asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the expenditure on the programme of energy conservation in educational buildings will be on cavity wall insulation.

It will be for local education authorities to decide

			1974–75		1975–76		1976–77*
			Total	Per head of	Total	Per head of	Total	Per head of
Financial years			Expenditure	Population	Expenditure	Population	Expenditure	Population
			£'000	£	£'000	£	£'000	£
Birmingham		…	86,102	79·2	116,250	107·6	120,166	110·9
Leeds	…	…	—†	—	77,981	104·0	77,540	103·4
Sheffield	…	…	44,484	79·2	—†	—	61,129	108·5
Liverpool	…	…	—†	—	76,824	137·2	67,279	126·5
Manchester		…	51,690	100·2	76,163	152·4	65,248	130·9
Bradford	…	…	40,326	87·5	54,451	118·4	53,381	115·9
* 1976–77 estimates at November 1975 prices.
† Figures not published

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of overseas visits made by Ministers dur

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish the financial expenditure on education of the six largest metropolitan authorities in both global and per capita of population terms for the last three years.

My Department does not prepare figures of per capita expenditure on education for each local education authority, but analyses of their estimates and expenditure are contained in the education statistics published annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, copies of which are in the Library. For the convenience of my hon. Friend, the information below has been extracted from the published figures which, except where stated, are at outturn prices:ing the Christmas Adjournment, the countries visited, the object of the visits, who accompanied the Minister and the cost involved.

The information requested is set out in the table below:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why no rebate is allowed on television licences when the holder dies.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker) on 16th November 1977.—[Vol. 939, c. 213–14.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what would be the estimated cost of allowing a rebate to a television licence holder who changes from a colour to a monochrome receiver.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the operation of the Sex Discrimination Act; and whether any changes in that act are contemplated.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Butler) on 15th December.—[Vol. 941, c. 350.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what offences are commonly covered by the term "terrorist offences" when used by his Department.

The motive of the offender rather than the particular offence determines whether an offence is terrorist: an element of judgment is inevitably involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for each of the years 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977, per 1,000 employed in fire services in (a) Great Britain and (b) Northern Ireland, what was (1) the number killed while on duty, (2) the number seriously wounded, and (3) the number slightly injured requiring absence from duty; and how these rates compare with the police and the Armed Forces.

I am arranging for the available information to be collated and I will publish it in the Official Report as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received any representations from the amusement trades industry with regard to his selection of the day prior to their annual exhibition as the moment to announce changes in the new maximum prizes for amusement-with-prizes machines; why he has ignored requests for such announcements to be made at times which would not disrupt the industry; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I appreciate that the industry would have liked these changes to be made at an earlier date, but I regret that this was not possible. I have now made an order under the Gaming Act 1968 which would increase to £1, with a maximum cash element of 50p, the maximum value of the prizes permitted for amusements-with-prizes machines. The order is expressed to come into operation on 20th February and I hope to lay it on 23rd January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the number of people in each prison in the United Kingdom awaiting deportation (a) how many were convicted by a court and recommended for deportation, (b) how long they have been in prison, (c) how many have indicated their willingness to depart voluntarily, (d) how many have applied for bail, and (e) how many came from the New Commonwealth and Pakistan.

The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The available data is summarised in the following table.It should be noted that the table includes all persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971 other than those serving sentences for criminal offences. It therefore includes not only those awaiting deportation or against whom deportation proceedings are in progress but also those awaiting removal as illegal entrants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend Section 14 of the Fugitive Offenders Act 1967 so that an offender extradited from Australia to the United Kingdom can be prosecuted for offences other than those for which he was extradited.

Section 14(2) of the Fugitive Offenders Act 1967 already provides for the prosecution of the fugitive for offences other than those in respect of which he was returned, subject to the consent of

BORSTAL TRAINEES IN LOCAL PRISONS* AND REMAND CENTRES ON 30TH NOVEMBER 1977—BY TIME IN CUSTODY IN A LOCAL PRISON OR REMAND CENTRE SINCE DATE OF SENTENCE
				Total	Males	Females	Up to 1 month	Over 1 up to 2 months	Over 2 up to 3 months
REMAND CENTRES
Cardiff	…	…	…	9	9	—	7	2	—
Exeter	…	…	…	3	3	—	3	—	—
Low Newton	…	…	…	49	49	—	44	3	2
Norwich	…	…	…	4	4	—	4	—	—
Risley	…	…	…	15	5	10	14	—	1
Winchester	…	…	…	3	3	—	1	1	1
Total		…	…	83	73	10	73	6	4
LOCAL PRISONS
Bedford	…	…	…	8	8	—	8	—	—
Bristol	…	…	…	1	1	—	1	—	—
Birmingham	…	…	…	17	17	—	16	—	1
Canterbury	…	…	…	3	3	—	3	—	—
Leeds	…	…	…	36	36	—	34	2	—
Lincoln	…	…	…	2	2	—	1	—	1
Liverpool	…	…	…	11	11	—	7	4	—
Oxford	…	…	…	6	6	—	6	—	—
Swansea	…	…	…	1	1	—	1	—	—
Total		…	…	85	85	—	77	6	2
* Holloway Prison has been excluded as it contains special accommodation where borstal trainees can serve the whole of their sentence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis Rhodesia is included in immigration rules on and after entry to the United Kingdom.

Citizens of Rhodesia are in law Commonwealth citizens. The Immigration Rules made under the Immigration Act 1971 therefore apply to them as to other Commonwealth citizens.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young persons sentenced to borstal training were (a) in local prisons and (b) remand centres at the latest available date; how many of these were boys: how long each of them had so far been held in prison or a remand centre; and which prisons were being used.

The information requested is show in the table below:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if it remains his intention to introduce a Companies Bill in the present Session of Parliament; when it is likely to be introduced; and if it will include provisions covering the prohibition of auditors holding shares in companies which they audit, restrictions on auditors holding directorships in other companies, restrictions on loans to directors, and penalties for making them unlawfully.

My right hon. Friend intends to introduce a Companies Bill this Session: it will be ready in March. The scope of the Bill has not been finally decided, but it will not contain new restrictions on auditors.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a statement on his decision to impose import restrictions on steel from the USSR, and whether he will impose such restrictions on all imports where similar conditions prevail irrespective of the country which is exporting to Great Britain.

Our imports of steel from the USSR increased about sixfold between 1976 and 1977. Since we were

	Hong Kong	Japan
United Kingdom Exports.December1976-November1977 (to nearest £1,000 fob).	£266,985,000	£459,880,000
Population	4,513,900*	113,272,000†
United Kingdom Exports per head of population	£59–15	£4–06

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if it is intended that further talks should take place on the question of the Common Fund.

The Secretary-General of UNCTAD has been invited to undertake consultations with a view to an early resumption of negotiations. We and other developed countries have made clear our readiness to resume as soon as all concerned can agree to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the policy of the Government concerning the financing of the Common Fund; and if he considers that it should be through direct Government contributions, rather than commodity agreements.

As proposed by the developed countries collectively at the out unable to reach a mutually acceptable understanding with the USSR about its deliveries of steel to this country in 1978, it was necessary to impose import restrictions from the beginning of this year.I would wish to consider any similar cases in the light of progress made following the decision on 19th December of the European Council of Ministers that discussions should be held with a number of supplying countries about the prices and quantities of their exports of steel to the Community in 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the figures for British exports to Hong Kong and to Japan, respectively, expressed in terms of pounds sterling per head of the population of those two countries.

Following is the information:set of the second session of the Common Fund conference, the Fund's buffer stocking facility should in our view be based on cash deposits from producer and consumer countries in the framework of international commodity agreements, and on market borrowing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish (a) the study of the economic impact of route charges upon users made by Eurocontrols' Consultative Group on Route Charges, (b) the detailed analysis carried out before the Governments concerned took their decision to raise the rate of recovery of costs to 75 per cent. in April 1978 which showed that 100 per cent. recovery in 1980 would represent 4 per cent. of overall operating costs of airlines in the Eurocontrol area, and (c) the analysis currently being carried out in connection with the proposals for a recovery rate from April 1979.

pursuant to his reply—[Official Report, 16th January 1978: Vol. 942, c. 65.]—gave the following information:The study mentioned under (

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether the Government will assist in obtaining funds from the EEC for the development of Newcastle Regional Airport.

I shall be prepared to consider any proposals for the development of Newcastle Airport, including the question of a European Regional Development Fund grant, within the context of my forthcoming statement on future airports policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the names of those who were present during the two occasions in 1977 when he held formal consultations on the concept of planning agreements.

As indicated in my answer on 9th January—[Official Report, Vol. 941, cols. 615–16]—the meetings between the Secretary of State and the CBI were confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will declare further derelict land clearance areas in the West Midlands including the metropolitan districts of Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, and Walsall, the district of Cannock Chase, and the designated area of Telford New Town.

Derelict land clearance in Telford is undertaken by the Telford Development Corporation, which is entitled to central Government funds for this purpose. The designation of the other districts named as derelict land clearance areas is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is able to announce any further appointment to the Board of British Shipbuilders.

Mr. John Parker has accepted an invitation to become a full-time member of the Board of British Shipbuilders. Mr. Parker will serve as shipbuilding member and his appointment will take effect from 1st February 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many appointments have been made to the principal office of public bodies in the last two years; and of those appointments how many were (a) previously active members of the Labour Party and (b) former parliamentary candidates in that capacity.

In the last two years I have made 39 such appointments of whom 20 were previously active members of the Labour Party including three who were former parliamentary candidates in that capacity.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many times he approached Anne Edwards of the Sunday Express to become a member of the commitee investigating matters connected with motorway cafés; why, in addition to a £10 a day tax-free expense allowance and travelling expenses, she was offered full or partial reimbursement of loss of earnings; why she was asked whether she was a Vietnam war reporter; and whether he will make a statement.

A number of telephone calls were made to Miss Edwards, to ascertain whether she was interested in serving on a Government committee. These ended with a call informing her that she had not been selected. Miss Edwards was offered the normal terms of attendance at such committees and asked for information for inclusion in the curriculum vitae for the Press notice which would have been issued had she been appointed.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he expects the first and second recommendations made by the Monopolies Commission in its report on the supply of plasterboard to be implemented.

On 6th December last year I announced to the House that, after negotiations with the Director General of Fair Trading, BPB Industries, which, through its subsidiary, British Gypsum, has a complete monopoly in the spply of plasterboard in the United Kingdom, had submitted undertakings to my right hon. Friend, in respect of both these recommendations which concern the introduction of differential delivered prices and direct customer collections. However, because of the need to avoid any possible conflict with price controls, they could not be implemented until discussions between the company and the Price Commission had been completed. These discussions have now been concluded and the new pricing system will take effect on 1st March 1978. Between now and that date British Gypsum will be taking steps to ensure that its customers are made aware of what will be major changes to its pricing and trading policies.In its first recommendation, the Monopolies Commission advocated that BPB should abandon its existing system of uniform delivered prices and replace it with a system of differential delivered prices for each type and load of plasterboard which would more accurately reflect the actual cost of delivery to each customer. The company has now undertaken to charge for any consignment of plasterboard delivered to a customer in Great Britain a price exceeding the ex-works price by an amount calculated to enable the company to recoup the average cost of delivering such a consignment to any place within the zone where delivery is made.For the purposes of this undertaking "zone" means (

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many licence applications have been made to date under the Consumer Credit Act; in how many instances the refusal of such licences has become the subject of appeal procedure to his Department; in how many such instances an appeal has resulted in the reversal of the decisions of the licence granting authority; and how many appeals have still to be determined.

Since the Act imposes on the Director General of Fair Trading the duty of administering the licensing system I am asking him to write to my hon. Friend about the number of licence applications. There have to date

In United Kingdom		1972–73	1973–74	1974–75	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78	Total
Postgraduate level	…	9	3	18	42	30	47
Undergraduate level	…	38	64	166	196	167	95
Intermediate level	…	22	28	205	535	122	164
Total	…	69	95	389	773	319	306*	1,951
*The total for 1977–78 is provisional: some further awards are still under consideration.

Adding the number of new awards to the number of awards continuing from previous years the total numbers of Zimbabweans studying in this country under our programmes in recent years are as follows:

1974–75	485
1975–76	1,060
1976–77	1,070
1977–78	1,100

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how much money is available to her Department for grants to Zimbabwean students to further their education in the United Kingdom.

My Department's Estimates for 1977–78 included a provision of £2,809,000 for awards in the United Kingdom as part of a total provision of £3,759,000 for Rhodesian African education.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will compensate the British-owned Beira Town Sites Company, whose property has been confiscated without compensation by the Gov been no appeals against the refusal of licences.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many Zimbabwean students have applied for grants from her Department to further their studies in the United Kingdom: and how many have been granted.

Details of applications received prior to the current year are not yet available, but for the 1977–78 programme 2,143 firm applications were received.The number of grants made in earlier years and in 1977–78 is shown in the following table:ernment of Mozambique, from British aid supplied to that country.

No. Compensation for expropriated property is a separate issue from the provision of British development assistance.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware of the growing public concern at the continuing and increasing costs of litigation to the taxpayers; and, as a means of preventing the excessive fees being charged by the legal profession, whether he will seek to introduce a system of a paid State service for the legal profession similar to the National Health Service.

Legal costs met by public funds are subject to control by taxation or assessment, and I have no evidence that excessive fees are being allowed. The structure and organisation of the legal profession and the arrangements for determining its remuneration are now under consideration by the Royal Commission on Legal Services.

asked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on any changes which have been made in recent years in the lengths of time for which various categories of public records and documents are retained before being made available for public inspection and research; and if he will specify the types and categories of archives affected.

Since 1973 the closed period of 100 years previously applied to many individual records and classes of records has been reduced to 75 years. The types and categories of records affected are mainly those the earlier disclosure of which would cause distress or embarrassment to living persons or their immediate descendants.

asked the Attorney-General if he will indicate in detail the types and categories of public records and documents which are kept closed for periods of 100 years, for 30 years and for other periods, respectively.

Under the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967 most public records in the Public Record Office and other authorised places of deposit, other than those to which the public had access before their transfer, are closed to general public inspection for 30 years. The Lord Chancellor may, however, prescribe shorter or longer periods with the approval or at the request of the Minister or other person concerned.The categories of records for which longer periods have been prescribed are the following: (1) exceptionally sensitive papers, the disclosure of which would be contrary to the public interest whether on security or other grounds, including the need to safeguard the Revenue; (2) documents containing information supplied in confidence, the disclosure of which would or might constitute a breach of faith and (3) documents containing information about individuals, the disclosure of which would cause distress or embarrassment to living persons or their immediate descendants.Whilst the period prescribed will depend upon the circumstances of each individual case, periods of 75 and 100 years are for the most part prescribed only for docu ments in the third category mentioned above.

asked the Attorney-General how many persons since 1st January 1970 have applied for access to public documents and records not available for public inspection and research after being held for periods of longer than 30 years.

This information is not readily available. Access to the records of a Department which are not open to general public inspection is a matter for that Department.

asked the Attorney-General how many publications have been referred to him by the police for prosecution under the Race Relations Act 1976; and how many prosecutions have been initiated as a result.

The police have submitted reports to the Director of Public Prosecutions in 12 cases relating to the alleged publication of written material and in one case relating to the alleged use of words in a public place. A prosecution has been initiated in one case.

asked the Attorney-General how many documents have been submitted to him for possible prosecutions under the anti-incitement provisions of the Public Order Act 1936; how many have been remitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions; and how many are still under consideration.

I have received a large number of documents, both from hon. Members, from organisations and from individuals. In 14 cases I have passed the documents to the Director of Public Prosecutions as I have considered their contents to be such that attempts should be made by the police to identify the persons responsible for the publication and distribution of the documents. In a further 15 cases documents have been received by the Director of Public Prosecutions from the police and other sources. 13 cases are under consideration or the subject of further inquiries by the police.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he intends to make available facilities for Back Bench Members of both Houses to visit British Army of the Rhine and Royal Air Force Germany during 1978.

A parliamentary group visit to British Forces in Germany in 1978 is currently being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has made to the Farmers' Union of Wales and the National Farmers' Union in Wales to encourage their members to increase beef, lamb and pig production during the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend and I have met representatives of both unions in recent weeks. These meetings have provided the opportunity for a useful exchange of views on the current situation and future prospects of all sectors of the livestock industry in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the wearing of seat belts; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received minimal representations on this topic. The dangers of not wearing belts are being demonstrated in major Government publicity campaigns.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many tons of grain have been fed to Welsh livestock during the last 12 months; at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

It is estimated in the Annual Review of Agriculture 1978—Cmnd. 7058—Table 6, that 12·4 million tonnes of grain were fed to livestock in the United Kingdom in 1977. Separate figures for Wales and estimates of cost are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will set up an inquiry into the activities of the various bodies associated with the Unification Church in Wales; and whether he will consult with a view to a nationwide inquiry.

I have been asked to reply.I have received correspondence from a number of people about the activities of the Unification Church throughout the country, and a number have requested that an inquiry be held. I am at present considering the information that has been sent to me.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had about the bulk export of Scotch whisky.

My right hon. Friend the Minister has received representations from the All-Party Scotch Whisky Group and discussed the matter with it at a meeting last year. I have also received representations from the Scotch Whisky Combine Committee, to which I have replied.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to the National Farmers' Union to encourage its members who raise pigs to switch from grain to feeding on recycled waste.

The National Farmers' Union has been made aware of the activities of my Department's Food Waste Survey Unit, which is at present investigating the availability of food waste for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many million tons of grain have been fed to British livestock in the years 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977; and what percentage was fed to pigs.

Estimates of the total quantities of grain fed to livestock in the United Kingdom in the years 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977 are as follows:

			Million tonnes
1974	1975	1976	1977
12·4	12·5	12·4	12·4
			(forecast)

These figures are taken from the Annual Review of Agriculture 1978 (Cmnd 7058),

UNITED KINGDOM BEER EXPORTS TO EEC COUNTRIES
		1975		1976		1977 (January-November)
		Bulk Barrels*	Value	Bulk Barrels	Value	Bulk Barrels	Value
			£		£		£
Belgium and Luxembourg		226,203	1,872,482	212,872	2,033,158	169,663	2,061,682
Denmark	…	658	21,378	779	34,023	847	41,504
France	…	7,965	259,833	9,757	411,539	13,229	616,160
Germany†	…	23,867	620,341	25,293	732,596	25,383	924,108
Italy	…	4,175	144,135	5,161	208,797	7,665	359,285
Ireland	…	6,478	169,003	9,819	259,096	12,731	311,238
Netherlands†	…	30,031	601,807	24,792	605,101	27,980	848,497

UNITED KINGDOM BEER IMPORTS FROM EEC COUNTRIES
		1975		1976		1977(January-November)
		Bulk Barrels*	Value	Bulk Barrels	Value	Bulk Barrels	Value
			£		£		£
Belgium and Luxembourg		99,073	1,341,563	65,483	820,407	18,069	543,645
Denmark	…	268,892	8,285,976	291,437	10,477,157	81,112	3,738,016
France	…	3,713	129,604	967	37,079	954	38,210
Germany	…	176,279	4,864,562	228,045	6,937,235	277,166	8,045,453
Italy	…	3,452	120,776	409	20,220	349	15,846
Ireland	…	1,181,862	13,310,074	1,200,537	13,862,231	999,951	11,880,625
Netherlands	…	30,014	797,891	48,521	1,217,381	38,810	1,389,160
Source: H.M. Customs and Excise.
* One Bulk Barrel contains 36 gallons.
† The figures for Germany and the Netherlands include supplies for British forces abroad. These supplies are estimated at approximately 43,000 bulk barrels in 1975, 40,000 bulk barrels in 1976 and 39,000 bulk barrels in January to November 1977

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will draw to the attention of the EEC authorities on Monday, 16th January 1978 when he meets them to discuss renegotiation of the common fisheries policy, that the United Kingdom would be prepared to enter into unilateral negotiations with Norway, if there is failure to agree in the EEC Council of Ministers, in order

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the amount of beer exports from the United Kingdom to each of the EEC countries in each of the last three years;(2) what was the amount of beer imports into the United Kingdom from each of the EEC countries in each of the last three years.

Following is the information in so far as it is currently available. I will send statistics for December 1977 to my hon. Friend when they arrive later this month.to safeguard the jobs of British fishermen that will be lost if there is further EEC delay.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 13th January.—[Vol. 941, c. 870.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to be in a position to announce the outcome of the negotiations between the EEC and Norway on the question of reciprocal fishing rights, in view of the vital importance of an amicable arrangement to both Norwegian and British fishermen.

A further round of consultations to consider reciprocal arrangements for 1978 as a whole between the EEC and Norway will take place in Bergen on 24th–26th January. My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to announce the outcome shortly afterwards.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the latest draft proposal from the EEC Commission which sets out a larger overall annual catch in EEC waters, but at the same time proposes to reduce the total tonnage allocated to the United Kingdom.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 13th January 1977.—[Vol. 941, c. 869.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the policy of the Government on the possibility of an international tea agreement, on whether tea stocks should be jointly financed by producers and consumers, and on the need for export quotas.

The Government fully support the efforts at present being made to negotiate an international agreement on tea. In their view, such an agreement will need to contain provision for export quotas. The present analyses and discussions, which are being carried out under UNCTAD auspices, will cover both stocking arrangements and export quotas. Decisions on the necessary financial arrangements must await agreement on the general structure of the proposed agreement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made on the review of the export of live animals.

Good progress has been made with the taking of written and oral evidence from a wide range of interested organisations. The assembling of this information will be completed shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Ministers (Fisheries) meeting in Brussels on 16th and 17th January.

asked the Miniser of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement concerning his discussions in Brussels on 16th January upon EEC fisheries policy.

My right hon. Friend intends to make a statement to the House tomorrow.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total expenditure on imported grain in the period 1974 to the latest date for which figures are available.

I have been asked to reply.In the period January 1974 to November 1977 inclusive, imports of grain (SITC(R) groups 041–045 and sub-group 048.11) were valued at £2,585 million c.i.f.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to make an official visit to Egypt.

My right hon. Friend made an official visit to Egypt in April 1977. He has no plans for a further one at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present position regarding the long-standing Mexican claim to the northern part of Belize; and whether he will make a statement.

The Mexican Government have stated that they will not press their historic claim provided that Belize allowed to exercise its right to self-determination.

asked the Secretary of of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the possibilities of an internal settlement being brought about between the Smith régime and those representing the coloured population inside Rhodesia, without reference to the Anglo-American proposals; and if such a possibility exists there what steps he proposes to take on behalf of Her Majesty's Government to reject such an agreement.

It is too soon to judge whether agreement in principle will be reached in the current internal settlement talks.My right hon. Friend has already stated the Government's view of Mr. Smith's internal talks, and I refer my hon. Friend to the further statement issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 9th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further progress has been made in the matter of compensation for United Kingdom citizens who suffered loss and damage as a direct result of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus; what is the total assessment of these losses; and what extra compensation is being sought to compensate for the erosion by delay and inflation.

A senior official visited Cyprus last month for further discussions with the Turkish Cypriot authorities. He was told that the establishment of a Claims Commission had now been approved and would be in operation shortly. A realistic assessment of total losses still cannot be given because not all claimants have visited their properties to quantify their losses. The amount of compensation claimed is a matter for individual claimants.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has been asked to intercede with the United States authorities, on be half of the Sex Pistols, following the initial refusal of visas for them to enter the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on his attitude towards foreign Governments who refuse to allow entry to the country of British nationals on the grounds that their behaviour is considered sufficiently odious and objectionable to warrant such treatment.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the gross national product is currently produced by nationalised statutory corporations.

In 1976, the latest period for which information is available, public corporations produced about 12 per cent, of the gross domestic product at factor cost. After adjustment of income generated in the United Kingdom for flows of net property income from abroad, public corporations' share of gross national product in 1976 was about 11½ per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his estimates of the degree to which the savings ratio varies with the level of personal or household income; and if he will publish estimates of comparable savings ratios at different income levels for a typical year in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and currently.

I regret that there are no reliable estimates of savings ratios at different levels of income—personal or household—at a given point in time. Cross-sectional evidence from the Family Expenditure Survey (FES) shows a positive correlation between income level and the savings ratio, but it is difficult to reconcile FES income and expenditure data with the national accounts and it omits consideration of the least and most wealthy members of society. Moreover, much of the correlation is probably accounted for by transitory changes in income which are not associated with immediate changes in consumption. Over time, there has been a tendency for the savings ratio to rise since the Second World War, but over the last 100 years, despite a large increase in per capita real incomes, there has been no great change in the savings ratio. Overall, therefore, it seems that there is not a close or systematic connection in the longer term between savings behaviour and the level of personal income.The table below gives the level of real personal disposable incomes, measured at 1970 prices, and the savings ratios in each of the years 1949, 1959, 1969 and 1976 (Source: Economic Trends, Annual Supplement 1977, published by the CSO).

	Real Personal Disposable Income (£ billion 1970 prices)	Saving ratio percentage
1949	19·3	0·5
1959	25·4	4·8
1969	33·6	8·1
1976	41·5	14·6

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was received by England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, from the EEC Regional Fund in 1977; and how much was contributed by the United Kingdom.

The Commission allocated £55.332 million to the United Kingdom from the European Regional Development Fund for industrial and infrastructure projects in 1977. This was apportioned as follows:

	£ million
England	26·760
Scotland	13·928
Wales	6·509
Northern Ireland	8·135

The United Kingdom contributes to the Community Budget as a whole and not to individual parts. The provision included for the Regional Development Fund in the 1977 Budget was £208 million. The United Kingdom share of the Budget was 19·2414 per cent.

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 not pre cluded in principle by any current convention or rule.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 770], gave the following information:No. Special purchase grants are treated in the same way as other departmental programmes so far as access to the contingency reserve is concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the nature of the environmental problems which have led him to a reappraisal of the need for, or change of, the plans for an Acle bypass of the A47.

The problems are not environmental. We are examining whether the environmental benefits can be gained at less cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what would be the cost of providing an extra lane in each direction on the following sections of the North Orbital Road: (a) Leavesden Green-Three Horseshoes and (b) Three Horseshoes-M1 motorway.

This has not been costed in detail since it would not provide a satisfactory solution for this section of the London Outer Orbital route.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make available to the public figures and any other data used as a basis for estimating future traffic requirements on the London Outer Orbital Route section of the M25; and if he will undertake to do so with urgency.

The traffic information relating to the section of the M25 between Micklefield Green and South Mimms will be made available as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what method was adopted in the economic evaluation of the preferred route and the alternative routes of the London Outer Orbital Road; what factors were taken into account; and whether the existing North orbital route was included in the exercise.

The following factors were taken into account in assessing the relationship between benefits and costs: travel costs, including delay costs at junctions; vehicle operating costs; accident costs; maintenance costs; and capital costs of construction. The existing North Orbital Road was taken into account in making this assessment.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, during the economic and environmental evaluation of the preferred route and the alternative routes of the London Outer Orbital Road, the eastern and western sections were considered separately; and if he will make a statement.

For the purposes of the economic evaluation, the eastern and western sections were not taken separately. However, in the environmental evaluation they were considered both jointly and separately.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what were the factors which influenced the decision to adopt Route Two as the preferred route for the London Outer Orbital Road.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement issued at the time of the announcement of the preferred route of the Micklesfield Green-South Mimms section, a copy of which was sent to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects demand for further road capacity on the following sections of the North Orbital Road: (a) Hunton Bridge to Leavesden Green, (b) Leavesden Green to Three Horseshoes and (c) Three Horseshoes to M1 motorway: (i) assuming the M25 motorway is built and (ii) assuming the M25 motorway is not built.

In the late 1990s and in the early 1980s respectively for each of the three sections.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration is being given to the alternative proposals for the M25 Hunton Bridge to the M1, forwarded by the Midland Motorway Action Group as part of its case at the M1 inquiry at Watford in 1976.

The inspector's report of the inquiry into the proposed widening of the M1 is being considered by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Transport and for the Environment, and it would not therefore be appropriate for me to comment on the proposal at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in the light of the recently improved capacity of the existing North Orbital Road, he will now review on traffic grounds the need for a new section of motorway between Hun-ton Bridge and the M1 motorway; and if he will give an assurance that this section of proposed new motorway will not now proceed as programmed.

As the hon. Member is aware, the traffic information relating to the section of the M25 between Micklefield Green and South Mimms will be reappraised to have regard to improvements to the A.41/A.405 in north-west Watford, and I have stated that construction of this section of the M25 will not commence until this reappraisal is completed and taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a statement on highway inquiry procedures following discussions with the Council on Tribunals.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement before too long.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the criteria for the provision of traffic speed restrictions on A class and B class roads; and whether he will put in hand a review of these criteria, particularly as they affect roads through villages in rural areas.

Some hon. Members, local councillors and members of the public have suggested that the Department's guidelines for fixing local speed limits on roads of all classes are not apposite to particular needs. The circulars giving advice on this subject are already under review, and before a revised version is issued representative organisations will be consulted.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is ready to announce the start of the proposed Liverpool-Preston road between Bretherton and Bickerstaff.

Not yet. I have promised to write to my hon. Friend as soon as I have any further information.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made in locating a driving test centre in the Lambhill area, Glasgow, to serve the north of the city.

The north of Glasgow is already served by the centres at Anniesland and Riddrie. The latter centre is less than satisfactory due to changing traffic conditions. A search for other premises is being made.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with the entrance and exit of the M1 motorway at the London end, bearing in mind the difficulty of long distance traffic using this junction at peak periods; and whether he has any proposals for improving the traffic flow in the immediate area.