asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received in support of a policy of planning the nation's food supply on the basis of the advice of nutritionists; and whether he is in favour of such a policy.

My right hon. Friend the Minister has received a small number of representations arguing such a case. The Government's view was set out last year in the White Paper "Prevention and Health".

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current subsidy, per tonne, to Danish pig meat producers.

The current rate of monetary compensatory amount payable on Danish bacon sides is £244 per tonne. The rate will be cut by 8 per cent. when the change agreed in the CAP price negotiations is implemented on 3rd July.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the level of return being achieved by the milk-producing sector of the agricultural industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the level of returns being achieved by the milk-producing sector of the agriculture industry.

I believe that the milk sector is doing well at present but, as my right hon. Friend told the House on 23rd March—[Vol. 946, c. 643–4]—the Government will review the position in the late summer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food when he next expects to meet his EEC counterparts.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the Council of Agriculture Ministers of the EEC.

Earlier this week.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satified with the working of the Veterinary Investigation Service; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Minister and I are entirely satisfied with the working of the Veterinary Investigation Service. It is an essential part of the State Veterinary Service, its activities being valued by both farmers and private veterinary practitioners.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the Council of Fisheries Ministers of the EEC.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will introduce conservation measures into the Fisheries Limits Act 1976.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the current level of fish stocks in the English Channel.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the long delays in agreeing a common fisheries policy, he will impose further national conservation measures as a matter of urgency.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the latest progress of the renegotiation of the common fisheries policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his discussions in Brussels over the common fisheries policy.

I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friend to the statement I made earlier today.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the Potato Marketing Board.

My right hon. Friend the Minister has no immediate plans to do so, but officials of my Department met the chairman of the Potato Marketing Board, the deputy-president of the National Farmers Union and other representatives of potato producers on 14th June to discuss the marketing and support arrangements for potatoes for the 1978–79 crop year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his intention to introduce a comprehensive energy policy for horticulture.

The needs of horticulture are taken into account in the formulation of the Government's energy policy. The most recent document stating that policy is the Green Paper "Energy Policy: A Consultative Document" (Cmnd. 7101), which was presented to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy in February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many livestock were lost in farm fires in 1977; and what representations he has received on this problem.

Fire statistics are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who advises that this information is not available.My right hon. Friend the Minister has received representations from several Members and the general public that, in order to reduce the risk to livestock from farm fires, the use of fire-resistant materials in the construction of livestock buildings and the installation of fire-warning systems in such buildings should be made compulsory. At his request, the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee is reviewing the need for mandatory regulations in this field, and he will consider its findings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is now the total sum, expressed in £ sterling, which it is estimated will be spent by the EEC in 1978 on disposing of food surpluses by export refunds, subsidised sales and any other means.

The 1978 EEC budget adopted last December estimated the total sum to be spent in 1978 on export refunds, subsidised sales and other disposal methods at 5,038 million European units of account, which is equivalent to £3,293 million. This figure includes export refunds on foods produced for export as well as on food surpluses.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amount, in £ sterling equivalent, was expended by the EEC in subsidising or disposing of food surpluses in 1977; and on what products the principal sums of expenditure were made.

The total amount spent by the EEC in 1977 on export refunds, subsidised sales and other methods of disposal was £1,345·5 million—conversion made at the budget unit of account rate of 2.4 ua=£1 applicable in 1977. The principal expenditure was on milk products, sugar and cereals, including rice. The figures are provisional and are drawn from an EEC Commission working document giving the position as known at 31st March 1978.All expenditure on export refunds is included in the total, but, as the refund system is of general application, refunds are payable on foods which are produced to meet known export demands as well as on food surpluses. Intervention costs are excluded except where it is possible to identify specific disposal costs; in those cases they are included as subsidised sales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is agreeable to the request of the Republic of Ireland that monetary compensatory amounts on cooked beef products should apply for trade between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The Irish Republic has been seeking the application of monetary compensatory amounts to its trade with the United Kingdom in cooked and canned beef. We have made clear our total opposition and the Commission has so far endorsed our view. We shall continue to resist any further bid for MCAs on this trade.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement concerning the latest developments regarding the proposal for a sheepmeat regime.

The Council of Agriculture Ministers considered the requirements for a Common Market organisation for sheepmeat on 19th June and referred the Commission's proposals for further study, which should also take in any other legally viable alternative measures.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further proposals he has for comprehensive and fundamental reform of the common agricultural policy.

I set out the Government's position on the reform of the CAP in my speech to the House on 21st March.—[Vol. 946, c. 1345–53.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the stocks of food being held in Great Britain because of the operation of the common agricultural policy.

Subject to final verification, 10,268 tonnes of butter, 51,286 tonnes of skimmed milk powder, 12,770 tonnes of beef and 21,327 tonnes of barley were held in Great Britain by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce on 31st May 1978. It is understood that about 13,700 tonnes of intervention beef is currently being stored in Great Britain by the Republic of Ireland. On the same date 13,680 tonnes of butter, 897 tonnes of beef and 22 tonnes of pig-meat were held in Great Britain under EEC-aided private storage arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the White Fish Authority.

I hope to do so shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the surplus beet sugar production in the EEC for the current year.

The total quantity of sugar surplus to the needs of the internal EEC market and available for export in the crop year ending 30th September 1978, after taking account of guaranteed imports of cane sugar under the Lomé Convention sugar protocal and associated agreements, is currently estimated to be about 3·55 million tonnes white sugar equivalent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on his policy regarding possible increases in the level of European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund grants; and what action he is taking in this regard.

The level of aids is kept under constant review by my Department, and Commission proposals are currently being discussed by the EEC working party on agricultural structures. The proposals, contained in document R/1234/76, were laid before Parliament on 16th June 1976.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the food manufacturing industry has adequate funds for investment in plant and machinery in the light of the latest figures of profitability issued by the Food and Drink Industries Council.

Although profitability in the food and drink manufacturing industries has been relatively low, I am not aware that a lack of funds has prevented necessary investment from taking place to any significant extent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what support he is giving to the development of edible proteins from hydrocarbons; and when he expects proteins from such sources to be economically viable with proteins from traditional sources.

Interest in protein from hydrocarbons is centered on their use as animal feeding stuffs. Their use as human food is prohibited in the United Kingdom by the Mineral Hydrocarbons in Food Regulations 1966. I am unaware of any current developments or commercial intention to exploit protein from hydrocarbons as human food.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the increase in the retail price of a pint of milk in each of the calendar years 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977.

The retail price of a pint of ordinary pasteurised milk during the years in question varied as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to implement the Food Standards Committee (Second Report on Bread and Flour) recommendations about changes in the legislation affecting bread and flour; and if he will make a statement.

The Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy is considering the importance of bread, flour and other cereal products in the United Kingdom diet and also any means by which the nutritional value of those foods may be maintained ind improved. We propose to await the report of this committee before making proposals to change the legislation affecting bread and flour.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to introduce a compulsory warble fly eradication order; and if he will make a statement.

Consultations on the proposals which would be reflected in such an order have now been completed. We intend in the very near future to seek the approval of the House to an Order which would apply to arrangements next spring.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for Thursday 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 22nd June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 22nd June.

I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Leominster (Mr. Temple-Morris).

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he will next meet the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wriggles-worth) on 13th June.

asked the Prime Minister whether he intends to visit Tewkesbury in the near future.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Cowdenbeath.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what computer facilities are available at No. 10 for his personal use; whether he has direct access via terminals to the computing facilities and data banks of other Departments; whether a log is kept from which an analysis can be made of the computer time used by him or his personal staff and its cost; and what proposals he has for developing the computer resources of his personal office.

Computers are widely used by Government Departments and where appropriate use can be made of them for the purposes of my personal staff. I have no proposal for introducing additional facilities at No. 10 Downing Street.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Thomas) on 15th June.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to make an official visit to Durham; and if he will make a statement.

I hope to attend the Durham miners' gala on 15th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to the City of London.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. Hoyle) on 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister in view of the lack of co-ordination between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Social Services, whereby the one deducts income tax from persons who are receiving welfare benefits from the Department of the other, what action he intends to take to ensure that arrangements for departmental co-ordination which he mentions in his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, Official Report, 23rd May, actually function.

The circumstances described by the hon. Member do not arise from any lack of departmental co-ordination.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will raise, at the Summit meeting of Heads of Government in July, the question of the dependence of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries on supplies from Africa of several essential raw materials, such as copper, chrome and cobalt.

No. The purpose of the Summit will be to concentrate mainly on overcoming the problems of the world recession.

asked the Prime Minister if he will visit Cromarty.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to pay an official visit to Rome.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Top Salaries Review Body has now reported to him; and, if so, whether he will now make a statement on the report.

Yes. A statement will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when the results of the monitoring of the code of practice on the payment of domestic electricity and gas bills are to be reviewed; and if he will make a statement.

The code of practice on the payment of gas and electricity bills was voluntarily adopted and published by the electricity and gas industries on 13th December 1976. It has previously been discussed with the Government and had their full support. The code's purpose has been to provide consumers with guidance on the steps to take if they expect difficulty in paying their bills. It also lays down safeguards which the industries have agreed to apply in cases of genuine hardship before disconnecting supply in cases of debt.The code itself specifies that it will be subject to continuous assessment. To this end the industries have been providing their respective consumer councils and the Department of Energy at regular intervals with information on the operation of the code. The area electricity consultative councils and regional gas consumer councils have also been examining particular cases selected at random.The code has been in operation for just over a year, including the full winter of 1977–78. It has helped the liaison arrangements between both industries and local DHSS offices and local authority social services departments for identifying cases of hardship. The protection of such cases from disconnection is one of the code's main objectives.The industries, together with their respective consumer councils, have now agreed with the Department of Energy to carry out a review of the results of their continuous monitoring of the code. The experience of DHSS local offices and local authority social services departments will also be taken into account. This review does not imply that the code has been found to be inadequate, but is an attempt to discover whether there are any worthwhile improvements which should be made. For this purpose both the provisions of the code and the maner in which it has been operated will be examined. The aim would be to implement any agreed changes in the winter of 1978–79.The review will be carried out under my chairmanship, and will start towards the end of July. Any representative organisation or individual with views about the code's provisions or operation and with practical suggestions for its improvement which they believe to be relevant to the review are invited to send them to the Electricity Consumers' Council or National Gas Consumers' Council, or—if their interest is local or regional rather than national—to the appropriate area electricity consultative council or regional gas consumers' council. It is important that any suggestions for changes to the code should be accompanied by evidence that they are necessary.Any suggestions should be sent in as soon as possible and in any event before 31st August 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many mining jobs have been lost in Scotland in each of the past 12 years; how many of these were in Ayrshire; and if he will express the Ayrshire figure in each year as a percentage of the total.

As this is primarily a matter for the National Coal Board, I am asking the chairman to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, following the request of the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality that employers should keep records of the ethnic origin of their employees, what proposals he has to implement this in the Civil Service.

It is hoped to publish shortly a study commissioned from the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations on equal employment procedures and practices in the Civil Service with special reference to racial discrimination.The Government will consider in the light of this study and in consultation with staff and other interests what methods of monitoring might be applied in the Civil Service, taking account of the guidance issued by the Commission for Racial Equality and resource constraints.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list those courses in further education colleges that are currently being taken by 16-to-21-year-olds who are in receipt of supplementary benefit.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why an unemployed American national, recently arrived from the United States, and living with his family in Helston, Cornwall, off social security benefits in cash and in kind amounting to approximately £150 tax free per week, was given permission to stay in the United Kingdom for an unspecified time.

The United States citizen concerned has a British-born wife whom he married in 1965. They returned to this country in February 1978 and he has since been granted settlement as a foreign husband in accordance with the immigration rules. The payment of social security benefits is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Social Services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it took him until 12th June to reply to the letter from the Member for Newham, North-West concerning the court case of the admitted unlawful arrest of Mr. Andrew Wershof on 12th July 1975 and the £1,000 damages awarded to him; why no action has been taken against any of the police involved; what was contained in this reply which was not known and could not have been sent before 12th June to the hon. Member; and whether he will publish the correspondence in the Official Report.

I regret that my hon. Friend did not receive an earlier reply to his letter of 28th March about the arrest of Mr. Paul Wershof. The delay was due partly to pressure of work in my Department, and partly to the need to obtain a report on the case from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. My letter made it clear that, although, in accordance with the wishes of solicitors acting on behalf of Mr. Wershof, disciplinary proceedings were not instituted against the officer concerned in the case, he was given suitable advice. I do not propose to publish the correspondence in the Official Report. I have written again to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money the National Television Licence Records Office expects to spend in the current year on sending forms to people who do not have a television to ask them why they do not have a television licence; and if he will make a statement.

It is estimated that the National Television Licence Records Office will send some 2·8 million inquiry letters to apparently unlicensed addresses during the current year at a cost of about £450,000. Inevitably, a number of these letters will be sent to addresses at which there is no television set in use, because it is not possible to know in advance which these are. It is estimated that about 280,000 inquiry letters will be sent, at a cost of about £60,000 to addresses when it is subsequently stated that there is no set.The cost of sending inquiry letters is more than covered by the extra revenue gained in new licences. The replies also serve to keep the licence records up to date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he is delaying the offering of visas to Argentinian political refugees.

There is no policy of delaying entry clearances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a Home Office inspector interviews a research worker before a certificate is granted under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876.

Certificates are granted by the authorities specified in Section 11 of the Act, but my right hon. Friend may disallow or suspend them. The inspectors advise my right hon. Friend whether certificates should be allowed to come into force. They may at their discretion interview the licensee. A licensee would invariably be interviewed if his proposals involved severe procedures and would often be interviewed in other circumstances where discussion would be particularly helpful to the inspector or more convenient than correspondence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animal technicians are licensed to perform experiments on living animals under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many primates were used in experiments performed under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 during 1976 and 1977 to the latest available date.

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 whether Home Office inspectors visited each of the registered premises under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 during 1976 and 1977.

A categorical answer would require checking of the records of all visits paid in those years, but the normal practice is to visit all such premises at least once a year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mentally abnormal offenders are currently in prison; how many are awaiting transfer to (a) special hospitals and (b) National Health Service wards; how long they have been waiting; and what steps are being taken to expedite such transfers.

On 31st December 1977, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 682 persons in prison department establishments—461 of whom were serving a sentence—who were considered by prison medical officers to be suffering from mental disorder of a nature or degree warranting their detention in hospital for medical treatment under the Mental Health Act 1959. For a breakdown of these figures I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Mr. Spicer) on 13th June.—[Vol. 951, c. 486.]Five sentenced prisoners are awaiting admission to Broadmoor hospital; the periods for which they have been waiting range between one week and five months. Places have not yet been found for four sentenced prisoners recommended for transfer to National Health Service hospitals; the waiting period varies between one and four months. In a number of cases the prison authorities have not judged it worth while to recommend a prisoner's transfer to a National Health Service hospital because they have foreseen difficulties in finding a hospital vacancy. Some attempts to transfer a prisoner have to be abandoned because no hospital place can be found before the prisoner's earliest date of release.Discussions about the general problem are continuing between the Home Office and the Department of Health and Social Security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Saudi Arabian nationals were apprehended and fined for stealing in the United Kingdom for each of the past three years.

The information requested is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report the names of local authorities who are currently operating lotteries, together with the amount and frequency of the prizes.

I understand that by 15th June 1978, 323 local authorities had registered lottery schemes with the Gaming Board for Great Britain. I will send the hon. Member a list of their names as soon as possible. It is not proposed to publish separately information about each lottery, but provisional figures for the total amount of prize money are £2,703,986 for the year 1st May 1977 to 30th April 1978 and £1,170,511 for the period 1st May 1978 to 15th June 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has received a copy of the geological survey of Gwynedd being made by the Leeds University Institute of Geological Science; and what evaluation his Department has made of this report.

My right hon. And learned Friend has not had a copy of this report.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the excess of dwellings over households figure for Wales.

In mid-1976, the latest date at which information is available, the surplus of dwellings over households was estimated to be 51,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection in what year the percentage increase in food prices was last as low as in the last 12 months for which records are available.

The increase in food prices in the 12 months to May 1978 was 7·0 per cent. The last time the 12-month index was as low as this was July 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will seek powers to refer to the Price Commission particular increases in fees payable to individuals for services.

No. I am satisfied with the present arrangements which permit the Price Commission to investigate particular increases in prices and charges under the Price Commission Act 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, in view of the official statements that inflation is now running at 8 per cent., but of the fact that retailers sometimes sell goods at 100 per cent. above manufacturers' recommended retail prices, if he will seek powers to control such mark-ups.

No. My right hon. Friend already has powers under the Price Commission Act 1977 to restrict the margins of individual retailers if after an investigation the Price Commission so recommend.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will give a list of formal undertakings given to him by manufacturers and others to hold their prices stable for an agreed period of time under the provisions of the Price Commission Act 1977, giving in each case the name of the manufacturer, details of the products involved and the proposed price increases forgone together with the date upon which the undertaking terminates.

I give below details of formal undertakings so far given to my right hon. Friend following recommendations by the Price Commission in reports made under the provisions of the Price Commission Act 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are his most recent estimates for the parliamentary constituency of the City of Chester of the number of people employed on Government-assisted schemes and of the annual costs involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will give a list of formal undertakings given to him by manufacturers and others to hold their prices stable for an agreed period of time under the provisions of the Price Commission Act 1977, giving in each case the name of the manufacturer, details of the products involved and the proposed price increases forgone, together with the date upon which the undertaking terminates.

I give below details of formal undertakings so far given to my right hon. Friend following recommendations by the Price Commission in reports made under the provisions of the Price Commission Act 1977:

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th June 1978; Vol. 951, c. 644–5], gave the following information:I regret that information is not available in the form requested by the hon. Member. However, the following table shows details of the numbers of people currently being helped in the Chester area under the special employment

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimate of the annual number of industrial accidents in relation to which the legal requirement of notification has been ignored by employers; and what proportion this is of the total number of industrial accidents.

I am advised by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the information which has been requested is not available in the precise form required by my hon. Friend.However, a survey was carried out in 1969–70 in conjunction with the Department of Health and Social Security, when a comparison was made between accidents notified under the Factories Act 1961 and claims for industrial injury benefit. It was estimated at that time that over one quarter of accidents in respect of manufacturing industries, and about one half of accidents in respect of the construction industry, notifiable under the Factories Act 1961, were not reported. No more recent estimate is available.In other fields of industry there is no accurate information available, though the degree of under-reporting under mines measures operated by my Department and the Manpower Services Commission.and quarries and railway legislation is believed to be minimal. The degree of under-reporting of accidents in premises subject to the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 is not known, but is believed to be considerable.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to make any procedural changes which will ensure that legally notifiable industrial accidents are actually notified; and if he will make a statement.

I am advised by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that proposals covering the notification of industrial accidents in all areas of work subject to the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 were published by the Commission in a consultative document "Proposals for the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences" in July 1977.Following the receipt of comments on the document from many interested organisations, the HSE is now in the process of preparing draft regulations requiring the notification of accidents and dangerous occurrences. The regulations will apply to all areas of work subject to the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act, and are intended to ensure that all fatal and serious accidents are notified to the appropriate enforcing authority without delay. Other accidents which disable employed persons from work for more than three days will be notified to the enforcing authorities through the DHSS industrial injury benefit scheme where an employee claims industrial injury benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors there were in June 1973; and how many there are at the latest available date.

I am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the number of factory inspectors in post on 1st June 1973 was 629, compared with 911 in post on 1st April 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many listed buildings have been demolished in the Greater London Council Area for each of the last five years for which records are available.

The information is not available in the form requested. During the years 1973–77 consents were granted for the total demolition of the following numbers of listed buildings in the Greater London area:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the original date for the completion of the Humber Bridge and what is the revised date; whether 1980 is the current estimate; and if he will further indicate the cause of the delay, the cost in accrued interest and the additional wages and salaries paid.

I have been asked to reply.The bridge was originally expected to be completed in 1976; for the current estimated opening date I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member

for Louth (Mr. Brotherton) on 5th April.—[Vol. 947, c.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what records are kept by his Department of land lost through erosion by the sea or in danger of being so lost.

The Department keeps no records of this nature.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total land estimated to have been lost as the result of erosion by the sea during the course of the last five years.

No records are available to enable an estimate of this kind to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to bring before Parliament the proposed amendments to the Ancient Monuments Acts, outlined in his consultative document of April 1977.

Work is in hand on provisions to amend and consolidate the Ancient Monuments Acts. A Bill will be introduced at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to place the responsibility for paying any compensation due for land damaged as a result of the exercise of rights of entry by the competent body, as mentioned in paragraph 37 of his consultative document of April 1977, on whichever authority has designated the body as competent.

No. Exercise of the rights of entry, including the right to excavate, would be at the initiative of the competent body. Any compensation payable would be a matter for them as part of the total cost of archaeological investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek to enable interested third parties to be represented at inquiries over scheduled monument consent as mentioned in paragraph 10 of his consultative document of April 1977.

The proposals in the consultative document provide that representation of a third party with no legal interest in the site would be subject to the discretion of the inspector holding the inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to enable local authorities to schedule areas as of archaeological importance with his approval as mentioned in paragraph 53 of his consultative document of April 1977.

Paragraph 27 of the consultative document proposes that local authorities—both county and district councils—would be given such powers but that designations by them would not take effect until confirmed by me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether nationalised industries and other public bodies will be subject to the same constraints as private undertakings within the proposed areas of archaeological importance.

It is not proposed to distinguish between nationalised industries, public bodies and private undertakings in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extend the maximum period available for archaeological investigation to nine months as mentioned in paragraph 35 of his consultative document of April 1977.

It is hoped that a satisfactory opportunity for archaeological excavation will generally be secured by negotiation. Where, however, the use of statutory powers is necessary, a maximum period of six months as proposed in paragraph 35 seems to me to strike the right balance between the interests of archaeologists and developers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will make public the criteria by which areas will be designated as of archaeological importance.

Designation would be selective. Areas of high archaeological potential would be considered if there were a threat of destruction of buried evidence by development or redevelopment and there were evidence of need to invoke statutory powers in order to secure appropriate opportunities for investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will support the principle that the developer of land should be obliged to contribute towards the necessary archaeological excavations.

I am not persuaded that this would be right. I hope, however, that the practice by some developers of making voluntary contributions will be followed by many others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to make available to local authorities oil spill protection devices such as the one recently developed by British Petroleum.

Local authorities have accepted responsibility for oil clean-up operations on beaches and inshore waters and it is always open to them to purchase whatever equipment they feel to be necessary for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the operation of the Water Acts in the light of summer bans on hoses as operated by water authorities such as the Anglian Water Authority.

Yes. Water authorities are gradually developing their water resources but, where these are being overdrawn, the authorities must use their discretion to conserve supplies. They can prohibit or restrict the use of hose-pipes for watering gardens and washing private cars without reference to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by using their powers under the Water Act 1945. They can also seek wider powers available under the Drought Act 1976 but these require my right hon. Friend's approval.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average increase nationally and in each region in rents determined in the current year by rent officers and rent assessment committees in respect of dwellings for which rents were previously registered in 1975.

The available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, (1) in view of the anxiety of houseboat owners over their security from eviction, if he is satisfied that that security of tenure is adequately protected by the operation of existing legislation;

There is no protective legislation aimed at giving houseboat residents security of tenure on their moorings. The terms of their agreement to occupy a mooring determine what rights they have. We are continuing to keep the problems of houseboat residents under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will call in for his decision the application to demolish the Lyceum, Liverpool; and if he will make early arrangements for a public inquiry into this proposal.

The application for listed building consent to demolish the Lyceum was determined in 1971, when consent was given. The planning application for the redevelopment of the site is currently before Liverpool City Council. I am considering representations which I have received and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will explain the three-year delay in replacing foreign language leaflets at the Palace of Holyrood House.

The former foreign language leaflets at Holyrood House were withdrawn because of textual errors and, in one case, relatively poor sales. In replacing them, the opportunity has been taken to incorporate the results of recent scholarship and to take account of a change of route through the palace. It is hoped to issue the new leaflets, in five foreign languages instead of two as before, by the end of the Summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why visitors to the Palace of Holyrood House are being offered carrier bags illustrated with pictures of the Tower of London; and when he expects these to be replaced by bags bearing a more appropriate design.

Three sizes of paper bags are available to the public at Holyrood House. The smaller sizes depict the Tower of London, Edinburgh Castle, and Caernarvon Castle, the largest size—for which there is little demand—the Tower of London only. When present stocks at Holyrood House are exhausted the design of items available then will be reviewed by the Department in consultation with the palace authorities, along with other presentational matters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has been asked to give listed building consent for the demolition of Wingrove House, Alnwick; and what representations he has received on the subject.

Alnwick District Council is minded to grant listed building consent to demolish Wingrove House and it applied to me on 15th June 1978 for my approval. The application is receiving urgent consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if, in the light of the National Enterprise Board study of Merseyside which the Prime Minister commissioned into ways of regenerating employment, he will now call a meeting of the Merseyside City Council and the relevant Government Departments to ascertain what help could be given to Merseyside to stage the 1988 Olympics;(2) if, in the light of the high level of unemployment on Merseyside, he will undertake to pay the costs of a feasibility study into the possibility of Merseyside being the host to the 1988 Olympics;(3) what grant and assistance would be available from his Department if Merseyside County Council was to be the host for the 1988 Olympics.

This is not the only suggestion I have heard of recently that a British city should host the 1988 Olympics, although none of the proposals has so far been put to me formally. Hosting the games requires a massive investment in facilities to cater for the 28 Olympic sports, and the scale of expenditure required is probably beyond the resources of even our largest cities. There can be little prospect of the Government underwriting such expenditure lightly. My own view and that of many members of the IOC is that future Olympics will be spread over a country or region with a series of separate Olympic villages, for separate groups of sports, to enable the maximum use to be made of facilities which already exist. I have asked the Sports Council to look at the practicability of such arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for an exhibition relating to British sport to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I understand that arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 26th June to 30th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will issue guidance notes for business use concerning ways in which employers may assist and be assisted following the passing of the Inner Urban Areas Bill.

I am considering, with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry, what advice should be given. I plan also to issue guidance, with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, to local authorities in England and Wales on the use of the powers in the Inner Urban Areas Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to ban or restrict the sale of aerosols containing fluorocarbon.

We have no such proposals at present. A decision on whether to regulate the use of fluorocarbon gases as propellants in aerosol sprays will be taken following a review of this question to be carried out late this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is prepared to consider the provision of legal aid for United Kingdom citizens accused of offences overseas; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is prepared to consider the advance of public funds to meet the legal costs of United Kingdom nationals detained abroad in cases where the prisoner cannot do so himself, where funds are not available from any other private source, such as relatives, friends or charitable organisations, and where there is no system of free legal aid in the country concerned. The decision would be influenced by such factors as local prison conditions, the gravity of the possible sentence and whether bail could be obtained. The detainee would be required to undertake to repay any public funds advanced.