asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has decided to issue plans for private nuclear shelters.

We propose to publish information to assist anyone who wishes to provide a purpose-built shelter at his or her own expense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to seek to introduce a statutory requirement for all new buildings to include form of nuclear shelter in their design.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the number of occasions when Lord Longford has visited Myra Hindley in prison; how many such visits were of a special nature and outside the normal prison visits as allowed by the regulations; and why these special facilities were granted.

It is not our practice to invade the privacy of individual prisoners by giving details of the visits they receive. A Member of Parliament, of either House, acting in his capacity as a Member, may request facilities to visit an individual prisoner. If the prisoner consents, a special visiting order is issued by the Home Office, and this is additional to the prisoner's normal entitlement of visits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, the number of Kuwaitis, Libyans or citizens of the United Arab Emirates admitted or refused entry into Great Britain for medical treatment, free or on payment by their embassies; how many of these remained or returned and remained illegally; and what steps are taken to ensure that such visitors return to their homelands after such medical treatment.

Selective checks are made to ensure that persons have left at the end of their permitted stay. I regret that the rest of the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will agree to the lifting of the 100-year embargo on all papers connected with the 1936 abdication.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department's banking business was last put out to competitive tender.

It has not been found necessary to seek competitive tenders for the banking business of the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent his offer of a reduction in the working hours of firemen by the end of the year was based upon the fact that the EEC recommendation of a 40-hour week has been agreed to by the Government for implementation by the end of the year.

As my hon. Friend will be aware, the Government support the EEC recommendation on the basis that its progressive achievement is a matter for collective bargaining, subject to the requirements of counter-inflation policy. A reduction from the present 48-hour week has for long been an objective of the Fire Brigades Union. The fire service pay settlement which was agreed by the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades on 17th January 1978 includes agreement registered in principle to introduce a 42-hour working week for firemen without loss of pay from November 1978 subject to the satisfactory completion of negotiations. This agreement stems from the findings of the Home Departments' inquiry into the feasibility of a 40-hour week in the fire service which reported in September 1977 and not specifically from the EEC recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to review the working of the Sex Discrimination Act.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a 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 whether he is aware that the Pakistan Government are considering rejoining the Commonwealth; and to what extent, if any, such readmission will affect the entry of immigrants into the United Kingdom from Pakistan on re-entry.

If Pakistan were to rejoin the Commonwealth, this would have no significant effect on the number of citizens of Pakistan entering the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the statement made at the Old Bailey by Judge Michael Argyle, QC, on Monday 16th January 1978 concerning the police in failing to stamp out blue movie cinema clubs; and, in view of the evidence submitted at the recent pornographic trials affecting a large number of high-ranking police officers, he will cause an investigation to be made to see that the police are carrying out their proper duties and not still protecting the pornographic industry.

I have seen reports of the judge's remarks. As to the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to his Question on 8th December.—[Vol. 940, col. 830.]

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet the TUC and CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the CBI.

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

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to meet the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to meet the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to meet the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet the TUC.

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

asked the Prime Minister whether, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Lady the Leader of the Opposition, Official Report, 13th December 1977, c. 266, he has yet checked whether she was correct in saying that the pay in the pocket of the average industrial worker bought less at Christmas 1977 than at any Christmas since 1969; and what conclusion he has reached.

Yes. I can now update the conclusion that I drew in that reply. Namely, in view of the success in reducing inflation the general standard of life of our people is already rising and will continue to do so in 1978.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 24th January.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24th January 1978.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24th January.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 24th January.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 24th January.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 24th January.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 24th January.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24th January.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 24th January.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 24th 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).

asked the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to Belize.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to meet the Heads of Government of NATO member countries.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to meet with the NATO Heads of State in the near future.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to meet the Heads of Government of NATO member countries.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to meet the Heads of Government of NATO member countries.

refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Roderick).

asked the Prime Minister what issues he intends to raise at the next EEC Heads of Government meeting.

It is too early to say.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit the headquarters of NATO.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make an official visit to Preston.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he next proposes to visit Ettrick.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he remains satisfed with the security of official papers held by the Cabinet Office.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Home Office, the Department of Employment and the Department of Education and Science on the working of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

Yes.

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

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mr. Ward) on 17th November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to pay an official visit to El Salvador in 1978.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to make an official visit to the Republic of El Salvador in 1978.

No.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has for visiting Belgravia.

I have at present no plans to do so.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he will next visit Brussels.

I expect to visit Brussels later this year for a meeting of the European Council.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange for Chequers to be open to the public on certain days when it is not being used by himself.

This is a matter for the Chequers Trust, and I suggest the hon. Member approaches the Trustees if he wishes to pursue his suggestion.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list the additional overseas aid commitments resulting directly from his recent visit to South Asia.

As the House knows, I informed the Leaders of the Bangladesh and Indian Governments that if agreement could be reached among the countries directly concerned we would be very ready to assist in financing a study of the control of the waters of the Ganges and Brahmaputra.In India I pledged our support for a scheme to provide fertilisers to about 35,000 villages throughout India. This will involve our supplying over the next three years £30 million of fertiliser. This will be sold to the farmers in the villages concerned, and the proceeds of the sales will then be used to the direct benefit of the people in those villages.In Pakistan I pledged our support, as part of an international effort, to a scheme to repair damage to the Tarbela Dam.In Bangladesh I told the President that British experts could help in developing the project for liquification of natural gas.The cost will in all cases be met within the Aid Programme, the planned level of which for the next few years has recently been announced.

asked the Prime Minister if he will ensure that United Kingdom nominations to the EEC Social and Economic Committee will, in future, include representatives of the small businesses sector and the self-employed.

The number of United Kingdom interests wanting representation on the EEC Economic and Social Committee far exceeds the number of seats available. In considering the future composition of the British delegation the Government will continue to make every effort to ensure that as wide a range of interests as possible is represented.

asked the Prime Minister what representations he has received from the small business sector and the self-employed asking that they should be nominated to the EEC Social and Economic Committee.

The Government have received a number of representations on the question of the composition of the next United Kingdom delegation to the Economic and Social Committee including letters from hon. Members on behalf of small business men and the self-employed.

asked the Prime Minister if his statement that there is free collective bargaining now means that there are now no restraints placed by the Government upon the level of wage settlements between independent employers and their employees.

Since 1st August last those engaged in collective wage bargaining have been free to negotiate settlements structured in whatever way best suits their particular circumstances. We have made it clear that, in the interests of reducing the rate of inflation and keeping it down, the effect on earnings of a wage settlement, whatever its structure, should not exceed 10 per cent.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of persons appointed to full or part-time employment, known to be Liberals, sympathisers with the Liberal Party or those recommended by the party, or its leaders, since the commencement of the Lib-Lab pact, in addition to Lord Winstanley as Chairman of the Countryside Commission.

My Department does not maintain such information.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when his Department's banking business was last put out to competitive tender.

The Civil Service Department's banking business is substantially provided by the Paymaster-General, and therefore the question of competitive tendering does not arise.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1), in view of the concern felt by the taxpayers in general and hon. Members in particular at the regularity with which revelations are belatedly made concerning alleged mal-administration, neglect, and loss of money in cases such as that of the Crown Agents the Road Construction Report and the British Steel Corporation, whether to prevent this in the future he will introduce a Freedom of Information Act to seek to give the people the right to know on all such public matters;(2) whether, in view of the changed circumstances resulting from the British Steel Corporation affair in addition to the report on the Crown Agents and other incidents, he will now arrange for a Freedom of Information Act to be introduced to give Members of Parliament and the British public the right to know.

No. In any case I would not wish to speculate on the possible impact of hypothetical legislation on the conduct of business in the public sector. The Government's policy for increasing the amount of official information made available remains as explained by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minster in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, Central (Mr. McNamara) on 26th October last.

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 the issue of fish quotas within renegotiations of the common fisheries policy the fact that the United Kingdom provides some 60 per cent. of all fishery resources within the EEC.

My right hon. Friend has repeatedly done this.

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 the fact that the British fishing industry needs an annual future catch of some 2 million tons if it is to remain viable.

My right hon. Friend has consistently pressed for quota allocations under the revised common fisheries policy which will provide a level of catch adequate for the needs of the United Kingdom fishing industry and which will enable it to plan with confidence for the future.

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 the fact that many British fishermen spent Christmas on the dole because of EEC quota mismanagement.

My right hon. Friend has made clear in Community discussion the importance of effective and adequate quota management and enforcement arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about what increase in what fish species has caused the latest EEC estimate of total catch for 1978 in the waters of EEC countries to rise from 2,506,651 tonnes to 2,822,654 tonnes; why the proposals for United Kingdom quotas have been cut; what effects he envisages this will have on the United Kingdom fishing industry; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statement on 19th January 1978.—[Vol. 942, c. 676–86.] The latest Commission proposals for total EEC catch in 1978 waters of member States amount to about 3½1 million tonnes. This differs from previous proposals because certain other species have been brought within the scope of the quota proposals, together with areas such as Greenland, the Skagerrak, Kattegat and Baltic. The share proposed for the United Kingdom has been increased.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report an estimate of damage caused in and around the town of Wisbech by last week's floods; and what compensation from central and local government will be available;

On Wednesday 18th January 1978 I visited Wisbech and other places most seriously affected by the floods of the 11th-12th January. I toured the area with members and officials of the council, inspected damaged property and talked to the residents of the many flooded homes. I was most impressed by the magnificent work of the local authorities and all concerned in giving relief, alleviating distress and carrying out emergency repairs.It is for the local authorities in the area to decide what, if any, compensation for losses they will provide. The Government, through the Supplementary Benefits Commission, have made, and are making, cash payments to people for urgent needs such as food, fuel, replacement of necessary clothing and essential articles; payments are also available to those who are unable to carry on their employment because of the floods. Apart from this the Government would not expect to give, or contribute towards, compensation for normally insurable losses.It is, however, too early yet to expect the local authorities to have made a full assessment of the damage to property in the area, its effects and cost of restoration, but I have asked the local authority for an immediate broad estimate of expenditure which it has incurred or anticipates incurring.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list in the Official Report the total amount of central Government grants, under appropriate headings, allocated for housing purposes to the former Hemel Hempstead Borough Council and the Dacorum District Council for the financial years 1970–71 to 1978–79.

Cash allocations were introduced in 1975–76 in respect of improvements to council housing. In 1976–77 they were extended to lending for house purchase and improvement and in 1977–78 to all local authority housing capital programmes. For 1978–79, following the introduction of local authority housing strategies and investment programmes, cash allocations have been made in three spending blocks. The information requested is as follows:

	£
1975–76—
Council house improvements	386,800
1976–77—
Council house improvements	350,000
Lending for house purchase and improvement	352,000
1977–78—
New housebuilding, including land	4,504,000
Slum clearance	0
Council house improvements	600,000
Municipalisation	60,000
Improvement grants	110,000
Lending for house purchase and improvement	121,000
Lending to housing associations	187,000
1978–79—
Block 1—(New house building, land, slum clearance, municipalisation)*	5,166,000
Block 2—(Improvement grants, lending for house purchase and improvement)	335,000
Block 3—(Lending to housing associations)	550,000
* A sum for insulation of local authority housing in 1978–79 as part of the energy conservation measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy on 12th December 1977 has still to be allocated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the working party on contractual and administrative arrangements for catering in the Royal parks to report.

The working party has now reported and its recommendations are currently being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a general direction to those nationalised industries for which he is the sponsoring Minister that they should meet the quota of 3 per cent. employment of disabled people since, as revealed by the Department of Employment Gazette, they currently do not do so.

This is a matter for each industry subject to the exemption provisions of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 regarding suitable occupations. It would not be appropriate for me to issue a general direction, but the nationalised industries for which I am responsible know that I am very anxious that they should play their full part in providing employment opportunities for the disabled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what acreage of land is held by (a) Government Departments, (b) local authorities, (c) State corporations, (d) water authorities and (e) the Crown in England and Wales, respectively.

This information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which recommendations of the Verney and Stevens Committees which reported in 1975 he is prepared to accept; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is considering these two reports in consultation with his colleagues and expects to publish a response to them later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will name the members of the committee dealing with the inner city problem of Liverpool; how often the committee has met; and what progress is being made.

I take the chair of the Liverpool Inner City Partnership Committee. Its members are:

• Ministerial representatives of the following Departments:
• Department of Industry
• Department of Employment/Manpower Services Commission
• Department of Health and Social Security
• Department of Education and Science
• Department of Transport
• Home Office; and
• Councillor D. Hamilton, Leader, Liverpool City Council
• Councillor E. D. Roderick, Liverpool City Council
• Councillor T. Jones, Liverpool City Council
• Councillor S. Airey, Liverpool City Council
• Councillor Sir K. Thompson, Leader, Merseyside County Council
• Councillor N. Goldrein, Merseyside County Council
• Councillor W. H. Sefton, Merseyside County Council
• Mr. T. Roberts, Chairman, Liverpool Area Health Authority.
• Officials also attend.

The committee has met once, and agreement has been reached on the area for priority and on the arrangements for drawing up a joint inner area programme. Officers have started work on this, and there have been discussions with local groups about community involvement. The next meeting will be on 20th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now allow tenants of New Towns Commission houses in Crawley to buy their own homes.

No. The Commission's houses are to be transferred on 1st April to the Crawley Borough Council by a scheme made under the New Towns (Amendment) Act 1976. It will then be for the council to determine whether these houses should be offered for sale.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the value of work done by local authority direct labour building organisations in the United Kingdom in (a) new house building, (b) other new construction, (c) housing repairs and maintenance, and (d) other repairs and maintenance in the latest period for which figures are available.

Following is the information for Great Britain:

VALUE OF WORK DONE BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES' DIRECT LABOUR IN GREAT BRITAIN
3rd Quarter 1977
	£ million
New work:
housing	27
non-housing	29
Repairs and maintenance:
housing	122
non-housing	137
All work done	315

Corresponding figures for Northern Ireland are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the names of the local authorities in the United Kingdom which operate the 12 largest direct labour building organisations, measured by value of work done.

The 12 local authorities which reported most work done by direct labour in the third quarter 1977 are:

• Birmingham DC.
• Derby CC.
• Gateshead DC.
• Glasgow DC.
• Grampian Regional Council.
• Greater London Council.
• Liverpool DC.
• Manchester DC.
• Sheffield DC.
• Southwark LB.
• Strathclyde Regional Council.
• West Yorkshire CC.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the value of work done by all public sector direct labour building organisations in the latest year for which complete figures are available;(2) what was the annual value of work done by local authority direct labour building organisations in the United Kingdom in the latest year for which complete figures are available.

The value of work done by public sector direct labour in Great Britain in 1977 is provisionally estimated to have been £1,640 million, of which local authorities were responsible for £1,265 million.In Northern Ireland in 1976 public sector direct labour carried out £30 million of work. A figure for 1977 is not yet available. Separate figures for local authorities in Northern Ireland are not produced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department's banking business was last put out to competitive tender.

It is not practicable for this to be done. The main banking business of my Department is conducted through the Paymaster-General's accounts with the Bank of England. Banking arrangements for individual establishments are made as required with local branches of banks including National Giro. These arrangements are reviewed regularly, taking account of comparative convenience, cost and other relevant factors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the administrative costs of operating rent and rate rebate schemes in the last full financial year.

The administrative costs of the rent rebate scheme in England and Wales for 1976–77 have been estimated as about £8 million. No comparable figure in respect of the rate rebate scheme is readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will clarify the situation on the funding of the urban aid programme in view of the fact that many people feel that their future is uncertain; if he will give advance notice of decisions to continue or discontinue urban aid; and if he will make a statement.

As proposed in the Government's recent White Paper "Policy for the Inner Cities", the Urban Programme is being enlarged and extended to cover industrial, environmental and recreational provision as well as the more traditional social projects. Although a large measure of priority will be given, in the next few years, to those authorities to whom partnerships have been offered, other authorities will continue to benefit from the Urban Programme.In the early years the share of special assistance for authorities outside the partnership areas will necessarily be modest, though greater, in total, than the existing Urban Programme. Authorities, other than partnerships, who undertake inner area programmes will, however, be given preference in the allocation of grants, and I announced on 8th November the name of 15 authorities invited to prepare programmes.Existing Urban Programme projects will continue to receive grant aid on the expenditure during the period for which it was originally approved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he has now received from the Construction Industry Manpower Board a copy of its report regarding continuity of employment in the industry; whether he will publish it; and whether he will make a statement;(2) whether, pursuant to the reply by the hon. Member for Durham, North-West (Mr. Armstrong) on 13th June 1977, the Construction Industry Manpower Board has made any further progress in assessing the effect of the 714 Scheme; and whether he will make a statement.

I have now received the Board's second report, and have placed copies in the Library. It proposes a voluntary scheme for the registration of employers, certification of operatives, and other measures which together could make a welcome contribution towards greater stability of employment in the construction industry. I welcome the report, and believe that if it proves generally acceptable it will make an important contribution towards the improvement of industrial relations in the industry. I shall now seek the views of the trade unions and employers' association concerned.The Board will now turn to consideration of Government measures to tackle abuse of the "lump", its first term of reference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in respect of each water authority which has reached a decision on the point, what information he has regarding the provisional scale of charges which will be applied to launderettes for effluent when any phasing-in period has ended.

The scale of trade effluent charges levied on launderettes is a matter for individual water authorities. I do not have details of the charges made by all authorities, or the stages which phasing-in of full charges has reached. However, I understand that phasing-in has been completed in the area of the Thames Water Authority, where the rate of charge for 1977–78 is approximately 27p per 1,000 gallons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his present estimate of unlet office space in central London; how much is in course of building; for what floor area planning permission has been granted but building not started; and what housing loss is involved in these schemes.

I regret that this information is not available from Government records. According to estimates made by the Greater London Council at 31st December 1976 there was more than 16 million sq. ft. of empty office space in central London and almost 20·5 million sq. ft. of unbuilt office space for which planning permission had been granted up to 31st December 1975; of the latter figure some 9'5 million represents additional office space and the remainder related to proposals for the demolition or refurbishment of existing offices, thus involving no housing loss.No figure for any loss of residential accommodation involved on the 9·5 million sq. ft. of additional office space is available. Some office projects, however, such as the scheme at Cambridge Circus in my hon. Friend's constituency, result in a housing gain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that all vacant office buildings are making a proper contribution to local rates; and on what grounds payment is being excused.

Under rating legislation local authorities have a considerable range of discretion about the levying of the empty property rate and surcharge and they also have the power to remit or reduce this rate or surcharge in cases of hardship. It is for them to satisfy themselves that the empty property rate and surcharge make a proper contribution to local rates in the light of local circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he adopts in deciding whether to hold a public inquiry into proposals to demolish an historic building.

In deciding whether to hold a public inquiry into proposals to demolish a listed building I consider each case on its merits, taking into account the architectural and historic interest of the building, its structural conditions, the importance of any alternative use for the site, and the degree of public interest in the proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he decided not to hold a public inquiry into the proposed demolition of B Warehouse, St. Katharine's Dock.

The information available to me showed the building to be in very poor structural condition; the alternative proposals for the site were of great importance to the surrounding inner city areas; and only five objections were made to the demolition proposals. I decided, therefore, that the application for listed building consent to demolish B Warehouse was one I should leave to the London Borough Council of Tower Hamlets to determine as it thought fit, subject to any direction given by the GLC.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue cost of extending capital allowances, at present available for industrial buildings, to (a) all commercial buildings, not at present covered, (b) agricultural buildings, (c) hotel building structures, (d) retail buildings, and (e) office buildings.

The cost of extending industrial buildings allowances to all commercial building expenditure would be of the order of £700 million in a full year, for expenditure incurred from 1st April 1978. This total might include £250 million for offices, £100 million for shops and possibly £30 million for hotels. All these figures would depend on the definitions of commercial buildings and of the individual categories.These estimates do not include the cost of giving annual allowances on existing buildings, which would add some £200 million to the full-year cost. The available information is insufficient to divide this amount between categories of building.The cost of replacing the present allowances for agricultural buildings by industrial buildings allowances would be of the order of £25 million in a full year.All the above figures assume that the whole of the extended allowances are covered by profits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much exemption of sale of a chattel for capital gains tax up to £1,000 would have to be increased to give the same current purchasing power as the £1,000 had in 1965 when the exemption limit was last altered.

By £2,227. This estimate is based on the increase in the General Index of Retail Prices from April 1965 to December 1977, the latest date available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much exemption of small gifts, for capital gains tax, up to £100 would have to be increased to give the same current purchasing power as the £100 had in 1965 when the exemption limit was last altered.

By £223. This estimate is based on the increase in the General Index of Retail Prices from April 1965 to December 1977, the latest date available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will indicate the loss of revenue that would arise from excluding from liability to capital gains tax those taxpayers whose net gains in a given year totalled less than £1,000, £2,000, £5,000, and £20,000.

About £12 million, £30 million and £75 million if net gains totalling less than £1,000, £4,000 and £5,000 respectively were excluded, assuming a marginal relief where the net gains somewhat exceeded these limits. The cost could be higher if the present pattern of disposals changed substantially. For this reason, the cost of excluding net gains totalling less than £20,000 cannot be estimated but it would be very large.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will indicate the loss of revenue that would arise from excluding from liability to capital gains tax those taxpayers whose relevant disposals in a given year aggregated less than £2,000, £5,000 and £20,000.

About £1 million and £10 million it disposals aggregating less than £2,000 and £5,000 respectively were excluded. The cost could be higher if the present pattern of disposals changed substantially. For this reason, the cost of excluding disposals aggregating less than £20,000 cannot be estimated but it would be large.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has received the Equal Opportunities document "Income Tax and Sex Discrimination", if he will estimate the cost of introducing the reforms proposed; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a copy of this document. The Commis sion has asked for comments from organisations and individuals, and I look forward to hearing in due course how people have reacted to it. The document is consultative and does not itself make specific recommendations, but sets out for discussion a number of different options for change. These options all contain a proposal that the married man's allowance should be replaced by a single person's allowance and the amount so saved reallocated in various ways—through tax allowances or cash benefits or a combination of both. They are intended, as I understand it, to be broadly neutral in terms of net Exchequer cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the increase in the number of unemployed as a result of the £ sterling's appreciation (a) against the dollar, and (b) against all other currencies.

Appreciation of sterling against other currencies will tend to worsen the prospects for unemployment if there are no offsetting movements in domestic costs. Any quantitative estimates would be extremely hazardous because of uncertainties over domestic and foreign costs and prices and their response to exchange rate changes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the light of the fact that chief officer ranks of the police can and do use police cars to take them to and from their homes and offices, whether these benefits are taxable emoluments so far as income assessments are concerned.

Chief officer ranks of the police are liable to tax in respect of any use of police cars to take them to and from their homes and offices unless such cars are pooled cars as defined by the Finance Act 1976.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures comparing the annual value of the tax threshold with the annual value of supplementary benefit entitlement, including rent and rates, for each of a single householder, married couple, and a married couple with one child aged 12 years, two children aged 15 and 13 years, three children aged 16, 14 and 12 years, and four child

		Single person		Married couple		Married couple with one child
		Tax Threshold	Supplementary Benefit level	Tax Threshold	Supplementary Benefit level	Tax Threshold	Supplementary Benefit level
		£	£	£	£	£	£
January—
1970	…	328	369·72	483	559·52	662	672·36
1971	…	418	405·08	598	614·12	778	737·88
1972	…	418	433·16	598	651·04	829	783·12
1973	…	592	482·56	772	726·44	1,003	874·12
1974	…	595	555·88	775	787·80	1,010	948·48
1975	…	625	604·76	865	907·40	1,140	1,129·44
1976	…	675	851·88	955	1,230·84	1,230	1,496·04
1977	…	735	956·80	1,085	1,440·04	1,420	1,716·00
1978	…	945	1,040·00	1,455	1,643·20	1,738	1,965·60

		Married couple with two children		Married couple with three children		Married couple with four children
		Tax Threshold	Supplementary Benefit level	Tax Threshold	Supplementary Benefit level	Tax Threshold	Supplementary Benefit level
		£	£	£	£	£	£
January—
1970	…	788	797·16	946	937·56	1,040	1,025·96
1971	…	904	878·28	1,062	1,013·48	1,156	1,094·08
1972	…	1,007	967·72	1,216	1,126·32	1,362	1,230·32
1973	…	1,180	1,084·72	1,390	1,261·52	1,535	1,378·52
1974	…	1,185	1,198·60	1,390	1,365·52	1,530	1,476·80
1975	…	1,363	1,415·96	1,616	1,629·16	1,804	1,752·40
1976	…	1,453	1,849·64	1,706	2,141·36	1,894	2,314·00
1977	…	1,703	2,121·60	2,016	2,470·00	2,264	2,672·80
1978	…	2,021	2,418·00	2,334	2,818·40	2,582	3,052·40

NOTES:1. The tax threshold is for the income tax year in which that January falls and relates to earned income. It represents the level beyond which income (including family allowance or child benefit) becomes liable to tax.2. The figures for supplementary benefits includes an addition for rent and rates based on the average estimated amount allowed to an unemployed person in each family status in each year. The figures for January 1977 and January 1978 are estimated. The weekly figures have been multiplied by 52 to get the annual figure.3. It has been assumed that the children are aged 12; 15 and 13; 16, 14 and 12; and 16, 14, 12 and 10; respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer assuming a £6,000 and a £12,000 gross income per annum for divers working in the United Kingdom North Sea what is the earning differential after tax between (a) a diver operating on a genuine self-employed basis and (b) a diver paying PAYE.

This will depend on the amount which the diver is entitled to claim as a deduction in arriving at his taxable earnings. This will vary, not only by reference to whether he is treated as self-employed or employed but also by reference to his individual circumstances.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence he has of diving companies registering abroad to be outside the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom tax system.

I have no such evidence. In any event, the fact that a company is registered abroad does not, by itself, place that company outside the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom tax system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there is an established definition of self-employed and employed divers for tax purposes; and if he will make a statement.

The question whether a person should be treated as self-employed or an employee for tax purposes depends on the precise terms and conditions under which he works. There is no established definition of employment or self-employment for this purpose; decisions in the courts have made clear that a number of factors are relevant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any information about divers being employed by company's subsidiaries abroad; and to what extent, if any, this has led to a diminution of work for locally based firms.

I am not clear what information the hon. Member has in mind. I am aware that majority of companies employing divers in the North Sea are and always have been based outside the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for how many days per annum foreign divers are permitted to work in United Kingdom waters without becoming liable to United Kingdom tax.

All individuals working in the United Kingdom—including the territorial sea of the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom sector of the Continental Shelf—for whatever length of time are liable to United Kingdom income tax on their earnings unless those earnings are exempt from tax under the terms of a double taxation agreement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the disincentive provided by the United Kingdom tax system are resulting in the replacement of locally employed divers by those operating from abroad.

I am not aware of any clear evidence that the operation of PAYE by companies employing divers in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea has resulted in the replacement of locally employed divers by divers operating from abroad.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his policy towards monetary union within the EEC following the statement made to the European Assembly in Luxembourg on Tuesday, 17th January 1978 by Mr. Roy Jenkins calling for the establishment of the framework of monetary union.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23rd Jan. 1978; Vol. 942, c. 423], gave the following answer:Mr. Roy Jenkins' statement to the European Parliament followed the Commission communication on the prospect for economic and monetary union (COM (77)620 Final) which is currently being studied by the specialist economic and financial committees of the Community. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House, we shall wish to see how this new system can be of benefit to the United Kingdom in its recession as well as to Europe.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many staff at the National Savings Bank have been employed in operating ordinary accounts over each of the last 10 years;(2) how many staff at the National Savings Bank have been employed in operating investment accounts over each of the last 10 years.

The numbers of staff directly employed in operating National Savings Bank ordinary and investment accounts and indirectly as an apportionment of accounting functions and other services common to both facilities are:

At 31st March	Ordinary Accounts	Investment Accounts
1968	8,676	116
1969	8,679	133
1970	8,478	207
1971	8,554	297
1972	8,200	337
1973	7,443	359
1974	6,966	379
1975	6,550	392
1976	6,210	456
1977	5,037	541

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what were the total balances held in National Savings Bank investment accounts and ordinary accounts, respectively, in each of the last 10 years;(2) how many National Savings Bank investment accounts have been opened and how many closed in each of the last 10 years; and what was the number remaining at the end of each year;

INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS
Financial year ended 31st March	New accounts opened	Accounts closed	Number remaining open at year end	Balance held at year end
	millions	millions	millions	£ million
1968	0·17	0·02	0·37	140·2
1969	0·18	0·04	0·51	208·3
1970	0·15	0·06	0·60	259·7
1971	0·11	0·06	0·65	322·5
1972	0·12	0·07	0·70	405·7
1973	0·17	0·07	0·80	528·8
1974	0·11	0·10	0·81	551·5
1975	0·11	0·11	0·81	581·2
1976	0·12	0·10	0·83	633·7
1977	0·12	0·09	0·86	671·3
31st December 1977*	—	—	1·00	1,350·0
* Provisional.

ORDINARY ACCOUNTS
Financial year ended 31st March	New accounts opened	Accounts closed or withdrawn as inactive*	Number of active accounts remaining at year end	Balance held at year end
	millions	millions	millions	£ millions
1968	1·39	2·50	21·82	1,664·2
1969	1·40	1·69	21·53	1,589·9
1970	1·33	1·45	21·41	1,497·6
1971	1·22	1·66	20·97	1,474·7
1972	1·56	0·93	21·60	1,475·8
1973	1·72	3·23	20·09	1,517·7
1974	1·62	10·8	20·63	1,534·2
1975	1·19	0·89	20·93	1,539·9
1976	1·07	0·97	21·03	1,551·0
1977	1·23	2·55	19·71	1,548·4
30th November 1977†	—	—	19·97	1,628·6
* Accounts which have not been operated during the previous 5 years.
† Provisional.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, of the total annual yield on value added tax for the most recent year for which figures are available, what percentage is derived from firms and compaines with an annual turnover of £1 million or over.

In 1976–77, 81 per cent. of net receipts was paid by registered persons, other than local authorities, with taxable turnover of £1 million or more. Distributions of tax paid and repaid by range of turnover are published in the annual reports of the Com

The information required is as follows:missioners of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. There are copies in the Library of the House.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total number of staff employed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in connection with VAT, for each year from 1973 to 1977 inclusive; what was the total number of registered VAT payers for each of those years; and what was the corresponding number of VAT staff per 10,000 VAT payers.

Estimates of the total Customs and Excise staff employed in connection with the administration of VAT and car tax are shown in column A below. The approximate number of persons registered for VAT and the number

			A	B	C
			Staff	Registered persons	Staff/10,000 registered persons
31st March 1973	…	…	6,300	981,200*	64
31st March 1974	…	…	7,700	1,196,700	64
31st March 1975	…	…	10,500	1,223,800	86
31st March 1976	…	…	10,850	1,250,800	87
31st March 1977	…	…	11,300	1,271,300	89
30th November 1977	…	…	11,300	1,274,600	89
* Not all persons liable to be registered with effect from 1st April 1973 had registered by 31st March 1973.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his Department's estimate of the short- and long-term employment effects of £100 million investment in new production facilities in the following industries: chemicals, electronics, shipbuilding, automobile assembly, machine tools, and textiles, respectively;(2) what is his Department's estimate of the short- and long-term employment effect of a £70 million investment programme in new production facilities in the sheet glass industry.

The employment effect of additional investment in new production facilities in each of the industries mentioned by my hon. Friend will depend on the following principal factors: the extent to which the investment involves the replacement of existing production facilities or an addition to such facilities; the extent to which it results in a higher level of output than would otherwise have occurred; the precise product which the new facilities are intended to produce; the technology which the new facilities incorporate; and the amount and type of construction and engineering work which is involved. In view of all these uncertainties, and also because of insufficient data, it is not possible to give any estimate of what the employment effect of an extra £70 million or £100 million invested in each of the industries would be.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost of mortgage interest relief in the United Kingdom last year, giving separate figures

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report an analysis by main programmes, and distinguishing between capital and current expenditure and interest charges, of the increases in local authorities' expenditure as estimated for 1977–78 and as planned for 1978–79 shown in Table 6 of Command Paper No. 7049-I.

Analyses of local authority expenditure in 1977–78 and 1978–79 by main programme at 1977 survey prices are provided in Tables 4.2 (Scotland) and 4.5 (England and Wales) of Part II of Cmnd. 7049. A comparable breakdown of the Table 6 figures, which were estimated on an aggregate basis, is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report the amounts of current expenditure on local authorities subsidies and grants included in each programme in Table 4.5 of Command Paper No. 7049-II, detailing in each case the main purpose of the expenditure, together with comparable figures for 1971–72, and the corresponding figures for Scotland.

I regret that comparable figures for 1971–72 cannot be provided without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources. The information for the years covered by Command 7049 is as follows: