asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the continued breaking of oil sanctions against Rhodesia.

It is well known that Rhodesia is still able to obtain most of its oil requirements from the Republic of South Africa, which refuses to enforce United Nations mandatory sanctions. The independent inquiry which my right hon. Friend has established to investigate the supply of oil products to Rhodesia by British companies is in its concluding stages.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the present situation in Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement about Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about recent developments in relation to Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support any Government in Rhodesia which is created by the wishes of a majority of the Rhodesian people.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about Zimbabwe.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the latest developments in Rhodesia.

As my right hon. Friend said in the House on 4th May, we, together with the United States Government, are continuing our efforts to achieve a peaceful and internationally acceptable settlement. The plan is that British and American diplomats will leave for Africa shortly to prepare the ground for round table talks, and will stay as long as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during his discussions on Rhodesia, he plans to meet Mr. Bryon Hove.

My right hon. Friend met Mr. Hove on 3rd May to discuss recent developments in Rhodesia and to hear his assessment of the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to pay an official visit to Peking in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends next to visit the People's Republic of China.

As my right hon. Friend said in the House on 26th April, our relations with China are increasingly important and substantial and he hopes to visit China before too long. Before then, he hopes to be able to welcome the Chinese Foreign Minister to the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the partner Governments in the British Phosphate Commission have yet determined the proportions in which the phosphate funds held by them are to be distributed.

No. The proportions have not yet been finally determined.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Cambodian Government about the establishment of a diplomatic mission in Phnom Penh.

None. There has been no change in the position since my reply to the hon. Member on 9th November 1977.—[Vol. 938, c. 651–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made at the current session of the conference on the Law of the Sea in Geneva; and whether a further session is envisaged.

There was progress on some important questions, including aspects of sea bed mining, access to fisheries for States with limited fishing zones or none, and pollution from shipping. The conference worked out new negotiating texts on these matters, but further improvements are needed at the next meeting. This will be held from 21st August to 15th September in New York.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last had an official meeting with the Prime Minister of Luxembourg.

My right hon. Friend met Mr. Gaston Thorn, who is both Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Luxembourg, at the last meeting of the Council of Ministers (Foreign Affairs) at Brussels on 2nd May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the illegal occupation by Argentina of an island within the Falkland Island Dependencies.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Harborough (Mr. Farr).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current progress towards peace in the Middle East.

Discussions between the Egyptian and Israeli Governments are continuing through the good offices of the United States Administration. Progress is regrettably slow. But both sides are determined to continue their efforts to reach agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's attitude to the present situation in the Middle East.

There is nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave the hon. Gentleman on 22nd March.—[Vol. 946, c. 597.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the murder of Mr. Nicholas Love in Botswana.

We have been in close touch with the Botswana Government about this tragic incident. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister held talks with President Khama on 17th May during his visit here. The Prime Minister expressed the deep concern felt in this country about the incident involving the tragic death of Nicholas Love. He emphasised the importance of ensuring that the full facts became known.President Khama told my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister that he also deeply regreted the death of Nicholas Love and assured him that he was satisfied that Mr. Love had not been involved in any illegal or subversive activities. He explained that police investigations in Botswana had been completed and that a report had been submitted to the Attorney-General, who would ensure that criminal proceedings were instituted against anyone shown to have acted improperly. My right hon. Friend is sure the House shares his satisfaction that the good name of Nicholas Love has been vindicated. We welcome the President's assurance that normal Botswanan legal proceedings will be followed in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the desire of many Banabans now residing in Fiji to return to their homeland, Banaba, now derelict as a result of phosphate mining, the Government and their partners in the British Phosphate Commission, who have together benefited greatly from extraction of the Island's only resource, intend to assist in the work of restoration.

Notwithstanding the decision of the Vice-Chancellor to award damages of some A$14,000 in the replanting action against the British Phosphate Commission, the latter renewed its earlier offer of A$1·25 million in final settlement. In addition, the British Government have offered to finance a resources study of the island.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the availability of British newspapers and magazines to the general public in the Soviet Union, as provided for in the Helsinki Agreement.

No. Since 1975, there has been a small increase in the sales of British newspapers and magazines in the USSR. However, the total number imported is so small, and the conditions of sale are so restricted, that these publications cannot be said to be freely available to the Soviet public.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will enter into discussions with the Governments of the Soviet Union and Japan on ways of developing the cultivation of jojoba plantations in desert areas of the world, with a view to providing satisfactory substitutes for whale oil.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so. It has yet to be satisfactorily established whether jojoba oil can be a commercial substitute for sperm whale oil, but we will continue to be in close touch with research organisations in those countries where well-established programmes exist.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding Her Majesty's Government's current policy towards Belize.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Reading, North (Mr. Durant) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of instances of non-compliance with the findings of the European Court of Human Rights since 14th January 1966.

Since February 1966, there have been nine judgments in which violations have been established by the European Court of Human Rights; the judgments of the Court are binding and in seven cases have been fully complied with.Of the remaining two, both of which concern the United Kingdom, no action is called for in the Irish State case and Her Majesty's Government are considering the implications of last month's judgment in the Isle of Man birching case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he proposes to introduce a resolution at the United Nations Security Council condemning active intervention in African countries and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to what he said in the House on this matter on 26th April.—[Vol. 948, cc. 1353–1356.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the maximum penalty in Hong Kong for the employment of children.

HK$ 10,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether United Kingdom exports to and investment in Hong Kong compare favourably with those of other developed countries; and if in his opinion they adequately reflect the British connection and Hong Kong's importance as a market and as a regional centre.

Britain is the third largest investor in manufacturing industry in and the sixth most important supplier to Hong Kong. This is in addition to our investments in service industries. Hong Kong is Britain's third most important market in South and East Asia, after Japan and India: in 1977 British exports, at £271 million, were over 33 per cent. higher than in 1976.Hong Kong is a market of great potential, especially in view of the plans to expand and diversify the colony's industrial base. The Government are co-operating closely with British industry to take full advantage of this.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now raise in the United Nations the Russian and Cuban military presence in Ethiopia and the denial of human rights in that country.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave him and the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) on 26th April—[Vol. 948, cc. 1353–56.]—and to my reply to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) on 10th April.—[Vol. 947, c. 331.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with individual African States or with the Organisation for African Unity with a view to raising at the United Nations the continuing involvement of Soviet and Cuban military personnel in the Angolan and Ethiopian civil wars.

My right hon. Friend has discussed the continued involvement of Soviet and Cuban military personnel in Angola and Ethiopia with African statesmen on numerous occasions. I would refer the hon. Gentleman to what my right hon. Friend said to the House on 26th April about referring this matter to the United Nations.—[Vol. 948, c. 1356.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to seek a debate at the United Nations on the current situation in Africa, having particular regard to the threat posed to British strategic and economic interests by the destabilising presence of Cuban troops in Angola.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) on 26th April.—[Vol. 948, c. 1353–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with the Greek and Turkish Governments about a Cyprus settlement.

The British Government have regular consultations with all the parties to the Cyprus dispute. Most recently, the Prime Minister and my right hon. Friend had discussions with the Turkish Prime Minister in London on 15th May. The last meeting with the Greek Prime Minister was on 25th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of relations between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Indonesia.

Our relations with Indonesia remain good.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether as the United Kingdom and the USSR fought against a common enemy in World War II, he will make a statement confirming that friendship with the Soviet Union remains his policy.

My right hon. Friend described the Government's present policy towards the Soviet Union in his address to the British/Soviet Parliamentary Group on 9th May. It remains the Government's firm intention to continue the search for a safer and more productive relationship with the Soviet Union.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the stalemate that exists between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Spain concerning the Gibraltar issue, if he will consider representation from the inhabitants of Gibraltar for autonomous control in co-operation with Her Majesty's Government and the Spanish Government.

The best hope for progress over Gibraltar, following my right hon. Friend's meeting with the Spanish Foreign Minister in Paris on 15th March, lies in the joint working groups which it was agreed would be set up to examine various subjects of mutual interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit the headquarters of the European Broadcasting Union.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report the notes prepared for football supporters visiting Argentina for the World Cup.

Yes: the notes read as follows:World Cup 1978 Notes for British Football Supporters visiting Argentina

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to provide consular services and advice to football supporters travelling to Argentina for the World Cup.

The staff of our embassy at Buenos Aires is being strengthened for the period of the competition and temporary consular offices are being opened at provincial centres in Argentina where Scotland is to play. Detailed discussions have taken place with tour operators and a note containing advice to supporters travelling to Argentina is being made available through travel agents in this country. The advice has been released to the Press and copies have been placed in the Library. Our embassy will be liaising closely with the Scottish Football Association's official party and will be ready to assist in any way it can

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present position with regard to Mr. Peter Sainsbury, detained in Beirut since 30th September 1977 without being charged; and whether he will make a statement

Mr. Sainsbury was arrested in Beirut on 30th September 1977 and accused of issuing cheques without financial cover, fraud and abuse of confidence. Despite repeated representations by the embassy in Beirut to speed up the legal proceedings a trial date has not yet been fixed. A decision about bail is expected shortly. The embassy remains in close touch with Mr. Sainsbury and his lawyer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of applicants for entry clearance from the Indian sub-continent are granted entry clearance at the time of their first interview.

Numbers of entry clearances issued at first interview are not statistically recorded. However, it is estimated that about 50 per cent. of those applying for settlement in Islamabad; 45 per cent. in Dacca; 65 per cent. in New Delhi and 70 per cent. in Bombay obtain their entry clearances at first interview.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Common Market Commission to ensure that any future sales on sub-economic terms of intervention surplus supplies will be only to those countries known by Her Majesty's Government to comply strictly with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Government's policy is to minimise agricultural surpluses but that when they do occur, Community consumers should benefit whenever possible. The consideration which my hon. Friend has raised would of course be borne in mind in the Government's examination of any proposal by the Commission for the sale of agricultural surpluses on concessional terms outside the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consult the TUC and the CBI before any new salary scale for the remuneration of elected Members of the European Assembly is implemented.

The decisions on the emoluments of elected Members of the Assembly will be a matter for the Council of Ministers acting unanimously. I expect that there will be opportunity for debate in this House and the Government will also take fully into account any views received from the TUC and CBI.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many factory owners were convicted in Hong Kong last year for using child labour.

416.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response Her Majesty's Government have suggested should be made by the Russians to the United States decision to postpone development of the neutron bomb; and what response Her Majesty's Government have suggested should be made to Mr. Brezhnev's proposal that no additional tanks or men should be added to Warsaw Pact forces.

The Government's view is that the Soviet Union should respond by measures to moderate the threat which we see from the scale of their build-up of both nuclear and conventional armaments.Any undertaking not to increase Soviet forces further in Central Europe is welcome. President Brezhnev's statement calling on Western states to freeze their forces in the area, however, would still leave NATO forces at their present disadvantage. It would not produce the genuine parity which is the Western objective in MBFR.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the course of negotiations for the enlargement of the EEC, he will take steps to ensure that Greece, Portugal and Spain enter the Community with an agricultural system based on deficiency payments rather than a system based on the current common agricultural policy régimes.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my hon. Friend gave him on 11th May.—[Vol. 949. c. 599–600.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he hopes to make in discussions on the question of enlargement of the EEC at the next meeting of Foreign Ministers.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. Hoyle) and the hon. Members for Hazel Grove (Mr. Arnold) and Banbury (Mr. Marten).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit Paris on official EEC business.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to visit Paris on official EEC business at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times he proposes to visit Brussels officially in the next three months for EEC meetings.

My right hon. Friend expects to attend the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 25th July. He also expects to attend the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg in June and other EEC meetings in Copenhagen and Bremen.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet EEC leaders; and if he will make a statement.

The next EEC Foreign Affairs Council meeting will be in Luxembourg on 6th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider publishing a review of the results of United Kingdom membership of the EEC.

The Government regularly publish White Papers reporting on developments in the Communities. My right hon. Friend does not at present see need for more.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions there have been between the Foreign Ministers of the European Community on the question of political violence and murder.

Discussions on problems of political violence and terrorism have taken place within the Nine at all levels, including that of Foreign Ministers. A number of measures of practical co-operation have already been implemented and others are being studied. In addition on the instructions of Ministers, officials of the Nine are studying the possibility of closer juridical co-operation to combat terrorism.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific work is now being undertaken on individual EEC subjects in the Council of Ministers as a result of requests received from the last Summit Meeting of EEC Heads of Government.

Work which should contribute to a common overall strategy for economic recovery is progressing in a number of bodies reporting to Finance, Foreign, Social Affairs, Energy and Development Ministers; Foreign Ministers reviewed the follow-up to the European Council in this field on 2nd May, and plan to do so again in June. Action on the European Foundation is being pursued by Foreign Ministers, and on marine pollution by Foreign, Transport and Environment Ministers. The legal decision by the Council of Ministers fixing the date of direct elections awaits ratification of the Act annexed to the Council Decision of 20th September 1976 by all member States.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the main subjects he proposes to raise at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. Hicks) and my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Williams).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Comonwealth Affairs when he next expects to discuss the arrangements for direct elections to the European Assembly with his colleagues in the Council of Ministers.

No such discussion has yet been scheduled for the Council of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, at the next meeting of Foreign Ministers of the EEC, he will impress upon his colleagues the need for further improvements in the aid programme to non-associate countries.

This matter was recently discussed at the Development Council of 25th April, where my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Overseas Development pressed strongly for a substantially improved programme of aid for non-associates. We shall continue to urge the need for such a programme which we regard as vital.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when the first commercial fluidised bed combustion boiler is expected to be available for the industrial market; and how much of that market jointly served by coal, oil and gas is likely to be regained by coal.

Large industrial fluidised bed boilers are being offered by Babcock & Wilcox Ltd. For smaller boilers, including the packaged boiler range, fluidised bed combustion technology is close to commercial exploitations, but the timing depends upon the success of the present programme of development and prototype testing in which vigorous NCB sponsorship is playing an important part. The Green Paper on Energy Policy contains estimate of the success which coal may achieve in improving its share of the industrial market.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, what are the production costs of coal per ton for the most recent year for which figures are available, the value per ton subsidy that would be payable under Commission proposals relating to intra-Community trade in power station coal and the estimated gap between that sum and international prices generally.

The most recent published average cost of coal production is that for 1976–77 which was £18·87/ton (£18·57/tonne). The 1977–78 figure is not yet available but I understand it will be in the region of £21-£22/tonne. The Com- mission are proposing aid at the rate of 10eua/tonne (£6·70). There is no established level of international prices but I understand that the information being collected by the Commission under the surveillance scheme for power station coal disclose that in 1977 prices cif European ports varied between $29 and $40 per tonne. The gap would also depend upon transport and other costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when the report of the Coal Tripartite Research and Development Working Party will be published; and whether the Government intend to provide financial support for development of coal technology.

The report of this working party, which is published today, recommends that the Government should consider funding up to two-thirds of the cost of projects concerned with using coal to make petrol, chemical feedstocks and substitute natural gas and with new combustion technologies.The Government accept this recommendation and are prepared to provide up to £20 million towards the estimated total cost of £32 million for these projects over the period to March 1983. The balance will fall to the National Coal Board and the British Gas Corporation.The Government will consider further financial support for these projects beyond March 1983 as required.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about progress on the award of fifth round petroleum production licences.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23rd November 1977; Vol. 939, cols. 767–8], gave the following further information:I am now able to announce confirmation of award as follows:BLOCK 20/9

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken on the final report of the North Region Strategy Team published in March 1977.

My right hon. Friend has invited and received comments on the report from local authorities, the Economic Planning Council and other interested organisations. These have been considered and inter-departmental discussions are proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present position with regard to the Foot-funds have been raised so far and from ball Ground Improvement Trust; what which sources; whether any distributions have been made and to whom; and whether he will make a statement.

The Football Ground Improvement Trust is an independent trust formed by the Football League and the Pools Promoters Association. I am informed the Trust has raised about £3 million to date.The Pools Promoters Association provides the Trust with 12 per cent. of its income from spot the ball competitions and I am pleased to acknowledge this generosity and its value to those clubs so far designated under the 1975 Safety of Sports Grounds Act. I was very pleased to accept an invitation to present a cheque to Ipswich Town Football Club, on the morning of this year's Cup Final, which brought the total finance so far distributed to designated clubs to above £1 million.It is hoped that after matters of ground safety have been given a first priority, the Trust will be able to assist with more general ground improvements and later with the provision of community sports facilities under the auspices of football league clubs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the implications for the administration of the Rent Acts of the judgment in the case of Somma v. Hazelhurst.

In Somma v. Hazelhurst, the Court of Appeal held that agreements under which the respondents had been granted the right to share accommodation owned by the appellant were licences and thus not subject to the Rent Act 1977. The court, however, also expressly approved another county court decision in which agreements having similar characteristics had been held to have created a joint tenancy to which the 1977 Act applied.My right hon. Friend was aware, from evidence submitted to the review of the Rent Acts and from other sources, that even before the judgment a considerable number of owners had allowed property to be occupied under agreements purporting to be licences to share accommodation. The immediate implications of the judgment appear to be that the status of any particular sharing agreement will continue to depend on the circumstances and the intentions of the parties when the agreement was entered into. It is not possible at present to estimate to what extent the use of agreements to share accommodation will become more common as a consequence of the judgment, but for the reasons mentioned its implications may not be as widespread as some have feared.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has found it necessary to close Yarmouth Castle, Isle of Wight, on Fridays and Saturdays during the summer season.

The arrangements for custody staff at monuments in my care are being re-examined to help achieve reductions in civil service manpower. At present only one custodian is employed at Yarmouth Castle, so the monument is closed on his days off. This position is under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those metropolitan councils whose head is termed "Lord Mayor" and those where the title is "Mayor"; and if he will explain the criteria for such titles.

The following city councils have lord mayors: Birmingham; Bradford; Coventry; Leeds; Liverpool; Manchester; Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and Sheffield. All other metropolitan districts have mayors.The style of "Lord Mayor" is an exceptional honour bestowed on cities by the Sovereign on the recommendation of the Home Secretary. The chairman of a borough council has the style "mayor". Any district council may petition for borough status.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will reconsider his decision to remove custodian care from Appeldurcomb House on the Isle of Wight.

The proposal to make this an open monument arose from a general re-examination of the custody arrangements at all monuments in my care. A final decision has still to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he hopes to introduce legislation to protect more adequately the occupiers of permanent mobile home sites.

I cannot say at this stage when we will be in a position to announce proposals.As the report of the Mobile Homes Review pointed out, the preparation of new legislation may take some time if it is to prove more satisfactory in practice than the existing arrangements and full consultation with interested parties is essential.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much derelict land there was in Mersey- side, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria in 1974 and 1977; and how much was provided in reclamation grants in those areas in those years.

The amounts of derelict land in these areas in 1974 and the amounts of derelict land grant paid in the financial years 1974–75 and 1977–78 are listed below. There has been no survey of the amounts of derelict land since 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a circular advising all local authorities to settle their bills as expeditiously as possible, especially to small and medium sized businesses to which they owe money.

No. This is purely a question of local financial administration; but I am not aware of any evidence to suggest that local authorities are dilatory in settling their bills.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that Sanchez Ramirez alias Carlos has not managed to enter the United Kingdom during the last two years, and that adequate security measures are in force to ensure his continued exclusion.

I have no grounds for believing that this man has entered the United Kingdom recently. Appropriate instructions are in force about any attempt he might make to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what services his Department provides (a) to the States of Jersey and (b) to the States of Guernsey; and what charges are made for such services.

The principal services provided by the Home Office to the States of Jersey and the States of Guernsey are the accommodation in prisons in England and Wales of certain offenders sentenced by the Island courts, for which the full economic cost is charged; the training of certain Island officers, for which the full economic cost is charged; and the inspection of certain Island services, for which the charge depends on the duration of the inspecting officer's visit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he anticipates making an announcement on the recommendation of the Working Party on Water Safety.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the Representation of the People Act so as to prevent

The Government's examination of the working party's proposals is progressing, but is not yet complete. I cannot at present add to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Gentleman on 28th February.—[Vol. 945. c. 116–17.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were reported, and how many resulted in successful prosecution, in each year since 1970, in Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria in each of the following categories: violence against the person, burglary, robbery, theft and handling stolen goods, fraud and forgery, criminal damage, murder and manslaughter, and sexual offences.

The information available is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", but comparable figures are available only from 1st April 1974 because of the reorganisation of police force areas, and information regarding persons convicted is readily available only from 1975. The number of indictable offences recorded by the police in 1977 was as follows; other figures for 1977 are not yet available.both parliamentary and local authority candidates from being nominated simultaneously in more than one constituency or ward; and if he will make a statement as to the current situation.

For parliamentary elections, a candidate may be nominated for as many constituencies as he wishes. For local government elections, a candidate may stand for election to more than one local authority, if he is qualified by residence or otherwise. He may not, however, contest more than one electoral area in elections to a single authority. Before any amendment of the law is considered I think it would be appropriate for the position at parliamentary elections to be reviewed by a Speaker's Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much expenditure has been incurred under Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 during each year since its provisions came into force.

The grants paid under Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of short-stay visitors to the United Kingdom who illegally overstay their permitted period.

As I informed the House last year, an investigation is being made into the extent of overstaying by people admitted for temporary purposes. I expect the results to be available in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many short-stay visitors arriving at Heathrow during the periods of one month and one year for which the most up to date figures are available were: (a) refused entry, (b) returned to their country of origin within 24 hours, (c) held at Heathrow or a detention centre, (d) given temporary admission after investigation, and (e) given temporary admission but subject to strict "report" conditions.

Information about the treatment of people seeking entry for short visits is not collected in the form requested. Following is the available information for March 1978 and the year ended 31st March 1978 relating to all persons refused entry, detained and granted temporary admission at Heathrow:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is likely to be the total cost of the new road crossing of the River Tay at Friarton; and how this compares with the total cost of the Tay Road Bridge at Dundee.

The latest estimated total cost of Friarton Bridge is £9·5 million. The cost of the Tay Road Bridge was £5·3 million in 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many remedial teachers are currently employed in Scotland in each year of primary and secondary school education.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on 19th January. Information about the stages of primary and secondary education at which remedial teachers are employed is not collected in the annual school census.—[Vol. 942, c. 313–314.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what response he intends to make to the application from the South of Scotland Electricity Board for consent to the construction of an advanced gas cooled reactor nuclear power station at Torness, East Lothian.

I have received representations from several organisations and individuals to the effect that there should be further public inquiry into the South of Scotland Electricity Board's application to construct a nuclear power station at Torness in the light of the decision to adopt the advanced gas cooled reactor system in place of the steam generating heavy water reactor system for which the Board have approval at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about his undertakings in terms of the Highlands and Islands Shipping Services Act 1960 with the Scottish Transport Group's shipping subsidiares Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. and David MacBrayne Ltd.

As part of a reorganisation of some of their subsidiary operating companies the Scottish Transport Group propose to bring all their shipping services under one subsidiary—Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd.—and to wind up David MacBrayne Ltd. The two companies have the same management, and the services at present operated in the name of David MacBrayne will be operated by Caledonian MacBrayne.As a result of this I shall withdraw my undertaking with David MacBrayne Ltd. which was approved by the House on 11th December 1973. The services

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the total revenue derived from tolls in Scotland in each of the years 1975, 1976 and 1977.

The toll revenue derived from the Erskine, Forth and Tay road bridges is as follows:previously operated by David MacBrayne Ltd. will continue to be grant-aided through the undertaking with Caledonian MacBrayne approved by the House on 5th August 1975. The total amount of revenue grant to the Scottish Transport Group will not be affected and the change will not alter the charges for the services or their operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial help he is giving to local housing authorities to meet expenditure incurred by them in the discharge of their responsibilities under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977.

The main expenditure that will fall on housing authorities will relate to the provision of housing accommodation and that will attract subsidy in the usual way. I have agreed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities that the sum of £300,000, being the best estimate that can be made of the cost in 1978–79 of certain management functions which have been transferred from social work to housing authorities, should be treated for subsidy purposes as housing expenditure rather than expenditure on social work.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the figures for expenditure on road construction and maintenance in Sussex in the last 10 years.

Following are the figures for East Sussex, West Sussex and the former county boroughs of Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings for the last nine available years. Data for earlier years were not compiled on a comparable basis, and comparable figures for 1976/77 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many are currently waiting for driving tests in the Glasgow area; and how long, on average, applicants are having to wait for their test.

On 19th May, the position was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his Answer of 10th May, Official Report, Volume 950, c. 308, whether he will report progress on his Department's exercise to repay vehicle excise duty overpaid at the time of the 1977 Budget.

I announced on 10th May that we would consider all claims we had received by that evening. In the event those amounted to some 167,000. To date we have paid 99,436 claims, and have rejected 30,010. There are thus about 38,000 claims still to be dealt with. Of those, some 31,000 appear to be outside the criteria for repayment and further information is being sought on them.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received a formal response to the Government's reply to the EEC Commission's reasoned opinion about implementation of Regulation (EEC) No. 1463/70.

The Commission has now notified the Government, in a letter dated 11th May, of its decision taken at a meeting on 26th April to initiate proceedings against the United Kingdom before the Court of Justice. The letter said that the United Kingdom Government would be given formal notification of the start of proceedings. No indication was given of the likely timetable.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made with the review he has undertaken to conduct jointly with British Railways on main-line electrification; and if he will make a statement.

In the Government's reply to the report on British Rail by the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries, we said that we would review jointly with the British Railways Board the case for further main line electrification. The Board has now put to me as a basis for this review a policy paper drawing together the lessons of the Board's studies and experience so far. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants were employed in the North-West Economic Planning Region in each of the years since 1970.

The estimated numbers of non-industrial civil servants employed in the North-West Economic Planning Region, at 1st January of each of the years since 1970, are given in the table below. Part-time staff are included as half units, and for consistency the staff of the Manpower Services Commission have been included throughout.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when printed copies of the Official Report for the House of Commons for 12th April will be available in the Vote Office.

I regret that I am at present unable to give a precise date when the Official Report for the House of Commons for 12th April will be available, but it is likely that it will not be before the Summer Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs in the North-West Economic Planning Region are estimated to be due to the provision of the temporary employment subsidy.

As at 12th May, 113,386 jobs in the North-West Economic Planning Region had been supported by TES since the inception of the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what priority is given to sheltered workshops in respect of Government ordering by his Department or any industries sponsored by it; whether he will accept the recent recommendations of the National Advisory Council for the Employment of Disabled People in this respect; and if he will make a statement.

Mine is not a purchasing Department, but I am responsible for sheltered employment policy. I welcome the recommendations of the NACEDP working party which reviewed the arrangements under which sheltered workshops obtain business from the public sector. An adequate supply of work at realistic prices is necessary if sheltered workshops are to provide suitable employment for severely disabled people. and I have written to my colleagues asking that they give sympathetic consideration to the recommendations in the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has yet received the expected report on lower incomes from the Royal Commission on the Distribution of Income and Wealth; and if he will make a statement.

The sixth report of the Royal Commission on the Distribution of Income and Wealth, on lower incomes, has been received and is being published today as a Command Paper. In accordance with the reference made to the Commission in June 1976, it provides a comprehensive and objective analysis of incomes at lower levels and examines recent trends and the economic, social and other factors which give rise to low incomes.Lord Diamond and his fellow commissioners have once again performed a notable public service by providing an authoritative factual analysis of the issues referred to them, as a basis for more informed debate and action by all concerned with improving the position of those on lower incomes.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) what steps he proposes to take, and when, to promote greater price competition, as recommended in the Price Commission report on prices, costs and margins in the production and distribution of compound feedingstuffs for cattle, pigs and poultry;(2) what discussions have been held with BOCM Silcock, and with what outcome, on comments that its system of loyalty discounts has reduced competition because it is the price leader, made in the Price Commission report on prices, costs and margins in the production and distribution of compound feedingstuffs for cattle, pigs and poultry;

The report is still being discussed with interested parties. My right hon. Friend will make a statement when these discussions have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the value of textile imports into the United Kingdom on each of the years since 1970.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of O-level and A-level GCE passes in the Greater Manchester county districts in each of the last four years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many O and A-level passes were achieved and how many were not achieved in schools in Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria in each of the years since 1970.

Information is not collected by my Department on the residence of those attempting GCE O-and A-levels in a particular year. The Department carries out an annual survey based on a one-in-ten sample of those leaving school each year which includes information on examination achievements, but statistics relating to the years in which these school leavers attempted their GCE examination are not readily available. Due to sample size, results for the smaller LEAs would not be reliable statistically. Some statistics at regional level of school leavers' GCE achievements are published annually in Statistics of Education, Volume 2, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many pupils sat CSE examinations in West Gloucestershire, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester and Tewkesbury and South Gloucester in 1977, 1976 and 1975, respectively;(2) how many pupils sat O-level examinations in: West Gloucestershire, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Cirencester and Tewkesbury, Stroud, and South Gloucester in 1977, 1976, and 1975 respectively;(3) how many pupils sat A-level examinations in: West Gloucestershire, Gloucester, Stroud, Cheltenham, South Gloucester, and Cirencester and Tewkesbury, in 1977, 1976, and 1975, respectively;(4) how many pupils sat CSE, O-level, A-level examinations in Forest of Dean in 1977, 1976 and 1975, respectively.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many prosecutions were brought against parents for non-attendance of children in the Greater Manchester county districts during each of the past five years.

Statistics concerning prosecutions brought against parents for the non-attendance of their children at school are not available. Information is, however, published by the Home Office on the total number of prosecutions under the Education Acts and it seems likely that the majority of those are prosecutions for non-attendance under Section 39 of the Education Act 1944. The numbers of such prosecutions in the Greater Manchester police area, since local government reorganisation, are:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether a probationary teacher has a right to see reports on him which are made by education advisers or others; and if there is any agreement with the National Union of Teachers on this matter.

The probationary teacher has no statutory right to see any reports on him. There is no national agreement with the teachers' associations on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether it is in order for a local authority to expect a probationary teacher to spend most of his time teaching mathematics even if he was engaged on the understanding that his post would be in his speciality and he has no relevant mathematics qualification; and if she will make a statement.

Authorities have been advised by my Department that probationary teachers should be working in conditions which give them a fair chance of showing their practical proficiency. Should a teacher fail to complete probation satisfactorily in the circumstances described he would be justified in citing the facts in any subsequent representation and they would no doubt weigh heavily in his favour.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what was the expenditure on nursery education in Gloucestershire in 1976–77 and 1977–78; and what is the planned expenditure in 1978–79;(2) what was the expenditure on nursery education in: Worcestershire, Wiltshire, Avon, Somerset, Gwent and Hertfordshire in 1976–77 and 1977–78; and what is the planned expenditure for 1978–79.

Analyses of the net recurrent expenditure of each local education authority contained in "Education Estimates Statistics" for financial years 1976–77 and 1977–78 published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy—CIPFA—show no expenditure for Gloucestershire under the heading nursery education: the authority closed its only nursery school in July 1976 but will clearly have incurred some expenditure after 1st April 1976. CIPFA statistics of actual expenditure for financial years 1976–77 and 1977–78 and estimates for 1978–79 are not yet available: following is the other information requested, extracted from "Education Estimates Statistics", copies of which are avialable in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she foresees any obstacles in giving full departmental recognition to joint Roman Catholic and Anglican voluntary aided schools, both primary and secondary.

My right hon. Friend foresees no particular obstacles to approving the establishment of such schools. The criteria for recognition of joint or ecumenical schools are identical to those for voluntary aided schools in general.