asked the Secretary of State for Industry what discussions he has had with Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. on funding new civil aero-engine development.

My right hon. Friend has had no recent discussions with Rolls-Royce on this topic. It is for the National Enterprise Board to make recommendations to my right hon. Friend on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the numbers of telephone subscribers and potential subscribers on waiting lists, respectively, in the United Kingdom; what were the comparable figures in January 1970, 1975, 1976 and 1977; and what he expects the position to be in 1985 and 1990.

The published report and accounts of the Post Office contain information on the size of the waiting list for telephones at the end of each financial year. The figures for the earlier years mentioned in the Question were as follows:

March 1970	108,200
March 1975	102,000
March 1976	47,000
March 1977	38,000

The report and accounts for 1977–78 will be published later in the summer.The provision of information on the waiting list at other times, and forecasts of the size of the waiting list in future, are matters for the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many inquiries or applications have been received by his Department for financial assistance under the footwear scheme; and of these how many are from firms in the North-West.

80 inquiries and 17 formal applications for assistance under the footwear industry scheme have been received. Of these 15 inquiries and four applications have come from firms in the North-West.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the negotiations between his Department and the General Electric Company about the establishment of a furniture factory at Runcorn.

Discussions between the Department and a company about the terms under which financial assistance may be provided are always confidential. In the present case I am hopeful that these discussions will be completed shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, pursuant to his reply of 22nd March 1978, to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr, he will seek the approval of Cadbury Schweppes Limited to publish the information in his answer on a plant-by-plant basis.

I am in touch with Cadbury Schweppes Ltd. and I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many industrial estates are situated in the Falmouth and Camborne parliamentary division; how many new factories are planned on these estates; how much space is available for future expansion; and to what extent he and the local councils are in full agreement for the future development of these estates.

There are seven industrial estates on which a total of about 28 acres of land are available for development. My Department owns 8½ acres of this land and approval has been given to the building of two 5,000 sq. ft. advance factories for Hayle; two 5,000 sq. ft. advance factories and four 2,500 sq. ft. terraced units for Camborne; and 2 units of 2,000 sq. ft. for the Development Commission at Praze. My Department maintains close contact with the local councils and is in full accord with them on future developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry by how much his Department's expenditure per capita in the Cornwall development area exceeds, or is less than, that of the national average per capita in respect of his Department.

In the period from August 1972 to 31st March 1978, assistance has been made available under the Industry Act 1972 in respect of undertakings located in the South-West Development Area as follows:

Pt I	£ million
Payment of regional development grant	22·3
Pt II
Section 7
Offers of regional selective assistance	8·7
Section 8
Offers of selective financial assistance	0·3
TOTAL	31·3
Average per head of working population	£187·62

In the same period assistance was made available as follows to undertakings located in the five main assisted areas of Great Britain:

Pt I	£ million
Payment of regional development grant	1,414·4
Pt II
Section 7
Offers of regional selective assistance	377·4
Section 8
Offers of selective financial assistance	120·6
TOTAL	1,912·4
Average per head of working population	£200·40

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when it is his intention that his right hon. Friend the Minister of State shall reply to the letter written by the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne on 16th February 1978 concerning the problems of, and the case for, special development area status for the county of Cornwall.

My right hon. Friend will write as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what consultations he has had with the Confederation of British Industry concerning the impact of a policy of trade embargo against South Africa on the level of industrial inactivity within the United Kingdom;(2) if he will make available in the Library a summary of conversations with the Confederation of British Industry concerning the industrial impact of a trade embargo against South Africa.

The Government have discussions with the Confederation of British Industry from time to time on matters which might affect the performance and level of activity of United Kingdom industry including this subject. Such discussions are matters of commercial confidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has received the final report of the feasibility study, conducted by Calderdale Council and the English Industrial Estates Corporation, into the conversion of a mill in Calderdale to smaller industrial units; if he has received full financial information associated with the scheme; how costs compare with conventional advance factory units; and if he will make a statement.

, pursuant to his answer [Official Report, 15th March 1978; Vol. 946, c. 200], gave the following information:The feasibility study revealed that the framework of the mill was cast iron, which meant that its conversion would have been much more expensive than expected. The objective of the conversion was to provide floor space at a fraction of the cost of constructing new advance factories and thereby allowing units to be made available to small firms at low rents. The average estimated cost of the preferred conversion scheme would be £10·67 per sq ft compared with a new factory in the same area of £12·35 per sq ft. The rental based on market value and not cost would be 47p per sq ft and a return on capital of only 4·4 per cent. This compares with 81p per sq ft and a capital return of 6·56 per cent. on a new factory.There were also severe physical constraints with this particular mill for example exceptionally low headroom. It was therefore decided that it would not be viable to proceed with this scheme. However I have also written to my hon. Friend and explained that we are still considering a conversion where the aims of a relatively inexpensive and satisfactory conversion can be achieved.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Civil Service unions on the question of job dispersal.

I have had no recent discussions with staff representatives about dispersal. As I advised my hon. Friend the Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) on 20th February, departmental Ministers are in consultation with their individual staff sides and officials of my Department are in regular contact with the staff side of the Civil Service National Whitley Council.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he remains satisfied with retirement arrangements for civil servants.

Yes.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is satisfied with the progress towards reactivation of the Pay Research Unit.

Yes.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will refer to the Select Committee on Procedure (Sessional) the procedures of the House in relation to Private Members' Bills with a view to recommending improvements in those procedures.

This could come within the comprehensive review of our procedures being undertaken by the Select Committee on Procedure. I doubt whether the House would wish to set up any separate inquiry on this matter until that Committee had reported on Bill procedures generally.

asked the Lord President of the Council what was the cost of provision of security arrangements for visitors to the Palace of Westminster during the past three months.

The total cost of security staff in the first three months of this year was £382,483. It is not possible to calculate what proportion of that relates to security arrangements specifically for visitors to the Palace of Westminster.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he is satisfied with the broadcasting of proceedings of the House; if any problem has arisen; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. These are early days, but I think that the broadcasting of our proceedings has got off to a promising start.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will now initiate a further experiment on morning sittings of the House.

I do not think it would be sensible to introduce any major changes in the arrangement of parliamentary business until we know what proposals the Select Committee on Procedure may put forward.

asked the Lord President of the Council what proposals the Government have for correcting the electoral register in Wales and Scotland for referenda purposes, to ensure that (a) dead persons, (b) incorrect entries, (c) students registered twice and (d) second home double registrations are eliminated for the calculations for establishing whether 40 per cent. of the electorate have voted "Yes".

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to his similar Question last week.—[Vol. 949, c. 412–3.]

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will specify the changes made or proposed since 1974 in the employer's national insurance contribution payable by a Member of Parliament employing a full-time secretary; whether he accepts that such costs should not be paid out of a Member of Parliament's own salary; and if he will make a statement.

The national insurance contribution paid by an hon. Member in respect of a full-time secretary since 1974 will have depended on the level of the secretary's salary, and I will be writing to the hon. Member setting out the appropriate rates.As the hon. Member will know, the secretarial allowance payable in addition to the Member's salary is specifically designed to cover, amongst other things, the costs associated with the employment of a secretary. I am aware of the hon. Member's views on the adequacy of this allowance and I will ensure that the question of increased national insurance contributions is considered in the next full review.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will set out in the Official Report the current arrangements in force to provide insurance cover for right hon. and hon. Members who travel away from Westminster and also outside Great Britain on the business of the House; and what are the respective benefits in relation to death, injury, disablement, medical fees, treatment and loss of or damage to personal effects, money or luggage of those so travelling.

Below is the text of a memorandum on personal accident insurance prepared by the Accountant.Fees Office,House of Commons,London, SW1A 0AA.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools in England which have a provision for 900 or more 11 to 16-year-olds feed those pupils wishing to pursue sixth form courses into schools catering for the 11 to 18-year-old age ranges.

In January 1977, the latest year available, 326 maintained comprehensive schools with at least 901 pupils on the register were organised to provide education for pupils aged 11 to 16 years. Information about the number of these schools which feed sixth form courses in schools organised for the 11 to 18-year-age group could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of the gross national product is spent on education in the United Kingdom; and how this compares with the percentages of gross national product spent by member States of the European Economic Community and the Soviet Union, respectively.

The latest comparable figures available for other countries are published in the UNESCO statistical yearbook from which the following information which relates to public expenditure on education has been taken:

PERCENTAGE OF GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AT MARKET PRICES
United Kingdom 1974	6·2
Belgium (Ministry of Education) 1973 provisional	5·1
Denmark 1974	7·1
France 1974	4·7
Germany (Federal Republic) 1974	4·5
Ireland 1974 provisional	5·9
Italy 1974	5·2
Luxembourg 1973	5·2
Netherlands 1973	7·9

In the USSR in 1974 corresponding expenditure amounted to 7·6 per cent. of the net material product.It must be emphasised that the UNESCO definition of public expenditure on education differs from that used in the corresponding statistics officially compiled and published in the United Kingdom, and that the UNESCO definition of gross national product is at market prices—which includes taxes and excludes subsidies—rather than at factor cost. Moreover, since the education systems of the various countries have salient differences which can affect comparibility, care should be exercised in any use made of the figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by how much her Department's expenditure per capita in Cornwall exceeds or is less than that of the national average per capita in respect of her Department.

Comprehensive information on expenditure borne on the Votes in Class X for which my Department accounts is not readily available for individual counties. As regards the main body of expenditure for education and related services met by local education authorities in the first instance, and taken into account in rate support grant (Class XVII, Votes 1 and 3), I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to a Question by the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) on 23rd March 1978.—[Vol. 946, c. 666–668.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to the answer concerning the current state of use of computerised teaching machines in the United Kingdom educational system, Official Report, 8th May 1978, what funds are involved in the Schools Council continuing project for the development of teaching materials for use in computer experiments; and in how many educational establishments these experiments are being pursued.

The Schools Council project "Computers in the Curriculum" received funds totalling £48,900 during the four academic years 1973–74 to 1976–77. Trials were conducted in about 130 educational establishments, and the project materials are now being prepared for publication. The project has now been granted a three-year extension from 1978–79 at a total cost of £67,200 for dissemination and the development of further materials.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to the answer concerning the current state of use of computerised teaching machines in the United Kingdom educational system, Official Report, 8th May 1978, what are the total funds so far allocated to assist in disseminating information and materials developed during the programme; and how much additional allocation has in fact now been made.

Dissemination was an integral part of the national development programme in computer assisted learning and it is not possible to estimate what proportion of the programme's total expenditure was devoted to this during the five years of its operation from 1973 to 1978. The Council for Educational Technology has been notified that £10,000 of its grant for 1977–78 and £60,000 of its grant for 1978–79 are intended to cover the dissemination of information and materials developed during the programme, but it is for the Council to decide how to allocate its total grant between its various responsibilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, further to the answer concerning the current state of use of computerised teaching machines in the United Kingdom educational system, Official Report, 8th May 1978, what are the numbers of computers in place in the United Kingdom as opposed to the United States of America and Scandinavia to support the statement that the United Kingdom has established itself as one of the world's leaders in computer-assisted learning.

I regret that this information is not available. But computer numbers do not determine a country's standing in this field. My right hon. Friend's statement had regard to the range and quality of the development work undertaken within the national development programme on computer assisted learning, to the programme's methods of evaluation, to the techniques used for analysis and assessing cost effectiveness, and, most important, to the high percentage of projects that have been successfully taken onto local budgets on a permanent basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she proposes to reconstitute her Advisory Committee on the Supply and Training of Teachers when its present five-year term expires in the summer; and if she will make a statement.

I propose to reconstitute the committee on broadly its present pattern in view of the valuable work which it and its sub-committees have done since its inception in 1973. Sir Arthur Armitage has kindly agreed to continue to serve as chairman after the committee's reconstitution for an initial period. These proposals are subject to consultations with my Department's partners in the education service, and I shall welcome the views of other organisations and individuals concerned with teacher training and supply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what administrative or legislative proposals have emerged as a result of the interdepartmental working party on dogs; and when he expects to implement any decisions which have been taken.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on Wednesday 10th May to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will carry out consultations with a view to making adjustments in the rate support grant to ensure that the burden on the rates of giving concessionary bus fares to retirement pensioners is put on an equitable basis whatever the age structure of the population.

The rate support grant is a block grant calculated on the basis of local authority expenditure across all services, and it would not be appropriate to single out a particular service for special treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the average domestic rate bill for each local authority district in England and Wales for 1977–78 and the percentage change this represents compared with 1976–77;(2) if he will list the average domestic rate bill for each local authority district in England and Wales for 1978–79, and the percentage change this represents when compared with 1977–78;(3) if he will list the estimated current expenditure for each local authority in England and Wales in 1977–78 and 1978–79, as most recently notified to him by local authorities;(4) if he will list the rate poundage for each metropolitan district council and each non-metropolitan county council for each financial year since local government reorganisation, and the percentage change for each local authority in each year.

I have arranged for such lists to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the amount of domestic needs and resources element of the rate support grant received by each local authority per head of the population in the local authority's area in 1978–79, and the percentage increase of grant element compared with 1977–78.

Not all of this information is available yet. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as it is.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much his Department's expenditure per capita in Cornwall exceeds, or is less than, that of the national average per capita in respect of his Department.

The latest estimate of per capita expenditure for 1977–78 on the two major elements of the Department's expenditure—rate support grant and housing subsidies—in respect of Cornwall is £143. This is £14 less than the comparable figure for England and Wales as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring is undertaken by his Department of the overloading of sewage outlets into the sea, which can be sanctioned currently by regional water authorities seeking to avoid the rigours of the Control of Pollution Act as applied to new sewage works.

Monitoring of water and effluent standards is carried out by regional water authorities; details of the results will be included in the public registers required under Part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. Consents under existing legislation do not provide a means to avoid the controls of Part II of the Act; dischargers can operate legally only within the terms of consents, whether given under existing legislation or under Part II. I shall write to the hon. Member with more detailed information about the Southern Water Authority's proposals to improve the situation at the Pennington outfall, which I think he may have in mind particularly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent the charges for emptying cesspools at present levied by some local authorities are related to the sewerage and environmental service; and if such local authorities are entitled to reimbursement for such services and on what basis.

No information is available on the varying practices of the local authorities in charging for emptying cesspools. There is no provision for reimbursement of local authorities who perform this service; they may make such charges as they think fit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will announce his decision on the Ealing town centre plan inquiry.

My right hon. Friend will do so very shortly now.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has received any request for technical assistance from the Anglian Water Authority in connection with effluent problems at the Tilbury sewage works; and what reply he has sent.

I understand that the authority has its own expert advisers and has taken a number of measures to overcome operational difficulties with new plant which were causing problems at these works; it has not, therefore, requested assistance from my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate the average cost to local authorities of providing sites for gipsies.

I regret that my right hon. Friend does not have this information. In his report published in April 1977, Mr. John Cripps commented that costs vary very widely according to the place, the services needed and the standards adopted. He found that a simply equipped site might cost only a few thousand pounds, a fully equipped site might cost 10 or 20 times as much.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to encourage local authorities which have either not provided any sites for gipsy caravans under the Caravan Sites Act 1968, or, like Essex County Council, have not provided enough sites.

My right hon. Friend is continually urging local authorities to provide sites for the gipsies in their area. He hopes before long to be able to respond to the Cripps Report, published last year, which contains recommendations designed to improve site provision and to facilitate the Department's role of co-ordination and advice. My Department, with the Advisory Officer on Gipsy Encampments, is always willing to discuss with any authority the problems they may be encountering.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average cost of building a local authority or new town dwelling completed in 1977.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to him on 17th February 1978.—[Vol. 944, c. 397–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why the claim of Mr. K. E. Barker of 4 Northgate Avenue, Bury St. Edmunds, for compensation for the severance of a vehicle right-of-way at the rear of his house, arising from the construction of the A45 bypass, has not been dealt with since 6th March 1975; in particular, why letters sent to his Department on 27th January and 5th April 1978 have neither been answered nor acknowledged; and if he will make a statement of his intentions in regard to this case.

Mr. Barker has received compensation for the severance of his vehicle right-of-way. I understand that the hon. Member is now aware of this. The hon. Member wrote to me on 8th May on behalf of his constituent and when I reply, which I shall do shortly, I shall explain fully the position concerning Mr. Barker's other claim for compensation, which is under Part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he proposes to take to ensure that local authorities covering areas with a high percentage of elderly people are not put at a disadvantage compared with other authorities in deciding whether to provide concessionary bus fares for pensioners.

Expenditure by local authorities on concessionary fares is already relevant for rate support grant which is distributed on the basis of a formula which takes into account each authority's general needs and resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost of extending the most favourable concessionary bus fares scheme for pensioners now operating outside London to all areas.

So far as we are aware, the most favourable schemes now operating outside London also provide free bus travel at off-peak hours. The cost of extending such a concession to all pensioners in England and Wales would be about £250 million at November 1977 prices; by comparison we plan that local authorities will be spending about half this sum by 1980–81, if they implement circular 2/78 in full.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the full range of Government subsidies and tax concessions available to bus operators and the estimated cost to public funds of each of them in total, and the corresponding figures for the Southdown Bus Company.

Local authority support for local public transport services can attract both rate support grant and, in England and Wales, transport supplementary grant. Operators of public service vehicles are eligible for new bus grant and rebate of duty charged on bus fuel for stage carriage services.Local authority expenditure on revenue support in Great Britain in 1977–78 was around £150 million. Figures for new bus grant and fuel grant were £48·8 million and £57·5 million respectively. Corresponding figures for Southdown Motor Services for the 1977 calendar year are: revenue support—£1·28 million; new bus grant—£1·2 million; fuel duty rebate—£0·75 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many acres of land are in his Department's ownership in the vicinity of the Northgate interchange of the Bury St. Edmunds bypass and adjacent to the railway line and Fornham Road; how long his Department has been in possession of this property since it was compulsorily acquired; what is its present value as estimated by the district valuer; what steps he has taken to offer it to other Government Departments, statutory undertakers and local authorities or, if they do not wish to acquire it, to sell it to private persons;(2) how many gipsies are occupying land owned by his Department at the Northgate interchange in Bury St. Edmunds; and what steps he has taken to date to end this occupation.

The hon. Member wrote to me on 20th April about this land. I shall reply as soon as possible and deal with all the matters he now raises.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the actual or estimated national expenditure on road safety for a recent convenient period; what was the number of deaths and casualties on the roads during that period; and to what extent he estimates road safety expenditure contributed to saving life and limb on the roads during that period.

Much money, both public and private, is spent on road construction or vehicle maintenance which produce a whole range of benefits. It would be difficult to quantify the part of such expenditure which should be attributed to road safety. Some smaller items of expenditure are wholly attributable to road safety. These include central Government expenditure on road safety research and publicity, which amounted in 1977–78 to £2 million and £4·5 million respectively. It is not possible to estimate the numbers of casualties saved by the total expenditure on road safety.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give further and urgent attention to the problem of road safety at the Anston crossroads on the A57 in the Rother Valley constituency.

I am considering the matter in the light of the letter which the hon. Member sent to me last week and shall write to him shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents were recorded at the Ball Inn crossroads at Bramley near Rotherham during th last four years; and what was the number of persons killed or injured at or near these crossroads during this period.

Statistics of road accidents and casualties in local areas are a matter for the local authority concerned. I suggest that my hon. Friend gets in touch with the South Yorkshire County Council which is the local highway authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will arrange to monitor forthwith the consequences of four weeks total absence of bus services in Leeds, in order to assist the search for a viable pattern of future public transport.

Yes. The Transport and Road Research Laboratory is talking to the county council and the passenger transport executive about assessing the immediate and longer-term effects of the strike.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the amount per mile spent on road maintenance by each county council in England on roads for which it has responsibilities for 1975–76, 1976–77 and 1977–78.

Following is the information for 1975–76. Information for the two years 1976–77 and 1977–78 is not yet available; but it is expected that the information for 1976–77 will be available shortly, when I shall write to my hon. Friend.

County	Maintenance expenditure per mile of non-trunk road*,†
	£
Avon	1,774 (1,788)
Bedfordshire	2,370 (2,545)
Berkshire	2,418 (2,431)
Buckinghamshire	1,908 (1,908)
Cambridgeshire	1,387 (1,384)
Cheshire	2,259 (2,310)
Cleveland	2,455 (2,463)
Cornwall	841 (856)
Cumbria	1,164 (1,172)
Derbyshire	1,822 (1,866)
Devon	1,043 (1,066)
Dorset	1,112 (1,179)
Durham	2,015 (2,080)
East Sussex	1,892 (1,924)
Essex	1,886 (1,929)
Gloucestershire	931 (932)
Greater London‡	12,415(14,057)
Greater Manchester	1,697 (2,051)
Hampshire	1,554 (1,530)
Hereford and Worcester	1,061 (1,063)
Hertfordshire	2,790 (2,918)
Humberside	1,602 (1,703)
Isle of Wight	1,664 (1,664)
Kent	1,983 (2,146)
Lancashire	2,355 (2,372)
Leicestershire	1,577 (1,573)
Lincolnshire	1,137 (1,137)
Merseyside	2,949 (2,949)
Norfolk	845 (861)
Northamptonshire	1,512 (1,521)
Northumberland	1,062 (1,068)
North Yorkshire	1,488 (1,505)
Nottinghamshire	1,917 (1,918)
Oxfordshire	1,159 (1,237)
Salop	902 (907)
Somerset	854 (852)
South Yorkshire	1,412 (1,508)
Staffordshire	1,742 (1,743)
Suffolk	1,085 (1,110)
Surrey	2,089 (2,140)
Tyne and Wear	2,832 (2,985)
Warwickshire	2,051 (2,067)
West Midlands	2,985 (3,223)
West Sussex	2,048 (2,045)
West Yorkshire	3,261 (3,261)
Wiltshire	1,073 (1,097)
* Figures in brackets take account also of expenditure—or net income—reported by district councils as having been incurred by them on road maintenance.
† Including expenditure on cleansing, gritting and snow clearing.
‡ Principal roads only. Non-principal roads in Greater London are the responsibility of the London boroughs. For all non-trunk roads in Greater London the aggregate expenditure of the Greater London Council and all the London boroughs amounts to £5,425 per mile.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has reached a conclu1sion on the feasibility study of a link road between the M1 and M11; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend announced his conclusion on 23rd January; I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Press notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the public inquiry into the North Devon link road proposals will take place.

My right hon. Friends, the Secretaries of State for Transport and for the Environment, hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Attorney-General when he proposes to bring forward legislation to implement the report of the Faulks Committee on defamation, Command Paper No. 5909.

The Government have not yet taken any decisions about the report of the Faulks Committee on defamation but the matter is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to visit one of the hospitals in Ceredigion.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no immediate plans to visit a hospital in Ceredigion.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he is going to take a decision with regard to the Arddleen bypass.

My right hon. and learned Friend hopes that work on the scheme will commence next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Welsh National Water Development Authority concerning the advice it gives to local authorities in relation to granting planning permissions for extending buildings over public sewers, in accordance with the provisions of Section 25 of the Public Health Act 1936.

We have had no discussions with the Welsh Water Authority on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the percentage of speakers of the Welsh language in the total population of (a) the former county of Denbigh and (b) the Denbigh parliamentary division, according to the last national census.

According to the 1971 Census the percentage of persons aged three and over in this category was (a) 28 per cent. and (b) 41 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report the total amounts of public expenditure already made and planned over the years 1970 to 1980 on the encouragement of the Welsh language in all sectors, including books, education, publishing, transport and public office signs and bilingual official forms and in each year specify the percentage which total expenditure on such policies constituted or will constitute of total identifiable public expenditure in Wales.

It is not possible to provide this information. Expenditure in support of the Welsh language is incurred not only by my Department and others but by many local authorities and other public bodies. It would not be practicable to identify all the separate costs involved.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether, in order to facilitatae the economic development of the Falkland Islands, and to reduce their dependence for communications on a foreign Power, she will now discuss with the local administration the feasibility of extending the airfield at Stanley.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 28th April.—[Vol. 948, c. 720.]

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will state the purpose of the departmental mission being sent to Bangladesh under the leadership of Mr. Wilmshurst, indicating the date it is to be there, the names, affiliations and professional qualifications of those who are taking part from outside the Government service, the reasons for their inclusion in this mission and the total estimated cost to public funds.

This is a reconnaissance mission which is due to arrive in Bangladesh on 16th May and to stay for two to three weeks. The composition of the mission is designed to provide a wide spread of expertise which will enable it: (a) to review the current gas development situation with the Bangladesh authorities concerned; (b) to assist the authorities develop an outline plan for the development of the Bangladesh gas industry; (c) to make specific proposals for a phased programme of United Kingdom participation in the more detailed planning and management of the industry.The mission will be led by Mr. J. B. Wilmshurst, BA (Econ), a senior economic adviser in the Ministry of Overseas Development, and will include:

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether Her Majesty's Government will consider providing medical aid and supplies for humanitarian purposes to the Eritrean Liberation Front.

Her Majesty's Government provides humanitarian aid only through recognised Governments and international organisations. I would be prepared to consider providing medical or other humanitarian assistance for Eritrea if a request were made through those channels, but I have no plans to provide assistance to the Eritrean Liberation Front.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, in the light of the fact that the domestic market for coal is expected to fall to about 3 million tons, Energy Commission Paper No. 5 Chart 20, by 2000 AD, what consultations he has had with merchants and the trade associations involved over future planning.

My right hon. Friend has had no such consultations. The consultative document on energy policy, Cmnd. 7101, explains—Annex 1, paragraph 2—that forecasts such as that quoted are subject to a considerable range of uncertainty. The introduction to the document states the Government's intention of allowing the widest possible range of interests to contribute to the development of energy policy. I should be glad to receive any views the coal trade wishes to express.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether any connection has been established between the malfunction of Hinkley Point B advanced gas-cooled reactor in June 1977 and Hunterston B advanced gas-cooled reactor in October 1977, both involving the sea water supply system; what information was passed on to the Hunterston control engineers following the Hinkley accident; and what advice concerning control, maintenance, or additional cooling systems has been given to the design engineers at Dungeness, Hartlepool and Heysham arising from the malfunctioning of the advanced gas-cooled reactor system in the two cases;(2) if he will set up a special joint inquiry to investigate the malfunctioning of the Hinkley Point B reactor in June 1977 and the Hunterston B reactor in October 1977, with a view to making design changes in the Dungeness, Hartlepool and Heysham reactors.

The causes of the two incidents at Hinkley Point B station in June 1977 and at Hunterston B—which is operated by the South of Scotland Electricity Board and is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland—in October 1977 were not related. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland gave to him on 15th December 1977 about the Hunterston B incident and to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Churchill) on 2nd February about Hinkley Point B. I am advised that both incidents have been thoroughly investigated and remedial action has been taken or is in hand. Joint consideration of these two different incidents would not be appropriate.I am informed by the CEGB that there is close co-operation between it and the SSEB on matters such as the design and operation of nuclear stations and have been assured that information and advice on the incidents mentioned by the hon. Member were communicated formally and informally as a matter of course between the two Boards. The AGR stations at Dungeness, Hartlepool and Heysham will be provided with permanent back-up cooling water supplies.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how long the Hinkley Point B reactor has been out of action following the accident with the sea water system in June 1977; and when it is likely to become operational again.

I am advised by the CEGB that the clearing up, repairs and testing in the cooling water pump house were completed in two weeks. This work was merged into a planned reactor shut down for routine inspection and certain time consuming modification work, which prevented a return to power until December 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the approximate cost of making good the damage to the Hinkley Point B reactor following the accident in June 1977.

There was no damage to the reactors in the incident referred to. The cost of the remedial work in the pump house was approximately £2,500.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes to give the British National Oil Corporation a specific directive under Section 4 of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-Lines Act 1975 to buy Iranian crude oil so that the defence contracts for the sale of military equipment negotiated between the United Kingdom and Iran and involving the Isfahan ordnance complex may be completed.

The arrangements for this contract are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is now prepared to support the Commission's proposals recently endorsed by the European Parliament for reducing the Community's excess refining capacity.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Carshalton (Mr. Forman) on 11th May.—[Vol. 949, c. 572.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will detail the activities of the census office within his Department giving the number of people employed, the total cost to public funds and identifying the surveys and census projects carried out in 1976, 1977 and 1978.

One of the responsibilities of my Department's statistics division is the taking of an annual census of employment which provides the country's main annual series of local, regional and national employment statistics.On 1st April 1978, 89 permanent staff and 14 casual staff in the division were employed on work associated with the annual census. Additionally an average of some 600 staff will be employed in unemployment benefit offices between April and October on the collection of 1978 census information. The overall cost, excluding computer facilities, is expected to be of the order of £2 million in the current financial year.Computer facilities are provided by my Department's computer branch. In the previous financial year the overall cost of these facilities for census work was £490,000. Some increase is expected in the current financial year.Other staff within the statistics division prepare a range of regular statistics including those for unemployment, earnings and hours of work, industrial disputes, labour costs, family expenditure and retail prices. Monthly and quarterly provisional employment estimates for dates subsequent to the most recent census of employment are also prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many teenagers were registered as unemployed in each of the last six years.

Age analyses of the unemployed are available for January and July each year. The following table shows the available figures for people under 20 years of age registered as unemployed in Great Britain:

	January	July
1972	129,375	125,200
1973	114,741	70,064
1974	—	81,591
1975	—	232,840
1976	224,545	390,246
1977	252,328	456,201
1978	274,822	—

Figures are not available for January 1974 because of an energy crisis and for January 1975 because of industrial action by some staff in the Department of Employment group. From January 1976 adult students registered for vacation employment are excluded from the age analyses and from the figures above for 1976, 1977 and 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many men, women and school leavers were unemployed in the Burton on Trent area at the end of February in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978;(2) how many men, women and school leavers were unemployed in the Uttoxeter area at the end of February in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978.

The following table gives the numbers registered as unemployed in the Burton on Trent and Uttoxeter employment office areas in each of the months specified. The register is currently counted on the second Thursday of the month and figures are not on an end-month basis:

BURTON ON TRENT
	Males	Females	Total	School-leavers included in the total
1974	542	130	672	4
1975	707	190	897	10
1976	1,022	383	1,405	51
1977	929	419	1,348	31
1978	1,043	533	1,576	51

UTTOXETER
	Males	Females	Total	School-leavers included in the total
1974	122	34	156	1
1975	183	50	233	2
1976	230	75	305	1
1977	210	102	312	3
1978	219	114	333	1

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of registered unemployed persons in the employment areas represented by the Falmouth and Camborne parliamentary division in February 1970, February 1974 and February 1978; and what percentage these numbers represent as a proportion of the total working population.

The number of people registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Falmouth, Camborne, Redruth and Hayle employment offices, which closely corresponds to the Falmouth and Camborne parliamentary division, at February 1970, February 1974 and February 1978 were 1,585, 1,169 and 4,154 respectively. The corresponding unemployment rates were 5·8 per cent., 3·7 per cent. and 12·4 per cent. These rates are based on the estimated total numbers of employees—employed and unemployed—which differ from the total working population in that they exclude self-employed persons and members of Her Majesty's forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the unemployment figures requested in the Written Question from the hon. Member for Blaby which appeared in the Official Report, 7th April, column 283, are now available; if so, if he will publish them; and, if not, when he expects them to be available.

The figures requested are still not available. I expect to receive the information for the first quarter of 1978 for the United States, Canada, France, West Germany, and Great Britain shortly, when I will arrange for it to be published in the Official Report. Data for Japan, Italy and Sweden are not expected to be available for at least two or three months.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will categorise the various schemes of financial assistance available to industry through his Department for maintaining and improving employment; and what is the expenditure on each for each year since 1974, by (a) industry and (b) region.

There are two such schemes available to industry through my Department—the temporary employment subsidy and the small firms employment subsidy. The expenditure on each is as follows:

Financial Year	Temporary Employment Subsidy	Small Firms Employment Subsidy £ million
1974–75	Nil	Nil
1975–76	2·7	Nil
1976–77	92·4	Nil
1977–78	173·7	2·0

A breakdown of the expenditure by industry is not available and it would be at disproportionate cost to provide it by region.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why it took him over a month to reply to the letter of 6th April from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West; why he refused to answer the four questions contained in this letter; why such a refusal could not have been sent within a week or two of the receipt of the hon. Member's communication; and whether he will take action to expedite replies to correspondence which is received in his office.

I am sorry for the unusual delay in replying to my hon. Friend's letter, which was due to pressure of work. As to the four questions about individual firms contained in his letter, my reply of 8th May has fully explained why I did not consider it appropriate to answer them specifically.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if there is any appeal procedure following decisions of the Central Arbitration Committee on House of Commons Fair Wages Resolution disputes.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will review the regulations which govern payment of travelling expenses for attendance by a Northern Ireland employer at an industrial tribunal held in Great Britain so as to allow expenses to be paid from the employer's home to the tribunal and not, as at present, only from the port or airport of entry to Great Britain.

I will look into this and write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans there are to operate the special temporary employment programme in (a) Burton on Trent and (b) the Uttoxeter area.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that plans for the operation of the special temporary employment programme—STEP—are currently being agreed for the areas covered by each of the MSC's area boards. Burton on Trent and the Uttoxeter area are the responsibility of the board based at Wolverhampton, which would be pleased to have applications for STEP schemes from local sponsors.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many vacant places there are currently in engineering skillcentres in the United Kingdom.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what training workshops or community service schemes are planned for (a) the Burton on Trent area and (b) the Uttoxeter area.

I am informed that the Manpower Services Commission has not yet received any proposals for training workshop or community service schemes in the Burton on Trent and Uttoxeter areas. Applications for such schemes in these areas will be welcomed. 106 places on other types of schemes have been provided under the youth opportunities programme and proposals for a further 45 places are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total contracted or estimated cost to the Government of obtaining unemployment forecasts from the Manpower Research Group at Warwick University for the duration of the current programme.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that £116,000 has been paid to the manpower research group at Warwick University since the programme began in October 1975. The Commission expects to pay a further £200,000 to complete the planned programme by October 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all the codes of practice so far issued by the Health and Safety Commission; and what other codes of practice the Commission has in mind to issue in the near future.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that so far the Commission has approved and issued one code of practice under the provisions of Section 16 of the Health and Safety at Works etc. Act 1974. This gives practical guidance about safety representatives.Several other subjects are under consideration by the Commission for the possible issue of codes of practice. These include noise, vinyl chloride, carcinogenic substances, lead and time off for training of safety representatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has considered the various employment proposals in the Lucas Aerospace combine shop stewards' committee corporate plan as they relate to increasing de-skilling and fragmentation of work in that industry; and whether his Department is considering the matter of changing job structure in industry and commerce as a whole with its subsequent labour market and training implications.

I am advised that the plan draws attention to de-skilled and fragmentation of work as a result of increasing automation and proposes job re-design to counter this; my Department's work research unit is concerned with the fields of job re-design and job enrichment and has given advice on these matters to organisations when asked to do so by management and workforce. More generally my Department and the Manpower Services Commission continually consider the implications for manpower policies of changing job-structures in industry and commerce.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether, in the forthcoming Government proposals on industrial democracy, the work of the Lucas Aerospace combine shop stewards' committee will be supported as a practical and positive illustration of the meaning of industrial democracy.(2) whether the corporate plan proposals of the Lucas Aerospace combine shop stewards committee are in accord with the Government's industrial democracy proposals.

In view of the Government's intention to publish a White Paper in the near future it would be inappropriate for me to comment in detail at this time on the views of the Lucas Aerospace combine shop stewards committee. However, in framing their own proposals the Government are seeking to provide the maximum flexibility for the voluntary development of employee participation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is aware of the relocation plans of the Lucas Aerospace management for its workers involved in the various factory closures.

I am aware that the Lucas Aerospace management has announced plans involving re-location of work between its various factories, and that it is discussing these plans with representatives of the workforce.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations have been made by his Department to the management of Lucas Aerospace, bearing in mind that that company has now announced a further 2,000 redundancies, reducing its work force from 18,000 in 1970 to 10,000 in 1978.

I understand that officials of the Department of Industry, the sponsor Department, are discussing with Lucas management the range of financial incentives which are available to maintain employment in the assisted areas, where the reductions in employment currently proposed by the company are to be concentrated. My Department has not made any separate representations to the management of Lucas Aerospace.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration he has given to proposals for fortnightly payment of unemployment benefits; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have considered the report on the pilot scheme for fortnightly payment and are in favour of the system. We have, however, decided that the pilot procedures need some refinement, particularly to minimise overpayments and opportunities for fraud and abuse, and the timing of extension throughout Great Britain will be decided after this. Meanwhile, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services will be bringing forward regulations to allow the pilot scheme to continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department is considering the recent Manpower Services Commission report findings which maintain that the future labour requirements of Great Britain's largest companies will polarise either to highly technically qualified persons or to unskilled persons.

The report to which my hon. Friend is referring was undertaken as part of the recent investigation of training for skills carried out for the Government and the Manpower Services Commission by a special task group including representatives of the Trades Union Congress, the Confederation of British Industry, the education service and industrial training boards. The group's proposals for a more systematic approach to meeting industry's manpower needs were published in December 1977 and the Commission together with industrial training boards and other training bodies is now implementing the group's proposals. The Government have welcomed the MSC's general approach and agreed to make the necessary funds available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether his Department is actively considering the employment implications of new technologies in the white collar employment sector;(2) what consideration his Department is giving to the problems being posed in white collar occupations by the advancement of technologies such as computer-aided design and micro-processors.

My Department is presently considering in conjunction with other Departments and organisations how best to set about research in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on when the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is likely to report on the 15-week-old dispute between Garners Steak Houses and the Transport and General Workers Union.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner), on 24th April.—[Vol. 948, c. 484–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will pay to Weeks Brothers the compensation agreed between his chief surveyor and Messrs. Drew Gibbons and Pearce acting on the claimants' behalf on 17th March in respect of Haldon Camp; whether interest will be payable on this sum in respect of the five years that have elapsed since the compensation became due; why his chief surveyor has failed to notify the claimants or their representatives of the line of easement for effluent required and the title to be abstracted despite the lapse of more than eight weeks since agreement was reached between the parties; what is the cause of this delay; when his Department will supply this information; what action he will take to bring his chief surveyor's department up to an acceptable standard of professional competence; and why five years have elapsed in this matter before agreement was reached.

The meeting held in Exeter on 17th March was an attempt by representatives of both parties to reach an understanding on the terms which might be acceptable to their principals. On 10th April the Home Office was sent a letter indicating that the suggested terms were only acceptable to Weeks Brothers subject to several additional conditions not raised at the meeting. These are now being considered. My noble Friend the Minister of State is writing to the hon. Member on this and the other points he has raised in connection with this complex issue.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what reduction he expects to achieve in the waiting lists for hip replacement operations within the next six monthts as a result of the allocation of additional funds to his Department.

The guidance given to health authorities on the allocation of the additional funds included action to reduce waiting lists as one of the priorities. Although waiting lists for hip replacement operations were not separately identified I would expect them to be among those to benefit. Detailed allocations within the guidance on priorities is a matter for health authorities.

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

As my hon. Friend will be aware, it is at the discretion of the local social services authority whether to make a charge for any such items provided under Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970. Information is not collected centrally about individual charging practices.Equipment for education purposes is provided by the local education authority and is normally free of charge.Housing authorities may give grants towards the costs of adaptations to private sector housing. They may also adapt their own dwellings or provide new accommodation to meet the needs of disabled people. Government subsidy is available towards the loan charges that arise, but it is for authorities to determine how the remaining costs are met.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in for Official Report the list of bad debts for private practice in hospitals which his Department is seeking to recover through foreign embassies; and if he will make a statement.

The recoverey of private patients' charges due to National Health Service hospitals is a matter for area health authorities and boards of governors. My Department is prepared to make representations to, or inquiries of, foreign missions on behalf of health authorities where it is thought that this may assist in recovery of outstanding debts.At present my officials are in touch with two foreign missions about outstanding accounts totalling £6,931·60 in respect of private treatment of patients sponsored by the Goverenments concerned. The help and advice of foreign missions is also sought in tracing the whereabouts of, and recovering debts from, persons who have themselves contracted privately to pay the cost of hospital treatment but have left the United Kingdom before settling their accounts. My Department is taking, or contemplating, such action in the following cases:

Patient's country of origin	No. of cases	Amount Due
		£
Syria	1	2,147·60
Greece	2	11,330·50
Sudan	1	1,803·75
Cyprus	1	5,614·60

I also refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply to the right hon. Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Jenkins) on 12th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total of bad debts due from foreign users of National Health Service hospitals; and if this sum also includes personal fees due to consultants.

Information on outstanding pay bed accounts is not available centrally and could not be collected without disproportionate cost. The total amount of pay bed debts written off each year is estimated to be less than one per cent. of the total income received from private patients. I have no separate information on overseas patients, nor on the amounts due to consultants by way of professional fees.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many play therapists are employed by each of the area health authorities.

The information from the latest available figures is as follows, in whole time equivalents:

PLAY THERAPISTS BY AREA HEALTH AUTHORITIES
30th September 1976
Area Health Authority	Total whole-time equivalent
North Yorks	4·2
Derbyshire	3·2
Nottinghamshire	1·0
Bedfordshire	0·5
City and East London	1·0
Croydon	4·2
Manchester	0·2
	14·3

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients requiring chiropody were on the waiting list in the Nottingham South Area (CHC) in 1976, 1977 and 1978.

The numbers on the waiting list in South Nottingham Health District were 510 in 1976 and 504 in 1977, and currently are 359.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many full and part-time chiropodists were employed by the Nottingham Area Health Authority in 1976, 1977 and 1978.

The numbers are as follows:

	Full-time	Part-time
1976(at September)	27	55
1977(at September)	28	44
Currently employed	33	37

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will set out in tabular form public expenditure on health in 1950 and in 1975, or the year nearest to 1975 where figures for 1975 are not yet available in France, Italy, the Federal Republic of Germany and the United Kingdom with all figures given in national currencies and at 1975 price levels, adjusted according to the inflation rates of each individual country.

Information about France, Italy and the Federal Republic of Germany is not readily available in the form requested. Some related information on these countries from a recent OECD report is set out below:

PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON HEALTH—CURRENT AND CAPITAL
	1950	1975 or near date
United Kingdom (in 1975 prices).	£2,591 million	£5,269 million
France—1974	—	F 68,253 million*
Italy—1975	—	L 5,766,000 million
Federal Republic of Germany—1974.	—	DM 55,840 million
* Current expenditure only.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the charge to a doctor occupying a new health centre in Willesden if the area health authority accepts his advice that charges should not exceed the cost of similar services in comparable practices.

Such an estimate would have to relate to particular proposals as to the location and design of the centre and the services and staffing to be provided, but I understand that this stage has not been reached at Willesden.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of making the State maternity allowance payable on a non-contributory basis.

The estimated cost, based on average benefit levels for 1978–79, is about £95 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recommendations have been made to local authorities on the level of care assistant per resident in homes for the aged.

None. This is for individual social services authorities to determine in the light of local circumstances.