asked the Secretary of State for Transport in view of the fact that motorists can be fined for the non-display of vehicle road licence discs, if he will examine the standards and adhesive quality of disc holders to establish adequate standards for such holders supplied with vehicles.

No. Instances of difficulty are too rare to warrant this.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of further accidents on Bromham Bridge, Bedford—A428—when he proposes to authorise (a) widening of the bridge or (b) the construction of a bypass road.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what proportion of road accidents in which a driver failed subsequently to stop recorded in 1977 involved injury to the person; and how this compares with 1972 and 1976;(2) what are the national figures for injury and death caused by accidents in which the driver failed to stop following the accident.

I regret that the information is not available nationally.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in the light of the pattern of road accidents in which a driver failed subsequently to stop in the Greater Manchester area showing that 19·4 per cent. occurred between 10 p.m. and 12 p.m., he will initiate a study of the relationship between such accidents and driving with more than the permitted amount of alcohol.

We have already authorised the use of a new police injury accident report form—Stats 19—which includes provision to record hit-and-run incidents. This is being introduced progressively and will provide information about the general pattern of these accidents, which can then be compared with the pattern of drinking and driving accidents. By the nature of the offence it is not usually possible to determine whether hit-and-run drivers have more than the permitted amount of alcohol in their bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will set up an interdepartmental committee with the Home Office and Lord Chancellor's Office to consider the effectiveness of the current law relating to hit-and-run accidents and the appropriateness of the current maximum penalty for such failure to stop after an accident.

No. We do not think that such a committee would be useful.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the GLC about the possibility of providing an interchange between the M25 motorway and the proposed north-south link road in Enfield.

Discussions have taken place very recently between officials of the Department and of the GLC about the feasibility of such an interchange, but we have received no request from the GLC to provide one.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects the construction of the M25 in the Beaconsfield constituency to begin and end; and whether he will, in view of the urgent need for this road, authorise the commencement of construction of this section from north and south simultaneously.

Subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures and to the availability of funds at the time we expect construction of the sections of the M25 between Runnymede Bridge and Yeoveney to begin later this year; and between the airport spur and Maple Cross in the time band 1981–83. Construction of the motorway between the airport spur and Maple Cross is likely to be carried out in several contracts, which may be of different durations, but we aim to complete the whole of this length at about the same time. As stated in the White Paper "Policy for Roads: England 1978", the Government are giving the highest priority to the completion of the M25 orbital route.

asked the Minister of Transport how many miles of navigable canals there were in 1945, 1955, 1965 and 1977, or for the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available.

I have been asked to reply.It is not possible to give reliable figures for 1945, and there are difficulties about producing strictly comparable figures for subsequent years. But approximate figures for navigable canals, excluding river navigations, now under the ownership of the British Waterways Board are:

1948	1,769 miles
(the first year in which statistics were published by the British Transport Commission and not strictly comparable with later years)
1955	1,530 miles
1965	1,308 miles
1977	1,405 miles

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why traffic moving in a northerly direction in the area where repairs are being undertaken on the M1 in Northamptonshire was able to travel at a speed of only 6 m.p.h. between 8.30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Thursday 6th April 1978; and what steps he intends to take to ensure that similar delays do not recur while the current repair work is being undertaken.

Work on bridges over the motorway necessitates the closure of one carriageway and this results in only one lane being available for traffic in one direction. This traffic's maximum speed is therefore determined by the front vehicle. There is no record of what caused the slow journey specified in the hon. member's question but it may have been a heavily loaded vehicle on the uphill length of road affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what construction would be necessary in order to double the traffic capacity of the existing A41/A405 roads between Hunton Bridge and Water-dale;(2) what would be the estimated additional land-take necessary to upgrade the existing A41/A405 between Hunton Bridge and Waterdale in order to double the traffic capacity of that route;(3) what construction would be necessary to bring the traffic capacity of the existing A405/A41 roads between Hunton Bridge and Waterdale up to the traffic capacity of the proposed M25 motorway for that section.

My right hon. Friend has received the hon. Member's letter of 4th April, in which he asked these questions. The information is not readily available, but I shall let him have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give a forecast of the traffic capacity of the proposed design of the motorway between Hunton Bridge and Waterdale.

Traffic information for the proposed Micklefield Green—South Mimms section of the M25 is currently being reviewed and no decision on standards of provision have yet been taken. A dual three-lane motorway would have a design capacity of between 45,000 and 85,000 vehicles a day. The actual capacity is dependent on a number of factors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in Wales and England, respectively, can receive television only from the Wenvoe transmitter; what proportion of those people he estimates can speak Welsh; and what proportion can speak Welsh but not English.

The Wenvoe transmitting station is primarily intended to provide the UHF transmissions of BBC Wales, BBC 2 and HTV Wales in South Wales. The BBC estimates that it has a population coverage in Wales of 841,000. What proportion of those people can receive only from Wenvoe is not known; but reception from the Mendip station in Somerset is possible in some of the most populous parts of South Wales. The BBC also estimates that currently some 30,000 people in England, mainly

				At 1st April 1976	At 1st April 1977	At 1st April 1978
Gwent Constabulary		…	…	962	956	945
North Wales Police		…	…	1,222	1,222	1,240
South Wales Constabulary			…	2,973	2,956	2,870
Dyfed-Powys Police		…	…	903	909	909
Totals	…	…	…	6,060	6,043	5,964

(1) asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are at present suspended from duty because of complaints made against them which have not yet been disposed of;(2) how many Metropolitan Police officers are at present suspended from duty because of complaints made against them which have not yet been disposed of;(3) what is his estimate of the annual cost to public funds of police officers being suspended from duty, while complaints against them are being investigated;(4) if he will publish in the

One hundred and thirty-four police officers in England and Wales are at present suspended from duty, 71 of them as a result of complaints by members of the public; of these 58 and 43 respectively are officers of the Metropolitan Police. The cost of this

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current numerical strength of the police forces in Wales compared with April 1977 and April 1976.

The figures are:number of suspensions averaged over a year would be about £750,000 for England and Wales, of which about £400,000 would be in respect of those suspended as a result of complaints by the public. Information about the length of time for which suspensions occur is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research has taken place in the United Kingdom into the effects of prison life on pre-school children.

There are at present few babies aged over 12 months with their mothers in prison and no such research has yet been undertaken; but now that the accommodation for mothers and babies in prison has been increased, the usefulnes of commissioning some research is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the weekly cost of keeping a mother and child in one of Her Majesty's prisons.

The cost of keeping a mother and a child in prison is not separately recorded. In 1976–77, the last financial year for which full details are available, the average weekly cost of keeping an inmate in a female establishment was £112.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women in prison have their children with them.

Thirty-three on 10th April 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions under the provisions of the Race Relations Act have taken place in Birmingham during the last 12 months; how many of them were successful; and how many have been unsuccessful.

I have been asked to reply.There have been no prosecutions for offences of incitement to racial hatred in Birmingham during the last 12 months. Two cases are, however, awaiting trial in the vicinity, one at the Warwick Crown Court and the other at the Rowley Regis Magistrates' Court. There have been no previous cases in the vicinity during the 12 month period.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he is satisfied with the facilities provided for the Post Office and its staff in the Palace of Westminster, in the light of the increasing work load of that department.

Yes. If the hon. Member has any particular point in mind perhaps he will let me know.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will ensure that the English Tourist Board has the same rights to engage in overseas promotion of tourism as the Scottish and Welsh Tourist Boards.

The Scotland Bill and the Wales Bill are concerned with the devolution of powers to Scotland and Wales respectively. A provision to extend to the English Tourist Board the power to undertake overseas promotion otherwise than on behalf of the British Tourist Authority would require separate legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, in view of the "Amoco Cadiz" disaster, how many powerful ocean-going tugs are available on standby at Plymouth or Falmouth to deal with an emergency off the South-West Coast.

I understand that there is usually at least one of the more powerful ocean going tugs suitable for towing large vessels present in the vicinity of the West country ports. The deployment of these tugs is, however, a matter for the commercial judgment of the towing and salvage companies concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why he considers that the trans-Atlantic services to destinations other than New York at low fares accepted by the United States Government, but originally not accepted by them on the grounds of the need to ensure that long term considerations of efficiency, safety and the ability to invest in new and quicker aircraft, were not improved will have been operated for a sufficient time by the autumn to make an assessment of those contributions.

The review in the autumn will be based on a full year's experience of the initial low fares experiment on the London-New York route, and a full summer's experience of low fares on the other routes to the USA. We shall then discuss with the United States Government whether any changes appear necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the latest date on which the audited accounts of Messrs. Grunwick of Willesden submitted their returns to Companies House.

Accounts for the period ending 31st March 1977 were delivered by Grunwick Processing Laboratories Limited to the Registrar of Companies on 10th January 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if his attention has been drawn to the non-holding of annual general meetings of Messrs. Grunwick Willesden; and what action he proposes to take.

The attention of Grunwick Processing Laboratories Limited has been drawn to the statements, on each of the annual returns delivered to the Registrar of Companies, that no annual general meetings had been held in the year in question. The company has stated that, whilst no meeting had been designated as the statutory annual general meeting for a given year, general meetings were held in each year, at which accounts were laid before the members as required by the Companies Acts. In view of the company's assurance of future compliance with the specific requirements of the law in this respect, no further action is proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a statement on the results of the recent Commonwealth meeting on the Common Fund and on the position Her Majesty's Government adopted at that meeting.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the case of a housewife from Walton-on-Thames, in full-time employment, with a housebound husband, who was advised by his Department to give up her job and accept instead up to £70 a week from his Department in social security.

My Department regards as confidential the details of individual social security cases but I can assure the hon. Member that urgent inquiries are being made to ensure that the family in question is receiving all the social security benefits to which it is entitled. It would not be possible for any family to increase its income through supplementary benefits by the wife giving up full-time work.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the annual publication cost of Health Trends; what is its circulation; what detailed evidence exists of its readership; and if he will undertake an inquiry into rationalising his department's publication so that Health Trends could be incorporated into other publications.

Production and distribution costs are estimated to be about £50,000 per annum. These have not risen above the level for 1975–76 as a result of economy measures.About 60,000 copies of each issue are produced. They go to virtually all doctors in the National Health Service; deans of medical schools; postgraduate medical centre libraries; and senior nursing officers and administrators who ask for it. It also has a small subscription list.As reported in the February 1976 issue of

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of protection against loss of pension rights under the new scheme those who remain at home to care for elderly or sick persons not receiving an attendance allowance in cases where the carer is not eligible for supplementary benefits.

It is estimated that there are about 750,000 elderly or sick people sharing a household with a person under pension age who is not in employment. To ascertain the degree of care which is being given in each individual case would involve unacceptably high administrative costs. On the other hand, to extend home responsibilities protection to all these cases solely on the basis of the receipt of a qualifying benefit, such as a retirement or invalidity pension would, in the long-term, increase benefit expenditure by an estimated £100 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to correct the misleading impression given by the errors in the Government's pamphlet explaining the new pension scheme.

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Brotherton) on 12th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the total disbursements for 1977 for supplementary benefit; and what was the total cost of administration.

It is estimated that the total disbursements for the 1977–78 financial year for supplementary benefits will be £2,252 million and that the total cost of their administration will be £260 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of social security benefits paid out, during the latest 12 months period for which figures are available, in respect of unemployment benefit.

The cost of unemployment benefit paid during 1977–78 is currently estimated at £653 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he proposes to introduce any new population measures; and whether, in particular, he intends to implement the new EEC Commission directive aimed at increasing the birth rate, by the payment of 100 units of account for every child born in or out of wedlock.

I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of social security benefits paid out, during the latest 12 month period for which figures are available in respect of sickness benefit.

An estimated £595 million in the 1977–78 financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of social security benefits paid out, during the latest 12 month period for which figures are available, in respect of women between the ages of 16 and 60 years; men between the ages of 16 and 65 years, living alone, in which the fact that they are living alone makes a difference to the benefit; and if he will break down the benefits and amounts by main categories.

I regret that information about the amounts of benefit is not available, but on 1st December 1976 supplementary allowances were payable to lone persons under pensionable age as follows:

	Men	Women
Unemployed persons	72,000	24,000
Sick or disabled persons	19,000	34,000
Widows	—	13,000
Others	1,000	2,000

Social security benefits other than supplementary pensions or allowances are not affected by whether a person is living alone.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the number of representations he has received from pharmacists concerning their remuneration for dispensing services.

I have received 330 letters on this subject since 20th March 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the total money to be paid in child benefit, under the new rates announced on 11th April 1978, in the year 1978–19 and 1979–80, respectively.

In 1978–79 about £1,810 million and in 1979–80 about £2,775 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what action he proposes to take in view of the urgent need at the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary for the replacement of X-ray equipment, which is now becoming obsolete and if not replaced will lead to a breakdown or a reduction of certain services;(2) what action he proposes to take in the light of the fact that the district management team in Huddersfield has a 10-year plan to spend over £1 million on X-ray equipment, and unless this programme is accepted, it is almost certain that there will be a breakdown or reduction of certain services.

It is for the Kirklees Area Health Authority to consider the 10–15year programme which has been drawn up by the district management team for the replacement of equipment. I understand that there is no immediate need to replace any of the X-ray equipment at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

asked the Secretary of State for Health and Social Services what action he proposes to take in view of the fact that because of the long waiting list, particularly for operations, the district management team in Huddersfield is seriously considering a "weekdays only" ward at either the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, or at St. Luke's; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has issued general guidance on measures to reduce waiting lists. It is in accordance with this guidance that the Huddersfield district management team is investigating the possible development of day surgery and five-day surgical facilities in order to increase throughput of cases and thereby reduce waiting lists.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is the intention to reprint the booklet "People with Epilepsy"; and, if not, if he will make a statement on in what form future information on the nature and scope of services for epileptic people will be provided.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Sims) on 3rd April.—[Vol. 947, c. 30–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in the current discussion with the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales on organic changes in local government, what steps he is taking to take account of the views of the Association of County Councils as well as the Association of District Councils.

I am well aware of the views of the Association of County Councils, which I discussed fully with their representatives at a meeting on 22nd December 1977.In considering the results of the present consultation, the Government will give full weight to the association's preference for a period of stability in local government, as well as to the views of those wishing for some limited change. We have drawn attention to the specific proposals for change made by the Association of District Councils, because we could not otherwise have been certain that the bodies consulted—including the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales—would be aware of them and able to comment on them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the hon. Member for Chertsey and Walton may expect an answer to his letter of 10th March concerning the application of the noncontributory invalidity pension for married women to those women over 60 years of age.

I wrote to the hon. Member on 13th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the hon. Member for Chertsey and Walton may expect an answer to his letter of 3rd March concerning the application of the new occupational pension scheme to divorcees.

I wrote to the hon Member on 14th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to promote retirement planning courses along the lines of those arranged by the Leicester Council for Voluntary Service.

I have been asked to reply.Preparation for retirement is recognised as an important element in provision for the elderly. Discussions are now taking place between my Department, the Home Office and the Departments of Employment and of Health and Social Security with a view to future arrangements for funding such activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the issuing of 25,000 photographs of himself is now costing over £5,000 per annum, and in view of the Government's policy of reducing expenditure, he will cease this practice from the commencement of the new financial year.

My right hon. Friend sees no reason to change a practice which has existed under successive administrations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current selling price of the "Commonwealth Year Book" produced under the aegis of his Department; and if he is satisfied that its cost is commensurate with its content.

The price of the current edition of the Year Book of the Commonwealth, which is published by HMSO, is £11·50. The Year Book is revised annually and is the only up-to-date source of information on the 36 countries of the Commonwealth. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that its cost is commensurate with its content.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of St. Lucia during the 14 years of the premiership of John Compton.

The British Government maintain a warm, cordial relationship with the Government of St. Lucia. As my right hon. and noble Friend stated in another place on 12th April, I had discussions with the Premier of St. Lucia and members of the St. Lucia Opposition last month on the question of the termination of the status of association between St. Lucia and the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to insist on the inclusion of the Patriotic Front military movement in any negotiations for a Rhodesian constitutional settlement; and if he will make a statement.

It remains the view of my right hon. Friend that all the parties principally involved should be included in negotiations for a constitutional settlement in Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are his plans for a publicity and educational campaign to alert the public to the new toxic, inflammable and dangerous chemical warning signs that have been issued by the EEC.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total value of regional development grant payments made to the British Steel Corporation in the years 1976 and 1977; and what percentage of the total regional development grants made those payments represented.

In 1976 regional development grants totalling £71·0 million were paid to the British Steel Corporation, representing 18·3 per cent. of the total value of grant. 1n 1977, £56·9 million of grant was paid, representing 17·2 per cent. of the total grant paid.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what consideration he has given to extending or adapting the regional development grant to cover service industries.

The question of extending the scope of RDGs has been considered from time to time, but it is in line with the Government's industrial strategy that resources available for these grants should be concentrated on the encouragement of investment in manufacturing industry in the assisted areas and there are no plans to extend RDGs to the service industries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the non-ferrous minerals located in national parks in the United Kingdom, the reserves of ore bodies discovered to date in such areas and the percentage these represent in United Kingdom totals of each mineral.

Deposits of a wide range of non-ferrous minerals falling within my Department's responsibilities are located in national parks. Those with reserves in the accepted sense of deposits workable under current economic conditions are: barytes, chemical limestone, china clay, fluorspar, industrial sand, lead, potash and tungsten. Sufficient information about mineral reserves to enable those in national parks to be expressed as a percentage of United Kingdom totals is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to announce the future manufacturing programme of British Aerospace, including its programme for new aircraft production.

My right hon. Friend's consent is required only for any aircraft or guided weapon development which is estimated to cost British Aerospace and its wholly-owned subsidiaries more than £25 miillion. As and when proposals on such developments are received from British Aerospace, which is examining a number of potential new civil aircraft projects, they will be carefully considered by the Government. This applies equally to the Corporation's proposals concerning the HS 146 feederliner.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the Government have now received new and revised European Economic Community ceilings of financial aids to investment in assisted areas; and, if so, whether he will publish them.

The Commission's communication containing the new and revised ceilings on regional aids has not yet been sent to the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress the European Commission is making in the review that it has been carrying out of the United Kingdom's system of regional aids; and in what ways the Government have been involved with and assisting in that review.

The Commission's review of the United Kingdom system of regional aids is continuing, but it will be some time before the review can be completed and the results of it are known. The Government have been providing statistical information requested by the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will direct the National Enterprise Board to enter into negotiations with Spillers-French Ltd. with a view to taking into public ownership the bakeries which are to be closed.

No. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food set out the Government's position on this matter in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Radice) on 10th April.—[Vol. 947, cc. 975–82.]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether it is the policy of the Government to establish strategic stocks of metal in prospect of further disruption in Africa.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has considered the possibility of stocking certain types of heavy crude oil from overseas sources including the Midle East and Venezuela as a temporary insulation against subsequent price rises by members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Most oil stocked in the United Kingdom is held by oil companies which have received directions under Section 6 of the Energy Act 1976. These stocks reflect a balance between heavy and light crudes which take account of consumption requirements as well as relative prices. I do not consider the present level of stocks to be inadequate in the light of prospective price increases, taking into account security considerations as well as the significant costs of holding stocks.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what estimates he has made of the calls that Rolls-Royce is likely to make on the funds of the National Enterprise Board in the forseeable future.

This is primarily a matter for the NEB which is responsible for deciding the allocation of its funds between the subsidiary companies within its overall financial provision. Rolls-Royce's future financial requirements are currently the subject of discussions between my Department and the NEB.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the Government expect to be consulted or advised of the extent of any future provision of public funds to Rolls-Royce by the National Enterprise Board; and, if so, how.

Although the funding of its subsidiaries is primarily a matter for the NEB, my Department is broadly aware of the NEB's intentions through consideration of the company's annual and long term business plans. In addition, arrangements exist for consultation about specific projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what investigations he has made into the proposed merger between Northern Engineering and Babcock and Wilcox; and whether he will make a statement, in view of the public funds previously paid to these firms.

A merger of the water tube boiler interests of Babcock and Wilcox Ltd and Northern Engineering Ltd was recommended by the CPRS in its report on the United Kingdom power plant industry. The companies have been in negotiation on the terms of a merger and my Department has been kept fully informed. The companies' proposals are now under discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many warrant sales were granted to Post Office Telephones in Scotland in each of the last five years for the recovery of debt arising from unpaid domestic telephone accounts.

This is a matter for the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the assistance given to Cornwall Tin Mining Ltd. over the last five years; and what consultations he has had with the company in connection with any application for assistance for its tin mine at Mount Wellington, near Chacewater, Truro.

Over the past five years my Department has provided the following assistance to Cornwall Tin and Mining Ltd.:—

Financial year	Selective Financial Assistance	Regional Development Grants
	£	£
1975–76	800,000	632,626
1976–77	—	292,638
1977–78	—	89,128

My officials have kept in close touch with the company. Meetings have been held in London—the latest on 14th April—and a number of visits have been made to the mine.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry in what specific respects the criteria for assistance under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 are being relaxed in order to promote new industry, or modernise existing industry, in areas of high unemployment which do not fall within assisted area boundaries.

Part III of the Criteria for Assistance to Industry—Appendix A of the 1975–76 Report on the Industry Act 1972—indicates that proposals consistent with the statutory provisions of Section 8 assistance will be assessed taking full account of social costs and benefits, including employment considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what salary levels for university technicians would be required at the latest available date if the salaries achieved at 1st October 1971, as a consequence of the job evaluation exercise carried out jointly by the employers, trade union and the managers and productivity sector of the Department of Employment, were updated to equate with the movement in retail price and earnings index since that date; and, in view of the commitment given by the Government to university leaders to rectify the anomalies in the pay structure as such as pay policy permits, if she will give a similar undertaking to university technicians.

The figures requested are set out in the table below:

Grades	Salaries 1971	Notional Salaries 1978 (RPI)*	Notional Salaries 1978 (IAE)†
	£	£	£
1	996–1,248	2,356–2,953	2,504–3,138
2	1,134–1,530	2,683–3,620	2,851–3,847
3	1,398–1,653	3,308–3,911	3,515–4,156
4	1,587–1,887	3,755–4,464	3,990–4,745
5	1,740–2,100	4,117–4,968	4,375–5,280
6	2,088–2,574	4,940–6,090	5,250–6,472
7	2,517–2,889	5,955–6,835	6,329–7,264
8	2,901–3,885	6,864–9,192	7,294–9,768
* These figures are obtained by adjusting the 1971 salaries in accordance with the movement in the retail price index (RPI 1962 base) from September 1971 to March 1978.
† These figures are obtained by adjusting the 1971 salaries in accordance with the movement in the index of average earnings (IAE 1970 base) from September 1971 to January 1978 (provisional figures).

The anomaly in the pay of university teachers is exceptional since it arises solely from the Government's pay policy blocking a cost-of-living increase that had been taken for granted for the purpose of an arbitration award in 1975. The Government would not regard the position of university technicians as analagous, nor is my Department directly involved in their pay negotiations, in contrast with the Department's participation in negotiations on university teachers' salaries.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how, pursuant to the relevant announcement in the Budget Statement, she will reimburse local education authorities for the increased cost of providing school meals which is not to be recovered by increased charges for those meals; and whether she will confirm that no extra cost will fall upon the rates.

Local authorities will be reimbursed in full for the income which they might otherwise have expected from higher school meal charges at the beginning of the next school year. My right hon. Friend has already initiated discussions with the local authority associations on the means of reimbursement.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, in view of the growing practice of senior civil servants retiring on index-linked pensions and going into private and public services full-time and part-time where such appointments could and in some instances must conflict with their previous employment, whether he will take action to prevent such appointments being taken up until at least five years have elapsed from retirement.

As I know my hon. Friend is aware, there are rules which relate to the acceptance by former civil servants of certain appointments after retirement. These are set out in paragraph 9961 of the Civil Service pay and conditions service code, a copy of which is in the Library. They include provision for cases at the highest level to be referred by the Prime Minister to an independant advisory committee whose chairman is presently my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Diamond. The committee reports its conclusions directly to the Prime Minister. I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave on 23d Marsh to my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk)—[Vol. 946. c. 681)—showing the relatively small number of applications under the rules received from senior civil servants of under-secretary grade or above. My hon. Friend is also no doubt aware that the same rules apply to members of the Diplomatic Service and the Armed Forces. I am satisfied that the existing rules provide adequate safeguards and that they are not abused.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish in the Official Report a list of all the organisations which have given oral and written evidence to him concerning the future of small businesses in the United Kingdom.

The following organisations have put views to me orally:

• The Association of British Chambers of Commerce
• The Association of Independent Businesses
• The Clearing Banks
• Confederation of British Industry Smaller Firms Control
• The Co-operative Bank
• Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas
• The Development Commission
• Industrial and Commercial Finance Corpoation Ltd
• Insurance Associations Joint Research Council
• The Law Society
• The National Chamber of Trade
• National and Commercial Development Capital
• The National Enterprise Board
• The National Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses
• The National Research Development Corporation
• The 1972 Industry Group
• The Small Business Capital Fund
• The Union of Independent Companies
• The Unquoted Companies Group

I shall write to the hon. Member with a list of the organisations who have sent me written evidence.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list his official engagements for 17th April.

Apart from my duties in this House, I have meetings today with my officials.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the annual amount of interest payable to the British Government on outstanding aid and development loans to each of the developing countries categorised as the poorest in the world; and what proposals the Government have to forgo payment of that interest.

The figures requested are attached. They concern the 12 poorest

ANNUAL INTEREST PAYABLE TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ON OUTSTANDING AID AND DEVELOPMENT LOANS BY COUNTRIES CATEGORISED AS THE POOREST IN THE WORLD
£ thousand
					1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985
Afghanistan		…	…	…	15	9	1	—	—	—	—	—
Botswana		…	…	…	69	64	61	54	48	43	38	30
Egypt	…	…	…	…	300	300	299	290	273	257	240	224
India	…	…	…	…	6,103	5,382	4,706	4,098	3,511	2,900	2,282	1,683
Kenya	…	…	…	…	1,850	1,756	1,656	1,550	1,423	1,295	1,155	1,008
Malawi		…	…	…	120	111	102	93	83	72	62	49
Pakistan		…	…	…	1,464	1,252	1,088	953	833	712	588	466
Sierra Leone		…	…	…	255	232	212	188	164	139	113	85
Sudan	…	…	…	…	130	106	83	60	38	9	—	—
Tanzania		…	…	…	177	160	142	124	105	89	72	53
Uganda*		…	…	…	456	420	376	329	281	229	177	119
Lesotho		…	…	…	17	15	14	12	12	10	8	7
Total		…	…	…	10·956	9,807	8,740	7,751	6,771	5,755	4,735	3,724
					1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993
Afghanistan		…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Botswana		…	…	…	26	17	13	9	4	1	—	—
Egypt	…	…	…	…	206	191	173	158	140	123	107	89
India	…	…	…	…	1,164	755	433	162	12	—	—	—
Kenya	…	…	…	…	864	732	624	531	445	362	296	236
Malawi		…	…	…	38	24	13	5	—	—	—	—
Pakistan		…	…	…	340	220	121	55	9	—	—	—
Sierra Leone		…	…	…	57	33	25	19	13	5	†	†
Sudan	…	…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tanzania		…	…	…	33	19	15	9	5	1	†	—
Uganda*		…	…	…	61	27	2	—	—	—	—	—
Lesotho		…	…	…	4	3	†	†	†	†	—	—
Total		…	…	…	2,793	2,021	1,419	948	628	492	403	325
					1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	Total
Afghanistan		…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	25
Botswana		…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	477
Egypt	…	…	…	…	74	56	41	23	8	—	—	3,572
India	…	…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	33,191
Kenya	…	…	…	…	176	121	79	57	35	14	4	16,269
Malawi		…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	772
Pakistan		…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	8,101
Sierra Leone		…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1,540
Sudan	…	…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	426
Tanzania		…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1,004
Uganda*		…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2,477
Lesotho		…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	102
Total		…	…	…	250	177	120	80	43	14	4	67,956
* Interest payments are for loans committed in 1962–64.
† Small amounts which aggregate to less than one thousand.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representation

My right hon. Friend has received no recent representations about the status of an Open University degree as a qualification for a teaching post. There have been some representations about the salaries payable to teachers who are honours graduates of the Open University and these have been referred to the Scottish Teachers Salaries Committee, who have responsibility for such matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a detailed statement on the proposals for compensation for snow damage in Scotland, stating the sources of the funds to be disbursed and the types and headings of claim, the method of assessment and the time and method of submitting the claims.

I am not yet in a position to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Renfrewshire, West on 22nd March—[Vol. 946, c. 554–5.] A circular giving guidance to Scottish local authorities on the special grant towards exceptional expenditure was issued on 28th March, and I am sending a copy to the hon. Lady.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average daily population of non-criminal prisoners held under the Immigration Act 1971 in prison establishments in Scotland in 1976 and 1977.

The average daily population of such prisoners was three in 1976, and five in 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many non-criminal prisoners who were persons held under the Immigration Act 1971 were received into prison establishments in Scotland in 1976 and 1977.

The number of receptions was 41 in 1976 and 46 in 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many non-criminal prisoners were held in prison establishments in Scotland under the Immigration Act 1971 on 31st December 1977; when they were held; and what were their countries of birth.

The number held on 31st December 1977 was six, all in Her Majesty's Prison, Barlinnie. The country of birth of five was Pakistan, and of one, India.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet able to announce the terms of the assistance to be given to farmers and crofters over losses due to snow.

Discussions are still proceeding with the National Farmers' Unions about the assistance to be made available from the fund which the farmers' union are setting up and to which the Government will contribute.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what considerations he has given to obtaining supplies of uranium from Niger until such time as Namibia becomes fully independent.

I am advised that at present it is uncertain that supplies of uranium from producers in the Niger would be available in the period during which contracted supplies from Namibia are required. But investigations into the feasibility of supplies from Niger in the longer term are currently in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give, for each of the past four years, the ascending cost of producing a barrel of North Sea oil; and what his estimate for new fields likely to come into production either later in the current year or next.

It is not possible for reasons of confidentiality to give cost figures for fields coming into production in individual years. Fields coming into production in the past four years have estimated costs of between $3 and $8 a barrel at 1976 prices. Fields expected to come into production later this year or next are estimated to have costs between $4½ and $9 per barrel. These figures are discounted costs of production over the life of the fields, allowing for the cost of capital used.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, of the total list of 45 oil discoveries tabulated in Appendix 4 of the 1977 Brown Book, what percentage of the total he considers could be developed economically (a) under the present tax regime (b) provided crude oil rose to between 15 dollars and 20 dollars a barrel.

(a) Nine, or 20 per cent., of the 45 discoveries listed contain reserves in the proven category—that is, those which on the available evidence are virtually certain to be recoverable under existing technical and market conditions, including the tax regime; (b) a further 20, or 45 per cent., of the 45 discoveries contain reserves in the probable category—that is, those which are estimated to have a better than 50 per cent. chance of being recoverable in foreseeable technical and market conditions, including a rise in crude oil prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, in view of the need to encourage the development of marginal oil or gas fields on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf, whether he is prepared to recommend any additional financial incentives to make their development a viable proposition.

No. The existing fiscal regime for the United Kingdom Continental Shelf has already been designed to encourage the development of smaller and less profitable fields, and there is no evidence that further incentive is needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he intends to make the firm official announcement to launch the sixth round of oil exploration licence areas, following his preliminary statement on 9th April.

I have not yet decided when applications should be invited, but, as the hon. Member will be aware from my statement, a consultative document containing detailed proposals on the terms and conditions for the round is to be published soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how long he expects natural gas supplies from the North Sea to last.

On present estimates of ultimately recoverable reserves and of future depletion rates North Sea gas is expected to be available for some time beyond the end of the century, but the quantities are likely to decline towards the end of that period.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many oil wells have been drilled by BNOC in its role as operator; and how many of these have resulted in a discovery of oil or gas which is currently expected to be capable of being developed on a commercial basis;(2) how many wells have been drilled by consortia of which BNOC is a member; and how many of these have resulted in a discovery of oil or gas which is currently expected to be capable of being developed on a commercial basis.

Twenty exploration wells, according to the Department of Energy's standard classification have so far been completed in which BNOC or its subsidiaries have an equity interest. The Corporation and its subsidiaries have operated three of these. Four oil discoveries have been made, but it is too early to say whether commercial developments will proceed in each case. A further number of wells have been drilled to appraise or develop other discoveries made previously.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many tons of coal per year would be needed to replace the current market for gas if coal were to be converted to gas rather than being used as a solid fuel.

The gas supplied in the United Kingdom in 1976 was about 15,000 million therms. The technology for the conversion of coal to substitute natural gas has not yet been fully developed, but on the basis of published estimates of the conversion efficiency of processes under development, the amount of coal required to produce 15,000 million therms of substitute natural gas would be between 85 and 100 million tons.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the report to him by Gas Gathering Pipelines Ltd.

Gas Gathering Pipelines Ltd. (GGP) has submitted its final report to me and I am studying it. The company is preparing a version of the report which omits commercially confidential information and this will in due course be published.I am grateful to GGP for its report which will merit careful study. One point GGP has stressed both in its final report and in the interim report it submitted in December is that action is urgently needed if flaring from fields near Brent is to be minimised. In accordance with GGP's recommendations I have discussed this aspect with British Gas, BNOC, and Shell/Esso.Shell/Esso—licensees of the Brent oilfield and owners of the FLAGS Gas pipeline from Brent to St. Fergus—have applied for my authorisation under Section 20 of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act to a gas pipe-line link from Cormorant to Brent. They have also entered into negotiations with certain licensees to the west of Brent on the terms of transmitting the gas from their fields through that pipeline and the FLAG system.My general objective is to ensure that all gas which can be collected economically is brought ashore. I have therefore asked Shell-Esso to press forward as urgently as possible their discussions with those other licensees and to keep me closely informed about their progress. I shall have the Shell-Esso proposals very much in mind in considering individual field development plans including proposed pipelines and applications for consent to flare gas.Shell-Esso's present proposals do not deal with the collection of gas from the fields to the north of Brent where a similar gathering system would be needed. There is less urgency about this area as gas is not expected to be available from these fields until about 1982.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions he has had about a return to a fixed parity for sterling.

Government policy for the exchange rate remains as described in the Letter of Intent to the International Monetary Fund. The Government will aim to avoid disruptive fluctuations in the rate, maintain the monetary guidelines, and preserve the competitive position of British industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will specify the sums paid under certificates of indemnity by the national museums in Northern Ireland in respect of claims for loss of, or damage sustained to, objects lent to them during the financial year ended 31st March 1978, divided between (a) claims satisfied in respect of long-term loans to the permanent collections, and (b) claims satisfied in respect of loans to temporary exhibitions.

No such payments were made.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the estimated maximum inflow to Lough Neagh in a 24-hour period and in a seven-day period in each of the last five years, and also showing the maximum outflow possible in a 24-hour and seven-day period;(2) what would be the effect on the level of Lough Neagh of 1 in of rain in the catchment area, if the rainfall in a 24-hour period and the outflow was at its maximum during that period and for 24 hours and 48 hours thereafter;(3) how many acres of arable land surrounding Lough Neagh would be flooded if the level of the lough were to rise to 51 ft, to 51 ft 6 in, to 52 ft, 52 ft 6 in and to 53 ft;(4) how many millions of gallons of water are needed to raise the level of Lough Neagh 1 in; and how many days maximum outflow this represents;(5) when he expects the programme of flow gauging stations for Lough Neagh to be completed; how many are now in operation and how many more are needed;(6) what is the catchment area for Lough Neagh, in square miles and how much of this is in Northern Ireland and how much is in the Irish Republic.

It is not possible to provide answers to these Questions in the time available. I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to insist on the exclusion of the PIRA and IRA military movement from negotiations for a Northern Ireland constitutional settlement; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I have no intention of negotiating with criminals.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, in view of the report of the Welsh Fly Fishing Association of the serious decline in numbers of salmon in Welsh rivers, what steps his Department intend to take in the matter.

This is primarily a matter for the water authorities, which are responsible for salmon conservation within their areas. My right hon. and learned Friend is seeking the views of the authorities concerned with the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish an itemised list of the grants made by the Welsh Office to voluntary organisations in Wales for the year 1977–78.

Grants paid by the Welsh Office in 1977–78 were as follows:

Voluntary Organisations	1977–78
	£
Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin (National Association of Welsh Medium Nursery Schools)	46,375
Pre-school Play Groups	28,000
Welsh Womens Aid	3,500
Age Concern, Wales	11,000
Wales Council for the Blind	3,132
Wales Council for the Disabled	18,500
Council of Social Service for Wales	50,000
National Association for Mental Health (MIND)	18,500
South Wales Council on Alcoholism	22,125
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents	36,240
Welsh Institute of Mental Sub-normality	500
St. John Ambulance	2,000
Family Planning Association	5,000
Action Group on Smoking and Health (ASH)	750
Civic Trust for Wales	2,000
Urdd Gobaith Cymru (Welsh League of Youth)	12,500
Bodies whose aid was taken over from the Development Commission (Rural Community Councils, Rural Councils, Voluntary Service Councils)	136,437
Voluntary Bodies aided by the Development Board for Rural Wales	25,959
Royal National Eisteddfod (Contribution to cost of new pavilion)	50,000
National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs	4,300
Voluntary Bodies Grant-aided by the Sports Council for Wales	180,784
National Gypsy Council	700

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has remitted to the Health and Safety Executive consideration of the handling of Kepone at chemical incinerator plants; and whether, before any prohibition order in existence against the disposal of this poison is modified, he will make a statement.

As I explained in my reply of 11th April to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. Hoyle), Kepone has not yet been imported into the United Kingdom for disposal and the Health and Safety Executive has, by means of a prohibition notice issued under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 taken steps to ensure that such disposal is not carried out by Re-Chem International Ltd. at its Pontypool waste treatment plant until a safe system of work has been established and agreed between the Executive and the company.I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the proposed handling of Kepone at this chemical incineration plant is now under active consideration by the Health and Safety Executive.I am further informed that the prohibition notice currently in force will neither be modified nor lifted until the question of the safety of the disposal operation has been fully investigated and the Health and Safety Executive is satisfied that it can be carried out safely.I have asked the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission to keep me informed of developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, what is the ratio of persons employed in factories to inspectors who actually carry out routine day to day inspections of factories; and what are the corresponding figures for the construction industry, mines and quarries, agriculture and other industrial groups at present covered by their own inspectorates.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the ratios are those shown below.

	Persons employed (approximate)	Inspectors
Manufacturing and Construction	6,217,000*	844
Mines and Quarries	308,000	97
Nuclear	39,000	112
Agriculture	596,000	176
* In addition to the number of persons employed shown, the HSW Act has introduced over 5 million employees as new entrants to the responsibilities of the Factory Inspectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what powers his Department has to ban the import of toxic waste into the United Kingdom.

My right hon. Friend has powers to make regulations under Section 15 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 prohibiting the importation into the United Kingdom or the landing or unloading there of articles or substances of any specified description. Such substances could include toxic waste. Normally he would expect to exercise those powers so as to give effect, with or without modification, to proposals from the Health and Safety Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the Health and Safety Commission has authorised any member of the Commission to perform on behalf of the Commisstion any of its functions; and, if so, what are those functions and on what date the authorisation was granted.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the Commission normally conducts its business and takes decisions as a body. It has, however, authorised the Chairman, or in his absence the Deputy Chairman, to put proposals to the Secretary of State in respect of regulations under the Mines and Quarries Act 1954 which modify the requirements of the regulations in respect of particular mines and which are agreed with both ends of the industry. This decision was made on 17th August 1976.On 21st September 1976, the Commission decided that in cases of urgency the Chairman, or in his absence, the Deputy Chairman, could give a direction to the Executive to carry out investigations under Section 14(2)(

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which of the Health and Safety Commission's functions the Commission has directed the Health and Safety Executive to exercise on its behalf; and on what date or dates those directions were given.

I refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 7 of the first report made to my right hon. Friend under paragraph 14 of Schedule 2 to the Health and Safety at Work etc., Act 1974 in which the Commission described the arrangements made on 1st January 1975, for the Health and Safety Executive to discharge its functions.I am informed by the Chairman of the Commission that these arrangements were embodied in a formal direction to the Executive on 20th July 1976. The Commission further directed the Executive to take on behalf of the Commission such steps as are necessary to maintain the Employment Medical Advisory Service under Section 56 of the Act.In the normal course of its business the Commission is continually giving instructions to the Executive to prepare proposals for the decision of the Commission and to carry out decisions of the Commission—for example, to consult interested parties on its behalf on proposals for regulations, and soon, to carry out functions in accordance with agreements reached with Government Departments and other bodies under Section 13 of the Health and Safety at Work etc., Act.If my hon. Friend would let me know which function he has in mind, I shall be pleased to provide him with details.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of current unemployment is attributed by his Department to the introduction of computer technology; and what were the corresponding percentages for 1975 and 1976.