asked the Lord President of the Council if he will name the similar occupational groups referred to in his Written Answer, Official Report, 3rd July, column 13, on Members (Mortality).

The similar occupational groups referred to are those with whom Members are grouped for census purposes. They are broadly those of a professional, administrative or managerial nature. Examples include lawyers, accountants, teachers, senior civil servants and local government officials, and persons employed in senior managerial positions in industry or commerce.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many staff were employed in the Library in each of the last 10 years; how many were accommodated, respectively, in each year in (a) the precincts, and (b) the parliamentary buildings; of those in the precincts how many were accommodated in the main Library rooms, single rooms, double rooms, treble rooms and rooms accommodating four, five and six or more staff, respectively; and what other accommodation in the precincts is currently occupied by Library staff and equipment other than solely for book and document storage.

The information is being collected and I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what recent progress has been made in participation negotiations with companies involved in North Sea oil development.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th March 1978; Vol. 945, c. 771], gave the following further information:I have today signed a fully termed participation agreement with ICI which gives BNOC the right to take at market price up to 51 per cent. of the company's share of Ninian petroleum, including production by way of the Ninian central platform from any other field. Under voting arrangements being secured through a separate agreement with the Ninian partners, BNOC also obtains a share of the voting rights in respect of ICI's interest in Ninian.There will be full consultations on a regular basis between Her Majesty's Government, advised by BNOC under section 3(3) of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act 1975, and ICI Petroleum Ltd. which is responsible for ICI's petroleum interests.BNOC has entered, simultaneously, into a fixed-term supply agreement with ICI under which BNOC will make available selected crudes to assist in meeting ICI's needs for naphtha as chemical feedstock.An extended summary of the agreements is being placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what action he has taken since the 1976 report on electrical fatalities in the home to encourage the domestic use of earth leakage circuit breakers; and if he will make a statement.

The Department of Energy examines the reports on dangerous occurrences which are required by statute from the electricity boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many gas explosions causing fatality or at least £100 worth of damage occurred in 1977–78.

I am informed that the provisional total is 99.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether, on the implementation of the Boyle Committee's report on top salaries, or any amended form thereof, so far as the chairman of the National Coal Board is concerned, he will take steps to advance the wages and salaries of all of those within the service of the National Coal Board on the same basis; and what his estimates would be of the costs involved in these increases to maintain comparability;(2) whether he will give an assurance that, on the Government implementing the Boyle report on top salaries so far as it affects top-paid chairmen of the nationalised industries falling within his ministerial responsibility or any amended form of this report, the other staff and employees within these 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 only covers the four groups within its standing remit and it would be inappropriate to extend its recommendations further.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the United Kingdom steel industries' requirements of coking coal over the next 10 to 20 years, bearing in mind the use of natural gas for the direct reduction of iron ore and the advance in steel making technology.

I have been asked to reply.This is a matter for the British Steel Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the 1976 figures in tonnes for steel production per capita, respectively for Belgium and Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia, Japan, West Germany, the Soviet Union, Canada, the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

Following are the figures:

Crude Steel Production in 1976
	tonnes per capita (a)
Belgium and Luxembourg	1·6
Czechoslovakia	1·0
Japan	1·0
West Germany	0·7
Soviet Union	0·6
Canada	0·5
United States of America	0·5
United Kingdom	0·4

NOTE: (

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what annual level of steel production over the next five years is envisaged under the Davignon Plan for (a) the British Steel Corporation and (b) the private sector of the steel industry in the United Kingdom.

My Department has had preliminary talks with the EEC Commission about demand forecasts which the Commission has prepared as part of its revised general objectives for the Community steel industry. These forecasts relate to the Community as a whole and are not divided between different countries or producers.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects next to have a meeting with the chairman of the British Steel Corporation.

On 17th July 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what measures the Government are planning to improve the level of output per man in British industry.

An improvement in productivity is a central objective of the Government's industrial strategy programme. Sector working parties are currently examining ways of improving company performance, and securing action at company level.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is in a position to make a statement about his recent talks with overseas manufacturers on collaborative aircraft projects.

I have nothing to add to the statement that I made in the House on 22nd May concerning the discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the latest estimate for all grants paid to the private industrial sector by his Department and the total number of firms receiving taxpayers' money since March 1974.

Between March 1974 and March 1978 grants and subsidies paid by my Department to the private sector amounted to about £1,814 million at 1977 survey prices, including forecast expenditure of £363 million in 1977–78. Records are not kept of the number of firms receiving financial assistance. It is only since 1974 that assistance to individual firms has been published, in the Department of Industry journal Trade and Industry. Prior to this the information was held to be confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what discussions have been held with the textile fibres industry concerning the proposals of the Com- mission for capacity limitation and market sharing throughout the European Community and if he will make a statement.

The Commission has not so far put any proposals to member States for endorsement of the arrangements agreed by the fibre producers.There have been discussions about these arrangements in the Man-Made Fibre Production Sector Working Party, which includes representatives of management, unions and Government.The United Kingdom producers who are parties to the arrangements have also been in discussion with the Department of Industry and the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he plans next to meet Commissioner Davignon to discuss common problems affecting the principal sectors of manufacturing industry in the Community and the United Kingdom.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what proposals he has for making additional resources available to the National Enterprise Board.

On 10th April the House approved an order increasing the Board's financial limit to £1,000 million. Parliamentary approval for further sums will be sought when they are needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he last met the chairman of the National Enterprise Board.

On 28th June 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he anticipates that the reports of the Central Policy Review Staff and Advisory Council for Applied Research and Development on micro-electronics will be completed and whether he will make a statement on the report of the National Economic Development Organisation working party on the micro-electronics industry, in particular the recommendation that the British Government should provide funds to help promote a stronger technological base in that industry.

The studies by the Advisory Council for Applied Research and Development of applications of micro, electronics and of the social, educational and manpower implications of new technologies, should be completed by the autumn. The Central Policy Review Staff will follow up this work within Government. I intend to announce shortly a programme of support for micro-electronics which will be closely in line with the recommendations of the NEDO Electronic Components Sector Working Party. The NEB is also planning to invest in the development of a United Kingdom industry in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he last met the chairman of the British Aerospace corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he last met the chairman of British Aerospace.

My right hon. Friend last met Lord Beswick on 19th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement on the progress of the British aircraft industry since nationalisation.

I am very satisfied with the progress of British Aerospace since nationalisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied with the level of investment in British industry.

:I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the earlier Question from the hon. Member for Leek (Mr. Knox).

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how far his Department monitors the current level of investment in manufacturing industry.

My Department collects and publishes quarterly information on the level of investment in manufacturing industry. Three times a year it conducts an inquiry into manufacturers' investment intentions up to two years ahead and publishes the results.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he will next meet the chairman of the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he intends next to meet the chairman of the Post Office Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he next expects to have a meeting with the chairman of the Post Office.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer my right hon Friend gave earlier today to the hon Member for Romford (Mr. Neubert).

asked the Secretary of State for Industry with which bodies discussions are proceeding on the Carter report.

The Government have had discussions with the main interested parties including the Post Office, the Post Office unions and the Post Office Users' National Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has studied the report on the future of the United Kingdom electronic components industry published by Mullard Ltd., a copy of which has been sent him; and whether he will make a statement on the action he proposes to take to help the industry to overcome the problems outlined in it.

Over the past four years the Government have been engaged in an evolving programme for the protection and promotion of the British electronic components industry. The Government have negotiated quotas and supported inter-industry talks, as appropriate, and Government financial assistance to the industry, including Mullard itself, has been steadily increasing.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with industrial development in the regions; and if he will make a statement.

The worst world recession since the 1930s obviously limits the scope for promoting industrial development whether in the assisted areas or elsewhere, but the Government's regional policies have undoubtedly helped substantially to maintain investment and employment and assisted in moderating the effects of the recession and likely damage caused by unrestrained market forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much money has been advanced to industrial co-operatives since February 1974; and what repayment of interest has been received from these ventures.

Records of assistance do not distinguish between co-operatives and other organisations and the information is therefore not available in the form requested. Of £11·4 million advanced since February 1974 to co-operatives as rescue assistance under sections 7 and 8 of the Industry Act 1972, £5·5 million was in the form of loan assistance.Interest payments received to date total £131,000. Under the Industrial Common Ownership Act 1976, grants have been made to Industrial Common Ownership Finance Ltd., to enable them to make loans totalling £33,500 to five co-operatives. No payments of interest are due yet on these loans.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he last met the board of Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd.

My right hon. Friend meets the chairman and other members of the board of Rolls-Royce Limited when the need arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what research is being undertaken to find a satisfactory dispersant capable of dealing adequately with spills of heavy oil such as occurred after the "Eleni V" disaster.

Research on dispersants at the Warren Spring Laboratory is aimed at improving the effectiveness of their use on all types of oil spills. This research is undertaken in close collaboration with relevant industrial interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what conditions within the British aerospace industry make it advisable for the Government to seek the contracting with American aviation companies, such as McDonnell Douglas, in the construction of new airliners for British Airways.

It is generally accepted that major new civil aircraft projects must be collaborative, partly for financial reasons and partly in order to gain access to wider markets. British Aerospace is therefore exploring collaborative possibilities, both in Europe and the United States.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what further action has been taken by the Government to assist small businesses in the South-West in their difficulties following the recent letter to the Prime Minister on 28th February 1978 and the deputation to the Secretary of State for the Environment.

The following measures of particular benefit to small businesses in all regions of the United Kingdom including the South-West were announced in the Chancellor's Budget Statement on 11th April 1978:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied that the investment of £27 million of public money by the six research establishments of his Department has resulted in a comparable return in the value of goods produced in Great Britain.

Of the total expenditure of approximately £27 million by the establishments in 1977–78, £6 million was devoted to work on standards and specifications of national importance and £5 million was for work contracted by other Government Departments for regulatory and planning purposes. Of the remaining £16 million spent in direct support of the industrial strategy £4 million was paid for by industry itself, leaving a net charge of £12 million on my Department's Vote.I am satisfied that the net cost is justified by the improvement in quality, the reduction in manufacturing costs and the increased export opportunities for goods manufactured in this country. Some specific examples of the contributions by the establishments in these areas are given in the publication "Research Establishments Review 1978" recently issued by my Department. I am arranging to have a copy be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list in the Official Report the salient activities of the "Invest in Britain" Bureau of his Department in its efforts to encourage investment in British manufacturing industries from the Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany, and Italy for each of the last four years.

The principal individual events were:1.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations he is making about the major loophole in the Multi-Fibre Arrangement arising from the fact that capital-intensive knitting of goods is carried out in EEC member States while the labour-intensive making up of these goods is carried out in such places as East Germany, Yugoslavia and Tunisia, and that such outward processed goods returning to other member States do not count against quotas and are being allowed to circulate freely into the United Kingdom without deduction from quotas, whereas outward processed goods entering the United Kingdom direct do count against such quotas.

Arrangements exist for keeping the volume of EEC trade in outward processed goods under control. Most member States operate a control system for such trade which in many cases is kept within special quotas set aside for that purpose. For the most sensitive products, quotas form part of the global ceilings and outward processed goods which are not set off against special quotas must be counted against quotas for direct trade. Because the United Kingdom has no control system for outward processed trade United Kingdom imports of outward processed goods from third countries are counted against quotas for direct trade. Control of non-EEC goods consigned to the United Kingdom from other member States can be exercised through appeals against free circulation under article 115 of the Treaty of Rome.I am, however, pressing for—and the EEC Commission has undertaken to prepare—a Community outward processing regime, which would allow individual member States a greater influence over trade in outward processed goods in the Community as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry to what extent his monitoring of the operation of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement reveals imports of textiles to the United Kingdom in excess of formal quotas; and what action he is taking to eliminate breaches of control arrangements.

Formal quotas in the MFA bilateral agreements are strictly enforced through a licensing system under which the Department of Trade issues import licences up to—but not exceeding—the quota, against export certificates produced by supplying countries. Import statistics can be a misleading indication of quota usage since they include goods shipped in 1977 which cleared customs after the end of that year and goods imported for re-export which are not counted against quota. I know of no breaches of the control arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what estimates his Department has made of the proportion of industrial investment projects receiving aid under the selective investment scheme which would not have proceeded at all without State aid and the proportion which have merely been brought forward in time.

Appraisal of the 75 projects approved under the selective investment scheme by 30th June 1978 indicated that 26 projects would probably not have been implemented at all, or not in the United Kingdom. The remaining 49 projects would probably have been implemented significantly later and/or on an appreciably reduced scale. Paragraphs 3 and 4 of the guidance note on the scheme make it clear that only projects that will not take place—in relation to their nature, timing or scale—in the absence of assistance will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he estimates that there will be a fall in the real rate of return for commercial and industrial companies in the United Kingdom during 1978.

There is not yet sufficient information available on which to base a reliable estimate and it is not the practice to publish forecasts of rates of return.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will describe the main functions of the industrial development unit in his Department, especially in relation to the industrial strategy.

The industrial development unit is concerned with selective financial assistance to industry and provides the secretariat for the Industrial Development Advisory Board. The unit appraises major applications for selective assistance under the Industry Act 1972; all applications are examined individually in their industrial context and against the aims of the Government's industrial strategy.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if persons seconded to the industrial development unit in his Department are employed as civil servants and are subject to the usual rules of Civil Service employment, such as restrictions on employment in the area of industry in which their official duties were centred.

Those who are seconded to the industrial development unit are in general subject to Civil Service rules. The normal expectation is that they will return to their parent employer on completion of the period of secondment. If they contemplate taking employment elsewhere they are expected to consult the Department and the Department would have in mind the degree of contact, if any, between the individual in his official duties and the potential employer.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, if he will make a statement on the EEC Commission's proposal to form a cartel for synthetic fibres; and when the Council of Ministers will discuss this matter.

The Commmission has not so far put any proposals to the Council for endorsement of the arrangements agreed by EEC synthetic fibre producers. It is, therefore, not possible to say when the matter might be discussed by the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total of grants made for research and development in the field of desalination in the years 1975–76, 1976–77 and 1977–78; and what is to be the projected grant for 1979.

The Department of Industry has supported research and development in the field of desalination since 1965 by funding programmes at UKAEA establishments. The cost to the Department of such programmes in 1975–76, 1976–77 and 1977–78 was £51,000, £26,000 and £4,000 respectively. No programmes have been submitted for departmental funding in 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make representations to the chairman of the Post Office with a view to arranging as soon as possible that there should be user representation, similar to that arranged for the United States delegation, on the official United Kingdom delegation to the Central Council for International Telephones and Telecommunications.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee, an organ of the International Telecommunication Union. A number of United Kingdom firms with user interests are already members of this committee. I am not aware of any special arrangements being made by the United States in this field but if the hon. Member has any details, perhaps he will write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if any structural cracking, other than the wing cracks reported in March, has been detected in Concorde aircraft;(2) how many hours of flying had been logged by each Concorde with wing cracks before these were discovered.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress has been made in the investigation announced in March into the causes of cracking in the wings of Concorde aircraft.

The cracks, which are similar to those found on many types of aircraft, are very small and pose no threat to aircraft safety. A number of possible causes have been investigated and eliminated, and tests continue. Meanwhile, action has been taken to strengthen the wing structures on all British Airways and Air France aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the delay in securing permission for Concorde to be flown by American operators is due to wing cracks found in the aircraft.

There has been no delay. United States certification of Concorde has been linked by the Administration to the proposed noise rule for supersonic transport aircraft. This has only recently been promulgated, and the type certificate is expected to follow shortly. The cracks do not affect the airworthiness of Concorde.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the wing cracks found in Concorde are a French or a British responsibility.

The Concorde wing is a French design and manufacturing responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the employment of any departmental official by a company represented on the Department's industrial development advisory board.

Those serving on the Department's industrial development advisory board do so in their personal capacity and not as representatives of any organisation.A member of the staff of my Department who wished on retirement or resignation to take up employment with a company with whom a member of the board is associated would need to seek departmental approval in accordance with the normal rules.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in view of the fact that the postal services are becoming less efficient, he will dismiss the chairman of the Post Office Corporation.

No. Nor do I accept the premise of my hon. Friend's Question.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what response Her Majesty's Government are making to the recent appeal by the International Committee of the Red Cross for immediate humanitarian relief in Zaire.

We have agreed, subject to approval by Parliament to make an immediate contribution of £30,000 to this appeal. Parliamentary approval will be sought in the winter Supplementary Estimates for the overseas aid Vote. Pending that approval the necessary expenditure will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what system is currently in force for the monitoring of the expenditure of British Government aid to the front-line States in Africa.

All expenditure under the aid programme is carefully controlled and monitored. The arrangements apply to aid to these States in the same way as to aid elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development on what date payments of overseas aid were last made to the front-line States in Africa; and what was the value of these sums.

The dates and amounts of the latest payments under capital aid agreements with the front-line States of Africa were as follows:

Botswana, 29th March 1978	£1,960,000
Mozambique, 19th June 1978	£185,000
Tanzania, 21st June 1978	£380,000
Zambia, 30th June 1978	£70,000

A large proportion of aid funds provided by my Ministry is paid direct by the Crown Agents to British suppliers of goods and services for developmental purposes. Other payments are made to overseas Governments to meet agreed expenditure which they have incurred.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the current scales of fees payable to counsel in respect of work done under the legal aid scheme and for prosecuting authorities was adopted and when he expects new scales to be adopted.

Maximum fees payable to counsel for criminal legal aid work are prescribed in the schedule to the Legal Aid in Criminal Proceedings (Fees and Expenses) Regulations 1968. Those regulations contain a provision that the prescribed maxima should not apply if, for a variety of specified reasons, they would not provide fair remuneration for work actually and reasonably done. I have no present intention of amending the schedule. I do not prescribe scales of fees for counsel engaged in prosecutions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people detained as illegal entrants are detained because they did not present themselves to an immigration officer; and how many there are who were given leave to enter but are alleged to have obtained it by deception.

This information is not readily available centrally, but I am arranging for it to be compiled from operational records and I will then write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has given any guidance to either the Metropolitan Police or to any other police authority with regard to the granting of historic market day licence extensions.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the granting of exemption orders under section 74(1) and (4) of the Licensing Act 1964. The power to make such orders is exercised in the Metropolitan Police district by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, acting with my approval; in the City of London, by the Commissioner of Police for the City, acting with the approval of the Lord Mayor; elsewhere in England and Wales, by the licensing justices.I have not had occasion to give the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis any general guidance on the exercise of the powers conferred by section 74, and I have no responsibility in regard to the exercise of those powers elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to publish the Green Paper on young adult offenders.

I hope to publish a consultation document in the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to implement the provision of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969, involving the phasing out of borstals and detention centres for juveniles.

Implementation of these provisions remains the aim of the Government, but it would be neither practicable, nor in the interests of justice or of the young people themselves, to withdraw from the courts the power to make borstal and detention centre orders in respect of the juvenile offenders, until satisfactory alternative facilities have been developed.

asked the Attorney-General on how many occasions in the last 30 days Her Majesty's judges sitting in London have found themselves at the sitting of the court without a court in which to sit; and what proposals he has for remedying the shortage of court accommodation at the High Court.

During the 30 sitting days up to the end of June 1978 there were six occasions when a High Court judge could not be listed as sitting in a particular court. On each occasion, a courtroom or suitable temporary accommodation was quickly found. Consideration is currently being given to a reallocation of office accommodation within the Royal Courts of Justice with the aim of providing four sets of chambers for family division work and thus releasing four courtrooms for general use.

asked the Attorney-General what has been the yield from charges connected with conveyancing to the land charges registry in the last 10 years.

The total amount of fees received in the land charges department of Her Majesty's Land Registry in the last 10 years is £11,029,000.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is his latest estimate of the total number of civil servants currently employed by the central Government in Wales.

There were 40,700 industrial and non-industrial civil servants in post in Wales on 1st January 1978, the latest date for which figures are available. Part-time stall are counted as half-units.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the total number of paid public appointments made by Ministers in each of the last four years as recorded in the Directory of Paid Public Appointments made by Ministers; and what was the total cost to the public purse of these appointments in each of these years.

This information is not maintained centrally and could only be compiled at disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, further to the reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West on 30th June, whether all parliamentary papers are published simultaneously throughout the United Kingdom, including Scotland, where time and security considerations permit; and, if not, on what criteria he decides the number of places from which the papers will be issued.

Simultaneous publication of important parliamentary papers at all Government bookshops is arranged by Her Majesty's Stationery Office whenever it is practicable and the departmental Minister concerned considers it to be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussion she has had with the Humberside County Council concerning the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement about taking advantage of the EEC subsidy for school milk; and if she will make a statement.

A letter was sent in May to every local education authority explaining that free milk could be provided to junior children in 1978–79 at no cost to the authority and that thereafter estimated expenditure, net of the EEC subsidy, would form part of relevant expenditure for rate support grant pur- poses. It is now for individual authorities to decide whether to take advantage of these arrangements which in my view represent exceptionally good value for money. I understand that Humberside will be considering the matter on 13th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of the gross national product was spent on education in the United Kingdom; and from information available from international sources what the comparable figure was in each of the other member countries of the European Economic Community.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mr. Dempsey) on 15th May.—[Vol. 950, c. 9–10.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list in the Official Report the main salary scales, top and bottom points, of technicians employed by (a) universities and (b) polytechnics.

The current scales are as follows:

Universities: scales from 1st October 1977
Grade	Minimum	Maximum
	£	£
1	2,193	2,499
2	2,364	2,880
3	2,688	3,060
4	2,955	3,402
5	3,186	3,720
6	3,654	4,365
7	4,254	4,782
8	4,746	6,036

Polytechnics: rates of pay from 1st July 1977*
Grade	Minimum	Maximum
	£	£
1	1,657	2,983
2	2,983	3,323
3	3,396	3,773
4	3,862	4,215
5	4,344	4,615
* The figures represent the scales effective from 1st July 1975 plus the phase 1 and phase 2 pay supplements.

In general, technicians at polytechnics engaged in degree level work are on grade 2 or above.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many registered blind children will be leaving school in the current year in the Birmingham area; and how many there were in 1977.

Three in 1977, and four in 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is considering the setting up of an inquiry into post-school education.

No. Policies in this area are kept under review and my right hon. Friend sees no need for an inquiry.

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

Only the Essex county council, as the local education authority, is concerned with the provision of school transport. My Department has no information about the percentages of schoolchildren in Essex using the various modes of school transport.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many men, how many women and how many children were treated in hospitals in the United Kingdom for accidents caused by lawn-mowers and by hedge-trimmers, respectively, during each of the last 10 years for which records are available.

I regret that this information is not available. During the first 12 months' operation of the home accident surveillance system set up by my Department in January 1977 a total of 60,534 home accidents were recorded by the 20 participating hospitals. Of these 209 involved lawn-mowers and 101 involved hedge-trimmers. Very few of these accidents resulted in in-patient treatment. The analysis for men, women and children is as follows:

	Men	Women	Children under 15
Lawn-mowers	135	48	26
Hedge-trimmers	83	16	2

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will institute a campaign to warn users of lawn-mowers and of hedge-trimmers, respectively, of the courses which should be taken to avoid accidents when using this equipment.

My Department will keep the need for publicity on the safe use of lawn-mowers and hedge-trimmers in mind when considering its future home safety publicity programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will make a statement on the operation of the regulations concerning credit reference agencies which came into force in May 1977 under the Consumer Credit Act, with particular reference to the estimated numbers of persons wishing to establish information held on them by agencies, the resulting correction of records and the general nature of inquiries and complaints from the public.

In general, the regulations appear to be working well and the volume of complaints has been relatively small. No comprehensive figures of persons seeking copies of or corrections to information on them are available. Two large agencies received between them over 14,000 requests by individuals for information from May 1977 to date. The majority of inquiries received by the Office of Fair Trading and the Department since May 1977 have been requests for guidance as to the consumer's rights under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. There have been suggestions that consumers should be entitled to know creditors' reasons for refusing credit and that records of satisfied debts should be removed from agency files. Some complaints were received that information about one person was coupled with information about another. The Director-General of Fair Trading is keeping the working of the regulations under active scrutiny.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if, in view of the prices being asked by touts for Wimbledon tickets, he will refer to the Price Commission the question of the sale of tickets for entertainments and sporting events at above face value.

My right hon. Friend does not regard this as suitable for examination by the Price Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what study he has made of the evidence supplied to him of proposals to limit touting of tickets for sporting and entertainment events; if he will now take steps to introduce these or similar proposals; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has not yet seen any proposals which appear to deal satisfactorily with the problem of ticket touting. However, where event organisers impose an appropriate condition of sale on their tickets, I very much hope they will take suitable action where the condition is not observed.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will publish a table, in ascending order of magnitude, of (a) the cumulative increases in consumer prices since February 1974, and (b) the cumulative increases in food prices since February 1974 in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Italy, France, West Germany and Japan.

The cumulative increases as requested are given below. The overall figures conceal differing trends over time. The latest annual increases, which are also given, illustrate the marked reduction in the rate of increase for the United Kingdom relative to that for other countries. The comparisons of increases in food prices are further complicated in that the inclusion of alcoholic drinks and tobacco varies between countries.

CONSUMER PRICES
	Percentage increase
	February 1974-April 197	Latest 12 months April 1977-April 1978)
West Germany	20·3	2·9
United States of America	35·2	6·5
Canada	43·5	8·4
Japan	44·9	3·9
France	51·4	9·0
Italy	91·1*	12·3†
United Kingdom	91·3	7·9
* February 1974-March 1978.
† March 1977-March 1978.

FOOD PRICES
	Percentage increase
	February 1974—April 1978	Latest 12 months (April 1977—April 1978)
West Germany*†	20·4	1·8
United States pf America	30·4	7·7
Japan	44·9	3·4
Canada	47·9	14·7
France*	57·4	10·3
United Kingdom	99·8	6·3
Italy	109·3‡	13·8§
* Includes beverages.
†Includes tobacco.
‡February 1974-March 1978.
§ March 1977-March 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many registered blind persons there are in employment in each area of the United Kingdom at the latest date for which this information is available;(2) if he will publish in the

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that it does not maintain records about the number of blind people, or other disabled people, employed in particular occupations. However, the Department of Health and Social Security, the Scottish Home and Health Department, the Welsh Office and Northern Ireland Office have in the past maintained such records, compiled from information provided by local authorities. This was never precisely accurate, as it is impossible to find out how many blind people are actually employed and what jobs they are doing at any given date. For this reason, and

Occupational groups of employed blind people							England (March 1977)	Scotland (December 1974)	Wales (March 1977)	Northern Ireland (July 1978)
Professional, technical, administrative, managerial	…	…	…	…	…	…	939	114	39	8
Clerical, typists, telephone operators					…	…	1.333	166	57	24
Sales representatives, shop assistants, collectors							274	46	19	2
Agricultural and horticulture				…	…	…	212	15	17	—
Engineering: fitters, assemblers, operators						…	1,030	46	54	26
Machine operators, minders (other than engineering)	…	…	…	…	…	…	219	—	16	—
Store and warehouse workers, packers					…	…	489	—	16	—
Carpenters and joiners			…	…	…	…	67	36	1	—
Knitters (hand and machine), weavers and net makers	…	…	…	…	…	…	165	—	10	—
Upholsterers, machinists (bedding), mattress makers	…	…	…	…	…	…	127	131	4	18
Basket, mat and brush makers				…	…	…	640	111	74	34
Chair seat makers		…	…	…	…	…	67	—	4	—
Wireworkers		…	…	…	…	…	46	64	2	19
Boot and shoe repairers			…	…	…	…	24	—	4	—
Piano tuners		…	…	…	…	…	216	—	6	—
Other craftsmen and process workers					…	…	262	101	27	—
Labourers (not included elsewhere)					…	…	342	59	21	—
Domestic and canteen workers				…	…	…	353	—	12	—
Launderers and dry cleaners				…	…	…	46	—	—	—
Other workers (not classified elsewhere)						…	547	—	33	—
TOTALS		…	…	…	…	…	7,398	889	416	131

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will estimate the proportion of the working population employed in firms employing 25 people or less.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing, for a married man with two children, earning average male earnings in the relevant year, and after taking into account income tax liability and national insurance contributions, the length of time, approximately, he would have had to work in order to pay for the following items in 1945, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1959, 1964, 1966,

For a married man with two children under the age of 11 and with gross weekly earnings (a) equal to the average for all full-time manual men after deductions for income tax and national insurance contributions, the approximate figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the percentage share of total registered unemployment in the EEC and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development attributable to the United Kingdom for each year since 1960, and any earlier years for which data is available, including his estimate for the latest period in 1978; and if he will provide comparable figures for male unemployment.

The table below gives the available information based on data published by the statistical office of the European Communities. However, the coverage and definition of registered unemployed may vary significantly between countries and over time and the following percentages should be regarded as only an approximate indicator of the United Kingdom share in unemployment in the EEC.

PERCENTAGE OF REGISTERED UNEMPLOYED IN THE EEC (CURRENT MEMBERSHIP) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE UNITED KINGDOM
	Total	Males
1950	8	8
1955	7	7
1958	13	13
1960	15	15
1961	16	16
1962	23	24
1963	26	28
1964	21	23
1965	18	18
1966	18	20
1967	22	24
1968	24	27
1969	28	32
1970	29	34
1971	31	36
1972	31	36
1973	24	30
1974	20	26
1975	21	26
1976	26	32
1977	26	32
January to May 1978	25	30

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what redundancies have been notified to his Department by Lewis Offshore Ltd. in the Western Isles; and if he will make a statement.

On 3rd April 1978 the company notified my Department of 294 proposed dismissals, to take effect on 29th June 1978. The company was advised about the temporary employment subsidy, which is designed to avert redundancy, but it was decided that the scheme would not help in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is taking any further steps to help prevent redundancies taking place at Otis Elevator, Kirkby.

My officials are in touch with the company, which is already in receipt of temporary employment subsidy; at this stage no further assistance is being sought by the firm.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why the statistics given to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury on 4th July were 18 months old at the time of presentation to the House; and what steps he is taking to see that such statistics given to the House are reasonably up to date.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will arrange for a report to be published listing the recommendations made by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service so that precedents and case law can be established.

In accordance with the requirements of the Employment Protection Act 1975, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service produces annual reports which are submitted to me, laid before Parliament and published. Appendices to the reports for 1976 and 1977 give short summaries of the reports on recognition references issued by the service during the years in question. Copies of the reports on individual recognition references are available from the service.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table, in ascending order of magnitude, of the percentage decrease or increase in total employees in employment since February 1974 in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Italy, France, West Germany and Japan.

The latest data available for all countries are given in the table below. Owing to differences in national definitions and methods of compilation, the figures given are not fully comparable.

Employees in civilian employment: Percentage change from the first quarter of 1974 to the fourth quarter of 1976 (a)
Canada	+7·9
Italy	+3·6
Japan	+3·6
USA	+2·1(b)
France	+0·6
United Kingdom	-0·4
West Germany	-4·6

Sources: OECD Labour Force StatisticsDepartment of Employment GazetteNOTES(

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of male full-time workers and what percentage of female full-time workers earn less than (a) £45 per week, (b) £50 per week, and (c) £60 per week in the following areas: South-East England, Greater London, East Anglia, South-West England, West Midlands, East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside, North-West England, the North of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom as a whole.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.