asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will take steps to inquire into the circumstances where certain manufacturers of fire sprinklers combine with insurance companies to exclude competition in the industry.

The Director General of Fair Trading is looking into the circumstances of the case my hon. Friend has in mind and will be letting him know the outcome of his inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will list the proposed or extended consumer advice centres in respect of which applications made to him for capital cost grants under the scheme announced on 29th November 1977 have been unsuccessful.

Following is a list of those applications for capital cost grants which we have not at this stage been able to approve within the funds available:

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what evidence he has that the legal restrictions imposed by the Unsolicited Goods and Services Act, on the trading activities of firms claiming to produce trade directories, are being bypassed by using registered addresses abroad in order to solicit subscriptions from the United Kingdom.

I have received complaints from United Kingdom firms and organisations about documents resembling invoices for entries in directories which have reached them from overseas, particularly from the Republic of Ireland and West Germany. Although these documents may contravene the United Kingdom unsolicited goods and services legislation, action cannot be taken against an offender who is outside the jurisdiction of our courts. If the hon. Member has any evidence as to these practices he may care to bring it to the attention of the Company Fraud Department, Metropolitan Police.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what action he proposes to take under the Unsolicited Goods and Services Act concerning invoices being distributed to United Kingdom businesses, inviting them to pay £125 for inclusion in a telex directory claimed to be produced by Campania Gmbh, POB 2962, D2000, Hamburg 20, West Germany.

No action under this legislation is possible unless within six months of committing an offence the offender comes within the jurisdiction of United Kingdom courts. However, the Company Fraud Department, Scotland Yard, is in touch with its opposite numbers in West Germany who are investigating complaints drawn to their attention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision the Government are making for political refugees from Latin American countries other than Chile.

The great majority of applications from Latin American refugees for resettlement here have come from Chileans, but applications from nationals of other countries are also considered on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to prevent the continued entry of foreign and Commonwealth citizens to do unpaid work withtout a valid permit on behalf of the various bodies associated with the Unification Church of Sun Myung Moon, namely, the "One World Crusade", the "Unified Family", "Cartographer Crafts Ltd.", "New Tomorrow Ltd.", "Holy Oak Community Ltd.", "Unified Family Enterprises Ltd.", "Unified Family Singers", "International Cultural Foundation", "Carnation Appeal", "God's Light Infantry", the "Sun Myung Moon Foundation", the "Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity" and the "World Federation for Peace and Unification".

I have the position under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action he proposes to take following the publication of the report of the Working Party on Water Safety; and if he will now make a statement;(2) whether, in view of the fact that more injuries are incurred by swimmers than in any other sport, he will now take steps to implement the recommendations contained in the report of the Working Party on Water Safety and, in particular, paragraphs 38 to 43.

When the report of the Working Party on Water Safety was published on 26th October last, I said, in reply to a Question by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Abertillery (Mr. Thomas)—[Vol. 936, c. 786–7] —that the Government would examine the working party's proposals and that a further statement would be made in due course. The examination of the working party's proposals is not yet complete and I cannot at present add to the reply I gave on 26th October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants have to date come forward to take advantage of the Government's amnesty; and how many it is estimated might still be eligible for such amnesty.

Between 11th April 1974 and 31st January 1978, 2,456 people had applied to benefit under the terms of the announcements of 11th April 1974 and 29th November 1977. Of these, 2,353 applied under the former announcement and 103 under the latter. So far, 1,709 have been found eligible to benefit and 599 ineligible.It is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the number of illegal entrants who might still be eligible to benefit under these announcements. The arrangements which apply to those who entered this country illegally before 1st January 1973 terminate at the end of 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he is able to keep a check and make selective checks on people admitted into Great Britain for limited periods to see whether they have left when he has no knowledge of the number of persons who have overstayed, or the numbers of persons of stated nationalities who have entered; and how these checks are operated.

The checks are made by matching embarkation cards, which each passenger who is subject to immigration control has to complete on leaving, with the corresponding landing cards filled in on entry to the United Kingdom. The system is not designed to provide statistics of totals of overstayers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Urban Deprivation Unit and the Race Relations and Legislation Unit were established; what money has been expended on each of these organisations since their inception; what staffs and officers were employed in their operations; and to what extent these are now to be reduced in view of the reduction of immigration to a mere trickle.

The Urban Deprivation Unit was established in 1973 to co-ordinate interdepartmental effort on urban deprivation and other related urban problems. Following the transfer in June 1977 of responsibility for the urban programme to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, the unit is being terminated and is expected to close in the summer. The maximum number of staff employed in the Unit at any one time was 24.The Race Relations Legislation Unit was established in 1975 to prepare proposals for legislation on race relations, and was wound up in June 1977 on the coming into force of the Race Relations Act 1976. The maximum number of staff employed in the unit at any one time was nine.In neither case is it possible to separate readily the cost of the unit from other headquarters expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent he has departments and offices together with staff employed wholly or mainly on matters connected with immigration; what are the numbers employed and total wages and salaries; to what extent these figures have changed over the past 10 years; and, now that immigration has been reduced to a mere trickle, what plans he has for reducing these offices, staffs and related expenses.

On 1st January 1978, the number of staff at the headquarters of the Immigration and Nationality Department—other than those engaged on matters of naturalisation and nationality—and at the 56 immigration officers at seaports and airports was 2,671, and the estimated cost of salaries in 1977–78 is £13.5 million. The corresponding figures for 1st January 1968 were 1,365 staff and 45 officers; the cost of salaries for 1967–68 is not readily available. The numbers of staff and offices reflect, and will continue to reflect, the work to be done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that grants towards the expenses of research into race relations since 1973–74 to 1977–78 have totalled £134,000, what have been the results of these researches and what reports are available.

Since the financial year 1973–74, grants totalling £54,647 have been made for research into race relations under Section 26 of the Race Relations Act 1968 and Section 77 of the Race Relations Act 1976. These sums have contributed to the publication of the following reports:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total numbers of immigrants entering the United Kingdom from the Common Market countries during 1977; from which Common Market country most of these immigrants came; and which were the corresponding figures for 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976.

The available information is given in the annual Command Papers, the latest of which is "Control of Immigration, Statistics, 1976" (Cmnd. 6883), where Table 3(b) gives the number of nationals of each EEC country, exclude- ing the Republic of Ireland, accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom on removal of their time limit. Figures for 1977 will be published in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Mr. Geoffrey Harry Elliott, acquitted last week at Leeds Crown Court of rape, after another person had confessed to the crime alleged against him; and if he will review the workings of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act in the light of this case.

The Chief Constable of the West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police has ordered an investigation into this case, and I am asking him for a report. I keep under review the workings of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that since the year 1973–74 grants to the International Social Service of Great Britain until the year 1977–78 had reached £433,000; and, in view of the fact that immigration has now been reduced to a mere trickle, what action he has taken or intends taking to reduce these grants.

Home Office grants to this organisation during the period 1st April 1973 to 31st March 1978 will total about £367,680. The level of grant relates to the likely number of requests for assistance from people already living here who wish to reside permanently abroad, not to the current rate of immigration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the grant to the Equal Opportunities Commission in the year 1975–76 of £269,000 had increased to £1,741,000 in the year 1977–78; and, in view of the fact that immigration has been reduced to a mere trickle, what action he has taken or intends taking to reduce these grants.

The Equal Opportunities Commission was established in December 1975 under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 to work towards the elimination of discrimination on grounds of sex and to promote equality of opportunity between men and women. The Commission was therefore in operation for only part of the financial year 1975–76, and during that period it was recruiting staff. The work of the Commission is not affected by the volume of immigration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give details of the five people arrested and released in connection with the recent terrorist raids; from which countries they originated; and why two Iraqis were deported whilst the other three arrested were allowed to remain in Great Britain.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that during 14th and 15th February three Iraqi nationals, one citizen of the Irish Republic and one other person thought to be Iraqi were interviewed by police officers at Paddington Police Station. The person thought to be Iraqi, who had been detained on arrival at Dover on 13th February, was subsequently refused leave to enter and left the country on the evening of 15th February. One of the Iraqi nationals chose to leave of his own accord at the same time. The remaining three persons are legally resident in this country and are not known to have committed any criminal offence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report on the National Front meetings or marches in Hyde, Levenshulme and Bolton and the police measures undertaken there; and if, in order to prevent incitement to racialism and violence, he will seek powers to ban all public meetings or marches by self-confessed racialist organisations.

The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester has provided me with reports on the disorders in connection with the National Front march and meetings to which my hon. Friend refers. I am considering arrange- ments for the control of demonstrations as part of my review of the law on public order and incitement to racial hatred.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to seek to increase penalties for attacks on the police to ensure that physical assaults on the police, throwing bricks and missiles and causing bodily harm must receive a minimum of one and a half years' imprisonment.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were prosecuted for the employment of schoolchildren outside the permitted hours in the Inner London area during each of the past five years.

The number of persons prosecuted in magistrates' courts in the Inner London area for offences under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, Sections 18 to 21, in connection with the employment of children and young persons was nil in 1975 and two in 1976. Information for earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, and information for 1977 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the grant to the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service has been further increased from £259,000 to £270,000 in the light of the reduction of immigration.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a Question by him on 21st February. —[Vol. 944, c. 576.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that from 1973–74 to 1977–78 grants towards Ugandan Asians have totalled £3,205,000, what were the figures for the previous five years; what action he has taken or proposes to take to reduce these grants in view of the reduction to a mere trickle of immigration of Ugandan Asians.

There was no expenditure on Ugandan Asian resettlement prior to 1972–73. Home Office expenditure for that and subsequent years was:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions were brought against parents for non-attendance of children at school in the Inner London area during each of the past five years.

The information available relates to all offences under the Education Acts 1944–1953, including, but not identifying separately, offences under Section 39 associated with non-attendance of children at school. The number of persons prosecuted at magistrates' courts in the

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take action to ensure that separated wives in Birmingham are given full and up-to-date information in respect of maintenance payments received by the magistrates' court so that they can inform the Inland Revenue of any shortfall thereby avoiding tax liability on income not received.

The administration of the Birmingham Magistrates' Court is the responsibility of the magistrates' courts Inner London area for offences under these Acts was 83 in 1975 and 57 in 1976. Information for earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, and information for 1977 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number and proportion of spoilt ballot papers in the referendum on membership of the EEC in 1975.

The Chief Counting Officer reported in June 1975 (Cmnd. 6105) that 54,540 votes cast at the referendum were rejected; they were 0·21 per cent. of the total number of ballot papers counted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the electorate, in each of the counties of Wales, voted (a) "Yes", (b) "No" and (c) abstained in the 1975 referendum on EEC membership.

The information is as follows:committee and the justices' clerk. However, I understand that the requirements for tax purposes can normally be met by a statement by the recipient herself of the payments she has or has not received, supplemented where necessary by the statements of arrears which are provided by justices' clerks, including the justices' clerk at Birmingham, in accordance with Rule 33 of the Magistrates' Courts Rules 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons on the electoral register in Wales have votes registered at more than one location.

The information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing the proportion of the total electorate which voted for each Member of Parliament returned for Welsh seats at the last General Election.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total expenditure on the Probation and After-care Service in: (a) 1975–76, (b) 1976–77, and (c) 1977–78.

Total public expenditure on the Probation and After-care Service, including expenditure on probation hostels and bail hostels, was £45,022,828 in 1975–76 and £54,268,072 in 1976–77. The estimate for 1977–78 is £61,575,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the impending by-election in Lambeth, Central, he will ban all marches in the London boroughs of Lewisham, Lambeth and Wandsworth.

An order was made on 22nd February under Section 3(3) of the Public Order Act 1936 by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis with my consent. This prohibits for the period of two months from 6.00 a.m. on Friday 24th February the holding of all public processions other than those of a religious, educational, festive or ceremonial character customarily held within the Metropolitan Police District.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what legal authority he categorises prisoners and so subjects some to a harsher regime and a large number of restrictions than are applied to others.

The legal authority for the categorisation of prisoners derives from Rule 3(1) of the Prison Rules 1964 (SI 1964 No. 388).The category in which a prisoner is placed indicates the level of security in which he needs to be accommodated. I do not accept that any prisoner is subjected to a harsh regime. All convicted prisoners are eligible for a wide range of privileges, whatever their security classification.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the improved financial state of the economy, he will authorise the broadcasting authorities to advance work on phase 2 of their transmitting stations designed to serve populations of less than 1,000 people; and if he will ensure that those stations scheduled for work in 1979 will be brought forward to 1978.

The broadcasting authorities, which are primarily and jointly responsible for extending UHF television coverage throughout the United Kingdom, tell me that the planning and provision of the new stations, which are coming into service at the rate of about one each week, are complex matters in which factors other than finance, such as site and equipment availability, are the more dominant considerations. The broadcasting authorities assure me that they are doing all they can to advance the extension of UHF coverage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the assistance given in the last three years to organisations providing services to those living on the streets.

Detailed information in the form requested is not available.The Voluntary Services Unit of the Home Office, however, makes grants to a number of organisations whose primary concern is with the welfare and accommodation problems of the temporarily homeless. The Home Office also grant-aids voluntary organisations providing after-care hostels for people who are homeless on discharge from prison and other homeless ex-offenders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if people living on the streets are registered as voters.

This is a matter for the electoral registration officer, who would need to be satisfied that the residence requirements of the Representation of the People Act 1949 were met.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he gives the Metropolitan Police and other police forces on their contacts with people living on the streets.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the anticipated growth in the staff of the Manpower Services Commission in Wales between 1978 and 1980.

It is not possible to give firm estimates but a limited increase is expected to enable the Commission to undertake additional work such as the new youth opportunities programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons are currently employed by the Manpower Services Commission in Wales.

The Manpower Services Commission informs me that current numbers of permanent staff in Wales are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will apply to the EEC for flood aid in respect of the flooding of the Marl River at the Meadows Estate and on the A55 main road Llandudno Junction in 1976 and 1977.

No. There are no standing arrangements in the EEC for assistance to member States which suffer by flooding or other natural disasters. The Commission's offer of special aid to those countries which suffered widespread damage in the recent adverse weather was exceptional. The flooding at Llandudno Junction does not fall into the same category.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many access agreements exist in each of the national parks in England and Wales; and how many are under negotiation in each national park.

The Department is not directly involved in access agreements and statistics are not held centrally. I understand, however, that, in respect of the national parks in England, the information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why certain local housing authorities which wish to sell council houses to sitting tenants at a discount of 30 per cent. are permitted to do so whereas others are restricted, due to local authority boundary changes, to schemes permitting a maximum discount of 25 per cent. or less.

Under general ministerial consents all local authorities in England may sell or lease council houses at discounts of up to 20 per cent. Additionally, before 1974, under the previous Government, some local authorities received special consents, which are still in force, to sell or lease at discounts of up to 30 per cent. Following local authority reorganisation, the special consents given to authorities outside London remain available to their successors. But it is for those successor authorities to consider—in the light of Section 254 of the Local Government Act 1972—for which of their intended disposals the consent for discounts of up to 30 per cent. is available. It is not the Government's general policy to grant new consents for discounts of more than 20 per cent. In particular, such consents would not be granted to authorities simply on the ground that some of their predecessor authorities had special con- sent for the higher discounts and some did not.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if gardeners employed at Hampton Court are still required to sign the Official Secrets Act: and, if so, why.

Yes, because they may be required to work at security establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give as much detailed information as is available in the Official Report showing how Treasury grants for whatever purposes have assisted the local authority and people in the parliamentary constituency of Ilford, North, for each of the years since October 1974.

Information is not available in precisely the form requested since records of Exchequer grants are not kept by Parliamentary constituency. However, for 1974 to 1977, the total amounts of the general rate support grant and Exchequer grants and subsidies for specific services to the London Borough of Redbridge, which includes the parliamentary constituency of Ilford, North, were of the order of:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what consultations will be made with community relations councils concerning the Easter recreation projects which are to receive grants from public funds;(2) what curriculum is to be followed by Easter recreation projects which are to receive grants from public funds;(3) who has been appointed to supervise the organisation of Easter recreation projects which are to receive grants from public funds;(4) if he will list in the

I have written to the hon. Member today listing the names and locations of holiday recreation projects approved under the urban programme for Easter 1978. The value of holiday projects approved for Easter 1977 was £44,922 compared with £92,794 for this year. As the urban programme is a programme of local authority expenditure, responsibility for the organisation and supervision of individual projects rests with the local authority concerned. Local authorities are advised to consult local community relations councils when considering the funding of projects of special help to ethnic minorities or the appointment of officers who will be working closely with minority communities.Although many of the projects have an educational bias, this is not generally concerned with formal teaching but with providing disadvantaged children with a variety of rewarding experiences which might otherwise be denied them. Specific attention to such matters as language skills features in some projects catering primarily for ethnic minority groups.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what approaches he has received from the Hounslow local authority for the grant to which it is entitled to restore the gardens of Chiswick House, in view of the fact that the gardens and house are in separate ownership, it owning the gardens.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the Hounslow local authority which owns the gar- dens of Chiswick Park as to the need to repair, replant and restore this part of the Palladian experience whose original layout is well documented and whose present condition is seedy, damaged and neglected and which is an essential adjunct to Chiswick House itself.

Over two decades the local authority, consulting frequently with the Department, has done much to restore the gardens. However, the present boundaries of the park and its current uses are obviously limiting forces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Historic Buildings Council about plans to build an annex to Chiswick House.

None as yet; the council is currently considering the proposals and is expected to report after the next meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he intends to make to the report of the Advisory Council on Energy Conservation as regards insulation standards and the suggestion of negative financial measures to achieve satisfactory insulation.

The report to which my hon. Friend refers is the product of a working group of the Advisory Council, and has been published as a discussion document. It does not necessarily reflect the views of the Advisory Council itself. We are studying the report with interest, but it would be inappropriate for us to comment before the Advisory Council makes its formal recommendations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has proposed any new contract clauses to be introduced into his Department's construction contract GC/Works/1, dealing with counter-inflation policy; whether he will place a copy of them in the Library; and when he anticipates these new clauses taking effect.

I have placed in the Library copies of the new conditions which are being used in General Conditions of Government Contract GC/Works/1. They have been included in tender documents issued since last week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to request the Joint Contracts Tribunal to amend the standard form of contract for building work to include counter-inflation clauses along the lines of his own proposed amendments to the DOE Contract GS/Works/1; and whether he will give an assurance that no contractor will be blacklisted for central Government work if he, or one of his sub-contractors, fails to observe the voluntary stage 3 arrangements in carrying out local government building work in accordance with the Royal Institute of British Architects standard form.

A clause suitable for use with the standard form of building contract has been drafted and will be used, mainly for health services work. The Joint Contracts Tribunal will be kept informed.As stated in the "Attack on Inflation after 31st July 1977", Cmnd. 6882, paragraph 16, where a firm has reached a settlement which is quite clearly inconsistent with the policies set out in the White Paper the Government will take this into account in public purchasing policy and the placing of contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if his Department issues guidance to rating valuation officers as to how they should assess aircraft noise in relation to the rating of properties close to airports; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will publish in the

Under the provisions of the General Rate Act 1967 the valuation officers of the Inland Revenue are responsible for assessing the rateable values of properties in accordance with the criteria laid down in the Act. Other interested parties, including the owners or occupiers of property or the local authority, are entitled to appeal to the local valuation court against values proposed by the valuation officer or to make their own proposals at any time; for example, if they consider that the value of a property may have been affected by aircraft noise. I have no powers to direct the valuation officers as to what account they should take of any particular factor such as aircraft noise, and it would be improper for me to seek to guide them on this. I have no comprehensive information as to how far aircraft noise may in fact have affected rateable values in different parts of the country. Under the statutory rate rebate scheme the grant of rate rebate by a local authority to the residential occupier of a private dwelling depends on his needs and resources and the rates payable. Entitlement to a rebate is not affected by the situation of the property or such factors as aircraft noise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether officials of his Department are paying evening visits to constituents of the hon. Member for Harrow, West, and throughout London generally, for the purpose of making general inquiries; whether they are specifically calling on elderly people; and why official requests for notification are not previously given.

Market research companies are conducting a dwelling and housing survey on behalf of the Department of the Environment. The survey covers the whole population and not just elderly people. Randomly selected addresses are visited during the day and early evening but, in accordance with standard survey practice, calls are made at a later date or at other times if this is more convenient to the respondents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will take steps to provide in the major cities shelter to which those who live on the streets out of choice or necessity may go each night;(2) what assistance his Department gives towards the maintenance of capital costs of hostels for single homeless persons;

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the permanent or temporary use of empty buildings as hostels for homeless single individuals;(2) if he will make a statement on guidance to local authorities on the provision of approved shelters for people living on the streets.

The Office of Population Census and Surveys report of its survey in 1972 showed that, in the 156 hostels and lodging houses it surveyed in the Greater London area, there were 10,600 beds and that in Great Britain as a whole there were 674 such hostels and lodging houses providing 31,100 beds. There are, in addition 2,700 beds in reception centres maintained by the Supplementary Benefits Commission. There is, however, no reliable estimate of the number of people living rough in the United Kingdom or the individual cities mentioned.The OPCS survey showed that about half the establishments covered were provided by voluntary organisations. It is not known, however, how many charitable organisations provide accommodation for single homeless people.Apart from the duty of the Supplementary Benefits Commission to provide temporary board and lodging for those without a settled way of living, local housing authorities have a general duty to keep under review the housing conditions and needs in their district. They are also required by the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 to afford assistance of some kind to all who approach them and are found to be homeless. They are required by the Act to secure that accommodation is available to those who are in a priority need category as specified in the Act; they are obliged to afford advice and appropriate assistance to others. The code of guidance, associated with the Act, asks that, where resources permit, authorities do all they can to ensure that accommodation is secured for those not in a priority need category. In addition a recent circular—DOE 76/77—on the better use of vacant and under-occupied housing urged the importance of all local authorities making the best possible use of the housing stock in their districts, including short-life and other property. A number of authorities have adapted such property for use as hostels and night shelters.We have taken a number of important steps since coming into office to improve the availability of accommodation, notably that under the Housing Act 1974 hostel provision and improvement are eligible for housing subsidy and housing association grant. We have also relaxed the rules governing housing association grant and hostel deficit grant so that grant may be payable for hostel projects providing care and support.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet able to make a statement about the next Chairman of the Sports Council.

Yes. My right hon. Friend has today appointed R. E. G. Jeeps to be Chairman of the Sports Council in succession to Sir Robin Brook whose term of appointment expires on 31st May 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are his plans with proposed starting and completion dates for the improvement of the A66 road between Stainmore Summit and Penrith.

A scheme between Palliard Bridge and the Cumbrian county boundary at Stainmore Summit is currently under construction and it is expected that work will be completed by October 1979. Preliminary works for the Appleby bypass are expected to start in March 1978 with a view to completion of the bypass by 1981. Other schemes on this length of the A66 are currently being re-examined as part of the overall review of the trunk road programme. They include:

Kirkby Thore to Crackenthorpe

Temple Sowerby to Whinfell House

Brough to Palliard

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the COBA net present value-to-cost ratio on the North Devon link road proposal (a) before and (b) after the new revised traffic forecasts for use in COBA.

The review of the North Devon link road carried out in July 1977 was based on a Cost Benefit Analysis—COBA—net present value-to-cost ratio which was marginally positive. A revised COBA programme incorporating the new traffic forecasts is under preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are his plans with the proposed starting and completion dates for the improvement of the A590 road between Levins Bridge and Barrow.

The A590 Arrad Foot improvement is under construction and is expected to be completed this year. The timing of all other schemes in the trunk road programme is currently under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress made to date on the study and experiment on public transport in rural areas; and, in particular, what progress has been made in South Ayrshire.

The programme of rural transport experiments is well under way. The experiments under the present licensing laws have all started and a fur- ther one is now planned in place of an earlier proposal for a post bus based on Dalleagles. The first experiment to be authorised under the Passenger Vehicles (Experimental Areas) Act started in Devon on 3rd February, and the statutory procedures have either started or will start shortly on six others.The first experiment in Scotland began in September last year in the Biggar-Carnwath-Dolphinton area of Lanarkshire. The second, in the Dalmellington-Cumnock area of South Ayrshire is expected to begin next month and plans for further experimental work in South Ayrshire are well advanced.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in his inquiries concerning bus services in the London area, account has been taken of the failure of British Leyland to supply vehicles on time to London Country Bus Services.

London Country Bus Services has faced a variety of difficulties since the company was formed in building up and maintaining a modern and reliable fleet of vehicles. I understand that the company is discussing with British Leyland problems on one current order for vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy towards transport fares in the light of recent announcements of increases and of the Government's policy of reducing inflation; and what action he proposes to take.

My policy is that operators should hold their fare increases to the unavoidable minimum.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what would be the estimated cost to the national Exchequer if central Government were to subsidise a concessionary fare scheme on bus services to retirement pensioners throughout the United Kingdom allowing them to travel at one-half full fare.

The cost to public funds would be about £90 million a year in England and Wales. I do not have similar information for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the criteria for the issue of disabled persons' car badges were last reviewed.

Last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in view of the evidence provided by Amnesty International that large numbers of people, including foreign nationals, have disappeared without trace in Argentina, what special steps he will take to ensure the safety of British sportsmen, officials, journalists and spectators who will be visiting Argentina in connection with the World Cup.

The safety and welfare of British visitors to the Argentine Republic is the prime responsibility of the Argentine Government. British visitors are entitled to consular protection in the normal way. We will, of course, give any further advice we think necessary before the event.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he proposes to announce, prior to the referendum on the proposed Scottish Assembly, what proportion of the total Scottish electorate he deems to be equivalent to 40 per cent. of those entitled to vote at that referendum;(2) on what basis he will determine the number of persons entitled to vote in the forthcoming referendum on a Scottish Assembly.

The Government will consider these matters at the appropriate time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends issuing guidelines to the chief counting officers in the proposed referendum on Scottish devolution to indicate when a recount may be necessary to determine whether or not 40 per cent. of those entitled to vote have voted "Yes".

In terms of the Scotland Bill, the chief counting officer, as an independent officer exercising specific statutory responsibilities, is not subject to ministerial direction.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons on the electoral register in Scotland have votes registered at more than one location.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the average proportion of the electorate that voted in each of the districts of Scotland in last May's district council elections.

This information is not held centrally but the hon. Member may care to refer to "The Scottish District Elections 1977"—compiled and edited by J. M. Bochel and D. T. Denver, and published by the University of Dundee—which lists the percentage turnout in contested wards by districts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of votes cast in each latest community council election in Scotland; and what those votes cast were as a percentage of the total electorate eligible to vote in each community council election.

This information is not available centrally at present, but a survey is in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the latest available date the number of applications to the Building Society Special Fund and the number granted by each local authority.

From 1st April 1977 to 31st January 1978, 336 offers of loan, amounting to £2·5 million, were granted under the support lending scheme by building societies in Scotland. Figures for referrals by individual district councils to building societies are not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that the Clean Air Act 1956 is being strictly observed in all areas of Scotland which come under the terms of the Act; if he will state the number of representations made to him complaining about the Act being contravened; and how many offenders have been charged and prosecuted in the courts in the years 1974, 1975 and 1976.

My right hon. Friend is generally satisfied with the working of the Act. Complaints of contravention of the Act, either in its general application to, for example, the emission of dark smoke or grit and dust, or in its particular application in areas declared by local authorities to be smoke control areas, will mostly go to the local authorities.The number of persons proceeded against for offences under the Clean Air Acts 1956 and 1968 in the years 1974 to 1976 were:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about local authority current expenditure in Scotland in the next financial year.

During the negotiations on the rate support grant for 1978–79 I was able to congratulate local authorities on the efforts they had made to contain their budgets for 1977–78 within the expenditure guidelines which I had provided. I explained in discussions with the Convention and subsequently in a circular to all local authorities that the Government's economic strategy requires continuing close control of public expenditure by local authorities in 1978–79. I ask that they will seek to avoid any excess over the total provision for such expenditure which is reflected in the individual guidelines given to each authority. It is particularly important that revaluation is not regarded as providing an opportunity for increased expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about recalculation of the resources element of the rate support grant for 1974–75.

Until 1975–76, the resources element of rate support grant was distributed on actual expenditure incurred by authorities. Grant was initially paid on estimated expenditure and final adjustments were made some time after the end of each financial year when final figures of actual expenditure became available.On the reorganisation of local government, balances on final accounts of the former authorities and adjustments in grant payments were to be remitted to the new district councils. Balances have been assimilated as they became available but it has not been possible to set in hand the conclusive calculations of grant until recently, since final accounts for all of the principal former authorities were not available.The working party on local government finance recommended that these calculations be made on the basis of final 1974–75 accounts from principal former authorities and this was agreed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities when it met me on 14th October 1977.I have been pressing for the final accounts for some time but the last final account required for the recalculation was received only on 13th February 1978. Accordingly, the full recalculation, which involves attributing grant adjustments to new district and islands councils is not yet complete. It is now proposed to issue a full list of adjustments in March.In total the proposed adjustments amount to £7·8 million or 1·3 per cent. of rate support grant payable for 1974–75; for some authorities the amounts involved will be marginal. Adjustments will have to be effected within the total grant made available by Parliament for 1974–75; that is to say, additional payments to some authorities will have to be offset by recoveries from others. I shall discuss arrangements for effecting the payments with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities at a meeting arranged for 7th April.Several authorities received preliminary intimation of their position as the calculations progressed. Some authorities, therefore, may have been able to take the adjustments into account in fixing their rate poundage for 1978–79. Since rating decisions have to be taken by the end of this week, I accept, however, that many authorities will not find it possible to take these adjustments into account in fixing their rates and I am not suggesting that they attempt to reopen decisions already taken or imminent. The timing of the redistribution of the grant will be among the matters which I shall discuss with COSLA on 7th April.