Written Answers

                    The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
                

Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday 17th January 1978

Prime Minister (Engagements)

Q4.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 17th January.

Q5.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 17th January.

Q11.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 17th January.

Q12.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 17th January.

Q13.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 17th January.

Q14.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 17th January.

Q21.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 17th January.

Q22.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 17th January.

Q23.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 17th January.

Q24.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 17th January 1978.

Q25.

asked the Prime Minister what are his official engagements for 17th January.

Q26.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 17th January.

Q30.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 17th January.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Conway (Mr. Roberts).

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Human Rights

41.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Prime Minister's remarks that Western representations on human rights within the USSR have not been met by an adequate response from the USSR, Official Report, 24th November 1977, column 1750, in what way the Soviet response has been inadequate.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) on 16th December.—[Vol. 941, c. 486.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been received, from Amnesty International concerning the violation of human rights; and what steps he will take to defend human rights in 1978.

My right hon. Friend receives frequent representations from Amnesty International, each one of which receives careful consideration. In 1978, as in 1977, we shall lose no opportunity to take whatever action we consider most likely to prove effective to defend and promote human rights wherever violations occur.

Diplomats' Children (Education)

42.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total amount of expenditure paid in respect of education at independent schools for the children of diplomats for the last year for which figures are available; and what is the estimated amount for the next financial year.

In the financial year 1976–77, total expenditure on allowances paid to members of the Diplomatic Service in respect of children attending boarding schools in the United Kingdom was £3,512,229. Estimated expenditure on these allowances for the current financial year is £3,345,000. In both cases, income tax is recovered on allowances paid to staff serving in this country.

Hong Kong

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many of the persons taken into custody by the Hong Kong Special Branch between 15th November and 15th December 1976 were charged with an offence; and what arms or explosives were seized in connection with these arrests;(2) how many persons were detained at Victoria Road Detention Centre in Hong Kong daily between 15th November 1976 and 15th December 1976;

(3) how many persons were arrested, detained or held for questioning by the Hong Kong Special Branch between 15th November 1976 and 15th December 1976.

The information requested is not immediately available. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as I have it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there is any evidence that persons arrested by the Hong Kong Special Branch between 15th November and 15th December 1976 belonged to any particular party or faction or were active on behalf of the interests of any specific foreign Power; and if he will make a statement.

It is not in the public interest to provide the information

APPLICATIONS FOR SETLEMENT RECEIVED FROM WIVES AND CHILDREN
					Dacca	Islamabad	Karachi	Delhi	Calcutta	Madras	Bombay
1977
1st quarter	…	…	…	…	1,299	2,338	131	669	64	52	467
2nd quarter	…	…	…	…	1,468	3,275	190	568	23	47	464
3rd quarter	…	…	…	…	1,299	2,936	140	418	42	92	396
Total number of wives and children awaiting a decision at 30th September 1977	…	…	…	…	14,215	10,272^*	822	1,021	Nil	Nil	1,463
^* Provisional figure subject to confirmation.

PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR SETTLEMENT FROM WIVES AND CHILDREN 1977
					Processed	Granted	Refused	Referred/Deferred for Inquiries
DELHI
1st quarter	…	…	…	…	613	424	88	101
2nd quarter	…	…	…	…	583	388	86	109
3rd quarter	…	…	…	…	748	392	82	274
BOMBAY
1st quarter	…	…	…	…	568	418	10	140
2nd quarter	…	…	…	…	727	569	23	135
3rd quarter	…	…	…	…	607	455	30	122
MADRAS
1st quarter	…	…	…	…	62	57	3	2
2nd quarter	…	…	…	…	52	45	—	7
3rd quarter	…	…	…	…	112	61	—	51
CALCUTTA
1st quarter	…	…	…	…	82	49	—	33
2nd quarter	…	…	…	…	50	17	10	23
3rd quarter	…	…	…	…	59	39	8	12
DACCA
1st quarter	…	…	…	…	2,508	672	705	1,131
2nd quarter	…	…	…	…	2,753	817	1,079	857
3rd quarter	…	…	…	…	5,003	1,082	2,414	1,507
ISLAMABAD
1st quarter	…	…	…	…	4,725	2,366	1,003	1,356
2nd quarter	…	…	…	…	6,372	3,805	613	1,954
3rd quarter	…	…	…	…	4,235	2,276	620	1,339
KARACHI
1st quarter	…	…	…	…	468	207	40	221
2nd quarter	…	…	…	…	465	234	82	149
3rd quarter	…	…	…	…	165	92	23	50

requested by my hon. Friend as this relatess to operational security matters.

Immigration (Indian Sub-Continent)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will bring up to date the details of application for settlement for wives and children from the Indian sub-continent which he gave in a parliamentary answer on 3rd February 1977.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 7th December 1977; Vol. 940, c. 764–5], gave the following answer:The information requested is as follows:The numbers of applications received and the numbers awaiting a decision are given in the following tables:

Home Department

Broadcasting

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the White Paper on Broadcasting; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Rathbone) on 17th November.—[Vol. 939, c. 748.]

Postal Voting

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington dated 4th

POSTAL VOTES CAST AT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION, OCTOBER 1974
						Postal votes cast as a percentage of
Constituency						Total electorate	Total votes cast
ENGLAND
Avon
Kingswood	…	…	…	…	…	2·1	2·5
North Somerset	…	…	…	…	…	3·1	3·9
South Gloucestershire	…	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·5
Weston-Super-Mare	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·6
Bath	…	…	…	…	…	4·6	5·9
Bristol, North-East	…	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·8
Bristol, North-West	…	…	…	…	…	4·2	5·3
Bristol, South	…	…	…	…	…	1·2	1·8
Bristol, South-East	…	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·3
Bristol, West	…	…	…	…	…	3·4	5·2
Bedfordshire
Bedford	…	…	…	…	…	3·1	4·1
Mid-Bedfordshire	…	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·2
South Bedfordshire	…	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·2
Luton, East	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·7
Luton, West	…	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·2
Berkshire
Newbury	…	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·2
Reading, South	…	…	…	…	…	3·2	4·3
Windsor and Maidenhead	…	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·9
Wokingham	…	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·3
Eton and Slough	…	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·3
Reading, North	…	…	…	…	…	3·8	5·3
Buckinghamshire
Aylesbury	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·7
Beaconsfield	…	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·9
Buckingham	…	…	…	…	…	3·9	4·9
Chesham and Amersham	…	…	…	…	…	3·1	4·0
Wycombe	…	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·2
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire	…	…	…	…	…	2·3	3·0
Huntingdonshire	…	…	…	…	…	2·6	3·5
Isle of Ely	…	…	…	…	…	2·8	3·7
Cambridge	…	…	…	…	…	3·9	5·6
Peterborough	…	…	…	…	…	3·6	4·6

January 1978 on the subject of postal voting statistics, he will state the average percentage of posal votes cast as a percentage of total votes cast for all the United Kingdom's parliamentary constituencies; and indicate the two constituencies with the highest percentage figures.

(2) if he will publish in the Official Report the contents of his letter to the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington, dated 4th January 1978, detailing statistics relating to postal votes cast, at the General Election of October 1974, for the parliamentary constituencies of the United Kingdom.

The information is as follows. The percentage of postal votes cast as a percentage of total votes cast was highest in Fermanagh and South Tyrone and in Mid-Ulster.

							Postal votes cast as a percentage of
Constituency							Total electorate	Total votes cast
Cheshire
City of Chester	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·9	3·8
Crewe	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·3	1·8
Macclesfield	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·2
Nantwich	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·9	2·5
Newton	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·3	1·7
Northwich	…	…	…	…	…	…	N.A.	N.A.
Runcorn	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·9	2·5
Widnes	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·2	1·7
Warrington	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·0	1·4
Cleveland
Cleveland and Whitby	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·2	2·9
Hartlepool	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·3	1·8
Teesside Middlesbrough	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·2	2·0
Teesside, Redcar	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·5	2·1
Teesside, Stockton	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·2	1·7
Teesside. Thornaby	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·2	3·0
Cornwall
Bodmin	…	…	…	…	…	…	4·7	5·7
Falmouth and Camborne	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·3	3·0
North Cornwall	…	…	…	…	…	…	5·3	6·5
St. Ives	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·6
Truro	…	…	…	…	…	…	3·4	4·3
Cumbria
Penrith and the Border	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·3
Westmorland	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·2	3·0
Whitehaven	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·2
Workington	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·5	2·0
Barrow-in-Furness	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·1
Carlisle	…	…	…	…	…	…	3·7	4·7
Derbyshire
Belper	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·2	2·7
Bolsover	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·7	0·9
High Peak	…	…	…	…	…	…	3·6	4·5
Ilkeston	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·3	1·7
Derbyshire, North-East	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·0	1·4
Derbyshire, South-East	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·0
Derbyshire, West	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·5
Chesterfield	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·4	2·0
Derby, North	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·1	2·9
Derby, South	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·4
Devon
Honiton	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·8	3·7
Devon, North	…	…	…	…	…	…	4·5	5·6
Tiverton	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·2	2·9
Totnes	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·8	3·7
Devon, West.	…	…	…	…	…	…	3·7	4·7
Exeter	…	…	…	…	…	…	4·2	5·3
Plymouth, Devonport	…	…	…	…	…	…	3·6	4·9
Plymouth, Drake	…	…	…	…	…	…	3·4	4·6
Plymouth, Sutton	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·8	3·8
Torbay	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·7
Dorset
Dorset, North	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·9	3·7
Dorset, South	…	…	…	…	…	…	N.A.	N.A.
Dorset, West	…	…	…	…	…	…	3·3	4·2
Bournemouth, East	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·8
Bournemouth, West	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·9
Poole	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·8	2·4
Durham
Bishop Auckland	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·2	1·8
Chester-le-Street	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·2	1·6
Consett	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·9	1·3
Durham	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·3	1·8
Easington	…	…	…	…	…	…	0·7	1·0
North West Durham	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·1	1·6
Darlington	…	…	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·2

				Postal votes cast as a percentage of
Constituency				Total electorate	Total votes cast
East Sussex
Eastbourne	…	…	…	2·8	3·7
East Grinstead	…	…	…	2·7	3·7
Lewes	…	…	…	2·8	3·8
Rye	…	…	…	2·6	3·5
Brighton, Kemptown	…	…	…	2·5	3·5
Brighton, Pavilion	…	…	…	2·0	2·9
Hastings	…	…	…	2·6	3·6
Hove	…	…	…	2·9	4·1
Essex
Braintree	…	…	…	3·7	4·7
Brentwood and Ongar	…	…	…	2·6	3·4
Chelmsford	…	…	…	2·6	3·2
Colchester	…	…	…	3·0	3·9
Epping Forest	…	…	…	2·1	2·9
Harlow	…	…	…	1·4	1·9
Harwich	…	…	…	2·3	3·2
Maldon	…	…	…	2·5	3·2
Saffron Walden	…	…	…	4·0	5·2
South-East Essex	…	…	…	1·6	2·1
Basildon	…	…	…	1·7	2·4
Southend, East	…	…	…	2·1	3·0
Southend, West	…	…	…	2·1	2·9
Thurrock	…	…	…	0·7	1·1
Gloucestershire
Cirencester and Tewkesbury	…	…	…	2·1	2·7
Stroud	…	…	…	2·7	3·4
West Gloucestershire	…	…	…	2·1	2·6
Cheltenham	…	…	…	2·9	3·9
Gloucester	…	…	…	2·3	2·9
Greater London
Barking	…	…	…	0·9	1·2
Barking, Dagenham	…	…	…	0·6	1·0
Barnet, Chipping Barnet	…	…	…	2·0	2·7
Barnet, Finchley	…	…	…	2·0	2·8
Barnet, Hendon, North	…	…	…	2·4	3·3
Barnet, Hendon, South	…	…	…	2·1	3·1
Bexley, Bexleyheath	…	…	…	2·2	2·9
Bexley, Erith and Crayford	…	…	…	1·7	2·3
Bexley, Sidcup	…	…	…	2·2	2·9
Brent, East	…	…	…	1·5	2·4
Brent, North	…	…	…	1·8	2·5
Brent, South	…	…	…	1·2	2·0
Bromley, Beckenham	…	…	…	2·5	3·7
Bromley, Chislehurst	…	…	…	3·6	4·8
Bromley, Orpington	…	…	…	3·1	3·9
Bromley, Ravensbourne	…	…	…	2·5	3·4
Camden, Hampstead	…	…	…	3·1	4·9
Camden, Holborn and St. Pancras South	…	…	…	1·3	2·4
Camden, St. Pancras North	…	…	…	1·7	2·9
Croydon, Central	…	…	…	2·3	3·2
Croydon, North-East	…	…	…	2·4	3·3
Croydon, North-West	…	…	…	1·8	2·6
Croydon, South	…	…	…	2·2	3·0
Ealing, Acton	…	…	…	3·0	4·4
Ealing, North	…	…	…	2·4	3·3
Ealing, Southall	…	…	…	1·4	2·2
Enfield, Edmonton	…	…	…	1·6	2·3
Enfield, North	…	…	…	1·7	2·4
Enfield, Southgate	…	…	…	2·0	3·0
Greenwich	…	…	…	1·5	2·4
Greenwich, Woolwich, East	…	…	…	1·6	2·4
Greenwich, Woolwich, West	…	…	…	3·0	4·1
Hackney, Central	…	…	…	0·9	1·6
Hackney, North and Stoke Newington	…	…	…	1·0	2·0
Hackney, South and Shoreditch	…	…	…	0·8	1·4
Hammersmith, Fulham	…	…	…	2·6	3·7
Hammersmith, North	…	…	…	2·0	3·1

				Postal votes cast as a percentage of
Constituency				Total electorate	Total votes cast
Haringey, Hornsey	…	…	…	3·5	5·1
Haringey, Tottenham	…	…	…	1·2	2·1
Haringey, Wood Green	…	…	…	1·3	2·0
Harrow, Central	…	…	…	2·5	3·4
Harrow, East	…	…	…	2·6	3·5
Harrow, West	…	…	…	2·2	3·0
Havering, Hornchurch	…	…	…	1·3	1·8
Havering, Romford	…	…	…	1·7	2·4
Havering, Upminster	…	…	…	1·8	2·4
Hillingdon, Hayes and Harlington	…	…	…	1·2	1·7
Hillingdon, Ruislip-Northwood	…	…	…	2·0	2·8
Hillingdon, Uxbridge	…	…	…	2·6	3·5
Hounslow, Brentford and Isleworth	…	…	…	2·9	3·9
Hounslow, Feltham and Heston	…	…	…	1·4	2·1
Islington, Central	…	…	…	1·2	2·1
Islington, North	…	…	…	1·2	2·3
Islington, South and Finsbury	…	…	…	1·1	1·9
Kensington and Chelsea, Chelsea	…	…	…	2·1	4·2
Kensington and Chelsea, Kensington	…	…	…	2·6	4·6
Kingston upon Thames	…	…	…	2·2	3·1
Kingston upon Thames, Surbiton	…	…	…	2·0	2·7
Lambeth, Central	…	…	…	1·2	2·2
Lambeth, Norwood	…	…	…	2·2	3·5
Lambeth, Streatham	…	…	…	2·4	3·8
Lambeth, Vauxhall	…	…	…	1·0	2·0
Lewisham, Deptford	…	…	…	1·4	2·4
Lewisham, East	…	…	…	2·5	3·7
Lewisham, West	…	…	…	2·7	3·9
Merton, Mitcham and Morden	…	…	…	1·6	2·3
Merton, Wimbledon	…	…	…	2·7	3·9
Newham, North-East	…	…	…	0·7	1·1
Newham, North-West	…	…	…	0·6	1·2
Newham, South	…	…	…	0·4	0·7
Redbridge, Ilford, North	…	…	…	1·7	2·2
Redbridge, Ilford, South	…	…	…	2·2	3·2
Redbridge, Wanstead and Woodford	…	…	…	1·8	2·7
Richmond upon Thames, Richmond	…	…	…	2·6	3·4
Richmond upon Thames, Twickenham	…	…	…	2·2	2·9
Southwark, Bermondsey	…	…	…	0·7	1·2
Southwark, Dulwich	…	…	…	2·2	3·4
Southwark, Peckham	…	…	…	1·3	2·4
Sutton and Cheam	…	…	…	3·2	4·2
Sutton, Carshalton	…	…	…	2·3	3·1
Tower Hamlets, Bethnal Green and Bow		…	…	0·5	0·9
Tower Hamlets, Stepney and Poplar	…	…	…	0·5	1·1
Waltham Forest, Chingford	…	…	…	1·6	2·2
Waltham Forest, Leyton	…	…	…	1·2	2·0
Waltham Forest, Walthamstow	…	…	…	1·2	1·9
Wandsworth, Battersea, North	…	…	…	1·3	2·2
Wandsworth, Battersea, South	…	…	…	2·9	4·5
Wandsworth, Putney	…	…	…	3·4	4·7
Wandsworth, Tooting	…	…	…	2·0	3·1
The City of London and Westminster, South		…	…	2·0	3·7
City of Westminster, Paddington	…	…	…	2·1	3·5
City of Westminster, St. Marylebone	…	…	…	1·9	3·3
Greater Manchester
Heywood and Roy ton	…	…	…	1·7	2·2
Knutsford	…	…	…	2·4	3·1
Stalybridge and Hyde	…	…	…	1·4	1·9
Westhoughton	…	…	…	1·3	1·6
Altrincham and Sale	…	…	…	2·1	2·8
Ashton-under-Lyne	…	…	…	1·5	2·1
Bolton, East	…	…	…	2·9	3·8
Bolton, West	…	…	…	3·0	3·9
Bury and Radcliffe	…	…	…	2·6	3·3
Cheadle	…	…	…	2·8	3·5
Eccles	…	…	…	1·0	1·4
Farnworth	…	…	…	1·0	1·4
Hazel Grove	…	…	…	2·8	3·4

					Postal votes cast as a percentage of
Constituency					Total electorate	Total votes cast
Ince	…	…	…	…	0·6	0·8
Leigh	…	…	…	…	0·9	1·2
Manchester, Ardwick	…	…	…	…	1·1	1·9
Manchester, Blackley	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·5
Manchester, Central	…	…	…	…	0·6	1·1
Manchester, Gorton	…	…	…	…	1·3	1·8
Manchester, Moss Side	…	…	…	…	2·3	3·7
Manchester, Openshaw	…	…	…	…	1·0	1·6
Manchester, Withington	…	…	…	…	2·1	3·1
Manchester, Wythenshawe	…	…	…	…	1·9	2·7
Middleton and Prestwich	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·2
Oldham, East	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·8
Oldham, West	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·4
Rochdale	…	…	…	…	2·1	3·1
Salford, East	…	…	…	…	1·5	2·6
Salford, West	…	…	…	…	1·2	1·8
Stockport, North	…	…	…	…	2·6	3·4
Stockport, South	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·8
Stretford	…	…	…	…	2·3	3·0
Wigan	…	…	…	…	0·9	1·2
Hampshire
Aldershot	…	…	…	…	2·3	3·1
Basingstoke	…	…	…	…	1·9	2·5
Eastleigh	…	…	…	…	2·3	2·9
New Forest	…	…	…	…	1·8	2·5
Petersfield	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·6
Winchester	…	…	…	…	3·0	4·0
Christchurch and Lymington	…	…	…	…	2·2	2·9
Fareham	…	…	…	…	1·9	2·4
Gosport	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·4
Havant and Waterloo	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·7
Portsmouth, North	…	…	…	…	3·7	4·8
Portsmouth, South	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·5
Southampton, Itchen	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·3
Southampton, Test	…	…	…	…	2·3	3·2
Hereford and Worcester
Bromsgrove and Redditch	…	…	…	…	2·3	2·9
Hereford	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·6
Kidderminster	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·3
Leominster	…	…	…	…	3·6	4·5
South Worcestershire	…	…	…	…	2·3	3·1
Worcester	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·8
Hertfordshire
East Hertfordshire	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·8
Hemel Hempstead	…	…	…	…	3·3	4·0
Hertford and Stevenage	…	…	…	…	2·3	3·0
Hitchin	…	…	…	…	3·4	4·2
St. Albans	…	…	…	…	3·1	4·1
Hertfordshire, South	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·6
Hertfordshire, South-West	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·1
Welwyn and Hatfield	…	…	…	…	3·0	3·7
Watford	…	…	…	…	3·3	4·2
Humberside
Bridlington	…	…	…	…	1·5	2·2
Brigg and Scunthorpe	…	…	…	…	1·3	1·8
Haltemprice	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·3
Howden	…	…	…	…	1·5	2·0
Louth	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·7
Grimsby	…	…	…	…	1·4	2·1
Kingston upon Hull, Central	…	…	…	…	2·0	3·0
Kingston upon Hull, East	…	…	…	…	0·6	0·9
Kingston upon Hull, West	…	…	…	…	0·8	1·2
Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight	…	…	…	…	2·8	3·7

						Postal votes cast as a percentage of
Constituency						Total electorate	Total votes cast
Kent
Ashford	…	…	…	…	…	2·8	3·8
Canterbury	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·7
Dartford	…	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·2
Dover and Deal	…	…	…	…	…	4·8	6·1
Faversham	…	…	…	…	…	3·5	4·5
Folkestone and Hythe	…	…	…	…	…	2·2	3·2
Gravesend	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·5
Maidstone	…	…	…	…	…	2·2	3·0
Royal Tunbridge Wells	…	…	…	…	…	2·6	3·6
Sevenoaks	…	…	…	…	…	3·0	4·0
Tonbridge and Mailing	…	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·4
Gillingham	…	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·1
Rochester and Chatham	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·7
Thanet, East	…	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·4
Thanet, West	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·9
Lancashire
Chorley	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·4
Clitheroe	…	…	…	…	…	2·2	2·8
Darwen	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·6
Lancaster	…	…	…	…	…	3·1	3·9
Morecambe and Lonsdale	…	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·7
North Fylde	…	…	…	…	…	1·4	2·0
Ormskirk	…	…	…	…	…	1·3	1·8
South Fylde	…	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·4
Accrington	…	…	…	…	…	3·4	4·2
Blackburn	…	…	…	…	…	2·8	3·8
Blackpool, North	…	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·4
Blackpool, South	…	…	…	…	…	1·9	2·7
Burnley	…	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·1
Nelson and Colne	…	…	…	…	…	4·0	5·0
Preston, North	…	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·1
Preston, South	…	…	…	…	…	2·2	2·9
Rossendale	…	…	…	…	…	3·3	4·1
Leicestershire
Blaby	…	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·1
Bosworth	…	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·1
Harborough	…	…	…	…	…	2·2	2·9
Loughborough	…	…	…	…	…	2·6	3·3
Melton	…	…	…	…	…	1·9	2·5
Leicester, East	…	…	…	…	…	1·5	2·1
Leicester, South	…	…	…	…	…	1·9	2·8
Leicester, West	…	…	…	…	…	1·8	2·6
Lincolnshire
Gainsborough	…	…	…	…	…	2·2	3·0
Grantham	…	…	…	…	…	2·8	3·8
Holland with Boston	…	…	…	…	…	1·5	2·2
Horncastle	…	…	…	…	…	2·3	3·2
Rutland and Stamford	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·6
Lincoln	…	…	…	…	…	2·9	3·9
Merseyside
Huyton	…	…	…	…	…	1·0	1·5
Wirral	…	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·6
Benington and Ellesmere Port		…	…	…	…	1·6	2·1
Birkenhead	…	…	…	…	…	1·4	2·2
Bootle	…	…	…	…	…	0·8	1·2
Crosby	…	…	…	…	…	1·8	2·5
Liverpool, Edge Hill	…	…	…	…	…	0·7	1·2
Liverpool, Garston	…	…	…	…	…	1·4	1·9
Liverpool, Kirkdale	…	…	…	…	…	0·8	1·2
Liverpool, Scotland Exchange		…	…	…	…	0·5	1·0
Liverpool, Toxteth	…	…	…	…	…	1·5	2·5
Liverpool, Walton	…	…	…	…	…	1·0	1·5
Liverpool, Wavertree	…	…	…	…	…	1·4	2·0
Liverpool, West Derby	…	…	…	…	…	1·0	1·5
St. Helens	…	…	…	…	…	0·8	1·2
Southport	…	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·4
Wallasey	…	…	…	…	…	21	2·8

						Postal votes cast as a percentage of
Constituency						Total electorate	Total votes cast
Norfolk
North Norfolk	…	…	…	…	…	3·1	4·1
North West Norfolk	…	…	…	…	…	3·8	4·8
South Norfolk	…	…	…	…	…	3·0	4·0
South West Norfolk	…	…	…	…	…	4·0	5·2
Yarmouth	…	…	…	…	…	2·2	3·0
Norwich, North	…	…	…	…	…	3·1	4·4
Norwich, South	…	…	…	…	…	4·7	6·0
Northamptonshire
Daventry	…	…	…	…	…	2·2	2·9
Kettering	…	…	…	…	…	1·3	1·8
Wellingborough	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·4
Northampton, North	…	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·3
Northampton, South	…	…	…	…	…	3·1	4·1
Northumberland
Berwick-upon-Tweed	…	…	…	…	…	6·2	7·7
Hexham	…	…	…	…	…	3·0	3·9
Morpeth	…	…	…	…	…	1·2	1·6
Blyth	…	…	…	…	…	0·9	1·2
North Yorkshire
Harrogate	…	…	…	…	…	3·3	4·7
Richmond (Yorkshire)	…	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·6
Ripon	…	…	…	…	…	4·1	5·2
Scarborough	…	…	…	…	…	1·9	2·9
Skipton	…	…	…	…	…	2·9	3·5
Thirsk and Malton	…	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·8
York	…	…	…	…	…	2·6	3·4
Nottinghamshire
Ashfield	…	…	…	…	…	0·8	1·1
Bassetlaw	…	…	…	…	…	1·5	2·0
Beeston	…	…	…	…	…	2·8	3·5
Carlton	…	…	…	…	…	1·9	2·4
Mansfield	…	…	…	…	…	1·0	1·4
Newark	…	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·1
Rushcliffe	…	…	…	…	…	3·0	4·0
Nottingham, East	…	…	…	…	…	2·6	4·4
Nottingham, North	…	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·5
Nottingham West	…	…	…	…	…	1·5	2·1
Oxfordshire
Abingdon	…	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·3
Banbury	…	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·2
Henley	…	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·4
Mid-Oxen	…	…	…	…	…	2·2	2·9
Oxford	…	…	…	…	…	4·0	5·6
Salop
Ludlow	…	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·2
Oswestry	…	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·9
Shrewsbury	…	…	…	…	…	2·8	3·9
The Wrekin	…	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·2
Somerset
Bridgwater	…	…	…	…	…	2·9	3·8
Taunton	…	…	…	…	…	3·7	4·6
Wells	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·4
Yeovil	…	…	…	…	…	2·8	3·5
South Yorkshire
Dearne Valley	…	…	…	…	…	0·7	1·0
Don Valley	…	…	…	…	…	0·9	1·2
Goole	…	…	…	…	…	1·4	2·1
Penistone	…	…	…	…	…	1·0	1·3
Rother Valley	…	…	…	…	…	0·5	0·8
Barnsley	…	…	…	…	…	0·8	1·1
Doncaster	…	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·4
Rotherham	…	…	…	…	…	0·7	1·1
Sheffield, Attercliffe	…	…	…	…	…	1·0	1·4
Sheffield, Brightside	…	…	…	…	…	1·0	1·5
Sheffield, Hallam	…	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·4
Sheffield, Heeley	…	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·4
Sheffield, Hillsborough	…	…	…	…	…	1·4	2·1
Sheffield, Park	…	…	…	…	…	1·0	1·6

					Postal votes cast as a percentage of
Constituency					Total electorate	Total votes cast
Staffordshire
Burton	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·1
Cannock	…	…	…	…	1·4	1·8
Leek	…	…	…	…	1·8	2·3
Lichfield and Tamworth	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·0
South-West Staffordshire	…	…	…	…	1·5	2·0
Stafford and Stone	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·7
Newcastle under Lyme	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·6
Stoke-on-Trent, Central	…	…	…	…	0·6	1·0
Stoke-on-Trent, North	…	…	…	…	0·6	0·8
Stoke-on-Trent, South	…	…	…	…	0·7	0·9
Suffolk
Bury St. Edmunds	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·4
Eye	…	…	…	…	3·0	3·9
Lowestoft	…	…	…	…	3·0	3·8
Sudbury and Woodbridge	…	…	…	…	2·9	3·9
Ipswich	…	…	…	…	3·4	4·4
Surrey
Dorking	…	…	…	…	2·1	2·8
East Surrey	…	…	…	…	2·9	3·8
Farnham	…	…	…	…	3·0	3·9
Guildford	…	…	…	…	2·9	4·0
North-West Surrey	…	…	…	…	2·1	3·0
Woking	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·4
Chertsey and Walton	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·2
Epsom and Ewell	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·4
Esher	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·3
Reigate	…	…	…	…	2·8	3·7
Spelthorne	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·3
Tyne and Wear
Houghton-le-Spring	…	…	…	…	0·6	0·8
Blaydon	…	…	…	…	0·6	0·9
Gateshead, East	…	…	…	…	0·7	1·0
Gateshead, West	…	…	…	…	0·6	1·0
Jarrow	…	…	…	…	1·3	1·8
Newcastle upon Tyne, Central	…	…	…	…	1·0	1·7
Newcastle upon Tyne, East	…	…	…	…	1·4	2·0
Newcastle upon Tyne, North	…	…	…	…	3·0	4·7
Newcastle upon Tyne, West	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·3
South Shields	…	…	…	…	0·8	1·3
Sunderland, North	…	…	…	…	1·0	1·5
Sunderland, South	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·3
Tynemouth	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·2
Wallsend	…	…	…	…	0·8	1·1
Warwickshire
Rugby	…	…	…	…	2·6	3·3
Stratford-on-Avon	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·8
Warwick and Leamington	…	…	…	…	2·6	3·5
Nuneaton	…	…	…	…	1·1	1·5
West Midlands
Meriden	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·3
Aldridge-Brownhills	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·0
Birmingham, Edgbaston	…	…	…	…	1·9	3·0
Birmingham, Erdington	…	…	…	…	1·1	1·7
Birmingham, Hall Green	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·2
Birmingham, Handsworth	…	…	…	…	1·5	2·3
Birmingham, Ladywood	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·9
Birmingham, Northfield	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·5
Birmingham, Perry Bar	…	…	…	…	1·0	1·4
Birmingham, Selly Oak	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·7
Birmingham, Small Heath	…	…	…	…	1·0	1·7
Birmingham, Sparkbrook	…	…	…	…	0·8	1·4
Birmingham, Stechford	…	…	…	…	1·1	1·7
Birmingham, Yardley	…	…	…	…	1·4	1·9
Coventry, North-East	…	…	…	…	0·8	1·2
Coventry, North-West	…	…	…	…	1·5	2·0
Coventry, South-East	…	…	…	…	1·1	1·6
Coventry, South-West	…	…	…	…	1·9	2·4

					Postal votes cast as a percentage of
Constituency					Total electorate	Total votes cast
Dudley, East	…	…	…	…	1·4	2·1
Dudley, West	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·1
Halesowen and Stourbridge	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·2
Solihull	…	…	…	…	2·2	2·9
Sutton Coldfield	…	…	…	…	2·2	3·0
Walsall, North	…	…	…	…	0·6	0·9
Walsall, South	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·8
Warley, East	…	…	…	…	1·3	1·9
Warley, West	…	…	…	…	0·8	1·1
West Bromwich, East	…	…	…	…	1·1	1·7
West Bromwich, West	…	…	…	…	0·6	0·9
Wolverhampton, North-East	…	…	…	…	0·7	1·0
Wolverhampton, South-East	…	…	…	…	0·6	0·9
Wolverhampton, South-West	…	…	…	…	2·2	3·d
West Sussex
Arundel	…	…	…	…	2·1	2·9
Chichester	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·8
Horsham and Crawley	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·2
Mid-Sussex	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·2
Shoreham	…	…	…	…	2·1	2·8
Worthing	…	…	…	…	2·8	3·9
West Yorkshire
Barkston Ash	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·6
Colne Valley.	…	…	…	…	2·9	3·5
Hemsworth	…	…	…	…	1·2	1·7
Normanton	…	…	…	…	0·4	0·6
Shipley	…	…	…	…	3·0	3·7
Sowerby	…	…	…	…	3·0	3·8
Batley and Morley	…	…	…	…	1·3	1·8
Bradford, North	…	…	…	…	1·7	2·4
Bradford, South	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·3
Bradford, West	…	…	…	…	2·2	3·2
Brighouse and Spenborough	…	…	…	…	3·0	3·8
Dewsbury	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·3
Halifax	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·4
Huddersfield, East	…	…	…	…	1·9	2·7
Huddersfield, West	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·6
Keighley	…	…	…	…	3·7	4·4
Leeds, East	…	…	…	…	1·1	1·7
Leeds, North-East	…	…	…	…	2·6	3·9
Leeds, North-West	…	…	…	…	2·2	3·4
Leeds, South	…	…	…	…	1·0	1·6
Leeds, South-East	…	…	…	…	1·2	2·2
Leeds, West	…	…	…	…	1·3	1·8
Pontefract and Castleford	…	…	…	…	0·7	1·0
Pudsey	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·4
Wakefield.	…	…	…	…	1·3	1·9
Wiltshire
Chippenham	…	…	…	…	3·1	4·0
Devizes	…	…	…	…	N.A.	N.A.
Salisbury	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·7
Westbury	…	…	…	…	2·9	3·6
Swindon	…	…	…	…	2·2	3·0
WALES
Clwyd
Denbigh	…	…	…	…	2·6	3·5
East Flint	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·5
West Flint	…	…	…	…	2·1	2·8
Wrexham	…	…	…	…	1·2	1·6
Dyfed
Cardigan	…	…	…	…	4·4	5·5
Carmarthen	…	…	…	…	5·4	6·4
Llanelli	…	…	…	…	1·8	2·3
Pembroke	…	…	…	…	3·4	4·3

						Postal votes cast us a percentage of
Constituency						Total electorate	Total votes cast
Gwent
Abertillery	…	…	…	…	…	0·8	1·1
Bedwellty	…	…	…	…	…	1·4	1·8
Ebbw Vale	…	…	…	…	…	1·5	2·0
Monmouth	…	…	…	…	…	2·9	3·7
Pontypool	…	…	…	…	…	0·9	1·2
Newport	…	…	…	…	…	1·5	2·0
Gwynedd
Anglesey	…	…	…	…	…	3·8	5·1
Caernarvon	…	…	…	…	…	4·6	5·7
Conway	…	…	…	…	…	3·4	4·5
Merioneth	…	…	…	…	…	6·6	7·9
Mid Glamorgan
Caerphilly	…	…	…	…	…	1·3	1·7
Ogmore	…	…	…	…	…	1·4	1·9
Pontypridd	…	…	…	…	…	1·2	1·6
Aberdare	…	…	…	…	…	2·0	2·5
Merthyr Tydfil	…	…	…	…	…	2·1	2·8
Rhondda	…	…	…	…	…	2·9	3·8
Powys
Brecon and Radnor	…	…	…	…	…	3·7	4·5
Montgomery	…	…	…	…	…	4·4	5·6
South Glamorgan
Barry	…	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·2
Cardiff, North	…	…	…	…	…	2·6	3·6
Cardiff, North-West	…	…	…	…	…	2·2	2·8
Cardiff, South-East	…	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·2
Cardiff, West	…	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·3
West Glamorgan
Aberavon	…	…	…	…	…	1·2	1·7
Gower	…	…	…	…	…	1·8	2·3
Neath	…	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·0
Swansea, East	…	…	…	…	…	1·0	1·5
Swansea, West	…	…	…	…	…	2·3	3·0
SCOTLAND
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire East	…	…	…	…	…	2·5	3·5
Aberdeenshire, West	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·6
Aberdeen, North	…	…	…	…	…	1·3	1·9
Aberdeen, South	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	3·6
Angus and Kincardine
North Angus and Mearns	…	…	…	…	…	2·4	3·3
South Angus	…	…	…	…	…	2·3	3·1
Dundee, East	…	…	…	…	…	2·1	2·9
Dundee, West	…	…	…	…	…	1·9	2·5
Argyll
Argyll	…	…	…	…	…	3·1	4·3
Ayrshire and Bute
Ayr	…	…	…	…	…	2·6	3·3
Bute and North Ayrshire	…	…	…	…	…	2·3	3·2
Central Ayrshire	…	…	…	…	…	2·3	2·9
South Ayrshire	…	…	…	…	…	1·9	2·5
Kilmarnock	…	…	…	…	…	1·4	1·7
Banffshire
Banff	…	…	…	…	…	4·6	6·3
Berwick and East Lothian
Berwick and East Lothian	…	…	…	…	…	3·7	4·5
Caithness and Sutherland
Caithness and Sutherland	…	…	…	…	…	4·6	5·9
Dumfriesshire
Dumfries	…	…	…	…	…	2·8	3·7

					Postal votes cast as a percentage of
Constituency				Total electorate	Total votes cast
Dunbartonshire
Central Dunbartonshire	…	…	…	1·4	1·7
East Dunbartonshire	…	…	…	1·9	2·3
West Dunbartonshire	…	…	…	2·1	2·7
Fife
Central Fife	…	…	…	1·0	1·3
East Fife	…	…	…	2·7	3·7
Dunfermline Burghs	…	…	…	1·6	2·1
Kirkcaldy Burghs	…	…	…	1·4	1·9
Inverness-shire, Ross and Cromarty
Inverness	…	…	…	2·9	4·2
Ross and Cromarty	…	…	…	3·5	5·1
Western Isles	…	…	…	2·6	4·0
Kirkcudbright and Wigtownshire
Galloway	…	…	…	3·1	4·1
Lanarkshire
Bothwell	…	…	…	0·8	1·1
East Kilbride	…	…	…	0·9	1·2
Hamilton	…	…	…	1·0	1·3
Lanark	…	…	…	3·0	3·7
Motherwell and Wishaw	…	…	…	0·7	1·0
North Lanarkshire	…	…	…	1·3	1·7
Rutherglen	…	…	…	1·5	19
Coatbridge and Airdrie	…	…	…	0·7	1·0
Glasgow, Cathcart	…	…	…	1·5	2·0
Glasgow, Central	…	…	…	0·5	0·9
Glasgow, Craigton	…	…	…	1·4	1·9
Glasgow, Garscadden	…	…	…	0·7	1·0
Glasgow, Govan,	…	…	…	1·2	t·6
Glasgow, Hillhead	…	…	…	1·9	2·6
Glasgow, Kelvingrove	…	…	…	2·5	4·0
Glasgow, Maryhill	…	…	…	0·8	1·1
Glasgow, Pollok	…	…	…	1·8	2·5
Glasgow, Provan	…	…	…	0·5	0·7
Glasgow, Queen's Park	…	…	…	0·8	1·2
Glasgow, Shettleston	…	…	…	0·5	0·8
Glasgow, Springburn	…	…	…	0·7	1·1
Midlothian
Midlothian	…	…	…	1·4	1·8
Edinburgh, Central	…	…	…	2·5	3·7
Edinburgh, East	…	…	…	1·9	2·5
Edinburgh, Leith	…	…	…	1·6	2·2
Edinburgh, North	…	…	…	2·4	3·5
Edinburgh, Pentlands	…	…	…	2·3	3·1
Edinburgh, South	…	…	…	2·7	3·6
Edinburgh, West	…	…	…	2·0	2·7
Moray and Nairnshire
Moray and Nairn	…	…	…	3·9	5·2
Orkney and Zetland
Orkney and Zetland	…	…	…	4·0	6·0
Perthshire and Kinross-shire
Kinross and West Perthshire	…	…	…	3·4	4·5
Perth and East Perthshire	…	…	…	2·2	3·0
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire, East	…	…	…	1·7	2·2
Renfrewshire, West	…	…	…	2·1	2·7
Greenock and Port Glasgow	…	…	…	1·2	1·8
Paisley	…	…	…	1·0	1·4
Roxburghshire, Selkirkshire and Peebleshire
Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles	…	…	…	3·8	4·9
Stirling and Clackmannanshire
Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire	…	…	…	1·4	1·7
West Stirling	…	…	…	2·0	2·5
Stirling, Falkirk and Grangemouth	…	…	…	1·6	2·1
West Lothian
West Lothian	…	…	…	1·2	1·5

						Postal votes cast as a percentage of
Constituency						Total electorate	Total votes cast
NORTHERN IRELAND
North Antrim	…	…	…	…	…	1·5	2·7
South Antrim	…	…	…	…	…	1·1	1·9
Armagh	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	4·0
North Down	…	…	…	…	…	1·6	2·7
South Down	…	…	…	…	…	4·0	5·5
Fermanagh and South Tyrone	…	…	…	…	…	12·5	14·2
Mid-Ulster	…	…	…	…	…	9·3	11·8
Londonderry	…	…	…	…	…	3·7	5·4
Belfast, East	…	…	…	…	…	1·2	1·9
Belfast, North	…	…	…	…	…	1·5	2·3
Belfast, South	…	…	…	…	…	1·4	2·1
Belfast, West	…	…	…	…	…	0·9	1·3
UNITED KINGDOM TOTAL^*	…	…	…	…	…	2·1	2·9
^* Excluding 3 constituencies which did not submit postal vote returns

Deportation

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been detained in prison and how many on bail awaiting deportation since January 1973; and what is the longest period of detention.

The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, between 1st January 1973 and 30th November 1977 there were 5,326 receptions into Prison Department establishments in England and Wales of people detained under the Immigration Act 1971. This figure includes those detained to await removal as illegalentrants. It does not include persons detained on completion of a sentence of imprisonment.The longest time spent awaiting deportation in Prision Department establish

PERSONS SENTENCED TO COMMUNITY SERVICE BY TYPE OF COURT, AGE GROUP AND TIME TO BE SERVED: ENGLAND AND WALES 1976
Number of persons
	Magistrates' Courts			Crown Court
Number of days to be served^*	Aged 17 and under 21	Aged 21 and over	Total	Aged 17 and under 21	Aged 21 and over	Total
MALES
Up to 4	1,668	1,307	2,975	554	394	948
5–6	1,306	1,082	2,388	496	382	878
7–8	428	384	812	195	197	392
9–10	107	122	229	17	27	44
Total	3,509	2,895	6,404	1,262	1,000	2,262
EMALES
Up to 4	80	165	245	21	17	38
5–6	38	62	100	17	19	36
7–8	8	14	22	10	8	18
9–10	3	2	5	1	2	3
Total	129	243	372	49	46	95
^* Rounded to the nearest day.

ments in England and Wales by any of the people deported between 1st January 1975 and 30th November 1977 was 347 days. To extend this period back to 1st January 1973 would involve disproportionate cost.

Community Service Orders

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) male offenders and (b) female offenders were made subject to community service orders in 1976; of these offenders, how many were aged between 17 and 20 years, inclusive; how many of these orders were for up to 99 hours, 100–149 hours, 150–199 hours and 200–240 hours and how many were made by the Crown court and how many by magistrates' courts.

The information readily available is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were made subject to community service orders between 1st January 1973 and 31st December 1976.

The figures on the principal offence basis published in successive issues of Criminal Statistics total 13,986 for the period 1st January 1973 to 31st December 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community service orders were revoked over the period 1st January 1973 to 31st December 1976.

Information is not available in the form requested.Returns made by the probation service indicate that community service orders were revoked in 1,372 cases over the period 1st January 1973 to 30th November 1976, the closest period for which data are available. In some of these cases more than one order may have been involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of persons made the subject of community service orders in the North-East London probation area for the latest convenient year, the numbers of these persons who would otherwise have been imprisoned, the estimated costs per year to public funds for each form of punishment; and if there are any restraints on the operation of this system in North-East London.

I understand that 206 persons in the North-East London probation area were given community service orders between 1st December 1976 and 30th November 1977. I am unable to say how many of those would have been sentenced to imprisonment had community service arrangements not been available. Figures for current expenditure on community service are not available separately from those on expenditure on the probation service as a whole, but I shall write to my hon. Friend with such information as is available. Details of expenditure on the Prison Service appear annually in the report of the work of the Prison Department. Cmnd. 6877 contains information for the financial year 1975–76.

There are currently no restraints on the operation of community service arrangements in North-East London.

Public Records

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now publish a detailed list of the public documents and records at present preserved in section HO 144 of the Public Record Office; and if he will make a statement.

No.

Blundeston Prison

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Blundeston prisoners who are nationals of countries other than African or Caribbean countries, who have been involved with either the possession or trafficking of drugs and who were under recommendation for deportation during the period since 1st January 1976, were considered for parole, or awarded parole, respectively; and what was the average length of parole granted.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the Question asked by him on 25th November.—[Vol. 939, c. 927.]

Acklington Prison (Houses)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the transfer, for letting purposes, of unoccupied houses at Acklington Prison to Castle Morpeth Borough Council; and how many houses are involved.

A meeting is to be held shortly with Castle Morpeth Borough Council to discuss arrangements for the temporary transfer to the council of currently vacant houses at Acklington but the numbers of houses involved and the date of transfer depend on the outcome of negotiations.

Car Bomb (London)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the New Year's Eve bombing incident in Stafford Street, London.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that at 21.55 on Saturday, 31st December, 1977 at Stafford Street, W1, an explosion occurred in a Volvo car owned by the Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic. As a result of the explosion, two members of the Embassy staff, Mr. Jawdat Awad, an attache, and Mr. Faez Shibly, a chauffeur, were killed and damage was caused to nearby buildings. Forensic examination has established that the explosive device detonated inside the passenger compartment of the car. Police inquiries into the incident are being urgently pursued.

Grunwick Processing Laboratories Ltd

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish in the Official Report a frequency distribution indicating the alleged offences committed by those charged by the police in connection with the industrial dispute at Grunwick; and what are the numbers involved in each category;(2) how many people so far have been arrested by the police in connection with the industrial dispute at Grunwick.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that, since 13th June 1977, 500 people have been arrested in conection with picketing at the Grunwick factory. Some have been charged with more than one offence. The offences for which those arrested hake been charged are as follows:

Obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty.	208
Threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour	114
Obstruction of the highway	106
Assaulting a police officer	104
Criminal damage	6
Possession of an offensive weapon	4
Assault occasioning grievous bodily harm	1
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm	1

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a frequency distributor indicating how many of those charged with alleged offences in connection with the industrial dispute at Grunwick have been tried by a court, the offences they were charged with, and how many and what proportion in each category were found guilty.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Chelsea (Mr. Scott) on 9th January. I regret that the other information could not be obtained without disproportionate effort and expense.—[Vol. 941, c. 614.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those charged with alleged offences in connection with the industrial dispute at Grunwick applied for legal aid; and how many legal aid certificates were granted.

It would not be possible, without disproportionate effort and expense, to distinguish from other applicants for legal aid those charged with offences arising out of the industrial dispute at the Grunwick factory.

Gerald Road Police Station

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many high-risk persons per square mile live in the area for which Gerald Road Police Station is responsible; and how this compares with the rest of the Metropolitan Police area.(2) what are the north, south, east and west points of the area covered by the Gerald Road Police Station;(3) what effect closure of Gerald Road Police Station would have on the response time in answer to calls in the area at present covered by Gerald Road Police Station;(4) how is is proposed to provide police protection for the North Exhibition Road and Albert Hall area if Gerald Road Police Station is closed;(5) what is the wastage rate of personnel in larger police stations compared with smaller police stations;(6) what is the wastage rate of personnel in Gerald Road Police Station compared with the average of other police stations in the Metropolitan area;(7) what factors will be taken into consideration if he proposes to consider the closure of Gerald Road Police Station;(8) what improvement in efficiency would be achieved if he were to move the police operations from Gerald Road to Rochester Row:

(9) what savings in costs would be achieved if he were to move the police operations from Gerald Road to Rochester Row;

(10) whether he will take into full consideration the views of officers and men at present stationed at Gerald Road Police Station before any decision is taken to transfer all or part of that station's duties to another station;

(11) how the resignations from officers of each rank serving at Gerald Road Police Station as a proportion of those serving there compare with the proportion in the rest of the Metropolitan area;

(12) whether his attention has been drawn to the fall in morale in officers of all ranks at Gerald Road Police Station as a result of his intention to close this station; and what action he proposes to reverse this;

(13) which foreign embassies, consulates, delegations and representatives are sited within the area for which Gerald Road Police Station is responsible; and how many of these would be more remote from a police station in the event of the closure of Gerald Road Police Station.

Gerald Road Police Station covers an area bounded by Exhibition Road, Hyde Park Corner, Victoria Station and Chelsea Bridge. Within this area there are 77 diplomatic premises representing 49 different countries or international organisations.The future of Gerald Road Police Station is being considered by the Metropolitan Police in the context of a review of the command structure of the force. The primary object of the review is to enable the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to determine the most effective way of carrying out his policing responsibilities, with the particular aim of releasing officers from administrative tasks for operational duties.When the review is completed, it will be for the Commissioner to reach a decision on the station's future. He has said that he will take into account the views of interested parties before any action is taken: this includes the views of the police representative organisations and of the officers serving at the Gerald Road station. The Commissioner is aware of the natural concern felt by some officers at the station because of the current review. However, he tells me that the proportion of officers serving at the station who resign without pension is similar to the proportion in other stations in A Division of the force.The closure of the station would not affect the time taken to respond to requests for police assistance as all such requests are passed by radio to mobile and foot patrols. Nor would it affect the methods used to police the area or the number of police patrols.The remaining information is either not available or could only be obtained with disproportionate effort and cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many houses have been broken into in the area at present covered by Gerald Road Police Station where personal assault has been involved in each of the last five years;(2) how many cases of burglary have taken place in the area covered by Gerald Road Police Station in each of the last five years;(3) what has been the value of goods stolen from private houses in the area covered by Gerald Road Police Station each of the last five years;(4) what is the value of property per square mile which has been stolen from private houses in the area covered by Gerald Road Police Station; and how this compares with the average for other areas in the Metropolitan Police area.

The number of burglaries in the Gerald Road Station area of the Metropolitan Police District in each of the last five years was as follows:

	Burglaries into Residential premises	Burglaries into Non-Residential premises	Total
1973	245	189	434
1974	301	267	568
1975	363	227	590
1976	415	235	650
1977	407	176	583

The remaining information could not be obtained without disproportionate effort and cost.

Private Houses (Unauthorised Entry)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the methods of unauthorised entry into private houses in the Metropolitan Police District in each of the last five years.

The available information is as follows:(

a) Number of forcible entry burglaries into dwellings in the Metropolitan Police District:

Year	Number
1972	26,045
1973	23,645
1974	29,905
1975	34,130
1976	36,579

( b) Number of walk-in entry burglaries into dwellings in the Metropolitan Police District:

Year	Number
1972	20,339
1973	18,531
1974	18,954
1975	21,637
1976	24,101

Scotland

Tertiary Education Council

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to have further consultations about the proposal to set up a council for tertiary education in Scotland.

I have issued a consultative paper to interested bodies today, and have placed a copy in the Library of the House. The paper proposes the establishment of a Council for Tertiary Education, on the lines proposed in the supplementary statement on devolution of August 1976 (Cmnd 6585), in advance of devolution coming into effect. It is not envisaged that the Council would have executive powers, nor is it intended that the Council should duplicate or usurp the functions of other bodies already in existence.The paper suggests a number of issues which the Council might properly consider—for example, joint consideration of academic development in universities and the non-university sector, the common use of facilities, and the compatibility of school curricula and examina tions with the entrance requirements of the tertiary sector. The paper seeks views on whether the remit of the Council should extent to post-school education as a whole or whether it should be confined to higher education in universities and other institutions; and also on the range of interests to be covered, and the balance among them, in the membership of the Council. Comments on the paper have been requested within two months.

Crime (Identification Procedure)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the Report of the Bryden Working Group on Identification Procedure under Scottish criminal law.

The Working Group on Identification Procedure under Scottish criminal law with Sheriff-Principal W. J. Bryden as chairman, which was appointed in August 1976, has now submitted its report, which is being printed and will be presented to Parliament and published as soon as possible.

Fire Emergency (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how he proposes to meet expenditure incurred by his Department as a result of the fire emergency.

Parliamentary approval to this new service will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate, for the Law, Order and Protective Services (SHHD) Vote. Pending that approval, the necessary expenditure will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

House Of Commons

Membership

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will collect and publish statistics to show how many hon. Members have served for periods of less than five years, and also for periods of less than 10 years, and have not subsequently sought re-election in each case as parliamentary candidates since the 1951 General Election.

I regret that these statistics are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Community Law Centres (Grants)

asked the Attorney-General what are the total sums paid out in grants to community law centres during each of the last three years; what are the estimated amounts to be granted in the current year; and what is the amount to be allocated for this purpose for 1978–79.

The total sums paid out of central Government funds in grants to community law centres are as follows:—

1974–75	£69,530
1975–76	£149,530
1976–77	£380,410
1977–78 (estimated)	£527,350

The amount to be allocated for this purpose for 1978–79 has not yet been determined, but it is hoped that it will allow the existing level of service to be maintained. I understand that certain law centres receive various grants from local authorities, but I am not aware of the detailed amounts.

asked the Attorney General if he will publish a list of those community law centres currently receiving a grant from his Department, together with the amount granted to each centre.

The following law centres are currently receiving a grant from my noble Friend's Department on the basis of a total payment in this financial year of the amount stated:

Adamsdown Community Advice Centre	£30,040
Cambridge House and Talbot Advice Centre	£10,000
Newham Rights Centre	£45,000
North Kensington Law Centre	£58,500
Saltley Action Centre	£14,000
Tower Hamlets Law Centre	£57,600

Environment

Ordnance Survey

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the chairman and membership of the committee of inquiry into the workings of the Ordnance Survey.

I have asked Sir David Serpell to chair the committee to review the operations of the Ordnance Survey. Mr. J. R. C. Yglesias will be the deputy-chairman. I expect to announce the names of the other committee members shortly; their number will include some with professional, academic and commercial expertise, and some with considerable knowledge of user interests. Mr. Walter Smith, the Director General of the Ordnance Survey, will be available to attend meetings and to act as co-adjutor and adviser to the committee. The terms of reference of the committee, which will work on the basis that the Ordnance Survey will remain a Government Department operating throughout Great Britain, are:

"Taking account of the views of users and other interested parties, in the context of national surveying and mapping needs, to consider and make recommendations about the longer term policies and activities of the Ordnance Survey and ways of financing them".

I am asking the committee to complete its report, which I propose to publish, by early 1979 so that it may serve as a basis for determining Ordnance Survey policies for the 1980s and 1990s.Whilst I do not envisage any requirement for legislative action in regard to the Ordnance Survey's status, I expect the review to cover the whole range of services, including quality, involved in the collection, presentation and utilisation of information by the Survey. The committee will also need to consider whether costs could be reduced or revenue increased by greater efficiency, by changes in policies or standards or levels of activity, or by improved marketing. These tasks will obviously call for the identification and assessment of the needs of current and potential users.Finally, I am asking the committee to consider what the appropriate long-term financial guidelines should be for establishing the proportion of costs to be borne by the user, whether public or private, and the proportion to be borne by the taxpayer.

Sport (European Community Directive)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking with the Common Market Directorate for Restrictive Practices, Abuse of Dominant Positions, to stop its demand, with the threat of heavy fines for non-compliance, that major British sports organisations shall supply detailed information including a list of members of each sport, in view of the fact that to comply with this will impose an impossible task on the staff of the sporting bodies concerned.

I refer to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Pendry) on Monday 16th January.—[Vol. 942, c. 53–4.]

Child Minding

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the situation arising from the recent decision of the Chancery Court barring a woman from giving a child-minding service in her own home.

As far as I am now aware, the case does not raise an issue for which my right hon. Friend is responsible.

Statutes (Operation)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Acts of Parliament within his responsibility in the last three parliamentary Sessions have had clauses or sections not yet brought into force by appropriate commencement orders; and if he will list them.

One: the Reservoirs Act 1975, none of which has yet been brought into force.

Waste Recycling

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the current progress of the Waste Management Advisory Council and the National Anti-Waste Programme.

The work being done by the Waste Management Advisory Council and the National Anti-Waste Organisation to stimulate the recycling of waste materials has its ultimate results in initiatives within industry, local authorities and voluntary organisations. Recent progress includes a project, with Government support, for a pilot plant to pyrolise used tyres; bottle banks for the collection of glass cullet; schemes for collection centres for waste textiles and aluminium; and increased interest in the collection of waste by voluntary organisations as a result of the NAWO guide to voluntary waste collection. In addition grants of over £6½ million have been approved for the paper and board industry to stimulate the recycling of waste paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will specify the practical implications of his national anti-waste programme for local authorities and the general programme.

We want to encourage local authorities to do whatever is practicable to reclaim household waste, either for recycling or for use as fuel, and to give whatever help they can to voluntary waste collections operating in their areas. Many are already running or co-operating in useful schemes. We hope that the two mechanical sorting plants now being constructed with Government support, in South Yorkshire and Tyne and Wear, will widen opportunities further.

Listed Buildings

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many listed buildings in Essex are known to have been destroyed or demolished since 31st December 1974.

Between 1st January 1975 and 30th June 1977, the most recent date for which figures are available, consent was given for the total demolition of seven buildings in Essex, although it is not known whether these consents have been acted upon and the buildings demolished.

Rate Rebates

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of householders who received a rate rebate during the year ended 31st March 1977; what is his estimate of the number of householders eligible for rate rebate but not claiming in that year; what was the total amount granted in rebates for that year; and whether he will publish figures for each rating authority.

The total number of householders in England and Wales who received rate rebates during the year ending 31st March 1977 was 2·67 million. I estimate that a further 1·2 million householders were eligible for rate rebate but did not claim during that year. The total value of rate rebates granted in that year was £126·6 million. Lists of the figures for each rating authority are available in the Library.

Footpaths

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete his investigations into the law relating to public footpaths.

Work on the studies referred to in the reply to the hon. Member on 9th January—[Vol. 941, c. 629–630]—are at various stages in what is, overall, a long-term exercise, and I am unable at present to forecast a completion date.

Waste Food

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made since the launching of the national anti-waste programme in June 1977 in organising the recycling of the large volume of food waste in the United Kingdom in order to feed livestock.

I have been asked to reply.My Department's food waste survey unit is at present investigating the amount of waste food and how it arises in the home, in the food processing industry and in catering. In the meantime, our advisory specialists are available to give advice on how to convert waste food into feed for livestock in an efficient and hygienic way.

Trade

Government Chemist's Laboratory

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what consultations he has held concerning the proposal to move the Laboratory of the Government Chemist to West Cumbria; whether the change of location will affect the extent to which his Department uses the Laboratory's services; and what proportion of samples sent to the Laboratory by his Department would continue to be sent there after the move to the new location has been effected.

My Department is a small but important user of the services of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist and has been involved in discussions on the implications arising from the decision to move the laboratory to West Cumbria. The requirements of my Department are being taken into consideration in the plans being made for the move which is not expected to affect the extent of my Department's usage of the laboratory's services.

British Tourist Authority

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he remains satisfied with the activities of the British Tourist Authority; and, if not, why not;(2) in what way he believes that the changes to the constitution of the British Tourist Authority, as proposed in the Scotland Bill, will improve the marketing and managerial work of that body;(3) what precise skill, knowledge or experience will be required of the new appointees to the board of the British Tourist Authority if the proposals contained in the Scotland Bill which affect the British Tourist Authority are implemented.

pursuant to his reply—[Official Report, 16th January 1978, Vol. 942, c. 63.]—gave the following information:Yes. The proposals for membership of the Authority in the Bill are designed to reflect the new constitutional situation. Any independent member will be chosen for his knowledge and experience of tourism business in particular and public affairs in general.

Goods And Technical Services (Embargo List)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what plans he has for amending the embargo list of goods and technical services which can be supplied to Warsaw Pact countries; and if he will make a statement.

The lists are regularly reviewed with our allies. The next review is due to start this autumn, and the results should become effective about a year later.

Tourism

43.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will raise at the next meeting of the EEC Ministers the question of aid to the tourist industry.

Tourism is already eligible for aid from the Community on the same basis as industry generally.

Transport

A6 (Bedfordshire)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he anticipates the work on the St. John's railway bridge (A6) will be completed: and what is the reason for the delay.

By midsummer this year. Delay arose from the postponement of schemes in December 1976 and difficulties in obtaining materials.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents have occurred during the past two years on the A6 between Manton Lane roundabout and the village of Clapham; whether there are proposals for widening the road on its approach to Clapham, Bedfordshire; and what steps he intends to take to ensure that motorists are aware the road unexpectedly narrows near the village.

In the two years ending 31st December 1977, two serious and three slight injury accidents occurred. A scheme to widen the narrow section of this length outside the built-up area of Clapham and improve sight lines on the bends is planned to start next July. Appropriate signs will warn of the remaining narrow section at the entrance to the village.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the scheme for the A6 to bypass Clapham, Bedfordshire, has been abandoned.

No such scheme has yet been added to the Department's preparation pool, but the possibility is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will prohibit parking on both sides of the A6 near the entrance to Princes Street, Clapham, Bedfordshire.

A waiting restrictions order was published in a draft on 1st December 1977. Objections are now being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of converting the large roundabout (A6) at the foot of Manton Lane, Bedford, into a smaller one; and what was the cost of additional work undertaken on the approach from Bedford.

About £20,000 and £350 respectively.

asked the Secretary of Stag for Transport if he will list the type and number of accidents that have occurred at the Manton Lane roundabout (A6) since the roadworks were completed at the junction.

Two serious and two slight injury accidents since the first works were completed in October 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, as the route of the A6 out of Bedford from Manton Lane to Clapham involves a wide are left bend, what steps he intends to take to safeguard, dal cyclists using the road.

Improvement schemes due to start this summer will include the provision of a footpath/cycleway.

M54

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for The Wrekin on Friday 16th December 1977, he is now able to announce his decision on the inspector's report on the 1976 side-roads inquiry on the proposed M54 motorway.

Not yet, although my right hon. Friends still hope to announce their decision early this year.

A45 (Suffolk)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the further improvement of those stretches of the A45 between Bury St. Edmunds and Rougham and between Hambly New Street and Stowmarket which previously had been dualled though to unacceptable standards by the previous councils; when he expects this work to be commenced and completed and at what cost; and if he will publish a schedule of the sections of this highway east of Bury St. Edmunds which at present are being planned to be improved giving his estimate of when each contract is expected to be completed.

Schemes for the improvement of the A45 between Bury St. Edmunds and Rougham and between Haughley New Street and Stowmarket are being reviewed in accordance with the principles and priorities laid down in the Transport Policy White Paper. If it is decided to proceed with them, they are unlikely to be built before 1985. It is too early to give a realistic estimate of costs.Apart from these schemes, the A45 east of Bury St. Edmunds is being improved between Rougham and Woolpit and work is expected to be completed early in 1979. A public inquiry was held last summer into draft proposals for a southern bypass of Ipswich and, east of Ipswich, the public are at present being consulted on an improvement between Levington Heath and the A1093.Subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures and to the availability of funds at the time, construction of the Ipswich southern bypass could start in the early 1980s, with completion expected to be two years later, and the Levington Heath-A1093 improvement could be completed in 1982.

Metrication

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for converting distance measurements from miles into kilometres; what estimates were available for the total cost involved; what estimate he can give of the cost components for each sector involved; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave to the hon. Members for Sutton Coldfield (Mr. Fowler) and Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 11th January—[Vol. 941, c. 765]—and to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 12th January.—[Vol. 941, c. 809.]

Freight Traffic

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what investigations he has made into the difficulties of transferring freight traffic to rail, in the light of experience at the Didcot distribution centre; and whether he will set up an inquiry.

I am aware of reports concerning the Didcot distribution centre but developments seem unlikely to have a significant effect on the volume of freight traffic transported by rail. As for an inquiry, I am not clear what role the hon. Gentleman has in mind for one or the powers under which it could be established.

Employment

Temporary Employment Subsidy

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has yet decided whether he will extend temporary employment subsidy beyond March 1978; and if he will make a statement.

The TES scheme is at present under review along with all the other special employment measures due to close on 31st March 1978. An announcement about its future will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much the temporary employment subsidy measures in West Yorkshire have cost the Government since August 1975.

I regret that I am unable to give precise information in the form requested. As at 16th December 1977, the latest date for which information is available, the estimated cumulative total of subsidy authorised—assuming the maximum period of payment in each case—was about £30 million.

Uranium Mining

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has about health hazards in uranium mining operations.

There is no firsthand information about health hazards from mining uranium in the United Kingdom since it is not yet mined here. I have asked the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission to arrange for the hon. Member to be provided with the requisite information relating to experience in other countries.

Pay And Conditions (European Community)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will give the average wage and hours of work, where available, within the Common Market.

The following information for EEC countries relates to October 1975, the most recent month for which broadly comparable data are available. International comparisons of average earnings are not meaningful unless account is taken of differences between countries in (i) rates of tax, (ii) the incidence of social benefits, and (iii) the methods of compilation of the statistics by the various national offices. Also significant variations in internal purchasing power, which are not reflected by market exchange rates, exist between countries.

AVERAGE EARNINGS AND HOURS OF WORK OF MANUAL WORKERS (MALE AND FEMALE) IN MINING AND QUARRYING, CONSTRUCTION AND THE MANUFACTURING INDUSIRIES: OCTOBER 1975
	Average weekly hours of work	Average gross hourly earnings
Germany	40–9	9–94 D. Marks
France	42–4	11–96 F. Francs
Italy	41–5^*	1,553 Lira
Netherlands	40–8	10–26 Guilders
Belgium	37–1	146–85 B. Francs
Luxembourg	40–9	159–36 L. Francs
United Kingdom	41–8	1–264£
Denmark	33–1†	31–26 D. Crowns
Ireland	41–5	1–106 £
^* September 1975.
† Excluding construction.

Sources:

Statistical Office of the European Communities

Central Statistical Office Dublin

Danmark Statistiks

Disabled Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many payments have been made under the Manpower Services Commission's scheme of capital grants to employers of disabled people; what has been the total expenditure to date; and if he will make a statement about the operation and effectiveness of the scheme.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that there are no readily available figures of payments made to date, but authority has been given for 14 adaptations to premises or equipment at a total cost of £7,224. The scheme provides for grants of up to £5,000 to employers who make essential adaptations to their premises or equipment to enable them to engage or retain specific disabled employees. It is considered too early to evaluate the effectiveness of the scheme, but I am not satisfied with the level of take-up so far.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on behalf of how many registered disabled people the £30 job introduction allowance has been paid since it was introduced; how much money has been paid out; and if he will make a further statement on the operation and effectiveness of the scheme.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 166 disabled people have been helped by the job introduction scheme by the end of December, resulting in a payment of £11,610 to date. The scheme is operated by the Employment Service Agency's disablement resettlement officers who can offer a contribution of £30 a week for a six-week period to an employer who has reasonable doubts about engaging a disabled worker whom the disablement resettlement officer considers to be prima facie suitable for the vacancy. It is open to all disabled people, whether registered or not, who have been unemployed for six months.An evaluation of the effectiveness of the scheme is now being undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the Manpower Services Commission expects to publish its development programme for its employment and training services for disabled people over the next five to 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that its development programme of employment and training services for disabled people, which sets out the Commission's plans for improving and extending those services over the next five to 10 years, will be published next month. It will be available in an abbreviated, as well as a full, version. I shall make a statement when the programme is published.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give the figures to the latest convenient date of the number of disabled people registered as unemployed in the Newcastle upon Tyne Employment Office area; and how these compare with the levels for 1974 to 1977 inclusive;(2) if he will give the figures to the latest convenient date of the number of people registered as unemployed under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act in the Newcastle upon Tyne employment office area; and how these compare with the levels for 1974 to 1977 inclusive.

pursuant to his reply—[Official Report, 16th January 1977, Vol. 942, c. 39.]—gave the following information:I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is as shown below. The figures include disabled young people who are registered for work with the Newcastle upon Tyne careers office.

	All unemployed disabled people registered and unregistered (1)	Registered disabled people unemployed (included in Col. (1)) (2)
November 1974^*	—	387
December 1975	—	418
October 1976^*	—	359
April 1977	1,233	411
December 1977	1,220	385
April 1977 is the earliest date for which figures are available of unregistered disabled people who were unemployed.
^*Owing to industrial action at Local offices of the ESA figures for December in these years are not available.

Job Creation Projects

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether any individual or group sponsoring a job creation programme project has been given permission by his Department to waive the 12-month employment rule; and if he will list any such projects.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that no sponsor of a job creation programme project has been given permission to waive the 12-month employment rule. However, local action committees have agreed to extensions beyond 12 months for approximately 500 individual employees at the request of sponsors. I regret that details of the projects involved are not readily available.

West Yorkshire

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the 16,000 redundancies in South-West Yorkshire notified to his Department in the last two years have been in West Yorkshire.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 7,655 of the 16,000 redundancies notified as due to occur in South-West Yorkshire in the last two years, occurred in West Yorkshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the 25,201 jobs in West Yorkshire, for which the Government have provided temporary employment subsidy since August 1975, have eventually been lost through redundancy.

I regret the information requested is not available, but the evidence suggests that the majority of jobs supported by TES continue after subsidy ceases.

Health And Safety

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement upon the implementation by the Health and Safety Executive of Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 which came into force on 1st April 1975.

pursuant to his reply—[Official Report, 16th January 1977; Vol. 942, c. 38]—gave the following information:I refer my hon. Friend to my answers on 16th December 1977 to his Question on the activation of Section 3(2), and to his further Question of yesterday.Inspectors have visited self-employed persons and advised them on their duties under Section 3(2) on many occasions, and there have been a number of prosecutions of self-employed persons under this section.

PROSECUTIONS UNDER SECTION 3(2) OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK. ETC. ACT 1974
	Informations	Convictions	Withdrawn	Dismissed	Fines
1975	—	—	—	—	—
1976	9	8	1	—	£200
1977 (January-November)	4	4	—	—	£320

Public And Private Sectors

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, further to the answers given to the hon. Member for Blaby, Official Report, 11th January, columns 779–82, if he will provide a breakdown of the various tables by sex.

Separate figures for males and females are not compiled for the public and private sectors of the economy.

Acupuncturists

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will issue guidance to the Health and Safety Executive to make use of Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 in respect of the health safety standards of acupuncturists' premises.

pursuant to his reply of 16th January—[Official Report, Vol. 942, c. 38,]—gave the following information:No. I understand from the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that Section 3(2) is being enforced by the appropriate inspectorates of the Executive in relation to this and to other matters. However, enforcement is not a simple matter in relation to the 8 million or so persons, including the self-employed, who are covered by health and safety legislation for the first time. The Commission and Executive are aware of the problems associated with the application of the Act to medical services and kindred activities such as acupuncture and are considering the implications for enforcement, particularly with regard to the activities of the self-employed and the application of Section 3 to the practitioner—patient relationship.

A table showing prosecutions by Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate under Section 3(2) is below.

Defence

Service Pay

36.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is yet in a position to implement the intentions on Service pay, referred to by the Minister of State for Defence during the debate on Armed Services' pay on Friday 9th December 1977.

My hon. Friend told the House on 9th December that the Government intends to restore Service pay to full comparability as soon as pay policy permits. Since the 12-month rule is a key part of that policy, it follows that the next increase will be due on 1st April 1978, the anniversary of the Services' last increase.

Aircraft Crash (Newmarket)

37.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the board of inquiry investigating the crash at Newmarket of a USAF F111 aircraft has completed its inquiries; and if he will make a statement covering the cause of this accident, remedial action being taken in regard both to this type of aircraft and the flight patterns used by USAF and RAF over this part of East Anglia, and claims for compensation by local residents affected by the crash.

I understand that the USAF board of inquiry has not yet finished its investigation. When the results are available I shall consider making a statement. In the meantime, I would not wish to anticipate the findings and any recommendations that might be made concerning remedial action. Any aspect of the accident which might have a bearing on flight patterns in East Anglia will, I am sure, be taken into account by the investigating authority.I can, however, add that the USAF has assured me that the recent restrictions placed on the flying of F111 aircraft were to enable inspections to be made because cracks had been found in the engine casings of a number of aircraft. This was not connected with the recent accident. As for claims for compensation, those concerning damage to property should be addressed to the Property Services Agency. Any other claims should be sent to the Claims Commission, Ministry of Defence.

Cruise Missile

38.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of his study of cruise missile technology.

We are studying cruise missiles to enable us to participate in discussion within the Alliance concerning the military potential and arms control implications of these systems. The limited studies in conjunction with industry are continuing.

Children's Education

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assume on the Vote of his Department the cost of providing residential education for the children of Service personnel.

The Ministry of Defence already assists financially with the residential education of children of Service personnel by the payment of boarding school allowance. All ranks, wherever they are serving, are eligible for the allowance if they decide to send their children to boarding school in the interests of maintaining continuity of education.The Ministry of Defence also provides residential schooling at its own schools in Germany for some of the children of Service personnel serving there.

Pilots

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many pilots on short service commissions it is intended to recruit each year.

Up to 20 per cent. of the total recruited.

Flying Accidents

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the military flying accident rates for 1976 and 1977.

The military flying accident rates per 10,000 flying hours for the calendar years 1976 and 1977 were as follows:

	1976	1977
Royal Navy	0·89	0·98
Army	0·28	0·37
Royal Air Force	0·58	0·34

For this purpose an accident is defined as an occurrence where the aircraft is missing, damaged beyond repair, or is not repairable on base.

Prices And Consumer Protection

Government Chemist's Laboratory

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what consultations he has held concerning the proposal to move the Laboratory of the Government Chemist to West Cumbria; whether the change of location will affect the extent to which his Department uses the Laboratory's services; and what proportion of samples sent to the Laboratory by his Department would continue to be sent there after the move to the new location has been effected.

My Department has been consulted by the laboratory about the proposed move to West Cumbria. There is no apparent reason why this should affect the continuation of the services which the laboratory currently provides relating to the safety of consumer goods coming within my field of responsibility.

Metrication

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he is satisfied with progress in metrication among the small firms in the engineering industry; and if he is taking any action to speed it up.

The metric change in the engineering industry as a whole is bound to be a gradual process. Imperial production, particularly for spares and repairs—an area in which smaller firms are particularly important—is likely to continue on a diminishing scale for many years. The rate of metric progress is primarily a matter for the industry itself, though it is estimated that about half the total production of small firms by value is metric or has metric interfaces. Each firm makes its own decision on the timing of the change in the light of its own circumstances. However, it is Government policy to encourage the change in engineering as part of the general transition to metric in the economy as a whole.The Metrication Board works closely with organisations representing the industry and is currently discussing with the CBI what further efforts they can jointly make to assist the process of change. Small firms considering the metric change would be well advised to ask the Metrication Board for its free booklet "Going Metric in the Small Firm: A Practical Guide for Management." Last March I appointed to the Metrication Board Mr. T. R. S. Lyon, Chairman of the CBI's Smaller Firms Council. I therefore have a means of maintaining direct contact with this important sector.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Waste Recycling

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that local authorities have facilities for waste food processing plants or make available funds for farmers to set up such plants themselves.

The provision of local authority waste food processing plants must remain a matter for the commercial judgment of the local authorities themselves. Farm plants are already in existence; there are currently some 1,200 producers in Great Britain licensed to process waste food on their premises. Assistance is available for new applicants provided their proposals meet the criteria for grant.

Government Chemist's Laboratory

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he had held concerning the pro- posal to move the Laboratory of the Government Chemist to West Cumbria; whether the change of location will affect the extent to which his Department uses the Laboratory's services; and what proportion of samples sent to the Laboratory by his Department would continue to be sent there after the move to the new location has been effected.

There have been full and detailed consultations with the Department of Industry following the announcement in 1974 to locate the Laboratory of the Government Chemist in West Cumbria. My Department's needs have been included in the plans being made for the move by the laboratory of the Government Chemist and should not result in any significant change in our demand for its services.

Social Services

Family Income Supplement

40.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families in Dundee were in receipt of family income supplement at the latest convenient date.

I regret that figures are available only for Scotland as a whole. At the end of September 1977, about 9,000 families in Scotland were receiving family income supplement.

Spina Bifida

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he is satisfied with the methods of treatment in the National Health Service of newborn babies with spina bifida; and if he will make a statement;(2) if, having regard to statements in the

British Medical Journal of 3rd December 1977, and elsewhere, that newborn handicapped children are dying as a result of treatment given in the National Health Service, he will give his estimate of how many such children have perished thus, and state his policy in the matter.

Advances in recent years in medicine and surgery have made possible the survival of babies with severe congenital handicaps who would previously have died. A guidance booklet "Care of the child with spina bifida" prepared by the Standing Medical Advisory Committee, following a multi-disciplinary conference which discussed the results of early surgical treatment of spina bifida, was issued by the Department in 1973. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.This guidance, which I am satisfied is still valid, indicates that any decision about the advisability or otherwise of an operation upon a young baby must be taken in the context of a co-ordinated medical and nursing policy which recognises the emotional and ethical problems involved; and must take account of the wishes of the parents. The responsibility for determining the management and treatment of babies born with spina bifida, whether or not they have been selected for operation, lies with the individual doctors treating those babies, as in all medical matters. The decision which the doctor takes must conform with the ethical standards of the medical profession.I regret that information in the form requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children were born with spina bifida in National Health Service hospitals in the last two years; how many were not operated on; how many died in hospital; how many left hospital alive; what variation between different hospitals is shown by the statistics; and how many of such hospitals have never discharged a single spina bifida baby born alive therein without operation during the last two years.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 12 December 1977—[Vol. 941, c. 414]—and to my reply to his other Questions today. I regret that the additional information requested is not available centrally.

Child Minding

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the situation arising from the recent decision of the Chancery Division barring a woman from giving a child-minding service in her own home.

My understanding is that the decision referred to related to the par ticular circumstances of an individual case. I do not consider, on the basis of the information at present available to me, that the decision raises issues requiring intervention by my Department at present. I will, however, keep the matter under review.

Unification Church

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will set up a committee of inquiry to hear evidence of the psychological effects on young people working for no wages, having given up their worldly goods and subjected to a régime of sleep deprivation, high starch diet, fasting and long periods of indoctrination to the effect that Sun Myung Moon is the Messiah, by the various organisations known collectively as the Unification Church.

I do not think I would be justified in setting up such a committee at present, though, as my hon. Friend is aware, I have the question of possible health hazards under review.

Booth Hall Children's Hospital (Cleft Palate Unit)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children are now awaiting admission to the cleft palate unit at Booth Hall Children's Hospital; for how long they have been waiting; when was the last admission to that unit; what is the average optimum age for such treatment; how many of the children listed as awaiting admission have passed that optimum age; and how many will do so in the next 12 months.

The number awaiting admission and the waiting times on 13th January 1978 were as follows:

PATIENTS AWAITING ADMISSION
Time	Numbers
0–3 months	24 patients
3–6 months	12 patients
6–12 months	9 patients
1–2 years	0 patients
over 2 years	1 patient

The last admission to the unit was on 9th January 1978.The optimum age for treatment depends on the severity of the condition and is a clinical matter to be decided in the light of individual circumstances. Sixteen children currently awaiting admission are considered to have passed the optimum age for their treatment. It is not possible to estimate how many will do so in the next 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the establishment of nurses at Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester; and by how many that establishment would have to be increased in order to ensure that children can again be admitted to the cleft palate unit of plastic surgery at that hospital.

181·5 nurses—whole-time equivalent—with 46 student nurses. This establishment is considered adequate by the health authorities, and patients continue to be admitted. Although the cleft palate unit was unfortunately closed from 4th July 1977 to 15th January 1978

Act	Provisions	Remark
Children Act 1975	Sections 1, 2, 4–7, 9, 14–16, 18–20, 23–25, 27, 32–55, 60–63 66, 70, 73–81, 95–97, 102.	No operative date vet appointed.
	Sections 21, 22, 28, 58 and 64 Schedules 3 and 4	Not yet wholly operation.
Social Security Pensions Act 1975	Sections 1, 4, 5 18, 24, 27, 28, 30(5), 42–49, 58, Schedule 3.	Coming into operation 6th April 1978.
	Sections 26, 30(2) and (3), 32–41, 53–55, 56(1)—(4).	Not wholly operative until 6th April 1978.
	Section 30(1)	Not wholly operative until 6th October 1978 but operative for most purposes 6th April 1978.
	Sections 6–17, 19–21, 23, 29, 59, Schedule 1.	Coming into operation 6th April 1979.
	Sections 65(1) and (3), Schedules 4 and 5.	Not wholly operative until 6th April 1979.
	Section 22	No operative date yet appointed for persons born before 2nd February 1922.
The Adoption Act 1976	The whole Act	This is a consolidation Act and its commencement is dependent on the coming into operation of the provisions of the Children Act relating to adoption
The Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1977	Section 17(1)	Coming into operation 3rd April 1978.
	Section 1(4), 21, 22(9), (10) and (13)	Coming into operation 6th April 1978.
	Section 17(2)	Coming into operation 25th April 1978.
	Sections 8(1) and (2), 17(6)	Coming into operation 6th April 1979

Government Chemist's Laboratory

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultations he has held concerning the proposal to move the Laboratory of the Government Chemist to West Cumbria; whether the change of location will affect the extent because of prolonged staff sickness, six beds were provided in another ward during this period and admissions continued. The unit reopened on 16th January 1978.

Statutes (Operation)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many Acts of Parliament within his responsibility in the last three parliamentary Sessions have had clauses or sections not yet brought into force by appropriate commencement orders: and if he will list them.

Four Acts of Parliament passed in the last three Sessions for which my right hon. Friend has responsibility include provisions which have not yet been brought into force. The provisions of these Acts are as follows:to which his Department uses the Laboratory's services; and what proportion of samples sent to the Laboratory by his Department would continue to be sent there after the move to the new location has been effected.

My Department was fully consulted on the proposed move and does not expect it to affect the extent to which it uses the services of the Laboratory.

Medicine Bottles

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in view of the shortage of medicine bottles, what steps he is taking to reimburse dispensing chemists who are facing increased costs due to the necessity to import bottles and caps.

My Department is currently considering a request by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee to take enhanced payments where, because of the bottle shortage, chemists supply additional or more expensive containers in dispensing NHS prescriptions.Chemists are at present being paid an additional allowance of 2·5p per container, over and above the normal container allowance of 2·5p per prescription for every prescription dispensed where, because of the shortage of certain sizes of container, the chemist indicates that he has used a second container in dispensing a prescription.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has in mind to help chemists overcome the present shortage of suitable medicine bottles.

The glass manufacturing industry is aware of the situation, and whilst shortages are expected to continue for a few more months the industry's investment on additional capacity should ensure adequate supplies for the future. The situation could be helped in the meantime by pharmacists, where appropriate, retrieving empty bottles from patients for reuse. Every prescription form carries a note requesting patients to return bottles in a clean condition.

Supplementary Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the percentage of all (a) two-parent and (b) single-parent families drawing supplementary benefits for 1975–76, and give similar figures for 1976–77.

It is estimated that in December 1975, 3 per cent.—204,000—of all two-parent families in Great Britain were receiving supplementary benefit. Estimates of the total numbers of two-parent families in 1976 are not yet available, but the number in receipt of supplementary benefit in December 1976 is estimated to have been 230,000.It is not possible to make a similar estimate in percentage terms for one-parent families because the total numbers of one-parent families for 1975 and 1976 are not known. The only estimate which can be made is that there were at least 650,000 in 1975. 298,000 are estimated to have been receiving supplementary benefit in December 1975, and the estimate for December 1976 is 320,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families in Dundee were in receipt of supplementary benefit at the latest convenient date.

The precise number is not known. But the great majority of nearly 15,000 people who in December 1977 received supplementary benefit from the Dundee offices lived in Dundee.

Cleft Palates And Forked Tongues

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what facilities have been available since July 1977 in the Manchester region generally, and in particular, at Booth Hall Children's Hospital, for children to receive surgery for the curing of cleft palates and forked tongues.

Six beds are provided for this purpose at Booth Hall Children's Hospital; facilities are also available as required at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for orthodontic work, and at Withington Hospital for paediatric and plastic surgery work associated with such treatment.

Alpha-Fetoprotein

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is yet in a position to say which regional health authorities have been engaged in the serum alpha-fetoprotein pilot programmes how much has been spent to date; and which authorities are allocating expenditure to maintain the availability of screening.

The United Kingdom centres which participated in the collaborative study, which I assume the hon. Member has in mind when referring to the pilot programmes, were in Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London—four centres—Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford and Windsor. I understand that most of these are still offering some form of screening service, as are centres in a number of other places, but so far no regional health authority as such has set up a screening programme. I regret that details of the location of centres offering screening, and the costs involved, are not at present available centrally. Consultations on the possibility of developing a national screening service are continuing.

Birth, Marriage And Death Certificates

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide a list of the increases in the charges made since 1945 for birth, marriage and death certificates from the General Register Office, together with the years in which they came into effect.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Hodgson) on 24th November 1977.—[Vol. 939, c. 897–8.]The fee for a short certificate of birth obtained from a superintendent registrar or at the General Register Office was increased to £1·50 on 1st January 1978.

Rhodesian Girl (Benefit Allegations)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the report on the allegation made by a 19-year-old Rhodesian girl that, since arriving in Great Britain five years ago, she had lived permanently on social security, out of which she paid for holidays in her own country.

This report has been checked, both with the lady concerned and with the offices of my Department which would have dealt with any claims from her. On the basis of these inquiries, I am satisfied that she has never received supplementary benefit.

Allied Investments

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that the National Health Service make a bid for the private health interests in the United Kingdom of Allied Investments, including the health hydro, Champeneys.

It is for health authorities to determine whether they need to acquire land or buildings for National Health Service use in the light of local needs and the availability of resources.

National Insurance Contributions

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the extra revenue if the upper wage limit was abolished in respect of national insurance contributions.

The extra revenue in respect of 1978–79, including the surcharge on Class 1 contributions, would be about £450 million on the assumptions used in the Government Actuary's report on the 1978–79 contribution rates (Cmnd 7036).

Industry

Allied Investments (National Enterprise Board Holding)

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will direct the National Enterprise Board to dispose of the private health interests in the United Kingdom of Allied Investments in which the National Enterprise Board has a 70 per cent. stake, to the National Health Service at a fair market price.

No. Such a direction is unnecessary. I understand the NEB has given a commitment that United Medical Enterprises will dispose of this company's present medical business.

Industrial Development Advisory Board

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will give a list of the members of the Industrial Development Advisory Board and their salary and expenses; whether these can be drawn in addition to other public payments as received; how many meetings have been held; and what is the amount of time taken for the most convenient period.

The membership of the Industrial Development Advisory Board is as follows:

Chairman

Sir Robert Clark—Chairman and Chief Executive. Hill Samuel Group Ltd.

Members

Sir William Barlow—Chairman, The Post Office.
The Right Hon. Lord Brown, P.C.—Former Chairman, Glacier Metal Co. Ltd.
Sir James Campbell Fraser—Managing Director Dunlop Holdings Ltd.
D. R. Chilvers—Senior Investigation Partner, Coopers & Lybrand Chartered Accountants.
S. T. Graham, Chief General Manager, Midland Bank.
E. A. B. Hammond—Executive Councillor, EETPU.
C. A. Hogg—Chairman, The International Paint Company.
J. D. Hughes, Vice-Principal, Ruskin College, Oxford.
F. S. McWhirter, Partner, Peat Marwick Mitchell & Company.
C. H. Urwin, Assistant General Secretary TGWU.
Board members receive no salary; travel expenses for journeys to and from Board meetings are recoverable.

The Board, which was established by the Industry Act 1972, has met 104 times since its first meeting on 18th October 1972. In 1977 there were 19 meetings. The number, timing and duration of Board meetings is determined by the incidence of applications for assistance.

National Finance

Tax Returns

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in his forthcoming Budget, he will take action to enable all tax on returns to be examined on a similar basis to that now operating for company reports and wills of deceased persons.

No.

Musical Instruments

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report the types and rates of tax payable on musical instruments.

Value added tax is chargeable at the 12½ per cent. higher rate on electronic musical instruments which are of a kind suitable for domestic or recreational use, and at the 8 per cent. standard rate on all other musical instruments. Musical instruments imported from outside the EEC are also liable to import duty. The full rate varies between 6 per cent. and 10½ per cent ad valorem, although where the necessary conditions are met lower preferential rates may be applicable.

Government Chemist's Laboratory

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he has held concerned the proposal to move the Laboratory of the Government Chemist to West Cumbria; whether the change of location will affect the extent to which Her Majesty's Customs and Excise use the Laboratory's services; and what proportion of samples sent to the Laboratory by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise would continue to be sent there after the move to the new location has been effected.

Customs and Excise are represented on the Requirements Committee of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist and have been consulted on the proposed move to West Cumbria. It is not expected that the move will affect the extent to which toe Department will use the services of the Government Chemist. It is not possible to give figures of the distribution of Customs and Excise samples after the move, particularly because of major changes consequent on the reform of the tobacco duty.

Electric Wiring

asked the Chancellor or me Exchequer if he will reduce VAT to zero rating on rewiring work, in particular in those houses or establishments built before 1939.

I have noted my lion. Friend's suggestion.

Works Of Art

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the provision of special extraordinary grants from the Treasury contingency reserve towards the purchase of particular outstanding works of art for public museums is precluded in principle by any current convention or rule.

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

Exchange Control

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the maintenance of exchange control restrictions on capital movements within the EEC.

The United Kingdom has been authorised under Article 108 of the EEC Treaty to maintain the restrictions existing after certain changes in our rules made with effect from 1st January 1978, which were announced as soon as the necessary discussions with the Commission were completed. Copies of the Treasury Press notice of 21st December 1977 containing the announcement have been placed in the Library.

Tobacco Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in the EEC discussions of tobacco tax harmonisation; and if he will make a statement.

At its meeting on 19th December, the EEC Council of Ministers reached agreement on a directive establishing a second stage in cigarette tax harmonisation, which will run from 1st July 1978 to 31st December 1980. During this stage, subject to a temporary derogation for the Republic of Ireland, the specific element in taxation of cigarettes will have to fall between 5 per cent. and 55 per cent. of total taxation of cigarettes, including VAT, the remainder of the duty being raised on an ad valorem basis. This provision will not necessitate any change in the duties on cigarettes chargeable in the United Kingdom from 1st January 1978 under Section 3 of the Finance Act 1977.In agreeing to this directive the United Kingdom has stated that in future stages of harmonisation it would not expect to have to consider any alteration in the maximum specific limit of 55 per cent., but would expect any further movement to be in the minimum.In connection with this directive, the United Kingdom has successfully negotiated a provision under which it will be permitted for 2½ years from the start of the second stage to impose a supplementary duty on cigarettes with a tar yield of 20 mgs or more. The supplementary duty would be designed to discourage the consumption of those cigarettes. The amount of the supplementary duty would be limited to an amount not exceeding 20 per cent. of the duty which would otherwise have been chargeable. This supplementary duty would require Finance Bill legislation before it could be introduced. In the meanwhile, I have authorised Customs and Excise to consult with the tobacco industry on the machinery of assessment and collection.

Inland Revenue Staff

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the number of civil servants, by grade, employed in the Superannuation Fund Office of the Inland Revenue.

pursuant to his reply—[Official Report, 16th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 29.]—gave the following information:The figures are as follows:

Assistant Secretary	1
Senior Principal	3
Principal	6
SEO	24
HEO	58
EO	68
CO	23
CA	66
Office Keeper	1
Sen. Paperkeeper	1
Paperkeeper	4
Senior Messenger	2
Messenger	13
Sen. Supt. Typists	2
Supt. Typists	3
PS	2
Typist	26
	303

(The office provides messengerial, typing and registry services for the co-located staff of the Occupational Pensions Board. The relevant staff are included in the figures given.)

Social Wage

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent, and in which areas of expenditure, the social wage will fall in real terms in the current and each succeeding year until 1980 as a result of public expenditure cuts announced in the last two years.

pursuant to his reply—[Official Report, 16th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 30.]—gave the following information:No fall is expected in the social wage in real terms between now and 1980.

Railway Fares

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the latest commuter fare increases, what would be the annual cost of providing tax relief on commuter rail season tickets costing more than (a) £200 per annum. and (b) £300 per annum at the basic tax rate.

pursuant to his reply—[Official Report, 16th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 29.]—gave the following reply:I regret that the information needed to provide the precise estimate requested is not available. The current cost of allowing expenditure on all railway season tickets at the basic rate of tax would be about £65 million.

Item	1974–75	1976–
Pay (including overtime^) and allowances^	92,000	200,000
Superannuation/National Insurance^*	18,000	50,000
Accommodation and other Common Services (pro rata charge)	25,000	50,000
Total	135,000	300,000†
^* No in 1974–75. he 1974–75 figures are therefore no strictly comparable with those for 1976–77.
† Costs have since increased by an estimated 10 per cenit. argely as a result of increases pce pay.

Information for the financial years 1973–74 and 1975–76 is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Housing Executive (Staffs)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in the Official Report, for each of the Housing Executive offices and depots in the council districts of Londonderry, Coleraine and Limavady, the number of employees, their grades and state for each grade the number of Roman Catholics employed, the number of members of recognised Protestant denominations employed and the number of others; and whether the Housing Executive signed the declaration of fair employment.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th January 1978; Vol 942. col. 82], gave the following answer:These matters are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. I understand that the Executive has signed the Declaration of Principle and Intent under the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1976.

Buildings (Modernisation)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether

Northern Ireland

Firearms Certificates

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in the Official Report the cost of processing firearms certificates in 1973, 1975 and 1977; and if he will list the increases under the various headings shown in the accounts dealing with the processing of firearms certificates.

Details of costings for the financial years 1974–75 and 1976–77 are as follows:Northern Ireland will benefit from the recent decision of the European Parliament to spend £70,000 million to modernise some existing buildings in the EEC which have a remaining useful life of not less than 20 years.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the approval given by the European Parliament on 14th October 1977 to a proposal by the EEC Commission for a directive on energy savings from the modernisation of existing buildings in the Community with a remaining useful life of not less than 20 years. I understand that this proposal has, as yet, received only preliminary consideration by technical experts. However, if such a directive is eventually agreed by the Council of Ministers it will be implemented in Northern Ireland as in every other part of the United Kingdom.

Overseas Development

Energy Resources (Research)

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what aid schemes are being used for research into the subsequent application of thermo-geological resources for energy in St. Lucia in particular, and elsewhere; and what is her Department's policy in general towards energy problems in developing countries.

The results of aid-financed exploration on St. Lucia which has revealed possibilities for the production of electricity using geothermally produced steam are being considered, with other relevant information, by the Commonwealth Development Corporation with a view to the commercial exploitation of the resource. The Institute of Geological Sciences has begun explorations in Panama and will start work soon in Montserrat. The Institute has also had discussions on geothermal energy possibilities with the Governments of Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Zambia, Kenya and other African countries, which could lead to further exploratory work.Energy problems in developing countries are of prime concern to my Department, and some research into alternative energy sources is being supported from the aid programme. My right hon. Friend intends to consult informally with interested British scientists about possible ways of increasing our help in this field.

Education And Science

Careers Guidance

16.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action she is taking to improve careers guidance in schools.

The Green Paper "Education in Schools" reaffirmed the crucial importance of careers education and guidance, and my Department's subsequent Circular 14/77 on local education authority arrangements for the school curriculum asks authorities to report on their activities in this field.

Youth Forum

17.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many members there are now in her youth forum; what percentage is under the age of 21 years; and if she will make a statement.

There are 37 members of whom four—nearly 11 per cent.—are understood to be under the age of 21. We try to ensure that a good proportion of the membership is under the age of 26. At present 14 members—about 38 per cent.—are in this category.

19.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement as to the number of meetings which have taken place of her youth forum and the number of decisions taken which have been acted upon.

The Youth Service Forum for England and Wales has met three times. It is an advisory rather than a decision-making body. One recent piece of advice from the Forum was that the present arrangements for departmental grant towards local voluntary youth and community projects should continue. My right hon. Friend took this into account in reaching her decision not to change these arrangements.

Teacher Training (Shortage Subjects)

18.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many people are currently undergoing training under the Government's emergency training scheme for teachers of shortage subjects.

Just over 900, of whom 640 are being supported by awards financed through the Training Services Agency under the scheme announced by my Department in May last year. The remaining 260 are newly qualified teachers following retraining courses in one of the shortage subjects with mandatory or discretionary awards from their local education authorities.

Public Schools

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now re-state her policy towards the public schools.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Miss Lestor) on 8th December.—[Vol. 940, cols. 827–8.]

Adult Literacy

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she will announce her decision about the future funding of adult literacy through the Adult Literacy Resource Agency.

I refer my hon. Friend to the announcement made in the answer my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedwellty (Mr. Kinnock) on 5th December 1977.—[Vol. 940, c. 547.]

Teachers (Pay)

23.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will offer to the parties concerned in the university teachers' pay dispute the option of reaching a settlement for phased rectification of anomalies over a period of two years backed by a guarantee of implementation on the lines of that offered to the firemen.

It is open to the negotiators for the university teachers and the university authorities to offer any suggestions they may think appropriate. The hon. Member will not expect me to anticipate the outcome of the negotiations which have now started.

Headmasters (Appointment)

25.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she remains satisfied with the methods of appointment of headmasters in the public sector.

Responsibility for such appointments rests jointly with school governors and local education authorities. The consultative document on Education in Schools, published in July, Cmnd 6869, invites authorities to consider whether their present arrangements are securing the best possible appointments, and also whether they are doing enough by way of in-service training of head teachers and of those aspiring to become heads.

Ealing (Immigrants)

26.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was allowed the London borough of Ealing over the past five years to assist in its education problems arising from immigration.

In addition to the central Government contribution through the rate support grant, specific grants at the rate of 75 per cent. can be made under the urban programme and Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966. In the financial years 1973–78 Ealing has received approval of urban pro- gramme educational projects catering primarily for immigrants totalling over £350,000. Ealing's expenditure on educational staff salaries and wages accepted for grant under Section 11 amounts to over £5½ million for the five financial years 1973 to 1978, including an estimated figure for 1977–78.

Vocational Preparation

24.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in the development of pilot schemes for unified vocational preparation; what appraisal has been carried out on their value in their first year; what is the relationship between these schemes and the courses proposed on the Manpower Services Com mission's youth opportunities programme; and what further proposals she has in the area of unified vocational preparation.

45 schemes have started since September 1977 or are due to start shortly. The National Foundation for Educational Research started last August upon an independent evaluation of the programme, the results of which will be available in 1979. Meanwhile, the scope for further developing the principles of unified vocational preparation is under active consideration with our partners in the programme.In contrast to the Manpower Services Commission's programme for the young unemployed, the pilot schemes are intended primarily for employed young people. The curriculum lessons though should be helpful to the development of learning opportunities for the young unemployed also.

Mathematics Teachers

27.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the shortage of mathematics teachers.

The shortage of well-qualified teachers of mathematics, particularly graduates, is a complex and long-standing problem which I and my Advisory Committee on the Supply and Training of Teachers have regularly under review. About 450 additional mathematics teachers are being trained under the special programmes launched last year. My Department has asked the teacher training institutions to give priority to the recruitment of intending teachers of mathematics.

Examinations

28.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is satisfied with the progress made by the Technician Education Council in instituting a new examination system; and what is the cost to her Department and local education authorities of so doing.

The Council is making steady progress in the development of new courses and awards in the field assigned to it. Local education authorities have no direct financial responsibility for TEC, nor could I offer an estimate of their indirect contributions to the Council's work. My Department has paid about £1,050,000 in grant to the Council since its establishment in 1973.

Physical Education

29.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy on physical education in schools.

It is for local education authorities and the schools themselves to formulate their policies for the teaching of individual subjects. My Department encourages the provision of appropriate physical education in a variety of ways, including the laying down of basic area standards for playing fields and issuing advice on the design of accommodation for physical education. It is also concerned to ensure that there is an adequate supply of specialist physical education teachers and that the subject is adequately covered in the training of non-specialist teachers for the younger age groups. In addition, Her Majesty's Inspectorate runs in-service courses and has published advice on various aspects of physical education.

Ethnic Minorities (Statistics)

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received about the collection of statistics concerning ethnic minorities.

The collection of ethnically based statistics was recommended by the Select Committee on Race Relations and immigration in its report on the West Indian community. My right hon. Friend has consulted widely on this matter and will be giving careful consideration to all the recommendations for education made in the report in the light of the views submitted.

Teacher Training Colleges

31.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many college of education buildings, no longer required for teacher training, still await disposal; how many will be sold off to commercial bidders; and which will be retained for educational purposes.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Mr. Davies) on 30th November. Of the 36 colleges which are to discontinue initial teacher training, the buildings of only four and part of one other are now available for alternative uses.—[Vol. 940, c. 215–6.]

Standards Of Achievement

32.

asked the Secretary or State for Education and Science if she is satisfied that a monitoring of standards of achievement in the command of basic skills will not lead to excessive central interference in State schools; and what steps she is taking, or has taken, to provide reassurance in this regard.

Monitoring of standards of achievement by the assessment of performance unit in the areas of mathematics, language and science will not be confined to "basic skills" and the tests will reflect what is already widely taught in schools. Only a small sample of about 2 per cent. of pupils in an age group will be assessed and the tests will be administered in such a way as to prevent undesirable influences on the curriculum.

Comprehensive Education (Essex)

33.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on progress on the implementation of comprehensive education in the county of Essex.

There are only three areas in Essex for which proposals under Section 13 of the Education Act 1944, as amended, for completing reorganisation of secondary schools along comprehensive lines have not been submitted and approved. They are Chelmsford, Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. Under Section 2 of the Education Act 1976 the authority submitted proposals for giving effect to the comprehensive principle in these areas on 11th July 1977. These proposals were not considered satisfactory in all respects and the authority was accordingly required under Section 2(4) of the Education Act 1976 to submit further proposals following the meeting of the Essex County Council on 10th January 1978. These proposals are still awaited from the authority.

National Theatre

34.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a grant to the South Bank Theatre Board to enable it to carry out work on the National Theatre, including the rearrangement of wheelchair spaces in the auditorium.

	1976 (January)		1977(January)
	Newham	England and Wales	Newham	England and Wales
Primary Schools (including middle deemed primary):
Average size of class as registered	30·8	29·1	28·9	28·7
Staffing standard in schools^*	25·6	23·9	23·4	23·8
Secondary Schools (including middle deemed secondary):
Average size of class as taught	24·3	22·5	23·9	22·4
Staffing standard in schools^*	17·5	17·0	16·9	17·0
^* The staffing standard in schools is the ratio of all the pupils on the school registers (counting each part-time pupil as 0·5) to all the qualified teachers (including the full-time equivalent of part-time teachers) employed in the schools on the day of the annual count.

The Government's expenditure plans provide for a ratio of pupils to teachers of 19·4: 1 in England and Wales in January 1978, and 18·9: 1 in 1979. These ratios are derived arithmetically from the forecast school population and teacher force, and are not a measure of effective staffing standards within schools. I cannot forecast the ratio for any particular local education authority.

Further And Higher Education

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will present in tabular form the number of polytechnics, colleges of education and institutions of higher education

Many facilities for the disabled have been provided in the National Theatre. The Board has funds available solely to complete the building to the specification agreed upon in 1974. Further improvements will fall to be considered by the Arts Council and the National Theatre Board after the building has been completed, in the light of the funds then available to them.

Teacher-Pupil Ratios

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will give the national figure, and that for the London borough of Newham, of the size of secondary and primary school classes in 1977 and the number of qualified teachers to the number of pupils; how these compare with 1976; and to what extent she expects an improvement in 1978.

The information for 1976 and 1977 is given below:whose work is more than 90 per cent. advanced, between 60 per cent. and 75 per cent. advanced, between 50 per cent. and 60 per cent. advanced, between 30 per cent. and 50 per cent. advanced, and those with less than 30 per cent. advanced; if she will distinguish for each what proportion is degree work; how many other further education institutions are involved in advanced work; and for how many this constitutes more than 10 per cent. of their work.

The following table gives as much information requested as can be provided without disproportionate cost:

TABLE: ADVANCED COURSES IN PUBLIC SECTOR INSTITUTIONS: EXPECTED PATTERN OF INSTITUTIONS 1981 AND RELATED STUDENT NUMBERS 1975–76, ANALYSED BY LEVEL OF STUDY AND MODE OF ATTENDANCE (ENGLAND AND WALES)
		Degree				HND/HNC				Other
Type of Institution	Number	Full-time	Sandwich	Part-time day and evening	Evening only	Full-time	Sandwich	Part-time day and evening	Evening only	Full-time	Sandwich	Part-time day and evening	Evening only
Polytechnics^*	30	39,880	21,130	7,250	3,260	4,640	7,020	11,260	1,530	33,630	2,080	19,430	11,550
Other Institutions:
i. with more than 90 per cent, advanced work
Former Colleges of Education free-standing or amalgamated with other colleges	57	15,050	—	240	420	—	—	30	—	38,530	240	1,900	540
Specialist Colleges†	7	1,860	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1,340	—	40	50
Other Colleges	3	270	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	330	—	20	—
i. Sub-total	67	17,180	—	240	420	—	—	30	—	40,200	240	1,960	590
ii. with between 30 per cent and 90 per cent, advanced work
Former Colleges of Education amalgamated with other colleges	18	4,180	200	710	570	860	1,180	4,160	400	12,850	650	4,790	3,350
Specialist Colleges†	25	2,830	30	10	—	—	780	—	—	1,410	—	30	—
Other Colleges	14	990	90	220	200	1,360	1,080	2,750	600	2,520	310	3,870	2,620
ii. Sub-total	57	8,000	320	940	770	2,220	3,040	6,910	1,000	16,780	960	8,690	5,970
iii. with less than 30 per cent, advanced work
Former Colleges of Education amalgamated with other colleges	2	170	—	—	—	—	10	410	100	1,160	—	260	210
Specialist Colleges†	7	—	—	—	—	—	120	—	—	50	20	—	—
Other Colleges	255	90	—	1,040	270	850	1,880	13,040	1,420	4,140	1,310	16,210	10,940
iii. Sub-total	264	260	—	1,040	270	850	2,010	13,450	1,520	5,350	1,330	16,470	11,150
Total	418	65,320	21,450	9,470	4,720	7,710	12,070	31,650	4,050	95,960	4,610	46,550	29,260

Notes:

(1) The table represents the pattern of organisation forecast in Report on Education, No. 90, published by the Department in May 1977.(Some further changes in organisation following the Secretary of State's announcement on teacher training targets in June 1977 are still under consideration.)

(2) The table excludes colleges known to have plans to amalgamate with universities or to cease.

^* The figures for polytechnics include students at colleges of education expected to merge with polytechnics by 1981.

† Including Colleges of Art and Design, Music, Drama and Agriculture.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many 18-year-olds there are in any form of full-time or part-time higher and further education; and what proportion this is of the total age group.

	Full-time and Sandwich	Part-time (day and evening)	Total
Number (age 18) at 31st December	102,600	155,300	257,900
Percentage of total age group	12·5	18·9	31·3

In addition, there were 53,200 18-yearolds at school, 6·5 per cent. of the age group.

School Meals

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science up to what level of gross earnings a married man with four children aged 15, 13, 11 and 9 years is entitled to claim free school meals for his children, assuming mortgage repayments attracting tax relief of £200 per month, travel to work expenses of £70 a month, rates of £50 a month, superannuation of £10 a month, and that all the household income is earned by the father.

£670 per month, but such a combination of personal circumstances seems most unlikely to be encountered in practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in what circumstances first-class rail travel is an allowable deduction for calculation of free school meals entitlement.

None that I am aware of. Since the regulations simply refer to "travelling expenses necessarily incurred," in the event of an application for free school meals being received in which relief for the cost of first class travel was claimed, it would fall to the local education authority concerned to decide, in the light of advice from my Department if it chose to seek it, whether the circumstances of the case justified allowing first class travel as a deduction.

Boarding Education (Children Of Service Personnel)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated cost to local authorities of

The information for Great Britain in 1976–77 excluding students in private sector further education colleges is as follows:paying for boarding education for the children of Service personnel.

I regret that the information requested is not available. Any assistance given to Service personnel in addition to the boarding school allowance paid by the Ministry of Defence is entirely at the discretion of the local authority concerned.

Redundant Teachers (Re-Engagement)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the Official Report a list of local education authorities which, having made teachers redundant, are now offering to engage them on a 12-monthly basis, or, alternatively, as temporary teachers for the purpose of covering for sickness.

My Department does not collect information on the reasons, such as redundancy, for cessation of employment of teachers or on the forms of contract within which new employment may be offered.

Works Of Art

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is precluded in principle by any current convention or rule from applying for special extraordinary grants from the Treasury contingency reserve towards the purchase of particular outstanding works of art for public museums.

No, but if my right hon. Friend considered that a case for a special grant had been established she would first wish to be satisfied that no countervailing savings were already realised elsewhere in the arts budget.

Education And Science

Victoria And Albert Museum

35.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she intends to implement the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Museums and Galleries that the control of the Victoria and Albert Museum should be transferred from her Department to a board of trustees.

When the tenth report of the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries is received by my right hon. Friend, careful consideration will be given to its recommendations.

Wales

Road (Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the expenditure on roads for each of the eight Welsh counties in each year from 1974 to 1977 at 1977 prices.

Figures for expenditure by counties on roads for 1976–77 are not yet available. The figures for 1974–75 and 1975–76 at November 1976 prices are as follows:

Expenditure on Highways
Count Area	1974–75	1975–76
Clwyd	12·1	14·7
Dyfed	16·7	17·4
Gwent	11·8	10·8
Gwynedd	11·9	10·8
Mid Glamorgan	11·1	13·7
Powys	7·4	8·2
South Glamorgan	8·0	12·1
West Glamorgan	17·4	26·2

Expenditure on lighting, car parking and administration has not been included.

Road Signs

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent by the Government on bilingual road signs in Wales.

A total of about £1,030,000 on trunk roads since June 1974. The greater part of this expenditure would have been incurred in any event on monolingual signs, which would have had to be replaced or newly provided. The extent to which transport supplementary grant has been used to finance bilingual signs on county roads is not known as this is a matter for each county.

House Building (Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average cost of construction of local authority dwellings in Wales during each of the last 10 years.

Statistics on the average cost of construction of local authority dwellings is available only for two-storey, five-bedspace houses. This information, for the years 1968 to 1976, will be found in Table 25 of the Department of the Environment publication "Housing and Construction Statistics". Full-year figures for 1977 are not yet available.

School Transport

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the practice of local authorities in interpreting the statutory walking distance for school transport in the rural areas of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science and I are still exploring with the local authority associations the possibilities of introducing more acceptable arrangements for school transport. In the meantime it is for each authority to determine in the light of its local circumstances what arrangements should be made for school transport and if these arrangements should be more generous than those required by statute.

Housing Starts

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish housing start figures for Wales on a monthly basis as they are published for the United Kingdom as a whole.

Welsh housing statistics at district level are provided quarterly in the Department of the Environment publication "Local Housing Statistics" We are currently reviewing the frequency of publication of figures for Wales as a whole.

School Meals

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many children qualify for free school meals in Wales: and what were the corresponding figures for 1968, 1972 and 1975; and if he will make a statement.

The number of children in Wales eligible for free school meals is not accurately known. However, it is estimated that in 1966, the earliest year for which an estimate is available, some 50 per cent. of such pupils in England and Wales took up their entitlement. As a result of publicity campaigns conducted by the Government in collaboration with the local education authorities the proportion rose to 75 per cent. by 1969 and 80 per cent. by 1970. In 1975–76 it dropped to 70 per cent. but is estimated to have recovered to 75 per cent. in 1976–77.The number of children receiving a tree midday school meal in Wales in May 1977 was 61,624. The October figures for 1968, 1972, and 1975 were 63,424, 62,018 and 56,354 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many children pay for their school meals in Wales; what were the corresponding figures for 1965, 1970 and 1975; and if he will make a statement

The number of children paying for a midday school meal in Wales in May 1977 was 257,414. The results of the main inquiry undertaken in October 1977 are not yet available. October figures for 1965, 1970 and 1975 were 222,456, 226,809 and 284,877 respectively.

Beach Safety

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with current legislative provisions to ensure the safety of swimmers and others on beaches used by speed-boats and for water-skiing purposes.

I have been asked to reply.I have no reason to suppose that the present powers of control available to local authorities are inadequate.

Civil Service

Dispersal

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish in the Official Report all the new towns which have been allocated a Government office, excluding those which are to be found in most towns or cities such as local offices of the Department of Health and Social Security and the Department of Employment, giving in each case: (a) the Government Department concerned; (b) the numbers employed at the start and currently; and (c) the rate of unemployment at the start and currently.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol. 941, c. 555], gave the following information:The information given below covers Civil Service work, in terms of posts, dispersed from London to new towns since May 1963 when comprehensive records were first started following the Hemming Report. It includes plans for dispersal to new towns as well as new Civil Service posts established, and to be established, in new towns as a result of the policy, initiated in 1965, of setting up new work away from London whenever possible.

(i) COMPLETED SCHEMES
						Number of Posts		Unemployment percentage
Location					Department	On Completion	At Present	On Completion	November 1977
(a) Dispersed work
Basildon	…	…	…	…	HM Stationery Office	488	406	3·3 (1)	7·6
Bracknell	…	…	…	…	Crown Estate Office	40	42	1·1 (2)	4·7
Corby	…	…	…	…	Home Office	76	75	2·4	7·6
Crawley	…	…	…	…	Paymaster General's Office	606	801	1·1 (3)	2·6
Hemel Hempstead		…	…	…	Department of the Environment	43	53	0·5 (4)	3·1
Peterborough	…	…	…	…	Passport Office	89	122	1·6	5·2
Runcorn	…	…	…	…	Department of Employment	600	795	4·7 (5)	10·2
Washington	…	…	…	…	Inland Revenue	134	196	6·3 (6)	13·1
(b) New Posts
Central Lancashire New Town (Preston)					Department of Health and Social Security	21	35	2·3 (7)	5·4
East Kilbride	…	…	…	…	Inland Revenue	1,540	1,685	6·8 (8)	11·2
Newtown	…	…	…	…	Department of the Environment (Countryside Commission)	6	6	1·5	6·5
Washington	…	…	…	…	Inland Revenue	197	211	8·0 (6)	13·1

(ii) SCHEMES IN PROGRESS
Location	Department	Number of posts dispersed	Approximate number of posts to be dispersed	Number of new posts established	Approximate number of new posts to be established	November 1977 unemployment percentage
Corby	Home Office	21	35	—	—	7·
Cumbernauld	Inland Revenue	—	—	200	750	12·4
Livingston	Department of Health and Social Security	—	—	135	121	9·9 (9)
Peterborough	Inland Revenue	—	—	28	27	5·2
Stevenage	Land Registry	—	—	535	15	4·2
Washington	Department of Health and Social Security	—	—	1,528	1,272	13·1 (6)

(iii) SCHEMES NOT YET COMMENCED
Location	Department	Approximate number of posts to be dispersed	Approximate number of new posts to be established	November 1977 unemployment percentage
East Kilbride	Ministry of Overseas Development	650	—	11·2(8
Peterborough	Land Registry	—	500	5·2

NOTES:

(1) Southend-on-Sea Travel to Work Area—includes Basildon, Canvey Island, Grays, Rayleigh, Southend-on-Sea, Stanford-le-hope and Tilbury.

(2) Reading Travel to Work Area—includes Bracknell, Reading, Reading PEO and Wokingham.

(3) Crawley Travel to Work Area—includes Burgess Hill, Crawley, East Grinstead, Hay-wards Heath, Horsham and Redhill.

(4) Watford Travel to Work Area—includes Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead, Rickmansworth and Watford.

(5) Widnes Travel to Work Area—includes Runcorn and Widnes.

(6) Wearside Travel to Work Area—includes Seaham, Southwick, Sunderland, Washington and Washington PEO.

(7) Preston Travel to Work Area—includes Bamber Bridge, Chorley, Leyland, Preston and Preston PEO.

(8) North Lanarkshire Travel to Work Area—includes Airdrie, Bellshill, Blantyre, Carluke, Coatbridge, East Kilbride, Hamilton, Larkhall, Motherwell, Uddingston and Wishaw.

(9) Bathgate Travel to Work Area—includes Bathgate, Broxburn, Livingston and West Calder.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will update the figures given to the hon. Member for Ince in the Official Report, 19th February 1976, relating to dispersal of public service jobs.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol. 941, c. 555], gave the following information:The updated information for each English region and for Scotland and Wales showing the position at 1st October 1977 is set out below. The information covers Civil Service posts dispersed from London since May 1963—when comprehensive records were first started following the Flemming Report—and planned to be dispersed, as well as new Civil Service posts established, and to be established, outside London as a result of the policy initiated in 1965 of setting up new work in the regions whenever possible. The figures include the dispersals in the Government programme announced on 30th July 1974.

NORTHERN REGION
Department	Location			Number of posts dispersed	Approximate number of posts to be dispersed	Number of new posts established	Approximate number of new posts to be established
Ministry of Defence	Carlisle	…	…	71	—	—	—
Department of Education and Science	Darlington	…	…	640	—	—	—
Department of the Environment (Property Services Agency)	Teesside	…	…	—	3,000	—	—
Department of Health and Social Security	Billingham	…	…	—	—	35	—
	Newcastle	…	…	222	278	—	—
	Washington	…	…	—	—	1,528	1,272
	Billingham	…	…	—	—	130	—
Department of Industry (Laboratory of the Government Chemist)	West Cumbria	…	…	—	360	—	—
Inland Revenue	Newcastle	…	…	109	—	—	—
	Gateshead	…	…	266	—	—	—
	Middlesbrough	…	…	195	—	181	24
	Sunderland	…	…	40	—	—	—
	Washington	…	…	134	—	197	—
Land Registry	Durham	…	…	—	—	339	211
Department for National Savings	Durham	…	…	1,835	—	—	—
H.M Stationery Office	Gateshead	…	…	—	—	402	—
	Gateshead			3,512	3,638	2,812	1,507

YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE
Department	Location			Number of posts dispersed	Approximate number of posts to be dispersed	Number of new posts established	Approximate number of new posts to be established
Ministry of Defence	Harrogate	…	…	277	—	—	—
Inland Revenue	Bradford	…	…	410	42	165	—
	Leeds	…	…	140	—	165	—
	Sheffield	…	…	85	—	56	3
	Shipley	…	…	366	—	74	950
Manpower Services Commission	Sheffield	…	…	50	1,450	—	—
				1,328	1,492	460	953

NORTH-WEST
Department	Location			Number of posts dispersed	Approximate number of posts to be dispersed	Number of new posts established	Approximate number of new posts to be established
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	Merseyside	…	…	—	1,250	—	—
Agricultural Research Council.	Merseyside	…	…	—	160	—	—
Charity Commission	Liverpool	…	…	104	—	—	—
H.M. Customs and Excise	Liverpool	…	…	—	—	328	—
Ministry of Defence (Procurement Executive)	Liverpool	…	…	75	—	—	—
Department of Employment	Runcorn	…	…	600	—	—	—
Department of Energy	Liverpool	…	…	36	—	—	—
Department of the Environment	Liverpool	…	…	233	—	—	—
Foreign and Commonwealth Office	Merseyside	…	…	10	490	—	—
Department of Health and Social Security	Blackpool	…	…	213	767	25	—
	Fleetwood	…	…	331	—	69	—
	Preston	…	…	—	—	21	—
Home Office	Manchester	…	…	2	—	—	—
	Merseyside	…	…	—	1,000	—	—
Department of Industry	Bootle	…	…	—	—	109	—
Inland Revenue.	Bootle	…	…	210	—	1,118	56
	Crewe	…	…	23	—	—	—
	Manchester	…	…	2,735	—	37	30
	Merseyside	…	…	—	—	152	—
	Stockport	…	…	11	—	—	—
	Bootle	…	…	—	—	—	up to 2,000 (see note 3)
Land Registry	Lytham	…	…	—	—	613	47
	North Wirral	…	…	—	—	72	578
Office of Population Censuses and Surveys	Southport	…	…	36	464	—	—
				4,619	4,131	2,544	2,711

EAST MIDLANDS
Department	Location			Number of posts dispersed	Approximate number of posts to be dispersed	Number of new posts established	Approximate number of new posts to be established
Department of Energy	Leicester	…	…	50	—	—	—
Home Office	Corby	…	…	97	35	—	—
Land Registry	Nottingham	…	…	—	—	580	60
Natural Environment Research Council (Institute of Geological Sciences)	Nottingham	…	…	55	675	—	—
				202	710	580	60

WEST MIDLANDS
Department					Location			Number of posts dispersed	Approximate number of posts to be dispersed	Number of new posts established	Approximate number of new posts to be established
Ministry of Defence	…	…	…	…	Worcester	…	…	231	—	—	—
Home Office	…	…	…	…	Birmingham	…	…	3	—	—	—
Inland Revenue	…	…	…	…	Solihull	…	…	—	—	60	3
					Stoke	…	…	45	—	—	—
								279	—	60	3

EAST ANGLIA
Department		Location			Number of posts dispersed	Approximate number of posts to be dispersed	Number of new posts established	Approximate number of new posts to be established
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	…	Cambridge	…	…	59	—	—	—
Civil Service Department	…	Norwich	…	…	—	500	—	—
Nature Conservancy Council.	…	Huntingdon	…	…	36	—	—	—
Inland Revenue	…	Peterborough	…	…	—	—	28	27
Land Registry	…	Peterborough	…	…	—	—	—	500
Passport Office	…	Peterborough	…	…	89	—	—	—
H.M. Stationery Office	…	Norwich	…	…	1,110	373	—	—
					1,294	873	28	527

SOUTH WEST
Department	Location			Number of posts dispersed	Approximate number of posts to be dispersed	Number of new posts established	Approximate number of new posts to be established
Ministry of Defence	Bath	…	…	240	90	—	—
	Blandford	…	…	14	—	—	—
	Devizes	…	…	20	—	—	—
	Gloucester	…	…	34	—	—	—
	Taunton	…	…	248	—	—	—
Ministry of Defence (Procurement Executive).	Portland	…	…	14	—	—	—
Department of the Environment/Department of Transport.	Bristol	…	…	169	865	—	—
Countryside Commission	Cheltenham.	…	…	100	—	—	—
Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas	Salisbury	…	…	46	94	—	—
Home Office	Bristol	…	…	3	—	—	—
Inland Revenue.	Bristol	…	…	6	—	—	—
	Exeter	…	…	30	—	25	21
	Plymouth	…	…	50	—	—	—
Land Registry	Gloucester.	…	…	—	—	684	—
	Plymouth	…	…	292	—	274	306
	Weymouth	…	…	—	—	—	500
Natural Environment Research Council	Swindon	…	…	123	67	—	—
Science Research Council	Swindon	…	…	180	200	—	—
Department of Trade	Poole	…	…	—	35	—	—
				1,569	1,351	983	827

SOUTH EAST
Department	Location			Number of posts dispersed	Approximate number of posts to be dispersed	Number of new posts established	Approximate number of new posts to be established
Civil Service Department	Sunningdale	…	…	56	—	129	—
	Basingstoke	…	…	129	171	—	—
Civil Service Commission)	Basingstoke	…	…	690	—	—	—
Crown Estate Office	Bracknell	…	…	40	—	—	—
HM Customs and Excise	Southend	…	…	1,295	465	1,307	—
	Rayleigh	…	…	15	—	—	—
Ministry of Defence	Portsmouth	…	…	5	—	—	—
	Andover	…	…	—	—	—	580
Ministry of Defence (Procurement Executive)	Bedford	…	…	30	—	—	—
	Farnborough	…	…	70	—	—	—
	Portsmouth	…	…	17	—	—	—
	Woking/Chelmsford		…	—	89	—	—
	Reading	…	…	18	—	—	—
Employment Service Agency	Colchester	…	…	43	—	—	—
	Eastbourne	…	…	31	—	—	—
	Basingstoke	…	…	49	—	—	—
Department of the Environment	Hastings	…	…	5	—	—	—
Property Services Agency	Hastings	…	…	750	—	—	—
Nature Conservancy Council	Banbury	…	…	8	—	11	—
Department of Health and Social Security	Basingstoke	…	…	290	—	—	—
	Reading	…	…	—	—	127	—
	Southampton	…	…	79	—	—	—
Home Office	Banbury	…	…	34	—	—	—
Inland Revenue	Southampton	…	…	247	—	—	—
	Portsmouth	…	…	275	—	210	—
	Worthing	…	…	384	—	—	—
	Woking	…	…	—	—	36	34
Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce	Reading	…	…	—	—	403	—
Land Registry	Tunbridge Wells		…	—	—	690	—
	Stevenage	…	…	—	—	535	15

SOUTH EAST—continued
Department		Location		Number of posts dispersed	Approximate number of posts to be dispersed	Number of new post established	Approximate number of new posts to be established
Natural Environment Research Council (Institute of Geological Sciences)	…	Wallingford	…	17	4	—	—
Ordnance Survey.	…	Southampton	…	700	—	—	—
Ministry of Overseas Development	…	Bramley	…	—	700	—	—
Paymaster General's Office	…	Crawley	…	606	—	—	—
Office of Population Censuses and Survey	…	Titchfield	…	180	—	—	—
HM Stationery Office	…	Basildon	…	488	—	—	—
Department of Trade	…	Farnborough	…	—	39	—	—
Training Services Agency	…	Basingstoke	…	149	—	—	—
Department of Transport	…	Cardington	…	14	—	—	—
		Hemel Hempstead	…	43	—	—	—
		Crowthorne	…	568	—	—	—
				7,325	1,468	448	629

SCOTLAND
Department	Location			Number of posts dispersed	Approximate number of posts to be dispersed	Number of new posts established	Approximate number of new posts to be established
Ministry of Defence	Glasgow	…	…	—	up to 4,000	—	—
	Glasgow	…	…	—	1,500	—	—
Department of Energy	Glasgow	…	…	—	—	121	—
Forestry Commission	Edinburgh	…	…	145	—	—	—
Department of Health and Social Security	Livingston	…	…	—	—	135	121
Department of Industry.	Glasgow.	…	…	—	—	160	—
Inland Revenue	Edinburgh	…	…	1,152	—	196	—
	Cumbernauld	…	…	—	—	200	750
	Glasgow	…	…	202	—	—	—
	East Kilbride.	…	…	—	—	1,540	—
Department for National Savings	Glasgow	…	…	4,624	—	—	—
Ministry of Overseas Development	East Kilbride.	…	…	—	650	—	—
	Glasgow	…	…	—	350	—	—
Department of Transport	Dundee.	…	…	—	—	108	58
				6,123	6,500	2,460	929

WALES
Department	Location			Number of posts dispersed	Approximate number of posts to be dispersed	Number of new posts established	Approximate number of new posts to be established
Ministry of Defence	Cardiff	…	…	—	4,000–5,000	—	—
Department of the Environment (Countryside Commission.	Swansea	…	…	—	—	160	—
	Newtown	…	…	—	—	6	—
Export Credits Guarantee Department	Cardiff	…	…	58	742	—	—
Inland Revenue.	Newport	…	…	80	—	—	—
	Cardiff	…	…	57	—	37	20
	Pontypridd	…	…	32	—	—	—
Land Registry	Swansea	…	…	—	—	212	288
Royal Mint	Llantrisant	…	…	1,071	—	—	—
Passport Office.	Newport	…	…	87	—	—	—
Department of Transport	Swansea	…	…	—	—	5,454 (see note 4)	—
Departments of Trade and Industry	Cardiff/Newport	…	…	161	439	—	—
	Cardiff	…	…	879	121	118	—
	Newport	…	…	1,047	—	—	—
				3,472	6,302	5,987	308

Notes:

(1) The categories "New posts established, or to be established". include some posts which do not necessarily represent a net overall gain to a region, but nevertheless benefit a particular location in the region.

(2) As announced by the then Lord President of the Council on 30th July 1974, 1,000 Property Services Agency posts will be decentralised to regional headquarters. Locations have yet to be decided. Decisions have also yet to be taken on the location of the headquarters of the Health and Safety Commission and the bulk of the dispersal of Inland Revenue work, both of which were included in the announcement of 30th July 1974.

(3) The number of posts to be found for St. John's House, Bootle (see Official Report of 24th November 1977, Col. 857) is approximate and will depend on the type of work.

(4) The total number of posts at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre, Swansea, is likely to be less than the overall number of posts shown. Approximately, 50 of the posts are located in Pontypool.

Pay

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give a detailed list of the number of occasions when the Government have failed to carry out recommendations and awards on wages and salaries of independent committees and boards and the number of workers involved, for the longest and most convenient period of time.

I can only answer for those areas in which my Department has a direct interest—that is. industrial and non-industrial civil servants, the Review Body on Top Salaries—other than for Members of Parliament—and the Armed Forces Review Body.Over the past five years, the only areas in which recommendations or awards have been varied are those covered by the Review Body on Top Salaries in its Sixth Report, where the recommended salaries for the higher judiciary (160), some members of the Higher Civil Service (260) and some senior officers of the Armed Forces (63) have not yet been paid in full. The recommendations in that report for nationalised industries chairmen and board members (330) have been the subject of further consideration by the Government. The position was given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in answer to a Question from

my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall South (Mr. George) on 15th December.—[Vol.941, c.

305–6.]

Peers

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give the actual or estimated hours of work per week as given by Lord Greene, Baroness Serota and Lord Diamond in their part-time employment; on this basis what are their average hourly payments; and whether additionally they are able to claim their daily attendance allowance when going to the House of Lords.

The usual practice in respect of such appointments is to express the time which the individuals are expected to have to devote to the job in terms of days per week or per month; the actual incidence of hours per week—which may well be irregular—has to be arranged to suit the particular tasks. I am therefore not able to add to the information I have already given.—[Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol. 941, c. 552–4.]. However, I have no reason to doubt that appointees devote at least as much of their time to their jobs as can reasonably be inferred from the terms of their appointments. On the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him yesterday.—[Vol. 942, c. 7–81.]

Volume 942: debated on Tuesday 17 January 1978

Written Answers To Questions

Prime Minister (Engagements)

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Human Rights

Diplomats' Children (Education)

Hong Kong

Immigration (Indian Sub-Continent)

Home Department

Broadcasting

Postal Voting

Deportation

Community Service Orders

Public Records

Blundeston Prison

Acklington Prison (Houses)

Car Bomb (London)

Grunwick Processing Laboratories Ltd

Gerald Road Police Station

Private Houses (Unauthorised Entry)

Scotland

Tertiary Education Council

Crime (Identification Procedure)

Fire Emergency (Expenditure)

House Of Commons

Membership

Community Law Centres (Grants)

Environment

Ordnance Survey

Sport (European Community Directive)

Child Minding

Statutes (Operation)

Waste Recycling

Listed Buildings

Rate Rebates

Footpaths

Waste Food

Trade

Government Chemist's Laboratory

British Tourist Authority

Goods And Technical Services (Embargo List)

Tourism

Transport

A6 (Bedfordshire)

M54

A45 (Suffolk)

Metrication

Freight Traffic

Employment

Temporary Employment Subsidy

Uranium Mining

Pay And Conditions (European Community)

Disabled Persons

Job Creation Projects

West Yorkshire

Health And Safety

Public And Private Sectors

Acupuncturists

Defence

Service Pay

Aircraft Crash (Newmarket)

Cruise Missile

Children's Education

Pilots

Flying Accidents

Prices And Consumer Protection

Government Chemist's Laboratory

Metrication

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Waste Recycling

Government Chemist's Laboratory

Social Services

Family Income Supplement

Spina Bifida

Child Minding

Unification Church

Booth Hall Children's Hospital (Cleft Palate Unit)

Government Chemist's Laboratory

Statutes (Operation)