asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people, at the latest count, in the Walsall area are covered by: temporary employment subsidy, the job release scheme, the job creation programme, the work experience programme, the community industry scheme, youth employment subsidies, the job introduction scheme, small firms employment subsidies; training places supported by industry, and Manpower Services Commission special courses for young people, respectively.

I regret that these figures are not available in exactly the form requested, but the following information for the Walsall area is relevant. 1,311 workers have benefited from the temporary employment subsidy. 146 people have been helped under the job creation programme. 84 places have been provided under the work experience programme. 157 young people have been helped under the youth employment subsidy. Two disabled people have been helped under the job introduction scheme for the disabled. Last year, 235 people received training in the training services division's Wolverhampton district—which includes Walsall—through the Manpower Services Commission's special courses for young people.There have been no approved applications under the job release scheme since this was extended to cover Walsall last month. There is no community industry unit at present. The small firms employment subsidy does not extend to Walsall, and I regret that area breakdowns of the numbers of training places in industry supported by special grants and awards are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young persons have been recruited into employment under the youth employment subsidy scheme between 1st October 1976 and 28th February 1978 in England, Wales and Scotland, respectively.

Between 1st October 1976 and 28th February 1978, the numbers of approved applications in England, Wales and Scotland were 29,323, 3,708 and 5,466, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will convene a meeting of local authorities, trade unions and industrialists to seek urgent ways of reducing unemployment in Cornwall.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so. Employers, unions and local authorities are represented on the Manpower Services Commission's special programmes area board covering Cornwall, which is actively engaged in instituting new measures to tackle unemployment in the area, especially amongst young people and the long-term unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of people who, since its inception 10 years ago, have been released from prison on parole or licence; and of that number how many have committed further offences whilst away from prison on parole or licence;(2) how many prisoners have failed to keep in touch with probation officers whilst on release from prison on parole or licence since the introduction of the system 10 years ago.

From the introduction of the parole scheme in 1968 to the end of 1976, 824 out of a total of 26,905 people released on parole from determinate sentences had their licences revoked for failing to keep in touch with supervising officers; and 830 had their licences revoked primarily because of the commission of further offences. The requested information is not available in respect of those children and young persons, young prisoners and persons serving extended sentences who, after detention in prison were released on licence otherwise than through the parole scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing the increase in the maximum permissible expenditure

LIMITS ON EXPENSES AT PARLIAMENTARY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
Parliamentary
Statute	County Constituency	Borough Constituency	Local Government (England and Wales)
Representation of the People Act 1948 (consolidated in the Representation of the People Act 1949).	£450 plus 2d. for every entry in the electoral register.	£450 plus 1½d. for every entry in the electoral register.	£25 plus 2d. for every entry in the register above 500.
Representation of the People Act 1969.	£750 plus 5p for every six entries in the electoral register.	£750 plus 5p for every eight entries in the electoral register.	£30 plus 5p for every six entries in the electoral register.*
Representation of the People Acts 1974.	£1,075 plus 6p for every six entries in the electoral register.	£1,075 plus 6p for every eight entries in the electoral register.	£45 plus 1p for every entry in the electoral register.*
Representation of the People Act 1977.	—	—	£72 plus 1·5p for every entry in the electoral register.*
* Separate provision has been made since 1969 for elections to the Greater London Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what purpose the provision of caravan accommodation for visitors at Styal Women's Prison is being considered.

The purpose of the proposal, which is only in its early stages, is, by reuniting a woman and her children for a longer period than is possible during the normal visiting arrangements, to help to maintain family ties during imprisonment and thereby to make it easier for a prisoner and her family to resettle into stable family relationships on her release. It is no part of the proposal to provide for conjugal visits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of district and parish council elections being held on the same day, he

The maximum permitted expenditure by candidates at parliamentary and local government elections in England and Wales is set out in the table below. The Government intend to bring forward proposals for an increase in the parliamentary election expenses limits before the next General Election.will institute proposals for postal voting for parish council elections.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Staffordshire, South-West (Mr. Cormack) on 1st March.—[Vol. 945, c. 239.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward legislation to exempt members of police forces from the provisions of the Sex Discrimination Act.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the increase in the number and the violence of crimes involving firearms, he is content that equipment for the manufacture of ·38 and ·45 special calibre pistol ammunition is on sale and widely advertised, and that no firearm certificate is required to be in the ownership of those advertising, supplying or purchasing such ammunition.

Although the component parts of pistol ammunition are not subject to control under the Firearms Act 1968, it is an offence, without a firearm certificate, to possess such ammunition in its assembled form. I have no evidence that the use of home-made ammunition in crime presents a significant problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates, between 1975 and April 1978, a Home Office Minister discussed with, or wrote to, the appropriate elected chairman or member of the Greater London Council to ascertain their views on various aspects of the Maxwell Stamp Report.

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State had discussions with the then chairman of the GLC transport committee in December 1975 and we had a further exchange of correspondence in June-July 1976. Between that time and April of this year, when my hon. Friend was in correspondence with the deputy leader of the GLC planning and communications policy committee, consultations with the GLC have continued at official level.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates since 1975 there have been any official contacts between his staff and those of the Greater London Council in connection with the Maxwell Stamp Report.

Since 1975 there has been regular contact with the GLC at official level on the Maxwell Stamp report. There were meetings in February and July 1976 and discussion, by correspondence or by telephone, in February, June and August 1976; February, July, August and November 1977; and April 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to decriminalise the possession of cannabis, in the light of examples set by 10 States in the United States of America and the Governments of Holland and Italy.

The classification of all controlled drugs, including cannabis, and the maximum penalties appropriate for all offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 including unlawful possession are currently being reviewed by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. I shall consider its recommendations in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the amount of money spent on the second Annual Report of the Equal Opportunities Commission to cover production and distribution.

The cost of production and distribution of its annual report is a matter for the Commission, which is responsible for the conduct of its day-to-day business.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual prison population for the years 1970 to 1978 convicted of (a) offences concerning cannabis alone, (b) offences concerning cannabis and other controlled drugs, and (c) offences concerning other controlled drugs alone; and what is the annual cost in prison resources of the imprisonment of these offenders.

The information requested is not available. The table below shows the number of receptions under sentence for drug offences in 1970 to 1976:

Receptions under sentence for drug offences
Year	Total
1970	802
1971	978
1972	1,080
1973	997
1974	1,044
1975	1,147
1976	1,089

Corresponding figures for 1977 are not yet available.The annual cost of keeping persons in prison convicted of specific offences is not separately recorded. In 1975–76, the last financial year for which full details are available, the overall average annual cost for each prisoner was £4,055.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual number of prosecutions for 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977 and the annual number of convictions under the drug laws relating to offences concerning cannabis only, offences concerning cannabis

PERSONS PROCEEDED AGAINST FOR OFFENCES UNDER DRUGS LEGISLATION AND OTHER OFFENCES WHERE DRUGS WERE ALSO INVOLVED: BY RESULT
UNITED KINGDOM
					Number of persons
					Proceeded against			Found guilty
Type of drug					1974	1975	1976	1974	1975	1976
Cannabis alone or with other controlled drugs		…	…	…	9,973	9,487	10,410	9,237	8,837	9,744
Controlled drugs other than cannabis	…	…	…	…	3,021	2,870	2,882	2,900	2,766	2,738

The information requested in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the annual cost of police and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise resources in investigating and prosecuting under the drugs laws;(2) what is the total number of (

Questions about Her Majesty's Customs and Excise are for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. So far as the numbers of police officers and the police costs are concerned, this information is not available centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.

asked the Lord President of the Council if, for the avoidance of doubt, he will move to amend the order of reference of the Committee of Public Accounts so as to subject to its examination the accounts of the National Enterprise Board.

The accounts of the National Enterprise Board are required by the Industry Act 1975 to be laid before Parliament and are therefore already subject to examination by the

In answer to the first part of the Question, information in the form requested is not available. The available information about proceedings is as follows:Public Accounts Committee under Standing Order 86. I understand that the Committee is currently examining certain questions relating to the Board's accountability to Parliament. The Government will, of course, consider very carefully any recommendations which the Committee may make arising out of its examination.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many applications for licences under the various provisions of the Consumer Credit Act have now been lodged; how many such applications have been rejected; and how many appeals against refusal of licence are now awaiting adjudication in his Department.

Since the Act imposes on the Director General of Fair Trading the duty of administering the licensing system, I am asking him to write to my hon. Friend about the number of licence applications lodged and rejected. One appeal against refusal of a licence is awaiting adjudication.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Ashfield on Thursday 4th May, what is the present policy on the production of accounting standards.

Accounting standards are drafted by the Accounting Standards Committee taking account of the relevant legislative requirements. Responsibility for promulgation and enforcement lies with the councils of the six accountancy bodies which make up the ASC. In undertaking this work the profession has the Government's support.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has yet reached a decision on the report of the working group on the employment of non-domiciled seafarers, which was published on 1st February 1978.

The Government endorse the general approach to the removal of wage discrimination recommended in the report. United Kingdom shipowners concerned have agreed to pay the first instalment in accordance with the group's recommendations with effect from 1st April 1978 but the details and arrangements for making the payment in the different countries have yet to be finalised. I would like to reiterate my appreciation for the work undertaken in producing this unanimous report by all those who served on the working group.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to receive the report of the Advisory Council on Applied Research and Development Committee on microprocessors.

The Applications of Solid State Technology Working Party is expected to make its first report to the Advisory Council for Applied Research and Development in June this year and the Advisory Council's examination of the report should be completed during the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will set up a full inquiry into the future demand for Cornish-produced tin, and to explore ways of safeguarding production and employment in the Cornwall minerals-based industries.

While I certainly share the general concern at the decision by the owners of the Wellington and Wheal Jane mines so close them, and strongly support the view that no possibility which would offer a reasonable expectation of operating either of them on a viable basis should be ignored, I do not consider that a general inquiry would prove of practical value in the cases in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what discussions he has had with Japanese companies regarding the establishment of a commercial vehicle assembly plant in the United Kingdom.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many actions have been brought to the Northern Ireland courts for homosexual offences which would not have constituted an offence in England and Wales.

It is not possible to establish with certainty that there have been any such prosecutions in recent years.

asked the Secretary of of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on the issue of special category status.

It has been made plain in successive public statements that special category status will not be granted to prisoners convicted of offences committed on or after 1st March 1976. The Government will not be deflected from this policy, and I trust that this House will give its firm backing to Her Majesty's Government on this important and vital issue.Originally it took 30 compounds to house the special category prisoners. Now they are in 12. The compounds are subject to frequent searches, without warning, by permanent search teams of prison officers. The degree of freedom given to prisoners within the compounds is not as great as sometimes alleged.

asked the Secretary of Northern Ireland whether he is satisfied that the agricultural interests of Northern Ireland are adequately represented in Brussels.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will give wider publicity to the recent report on the advantages of investment in Northern Ireland by the "Business Location File".

Yes. I welcome the publication of the "Business Location File" report, which showed, among other things, that 93 per cent. of firms interviewed in Northern Ireland would recommend the Province to companies in search of a new industrial location, and I intend to give it wide publicity.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is satisfied with current levels of recruitment into the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

Yes. Although we still have some way to go before reaching authorised establishment, recruitment to the force during 1977 was the highest ever and as a result the strength rose by 439 officers. I know that every effort is being made to maintain this favourable trend.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied with the degree of co-operation that he is receiving from the Government of the Irish Republic in defeating terrorism in Northern Ireland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to-day to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery).

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been prosecuted in Northern Ireland during the past 12 months for working whilst drawing social security benefits.

424 in the last 12-months period for which figures are available, ending on 31st December 1977.

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

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

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether progress on the Belfast areas of need project is being inhibited by lack of resources.

Since last year, when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State set up the special planning team for the Belfast areas of need, there has been a substantial diversion of resources into the deprived parts of inner Belfast as well as additional finance in the form of aid for the construction industry. In total, these diverted and additional resources amount to over £17 million. However, more resources are clearly needed to overcome the massive social and economic problems in the Belfast areas of need, and the Government are constantly looking for ways to develop and expand the major effort now under way.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to ensure that there is fair competition in the Northern Ireland building industry.

Public sector building contracts in Northern Ireland are let following competitive tendering in line with the methods used in the public sector in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement regarding the progress of the committee currently considering maintenance procedures with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

As I have said previously, both the Housing Executive and the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland recognise the need to improve the Housing Executive's maintenance service and a committee has been set up within the Executive under the chairmanship of a member of the board to examine performance in this field. Progress made by this committee is a matter for the Housing Executive and I am, therefore, conveying the hon. Member's request for information to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what circumstances a Housing Executive dwelling in Newry has been allocated to a member of the Republic of Ireland Army; and if he will make a statement.

In order to qualify for the tenancy of a property owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, an applicant must meet certain general criteria, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has approved. It is for the Executive to decide whether each tenant has met these criteria.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what legal advice he sought before he resumed payment of grants to the Gaelic Athletics Association, which by rule excludes from its membership all members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Her Majesty's Armed Forces.

As I indicated to the hon. Member in the reply which I gave to his Question on 20th April, before the decision was taken to resume payment of grants advice was sought on the effect of Section 19 of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what action Her Majesty's Government have taken in their attempts to help solve the refinery problems of the EEC; and if he will make a statement on the Government's current policy on this matter.

In my view, the main responsibility for solving refinery problems must rest with member States. I would expect the industry to consult the Government and the trade unions representing refinery workers on issues arising in the United Kingdom. The EEC Energy Council will be discussing this subject on 30th May and I will ask it to consider if there are any areas like the import of refined products where Community action would also be useful.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out in tabular form the current total of installed refinery capacity in the United Kingdom, and the current projections of future capacity in 1985; and what percentage of total EEC refinery capacity those figures represent in each case.

Gross United Kingdom crude oil distillation capacity as reported by the oil companies is currently 142 million tonnes per annum; approximately 17 per cent. of the capacity in the EEC as a whole. Assuming that the plans which have been notified for four new refineries in the United Kingdom are implemented in full, the United Kingdom figure would rise to 161 million tonnes per annum in 1984, the last year for which information is available, and we estimate that this would represent about 19 per cent of EEC capacity for that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out in tabular form the energy savings which have been achieved in terms of final energy consumption in the United Kingdom in each of the years from 1973 to the latest available date; if he will break down the figures according to the different sectors of energy use, namely, domestic, commercial, industrial, and transport; and if he will provide the comparable figures for each of the other eight member States of the EEC.

The answer for the United Kingdom has already been given in primary energy terms in reply to a Question on 11th May 1977 [Vol. 931, c. 553–4] and repeated on 16th December 1977 [Vol. 941, c. 526.] No further estimates of savings or comparable information for the other EEC member States can be provided at present. Methods of calculation and associated difficulties are, however, under consideration both in the United Kingdom and internationally.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes to introduce a system of phased consents for oilfield development programmes in the sixth round; and whether he has had consultations with the industry about the full implementation of such a policy.

Licensees discussing or submitting development programmes for new offshore oilfields, irrespective of the round under which the licence concerned was issued, have, since last autumn been invited to consider how their need for certainty about future oil production rates can be reconciled with the inherent uncertainty about the actual size, nature and performance of oil reservoirs, which can only be substantially determined after significant development and production experience has been gained. From these discussions there is emerging a system of initial approval and second stage consent, issued simultaneously, which should provide the licensees with the long-term confidence they need to proceed with major investments and yet afford the regulatory Department an opportunity to review the situation and prospects as and when significant production and reservoir performance experience has been obtained. In addition to discussions with individual licensees, there have been discussions with the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association committee concerned. All the discussions held so far refer to discoveries made under licences issued in the first to fourth rounds, but I expect similar discussions to be instituted with licensees who propose the development of discoveries made under licences issued in the fifth and sixth rounds.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if it is his policy to negotiate refining agreements with individual oil companies; what will be his objectives in such negotiations; and what steps will be taken to ensure development of refining of petrochemicals in Scotland to take account of oil landed from the Scottish sector of the North Sea.

Almost all of the oil companies with interests on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf have now signed participation agreements which provide for consultations with my Department about their plans for using their oil production and I expect to secure similar consultative arrangements in all relevant cases. My aim will be to ensure that commercial planning takes due account of wider national interests and, in particular, that the fullest economic use is made of United Kingdom refining plant and manpower. I shall be alert to any opportunity for economic downstream activities. In locating these, Scotland's development area status will be a weighty factor.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list in the Official Report (a) the number of new orders placed for civil nuclear reactors, (b) the number of orders cancelled, and (c) the number of orders deferred, within the EEC including the United Kingdom, in each of the years 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977.

I regret that the information cannot be provided for the EEC as a whole without incurring disproportionate cost. In the United Kingdom in the years concerned, no new orders were placed for civil nuclear power stations and none was cancelled. In 1977 a planned order for four gigawatts of steam generating heavy water reactor capacity was deferred; it has now been cancelled.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the wide range of benefits currently paid to young people past the statutory school leaving age, depending on whether they are at school full time, at school for up to three days a week, on one of the many schemes set up by the Manpower Services Commission, at college or university, or on the dole.

The Manpower Services Commission's schemes are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment. Educational support is for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Scotland.For young people aged under 19 and still in full-time non-advanced education, the main social security benefit is child benefit, paid to the parents.Young people in the employment field qualify for unemployment benefit and sickness benefit if they can meet the requisite contribution and other conditions.Supplementary benefit is payable to:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why there have been difficulties in the payment of child benefit allowance to Mrs. J. Webster, now at 1 Balmartin Road, Glasgow, G23, in respect of Fraser Webster, born 22nd January 1978; and when she may expect a reply to her correspondence with the child benefit section and a new benefit book.

Mrs. Webster's claim was received at child benefit centre through Glasgow (Maryhill) local office on 3rd February. Unfortunately the procedures for noting that the birth certificate had been seen were not followed in the local office and on 8th February the centre asked Mrs. Webster to send the birth certificate. This was not received until 14th March; there were then procedural errors at the centre in the arrangements for issue of the order book. A book which was sent to Mrs. Webster on 6th April went to her old address and was returned uncashed. Inquiries showed that Mrs. Webster had changed her address and an order book, with arrears on the first order, was sent to Mrs. Webster at her new address on 5th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what authority he refuses access by disabled persons to the files on their cases held by his Department; and to whom access to these files is given and under what authority.

It is the Department's general policy not to allow access to files relating to individuals. However, subject to the need to avoid disclosing potentially harmful medical information, copies of documents from files may be made available to the person concerned in certain circumstances, notably if he appeals against a decision on a claim for a social security benefit. Access to files relating to individuals is not normally given to third parties, though in exceptional cases a file may be made available to another Department on a "need to know" basis. Moreover, information from files is not normally disclosed to third parties without the consent of the person concerned though, exceptionally, disclosure may be made, for example, to public authorities for welfare and similar purposes.In general, this policy is not based on statutory or other specific authority but derives from my right hon. Friend's responsibility as Secretary of State for the proper administration of the Department in the public interest. This involves, among other considerations, responsibility for protecting the confidentiality of personal information held in the Department's files and for making the most effective and economical use of available manpower.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all aids and appliances which are obtainable for disabled persons from his Department free of charge, and those for which charges are made.

Through its directly administered artificial limb and appliance centres, my Department provides artificial limbs and accessories, and also a range of invalid vehicles including wheelchairs. War pensioners may receive additional services, for example, the provision of commercial hearing aids in cases where this is medically recommended. In association with NHS authorities, the Department provides NHS hearing aids and environmental control equipment. No charges are made by my Department for supply of these items.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if any two-seater three-wheeled vehicles for disabled drivers have been built to the order of his Department; and, if so, what use is proposed for them.

No such vehicles have been built to the order of my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why pharmacists in England and Wales do not have the right in their contracts to automatic arbitration in respect of their remuneration while pharmacists in Scotland enjoy such a right.

Negotiations about National Health Service remuneration for Scottish pharmacists are conducted within Committee B of the Pharmaceutical Whitley Council, the constitution of which provides for arbitration. The Central National Health Service (Chemist Contractors) Committee, the body then representing contractors in England and Wales, withdrew from Whitley negotiations in 1961.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of extending the housewife's non-contributory invalidity pension to married women under 60 years of age who are incapable only of paid work, and who are not claiming another insurance benefit, or whose husbands are not receiving national insurance or supplementary benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the net cost of paying the noncontributory invalidity pension to married and cohabiting women without the "normal household duties" test.

It is not possible to provide the precise information requested. However, if it is assumed that there are roughly as many women incapable of work as men, there might be as many as 220,000 married women not currently receiving non-contributory invalidity pension—including its extension to married women—or invalidity benefit who might be eligilble for the non-contributory invalidity pension if the household duties test was abolished. The gross cost of paying the benefit to these married women would be about £134 million at Novemeber 1978 benefit rates.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what were the perinatal and infant mortality rates throughout the United Kingdom and in the best regional health authority in 1976; and what was the total of deaths in each case;(2) what were in 1976 the perinatal and infant mortality rates in the United Kingdom and in Sweden; and what was the total of deaths in each case;(3) what were the perinatal and infant mortality rates throughout the United Kingrom and in the best area health authority in 1976; and what was the total of deaths in each case.

The 1976 figures for the United Kingdom, its constituent countries

					Rates
Country Health area					Perinatal Stillbirths and deaths under 1 week per 1,000 total births	Infant mortality Deaths under 1 year per 1,000 live births	Stillbirths	Numbers Deaths under 1 week	Deaths under 1 year*
United Kingdom		…	…	…	18·0	14·5	6,616	5,648	9,776
England†	…	…	…	…	17·6	14·2	5,339	4,468	7,834
Oxford RHA		…	…	…	13·8		203	196
East Anglian RHA			…	…		11·7			258
Oxfordshire AHA			…	…	10·3	10·1	36	31	65
Wales†	…	…	…	…	19·0	13·7	360	282	457
Gwynedd AHA			…	…	13·8	11·1	23	13	29
Scotland	…	…	…	…	18·3	14·8	629	570	959
Orkney Islands HBA				…	4·1		—	1
Shetland Islands HBA				…		3·2			1
Northern Ireland		…	…	…	22·3	18·3	278	315	483
Northern HBA			…	…	19·0	15·0	54	70	97
Sweden	…	…	…	…	10·7	8·3	545	513	818
* Includes number in previous column.
† Excludes foreign residents.
RHA = Regional Health Authority.
AHA = Area Health Authority.
HBA = Health Board Area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update the figures given for infant mortality and perinatal mortality in European countries

Country							Year	Infant mortality Deaths under 1 year of age per 1,000 live births	Perinatal mortality Stillbirths and deaths under 1 week of age per 1,000 total births
United Kingdom			…	…	…	…	1976	14·5	18·0
Republic of Ireland			…	…	…	…	1974	17·8	22·0
France		…	…	…	…	…	1974	14·7	19·3
Belgium		…	…	…	…	…	1974	17·4	20·5
Federal Republic of Germany					…	…	1975	19·8	19·3
Luxembourg		…	…	…	…	…	1974	13·5*	16·8
Denmark		…	…	…	…	…	1975	10·4	13·3
Netherlands		…	…	…	…	…	1975	10·6	13·9
Italy	…	…	…	…	…	…	1974	22·9†	26·1
Norway		…	…	…	…	…	1976	10·5	13·3
Sweden		…	…	…	…	…	1976	8·3	10·7
Finland		…	…	…	…	…	1974	11·0	14·6
* 17·9 in 1976 1976 figures for perinatal mortality are not available.
† 19·2 in 1976 1976 figures for perinatal mortality are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the area health authorities which are to receive, from the £50 million allocated in the Budget, funds for health visitors, special care baby units and health education.

The funds available in England, including the additional money, have been allocated to regional health

The figures are as follows:authorities on the lines recommended by the Resource Allocation Working Party, and it is for the regional authorities to make allocations to area health authorities.Health authorities have been given guidance about the ends—including those mentioned by my hon. Friend—to which the extra money should be devoted, but it may not be appropriate for each area to deploy the additional resources over all such items. They are also asked to inform my Department by the end of June of the uses they intend to make of the additional money.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether those who have preferred to continue to receive supplementary benefit rather than claim the same amount in a non-contributory invalidity pension are entitled to the Christmas bonus.

They are entitled to the bonus and action is being taken to identify those concerned from existing records. There may be as many as 100,000 people involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many sufferers from epilepsy in the United Kingdom were known to his Department at 31st December 1977; and what assistance they receive from his Department.

While information on the number of people with epilepsy in the United Kingdom is not collected by my Department, I accept the estimate made in the report "People with Epilepsy", which was published by the Department in 1969, that there may be up to 300,000 sufferers from epilepsy in England and Wales.In addition to the wide range of general services provided by health and local authorities, people with epilepsy have access to specialist health services when these are needed. They may also be eligible for one or more of the social security benefits administered by my Department.I welcome the efforts of the British Epilepsy Association in drawing attention to the problems of people with epilepsy and most warmly commend the initiative of organising National Epilepsy Week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many men and women under the age of 45 years, whether single or living together without children, claimed social security benefit in the Weymouth area for more than two weeks during the summer of 1977.

I regret that this information is not available, but the hon. Member may like to know that in 1977 101 claims from single men between the ages of 18 and 45 were dealt with at Weymouth under special arrangements made for handling supplementary benefit claims from seasonal workers. These did not apply to single women or childless couples until this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Civil List.

I hope to make an announcement next week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of families with dependent children who, as a result of the reduction in child tax allowances which has already taken place, and of the proposed further reduction, will be liable to tax at a higher marginal rate than would otherwise have been the case.

Taking account of the Budget proposals, the numbers of taxpayers who in 1978–79 pay tax at a higher marginal rate than they would if child tax allowances had remained at the level of 1976–77, the year before the start of the phasing-in of child benefit, are:

	Thousands
Numbers paying at the lower rate rather than having no liability	170
Numbers paying at the basic rate rate rather than the lower rate	260
Numbers paying at the higher rate of 40 per cent. rather than the basic rate	40
Others paying at higher rates	80
	550

Married women are counted separately in the numbers paying at lower and basic rates.Corresponding numbers in 1979–80 will depend on the levels of incomes and personal allowances in that year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates will be the increase in real personal disposable income, and in the real take-home pay of a married man on average earnings, with two children under 11 years in 1978–79, assuming the forecasts in the most recent Financial Statement and Budget Report.

Comparing October 1977 with October 1978 the figures are as follows:

Increase in real take-home pay at October 1977 prices	Increase in real disposable income at October 1977 prices
£	£
0·70 per week	2·50 per week

These figures do not take into account the further increase in child benefit proposed for November 1978.For October 1978 average earnings have been notionally estimated as follows: on the basis that in October 1977 a man on average earnings has not yet received an increase in the current pay round, it may be assumed that his earnings will rise by a further 10 per cent. to October 1978 in accordance with the Government's guideline. It is assumed that the retail prices index will rise by 7 per cent. over the same period.

					25 per cent. tax threshold	34 per cent. tax threshold	25 per cent. threshold as percentage of supplementary benefit entitlement level including allowance for rent and rates	34 per cent. threshold as percentage of supplementary benefit entitlement level including allowance for rent and rates
					£	£
Single person	…	…	…	…	985	1,735	87	153
Single-wage married couple			…	…	1,535	2,285	96	143
Two-wage married couple			…	…	2,520	4,020	157	251
Married couple, one child aged 13				…	1,670	2,420	82	119
Married couple, two children aged 10 and 13	…	…	…	…	1,770	2,520	76	109
Married couple, three children aged 10, 13 and 15	…	…	…	…	1,905	2,655	71	98
Married couple, four children aged 8, 10, 13 and 15	…	…	…	…	2,005	2,755	66	91

The figures used for supplementary benefits are the current short term scale rates and for rent and rates the average housing costs for a local authority residence.Child benefit has not been included.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of families eligible for family income supplement who are also liable for tax at the full standard rate.

I regret that precise figures are not available but the number is very small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures on the same basis as the reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, Official Report, 24th April 1978, column 455, showing for each of a single person, a single-wage married couple, a two-wage married couple, and single-wage married couples with each of one, two, three and four dependent children, including teenage children, the thresholds for 25 per cent. and for standard rate tax, and also the same thresholds measured as a percentage of the relevant supplementary benefit entitlement level, including with the latter an allowance for rent and rates.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will raise the maximum number of index-linked National Savings bonds which can be held by retirement pensioners to take into account the increase in the retail price index which has occurred since they were first introduced.

There is no intention to do so at present, but the terms of national savings instruments are subject to regular review. Index-linked Save-As-You-Earn is open to pensioners in addition to the index-linked retirement issue of national savings certificates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total borrowing overseas by each of the nationalised industries over the last 12 months; and what is the average rate of interest on these borrowings.

The table below shows the total borrowing overseas by individual nationalised industries from May 1977 to April 1978 inclusive. The figures have been converted where necessary into dollars at the middle market rates of exchange at the London close on 8th May 1978. The figures include borrowing not covered under the exchange cover scheme as well as covered borrowing, but do not include the $825 million which was raised in 1977 by the British National Oil Corporation in the form of forward sales of oil.

Industry	Amount borrowed ($ million)
Electricity Council	183
South of Scotland Electricity Board	8
North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board	7
British Steel Corporation	224
British Airways	89
British Rail	14
National Coal Board	288
British Shipbuilders	65

All of the above are fixed rate loans which carry interest varying from 5·7 per cent. to 10·25 per cent. with most at rates of around 9 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the increase of duty on beer, 40 per cent. more than the increase on spirits in his last four Budgets, and the increase since 1974 of 141 per cent. on beer and only 75 per cent. on spirits, is in pursuit of a policy concerned with alcoholism as a health hazard; and if he will make a statement.

Decisions on the taxation of alcoholic drinks depend on a number of factors, including revenue needs, the effect on prices, and the general economic situation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the light of claims made during the referendum concerning the benefits of British membership of the European Economic Community, what cuts have occurred in customs duties and what consequent reductions have been made in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise staffs.

Accession to the European Economic Community has resulted in numerous reductions and increases in customs duties, and charges having equivalent effect. These changes have been of such complexity that no precise estimate can be made of reductions in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise staff directly attributable to cuts in customs duties. However, the total number of staff in the Department fell by 569 in the year ended 31st March 1978 and a significant part of that reduction is attributable to the ending of customs duties between member States. Customs duties still apply to imports from outside the Community and controls are still required in intra-Community trade for United Kingdom excise duties and VAT, national prohibitions and restrictions, and for common agricultural policy and statistical purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what sum it would be necessary to raise the married couple's personal allowance to restore its real value to the level pertaining at 5th April 1973.

The married allowance would have to be raised to £1,635.This estimate is based on the change in the General Index of Retail Prices—all items, between March 1973 and March 1978, the latest date available.The figure takes account of earned income relief in 1972–73.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish the list of questions which Inland Revenue staff are recommended to ask self-employed people about their domestic expenditure.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what authority the Inland Revenue is empowered to ask tax paying self-employed people detailed questions about their personal expenditure and that of their families.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what items of personal and family expenditure are taken into account in assessing a self-employed person's tax liability.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of loss of revenue derived from capital transfer tax in the financial year 1979–80 if the transfer of growing timber and the land on which it was growing was exempt from being a chargeable transfer.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the loss of revenue derived from capital transfer tax in the financial year 1979–80 if the transfer of growing timber was exempted from being a chargeable transfer.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government remain committed to the three-year agreement with the tobacco industry on the reduction of tar yields in cigarettes announced on 8th March 1977; and whether the proposed introduction of a supplementary duty on higher tar yield cigarettes is regarded by the Government as compatible with that agreement.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the penultimate change in the limits for the nil rate and reduced rates of stamp duty on house purchase was made; and what the limits then established would now be if since then they had been increased in line with (a) the retail price index, (b) an appropriate house price index, and (c) an appropriate earnings index, respectively.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th May 1978; Vol. 949, c. 489], gave the following information:The scale of rates of stamp duty which has been in operation since May 1974 superseded a scale which took effect on 1st August 1972. The equivalents of the limits marking the nil and reduced rates of duty in that scale, increased on the bases indicated, are:

	(a)	(b)	(c)
£	£	£	£
10,000	22,200	18,300	23,200
15,000	33,300	27,500	34,700

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates would be the loss of revenue from stamp duty on house purchase if the present limit for the nil rate were raised from £15,000 to £20,000, and relevant transactions up to £25,000 were charged at 5p per £50 up to £21,000, 10p per £50 up to £20,000, 15p per £50 up to £23,000, 20p per £50 up to £24,000, and 25p per £50 up to £25,000; and if he will estimate what the figures would be if such changes were confined to transactions where the purchaser was buying with a view to making the property his only or main residence.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th May 1978; Vol. 949, c. 490], gave the following information:On the assumption that the rates of duty remained otherwise as at present, the loss of stamp duty from transfers of residential property of all kinds would be about £30 million in a full year or about £25 million if the changes were confined to owner-occupied residential property. I regret that separate estimates cannot be made in respect of residential property being bought with a view to its being the purchaser's only or main residence.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the last change in the limits for the nil rate and reduced rates of stamp duty on house purchase was made; and what the limits then established would now be if since then they had been increased in line with (a) the retail price index, (b) an appropriate house price index, and (c) an appropriate earnings index, respectively.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th May 1978; Vol. 949, c. 490], gave the following information:The current scale of rates of stamp duty on transfers of residential property took effect from 1st May 1974. The equivalents of the limits marking the various rate bands, increased on the bases indicated, are:

	(a)	(b)	(c)
£	£	£	£
15,000	26,700	20,100	26,600
20,000	35,600	26,800	35,500
25,000	44,600	33,400	44,400
30,000	53,500	40,100	53,300

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing, for a married man with no investment income and an earned income of £2,000, £3,000, £4,000, £5,000, £6,000, £7,000, £8,000, £9,000, £10,000 and £15,000, respectively (a) the proportion of his total income taken in tax on the basis of the proposals contained in the Budget Statement and (b) the proportion of his total income that would be taken in tax if the married allowance were raised to £1,700, the lower rate and basic rate of tax consolidated at 30 per cent., the higher rate threshold raised to £8,000 of taxable income, and the higher rates consolidated at 60 per cent.; and what would be the cost to the Revenue in a full year of implementing the proposals implicit in (b) above, assuming a similar increase in the single allowance.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 8th May 1978; Vol. 949, c. 355], gave the following information:

	Proportion of total income taken in tax
Income	(a)	(b)
£
2,000	5·8	4·5
3,000	14·4	13·0
4,000	19·3	17·3
5,000	22·2	19·8
6,000	24·2	21·5
7,000	25·6	22·7
8,000	26·6	23·6
9,000	27·8	24·3
10,000	29·2	25·8
15,000	37·9	37·2

At 1978–79 income levels and after taking account of the changes in the Budget Statement, the estimated cost of introducing the allowances and rates specified by the hon. Member is about £2,050 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints were received from the Government of the Republic of Ireland concerning overflying of their territory by British military planes and helicopters for each of the last five years.

Over the last five years we have accepted the following number of complaints by the Government of the Republic of Ireland in respect of accidental incursions by military aircraft including helicopters:

Years ended	Accidental Incursions
30th April 1974	28
30th April 1975	19
30th April 1976	22
30th April 1977	10
30th April 1978	8

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the gratuity and pension of a major and a corporal after 22 years service; and how this compares with the redundancy pay of a man on average earnings after 22 years of service with his company.

Assuming entry into the Army at age of 18 years a major retired at age 40 would receive a pension of £1,988 per annum and a terminal grant of £5,964. A corporal would receive a pension of £1,218 and a terminal grant of £3,654. These figures are based on the pension rates effective from 1st April 1977. The pension rates which will be effective from 1st April 1978 following the pay review are not yet available.On the basis of the latest available average weekly earnings figure of £78·60, a man dismissed on redundancy with 22 years' service with the same employer, commencing at age 18, would be entitled to a statutory redundancy payment of 19 weeks pay providing a total of £1,493·40.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what the pay of a major and a corporal was in February 1974 in percentage terms of the national average wage for men; and what the current figures are following the pay review.

Statistics for the national average wage for men are only available relating to April each year. The basic pay of a major and a corporal in February 1974 was 185 per cent. and 101 per cent. respectively of the national average wage in April 1973. A comparison of the rates of pay for the Army which apply from 1st April 1978 and the national average wage for April 1977 produces figures of 182 per cent. and 102 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many KC135 tanker aircraft have been given permission to land at any air base in the United Kingdom for which an application has been made by the United States Air Force for reactivation or change of status; and how many KC135 tanker aircraft have actually landed.

Her Majesty's Government have received a request by the United States Air Force to base further KC135 tanker aircraft in the United Kingdom. A number of alternative locations are being considered. No KC135 aircraft has been given permission to land or has landed at any of these bases since the request was received.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions with a view to prosecution under the Official Secrets Act the recent statements of Sir Neil Cameron, Chief of the Defence Staff, concerning British defence policy.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what interested bodies have been invited to comment on the recent findings of the Hydrographic Strategic Review Body.

As I said on 21st March in answer to the hon. Member for Chertsey and Walton (Mr. Pattie), the outcome of the recent meeting of the Hydrographic Strategic Review Body is under consideration with the Departments concerned.—[Vol. 946, cc. 1306–7].

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what the report of the Hydrographic Strategic Review Body will be made public; and, if so, when.

I explained in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on 28th October 1976 that it was not envisaged that the Hydrographic Strategic Review Body would publish reports; and it has not done so. I did, however, announce the outcome of the recent meeting in my replies of 21st March to my hon. Friend and to the hon. Member for Chertsey and Walton (Mr. Pattie).—[Vol. 918, c. 366; Vol. 946, c. 539; Vol. 946, c. 1306–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the ships of the Hydrographic Survey fleet are currently undergoing refit, repair or maintenance work.

The ocean survey ship HMS "Hecla" and the coastal survey vessels HMS "Fox" and HMS "Fawn" are currently in refit. In addition, the coastal survey vessel HMS "Bulldog" is in port for maintenance work. These four vessels represent some 30 per cent. of the 13-vessel Hydrographic Survey fleet.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total revenue from the sale of Admiralty charts at home and abroad in 1977.

Revenue from the sale of Admiralty charts during the financial year 1977–78 is estimated to have amounted to £4·7 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will specify those local authority and university museums the security arrangements of which have at present qualified, in the opinion of the security adviser to the national museums, for the purposes of receiving loans from the national museums.

Security arrangements are reviewed by the security adviser to the national museums, for the purposes of specific loans from the national museums under the indemnity scheme announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science on 12th July 1977. In the interest of local museuems generally, I would prefer not to publish details about these reviews.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she proposes to make her observations on the Kent County Council feasibility study of the education voucher scheme.

The Kent local education authority has not yet informed us of the conclusions of its feasibility study. In general, however, my right hon. Friend does not believe that the introduction of a voucher system would improve the quality or the efficiency of our children's education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list all primary schools in the county of Cornwall built before 1903 and indicate the priority list for replacement.

The information requested in the first part of the Question is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member when it has been obtained.Priorities for school replacement are for the local education authority to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the additional revenue in a full year from a 5p increase in the charge for school meals.

About £40 million on the basis of the estimated numbers currently paying for school meals in maintained schools in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how far the increased aid programme for the next five years will require increased staffing within her Ministry.

The aid programme is increasing in size and complexity. Subject to the general need for economy in manpower, it is my intention to ensure, in consultation with my colleagues, that the staffing needs are met.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what expenditure in her Department is devoted to tsetse fly control and research thereon; how much is spent in the United Kingdom and how much overseas and in which countries.

Estimated expenditure on tsetse fly control and research by my Department in the year April 1977 to March 1978 was £200,000, of which £140,000 was spent on research. Approximately £150,000 of the total was spent in the United Kingdom, the remaining being spent in the following countries: Botswana (£28,000), Nigeria (£16,000), Zambia (£3,600), Upper Volta (£1,680), Kenya (£800) and The Gambia (£675).Additionally my Department spent £250,000 on research into trypanosomiasis, a parasitic disease for which the tsetse fly is the vector, including £24,000 in the Sudan and £7,000 in The Gambia.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the future of the Milk Marketing Board.

EEC FEOGA EXPENDITURE ON EXPORT REFUNDS OF CEREALS
Actual expenditure
Calendar years	…	…	…	…	…	1973	1974	1975	1976
Amount in MUA	…	…	…	…	…	468·8	76·1	343·6	380·9
Converted to £ million sterling at 2·4 ua=£1					…	195·3	31·7	143·2	158·7
Note: MUA = Million units of account.

My right hon. Friend will be making a statement as soon as possible after the present meeting of the Council of Ministers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, pursuant to his reply, Official Report, 24th April, column 432, he will now obtain from the Commissioners of the EEC and publish in the Official Report the figures to show for each year since 1973 the quantities and qualities of wheat disposed of by the EEC to world markets at a cost to the Community, showing for each years the units of account spent in furtherance of such sales and the approximate sterling equivalent at the then exchange rate.

As I told my hon. Friend on 24th April 1978, this information is not available in the form requested.—[Vol. 948, c. 431–2]. However, information relating to the figures requested by my hon. Friend, on the quantities of wheat disposed of by the EEC to world markets, was published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities in the Eurostat series in the Commission's Yearbook of Agricultural Statistics 1977, for years 1972–73 to 1975–76, and in Crop Production 1/78, for year 1976–77. EEC statistics do not identify separately the quantities exported with the aid of an export refund. The figures are as follows:

EEC EXPORTS OF COMMON WHEAT AND WHEAT FLOUR TO THIRD COUNTRIES
August/July years	Million tonnes
1972–73	7·1
1973–74	5·2
1974–75	7·5
1975–76	9·0
1976–77 (provisional)	4·5

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the world's sperm whale catch is imported into the United Kingdom; and for what purposes.

No sperm whales were imported into the United Kingdom in 1977.