asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many copies of the following periodicals are regularly obtained by his Department: Morning Star, Socialist Challenge, Labour Weekly, Conservative News and Tribune.

The Civil Service Department's library regularly obtains seven copies of the Morning Star, one copy of Labour Weekly, and one copy of Tribune. It does not regularly obtain copies of Socialist Challenge or of Conservative News.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has yet reached a decision on the use of hovercraft for minesweeping purposes.

We are continuing to review the potential uses of the hovercraft by the Royal Navy in the mine countermeasures role in the light of the extensive trials undertaken and the availability of equipment to suit it for this task. We are currently studying our longer term mine countermeasures requirements, including the possible requirement for a single role minehunter, and in this context we are keeping under review weapon and equipment developments which may be compatible with the hovercraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will issue a protest to the Soviet authorities at the continued violation of the Final Act of the Helsinki Agreement and in particular concerning the recent arrest of Alexander Podrabinek, a member of the Helsinki Monitoring Group.

My right hon. Friend has been deeply concerned to hear of the further action taken against members of the Helsinki monitoring groups in the Soviet Union, including Mr. Podrabinek, since the trial of Professor Orlov and will continue to make the Government's views known to the Soviet authorities in the most effective and appropriate manner.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent negotiations with the Sultan of Brunei about future defence arrangements between the United Kingdom and Brunei.

Following agreement on a treaty of friendship and co-operation, the Government will in 1983 relinquish their responsibilities towards Brunei in external relations and defence. Mean-while, the Gurkha battalion will remain, and we shall retain our links with the Brunei armed forces as well as our access to Brunei training facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent recently he has been involved in seeking to implement the United Nations resolutions on Cyprus which call for withdrawal of invasion troops.

The Government have been involved, both at the United Nations and more widely, in efforts to secure progress over the Cyprus problem. The question of foreign armed forces in the Republic of Cyprus will not easily be resolved except in the context of an overall Cyprus settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list his powers to limit the rights of trade unions to obstruct docks, airfields and other public facilities potentially indispensable to national defence, in the event of British involvement in a war.

I see no point in speculating about powers which might be sought in such a hypothetical set of circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to make the levy grant system operated by the Construction Industry Training Board available to local authority building departments employing apprentices.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, although local authority building departments are not covered by statutory levy grant arrangements, some of their apprentice training may qualify for grant under the special measures administered by the Local Government Training Board. However, I shall consider the suggestion and write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now take steps to provide a skillcentre in Ormskirk; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it has no plans at the present time to establish a skillcentre in Ormskirk. The commission has recently undertaken a review of the training facilities in the area, and it is satisfied that the training needs can be met by the existing skillcentres at Aintree, Kirkby and St. Helens. In addition, the new skillcentre at Preston will help to meet the needs of the Ormskirk area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will introduce legislation to seek to extend the protection given by the Employment Protection Act against victimisation of workers for their trade union membership or activity to people seeking work but unable to obtain it because they are victimised or blacklisted for their trade union activities.

I deplore the practice of blacklisting, but I am not convinced that the best way of proceeding is to legislate against it.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he will give an assurance that on the Government implementing the Boyle committee report on top salaries, or any amendment thereof, he will ensure that all staff and workers in the industries and services where these increases are to apply will be able to claim and receive the same increases to maintain comparabilities and differentials in wage and salary rates irrespective of the 10 per cent. or any other form of amended wage and salary restraint; and to what extent he estimates these increases would affect the cost of living index figures;(2) whether he will give the actual or estimated number or staff, workers, and employees in all of the industries and services covered by the Boyle committee report on top salaries; and to what extent he estimates the total wage and salary bills of these industries and services would increase if all the workers were to receive the same salary and wage increases on an average percentage basis as those proposed in the Boyle Report.

The report of the Review Body on Top Salaries covers the chairmen and members of the boards of nationalised industries, the higher judiciary and certain other judicial appointments, senior civil servants and senior officers of the Armed Forces. The approximate numbers of employees in the related industries and services are as follows:

• Nationalised industries—2,110,000.¹
• Civil Service (industrial and non-industrial)—735,600.
• Armed Forces—328,000.
• Legal services—110,000.
• ¹ Includes all organisations in which the NEB has a holding.

As the report covers only the personnel within the Review Body's standing remit, it would be inappropriate to extend its recommendations further.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he proposes to take against those employers who underpay their homeworkers.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend, the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 5th July—[Vol. 953, c. 186–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many work vouchers were issued in the past 12 months for work in the catering industry for skilled and unskilled workers coming from abroad.

Figures are not kept for catering establishments separately from the rest of the hotel and catering industry. In the 12 months July 1977 to June 1978, some 1,250 work permits were issued for employment in the hotel and catering industry. The figure includes permission given for the employment of overseas nationals already here for some other reason—for example, as visitors. Some 70 of the issues were for unskilled workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what quantity of natural gas, expressed in volume, value and coal equivalent terms, is at present being flared at wellheads in the Scottish jurisdiction sector of the North Sea; and what estimates have been made of the wastage by flaring over the next 10 years.

The figures given below are for the United Kingdom continental shelf where there are no sectors for this purpose. The volume of gas flared from United Kingdom continental shelf oilfields in May 1978 was 283 million cubic metres—about 0·4 million tons of coal equivalent. No intrinsic value can be ascribed to the gas flared during this period. If there had been no associated gas flaring, 4·5 million tons of oil worth about £250 million could not have been produced.During the next three to four years, the increasing level of gas injection and the completion of pipelines for delivering associated gas to shore should reduce considerably the level of gas flaring propor- tional to oil production. I expect gas flaring from future fields to be kept to the bare technical and economic minimum.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the net salary, assuming the post to be held by a married man with no dependent children in real terms, of (a) the chairman, (b) the deputy chairman and (c) other board members of the Atomic Energy Authority in 1972 and 1978, taking 1972 as the base year; and how many places on the board are currently unfilled.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 3rd July 1978; Vol. 953, c. 12], gave the following information:Taking 1972 as the base year, the net salaries of the chairman, deputy chairman and full-time members of the Atomic Energy Authority are estimated to be:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the net salary, assuming the post to be held by a married man with no dependent children in real terms, of (a) the chairman, (b) the deputy chairman and (c) other board members of the Central Electricity Generating Board in 1972 and 1978, taking 1972 as the base year; and how many places on the board are currently unfilled.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 3rd July 1978; Vol. 953 c. 12], gave the following information:Taking 1972 as the base year, the net salaries of the chairman, deputy chairman and full-time members of the Central Electricity Generating Board are estimated to be:

	1972 Net of tax	1978 Real terms
	£	£
Chairman	9,509·64	4,806
Deputy chairman	8,709·01	4,464
Full-time member	7,797·96	4,059

There is at present a vacancy for a part-time member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report the biographical details and qualifications of the members of the Advisory Council on the Penal System; what salary and expenses each of them received from public funds; and what was the cost of the report of this Council, including expenses of the members, since its inception.

The members of the Advisory Council on the Penal System who took part—in some cases for only part of the time—in its recent review of maximum sentences of imprisonment are listed on page (iii) of the council's report, and are as follows:

• The Rt. Hon. Sir Kenneth Younger, K.B.E.: chairman of the council until his death in
• May 1976; former Minister of State at the Home Office.
• The Baroness Serota of Hampstead, J.P.: chairman of the council since May 1976; chairman, Commission for Local Administration; Minister of State in the Department of Health and Social Security 1968–1970.
• Professor Sir Arthur Armitage: Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester; an academic lawyer.
• Mr. Alan Bainton, C.B.E.: formerly controller of operations in the prison department of the Home Office and a former prison governor.
• Mr. Louis Blom-Cooper, Q.C., J.P.: chairman of the Howard League for Penal Reform; a barrister.
• Mr. Justice Stephen Brown: a High Court judge; presiding judge of the Midland circuit.
• Mr. Derek Gladwin, O.B.E., J.P.: southern regional secretary of the General and Municipal Workers' Union; a lay magistrate.
• Mr. A. Goodson, O.B.E., Q.P.M.: chief constable of Leicestershire.
• Mr. Milton Hargreaves, O.B.E.: clerk to the South Bedfordshire justices.
• Judge Hines, Q.C.: a circuit judge who has served for several years at the Central Criminal Court; formerly chairman of the Inner London and the Middlesex Quarter Session.
• The Rt. Hon. The Earl Jellicoe, D.S.O., M.C.: formerly Lord Privy Seal.
• Judge Richard Lowry, Q.C.: a circuit judge.
• The Lady Rothschild, M.B.E., J.P.: a lay magistrate.
• Mr. Hugh Sanders, O.B.E.: formerly chief probation officer of South Yorkshire.
• Dr. Peter Scott, C.B.E.: until his death consultant psychiatrist at the Bethlem Royal and Maudsley hospitals.
• Mr. W. R. Stirling: until recently principal of the Bingley college of education, South Yorkshire.
• Professor Nigel Walker: Wolfson professor of criminology at Cambridge University and director of the Institute of Criminology at Cambridge.
• Lord Justice Waller, O.B.E.: a lord justice of appeal; formerly a presiding judge.
• The Baroness Wootton of Abinger, C.H.: a deputy speaker of the House of Lords; formerly professor of social studies in the University of London.

The members of the Advisory Council are unpaid. They receive expenses incurred as a direct consequence of their membership of the council. The estimated cost of preparing the council's latest report and the interim report on "The Length of Prison Sentences", which was published in June 1977, is £62,000. Of this, £3,400 is attributable to members' expenses, £10,500 to the cost of printing and publication, and the remainder to staff costs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he intends to take to control the use of black lists containing details about the personal and political activities of trades unionists.

I have no proposals for legislation on this specific point, but I shall bear it in mind in considering the wider issues concerning the use of personal information which are likely to be raised by the report of the Data Protection Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he will introduce a privacy law to seek to ensure adequate control met the use of personal information held by private organisations;(2) what steps he intends to take to ensure that control of personal information stored in computerised data banks, as proposed in the White Paper "Computers and Privacy", will be extended to personal information stored in non-computerised data banks.

As to control over the use of information held on computers, I am awaiting the report of the Data Protection Committee. When I receive the committee's report, I shall consider how far such recommendations as it may make in regard to information held on computers might be applicable also to information held in non-computerised records.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give notice in writing to pharmaceutical companies or suppliers placed on the National Health Service pay guidelines black list so that they may have the opportunity to appeal against inclusion.

Any firm against which the Government decide to take dis- cretionary action is warned in writing well in advance that it is liable to such action.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will allow chairmen of private public companies to increase their salaries to the same degree as recommended in the Boyle committee on top salaries irrespective of whether these increases conflict with the Government's present 10 per cent. wage level or the new proposals after August 1978.

The report of the Top Salaries Review Body is designed to rectify anomalies which have arisen over a long period of time. The Review Body does not attempt to match the highest salaries paid in the private sector. I am not aware of similar anomalies in the private sector.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what adjustments are to be made to cash limits on account of the 1½ per cent. increase in the national insurance surcharge.

The Government have examined the position as it affects the 1978–79 cash limits and concluded that for rate support grant purposes the increased cost should be treated as eligible for grant at the normal rate at increase order stage and the cash limits will be adjusted accordingly. The cash limits relating to the health authorities in England, Scotland and Wales will also be raised to cover the extra cost. Details of the changes this involves on individual cash limits will be published in due course in the normal way.It is not proposed to amend the remaining central Government cash limits and the cash limits covering local authority capital expenditure on account of the increase in the surcharge.The cash limits on nationalised industries' external borrowing have always been seen as different in kind from those on other types of public expenditure. In these circumstances, and as the amounts involved are relatively small in relation to all the uncertainties that already face the industries, it is not appropriate to increase these cash limits. In general, nationalised industries should treat it as a cost and, like any commercial firm, take it into account along with other costs in their pricing policies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the married man's tax allowance were abolished, how much extra tax a married man (a) taxed at the standard rate and (b) taxed at the lower rate of tax would have to pay a week, assuming the tax rates and allowances in the Finance Bill; and how much extra tax a married woman who was the sole breadwinner would have to pay on the same assumptions.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many couples at present benefiting from the married man's allowance have no children; and, if the information is available, in how many of these cases this is because children have grown up and in how many cases it is because the couple have not yet had children.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the additional revenue gained in a full year by abolishing the married man's tax allowance and replacing it by a single person's allowance, assuming the tax rates and allowances contained in the Finance Bill.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums he has granted to the New University of Ulster towards the action-research project being carried out by the University in New Lodge, Turf Lodge, Ballymacarret and Tullycarnett areas; how much is being spent in each area; how long the programme will run; and under what conditions the sums were granted.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 4th July 1978; Vol. 953, c. 167], gave the following information:The Department of Health and Social Services is making a grant of £47,000 to the New University of Ulster towards the cost of this action research protect. The project has been accepted as a pilot scheme to combat poverty under the EEC social action programme, and a proportion of the cost of the project is recoverable from EEC funds.It is estimated that the following direct costs will be incurred in the respective areas:

New Lodge	£7,000
Turf Lodge	£7,000
Ballymacarrett (2 areas)	£14,000
Tullycarnett	£7,000

The other costs, including assistance, data analysis and printing, will be incurred at the University.The project, which started in February 1978, is expected to be completed by December 1979. A contract for the project has been drawn up between the Department of Health and Social Services and the New University of Ulster.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the role of the Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland in the action-research project on poverty being carried out by the New University of Ulster in specified areas of Belfast.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 4th July 1978; Vol. 953, c. 167], gave the following information:The Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland requested the New University of Ulster to undertake this project, and is making a grant towards the cost. A steering committee of departmental representatives, which is monitoring the work, is available to give advice as required.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied with the antenatal care provided to pregnant women in Northern Ireland; what assistance is available to enable pregnant women to attend antenatal clinics; and if he will make a statement.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 5th July 1978; Vol. 953, c. 231], gave the following information:Antenatal care provided in Northern Ireland is of a high standard, and the Department of Health and Social Services gives priority to maintaining and improving care and guidance for pregnant women. The provision of antenatal facilities by general medical practitioners and health and social services boards is widespread, and in general it has not been found to be necessary to provide special assistance to enable pregnant women to attend antenatal clinics.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any use has been made of the powers contained in Section 38 of the Community Land Act since 18th November 1977; and, if so, in what connection.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of babies porn in each health area outside a hospital with direct access to an intensive care unit or special care baby unit; what facilities are available for the rapid transfer of such babies or their mothers in fully equipped ambulances to such units should an emergency arise; and if he will make a statement.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 5th July 1978; Vol. 953, c. 229], gave the following information:The information is as follows:

Eastern Health and Social Services Board	2,523
Northern Health and Social Services Board	1,642
Southern Health and Social Services Board	1,735
Western Health and Social Services Board	1,522
Northern Ireland—Total	7,422

Portable incubators are available throughout the Province for the transfer of ill or premature babies in suitable ambulances to a designated special or intensive care baby unit, and where necessary a doctor or nurse would accompany the baby.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he intends to carry out a survey of the level of take-up of means-tested benefits in the towns and cities of Northern Ireland other than Belfast;(2) if he intends to carry out a survey of the level of take-up of means-tested benefits in the rural areas of Northern Ireland.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report 4th July 1978; Vol. 953, c. 167], gave the following information:No. However, commencing in October, the central economic service of the Department of Finance will be mounting a family finances survey to examine throughout Northern Ireland the income and expenditure patterns of families with children whose relative net resources lie within 140 per cent. of their national supplementary benefit entitlement. When it is completed, it is the intention to draw from it the take-up rates of means-tested benefits for such families.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest available figures for the number of people employed by local government in administering and servicing education in Scotland.

At December 1977, the number of local authority employees in the education service in Scotland, excluding lecturers and teachers, was as follows:

• 1—Full-Time, 24,616.
• 2—Part-Time, 35,703.
• 3—Full-Time Equivalent of Part-Time, 16,413.
• 4—Total 1+3, 41,029.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest available figures for the number of people employed in educational administration by the Scottish Education Department.

The staff in post in the Scottish Education Department—excluding the staff of the social work services group and of the Royal Scottish Museum—at 1st July 1978 were 497.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest available figures for the number of teachers employed in education authority schools in Scotland (a) in teaching posts and (b) in non-teaching posts.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 28th February.—[Vol. 945, c. 99–100.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set up under the highways department of the Welsh Office, a road construction unit in order to avoid placing contracts for major road works with private companies outside Wales.

No. Road construction units do not themselves carry out highway works but use the same contracting procedures as those adopted by the Welsh Office. On the question of placing contracts for construction works in Wales, I refer the hon. Member to the replies my hon. Friend gave him on 3rd and 11th April.—[Vol. 947, c. 71 and 404.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to give financial aid to recruit and train poultrymeat inspectors in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to the Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett) on 30th June.—[Vol. 952, c. 701–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will give an assurance that, on the Government implementing the Boyle Report on top salaries so far as it affects the chairmen of nationalised industries fully within his ministerial responsibilities or any amended form of this report, other staff and employees within these nationalised industries will be able to claim their same relative pay rates on a comparative basis and maintain their differentials irrespective of the 10 per cent. or any other amended form of wage and salary restraint.

The Boyle report covers only the four groups within its standing remit, and it would be inappropriate to extend its recommendations further.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will dismiss the chairman of the British Steel Corporation;(2) if he will appoint Mr. Leslie Chapman, the author of "Your Disobedient Servant", as chairman of the British Steel Corporation;(3) if he will appoint Mr. Clive Jenkins, general secretary of the Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs, as chairman of the British Steel Corporation.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what part barter has played in deals negotiated between those nationalised industries for which he is responsible and State trading countries within the last two years; which industries have been involved; and what is the nature and amount by volume and value of the resultant imports.

The terms of deals between nationalised industries and their customers are commercially confidential, as are those between companies in the private sector and their customers.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with progress in the public sector of the steel industry towards involving the trade unions more fully in the planning and development of the industry in order that crises, such as that which arose on 29th June 1978 over the threatened closure of the Bilston works, may be avoided in future.

Both the Government and the corporation are concerned to improve consultation and involvement. BSC's proposals for a "steel contract" and the consideration my right hon. Friend is currently giving to the appointment of trade unionists as members of the board of the corporation have this object in view.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what evidence he has received of continuing imports of buttons from low-cost producers in the Far East; and what action he intends to take to

	Value—£'000 cif
	1974	1975	1976	1977
Textiles (mainly Division 65 (and Group 266))	2,788	2,651	3,232	3,564
Textile clothing (mainly sub-Groups 841·1 and 841·4)	4,728	6,538	6,168	7,604
Steel (mainly Groups 672 and 674)	499	903	2,266	3,164
Glass and glass products (Groups 664 and 665)	102	746	1,225	1,404
	Volume—Tonnes
	1974	1975	1976	1977
Textiles	2,612	1,698	1,041	887
Textile clothing	1,407	1,698	1,532	1,437
Steel	3,956	8,788	20,071	25,914
Glass and glass products	3,789	6,995	13,617	12,761

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether the United Kingdom Government are engaged in negotiations to conclude an agreement or have reached an agreement with Romania providing for increased imports into the United Kingdom of textiles, clothing, glass or steel; and in what amounts by volume and value.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade to what extent within the last two years he has evidence of barter in trade between United Kingdom companies and State trading countries (a) in the private sector and (b) in the public sector.

Imports of buttons, excluding blanks and moulds, from low-cost suppliers in the Far East were lower in 1977 than in 1976 and have continued to fall in 1978. On this evidence, it would be difficult to persuade the EEC Commission to take action to protect United Kingdom manufacturers, and, indeed, it is doubtful if the case meets normal United Kingdom criteria for action based on market disruption and threat to the survival of the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the volume and value in the last four years of Romanian imports into the United Kingdom of textiles, clothing, glass and steel, respectively.

Following is the information for United Kingdom imports consigned from Romania:

The expression "barter" is normally used to describe deals in which goods are traded in exchange for other goods and no money passes. Such evidence as is available to me suggests that trade of this kind between United Kingdom companies and State trading countries has been declining for many years.There are more complex deals which, in effect, involve the exchange of goods against other goods in whole or in part. These deals are usually known as counter-purchase or compensation trading. There are indications that deals of this kind between United Kingdom companies and State trading countries have probably grown in number during the past two years. I cannot, however, quantify this since I have no information on individual deals or their terms, which would be commercially confidential to the companies concerned, whether in the private or the public sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether his Department has held conversations with Admiral Emilio Massera, a member of the Argentinian military junta, during his visit to London; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received in connection with the possible review of grant aid allocations made to Cheshire for the village hall projects for 1978–79; and if she will make a statement.

The local education authority wrote on 24th May asking whether its allocation for village hall and community centre projects for 1978–79 could be reviewed if moneys were relinquished from other sources. As a result of the surrender of grant allocations by various authorities, it has been possible to increase the allocation for Cheshire by £6,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the offer by Dr. I. N. McDonald of £30,000 towards the purchase of the two paintings of Warwick Castle by Canaletto currently on view at the National Gallery, she will now recommend the allocation of a special purchase grant of a similar amount so that the pictures can be acquired by the Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she intends to announce the provision by Her Majesty's Government of the matching £30,000 to the donation of £30,000 by Dr. Macdonald which will save the Canaletto painting of Warwick Castle for the nation.

I have as yet nothing to add to the reply I gave to a Question from the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross) on 21st June.—[Vol. 952, c. 200.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what directives, recommendations, instructions or advice he has issued to his Department following the findings of the Parliamentary Commissioner after his investigation into a complaint by Mr. J. G. D. Walker of the Wirral Green Belt Council, under reference C6/77.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what should be the current maximum value of home loss payment to retain its purchasing value at the same level as when it was introduced; and what plans he has to increase the current figure.

A home loss payment is a token sum paid in recognition of distress caused through having to leave a home, as distinct from compensation and removal costs, which reflect current prices. Since the rating revaluation in 1973, the sum has been tied to three times the rateable value, within a maximum of £1,500 and a minimum of £150. I have no plans for an early change.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of the further delay in the opening of the Humber Bridge, what steps he will take to ensure that passengers using the ferry from New Holland to Hull will be assured of a safe, reliable and efficient service.

The reliability and efficiency of this service are matters for the British Railways Board and I understand it has given public assurances that it will maintain it until the bridge opens. Marine safety is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade, but we are assured that all aspects relating to the safety of the vessel are considered by the Department of Trade's surveyors when inspecting the ship before any renewal of its yearly passenger certificate.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current annual cost to public funds of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

Grants to the society from central Government funds are expected to total £441,000, of which my Department's contribution is expected to be £289,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what were the number of (a) fatal accidents, (b) accidents causing serious injury, and (c) accidents causing minor injury involving pedal cyclists in the years 1970, 1976 and 1977, respectively.

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

PEDAL CYCLE CASUALTIES BY SEVERITY: GREAT BRITAIN
	1970	1976	1977
Killed	373	300	301
Seriously injured	5,253	4,631	4,723
Slightly injured	17,480	18,296	18,429
All severities	23,106	23,227	23,453

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek urgent consultations with the Greater London Council to determine what immediate steps can be taken to ease traffic congestion in and leading to Parliament Square; and if he will find suitable off-street parking for tourist charabancs and ban them from through-route parking.

No. The powers to deal with the matters to which the hon. Member refers are vested in the Greater London and Westminster City Councils. Traffic congestion and the provision of off-street coach parks are problems com- mon to the whole of central London, and we are satisfied that the authorities concerned are doing everything possible to resolve these problems within the limits of available resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations his Department has received about the enforcement of the use of tachographs on minibuses upon landing at the ports of EEC countries.

The Department has received many requests for information about the EEC requirements on the installation of tachographs in passenger vehicles; some of these relate to enforcement. EEC regulation 1463/70 requires all passenger vehicles with 10 or more seats, including the driver's seat, to have tachographs fitted and in use when on journeys between the United Kingdom and other EEC countries.The Department is unaware of any prosecution in an EEC member State against the owner of a minibus travelling to the Continent without a tachograph. However, I am aware of a recent unconfirmed press report about a minibus party being refused entry into Belgium for not complying with the tachograph equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has received from the Port of London Authority for financial help to deal with the urgent problems revealed in its recent annual report; and if he will make a statement.

The Port of London Authority has asked for Government assistance in obtaining financial resources of about £60 million for restructuring the port of London, including the possibility of grants to meet restructuring and closure costs. This is to enable it to implement the strategy that the authority believes would restore the port to viability at the earliest practicable date.The main elements in this strategy are the transfer of PLA cargo-handling operations from the Royal group of docks to India, Millwall and Tilbury docks during the first half of 1979; the retention of India and Millwall docks for a further period, subject to successful performance, under strictly monitored conditions; and manpower reductions of some 2,000.As the House will realise, my right hon. Friend has only just received the PLA's proposals and has not yet had any opportunity to consider or discuss them with his ministerial colleagues. Neither the PLA's proposals nor any of the alternatives have therefore yet been considered, and the Government have reached no view on them. When we do so, we shall take all economic, social and environmental factors into account in deciding how best to help. My right hon. Friend is very fully aware of the anxieties of all concerned. The Government share the aim of a stable future for the port of London and greatly welcome the constructive spirit in which so many people have approached this crisis.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what scientific evidence the increase in the quota for the sperm whale was justified; and if he will make a statement.

At its meeting in December 1977, the International Whaling Commission agreed on an increased catch quota for 1976–77 for the North Pacific sperm whale stock on the basis of a reappraisal by the commission's scientific committee of the calculations relating to catch per unit effort. At its recent meeting in London, the commission made no recommendation regarding future quotas for this stock but agreed to discuss the matter at a special meeting later this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will circulate in the Official Report details of the relationship of the green pound and other EEC currencies to parity prior to devaluation of the green pound in January and now.

The percentage differences between representative rates and market or central rates used for MCA purposes applicable from 30th January and 3rd July are shown below:

	With eject from:
	30th January	3rd July
Benelux	+1·4	+1·4
Germany	+7·5	+7·2
Denmark	Nil	Nil
Ireland	-3·6	-4·3
Italy	-25·9	-12·7
France	-20·9	-10·8
		(-6·8)
United Kingdom	-30·7	-29·4

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cattle in the south-west of England were slaughtered on tuberculosis reactions as contact cattle in the period 1st January 1976 to the end of March 1978.

The number of cattle slaughtered as TB contacts in this period in the counties of Gloucestershire, Avon, Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall was 114.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in figures showing the number of acres of land in the United Kingdom given to oat production in 1960 and 1977, respectively, together with the tonnage of oats imported in those two years.

The areas sown to oats in the United Kingdom in 1960 and 1977, together with United Kingdom production figures and tonnages of oats imported in those two years, are as follows:

	Area sown (acres)	Production (tons)	Imports (tons)
1960	1,969,000	2,058,000	47,000
1977	482,000	788,000	25,000

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many new chemical products were submitted for prior testing and approval under the Government scheme relating to the safe use of chemicals in agriculture and horticulture in each of the last five years; and how many in each year failed to secure such approval.

The pesticides safety precautions scheme, to which the hon. Member refers, is concerned with the clearance not only of particular products but of specific purposes for which they may be used. The following statistics exclude industrial uses of pesticides, for example, for timber preservation, proofing of carpets and so forth.

PESTICIDLS SAFETY PRECAUTIONS SCHEME: DECISIONS REACHED ON APPLICATIONS RECEIVED 1973–77
		Decisions
	Applications received	With drawn	Refused	Clearance granted*
1973	518	1	14	503
1974	504	3	7	494
1975	562	12	12	538
1976	699	5	11	683
1977	847†	3	4	828
* In all years, the majority of clearances were of a restricted nature, e.g. for manufacturers' field trials, for application over a limited area or for use during a limited period.
† Includes 12 applications on which no decision has yet been reached.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the German chemical Hostathion supplied by Hoechst (UK) Ltd. for use on oil seed rape has received prior approval under the Government scheme relating to the safe use of chemicals in agriculture and horticulture; if so, on what date it was submitted for approval; where trials took place; when it received clearance; and if he will list any restrictions which may have been placed upon its use.

Clearance for ground spraying of this crop with this product was granted on 1st June 1977, following receipt of an application by the company dated 25th February 1977. This clearance reflected the experience gained from trials on related crops both in the United Kingdom, notably in Bedfordshire, and in Western Germany. The prescribed safeguards took in the existing legal obligation on those handling the concentrated product to wear the appropriate protective clothing, and included labelling requirements drawing attention to risks to animals, fish, bees and wild life generally.For aerial spraying, the company's related application was dated 28th January 1977, but no comparable general clearance was granted for this. Limited clearance, confined to one season and to a maximum of 1,000 hectares, was granted on 18th March 1977 under the special regulations governing aerial spraying, and this was subject to a condition that spraying should be carried out at the green bud stage or after flowering. In the light of experience with this restricted operation, a similar limited clearance was granted on 12th May 1978 for a further season and a maximum of 5,000 hectares; but this was subsequently withdrawn in the circumstances described in the reply given to the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Kimball) on 4th July 1978.—[Vol. 953, c.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his talks in Norway.

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

asked the Attorney-General (1) what revenue has arisen from Land Registry fees for first registrations of residential property in England and Wales in each year for the last 10 years;

Separate statistics for Land Registry fees in respect of residential and non-residential property and in respect of particular localities are not available. The approximate amounts of fees during the last 10 years attributable to first registrations and other registrations are as follows:

	First registrations	Other registrations
	£	£
1968–69	1,149,000	4,367,000
1969–70	1,171,000	4,481,000
1970–71	1,621,000	6,253,000
1971–72	2,388,000	9,211,000
1972–73	3,426,000	13,217,000
1973–74	3,371,000	11,436,000
1974–75	2,946,000	9,581,000
1975–76	4,057,000	13,192,000
1976–77	4,720,000	15,568,000
1977–78	6,342,000	21,213,000
Total	31,191,000	108,519,000

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he did not list Botleys Park Hospital in his reply to the question by the hon. Member for Woking on 27th June concerning hospitals where the admission of patients is currently limited as the result of industrial action.

I regret that the industrial action at Botleys Park Hospital was not included in the list in my reply to the hon. Member on 27th June.—[Vol. 952, c. 537–8.] The industrial action at Botleys Park affecting admissions for long-term care has. unhappily. persisted since September 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has made with regard to improving access to shops for disabled people and if he will make a statement.

There has been growing understanding among individual retailers of the importance of making their premises accessible to disabled people. In support of the campaign of the Silver Jubilee Committee on Improving Access for Disabled People, which I set up last year, I recently suggested to the Retail Consortium a number of specific steps which retailers might be encouraged to take to facilitate shopping by disabled people. The consortium's initial response has been extremely positive and encouraging. It has arranged for my proposals to be considered in detail by retail trade associations and has also made certain very helpful suggestions itself.In acknowledgement of my hon. Friend's keen interest in this matter, both personally and as chairman of the all-party disablement group, I am sending him copies of the correspondence.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations his Department has made to Mecca Limited about the exclusion of disabled people from its dance halls; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has been in contact with Mecca Limited on several occasions. This contact has arisen from a number of cases where disabled people have made specific allegations of discrimination. Strong representations about the effect of the company's policies have also been made to the Silver Jubilee Committee on Improving Access for the Disabled. I have recently corresponded with the chairman of the company about the humiliation and frustration experienced by disabled people who are subject to unreasonable limitations on their freedom of action. He is now fully aware of my views. I shall be continuing to do all I possibly can to persuade organisations providing social facilities of all kinds to allow equal access for disabled people.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the figures for the number of employees in the National Health Service for the whole of the United Kingdom, dividing the employees into qualified medical personnel, nurses, ancillary hospital staff and administration personnel, stating the figures as at 30th September 1974 and at the latest available date.

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to my reply to the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Clark) on 22nd June.—[Vol. 952, c. 297–8.] My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are responsible for Health Services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many patients electroconvulsive therapy treatment has been used in Coney Hill hospital, Gloucestershire.

Approximately, 3,750 patients have received electroconvulsive therapy treatment at Coney Hill Hospital, Gloucester, in the three years, but precise figures are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which hospitals in Gloucestershire use electroconvulsive therapy treatment.

Coney Hill Hospital, Gloucester and Day Hospital, Highworth House, Cheltenham.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if there is any monitoring by his Department of the use of electroconvulsive therapy treatment in United Kingdom hospitals.(2) if his Department keeps statistics on the use on electroconvulsive therapy treatment in United Kingdom hospitals.

I refer my hon. Friend to my replies to my hon. Friend the Member for Paddington (Mr. Latham) on 18th April and my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, West (Miss Boothroyd) and the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Smith) on 13th June.—[Vol. 951, c. 427–8.] I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the memorandum referred to. I have very recently received from the Royal College of Psychiatrists a proposal for a research investigation into the present use of electroconvulsive therapy in England, and I am now considering it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive statistics on the waiting lists for hospital in-patient admissions for traumatic and orthopaedic surgery for 31st December 1977 and 31st March 1978. respectively.

Statistics for 31st December 1977 should be available to me within the next few weeks. Those for 31st March 1978 should be available not long afterwards.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ask the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to consider whether there are any restrictions in the terms of the present schedule of prescribed diseases which might be removed and whether a system of individual proof might be introduced in addition to the schedule as a basis for providing coverage for occupational diseases.

Having regard to the report of the Royal Commission on Civil Liability and Compensation for Personal Injury—in particular, recommendations 88 and 89—my right hon. Friend has asked the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council

"to consider, in respect of the diseases prescribed in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) Regulations 1975 (S.I., 1975, No. 1537, as amended) whether, in the light of experience and of advances in knowledge, adjustments should be made in the terms of their prescription; to consider whether, in addition to compensating the diseases listed in the Schedule, compensation should be extended to any individual claimant who can show that his disease is occupational in origin and a particular risk of his occupation; and to report".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision he is making to assist people suffering from speech disorders following strokes or other incidents; and whether he is satisfied that the needs of all these patients are being met.

Good progress has been made in moving towards the 20-year target for Great Britain of 2,500 speech thereapists—whole-time equivalent—recommended in the 1972 Quirk report on speech therapy services. Numbers have grown from about 800 in 1972 to about 1,430 in 1976, the latest available figure, but we are still some way from being able to meet all the needs of patients. The development of speech therapy, as with all other aspects of rehabilitation, remains a priority area for development.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update, in line with recent tax and benefit

TABLE 1. SINGLE PERSON: RENT £5·30; RATES £1·95; WORK EXPENSES £2·10
Employed
Normal earnings				Tax	N.I.	Rent rebate	Rate rebate	Net weekly spending power
£	…	…	…	£	£	£	£	£
30	…	…	…	2·77	1·64	2·37	0·88	19·49
35	…	…	…	4·15	1·84	1·52	0·58	21·76
45	…	…	…	7·45	2·24	—	—	25·96
55	…	…	…	10·75	2·64	—	—	32·26
65	…	…	…	14·05	3·04	—	—	38·56
75	…	…	…	17·35	3·44	—	—	44·86
85	…	…	…	20·65	3·84	—	—	51·16
95	…	…	…	23·95	4·24	—	—	57·46
105	…	…	…	27·25	4·64	—	—	63·76

Unemployed (weeks 3–28)
Former earnings								U.B.	Rent rebate	Rate rebate	Net weekly spending power
£	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	£	£	£	£
30	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	19·17	4·70	1·66	18·28
35	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	20·49	4·37	1·55	19·16
45	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	21·82	4·04	1·44	20·05
55	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	23·14	3·71	1·34	20·94
65	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	24·46	3·38	1·23	21·82
75	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	25·78	3·09	1·14	22·76
85	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	27·10	2·87	1·06	23·78
95	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	28·42	2·64	0·98	24·79
105	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	29·74	2·42	0·90	25·81

Employed
TABLE 2. MARRIED COUPLE: RENT £5·30; RATES £1·9 WORK EXPENSES £2·10
Normal earnings						Tax	N·I·	Rent rebate	Rate rebate	Net weekly spending power
£	…	…	…	…	…	£	£	£	£	£
30	…	…	…	…	…	0·12	1·64	4·74	1·67	25·30
35	…	…	…	…	…	1·37	1·84	3·49	1·27	27·20
45	…	…	…	…	…	3·96	2·24	1·69	0·64	31·78
55	…	…	…	…	…	7·26	2·64	—	—	35·75
65	…	…	…	…	…	10·56	3·04	—	—	42·05
75	…	…	…	…	…	13·86	3·44	—	—	48·35
85	…	…	…	…	…	17·16	3·84	—	—	54·66
95	…	…	…	…	…	20·46	4·24	—	—	60·95
105	…	…	…	…	…	23·76	4·64	—	—	67·25

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 30th June 1978; Vol. 952, c. 698–9], gave the following additional information: