asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made with the inquiry into the malfunctioning of the Hunterston B advanced gas-cooled reactor; and when the report will be published.

The South of Scotland Electricity Board published a summary of the report of the board of inquiry, incorporating its conclusions and recommendations in full, on 14th June. A copy of the summary has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has now received from Argyll regarding the effects of the recent revaluation.

A total of 442.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will discuss with Grampian education committee the necessity to hold an inquiry into events at Westerton primary school, Aberdeen, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Aberdeen, North.

I am at present considering the information which my hon. Friend has sent to me and I shall write to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will issue further guidance to local authorities in Scotland regarding the workings of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act and, in particular, guidelines to ensure that no single housing scheme or area within a local authority will receive more than its proportionate share of those persons being rehoused under the Act.

We are committed, with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, to assessing the early experience of the working of the Act and the need for further guidance. My Department has already approached the Convention suggesting that the review be started soon. It is for each local authority in the circumstances of its own area to decide where to house the homeless people for whom it has a statutory responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes in order to ensure an effective coordination of the district housing departments and the regional social work departments in the operation of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act.

In SDD circular no. 13/1978 we emphasised the need for close co-operation between housing and social work authorities to implement the Act effectively. The working of the Act so far suggests that good co-operation has been achieved in most parts of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what latest discussions he has had with representatives of the fishing industry.

I met representatives of the Scottish industry on 20th June. I am closely in touch with the industry's views and remain ready to meet it whenever this would be useful.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give figures to show the fall in numbers employed in the fishing and ancillary industries in Arbroath over the past five years; and what indication he has of the occupations now being followed by these persons.

The number of people employed in the fishing industry in Arbroath rose from 143 in December 1972 to 164 in December 1977. For ancillary industries estimates for the Arbroath fishery district, which includes Dundee, Montrose, Johnshaven and Gourdon, suggest that employment fell from 500 in December 1972 to 465 in December 1977. No information is available on the occupations now being followed by persons previously employed in these industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of recent reports and developments, he will now reconsider the case of Mr. David Anderson, VRD, QC.

I refer the right hon. and learned Gentleman to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) on 13th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now decided whether compensation will be paid to herring processors whose business has been affected by the herring ban.

The Herring Buyers Association submitted revised proposals for special financial assistance on 30th June. These proposals are now being considered.

asked the Lord Advocate what steps he is taking to evaluate the summary cause procedures in Scottish sheriff courts; whether he is satisfied that the new machinery is providing a system which is more comprehensible, cheaper and quicker than the small debt and summary actions it replaces; and whether he will make a statement.

The Sheriff Court Rules Council has a statutory responsibility to review the procedure and practice followed in civil proceedings in the sheriff court. In September 1977 the Council decided to evaluate the working of the summary cause procedure introduced in September 1976. To assist in this task it invited the views of interested bodies and others. The evaluation is proceeding and I do not see the need to make a separate evaluation.The new summary cause, though easier to understand, is not cheaper and takes slightly longer than the procedures it replaced because most cases are dealt with by correspondence, litigants no longer having to attend in court.

asked the Lord President of the Council what was the total number of paid public appointments made by him 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.

I have made no such appointments.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the current number of printing staff at St. Stephen's Parliamentary Press; what is the current establishment; and what has been the wastage rate in the last 12 months.

The number of industrial printing staff at St. Stephen's Parliamentary Press exclusive of apprentices and learners as at 30th June 1978 was 450. There is no theoretical establishment, but the number of staff currently in post is significantly below that considered necessary to undertake the present work load. During the last 12 months from 30th June 1977 the net wastage rate was 12·6 per cent.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish the number by year of general legislative instruments not lapsed or revoked which were (a) made in accordance with the provisions of the Rules Publication Act 1893, (b) made prior to that rate, and (c) made under the Royal Prerogative which are included in official editions of delegated legislation.

Within the categories mentioned the precise number of general legislative instruments which remain unrevoked, and have neither become spent nor lapsed on the repeal of the enabling enactment, is not known and could not be ascertained without incurring disproportionate expense.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what was the total number of paid public appointments made by her 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.

Appointments to the two bodies listed under my Department in the directory are made for varying lengths of time. However, the total numbers of appointments held at 1st July in 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978 were 17, 18, 17 and 16 respectively.The cost of these appointments is not met from departmental Votes.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what percentage change there has been in the overseas aid allocation in 1978 over 1977 for the following countries: Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia.

Aid resources are allocated by financial years. The percentage changes in respect of aid allocations to the African front-line States between 1977·78 and 1978–79 are:

Botswana	+15 per cent.
Mozambique	+20 per cent.
Tanzania	+95 per cent.
Zambia	+34 per cent.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will place in the Library a copy of the accounts for all overseas aid payments to Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Botswana in the latest period for which figures are available.

An account of the sum expended in the year ending 31st March 1977 is contained in volume I class II.8 of the Appropriation Accounts for 1976–77. A breakdown covering both capital aid and technical co-operation is in "British Aid Statistics 1972–76". Both these documents are already in the Library.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will publish a list in the Official Report of the companies receiving orders from the frontline African States which are financed by British Government overseas aid in the period 29th March to 30th June

Companies receiving orders from British development aid to Zambia and Tanzania in programmes concerning road maintenance, railway and industrial re-equipment and animal feedstuffs are:

• British Leyland
• Caterpillar
• Coles Cranes
• Spillers
• Tooling Products
• Regulateurs Europa
• Ruston Diesels
• Hunslet Holdings
• GEC
• Westinghouse Brake and Signal Co.
• Compair Industrial
• Gresham and Craven
• Chloride Industrial Batteries

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what response she intends to make to the appeal by the International Red Cross for Southern Africa for May to October 1978.

I propose to make a grant-in-aid of £500,000. Parliamentary approval to this service will he sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the Overseas Aid Vote. Pending that approval, the necessary expenditure will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total number of paid public appointments made by him 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.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list in the Official Report, with dates and length of stay, all the overseas visits made by civil servants at permanent secretary or equivalent level in his Department over the past three years.

The following information is for the period 1st July 1975 to 30th June 1978:

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.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 10th July 1978; Vol. 953, c. 362], gave the following information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will confirm that he will not permit the Export Credits Guarantee Department to relax existing arrangements with regard to trade with Chile.

ECGD cover has been confined to short term transactions since May 1972 following default by Chile on her commercial debts. I can confirm that no immediate change in current arrangements is contemplated, but the position is kept under regular review.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he proposes to take to increase the speed of payments of debts from Chile to Great Britain.

Repayment of Chilean debts to the United Kingdom is made as quickly as corresponding payments to other creditor countries. We cannot realistically expect more favourable treatment in view of the "most favoured nation" clauses included in the relevant bilateral rescheduling agreements concluded by the Chilean Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade by what authority debtors in Chile are being allowed to repay debts to Great Britain at a slower rate than that originally scheduled.

Repayments of certain debts maturing in 1972–75 which were the subject of default are being received by the United Kingdom as quickly as corresponding debts to other creditor countries. Other debts are being paid normally.

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

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

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what was the total number of paid public appointments made by him 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.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether the Royal Ulster Constabulary will be permitted to interview the soldiers involved in the killing of John Boyle on 11th July in Northern Ireland;(2) whether the Royal Ulster Constabulary will be able to question the use of the yellow card instructions, during the course of the inquiry into the death of John Boyle on 11th July in Northern Ireland;(3) whether the Royal Ulster Constabulary inquiry into the death of John Boyle will be able to question the officers of the soldiers involved in the killing;(4) whether the Royal Ulster Constabulary inquiry into the death of John Boyle will be able to question the instructions given to the soldiers involved in this incident.

The conduct of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of John Boyle is a matter for the Chief Constable. The police may of course question anyone whom they believe they can assist them about matters which they consider relevant to their investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the report of the inquiry by the Royal Ulster Constabulary into the killing of John Boyle by members of the security forces on 11th July.

It is not possible, at this stage, to forecast when police inquiries will be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will facilitate arrangements for the holding of an inquest into the death of John Boyle on 11th July in Northern Ireland.

The decision on the timing of the inquest into the death of John Boyle is solely a matter for the coroner.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total number of paid public appointments made by him 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.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied with the balance of professional representatives on health and social set-vices boards between doctors and social workers; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the membership of health and social services boards adequately reflects the range of professional groups involved, including doctors and social workers. All board members are appointed in an individual capacity and not to represent particular interests. The overall aim is to achieve a balanced membership drawn from all sections of the community and with this in mind the number of persons appointed to boards with an interest in the social services was increased when boards were reconstituted in July 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland are at present benefiting under the family income suplementary benefit scheme.

At the end of June 1978 9,209 families in Northern Ireland were receiving family income supplement and at 16th May 1978, the latest date for which statistics are available, 116,236 people were receiving supplementary benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the amount of the grant available in Northern Ireland to householders for putting insulation in their loft space.

At present grants are not generally available to householders in Northern Ireland towards loft insulation. The Homes Insulation Bill, at present

31st July

31st March

1974

1978

Qualified medical

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

1,500

1,550

Trained nursing

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

9,037

10,241

Trainee nursing

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

2,890

3,863

Other nursing (nursing auxiliaries and ward orderlies)

…

…

…

3,744

3,206

Ancillary (domestic and allied staff, tradesmen and ambulance staff)

…

11,236

12,708

Administrative and clerical

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

4,220

4,996

Home help

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

9,383

12,426

Social services

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

2,332

3,520

Para-medical

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

1,851

2,102

Dental

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

136

365

Others

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

1,088

1,502

Total

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

47,417

56,479

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken over the leaking of the Cockcroft Report to a Republican council; and if the Royal Ulster Constabulary have questioned the councillor concerned as they did in similar circumstances the hon. Members for Belfast, North (Mr. Carson) and Antrim, North.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the figures for the number of employees in the National Health Service for Northern Ireland, dividing the employees into qualified medical personnel nurses, ancillary hospital staff and administrative personnel, stating the figures at 30th September 1974 and at the latest available date.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th July 1978], gave the following information:The health services in Northern Ireland have been integrated with the personal social services and it is not possible to identify precisely the number of staff employed by each service.The total number of persons employed, which include both whole-time and part-time staff, at 31st July 1974 and 31st March 1978 are as follows:

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th July 1978], gave the following information:Certain facts relating to the disclosure of information prior to the publication of this report have been brought to the attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The conduct of any investigation by the police is a matter for the Chief Constable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions he has reached on the recommendations made by Sir John Cripps in his report "Accommodation for Gypsies", on the working of the Caravan Sites Act 1968; and, despite the views of the author of the report, if he will seek powers to designate district councils, like Peterborough city council, under section 12 of the Act.

My right hon. Friends and I have now completed our consideration of the Cripps report and of the comments received from local authorities, gipsy organisations and others.Today there are probably 6,000 gipsy families who can find no place to camp legally. This means great distress to gipsies and to residents who live near illegal sites. The urgent need, therefore, is for more authorised sites. The measures we propose to take are directed to helping local authorities to meet that need.First, we shall introduce a specific Exchequer grant to local authorities to cover the capital cost of providing sites. The grant will be at the exceptional level of 100 per cent.; the money to be found within the agreed housing programme year by year. This recommendation of the report will be implemented immediately, in advance of legislation, by using the Appropriation Act.Second, we have concluded that we should in future be prepared to designate a district where we are satisfied that adequate provision of sites has been made within it. Designation gives local authorities additional powers to deal with unauthorised camping. The Cripps report proposed that designation should continue to be granted on a county basis only, but local authorities were virtually unanimous in their view that the prospect of designation of districts would be a real incentive to the provision of sites. Our decision will give that incentive.Third, we recognise, as does the report, that London has special problems. We agree with Cripps that in inner London local authorities should not have to provide for more than 15 caravans; in some cases a smaller figure may well be appro- priate. The report concluded that in outer London and the metropolitan areas the position is different, and we accept that analysis. We therefore agree that the duty of these authorities should not automatically be limited to providing for only 15 caravans as it is under the existing legislation, and we propose to remove the limitation. We shall then proceed on the basis which already applies elsewhere in the country, judging designation in relation to the actual situation. I am in urgent consultation with the London Boroughs Association and the adjoining county councils about the provision which needs to be made in London as a whole, taking into account the position in surrounding counties.Our conclusions on each of the report's recommendations are set out in a statement which has been placed in the Library. A circular will be sent to local authorities as soon as possible. Most of the conclusions can be implemented now, by administrative action; for the rest, we intend to introduce legislation at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the necessary staff is being recruited to carry out the £5 million programme allocated for the current financial year to tackle the maintenance backlog of the British waterways system.

As I told my hon. Friend in reply to a Question on 13th June, the staffing proposals put forward by the British Waterways Board raise some difficult issues, in relation to pay policy. These are being urgently considered.—[Vol. 951, c. 461.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to seek to require water authorities to pay compensation for land that is compulsorily acquired on the same basis as other public utilities.

I am not aware of any differences of principle between the procedures followed by water authorities and other public utilities in acquiring land. I will write to the hon. Member about a particular problem he has raised with me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to strengthen the powers of local authorities to prevent non-conforming industrial activities in green belt areas.

Local planning authorities have powers to control development in their areas. Where there is a breach of development control enforcement powers are available. If the hon. Member wishes to put forward proposals for strengthening the legisla-

HOUSEHOLDS LACKING EXCLUSIVE USE OF ONE OR MORE AMENITIES AND NUMBER OF RENOVATION GRANTS APPROVED: WEST LANCASHIRE, SEFTON, ST. HELENS AND KNOWSLEY
							Households lacking exclusive use of one or more amenities (hot water, fixed bath or shower, inside WC)	Renovation grants approved:
							1971 Census: Percentage	Per 1,000 population
								1976	1977
West Lancashire		…	…	…	…	…	11·8	1·0	0·7
Sefton	…	…	…	…	…	…	15·9	2·7	4·0
St. Helens	…	…	…	…	…	…	22·3	3·2	1·7
Knowsley	…	…	…	…	…	…	4·4	0·5	0·2

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions exist to ensure that, when new town development corporations are wound up and their industrial and commercial assets are transferred to the New Towns Commission, access to those who will take decisions and control over policy making will not become more difficult both for those who live and work in new towns and their local authorities

The commission for the New Towns is expected to maintain a local presence in each new town after the dissolution of its development corporation. We regard it as important that, in fulfilling its statutory duties, the Commission shall be sensitive to local interests and people. To this end consultation is taking place with the new town local authorities concerned, through their associations, on the future arrangements for liaison between them and the commission. Other interest groups will he consulted in due course. The needs of different towns vary and it is not expected that uniform liaison arrange-

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the percentage of households lacking exclusive use of one or more amenities in (a) West Lancashire District Council, (b) Sefton Council, (c) St. Helens Council and (d) Knowsley Council; and if he will indicate in each case the number of renovation grants approved per 1,000 population in each of the last two years.

Following is the available information:ments will necessarily be the best solution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of applicants for rented housing accommodation in each new town; and if he will indicate in each case the average length of time which applicants are required to wait before being offered a tenancy.

Registration practices vary widely but, for the English new towns, the current number of applicants in all listed categories is as follows:

• Basildon, 995
• Central Lancashire, 1,747
• Milton Keynes, 1,570
• Northampton, 559
• Peterborough, 2,139
• Redditch, 200
• Runcorn, 1,800
• Skelmersdale, 620
• Telford, 800
• Warrington, 1,172
• Washington, 4,906

Waiting periods for different categories also vary according to priority needs, and the type of accommodation required. Tenancy allocation in the first generation new towns, with the exception of Basildon, was transferred to the local authorities on 1st April 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is monitoring the transfer of housing assets from new town corporations to local authorities in each case; and if he is satisfied with the manner in which this process is being carried through.

Yes. The transfer last April of nearly 100,000 houses and associated properties from new town corporations to district councils under schemes made under the New Towns (Amendment) Act 1976 appears generally to have taken place smoothly. The transfer process is now being reviewed with the authorities concerned to see what lessons have been learned for the next round.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the outcome of his discussions with local authorities about the possible energy savings in non-domestic buildings other than schools.

Following discussions at official level with the local authority associations, I understand that the matter is to be raised at the next meeting of the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance on 24th July.

Item									Expenditure	Percentage
									(£'000)
1. Headquarters salaries, wages, superannuation, rent, rates, and all other administrative expenses		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	992	9·6
2. Regional salaries, wages, superannuation, rent, rates, and all other administrative expenses		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	978	9·5
3. Research and information		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	230	2·2
4. Capital grants—including those to local authorities, and in areas of special need	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,213	21·5
5. Capital investment in national sports facilities					…	…	…	…	2,181	21·2
6. Grants to governing bodies of sport and to other bodies							…	…	2,493	24·3
7. Running costs of national sports centres (net)					…	…	…	…	1,189	11·6
Total	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	10,276	99·9

The above total does not exactly equal the Sports Council's grant-in-aid for the year, as there are some adjustments and carry-overs. Further details are given in the Sports Council's published annual report and accounts for 1976–77Separate grants have been made to the Scottish Sports Council, the Sports Council for Wales and the Northern Ireland Sports Council, which are the responsibilities respectively of my Rt. Hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total grant aid to sports councils in the United Kingdom for each year since 1974–75.

The annual grants-in-aid to the Sports Council have been as follows:

	£
1974–75	6,575,000
1975–76	8,325,000
1976–77	10,200,000
1977–78	11,500,000
1978–79	14,200,000

Separate grants have been made to the Scottish Sports Council, the Sports Council for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Sports Council, which are the responsibilities respectively of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales, and for Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of expenditure by the sports councils in the latest available year is spent on (a) salaries, (b) headquarter expenses, (c) other administrative expenses, (d) grants to local authorities, (e) grants to governing bodies of sports and (f) other grants.

The latest available figures for the Sports Council are for the year ended 31st March 1977, during which its expenditure was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will arrange an urgent meeting with the chairman of the Severn-Trent Water Authority to discuss the proposed closure of Deep Hayes reservoir near Leek; and whether he will direct the chairman not to close this reservoir, as requested by the Leek and Moorlands Fishing Club.

As I have already explained to the hon. Member in correspondence, this is a matter for the Severn-Trent Water Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of revenue and capital expenditure on sport and recreation by local authorities in England and Wales for each year since 1974–75.

Actual expenditure based on local authority returns is as follows:

Revenue expenditure		Capital expenditure
	1974–75
263,567,000		89,006,000
	1975–76
354,759,000		93,282,000
	1976–77
407,451,000		81,646,000

Revenue expenditure on public baths and laundries is included in the figure for 1974–75 but not for subsequent years. Figures for 1977–78 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many members of each regional council for sport and recreation represent competitive sports and what percentage of the total each figure represents.

I would refer the hon. Member to our views on the composition of the councils as set out in DOE Circular 47/76. This suggested that at least a quarter of the membership should come from a group made up of representatives of indoor sports, outdoor sports, outdoor recreation, countryside recreation and landowning and farming interests: and that there should be a broad balance between the sports interests and the out- door recreation/conservation interests in the group. I believe that the councils' membership generally reflects this advice. In addition, I must emphasise that among the membership of groups representing other interests there are a number of people closely involved in competitive sport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the centres of excellence which have been established to date as a result of his initiative announced in the White Paper Command Paper No. 6200.

The following centres are now in use and are receiving grant aid from the Sports Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount of bursaries financed by the Sports Aid Foundation in each year since it was established.

The Sports Aid Foundation, a private fund-raising organi- sation, was established in late 1975. I am told that the amounts it has distributed in bursaries are approximately as follows:

1976	£25,300
1977	£35,500
1978 (to 30th June)	£60,600

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now announce his calculations on the recommendations of the Mobile Homes Review Body

I regret that I am not yet in a position to do so for the reasons given in my reply to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross) on 24th May last.—[Vol. 950, c. 581.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which sports grounds have received financial resources from the Football Grounds Improvement Trust

I am told that the following Football League and Scottish League clubs, whose grounds have been designated under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975, have received financial aid from the Football Grounds Improvement Trust.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of paid public appointments made by him in each of the last lour 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.

I am currently responsible for making 740 paid public appointments. The total cost in salaries and fees of these appointments in 1977–78 was about £830,000. The figures for the three previous years are:

Year	Number of appointments	Cost
		£
1976–77	930	975,000
1975–76	1,080	1,480,000
1974–75	1,070	1,440,000

The figures for 1975–76 and 1974–75 include appointments for which the Secretary of State for Transport is now responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he received from Bassetlaw district council in 1977 for extra cash for council house building; what money was allocated and how much of this has been spent.

In the financial year 1977·78 Bassetlaw district council asked for an allocation of £2·832 million for council house building, including land purchase. £2·491 million was allocated. In November 1977 the council feared its allocation would be inadequate and was assured that any overspend on the approved programme would be authorised. In the event, the year's expenditure totalled £1·707 million.This was the first year of cash allocations but as a transitional measure the earlier system for council house buliding whereby authorities were allocated a fixed number of houses for which they could accept tenders also operated. For the period 1st January 1977 to 31st March 1978 Bassetlaw was allocated 337 dwellings. In May 1977, following representations by the district council, in which it was supported by my hon. Friend, and the surrender of part of their allocations by other authorities, Bassetlaw's allocation was increased to 616 units. In the 15 month period the council accepted tenders in respect of 315 dwellings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the threat to the beaches of Southport as well as the threat to the irreplaceable bird habitat and other wild life in the Ribble Estuary posed by the purchase of about 6,000 acres for development, he will make a direction under article 4 of the General Development Order, 1977, so that (a) all aspects of the matter may be investigated in public before any final decisions are reached and (b) development may thus be limited to such and only such development as can be carried out without danger to either of those interests.

No. He has, however, approved a direction under article 4 of the General Development Order submitted to him by West Lancashire district council in respect of the major part of this area. The direction brings under planning control development consisting of agricultural buildings, works and uses. This will enable the district council as the local planning authority to take account of interests the hon. and learned Member refers to.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what attention was given in the preparation of the exhibition, "A Right to Vote", to the work of the Conservative and Unionist Women's Franchise Association.

The exhibition, "A Right to Vote", was prepared by the Central Office of Information. It drew on a wide range of reference material and advice from Lady Birk's informal steering committee, on which the Conservative Women's National Advisory Committee was represented; the chief woman executive of Conservative Central Office was an adviser to the steering committee. Material for the exhibition had to be severely condensed to fit the limited display space available in Westminster Hall, and none of those consulted in the preparation of the exhibition pressed for the inclusion of the Conservative and Unionist Women's Franchise Association.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will outline the proposals, referred to in the White Paper, "British Steel Corporation: the Road to Viability", for assisting local authorities in England and Wales seriously affected by closures of British Steel Corporation works.

Compensation for loss of rate income will be paid to local authorities in England and Wales in respect of closures in the years 1977–78 and 1978–79 at the iron and steel making plants mentioned in Command 7149 (i.e. Hartlepool, East Moors and Ebbw Vale) and in respect of closures at other steel making plants within the same period arising from the policies set out in Command 7149.Compensation will be paid to reflect fully the rates authorities would have

							Registered Cars and Taxis (thousands)	Cars and Taxis per thousand population	Registered Commercial*vehicles (thousands)	Commercial*vehicles per thousand population
United Kingdom		…	…	…	…	…	14,580	261	1,801	32
Belgium	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,574	260	226	23
Denmark	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,338	264	245	48
France	…	…	…	…	…	…	15,900	300	2,092	40
Germany	…	…	…	…	…	…	18,920	308	1,122	18
Ireland	…	…	…	…	…	…	556	176	54	17
Italy	…	…	…	…	…	…	15,925	283	1,613	29
Luxembourg		…	…	…	…	…	131	364	10	28
Netherlands		…	…	…	…	…	3,922	285	320	23
All EEC Countries			…	…	…	…	73,846	286	7,483	29
Japan	…	…	…	…	…	…	18,476	164	10,750	95
United States of America†				…	…	…	106,077	497	25,781	121
* Rigid motor vehicles only.
† 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs received from the steel works if the closures had not taken place, less any additional resources element which might be payable under schedule 2, paragraph 11 of the Local Government Act 1974. Compensation payments are to be treated as rate income to which the normal county council precepting arrangements will apply. Compensation will cease to be paid when the reduction in rate income arising from the closures is offset, when the reduced rateable value is taken into account in calculating the resources element of the rate support grant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the EEC as a whole, for each present member State of the EEC, the United States of America and Japan and for the latest date information is available (a) the number of cars on the roads, (b) the number of cars per 1 million population, (c) the number of commercial vehicles on the roads and (d) the number of commercial vehicles per 1 million population.

I have been asked to reply.The figures for 1976 for registered vehicles per thousand population are as follows:what responsibilities to the Armenian people are still recognised by Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the passage of time since the signing of the Treaty of Sevres and the Treaty of Lausanne.

The Treaty of Sevres was not ratified and did not enter into force. As for the Treaty of Lausanne, its provisions have been overtaken by the establishment of the Turkish Constitution in 1923.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many refugees from mainland China have been repatriated after having entered Hong Kong in each of the past five years.

The numbers of would-be illegal immigrants who have been repatriated from Hong Kong to China are as follows:

1973	0
1974	233
1975	1,133
1976	810
1977	1,779
(January-June) 1978	1,556

I emphasise that those repatriated are not, and do not claim to be, refugees.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will seek an assurance, before any sale of Hawk ground attack/trainer planes to Indonesia, that they will not be used in East Timor.

We took account of all likely circumstances before agreeing to the sale. These are trainer aircraft which are neither equipped nor suitable for offensive use.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards Mauretania, following the recent change of régime.

The Government have recognised the new Government in Mauritania and we shall be continuing our normal contacts.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the United Kingdom's vote has been exercised on each occasion that the issue of East Timor's right to national self-determination has come before the United Nations; and if he will make a statement.

Under United Kingdom chairmanship the Security Council on 22nd December 1975 approved a resolution upholding the right of the East Timorese to self-determination. We voted similarly on 22nd April 1976. We abstained in the General Assembly on 1st December 1976 and on 28th November 1977, because the resolutions were unconstructive.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the interview between British officials in Angola and the imprisoned British mercenaries; and when he expects these men will be released.

The seven British prisoners in Angola were visited on 12th July by Mr. Mervyn Brown, Minister to the United Kingdom Mission to tile United Nations and Mr. John Flynn, our Chargé d'Affaires in Angola. The men whom they saw individually appeared in general to be healthy. They were being adequately fed. In view of the long sentences these men received it would be premature to speculate at this stage on their release.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he now expects the Bingham Report to be completed; and if he intends to publish the report in full;(2) if he now expects to be in a position to make a statement on the Bingham Report before the summer adjournment.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on 28th June to the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mr. Rhodes James).—[Vol. 952, cc. 618–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total number of paid public appointments made by him 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.

The only paid public appointment for which my right hon. Friend is responsible, which is eligible for inclusion in the "Directory of Paid Public Appointments made by Ministers" and which will be in the second edition of the director, although it is not included in the present edition, is that of director of the Commonwealth Institute. The director's salary in each of the last four years was as follows:

	£
1975	11,465
1976	11,465
1977	11,673
1978	12,738

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long it is taking to process an application for a passport in the Peterborough office; how many applications are being received per day; and if he will make a statement.

It is currently taking seven weeks to process non-urgent passport applications at the Peterborough passport office. Since February of this year that office has received between 1,500 and 2,000 passport applications each day together with about 200 applications for other passport services. It is as a result of this unprecedented increase in demand, which was as much as 81 per cent. in April, that processing time has extended so far beyond the normal four-week period. Additional staff have now been taken on and other urgent steps are being taken to find measures to avoid a recurrence of the difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to continue the British Forces Broadcasting in Malta in accordance with the terms of the agreement with the Maltese Government.

The Government have asked the Malta Government to reconsider their decision to insist on suspension of transmissions by the British Forces Broadcasting Service, since this action was in breach of the Military Facilities Agreement of 1972.

asked the Attorney-General what was the total number of unpaid public appointments made by him and the Lord Chancellor 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.

I am not myself responsible for any of the appointments listed in the "Directory of Paid Public Appointments made by Ministers."Almost all the paid public appointments for which my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor is responsible are of a judicial nature and are not therefore published in the directory. Those appointments for which he is responsible and which do appear in the directory are to offices of which the remuneration is the responsibility of other Ministers.As at 1st June this year there were in post about 775 full-time office-holders appointed by, or on the advice, of my noble Friend for whose remuneration he is responsible. The total annual cost to central Government funds of these appointments is approximately £8·6 million for salaries and £537,000 for expenses. Comparable figures for 1977 were about 760 full-time appointments at a total cost of about £8·3 million for salaries and £501,700 for expenses. Equivalent figures for earlier years and figures for part-time appointments are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are any proposals to increase beyond 15 the number of KC135 aircraft to be based at Fairford at any time in the future.

No proposals exist to increase the normal complement beyond 15 in peace time. There may be other temporary deployments during exercises.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of paid public appointments made by him 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.

The total number of appointments and the approximate amounts paid by way of salary of daily attendance fees for each of the four years are as shown below. Members attending committee meetings are also entitled to claim travelling expenses.

Year	Number of appointments	Cost of salary/fee
1974–75	70	7,500
1975–76	69	8,250
1976–77	70	9,250
1977–78	71	9,500

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there will be an internal military inquiry into the killing of John Boyle by members of the Army; and, if so, whether the evidence and findings will he made available to the Roy al Ulster Constabulary inquiry.

The investigation is being conducted by the RUC, which may call on evidence from elements of the SF as required. The Army compiles a report after every shooting incident involving soldiers in Northern Ireland and these are available to the RUC.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will suspend from duty those members of the security forces responsible for the death of John Boyle, pending the outcome of the Royal Ulster Constabulary inquiry.

No. Soldiers are not normally taken off duty unless and until it is established that there is a case to answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the members of the security forces responsible for the death of John Boyle are still on duty in Northern Ireland.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the instructions on the yellow card carried by the Army in Northern Ireland.

Soldiers in Northern Ireland are required to operate within the law at all times. The law requires them to use no more force than is reasonable in the circumstances, but does not define what constitutes reasonable force. The yellow card is designed to provide soldiers with a guide to the circumstances in which it is reasonable to open fire. I am satisfied that the instructions, which are based on legal advice, are suitable for their purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list in the Official Report, with dates and length of stay, all the overseas visits made by civil servants at permanent secretary or equivalent level in her Department over the past three years.

The information is as follows:

• 16th–1 7th December 1975—Paris
• 9th–13th May 1976—Berchtesgaden
• 18th–20th April 1977—Stockholm
• 3rd–9th May 1977—Amsterdam
• 5th–7th December 1977—Paris
• 17th–24th April 1978—Bonn

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the cost of her decision to pay to parents with children at Oxford and Cambridge a subsidy averaging £1,000 without a means test in the next academic year; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has made no such decision. For holders of mandatory awards following degree courses, university and college tuition fees have always formed part of the award. Since the academic year 1977–78, these fees have been paid without regard to parental income. In the case of fees at the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge, my Department has agreed with representatives of the colleges a procedure for regulating the amount of public funds paid as fees to the colleges, and this procedure takes effect from the academic year 1978–79. If the parental contribution were applied to these college fees, it is estimated that parents would have to pay £2·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total number of paid public appointments made by her 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.

The information is as follows:

	Appointments	Cost
		£
1975	126	172,000
1976	124	187,000
1977	122	187,000
1978	122	185,000

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the universities and colleges of further education offering courses in health, safety and environmental matters; and how many students attend each course annually, giving details of the qualifications obtainable at each university or college.

I am writing to the hon. Member.

Year					Consultants	Junior medical staff	Nurses
1951	…	…	…	…	5·1	10·0	not available
1952	…	…	…	…	not available	not available	426·0
1963	…	…	…	…	8·6	19·2	640·0
1971	…	…	…	…	10·0	23·0	859·0
1974	…	…	…	…	19·5	32·5	1,008·5
1975	…	…	…	…	19·8	34·0	1,062·2
1977 (30th September)			…	…	22·4	36·0	1,071·5

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances a man working regularly three nights a week, in the same trade or profession and being paid for it, is entitled

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of paid public appointments made by him 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.

The number of appointments made by my predecessor and myself in the years beginning 1st April is as follows:

1974–75	55
1975–76	40
1976–77	48
1977–78	38

The precise cost of these appointments cannot readily be identified but for those made in 1977–78 expenditure on salaries and fees in a full year would amount to approximately £55,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultants, doctors and nurses were employed in National Health Service hospitals in the area covered by the Macclesfield constituency in 1950, 1960, 1970, 1974, 1975 and at the latest convenient date, respectively.

Information is not available for all the years specified. The available figures, expressed as whole-time equivalents, are as follows:to draw unemployment benefit in respect of that part of the week when he is not working; and if he will make a statement.

Under regulation 7(1)(e) of the Social Security (Unemployment, Sickness and Invalidity Benefit) Regulations 1975 (SI564), a man who normally worked for only three nights a week would not be entitled to draw unemployment benefit for the remainder of the week. In establishing what was the normal extent of the man's weekly employment, however, no account would be taken of periods of short-time working which were due to adverse industrial conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will bring forward legislation to enable a married woman to qualify for a pension at 60 years of age automatically, irrespective of her husband's age or her own contribution record.

No. To pay a pension on the basis suggested would be incompatible with the contributory nature of our present system of retirement pensions. However, as a result of changes introduced by our new pension scheme—including the phasing out of the married woman's contribution option, the abolition of the half-test and, particularly, the introduction of special provisions to protect pension rights during periods of home responsibilities—the number of married women who fail to qualify for pensions in their own right at age 60 will, as the scheme matures, progressively diminish.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ask those consultants who have offered to treat Merseyside heart patients in private hospitals if, given they have spare time, they will offer their services to the National Health Service and so help to reduce waiting lists.

I am unable to comment on this offer until I have received a full report from the Liverpool AHA(T).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what documents have to be produced by striking British Leyland press shop operators at Swindon before being granted social security benefits;(2) what is the cost to public funds of social security payments to British Ley- land press shop operators on strike at Swindon;(3) how many applications for social security payments from British Leyland press shop operators on strike in Swindon have been received; and how many of those applications have been granted.

Like all other claimants press shop operators were required to support their claims to supplementary benefit with the necessary evidence about income and rent—most commonly wage slips, child benefit books and rent books. At close of business on 14th July, 296 had claimed benefit, of whom 139 qualified for payments totally £824. 135 claims were refused and the other 22 could not be determined owing to lack of verification.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total sum paid in supplementary benefits to strikers and their dependants to date in 1978.

£1,441,861 up to 13th June.

asked the Secretary of Staate for Social Services what is the total expenditure on the personal social services per 1,000 head of population in the four best authorities and in Lancashire county council, Sefton, St. Helens, and Knowsley councils.

Comparative figures of expenditure on the personal social services are contained in the statistical information service publications of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, copies of which are in the Library

asked the Secretary of State' for Social Services how many child welfare officers are employed in each of the county districts of the Greater Manchester metropolitan county.

There is now no such category of staff as child welfare officers working for local authorities. Social workers employed by local authorities deal generically with all types of clients, although there may be some specialisation where this is considered necessary. In the 10 metropolitan districts of the Greater Manchester county, the numbers of social workers employed at 30th September 1977 were as follows. Provisional figures are expressed as whole-time equivalent.

Manchester City Council	272·7
Bolton Metropolitan District	62
Bury Metropolitan District	52·8
Oldham Metropolitan District	51·2
Rochdale Metropolitan District	56·7
Salford Metropolitan District	70·5
Stockport Metropolitan District	67·7
Tameside Metropol itan District	53
Trafford Metropolitan District	55
Wigan Metropolitan District	82·3
Greater Manchester County Total	823·9

Note: Figures do not include numbers of senior social workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nursing staff are currently unemployed in the county districts of the Greater Manchester county.

One hundred and seventy-nine nursing staff were registered unemployed in the Greater Manchester county on 8th June 1978. Figures for the individual metropolitan districts are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of schoolchildren per school dental officer in the Leek parliamentary constituency; and what is the comparable figure for England and Wales.

Information is not available in respect of parliamentary constituencies, but the number of schoolchildren per school dental officer in the area of the Staffordshire area health authority is 8,633. The comparable figure for England and Wales is 7,068.

asked the Secretary of of State for Social Services what was the average number of general anaesthetics administered per full-time dental officer in the school dental service in 1977; and what was the comparable figure for the Leek parliamentary constituency.