asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report statistics of crimes of violence in each of the London boroughs for the last five years.

CERTAIN OFFENCES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST THE PERSON AND VIOLENT SEXUAL OFFENCES RECORDED BY METROPOLITAN POLICE DIVISIONS WITHIN THE AREA OF THE GREATER LONDON COUNCIL*—BY BOROUGH
London borough							1974	1975	1976
Barking	…	…	…	…	…	…	95	134	185
Barnet	…	…	…	…	…	…	237	308	257
Bexley	…	…	…	…	…	…	125	128	147
Brent	…	…	…	…	…	…	348	444	424
Bromley	…	…	…	…	…	…	190	222	248
Camden	…	…	…	…	…	…	446	448	539
Croydon	…	…	…	…	…	…	229	263	307
Ealing	…	…	…	…	…	…	421	500	442
Enfield	…	…	…	…	…	…	210	240	206
Greenwich	…	…	…	…	…	…	270	252	285
Hackney	…	…	…	…	…	…	500	478	527
Hammersmith		…	…	…	…	…	466	469	581
Haringey	…	…	…	…	…	…	343	425	403
Harrow*	…	…	…	…	…	…	129	131	156
Havering	…	…	…	…	…	…	147	153	194
Hillingdon*		…	…	…	…	…	183	181	195
Hounslow	…	…	…	…	…	…	199	227	279
Islington	…	…	…	…	…	…	438	402	485
Kensington and Chelsea			…	…	…	…	456	482	839
Kingston-on-Thames			…	…	…	…	85	109	135
Lambeth	…	…	…	…	…	…	651	860	836
Lewisham	…	…	…	…	…	…	328	422	410
Merton	…	…	…	…	…	…	117	140	180
Newham	…	…	…	…	…	…	328	418	517
Redbridge	…	…	…	…	…	…	153	224	290
Richmond	…	…	…	…	…	…	83	109	154
Southwark	…	…	…	…	…	…	439	507	550
Sutton	…	…	…	…	…	…	52	76	95
Tower Hamlets		…	…	…	…	…	419	488	531
Wandsworth		…	…	…	…	…	448	469	544
Waltham Forest		…	…	…	…	…	105	153	265
Westminster		…	…	…	…	…	945	1,072	1,101
Total*		…	…	…	…	…	9,585	10,934	12,307
*Excluding offences recorded by Thames division and the Heathrow sub-division, which cannot be allocated accurately to a particular London borough.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that, notwithstanding the special aids financial and otherwise that the Government have made available to stress areas with large immigrant populations there are still serious problems and difficulties affecting housing, education, health and employment in these areas, whether he will call a conference of all concerned to see what can be done to remove these problems and difficulties and thereby improve race relations.

The only information readily available is for the years 1974 to 1976 and covers nearly all the offences classified in the Home Office statistics as offences of "violence against the person" together with certain sexual offences involving violence.

In view of the various standing arrangements—including the Advisory Council on Race Relations—which already exist for the discussion of the special difficulties of ethnic minorities, I see no need for a conference on the lines proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the letter of 3rd February from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West drawing his attention to Nirarjar Singh Maagat's views on immigration; and whether he will arrange to meet this gentleman and discuss this subject with him.

I have received my hon. Friend's letter of 3rd February and I have read the newspaper article to which he refers. I have no plans to meet the author.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether his new rulings admitting citizens from the United Arab Emirates and Surinam without visas will apply to natives from these countries who may have settled in countries other than that of their birth; how he will be able to control the entry and stay of nationals of these countries who enter by just showing a passport from their country of origin; and to what extent he estimates this will increase the number of immigrants;(2) to what extent his statement on the changing of the immigration rules and control on entry of EEC and other non-Commonwealth nationals whereby immigrants from the United Arab Emirates and Surinam will no longer have to produce visas will affect immigration from these countries; and how control will be able to be enforced when nationals from these countries enter for short periods of stay and then remain illegally, after their time for return has expired.

The Statement of Change in Immigration Rules for Control on Entry, EEC and Other Non-Commonwealth Nationals, which was laid before Parliament on 26th January (HC 173) will apply to all nationals of the United Arab Emirates and of Surinam. They will be allowed to enter and stay in the United Kingdom if they fulfil the requirements of the Immigration Rules. I do not expect that this will lead to any increase in the number of immigrants, but I hope that it will assist the movement of bona fide visitors who are nationals of those countries. There will be no change in the procedure for ensuring that they have left at the end of their permitted stay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out in the Official Report a table showing for each of the last four years the numbers of immigrants from East European countries, broken down into individual countries.

Detailed breakdowns of the number of acceptances for settlement of citizens of each of Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic—from 1974 only—Hungary, Poland, Romania, the USSR and Yugoslavia are published in the annual Command Papers, the latest of which is "Control of Immigration; Statistics 1976" (Cmnd. 6883) published in July 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, during his discussions with people and organisations covering the problems connected with immigration, he will explain what the Government's intentions are with regard to assisting such areas which have large immigrant populations to deal with difficulties connected with housing, education, hospital and medical facilities, teachers, employment, law breaking and police shortage, social security, welfare and general community relations.

I always take every appropriate opportunity to explain relevant aspects of the Government's policies to any individuals or groups with whom I have discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to adopt a programme of repatriation of immigrants similar to that of the French Government; and, to that end, if he will study the French Government's programme of repatriation.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the present position regarding police pay; when the police may expect that their pay and conditions will be settled to their and the United Kingdom public's satisfaction.

A committee of inquiry chaired by Lord Edmund-Davies is carrying out an urgent review of police pay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give for the latest and most convenient date the number of police in the Metropolitan force known to be of ethnic race other than British; which races are concerned; and how these figures compare with the same date for each of the last 10 years.

The number of officers from the ethnic minorities serving in the Metropolitan Police at the end of each year since 1968 was as follows:

1968	3
1969	4
1970	8
1971	11
1972	13
1973	19
1974	36
1975	39
1976	72
1977	82

Information about the particular minority group from which the officers have been drawn is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take action to ensure that all people convicted of attacks upon the person, are, on completion of their prison sentences, deported to their countries of birth.

Each case is considered in the light of the particular circumstances. Commonwealth citizens and citizens of the Republic of Ireland are not liable to deportation if they were ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom on 1st January 1973 and have been so resident for the five years preceding a decision to deport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Mr. W. Pratt Thompson, an American citizen, has been allowed into Great Britain to take employment; how long he has been in Great Britain; how long he is to be allowed to remain; and whether similar treatment is meted out to citizens of Africa and Asia who wish to come to the United Kingdom on the same basis.

Mr. Pratt Thompson qualified and was accepted for settlement several years ago in the same way as individuals from many different parts of the world. A person accepted for settlement does not require permission to take employment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the numbers of police on Merseyside; whether they are up to strength; if not, how many vacancies are unfilled; and what steps are being taken to ensure that the Merseyside police are fully up to strength.

4,238, with 213 vacancies at 31st December 1977. The chief constable intends to continue vigorous recruitment measures and will have the support of the national recruiting campaign run by the Home Office. In addition, the force intends to take on 60 police cadets this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the percentage increases which have occurred since December 1967 in London taxi fares; and how these compare with other modes of transport, including London Transport buses and British Railways London Region fares.

On 22nd December 1977 London taxi fares were increased by an average of 10 per cent. over the levels fixed on 13th December 1976. Exact comparisons with fares of other modes of transport are not possible. However, on 17th July 1977 fares on London Transport buses were increased by an average of 17 per cent. over the rates fixed on 20th June 1976, and fares on British Railways London and South-East Region were increased by an average of 16½ per cent. on 2nd January 1977 and by a further 16 per cent. on 8th January 1978. Between mid-December 1976 and mid-December 1977 the fares component of the general index of retail prices, which relates to bus and rail transport within the United Kingdom, increased by 13·9 per cent.; within the fares component the rail transport section increased by 12·6 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider seeking to amend the law relating to hours of Sunday opening, by those traders who are not exempt, by allowing local authorities in areas of intensive tourist pressure such as Windsor to permit shops to accommodate the tourist trade.

Section 51 of the Shops Act 1950 allows a local authority to make an order permitting shops in a holiday resort to be open on up to 18 Sundays a year for the purpose of the transactions specified in the Seventh Schedule to the Act. We have no plans at present for amendment of the law on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will arrange for Her Majesty's Government to be represented at the symposium being organised by the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments at the Royal Society next April.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his role in regard to the imposition of a death sentence by courts in the Isle of Man.

It is for me to decide whether to make a recommendation to the Queen on the exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy in respect of a sentence of death pronounced by a court in the Isle of Man.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley of 7th February he will publish in the Official Report the prison population for each of the years 1972 to 1977, inclusive.

The information is as follows:

Year	Average daily population
1972	38,328
1973	36,774
1974	36,867
1975	39,820
1976	41,443
1977	41,600
	(provisional estimate)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to seek to ensure that honorary chairmen of charitable trusts may not be paid for their services.

Whether employees of charities should be eligible to serve as trustees, and vice versa, are among the questions being considered in the general review of charity law now being undertaken in the light of the Goodman Committee's report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether former immigrants who are now British citizens with full rights to settle and all rights of the indigenous population are treated as having the rights of free entry and settlement into any countries of the EEC in the same manner as British-born citizens and natives from other EEC countries who have rights to settle in Great Britain.

The Treaty of Accession to the European Communities includes a declaration made by Her Majesty's Government which defines those persons who are to be regarded as "United Kingdom nationals" for the purpose of the Treaty of Rome. It reads as follows:

"(a) persons who are citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies or British subjects not possessing that citizenship or the citizenship of any other Commonwealth country or territory, who, in either case, have the right of abode in the United Kingdom and are therefore exempt from United Kingdom immigration control.

(b) persons who are citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies by birth or by registration or naturalisation in Gibraltar, or whose father was so born, registered or naturalised."

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether persons from former colonial countries of other EEC member States who have now obtained nationality of their new countries of residence are, under EEC rules of entry, allowed to enter and settle in Great Britain; and whether this applies to Surinamese who have emigrated and settled in the Netherlands.

The free movement rights apply only to the nationals, and their dependants, of member States as recognised under the Treaty of Rome. These rights are not affected by any previous status of the persons concerned or their country of origin.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the possibility of illegal immigration through Felixstowe and adjacent ports, marinas and the like, as assessed by the responsible authorities.

The responsible authorities are well aware of the risk that attempts may be made to smuggle illegal immigrants into the country by various methods at such places. To prevent them, port authorities, customs officers, the police, coastguards, the Immigration Service and others act in close liaison and co-operation with each other and with agencies overseas. I believe that, as a result, successful clandestine entry is if negligible proportions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now make a further statement about the inquiry into the Crown Agents.

I ask my hon. Friend to await the tabling of the motion seeking the approval of the House for the establishment of the tribunal of inquiry.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will set up a Royal Commission on the structure of Government.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the names of the North-East Thames Regional Health Authority and the area health authority covering the Basildon and Billericay areas.

I understand that the regional administrator for the North-East Thames Regional Health Authority wrote to my hon. Friend in November with a full list of the members of the Essex Area Health Authority. The current membership of the North-East Thames Regional Health Authority is set out below:Mr. H. E. Moore (Chairman).Mrs. M. R. Davey.Mr. M. H. Hall.Dr. L. Williams.Lord Aldenham.Mr. D. H. Crosfield.Mr. J. Minter.Mrs. J. M. Smith.Mr. D. B. Hoodless.Mrs. L. Lipson.Cllr. Mrs. T. Jowell.Ald. Lady Donaldson.Miss D. A. Coates.Prof. T. Prankerd.Mr. F. V. Hencher.Mr. L. Freedman.Mr. J. Quinton.Mr. B. Samuel.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, since the introduction of the code of practice governing the payment of domestic gas and electricity bills, how many arrangements for direct deduction from supplementary benefit towards the cost of future gas and electric bills following fuel arrears, have been made in the case of domestic electricity bills and domestic gas bills, respectively; and what were the comparable figures for each year from 1972 until the introduction of the code of practice.

I regret that the only available information is that in December 1975 there were 36,000 cases with a deduction in respect of fuel cost. Comparable information for 1976 is not available, because of industrial action at the time in local offices of the Department of Employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many direct deductions towards future gas and electricity bills, respectively, are, at the present time, at the following levels: £1 to £2·50, £2·50 to £5, £5 to £7·50, £7·50 to £10 and £10 or more;(2) what was the average value of direct deductions towards future gas and electricity bills, respectively, each year from 1972 until the present time.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many exceptional needs payments for domestic gas and electricity bills, respectively, have been paid annually since 1972 until the present time; and what was the average value each year.

Information is not available in the form requested. Some information on exceptional needs payments for fuel is, however, given in Table 7·4 of the Supplementary Benefits Commission's annual report for 1976 (Cmnd. 6910).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital beds are available in Dorset, including Bournemouth and its environs at present and 10 years ago; and how many staff, other than doctors and nurses, were employed at the Winchester region and the Dorset area at present and 10 years ago, respectively.

The latest available staff figures are as follows:

	Whole time equivalent at 30th September 1976
	Wessex Regional Health Authority	Dorset Area Health Authority
Administrative and Clerical	5,106·3	1,014·9
Professional and Technical	2,800·9	611·5
Ancillary	8,526·0	1,735·8
Works	139·5	27·0
Maintenance	890·0	136·0
Ambulancemen/Women	668·6	140·0

Comparable figures for 10 years ago cannot be given, since under National Health Service reorganisation on 1st April 1974 new health authorities were set up, having different geographical boundaries and wider areas of responsibility than the former health authorities.I am looking into the question of hospital bed numbers and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to remedy the shortage of nurses at Crawley Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the West Sussex Area Health Authority is taking urgent action to recruit more nurses and it is hoped that this will improve the position at Crawley Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will identify the laboratories referred to in the Howie Report which cannot be rendered safe and which will have to close: and if he will estimate the total cost to public funds of erecting these buildings;(2) if he will estimate the cost of rectifying errors in laboratory and postmortem room design criticised in the Howie Report as being avoidable had there been consultation;(3) if he will list the laboratories and post-mortem rooms mentioned in the Howie Report which pose serious hazards to health and safety; and what steps he has taken to rectify them;(4) if he will identify those laboratories and post-mortem rooms referred to in the Howie Report as possessing serious design faults which may create stress conditions, inconvenience and possible errors and accidents.

The Howie Report does not enable my Department to identify the particular laboratories and postmortem rooms said to have serious hazards or design faults. However, we are writing to the chairman of the working party asking him if he is prepared to let us have this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many wigs were provided through the National Health Service in the latest year for which figures are available.

There are no central records, but the number of National Health Service wigs ordered annually by hospitals in England and Wales is estimated to be in the region of 30,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the present procedure for obtaining wigs through the National Health Service and if he will make a statement.

Yes, on current information available, but I shall gladly look into any particular difficulty if my hon. Friend will let me have details.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the principal companies producing wigs that are provided for National Health Service patients.

There are 98 firms under contract for the supply of National Health Service wigs and 35 of these are manufacturers. I shall write to my hon. Friend giving further details.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost of wigs provided through the National Health Service.

It is not the practice to disclose prices for articles purchased under Government contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average time between a doctor's deciding a wig is needed for medical reasons and the wig's being provided.

Hospital consultants decide whether a wig is needed on medical grounds and, on their prescription, wigs are ordered at a large number of hospitals from many different suppliers. First-issue wigs and children's wigs are given priority and are normally supplied within four to six weeks from the date of order. Replacement wigs take from about eight to 12 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the reasons why, under the Pay Code sanction, contracts for companies with the East Anglian Health Authority affecting heating and ventilation maintenance were barred by the Department of Health and Social Services circular between November 1977 and January; and why the ban was not communicated direct to the firms by his Department.

Action on placing contracts with member firms of the Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association was suspended for about two weeks in January while discussions were held with the association about its pay settlement. Arrangements were made to inform the association centrally and health authorities were asked to explain the situation to individual firms as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why no proper courses of instruction for safety officers have been arranged despite the recommendations of the Working Party on the Laboratory Use of Dangerous Pathogens which reported in 1976.

As was noted in the Howie Report, some local courses of instruction for safety officers have been arranged. Following receipt of the report, the recommendation that courses should be organised on a national basis is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many migrant workers are employed (a) as nurses in psychiatric hospitals and (b) as ancillary workers by his Department.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the job description for the new consultant in gynaecology-obstetrics to be appointed in the Hull area on the retirement of the present incumbent will include provision that he shall hold clinics at the Hull Hospital for Women.

The job description has not yet been settled.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list those physical conditions which result in a mental handicap which in turn renders people unable to walk; and what is his estimate of the number of people suffering from each such condition who are affected in this way;(2) what advice he has received concerning the dependence or otherwise of the human locomotor system on cerebral activity; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will list those mental disablements which render the sufferer unable to walk but which are not caused by a physical condition; if he will specify the non-physical cause in each case; and what is his estimate of the number of sufferers in each case who are affected in this way.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision is being made for the extension of the community midwifery service in the event of the closure of the Townend Maternity Home, Hull.

Humberside Area Health Authority plans to provide the appropriate level of community midwifery services which will become necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the cost of upgrading existing

Hospital			Numbers on waiting list on 31st December 1974	Numbers on waiting list on 31st December 1977	Percentage decrease Per cent.
Hull Hospital for Women	…	…	92	70	-23·9
Hull Royal Infirmary (Sutton)	…	…	950	858	-9·7

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to publish the survey "The Elderly at Home", and if he will make a statement.

The survey "The Elderly at Home", carried out by Mrs. Audrey Hunt of the Office of Population, Censuses, and Surveys on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Security, is published today and copies have been placed in the Library.The purpose of the survey was to investigate the social and other circumstances of elderly people living in the ing wards in the Hull Maternity Hospital; if the proposed closure of the Townend Maternity Hospital, Hull, is implemented.

The estimated cost is £25,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present number of beds available in general practitioners maternity units in the Hull Maternity Hospital and the Townend Maternity Home; and how many will be available if the Townend Maternity Home is closed.

There are at present 17 general practitioner beds in the Townend Maternity Home and none at Hull Maternity Hospital. The plan is to provide about 12 general practitioner beds at Hull Maternity Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the size of the present gynaecological and obstetrics waiting lists at the Hull Hospital for Women, the Hull Maternity Hospital and the Hull Royal Infirmary (Sutton); and what has been the absolute percentage increase or decrease over the past three years to the nearest convenient date.

There is no waiting list in obstetrics. Information on the gynaecological waiting list is as follows:community. The topics covered are: demographic characteristics of elderly people; mobility, health, and ability to look after themselves; employment; income and regular outgoings; social contacts; transport and accessibility; interests, hobbies and attitudes to life.The findings of the survey will be taken into account in the preparation of the White Paper on the elderly which the Government plan to publish in 1979. I welcome this survey as providing a useful factual contribution to the debate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the cost of the development of twin theatre facilities at the Hull Royal Infirmary (Sutton), and capital and running costs; and when he estimates the units would be available if the proposed closure of the Hull Hospital for Women is implemented.

No estimate or timetable is yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to President Carter about the supply of United States arms and training facilities to Guatemala, in view of that country's threats against Belize and the British forces stationed there.

The United States Government are fully aware of the views of Her Majesty's Government on arms sales to Guatemala.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange to have the occasion of Commonwealth Day, Monday 13th March, recognised in some tangible way.

Commonwealth Day will be suitably recognised. Her Majesty the Queen, and Ministers, including my right hon. Friend, will attend a special Commonwealth Day observance in Westminster Abbey. The flags of the Commonwealth will fly in Parliament Square. The Department of Education will be drawing the attention of education authorities to Commonwealth Day; and the Commonwealth Institute has sent out guidance for schools on ways in which the occasion might be marked.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of support within Rhodesia for Mr. Nkomo, a representative of the Matabele tribe, and Mr. Mugabe, a representative of a sub-group of the Shona tribe; and what estimate he has of the support within Rhodesia for the black Rhodesian leaders at present negotiating with Mr. Smith.

It is impossible in the present circumstances to make any realistic estimate of the personal support of the Rhodesian African nationalist leaders. This should be tested in free and fair elections, as proposed in the White Paper (Cmnd. 6919).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the success of the guerrilla war waged by the forces controlled by Mr. Nkomo and Mr. Mugabe in the last year within Rhodesia; and whether he sees this as any genuine threat to Rhodesian security, should their efforts continue at their present level.

There are too many unquantifiable factors to enable a precise estimate to be made, but Mr. Smith's forces clearly face a serious situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish as a White Paper or place in the Library the addenda to the Anglo-American proposals on Rhodesia which have been communicated to the parties concerned and versions of which have appeared in the Press.

The supplementary papers which my right hon. Friend communicated to the parties are confidential working documents. It is not my right hon. Friend's intention to publish them at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise in the Security Council the need to establish the number of Russian, East European, and Cuban nationals presently in Angola, Ethiopia, South Yemen, Tanzania, Nigeria and Zambia, who represent a threat to world peace.

The Government are naturally concerned at the increased Soviet and Cuban presence in areas of tension, but we do not believe it would be helpful to raise this particular matter in the Security Council in the terms stated. I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made to the House by my hon. Friend on 6th February.—[Vol. 943, c. 1088–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report the relevant extracts of letters sent by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to hon. Members on legal matters arising out of the Committee debate on the EEC Assembly Elections Bill on 2nd February last.

The extracts are as follows:Extract of my letter to my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) dated 8th February:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will pay an official visit to the Thames Barrage.

I hope to do so next month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will raise with the EEC Commission such practices as that in which the vessels "ASK" and "Antares" from Rotterdam to Hamburg, offloaded and reloaded their cargoes in Glasgow early this year; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has already drawn to the attention of the Commission a number of similar instances and pointed out that such deflection of trade could be prevented by the application of monetary compensatory amounts to rice.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make a statement on the Beef Premiums (Protection of Payments) Order 1978, No. 17, in the light of the ninth Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments.

Following my undertaking to the Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments on 8th February 1978, I have taken advice from the highest legal quarter on the point that was raised in the Ninth Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments. The advice upholds the view that the order is acceptable as drafted.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, in the light of comments by the Public Accounts Committee contained in the Eighth Report of Session 1976–77 relating to charging to the British National Oil Corporation of interest on issues from the National Oil Account, he will now make a statement.

The Public Accounts Committee, in paragraph 93 of its Eighth Report Session 1976–77, said that it considered that an early decision should be taken whether to charge interest on issues of moneys to the British National Oil Corporation from the national oil account.The Government have agreed with the British National Oil Corporation that the Corporation should consider its capital employed in the business as being divided in the ratio 40 per cent.-60 per cent. between capital regarded as subject to interest and capital regarded as not subject to interest—"equity capital"—and that this equity capital should be seen as being remunerated on a variable basis.The British National Oil Corporation has been permitted by the Secretary of State, with the consent of the Treasury, to raise funds from capital markets and, subject to such consents, may do so again. To the extent that the British National Oil Corporation does not resort to capital markets but is financed by money derived from petroleum licences—"royalty money"—which is made available from the national oil account for these purposes, the royalty money will be regarded as equity capital until the total of these advances, together with the British National Oil Corporation's internally-generated funds, reaches 60 per cent. of the total capital employed. Thereafter, royalty money made available from the national oil account will be divided between capital regarded as subject to interest and equity capital in such proportion as to maintain the 40 per cent: 60 per cent. ratio.The rate of interest attributable to the royalty money which is regarded as subject to interest will be fixed for presentation in the British National Oil Corporation's accounts by analogy with the National Loan Fund interest rates and the remuneration attributable to the equity capital will be fixed by the Government after consultation with the British National Oil Corporation in the light of the Corporation's profits and prospects.These arrangements do not affect the working of Section 40 of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act 1975, whereby sums which the Secretary of State considers are needed to enable the British National Oil Corporation to defray expenditure chargeable to revenue or capital account are to be paid out of the national oil account.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether there is any risk of hydrogen produced by the radiolysis of water over storage ponds at Windscale being liable to explosion following admixture with air.

I am advised that there is no risk of explosion from the hydrogen evolved at the Windscale storage ponds. The rate of evolution is low and the hydrogen is readily dispersed into the atmosphere.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, in view of the changed circumstances resulting from the refusal of the trade unions to accept the offer of the employers in the electricity supply industry of 2nd February, he will now seek to involve the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service in discussions with the disputing parties to prevent the threatened industrial action by the workers.

No. I am informed that further discussion between the employers and the unions are due to take place on 15th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has considered the Venezuelan proposals aimed at swapping Venezuelan heavy oils for North Sea light oil; and if he will make a statement.

The possibility of exchanging North Sea crude oil for oil from Venezuela was one of the subjects raised during my recent visit to Venezuela. No specific proposal was made, but we have told the Venezuelans that if they do come forward with a detailed proposal we shall be prepared to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much of his Department's budget is spent on research into energy production from solar power, windmills and in harnessing wave power, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the current state of each programme.

Research and development funds for renewable energy sources are allocated on a programme basis. My Department is carrying out a four-year programme on solar energy costing £3·6 million, bringing the total Government expenditure over that period to £6 million, and a two- to three-year programme on wave energy costing £2·5 million. To date, my Department has allocated funds for two industry-based studies relating to wind energy, one on a joint-funded basis costing £160,000 of which my Department will be paying £75,000 and the other a fully funded study at a cost to my Department of £92,000. As current programmes and studies yield results expenditure on those sources will be increased, as appropriate, to allow further development work to proceed.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, in view of the breakdown of discussions with the National union of Mineworkers and the Coal Board on Thursday 2nd February over wages, what action he has taken, or intends taking, to obviate industrial unrest.

Subsequent events appear to have made any such action unnecessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is being done to minimise competitive advertising between the fuel industries and to encourage them actively to promote energy conservation.

I have had extensive discussions with the chairmen of the nationalised fuel industries and the major oil companies with the objective of encouraging them to extend and intensify their promotion of energy conservation.These discussions have taken place in the light of:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether he will examine Norwegian and United States' legislation on the protection of remains of cultural and biological importance and introduce comparable provisions before granting any further licences for sea-bed exploration on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf; and if he will make a statement;(2) what conditions are imposed on the applicants for exploration or production licences on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf to report or protect remains of cultural or biological interest discovered during their exploration activities.

As my hon. Friend will be aware, the protection of antiquities lying on the sea bed off our shores is primarily a matter for consideration by the marine and environmental Departments. It is the practice, however, that before offering blocks for offshore production licences my Department consults all other Departments who have interests in offshore areas. Offshore petroleum licences do not contain any provisions specific to such historical objects, but all 1picensees are required to obtain the Secretary of State's consent before drilling or creating other sea bed disturbances in their licensed areas and the preservation of any important remains identified in the area would be taken fully into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total in pounds sterling of loans accorded to the United Kingdom coal industry by the European Coal and Steel Community over the period from 1st January 1973 to the latest date for which figures are available.

£239·81 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the volume of light sulphur oil produced in the United Kingdom and offshore during each of the last six months and the volume of such oil consumed in each period.

The following is the information:

LOW SULPHUR OIL*
	Production	(Million tonnes Deliveries to United Kingdom Refineries†
July 1977	2·3	1·5
August 1977	2·5	1·2
September 1977	2·4	1·3
October 1977	2·5	1·5
November 1977	2·2	1·2
December 1977‡	2·4	1·5
	14·3	8·2
* Assumes that light sulphur oil relates to low sulphur oil which, on refining, produces fuel oil with a sulphur content of less than 1 per cent. by weight.
† Actual consumption figures are not available.
‡ Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many were employed by the National Coal Board at the end of each month from, and including, November 1976 to the latest available date; what gross tonnage was mined by the National Coal Board each month from, and including November 1976 to the latest available date; and what was the gross wages and salaries bill of the National Coal Board for each month from, and including, November 1976, to the latest available date.

The figures of manpower and gross tonnage mined since November 1976 have been published in the Department of Energy's monthly publication "Energy Trends" which is available in the Library of the House.

BNOC, BP Petroleum Development Ltd.			…	…	…	…	…	Blocks 3/10b, 3/24b, 87/6A, 87/7A and 87/9.
BNOC, Union Oil Exploration and Production (UK) Ltd. Getty Oil (Britain) Ltd., Deminex Oil and Gas (UK) Ltd.								Block 14/12
BNOC, Arpet Petroleum Ltd	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	Block 106/29
BNOC, British Sun Oil Ltd., North Sea Exploitation and Research Co. Ltd., Clyde Petroleum Ltd., Hampton Gold Mining Areas Ltd., North Sea Global Energy Ltd.								Block 20/7
BNOC, Conoco Limited, Gulf (UK) Offshore Investments Ltd.						…	…	Block 20/3
BNOC, Conoco Limited	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	Block 98/23
BNOC, Canadian Industrial Gas (UK) Ltd., Charter Consolidated (UK Offshore Oil Explorations Ltd.), Charterhouse Petroleum Development Ltd., Home Oil Company Ltd., Tricentrol North Sea Ltd.								Blocks 14/16, 14/17

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has considered Scandinavian representations about the volume of United Kingdom-derived sulphur dioxide in acid form that is falling in the area; and what measure he has taken or is prepared to take to meet their complaints.

The situation has not changed since I answered Questions by the hon. Member on this and related subjects on 27th and 28th July 1977.—[Vol. 936, c. 237 and 558.] I am aware of the concern of Scandinavian States about the deposition of United Kingdom-derived sulphur dioxide in acid form. The position remains that further concerted international studies are required to establish the pattern of sulphur transport between countries more precisely, its environmental

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about progress on the award of fifth round petroleum production licences.

, pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 23rd November 1977; Vol. 939, c. 767–8], gave the following further information:I am now able to announce a second batch of confirmations of awards as follows:effects and the costs and benefits of the possible means of control before decisions can be reached on United Kingdom policy.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Confederation of British Industry.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Confederation of British Industry.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale (Mr. Noble) on 7th February.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Trades Union Congress.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Trades Union Congress.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Trades Union Congress.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Trades Union Congress.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Trades Union Congress.

I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Radice) on 2nd February.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Confederation of British Industry and Trades Union Congress.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery) on 2nd February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will invite the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany to visit London.

I hope to invite Chancellor Schmidt to this country shortly for the next in our series of bilateral meetings.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to take the chair at the National Economic Development Council.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to attend a meeting of the National Economic Development Council.

I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) on 7th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 14th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 14th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 14th February.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 14th February 1978.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 14th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 14th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 14th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 14th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 14th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 14th February.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 14th February.

asked the prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 14th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 14th February.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 14th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 14th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 14th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 14th February 1978.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 14th February 1978.

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

asked the Prime Minister when he last had a meeting with the Chairman of the Armed Forces Pay Review Board.

I last met Sir Harold Atcherley in his capacity as Chairman of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body on 25th July 1977.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a transcript of his speech on industrial policy to the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce on 26th January 1978.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a transcript of his speech on industrial policy to the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce on 26th January 1978.

asked the Prime. Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech to the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce about industrial policy on 26th January 1978.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a transcript of his public speech to the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce on industrial policy on 26th January 1978.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) on 8th February.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement regarding his discussions with the Prime Minister of Greece on the occasion of his recent visit to London.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Thomas) on 9th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his recent speech to the Labour Party Local Government Conference at Bristol discussing race relations in Great Britain.

I did so on 3rd February.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will provide a list of all bodies to which he appoints members other than civil servants, distinguishing between full-time and part-time, salaried, fee paid and unpaid appointments, indicating for each category of appointment the number of such appointees.

The information is as follows. These appointments are all part-time and unpaid except where otherwise indicated.

	Number of Appointments
BODY
Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries	14
British Museum	15
British Museum (Natural History)	8
Imperial War Museum	9
Museum of London	6
National Maritime Museum	12
National Gallery	10
National Portrait Gallery	12
Tate Gallery	9
Wallace Collection	7
Council of the British School at Rome	1
Kennedy Memorial Trust	6
City Parochial Foundation	5
Security Commission	7
Members of the Review Bodies on Top Salaries, Armed Forces Pay and Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration	21
Advisory Committee on Acceptance of Business Appointments by Crown Servants	5
Women's National Commission: Co-Chairman	1
Police Council for Great Britain—Arbitrators	3*
Police Complaints Board	19†
Note: Where there is no statutory number, the numbers given are for those in post.
* Part-time fees paid.
† Including three full-time salaried and 15 part-time fees paid.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.