asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will list those persons in addition to Ministers and top civil servants who are allowed to use the Government car service to take them to and from their offices, Houses of Parliament, and their homes and railway stations within the London area; and whether this is tax free.

Those in addition to Ministers and the most senior civil servants who are allowed to use Government car service cars for these purposes are:

• The Leader of the Opposition
• The rt. hon. Member for Sidcup (Mr. Heath)
• The rt. hon. Member for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson)
• Comptroller and Auditor General
• Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
• Director General, National Economic Development Office
• Military staff of the Ministry of Defence of the rank of I reutenant-General and above Chairman, Metrication Board
• Chairman, Price Commission
• Chairman, Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
• Senior Crown Agent.

Questions about taxation are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) whether he will give a list of the grades and numbers of civil servants who were, in May 1965, on or near a salary scale of £3,250 per annum; what were the salary scales of these people in May 1978; and, as they would need £10,855 per annum to restore their purchasing ability to the 1965 level, when he expects to rectify this situation;(2) whether he will give for 1965 the number of civil servants who were then on the salary scale of £3,250 per annum and the number of these who are in recepit of the present day equivalent salary of £10,850 per annum to compensate for the depreciation in the purchasing power of the £ sterling; and to what extent he intends to restore the standard of living of these civil servants to the level they were enjoying in 1965.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 14th June 1978—[Vol. 951, c. 578]. The national salary maxima for these grades in May 1978 were:

	£
Principal	8,729
Principal Scientific Officer	8,461
PPTO	8,729

Civil Service pay is not fixed with reference to the index of retail prices. As I announced on 21st November 1977—[Vol. 939, c. 1089–92]—the Pay Research Unit will provide evidence for the Civil Service pay settlement from 1st April 1979 subject, as in the past, to the provisions of any national pay policy.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many offices of Government Departments have been moved out of London since 1970; and how many Civil Service jobs have been moved out of London as a consequence.

Between 1st October 1970 and 31st March 1978, over 12,600 Civil Service posts from 32 departments were dispersed from London. Comprehensive information about individual offices moved is not available centrally. The total does not include posts established in new offices as a result of the policy of setting up new work outside London whenever possible.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he intends to publish the next edition of "Directory of Paid Public Appointments Made by Ministers".

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Carlton (Mr. Holland) on 20th June 1978.—[Vol. 952, c. 142.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the report of the Data Protection Committee; and when he intends to make a statement.

I have not yet received the report, but I understand that the committee hopes to submit it to me in the course of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Police Commissioner of the Metropolis on the incident in Coldharbour Lane, Brixton on the evening of 23rd June in which Police Constable Gordon Mallaby was stabbed.

I was concerned to learn of this officer's injury but am not

POLICE OFFICERS ON DUTY WHO WERE VICTIMS OF HOMICIDE, ENGLAND AND WALES, 1967 To 1977
				Cases subsequently decided by a court to be
Year offence recorded			Total	Murder	Manslaughter	Cases in which no suspect was convicted
1967	…	…	1	—	1	—
1968	…	…	—	—	—	—
1969	…	…	1	—	1	—
1970	…	…	1	1	1	—
1971	…	…	2	2	—	—
1972	…	…	1	1	—	—
1973	…	…	2	1	1	—
1974	…	…	1	1	—	—
1975	…	…	3	1	1	1
1976	…	…	—	—	—	—
1977	…	…	1	1	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a table for each of the most recent convenient five years showing (a) the number of licences issued for experiments on live animals under the Security of Animals Act 1876, (b) the number of occasions on which such a licence was refused, (c) the number of certificates issued to permit such an experiment without anaesthetic, and (d) the number of occasions when such a certificate was refused.

The number of licences issued under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 in the years 1973–77 was as follows:

1973	2,110
1974	2,233
1975	3,129
1976	2,896
1977	3,104

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many policemen have been murdered in the course of their duties in England and Wales during each of the past 10 years.

In a case of homicide it is not possible in the absence of a court decision to distinguish between offences of murder and manslaughter. The following table gives the available information:Departmental records are not kept in a way which would enable the other statistics requested to be obtained without disproportionate expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to overcome the delay in issuing long service medals to police officers, some of whom at the present rate of issue will have retired before they receive their medals.

Every effort will be made to clear as soon as possible the backlog in the distribution of medals. Extra staff have been provided for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the working party on the Welsh television fourth channel.

I received the report of the working party on 29th June. Arrangements are being made for its printing in English and Welsh and publication as soon as practicable. I am taking account of the working party's conclusions in preparing the White Paper on the future of broadcasting.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the availability of bread in the west of Scotland; and what action is being taken to ensure that the elderly and housebound can receive supplies.

Supplies of bread in the west of Scotland are limited. With regard to the elderly and housebound, I understand that the Women's Royal Voluntary Service has arranged to obtain supplies and to make deliveries to this sector of the community through the meals on wheels service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made to implement in Scotland recommendations 33 to 35 of the report of the Royal Commission on Standards of Conduct in Public Life.

I refer to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave on 25th May—[Vol. 950, c. 664.]—about the Government's acceptance of these recommendations and about the procedure for their implementation in England and Wales. A separate form of procedure for their implementation in Scotland, which takes account of Scottish criminal procedure and practice, has been prepared in consultation with my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate and the bodies concerned. I have sent a circular to chief constables in Scotland asking them to implement the new procedure as soon as possible, and I have placed a copy of that circular in the Library. My right hon. and learned Friend has made appropriate departmental arrangements for dealing with these matters.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware of the reluctance of legal aid authorities to grant legal aid certificates for the enforcement of maintenance granted by British courts in divorce cases when the order is against a party resident in West Germany; and whether he will take steps to seek the inclusion of West Germany as a convention country under Part II of the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972.

A legal aid certificate is only available for proceedings before British courts. The Federal Republic of Germany was declared a convention country for the purposes of Part II of the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 by Order in Council made on 18th March 1975. An application under Part II of the 1972 Act is made through the justices' clerk of the applicant's local magistrates' court. There is no cost to the applicant.

asked the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor will convene a sentencing conference for stipendiary magistrates with a view to achieving a more consistent practice on the level of fines imposed for excessive speeding offences by courts in different parts of the United Kingdom.

Existing arrangements to encourage magistrates to achieve reasonable consistency in the level of fines imposed for speeding offences already include participation by stipendiary magistrates, and my noble Friend does not consider that new arrangements for sentencing conferences for stipendiary magistrates are necessary.

asked the Attorney-General if the joint consultations between the Lord Chancellor's Department, the local magistrates' courts, committees and the magistrates' associations to achieve a desirable level of consistency in sentencing policies involve stipendiary magistrates.

Stipendiary magistrates frequently participate in the consultations referred to.

asked the Attorney-General what arrangements are made at present to achieve a desirable level of consistency in sentencing policies in the fields of both traffic and other offences by stipendiary magistrates.

The metropolitan stipendiary magistrates meet together on a number of occasions regularly throughout the year to discuss various aspects of the administration of justice in their courts, including sentencing policies. In addition, stipendiary magistrates throughout the country frequently participate with lay magistrates in training conferences, seminars and sentencing exercises, at which sentencing policies in respect of traffic and other offences are discussed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information is available to her of the number of local authorities (a) which own and run their own school transport and (b) which use private contractors; and what percentage of schoolchildren in each case use this transport.

The latest available information relates to 1972, when about 50 per cent. of the 900,000 pupils in England and Wales who received free transport were conveyed by contract vehicles—whether privately or publicly owned—and just over 2 per cent. travelled on LEA-owned vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the total interest payments on capital borrowed for the construction of the advanced gas-cooled reactor programme; how many years behind schedule each project is; and if the interest payments in non-productive years were regarded as general costs in generating board accounts, or were placed solely on the nuclear side of the account thus affecting calculations of unit costs of electricity generating by nuclear power.

I am asking the chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board to write to my hon. Friend. Power stations in Scotland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will state in the Official Report when the appointment of each member of each area electricity board will be due for renewal or termination; and what proposals he has for changing the composition of the board in each case.

The dates on which the current appointments of each of the members of the area electricity boards in England and Wales will expire are listed below. I will consider what further appointments may be required on those dates.

APPOINTMENTS OF MEMBERS OF AREA ELECTRICITY BOARDS IN ENGLAND AND WALES
London Electricity Board
Date of expiry of current appointment
Chairman:
Mr. A. Plumpton	30.9.81
Deputy Chairman:
Mr. J. W. Evans	31.12.81
Part-time members:
Mr. E. Sharp	31.8.78
Mr. A. W. Fisher	31.3.80
Miss D. Whittingham	30.9.80
Mr. R. Martineau	16.3.81
Mr. L. Britz	23.1.80
Councillor R. E. Shaw	22.5.80
South-Eastern Electricity Board
Chairman:
Mr. R. A. Peddie	31.5.82
Deputy Chairman:
Mr. L. W. Goacher	13.3.82
Part-time members:
Mr. R. N. Bottini	19.2.80
Mr. G. A. Mickleburgh	5.1.81
Dr. P. Lesley Cook	30.9.78
Major J. More-Molyneux	30.9.78
Mr. C. Lovell	20.3.80
Mrs. M. Neville	24.4.80

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the annual cost of extending the electricity discount scheme (a) to all those retirement pensioners in receipt of rent and rate rebate, and (b) to all retirement pensioners.

On the latest available data the estimated additional costs would be:

(a) £20 million

(b) £66 million

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about preparations for the sixth round of offshore licensing.

The Petroleum (Production) (Amendment) Regulations, which are a necessary preliminary step for the invitation of applications, were today laid before Parliament. I am still considering the views which have been put to me during consultations on other features of the proposed arrangements for the round, and I will make a statement about those other features later.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has entered into a planning agreement with the National Coal Board.

I have today signed a planning agreement with the National Coal Board and have laid a statement before the House in accordance with section 21(3) of the Industry Act 1975. The agreement is the first planning agreement between the Government and a nationalised industry. The mining unions will also be signing the agreement to signify their approval of it.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether her Department has despatched any humanitarian aid to Eritrea through any international agencies; what representations she has received on the question of aid to Eritrea in the last three months; and what action she intends to undertake to help relieve the crisis situation in that area.

No. I am fully aware of public concern on this question, and have received very few representations.A recent appeal by the International Committee of the Red Cross has, however, included provision for Red Cross assistance on both sides of the conflict in Eritrea. I propose to make a grant-in-aid of £150,000 in support of the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Horn of Africa, including Eritrea. Parliamentary approval to this service will be sought in the Winter Supplementary Estimate to the Overseas Aid Vote. This £150,000 is additional to the £100,000 announced in May to finance International Red Cross assistance in Somalia, Jibuti and Ethiopia.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many road haulage firms are, or have been, affected by the black list.

Five road haulage firms are subject to discretionary action.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what a person receiving a pension of £9,000 per annum, together with a salary of £6,250 per annum, would have to pay in tax on a £12,000 per annum car benefit; and what such a £12,000 car benefit is worth to such people after tax.

Tax liability on car benefits depends on several factors, but, if tax were chargeable on the full £12,000, the tax taken as the highest slice of the income of a married man with no children whose only other sources of income were a pension of £9.000 and a salary of £6,250, would be £8,964, leaving a net benefit of £3,036.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what level his Department estimates the unofficial income to individuals from employment not recorded in the income calculation of the national income figures for each of the last 10 years; and if he will express these figures on an index basis, with 1967 being 100.

The income-based estimates of gross domestic product compiled by the Central Statistical Office are intended to cover all domestic income, in cash and in kind, generated by the output of goods and services as defined in the national accounts. In common with other national accounts series the figures are subject to errors of estimation. If the income-based estimates—or, indeed, the expenditure-based estimates—of gross domestic product were subject to downward bias of the kind apparently implied by the hon. Member's Question, there would be no objective means of quantifying this.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the light of the fact that both economy steps and computer routines are resulting in difficulties in clients of clearing banks obtaining possession of paid cheques and are thus threatening the objects of the Cheques Act 1957, if he will investigate this situation before the practice becomes so widespread that formal receipts from creditors again become necessary.

Banks no longer return cheques as a matter of routine, because of the heavy costs involved. However, I understand that no bank refuses to return cheques if a customer so requests.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to arrange for tax assessments on ticket touts to be based on an estimate of their profits.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants in his Department 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.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 3rd July 1978; Vol. 953, c. 60–61], gave the following reply:I regret that this information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The only civil servants normally entitled to travel first class by air are those graded undersecretary and above, and also those at assistant secretary level when making flights of at least four hours flying time without a break. Other civil servants are allowed to travel first class only if, for example, they have to accompany a more senior officer who is himself entitled to first-class travel.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will substantially increase the minimum value orders in respect of horses exported live from the United Kingdom to take account of the increase in prices since these values were last fixed in 1973.

The current minimum values for horses and ponies prescribed in the Export of Horses and Ponies (Increase in Minimum Values) Order 1973 are at present being reviewed and we shall shortly consult the interests concerned about proposals for increases.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action is being taken to deal with the problem of low pay of homeworkers and to promote their health and safety.

I intend to establish a homeworking unit within the Wages Inspectorate, which will be strengthened for this purpose. In each division of the inspectorate an inspector will be designated to concentrate on the inspection of homeworkers' pay and generally act as a focal point of interest in the subject so far as pay is concerned. The inspectorate will also be mounting a special drive on inspecting the pay of home-workers in selected areas during the summer and autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he will be in a position to notify Cadbury Typhoo at Catterick, Richmond, Yorkshire, whether it will receive the temporary employment subsidy; and if he will make a statement.

It is not our normal practice to publish information about individual applications for TES.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications have been received by the Manpower Services Commission in Thanet to date for financial assistance towards projects under the youth opportunities programme and the special temporary employment programme; how many of these applications have been accepted; and how many jobs are associated with these projects, respectively.

I understand from the Manpower Services Commission that, since the inception of the youth opportunities programme on 1st April 1978, 25 applications have been approved for schemes in Thanet, providing a total of 41 places for young people. No schemes have yet been approved under the special temporary employment programme for Thanet, and comprehensive statistics are not kept on the location of schemes which are not approved.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he intends to take to prevent the use of a Belgian-made machine which has proved to be a danger in launderettes through explosions when overloaded.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that the inspection of most coin-operated launderettes and the enforcement of the Health and Safety at Work &c. Act 1974 in them is the responsibility of local authorities. Health and Safety Executive inspectors have enforcement duties only in launderettes which come within the scope of the Factories Act 1961.Inspectors of enforcing authorities already have powers under the Health and Safety at Work &c. Act to issue notices requiring any machine which appears to them to be dangerous to be made safe or to prohibit its use, and it is understood that one local authority has issued a prohibition notice on the use of this particular machine. Incidents concerning such machines are discussed at health executive local authority (HELA) liaison committee meetings, and where necessary guidance is issued to the local authorities.A general guidance note has also been issued to local authorities on the enforcement of the Act in launderettes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in the interests of safety, he will take action to prevent unaccompanied children under the age of 14 years from entering launderettes.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that consideration has been given to the suggestion that unaccompanied child-rent should be prohibited from entering launderettes, but it is felt that such a prohibition would be difficul to enforce in practice.At present, launderette owners and operators are required to comply with the provisions of sections 3 and 4 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and manufacturers of launderette equipment with section 6 of that Act. Compliance with these sections should ensure safety in launderettes for whoever uses them, and the Health and Safety Executive is actively pursuing this line.A number of meetings have been held with the launderette industry to advise on satisfactory standards of safety, and advice has been given to local authorities on safety in launderettes. Further meetings are planned with the industry and there is also a formal liaison arrangement between each Factory Inspectorate area office and the appropriate local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what comparable industrialised countries currently have a form of civilian national service for young people; what numbers are involved; and what forms such service takes;(2) what would be the employment effects in the current situation of reintroducing a form of national service for young people; and if he will make a statement;(3) what consideration is being given currently by his Department to the possibility of introducing some form of national service which would provide employment, training and discipline for the many thousands of young school leavers who are likely to remain out of work for some time.

Detailed information on civilian national service in other countries is not available but there is provision for some form of voluntary social service by young people in most industrialised countries. In Great Britain unemployed young people can take part in activities of this kind both through community industry and the new youth opportunities programme. The Government do not favour the introduction of any form of compulsory social service for unemployed young people. Even with current levels of un- employment, 90 per cent. of the 1977 school leavers had found jobs or were in full-time education or training by the end of the year. Compulsory social service would disrupt the normal entry of young people into employment. Moreover, the Government do not believe that compulsory social service would help young people to prepare themselves for the world of work as effectively as the range of work experience schemes and training courses in the youth opportunities programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the small firms employment subsidy will be paid to eligible firms on the basis of total numbers employed; and whether employees for whom temporary employment subsidy has been paid will be included in that total.

Subsidy under the small firms employment subsidy scheme will be paid in respect of extra jobs—as defined for the purposes of the scheme—over and above the number of jobs provided in the assisted areas and the inner city partnership areas on 15th March 1978, the date the enlarged scheme was announced. No payment can be made where any jobs are being supported by the temporary employment subsidy or the associated arrangements for the support of short working.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish the following details concerning the survey of the effects of employment protection laws published in the June issue of his Departments' Gazette: (a) the number of firms employing less than 75 and less than 100 people included in the survey, (b) the method of selection of the firms surveyed, namely, whether it was random, (c) the reasons for the exclusion from the survey of commercial and service establishments, (d) the reasons for excluding firms employing less than 50 people and (e) the percentage of employment in the private sector covered by this survey.

The article in the Gazette was based on the results of an independent inquiry by the Policy Studies Institute. My Department is responsible for neither the conclusions nor the methodology of the survey, which are matters for the institute itself.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he is taking to avert the redundancies at David Brown Foundry, Penistone; and whether he will make a statement.

The main form of assistance which my Department can offer in cases of threatened redundancy is the temporary employment subsidy, and the firm concerned is fully aware of this scheme. The Manpower Services Commission will do all it can to help any workers who are made redundant to find or train for new jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state in the Official Report when the appointment of each member of the Health and Safety Commission will be due for renewal or termination; and what proposals he has for changing the composition of the Commission in each case.

The chairman and all the members of the Commission, except Mr. E. M. Jukes, were appointed last year to serve until 30th September 1980. Mr. Jukes was appointed to serve for one year only to 30th September 1978 and I will shortly be consulting the Confederation of British Industry about his replacement. I have no plans to change the statutory composition of the Commission as laid down by section 10(2) and (3) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state in the Official Report when the appointment of each member of the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service will be due for renewal or termination; and what proposals he has for changing the composition of the council of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

The present appointments of the chairman and members of the ACAS council will expire on the following dates:

Mr. J. E. Mortimer (Chairman)	1.9.79
Professor H. A. Clegg	1.9.78
Mr H. G. DeVille	1.9.78
Mr. L. F. Edmundson	1.9.78
Mr. H. L Farrimond, CBE	1.9.78
Professor L C. Hunter	1.9.78
Mr. J. L. Jones, CH, MBE	1.9.78
Sir George Smith, CBE	1.9.78
Mr. T. A. Swinden, CBE	1.9.78
Professor D. E. C Wedderburn	1.9.80

I am currently consulting the Trade Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry about six of the appointments to be made from 1st September 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the numbers of people registered as unemployed in the city of Chester travel-to-work area for each month of 1974 with the average figure for that year, and for the months of 1978 for which figures are available.

The following table gives the information for the Chester employment office area.

1974	Numbers unemployed
January	1,314
February	1,285
March	1,278
April	1,354
May	1,294
June	1,207
July	1,391
August	1,550
September	1,622
October	1,561
November	1,588
December*	—
Average for 1974	1,404
1978
January	3,712
February	3,530
March	3,364
April	3,404
May	3,281
June	3,610
*Because of industrial action by some staff in the Department of Employment Group, figures for December 1974 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the cost and effectiveness of the measures taken by the Government to create and save jobs in the Penistone area.

Over 3,380 people in the Penistone area have been helped by the special employment measures introduced by the Government to alleviate the worst effects of the recession. These measures represent a total financial commitment of approximately £4·3 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied that the recently announced scheme of pay increases for the staff at Barclays Bank at the Brent shopping precinct is in accordance with the Government's incomes policy.

My officials will be discussing the details of these arrangements with the bank on 7th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many workers were employed in the coal mining industry in North Staffordshire in each of the years 1950, 1960, 1970, 1975, 1976 and 1977;(2) how many workers were employed in the pottery industry in North Staffordshire in each of the years 1950, 1960, 1970, 1975, 1976 and 1977.

, pursuant to his reply[Official Report, 4th July 978], gave the following information:The table below shows the numbers of employees in employment in the coal mining and pottery industries in North Staffordshire at mid 1952, 1960, 1970, 1975 and 1976, the latest date for which information is available.

EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT: NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE (i.e., the employment office areas of Biddulph, Burslem, Cheadle, Hanley, Kidsgrove, Leek, Longton, Newcastle under Lyne, Stoke and Stone)
Thousands
	Coal mining	Pottery
1952	20· 0	60· 7
1960	21· 1	50· 1
1970	11· 1	42· 9
1975	10· 1	43· 6
1976	9· 9	42· 3

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent visit to the United States of America.

I visited the United States from 24th to 27th June.At the invitation of the organising committee for the Hubert Humphrey Memorial Award, I delivered a speech on foreign affairs at a dinner in New York on 26th June. A copy of the speech has been placed in the Library of the House.I took the opportunity of my visit to meet and exchange views with President Carter. The subjects covered during our wide-ranging discussions included the Bonn summit, particularly the question of aid and the multilateral trade negotiations, energy, East-West relations including SALT and the comprehensive test ban treaty, and Africa, with particular reference to Rhodesia.In addition, I held meetings with some leading figures from the United States aerospace industry to inform myself about their plans.

asked the Prime Minister whether any further official histories of peace-time episodes have been commissioned since 1974.

Yes. Two further works in the series of official histories covering selected periods of episodes of peace-time history have been commissioned, as follows:

(i) "The British Contribution to the Korean Campaign", to be written by Lieutenant-General Sir Anthony Farrar-Hockley, KCB, DSO, MBE, MC.

(ii) "The Health Services since the War", to be written by Dr. Charles Webster, DSC, MA. FRHistS, Reader in the History of Medicine, University of Oxford, and Director of the Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine, Oxford.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on EEC regulations concerning minibuses following his Department's negotiations with the Commission.

As I said in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr Wriggles-worth) on 4th July, I have now laid before the House draft derogation regulations. They will exempt all minibuses constructed and equipped to carry not more than 15 persons when on journeys wholly within the United Kingdom, from the EEC rules on drivers' hours and records and on the use of tachographs.These derogations do not apply to journeys between the United Kingdom and other EEC countries. Minibuses which are constructed and equipped to carry more than nine persons—including the driver—when travelling in other EEC member States are still required under the laws of those countries to comply with the full EEC rules.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents and how many deaths were caused in the last 12 months by jackknifing of articulated vehicles; and what discussions he has had with manufacturers of heavy goods vehicles on the subject.

In 1977, 380 articulated heavy goods vehicles were reported to have jack-knifed in accidents resulting in injuries; deaths occurred in 21 of these cases. It is not possible to distinguish between cases in which jack-knifing led to the accident and cases in which jackknifing resulted from it. Detailed discussions have been taking place with manufacturers on measures to apply new braking standards which will reduce the risk of jack-knifing.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the working of the motor cycle training schemes.

Both the main schemes available to local authorities, the RAC scheme and the STEP scheme, are being expanded successfully. To ensure that the facilities available for training are used to the best advantage, we are setting up a committee to advise us on the future provision and development of training for motor cycle riders.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what propor- tion of those who made excess payments on vehicle excise duty in March 1977, have now been repaid; and when he expects to complete repayments.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of those who made excess payments on vehicle excise duty in March 1977 have now been repaid; and when he expects to complete repayments.

By the end of June, 168,000 claims had been received. Of these, 61 per cent. had been paid a total of £1·8 million; 37 per cent. did not meet the criteria; and 2 per cent. awaited a final decision. The last claims may take a little while finally to determine.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department will display at appropriate points on motorways and motorway service areas the wavelength of local radio stations providing traffic news for the area.

It would be undesirable to display this information on motorways themselves because it would distract drivers' attention from the essential task of driving. We will examine the suggestion of signs in motorway service areas, in conjunction with our review of these service areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he considers there are any practical alternatives to a Channel tunnel.

It depends upon the purpose intended.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next intends to meet with the chairman of the Port of London Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends next to meet the chairman of the Port of London Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to meet the chairman of the Port of London Authority.

Shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has undertaken any consultations on the conclusions of the Price Commission's report, "British Railways Board—Increase in Passenger Fares"; and, if so, with what bodies.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection and I consulted the Railways Board before issuing our joint response to the Price Commission's report.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will reduce the high rent or other charges imposed upon companies involved in running petrol and catering centres on motorways.

Rents have not been imposed. They result from offers which the operators themselves have made in open competitive tendering.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy towards the hiving-off of profitable sectors of the nationalised industries for which he is responsible.

I am against it.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress in repairing and replacing road joints on the elevated sections of the M5 and M6 motorways in the West Midlands.

Work is in progress and will proceed as quickly as possible consistent with maintaining satisfactory conditions for road users.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is now ready to introduce regulations in regard to the transport of dangerous substances by road.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission has told us that he expects to forward proposals for the tanker labelling regulations shortly and that work on the comprehensive general regulations is advancing.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to divert from road to rail the carriage of dangerous substances.

It is Government policy to encourage industry, by financial and other means, to make greater use of rail transport, both for dangerous goods and freight generally, wherever it is sensible to do so on economic and social grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made in extending the M63 from Portwood, Stockport, eastwards and northwards.

We announced the preferred route of the section of the M63/M66 Manchester outer ring road between Portwood, Stockport and Denton on 2nd May this year. Work is now proceeding on the detailed design.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had concerning his plans to control privately operated public car parks.

The consultation paper issued last August covered our proposals for the control of both privately operated public and private non-residential off-street parking. The pattern of over 250 responses indicated broad support for the former, from the local authority associations, public transport operators and amenity interests, and opposition from organisations representing business interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what recommendations he has received on plans for the public ownership of the ports.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what studies have been requested or authorised by him into the reorganisation of the ports.

The Government are already committed to ports reorganisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is satisfied with the operation of the Noise Insulation Regulations 1975.

My understanding is that the current regulations are in general being operated satisfactorily, but I shall have a reappraisal made of the properties qualifying for insulation as a result of the widening of the A27 in the hon. Member's constituency, a matter about which he is particularly concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement about the road safety conference over which he presided at Church House.

The Roads to Safety Conference held at Church House on 13th and 14th June was attended by some 350 people representing more than 150 organisations, including central and local government, trade unions, trade and industry, voluntary and consumer organisations, the police and the professions. Members of both Houses of Parliament also attended. The conference heard contributions from distinguished speakers on general aspects of road safety and then discussed four subjects in working groups on road safety education, training and publicity; road safety and the law; engineering for safety; and alcohol and accidents.The conference as a whole revealed a widespread concern to improve road safety, and the working groups identified many specific proposals to help to achieve this, which I shall carefully study. I will publish a report of the proceedings and I hope it will bring home to a much wider audience the need for a greater sense of care and responsibility of every road user to reduce the toll of death and injury on the road.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will call for an investigation into the dangers to pedestrians of fast-moving traffic in residential areas, in the light of information supplied by the hon. Member.

The particular case which I have discussed with my hon. and learned Friend does not seem to call for a general investigation, but my right hon. Friend always has in mind the need to make our roads as safe as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next intends to meet the chairman of the National Bus Company.

Next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what profit, or loss, was earned by the National Bus Company in 1977 after charging depreciation on a replacement basis, but before taxation and interest.

The effect of charging depreciation on a current cost replacement basis is to produce a loss of £8,877,000 in 1977 before taxation and interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport on what grounds the decision was made to introduce the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 1978 (S.I. 1978 No. 697).

My Department's consultation letter of 20th March explained my reasons for proposing these regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next proposes to meet the chairman of British Railways.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends next to meet the chairman of the British Railways Board.

I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan).

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a further statement about his inquiries into the efficiency of public transport in London's peripheral areas, such as Epping Forest.

Planning and operation of bus services are matters for the operators and local authorities, but the quality of planned services depends on the availability of buses and staff. London Country Bus Services is gradually getting a more reliable fleet of buses but staff shortage is a problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents have been reported on the A5 in the vicinity of Babbinswood, Whittington, over the past five years; and if he is satisfied with the present safety standards in respect of stretch of road.

Over the past five years, 11 accidents involving personal injury have been recorded. Three of them involved fatalities and four others resulted in serious injuries. We have asked for an urgent report on this stretch of road and I shall write to the hon. Member when our investigations are completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for public consultations on the alignment of A259 to bypass the village of Brook-land; and when he expects construction to commence.

We hope to consult the public on possible alternative routes towards the end of 1979 and, subject to the satisfactory completion of the relevant statutory procedures, to make funds available for work to begin in 1981 or 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the report of the committee of inquiry into motorway service areas.

Within a few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated cost of changing the camber of the roads if the EEC in its efforts towards harmonisation should require the United Kingdom to change from driving on the left to driving on the right.

No change in camber would be needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends next to meet the general secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. for Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson).

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received from the railway commuter organisations.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Crouch).

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet the chairman of the Freight Integration Council.

The chairman's post is currently vacant, and as the council is no longer active I have no plans to fill it.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to extend public ownership of road haulage.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Morrison) on 1st February 1978.—[Vol. 943, c. 30.]

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has of the attitude of the industry towards voluntary agreements on tachographs.

Responsible representatives of both sides of the industry have made their attitudes clear to me on a number of occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his present policy on paragraph 49 of the transport policy White Paper.