central or departmental records of career earnings are maintained and it would be difficult and costly now to make the necessary calculations, going back in some cases more than 40 years.All those named have qualified for pensions in respect of their employment

This information is not held centrally by my Department. The following has been compiled from departmental records and published information:as civil servants and some have acquired further pension rights in accordance with the terms of their subsequent appointments. It is the Government's practice to give details of individual pension entitlements only to the beneficiary concerned.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will ask the Pay Research Unit to carry out a study of the extent to which Civil Service pay has drawn ahead, or fallen behind, pay in the private sector since 1973.

No. The main Civil Service grades below Under-Secretary level last had a settlement based on pay research evidence of rates in payment for comparable work on 1st April 1975. Since then, civil servants have received increases in accordance with the Government's pay guidance. As I announced on 21st November—[Vol. 939, c. 1089–92.]—the Pay Research Unit has now been asked to produce evidence for a pay research settlement from 1st April 1979. The pay of civil servants at Under-Secretary level and above is based on reports by the Top Salaries Review Body (TSRB), and in their case TSRB recommendations for salaries judged appropriate for 1st January 1975 have not yet been fully implemented.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service why, under paragraph 10(c) of Schedule 3 to the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967, the Parliamentary Commissioner is debarred from investigating any action taken in respect of personnel matters in relation to service in any office or employment, or under any contract for services; and if he will seek to introduce legislation to allow the Parliamentary Commissioner to investigate any Government Department in its capacity as an employer.

No. This Government agree with the reasons for this exclusion, which were set out in two White Papers published in May 1971 (Cmnd. 4661) and December 1972 (Cmnd. 5166). The Parliamentary Commissioner was set up to invstigate on behalf of Members of Parliament complaints by private citizens that they had suffered from maladminstration by a Government Department. The Government do not consider that it would be consistent with this purpose to extend the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner to the relations between the Crown as employer and its employees or between the Crown and other persons with whom it enters into business contracts.The general trend of employment legislation now provides that, as a general rule, the grievances of individual workers should be remedied by properly instituted procedures. It would be inconsistent with this policy to provide yet another remedy for Crown servants by extending the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner when there are already well-developed procedures which make adequate provision for redress of grievance. I would also draw my hon. Friend's attention to the Government's statement on this question contained in Cmnd. 6764 (Observations by the Government on the Second Report from the Select Committee on the PCA, Session 1975–76).

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will announce the names of the new Pay Research Unit Board; and whether he will publish its new terms of reference and any changes there will be in its methods.

Appointments to the new Pay Research Unit Board will be announced as soon as possible. The terms of reference of the Board and of the Director of the Pay Research Unit, together with details of the agreement with the National Staff Side on pay research procedures, were placed in the Library on 21st November.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will place in the Library a copy of the EEC Commission's draft fourth directive on shipbuilding aids; what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the draft directive; when he expects the Council of Ministers to consider the adoption of the directive; and whether he will make a statement on the compatibility of British policy on shipbuilding aid with EEC policy.

A copy of the draft directive was placed in the Library on 10th November and was examined by the Select Committee on European Legislation on 7th December. As stated in the reply given to the hon. Member on 28th November 1977—[Vol. 940, c. 89–90]—the Government are broadly in agreement with the objective of the draft directive and would, therefore, wish it to be adopted as soon as the detailed provisions have been agreed. It is expected to be submitted to the Council of Ministers by the end of this year. The United Kingdom measures for shipbuilding have been approved by the European Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in the light of Hitachi's announced withdrawal of plans to develop a factory at Washington, County Durham, he will now make a statement on the proposals that were made by the Government to the Hitachi company during the negotiations.

It is the Government's policy, while welcoming all inward investment, to seek to ensure the maximum advantage to the economy from new manufacturing enterprises set up here by foreign companies. In conformity with that policy the Government were glad to receive the assurances given by Hitachi in respect of the colour television factor) it proposed to set up at Washington New Town. Hitachi undertook to maximise its use of components manufactured in the United Kingdom—including television tubes where available—to export 50 per cent. of its production, to substitute by United Kingdom production the major part of its present imports of television sets and to consult with the Government about future expansion plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will consider extending his Department's contracts preference schemes to firms located in intermediate areas; and if he will make a statement.

The problems in the special development and development areas and in Northern Ireland are such that it is desirable at present to restrict the contracts preference schemes to firms in those areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry under what circumstances he is consulted about the prospective occupants of speculative industrial develop- ments for which industrial development certificates have been granted.

My Department will in future he consulted about prospective occupants of floor space above the current exemption limits for the industrial development certificate control.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has issued any directives to those publicly owned bodies for which he is responsible to place insurance with British rather than foreign insurance companies; and if he will make a statement.

No such directives have been issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much financial assistance to industry has been given under the Selective Investment Scheme between October 1976 and October 1977.

No payments have yet been made. But since the Selective Investment Scheme began in December 1976, 37 offers of assistance totalling £11·296 million had been approved to 31st October 1977 for projects costing over £120 million. Since then, four offers of assistance totalling 1095 million have been approved for projects costing over £102 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much financial assistance to industry has been given as support for industrial innovation and general industrial research and development in 1976–77.

In 1976–77 the provisional outturn for expenditure in those areas of industrial innovation which fall within my Department's responsibility, was £148·1 million, net of receipts, including £35·6 million for general industrial research and development.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much general financial support has been provided for industry in 1976–77, including selective assistance to individual industries, firms and undertakings, and investment grants.

In 1976–77 the provisional outturn for expenditure on general support to industry in those areas which fall within my Department's responsibility, was £348·3 million, net of receipts, including £84·9 million for selective assistance to individual industries, firms and undertakings, and £25·6 million for investment grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much assistance has been given to industry in the form of regional aids in 1976–77.

In 1976–77 the provisional outturn for expenditure in those areas of regional support and regeneration which fall within my Department's responsibility was £428·2 million net of receipts. This figure does not include that regional expenditure in Scotland and Wales which is the responsibility of the Scottish Economic Planning Department and the Welsh Office Industry Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many Post Office employees have been dismissed in the last 12 months.

This is a matter for the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what general directions have been given to the Post Office regarding the security classification of documents issued under its authority.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science up to what level of gross earnings mortgage repayments and work expenses are taken into account for purposes of assessing entitlement to free school meals.

In assessing entitlement to free school meals, mortgage repayments and work expenses may be offset against income whatever the level of gross earnings.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether it is possible for someone paying higher rate tax also to be eligible for free school meals for his children.

In theory, this is possible and has been so since at least 1964, when a national scheme replaced nationally approved local arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science up to what level of gross earnings a married man with four school-age children would be entitled to claim free school meals for his children, assuming mortgage repayments of £200 a month, work expenses of £70 a month, rates of £50 per month and superannuation £10 per month.

To qualify for free school meals, the net parental income of a family with four school-age children would have to be less than £56·45 per week. The Question gives insufficient detail about the family circumstances, or what proportion of the mortgage repayment would attract tax relief, to enable an exact figure for gross earnings to be calculated.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish the number of children in receipt of school transport subsidy and the total amount of subsidies paid out for school transport as a per capita amount.

Expenditure by local education authorities in England and Wales on the provision of home-to-school transport for children attending ordinary and special schools was £90 million in 1976–77. Authorities are not required to make annual returns of the number of children for whom arrangements for home-to-school transport are made and the per capita amount is therefore not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the local education authorities which provide financial assistance with the cost of boarding for children with specific reading difficulties whose educational needs are not met by local authority schools.

My Department does not collect this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local authorities in England and Wales have established remedial education centres, as recommended in the Report of the Advisory Committee of 1974; and if she will list those authorities.

Centres which provide remedial education for children with specific reading difficulties have been established by the following 75 authorities in England:—

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make clear to local authorities that her advice in Circular 8/77 is not intended to disqualify for mandatory higher educational awards and home fees those students who might be designated specified students because of a short period of residence abroad (a) with British parents who are temporarily resident abroad on account of their work, (b) with parents posted abroad in Her Majesty's Forces or the Diplomatic Service, (c) on voluntary service overseas am; (d) studying overseas.

Circular 8/77 does not deal with manadatory awards. So far as fees are concerned, students in the categories mentioned would in most cases remain ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and thus be charged tuition fees at home rates under the terms of Part II, Annex 1, of the circular, under which discriminatory fees are made lawful within certain limits.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of the cost which would arise to public funds if the means test for students between 21 and 25 years of age were to be abolished; and what she estimates the cost would be if the means test were to be applied to the income of the student's husband or wife rather than to parental income.

The cost in 1977–78 of abolishing parental contributions for students aged between 21 and 25 who hold full value awards from local education authorities in England and Wales is estimated at between £20 million and £25 million. Information is not available to answer the second part of the Question.