asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give an assurance that the final act of ratification for direct elections will not be moved by the Government until the salaries of the proposed Members of the European Assembly have been fixed.

I have been asked to reply.The legal basis for determining the salaries of Members of the directly elected European Assembly will be Article 13 of the Council Act of 20th September 1976. It will not, therefore, be possible for the Council to reach a decision on the matter until the Act has entered into force following ratification by all the member States.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps she has taken to resolve the longstanding pay anomaly of university teachers; and whether she will make a statement.

On 23rd March, in reply to Questions from the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby), I informed the House of an agreement reached by the negotiating committee for non-clinical academic staff at universities. This both settled the scales to be paid with effect from 1st October 1977—representing an average addition of 9·8 per cent. to the scales then current—and agreed the scales which, but for the anomaly, should have operated from that date but are at present suspended. At the same time the Government gave an assurance that the anomaly, which the agreed scales would correct, would be rectified over not more than the next three academic years—that is, 1978–79 to 1980–81—and undertook to enable Committee B to consider the matter further within three months, that is to say, before mid-June.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list in the Official Report those schools or training establishments in the area of Lancashire Education Authority which specialise in the education of mentally handicapped children, and indicate in each case the average number of children attending.

The following special schools for educationally subnormal—severe—children are maintained by Lancashire Local Education Authority. The pupil numbers relate to January 1977.

School	No. on Roll
Ashurst, Skelmersdale, Ormskirk	45
Belmont, Rawtenstall	54
Dame Evelyn Fox, Blackburn	92
Elms School, Preston	68
Mayfield, Chorley	53
Parkside, Ormskirk	59
Pear Tree, Preston	58
The Loyne School, Lancaster	73
Townhouse, Nelson	59
Westway, Burnley	35
White Ash, Oswaldtwistle	66
Woodlands, Blackpool	73
Brockhall Hospital School, Blackburn	155
Greaves Hall Hospital School, Banks, near Southport	46
Laneside School, Calderstones Hospital, Blackburn	99
Royal Albert Hospital School, Lancaster	49

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list those powers and sanctions she has towards local authorities which refuse to introduce comprehensive education.

Where it appears to the Secretary of State that progress or further progress is required to give effect in an area to the comprehensive principle set out in Section 1 of the Education Act 1976, she may, under Section 2(1) of that Act, require the local education authority concerned to prepare and submit, within a specified time, proposals to that end. Under Section 2(4) she may also require a local education authority to submit further proposals in substitution of proposals previously submitted under the section which appear to her unsatisfactory.Where any proposals under Section 2 are due to be wholly or partly carried into effect within five years, the Secretary of State may direct under Section 3(1) of the 1976 Act that they shall be treated as if submitted for her approval under Section 13 of the Education Act 1944, as amended. Subsection (9A) of Section 13 places a local education authority under a statutory duty to give effect to proposals for the making of a change in the character of a school which is approved under the section.If the Secretary of State is satisfied that a local education authority has failed to discharge either its duty to submit proposals required under Section 2 of the Act of 1976 or its duty under Section 13(9A) of the Act of 1944 to give effect to proposals, she may make an order under Section 99 of the Act of 1944 declaring it in default of its duty and give such directions for the purpose of enforcing the execution thereof as appear to be expedient. Any such directions are enforceable, on an application made on behalf of the Secretary of State, by

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what dates she approved the three-tier reorganisation of comprehensive education in Retford; when she received the revised two-tier plan from Nottingham County Council; and when she rejected its new proposals.

The dates are respectively 5th November 1976, 14th December 1977 and 13th April 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will take action to prevent Nottingham County Council from further delaying the introduction of a three-tier system of comprehensive education in the Retford area.

In rejecting the recent proposals for a two-tier system of comprehensive education in the Retford area, my right hon. Friend told the Nottinghamshire Local Education Authority that she would now expect it to implement in September 1978 the three-tier system previously approved by her on 5th November 1976. My right hon. Friend has agreed to a request to meet members of the authority on Tuesday 9th May 1978 to discuss the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will list the public spending she has approved for a three-tier system of comprehensive education in the Retford area; how much of this money has been spent on the Carr Hill and Ordsall schools; and whether the adaptation of these schools has been done unnecessarily.

The total estimated cost of the building work necessary for the introduction of comprehensive education in the Retford area is £930,320. Of this, £172,620 relates to the adaptation of Carr Hill and Ordsall Junior Schools for middle school use. This adaptation work is necessary for the proper educational functioning of these buildings as middle schools in the approved three-tier system.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the net cost to public funds of providing school meals in 1977–78; what is the planned net cost for 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82; and how much of the total net cost in each of the years specified is accounted for by the cost of providing free meals (a) to qualifying pupils and (b) to teachers and school meals staff.

, pursuant to her reply [Official Report, 4th May 1978; Vol. 949, c. 201], gave the following information:The estimated outturn expenditure in England and Wales for 1977–78, and the planned expenditure for later years based on the latest public expenditure White Paper (Cnmd. 7049), revalued to 1978 survey prices, are as follows:

		Cost of provision of free meals for
Year	Total net cost £ million	(a) pupils £ million	(b) adults £ million
1977–78	377	111	49
1978–79	323*	136	53
1979–80	265	132	51
1980–81	264	129	51
1981–82	260	126	51
* The decision, announced in the Budget Statement on 11th April 1978, not to increase the charge for the school dinner this autumn will add £56 million to this figure. No decision about the level of charge has been taken for years after 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Australian Government over their refusal to admit members of the Dobbs family of Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, to join relatives already settled in Australia on the grounds of the partial sight of their daughter.

No. Immigration into Australia is entirely a matter for the Australian Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek an agreement with Argentina to end the system which requires a United Kingdom citizen to seek a white card permit from the Argentine Government in order to travel to the Falkland Islands.

Under the terms of the 1971 Joint Statement on Communications, the Argentines issue a travel document—white card—to all residents of the Falkland Islands and Argentina, irrespective of nationality, who wish to travel between the Falkland Islands and Argentina. We are discussing with the Argentines ways of solving the difficulties created by their application of this requirement to travellers not covered by the joint statement.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will extend the inquiry into mischief-making at the Ministry of Defence to determine whether the information that he presented a paper from the Chiefs of Staff to the Cabinet meeting on 20th April came from a source outside the Ministry of Defence.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Arundel (Mr. Marshall) on 27th April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for compensation have been made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board for the years ended 31st March 1975, 1976 and 1977.

The figures are as follows:

1974–75	14,227
1975–76	16,690
1976–77	20,400

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board for aid have been refused in the years ended 31st March 1975, 1976 and 1977.

The figures are as follows:

1974–75	1,510
1975–75	1,786
1976–77	2,047

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the amount in compensation ordered to be paid by the criminal courts which is still outstanding in the last three years for which figures are available.

The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Police College places were made available to officers with the rank of inspector during the past five years; how many are being made available in the current year; and how many he expects to be made available in 1979.

420 in 1973, 1974 and 1975; 525 in 1976 and 560 in 1977 and 1978. The arrangements for inspectors' training are at present under review and it is too early to say how this may affect the length of the relevant courses and thus the number of inspectors attending the Police College in 1979.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will give details of overseas aid money applied to the recent shipping deal with Pakistan and on what date the contract was concluded.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 4th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many disabled persons carrying a blue card are employed by the Department of Health and Social Security in Northern Ireland.

One hundred and four.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many disabled persons carrying a blue card are registered for employment in Northern Ireland.

On 13th April, 2,138 registered disabled people were registered for employment in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many disabled people have been assisted by the job introduction scheme to date; if he is satisfied with take-up of the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

14 disabled people in Northern Ireland have been assisted by the job introduction scheme to date.While this is a somewhat disappointing up-take it compares favourably with the up-take under the similar scheme in operation in Great Britain. The Department of Manpower Services will continue to promote the scheme vigorously.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what qualifications are required to secure a vote in the election for Belfast Harbour Commissioners.

The qualifications for electors entitled to vote at an election of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners are as laid down in Section VIII of the Belfast Harbour Act 1883.To qualify for registration as an elector a person must on 1st November preceding the election reside within 20 miles of the harbour office and possess one of the following qualifications:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what qualifications are required for nomination as a candidate for election to the board of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners.

The qualifications for candidates for election to the board of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners are as laid down in Section IV of the Belfast Harbour Act 1883.A candidate for election to the board of commissioners must reside within 20 miles of the harbour office and must also possess one of the following qualifications:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the community and leisure projects which are planned for the Dunmurry area, giving the cost and location of each, in the financial year 1978–79.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 3rd May 1978; Vol 949, c. 198], gave the following reply:The information is as follows:1.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many young persons, males and females, between the ages of 16 and 21 years are signing the unemployed register at the Falls Road and Shankill Road offices in West Belfast, respectively.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th April 1978; Vol. 948, c. 610], gave the following information:The information is not available in the form requested, but the latest available figures for people under the age of 18 signing the unemployment registers at Falls Road social security office and Shankhill (Danube Street) sub-office of Corporation Street social security office are 805–472 males, 333 female—and 313–173 male, 140 female—respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many males under 30 years old are signing the unemployed register in the Falls Road and Shankill Road local offices in West Belfast, respectively.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th April 1978; Vol. 948, c. 610], gave the following information:This information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many young persons under the age of 21 years, males and females, have ceased to draw unemployment benefit or supplementary benefit at the Falls Road and Shankill Road local offices in West Belfast, respectively, on the grounds that they were leaving for other parts of the United Kingdom.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th April 1978; Vol. 948, c. 611], gave the following reply:This information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many males are registered for employment in Great Britain at the latest available date; and what were the figures for each year since 1970.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the number of males registered for employment in Great Britain in March 1978 was 990,478. The figures for March each year since 1970 are as follows:

March 1970	564,875
March 1971	609,729
March 1972	771,122
March 1973	580,280
March 1974	519,344
March 1975	647,174
March 1976	932,290
March 1977	959,928

All the above figures include both unemployed and still employed registrants.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the gross cost and the estimated net cost of the temporary employment subsidy for the financial years 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, and 1978–79 and 1979–80.

The net cost of the TES is inconsiderable and no estimates have been made. The actual gross costs for the three financial years to 31st March 1978 and the estimated costs to 31st March 1980 are given below.

Financial year and Gross costs
	(£ millions)
1975–76	2·7
1976–77	92·4
1977–78	173·7
1978–79	197
1979–80	67

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the assumptions on which the Government base their calculations of the net cost of the temporary employment subsidy to public funds.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 28th April to a Question by the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Page).—[Vol. 948, c. 701.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of jobs which have been lost in those firms not in receipt of the temporary employment subsidy, and of the resultant cost to public funds.

I regret that I am unable to supply the information requested. It is not possible to estimate with any confidence the extent, timing and therefore cost to public funds of job displacement occurring as a result of TES.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in view of Section 11 of the Employment Protection Act, reference by the Engineers' and Managers' Association to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, his Department will be taking any action to ensure that conciliation with employers is reached; and whether he envisages a successful outcome, unlike when the Shipbuilding and Allied Industries Management Association submitted similar claims to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

Action on a recognition reference under Section 11 of the Employment Protection Act is a matter for the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service and not for my right hon. Friend or my Department. It would not be appropriate for me to speculate on the outcome of any such reference.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportions of the people at work in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, respectively, are employed currently in the public sector.

I regret the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he proposes to take on the recommendation of the Select Committee on Race Relations and Immigration that the work permit quotas for hotel and catering and domestic workers and nursing auxiliaries should be further reduced and dates given for their termination.

Special arrangements exist for the issue of work permits for overseas workers in the hotel and catering industry because of the difficulties experienced by some employers in attracting suitable workers from the home labour force. Under these arrangements permits are available up to a numerical ceiling which is determined annually for work which does not meet the skills standard of the general scheme.The need for these arrangements is to some extent a symptom of more general manpower problems in the industry. In a reply to the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) on 22nd March I referred to an informal consultation I held with representatives of the industry on 16th March. After a useful exchange of views it was agreed that further discussion of these problems would take place within the Hotel and Catering Economic Development Committee.The ceiling of work permits for the industry has been progressively reduced from 8,500 in 1975 to 1,500 this year and permits are no longer issued for unskilled workers. They continue to be available for semi-skilled as well as skilled workers. Although no precise date can be given, it is the Government's intention to terminate these special arrangements as soon as it is reasonable and practicable to do so.In the light of persistent high levels of unemployment the ceiling of work permits for domestic workers and nursing auxiliaries has been progressively reduced from 8,000 in 1975 to the current level of 1,500. This type of work especially in households where care of the young, the elderly, the physically or mentally handicapped or the sick is involved has not for some years attracted enough candidates from the home labour force. Since August 1977 permits issued against this ceiling have been restricted to nationals of non-EEC European countries—EEC nationals do not require them. The Government consider that before further reductions in this quota or its termination are considered it is necessary to assess the effects of this change over a period of time.The issue of permits against both these quotas is of course subject to the normal requirement of the work permit scheme that no suitable worker is available in the resident labour force and that the employer has made adequate efforts to find one.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those topics on which it is not his practice to answer Parliamentary Questions; and if he will list any changes in practice since 1972, indicating in each case the date on which the change was made and the relevant references in the Official Report.

, pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 2nd May 1978; Vol. 949, c. 71], gave the following information:It is not possible to provide a definitive and exhaustive list of Questions which I might exceptionally decline to answer on grounds other than cost. As in 1972, each Question will continue to be considered on its merits but, by way of example, the following would continue to fall into the category: Questions seeking information regarding

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the hon. Member for Chertsey and Walton may expect a reply to his letter of 27th February 1978 about parking for disabled drivers.

I regret the delay in replying to the hon. Member, but will do so next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in view of the number of shuttle accidents which took place on the evening of 1st May in the area of major road works on the M1 in Hertfordshire, he will indicate how many listed or reported accidents have occurred since this work was undertaken and what improvements in the traffic flow and safety precautions have taken place, in the light of the experience of the operation to date.

By 3rd May, 105 accidents had taken place. There are numerous warning signs set out to a carefully designed plan, and an advisory speed limit, but many drivers ignore the warnings, and travel too fast and too close.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the cost to central funds if additional rate support grant money was made available to those local authorities whose declared assessments for the current year exceed 11 per cent., using the following proposed scale of rebates: range of rate declared, 11–15 per cent., rebate proposed, 2½ per cent., range of rate declared, 15–20 per cent., rebate proposed, 5 per cent., range of rate declared, over 20 per cent., rebate proposed, 7½ per cent.

The cost to the Exchequer of additional grant paid to local authorities on the basis proposed would be:

	£ million
Rebate of 2½ per cent. to authorities whose rate increases are 11 per cent. or more but are less than 15 per cent.	21·56
Rebate of 5 per cent. to authorities whose rate increases are 15 per cent. more but are less than 20 per cent.	9·92
Rebate of 7½ per cent. to authorities whose rate increases are 20 per cent. or more	—
	31·48

These figures are based on the increases of the average general rate in each rating authority between 1st April 1977 and 1st April 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to outline his proposals on nuclear waste disposal.

Since I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales assumed responsibility for radioactive waste management policy in May 1977, we have been reviewing the current arrangements for controlling radioactive waste, and the adequacy of research into radioactive waste management. I shall shortly be announcing the establishment of a radioactive waste management advisory committee and we shall wish to take its advice on a wide range of issues before formulating any proposals on radioactive waste management policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about licensing arrangements for the disposal of the American insecticide Kepone in the United Kingdom.

I have answered eight Questions on matters arising out of the proposal to import a quantity of Kepone for incineration in this country and have received more than a dozen letters. Although most have expressed or implied disquiet over the proposal none has represented that existing controls are inadequate. Meanwhile, as my hon. Friend will be aware, the Health and Safety Executive has issued a prohibition notice to prevent the disposal of the chemical at the Pontypool plant for which it had been destined. That prohibition notice will not be lifted unless and until I and my right hon and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales are fully satisfied that the disposal could go ahead without causing any environmental damage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will institute an inquiry into the ways in which house and flat building in Europe has avoided damp, with a view to using similar methods of construction and design in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

The Department obtains information from other European countries about building practice and problems. The evidence available on the incidence of damp and the degree of success in avoiding it is not such as to suggest that the experience of those countries would be relevant to many problems particular to this country; for example, differences in climatic conditions and patterns of living can produce substantially different effects. I therefore do not think that a specific inquiry on this subject is required.My hon. Friend will be aware that, although there can be various reasons for damp, present evidence indicates that the main cause in the case of recently built dwellings, and particularly of those built before the increase in thermal insulation standards in 1975, is condensation due to insufficient heat and ventilation. The trouble is often worse in the case of highly exposed dwellings and is sometimes compounded by high fuel costs which make some people—especially those with low incomes—turn down or switch off their heating. This is a problem of great concern to the Government and I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to what I said on the subject—with particular reference to the difficulties of those people who occupy electrically heated dwellings—in the Adjournment debate on 20th April 1978.—[Vol. 948, c. 853–64.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average percentage increase in rates and in wages, respectively, during the last convenient 12-month period; and if he will seek to ensure that increases in rates do not exceed the average wage increase in the future.

The most recent 12-month period during which increases in earnings can be compared with increases in rates is from April 1976 to April 1977. During this period the average gross weekly earnings of men aged 21 and over and women aged 18 and over in England and Wales rose by 9·4 per cent. and the average general rates in England and Wales rose by 10·088 per cent. The figures for the whole of the United Kingdom are not available.Individual authorities must decide the rates they need to levy in the light of their own financial circumstances and decisions about expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the annual cost of his Department's small firms information centres; what is their total staff; and what are the required job specifications for the work involved.

The annual cost of the small firms information centres, together with the facility provided by the Liverpool sub-office is £326,000 at 1977 prices. The total number of staff in the centres is 36 and all are drawn from the administration grade of the Civil Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give details of any further shipping deals that are currently being negotiated with Poland in addition to the one referred to in the Written Answer by the Minister of State, Official Report, 15th February 1978, c. 243–4.

It would not be right for me to speculate on the possible outcome of commercial discussions which at this stage are a matter for British Shipbuilders.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to announce details of the new Shipbuilding Intervention Fund, and whether the EEC Commission has given its approval.

I have nothing to add to the reply given on 10th April to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Arnold).—[Vol. 947, c. 963.]

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he expects a decision to be announced concerning the Performing Right Society.

I understand that the Director General of Fair Trading is still considering the position of the Performing Right Society both as regards the restrictive trade practices legislation and the monopoly provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973, and will reach a decision as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Macclesfield, 26th April, if he will publish in the Official Report the individual locations and names of companies operating registered ready-mixed concrete cartels within each of the specified locations so that against the name of each town appears the name of the particular company.

The information can be obtained from the public register maintained by the Director General of Fair Trading. It could not be provided in the Official Report except at disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total cost of printing and distributing each of the following five publications prepared following consultation required by Section 3(1) of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968, namely: cattle, pigs, domestic fowl, turkeys and sheep.

The cost of printing and distributing the welfare codes for cattle, pigs, domestic fowls and turkeys in 1969 is estimated at approximately £14,000. Revised codes were issued in 1971 at an estimated cost of approximately £17,000. On each occasion the four codes were distributed together, and the estimates of cost cannot be apportioned between them. The cost of printing and distributing the welfare code for sheep, issued in 1978, is estimated at approximately £12,500.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, prior to the publication of the pamphlet on sheep in December 1977 pursuant to the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968, Part 1, what consultation took place and with what bodies.

A proposed code of recommendations for the welfare of sheep, on which my right hon. Friend the Minister and the other Agriculture Ministers had received advice from the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, was circulated in June 1976 to 56 interested organisations in England and Wales and 36 in Scotland, including farming and allied organisations, animal welfare bodies, scientific and professional bodies, and agricultural and veterinary departments of Universities. Comments from any other interested persons and bodies were invited by Press notice. The observations were taken into account in the preparation of the final version of the code which was submitted to Parliament for approval in December 1977.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions there have been in each year since the passing of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 brought under Section 1(1) of that Act.

No information is available about the number of such prosecutions initiated without assistance from my Department.The number of prosecutions under the 1968 Act taken by the Ministry or in which staff of the State Veterinary Service have assisted the police or animal welfare societies is as follows:

1968	Nil
1969	Nil
1970	Nil
1971	1
1972	Nil
1973	Nil
1974	4
1975	3
1976	Nil
1977	3

In addition, during the same period, staff of the State Veterinary Service have assisted police or welfare societies in 18 other cases where charges were brought under the Protection of Animals Acts for offences involving suffering by livestock on agricultural land.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total tonnage of carcases and live exports of mutton and Iamb in 1976 and 1977; and what was the value of both.

The information on exports of carcase mutton and lamb and live sheep, excluding those for breeding, is as follows:

MUTTON AND LAMB
	tonnes	£'000
1976	32,608	32,748
1977	44,606	54,792

LIVE SHEEP
	tonnes	£'000
1976	11,701	5,939
1977	12,660	7,758

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of moving from the £40 limit to complete abolition of the earnings rule at current rates of benefit.

If the earnings rule had been abolished, instead of the earnings limit being set at £40, it is estimated that the cost to the National Insurance Fund for the year November 1977 to November 1978 would have been about £225 million. This calculation takes account of the fact that from 6th April 1978 primary Class 1, and Class 2 and 4 contributions are no longer payable beyond pensionable age.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of moving from the £45 limit to complete abolition of the earnings rule at the new benefit rates proposed for November 1978.

If the earnings rule were abolished, instead of the earnings limit being set at £45, it is estimated that the cost to the National Insurance Fund for the year November 1978 to November 1979 would be about £230 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were deferring retirement at the latest date for which figures are available.

The number of people deferring retirement has been provisionally estimated as 95,000 men and 35,000 women at the end of November 1977. This is the number of people with an underlying title to retirement pension on their own contributions but who are not receiving retirement pension or invalidity pension.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if regional health authorities allocating resources for the treatment of renal failure allow for a special sum to be used for extra expenses of alteration of premises for home dialysis in addition to the cost of providing the kidney machine and its initial installation.

The allocation of funds for the treatment of renal failure is a matter for regional and area health authorities and there is no actual record of the methods of financing these services. However, health authorities are responsible for funding any necessary adaptations to provide suitable accommodation for home dialysis, and also for meeting the running costs of the machines and maintaining the dialysis room at the required temperature. I would expect health authorities to take these factors into account when determining their budgets for home dialysis, and I have no evidence that they are not doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many regional health authorities have not yet taken up his special allocation for renal units for children.

Paediatric dialysis is a highly specialised service and the additional special medical development funds were made available last year to enable the expansion of facilities for child patients in each of six supra-regional centres. Five of the six health authorities expected to take up these funds have indicated their intention of doing so, and proposals from two other regions are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what action he is taking to ensure that medical receptionists employed by general practitioners are paid their agreed increments which were frozen under stage 2 of pay policy, without jeopardising freely negotiated pay awards under stage 3;(2) what action he is taking to ensure that there is no disparity in rates of pay between medical receptionists employed by area health authorities and those of similar grades employed by general practitioners.

Receptionists and secretaries who work for general practitioners are normally employed by the general practitioners and not by the NHS. The practitioners in turn are independent contractors to the NHS. The terms and conditions of service and the remuneration paid to the ancillary staff are therefore matters between the general practitioner and the staff concerned and I have no right to interfere.My Department reimburses directly a proportion of the salaries paid by general practitioners to their staff and advises general practitioners on the application of pay policy. General practitioners have been advised that the cost of paying increments should be contained within a settlement consistent with pay policy. In accordance with Government pay policy reimbursement is not extended to increases which do not comply with the policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many teenagers are now in receipt of social security benefit; and how many received it in each of the last six years.

I will circulate the available information in the Official Report as soon as it can be assembled.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the rationalisation of hospital services in the Greenwich and Bexley area.

In December 1977 I told the health authorities that I was unwilling to agree to the closure of St. Nicholas Hospital and I asked them to consider the practicality of transferring services from the Memorial Hospital and the British Hospital for Mothers and Babies to other hospitals in the area. I have now considered the views of the health authorities on these proposals, together with the comments of the community health council, local authorities, staff interests and other bodies and individuals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the tax imposed by the European Community upon its retired officials at different levels of pension and the comparable tax paid by retired civil servants at the equivalent rates of pension, both on the assumption that the pensioners concerned have no other source of income.

Differences in job grades, salaries and pension entitlements make it impossible to draw precise comparisons between the United Kingdom and the EEC in the treatment afforded by each of them to pensioners. However, an illustration of the impact of taxation by the EEC on the pensions of its former employees may be given by looking at the pension payable to a retired United Kingdom civil servant, converting the sterling amount into Belgian francs at current exchange rates, and computing the level of EEC tax chargeable. The table below does this for two representative grades of the United Kingdom Civil Service.

Pension	United Kingdom tax as percentage of gross income	EEC tax as percentage of gross income
Principal	19·2	6·7
Assistant Secretary	23·5	7·2

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the new grossed-up standard rate of income tax plus national insurance contribution, not contracted out, if one takes into account that the latter is not tax allowable.

The present basic rate of income tax is 34 per cent., and the rate of national insurance contribution payable by employees earning up to £120 per week and not contracted out of the new pension scheme is 6½ per cent. Since both alike are charged on the same basis, the combined rate for the two is 40½ per cent. I am not clear what the hon. Member has in mind in his reference to grossing up.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the 4 million people who will only pay income tax at the rate of 25 per cent. in the year 1978–79 will be (a) earning wives, (b) young people under 18 years and (c retired people.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 27th April 1978 Vol. 948, c. 674], gave the following information:The total number of taxpayers, counting earning wives separately, who will pay tax at the 25 per cent. rate as their marginal rate of 1978–79 is estimated at approximately 4,600,000.Of these, about 1,700,000 are earning wives and 1,000,000 taxpayers aged 65 or over. Figures for young people under age 18 and for retired persons are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the reduction in weekly tax as a consequence of proposed 1978 Budget changes for a single person with income of £120 per week, together with the corresponding increase in national insurance contributions.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 3rd May, 1978; Vol. 949, c. 185], gave the following information:The reduction in income tax for a single man is £1·56 per week while the change in national insurance contributions is an increase of £1·76 per week for a person not contracted out of the new pension scheme and a reduction of 80p per week for a person contracted out.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total value of value added tax raised from food items brought into the scope of value added tax since February 1974, for each financial year since then.

It is estimated that net receipts of VAT on confectionery, ice cream, soft drinks, nuts and certain savoury products supplied other than in the course of catering were:

	£million
1974–75	85
1975–76	135
1976–77	155
1977–78	180

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis an agency such as the Welsh Development Agency is treated for tax purposes.

An agency such as the Welsh Development Agency which is established as an independent body corporate is a "company" within the meaning of the Taxes Acts and subject to the same tax rules as other bodies corporate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions the Inland Revenue has been given rights of entry to private premises with warrants to obtain documents under Section 20B of Schedule 6 to the Finance Bill 1976.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much it would cost in 1978–79 to grant capital allowances for new retail buildings at the same rates as those proposed for agricultural buildings.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much it would cost in 1978–79 to grant capital allowances for new retail buildings at the same rate as those for industrial buildings.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much it would cost in 1978–79 to grant capital allowances for new retail buildings at the same rate as those proposed for new hotels.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West on Monday 6th February, if he will now state the total interest paid on all public sector borrowing, both as a percentage of gross private sector product and of gross public sector product, for each of the years 1947, 1957, 1967 and 1977.

The figures which are available are given in the table below. No sectoral analysis of GDP is available for 1947; the sectoral composition of GDP in 1977 is not yet available.

PUBLIC SECTOR DEBT INTEREST AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE INCOME-BASED MEASURE OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AT FACTOR COST
	Private sector component	Public sector component	Total GDP
1957	6·6	20·5	5·0
1967	6·7	19·3	5·0
1977	n.a.	n.a.	5·8

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many divers or diving supervisors, having duties of employment of the type referred to in Clause 24 of the Finance Bill, paid tax under Schedule E in 1977–78;(2) whether he will state the number of people who would pay tax under Schedule D rather than Schedule E, following the implementation of Clause 24 of the Finance Bil.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2nd May 1978; Vol. 949, c. 105], gave the following information:On the basis of thise employed last year, about 1,500 divers and diving supervisors will, if Clause 24 of the Finance Bill is enacted, pay tax under Schedule D instead of Schedule E.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the estimated loss of revenue that would result from the enactment of Clause 24 of the Finance Bill.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2nd May 1978; Vol. 949, c. 105], gave the following answer:This information is given in Table 16 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1978–79.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he expects the cost to be in the first and subsequent year of the change in farm building allowances contained in the Finance Bill 1978.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 3rd May 1978; Vol. 949, c. 190], gave the following answer:I refer the hon. Member to Table 16 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1978–79.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the practice of the Inland Revenue to allocate to each of the income tax years in which it was generated the appropriate portion of interest paid by the Department of the Environment in respect of delayed compensation payments for land acquisition, or whether the whole interest is grossed with the other income of the taxpayer concerned for the one income tax year in which the interest is actually paid.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 3rd May 1978; Vol. 949, c. 190], gave the following information:The law provides that such interest is to be treated for all income tax purposes as income of the year in which it is paid or made available. There is no provision for relating it back to earlier years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the Written Answer to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Brotherton) Official Report, 5th April, column 145, if he will give his best estimate of the likely general Government financial deficit in 1978 expressed as a percentage of the gross domestic product at market prices; and how this percentage compares with comparable forecasts for other major Organisation For Economic Co-operation and Development member countries for 1978 and with the respective outturns for 1977.

, pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 4th May 1978; Vol. 949, c. 251], gave the following information:The Budget forecast of the general Government financial deficit in 1978–79 is some 4 per cent. of GDP at market prices compared with 31 per cent. in 1977–78. Comparable figures for other major OECD countries are shown below.

GENERAL GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL DEFICIT 1977 AND 1978: RATIO TO GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT*
Per cent
	GDP at market prices
	1977	1978
Canada	2	2¾
France	1	0¾
Germany	3	4
Italy	7½	8½
Japan†	5	6¼
USA	1	1
United Kingdom†	3½	4
* OECD forecasts (Economic Outlook, No. 22) except for United Kingdom. Out-turn estimates are not yet available for other countries.
† Financial years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a table on the same basis as the reply to the hon. Member for North Norfolk, Official Report, 22nd November 1977, columns 683–90, showing net weekly spending power before and after one new pay award for each of a private I and IV, a corporal I and a sergeant, assuming two and four dependent children in each case; and what is the percentage increase in each case.

The information is as follows:

TABLE 1

MARRIED COUPLE WITH TWO CHILDREN AGED 4 AND 6 MARRIED QUARTERS CHARGE £9·59; WORK EXPENSES £1·25

Before 1978 pay award (£2·50 child benefit)

Rank

Gross pay

N.I.

Tax

FIS

R and R rebate

Free School meals

Free Welfare milk

Net weekly spending power

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

Private IV (Scale A)

…

…

…

41·26

2·04

2·16

3·27

4·86

1·25

0·95

39·05

Private I (Band 1, Scale C)

…

…

54·00

2·67

6·49

—

2·54

1·25

0·95

41·24

Corporal I (Band 2, Scale C)

…

…

70·83

3·51

12·21

—

—

—

—

46·77

Sergeant (Band 5, with 12 years service)

…

78·33

3·88

14·76

—

—

—

—

51·35

After 1978 pay award (£4·60 child benefit)

Rank

Gross pay

N.I.

Tax

FIS

R and R rebate

Free School meals

Free Welfare milk

Net weekly spending power

Percentage increase

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

Private IV (Scale A)

…

…

…

46·34

1·96

4·96

0·73

3·65

1·25

0·95

39·76

1·8

Private I (Band 1, Scale C)

…

…

60·34

2·42

9·72

—

0·60

1·25

—

43·81

6·2

Corporal I (Band 2, Scale C)

…

…

80·22

3·08

16·48

—

—

—

—

54·42

16·6

Sergeant (Band 5, with 12 years service)

…

88·20

3·34

19·20

—

—

—

—

59·42

15·7