asked the Lord President of the Council how many hon. Members have travelled first class by air on official business in each of the past three years; what was the cost of their tickets; and how much would have been saved if they had travelled economy class.

The information is as follows.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement about the Tenth Report of the Review Body on Top Salaries.

The Tenth Report of the Review Body on Top Salaries was published on 30th June as Cmnd. 7253. The Government wish to thank Lord Boyle and all members of the Review Body for their work in producing this report.The report deals with the second major review since the Review Body was appointed in 1971 of the four groups within their standing terms of reference—the senior grades of the higher Civil Service, senior officers in the Armed Forces, the judiciary, and the chairmen and members of nationalised industry boards. For all groups the Review Body recommend the salaries that are appropriate at 1st April 1978. The Review Body recognises, however, that against the background of the continuing need for restraint, staging of the increases resulting from the recommended levels may be necessary; it recommends that the full recommended levels, brought up to date by the normal review process in the intervening period, should be achieved by not later than 1st April 1980. It turther recommends that the full recommended levels should be introduced immediately for pensions purposes.The increases recommended by the Review Body are on average 31 per cent. above those recommended in its Sixth Report as appropriate at 1st January 1975. However, these salary levels were not implemented for chairmen and members of nationalised industry boards and have been implemented in part only for the other three groups. The increases now recommended by the Review Body over salaries currently in payment are on average 35 per cent. This would correct over the period to 1st April 1980 the anomalies which have lasted for up to six and a half years.The Government accept that the salary levels recommended by the Review Body are appropriate. They have decided that these salaries should be introduced by stages beginning on 1st January 1978 with the remaining stages being paid on 1st April 1979 and 1st April 1980. The Government will consider at a later date the Review Body's further recommendation that the proposed rates of pay should be brought up to date by the normal review process during the staging period. The recommended salaries will be adopted in full for pensions purposes from 1st April 1978.The Review Body makes no recommendation about what payment should be made in the current round in the event of staging. The Government have decided, therefore, that all four groups should receive an increase of 10 per cent. from 1st January 1978; this will entail, in some cases, an adjustment to the increase previously given to chairmen and members of nationalised industry boards.

asked the Prime Minister what study he has made of the Top Salaries Review Body report on the pay of chairmen of public corporations; if he will now give an assurance that the Government have no intention of increasing these top salaries; and if he will discuss with the CBI similar restraint in the private sector.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, North (Mr. Ford).

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 4th July.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley).

asked the Prime Minister whether the Central Policy Review Staff, while not including a report in the work on unemployment undertaken by it over the past months, was able to draw any conclusions from that work; and what action was recommended by the Central Policy Review Staff.

It is not the usual practice to reveal advice given to Ministers by officials.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the estimated number of unemployed or school leavers that have been taken up by the various Government schemes for training, retraining and alleviating unemployment; and what is the estimated cost of these schemes.

The latest figures show that about 900,000 jobs, training places and other opportunities have been supported under special employment and training measures. The gross expenditure in the three years to April 1978 was £560 million and the estimated expenditure for the current financial year is £530 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now seek to abolish the requirement of a period of 12 months' unemployment to qualify under the new scheme to replace job creation.

There is no requirement under the new special temporary employment programme, which succeeds the job creation programme and began on 1st April 1978, that participants should have been unemployed for 12 months. However, the programme is specifically in- tended to help the long-term unemployed and for that reason preference in recruiting to schemes is given to men and women aged 19–24 who have been unemployed for six months or more and those aged 25 or over who have been unemployed for 12 months or more.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the effects of the Dock Work Regulation Act on employment in the docks industry.

The National Dock Labour Board is required by the Act to keep under review the strength and disposition of the registered labour force. When Sections 7 and 8 are brought into operation, the Board will also need to consider whether cargo handling activities not covered by the existing dock labour scheme should be recommended for classification. It is not possible at this stage to foresee what the combined effects of these and other provisions of the Act are likely to be on employment in the industry and clearly much will depend on whether the House approves the draft scheme which has already been laid.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimates has he made of unemployment arising from technology over the next decade.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures available for the number of jobs lost due to technological change; how this rate of job loss is changing; and if he will make a statement.

No estimates of this kind are available. However, the Government have put in hand research into the implications for employment of prospective technological developments and will adopt whatever manpower and other economic measures may be required to achieve and maintain a high and stable level of employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now announce the results of his inquiry into the effects of the Employment Protection Act on employment.

The report of a study of the effects of employment legislation in manufacturing industry by the Policy Studies Institute, commissioned by my Department and the Manpower Services Commission, was published on 28th June. The report found that the legislation was not having a significant effect on the number of additional staff that firms take on. It goes on to point out that most British managers find that employment legislation does not discourage them from taking on new people. The majority do not find the legislation an obstacle to the shedding of surplus labour and there is little sign that it is inhibiting industrial recovery.Copies of the report, which has been widely circulated, have also been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by how many the numbers of people in employment have increased or decreased since 1972 to the latest available date.

The latest estimate of the number of employees in employment in the United Kingdom is for December 1977. It shows an increase of 318,000 over the corresponding estimate for 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the proportion of those now leaving schools and colleges who do not have immediate prospects of securing employment.

It is not possible to estimate the proportion of those now leaving schools and colleges who have no immediate prospects of securing employment. However, by December 1977 more than 90 per cent. of all those who had left school between December 1976 and the summer of 1977 had found employment or places in full-time education or training. It is the Government's firm intention that no Easter or summer school leaver who is still unemployed the following Easter should be without the offer of a place in the youth opportunities programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of school leavers who will become available for employment in the summer.

The latest estimate is that in the summer of 1978, 770,000 young people will leave school, of whom 592,000 will be available for employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on what evidence he based his recent statement that Leicester is too dependent on manufacturing industry.

My right hon. Friend's comments about Leicester's dependency on manufacturing were based on the fact that manufacturing accounts for a considerably greater proportion of employment in the area than it does nationally.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he is taking to help the re-employment of those people made redundant by the British Steel Corporation's plant closures.

The Manpower Services Commission, which is responsible for the resettlement of redundant workers, will do all it can to help those workers affected by the British Steel Corporation's plant closures to find new jobs or train for alternative employment. They are helped by European Coal and Steel Community loans at preferential rates of interest which are available to companies providing new jobs in areas affected by redundancies in the steel industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for unemployed disabled people; and what percentage this represents of the total disabled register.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that on 11th May 1978, the latest date for which national figures are available, 69,577 registered disabled people or 14·1 per cent. of the total register were unemployed, compared with the general level of unemployment of 5·7 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the average cost to employers of defending charges of wrongful dismissal before industrial tribunals.

As I stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe) on 18th May—[Vol. 960, c. 261–2.] I have no information on these matters other than that available in the Press.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of females employed in the United Kingdom during each of the past five years; and what percentage they formed of the total employed population.

The following is the information requested:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the operation of the Employment Protection Act.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 2nd May—[Vol. 949, c. 21.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a progress report on the implementation of the youth opportunities programme.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the 28 special programmes area boards and 26 MSC area offices which administer the youth opportunities programme have been in operation for several months. Considerable numbers of inquiries have been received from potential sponsors since April, many of which have produced opportunities for young people. The area boards have submitted plans, which are now being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on how many occasions his Department has referred back phase 3 productivity deals to wage and salary negotiators; on how many occasions the same productivity deals were then renegotiated to the satisfaction of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has given advice to firms' negotiators on many occasions about proposed or concluded productivity deals, and often this advice has led to proposals being modified or concluded schemes being renegotiated. But detailed information on the number of such occasions is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment among former employees in the cutlery industry in Sheffield.

At 11th May, the latest date for which the quarterly industrial analysis is available, 411 people who last worked in the cutlery industry were registered as unemployed in the Sheffield, Chapeltown, Firth Park and Woodhouse employment office areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

At 8th June, 1,381,403 people were registered as unemployed in Great Britain. After allowance is made for seasonal factors, and excluding school leavers, the level of unemployment in June stood at 1,304,600–5·6 per cent. of employees—having fallen over each of the last nine months. This decline is welcome, but future prospects will depend on our ability to keep down the level of inflation, encourage a revival of world trade and promote greater competitiveness for British industry in domestic and overseas markets.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many job-centres have been opened in the West Midlands since 1974; and at what cost.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 22 jobcentres have been opened in the West Midlands area since 1974. The estimated costs involved were:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is currently the number of places in Government skill-centres; and how many are currently filled.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that at 30th April 1978 there were 18,588 places available in skillcentres in Great Britain, of which 13,051 were filled.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he next expects to meet the presidents of the industrial tribunals.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to meet the presidents of industrial tribunals but my Department is in touch with them as the occasion requires.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what he estimates to be the likely effects on employment and industry of introducing a shorter working week.

Estimates of the effects of a shorter working week on unemployment and labour costs were published in an article in the Department of Employment Gazette for April 1978. The article showed that the estimates of the impact on unemployment are extremely sensitive to variations in the assumptions about the effects on overtime, productivity and output on which they are based and are therefore highly uncertain.The article also pointed out that consequential increases in unit labour costs would affect prices and international competitiveness and therefore damage job prospects.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his Department's estimate of the employment consequences of the proposed steel plant closures in the West Midlands Region.

Any loss of jobs at steel plants in the West Midlands would be bound to make the employment situation in the region more difficult, though it is not possible to make a realistic estimate of the extent to which this would be reflected in increased unemployment. All the facilities of the Manpower Services Commission will, of course, be available to help any of the workers affected find new jobs or train for alternative employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on progress in connection with the proposed Press Charter.

I have nothing to add to what I said on this subject in the course of the debate of the newspaper industry on 18th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many licences have been issued to private employment agencies since registration was transferred to his Department; and how they are distributed throughout the regions.

The Employment Agencies Act 1973 was amended by the Employment Protection Act 1975 to make the Secretary of State for Employment the licensing authority, and was brought into force on 1st July 1976. Between that date and 31st March 1978—the latest date for which figures are available—my Department issued 5,942 new licences and 2,103 renewal licences. These were distributed throughout the regions as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has on the effects of rigidities within public sector housing on the ability of those seeking work to take up employment in parts of the United Kingdom other than those in which they are living.

The availability of housing of all types undoubtedly restricts mobility, but it is not possible to isolate the impact of housing compared with other factors. Local authorities are being encouraged to take account of the needs of incoming workers in their housing investment programmes. My right hon. Friend has already announced the Government's intention to ease residential qualifications in the interests of mobility.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs in the Peterborough employment area have been the subject of financial support under schemes promoted by his Department and the Manpower Services Commission.

A total of 869 jobs in the Peterborough area have received financial support through the various special employment measures introduced by my Department to alleviate the worst effects of unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when exemptions will be authorised from regulation (EEC) 543/69 on drivers' hours; and whether he will make a statement.

Following consultations with both sides of the road transport industry, I have completed discussions with the European Commission on national derogations from regulation (EEC) 543/69 and laid the necessary draft regulations before the House yesterday. Like the draft harmonisation regulations to which I referred in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on Monday 26th June—[Vol. 952, c. 427]—these will be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. I have arranged for copies of the Commission's formal opinions and decision on these matters to be placed in the Library of the House.Because of the urgent need to remove uncertainties facing the industry, I hope that it will be possible to debate the regulations before the Recess. In the meantime, as I said in the House on 1st February—[Vol. 943, c. 433–4]—until the final decisions are made, I would not want anyone to change operating practices in respect of the vehicles and purposes for which derogation is possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to encourage the public to use seat belts in cars.

A national publicity campaign to inform people of the benefits of seat belts and to encourage drivers and front seat passengers to wear them is being carried on television, in the Press and on posters. The campaign will cost £1,100,000 and will last from May until October. I take every other opportunity to emphasise that to wear a seat belt is common sense and saves lives.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of the danger to road users generally arising from the growing practice of motorists displaying in the front and rear windows of motor vehicles such distracting and misleading gimmicks as waving hands, frolicking figures, grimacing skulls, flashing lights and eye-catching displays which obscure vision, if he will take steps to discourage this practice and, if necessary seek to make it illegal.

The highway code and the Department's manual "Driving" remind drivers of the need to keep windscreens and windows clean and clear. Regulation 93 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1973 requires window glass to be maintained in such condition that it does not obscure the vision of the driver while the vehicle is being driven.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why it was found necessary to seek larger premises for the local vehicle licensing office at Newport, Isle of Wight; and whether he is aware of the feeling that the offices should remain in the same town.

Part of the old taxation office is required by the county council for its own use and the remaining accommodation is inadequate for the service we want to provide. I appreciate the concern expressed at the move from Newport but unfortunately no suitable premises were available there.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement concerning the possibility of Government support for the application of microprocessors by United Kingdom industry.

I shall make a fuller statement later this year when the Government have had the opportunity to consider the report by the ACARD working party on the applications of solid state technology.In the meantime, my Department is introducing an interim microprocessor application project—MAP—to which an initial allocation of £15 million has been made under the Science and Technology Act 1965. The aim of the scheme is to

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many 17-year-old persons were involved in road accidents in each of the past five years.

I regret the information is not available in the precise form requested. The following information is available:17-

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, in view of the fact that none of the 28 offers made to date under the product and process development scheme applies to Wales, what plans he has to publicise the scheme more widely in Wales.

My Department is already considering whether further measures should now be taken to publicise the assistance available under the product and process development scheme. Any further measures will include publicity in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects Lord McCarthy's investigation into the dispute between the Post Office Engineering Union and the Post Office to report.

I am sure that Lord McCarthy will complete his task as soon as he can.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what is the shortest, longest and average waiting time for a telephone installation in Northern Ireland at the present time;(2) how many private and how many business telephones there were in Northern Ireland at 1st April in each of the last five years;

These are matters for the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has made a determination of the financial duties of British Shipbuilders.

In accordance with Section 10 of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977 I have made, with the approval of the Treasury, and after consulting British Shipbuilders, the first determination of financial duties for British Shipbuilders. I have notified British Shipbuilders that they have a duty in their current accounting year, which ends on 31st March 1979, to seek to limit any loss before interest and after receipts of intervention fund assistance, to £45 million, and to conduct their affairs to make progress towards providing an adequate return on the capital employed by the corporation and its subsidiaries. A copy of this determination has been placed before each House of Parliament. The short-term target represents the latest forecast of loss given to me by British Shipbuilders. The corporation has not yet been able to finalise its accounts for 1977–78 and is still holding discussions with its auditors and subsidiaries to ensure a more rigorous approach to provision for losses. The forecast of loss is therefore tentative but represents the best judgment of the corporation at this stage. At 31st March 1978, the corporation had received offers of intervention fund assistance of £52 million under which the corporation had received payments of £19·3 million. The forecast of loss assumes that intervention fund subsidies will be available this year to assist the corporation to secure new orders. At my request the corporation is urgently studying ways of reducing the rate of loss, and a longer term target will be set in the light of decisions on this study and the corporate plan which I expect to receive towards the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres of land have been lost from agriculture in each of the last five years; and if he

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much public money was invested in the Greater Oriental Development Company Ltd. by the Scottish Development Agency; and if he will give the Agency a special direction to report on this case now that the company has gone into liquidation, in the light of the Comptroller and Auditor Generals report.

The first part of this Question is a matter for the agency, but I would refer the hon. Member to the details contained in the agency's report to 31st March 1977, a copy of which is in the Library.On the second part, as the hon. Member says, the case has already been reported upon by the Comptroller and Auditor General. This report is currently under consideration by the Public Accounts Committee and it would be inappropriate for me to make any comment at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he intends to take to ease existing restrictions on the recruitment of cadets for the Metropolitan Police force.

The annual net loss of agricultural land in Scotland to other purposes in each of the last five years was as follows:

Now that additional resources have been made available for the police service, I have agreed with the commissioner that the Metropolitan Police may take on up to 1,300 cadets during 1978. This compares with an intake of 347 in 1977. A vigorous publicity campaign has been mounted to encourage applications.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has formulated for overhauling the British judicial system in order to improve its ability to ensure that the guilty do not go unpunished.

I am constantly aware both of this important objective and of the equally important one that the law should provide adequate protection for the innocent. The Royal Commission on criminal procedure was established last year to consider the arrangements for the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences, together with related features of criminal procedure and evidence. In addition the criminal law is subject to general review by the Criminal Law Revision Committee and the Law Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Nicholas Prager, a Czech national who was convicted of offences under the Official Secrets Act while in the RAF, has been allowed to remain in Great Britain.

Mr. Prager has entered an appeal against deportation to Czechoslovakia, and has been informed that I am prepared to consider a proposal that he should go to another country if it is willing to accept him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, the numbers of Americans and other non-British citizens who have made applic-

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Annika Pavel, a Czech citizen, was allowed to enter Great Britain in order to marry James Sullivan, an American, and both are now allowed to remain in Great Britain.

I regret that on the information provided we have not so far been able to identify the case, but I can say generally that there is no bar to the marriage of foreign nationals in this country if they have been given leave to enter and are free to marry, or to their remaining here thereafter if they qualify to do so under the immigration rules.

Details by nationality of the number of Commonwealth citizens and foreign nationals refused entry to the United Kingdom at ports are given in the annual Home Office publication, "Control of Immigration: Statistics". Figures for 1977 are given in Tables 1(a) and 1(b) of Cmnd. 7160. The following table gives the readily available information on the main reasons for refusing entry to the United Kingdom at ports during 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances citizens of Hong Kong are entitled to settle in the United Kingdom.

Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies holding British passports issued by the governor of Hong Kong—unless they are patrial and thus exempt from immigration control altogether—are in general eligible for settlement only in accordance with the published immigration rules governing Commonwealth citizens generally. Under these rules, eligibility for settlement is limited to the spouses and dependent children, and in certain circumstances other close dependent relatives, of people already settled here; to those with United Kingdom ancestry; and to those already here who have spent at least four years in approved employment or in similar circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long he has had in his possession the proposals of the Local Government Boundary Commission in respect of St. Edmundsbury District in Suffolk; why, in view of the fact that the public inquiry was completed in September 1976, he has failed so far to lay the orders to implement the changes proposed; and when he expects to do so.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England submitted its report on future electoral arrangements for the borough of St. Edmundsbury on 3rd February. This is one of a number of reports on which I have deferred action until the Commission's appeal against the High Court's judgment in a case brought by the London borough of Enfield has been heard.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will reject immediately proposals for lower maximum sentences for rape put forward in the report of the Advisory Council on the Penal System;(2) if he will reject immediately proposals for lower maximum sentences for murder and manslaughter put forward in the report of the Advisory Council on the Penal System.

The assumptions in these Questions are wrong. Although the Council expressed the view that life imprisonment should become the maximum, instead of the mandatory, penalty for murder, it made no formal recommendation to that effect, and it proposed no change in the maximum penalty for manslaughter. In relation to rape, as to other serious offences, it proposed that the court should be able to pass an exceptionally high sentence, which in cases of rape might be life imprisonment, if it was satisfied that the offender posed a risk of serious harm to the public.I have informed the hon. Member in reply to another Question that, before forming my own conclusions, I want to hear informed opinions on the proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government propose to express a view on the report of the Advisory Council on the Penal System.

When there has been time to consider informed opinion on the proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he had with the chairman of the Advisory Council on the Penal System prior to her statement that she hoped that the recommendations in the Advisory Council's report advocating a reduction in prison sentences would influence the courts in advance of legislation.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional clerical staff have been taken on in the last six months by the inner London courts service; and at what cost.

No additional staff were taken on between 1st January and 30th June, but 22 new posts are to be filled during July at a cost of £47,102 per annum in salaries. They will be employed to meet a number of pressures on the administration of the courts, including those arising from the Criminal Law Act 1977 and the Bail Act 1976.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will arrange for an inquiry into the repeated recent cases of damage to the nets of in-short fishermen working off the Sussex coast by beam trawlers; and if he will take action to prevent this.

A full inspection into a number of cases of damage caused by beam trawlers to the nets of inshore trammel net fishermen operating off the Sussex coast was carried out in mid-May. As a result of this a voluntary agreement was reached between those concerned defining the areas in which trammel netsmen and beam trawlers would work. The operation of this agreement is to be reviewed in the light of recent allegations of further damage.Officials of my Department will continue to do whatever they can to promote the success of voluntary agreements such as this in overcoming local conflicts of interest.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further consideration he has given to the position of the dehydrated section of the potato industry; what discussions he is

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will tabulate in the Official Report the common levy monetary compensation account and net import levy in the United Kingdom in both £ sterling per tonne and pence per pound for those commodities listed in his reply of 3rd April 1978.

The following is the information requested as at 30th June 1978:having with that section of the industry; and if he will make a statement.

Further meetings between the manufacturers of dehydrated potatoes and officials of my Department were held on 8th and 9th June, and subsequently the companies supplied the Department with certain additional information. It is difficult at this stage to assess the prospects for the industry for the 1978–79 crop year, but urgent consideration is being given to what action could be taken if the problems anticipated by the industry are realised.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a fresh regulation requiring exporters of live farm animals for slaughter abroad to specify the exact point of destination; and why he has delayed implementing the assurances of his predecessor that such a requirement would be introduced.

Exporters are already asked, in connection with their application for a certificate to the effect that animals are fit to travel, to specify the final destination abroad. Whether this requirement should be covered in an order made under section 8 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 will depend on the decision the Government take on the future export of live animals for slaughter or further fastening.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will revise the regulations in relation to the protection of bees from damage by crop spraying and bring them into line with those currently in operation in the EEC.

There are no Community provisions on this, although member States apply varying safeguards, either nationally or regionally. The present regimes in this country aim to minimise any loss of bees, and this applies equally to the official clearance and recommended uses of products, to the development of local liaison arrangements between farmers, agricultural contractors and bee keepers concerned with spraying, and to the Ministry's advisory work and seasonal publicity. These regimes, and especially the regulations governing aerial spraying, are kept under constant review; and as recently as last month, limited clearance for a probationary aerial use of one pesticide was withdrawn following evidence of undue risks to bees.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, with reference to the letter of the Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne dated 27th June 1978, if he will define the difference between untapped tourist potential with most acute economic need, between development areas and special development areas, specifying the difference between Cornwall, with above-average levels of unemployment, and special development areas of lower levels of unemployment and with lower tourist potential.

Regarding entitlement to section 4 tourism project funds there is no distinction drawn between development areas—which include nearly all of Cornwall—and special development areas. These funds are limited to these areas because not only do they contain as much or more untapped tourism potential as the rest of the country, but also they contain by and large higher unemployment levels than elsewhere and hence generally more acute economic need.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish the current amount of credit on favourable terms remaining available to the Government of the USSR for purchases from the United Kingdom and the amounts taken up, since the terms were offered, with the details of the purchases made thereunder.

The value of contracts placed under the Anglo-Soviet agreement to date is £440·6 million, leaving a balance of £509·4 million still available.Since the beginning of 1977, orders have been signed between United Kingdom companies and USSR trading organisations for the supply of cigarette-making machines valued £7·8 million, gas compressor pumps and station equipment valued £87·4 million, a high density polyethylene plant valued £46·2 million, two methanol plants together valued £174 million and equipment for two tyre factories valued £23·8 million and £54·1 million. The balance is represented by eight separate contracts for various types of capital equipment, ranging in value from £2 million to £13 million.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech by the Secretary of State for Energy on 14th June 1978 in Southwark cathedral, concerning the redistribution of wealth, represented Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech by the Secretary of State for Energy on 14th June in Southwark cathedral, on the redistribution of wealth, represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech by the Secretary of State for Energy on 14th June 1978 at Southwark cathedral, concerning the redistribution of wealth, represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech of the Secretary of State for Energy on 14th June 1978 at Southwark cathedral, concerning the redistribution of wealth, represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech in Southwark cathedral by the Secretary of State for Energy on 14th June 1978 concerning the redistribution of wealth represents Government policy.

My right hon. Friend did not make a speech from a prepared text; he took part in a question and answer dialogue with the Dean of Westminster.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his address in Brecon on Saturday 17th June 1978 on the progress of Government policies.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library his speech at Brecon on Saturday 17th June on Government policies.

I did so on 21st June.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the leaders of the Trades Union Congress.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Trades Union Congress.

I refer my hon. Friends 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 last met the TUC and CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC and CBI.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale on 29th June (Mr. Noble).

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

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

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make an official visit to the Organisation of African Unity to discuss with African Heads of Government the presence of Soviet and Cuban troops in Africa.

I have no plans to do so.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he is next taking the chair at a meeting of the National Economic Development Council.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on 9th May.

asked the Prime Minister when next he intends to make an official visit to Caernarfon.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what are the principal subjects he expects to discuss when next he meets his fellow EEC Heads of Government.

The European Council Meeting on 6th and 7th July will be giving further consideration, in preparation for the economic summit meeting in Bonn later in the month, to the five elements for a common economic strategy which I identified at the April European Council meeting as being of prime concern to the Community.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay a visit to the Falkland Islands at a reasonably early date.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the total number of people employed by the local authorities; and how this compares with the numbers employed in each year since 1960.

The numbers of full and part-time employees in local authorities in England and Wales, including police, but excluding police civilians, traffic wardens, police cadets, agency, magistrates' courts and probation staffs on 10th March 1978 were 2,574,000. Comparable figures for mid-June of each year since 1960 were:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government will extend the grant aid scheme to cover rewiring of domestic premises.

My right hon. Friend is currently reviewing the house renovation grant provisions, but has no immediate plans to extend the grant aid scheme generally to cover rewiring of domestic premises.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of rent rebates in England and Wales in the financial year 1978–79.

The estimated cost of rent rebates in England and Wales in the financial year 1978–79 is £370 million.