asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters he has received from members of the public on the subject of immigration since 1st January of the current year.

During January and February, the Department received approximately 80,000 letters from members of the public about immigration matters. This figure includes letters from hon. Members and correspondence on personal cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the total costs of the control of immigration and nationality for the year 1976–77 was £16,282,000 and in the year 1977–78 £17,272,000; and, in view of the fact that immigration is now a mere trickle, what are the reasons for these increases.

Both figures are to be found in the Supply Estimates 1977–78, Class IX, Law, Order and Protective Services. The former in the revised budget estimate of gross expenditure in the 1976–77 financial year for Section C of the General Protective Services Vote, England and Wales: Control of Immigration and Nationality. The latter is the initial budget estimate for the present financial year. The increase is principally due to an adjustment between Votes. The 1977–78 initial budget estimate provided for fewer staff than that for 1976–77. The costs reflect the amount of work to be done in maintaining the control of all passengers, and of those subject to immigration control who wish to extend their stay in this country whether or not they wish to settle here.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current expenditure on police recruitment; and how this compares with each of the last five years.

It is estimated that expenditure on the national recruitment campaign in the current financial year will be £592,000. Expenditure in the preceding five years was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report from the Royal Commission on Gambling.

Later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many (a) persons, and (b) establishments are licensed to perform experiments on live animals;(2) if he will give his estimate of experiments on live animals which occurred in the United Kingdom during 1977.

The latest available figures are for 1976. Numbers of licensees and registered places and the number of experiments performed were published for Great Britain in "Experiments on Living Animals"—House of Commons Paper 1—on 8th November 1977 and for Northern Ireland in the report of the Inspector entitled "Cruelty to Animals Act 1876: Experiments on living animals", copies of which are in the Library. Figures for 1977 will be published later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West on 2nd March, when he expects to complete consideration of the report of the Committee on the Future of Broadcasting and the many comments he has received on it.

The Annan Report raises a number of important issues and I have received many representations on it. The subject requires careful consideration. I am unable at this stage to say when I expect this to be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of the fact that the Independent Broadcasting Authority now classify as British for the purposes of Section 4(1)(c) of the Independent Broadcasting Act 1973 all films registered with the Department of Trade as eligible for community quota for screening in cinemas, what steps he proposes to take to ensure that proper proportions of the programmes purchased by the independent television companies are produced by British companies, made by British technicians and performed by British performers.

The Act requires the Independent Broadcasting Authority to satisfy itself that, so far as possible, the programmes it broadcasts comply with the requirement that proper proportions of recorded and other material included in its programmes are of British origin and performance. The authority tells me that in respect of cinema films the Department of Trade classification is accepted by the authority for the purposes of Section 4(1)(c). I understand that the authority is currently discussing the requirements of this provision with the television programme companies. This is not an area in which it would be appropriate for me to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the establishment level of the West Mercia Police Force; and what considerations led him to his conclusion.

I cannot reach a firm conclusion until discussions have been held between the police authority, H.M. Inspector of Constabulary and my officials on the related issues of the organisation and establishment of the force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to see that figures are available in the future on the number of livestock that are burnt to death annually; and if he will publish details of the categories of such information and how it will be made available.

The new fire report form, introduced this year, provides specifically for the reporting of the numbers and species of livestock killed in fires attended by local authority fire brigades, and this information will be made available to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for his use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give for the various public authorities and servants for which he has overall responsibility the number who are covered by the Official Secrets Act; how many have to sign a declaration under the Act at the latest date; and how these figures compare with October 1974.

The Official Secrets Acts cover anyone who is given official information. Home Office staff, like other civil servants, are invited to sign an acknowledgment that their attention has been drawn to the relevant provisions of the Acts. The number of Home Office staff on 1st February 1978 was 33,024 and the comparable figure for 1st October 1974 was 29,788.In addition, a number of employees of bodies for which I have responsibility have access to official information and sign similar declarations, but no central record is kept of their numbers.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what account he is taking of the foreign property dealings of the trustees of the Post Office Pension Fund in the light of the specula- tive investment of $18·9 million at 1500 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, United States of America. in his study of aspects of the funding of Post Office pensions; and if he will make a statement.

None. Such transactions are the responsibility of the trustees of the fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps he has taken to implement the recommendations of the Select Committee on the European Communities on Research and Development in the EEC with particular reference to R/1659/77 draft resolutions and decisions on a common policy in the field of science and technology.

When the Report of the Select Committee on the European Communities was debated in another place it was made clear that the Government do not accept the Committee's recommendations regarding the three draft instruments included in R/1659/77—[Vol. 388, c. 1017–20.] I am taking no steps to implement these recommendations, which, in any case, relate to action at the level of the Community as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) whether he has authorised or proposes to authorise British Shipbuilders under Section 3 (1) (b) of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977 to manufacture in the United Kingdom under licence medium-speed diesel engines of foreign design as distinct from slow-speed engines for marine propulsion;(2) on the presumption that there is world over-capacity in the building of medium-speed diesel engines and that 80 per cent. of the United Kingdom industry's output is exported, whether he will take into account the existing capacity in the United Kingdom to manufacture such engines for supplying the domestic market before permitting or authorising British Shipbuilders or any of its subsidiaries to manufacture such engines or foreign engines under licence;(3) whether any of the companies recently nationalised under the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977, and set out in the second schedule to the Act, manufactured medium-speed diesel engines at the date they vested in British Shipbuilders;(4) whether British Shipbuilders will notify him if it or any of its subsidiaries extend its or their sphere of operations into the manufacture of medium-speed diesel engines under foreign licence.

British Shipbuilders advises me that at vesting day certain of its wholly-owned subsidiaries were carrying on activities relating to medium-speed diesel engines, and that it does not consider that it requires consent under Section 3(1)(b) of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977 to engage in that business. British Shipbuilders' corporate plan will cover its activities in this field, and in considering it my right hon. Friend will take account of the effect of its operations on existing private sector manufacturers.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether either Harland and Wolff Ltd. or Doxford Engines Ltd., which was excluded from the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977, manufactured medium-speed diesel engines at the time the several shipbuilding companies listed in Schedule 2 to the Act vested in British Shipbuilders.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible for Harland and Wolff. Doxford Engines Ltd., which came into the ownership of British Shipbuilders under the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977 as a subsidiary of Sunderland Shipbuilders Ltd., was at that time carrying on certain activities relating to medium-speed diesel engines.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, on the assumption that Hawthorn Leslie Engineering Ltd., G. Clark and NEM Ltd., Doxford Engines Ltd. and Harland and Wolff Ltd. manufacture medium-speed diesel engines, what is his estimate of the effect of their decision upon employment in existing manufacturers of such engines in the private sector.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible for Harland and Wolff. British Shipbuilders informs me that the main reason for production of medium-speed diesel engines by its subsidiaries is to meet customer requirements for foreign designs of engine which would otherwise be supplied from overseas. If that happened, no United Kingdom manufacturer of marine engines would benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the advance factories built with the help of the EEC Regional Development Fund in the United Kingdom during 1977; and if he will give estimates of the likely assistance from this source in 1978 in terms of numbers of factories.

In December 1976 and January 1977, the European Commission agreed to contribute from the European Regional Development Fund a total of £4·2 million towards the cost of 129 United Kingdom Government advance factories to be built in 1977. Lists of these projects were published in Trade and Industry on 24th December 1976 and 21st January 1977.It has not yet been decided whether to seek fund assistance for such projects in 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West on Thursday 2nd March, why the consideration received by the National Enterprise Board for the sale of its shares in Newbury Laboratories Ltd., approved by him on 10th August 1977, is considered to be commercially confidential.

The Data Recording Instrument Co. Ltd., which acquired these shares from the Board, may show the consideration given when its publishes its accounts for the relevant period. Meanwhile, since the sale was not in response to a public oiler, the information is confidential, in accordance with normal commercial practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey. North-West on Thursday 2nd March, how he intends to inform Members of those parts of the NEB corporate plan, submitted to him in December 1977, which are not commercially confidential; and whether he will make a statement.

There is no requirement to make public any part of the plan. My right hon. Friend will consider the question further when discussions with the NEB about the plan have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many sector working parties which have so far reported anticipate an increase in the total numbers employed in their industrial sectors between now and 1980; how many expect a decrease; and what is the overall effect of their combined estimates of the level of employment in this period.

I have been asked to reply.Not all sector working parties have attempted to make employment forecasts. Those which have done so have adopted time periods which vary too much to provide a basis for reliable information in the form requested for individual sectors. Overall, their forecasts imply little if any change between 1975 and 1980, but the achievement of their market share objectives could give some direct increase in employment from now on The indirect effects of this achievement would be much more substantial.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what proportion of EEC Regional Development Fund aid to the United Kingdom was spent on the development in industrial estates during 1976 and 1977, respectively; and if he will list those projects.

In 1976 and 1977 about 20 per cent. of all European Regional Development Fund aid allocated to United Kingdom projects was related to industrial estate development and Government advance factories. Details of projects financed from the fund were published in Trade and Industry on 6th February, 7th May, 23rd July and 24th December 1976 and 21st January, 20th May, 22nd July 1977 and 6th January 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether and to what extent he expects the retail price index and cost of living to rise as a result of the proposed and actual increases in bread, biscuits, beer and rail fares.

Actual rises in rail fares in January 1978 increased the RPI by about one-twelfth of 1 per cent. At this stage, no precise estimate of the eventual effect on the RPI of proposed increases for beer, bread and biscuits is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he intends to publish the report by the Director General of Fair Trading for the year 1977.

The fourth annual report by the Director General of Fair Trading is being published today. The report covers the period 1st January 1977 to 31st December 1977. Copies of the report arc being placed in the Library of each House.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the unemployment rates for the United States of America, Canada, Japan, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom as follows (a) the average for 1970–1973, (b) quarterly from 1974 to 1976 and (c) in each month from January 1977 to the present.

The available unemployment rates are given below. These are not directly comparable owing to differences in the concept of unemployment. coverage and method of compilation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage unemployment rate in the Rossendale travel-to-work area in each month since 1st January 1974; and how

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now give the information for 1976 and this compares with (a) the North-West regional level, and (b) the national level.

The following table gives the monthly unemployment rates from January 1974 to February 1978 for the areas specified:for the latest available period in 1977 in the same form as it was provided for 1975 in paragraph 61 of the Ninth Report from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 1976–77, showing the number of special investigators in post and how many frauds were found from how many cases examined.

The information requested is given below:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the potential work force in each of the standard age groups is unemployed for more than three months.

I expect to be able to supply information based on the January unemployment statistics in about a month, when corresponding estimates by age of the number of employees become available. Calculations based on the previous

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing (a) the average rate of inflation for the years 1970 to 1973, (b) the quarterly rates of inflation for the years 1974 to 1976, and (c) the monthly rates of inflation from January 1977 to the present, for the United States of America, Canada, Japan, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, respectively.

Percentage changes in the consumer price indices are shown below (a) per annum—January to January (b) per quarter-January to April, April to July, July to October, October to January-and (c) per month as requested. Percentage changes taken over periods of a quarter and one month may not properly reflect the longer term trends.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what powers workshop managers will have to dismiss youths employed under the scheme of the Manpower Services Commission to train unemployed teenagers.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that managers of training workshops funded under the youth opportunities programme will be able to dismiss young people after consultation with the MSC area office. As young people in workshops will be paid an allowance by the MSC, they will not have the status of employees and the consequent benefits of the Employment Protection Act. It is important, therefore, that any decision to dismiss should be jointly agreed between the sponsor and the MSC.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cumulative total applications for temporary employment subsidies approved in each employment office area in the East Anglia Region economic planning area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cumulative total of applications for temporary employment subsidies approved in each employment office area in the South-East Region economic planning area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cumulative total of applications for temporary employment subsidies approved in each employment office area in the West Midlands Region economic planning area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cumulative total of applications for temporary employment subsidies approved in each employment office area in the North Region economic planning area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cumulative total of applications for temporary employment subsidies approved in each employment office area in the South-West Region economic planning area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cumulative total of applications for temporary employment subsidies approved in each employment office area in the North-West Region economic planning area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cumulative total of applications for temporary employment subsidies approved in each employment office area in the East Midlands Region economic planning area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cumulative total of applications for temporary employment subsidies approved in each employment office area in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region economic planing area.

The information is being collected and I will publish it in the Official Report as soon as it becomes available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which wages councils make provision in their regulations for the payment of any extra wages or extra time off where a bank holiday occurs on an employee's normal day off.

The following wages councils make provision for customary holiday where the worker does not normally work on that day of the week.

• Corset
• Dressmaking and Women's Light Clothing (E. and W.)
• Dressmaking and Women's Light Clothing (Scotland)
• Fur
• Hat, Cap and Millinery (Great Britain)
• Linen and Cotton Handkerchief and Household Goods and Linen Piece Goods
• Made-up Textiles
• Ostrich and Fancy Feather and Artificial Flower
• Pin, Hook and Eye and Snap Fastener
• Ready-made and Wholesale Bespoke Tailoring
• Retail Bespoke Tailoring (Great Britain)
• Rubber Proofed Garment Making Industry
• Shirtmaking
• Wholesale Mantle and Costume.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has made any recent inquiries, along the lines of the New Earnings Survey of April 1974, into the incidence of low pay; and if he will publish the results.

Corresponding New Earnings Survey results for April 1975, 1976 and 1977 have been published. They are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of the increasing demand in Wales for bilingual education at primary and secondary level, and the scarcity of schools that cater for such a demand, if he will consider extending to the parents who are demanding such education the same right to free transport as that accorded at present to those parents who wish

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) general improvement areas, (b) housing action areas and (c) priority neighbourhoods have been declared in Wales since the coming into force of the Housing Act 1974.

11 GIAs and 29 HAAs. No priority neighbourhoods have been declared in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether, as a result of her recent circular advising local education authorities on the interpretation of ordinary residence for the purpose of student awards, dependants of settled United Kingdom passport

Local education authorities are required to bear school transport costs in the case of children living beyond the statutory walking distances of the nearest suitable school. Authorities also have discretion to make more generous arrangements, and I understand that most authorities in Wales exercise this discretion in some measure where children attend bilingual or denominational schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the number of inquiries received from firms interested in opening a factory in Wales during 1976 and 1977, respectively, analysing the inquiries into companies based in Wales, the remainder of the United Kingdom, Europe, North America and the rest of the world.

The following is the information requested:holders and Commonwealth citizens continue to be expected to fulfil the three-year residence requirement or whether there will be provisions to allocate statutory awards to them irrespective of residence;(2) whether EEC nationals will be excluded from mandatory student awards as a result of her recent circular advising local education authorities on the interpretation of ordinary residence for the purpose of awards.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Mr. Mikardo) on 7th March.—[Vol. 945, c. 576–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why she has issued a circular to introduce a discretionary element into an otherwise statutory system of student awards, whereby local education authorities are advised on the interpretation of ordinary residence for the purpose of awards, especially to overseas students.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the Department's circular letter of 27th January. This does not introduce a discretionary element into the system; it is intended to help authorities to establish the facts.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will issue instructions to local education authorities such as Essex and Hounslow not to exclude overseas students from mandatory awards on the grounds that there are restrictions on their residence in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement on the reasons for her answer.

No. It is for the local education authority to decide whether an application for an award satisfies the conditions in the regulations, in the light of all the information available about the individual applicant.I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a circular letter issued by my Department, which is intended to help local education authorities in their application of the regulations concerning ordinary residence.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will take steps to intervene to settle the teachers' pay grievances and ensure payment of at least 10 per cent.

Pay settlements are negotiated by the Burnham Committees and it would be inappropriate for me to intervene.For the primary and secondary school teachers, the management panel's offer is such that the average income of the teachers would be almost 10 per cent. higher in 1978–79 than in 1977–78, and is in accordance with the Government's pay guidelines.I deeply regret the sanctions being imposed on the children in some schools, given that there is agreement to submit the teachers' claim to arbitration.I hope that the teachers concerned will reconsider their action.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether the British Airports Authority is prohibited from incurring extra costs through the rejection of most favourable tenders in favour of higher cost tenders in order to enforce the Government's incomes policy through purchasing contracts.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will delegate more responsibilities to district councils in Northern Ireland, such as those relating to street and minor repairs.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to give substantial new responsibilities to district councils by delegation or otherwise. It would not be an economical use of resources to delegate to district councils responsibilities for minor road works in their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied with the security situation in the Royal Ulster Constabulary Divisions N and O.

There have been a number of serious incidents in Police Divisions N and O in recent weeks, including the brutal murder of a member of the UDR and his young daughter and also of a policeman. The security forces continue to take all possible action to counter the terrorist threat, and intensive follow up operations were mounted following recent attacks. So far this year, a total of 26 people have been charged in connection with terrorist crimes in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer today to a Question from the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Biggs-Davison).

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons are currently wanted for interview by the Royal Ulster Constabulary in connection with serious crimes in Northern Ireland; and, of that number, how many are believed to be resident in the Irish Republic.

The number and whereabouts of persons whom the police in Northern Ireland wish to interview in connection with criminal offences are operational matters for the Chief Constable.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the criterion for the purchase of farm land by the Forestry Commission.

The criteria for the purchase of land by the Department of Agriculture (Northern Ireland) for the forest service are that:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of persons in prisons in Northern Ireland at the latest date and three years earlier.

On 26th February 1978 the total number of prisoners, tried and untried and including those in borstal, was 2,940. On 23rd February 1975 there were 2,295; on that date there were also 479 persons detained under the Emergency Provisions Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he approves the practice of education boards in demanding detailed verification of the income, as certified by the Inland Revenue, of applicants for further education awards.

It is not the practice for area education and library boards to ask for verification of income when this has already been certified by the Inland Revenue.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a grant from Northern Ireland Government funds to the La Mon Disaster Fund; and if he will give an assurance that the grant from this fund will be deducted from final compensation payments.

As my right hon. Friend assured the House on 6th March, any payments from the contributions so generously made by their fellow citizens to the La Mon Disaster Fund will not be deducted from compensation to which the injured and dependants involved in this tragedy may be entitled under the Criminal Injuries (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations have been received from the Parents' Union about the reorganisation of secondary education; and what steps have been taken to inform them of the evolution of the Government policy and of the progress of consultation.

No formal representations have been received from the Parents' Union or the Parents for Comprehensive Education. The only communications received from the union have been copies of a letter sent to a chief officer of one of the education and library boards, and a telegram from the Secretary of the Parents Union, which my noble Friend the Minister of State received on 6th March. In replying to the telegram, my noble Friend said he would welcome the opportunity of meeting members of the union, as he would representatives of any other interested group, to explain the Government's education policy. No request for such a meeting has been received from either parents' group.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his policy regarding the resolutions of the Association of Governing Bodies of Voluntary Grammar Schools in Northern Ireland, published under the title of "The Future of Education in Northern Ireland".

These resolutions were submitted to the Department of Education for Northern Ireland by the Association of Governing Bodies of Grammar Schools following the publication of the consultative document on the reorganisation of secondary education. They were carefully considered before the Government's decision to eliminate selection at 11-plus through a restructuring of the educational system was announced on 15th June 1977. The Government were unable to adopt the association's main recommendation, which was to postpone a decision and put in hand yet a further examination of the issue. The reasons for rejecting this recommendation was explained in the statement made by my noble Friend the Minister of State on 15th June 1977: "We are convinced that the uncertainty about the future of secondary education which has existed for many years must be brought to an end."

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which of the area education and library boards have decided their attitude to the reorganisation of comprehensive education; in what sense; and after consultation with whom.

Following the Government statement of 15th June 1977, which was made after intensive consultations based on the 1976 consultative document, the education and library boards were formally invited to undertake the planning of restructuring in their areas. My noble Friend the Minister of State has since had a meeting with the chairman and chief officers of the boards at which they reported that the planning was now under way in all board areas. The planning process will include consultations with local schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what discussion he and his Department have had with the Association of Governing Bodies of Voluntary Grammar Schools in Northern Ireland on the proposals for the reorganisation of secondary educa- tion, having regard to the Association's expressed desire to co-operate with Her Majesty's Government in finding ways of improving the education of all children;(2) what steps he has taken to explain the Government's proposals and philosophy on education to the governing bodies of the voluntary grammar schools and to seek their co-operation.

My noble Friend the Minister of State met representatives of the Association of Governing Bodies of Grammar Schools on 28th November 1977 and officials of the Department of Education for Northern Ireland have also had meetings with the association. These meetings have provided the opportunity both for the association to put forward its views and for the Government's proposals to be explained. Arising from these discussions, arrangements have been made for further periodic meetings between the association and officials of the Department. My noble Friend will, of course, continue to be prepared to respond to requests from the association for further meetings with him.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will inspect all the Common Market commodity stockpiles situated in the United Kingdom.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the rate of implementation of the devaluation of the green pound.

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what actual benefit there would be to the balance of payments if there were to be a complete devaluation of the green pound.

The balance of payments would benefit from the reduction in the United Kingdom's contribution to the Community budget, following lower expenditure by FEOGA on sterling MCAs, and from a reduction in the quantity of imports of food and feeding-stuffs because higher agricultural prices in the United Kingdom would stimulate production and depress consumption. But the precise effect would depend on a number of uncertain factors, including the response by producers and consumers to the very large price increases which would arise from a complete devaluation, and cannot therefore be reliably assessed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total area of land afforested by the Forestry Commission and by the private sector during 1977: and by what proportion this afforestation exceeded that achieved in 1975 and 1976.

The total area of new planting carried out by the Forestry Com-

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the total numbers of sheep and lambs for the last 12 months; and how many were exported.

Provisional figures for the June 1977 census put the total number of United Kingdom sheep and lambs at 28,104,000 head. In the calendar year 1977, 356,065 live sheep were exported.