asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether in view of his previous parliamentary answers, Official Report, 22nd February, column 641, concerning the right of a man to have four wives admitted as immigrants, whether there are any limits on the number of women that can be admitted as wives what the figures are and whether this applies in the case of a woman who wishes to claim the entry of more than one man as a result of marriage.

Under the immigration rules and the law of this country, relating to marriage, each marriage contracted abroad must be valid in United Kingdom law and, except in the case of Commonwealth citizens settled here on 1st January 1973, the man must be able and willing to give support and accommodation. A woman would be able to bring in more than one husband to join her only if her marriages had been contracted before the United Kingdom had become her place of domicile in a country which recognised polyandrous marriages as legally valid: I am not aware of any which does.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list showing the size of parliamentary constituencies and the amount by which each exceeds or falls short of the electoral quota for (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland.

The information is not at present available in the form requested. It is being prepared and will be sent to my hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that there are £20·5 million of imposed fines not paid in 1976, why he is unable to ascertain how much of this amount is time-expired; and whether he will take action to obtain this information in the future.

I am unable to give this information because it is not included in the information supplied to me quarterly by justices' clerks. It could not be obtained without considerable extra work being imposed on justices' clerks' offices, and I do not consider the extra expenditure and diversion of manpower resources involved would be justified by any benefits which would be derived from its collection.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that during the year 1976–77 the community race services and community relations expenditure totalled £48,216,000 and in the year 1977–78 the amount is £50,271,000; and, as immigration is now a mere trickle, what is the reason for this increase.

These figures cover a wide range of expenditure, very little of which can be attributed in any way to the rate of immigration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why a letter sent by the hon. Member for Brent, South on 9th May 1977 concerning a constituent's complaint did not receive a reply from the Minister of State until 27th February 1978.

Since the matter about which my hon. Friend wrote to the Home Office concerned a complaint against the police, it was necessary to seek a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. Unfortunately, there were delays by the police in referring the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions and, subsequently, in submitting a report to the Home Office. The Commissioner very much regrets the delay and I can only add my own apology that my hon. Friend had to wait so long for a reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many women were in prison with their children at the latest available date; where they were located; and what is the same figure for the previous year;(2) if he will list the offences for which the women in prison with their children were imprisoned; and, in each case, what was the length of sentence;(3) if he will give the ages of those children in prison with their mothers at the latest available date.

On 28th February 1978, 26 women had their children with them

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not introduce legislation to seek to increase penalties for attacks on the police to ensure that physical assaults on the police, throwing of bricks and missiles and causing bodily harm must receive a minimum of one and a half years' imprisonment.

Because I think that the penalty for such offences, as for all other offences except murder, should, within the substantial maximum penalties provided, be at the discretion of the courts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with, and, if not, what steps he is taking to improve or change, the porcedures at present followed by local police authorities in dealing with disciplinary offences by senior in custody; five were located at Holloway, nine at Styal and 12 at Askham Grange prison. Figures for the same date in 1977 are not available, but on 5th January 1977 the total was 20, of whom six were at Holloway, 11 at Styal and three at Askham Grange.Five of the mothers were serving borstal sentences for burglary—two—and theft—three. One was awaiting trial for theft and two were awaiting deportation for immigration offences. The remaining 18 were serving sentences of imprisonment as follows:police officers including a chief constble appointed and employed by an authority.

I am considering whether changes are called for in the disciplinary arrangements for senior police officers. I shall of course consult the local authority associations and the Association of Chief Police Officers about any such proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list in the Official Report the total population of the Isle of Man in the age groups under 10 years of age, 11 to 17 years of age, 18 to 21 years of age, in the years 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77;(2) if he will list in the

I am requesting the Isle of Man Government to provide what ever information may be available and shall write to my hon. Friend when I have their reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire on the effect on the operational efficiency of the police force of the recent reduction of £0·4 million in its budget.

I understand that consideration of certain matters decided by the police committee was deferred at a recent meeting of the county council. I am assured that, if they are dealt with at the next meeting, the operational efficiency of the force will not be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete consideration of the claim for wrongful imprisonment made by Police Constable W. J. Glaston

I will be writing to my hon. Friend shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of indictable offences recorded by the police and the number cleared up in England and Wales in 1977; and how these figures compare with those for 1975 and 1976.

The number of indictable offences recorded by the police in England and Wales in 1977 (including those of criminal damage of value £20 and under), was 2,636,500.The available figures for the number of offences cleared up and figures for previous years exclude offences of criminal damage where the reported value was £20 and under. The information available is given in the following table:

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his engagements for 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list official engagements for 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister what are his official engagements for 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state his official engagements for 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 7th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 7th March.

In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be holding meetings with ministerial colleagues and others.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, Central) (Mr. Hamilton) on 23rd February.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to visit Ilford.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he next proposes to meet the leaders of the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to meet the Confederation of British Industry.

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

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on 7th February.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to seek to make an official visit to Spain.

I have at present no plans to do so.

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

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Cartwright) on 28th February.

asked the Prime Minister when he intends to introduce the proposals for reform of the European Economic Community and common agricultural policy promised in his letter to the Secretary of the Labour Party of 30th September.

The long-term policy set out in my letter of 30th September is being pursued in the process of business within the Community.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if the speech by the Secretary of State for Employment at the London Chamber of Commerce on 14th February 1978 concerning pay policy represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the speech by the Secretary of State for Employment at the London Chamber of Commerce on 14th February concerning pay policy represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the speech by the Secretary of State for Employment at the London Chamber of Commerce on 14th February 1978 concerning pay policy represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the speech by the Secretary of State for Employment at the London Chamber of Commerce on 14th February concerning pay policy represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the speech by the Secretary of State for Employment at the London Chamber of Commerce on 14th February 1978 concerning pay policy represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech by the Secretary of State for Employment at the London Chamber of Commerce on 14th February 1978 concerning pay policy represents Government policy.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any plans to visit West Germany.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to visit Willenhall.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of those who are unemployed in Wales are under 25 years of age.

The latest information relates to 12th January 1978 when the proportion was 38·5 per cent.

asked the Lord President of the Council (1) what information he has on the method by which salaries, expenses, allowances and pensions of Members of Parliament in EEC and Scandinavian countries are determined, whether fixed by an outside body or related to a particular grade in the Civil Service; and how much of the salary, expenses and allowance is tax free;

The only information readily available on pay and allowances is given in the first table below. These details are not derived from any central source but have to be collected by our embassies in the countries concerned. Disproportionate costs would be incurred in extending the scope of the exercise to provide all the information requested.The most recent information about pension arrangements for parliamentarians in Scandinavian countries is set out in Appendix E to the First Report of the Review Body on Top Salaries (Cmnd. 4836). Details for Members in EEC countries were contained in my reply to the then hon. Member for Wycombe (Sir J. Hall) on 13th June 1977—Vol. 933, c. 2–4], and are reproduced in the second table below.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will list the total losses made by the Refreshment Department of the House of Commons over the last 15 years for which figures are available; and if he will express the loss for each year in 1977 prices.

I have been asked to reply.The information is as follows:

asked the Lord President of the Council what categories of staff and other persons are entitled to use the various refreshment facilities in the House of Commons.

I have been asked to reply.Members of the House of Lords who were formerly Members of the House of Commons; the staff of the five Departments of the House; Members' secretaries and research assistants; the Press Gallery and its guests; guests of the CPA and IPU; staff of the Department of the Environment, the Post Office, police and custodians who regularly work in and around the Palace of Westminster, and civil servants and Ministers' drivers attending the House, are entitled to use the various facilities of the Refreshment Department.Certain dining rooms are also available for functions sponsored by hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has received any clarification from the Japanese of their intentions concerning export to the United Kingdom of motor vehicles.

Yes. A letter has been handed to our embassy in Tokyo by the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).In this letter MITI has explained that it will give "strong administrative guidances" to the Japanese vehicle industry. The effect will be to limit shipments of cars to the United Kingdom in 1978. MITI says that, accordingly, it confidently expects that the Japanese share of the forecast market in 1978 will decline from the actual share taken in 1977. The letter also contains new assurances on shipments of commercial vehicles. In addition, MITI has undertaken to ensure that there will be a regular exchange of views between our industry and the Japanese industryI very much hope that British manufacturers, particularly British Leyland, will be able to take advantage of the greater degree of certainty which I believe these assurances give them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will seek to obtain the approval of the House for the proposal to establish a council for the securities industry.

No. The Government are not directly involved in the establishment of the council, although the Governor of the Bank of England is keeping my right hon. Friend informed as his proposals develop.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what action he has taken to ensure that his Department's mail order trading statistics are more reliable in future.

Replies received to the monthly retail sales inquiry have always been subject to a number of credibility checks in order to ensure reliability as far as possible. Additional checks for large contributions have now been instituted which will more readily identify the particular type of reporting errors which occurred with respect to mail order firms in 1977. It is, however, never possible to be completely certain of discovering all reporting errors made by contributors.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the names, addresses and industrial, commercial and medical connections and qualifications of the EEC Advisory Committee of the Asbestos International Association.

The Asbestos International Association is not a Government-sponsored body, its EEC Advisory Committee has no official Community status and I am therefore unable to provide the information requested. I am, however, advised that the Committee consists of nominees from the asbestos industry in each of the member States. It is based at Boulevard Faile Jacquain 162, B.T.E. 37N, 1000 Brussels. Its chairman is Mr. Thiele of Denmark and its secretary is Mr. Van Herle of Belgium. The United Kingdom representative is Mr. Wilfred Penny, who is also Director General of the Asbestos Information Centre Limited, London.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage unemployment figure according to the most recent available information in (a) the Chorley travel-to-work area, (b) the Leyland travel-to-work area, and (c) the North-Western Region.

At 9th February, the unemployment rates for the Preston travel-to-work area, which includes Chorley and Leyland, and the North-West Region were 5·3 per cent, and 7·5 per cent., respectively. Rates can. be calculated only for the whole of a travel-to-work area and not separately for its constituent parts.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what have been the average earnings of male and female workers, respectively in Cheshire in each of the past five years; and how these have

The following are New Earnings Survey estimates of the general average gross weekly earnings of full time employees in all occupations—manual and non-manual—in all industries and services, whose pay for the survey pay periods in April each year were not affected by absence.The figures for Cheshire relate to those employed in the county, irrespective of their places of residence; such estimates are only available from 1974 when the present county was established.The estimates are given to the nearest 10p and are subject to sampling errors. They are liable to be affected by differences in occupational and industrial employment structures, both between Cheshire and Great Britain and between the survey dates.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures of average earnings of adult women workers, expressed in the following ways (a) mean; average, (b) median, and (c) mode, for women manual workers, women non-manual workers, and all women workers, full-time in each case.

The following New Earnings Survey estimates for April 1977 relate to the gross weekly earnings of full-time female employees, aged 18 and over, in all industries and services in Great Britain, whose pay for the survey pay period was not affected by absence. The estimates are given to the nearest 10p and are subject to sampling error.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage contribution to the capital costs of the gas gathering pipeline in the north North Sea is likely to be required of the British Gas Corporation; and what has been the full cost of gas conversion to the Corporation.

Gas Gathering Pipelines (North Sea) Ltd. is due to present its final report to me by the end of March. Until I have considered that report I cannot comment on the first part of the Question. The full cost of conversion has been £1,027 million including £450 million for the writing off of the unamortised balance of displaced plant.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his assessment of the recoverable reserves of gas from the Frigg Field in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea under contract to the British Gas Corporation.

Reserves of gas in individual fields are commercially confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his assessment of the recoverable reserves of gas from the North Sea oil and gas fields in the United Kingdom sector excluding the Frigg Field.

I refer the hon. Member to "Development of the oil and gas resources of the United Kingdom 1977", Frigg reserves cannot be separated out for confidentiality reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of the fact that an electronic portable and personal breathalyser machine has been perfected in Sweden, whether he will advise motorists to purchase and use one of these machines before driving; and whether he will arrange discussions with vehicle builders to have these built into vehicles on a statutory basis in the same way as seat belts.

No. The unsupervised use of such instruments before driving can be misleading, both because of the effects of mouth alcohol and because the blood alcohol level may go on rising for some time after driving begins.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why he will not use part of the money allocated for the seat belt campaign to initiate a campaign to supply a breathalyser testing station at or near to the entrance of a public house or the parking ground where motorists can use, on a voluntary basis, a breathalyser before entering their vehicles.

Because I do not believe it desirable to encourage motorists to rely on tests carried out before driving, when their blood alcohol content may still be rising.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the total cost of providing concessionary fares for travel on buses for pensioners and disabled persons.

In 1977–78 local authorities are spending an estimated £86 million, at November 1976 prices, on concessionary fares. We have provided resources for this to rise to about £110 million by 1980–81, which should be sufficient for all districts in England and Wales to provide at least a half-fare concession for pensioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the total costs in implementing the Ombudsman's report on the road tax overcharge for motorists last year due to the ambiguous wording of the official form; who were responsible for this form; and what action is to be taken against those responsible.

The cost will depend on the number of claims. As to the rest of my hon. Friend's Question, I refer him to my answer of 27th February.—[Vol. 945, c. 65.]

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what inquiries she has made of the Commonwealth Development Corporation about the working conditions of persons employed by companies in which the Corporation has an interest.

The CDC appreciates the importance of proper working conditions. For this reason, it has since 1964 had an industrial relations adviser on its staff. He gives particular attention to projects in whose management the CDC itself is involved.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will list the current investments of the Commonwealth Development Corporation in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Papua New Guinea, respectively.

The list, as at the end of February 1978, is:

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she has yet concluded and, if not, when she expects to conclude the deal for the provision of six 16,500 deadweight dry cargo vessels to the Indian Government.

I expect negotiations to be concluded before the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will in future take action separately to distinguish in financial returns the amounts spent by local government on community relations.

No. This would require expenditure and use of manpower by local authorities which would not yield a commensurate return in the improvement of community relations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what statutory powers he has to control local authority proposals to increase the number of habitable rooms per acre for new residential development in conservation areas; what density is at present specified in each conservation area in London; and what proposals for change have recently been made in them.

My right hon. Friend has powers under the planning Acts in relation to planning applications and development plans. The Greater London Development Plan recommends generally densities for new development lying between 70 and 100 habitable rooms per acre. Specific densities for conservation areas may be included in local plans. I know of no proposals for specifying densities for conservation areas which do not accord with the guidelines recommended in the Greater London Development Plan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total cost to public funds of the series of television commercials designed to encourage the take-up of improvement grants.

The total cost is estimated to be £217,850.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all urban aid applications filed by Walsall from the inception of the scheme to date, indicating which of them have been approved and the costs of each project.

This information is not readily available. I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the European Economic Community decision not to give further financial aid from its disaster fund, if he will ensure that the South-West of England has its share of the £1 million already given to the United Kingdom by the Community.

I am not aware that the European Economic Community has come to any decision about further financial aid from its disaster fund or, indeed, whether it feels that it needs to. The Government are considering how the money which has already been provided by the EEC is to be allocated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the Government action taken and the estimated amount of Government expenditure to assist people in recent heavy snow falls in England and Wales; and what was the size of the population involved.

When the recent heavy falls of snow occurred in South-West England and Wales my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State, was appointed by the Prime Minister to co-ordinate the relief work being carried out by local authorities, the police and Government Departments. The Government services involved included helicopters and other assistance provided by the Armed Forces; snow clearing machinery provided by the Department of Transport; and the emergency centres established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. It is not yet possible to calculate the cost involved.The total population of the counties affected wholly or in part is about 6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions exist to permit certain local authorities to maintain rate differentials between urban and rural areas; if these provisions are transitional; and if it is Government policy for these differentials to be phased out.

The Local Government (Differential Precepting and Rating) Order of 1974 made under Section 254 of the Local Government Act 1972 required district councils—and non-metropolitan county councils—to operate temporary differential rating schemes after reorganisation in those cases where there were significant variations between the poundages formerly charged in the component parts of a new local authority area. The last of these schemes comes to an end on 31st March 1978, after which the general expenses of any authority must be reflected in a uniform rate poundage throughout the authority's area.Under Section 147(3) of the Local Government Act 1972 a district council may, however, declare any expenses incurred by it to be special expenses chargeable only on a part of its area; and, exceptionally, certain expenses of a local authority may be statutorily defined as special expenses chargeable only on a limited area. The provisions of Section 147(3) are not transitional and the Government have no intention of phasing them out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what study he has made of the rent freeze introduced by the Cannock Chase District Council evidence of which had been supplied to him; if he will give guidance to other local authorities on the need to freeze rents; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that Cannock Chase District Council has not as yet made a final decision on rents for 1978–79. My right hon. Friend's general guidance to local authorities on rent increases for 1978–79 was issued on 16th January in Circular 8/78.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) why, pursuant to his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Melton, Official Report, 28th February, column 133, he has not consulted the Joint Contracts Tribunal about his proposed new counter-inflation clause, but has only told the Tribunal of it; and whether he will make a statement;(2) whether, pursuant to his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Melton,

The Government draft of the clause reflecting incomes policy for use with the standard form of building contract is required for use immediately. Consultation with the Joint Contracts Tribunal was not possible due to the time factor. The Government have no plans to alter the standard form other than to incorporate the new additional clause in the conditions of contract let mainly for health services work. The question whether local authorities should be invited to adopt the clause is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Melton, Official Report, 28th February, columns 132–3, how many contractors have been issued with tender documents by his Department containing the new contract conditions; how many have accepted the conditions and how many have refused to accept them.

In the two weeks up to 3rd March, the Property Services Agency issued 1,508 invitations to tender for construction work containing the new conditions; in a substantial number of cases tenders were being reinvited. It is too early for many of the tenders to have been returned but so far 197 replies have been received, 104 of which accepted the clause.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses in the Oldham Metropolitan Borough are classed as unfit due to their having no inside toilet or no bathroom, or both; and if he will give figures for each category separately.

Detailed information on house condition within individual areas is not collected or held by my Department. A survey published last year by the Greater Manchester Council estimated that there were some 7,100 unfit dwellings in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham. About 15,100 dwellings lacked an inside toilet; 13,000 lacked a bathroom.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will list the universities that provide degree or diploma courses in agriculture and own or rent university farms, except as investments, and the acreages in each case.

The information is:1. Universities offering degree courses in Agriculture (UCCA code 2000):

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many sandwich course students on business studies courses in Wales required training places during the 1976–77 session; and how many of these students obtained support for their training through the Training Services Agency's special measures grants.

This information is not collected by my Department. In 1976– 77, there were 308 students on sandwich courses in business studies in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is satisfied with sandwich courses for Council for National Academic Awards degrees and Technician Education Council and Business Education Council higher level awards.

I have every confidence in sandwich courses validated by the Council for National Academic Awards and in those validated or planned by the Business and Technician Education Councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied with the temporary support given through the Training Services Agency Special Measures Grants to support the employment of sandwich course students.

I am satisfied that these support arrangements, which are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, have helped colleges to find suitable placements for sandwich course students at a time when there might otherwise have been serious difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are her long-term proposals for financial support to ensure the continuation and development of sandwich courses.

There has been a continued development of sandwich courses in recent years and I have no plans at present for changes in arrangements for their financial support.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether the dependants of EEC nationals will be excluded from mandatory awards on the basis of residence restrictions;(2) whether dependants of settled United Kingdom passport holders and Commonwealth citizens will continue to be expected to fulfil the three-year residence requirement or whether she intends to seek to introduce provisions to allocate statutory awards to them irrespective of residence.

Dependants in the categories described must satisfy the same conditions as other applicants for mandatory awards. My right hon. Friend has no present plans to change the residence requirements, which have been a part of the Awards Regulations since the system was introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she considers that her circular of 27th January will introduce a discretionary element into an otherwise statutory system.

No. The circular letter is intended to help local education authorities to establish the facts.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in the light of recent course provision at Bridgnorth College of Further Education, she will give guidance to local education authorities on priorities for evening institute work.

I have no present plans for such guidance. The provision of adult education is a matter for local education authorities to determine in the light of their assessment of local needs. They are already aware of matters such as adult literacy to which my right hon. Friend attaches particular importance.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the fact that three-quarters of the purchase price of Gainsborough's portrait of Sir Benjamin Truman has now been found, and in recognition of the Tate Gallery's service in the securing of the nation's heritage during the last year and of the gesture of the National Portrait Gallery in making a donation to the Tate from their own purchase grant, she will now make a special purchase grant of £100,000 to enable the Tate to add this important picture to the national collection.

The conditions which have to be fulfilled before a special purchase grant can be considered have not arisen.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now make a statement about the Government's intentions with respect to the new building for the British Library.

The Government intend to start the construction of a substantial first stage of the new British Library building in the Euston Road in 1979–80, subject to the clearance of details with the planning authority. Preparation of the site will be put in hand as soon as possible.The building has been designed to the requirements of the Library for the Department of the Environment by the nominated architects, Colin St. John Wilson and Partners. The first stage is expected to be occupied towards the end of the 1980s, enabling a substantial part of the Library's unique collections to be housed in satisfactory conditions and providing a greatly improved service to readers.The estimated cost of the first stage, which will be spread over ten years, is £74 million at June 1977 prices; it will provide considerable employment in the construction industry and when it is occupied there will be substantial savings from the vacation of much of the Library's present scattered accommodation.Decisions on the remaining stages of the building will be taken later.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the state of industrial relations in the National Health Service.

The National Health Service is a complex organisation with scope for friction between different types and levels of staff. While in general industrial relations in the National Health Service are good there have in recent years been disputes involving doctors, nurses and other Health Service workers which have caused me concern. I am involved in discussions with the trade unions and the medical profession to find ways of improving industrial relations. I also hope that the implementation of Lord McCarthy's view of the Whitley Council system will help in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultants have resigned from their contracts during the last 12 months nationally and within the South-West Region.

During 1976–77, 12 medical and dental consultants in the South-Western Region resigned other than on retirement. The corresponding national figure is provisionally 350; it is estimated that about half of these have taken up other consultant appointments in the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of private beds in National Health Service hospitals in February 1974; and what the number of private beds is at present.

In February 1974 National Health Service hospitals in Great Britain were authorised to admit up to 4,966 paying patients at any one time. The level of authorisation has now been reduced to 3,088.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the morale of the NHS.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the morale of the NHS.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the state of industrial relations in the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the morale of the NHS.

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Mem- ber for Arundel (Mr. Marshall) earlier today.