asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now discuss with the EEC, and Governments of member countries, not only the content but adequate enforcement of EEC directives and regulations on the export of live animals, with a view to ensuring that British cattle farmers are not placed at a disadvantage compared with their competitors in the EEC, and elsewhere.

The content of these directives was fully discussed at the time they were adopted, and the EEC Commission, in consultation with all member States, exercises general oversight of the way they are implemented. If there is evidence that these measures are not having their intended effect we shall take the appropriate action.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on the figures for the United Kingdom share of the total available catch in the latest EEC proposals which he quoted in a Written Answer to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed on 13th January 1978.

The Commission proposals for 1978 produced in October 1977 comprise a total available catch (TAC) of 3,665,000 tonnes, of which the United Kingdom quota forms some 15 per cent., and an EEC quota of 2,822,000 tonnes, of which the United Kingdom quota forms some 19 per cent. At the Fisheries Council on 16th-18th January the Commission produced revised proposals, which allocated to the United Kingdom some 22 per cent. of the TACs and 27 per cent. of the EEC quotas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the percentage difference between European agricultural prices expressed in German marks and those prices expressed in the currencies of each of the other member States.

The percentage by which common agricultural support prices in Germany exceeded those in the other member States on 23rd January 1978 were as follows for the member States concerned:

United Kingdom	41·7
Italy	36·2
France	31·9
Ireland	12·4
Denmark	8·4
Netherlands	7·4
Belgium-Luxembourg	7·3

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has yet reached any decision on the report "A Study of Exmoor" by Lord Porchester, so far as it affects his Department.

My right hon. Friends the Minister and the Secretary of State for the Environment are considering the report as a matter of urgency and hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money was allocated under the EEC agricultural funds for projects in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England, respectively, during 1977.

The information requested is as follows:

	£
Wales	141,702
Scotland	2,020,744
Northern Ireland	2,188,728
England	7,047,480
	11,398,654

The amount of money allocated to each country in the United Kingdom reflected the number of applications received by the EEC Commission from each country.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will list in the Official Report those countries visited since November 1974 by Members of the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries in connection with their investi

Destination	Hon. Members for	Dates	Cost*
£
United States of America.	Dearne Valley (Mr Wainwright) (Chairman).	29th October–6th November 1976.	5,476
	Leeds, North-West (Sir D. Kaberry).
	Bedwellty (Mr. Kinnock).
	Arundel (Mr. Marshall).
Japan	Dearne Valley (Mr. Wainwright) (Chairman).	10th–19th November 1976	11,240
	Feltham and Heston (Mr. Kerr).
	Arundel (Mr. Marshall).
	Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton).
Belgium and West Germany.	Dearne Valley (Mr. Wainwright) (Chairman).	13th–18th March 1977	2,002
	Feltham and Heston (Mr. Kerr).
	Arundel (Mr. Marshall).
	Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton).
Italy and France	Dearne Valley (Mr. Wainwright) (Chairman).	15th–20th May 1977	2,230
	Arundel (Mr. Marshall).
	Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton).
* These figures include all the accounts presented to date, but may not be complete. A few small bills are outstanding for the visit to Italy and France.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that certain police forces have restricted the activities which women police officers may undertake on grounds of their physical incapacity.

No; though difficulties can arise in certain circumstances, particularly in relation to situations in which considerable physical strength is needed, women police officers make a substantial contribution to the police service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by how much the Sussex Constabulary is under strength; and what request he has received for the strengthening of its numbers.

On 31st December 1977 the force had 139 vacancies on the

Sub-Committee B of the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries made the following visits overseas in connection with their inquiry into the British Steel Corporation:authorised establishment of 2,646. Requests have been received from the police authority for approval to increases of 22 permanent posts and five supernumerary posts, and these are being considered as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the EEC draft directive on the law regarding illegal immigrant workers in the Community.

The Commission has withdrawn the draft directive on illegal immigration and illegal employment. We await fresh proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures Her Majesty's Government are taking to prevent the exports of British arms to South Africa through the Channel Islands.

With the co-operation of the Channel Island authorities, arrangements exist whereby all applications to export arms from Jersey or the Bailiwick of Guernsey are referred for consideration to the Home Office, and through the Home Office to the other Departments concerned, before licences are issued by the Island authorities. Applications so referred are considered on the same basis as applications made in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the total number of prisoners in England and Wales convicted of terrorist-type offences connected with loyalist organisations; and how many are classified as category A;(2) what is the total number of prisoners in England and Wales convicted of terrorist-type offences connected with the IRA; and how many are category A.

Whether or not a prisoner's offence is of a terrorist nature and whether it is linked with a particular organisation, is a matter of judgment. According to our assessment of all relevant information, 90 persons connected with the IRA are serving sentences in prisons in England and Wales of whom 78 are in security Category A. The equivalent figures for prisoners connected with loyalist organisations are 15 and six.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why officers of the Metropolitan Police are charged for copies of General Orders; when this charge was last increased and by how much; and if he will arrange for the charge to be abolished.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that charges are made only where officers require copies of General Orders for their private use—for example, in connection with study for promotion examinations. The charges consist of a returnable deposit of £5 and a non-returnable fee of £2 per annum for a copy of the Orders with amendments; they were increased to this level from £2 and 50 pence respectively on 1st January 1977. I see no reason to abolish them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there is an "establishment figure" of the number of cars which the Metropolitan Police need to carry out their duties efficiently and, if so, what this figure is; and how many cars are in fact in use, or available for use at any one time.

The establishment figure of cars for the Metropolitan Police, agreed with the Home Office, is 1992. It is estimated that, on an average day, 85 per cent. of cars are available for use; the remainder are being maintained or repaired.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost to the central Government of the Silver Jubilee celebrations.

There was no net cost to central Government funds. Expenditure was more than offset by the proceeds from the sale of Jubilee crown pieces and souvenir medallions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next plans to discuss EEC economic and financial problems with his counterparts in the Council of Ministers.

The next meeting of the EEC Finance Ministers Council has been provisionally arranged for 20th February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether payments by some police authorities of a mileage allowance for the use by policemen of their personal cars are taxable when the cars are used for travelling to and from their homes and their offices by the police.

Mileage allowances payable to police officers are taxable in so far as they exceed the actual expenses in respect of which they are paid. The reimbursement of the expenses of travelling between their homes and offices would normally be regarded as taxable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that many local authorities and other public bodies allow their executive staff to use their private cars and pay a mileage allowance, whether such payments for use of the car between their homes and place of work are taxable.

Mileage allowances payable to staff of local authorities and some other bodies are taxable in so far as they exceed the actual expenses in respect of which they are paid. The reimbursement of expenses of travelling between their homes and place of work would normally be regarded as taxable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value to a recipient of the additional pension paid to holders of the Victoria Cross and referred to in Section 368 of the Incomes and Corporation Taxes Act 1970.

The amount of the additional pension is 2½p per day, which represents £9·13 per annum. This is exempted from tax by Section 368, Taxes Act 1970. The gross equivalent per annum for a person liable at the basic rate is £13·82.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total value of the capital outflow to the other Common Market member countries for the five-year period 1973 to 1978; what percentage of that outflow found its way into manufacturing industries operating in competition with 12 British manufacturing industries most significant in terms of exports; and if he is satisfied that none of the extra foreign investments so provided has had any detrimental effect upon the rival British competitors.

I assume that my my hon. Friend's question relates to direct investment in the EEC by United Kingdom residents. The total net value of new direct investment—excluding investment by United Kingdom oil companies—was £519 million in 1973, £364 million in 1974 and £151 million in 1975. Estimates for 1976 and 1977 are not yet available. Current exchange control rules, however, ensure that the great majority of direct investments outside the scheduled territories are made without a call on the United Kingdom reserves: they have to be financed not with official exchange but, for example, by foreign currency borrowing or the use of allowed profit retentions.Since March 1974, official exchange has been available only for projects which directly promote United Kingdom exports and promise a rapid and continuing return to the United Kingdom reserves. So the question of a capital outflow creating competition with our exports would not normally arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department's banking business was last put out to competitive tender.

Most of the banking business of the Treasury is required by statute to be undertaken by the Bank of England. The remainder was last put out to competitive tender in 1975.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is intended to set up an effective promotional force for national savings.

Authority has been given for the Department for National Savings to set up a small marketing force as soon as the details have been settled This is expected to be within the next few months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is taking to enforce the Government's policy announcement of 10th November to discourage British companies from increasing their investments in South Africa.

It is for British companies to asses for themselves the risk of investing in South Africa. Up-to-date figures for United Kingdom investment are not available, but the latest South African balance of payments figures indicate a drop in total overseas investment in South Africa.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, and, if so when, he wishes Great Britain to rejoin the European currency snake.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 9th November 1977 to the hon. Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what taxable unearned income would be required to produce a net annual income of £100,000, £200,000 and £500,000, assuming the taxpayer is single with no dependants.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the discussions between Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and representatives of the wine and spirit trade on a credit period for payment of excise duty, following the undertaking given by the Financial Secretary on 19th May 1977, and on their outcome.

Customs and Excise has held a number of meetings with representatives of the industry at which the practical implications of deferring the excise duties on wines and spirits have been examined, without prejudice to a ministerial decision on whether such deferment should be introduced. My right hon. Friend will be considering the matter further in the light of his overall Budget strategy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which national insurance short-term benefits are liable to tax; and what would be the cost of removing the tax liability.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 536], gave the following answer:The only short-term benefit liable to tax is the widow's allowance. No precise estimate can be made of the cost of removing the tax liability but it is likely to be less than £20 million in 1977–78, since the total of the benefits—including the earnings related supplement which is also taxable—will be about £67 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the yield of income tax for each of the years 1973–74 to 1977–78 if he will give figures in parallel, showing what that yield would have been if it had risen with the retail price index from the first year onwards; and if he will give similar figures relating to the total proceeds of taxation.

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

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what is the total number of homeworkers employed indirectly through contractors by the Civil Service;(2) how many homeworkers are employed on income tax forms, related documents, and other documents used by the Civil Service;(3) what are the highest and lowest average hourly rates paid to homeworkers who are employed directly or indirectly by the Civil Service; and in cases of piecework, what would be the average highest and lowest rates of hourly income;(4) if he will list in the

I recognise my hon. Friend's concern about the allegations that have been made with regard to low pay and poor conditions among some homeworkers. Some of them are, of course, covered by wages councils, and the Government have sought to provide additional protection by means of the Fair Wages Resolution. Companies which provide homeworkers who are engaged on work for Government Departments are contracted to the individual Departments concerned and I understand that the general practice would be for such companies to be bound by the Fair Wages Resolution. If my hon. Friend knows of any failure to observe the undertaking to comply with the Fair Wages Resolution, I hope that he will take it up with the Department concerned.I understand from Her Majesty's Stationery Office that the number of homeworkers employed on income tax forms and related documents are, as I indicated to my hon. Friend on 12th January 1978, about 140 in the two firms concerned—namely, Motivity Limited and Whitehead and Wood Limited. It is not the practice to disclose the price paid to individual contractors for goods or services supplied. Her Majesty's Stationery Office has no information available about the rate paid by contractors to employees.No information is available centrally regarding the number of homeworkers employed by contractors to Government Departments generally, and the time and effort which would be needed to collect it would involve disproportionate cost. I cannot say what would be the current rates based on the Fair Wages Resolution of the House, 1946, as such rates would vary according to the nature and circumstances of the work performed.No homeworkers are directly employed as civil servants; nor are any employed by contractors engaged by the Civil Service Department or the Central Office of Information, which are the other Departments for which I have responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial aid has been granted to the city of Liverpool for housing purposes of all kinds in the forthcoming year; and what other aid for housing of all kinds he has proposed for bodies other than local authorities in the Merseyside area.

Under the new system of housing strategies and investment programmes, cash allocations totalling £34·73 million have been made to the city of Liverpool for 1978–79 in three spending blocks covering its housing capital investment. Under the urban programme, Liverpool had been allocated £4·5 million for the period 1977–78 to 1978–79 for various housing purposes in respect of properties in housing action areas, proposed general improvement areas and other appropriate inner area properties; it is expected that the bulk of this money will be spent in the financial year 1978–79.I understand that the Housing Corporation expects to make some £26 million available to housing associations for expenditure on projects in the Merseyside area in 1978–79, of which about £10 million will be spent in Liverpool. Thus, the total public expenditure on housing investment in Liverpool in 1978–79 is expected to be approximately £49¼ million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the £157 million in mortgages promised by the building societies to be advanced to applicants sponsored by the local authorities for 1977–78 has in fact been advanced; how much of this was on pre-1919 houses, on houses costing less than £6,000, on mortgages of 90 per cent. or more and in inner-city areas.

To the end of November 1977, advances to local authority nominees amounting to £70·16 million had been approved by the building societies. I hope that improvements now being made to the support lending scheme will increase the rate of expenditure. A detailed breakdown of figures on the lines asked for by my hon. Friend is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of each of the following classes of residential property there were in the United Kingdom at the latest available date: (a) privately owned, (b) privately rented and (c) publicly rented.

Following are the available estimates:

Stock of Dwellings by Tenure: December 1977 (Provisional) United Kingdom
Thousands
Rented from local authorities or new town corporations	6,700
Owner occupied	11,150
Rented from private owners, and other tenures	3,010

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet reached any decision on the report "A Study of Exmoor" by Lord Porchester, so far as it affects his Department.

My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are considering the report as a matter of urgency and hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the outcome of his departmental inquiry into the use of woodwool formwork for concrete floors; and what action has been taken arising out of it.

The report on the fire problems associated with the use of wood-wool formwork for concrete floors is nearly complete and will be published as soon as possible. The Fire Research Station has investigated domestic and office buildings in which woodwool formwork has been used and has carried out its own laboratory tests. Its work indicates that where woodwool has been suitably plastered the structure will be capable of meeting the requirements for fire resistance even if the protection to the steel by concrete is inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to prevent any disposal of toxic waste into sub-surface formations.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Hodgson) on 16th December—[Vol. 941, c. 418] Before licensing underground facilities, waste disposal authorities are required to consult not only the water authority concerned but the Institute of Geological Sciences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make extra money available to local authorities in South Glamorgan so that their civil defence facilities are commensurate with the existence of a major military target in their area, namely, the proposed Ministry of Defence office in St. Mellons, near Cardiff.

I have been asked to reply.No. The problems of home defence planning in South Glamorgan are no greater than in many other counties of comparable population.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had from commuters following the latest round of increase in rail fares.

I have received one petition and about 90 letters since the increase was announced in November 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the extent to which free or reduced fare travel for elderly persons is available on public road and rail systems in the countries of the EEC, including the United Kingdom and showing Northern Ireland separately in the table.

Complete information on this is not available, but I will do what I can to help the hon. Gentleman and will write to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list, for Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire, the three stretches of non-motorway trunk road, in each county, with the heaviest traffic flow; which of the stretches is dual

				Percentage change in heavy goods vehicle flow over the last five years counted
DORSET
1. A31, Ferndown-Wimborne Minister	…	…	…	-29
2. A35, Puddletown-Dorchester	…	…	…	Nil
3. A35, Charmouth-Bridport	…	…	…	+4
HAMPSHIRE
1. A33, Winchester by-pass (A272–A31 section)*	…	…	…	-7
2. A33, Winchester by-pass (A33–A272 section)*	…	…	…	Not known
3. A27, Farlington by-pass (Portsmouth outskirts)†	…	…	…	+6
WILTSHIRE
1. A419, Cricklade-Broad Blunsdon ‡	…	…	…	-2
2. A303, Stonehenge (A344)-Amesbury (A345)§	…	…	…	-26
3. A303, Bulford Camp (A3028)-Hampshire boundary (A338)	…	…	…	-16
*Dual carriageway with 50 m.p.h. speed limit.
† Dual carriageway with 70 m.p.h. limit.
‡ Mainly single carriageway but with 1,000 yards of dual at 50 m.p.h.
§ Mainly dual carriageway but with 500 yards of single carriageway.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will have discussions about the possibility of indicating parking restrictions by means other than yellow lines in all designated urban conservation areas; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities are already free to lay lines in a pale shade of yellow and my right hon. Friend is prepared to authorise the local use of narrower lines than usual. He is keeping the requirements under review and will introduce further modifications if it seems appropriate to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the M1-A1 link single carriageway proposal in the context of the preferred strategy jointly proposed by the Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire highway authorities, which recommends the use of the dual carriageway

The following stretches carried the heaviest August traffic when last counted. Changes in flows of heavy goods vehicles—over 1½ tons unladen weight—are not available in the precise form requested.from the Collingtree junction of the M1; what environmental factors are involved; and what are the respective costs of these alternatives.

The relative merits of the Department's strategy and that of the county councils are being considered in depth. It is not yet possible to make a reliable assessment of costs but present indications suggest that, while the counties' strategy may be cheaper, it does not provide the economic benefits of the Department's. Factors being considered include traffic noise, proximity to dwellings, effect on agricultural land, visual intrusion, severance and the like. Other significant factors are engineering feasibility and the value of the alternatives in enabling traffic to move between the Midlands and the East Coast ports.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many English civil servants in the Northern Ireland Office, Stormont, were housed in accommodation purchased by the Government in each year from 1972–73 to the latest date for which the figures are available; and how many have been removed from such accommodation since 1st December 1977 or have now been compelled to share accommodation with other English civil servants since that date;(2) how many houses in Northern Ireland have been acquired from 1972–73 to the latest available date; what was the annual cost of the purchases; how many are empty because they are surplus to requirements; what plans he has for their disposal; and how much has been spent on alteration, improvement and maintenance to houses and environs since the date of purchase.

The Property Services Agency of the Department of the Environment has purchased a total of 51 houses and 15 flats on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office since 1972–73. Seven properties have subsequently been sold at increased prices as they were no longer required. None is empty. No staff have been removed, except on posting, or compelled to share; though it is normal practice that sharing should be arranged by agreement when appropriate.The annual cost of purchases has been:

1972 73	£38,000
1973–74	£117,800
1974–75	£300,350
1975–76	£316,750
1976–77	£150,980
1977-January 1978	Nil
	£923,880

The total cost of renovations, alterations and maintenance to them is about £375,000.The average number of United Kingdom civil servants so housed, thus saving the expense of accommodation in hotels, was 20 in 1973 and has been about 70 over the last three years.

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

In common with most Government Departments, my Depart ment's banking business is undertaken by the Paymaster-General. Where commercial facilities are needed for local accounts, my Department follows Treasury guidance to ensure that the terms are the best available.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how much her Department has spent in the last 12 months on assistance to the victims of flood disasters overseas.

£575,330. Of this, £250,000 and £25,000 were grants in aid to the British Red Cross Society and UNICEF for victims of the recent cyclones in Southern India. The balance was spent in providing immediate cash and material relief for flood victims in Bangladesh, Bolivia, India and Mozambique.

asked the Attorney-General what consultations he has had in respect of the proposals that United Kingdom courts should enforce judgments made in courts of other members of the EEC in each of the areas covered by the draft Convention; and if he will place the replies in the Library.

I take it that my hon. Friend's Question relates to the United Kingdom's undertaking to accede to the Brussels Convention of 27th September 1968 on the Jurisdiction and the Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters.In the preparation of the negotiations on the United Kingdom's accession to that Convention the Lord Chancellor, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Lord Advocate were advised by a committee under the chairmanship of Lord Kilbrandon which included Law Commissioners, solicitors, experts in insurance and banking matters and Government lawyers. A Scottish sub-committee under the chairmanship of Professor Anton included a similar range of expert members in Scotland.

asked the Attorney-General if he will list any binding Treaty obligations of the United Kingdom in respect of the EEC Council Documents R/2962/76 and R/2963/76 in respect of the EEC Jurisdiction Convention of 27th September 1968.

The United Kingdom's Treaty obligation to accede to the Convention, the English text of which is contained in EEC Council Document R /2963 /76, is Article 3(2) of the Act concerning the Conditions of Accession and the Adjustments to the Treaties annexed to the Treaty of Accession to the European Communities (Cmnd. 5179). The draft Convention in Council Document R/2962/76 is a draft of the instrument by which this obligation would be fulfilled.

asked the Attorney-General how many prosecutions have been instituted for offences in relation to aircraft under the provisions of the Tokyo, Hague and Montreal Conventions, respectively, since the corresponding United Kingdom statutes were enacted.

Five prosecutions have been instituted under the Tokyo Convention Act 1967; one prosecution has been instituted under the Hijacking Act 1971 which gave effect to the Hague Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft; and one prosecution has been instituted under the Protection of Aircraft Act 1973 which gave effect to the Montreal Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many domestic consumers of electricity there are.

These figures are published in the annual reports and accounts of the Electricity Council, the South of Scotland Electricity Board, the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board and the Northern Ireland Electricity Service. The latest available figures for the year ending 31st March 1977 show that the public electricity supply industry in the United Kingdom had 19,996,000 domestic consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the annual expenditure for research on the treatment and disposal of nuclear waste during the last five years.

Annual expenditure by the AEA and BNFL on research on the treatment and disposal of nuclear waste during the last five years was:

£ million
1972–73	1973–74	1974–75	1975–76	1976–77
0·1	0·4	1·1	2·7	3·6

The above figures exclude expenditure incurred on capital facilities chargeable to this heading or on more general research of relevance in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the annual expenditure for research and development on nuclear energy projects in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

Net expenditure by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority on research and development in direct support of the nuclear power programme, including expenditure on specific reactor design and development work in industry, has been:

£ million
1972–73	1973–74	1974–75	1975–76	1976–77
'50·6	49·5	73·7	88·0	101·7

In addition my Department spent the following sums in support of the tripartite gas centrifuge project for enriching uranium:

1972–73	1973–74	1974–75	1975–76	1976–77
—	9·6	7·8	15·3	17·0

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations his Department has had with aircraft manufacturers in seeking to reduce the emission of fuel exhaust.

I have been asked to reply.Her Majesty's Government regard the limitation of noxious emissions from aircraft as a matter to be dealt with internationally. To this end, we are working with other nations to secure agreement within ICAO on the measures to be adopted. My Department plays an active part in the studies and maintains close and continuous consultation with the United Kingdom manufacturers of aeroengines and with the manufacturers and operators of aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she has any plans to make an offer to university lecturers and teachers to rectify their pay anomaly, which has been recognised by the Government, and to give it similar treatment to the claim made by the air traffic control assistants and the firemen; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the principle introduced into the air traffic control assistants' and the firemen's pay disputes will be followed in resolving university teachers' pay dispute.

I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 17th January.—[Vol. 942, c. 177.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what increase in salary would be required for a university professor to bring him up to a level at which he would maintain relativity with the index of average earnings and the retail price index as at April 1964;(2) what increase in salary would be required at (

The increases required to bring university teachers' salaries payable since 1st October 1976 up to a level at which relativity would be established with the increase in the Department of Employment's monthly index of average earnings—older series—and the retail prices index between April 1964 and October 1977 are, respectively, as follows:

	Earnings index	Prices index
	£	£
Lecturer (maximum)	4,134	1,789
Senior Lecturer (maximum)	6,047	3,005
Professor (average)*	8,600	4,669
* Each university is free to fix salaries of individual professors, subject to a prescribed minimum, in conformity with a prescribed upper limit on the average of such salaries.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she intends to apply the principle of staging for rectification of recognised anomalies in the case of university teachers' pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what firm commitment will be entered into by the Government to rectify the anomalies existing with regard to the pay of university teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement regarding the anomaly concerning university teachers' pay; and what steps she proposes to take to correct it.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what precise steps she envisages as being appropriate to honour the Government's pledge to rectify the university teachers' pay anomaly.

In answer to Questions from the hon. Members for Somerset, North (Mr. Dean), Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) and Birmingham, Edgbaston (Mrs. Knight) on 21st November 1977—[Vol. 939, c. 509]—I explained the underlying cause of the anomaly in university teachers' pay in relation to that of teachers engaged in comparable work in further education establishments. The Government have given a clear commitment to rectify the anomaly as soon as pay policy permits. The Government's current policy allows for the most serious difficulties only to be tackled this year, if necessary on a phased basis, and taking full account of the need to keep the total settlement within single figures. What scope this policy offers for progress towards remedying the pay anomaly for university teachers has not yet been resolved, but the timing of its rectification is undoubtedly one of the questions for discussion in the negotiations now taking place between representatives of the university authorities and of the university teachers and officials of my Department. The hon. Members will not expect me to anticipate the outcome of those negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when university teachers can expect to receive firm details of salary scales covering the period from 1st October 1977.

Details will be published at the conclusion of the negotiatons which are now in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in the current negotiations concerning the pay of university teachers, due account is being taken of the substantial increase in the number of students which has occurred in the present academic year unaccompanied by any appreciable increase in teaching staffs.

I am confident that the representatives of the university authorities and of the university teachers who are engaged in negotiations will take account of all the factors they consider relevant.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration is being given to the establishment of a national photographic museum.

Several of the national museums and galleries have important collections of photographs and photographic apparatus, and photography must always remain an important means of presentation for every museum. Proposals for the development of the photographic collections in each institution will be considered in the light of their potential contribution to the general work of the institution concerned and to the resources available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make an early announcement of the Tate Gallery's purchase grants for 1978–79 so that the trustees will be in a position to know whether they can acquire Gainsborough's portrait of Sir Benjamin Truman for which an export licence has recently been withheld.

An announcement will be made when the Estimates are laid before the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make a special grant to the city of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to enable it to purchase the picture of the east front of Warwick Castle by Canaletto for which an export licence was recently suspended.

An application for a special purchase grant for this purpose has been received from the museum and is being considered in relation to the resources which will in due course become available for purchase grants for 1978–9.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children in England and Wales are identified as requiring special education in the maladjusted category; how many are receiving education in private, non-State, schools; how many are receiving education in maintained boarding schools; and by what process they are identified as maladjusted.

In January 1977, the total number of maladjusted children in England and Wales identified as requiring special education was 21,190. Of these, 5,442 were in non-maintained special schools and independent schools and 3,489 in boarding schools maintained by local education authorities. The remainder attended day special schools and classes maintained by local education authorities, were receiving education otherwise than at school or were awaiting placement in a special school. Advice on the discovery of children requiring special education was given in the Department's Circular No. 2/75, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the mentally handicapped children in Stoke-on-Trent aged between 3 and 5 years had places in special schools in each of the last five years; and what is the national average figures for children in this age range.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether her Department has issued guidance or advice and, if so, in what form, on the age at which it is desirable for mentally handicapped children to enter special schools.

My Department has not issued any such guidance or advice specifically in relation to mentally handicapped children but has consistently recognised the importance for all handicapped children of early educational experience. This was, for example, emphasised in Circular 2/73 on nursery education addressed to local education authorities by my Department and the Welsh Office in 1973. The forthcoming report of the Warnock Committee may well deal with the special educational needs of very young children.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many mentally handicapped children there are in England and Wales aged 0–3 years, 3–5 years, and 5–16 years; and how many in each category are in special schools.

Returns to my Department from local education authorities are limited to handicapped children assessed as requiring some form of special educational treatment. In January 1977 there were 111 educationally subnormal children aged two attending special schools in England and Wales, 3,915 aged 3 to 5 years and 77,424 aged 6 to 16 years. In addition, 20,235 pupils in these age groups were in special classes at ordinary schools, in independent schools, were receiving education otherwise than at school or were awaiting placement in a special school.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many special schools for mentally handicapped children there are in (a) England and Wales, (b) the West Midlands and (c) North Staffordshire; and if she will give this figure as the number of schools per million people.

In January 1977, there were 1,036 special schools for educationally subnormal pupils in England and Wales, 115 in the West Midlands Region and 20 in Staffordshire; a separate figure for North Staffordshire is not available. The corresponding figures for the number of schools per million of the home population are 21, 22 and 20.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average waiting list for schools for mentally handicapped children in England and Wales, the West Midlands and North Staffordshire.

Information in the form requested is not available from returns to my Department by local education authorities. In January 1977, 3,934 children assessed as educationally subnormal—(medium)—were awaiting places in special schools in England and Wales and 1,142 assessed as educationally subnormal (severe). Corresponding figures for the West Midlands Region were 533 and 185 and for Staffordshire 215 and 85. Separate figures for North Staffordshire are not available. The number of schools at which there was a waiting list is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now accept the proposal to replace hutted accommodation at the Kemball School, Stoke-on-Trent, for mentally handicapped children.

I very much regret that this project could not be included in the 1978–79 special education building programme, but my Department will give it sympathetic consideration if it is submitted by the Staffordshire local education authority for the 1979–80 programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the Official Report any changes that have taken place in the method of financing student unions since 4th November 1971.

No change in the general method of financing student unions has taken place since 1971 but, as the hon. Member is aware from the replies that I gave to his Questions on 14th November 1977—[Vol. 939, c. 68–69]—consultations on this subject are now taking place with interested bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has made any progress in authorising payments on account of compensation for the nationalisation of the aircraft and shipbuilding industries.

I have now authorised payments on account of compensation totalling £21·95 million in respect of the unquoted securities of the following companies or groups of companies nationalised:

	£000
British Aircraft Corporation (Holdings) Ltd	6,100
Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd	3,100
Hawker Siddeley Dynamics Ltd
Scottish Aviation Ltd	500
Austin & Pickersgill Ltd	5,200
Brooke Marine Ltd	350
Cammell Laird Shipbuilders Ltd	150
Hall Russell & Co Ltd	300
Barclay, Curie & Co Ltd	2,350
Clelands Shipbuilding Co Ltd
The Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd
Smith's Dock Co Ltd
Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd
Swan Hunter Training and Safety Co Ltd
Yarrow (Shipbuilders) Ltd	1,400
Yarrow (Training) Ltd
George Clark & NEM Ltd	650
Hawthorn Leslie (Engineers) Ltd	400
John G. Kincaid & Co Ltd	1450

The payments authorised are derived from a preliminary view of the Government's likely negotiating positions on both the base value and any appropriate deductions under Section 39 of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977 relative to the companies in question. Since substantive negotiations have not yet begun in respect of any company, the quality of the information available to the Government on the different elements involved varies with the different companies and it cannot be assumed that the final compensation settlement in a given case will bear any particular relationship to the payment on account.Because certain financial issues are still unresolved, no payments on account have been authorised in respect of the following companies:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what active steps are being taken on Merseyside to assist small businesses.

To provide accommodation for small businesses on Merseyside the English Industrial Estates Corporation has built 38 nursery units in the three years up to 31st December 1977. A further 22 are under construction. On 19th October 1977 I announced the building of a further 20.An additional small firms information centre was opened in Liverpool in November 1976. Next month this will be supplemented by a counselling service to help small business men to diagnose their problems and to work out appropriate solutions.Most small manufacturing companies on Merseyside receive regional development grants under the Industry Act. A substantial proportion of the 49 projects offered assistance under Section 7 of the Act in the year ended 31st December 1976 and 87 projects supported in the year ended 31st December 1977 concerned small businesses. Some small companies on Merseyside also benefit from the sectoral schemes under Section 8 of the Industry Act. Small businesses on Merseyside will also benefit from the measures announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 26th October 1977.The Government have established a partnership with the local authorities in Liverpool to assist in the inner city's regeneration. Small firms have a vital contribution to make towards this end. Small businesses in the area were given an opportunity to exchange views with central and local government at the conference held in Liverpool last December.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether agreement has yet been reached on the size and the criteria to be applied to that part of the European Regional Fund which is to be outside the national quota arrangement.

A final decision has not yet been made on the proposal that a non-quota section should be established within the European Regional Development Fund. Discussions on this matter are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for industry if he will publish in the Official Report figures of the number and area of advance factories completed in England, Scotland and Wales in 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977, which are not yet let.

I can only answer for England. The information is as follows:

	Number of factories	Total area ('000 sq. ft.)
1974	3	35
1975	3	45
1976	24	370
	(including 2 for Development Commission)	(10)
1977	55	812
	(including 4 for Development Commission)	(20)
	and 48 individual nursery units	134
	(including 6 for Development Commission)	(17)

Currently there is a firm interest by prospective tenants in 39 of the factories and 20 individual nursery units.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of the qualifications of Sir Charles Villiers, and the amounts of salary and expenses drawn since his appointment as chairman to his present office.

Details of Sir Charles Villiers' qualifications and his salary as Chairman of the British Steel Corporation are available from published information. He is entitled in the normal way to reimbursement of travelling, subsistence and reasonable hospitality expenses incurred directly on the business of the Corporation. Actual sums drawn are a matter for the Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry in which countries members of the Universal Postal Union, including Great Britain, postage stamps issued by the South African Bantustan Transkei are acceptable.

From my reading of the Universal Postal Convention there seem to be no grounds for regarding such stamps as unacceptable, and so far as I and the Post Office are aware no other State has taken a different view. This in no way alters the Government's policy of non-recognition of the Transkei as an independent sovereign State.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total in gross tons of new orders by United Kingdom shipowners in the first nine months of 1977 and the total of new orders given by United Kingdom shipowners to United Kingdom shipyards.

During the first nine months of 1977 new orders for merchant vessels for United Kingdom registration amounted to 334,000 gross tons. Of this, 330,000 gross tons, about 99 per cent. of the total, were placed with United Kingdom shipyards.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he has now decided to prosecute Mr. Walter Norval in the light of evidence in Glasgow High Court that Mr. Norval had been drawing large sums in social security benefit without declaring his income from crime and from rents.

Inquiries into this allegation are being actively pursued and I expect to receive a report from the procurator fiscal shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give a breakdown according to the minimum industrial classification list of all those at present unemployed in (a) the Northwich constituency and (b) Cheshire.

I am sending the hon. Member a table showing the numbers registered as unemployed at 10th November 1977 in the area covered by the Northwich, Middlewich, Winsford and Chester employment offices, which includes the Northwich constituency, and in Cheshire. The figures are analysed quarterly according to the industry in which the unemployed last worked. I am also having a copy of the table placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by how many the latest figures of unemployed persons in the United Kingdom will be reduced as a result of policies outlined recently by the Chancellor of the Exchequer; and over what period this reduction will take place.

I must refer my hon. Friend to the Chancellor's Budget speech of 26th October for estimates of the effects on unemployment of the measures which he announced. Apart from these measures, however, the future course of unemployment is dependent not only upon Government policies but on the response of the nation as a whole, particularly in such matters as pay settlements, investment and making industry efficient and competitive, as well as external factors such as growth in world trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, further to the Written Answer to the hon. Member for Blaby, Official Report, 11th January, column 774, if he will provide comparable figures of unemployment rates for the fourth quarter of 1977.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rates, adjusted to United States concepts, for the fourth quarter of 1977 are:

	per cent.
Great Britain	7·2
France1	5·2
West Germany	3·5
Italy2	3·3
United States	6·8 (provisional)

Information is also available for the following countries:

	per cent.
Canada	8·3 (provisional)
Belgium3	10·7
Denmark1 3	7·5
Ireland2 3	11·0
1 The rate is for October/November.
2 The rate is for October.
3 These are national figures which are not directly comparable with US concepts.

Except for the US and Canada and those countries noted "(3)", figures are calculated by applying an annual adjustment factor to current published national data and, therefore, should be viewed only as approximate indicators of unemployment under US concepts.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will under take a review of the adequacy of the statistical information collected and available to the Manpower Services Commission and transmitted by the Commission to him; and if he will make a statement.

The statistical information which my Department receives from the Manpower Services Commission and its agencies is kept under review, and changes are considered and made where necessary in the light of general developments and changing requirements. I do not consider that there is a need for a special review to be undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has received the report of the Employment Services Agency's In Depth Organisation Survey of the Disablement Resettlement Service to which he referred in his reply to the hon. Member for Eccles, Official Report, 19th July 1977, column 522; and if he will make a further statement.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Employment Service Agency has not yet completed its own internal review of the disablement resettlement service.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobcentres in the United Kingdom are inaccessible to disabled people.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, as explained in my replies to previous Questions, contained in the Official Report of 9th January 1978, it is not possible, without extensive research, to provide detailed information on the accessibility of jobcentres. Where it is not reasonable or practicable to meet the requirements on access of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, alternative arrangements are made for the reception and interviewing of the severely handicapped and the services provided by jobcentres are thus available to all.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning the allowance of social security benefits to unemployed students by officials of the Harborne Lane, Birmingham, office of his Department during the recent Christmas vacation; and if he will make a statement.

Apart from my hon. Friend's letter dated 12th January, I have had one from Sally Wilde, acting chairman of Birmingham University Guild of Students' Welfare Committee, expressing concern that the staff of Selly Oak, Harborne Lane, Birmingham, unemployment benefit office had discouraged students from claiming benefits in the Christmas vacation. I am advised that the staff gave advice on whether or not some claims would be likely to succeed, but no claims were refused, and in the event more than 500 claims from students were taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South, Official Report, 9th January, c. 644, why he has made no reliable estimate of the total number of home workers in Great Britain;(2) if he will now take steps to ascertain the total number of home workers in Great Britain.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:Homeworkers are not normally employees and consequently they were not included in either the employment figures derived from counts of national insurance cards or the Census of Employment figures which replaced the "card count" figures in 1971. There are at present no reliable statistics about the total number of home workers, but the possibility of obtaining this information from the 1981 Census of Population is being considered by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply. Official Report, 9th January, c. 645, for what reasons it would be disproportionately costly to find out how many home workers are women, disabled and immigrants, respectively; and what is his estimate of such a cost.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:The information is not available in current statistics and would, therefore, require a special survey; the estimated cost of this would be of the order of £500,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 9th January, c. 645, what discussions he has held with the Health and Safety Commission regarding requirements for home workers.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:None. I await the Commission's formal proposals for regulations concerning the health and safety of home workers. Any necessary discussions will follow.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the date on which the Government will put forward proposals to improve the safety of home workers.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:I am awaiting proposals from the Health and Safety Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 9th January, c. 646, if he has had discussions with the Health and Safety Executive about the fact that no employers employing home workers have been prosecuted for failing to meet the provisions of the Factories Act; and if he will make a statement.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 9th January, c. 646, what steps he proposes to take to ensure that wages inspectors examine the wages of a reasonable number of home workers;(2) if he will recommend that wages councils inspectors should devote more time to checking the pay and conditions of home workers.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:I am satisfied that the proportion of time spent investigating the remuneration of home workers is reasonable in relation to the total commitments of the Wages Inspectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 9th January, c. 646, what discussions he has had with Wages Council inspectors about the fall in the number of inspections they have carried out of home workers' wages from 3,440 in 1975 to 1,134 in 1976.

pursuant to Ms reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:I have frequent discussions with the Wages Inspectorate. One of the main reasons for the fall is that in 1976 the Inspectorate devoted much of its time to blitz inspections in the catering and retail trades and hairdressing, which do not employ home workers. However, the amount of arrears collected in 1976 by wages inspectors on behalf of home workers was higher than in 1975—£2,469 compared with £2,206.

asked the Secretary of Sine for Employment, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 9th January, c. 646, when he expects to receive the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service reports on two wages council industries.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8], gave the following information:My right hon. Friend expects to receive the report on the Button Manufacturing Wages Council within the next week and that on the Toy Manufacturing Wages Council by late spring of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 9th January, col. 646, why he will not institute a departmental inquiry into piece rates and wages rates of home workers until he has received Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service reports.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January, 1978; Vol. 942, col. 265–8], gave the following information:Because the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is the expert body established to deal with matters concerning the application of statutory wage regulation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 9th January, col. 646, what is his estimate of the number of home workers engaged in industries other than those covered by the two wages councils mentioned in his reply.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January, 1978; Vol. 942, col. 265–8], gave the following information:Numbers of homeworkers within scope of wages councils, other than Button Manufacturing and Toy Manufacturing, are estimated at:

Corset	250
Dressmaking and women's light clothing	10,000
Hat, cap and millinery	1,000
Lace finishing	1,000
Linen and cotton handkerchief	50
Made-up textiles	Very Small
Ostrich and fancy feather and artificial flower	100
Perambulator	100
Pin, hook and eye and snap fastener	750
Ready-made and wholesale bespoke tailoring	1,800
Retail bespoke tailoring	1,200
Rope twine and net	1,250
Rubber-proofed garment making	100
Sack and bag	750
Shirtmaking	1,400
Wholesale mantle and costume	2,500

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to in crease the fine for failure to make complete returns to local authorities on the number of home workers employed from £20 to £500.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January, 1978; Vol. 942, col. 265–8], gave the following information:I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts) on 12th January 1978.

asked the Secretary of State fo Employment if he will seek legislation to define home workers as employees for the purposes of the Redundancy Payments Act 1965, the Contracts of Employment Act 1973, the Trade Union Labour Relations Act 1974 and the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8] gave the following information:I shall consider the position of home workers under the first three of these Acts in the light of the views of the TUC and other interested organisations. The Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act, in particular the duties of suppliers of materials for use at work, already gives protection to all home workers whether they are employees or self-employed, and I do not, therefore, see any need to define home workers as employees for the purposes of that Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the statutory minimum rate for each of the last five years in each industry covered by wages councils which employs home workers.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 265–8] gave the following information:The minimum piece work rates, inclusive of supplements where applicable, payable to home workers are those which would yield not less than the following hourly rates for an "ordinary worker".