asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what action he proposes to take in respect of bargain and flash offers.

The promotion of sales by deceptive or misleading claims about the price of goods is an abuse which must be eliminated. The Director General of Fair Trading has made detailed and important proposals on bargain and flash offers which have required careful study. My right hon. Friend will announce shortly the action that he proposes to take.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether the latest figures for the retail price index are consistent with the forecast for inflation which he made on his last visit to Bournemouth.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether the latest figures for the retail price index are consistent with the forecast for inflation which he made in Birmingham on 11th June 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether the latest figures for the retail price index are consistent with the forecast for inflation which he made in Bournemouth on 20th June 1978.

Yes. The inflation rate will settle and remain at or about the then rate—7·9 per cent.—with small increases cancelled out by small reductions from month to month.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is his forecast of the annual rate of inflation by the end of 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is his latest estimate of the annual rate of inflation at the end of 1978.

I expect inflation to remain at or about 8 per cent. for the remainder of 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the latest calculation of price inflation.

The retail prices index has risen by 7·4 per cent. over the year to June.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what action he proposes to take on the level of expenditure on advertising as revealed in the Price Commission report on non-ethical proprietary medicines.

The company referred to in the Price Commission's indication, Optrex Ltd., has stated that it does not propose to increase the prices of its branded eye preparations before the end of this year. My right hon. Friend does not therefore propose to make an order against the company. There were no other matters in report on which an order could have been based. However, the Commission's desire that more information should be made available to the public on unbranded products has been drawn to the attention of the Health Education Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will give the latest six-monthly increase in the Price Commission index expressed at an annual rate.

The increase in the Price Commission index for the six months to June was 6 per cent. expressed at an annual rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will make a statement on the findings of the surrvey of household expenditure on food contained in Food Facts No. 6.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will make a detailed statement and review on the survey report of household expenditure on food contained in Food Facts No. 6.

Compared to the first quarter of 1977, average household expenditure on food rose by 10·1 per cent. Since food prices paid by housewives rose by only 6·2 per cent., the real value of food purchases increases by 3·7 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will make a statement on the response so far to the Government's Green Paper "A Review of Monopolies and Mergers Policy, a Consultative Document".

It is too early for fully considered views, but the Green Paper has already stimulated useful discusison, including the recent discusison at the NEDC.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he proposes to make the cosmetics regulations.

I hope to be in a position to make these regulations very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the latest estimate of the cost of his Department to public funds during the year ending 5th April 1979; and if he will make a statement.

£3·7 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he intends to introduce amending legislation to deal with the safeguard clauses of the Price Code; and if he will make a statement.

As is made clear in paragraph 5 of the consultative document on proposals for changes to the Price Code and to the notification and information order, I am still considering the possibility of amendments to the safeguard regulations but have not yet reached a decision. If I do decide to propose changes, there will, of course, be appropriate consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what has been the increase in the retail price index since February 1974.

93·9 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will give the increase in the retail price index, excluding seasonal foods, over the last six months expressed at an annual rate.

8·9 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will give the increase in food prices since February 1974 to the latest available date.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection by what percentage the retail food price index has increased since the Government took office.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer given today to the hon. Members for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton), Reading, North (Mr. Durant) and Leek (Mr. Knox).

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is his policy on the repricing of goods already on display.

I believe that this practice, which is already contrary to the present Price Code, is an abuse. When the general prohibition in the present Price Code lapses on 31st July, we intend to take specific powers, under the Prices Act 1974, to stop the repricing of articles of food and drink which have been displayed for sale and which are price-marked.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will make a statement on the Price Commission report on footwear.

Consultations with interested parties are in progress. My right hon. Friend will make a statement when these are concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what progress has been made towards introducing legislation to extend the powers of the Central Transport Consultative Committee.

The Government hope to introduce legislation to extend the powers of the Central Transport Consultative Committee as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how often he meets the chairman of the North Thames gas consumers' council.

My right hon. Friend has not met the chairman of the North Thames gas consumers' council, but the Department maintains frequent contact with Sir Christopher Higgins and the council, as, indeed, with all nationalised industry consumer councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will now bring forward the date on which the code of practice of the Hearing Aid Council will prohibit visits to possible clients unless specifically requested.

I have not yet reached a firm decision on when the proposed change should take place, but when doing so I shall certainly take my hon. Friend's view into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he expects to make a statement about product liability in the light of the Pearson committee recommendations.

Product liability is being considered in the context of the report of the Pearson Royal Commission which was published recently. I hope that it will be possible to make a statement in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when next he will meet the chairman of the Price Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he expects next to meet the chairman of the Price Commission.

The chairman of the Price Commission and I meet frequently. As it happens, I shall be meeting the chairman informally tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what progress has been made towards the further extension of unit pricing.

I propose to circulate shortly for consultation further draft orders aimed at extending unit pricing to virtually all fresh and catchweight pre-packed fish, and poultry. Orders already in force cover fresh meat, some fresh fish, fresh fruit and vegetables and most cheese. The programme will be completed when processed meat and pre-packed fruit and vegetables have been dealt with.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he has any plans to take steps to examine the price of bread.

No. The Monopolies and Mergers Commission made a thorough investigation into the supply of flour and bread, and its report was published in July last year. I am not persuaded that a further investigation could be justified at this time.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he is satisfied with the operation of the Office of Fair Trading.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will introduce legislation to seek to limit increases in rents charged to tenants of licensed premises.

No. Landlord and tenant relations in most business premises are covered by the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is responsible, but public houses are excluded from the provisions of this Act. The arrangements for rents of the brewers' tied estate are governed by a code of practice agreed within the industry, which includes arrangements for independent arbitration. General responsibility for the brewing industry lies with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he has yet received the report on charges in motorway service areas.

My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport expect to receive the report shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what plans he has for legislation in the field of prices and consumer affairs.

The Government's legislative programme will be outlined in the Queen's Speech.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will be accompanying the Prime Minister to the Economic Summit in Bonn.

No. If I were to leave for Bonn immediately after the end of Questions, I might just arrive in time to accompany my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on his return.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much of his time is allocated to his duties in respect of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Demands on my time by Duchy matters vary widely from week to week but are always readily accommodated without any prejudice to my other duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made with the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden.

Negotiations on the lease of the premises in which it is proposed to house the Theatre Museum are taking place between the Greater London Council and the Department of the Environment. Planning for the building adaptations is well advanced.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the London borough of Bexley has now been advised by her Department that it is not empowered to continue to employ unqualified persons as teachers in special schools; and if she will make a statement.

The London borough of Bexley local education authority has been advised that, in the Department's view, the continued employment in a special school of an unqualified teacher first appointed after 31st March 1971 is contrary to the provisions in the Handicapped Pupils and Special Schools Regulations 1959 if a qualified teacher is available for appointment. Several months ago the authority appeared to have accepted this view, but it now seems that it has not and has decided not to advertise two posts at present filled by unqualified teachers. My right hon. Friend is considering the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list the objections received to the implementation of a three-tier comprehensive system, as submitted to him by the then Labour Nottinghamshire county council in late August 1976, and publish the reply she received from the director of education of Nottinghamshire county council in answer to these objections at that time; and how these relate to the current submission.

In considering proposals made under section 13 of the Education Act 1944, it has been the practice of successive Secretaries of State not to publish either objections or the comments received from local education authorities. My right hon. Friend considers that this is, on balance, a sound practice as decisions are based on all relevant factors, including professional advice, and not only on a careful examination of objections and authorities' replies. I regret, therefore, that my right hon. Friend does not consider it appropriate to publish correspondence relating to the Nottingham county council's 1976 proposals for secondary reorganisation in Retford.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why, in view of her reply to a question from the hon. Member for Macclesfield on 7th March 1977, in which she referred to a letter sent by her Department to the Association of Polytechnic Teachers stressing the importance she placed on the consultations which would take place on the publication of the report of the working group on the management of higher education, she has now refused to meet representatives of the association to consult on the report of the working group; and if she will make a statement.

As I have explained to the association, consultations on the report are being conducted by correspondence in the first instance. When we have had an opportunity to consider all the views expressed, including the very full paper recently sent in by the APT, we shall decide on the need for meetings to discuss particular views put forward.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether any arrangements exist for student exchange between the United Kingdom and Guinea.

Students from Guinea are occasionally received in the United Kingdom as foreign language "assistants". No British students have been sent to Guinea under the assistants scheme. I am not aware of any other arrangements for students exchange between the United Kingdom and Guinea.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take powers to deprive of British nationality British citizens living in other countries who decline to pay to Her Majesty's Government taxes at United Kingdom dates when given the opportunity to do so.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the numbers of extradition orders made from Malta of United Kingdom citizens and from Great Britain of Maltese citizens in the last five years.

Three persons have been returned from Malta to the United Kingdom since 1973 all of whom appear to have been United Kingdom citizens. It is not possible to say if they also possessed Maltese citizenship. No persons were returned from the United Kingdom to Malta in this period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that the Boundary Commission proposals for new district wards in St. Albans are drawn in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972; and, if so, when he proposes to sign the order confirming them.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the incidence of violent crime in Suffolk in the last five years; and what statistical information he has concerning violence against the police in that county.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, as part of public consultations leading towards the new contract period for independent television, and following his meetings with the chairman of the IBA, he is in a position to state how many public meetings the IBA are to hold in Norfolk in order to ascertain the views of local people on regional television programmes; and if he will publish a list of dates and venues.

No. These will be matters for the IBA to consider in the light of the Governments White Paper on broadcasting, which I mope to publish soon.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out in the Official Report a table showing for each year since and including 1946 (a) the increase in farming net income, excluding stock appreciation, (b) the net product at constant prices, (c) labour productivity, (d) the gross output at consant prices, (e) the toal expenditure at constant prices, (f) the total gross capital formation, (g) farm rents at constant prices, (h) average earnings at constant prices, and (i) average hours of working by agricultural workers.

Some of this information has been published in annual White Papers on the review of agriculture. But there have been changes in the bases on which data have been kept, and I regret that the information is not available as requested and could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many returns of information are made by (a) non-metropolitan counties, (b) non-metropolitan districts, (c) metropolitan counties and (d) metropolitan districts to his Department each year.

Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties make one quarterly return and three annual returns; metropolitan and non-metropolitan districts make two quarterly returns and one annual return.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many circulars his Department has issued to local authorities (a) in England and (b) in England and Wales, in each year since 1974; and how many issued instructions increasing the statutory duties of local authorities.

My Department has issued circulars to local authorities in England and Wales as follows: 1974–91; 1975–110; 1976–147; 1977–118; 1978, to date—47. The great majority concerned changes in the lists of overseas establishments approved to export meat and meat products to the United Kingdom. None increased the statutory duties of local authorities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to introduce the necessary legislation designed to control mackerel catches in United Kingdom territorial waters; if he will give details of these proposed conservation measures; and if he will make a statement.

United Kingdom fishing for mackerel has been subject since September 1977 to licensing controls introduced to avoid over fishing. Prior to the beginning of the summer mackerel fishery off the west of Scotland, the detailed arrangements are currently being reviewed in consultation with the industry and taking account of ICES recent recommendations for an increased TAC for western mackerel.No fishing by other EEC countries for mackerel is authorised within six miles of United Kingdom baselines; and in some areas, including off Devon and Cornwall, such fishing is not authorised within 12 miles of United Kingdom baselines. The only non-EEC countries authorised to fish for western mackerel within the United Kingdom fishery limits are Norway and the Faroes, and they are not authorised to fish for mackerel within 12 miles of United Kingdom baselines.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the total value of arms sales has been arranged through the Defence Sales Organisation, and what proportion by private dealers for the most recent convenient three years.

About 30 per cent. of the total value of arms sales in the three years 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77 were arranged by the Defence Sales Organisation. The balance was arranged by British industry with general assistance from the Defence Sales Organisation where appropriate. I have no information about the extent to which sales are arranged by private dealers.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he believes that the preparation and co-ordination of United Nations peacekeeping activities would be assisted by the establishment of a United Nations defence college run on the lines of the NATO Defence College; and if so, what representations are being made.

The undertaking of any United Nations peacekeeping activities must be a matter for decision by the United Nations; consideration is being given in the United Nations to various ways of strengthening peace-keeping procedures and the idea of a United Nations defence college would need to be considered in that context.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the percentage increase in salary of a colonel between 1st April 1975 and 31st March 1978; what is the percentage increase in terminal grant and retired pay of a colonel on retirement with 34 years qualifying service, between 1st April 1975 and 31st March 1978; and what is the percentage reduction in value, in real terms, of these benefits over the period.

The salary of a colonel with four years in the rank increased by 2·4 per cent. as a result of the 1st April 1976 and 1st April 1977 Service pay awards. The basic retired pay and terminal grant of a colonel with 34 years reckonable service increased by a similar percentage, but, as Service pensions are index-linked, the value of the retired pay, in real terms, would depend on the date of retirement, as the following examples demonstrate:

Date of retirement	Cumulative percentage increase in retired pay since date of retirement
31st March 1976	62·2
31st March 1977	28·9
31st March 1978	12·3

Over the period April 1975 to March 1978 there was a 33·7 per cent. reduction in the purchasing power of the pound.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list in the Official Report the number of (a) military and (b) civilian personnel who have been engaged in the resettlement of Service personnel in each of the Services in each of the last 12 years;(2) if he will list the number of personnel from each of the Services receiving any form of resettlement assistance or advice for each of the past 12 years; and what significant trends have emerged.

Resettlement advice and assistance for members of the Armed Forces involves a wide range of activities and agencies. In addition to the resettlement service run by the Armed Forces many other agencies play an essential part. These include the employment services division of the Manpower Services Commission and other bodies such as the Officers Association and the Regular Forces Employment Association.In these circumstances it is not practicable to give comprehensive figures for the numbers engaged in Service resettlement work or for the numbers of Service personnel receiving resettlement advice or assistance.

			1st April 1972	1st April 1975	1st April 1978
			£	£	£
Colonel	…	…	5,501–6,201	8,169–9,030	9,746–10,563
Senior Principal	…	…	4,922–5,564	7,750–9,350	9,057–10,809

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many short service commission officers have been subsequently placed in industry through the SSC/CBI scheme in each year since the scheme's inception; and whether he is currently satisfied with its operation.

Young men who join the Army under the SSC/CBI scheme may leave to join a civilian firm at any time from completion of a three year commission until reaching the age of 30. It is left to the young officer to create and maintain contact with a firm and this coupled with the wide time span of the scheme has prevented the collection of accurate statistics of those who subsequently found employment with CBI companies

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the salary scale of a colonel on 1st April 1972, on 1st April 1975, and at the latest available date; and what was the salary scale of a senior principal in the Civil Service on the same dates.

The information is as follows:The Ministry of Defence, in conjunction with the CBI, is currently examining possible areas for improvement of the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the Government of the United States of America about the display of the RAF's Chinook helicopter at the Farnborough air show.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in setting up the consultative machinery recommended by Lady Sharp in her report on her inquiry into Service training on Dartmoor.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th June 1978; Vol. 951, c. 653–4], gave the following information:I am glad to announce that my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Defence and for the Environment have appointed Sir Peter Stallard, KCMG, CVO, MBE, to serve as chairman for a period of three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are his latest plans for the rebuilding of Wellington Barracks; when he expects the rebuilding to be completed; and to what use the rebuilt barracks will be put.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23rd May 1978; Vol. 950, c. 466], gave the following information:I am pleased to announce that it has now been decided to proceed with the plans approved in 1972 to rebuild Wellington Barracks in its entirety. Work will proceed concurrently with the current contract to rehabilitate the facade block and will be spread over the years up to 1983–84.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the holiday entitlement of the British ambassador to United States of America; how much of this entitlement he has had to date; and to what extent the period he is now using in his entry for the Observer yacht race around Great Britain will be included in this holiday allocation.

Her Majesty's Ambassador, Washington, like all senior officers of the Diplomatic Service, has a basic entitlement of six weeks' leave per annum, on a cumulative basis, and two weeks' local leave, which can be taken outside the country but must be taken within the calendar year or forfeited. Ambassadors may anticipate their leave entitlement to the end of any given calendar year. What ambassadors do in their holidays is their own affair.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those African countries to which an ambassador or high commissioner has been accredited but where he or she is not permanently in situ.

The information is as follows:

• Benin.
• Burundi.
• Cape Verde.
• Central African Empire.
• Chad.
• Congo.
• Equatorial Guinea.
• Guinea
• Guinea Bissau.
• Madagascar.
• Mali.
• Mauritania.
• Niger.
• Rwanda.
• Togo.
• Upper Volta.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Russian Government concerning their recent treatment of members of the Helsinki treaty monitoring group; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. Friend made their views about these trials very clear in the House on 10th July. In the light of public outrage about the conviction and harsh sentences imposed last week on Soviet citizens, my right hon. Friend advised the chairman of the National Coal Board that the visit of the Soviet Minister for the Coal Industry scheduled for 16th July should be postponed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from the United Kingdom diplomatic mission in Conakry concerning the observance or infringement of human rights in Guinea.

We do not have a resident diplomatic mission in Conakry but Her Majesty's Ambassador at Dakar is accrediated there on a non-resident basis. The embassy sends reports to London about the political situation, including the deprivation of human rights.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Nations High Commission for Refugees has at any time in the past five years reported on the situation of refugees from Guinea.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees has not issued a report specifically on the situation of refugees from Guinea during the past five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will invite the United Human Rights Commission to study alleged infringements of human rights in Guinea.

No, although the issue of human rights has been raised in our contacts with Guinean authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the numbers of counsellors and first secretaries fully engaged in information work on the strength of the British missions in Washington and New York when the present ambassador took up his post; and what these numbers are expected to be on 1st October.

When the present ambassador took up his post on 21st July 1977 the number of counsellors and first secretaries engaged full-time on information work was as follows:

	Washington	New York
Counsellors	1	1
First Secretaries	2	4

The level of our information staffing at major overseas posts, including Washington and New York, is currently being reviewed as part of the follow-up to the CPRS report on overseas representation. Until the Government are ready to announce their decisions on the report, my right hon. Friend regrets that he cannot give details of the number of counsellors and first secretaries who will be engaged on information work on 1st October.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will raise with the Security Council the denial of human rights in Ethiopia as a threat to world peace.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) on 10th April—[Vol. 947, col. 331.] We consider the United Nations Human Rights Commission to be the appropriate forum for consideration of this serious issue.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will carry out an urgent investigation of the way in which passports are being issued, at short notice, to persons on the point of leaving the United Kingdom, because their original applications have become mislaid or delayed; and whether he is satisfied that conditions existing in the Passport Office in London, are not creating a situation where illegal entry into the United Kingdom is made easier.

The unprecedented increase in demand for passports this year has led to a large backlog of applications awaiting processing. People with applications in the pipeline who call at the London Passport Office because their dates of travel are imminent are being granted passports of restricted validity if their original applications cannot readily be traced, and provided the Passport Office is satisfied they qualify for United Kingdom passports. My right hon. Friend does not consider this practice will have any bearing on illegal entry into the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many passports were issued and renewed at the London Passport Office in June; and how many emergency documents were issued during that month because of delays in processing first applications.

In June 1978, 36,385 passports were issued and 12,931 renewals, amendments and other services were performed at the London Passport Office. Restricted passports were issued because pending applications could not readily be traced in 19 cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average length of time taken for letters containing applications for passports to be opened at the London Passport Office.

Postal applications to the London Passport Office are now being opened within three or four days of receipt.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in view of the statement on page 84 of the health and safety report on the risks to the people of Canvey Island from hazardous industries there that no detailed statistics are available for tankers carrying pressurised gases, he will take steps to ensure that such statistics are collected forthwith.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that a pilot study of the factors affecting the vulnerability of road tankers in accidents is already in progress. This work is to be carried out by the safety and reliability directorate of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to provide payments for apprentices more nearly equivalent to those paid to students at universities.

No. The great majority of apprentices are trained in employment and their wage levels are settled through industrial negotiation. Where industrial training boards are currently sponsoring apprentices through award schemes in order to sustain recruitment levels, their allowances are fixed in the light of apprentice wage rates.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current rate of unemployment among disabled workers in the Ipswich employment area.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that on 8th June 1978, the latest date for which figures are available, 73 registered disabled people, or 6·6 per cent. of the total on the register, were unemployed in the employment area covered by Ipswich jobcentre.

asked the Secretary of State for Employmnt if he is satisfied with the procedure followed by predominantly United States-owned Technicolour UK of Harmondsworth in notifying his Department of impending redundancies; and if he will make a statement.

The company has followed the procedure set out in section 100 of the Employment Protection Act 1975. On 5th June 1978 my Department was notified of the proposal to dismiss as redundant 180 people on 1st September 1978. The company is aware of the provisions of the temporary employment subsidy scheme, which is designed to avoid redundancies, but has not applied for subsidies.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, pursuant to his Written Answer in the Official Report, 23rd June, columns 364–6, concerning numbers covered by the various special employment and training measures, he will publish in the Official Report information in whatever form is available on the numbers covered by the various employment and training measures before April 1977.

The table below gives estimates of the total number of workers or places on each of the special employment and training measures from their inception up to 1 of April 1977:

Measure	Estimate of workers or places involved
Recruitment Subsidy for School Leavers	30,100
Youth Employment Subsidy	14,820
Temporary Employment Subsidy	229,247
Job Release Scheme	10,656
Community Industry	3,500*
Job Creation Programme	58,387
Work Experience Programme	11,088
Training places supported in industry	63,718
TSA special courses for young people	7,799
* This is the number of additional places announced for Community Industry under the special measures programme and therefore does not include the 2,000 places on the original programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many labour attachés are currently serving in British embassies and high commissisons; and what plans he has for making further appointments.

Eleven labour attachés are at present serving in British embassies and high commissions. I am considering, jointly with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the filling of a currently vacant post. No further appoinments are envisaged at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether, as the remit of the Boyle Committee covered only a selected group of four classifications of the higher-paid persons, he will appoint another commmittee to deal with the question of the wages and salaries of the rest of the workers employed in the groups controlled by these top-paid persons;(2) whether he will refer to the Boyle committee the question of the incomes of the poorer paid sections of the population, particuarly those below the national average minimum wage, to ascertain what should be the national average minimum wage and how this should be applied;(3) if he will extend the standing remit of the Boyle committee to include the miners, House catering and administrative staffs, firemen, National Health Service staff and employees, and other groups of workers.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much has been paid out in redundancy payments in the last two years to textile workers in the Lancashire area; and to how many people.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on what date discussions were opened by the Health and Safety Executive with the British Gas Corporation on the specific point of the corporation significantly reducing the risks to the people of Canvey Island from the methane terminal.

I understand from the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that discussions were opened by the Health and Safety Executive with the British Gas Corporation on 25th May 1978 on the specific point of the Corporation significantly reducing the risks from its activities at Canvey Island.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Health and Safety Executive has yet served notice on the British Gas Corporation to empty the pipeline containing liquefied petroleum gas from its methane terminal on Canvey Island and to take it out of service in order to remove the potential hazard to explosion for people who live near the route of the pipeline; and by what date such action is to be completed.

I understand from the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that following the discussions between the Health and Safety Executive and the British Gas Corporation on 25th May 1978, the Corporation has informed the Executive that it will be taking steps to empty and take out of service the liquefied petroleum gas pipeline. A section of the line has already been emptied and the work is proceeding. It is expected that the whole of the line from Canvey Island to east Greenwich will be completely emptied within two months. In view of the undertaking given by the Corporation and the progress already made in this matter, the Health and Safety Executive will not be serving a notice on the British Gas Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the statutory powers which the Health and Safety Executive possesses to require the British Gas Corporation to raise the level of containment dykes round the above ground liquefied gas tanks at Canvey Island close to residential population; and when these powers are going to be used.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that the statutory powers available to the Health and Safety Executive to require the British Gas Corporation to raise the level of containment dykes round the above ground liquefied gas tanks at Canvey Island are contained in section 21 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974.The measures required as a result of the report on the investigation of hazards of the in-ground and above-ground tanks of liquefied gas at Canvey Island have been notified to the British Gas Corporation and discussion on their implementation are currently taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the statutory powers of the Health and Safety Executive enabling it to require the British Gas Corporation to reduce the present volume of liquefied gas transhipped and stored at the Canvey methane terminal close to the homes of 33,000; and who, in the event of a disagreement between the Executive and the Corporation over safe limits, would determine the matter.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that the statutory powers available to the Health and Safety Executive to require the British Gas Corporation to reduce the present volume of liquefied gas transhipped and stored at the Canvey methane terminal are contained in section 21 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. In the event of a disagreement by the British Gas Corporation with improvements required in any notices issued by the Health and Safety Executive, the matter would be determined by an industrial tribunal.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the Health and Safety Executive possesses adequate power to require companies on Thames-side transhipping and storing liquefied ammonia to install water spray systems to minimise the accidental release of ammonia vapour into the atmosphere affecting people who live in and around Canvey Island; and whether these powers will be used without delay.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that he is satisfied that the Health and Safety Executive has adequate powers under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 to require companies on Thames-side transhipping and storing liquefied ammonia to install water spray systems to minimise the accidental release of ammonia vapour into the atmosphere.The measures required as a result of the report on the investigation of hazards from operations at Canvey Island have been notified to those companies transhipping and storing liquefied ammonia and discussions on their implementation are currently taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the Health and Safety Executive has adequate powers to require companies on Thames-side to take effective steps to prevent the accidental release of hydrogen fluoride from the existing alkylation plant in Thurrock affecting people who live in and around Canvey Island by installing appropriate equipment; and whether these powers will be used without delay.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that there is only one alkylation plant in Thurrock and that he is satisfied that the Health and Safety Executive has adequate powers under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974, to require the company to take effective steps to mitigate the effects of any accidental release of hydrogen fluoride from the existing alkylation plant in Thurrock affecting people who live in and around Canvey Island by installing appropriate equipment.The measures required as a result of the report on the investigation of hazards from operations at Canvey Island have been notified to the companies concerned and discussions on their implementation are currently taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the Health and Safety Executive has adequate powers to require all oil companies that are preparing to build alkylation plants on Canvey Island to install the appropriate equipment to prevent the accidental release of hydrogen fluoride affecting people who live on and around Canvey Island; and whether the companies have been told that these powers will be used.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that he is satisfied that the Health and Safety Executive has adequate powers under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 to require oil companies that are preparing to build alkylation plants on Canvey Island to install the appropriate equipment to mitigate the effects of any accidental release of hydrogen fluoride affecting people who live on and around Canvey Island.The one company so far concerned is fully aware of the standards which the Health and Safety Executive will require, and the Health and Safety Executive will, if necessary, use its legal powers to have these standards implemented. The Health and Safety Executive has also made clear its views that planning permission should not be granted unless the standards which the HSE recommend are complied with.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the Health and Safety Executive has adequate powers to implement the suggestion made in its recent report on the risks from fire and explosion to people living in and around Canvey Island that a new protective wall should be built round the oil storage site operated by Texaco Ltd.; if these will now be used without delay; and if such powers are inadequate, he will seek to strengthen them.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that he is satisfied that the Health and Safety Executive has adequate powers under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 to require that a new protective wall should be built round the oil storage site operated by Texaco Ltd.The measures required as a result of the report on the investigation of hazards from operations at Canvey Island have been notified to Texaco Ltd., and discussions on their implementation are currently taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the Health and Safety Executive has adequate powers to implement the suggestion made in its recent report on the risks from fire and explosion to living in and around Canvey Island that a new protective wall should be built round the chemical storage tanks on the site operated by London and Coastal Oil Wharves Ltd.; if these will now be used without delay; and if such powers are inadequate, he will seek to strengthen them.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me he is satisfied that the Health and Safety Executive has adequate powers under the Health and Safety At Work, etc. Act 1974 to require that a new protective wall should be built round the boundaries of the site operated by London and Coastal Oil Wharves Ltd.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the Health and Safety Executive has adequate powers to implement the suggestion made in its recent report on the risks from fire and explosion to people living in and around Canvey Island that a new protective wall should be built round the site operated by the British Gas Corporation for the transhipment and storage of liquefied gases; if these will now be used without delay; and if such powers are inadequate, he will seek to strengthen them.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that the report of the investigation of potential hazards from operations at the Canvey Island and Thurrock areas does not recommend that a new protective wall should be built round the whole of the site operated by the British Gas Corporation, for transhipment and storage of liquefied gases.The building of containment walls of an appropriate height around the in-ground storage tanks, possible changes in the liquefied petroleum gas storage arrangement, the carrying out of a special study of the ways of minimising the consequences of any release of liquified gases from ships at the jetty and the implementation of any necessary remedial action resulting from the study are suggested.The measures required as a result of the report on the investigation of hazards from operations at Canvey Island have been notified to the British Gas Corporation and discussions on their implementation are currently taking place. The chairman is satisfied that the Health and Safety Executive has adequate powers to implement the measures necessary in relation to these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will instruct the Health and Safety Executive to conduct an annual safety audit of oil, chemical and gas installations on Canvey Island and in Thurrock to ensure that the improvements recommended in its recent report on the risks to people living in the area are being implemented, and to make such information available to Parliament.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that public bodies and private companies adopt effective equal employment opportunities policies to eliminate discrimination or disadvantage based on race or sex.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average cost of each office of the professional and executive job finding register and the average number of people employed in each.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that Professional and Executive Recruitment (PER) has public offices in 36 locations, These vary greatly in the volumes of business handled and therefore in numbers of staff and running costs.Based on the provisional expenditure figures for the financial year just ended, the average running cost in 1977–78 is estimated at £165,000 per office and the average number of staff employed, based on the latest available staffing figures, is 19.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why representatives of the travelling public have not been appointed to the new Advisory Committee for Railways set up by the Health and Safety Commission to consider ways of improving health and safety for workers engaged in the railway industry and the protection of the public from related hazards.

The safety of railway travellers falls in the main within the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and was to that extent placed outside the remit of the Railway Industry Advisory Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage fall in the number of registered unemployed in May 1978 in Germany, Luxembourg, Denmark and the United Kingdom.

The figures below give the percentage fall in the numbers of registered unemployed between April and May

UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
Per cent.
		South East	East Anglia	South West	West Midlands	East Midlands	Yorkshire and Humberside
March 1974	…	1·6	2·0	2·6	2·1	2·2	2·7
July 1977	…	4·9	5·7	7·2	6·7	5·6	6·5
August 1977	…	5·0	5·7	7·2	6·7	5·7	6·5
September 1977	…	4·9	5·6	7·2	6·6	5·5	6·4
October 1977	…	4·6	5·4	7·2	6·0	5·1	6·0
November 1977	…	4·5	5·3	7·2	5·7	5·0	5·9
December 1977	…	4·4	5·3	7·1	5·5	5·0	5·9
January 1978	…	4·6	5·4	7·4	5·7	5·2	6·1
February 1978	…	4·4	5·5	7·2	5·5	5·2	6·0
March 1978	…	4·3	5·3	6·9	5·3	5·0	5·8
April 1978	…	4·2	5·3	6·8	5·4	5·0	5·8
May 1978	…	4·0	5·0	6·3	5·2	4·8	5·6
June 1978	…	4·1	5·0	6·3	5·3	5·1	5·9

		North West	North	Wales	Scotland	Northern Ireland
March 1974	…	3·4	4·5	3·8	4·1	5·4
July 1977	…	8·3	9·3	8·6	8·8	12·6
August 1977	…	8·3	9·4	8·8	8·9	12·6
September 1977	…	8·2	9·1	8·8	8·5	12·3
October 1977	…	7·7	8·7	8·6	8·3	11·3
November 1977	…	7·6	8·8	8·5	8·4	11·2
December 1977	…	7·5	8·7	8·5	8·4	11·2
January 1978	…	7·7	9·1	8·7	9·2	11·7
February 1978	…	7·5	8·9	8·5	8·9	11·5
March 1978	…	7·2	8·7	8·3	8·6	11·4
April 1978	…	7·3	8·6	8·4	8·2	11·8
May 1978	…	7·0	8·2	8·1	7·7	11·4
June 1978	…	7·5	9·0	8·0	8·4	11·9

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to ease the plight of the increasing number of adults who have been unemployed for more than 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

The special temporary employment programme which came into operation on 1st April will provide up to 25,000 places focused on the long-term unemployed. I have also arranged for a small experiment to be carried out to assess the effectiveness of a subsidy to employers who take on workers who have been registered as unemployed for

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage rate of unemployment of each region of the United Kingdom for each of the past 12 months and in March 1974.

Following is the information:12 months or more. The experiment is intended to assess the effects of a subsidy—to be called the adult employment subsidy—of £20 a week for a period of up to 26 consecutive weeks for employers recruiting long-term unemployed people aged 19 to 64 (men) and 19 to 59 (women). The experiment, which will begin early in August, subject to the agreement of the EEC, will be run in Merseyside, Tyneside and Leeds areas.Parliamentary approval for the experiment will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the DE vote. Pending that approval, any necessary expenditure will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.In addition, the Manpower Services Commission is at my request looking at the problem of the long-term unemployed and policies to help them.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list under the following industries (a) construction, (b) engineering, (c) chemical and (d) other industries, how many managers and how many employees have been charged with offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in 1976, 1977 and to 30th June 1978, stating in each category how many convictions were obtained.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Health and Safety Executive is sending a qualified observer to report on the inquiries in Spain following the incident near San Carlos de la Rapita when a liquefied propylene gas tanker exploded.

I am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that a specialist inspector of the Health and Safety Executive has already left for Spain to report on the disaster at the camping site near San Carlos de la Rapita.

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.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 10th July 1978; Vol. 953. c. 373], gave the following information:Information about the numbers employed in firms of different sizes for the whole economy is not available. From data compiled by the Business Statistics Office it is estimated that, in 1975, 7 per cent. of all those working in manufacturing industries in the United Kingdom were in enterprises—see note (

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has received any complaints from British workers in Community countries about the non-receipt of earnings for work done in those countries negotiated by contractors in the United Kingdom.

My Department has received very few complaints of this kind in respect of employment in Community countries with United Kingdom-based work contractors or employment businesses—staff contractors—but rather more have been received concerning non-receipt of earnings from staff contractors or other employers in the construction industry in Community countries for whom workers have been recruited by agents or representatives in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to introduce a system of licensing of contract agents in the United Kingdom who hire British employees and subcontract them to employers in other Community countries.

The Employment Agencies Act 1973, which came into operation on 1st July 1976, already provides, inter alia, for the licensing and regulation of employment businesses carried on from premises in Great Britain who employ workers and supply them to act for and under the control of third parties in the United Kingdom or abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the rate of unemployment in Lancaster in March 1974, in March 1978 and June 1978.

Unemployment rates can be given only for complete travel-to-work areas. In the Lancaster travel-to-work area, which comprises the Lancaster and Morecambe employment office areas, the rates for March 1974, March 1978 and June 1978 were 3·6 per cent., 7·4 per cent. and 7·0 per cent., respectively. The figures are not seasonally adjusted.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places there are at industrial retraining centres in Great Britain; and what this figure represents expressed as a percentage of the total work force.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that at 31st May 1978 there were 18,588 places available in skillcentres in Great Britain; this figure represents 0·07 per cent. of the total working population.

asked the Lord President of the Council under what law, statutory order or resolution of the House hon. Members who have disclaimed part of their parliamentary salaries are prevented from drawing their full salaries if they so wish.

The hon. Member will be aware that the disclaimers, like the Government's pay guidelines, are voluntary in nature. However, the effect of an hon. Member's withdrawing a disclaimer to the 1975 £6 per week increase would be to award himself a pay increase outside the guidelines, and I cannot therefore recommend this course of action.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the current value of the British aid programme to Guinea.

There is no bilateral British aid programme in Guinea.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development (1) what particular development projects have been financially assisted by Her Majesty's Government since February 1967 in the island of St. Christopher; and how many of these projects have been completed;(2) what particular development projects have been financially assisted by Her Majesty's Government since February 1967 in the island of Nevis; and how many of these projects have been completed;(3) what particular development projects have been financially assisted by Her Majesty's Government since February 1967 in the island of Anguilla; and how many of these projects have been completed;(4) what is the total value of aid provided by countries other than the United Kingdom since February 1967 to the Associated State of St. Christopher-Nevis Anguilla;(5) what particular development projects (