asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the United Kingdom share of 62 per cent. of offshore supply contract work went to industry in Scotland in 1977.

I regret that separate figures are not available for particular areas of the United Kingdom, including Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects the final report of Gas Gathering Pipelines (North Sea) Limited to be published; and whether he will make a statement.

An edited version of the final report of Gas Gathering Pipelines (North Sea) Limited (GGP), safeguarding confidential information given by the licensees, is to be published today as an Energy paper. Copies have been made available to the Library of the House. I should like to thank the board, staff and parent companies of GGP for the valuable work they have put into their final report, and the operators of the fields concerned for their co-operation in providing information and advice to GGP.The report concludes that considerably more natural gas could become available for collection from the United Kingdom sector of the northern North Sea but recommends that at this stage no gas-gathering system, requiring the construction of a new trunk pipeline to the shore, is necessary. GGP concluded that available gas arising before 1990 from oilfield production could be accommodated in the existing pipelines and that thereafter those pipelines could have substantial spare capacity. However, the capacity of the existing pipelines would be unlikely to be sufficient if they had to carry more Norwegian gas, or if large additional sources of gas were discovered and developed in the United Kingdom sector, or if for other reasons spare capacity in the Frigg lines could not be made available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the extent of the current public liability of the British Gas Corporation for meeting insurance claims in the event of a catastrophe directly attributable to their trans-shipment, storage, piping or processing of liquefied gas; and if he will make a statement.

I am advised that there is no limit to the damages which the courts could award in respect of claims for which the Corporation was legally liable, and that the Corporation's insurance arrangements provide an extremely high level of cover.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many consumers of (a) gas and (b) electricity were disconnected for nonpayment of accounts during each of the past eight quarters for which figures are available indicating, where possible, the numbers who were domestic consumers.

Disconnections of gas and electricity consumers for nonpayment of accounts during the past eight quarters were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about progress on the award of fifth round petroleum production licences.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23rd November 1977; Vol. 939, cols. 767–8], gave the following further information:I am now able to announce the following confirmation of award:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the nature and use of the powers in the Immigration Act 1971 governing the detention and removal from the United Kingdom of illegal entrants; and if he will make a statement.

I shall continue to deal firmly with illegal entrants. They represent a real threat to good community relations, a serious abuse of our immigration laws, and an affront to those (mainly dependants) who may have had to wait a considerable time overseas to come here lawfully.The Immigration Act 1971 vests the administrative power to detain and remove someone who is found to be an illegal entrant in the Immigration Service (as opposed to the power vested in the courts and the Secretary of State to recommend and order the deportation of someone convicted of a criminal offence). These powers have been exercised on an increasing scale in recent years; the number removed annually under these powers rose from 139 in 1974 to 496 in 1977; and on 31st May 1978 the number detained solely under these administrative powers, pending the giving of directions for their removal, was 80. I attribute this to two factors: a series of judgments in the courts which have declared these powers to be applicable in a wider range of circumstances than was previously thought; and an increase in the scale and effectiveness of enforcement action.I have had representations from a number of organisations and individuals, including hon. Members, that the wider use of these powers to detain and remove illegal entrants has created anxiety in the immigrant community. Suggestions have been put to me that, particularly in view of the fact that the right of appeal against the exercise of these powers may only be exercised from overseas after removal, I should restrict their use.I have given these suggestions careful consideration since, although the present powers were enacted when the main problem was seen as clandestine entry, they are now increasingly affecting those who gained leave to enter by deception as to their identity or entitlement. I see no difference of principle, but in any future legislation I should wish to examine afresh the best means of combining effective enforcement with statutory review procedures.In the meantime, I am not prepared to dispense with the use of the existing powers, nor to resort to less effective or less appropriate alternatives (such as exclusive reliance on prosecutions, or on the Home Secretary's power to order someone's deportation on the grounds that this would be conducive to the public good). However, I accept that the exercise of these necessarily wide powers should continue to be tempered with discretion and that their limits should be clearly understood. The Immigration Service does not detain, still less remove, someone merely on suspicion but only when there are sufficient grounds to conclude that he is an illegal entrant.Someone so detained will be released temporarily whenever the risk of absconding is not high. Currently, about 20 per cent. of those detained are given temporary admission. No one is detained longer than absolutely necessary to enable his representations, or further evidence, to be properly investigated, and for removal arrangements to be made. I know of no case where someone removed under these powers has been found in a subsequent appeal to have been lawfully settled here after all.None the less, I think it right that these wide powers should be exercised only under close Ministerial supervision. It would not be practicable for Ministers to give prior authority for the exercise of these powers personally in every case, but I have made arrangements under which Ministers are informed rapidly of every exercise of the power of detention of an illegal entrant, and for all cases of illegal entrants detained pending removal to be monitored each week by a Home Office Minister. Last year, 81 people found to be illegal entrants were none the less allowed to stay.There are, moreover, certain circumstances in which I have thought it right that removal should not take place save on a Minister's personal authority. These already include illegal entrants with a spouse or children in this country, and unsuccessful amnesty applicants. And now, in response to many representations I have had, they will also include cases where a Commonwealth or Pakistan citizen cam' here illegally before 1973, and so might have qualified under the present amnesty arrangements, but subsequently left the country and re-entered illegally, typically by deception as to entitlement, on or after 1st January 1973.As to the general position regarding the amnesty, I announced on 29th November 1977 that when the amnesty arrangements draw to a close at the end of this year (and there can be no question of widening, or extending the life of the present amnesty arrangements) those who would have qualified under them, had they applied in time, will likewise be removed only on the personal authorisation of a Minister.I intend to keep the exercise of the powers of detention and removal of illegal entrants under close and continuing scrutiny. Members of the immigrant communities, lawfully settled here, and those who represent them, who, I know, understand the view that illegal entry must be dealt with in the interests of good community relations, need have no anxiety that these powers will be exercised arbitrarily, or without regard for humanitarian and compassionate considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will issue further notes for guidance in criminal interrogation, to require the presence of witnesses or some other form of verification of verbal statements alleged to have been made by accused persons.

The Judges' Rules and Administrative Directions to the police, which give guidance on the questioning of witnesses and suspects, were re-issued on 23rd June; copies were placed in the Library. I have no plans to issue any further guidance on these matters in advance of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Criminal Procedure, within whose terms of reference they fall.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to the reply to the hon. Member for Richmond on 13th July, how many of the three portable electronic traffic analysers operating in the West London area are in use in the Richmond constituency; and where they are currently in use.

One portable electronic traffic analyser (PETA) operates in the Richmond constituency. It is used as required on roads with a bad accident record or where the Metropolitan Police have received complaints of speeding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what safeguards exist to ensure that any information supplied to Interpol from British police records is not passed on to private agencies or the secret police agencies of foreign governments.

It is for the British police to decide whether it is proper for them to supply such information through Interpol channels in accordance with the aims of the organisation to promote mutual assistance between criminal police authorities. Once they have done so, responsibility for the use and security of the information rests with the police authorities who receive it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the reason for any request for information from British police records by Interpol is required before that information is supplied.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds information about individuals not suspected of criminal activity or any involvement with individuals suspected of criminal activity may be supplied to Interpol from British police records.

No information of the kind referred to in the Question is provided except where assistance is requested in cases of missing persons, persons found dead or for other humanitarian reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will set out the percentage of acquittals in criminal trials in the Crown court in each of the last five years.

The available information is as follows; figures for 1977 are not yet available.

PROPORTION OF PERSONS FOR TRIAL (1) WHO WERE ACQUITTED(2) IN THE CROWN COURT
England and Wales	Percentage
1972	17
1973	18
1974	17
1975	17
1976	17
(1) including those who pleaded guilty.
(2) including those whose trial did not reach a jury verdict.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of persons committed for trial in the Crown court in Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Coventry and Birmingham, respectively, has pleaded not guilty and been tried by jury in each of the last five years; and what percentage of those persons has been acquitted.

The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Figures are available only for the Crown court in England and Wales as a whole; in 1976, 31 per cent. of persons tried at the Crown court pleaded not guilty and 47 per cent. of these were acquitted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what special arrangements are made in connection with the entry of His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan into the United Kingdom.

His Majesty King Hussein receives all the courtesies due to the head of a friendly foreign Government and is entitled to certain exemptions from immigration control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when and for what purposes Mr. Mohsen Berenchi and his sister Farzaneh, Iranian citizens, were allowed to enter and settle in Great Britain.

Mr. Berenchi entered the United Kingdom on 11th September 1976 and received permission to stay as a student until 21st April last. An application from him for a further extension on the same grounds is under consideration. No record of the admission of Mr. Berenchi's sister has been traced so far.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what other public bodies each member of the Advisory Council on the Penal System serves.

I do not maintain comprehensive information of this kind and would not feel justified in specially seeking it: but my hon. Friend may find the following readily available information of assistance:

asked the Secreary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted of having motor vehicles without a properly paid up excise licence during the years 1975, 1976 and 1977 or in the three latest available years.

The number of persons convicted of non-payment of revenue relating to a motor vehicle licence, when that was their principal offence, is shown in the annual publication "Criminal Statistics". The total number of findings of guilt for these offences, including cases where this was not the principal offence, is shown in the annual publication "Offences relating to motor vehicles". The editions of these publications giving figures for 1977 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will order a public inquiry into the future allocation of selected long-term prisoners to Kirkham open prison.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation has taken place between his Department and people living in the Kirkham area about the future allocation of selected long-term prisoners to Kirkham open prison.

The proposal to allocate a small number of selected long-term prisoners to Kirkham prison was discussed with representatives of local authorities in the area on 14th January and 5th April 1977. Local representatives unanimously agreed the proposal after further discussion with officials on 5th May 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons adjustments were made to the establishment of the Metropolitan Police after 1965; and what specific factors were taken into account on each adjustment.

The establishment of a force of the size and complexity of the Metropolitan Police is constantly changing. An exposition of all the detailed adjustments which have taken place since 1965 would involve disproportionate cost.As I indicated in my reply to the Question the hon. Member asked on 6th July, the force establishment has been increased by 978 since 1965. The main adjustments have been confined to divisional complements such as the increase of 208 during 1967 when CID units were increased and crime prevention officers established, and the increase of 573 in 1974 when the force assumed responsibility for the policing of London Airport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he is making towards the international enforcement of custody and wardship orders.

The draft Convention being prepared by a committee of experts in the Council of Europe will be further discussed at a meeting next September. The question of child kidnapping has been placed on the agenda for a future meeting of the Hague conference on private international law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to providing wider powers to the police to trace snatched children, in the light of the statement in the House, Official Report, 23rd March, c. 1845, by the hon. Member for Halifax (Dr. Summerskill).

I have confirmed with the Department of Health and Social Security that information from social security records is available to the police not only for criminal investigations but also to assist in tracing a missing child. A circular will be issued to chief officers of police shortly to draw attention to this facility.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had on the possibility of providing local education authorities with descriptions of children who have been snatched.

I have made some inquiries as to this possibility but have concluded that since there are some 20,000 schools, it would not be a practicable way of tracing snatched children.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had to ensure that local social security officers have clear instructions that they may make an exception to the normal rules of confidentiality to help parents, guardians, courts or the police when they ask for the address of a snatched child.

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security that social security officers will give what assistance they can in appropriate cases, and that there are standing instructions to this effect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about telephone tapping.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 5th December 1977.—[Vol. 940, c. 482–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any experiments under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 were performed on living animals in British zoos during 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978 to the latest available date; and, if so, at which zoos.

There were no such experiments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what species of living animals were used in LD 50 experiments performed under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 during 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978 to the latest available date; and on what date the Advisory Committee's report of the LD 50 test will be published.

Information is not available about the species of animals used in experiments of this type for the years 1975 and 1976. Statistics of acute toxicity experiments of all kinds performed in 1977 will be published within the next few months. We expect to receive the advisory committee's report later this year and will arrange for it to be published as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he will publish the Return of Experiments on Living Animals, performed in Great Britain under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 during 1977.

Within the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 have been performed on living animals since the last Royal Commission on Vivisection reported in 1912.

In the years 1913–76 inclusive, 131 million. Figures for 1977 will be published within the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any living animals were used in motor accident research in experiments performed under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 during 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978 to the latest available date; and, if so, what species were used in these experiments.

No experiments specific to this purpose have been carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many commercial laboratories are registered to perform experiments on living animals under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876.

128.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now correct the reply to a supplementary question to the hon. Member for Swindon concerning police pay, Official Report, 17th July, column 41.

I am sorry that the figures I gave related to a constable in the provinces, rather than in London. From 1st September 1978, a constable in London with 15 years' service will be getting £5,453 a year in basic pay and London allowances. If he is not provided with free accommodation, he will also receive a tax-free allowance of up to £1,172 a year, which represents £1,775 grossed up. Average overtime earnings, at the present level of overtime, would amount to £1,538. Grossed up, his earnings including overtime would amount to £8,766 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government will respond formally to the report on immigration of the Select Committee on Race Relations and Immigration.

The Government's observations on the Select Committee's report are published today as a White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now prepared new guidance to the police on the conduct of identification parades as recommended by the Devlin Committee.

Yes, and it is being issued today. Copies are available in the Vote Office and have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if her Department has received a survey by her inspectorate on bad schools; and if she will list the schools that the inspectors criticised.

As I stated in a reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Eton and Slough (Miss Lestor) on 13th July, there never has been any draft report or anything resembling such a draft. To assist me to consider how good practices might be encouraged in comprehensive schools, Her Majesty's inspectorate provided me in January 1977, as part of its normal internal business with my Department and not as a formal survey intended to lead to publication, with illustrations of the factors which make for success, or create problems, in the development and running of comprehensive schools. Neither my Department nor Her Majesty's inspectorate discloses the names of schools considered in internal exercises of this kind. Nor does Her Majesty's inspectorate disclose the names of schools referred to in reports issued for general publication. However, it is Her Majesty's inspectors' policy to inform any education establishment and, where necessary, the authority concerned of strengths and weaknesses observed during an inspection visit.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the Official Report details of expenditure on nursery school accommodation in the county of Essex compared with the rest of the United Kingdom.

From 1974–75 to 1976–77 £153,000 was spent on nursery education in Essex, providing the equivalent of 210 full time places. Over the same period about 41,000 full-time places were provided in England and Wales, at a total cost of £35 millions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in discussions with the Lancashire Education Authority concerning secondary education in Rossendale; and if she will make a statement.

I recently met representatives of the Lancashire education authority to discuss the progress of secondary reorganisation in the county, including Rossendale. As a result of that meeting there are to be discussions between officials of my Department and the authority on the details of a sixth form college scheme in Rossendale, with a view to the early submission of section 13 proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total sum allocated to secondary school building in the Macclesfield parliamentary constituency in each of the last five years.

My Department does not maintain records of school building allocations by reference to parliamentary constituencies. Nevertheless, our records show that the total value of major building projects started at secondary schools in the Macclesfield district of Cheshire, which is almost conterminal with the constituency, in each of the last five financial years was as follows:

	£
1973–74	408,000
1974–75	965,000
1975–76	129,000
1976–77	872,000
1977–78	944,000

In addition, minor building projects may have been started, but these cannot be identified.In the current financial year the authority is not expected to use any of its block allocation for major projects at secondary schools in the Macclesfield district, but a sum of about £170,000 has been allocated from the special programme to assist reorganisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the total sum allocated to the Congleton borough council for nursery projects under the urban aid programme for the year 1978–79; how many full-time places will be provided; and where the classes will be located;(2) what is the total sum allocated to the Macclesfield borough council for nursery projects under the urban aid programme for the year 1978–79; how many full-time places will be provided; and where the classes will be located.

Under urban programme arrangements local authorities are invited to submit grant applications only in respect of the services for which they are responsible. The Congleton and Macclesfield borough councils are not therefore eligible to apply for nursery education projects. The Cheshire local education authority have not submitted nursery education projects in these two areas for the urban programme for 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total sum allocated to the Cheshire county council under the nursery building programme for the year 1976–79; how many full-time places will be provided; and where the classes will be located.

Cheshire county council received an allocation of £10,900 under the 1978–79 nursery building programme. It proposes using this as loan sanction for the remaining capital costs of a nursery unit at the Dallam County Primary School, Warrington, which it intends to provide mainly with the aid of a grant under the urban aid programme. The project will provide 30 full-time places by adaptation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much public money has been made avail- able for the furtherance of research into the techniques of genetic manipulation during the last two complete years; and at what centres this work is being carried out.

Little research using the techniques of genetic manipulation was carried out in the financial year 1976–77, but it is estimated that about £500,000 of public money was made available for such work in the financial year 1977–78. How much of this was for the furtherance of research into the techniques of genetic manipulation rather than their use cannot readily be determined. The centres where this work was being carried out are those listed in the "First Report Of The Genetic Manipulation Advisory Group" (Cmnd. 7215) and the University of Warwick.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was spent on secondary school building in the Norfolk, North-West parliamentary constituency in each of the past five years.

I regret that the Department does not have this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she intends to write the honourable Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South about lip-reading provision throughout Great Britain as promised in an earlier Answer.

The preparation of a full reply is taking rather longer than I anticipated, but I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the necessary material is to hand.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the need for greater recreational facilities for children in out-of-school hours, particularly in inner city areas, she will initiate discussions with local education authorities in such areas for the purposes of making greater use of school playgrounds, playing fields, and premises, and giving greater discretion to head teachers to make the most suitable arrangements for their particular locations.

Local education authorities are already well aware of my Department's long-standing policy to encourage the wider use of educational premises and the scope for extending recreational and community facilities in this way has been emphasised in discussion with the inner city partnership authorities. Particular arrangements in response to local needs are often made on the initiative of head teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the total expenditure to date by her Department on computerisation of information for science and the research, capital and preparatory costs for this;(2) what is the total expenditure to date by her Department on on-line computerisation of information for science and the research, capital and preparatory costs for this.

Complete information in the form requested is not available. The total amount made available for research relating to computer-based information systems and services by the British Library's research and development division, and previously by the Department's office for scientific and technical information, during the period 19–1978 was £1,935,000. Of this sum £772,000 was for on-line projects. There has also been expenditure in this field by the research councils and the Natural History Museum.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she intends publishing an account of the grants paid by the office for scientific and technical information for 1970 to 1975 and its successor, the British Library research and development department; and why this updating has not been published, in the light of the fact that it has prevented experts in the field from assessing the value of the Department's expenditure which is practically the only source of public funds for research in information in Great Britain.

As my right hon. Friend told my hon. Friend in a letter dated 21st January 1978, a list of these grants was made publicly available in 1976, free on demand. It has been issued to all who have asked for it.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received about the lack of public accountability of part of her Department, due to the delay in publishing an account of the grants paid by the Office for Scientific and Technical Information and the British Library research and development department.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the level of returns being achieved by all sectors of the pig industry.

Higher pig prices and lower feed costs in the first half of the year mean that pig producers' returns have been much better than in 1977. Recent cuts in MCAs have helped to improve the curing industry's competitive position.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what developments there have been in obtaining easier access to the Community of high-protein wheat for bread making.

We will continue to seek a reduction in the support levels for Community wheat in order to narrow the gap between Community and world prices. This would enable strong wheat to enter the Community at lower prices than it can at present.

asked the Minister of Agrictulture, Fisheries and Food what further action he proposes to take in order to preserve fish stocks in British waters.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further measures for conservation of fish stocks he intends to introduce under the Hague Agreement.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply given to my hon. Friend, the Member for Dudley, West (Dr. Phipps) on 3rd July 1978.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the United Kingdom is covered with trees.

The total area of woodland in the United Kingdom is estimated at just over 2 million hectares. This represents approximately 8·5 per cent. of the land area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to meet the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board.

I shall be meeting the chairman of the Milk Marketing Board on 26th July.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reply he has made to the demand from the National Union of Agricultural Workers for nationalisation of agricultural land.

We are aware of the union's policy on the nationalisation of agricultural land.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the present state of the sheep industry; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The increase in the breeding flock last year indicates producers' confidence in the sheep industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects next to meet the president of the National Farmers' Union.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects next to meet the president of the National Farmers' Union.

I meet the president of the National Farmers' Union frequently, but at present I have no specific plans for a meeting.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the National Farmers' Union.

Last Thursday.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to announce his conclusions following the study of the problems of farmers of marginal land; and if he will make a statement.

The matter is still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will attend next a meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers of the EEC.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend, the Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will attend next a meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers of the EEC.

The next meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers will be on 24th July 1978.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans next to meet representatives of the Food and Drink Industries Council.

No date has been set for our next meeting.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to meet the president of the Dairy Trades Federation.

I shall be meeting the president of the Dairy Trades Federation on 26th July.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking in the Council of Ministers to ensure that imports of manioc root into the EEC are subject, like other feedstuff imports, to a levy.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the future programme of the European Commission proposing the harmonisation of food legislation.

The Commission has recently indicated those proposals on which work is expected in the near future. I will arrange for the list of those proposals to be given in the Official Report.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to conclude his consultations in regard to his Department's report "The Export Trade in Live Animals for Slaughter and Further Fattening"; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to conclude his consultations on the future of the export trade in live animals for slaughter and further fattening; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he took into account the research into new production and processing methods being undertaken in various sectors of the industry when drawing up the White Paper "Food from Our Own Resources".

Current research and development information was taken into account during the preparation of the original White Paper, and up-to-date information is also being taken fully into account in the current review of "Food from Our Own Resources".

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received any representations from dairy farmers about the EEC subsidy for school milk.

Whilst we have not received any formal representations from dairy farmers on this subject, I know that many deplore the decision of several local education authorities to reject the Government's offer of extra school milk which, if taken up throughout the United Kingdom, would increase milk consumption by approximately 175 million pints in a full year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps were taken at the International Whaling Commission to prevent the continued slaughter of whales; and if he will make a statement.

The 30th annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission was held in London from 26th to 30th June. The Commission agreed to recommend a reduction in all the existing catch quotas, except that for the North Pacific sperm whale stock, which will be considered again at a special meeting later this year. There is already a ban on catching the less abundant whale species, and controls based on stock levels regulate the taking of the other species. No whales may be taken within the United Kingdom's 200-mile fishing limit.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the outcome of the International Whaling Conference; and whether he will initiate talks with other nations who import sperm whale oil for industrial purposes about the need to ban its use in order to conserve the species.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross) earlier today. The Government consider the IWC to be the best forum for the international discussion of all whaling matters.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the International Whaling Conference, in the light of the representations on the use of the jojoba plant oil as a substitute for sperm whale oil.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross). There was no discussion on the use of substitutes for sperm whale oil at the thirtieth annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has plans to meet representatives of the British Trawler Federation.

My right hon. Friend expects to meet all catchers' organisations in the course of the next meeting of the Council of Ministers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current differential between the market rate of the £ sterling and the green pound.

The differential is 28·1 or 38·5 per cent. according to the sector concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the steps taken by the Council of Ministers to increase consumption of milk and milk products throughout the EEC.

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will meet next Commissioner Gundelach of the EEC Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will meet Commissioner Gundelach of the EEC Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends next to meet Commissioner Gundelach.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he now expects to publish his updated version of "Food from Our Own Resources".

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest assessment of the date when he will publish his updated version of "Food from Our Own Resources".

I hope that it will be possible to publish the conclusions of the review of "Food from Our Own Resources" in the autumn.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to meet the presidents of the farmers' unions.

I have nothing to add to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) and the hon. Member for Harrogate (Mr. Banks).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest annual cost of the operation of the common agricultural policy to the EEC and the United Kingdom.

Provisions for the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund, in the Communities' 1978 Budget totalled 9118·75 million units of account (£5,959·97 million converted at 1·53ua=£1). It is estimated that the United Kingdom share of the 1978 Budget will be about 15 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to accelerate the reform of the common agricultural policy.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current position of pig producers.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Kershaw).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for the experimental planting of simmordsia trees with the possibility of the oil they produce being used commercially; and if he will make a statement.

I am advised that Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) is a semitropical shrub of arid lands and a native of southern USA. It could not be grown commercially in this country because of its susceptibility to frost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about the EEC's proposals for a European sheep-meat regime.

I have received representations from a wide range of interests expressing concern about the future of New Zealand lamb imports and related import infrastructure, prices consumers might have to pay, support for producers' returns and export opportunities. As I have repeatedly said, whatever Community sheepmeat arrangements are agreed must protect the interests of United Kingdom producers and consumers and safeguard New Zealand supplies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further discussions he has had with the Council of Ministers and the European Commission in respect of a common sheepmeat regime; and if he will make a statement.

As there has been no further debate on sheepmeat in the Council of Agriculture Ministers since 19th June, I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Mr. Sever) on on 21st June, except to report that technical discussions are taking place.—[Vol. 952, c. 198.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the progress of negotiations within the EEC concerning the reassessment of coefficients used in calculating monetary compensatory amounts.

At the meeting of the Council of Ministers (Agriculture) on 19th and 20th June, the Commission assured me that work on the reassessment of the coefficients used to calculate monetary compensatory amounts for pigmeat products was in hand. I have stressed the importance which I attach to an early settlement of this matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the regulations concerning the labelling and packaging of food and sweets.

The Food Standards Committee is at present carrying out a full review of our labelling law. Its report is due to be published early next year, and my right hon. Friend will consider the recommendations in the light of comments from interested parties before deciding whether any changes should be made in the present regulations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the latest situation regarding renegotiation of the common fisheries policy.

I refer the hon. Member to my statement to the House on 22nd June and to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley, West (Dr. Phipps) on 3rd July.—[Vol. 952, c. 717–26: Vol. 953, c. 13–14.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representatives of consumer, retailing and processing interests sit on the Potato Marketing Board.

None. The potato marketing scheme provides for the board to comprise 29 elected producer members and four appointed by Ministers. Minister's members are appointed

"as having had experience and shown capacity in commerce, finance, administration, public affairs or the organisation of workers or as being specially conversant with the interests of consumers of the regulated product."

However, once appointed, they serve in the public interest and not as representatives of any sector.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to conclude his discussions with the various interested bodies regarding the recent report on the export of live animals.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has decided what action to take with regard to banning the export of live animals; and what the implications of this ban would be in terms of the European Economic Community rules on free trade.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will ensure that in considering appeals against the Meat and Livestock Commission's proposal to withdraw certification centres to certain cattle markets including that at Sudbury, Suffolk, he will ensure that the data upon which the Commission's work is available to market owners and that cognisance will be taken of local farming opinion;(2) in view of the fact that the owners of Sudbury cattle market have been refused by the Meat and Livestock Commission data on the anticipated savings to the Commission which might accrue to it if Sudbury market ceases to be a certification centre, which prejudices the market's appeal to his Department, if he will take steps to remedy this.

The withdrawal of the approval of certain livestock markets as certification centres is the result of a review of centres throughout Great Britain to effect economies in public expenditure. Operators of all liveweight and deadweight centres have been told of the general criteria being applied, and I have also written to the hon. Member about the situation concerning Sudbury cattle market.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what powers the Meat and Livestock Commission is proposing to withdraw Sudbury cattle market as a certification centre; and if he is satisfied with the procedures so far followed.

The approval of premises, including cattle markets, as certification centres for sheep guarantee and beef premium purposes is one of the functions delegated to the Meat and Livestock Commission by Agricultural Ministers under section 3 of the Agriculture Act 1967.My right hon. Friend and I are satisfied with the procedures so far followed in the case of Sudbury cattle market.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was agreed on 14th June when the marketing and support arrangements for potatoes for the 1978–77 crop year were discussed by his officials, the chairman of the Potato Marketing Board and the deputy president of the National Farmers' Union.

At the meeting held on 14th June to discuss the marketing and support arrangements for potatoes for the 1978–79 crop year the producer interests pressed for the continuation of the guarantee arrangements. Their views were taken into account in reaching the decision announced on 21st June that the Government had decided to continue with these arrangements and that the guaranteed price would be £.44·64 per ton.—[Vol. 952, c. 198.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the promised reconstruction of the Potato Marketing Board will be carried out.

My right hon. Friend has not suggested reconstruction of the Potato Marketing Board, but he has indicated that the future role of the board will depend on the result of current negotiations on an EEC potato regime. It is too early to say when these negotiations will be concluded.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will support the Commission plan to sell surplus butter at reduced prices to people receiving social assistance; and if he will make a statement on what the plan would involve.

At this year's farm prices settlement in May the Council of Ministers approved the reintroduction of a scheme to allow member States to grant a subsidy for the purchase of butter by persons receiving social assistance, and is expected to adopt formally a regulation to this effect next week. The scheme, which is optional, would enable member States to reclaim up to 50 units of account per 100 kilogrammes from FEOGA towards the cost of any such subsidy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if, in view of the fact that the cost of repairs and improvements to sea defences at King's Lynn and between Hunstanton and Snettisham is likely to be £5 million which, if aided at the rate the Government now propose, will leave a substantial balance to be borne by local ratepayers, he will review his current plan to pay only 85 per cent. grant towards repairing and improving sea defences damaged in the January floods which resulted from the highest ever recorded tidal surge, as on the occasion of the previous highest recorded level in 1953 a 100 per cent. grant was made.

As a result of the considerable investment by the Government and drainage authorities in sea defences over the last 25 years, the effects of the January 1978 storm tide surge were in general not comparable with those of the January 1953 surge.The information which we have received from the Anglian Water Authority about its probable expenditure on repair and improvements to sea defences over the next two years suggests that the additional burden likely to fall on ratepayers through the drainage precept would not justify any increase in the current substantial rates of grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he is satisfied with the trend in the retail price of the main food and drink items in the average weekly shopping basket (a) in the first half of 1978, and (b) from the second half of 1974 to the end of 1977.

I am pleased to note that the annual increase in food prices in the first two quarters of 1978 was at the lowest level since the middle of 1970. This is a very significant improvement on the rate of increase seen in the immediately preceding years.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will set out in the Official Report a table showing the annual change in the retail price index each year since 1946 and showing the food element for each year.

Annual percentage changes for the month of December for each of the years 1946 to 1977 inclusive, and for June 1978 are set out in the table below. The information has been calculated from available indices, namely, the cost of living index (to June 1947), the interim index of retail prices (June 1947 to January 1956) and the general index of retail prices (from January 1956 onwards).

ANNUAL CHANGES IN RETAIL PRICES AND IN FOOD PRICES 1946–78
	All items	Food
	Percentage change on same month a year earlier
December 1946	0·5	-0·6
December 1947	3·2	-0·9
December 1948	4·9	4·4
December 1949	3·5	10·8
December 1950	3·2	4·9
December 1951	12·0	15·6
December 1952	6·4	12·9
December 1953	1·1	0·3
December 1954	4·0	7·8
December 1955	5·8	7·5
December 1956	3·0	0·9
December 1957	4·6	3·6
December 1958	1·8	3·0
December 1959	—	-0·5
December 1960	1·8	-0·6
December 1961	4·4	1·9
December 1962	2·6	2·7
December 1963	1·9	2·2
December 1964	4·8	5·1
December 1965	4·5	3·1
December 1966	3·7	3·3
December 1967	2·5	2·6
December 1968	5·9	4·4
December 1969	4·7	6·4
December 1970	7·9	8·0
December 1971	9·0	13·0
December 1972	7·7	8·7
December 1973	10·6	19·0
December 1974	19·1	17·8
December 1975	24·9	26·0
December 1976	15·1	22·1
December 1977	12·1	10·6
June 1978	7·4	6·7

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) in what circumstances it is his practice to require the Price Commission to make available information from its files to his Department or other Departments of Government;(2) whether it is the practice of the Price Commission to make available information from its files to Government Departments;(3) whether the Price Commission is able under statute to make available to his Department or to other Departments of Government the information given to its representatives in confidence in the course of an investigation or examination.

My right hon. hon. Friend has no power to require the Price Commission to make available any information on its files to his own or any other Goverment Department. The Commission is, however, permitted by statute to give such information to Ministers and officers of the Crown, if it so wishes.In practice, the Commission does not make information available except in certain limited circumstances described in a letter from its chairman to the director general of the Confederation of British Industry and published in that body's bulletin at the end of April. The circumstances are:

asked the Lord Advocate what would be the annual cost of a full-time procurator fiscal service in Oban.

If a full-time procurator fiscal were appointed solely for Oban he would be on the senior legal assistant scale, the mid-point of which is £8,894. He would require a typist, and the average salary for typists is £2,340. The annual salary cost would accordingly be in the region of £11,234.However, if the present part-time procurator fiscal were to leave the service, he would not be replaced by a full-time officer. The procurator fiscal at Campbeltown would in the first place be asked to undertake the work. He would require to be reimbursed for his travelling expenses and this would depend on the actual travelling involved. He would require to have in the Oban office an assistant in the clerical officer grade with typing ability. Her salary would be approximately £3,000. If this arrangement created too heavy a work load for the procurator fiscal at Campbeltown the situation would require to be reviewed.