asked the Minister of Overseas Development what discussions she has had with the World Bank, institutions of the EEC, and the EEC Commission about economic aid to the Falkland Islands; and if she will list specific projects that have been considered indicating whether these yet include improving Port Stanley for international fishing, oil exploration and extraction, and the provision of an international airport, as well as projects that have been rejected, and including payments made to date.

I have not had discussions on this issue with the World Bank, from which the Falkland Islands as a dependency would not normally be eligible for assistance, nor as yet with any of the EEC institutions.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what further action she has taken in relation to the Crown Agents' deficit.

An opportunity now occurs to fund a further considerable amount of the Crown Agents' deficit. As a result of recent policy changes affecting the refinancing of export credit, announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade on 15th December 1977, there are substantial savings in planned expenditure this year. A grant to the Crown Agents would have no implications for the use of domestic real resources, nor would it affect public expenditure plans after 1977–78. The Government therefore proposes a further recoverable grant of £90 million to the Crown Agents, to be paid in the current financial year. A Supplementary Estimate will be presented to the House later this week.The effect of this will be to cover £175 million of the deficit. As I told the House on 5th December, this amounted to £212 million at the end of 1976. Together with rolled up interest and further provisions arising in 1977 it totalled £236 million at the end of 1977. £85 million was financed by the recoverable grant of December 1974. The deficit remaining after the £90 million grant now proposed relates almost entirely to the Australian property holdings, disengagement from which is likely to take several years.

asked the Lord Advocate what progress is being made in the investigation into warrant sales.

The factual and sociological research project on the law of diligence including warrant sales has been under way since November 1977. Considerable material has already been obtained and is being processed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice she has given to local education authorities about the eligibility for awards of those foreign students who have resided in the United Kingdom on annual work permits or visitors' visas for the three years prior to the start of the course.

My Department, in a circular letter dated 27th January 1978, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member, gave general guidance to local education authorities on their consideration of ordinary residence for the purpose of awards. It is for local education authorities to decide what weight to give in individual cases to each of the relevant factors, including the terms on which an applicant has been admitted to this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what have been the numbers of research students studying for higher degrees financed by Research Council grants in each of the last five years.

The total numbers of research studentships held from the Research Councils in each of the academic years were as follows:

1972–73	8,918
1973–74	9,127
1974–75	9,364
1975–76	9,459
1976–77	9,478

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total sum of money that is paid (a) by local authorities and (b) by central Government on student union membership fees for the latest year for which figures are available.

This information is not available. However, it is estimated that the total cost to public funds of student union membership fees for full-time students in the United Kingdom was about £13 million for the 1976–77 academic year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the individual grants covered by the heading "Grants to Other Previously Non-profit Making Bodies" in respect of the education sector, in the National Income Blue Book.

My Department makes grants, subject to parliamentary approval, to several hundred educational establishments and organisations. All such recurrent grants are included in table 7.1 of the Central Statistical Office publication "National Income and Expenditure 1966–76" under the heading "Current Grants to Personal Sector". Grants to "universities, colleges etc." are shown separately. The educational grants included within "Other" grants are payments to direct grant schools, non-maintained special schools, voluntary colleges of education, voluntary youth organisations, voluntary bodies for education services and educational research projects commissioned by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to announce her decision on the Section 13 notice isued by the London borough of Bromley in respect of the proposed amalgamation in Kemnal Upper School and Kemnal Lower School.

My right hon. Friend expects to announce her decision soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will issue guidance to local education authorities on measures to reduce vandalism in educational premises.

My Department is publishing today a leaflet, prepared with the help of the Home Office and the local authority, teachers and staff associations, which is designed to stimulate discussion within authorities, and between one area and another, by offering a list of possible measures that might be taken to reduce wilful damage. The leaflet is being sent to all local education authorities, and copies have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the rents of Northern Ireland Housing Executive houses are to be increased during the current year; and, if so, by what amount.

The Green Paper on Housing Policy (Mmnd. 6851) expressed the Government's view that over a run of years rents should keep broadly in line with changes in money incomes. It has, therefore, been agreed that in 1978–79 the rents of Housing Executive dwellings should be increased by around 10 per cent., which means an average of 40p per week. The Executive wishes, for administrative reasons, to make the rent increase in July rather than April, and, in order to achieve the necessary rental income for the full year, this will mean that the average increases from July will be 55p per week.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what Government assistance is being provided to meet the liabilities of Fonnom Limited, a sub-diary of the former Northern Ireland Finance Corporation, which is now vested in the Northern Ireland Development Agency.

When the Northern Ireland Finance Corporation bought over Ben Sherman Limited and its subsidiaries it had to undertake to give certain guarantees to the owners of premises occupied by these companies under lease. However, the Corporation was wound up before the guarantees were given, with the result that its successor, the Northern Ireland Development Agency, inherited the undertakings given by the Corporation but, unfortunately, had no statutory power to honour them and pay any sums due as a result. Accordingly, it has been necessary to provide funds to the Agency on an extra-statutory basis to enable it to pay the sums due which will, initially, amount to approximately £200,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if any changes are being made to the cash limits announced in Command Paper No. 6767.

Yes. Cash Limit Block NID 1 has been reduced by £10·2 million and Cash Limit Blocks NIO 1 and NIO 2 have been reduced by £2·4 million and £3·8 million respectively.The savings identified have helped to provide for increased expenditure in areas not subject to cash limits, including assistance to the Northern Ireland Electricity Service and continuation of the Meat Industry Employment Scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, the annual or quarterly amounts of fines outstanding for payment; how each period compares with each of the previous 10 years; how much of the present amounts outstanding is for periods when time for payment has expired; and what action he has taken or intends taking to ensure the payment of these fines.

The table below shows the amounts of fines collected by magistrates' courts in England and Wales during each of the last six financial years and the amounts outstanding—excluding Inner London—at the end of each financial year. Figures for earlier years are not available.

	Fines Collected £	Fines Outstanding £
1970–71	18,095,966	6,381,604
1971–72	21,338,865	6,946,074
1972–73	25,529,658	7,871,879
1973–74	32,045,242	10,436,914
1974–75	35,570,348	12,800,148
1975–76	45,885,990	17,818,896
1976–77	59,022,051	20,581,337

The figures for outstanding fines include fines imposed but not yet due for payment; figures for fines outstanding where the period of payment has expired are not available.The enforcement of fines is a matter for the courts concerned. They have several methods open to them, including the threat of imprisonment and distress upon goods.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the findings of the Brodrick Report will be implemented; and what is his Department's view on the necessity or otherwise for a second medical certificate when cremation is intended.

My predecessor announced on 6th August 1975—[Vol. 897, c. 211]—the Government's decision to accept many of the recommendations of the Committee on Death Certification and Coroners—the Brodrick Committee. He made it clear, however, that, in the case of deaths other than those occurring in hospital, the Government considered that a safeguard should be retained by requiring a confirmatory certificate before cremation to be given by a doctor drawn from a panel appointed by the cremation authority with the approval of the Home Secretary. The announcement also indicated that implementation of the proposed changes in cremation procedures would be dependent upon the introduction, which would require substantive legislation, of the improved system for the medical certification of the cause of death recommended by the Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which 10 parliamentary constituencies achieved the highest percentage turnout at the last two General Elections; and if he will list them with the relevant percentages.

The number of votes polled for each candidate and the total number of electors for each constituency are published in "Election Expenses" (18th December 1974, HC 69; 28th July 1975, HC 478). To derive the information requested from these sources would involve disproportionate cost. However, the hon. Member may like to refer to Britain Votes 1. A Handbook of Parliamentary Election Results 1974–77, compiled and edited by F. W. S. Craig (Parliamentary Research Services, 1977) and to British Electoral Facts 1885–1975, compiled and edited by F. W. S. Craig (Macmillan, 1971) in which Mr. Craig explains the basis of his estimates of the total electorate (page xii).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the report of the Working Party on the Electoral Register established on the recommendation of the Speaker's Conference on Electoral Law; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received the working party's report, which is being published today. I am grateful to the members of the working party for the careful study they have made of this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is now the number of Russian citizens resident in Great Britain; and what were the numbers in 1973 and 1968.

This information is not available. However, the 1971 Census of Population recorded 48,095 people in Great Britain who had been born in the USSR.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are on the housing register in Liverpool; how many are likely to be housed in the near future; and what progress is being made to ensure that everyone in Liverpool who requires rehousing or a house of their own will be satisfied.

Information about local authority waiting lists and the letting of houses to people on those lists is not collected centrally. These are matters for the individual local authority. In support of Liverpool City Council's efforts to meet housing needs we have made a capital allocation of nearly £35 million—provisional outturn prices—to Liverpool for 1978–79. That is a major increase on the allocation for the current year—£24·2 million at 1977–78 outturn prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call in for his consideration the planning application to the Maidstone Borough Council in respect of lands at Headcorn No. MA/77/1245E, entitled "Formation of Ponds," in the light of the fact that it is intended to be an agricultural chemical testing station.

Planning permission for this development was granted by Maidstone Borough Council on 1st December last. As the application has been decided it is not possible for my right hon. Friend to call it in for his consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce a decision about the future cost of dog licences.

The level of the dog licence fee is one of a number of issues which I am examining in the light of the recommendations of the Working Party on Dogs. I shall make an announcement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the expenditure by local authorities in England and Wales on the lighting of buildings other than educational buildings in each of the past five years.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the future of Chiswick House and its grounds.

I shall continue to maintain Chiswick House and the associated ornamental buildings which are in my guardianship, and display them to the public. The gardens are the responsibility of the London borough of Hounslow.Designs have been prepared for a new building on the site presently occupied by temporary huts. It would provide for the physical needs of visitors and staff, allow space for interpretative material, and enable the ticket office and staff accommodation to be moved from the Palladian villa. However, no decision will be taken until I have received and considered the views of the relevant statutory bodies, the local planning authority and others with an interest in the proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has had any recent discussions with the British Railways Board on the future of Liverpool Street Station; and when he expects to make a public statement on the proposals to demolish the station.

I have not held any meetings with the British Railways Board. Whilst the applications to redevelop Liverpool Street and Broad Street stations are before me for decision, it would not be right for me to do so. These are major and complex proposals which need time to be considered fully, but a decision will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the action of his Department in issuing documents such as "The Attack on Inflation: Breaches of Incomes Policy: Purchasing Aspects" to local authorities suggesting that firms in breach of the voluntary pay policy should be discriminated against in the awarding of Government contracts.

Under phases 1 and 2 of the pay policy my Department issued two circulars: Circular 123/75 "Attack on Inflation—Local Authority Construction Contracts" and Circular 103/76 "The Attack on Inflation—the Second Year: Public Purchasing Aspects". These circulars urged local authorities to adopt the Government's own contractual procedures to guard against breaches of the pay policy. The circulars stated that local authorities would be informed of the names of any firms barred from future Government contracts, and that in general no new tenders should be invited from them, nor new contracts or significant extensions of existing contracts be awarded to them. In the event, no such list of names was circulated to local authorities under either phase 1 or phase 2.My Department has not issued any guidance to local authorities on the question of public purchasing in the current phase of pay policy. Following consideration of new clauses for their own contracts, the Government will be reviewing the related but separate question of purchasing by local authorities, which are, of course, autonomous bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement on progress on construction of the M42.

Consultation with the public on the Castle Donington Section of the Birmingham-Nottingham route began on 3rd February; a decision on the subsidiary orders for the Water Orton subsection is expected to be announced later this month, and the remaining orders for the Bromsgrove section and the revised proposals for the Kingsbury and Polesworth subsections are, subject to progress with the trunk road review, expected to be published in a month or so.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied that the current legislation in respect of keeping

						1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	Date wearing made compulsory
Austria	…	…	…	…	…	1,173	1,177	946	960	882	July 1976
Belgium	…	…	…	…	…	986	979	893	795	828	June 1975
Denmark	…	…	…	…	…	439	460	268	324	398	January 1976
Finland	…	…	…	…	…	441	449	328	319	—	July 1975
France*	…	…	…	…	…	8,627	7,916	6,373	6,431	—	July 1973
Germany (Federal Republic)				…	…	9,457	7,820	6,616	7,050	6,850	January 1976
Netherlands*		…	…	…	…	1,350	1,358	986	968	1,036	June 1975
Norway	…	…	…	…	…	218	225	220	229	220	September 1975
Spain	…	…	…	…	…	2,498	2,769	2,454	2,574	—	April 1975
Sweden	…	…	…	…	…	645	649	619	620	—	January 1975
Switzerland		…	…	…	…	672	561	515	508	443	January 1976
Czechoslovakia*			…	…	…	Figures not immediately available
Hungary	…	…	…	…	…
Luxembourg		…	…	…	…
USSR	…	…	…	…	…
* Wearing compulsory only outside built up areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many interviews were carried out by his survey team in the Market Rasen, Caistor area of Lincolnshire; and how many offices of his Department were working on the survey during the first month.

Unlike the 1968 Transport Act, EEC Regulation 543/69, which has recently replaced United Kingdom legislation on drivers' hours and record keeping, contains no exemption for the limited circulation on public roads of goods vehicles used in agriculture. My right hon. Friend has already made it clear that he hopes, over a period of time, to improve the EEC regulation and to achieve some flexibility, but this is unlikely to be a rapid process.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the countries in Europe which now have compulsory seat belt laws and where possible the change in personal accident statistics for these countries.

The European countries which had compulsory seat belt laws in May 1977 are listed below, with the number of car occupants killed in each of the years shown. The form of the law varies between countries, and in some of those listed there is no penalty for noncompliance. Some of the changes in casualty figures may be due to other changes affecting road safety in the period shown.

Some 200 people were interviewed on buses and about half of them were also seen at home. The surveys were carried out by two employees of consultants and not by officers of the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of the fact that the result of his first month's survey on the curtailment of bus services in the Market Rasen, Caistor area of Lincolnshire proved inconclusive, if he will now instruct his survey team to look at the hardship caused in the area to people who do not own their own transport.

The first survey was not inconclusive; its purpose was to identify regular users of the services. When the pattern of replacement services is settled it will be decided whether they differ sufficiently to justify a survey to assess how people have adapted to the changes and what hardship has been caused.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the latest position in respect of the construction of trunk road schemes within the East Midlands Region which are scheduled to start in 1978 or 1979;(2) what is the latest position in respect of the construction of trunk road schemes within the Eastern Road Construction Unit area which were scheduled to start in 1978 or 1979;(3) what is the latest position in respect of the construction of trunk road schemes within the South-East Road Construction Unit area which were scheduled to start in 1978 or 1979.

Construction has started on A27 Lewes South Street and tendering procedures are in progress on:

• M25 Egham—Yeoveney
• M25 Thorpe—Chertsey
• A3 Burpham—Ladymead
• M20 Ashford—Sellindge
• M20 Sellindge—Folkestone

All other trunk road schemes in these areas are currently under review in the light of the White Paper on Transport Policy and the Leitch report. Announcements about start dates will be made in due course.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 9th February, column 1663, that nationalisation is never off the agenda, which industries his Government regard as suitable for being on the nationalisation agenda.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) on 9th February.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is satisfied that adequate progress is being made in the moving of Civil Service jobs to Scotland.

The Departments concerned are progressing the planned dispersals to Scotland in accordance with the revised timetable announced by my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Privy Seal on 29th July 1977, a copy of which was placed in the Library on 16th December 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the occasions on which he has attended meetings of the European Community and the European Coal and Steel Community directly connected with the steel industry.

None; but I am closely in touch with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Industry and the Secretary of State for Trade whose responsibility it is to deal with the Community on matters related to the steel industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to publish the Welsh House Condition Survey 1976.

The full results of the 1976 Welsh House Condition Survey are at present being printed and will be published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to publish the Index of Industrial Production for Wales in the third quarter of 1977; and what is the cause of the delay.

The Index of Industrial Production for Wales for the third quarter of 1977 was issued on Friday 10th February. This was approximately one month later than planned. The delay was due to a complete revision of the series from the base date 1970, incorporating a number of improvements in data and technique.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he intends to set up a Welsh social policy unit; and, if so, what will be its functions and structure.

My Department has recently received a proposal to set up a Welsh Institute for Social Policy and this proposal is now being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will identify the trace elements in coal, and identify the extent to which they remain within the combustion system or escape into the environment.

Traces of any of the 92 naturally occurring elements are liable to be detected in coal in roughly the same proportions as they occur in the natural environment from which the coal is derived. On combustion most of the gaseous elements, together with chlorine and bromine compounds and mercury, are discharged with the waste gases. The remaining elements form solid compounds which constitute the ash, of which in a modern power station over 99 per cent. is retained in the combustion system. The rest is dispersed with the waste gases as very fine particulate matter. It may contain a slightly enhanced proportion of the more volatile elements such as antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead, selenium and zinc, but their concentrations are nevertheless very low and the great majority of these and the other solid elements are retained in the ash.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the estimated life of each nuclear power station in operation, with the date of commencement in each case.

The nuclear power stations operated by the CEGB and the SSEB—which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, with their commissioning dates, are listed below.

Berkeley	June 1962
Bradwell	July 1962
Hunterston A	February 1964
Hinkley Point A	March 1965
Trawsfynydd	March 1965
Dungeness A	October 1965
Sizewell	March 1966
Oldbury-on-Severn	December 1967
Wylfa	November 1971
Hunterston B	February 1976
Hinkley Point B*	September 1976
* The second reactor at Hinkley Point B is not yet commissioned.

The Magnox stations were designed to have an operating life of 20 full power years; that is, years running continuously at designed power rating. However, operating experience in conjunction with studies being made by the generating boards and the UKAEA indicate that this life expectancy will be exceeded. AGR stations have been designed with an operational life of 25 full power years.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the gross fixed assets per employee in the steel industries of the United Kingdom, France, West Germany, Italy, Holland, the United States of America and Japan, together with the corresponding level of steel production expressed in tonnes of steel per man-year.

Information on gross fixed assets is not available. The following table gives crude steel production in tonnes per man year in 1976, the latest date for which information is available:

United Kingdom	125*
France	221
West Germany	131
Italy	159
Netherlands	207
United States	174
Japan	245
* Employment as defined for the iron and steel industry in the Treaty of Paris.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what is the number of employees in Sunderland Magnetic Ltd.; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;(2) what is the number of employees in J. L. Thompson and Sons Ltd.; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;(3) what is the number of employees in John Brown and Sons Ltd.; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;(4) what is the number of employees in Conoley and Company Ltd; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;(5) what is the number of employees in Larkgrade Ltd; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;(6) what is the number of employees in Leecoln Ltd.; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;(7) what is the number of employees in Poolsprings Ltd.; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;(8)what is the number of employees in Parkcroft Ltd.; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill(9) what is the number of employees in Stegvale Ltd.; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;(10) what is the number of employees in Terenko Ltd.; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;(11) what is the number of employees in Texray Ltd.; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill;(12) what is the number of employees in Basingstoke Builders Ltd.; and whether they come within the scope of the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill.

I understand from British Shipbuilders that Sunderland Magnetic Ltd. employs 27 people, and that the companies referred to in the other Questions have no employees. All are within the definition of relevant company in the Shipbuilding (Redundancy Payments) Bill, but the eligibility of their employees to benefits under the Bill will depend on the terms of the order.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the range of entitlement to length of service payments for each year from the minimum of one week for two years' service to 80 weeks for 25 years' service under his proposed scheme for redundancy in British Shipbuilders and Harland and Wolff.

Details of the range will be the subject of further consultation with British Shipbuilders, Harland and Wolff and the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement about the report by British Shipbuilders required by Section 5(3) of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977.

A report on the review of the affairs of the corporation has been submitted by British Shipbuilders and I have today laid copies before each House of Parliament. The report shows that British Shipbuilders have adopted the principle of the largest degree of decentralised management and decision taking compatible with public accountability and the need to enhance the competitiveness of the corporation which is operating in a severe world wide shipbuilding recession.The report also shows that British Shipbuilders attach great importance to their duty to promote industrial democracy. They see the starting place as the development of suitable procedures within each profit centre in accordance with overall guidelines to be established by the corporation in consultation with the relevant trade unions.I have been encouraged to learn that the corporation and the CSEU have determined an objective of reaching agreement on the overall guidelines and framework of industrial democracy in the next month or so. I am anxious that progress should be made quickly and I have asked British Shipbuilders to let me have a further report on the promotion of industrial democracy by 1st July, which will also be laid before each House of Parliament. British Shipbuilders will also keep closely in touch with my Department on the development of their thinking on organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has been involved in efforts to end the dispute between the Post Office and telex maintenance engineers; and if he will make a statement.

This is primarily a matter for the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, following the contract he signed with the Polish Government, what contracts have been placed so far in connection with the Anglo-Polish ships deal; what are the names of the companies with which the contracts have been placed; what is the value of each contract; what is the nature of the goods being supplied in each case; and what percentage of the contracts placed so far have gone to countries other than the United Kingdom.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 14th February 1978; Vol. 944] gave the following information:

Following the communiqué signed by my right hon. Friend and the Polish Vice Minister for Foreign Trade and Shipping on 21st November 1977 British Shipbuilders have concluded a contract with the Anglo-Polish Shipping Venture Co. Ltd. for the supply of 22 ships and two crane barges. I am advised by British Shipbuilders that at the time of the signature of the communiqué the customer had stipulated that certain materials and equipment to a total value between 11 per cent. and 12 per cent. of the costs should come from specified suppliers outside the United Kingdom. Details of subcontracts are primarily a matter for the shipbuilder concerned, but I understand that most of them have now been placed and that British Shipbuilders do not expect the total value placed outside the United Kingdom to exceed 14 per cent. of their costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the membership of all industrial training boards.

I am sending my hon. Friend complete lists of members of all industrial training boards and also placing two copies of the lists in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much financial assistance the United Kingdom Government have received from the European Social Fund towards the cost of Government-supported training and resettlement schemes, and of the resettlement services for the disabled.

In respect of the period from 1st January 1973 to 31st December 1977, about £220 million—including £22 million for disabled people—has been allocated to the United Kingdom from the European Social Fund for operations undertaken or supported by the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) in the light of the fact that the London Borough of Newham is a stress area with a large immigrant population, severe housing shortage, shortage of schools, teachers, hospital facilities, etc., and heavy unemployment, if he will take action to obtain employment for these workers in the interests of race relations;(2) in view of the fact that in the London Borough of Newham the immigrant population has risen from 28,000 in 1971 to between 42,000 to 46,000 to date and that this is causing stresses and strains with regard to employment, what action he has taken, or intends taking, to resolve these problems.

I am aware that the London Borough of Newham suffers from many stresses, including high unemployment, and that these disadvantages are shared by the ethnic minorities. The special employment measures introduced by my Department have so far helped nearly 650 people in Newham, and the introduction this year of the new youth opportunities programme and the special temporary employment programme will provide further help to those affected by unemployment, including members of ethnic minorities.In addition, part of Newham falls within the Docklands Partnership area. The allocation to the partnership of £45 million under the urban programme for the years 1979–80 to 1981–82, together with the new powers to assist industry proposed under the Inner Urban Areas Bill, will be of substantial benefit to the borough of Newham in helping to arrest industrial decline and in enhancing the employment opportunities available to its residents, of whatever ethnic origin.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the figure of redundancies notified in Scotland in each of the last 12 months.

In accordance with Section 100 of the Employment Protection Act 1975, notified redundancies in Scotland in each of the last 12 months were as follows:

1977
February	5,353
March	5,477
April	10,483
May	5,808
June	10,601
July	6,010
August	6,577
September	4,137
October	7,202
November	7,107
December	6,223
1978
January	5,547
Total	80,525

During the same period, notifications involving 28,205 proposed dismissals were officially withdrawn.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to open the new jobcentre in Gainsborough.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that attempts by the Employment Service Agency (ESA) to obtain suitable jobcentre premises in Gainsborough have so far been unsuccessful. As the present employment office building is unsuitable for conversion, the Property Services Agency, on behalf of the ESA, is undertaking a feasibility study to determine whether the site could be used for the provision of a jobcentre. As it is likely to take some time before a decision is taken, it is not possible to estimate when a jobcentre will be opened in Gainsborough.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many temporary employment subsidies are currently being paid in the employment areas of the parliamentary constituency of the Isle of Ely.

I regret that I am unable to give information in the precise form requested—that is, those currently being paid—as this could be collected only at disproportionate cost. We can say, however, that as at 10th February 1978 the cumulative total of applications approved in the Isle of Ely area, since 24th September 1975 when the scheme was extended to this area, was two, covering 42 workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of those who left school in the summer of 1977 are still without work in each of the employment areas in the parliamentary constituency of the Isle of Ely; and what were the comparable figures in each of the last four years.

I regret that the available statistics do not distinguish between different dates of school leaving, but the following are the figures in respect of school leavers under 18 registered as unemployed in January of each year in those career office areas which comprise the parliamentary constituency of the Isle of Ely. In each case the majority of those registered as unemployed in January

							1974*	1975†	1976	1977	1978
Ely	…	…	…	…	…	…	4	—	8	7	26
Wisbech including March, Chateris, Whittlesey							2	—	30	52	49
							6	—	38	59	75
NOTES
* These figures are not strictly comparable since the numbers leaving school in 1973 were much reduced as a result of the raising of the school leaving age in that year.
† Figures for January 1975 are not available due to an industrial dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, for each United Kingdom special development area, development area and intermediate area, and for the United Kingdom, what was the average unemployment expressed as a percentage

							January 1970	July 1977	January 1978
Special Development Areas
Merseyside		…	…	…	…	…	4·2	12·4	11·5
North East		…	…	…	…	…	6·1	10·4	10·1
West Cumberland			…	…	…	…	6·5	9·6	8·7
North West Wales			…	…	…	…	7·7	11·9	13·5
South Wales		…	…	…	…	…	5·3	9·8	9·0
Dundee and Arbroath				…	…	…	3·9	9·8	9·3
Girvan		…	…	…	…	…	9·0	12·6	14·5
Glenrothes		…	…	…	…	…	5·3	9·7	9·1
Leven and Methil			…	…	…	…
Livingston		…	…	…	…	…	3·2	10·6	11·5
West Central Scotland				…	…	…	5·0	10·7	11·0
Development Areas
South Western			…	…	…	…	6·2	9·5	12·4
Hull and Grimsby			…	…	…	…	4·0	8·9	8·6
Whitby and Scarborough				…	…	…	8·0	6·0	9·4
Merseyside		…	…	…	…	…	4·2	12·4	11·5
Northern		…	…	…	…	…	5·2	9·3	9·1
Welsh	…	…	…	…	…	…	4·6	8·9	8·7
Scottish		…	…	…	…	…	4·6	9·3	9·7
Intermediate Areas
South Western			…	…	…	…	4·2	9·8	9·0
Oswestry		…	…	…	…	…	5·0	9·3	8·2
High Peak		…	…	…	…	…	1·5	4·0	3·3
North Lincolnshire			…	…	…	…	5·6	7·0	9·9
North Midlands			…	…	…	…	4·3	5·8	5·5
Yorkshire and Humberside				…	…	…	3·0	6·2	5·8
North West		…	…	…	…	…	2·4	6·9	6·3
North Wales		…	…	…	…	…	6·4	9·5	12·1
South East Wales			…	…	…	…	3·8	8·2	7·8
Aberdeen		…	…	…	…	…	3·4	3·7	4·4
United Kingdom		…	…	…	…	…	2·8	6·8	6·5
Rates of unemployment are calculated only for complete travel-to-work areas or combinations of these areas. The rates shown above are for the travel-to-work areas which correspond most closely with the assisted areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the accumulation of trace elements in the environment with the growth in the number of fossilised fuel power stations presents or is

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th February 1978; Vol. 944, c. 78], gave the following answer:The following table gives unemployment rates for the areas specified.likely in the future to present any hazard to health.

I have been asked to reply:The great majority of the trace elements in fossil fuels do not escape into the environment. The small quantities which are released are dispersed very widely. They contain the same elements as are present in the dusts and soils of the natural environment from which they originated and to which they are eventually returned. I am advised that the small quantities involved do not represent any known hazard to human health.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the experimental scheme to pay unemployment benefit fortnightly rather than weekly.

The three-month evaluation period of the fortnightly attendance and payment procedures operating on an experimental basis in 36 unemployment benefit offices ended on 2nd December 1976. A report on the experiment is being prepared by a joint working party consisting of nominees of both staff unions and management. I hope that the report will be presented to me later this month. It will at the same time be placed in the Library of the House and made widely available outside. The Government will then decide whether to put forward proposals for extension of these fortnightly arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Government's ruling on signing a contract declaration by firms which tender for Government orders will apply to Ford's, the National Coal Board, the Electricity Council and the Central Electricity Generating Board and other nationalised enterprises.

I have been asked to reply.On Ford's, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Chingford (Mr. Tebbit) on 13th February—[Vol. 944, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider expediting the construction of the new district general hospital in Dunfermline; and, in particular, if he will include the first phase of the project in Band A of the National Health Service building programme.

Phase 1 of the West Fife District General Hospital was included in Band B of the Scottish Health Service major building programme on the basis of a realistic assessment of the time still required to complete the planning of this scheme. The Fife Health Board is pressing on with this as quickly as possible; and transferring the project to Band A at this juncture would of itself do nothing to expedite the construction of the hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates he has made of the effect on Scottish unemployment of the withdrawal of the regional employment premium.

It is not practicable to isolate precisely the effects of the withdrawal of REP, but the Government are confident that the employment-creating measures which they have introduced will have a greater effect in relieving unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange to visit Ross and Cromarty in the near future.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the fishing industry.

My right hon. Friend, together with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food met representatives of the fishing industry on 25th January prior to the last meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers, to discuss their views on the reappraisal of the common fisheries policy. My officials are in close touch with representatives of the industry and my right hon. Friend and I remain ready to meet them whenever circumstances warrant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next meet the Chairman of the Scottish Tourist Board.

I have no present plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to visit Burrelton.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the General Secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland.

My right hon. Friend last met the General Secretary on 11th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average rise in rateable values of domestic properties in rural and urban areas of (a) Tayside Region, (b) Central Region and (c) Scotland.

The estimated average rises for domestic properties for all districts and regions and for Scotland were given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. White) on 18th November [Vol. 939, c. 425– 48]. My information does not distinguish rural and urban areas within districts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had over Orkney rate support; and what reply he has sent.

Orkney Islands Council wrote me in January about issues affecting the rating of oil installations in Orkney and the effect there of general revaluation. I have explained that increases in rateable value are generally matched by a reduction in resources element. I have also invited the council to submit as soon as possible any information indicating that grant towards oil-related expenditure should be set at a higher level than previously proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next hopes to visit Falkirk.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department makes any assessments of forward levels of unemployment; and when methods of making such estimates were introduced.

The level of unemployment in Scotland depends on the general performance of the United Kingdom economy, and it is not possible to make any meaningful assessments of future levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will pay a visit to Islay.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to set up a public inquiry into the constructional deficiencies at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow.

No. The Greater Glasgow Health Board will in due course be seeking to recover the costs of remedial works from those responsible for the defects at this hospital; and I am advised that a public inquiry held in advance of arbitration or litigation could prejudice the Board's chances of recovery.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many detoxification centres for alcoholics he intends to establish in 1978.

A number of proposals for establishing treatment centres for alcoholics in Scotland, involving both statutory and voluntary bodies, and possibly including detoxification facilities as part of the rehabilitative process, are presently under consideration. My Department will make available any appropriate assistance in furthering these developments, but it is too early to say whether any of them will reach fruition in 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he will not grant assistance status on the English pattern for List D schools.

I am at present considering the comments which I have received on a consultative memorandum on the future financial and administrative arrangements for List D schools, and have not yet reached any final conclusions. I am sending the right hon. Member a copy of this memorandum.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to ease problems experienced by solicitors in Scotland attempting to enforce aliment decrees lodged in courts in England.

I know of no particular difficulties in enforcing payment under sheriff court alimentary decrees registered in magistrates' courts in England and Wales. Difficulties might possibly arise in enforcing payment under Court of Session decrees registered in the High Court in England and Wales. The Administration of Justice Act 1977, which will come into force later this year, will ease such difficulties by providing that Court of Session decrees registered in the High Court in England and Wales may be reregistered in magistrates' courts and enforced by them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in easing congestion and delays in the sheriff courts.

Most sheriff courts are disposing of their business without undue delay, albeit sometimes under difficulty, but there are a few courts where waiting lists are lengthy. Where necessary, more sheriffs and staff are being provided, and the general programme of improving, extending and replacing court houses is well under way. I am confident of steady improvement in the situation over the next 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action, if any, he proposes to take on the recommendations of the Leitch Committee's report.

The Report of the Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment—the Leitch Report—applies to England only, but my right hon. Friend is considering its implications for trunk roads in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what replies he has sent to the representations from the Orkney Islands Council and the Shetlands Islands Council over transport costs.

My right hon. Friend is at present considering the representations about transport costs made to him by the Orkney and Shetlands Islands Councils when he met them last week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what application he has received from the Central Region of Scotland Council to approve the building of further facilities at Alloa Academy to concentrate the school on one site and to avoid journeys in all weathers between the current Claremont and Grange sites, what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

School building projects in the financial plan for the period to 1981–82 submitted by the Central Regional Council included a proposed £1·75 million extension to Alloa Academy at the Claremont site to start in 1978–79. This was to replace the Grange building and also provide additional places. In determining the total amounts of block allocations for capital expenditure on school building notified to the council in November 1977, allowance was made for the additional places required, but, as resources for improvement of existing school accommodation are limited at present, not for the replacement of the Grange building. The block allocations did, however, include some provision for school improvement, and it is for the council to decide how the total amounts of these allocations should be used. I understand that it has not yet reached a decision in the case of Alloa Academy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to raise the standard of primary and secondary education; and if he will make a statement.

There has been a steady increase in the numbers of school leavers with SCE qualifications and in those entering higher education, coupled with a continuing improvement in staffing and accommodation in primary and secondary schools. The publication of the Pack, Munn and Dunning reports provides an opportunity to review educational methods and objectives.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the importance of maintaining a modern and efficient milk processing and distribution industry and the necessity of capital investment in this, he will make a statement on future prospects for the door-to-door delivery system, particularly in the light of EEC policies.

The daily doorstep delivery system is a central feature of the marketing of milk in the United Kingdom and has played a key role in maintaining our high level of liquid consumption. In making proposals recently to safeguard the future of the Milk Marketing Boards, the European Commission confirmed that this coincided with Community policy in the milk sector.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Ministers (Agriculture) meeting in Brussels on 13th and 14th February.

I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting. The Council held a preliminary debate on a package of measures to deal with the problems of agriculture in the Mediterranean region of the Community. I made it clear that I would support cost-effective proposals but was opposed to measures which would create structural surpluses, place unjustified burdens on consumers or damage trade relations with third countries.The Council resumed discussion on the Commission's proposals on 1978–79 farm prices dealing this time with products not discussed at its meeting in January. The most important of these was pigmeat: I made it clear that I could not accept the suggested 3 per cent. increase, which would have the effect of increasing pigmeat MCAs, unless the method of calculating these MCAs was reformed.The Commission presented its report on the effects of the green currency system, for which I have been pressing since last autumn. I challenged the report's conclusions, which are not supported by the facts, and expressed disappointment at its inadequate consideration of the problem of pigmeat MCAs.The Council resumed its discussion on the Commission's proposal for phasing out MCAs. My position remains that phasing out can be considered only if agreement can be reached on the use of a more representative unit of account and on an economically justifiable common price level. I pointed out that the Italian, United Kingdom and French institutional prices are now broadly at the same level. A system which sought to harmonise prices at this level would be worthy of consideration. The Commission's proposals for raising these prices to the level of the so-called common prices, which are in fact applied only in Denmark, are not.The Council considered the provisions for new potatoes to be contained in the forthcoming common regime for potatoes and the mandate for negotiations with Cyprus on imports into the Community of Cyprus new potatoes. Unfortunately, little progress was made on either issue.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his answer to the hon. Member for Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) Offical Report, 19th July 1977, columns 481–2, on fish catches includes cetaceans; and what are the relevant figures for cetaceans.

No. It is illegal to catch whales within British fishery limits. No figures are available for any catches of small cetaceans, but they are not likely to be significant.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the incidence of the slaughter of lambs by wild foxes.

No statistics are maintained on this. However, from my Department's normal contacts with the farming community, I am not aware of any recent significant change in the scale or pattern of losses of this kind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what new evidence he has that badgers transmit bovine tuberculosis.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 30th November 1977. Since then, badgers infected with bovine tuberculosis have continued to be found in locations where outbreaks of the disease have occurred in cattle.—[Vol. 943, c. 206–7.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many badger sets have now been gassed to date in the South-West of England and Gloucestershire, respectively.

Up to 31st January 1978, 3,184 sets had been gassed in the South-West of England, including 1,040 in Gloucestershire.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether in any areas in the South-West there has been an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis which has been controlled without reducing the badger population.

Yes. 30 of the outbreaks which occurred in 1977 in the South-West were either definitely attributable to a cause other than tuberculous badgers, or were of obscure origin. All were controlled without action against badgers. Others of this sort have occurred in previous years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any areas of the country with a high density of badger population have not been linked with bovine tuberculosis.

Yes. Although information about the density of the badger population is limited, there are many areas outside the South-West where the population is relatively high and there is no evidence of infection with bovine tuberculosis. Badgers infected with bovine tuberculosis have been found only in the South-West, with the exception of five in the South-East and one in South Wales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the badger population in the United Kingdom.

In 1976 the mammal society estimated on a very approximate basis that the winter badger population of Great Britain could be between 75,000 and 90,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has of illegal badger slaughtering.

My Department has no direct evidence of illegal killing of badgers. My officials have, however, occasionally noted signs of interference with badger sets, such as the blocking of holes, which could be connected with the killing of badgers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage the main food prices have risen in United Kingdom since January 1973, compared with similar rises in each of the other Common Market countries.

The information requested is being assembled, and I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has reached a conclusion in the light of his consultations on the recommendations of the representative working group set up to examine the future relationships of environmental health officers, meat inspectors and veterinary surgeons in the field of meat and meat products hygiene.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Social Services and I have considered the opposing representations received on these recommendations. We have concluded that the recommendations provide a reasonable and workable compromise and we propose to adopt them for purposes of future action. Copies of the recommendations are available in the Library of the House.I am garteful to the members of the working group for their commonsense approach to this problem area and hope that the group will continue to be of service both to Departments and to the disciplines that are represented in its membership.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance he has issued to hospitals on the use of waste disposal machines which grind up recyclable food, and pump the resultant slurry into the main sewers using large amounts of water.

None. It is for the responsible health authority to arrange for the disposal of food waste in the manner which is most appropriate in the light of local circumstances. The need for new guidance on hospital catering departments and their equipment is, however, to be reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the Carlisle court case against British Transport Hotels and British Railways on 2nd February 1977 for dirty restaurant cars, he will cause a national survey to be made by his health inspectors of British Railways restaurant cars.

I have no plans for such a survey. Enforcement of the Food Hygiene Regulations is the responsibility of local authorities. The case to which my hon. Friend refers followed an inspection of the kind undertaken by authorities in discharging this responsibility. I understand that there is a continuing informal dialogue between British Transport Hotels and a number of local authorities on food hygiene matters. I also understand that British Transport Hotels are reviewing arrangements for supervision of all aspects of catering—including food hygiene—on British Rail restaurant cars.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) in view of the fact that during the last quarter there were reported in Newham 26 cases of dysentery, 47 of tuberculosis, 21 of malaria and eight of typhoid as against six cases of dysentery, 17 of tuberculosis, two of malaria and one of typhoid in neighbouring Redbridge, and, as local medical opinion states that this is due to immigrants returning from holidays in their home countries, what action he has taken or will take to have medical examinations in such cases;(2) in view of the fact that figures for the last quarter show that there is a very high incidence of malaria, tuberculosis and dysentry in the London borough of Newham and that more than one-third of cases of typhoid reported in Greater London came from Newham, what were the known or estimated reasons for this; and what action he proposes to take to remedy this situation.

I am aware of the high rate of notifications of certain diseases in Newham in comparison with neighbouring districts, though the numbers fluctuate considerably from quarter to quarter. It may well be that those returning from holidays in endemic areas contribute to this incidence, but there is no ready means of differentiating such people from other travellers, and special examinations for the conditions specified in my hon. Friend's Questions would be impracticable, particularly in view of the large numbers involved. Commanders of aircraft, masters of ships and immigration officers notify port health authorities of any passenger showing signs of serious communicable disease.This is primarily a matter of health education and my Department's leaflet "Notice to Travellers" together with an

NUMBER OF CHILDREN ADOPTED UNDER ORDERS REGISTERED IN 1973 TO 1977 BY SEX AND AGE
England and Wales
					1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
All Ages—
Male and Female			…	…	22,247	22,502	21,299	17,621	12,748
Male	…	…	…	…	11,474	11,503	10,786	8,939	6,548
Female		…	…	…	10,733	10,999	10,513	8,682	6,200
Under 6 months—
Male	…	…	…	…	1,046	772	649	813	623
Female		…	…	…	917	724	612	709	534
6–8 months—
Male	…	…	…	…	1,794	1,536	1,367	835	776
Female		…	…	…	1,484	1,355	1,223	769	639
9–11 months—
Male	…	…	…	…	415	440	370	258	207
Female		…	…	…	370	345	327	224	166
1 year—
Male	…	…	…	…	702	655	567	422	310
Female		…	…	…	641	592	468	352	285
2 years—
Male	…	…	…	…	626	592	582	440	319
Female		…	…	…	643	630	492	428	272
3–4 years—
Male	…	…	…	…	1,895	1,899	1,674	1,303	911
Female		…	…	…	1,791	1,780	1,740	1,271	905
5–9 years—
Male	…	…	…	…	3,381	3,761	3,641	3,082	2,116
Female		…	…	…	3,276	3,701	3,637	3,079	2,069
10–14 years—
Male	…	…	…	…	1,366	1,556	1,625	1,529	1,070
Female		…	…	…	1,414	1,576	1,691	1,596	1,122
15–17 years—
Male	…	…	…	…	249	292	311	257	216
Female		…	…	…	237	296	323	254	208

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South on 7th February that, on the basis of the first nine months figures for the 1977 statistical year prosecutions for social

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of children adopted in each of the last five years, showing the ages at which adoption took place.

The following are the figures:security fraud increased by 34 per cent. overall compared with 1976, whether that 34 per cent. is compared with the first nine months of 1976, or with what it was compared.