asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish in the Official Report the number of arrests and detentions by each regional police force of persons within their area under the terms of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; in how many cases applications were made for detention to be extended by a further five days; and in how many cases it was refused.

The numbers of persons arrested and detained in each region in Scotland between 29th November 1974 and 18th May 1978 under the authority of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976 were:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what contact his Department has had with representatives of the Marubeni Corporation of Japan which is contemplating investment in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions of this nature with individual companies must be treated as matters of commercial confidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers in primary and secondary schools there are in Scotland; and how many promoted posts there are in each school.

At September 1977 there were, in full-time equivalent terms, 26,580 and 27,640 teachers in education authority primary and secondary schools respectively. The number of promoted posts in each school is a matter for each education authority to determine, but guidance on complements was given in Scottish Education Department Circulars No. 819 (The Staffing of Primary Schools) and No. 826 (Structure of Promoted Posts in Secondary Schools in Scotland).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last made an appointment to a prison visiting committee.

Appointments to prison visiting committees require to be made by the Secretary of State only when the prescribed number of women members to be appointed by local authorities under the Prison (Scotland) Rules 1952 is not reached. The last appointment was made in 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future of prison visiting committees.

Visiting committees will continue to be required for prisons in Scotland and there are no plans for changing their present role.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prison visiting committees are in existence in Scotland; how many members serve on each of them; and how many vacancies exist on the membership of each.

There are nine prison visiting committees in Scotland. These are at the following establishments: the membership of each committee should be as indicated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many males and females over 75 years of age there are per 1,000 of the population in each of the area health board areas in Scotland; and how many geriatric beds, and

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many places there are in homes for the elderly in each of the local work regions of Scotland; and what these figures represent per 1,000 of the population in those areas.

The following information relates to homes for the elderly provided by local authorities and voluntary organisations at 31st March 1977:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with

The information is set out in the table below. The number of psychogeriatric beds is not recorded separately from psychiatric beds and is not available.the effectiveness of his departments and of the various Scottish organisations concerned with attracting overseas industrialists contemplating investment in the United Kingdom in promoting the advantages of investment in Scotland.

Yes.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will resign as a Church Commissioner.

No. Under Schedule 1 of the Church Commissioner's Measure 1947 the holder of my office is ex officio a Church Commissioner.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons excluded from Great Britain under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Northern Ireland) Act have been sent to Northern Ireland; and how many have been detained subsequently or charged with offences in Northern Ireland.

As at 22nd May 1978, 92 persons excluded from Great Britain have been removed to Northern Ireland under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976, 13 of whom were detained on arrival. Of these, 12 were subsequently released after questioning and one was charged with offences committed in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been detained in Northern Ireland under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been charged subsequently with offences; and with what offences they have been charged.

As at 22nd May 1978, 484 persons have been held in Northern Ireland under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974 and 1976. 225 of those persons were subsequently charged with the following offences:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been charged under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act in Northern Ireland; and under which section of the Act.

As at 22nd May 1978, 31 have been charged. Three persons have been charged under Section 9—failure to comply with an exclusion order, four under Section 10—contributions towards acts of terrorism and 24 under Section 11 — withholding information about acts of terrorism.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many persons have been excluded from Northern Ireland under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and how many have been sent to Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, respectively;(2) how many people have been excluded from Northern Ireland under the terms of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act.

At 22nd May 1978, two persons have been removed from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland in pursuance of orders excluding them from the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people from Northern Ireland have been excluded and subsequently been charged with breaking an exclusion order under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act.

As at 22nd May 1978, no residents of Northern. Ireland have been charged in Northern Ireland with breaking an exclusion order either from Northern Ireland or the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people from the Republic of Ireland have been excluded from Northern Ireland under the terms of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, and subsequently charged with breaking an exclusion order.

As at 22nd May 1978 no persons from the Republic of Ireland have been charged in Northern Ireland with breaking an order excluding them from Northern Ireland. Three such persons have been charged within Northern Ireland with breaking an order excluding them from the United Kingdom.

asked the Prime Minister if he will ask the Central Policy Review Staff to undertake a report on unemployment and its implications for Government policy; and if he will publish any report undertaken by the Central Policy Review Staff on unemployment.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the right hon. Member for Farnham (Mr. Macmillan) on 25th May.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will resign as a Church Commissioner.

No. Under Schedule 1 of the Church Commissioners Measure 1947 the holder of my office is ex officio a Church Commissioner.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps are being taken to extend metered water supplies to consumers within the area of the Welsh Water Authority; and what effect these will have upon the water charges payable by domestic consumers within that area.

The Welsh Water Authority has decided that any occupier of a property with a rateable value of £5,000 or more will be supplied with a meter on request, provided he pays the cost of installation. It is not expected that this will have any noticeable effect upon the water charges payable by domestic consumers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it is in accordance with his policy that agricultural tenants may be forced against their wishes to accept tenancy agreements which allow fox hunting over the land farmed by the tenant farmer, in the light of the damage to crops which may be caused; and what provisions afford tenant farmers compensation for damage caused.

This is entirely a matter between the parties, and my right hon. Friend has no power to intervene.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance has been given by the Agricultural Fund of the European Economic Community to agricultural projects (a) in the East Midlands, and (b) in the district of Ashfield.

Details of the grants approved from the Guidance Section of the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund under Regulation 17/64/EEC for agricultural projects in the East Midlands are as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will indicate the percentage break down of the price of retail food as between the farm gate price, and the costs of transport, processing, wholesaling, and retailing, respectively; and if there has been any change in this percentage breakdown since February 1974.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 14th April 1978 to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Shepherd). For the reasons given therein, it is not possible to make a comparison with 1974.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present consumption of lamb and mutton in Great Britain per head of the population, and the average price paid by the consumer per pound for both New Zealand lamb and mutton and homegrown lamb and mutton.

The information for the United Kingdom, as separate figures are not available for Great Britain, is as follows:The latest estimate of mutton and lamb moving into consumption in 1977 is 15·8 lb. per head per annum.A survey shows retail prices for various cuts of lamb on 18th April 1978 were:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those projects in the United Kingdom which have been assisted by the Co-Responsibility Levy imposed by the EEC in 1977; and, if not, what the money has been used for.

Of the schemes for which financial assistance may be made available from the receipts of the Co-responsibility Levy, expenditure has so far actually been incurred only on those for subsidising school milk and the use of butterfat for ice cream and as concentrated Pinter for cooking. Claims for assistance towards the cost of school milk programmes in the United Kingdom are to be submitted shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will do everything possible to ensure that the health standards of Great Britain in relation to liquid milk are not in any way lowered as a result of harmonisation with other EEC countries.

I can assure my hon. Friend that my right hon. Friend will not agree to anything that will lower the high standards set by our domestic health and hygiene regulations for milk.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farming units including smallholders are registered in England and Wales.

At the June 1977 census, which is the latest date for which information is available, there were 199,000 holdings in England and Wales.The figures relate to all known holdings with 40 standard man days—smds—or more per annum. Those with less than 40 smds per annum are included only if they have 4 hectares—10 acres—or more of crops and grass or at least one regular whole-time worker.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people are directly employed by the Agricultural Development Advisory Service; and what is the average cost of each visit to an individual farmer.

Agricultural Development and Advisory Service staff in post on 1st May 1978 totalled 5,438. The average cost of each ADAS visit to individual farmers could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many visits were made to farmers by the Agricultural Development Advisory Service in the course of the last year for which figures are available.

Records are not maintained of the numbers of visits made to farmers by ADAS advisers and the cost of obtaining this information would be disproportionate. Visits form only part of the ADAS advisory effort: they can range from a short discussion to a complicated consultation and a numerical record would therefore not provide a useful account of the activity involved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many sorts of businesses for which his Department is responsible are required to have a licence or registration with his Department; and if he has any plans to extend this requirement.

The information requested is being assembled and I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much subsidy is going into agriculture via the work experience programme; and how much of this is being used towards training for proper skills, within the structure of the wages board.

I have been asked to reply.I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission—MSC—that up to 31st December 1977, 1,208 schemes offering 1,648 places had been approved in agriculture, forestry and fishing. Unemployed young people on work experience schemes are paid a standard weekly allowance of £19·50 by the sponsor who is later reimbursed in full by the MSC. There is no other financial contribution made by the MSC under the programme.Work experience schemes are designed to provide a realistic introduction to working life and are not meant to provide formal training.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with the plans for a pilot United Nations study on the standardised reporting of military budgets; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary-General has reported to the United Nations Special Session on Disarmament that eight States have so far indicated their willingness to participate in a pilot test of the reporting instrument. The United Kingdom is one of these. Our participation is on condition that a representative sample of States is forthcoming. We hope that the pilot test will be speedily concluded so that an agreed standardised United Nations system of reporting military budgets may be introduced as soon as possible. We regard this as an essential pre-requisite of negotiations to achieve international agreement on the balanced and verified reduction of military budgets.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in light of the unexplained death in Botswana of Nicholas Love, who was not, according to President Khama, engaged in any illegal or subversive activity, Her Majesty's Government will offer special cautions to British nationals who are contemplating legal visits to Botswana for business or holiday purposes; and if he will make a statement.

The growing conflict in Rhodesia inevitably affects neighbouring countries and the British High Commission in Gaborone now has instructions to advise British visitors about possible hazards in the border area. The Consular Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is always ready to give advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the rate of inflation in St. Helena over the last two years.

According to the official index, retail prices on St. Helena increased by 67 per cent. between September 1975 and November 1977. Prices have been generally stable since that date. The rise in the overall cost of living including items not covered by the index has probably been somewhat lower.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the percentage increases in the salaries, wages and pensions of present and former Government employees in St. Helena over the last two years.

Salaries, wages and pensions of Government employees on St. Helena were increased by 12½ per cent. on 1st January 1977. A further award of 25 per cent. backdated to 1st January 1978 has just been approved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many building societies there are in the United Kingdom; and how many of them have fewer than 5,000 depositors.

At end 1977 there were 343 registered building societies in the United Kingdom, including four in Northern Ireland, of which 209—three in Northern Ireland—had fewer than 5,000 shareholders and depositors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what process of monitoring the financial well-being of building societies is in force; and if he anticipates any further steps being taken to protect the interests of depositors.

Building societies are subject to prudential supervision by the Registry of Friendly Societies under the Building Societies Act 1962. The Act requires all building societies to provide the registry with annual returns relating to their affairs. And the information which societies are required to provide in these returns is prescribed in regulations made by the Chief Registrar, with the consent of the Treasury. The current requirements are set out in SI 1976 No. 1935.The returns must be audited, in accordance with specified requirements of the Act, by qualified auditors appointed by each society. The accounts which building societies are required to prepare each year, copies of which are sent to the registry, must also be audited, and in preparing their report on the accounts the auditors have a statutory duty to consider, among other matters, whether a society's internal system of control and inspection is satisfactory, and if they think it is not, to note the fact in that report.In addition, the Chief Registrar has for some years required all active societies to submit monthly financial statements which, in particular, enable cash flow and liquidity to be monitored on a systematic and continuing basis. These statements are provided on a non-statutory basis.The question whether further steps may be necessary is under review but full consideration must await the outcome of the inquiries into the irregularities at the Grays Building Society.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will encourage the rationalising of building societies in order to protect the funds of those investors whose money has been made available to mount rescue operations when a small building society faces financial difficulties.

Building societies are already encouraged to reappraise their resources for setting up and maintaining the highest standards of organisation and operation and of security. The Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies has reminded all societies of their statutory duty to maintain internal systems of control and inspection which provide the essential safeguards. Although the size of a society may not of itself be a decisive factor in its ability to provide the necessary safeguards, smaller societies are encouraged to seek appropriate mergers where this would best serve the interests of their members and of the movement as a whole.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward legislation to require the Chief Registrar to approve the auditors for building societies.

This is one of the questions we shall be considering when the inquiries into the irregularities at the Grays Building Society have been completed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many sorts of businesses for which his Department is responsible are required to have a licence or registration with his Department; and if he has any plans to extend this requirement.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of staff engaged in the collection of VAT at the Southend-on-Sea headquarters of the operation and the total in the United Kingdom, compared with the numbers on 1st March 1974.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the redemption of War Loan bonds.

I regret that I see no prospect of the Government setting a date for the redemption of War Loan.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will resign as a Church Commissioner.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the advice given by Her Majesty's inspector of taxes, London Provincial 25, to a constituent of the hon. Member for Woking, that the cost of travelling from his house to his place of employment, if borne by his employer, constitutes an emolument of that employment and as such is chargeable to tax under Part VIII, Chapter 1 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970 irrespective of his earnings, in the light of the Financial Secretary's reply about railway season tickets to the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Mitchell), Official Report, 30th June 1977, columns 311–12.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to implement the first EEC Council directive relating to the business of credit institutions, particularly in respect of building societies and trustee savings banks.

The directive applies in principle to all credit institutions, other than those excluded under article 2.2. As I have already announced, we intend to publish later this Session draft clauses for the Bill to give effect to the proposals set out in the White Paper "The Licensing and Supervision of Deposit Taking Institutions", which will enable us to comply with the directive in relation to most deposit taking institutions, including banks.However, article 2.5 of the directive allows for deferment of its application beyond December 1979 to certain groups or types of institutions where immediate application would cause technical problems which could not be overcome by them, and instances where the problems result from the fact that the institutions concerned are subject to a separate system of supervision from that applied to banks. Such deferment is for a period of not more than five years in the first instance.Building societies are subject to prudential supervision by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies under the Building Societies Acts. Substantive amendments to those Acts will be required to comply with the directive. The Government intend to bring the necessary legislation forward as soon as it is practicable to do so, having regard to the pressures on the parliamentary timetable. Consultations on the form of the legislation are in progress with the Building Societies Association.Trustee savings banks are at present in a transitional phase, following the Trustee Savings Banks Act 1976, and subject to supervision in accordance with that Act. It is envisaged that at the appropriate stage of that transition they will be brought within the provisions of the main legislation on deposit taking institutions.The Government have therefore decided to defer the application of the directive to both building societies and trustee savings banks, and the Commission is being notified accordingly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will improve the terms offered on certificates of tax deposit.

Certificates of tax deposit provide an attractive investment opportunity for companies and private individuals needing to make provision for future tax payments. The interest rate is regularly reviewed, and in order to take account of recent market developments it will be increased to 10 per cent. for certificates purchased on or after Monday 29th May; at the same time the rate will be increased from 6·1/4 per cent. to 8 per cent. on any such certificates as are surrendered for cash.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a table showing the annual percentage rates of growth of M1, sterling M3, money gross domestic product, real sterling M3 and real M1, each on a seasonally adjusted basis, over the six months to April 1978, October 1977, April 1977, October 1976, April 1976, October 1975, April 1975, October 1974 and April 1974 respectively.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 25th May 1978], gave the following reply:Precise comparisons between the growth in the money supply and the growth of money gross domestic product are not possible, since the former relates to stock figures measured on a particular day and the latter to flows during a period. Full data for gross domestic product are also only available for calendar quarters. The following table shows annualised growth in M1 and sterling M3 over the six months to 31st March and 30th September in each year since 1974, and compares

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total of personal savings in the last financial year.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 25th May 1978], gave the following reply:Figures for the financial year 1977–78 are not yet available. For the calendar year 1977, saving by the personal sector, before providing for stock appreciation, depreciation and additions to tax reserves, amounted to £14·1 billion. Personal saving is defined as in the United Kingdom National Accounts—that is, as the difference between personal disposable income and consumers' expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rate of personal savings in the United Kingdom in the last financial year compared with the rate in the EEC.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 25th May 1978], gave the following reply:The latest information available is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish a list of the public agencies for which he is responsible which maintain their own police forces, indicating in each case the names of the organisations concerned, the approximate number of people employed on police and security duties, the most recent annual cost of this service and the name and address and title of the commanding officer.

None of the public agencies for which I am responsible maintains its own police forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will give further consideration to clarifying his administrative definition of an imported car.

For the purposes of the United Kingdom overseas trade statistics an imported motor car is simply an article imported into the United Kingdom from another country which whether assembled or unassembled, has the essential character of a motor car. I see no need to revise this definition, which reflects international usage. I understand that in the statistics of vehicles registered in this country, which are published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and by the Department of Transport, any car of which the place of final assembly was outside the United Kingdom is regarded as an imported car. Any question of revising this definition is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many sorts of businesses for which his Department is responsible are required to have a licence or registration with his Department; and if he has any plans to extend this requirement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proposals have been made for the relinquishment by British Airways of licences for services between Great Britain and the Isle of Man and Belfast; and what replacement is contemplated.

The Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for air transport licensing. So far it has received no applications relating to these routes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether there have been any recent developments concerning the Anglo-Soviet export credit arrangement of 1975.

Since my statement of 28th July last that the Export Credits Guarantee Department had informed the Soviet authorities of the raising of interest rates chargeable under this agreement to levels corresponding to those in the international consensus on export credits, it has become clear that some major countries are nevertheless continuing to apply to their exports to Russia the preferential interest rates prevailing prior to this consensus. It has long been Government policy that British exporters should enjoy credit terms which match those of our major competitors. ECGD has therefore agreed with the Soviet authorities that the rates chargeable under the 1975 agreement shall be modified accordingly; and I trust this will pave the way to gaining further substantial contracts.—[Vol. 935, c. 384.]

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what evidence there is of price changes since the abandonment of price rings in the ready-mixed concrete and black top industries.

I am not aware of of any such evidence, but I am having inquiries made and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he proposes to refer the planned merger between Greenall Whitley Limited and James Shipstone Limited to the Monopolies Commission; and whether he applies different criteria when considering the possibility of a reference to the Commission to proposed mergers between brewers from those applied in other cases.

My right hon. Friend will announce his decision as soon as possible. The principal criterion in all reference decisions is whether the merger raises sufficient issues of public interest to warrant a full investigation by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will consider making collusive tendering illegal in the light of recent disclosures in the ready-mixed concrete and black top industries.

This is one of the matters to be examined in the review of the restrictive trade practices legislation which my right hon. Friend announced on 10th May. All interested bodies are invited to submit written evidence on the legislation by the end of July.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will make a statement on the formation of the Packaging Council and the packaging code of conduct.

The creation of the Packaging Council and the appointment of its first Chairman, Lord Shepherd, was announced on 16th May. The Council is an independent body. Its members are drawn from industry, consumer and environment groups and the trade union movement and it has been set up following discussions between environment and consumer groups and industry under the Government's Waste Management Advisory Council. Initial finance for the work of the Council will be provided by the Industry Committee for Packaging and the Environment—INCPEN—with assistance for technical research from the Packaging Industry Research Association. The Council will administer a code for the packaging of consumer goods as a basis for good packaging practice in the United Kingdom. The Council will ensure that comments and complaints about packaging are dealt with responsibly; and will itself be prepared to examine and assist when problems arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when charges were last increased on postal orders; and what was the percentage increase on each charge.

Charges were last increased on 13th June 1977 when both low and high value postal orders were increased by 1p.The percentage increases were 14·3 per cent. and 11·1 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many sorts of businesses for which his Department is responsible are required to have a licence or registration with his Department; and if he has any plans to extend this requirement.

There are no sorts of businesses which are required to be licensed by or registered with my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what payments of interest on Government loans were made by the Meriden Co-operative before March 1977; how much interest payment has been deferred under the arrangements announced in March 1977; when the Government expect the co-operative to resume the payment of interest and interest deferred; and whether he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in the light of the statement from the British Association of Social Workers that the age of criminal responsibility should be raised to 14 years of age, what plans he has to review the current age.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is: (a) the electorate and (b) the approximate area in square miles of each of the following North Wales constituencies: Anglesey, Caernarvon, Conway, Denbigh, West Flint, East Flint, Wrexham, Merioneth and Montgomery.

Provisional figures for the number of electors on the 1978 register will be published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in an OPCS monitor in about three week's time. Final figures for the number of electors on the 1977 register, together with the area of each constituency in hectares, are contained in table 3 of "Electoral Statistics 1977" published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list of the public agencies for which he is responsible which maintain their own police forces, indicating in each case the names of the organisations concerned, the approximate number of people employed on police and security duties, the most recent annual cost of this service and the name and address and title of the commandng officer.

There is none. Ministerial responsibilities for police forces other than those to which the Police Act 1964 applies rest with other Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not, before granting his authority to the BBC to increase the cost of television licences, insist that they should not in the future as in the past incur expenditure such as spending £40 on taxis from London to the North of England to obtain spiders when such spiders can be obtained in London, without wasting the licence money as is now admitted by the BBC.

In determining the level of the television licence fees I consider the general financial needs of the BBC without interfering in its day-to-day management.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the fact that many celebrities, public figures and entertainers have been entering Great Britain when declaring support for and working in the interests of the Church of Scientology, why there is a distinction in treatment between some members of the Church and others entering the country.

The restrictions on people coming here for various purposes connected with Scientology do not discriminate between different classes of people.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what progress has been made to conform to EEC Directive 890/76 relating to the suppression of radio interference from fluorescent lighting luminaires;(2) what progress has been made to conform to EEC Directive 889/76 relating to radio interference caused by household appliances.

I am considering a report from the statutory advisory committee before making the necessary regulations under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949. The regulations will be issued shortly. Implementation of the EEC directive will be delayed because of problems in achieving conformity which are not confined to the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report the number of arrests and detentions by each regional police force of persons within their area under the terms of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; in how many cases applications were made for detention to

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how

The total number of persons detained in England and Wales under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976 and the total number of applications for extensions of detention, none of which was refused for each police force is as follows:many persons have been detained under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been charged subsequently with offences; and with what offences they have been charged.

Three thousand, two hundred and thirty-five people have been detained in Great Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976. An extension of detention under Section 7 of the 1974 Act or Section 12 of the 1976 Act has been approved in 278 cases; a further 675 people were detained for 48 hours or less. Two thousand, two hundred and eighty-two people have been detained pending further examination at ports under the supplemental orders made under the Acts.One hundred and forty-two people detained under the Acts have been charged with offences in Great Britain. Twenty of them have been charged with offences under the Acts. Four of the remainder have been charged with murder, three with attempted murder, 16 with conspiracy to cause explosions, 11 with unlawful possession of explosives, 1 with conspiracy to possess or procure explosives with intent to endanger life, 12 with offences under the Firearms Act 1968, 1 with causing an explosion, 5 with conspiracy to defraud the Inland Revenue, 22 with theft, 8 with burglary, 1 with causing criminal damage, 1 with threatening to cause criminal damage, 1 with attempting criminal deception, 1 with taking a motor vehicle, 1 with handling a stolen vehicle, 5 with handling stolen property, 1 with unlawful wounding, 2 with possession of drugs, 3 with wasting police time, 1 with harbouring a person known to have committed an arrestable offence, 4 with assault on police, 1 with being found on enclosed premises, 1 with possessing an offensive weapon, 3 with offences under the Road Traffic Act 1972, 5 with criminal deception, 1 with obtaining a passport by deception, 1 with arson and six with non-payment of fines. In addition, five people have been removed to the Irish Republic, and there charged, three with burglary, one with robbery, and one with theft.Thirty-two people have been returned to Northern Ireland, and there charged, 8 with murder, 3 with robbery, 5 with firearms offences, 4 with unlawful possession of explosives, 5 with causing an explosion, 1 with the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, 4 with burglary, and 2 with arson.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and under which sections of the Act the charges have been brought.

Twenty-four people have been charged in Great Britain with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976: three under Section 10(1)(a), two under Sections 10(1)(a) and 10(2), two under Section 10(1), eight under Section 10(1)(b), three under Section 1(1)(b), two under Section 9(1), two under Section 9(2)(a) and two under Section 11(1). Four people were charged in Great Britain under Section 1(1)(b) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974. Not all of these people were initally detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been served with exclusion orders under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been deported to (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland; how many have appealed against exclusion orders; and how many appeals have been successful.

One hundred and thirty-three exclusion orders have been made under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976. Notice of the making of an exclusion order has been served on 125 people, 118 of whom have been removed, 93 to Northern Ireland and 25 to the Irish Republic. Twenty-two of the 125 made representations objecting to the order. The order has been revoked in six of these cases. One case is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has refused an extension of five days to the police for the holding of a suspect under the prevention of terrorism legislation; and if so, how many.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the charges brought against suspects initially held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, whether any have been dropped before the case was heard and, if so, which charges; whether any charges have led to an unsuccessful prosecution and, if so, which charges; if any charges have led to a successful prosecution; and if so, in each case, what was the sentence imposed.

There have been only two changes in the detailed information I gave in answer to a similar Question by my hon. Friend on 7th April 1978. The number of persons returned to Northern Ireland and there charged with murder has increased from seven to eight, and the number awaiting trial from six to seven.—[Vol. 947, cc. 229–31.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of veterinary surgeons employed at the 583 premises registered under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 in respect of experiments upon living animals.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many brain stimulant experiments were carried out on living animals in the 583 premises registered under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 during the years 1975, 1976 and 1977.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many primates were experimented upon without anaesthetic during 1976 and 1977 in the 583 premises registered under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876.

Figures for 1976 are not available. This information is being collected for 1977, and will be published later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 5,474,739 animals upon whom experiments were carried out under the provisions of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 were specific pathogen free.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Metropolitan Commissioner has to reduce police services at Acton Police Station; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave yesterday to Questions by him and by the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will resign as a Church Commissioner.

No. Under Schedule 1 to the Church Commissioner's Measure 1947, the holder of my office is ex officio a Church Commissioner.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider legislation to bring all air weapons under some control in respect of sale and ownership.

Specially dangerous air weapons are already subject to control under the Firearms Act 1968. I do not think that it would be justifiable to extend control to all air weapons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider raising the age at which air weapons can be purchased or hired and the age level at which it is permissible to possess such firearms and ammunition.

I have it in mind to include such proposals in future legislation to amend the Firearms Act 1968. I cannot say at present when such legislation may be introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the wider opportunities courses; what is the annual cost of the programme and the cost per place; and what percentage of those taking such a course immediately find an appropriate job.

Yes. I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that no separate costing record is maintained for wider opportunities courses and that the information could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.The course does not offer specific job training and no record is held centrally of follow-up placing of clients.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the scope of consultations with individual employers and representative bodies in the review of craft apprenticeships in engineering being undertaken by the Engineering Industry Training Board; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of students in each of the sectors for which the training opportunities scheme offers training from when the scheme began to the present time.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the TOPS scheme, which was introduced in August 1972, offers training over a wide range of courses. The grouping of these courses for statistical purposes changed in 1976 and the following information provided by the Commission is therefore on a different basis for the years 1972–75 and 1976 to March 1978:TOPS: Numbers of trainees completing courses.the Engineering Industry Training Board consulted the appropriate employers' and employees' organisations and a number of education institutions during the course of the Board's review of craft apprenticeships in engineering. The proposals arising from this review were published in March 1978 and were widely distributed so that broader discussion and consideration could take place before any decisions are taken. I am satisfied that the Board has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that the proposals are brought to the notice of those likely to be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether applications from sponsors to the special temporary employment programme and the work experience scheme will be considered even though they do not have the written support of relevant trade unions.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that applications under both programmes will be warmly welcomed from all suitable sponsors. Sponsors are, however, asked whether they have consulted trade unions whose interests may be involved. The MSC and the area boards are naturally concerned that in such cases projects should have full trade union backing.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many sorts of businesses for which his Department is responsible are required to have a licence or registration with his Department; and if he has any plans to extend this requirement.

Under the Employment Agencies Act 1973, employment agencies and employment businesses—staff contractors—require a licence from my Department. We have no plans at present to extend this requirement.My right hon. Friend has overall responsibility for the Health and Safety

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he has any plans to increase the powers of the Parliamentary