asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to his answer No. W33 to the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington on 8th February, he will indicate the nature of premises which are required to ensure that a justice's licence is in force; and what steps are taken to ensure their compliance with the law on the sale of alcoholic beverages.

In general, all premises which are to be used for the retail sale of intoxicating liquor are required to be licensed under the Licensing Act 1964. Certain exceptions are listed in Section 199 of that Act.Responsibility for ensuring compliance with the law rests with the police, who under Section 186 have a right of entry to licensed premises for the purpose of preventing or detecting the commission of any offence against the Act. Such offences may not only result in criminal proceedings but may also be taken into account by the licensing justices in deciding whether the licence should be renewed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the results of the High Court case affecting former Special Branch officer Sergeant Michael Paling, he will have a thorough investigation made into all aspects of this case; and if he will indicate what action is to be taken against those concerned.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the question of an appeal to the Court of Appeal in this case is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the percentage extra cost that would be involved in Wales if postal voting were permitted in the election of Welsh community and town councillors.

We have not made a detailed study on which such an estimate could be based. The extra costs involved would arise from the need to print and post the necessary documents used in postal voting and the need for staff to process the applications. This could amount to a considerable burden on the local authorities involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that Mr. Anselmo Gomez of Forest Gate has twice been charged and found guilty of obtaining social security benefits illegally and has failed to pay his fine, if he will deport this man.

I understand that Mr. Gomez is a Commonwealth citizen who has lived here since 1955. As such, he is immune from deportation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the remarks by Mr. Justice Pain in the case of Mrs. Yvonne Jones, he will arrange for an independent inquiry into the conduct of the police in this case; and what action has been taken against the officers concerned.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that complaints have been made against officers of his force concerned in this case. These will be investigated in accordance with the provisions of Section 49 of the Police Act 1964. The question of taking action against any of the officers will, of course, depend on the outcome of that investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the increase of mugging and the reluctance of the police to give descriptions by their colour, of persons under suspicion, if he will advise chief officers of police to change this practice since description of colour helps in apprehension.

It is for the police to decide what, if any, description of a suspect to make public in order to aid their investigation of crime.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he refused West Yorkshire Police permission to offer a reward of £10,000 for information leading to the arrest of a man believed to have murdered seven women and whether he will consider more favourably suggestions of this kind in such exceptional circumstances.

Permission was not refused. The West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police sought the views of my officials informally and were told that for many years successive Home Secretaries had, in the light of the advice of chief officers of police, taken the view that the offer of rewards was not an effective measure, but that I would nevertheless consider a

Year					Summer Time Act 1972	EEC Draft Proposals
1979	…	…	…	…	18th March-28th October	1st April-14th October
1980	…	…	…	…	16th March-26th October	30th March-12th October
1981	…	…	…	…	22nd March-25th October	5th April-11th October

Parliament would need to be consulted before our present periods could be altered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take all possible steps to ensure that no members of the Ku-Klux Klan enter Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of recruitment of members to the Ku-Klux Klan in Southampton, Leamington, Bolton and elsewhere, he will take action to prevent Mr. Bill Wilkinson, the Imperial Wizard from Louisiana from entering the United Kingdom on a recruiting campaign, thereby exacerbating racial tensions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will undertake to exclude from the United Kingdom all members of the Ku-Klux Klan who may seek entry.

I have made a personal direction under the Immigration

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the detailed proposals of the EEC about the simultaneous application of Summer Time, showing precisely how this will affect the United Kingdom.

The proposals now under consideration in the EEC are a revised and updated version of a draft directive considered by the Scrutiny Committee in March 1976 (Fifteenth Report from the Select Committee on European Secondary Legislation—24th March 1976). The table below shows how the proposed summer time periods compare with those under the Summer Time Act 1972.Act 1971 that a Ku-Klux Klan leader, Mr. Wilkinson, should be refused leave to enter if he attempts to come to the United Kingdom. Cases of other members identified at the ports will be referred to the Home Office for consideration in the light of all the circumstances.

asked the Attorney-General when the Royal Commission on Legal Services will produce its interim report on conveyancing in the light of the undertaking on 12th February 1976 that an early interim report would be forthcoming.

While my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained on 12th February 1976 that it would be open to the Royal Commission to make an interim report, he gave no undertaking that it would do so. The Royal Commission's report on progress, presented to Parliament as Cmnd. 6770 in April 1977, explained in paragraph 8.3 that it had no present intention of issuing interim reports.

asked the Attorney-General if he will refer the actions of Camden Borough Council to the Director of Public Prosecutions with a view to prosecution for employment practices in breach of the Race Relations Acts.

No. My responsibilities under the Race Relations Act 1976 do not extend to the matters referred to.

asked the Attorney-General what is the best estimate he can form of the additional cost that would be involved if the means test were abolished for legal aid in relation to (a) criminal cases, (b) personal injury claims, and (c) all litigation.

(a) Criminal cases: on the assumption that free legal aid would be available and be demanded in every criminal case the additional annual cost would be of the order of £20 million.(

asked the Attorney-General what proportion of expenditure on legal aid in 1976–77 was attributable to (a) administration, excluding the assessment of means and contributions, (b) the assessment of means and contributions, (c) payments as the costs of legally aided parties to litigation, (d) payments as costs to the opponents of legally aided parties to litigation, (e) payments under the Green Form scheme, and (f) other expenditure.

In 1976–77 the total net expenditure on legal aid in civil cases—including as cost of assessment of means by the Supplementary Benefits Commission—criminal cases in magistrates' courts, and legal advice and assistance was £51,780,666. This sum is made up as folows:

	£
(a) Administration, excluding the assessment of means and contributions	6,863,391
(b) The assessment of means and contributions	2,427,000
(c) Payments of the costs of legally aided parties to litigation	20,897,204
(d) Payments of costs to the opponents of legally aided parties to litigation	43,333
(e) Payments under the green form scheme	5,250,043
(f) Other expenditure—criminal cases in magistrates' courts	16,299,695

asked the Prime Minister whether he has plans to make an official visit to Dagenham.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 16th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 16th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 16th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 16th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 16th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 16th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagementh for Thursday 16th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 16th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 16th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 16th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 16th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 16th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 16th February.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. Hoyle).

asked the Prime Minister if he will visit West Gloucestershire.

I have at present no plans to do so.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he will next meet the Secretary General of the United Nations.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to meet the Trades Union Congress.

I refer my hon. Friend 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 proposes next to meet the Confederation of British Industry.

I refer my hon. Friend 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 next expects to meet the Trades Union Congress.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chester-le-Street on 2nd February.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet the Trades Union Council and the Confederation of British Industry.

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

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.

I next expect to meet Chancellor Schmidt either at the European Council in Copenhagen on 7th and 8th April or at the next in our series of bilateral meetings.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the Newspaper Press Fund on 27th January 1978 concerning economic prospects represents Government policy.

Yes.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will consider suggesting to the body reviewing the salaries of hon. Members that when an hon. Member retires voluntarily on the grounds of ill health or is defeated at a General Election, a redundancy payment should be payable based on years of service, namely: one month's pay for three years' service, two months' pay for six years' service, three months' pay for nine years of service, four months' pay for 12 years of service, five months' pay for 15 years of service and six months' pay for 18 years of service or more; and if he will make a statement.

I will certainly bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind for the next substantive review of Members' pay and allowances. The Government are already considering the question of ill

Date					Full-time	Part-time	Total annual salary cost
							£
1 October 1974	…	…	…	…	68	3	234,000
1 October 1975	…	…	…	…	68	2	370,000
1 October 1976	…	…	…	…	71	2	373,000
1 October 1977	…	…	…	…	71	1	435,000

The figures for the total cost of salaries are the Estimates for the financial years 1974–75 to 1977–78, the last being the revised Estimate for the year.Officials in my office are not entitled to use Government cars; but they may do so when official duties and circumstances make it desirable and practicable.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will publish in the Official Report the costs to the British taxpayer of board, security and other expenses paid to the British delegates to the EEC Assembly.

asked the Lord President of the Council what was the salary of a Member of Parliament in February 1965; what it would have to be at the latest available date to have the same purchasing power as 1965; and if he will make a statement.

The Member's salary in February 1965 was £3,250. Increasing that salary in line with the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices between February 1965 and December 1977 produces a figure of £10,723.

asked the Prime Minister to what extent since October 1974 the 70 full-time, and one part-time, employees in his office have increased or been reduced, giving a quarterly or annual account, together with their salaries; and which of these employees are entitled to use Government cars on a tax free basis to take them to and from their homes or railway stations.

The information is as follows:

Personal allowances to members of the United Kingdom delegation to the European Parliament are paid by that body. The United Kingdom contributes to the general running expenses of the European Parliament, but no specific allocation is made for the expenses of the United Kingdom delegates.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will take action to inform the House via the Official Report of all the rules, regulations and directives emanating from the EEC which Her Majesty's Government have or will operate.

Community regulations and directives are already published in the Official Journal of the European Communities, copies of which are available in the Library of the House and the Vote Office. Proposals for future Community legislation are deposited in the Vote Office and reported on by the Scrutiny Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish such figures are are currently available, region by region, as to the number of homeless families accepted for rehousing by local authorities since the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 came into force, together with such information as he has to indicate how many such families would not have been accepted but for that Act by reference to previous periods or other means.

The Department intends to publish statistics covering the four months since the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 came into effect on 1st December 1977 as soon as practicable after March 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking, and what advice he has given, to local authorities to combat the growing nuisance and damage caused by foxes in urban areas.

Local authorities have powers under Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 which enable them to take action if they feel that foxes are causing nuisance or damage in a particular area. I have no plans to issue advice to local authorities on how to deal with nuisance caused by foxes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish figures showing, region by region, and if practicable, authority by authority, the total sums allocated by central Government for capital expenditure on housing construction and improvement for the current financial year and each of the preceding three years, the sums actually spent in the preceding year, and the sums which he estimates will actually be spent in the current year.

Cash allocations were first introduced in 1975–76 in respect of council house improvements; they were extended in 1977–78 to cover all local authority capital spending on housing.Allocations to local authorities in respect of improvements for 1976–77 were published in the

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what occasions he and his ministerial colleagues and staff employed in his Department en-entitled to use Government cars have declined to do so, since the Secretary of State for Transport's request to use public transport.

These occasions are not recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to amend the Mobile Homes Act 1975, in the light of the decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Taylor v Calvert, Times Law Report 2nd February 1978.

The implications of this decision will not be clear until the complete report of the judgment is available. In any case we have already made it clear that in our view there are certain weaknesses in the Mobile Homes Act 1975 and that we favour the introduction of new legislation to give more broadly based protection to residents by imposing implied terms into residential contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware that local authorities are concerned about suggestions that the total locally determined sector quota for 1978–79 is to be lower than that for the current year and below the figure previously indicated by the Government; and, in view of the fact that any reduction in the quota will either mean an increase in the general rate levy, an irresponsible application of balances so far as committee schemes are concerned, or delays or postponement in respect of new schemes, he will reconsider his policy.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 2nd February.—[Vol. 943, c. 319–20.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which company won the contract for the lifts for the new MSC building in Sheffield.

Messrs. Marryat & Scott Ltd. of Hounslow.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent in the last 10 years and how much is now standing in arrears for the maintenance of inland waterways.

The cost to the British Waterways Board of maintaining its waterways in the last 10 years is approximately £60 million.I have no firm assessment of current outstanding arrears of maintenance but the recently published Fraenkel Report estimated that in 1974 arrears of maintenance which would need to be dealt with over the following 15 years were at a level which at current prices would be about £60 million. Since 1974, apart from such work on arrears as the BWB has been able to do out of its normal budget, the Government have provided an extra £1 ·3 million in 1977–78 and are providing further sums of £5 million in 1978–79 and £5 million in 1979–80 for urgent arrears of maintenance in the interests of public safety.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will speed up the orders requested by the Stockport Council in connection with compulsory purchase in the Belmont Improvement Order Buckingham Street Nos. 1 and 2 Buckingham Street Improvement Order and Declaration of Unfitness Order, and Wellington Road North, Gorton Road/Criterion Street.

The decision on the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport (Belmont Improvement) Compulsory Purchase Order 1975 will be issued within the next week. The decisions on the other orders will be made as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what funds to aid victims of the 1953 floods are still held by his Department.

None. While the Government contributed £2·1 million to the 1953 flood relief fund, this was launched by the Lord Mayor of London and the Government were not responsible for its administration. I understand that the fund was wound up in 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what sums of central Government money would be needed to allow local authorities to bring their mortgage rates down to the level of building society rates.

We estimate the total cost of such a reduction for all authorities as approximately £55 million to £65 million each year at current interest rates. The Green Paper proposal was for costs to be met from the rate fund.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those local authorities that have purchased and closed cemeteries that have not been used for a considerable period within recent years, with a view to deconsecrating the ground to make it available for either recreational or building purposes;(2) if he will list which local authorities, and on what occasions, have purchased and closed within recent years cemeteries which are still taking burials in reserved family graves or vaults, with a view to deconsecrating the ground to make it available for recreational or building purposes;(3) if he will list in the

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has given local authorities in recent years about the provision and closure of crematoria and cemeteries; what regulations he has issued; and whether he has been able to give any specific advice to the Sheffield City Council.

Local authorities have discretion to provide and close their own crematoria and cemeteries. Apart from the Local Authorities' Cemeteries Order 1977 (SI 1977, No. 204), which provided for the management and maintenance of cemeteries, no regulations have been made. Nor has guidance been issued by my Department about these matters in recent years. No specific advice has been given to the Sheffield City Council in this regard.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many directions he has made in accordance with Section 44(1) of the Community Land Act 1975; whether he will list the amounts paid to him under Section 44(2) of the Act; whether he will list in the Official Report the regulations which he has prescribed under Section 46; and on how many occasions he has exercised the reserve powers contained in Part 6 of the Act;(2) what directions he has given under Section 43 of the Community Land Act 1975; and whether he will list those directions in the

No payments have so far been made under Section 44(2). My right hon. Friend has continually in mind the possibility of using his powers under Part VI in appropriate cases. The relevant directions and regulations are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what publications he has made in accordance with Section 43(6) of the Community Land Act 1975; what further publications he proposes to make; and on what dates.

No formal statements have been published so far, but a great deal of information has been provided to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications he has received from a principal council for consent to dispose of a substantial interest in land, under Section 42 of the Community Land Act 1975; how many he has granted; how many he has refused; and how many are still pending.

Of the 1,883 applications for consent to dispose of land outside the terms of the General Disposal Consent (Annex D to DoE Circular 26/76), 1,417 have been granted, 392 refused and 74 are pending. Many of the consents granted relate to sales of no significance to the land scheme—taken as no more than ½ hectare in size and £25,000 in value)—and the general consent has recently been amended to include these.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much land, and at what price in each case, he has acquired under the provisions of Sections 28 and 30 of the Community Land Act 1975; how many notices he has issued under Sections 34 of the Act; and whether he will publish the notices in the Official Report.

No land has been acquired under Sections 28 and 30 of the Community Land Act 1975. No notices have been issued under Section 34.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many orders he has made under Section 18 of the Community Land Act 1975; and whether he will list those orders in the Official Report.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which county authorities have, and which have not, made a land acquisition and management scheme, as provided in Section 16 of the Community Land Act 1975.

All county authorities in England have made land acquisition and management schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions he has given his consent to an authority to acquire land compulsorily in accordance with Section 15(1)(b) of the Community Land Act 1975.

Fourteen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total additional number of civil servants employed by his Department as a result of the provisions of the Community Land Act; and how many additional employees have been engaged by local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland as a result of the provisions of the Act.

The additional civil servants employed in the Department of the Environment as a result of the provisions of the Community Land Act cannot, in practice, be isolated from staff on other duties. Figures for staff employed by local authorities as a result of the Act are not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what grants are available for road projects through the European Regional Development Fund; and what assistance has been given from this source towards such projects in the Northern Region.

Grants are available through the European Regional Development Fund towards the cost of infrastructure projects in United Kingdom Government assisted areas directly linked with the development of industrial or service activities. In the latest allocation last December £2·7 million grant was awarded to road and infrastruction projects in England. Some £1·5 million of this—including a grant of £1·1 million towards the cost of the Middlesbrough Northern Route Stage I—related to schemes in the Northern Region.Since the fund's inception in 1975, the Northern Region has been granted a total of some £2·75 million towards the cost of 15 road projects. In addition, some £1·5 million has been granted towards 34 infrastructure projects which contain an appreciable highway element.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many respondents, individuals and organisations, at the 1974 public consultation on the M40, Water-stock to Warwick, alternative routes, expressed the view that the proposed motorway was not necessary or was undesirable; and how many expressed the view that by-passes only should be constructed or an existing road improved.

Five of the 66 local authorities and six of the 112 organisations consulted questioned the need for a motorway. Of these, four stated a preference for the improvement of existing roads. 2,938 completed questionnaires and 305 letters were received from the public. 17 of the letters expressed the view that the proposed motorway was not needed and 28 that alternative solutions should be examined. In addition, two petitions were received, signed by 228 people, questioning the need for a motorway.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils will take the 11-plus examination in 1978.

This information is not collected by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the differences in full-time educational subsistence grants paid to unmarried mothers as compared with those paid to widows and divorcees with families of comparable size; and if she will explain why these differences exist.

The grants payable to students under the Local Education Authority Awards Regulations vary according to their individual circumstances. Assuming that their circumstances were otherwise the same, a widowed or divorced student with one or more dependent children who was married before beginning the course would normally receive £350 more than an unmarried parent. The extra amount is intended to help to compensate widowed or divorced students for the change in their financial circumstances which is likely to occur on the death of the spouse or after the termination of the marriage.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of educational buildings now meet the standards recommended in her Department's Building Bulletin 55 "Energy Conservation in Educational Buildings"; what is the estimated cost of bringing the national building stock up to these standards; what would be the estimated saving in fuel costs if all educational buildings now met these standards; what proportion of the improvement costs will be provided from central funds; and when it is hoped to complete the programme.

Detailed information about the number of educational buildings which now meet the recommendations of Building Bulletin 55 is not available but estimates derived from a recent survey of the school building stock suggest that the proportion is small. On the basis of the information available, it is estimated that to apply to all educational buildings in England and Wales, that are capable of improvement, energy conservation measures which would pay for themselves within 10 years would cost about £84 million and yield an annual saving of up to £16·8 million after the completion of the programme. My Department's share of the resources which the Government plan to earmark for energy conservation up to 1981–82 was announced by my right hon. Friend on 15th December. The speed with which a programme for upgrading all educational buildings can be completed will depend on the rate at which additional resources can be made available after 1981–82. Loan charges for capital expenditure by local authorities under the programme will be taken into account in rate support grant settlements and expenditure by universities will be wholly financed by central Government grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will undertake that no expansion of generation will take place at Sizewell pending the publication of the report commissioned by the Central Electricity Generating Board into the social and economic effects of the Sizewell nuclear power station.

The Board has announced that the localities of the Sizewell and Drax power stations are the examples chosen for a study it has commissioned of the social and economic effects of power stations on local communities in general. The report expected in mid-1979 should help the Board to assess these effects when planning future developments. Government decisions on any further applications by the Board will be taken in the light of all relevant considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the number of domestic consumers exclusively dependent on either electricity or coal for home heating, where conversion to natural gas would involve major capital expenditure.

It is not possible to answer the Question in the precise terms requested, but it is estimated that out of a total of over 19 million households in Great Britain, some 2 million are outside a gas supply area and have neither oil-fired central heating nor make some use of paraffin or bottled gas heaters. In these areas the BGC does not consider it economic to provide a supply. In addition, there are thought to be about 2 million households within gas supply areas which do not use gas or oil heating, but which could be supplied with gas at varying costs depending on the economic, geographical and safety factors involved. In most cases there will, of course, also be some expenditure on heating equipment within the dwelling.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the designation of further areas of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf.

An additional 2990 sq. km. of the Continental Shelf have been designated by Order in Council made on 9th February as areas in which the United Kingdom's rights to the seabed and subsoil and their natural resources may now be exercised.The designation order, which is made under Section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964, covers an area to the northwest of the Shetland Isles. The newly designated area is adjacent to existing designated areas.The areas now designated are available to holders of petroleum exploration licences. The designation order also increases the area of Continental Shelf in respect of which I am able to grant petroleum production licences.I have arranged for the designation order and a map showing the newly designated areas to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies have been undertaken or sponsored by the Scottish Office into the impact of the abolition of regional employment premium on employment in the manufacturing sector of Scottish industry.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State, to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. Wilson) on 26th October 1977.—[Vol. 936, c. 1430–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the average sum spent on provisions per patient week is lower in psychiatric hospitals than iin all hospitals other than psychiatric.

The averages to which the hon. Member refers conceal a wide range of costs for individual hospitals, from £3·54 to £6·34 for psychiatric hospitals and from £2·96 to over £8 for other hospitals. These variations reflect local circumstances: it seems likely that the lower average costs in psychiatric and long-stay hospitals reflect also factors such as the lower turnover of patients, the higher occupancy rate, the age of the patients and the generally lower levels of physical activity in these hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in meeting the submissions made to him by the National Union of Students, Scotland, on 16th November 1977 on the subject of local authority bursaries.

The current review of education authority bursaries is not yet completed. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for education and social work services had a useful discussion with representatives of the National Union of Students about their memorandum when he met them on 29th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of geriatric beds per 1,000 of the population over 65 years of age in the Western Isles; and what is the figure for Scotland as a whole.

There are at present 77 designated geriatric beds in the Western Isles, giving a figure of 12·9 beds per thousand of the populaion aged 65 and over. The figure for Scotland is 14·7 per thousand.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent to date on the Glasgow East End Project.

Capital expenditure in the project area to 31st December 1977, as part of the general programme within Glasgow, of the local authorities, the Scottish Development Agency, and the Scottish Special Housing Association, is approximately £25 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can now give a date for raising the amount of grant and loan for building crofter houses.

No. I have not yet completed my review of the levels of assistance for the erection and improvement of croft houses and other buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of jobs lost in Scotland as a result of the withdrawal of regional employment premium.

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on Wednesday 15th February to the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. Henderson.)—[Vol. 944, c. 250.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what areas of Scotland are designated mountainous areas as defined in Directive 75/268 of the EEC regulations.

No areas in Scotland have been designated as mountain areas in terms of Article 3.3 of that directive.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials in his Department are responsible for dealing with measures to reduce unemployment in Scotland.

All my Departments are involved in their several ways.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what differences currently exist in the level of wages, fringe benefits or other emoluments paid to unmarried mothers employed in the Civil Service, as compared with those paid to widows and divorcees with comparable families; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Council of Ministers will be discussing the proposals for the future structure of milk marketing.

The proposals are likely to be considered by the Council of Agriculture Ministers in March or April.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will next meet the President of the National Farmers' Union.

I expect to do so soon.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will explain his attitude towards the benefits and price implications of the proposed EEC sheepmeat regime.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made towards a common agriculture policy sheepmeat regime.

The EEC Commission's proposal for a sheepmeat regime are expected in the near future. Until I know the content of the proposals, I cannot assess the benefits and price implications.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the net return on investment on a 250-acre farm, assuming a cost per acre of £1,000, taking into account an average farmer's income in 1972, 1973. 1976 and 1977 for this size of farm.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the expected average rise in farmers' incomes throughout this year.

Farm incomes will be affected by many factors, including the weather and the price-fixing in Brussels.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present state of negotiations between the EEC and third countries with regard to reciprocal fishing rights.

Provisional agreement has been reached with the Farces on reciprocal fishing rights for 1978, and the Community has also made good progress towards agreement with Norway and Sweden. All arrangements agreed provisionally are subject to ratification by the Council of Ministers and the Governments of the third countries concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next intends to meet the Chairman of the Scottish National Farmers' Union.

I expect to meet representatives of the three Farmers' Unions shortly, but a date has not been fixed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to make a statement on the review of the export trade in live food animals.

Good progress is being made with the examination of the export trade in live food animals. The results are not yet available to Ministers but are expected shortly.When my right hon. Friends the Minister and the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have fully studied the results of this examination, they will present their conclusions to Parliament.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will investigate allegations made to him that British live food animals are being slaughtered without pre-stunning at Montereau Abattoir, in contravention of EEC directives on humane slaughter; and if he will make a statement.

Officials of my Department discussed the allegations with the French veterinary authorities in December and learned that an inquiry had been initiated into the situation at Montereau. We shall be advised of its outcome.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will next meet the Chairman of the Forestry Commission.

I have no plans to do so at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to meet other EEC Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Watkinson).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further proposals he intends to make on prices and other measures for 1978–79 to the EEC Agriculture Council.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 19th January.—[Vol. 942, c. 337.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further consultation he has had about phasing out of the green pound for agricultural protection.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement following the meeting of the European Community Agriculture Ministers.

I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, North-West (Mr. Robinson).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provisions he is seeking during the negotiations for a common fisheries policy which will cater for the possible enlargement of the EEC by the entry of Spain and Portugal.

The Government's position on preferential access arrangements for United Kingdom fishermen within our coastal waters takes account of the situation that might be created by enlargement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his intention to seek effort quotas as the basis for the new common fisheries policy.

The Government have made clear the importance they attach to restricting fishing effort by the vessels of other member States within the United Kingdom 0-to-12 and 12-to-50 mile coastal belts as part of a satisfactory settlement of the common fisheries policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present state of negotiations in the Council of Ministers concerning an internal fisheries regime.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made to the House on Wednesday 1st February.—[Vol. 943, c. 470–84.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what communications he has received from local authorities regarding the need for better advance warning of exceptionally high tides involving the risk of flooding from the sea; and what reply he has sent.

Through my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, I have received a letter on this subject from the borough of Rhuddlan on behalf of the maritime county borough and district councils in North Wales. The borough has been told that representatives of water authorities, including the Welsh National Water Development Authority, and other interested parties, including my Department, are meeting at Tewkesbury on 22nd February to discuss the possibility of setting up a West Coast storm tide warning service.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his intention to reintroduce the lime subsidy for marginal land

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for Cardigan (Mr. Howells).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further measures he is considering taking under The Hague Agreement of 1976.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the operation of present regulations concerning the conservation of fish stocks.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure proper conservation of fish stocks in United Kingdom waters.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now propose additional conservation measures within the British 200-mile fisheries limit.

My right hon. Friend is currently considering whether further conservation measures may be necessary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he will give a progress report on his discussions with the dairy industry on the future of the Milk Marketing Board.

A number of meetings have been held with representatives of the Milk Marketing Boards, the Farmers' Unions and the dairy trade to discuss the Commission's proposals on the future of the Milk Marketing Boards. These have identified a range of detailed points, which I will take into account when discussion on the proposals begins in the Council of Ministers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will next meet the Chairman of the Milk Marketing Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will next meet the Chairman of the Milk Marketing Board.

I have no plans to meet the Chairman of the Milk Marketing Board in the immediate future, but my Department is in constant touch with the Board on all matters of mutual concern.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the food price rises which he calculates will arise from decisions of the EEC Council of Ministers in 1978.

I estimate that the devaluation of the green pound on which the Council recently agreed will add about 1½ per cent. to food prices when the effects work through to retail level. I cannot forecast what decisions may be taken by the Council in the rest of the year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations are taking place with the food and drink manufacturing industries concerning the forthcoming annual price fixing of agricultural and food products.

My Department keeps in close touch with representatives of these industries. Discussions with them in connection with the 1978 annual review of agriculture covered issues which arise on the fixing of common agricultural prices for 1978–79.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from trades unions and manufacturers on the preservation of jobs in industries dependent upon agriculture.

Over the past year, my Department has received representations, which included references to this aspect, from a number of industries dependent on agriculture. The subject has also been discussed in the EDC for the food and drink manufacturing industries and its sector working groups.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current cif price per ton of non-EEC grains; what is the EEC levy per ton; and what is the price of EEC grains.

The information requested is as follows:

CIF PRICFS
£/tonne
	Average unit values of imports* during December 1977
Grain	From third countries†	From EEC‡
All Wheat	76·93	93·71
Barley	88·43	89·47
Maize	59·80	91·03
* In the Overseas Trade Accounts import values are quoted "cif" (cost, insurance, freight). The average unit values are calculated by dividing the total import values by the total import quantity for the grain in question.
† Before levy, Monetary and Accession Compensatory Amounts.
‡After adjustment for Monetary and Accession Compensatory Amounts.

Simple Average of Daily Net Levies on Third Country Imports for December 1977
	£/tonne
Common wheat	37·42
barley	29·58
maize	28·46