asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about his proposals for the sixth round of offshore petroleum production licensing.

I have today published a consultative document setting out the arrangements I propose for the sixth round, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. Copies of the document are also available in the library of my Department at Thames House South, Millbank, London, SW1P 4QJ.I shall be writing to the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association, the Confederation of British Industry and the trade unions to suggest consultations on the basis of the document. I hope to complete the consultations early in June.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes to make carried interest on a voluntary basis a term of the sixth licensing round.

Yes. The consultative document published today about the sixth round arrangements proposes that applicants should be able to include in their applications offers to meet some or all of BNOC's share of exploration and appraisal costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the advantages accruing to the British National Oil Corporation which are not shared by or available to a private sector oil company operating in the North Sea.

By virtue of its involvement in offshore operations, BNOC is amassing a unique knowledge of offshore prospects; it has secured rights, through participation agreements, to a significant portion of offshore oil, over and above its own equity interests acquired from the National Coal Board and Burmah Oil. These are substantial advantages, of direct national benefit, which fully vindicate Her Majesty's Government's policy with regard to the creation and development of the British National Oil Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will indicate in detail the parties to the tripartite meetings with the oil industry, what he hopes to achieve by the meetings, and the regularity or otherwise of the discussions.

I have chaired three meetings with representatives of the oil companies and oil industry trade unions on 13th February, 27th February and 15th March. I expect to arrange further meetings of this kind to discuss a wide range of issues, including both the European surplus of refining capacity and the optimum use of United Kingdom Continental Shelf oil in our own refineries. The aim of the meetings is to enable each of the parties to play an effective part in the definition and achievement of United Kingdom objectives.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the latest report of the doctors' and dentists' review body.

The Eight Report of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration covering doctors and dentists in the National Health Service is published today as Cmnd. 7176. Copies are available in the Vote Office. The Government thank all the members of the Review Body for their valuable report.The Review Body has recommended increases in net pay from 1st April 1978 amounting to 10 per cent. of the total net earnings of all doctors and dentists in the NHS. These recommendations are consistent with pay policy.The Review Body has also indicated fully up to date levels of remuneration which would bring doctors and dentists in the NHS back into an appropriate relationship with other professional groups as at 1st April 1978. These levels would involve a further substantial increase, and the Review Body accepts that the economic situation may require the correction to be staged. It asks for a commitment by the Government to implement the fully up to date levels of remuneration—updated as necessary—not later than 1st April 1980 and for a move at least midway towards these levels not later than its 1979 review.The Government accept the Review Body's recommendations. They are ready to implement from 1st April 1978 those recommendations within the pay policy, and to give the further increases by stages in accordance with the Review Body's recommendations.I also welcome the Review Body's suggestions for settling the disagreement over dentists' expenses. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services will shortly be inviting the British Dental Association to discuss the matter.

asked the Prime Minister if he is ready to announce the names of the independent members of the new Civil Service Pay Research Unit Board.

Sir Derek Rayner, joint managing director of Marks and Spencer, Professor Rodney Crossley, professor of industrial relations at the University of Leeds, Mr. Leif Mills, general secretary of the National Union of Bank Employees, and the noble Lady Baroness Pike have agreed to serve as members of the Pay Research Unit Board, which is to be chaired by my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Shepherd.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will ask the Price Commission to investigate profit margins in the manufacture of diabetic food products.

My right hon. Friend has no present plans to do so, but he will bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the need to fix the Easter holiday at a date around the middle of April; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received, either direct or through hon. Members, seven letters from the public regretting the earliness of Easter this year. As to the implementation of the Easter Act 1928, which would fix Easter Sunday within the period April 9th to 15th, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4th May to a Question by the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby).—[Vol. 949, c. 429.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of his Department towards replying in the Welsh language to letters that are sent to it from persons in Wales, in the Welsh language.

Replies are normally in English, sometimes in Welsh.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to announce the appointment for the remaining vacancy on the Equal Opportunities Commission.

In the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to increase the surveillance of prisoners whilst on release from prison on parole or licence.

A person released on licence from a determinate sentence under the parole scheme is required by the conditions of the licence to place himself under the supervision of the probation officer nominated for the purpose. He is also required to keep in touch with that officer as he directs, to notify any change of address or employment and to be of good behaviour and lead an industrious life. Other conditions may be imposed if considered appropriate, and failure to observe any of the licence conditions renders the released person liable to prison. I have no proposals for changing these procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will remove differences of treatment among police officers by amending the Police Regulations in order to enable men officers as well as women officers to enter the police forces at an height of approximately 5 feet 4 inches.

No. Chief officers of police already have discretion to accept suitable candidates who are below the normal minimum height, although the general view in the police service, with which I agree, is that the height of most officers in a police force should be above the average for their sex of the country as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the outcome of the public consultation which his Department conducted in 1977 in preparation for the World Administrative Radio Conference in 1979.

On 26th January 1977, I invited public comment on the United Kingdom's preparations for the World Administrative Radio Conference, in response to which 91 replies were received. The main points emerging from these replies, together with a summary of the preparations being made by the United Kingdom, are contained in a report

				Remploy		Workshops for Blind		Retail Prices Index
Year				Men	Women	Men	Women	1977=100
				£	£	£	£
1970–71	…	…	…	17·60	13·36	18·00	13·85	43·9
1971–72	…	…	…	19·40	15·32	19·40	15·00	47·1
1972–73	…	…	…	21·60	18·08	21·80	19·38	51·4
1973–74	…	…	…	24·40	21·72	24·12	22·33	59·6
1974–75	…	…	…	34·08	32·68	31·90	30·70	74·1
1975–76	…	…	…	43·18	41·62	39·10	39·10	86·3
1976–77	…	…	…	47·72	45·88	41·60	41·60	100·0

The basic wage for men and women employed by Remploy has been equal since 1975–76. The differences in actual

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men and women, respectively, were employed in (a) sheltered workshops, (b) employment rehabilitation centres, and (c) skill-centres in each of the last seven years; and what was the average weekly remuneration at 1977 survey prices for each of the six categories.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the following is the number of severely disabled men and women employed in sheltered workshops:

Year	Men	Women
1970–71	10,617	2,358
1971–72	10,814	2,301
1972–73	11,087	2,412
1973–74	11,130	2,445
1974–75	11,059	2,535
1975–76	11,101	2,624
1976–77	10,764	2,581

There is no central record from which it is possible to determine average weekly remuneration in sheltered workshops at 1977 survey prices. However, figures are available in respect of average weekly earnings for Remploy and in respect of basic wage rates for workshops for the blind. There is no similar information in respect of workshops for sighted severely disabled people. The available figures are:earnings in the later years is due to the bonuses earned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much money has been allocated this year for the development of sheltered employment for disabled persons.

The Department of Employment Vote for 1978–79 includes a total of £27,536,000 revenue and £4,284,000 capital provision intended to maintain and develop sheltered employment for severely disabled people in workshops operated by Remploy Ltd., local authorities and voluntary undertakings. The local authorities and voluntary undertakings themselves also contribute to the cost of operating the workshops.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what functions the Health and Safety Commission has asked the Pipelines Inspectorate to perform; and in relation to what workers and what places of work.

I am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the Pipelines Inspectorate

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the functions which the Pipelines Inspectorate performs for the Health and Safety Commission include (a) prosecution for offences under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and (b) the issuing of notices under Section 21 and Section 22 of that Act.

I am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the present functions performed by the Pipelines Inspectorate do not include prosecution for offences under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 or the issuing of notices under Sections 21 and 22 of that Act. However, an agreement is being negotiated between the Health and Safety Commission and the Department of Energy which will enable the Pipelines Inspectorate:

(a) to exercise the powers of an inspector specified in

(i) Sections 20, 21, 22, 25 and in England and Wales Section 39 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974;

(ii) any health and safety regulations as in force from time to time; and

(b) to institute proceedings in England and Wales pursuant to Section 38 of the 1974 Act.

These powers will be exercisable in respect of the health, safety and welfare of persons at work and protecting persons other than those at work against risks to health and safety arising out of or in connection with the operation and maintenance of any pipeline within the meaning of the Pipelines Act 1962, not being a pipeline referred to in Sections 58 to 62 of that Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the age groups and the ethnic groups who receive special help to relieve unemployment; and if he will show the types of assistance available.

My Department, together with the Manpower Services Commission, has made special arrangements to relieve unemployment among young people, who have been particularly severely affected by the present recession. The youth opportunities programme, which will when fully operational offer 230,000 work experience and training opportunities annually to unemployed young people, came into effect on 1st April. The Government have asked the Manpower Services Commission to ensure that no Easter or summer school leaver who is unemployed the following Easter should be without the offer of an opportunity under the programme which builds on a number of earlier measures including the work experience programme and the commission's special training courses for young people.Young people have also benefited from the annual programmes of special training measures through which, since 1975, the commission has encouraged and enabled industry to maintain its recruitment of apprentices and other long-term trainees, from the strengthening of the local authority careers service and from the expansion of the community industry scheme for disadvantaged young people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many new jobs have been created in each of the employment areas in Cheshire since 1973; and what proportion these jobs represent as a percentage of the growth in the working population of the areas during the same period.

Information about jobs created is not available for employment office areas, but an indication of the net change in jobs can be obtained by comparing the numbers of employees in employment at June 1973 and June 1976. Figures for June 1977 are not yet available. Estimates of the working population are made only for the standard regions.Following is the information for the employment office areas which most closely correspond to the county of Cheshire:—

EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT: CHESHIRE
Thousands
Employment Office	June 1973	June 1976	Change 1973/1976
Chester	51·2	56·7	+ 5·4
Congleton	8·8	8·3	-0·4
Crewe	32·4	35·7	+ 3·4
Ellesmere Port	44·5	39·2	-5·3
Macclesfield	25·9	26·3	+0·5
Middlewich	4·3	4·0	-0·2
Nantwich	7·3	7·4	+0·2
Neston	3·0	2·7	-0·3
Northwich	19·7	21·3	+ 1·6
Runcorn	24·7	26·9	+2·1
Sandbach	9·4	9·6	+0·2
Warrington	66·5	65·9	-0·5
Widnes	24·9	23·3	-1·6
Wilmslow	11·6	100	-1·6
Winsford	11·1	12·4	+ 1·3

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of those people throughout British industry who have been made redundant in the last 12 months were formerly in receipt of temporary employment subsidy.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what latest estimate he has made of the number of unfilled job vacancies for full-time employment when the net weekly wage is £45 or less.

I a minformed by the Manpower Services Commission that, although an employer notifying a vacancy is normally asked to state the basic wage rate and the expected gross earnings attaching to the vacancy, the information supplied is not aggregated and analysed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what latest estimate he has made of the number of married women in full-time employment.

It is estimated that in 1976 there were about 3 million married women in full-time employment in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what latest estimate he has made of the number of persons, holding passports of foreign countries, who are engaged in full-time employment in the United Kingdom.

It is not possible to answer the Question in the form requested. However, it is estimated that, in 1975, there were approximately 700,000 persons in full-time employment in the United Kingdom who were non-United Kingdom nationals.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans for new schemes for the retraining of women workers his Department intends to put forward in order to benefit from the special funds available through the social fund of the European Economic Community.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2nd May 1978; Vol. 949, c. 82], gave the following information:I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that grants from the social fund for training and retraining projects amounted to £70·8 million in 1977, but in general these grants were for training available to both men and women. It is hoped that support for training on this basis will continue.The United Kingdom and some other members of the EEC have agreed to take part in a survey to identify initiatives and measures aimed at achieving equal opportunities by way of vocational guidance and training. This will be completed later in the year. It may lead directly to further ESF applications in respect of training for women; additionally, it will give a basis for a review of current policies in this field.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what aid Her Majesty's Government is likely to provide for Zambia in the light of her present economic difficulties.

At the request of the Zambian Government, the World Bank has established a consultative group for Zambia, which is expected to meet in Paris at the end of June, to discuss Zambia's needs of external assistance over and above the resources to be made available to her by the IMF under an agreement recently negotiated. I propose to make substantial bilateral aid available to Zambia in a form which can be quickly disbursed.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what plans he has for the installation of telephone clocks to monitor the cost of calls in offices of Government Departments.

There are no plans for the installation of telephone

								1965	1970	1975
Number in post		…	…	…	…	…	…	37	33	42
Average age		…	…	…	…	…	…	55·10	58·3	57·1
School
Maintained		…	…	…	…	…	…	10	11	13
Direct grant or independent					…	…	…	25	20	28
Overseas		…	…	…	…	…	…	2	2	1
Oxford or Cambridge University					…	…	…	28	26	34
Degree subject
Arts	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	22	18	20
Science		…	…	…	…	…	…	5	5	7
Social science			…	…	…	…	…	7	8	13
Details not available				…	…	…	…	Nil	1	Nil
Honours and decorations
OM	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	—	1	—
GCB, GCMG, GBE				…	…	…	…	7	4	3
KCB, KCMG, KCVO, KBE, Kt.					…	…	…	36	29	30
CB, CMG, CVO, CBE				…	…	…	…	14	12	14
Other civil awards and military awards						…	…	3	5	11
Salaries								£	£	£
Permanent secretaries to the Civil Service Department* and the Treasury, and Secretary to the Cabinet		…	…	…	…	…	…	8,800	12,700	20,175
1st Permanent Secretary				…	…	…	…	8,200	11,900	18,675
2nd Permanent Secretary				…	…	…	…	7,700	11,150	17,175
* 1970 and 1975 only.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what way the thirtieth anniversary of the National Health Service will be celebrated

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the number of permanent secretaries in 1965, 1970 and 1975 indicating for each year (a) their average age, (b) whether they were educated privately or at State schools, (c) whether they attended Oxford or Cambridge, (d) whether they had degrees in the arts, sciences or social sciences, (e) what honours or other decorations they had been awarded, and (f) what was their average salary.

The following table gives the information which is available centrally about permanent secretaries in the Home Civil Service.in the United Kingdom; and what he estimates will be the total costs of the celebrations.

Specific observance of the National Health Service anniversary in England is restricted to a buffet luncheon on 5th July at Lancaster House. As well as marking the thirtieth anniversary of the National Health Service, this will also mark the thirtieth anniversary of the coming into effect of the statutes which laid down the main structure of our present social security and personal social services schemes. Among some 275 guests will be representatives from organisations most closely associated with all these services. Staff of various grades in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the appropriate health Departments, some of whom will have served throughout the 30 years, will also be represented. The cost of the luncheon is estimated at approximately £2,000.A working conference on 4th July considering problems to do with the delivery of health care and personal social services is being associated with the thirtieth anniversary, as also may be other events sponsored by health authorities and other organisations. The extent of such activities cannot be forecast, but guidance has been issued specifically counselling against activities involving any significant expense.A simple descriptive booklet dealing with the work of the NHS and personal social services and a similar range of posters are to be made available by the Department, but the booklet is intended to become a part of the standard range of Departmental publications.The questions of the observance of the anniversary in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the percentage of gross income deducted in income tax and national insurance contributions on July 1977, March 1978 and May 1978 for low income pensioner households, other income pensioner households, low income other households without children, other income other households without children, low income households with children and other income households with children, as defined on the equivalence scales in CSO "Social Trends" No. 8 1977 by R. Van Slooten and A. G. Coverdale.

None. The estimates in the article in "Social Trends" were derived from an analysis of data recorded in the family expenditure survey related to 1975. It will not be possible to provide estimates on the same basis related to 1977 or 1978 until the family expenditure survey data for these years are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the measures by which he intends to weed out persons abusing social security benefits in Torbay during the summer; to what other resorts such measures will apply; what was the extent of the abuse last summer; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to his Question on 8th July 1977—[Vol. 934, c. 685–6]—in which I described the special arrangements which exist for dealing with social security benefit claims in areas where seasonal work is plentiful. The Supplementary Benefits Commission has now decided that, so far as supplementary benefit is concerned, these arrangements, which then applied only to single men, should be extended to single women and childless couples. As I confirmed during my recent visit to the area, these arrangements will operate in Torbay this summer. They will also operate in the following other 28 local office areas:—

Aberystwyth, Barnstaple, Barry, Bognor Regis, Boston, Bournemouth, Bridgend, Bridlington, Chichester, Colwyn Bay, Dolgellau, Fylde North, Fylde South, Grimsby, Lancaster, Launceston, Newport (IOW), Pembroke Dock, Penzance, Portmadoc, Rhyl, St. Austell, Scarborough, Southport, Taunton, Truro, Weymouth and Worcester.

They may also be introduced in other areas where plenty of seasonal work is available.In 1977, these special arrangements were applied in 4,060 cases. In 1,362 cases no further action was taken because the claimant had ceased to register or work prospects in the area had deteriorated. It became necessary to call 2,211 for interview by an unemployment review officer. Of these, 919 did not attend and their benefit therefore ceased. Of the remainder, benefit continued in 653 cases and was withdrawn in 639.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the hourly rates for stand-by allowances for members of the ambulance service; how dependent the service is upon this voluntary arrangement, particularly in the more rural areas; and if he is satisfied with the adequacy of these scales of remuneration.

Allowances for standby duty agreed by the ambulance men's Whitley Council are:

	£
Weekdays	0·68
Saturdays and free days	1·02
Sundays and rest days	1·36
Public holidays	1·36

The rates are for standing by at home for a period of eight hours or less, with a pro rata payment for any period over eight hours. In addition, work performed during a stand-by period is paid for at double plain time or time and a half in accordance with the overtime rules. Stand-by arises predominantly in rural areas where 24-hour emergency cover by shift working is not viable. Rates of payment are a matter for negotiation between the trade union and management sides of the Whitley Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the Darlington community health council on the subject of allowing members of the community health council to attend meetings of the Durham family practitioner committee as observers; and what reply he has sent.

The council wrote in October 1977 to say that the Durham family practitioner committee had refused to allow observers from the council to attend its meetings, and asked my right hon. Friend to obtain for them observer status at these meetings. The reply sent on behalf of my right hon. Friend conveyed our understanding of the council's concern, but explained that the arrangements for individual FPCs to decide for themselves were a reasonable and workable compromise, adopted because imposed arrangements would be harmful to relationships between CHCs and FPCs and thus to the service as a whole.I am sure that admission of observers, subject to appropriate safeguards in respect of confidential matters, is in the best interests of the service, and I am closely watching the progress being made by way of local arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost in each of the last five years of supplementary benefit paid to Irish nationals resident in Great Britain.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any evidence that the incidence of disease spread by meat in the United Kingdom is greater than that in the other EEC countries.

Differences between national systems of surveillance of food-borne disease do not permit any valid comparisons of the incidence of human disease spread by meat to be made. However, I know of nothing to suggest that the incidence is greater in the United Kingdom than in other EEC countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women in Scotland are currently in receipt of the Department of Health and Social Security or Supplementary Benefits Commission benefits which are partly or wholly paid in lieu of aliment or maintenance awards granted in divorce settlements but not received.

Supplementary benefit is the only social security benefit at present payable in these circumstances. I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the amount of grant given by his Department to the Health Educational Council; if this amount includes finance for the Health Education News; and if he is satisfied with the standard of advertisements in the magazine.

For 1978–79, the Health Education Council's budget allocation is £3,020,000. The council, which functions independently of the Department, uses its annual allocation to finance a wide range of activities and publications, of which Health Education News is one. This does not carry advertisements as such; it provides a bi-monthly survey of the council's work, including examples of its current advertising material. The contents of Health Education News, in common with the contents of all the council's other publications, and its day-to-day operational activities, are the council's own responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the lifts at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital have not been repaired so as to bring back to service all available beds.

The Camden and Islington Area Health Authority (Teaching) has deferred a decision on the repair works to the lifts until a decision on the hospital's future has been taken. My right hon. Friend is giving urgent consideration to the North East Thames Regional Health Authority's recommendations on the future of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has regarding the number of in-patients and out-patients at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital who come from outside the South Camden and Islington health area; and whether he will consider some central funding for this specialist hospital.

The routine National Health Service statistical system does not provide information on the residence of out-patients. Also, the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson hospital has not implemented hospital activity analysis, so that a ready assessment of the catchment area it serves is not available. However, both the Camden and Islington Area Health Authority (Teaching) and the North East Thames Regional Health Authority have undertaken separate surveys of the area of residence of in-patients at the EGA.The Area Health Authority (Teaching)'s study, which took place in 1973, indicated that while 27 per cent. of EGA in-patients came from the Camden and Islington area, 98 per cent. came from within the four Thames regions. The RHA's study covered in-patients in 1977 and made similar findings, in that of the in-patients at the EGA on Euston Road and those under the care of EGA staff at the Whittington Hospital 25 per cent. came from within Camden and Islington and less than 2 per cent. from outside the four Thames regions. Central funding for the EGA would not be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in view of the increasing difficulty being experienced by Hull fish merchants in obtaining adequate supplies of wetfish, in particular from Norway, he will reduce the 15 per cent. import duty upon Norwegian fish.

Decisions to reduce import duties are taken by the EEC Council. Discussions have been taking place in Brussels recently about the possibility of reducing temporarily the duty on certain white fish. Subject to approval by the Council, duties on cod, haddock, hake and hake fillets imported for use by the processing industry will be reduced to 10 per cent. for six months from 1st July. These reductions, which will be reviewed in the autumn, will apply to Norwegian fish.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the 13 per cent. increase in Forces' pay announced by the Prime Minister is calculated on the Service man's gross wage or on his basic pay; and, in the case of the latter, what percentage increase this represents in overall gross weekly pay.

The 13 per cent. increase was calculated on the total earnings provision, including both basic pay and additional pay. Not all forms of additional pay were increased, however, and, as the Prime Minister's statement made clear, the actual percentage increases in gross weekly pay also varied from rank to rank as progress was made towards the restoration of differentials in the military salary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many citizens of the Soviet Union are residing in the United Kingdom with diplomatic immunity in the latest year for which figures are available; and how this position compares with that in the previous year.

As at 5th May 1978, there were 93 members of the Soviet Embassy and a total of 172 dependants, with diplomatic immunity notified to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.As the number of home-based members of the Soviet Embassy has not changed in the last year, the figure for dependants will also have remained basically the same.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact, advice or assistance was offered to the skipper and crew of the Peterhead fishing vessel "Regent Bird" following their arrest in the early hours of 28th April 1978.

When the consul in Bergen was informed by the local police of the arrest of the "Regent Bird" he telephoned the skipper and offered his assistance. The skipper's only request was that a message be passed to the owners about the trawler's arrest and asking them to contact him. This was done.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the staff at the embassy at Oslo and the consulate at Bergen were on duty on 28th April 1978.

At Oslo, 29. At Bergen, five.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the staffing of the British embassy at Oslo and the consulate at Bergen.

Details are:

	United Kingdom based staff	Locally engaged staff
British Embassy, Oslo	23	20
Her Majesty's Consulate, Bergen	2	5

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there were any prosecutions in Hong Kong for the years 1975 and 1976 for taking a person in or out of the colony for the purposes of prostitution; and what was the average sentence or fine.

There was one unsuccessful prosecution in 1975 and no prosecution in 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated number of prostitutes in Hong Kong; how many are thought to be non-Chinese; what is the estimate of the number of brothels currently in operation; how many persons were charged with operating a brothel in the years 1975 and 1976; and how many prosecutions were brought for living on immoral earnings in those years.

No estimate of the number of prostitutes in Hong Kong or of their nationality is available. It is not possible to estimate accurately the number of brothels in operation. 360 people were charged with operating a brothel in 1975 and 1,058 in 1976. There were 66 charges, involving 37 people, for living on immoral earnings in 1975 and 71, involving 46 people, in 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the practice that when girls below the age of 16 years are found in brothels in Hong Kong, proven customers are charged with carnal knowledge; and how many such cases there have been in 1975 and 1976.

Proven customers of girls below the age of 16 found in brothels are charged with carnal knowledge, but statistics of the numbers prosecuted in these circumstances are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a citizen in Hong Kong can initiate a private prosecution for a corruption case that occurred prior to 1st January 1977; whether the Attorney-General could intervene to stop such an action; and whether the Governor has any powers to direct the Attorney-General over such an action.

Anybody may seek to institute a prosecution under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, irrespective of the date of the alleged offence. All such prosecutions require the consent of the Attorney-General. The Governor has no power to direct the Attorney-General in the exercise of this power.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether an individual member of the public in Hong Kong can ask the courts for an order to be issued to the Commissioner for the Independent Commission Against Corruption to investigate a specific complaint alleging a corruption offence prior to 1st January 1977; whether the Attorney-General has powers to stop such an action; and in the event of the issue of such an order, whether the Commissioner would carry it out.

Any member of the public can ask the courts for such an order, but the application would be opposed by the Attorney-General. Under Section 18A of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Ordinance, the Commissioner is prohibited, subject to certain exceptions, from investigating complaints about corruption offences which are alleged to have been committed prior to 1st January 1977. In the light of this provision, the courts are not empowered to make an order compelling the Commisioner to investigate alleged corruption offences committed before that date, unless they fall within the exceptions referred to above.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the number of factories and workplaces paying wages below the legally acceptable minimum in Hong Kong and the number they employ.

There is no statutory minimum wage in Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied that the employment ordinance in Hong Kong giving all workers seven days annual vacation leave and one days leave in seven is being observed by all employers.

The rest days are being generally observed. Employers have until the end of 1978 to grant the seven days' annual vacation leave. But there are no grounds to believe that significant problems will arise over the enforcement of these provisions of the employment ordinance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at what age compulsory education ceases for children in Hong Kong.

At present at the age of 12. From September 1979 compulsory education will be extended to children under 14, and from September 1980 to any children under 15 who have not yet completed three years' secondary education.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total of the fines imposed last year in Hong Kong for the employment of children.

HK$488,705—approximately £57,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many workers in Hong Kong were killed or injured at work in 1976 and 1977, respectively; and what proportion of the labour force this represents.

Full statistics are not available. However, the following figures show the number of accidents giving rise to claims for workmen's compensation in the years in question:

	1976		1977
	Number of cases	Percentage of labour force (1·952 million)	Number of cases	Percentage of labour force (1·951 million)
Injuries	44,808	2·30	49,589	2·54
Deaths	249	0·01	265	0·01

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the five Western ambassadors involved in the talks with the South African Government about the illegal occupation of Namibia have made any protest against the massacre of Namibian refugees at Cassinga by South African regular armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

The five powers all voted for the Security Council resolution passed unanimously on 6th May which condemned the South African raid. The ambassadors in Cape Town of the five Powers have been instructed to protest to the South African Government about this action.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received for similar legislation to the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 to be enacted in Northern Ireland, what are the names of the organisations which have made the representations; and how many individual letters have been received to this effect.

Since the Secretary of State took office in September 1976, this matter has been raised in the House on five occasions; five letters have been received from three individuals; and representations have been made by the Northern Ireland Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.The Government's attitude to the need for additional legislation remains as stated in the reply to the hon. Member for Belfast, West (Mr. Fitt) on 30th November 1977.—[

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has anything to add to his statements of 22nd November 1976 and 22nd December 1976 about the future capital structure of Short Brothers Limited, with particular reference to the acquisition of minority shareholdings in the company.

Yes. There are at present two minority shareholdings in Short Brothers Limited, namely, Harland and Wolff Limited and Rolls-Royce Limited (in liquidation. Of the total issue of 3,600,000 ordinary voting shares of £1, Rolls-Royce and Harland and Wolff each hold 360,000. It is desirable for Government to acquire these shares and so bring the company completely within the ownership of the Northern Ireland Department of Commerce and the Department of Industry.The first step will be to acquire the Rolls-Royce shareholding and a consideration of £20,000 has been agreed with the receiver of that company. Subsequently arrangements will be made to acquire the shares held by Harland and Wolff, for a similar consideration.Due to the inadequacy of present statutory powers for these transactions, it is proposed to finance the acquisitions extra-statutorily.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further Government assistance, in addition to that referred to in his Written Answer of 15th February 1978, is being provided to meet the liabilities of Fonnom Limited.

The Northern Ireland Finance Corporation, in buying over Ben Sherman Limited and its subsidiaries, undertook to give certain guarantees to the owners of premises occupied by these companies under lease. However, the corporation was wound up before giving the guarantees with the result that its successor, the Northern Ireland Development Agency, inherited the undertakings given by the corporation but had no statutory power to honour them. Accordingly, an initial sum of £200,000—of which £71,595 was eventually spent—was provided on an extra-statutory basis to enable the agency to meet part of these liabilities.The agency's assets and liabilities in respect of Fonnom Limited have now been transferred to the Department of Commerce under the Industries Development (NI) Order 1978. The Department intends to divest itself of the property liabilities as quickly as possible and has accordingly agreed to buy out the lease of premises in Franklin Street, Belfast, for re-sale to an adjacent occupier, and to surrender other premises in Wembley upon payment of a release premium to the property owners. The cost will be provided on an extra-statutory basis as the Department has no powers under the industries development legislation to pay such sums. The total cost of these transactions is approximately £450,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates he has received of sheep losses in (a) Shetland, (b) Orkney and (c) the Highland Region arising from last winter's storms.

Reports received by my Department indicate that about 2,000 sheep in Shetland and between 8,000 and 10,000 sheep in the Highland Region were lost as a result of the snow storms at the end of January 1978. No significant loss of sheep in Orkney has been reported.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fishery protection vessels are currently on patrol within 200 miles of the British coast; and what is the average number of boardings of EEC—other than British—fishing vessels per day.

Thirteen Royal Navy vessels and six vessels of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland are currently assigned to fishery protection duties in the British fishery limits. Of these, 11 vessels are normally on patrol at any one time. Other resources of the Fleet are available as the need arises.Since 1st January 1978, some 370 EEC—other than British—fishing vessels have been boarded in British fishery limits. The number of boardings per day has varied considerably with weather conditions and numbers of vessels present, but the daily average over the period has been three.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Norwegian vessels have been fishing in the British sector of the North Sea in the first four months of 1978.

There have been 133 sightings of Norwegian vessels fishing in the British sector of the North Sea in the first four months of 1978. Some vessels were sighted more than once, and a total of 76 individual vessels were involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how often Norwegian vessels have been boarded by British fishery surveillance ships in the first four months of 1978; and what size of mesh nets were being used by the Norwegians.

Twelve Norwegian fishing vessels were boarded in the first four months of 1978. Four were long liners, and of the others seven had nets between 16 and 50mm. in mesh size and one had a net of 100mm. mesh size. All of these nets were legal for the purpose for which they were being used.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will report the outcome of his discussions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in connection with the enforcement of Section 2 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974.

After further consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, and with its agreement, my right hon. Friend has decided to bring Section 2 into force in Scotland on 1st September of this year. The necessary commencement order will be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of (a) administrative and (b) clerical staff currently employed within the National Health Service; and what changes have taken place since January 1976.

Expressed as whole-time equivalents, there were at 30th September 1977, 2,807 administrative and 10,030 clerical staff, a total of 12,837, employed in the National Health Service in Scotland. These figures, which are provisional, represent an increase of 2 per cent. on the corresponding total for 31st January 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in the light of reports of the Mental Health Commission for Scotland, when he proposes to review the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1960.

My right hon. Friend hopes to produce a consultative document later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how often the National Committee for In-service Training of Teachers has met since its reconstitution; what recommendations have been made; and what has been the practical result of the committee's deliberations.

The National Committee has met five times since its reconstitution. It has made representations to my right hon. Friend about tuition fees for in-service training courses; has commented on the implications for in-service training of the recommendations of the Pack, Munn and Dunning Reports; has published a programme of national courses for 1977–78 and drawn up a programme for 1978–79; and has set up a working group to consider the future development of in-service training.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce the quota of student intake into each Scottish college of education for session 1978–79; and if he will list in the Official Report the criteria being applied to each college in reaching the final figure.

My right hon. Friend proposes to make a statement shortly about overall levels of intake to courses of teacher training for session 1978–79 the distribution of intake among the colleges of education, and the priority to be given to certain subjects in the selection of students for secondary training.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of qualified teachers in (a) primary, and (b) secondary fields who are registered as unemployed, at the latest available date.

On 9th March 1978, the latest available date, 577 qualified primary teachers and 369 qualified secondary teachers were registered as unemployed in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of teaching staff required by each local education authority in (a) primary, and (b) secondary schools for session 1978–79; and how this compares with session 1977–78.

It is for each education authority to determine its school staffing requirements for session 1978–79 in the light of its own estimates of needs and priorities within its area. The numbers of teachers—expressed in full-time equivalent terms—employed by education authorities in primary and secondary schools at the time of the September 1977 school census are set out below:

Thousands
Authority	Primary	Secondary
Borders	0·53	0·50
Central	1·57	1·46
Dumfries and Galloway	0·81	0·78
Fife	1·73	1·81
Grampian	2·52	2·47
Highland	1·15	1·08
Lothian	3·66	3·67
Strathclyde	12·17	13·33
Tayside	1·98	2·12
Orkney	0·12	0·11
Shetland	0·15	0·12
Western Isles	0·21	0·21

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of qualified teachers for (a) primary, and (b) secondary schools expected to graduate from Scottish colleges of education at the end of session 1977–78, giving a breakdown per college, and showing how this compares with the actual figures for each of the past five years.

Returns from colleges of education indicate that at the beginning of the current session a total of 3,427 students—1,712 primary and 1,715 secondary—were admitted to one-year courses of teacher training or were embarking on the final year of longer courses. Some of these students may not, however, complete their courses successfully. Figures for each college and the actual figures for each of the past five years are set out below:

			Students successfully completing training
			1972–73		1973–74		1974–75
College			Primary	Secondary	Primary	Secondary	Primary	Secondary
Aberdeen	…	…	343	550	341	421	344	403
Callendar Park		…	215	—	261	—	199	—
Craigie	…	…	192	—	209	7	181	10
Craiglockhart		…	114	12	142	14	117	20
Dundee	…	…	250	232	242	247	228	224
Dunfermline		…	—	154	—	101	—	174
Hamilton	…	…	265	—	318	—	219	71
Jordanhill	…	…	466	1,257	472	1,094	414	972
Moray House		…	424	881	387	836	399	760
Notre Dame		…	411	153	413	171	319	219
Totals		…	2,680	3,239	2,785	2,891	2,420	2,853

			Students successfully completing training				Students in final year
			1975–76		1976–77		1977–78
College			Primary	Secondary	Primary	Secondary	Primary	Secondary
Aberdeen	…	…	331	388	235	312	208	175
Callendar Park		…	170	—	152	—	131	—
Craigie	…	…	175	11	121	12	120	14
Craiglockhart		…	130	29	93	29	80	37
Dundee	…	…	226	210	145	163	113	105
Dunfermline		…	—	168	—	141	—	68
Hamilton	…	…	254	67	201	73	189	56
Jordanhill	…	…	444	1,135	378	923	367	601
Moray House		…	419	831	337	561	270	411
Notre Dame		…	300	219	260	218	234	248
Totals		…	2,449	3,058	1,922	2,432	1,712	1,715

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many registered disabled men and women were registered unemployed in each of the last five years at the latest available date and what

REGISTERED DISABLED PERSONS
		Unemployed registered disabled			Unemployed registered disabled expressed as a percentage of registered disabled
		Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
					Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent
12th March 1973	…	8,258	1,275	9,533	16·1	13·5	15·6
11th March 1974	…	6,240	993	7,233	12·6	10·7	12·3
10th March 1975	…	5,598	868	6,466	12·1	9·8	11·7
11th March 1976	…	6,076	993	7,069	13·6	11·5	13·3
10th March 1977	…	5,960	1,097	7,057	13·9	13·1	13·8
9th March 1978	…	5,625	1,053	6,678	13·3	12·6	13·2

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Manpower Services Commission now expects to complete its review of skillcentre provision in Scotland, and especially in the Glasgow area.

The current review of skillcentre provision in Scotland

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has given the figures for Great Britain. The corresponding figures for Scotland are as follows:land is part of an ongoing examination to enable adjustments to be made when and where necessary to meet changes in applicant demand and the needs of the labour market. As I indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend on 10th January 1978—[Vol. 941, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of registered (a) blind, (b) deaf and (c) deaf mutes in Scotland at the latest available date.

On 31st December 1974, the last date for which figures are available, there were 10,063 persons in Scotland who were known to have been certified as blind. This information is no longer collected centrally in respect of blind people, and has never been collected in respect of deaf people or those who are deaf mutes. Returns by local authorities indicate that on 31st March 1976 there were about 9,600 people in Scotland whose blindness or partial sight was their reason for contact with a social work department, and that there were about 4,100 persons whose reason for contact was that they were deaf—whether with speech or without—or hard of hearing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to announce the decision on the future use of the Dowanhill premises in Glasgow, currently used by Notre Dame College of Education.

Discussions about possible new uses for this accommodation are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to announce his decision on the B.Ed. course at Notre Dame College, Bearsden; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has agreed in principle to a proposal by the college to extend its existing B.Ed arrangements to prospective primary teachers, subject to the approval of the proposed course by the Council for National Academic Awards and by the General Teaching Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will accept the Melville Report and recommend its implementation by a specific date;(2) if he will recommend the implementation of the Scottish Education Department 1973 memorandum on staffing in special schools by a definite date.

The principal recommendation of the Melville Committee was that the practice of ascertaining some mentally handicapped children as ineducable should be ended, and this recommendation was implemented in the Education (Mentally Handicapped Children) (Scotland) Act 1974. A number of the other recommendations have been or are being implemented. The committee's recommendations as to staffing ratios, and the staffing standards for special schools set out for consideration in the 1973 consultative document, are widely accepted as guidelines, but it is for education authorities to determine the rate at which they can be implemented in the light of their resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the estimated net emigration from Scotland in each of the last six years.

The estimates are given in the table below:—

ESTIMATED NET EMIGRATION, SCOTLAND 1971–77
Year to June	Estimated net emigration
1972	27,600
1973	10,700
1974	2,000
1975	19,000
1976	4,800
1977	9,800

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made for 1978–79 of the amount of income chargeable with tax at higher rates and the accrual of income tax payable by individuals in the United Kingdom at higher rates.

It is not the practice to give an estimate of the income chargeable, but it is estimated that the total accrual of higher rate tax payable at 1978–79 income levels after taking into account the proposals in the Budget Statement would be about £2,700 million. Of this, about £1,200 million represents tax in excess of the basic rate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing, for each year from 1970–71 to 1978–79, inclusive, the number of people liable to pay income tax, with working wives (a) counted as separate taxpayers and (b) not counted as separate taxpayers.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 4th May 1978; Vol. 949, c. 251], gave the following information:

NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIABLE TO INCOME TAX
('000)
	(a) Counting earning wives as separate taxpayers	(b) Counting married couples as one
1970–71	23,100	20,000
1971–72	23,400	19,700
1972–73	21,700	18,900
1973–74	23,300	19,800
1974–75	24,500	20,500
1975–76	25,400	20,900
1976–77*	25,900	21,200
1977–78*	24,700	20,400
1978–79†	25,600	21,000
* Provisional.
† Estimated.

The increases in general allowances announced in October 1977 which anticipated the indexation requirements for 1978–79 of last year's Finance Act are reflected in the fall in numbers of tax payers in 1977–78. The Budget proposal for a lower rate band, though benefiting large numbers of the lower paid, does not itself alter the number of taxpayers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the yield expected in 1978–79 from tax levied at each of the higher rates.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 27th April 1978; Vol. 948, c. 673], gave the following information:The available figures are for accruals of tax rather than receipts. At 1978–79 income levels and after taking account of the proposals in the Budget Statement, the estimated tax accruals at the higher rates are as follows:

Rate	Yield
%	£m
40	320
45	265
50	220
55	270
60	215
65	225
70	220
75	305
83	650

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, from international sources available to him, he will publish figures showing for each member State of the European Community, and for Sweden, the United States of America, Canada, and Japan (a) the size of the national debt, in local currency, and converted into £ sterling, (b) the current cost of servicing that debt, and (c) the proportion of total revenues required to meet this cost.

The statistics available are either incomplete or not internationally comparable. I will write to the hon. Member with details.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consequences for the money supply are forecast as a result of capital outflows accompanying the current fall in the exchange rate.

The effects of external flows on the growth of £M3 are extremely complex. The direct effect of outflows depends on the way in which they have been financed; the money supply is affected only to the extent that the outflows are financed by a reduction in sterling bank deposits held by United Kingdom residents. Though we do not yet have information about the form of recent capital flows, there is likely to be some immediate downward effect on the growth of the money supply. But over a somewhat longer period the effect depends on the impact of related factors such as interest rates, the exchange rate and inflationary expectations.

BALANCE OF PAYMENTS 1975–77
£ billion
						1975	1976	1977
Current account	…	…	…	…	…	-1·6	-1·1	0·0
Capital flows and balancing item				…	…	0·1	-2·5	7·4
Balance for official financing			…	…	…	-1·5	-3·6	7·4

The forecast for the current account balance presented in the Financial Statement and Budget Review is for a surplus of £¾ billion in 1978.Estimates and forecasts for the potential balance of payments effects of North Sea oil were given in the Treasury Economic Progress Report for August 1977. There are many uncertainties about how the economy would develop in the

POTENTIAL BALANCE OF PAYMENTS EFFECTS OF NORTH SEA OIL PROGRAMME
£ billion
			Current prices			1977 prices
			1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1985
Net effect on current account	…	…	-0·3	-0·1	1·7	3·1	4·3	5·0	8·8
Net effect on capital account	…	…	0·7	1·0	0·8	0·8	0·9	0·8	-0·1
Net effect on balance of payments		…	0·4	0·9	2·5	3·9	5·2	5·7	8·7

Estimate of repayments of foreign official debt are as follows (see notes below):
$ billion
			1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
			2·9	2·5	3·3	5·2	3·4	2·5	2·6
Notes:
(i) Repayments in non-dollar currencies have been converted into dollars at end-March 1978 rates.
(ii) Account is taken in the figures of all the early repayment of debt so far announced, except for the second early repayment of $1 billion to the IMF announced by the Chancellor in his Budget speech.
(iii) The figures include repayment of all IMF debt (including the gold tranche), all HMG foreign currency debt, and all public sector borrowing abroad.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the additional yield in 1978–79 and in a full year from an increase in all the specific duties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the balance of payments surpluses or deficits for the past three years and the anticipated outturn for 1978, together with the contribution to the balance of payments of North Sea oil for the past three years and the anticipated contribution over the next seven years, and the amount of overseas debt due for repayment in each of the next seven years.

The information is as follows:absence of North Sea oil and the estimates in the article must be viewed in that light. It was assumed for the calculations that the exchange rate and the level of domestic activity would be the same, either with the oil or without it. The estimate was as follows, with the figures for 1975 to 1977 converted to current prices and those for 1978 onwards converted to 1977 prices:including vehicle excise duty of (

Assuming implementation on 1st June 1978, a 9 per cent. increase in all the specific duties including vehicle excise duty, would yield £415 million in 1978–79 and £520 million in a full year. A 12 per cent. increase would yield £550 million and £690 million respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) tax units and (b) taxpayers have been liable to tax during the financial years 1973–74 onwards; and what is his estimate for 1978–79, indicating the point of time taken in the financial year, or other basis of computation in use.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 27th April 1978; Vol. 948, c. 675], gave the following information:

The numbers liable to tax are as follows:
'000s
	Tax units	Taxpayers
1973–74	19,810	23,300
1974–75	20,530	24,500
1975–76	20,920	25,400
1976–77*	21,170	25,900
1977–78*	20,410	24,700
1978–79†	21,040	25,600
* Provisional.
† Estimated.

The figures for 1978–79, consistently with figures for earlier years, is an estimate of the number of persons liable to tax on their estimated income over the fiscal year as a whole.The increases in general allowances announced in October 1977 which anticipated the indexation requirement for 1978–79 of last year's Finance Act are reflected in the fall in numbers of taxpayers in 1977–78. The Budget proposal for a lower rate band, though benefiting large numbers of the lower paid, does not itself alter the number of taxpayers.