asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has had the opportunity to consider the most recent representations to his Department from the Unit Trust Association about the level of unit trust management charges; and if he will make a statement.

The association's further representations are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the import of Japanese motor cars.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. Hoyle), on 7th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has received an official invitation to visit New Zealand to discuss trade policy.

No. But I have been able to discuss trade matters with Mr. Talboys, the Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand who is responsible for foreign affairs and overseas trade, twice this year during his visits to London.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to be able to respond to British Airways' need for new civil aircraft in the 160 to 230-seat category.

I am not yet in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has yet answered the request of British Airways for permission to purchase 19 Boeing 737 aircraft.

I refer the hon. Member to my written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton) on 10th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many cars were imported into the United Kingdom for the 12 months ended 30th June 1978 and in each of the preceding four years; and how many were exported during the same period.

Following is the information:

NUMBERS OF PASSENGER MOTOR CARS
	Imported	Exported
July 1973-June 1974	423,382	569,832
July 1974-June 1975	429,641	574,456
July 1975-June 1976	467,820	499,545
July 1976-June 1977	622,866	495,762
July 1977-June 1978	793,640	501,251

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if his expectation on 25th May 1978 that the Governments of other members of the European Community would request their national companies operating in South Africa to publish detailed annual reports similar to those required of British companies in accordance with annex 3 of Command Paper No. 7233 has been fulfilled.

All member Governments of the Nine have adopted the text of the code of conduct and have commended it to their employers organisations, but no others have so far issued detailed guidance, comparable with annex 3 of Cmnd 7233, for the contents of companies' reports. We shall continue to impress upon our partners in the Nine our strong views in favour of a common reporting format and common reporting dates.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the actions taken during the last four years to protect the special steel industry from unfair foreign competition.

A number of measures have been taken at national and Community level. The measures taken so far include:

(i) An Anti-Dumping duty imposed (and still in force) on imports of stainless steel bars from Spain in October 1976.

(ii) An investigation into the dumping of tool steel bars from Sweden (terminated with agreement of the United Kingdom industry in the light of market developments in June 1977).

(iii) An investigation into the dumping of tool steel and high speed steel bars from Austria (terminated following the receipt of assurances satisfactory to the United Kingdom industry).

(iv) Negotiation by the European Commission of agreements on price and volume with most of the major suppliers of steel to the Community (part of the package of measures designed to assist the steel industry announced in December 1977). These agreements cover a number of special steels as well as basic products.

(v) The Community's base price scheme for steel imports. This includes some special steels in its coverage: it applies to countries with which the Community has not made voluntary restraint agreements.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he is now taking to bring together the Civil Aviation Authority and similar bodies in the EEC and throughout Europe urgently to discuss with the International Air Transport Association, the European Civil Aviation Conference and airlines proper pre-flight planning to cover scheduled as well as charter flights to avoid excess air traffic in the Mediterranean region in the short term, and ensure adequate equipment and personnel for proper air traffic control in the long term.

No such steps are necessary. The National Air Traffic Services already participate in Eurocontrol; and the United Kingdom also takes part in the European Air Navigation Planning

				1968	1969	1970	1971	1972
Imports (cif)	…	…	…	22·2	22·1	22·7	21·0	19·0
Exports (fob)	…	…	…	21·1	20·4	19·7	20·6	18·5
				1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
Imports (cif)	…	…	…	17·0	14·3	13·6	13·4	12·5
Exports (fob)	…	…	…	16·5	16·4	16·3	15·0	14·5

asked the Secretary of State for Trade which Minister met a delegation

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is satisfied with the standard of medical facilities on British ferry boats plying between Great Britain and the Continent; and if he will make a statement.

A number of requirements related to medical supplies, officers' first aid certificates and accommodation for the sick apply and I have no reason to suppose that they are not generally complied with. I am however having inquiries made into the case about which my hon. and learned Friend wrote to me recently.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is satisfied with the take-up to date of the trade credits extended to the USSR.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what percentage of imports into the United Kingdom came from Commonwealth countries in each of the past 10 years;(2) what percentage of exports from the United Kingdom went to Commonwealth countries in each of the past 10 years.

Following is the information for the Commonwealth as currently constituted:from Edinburgh over the question of North Atlantic flights; which authorities and individuals formed the delegation; what case they made for Edinburgh taking North Atlantic traffic; if the implications for Prestwick airport were considered; and if he will make a statement.

On 19th July I received a deputation of members and officials from the Lothian regional council led by Convenor Crichton to hear their case for the removal of certain restrictions on the operation of transatlantic air services into Edinburgh airport. I undertook to consider the council's representations, but I emphasised particularly the Government's concern about the consequences for Prestwick and their conviction that this was a matter which the proposed Scottish Assembly would wish to examine.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what quantities of trousers, blouses and dresses were imported from Cyprus in 1975, 1976, 1977 and to the latest convenient date in 1978; and what percentage of the United Kingdom market this represents.

The number of trousers—including jeans—blouses and dresses, both woven and knitted, imported from Cyprus, and their estimated shares of the respective United Kingdom market were:

	Number in thousands	Estimated share of United Kingdom market Per cent.
Trousers (including leans)
1975	20·9	*
1976	54·4	0·1
1977	253·7	0·3
First Quarter 1978	68·8	0·3
Blouses
1975	1·1	*
1976	13·2	*
1977	98·9	0·3
First Quarter 1978	68·1	0·5
Dresses
1975	1·5	*
1976	45·4	0·1
1977	160·4	0·4
First Quarter 1978	139·1	1·3
* Less than 0·1 per cent.

The United Kingdom market is defined as total sales by United Kingdom manufacturers, employing 25 or more people, less exports plus imports.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the current position of textiles and clothing products in the Tokyo round discussions.

The statement on the current status of the Tokyo round negotiations, agreed by the major trading nations in Geneva on 13th July, noted that in some important sectors further tariff negotiations were required. This includes the textile and clothing sectors where the Community is seeking a substantial improvement in the initial American offer on a number of products—in particular the very high import duty or woven wool cloth—and reductions in the excessively high tariffs imposed in this sector by the more advanced developing countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what draft EEC directives are known to be in the pipeline which will affect the United Kingdom textile and clothing industries.

A number of issues affecting imports of textiles and clothing from in particular Mediterranean suppliers are at present under discussion within the EEC. It is not yet clear whether any of these will require Community legislation.As regards issues other than imports, I am not aware of any draft EEC directives which would be of particular concern to the textile and clothing industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, at the meeting convened by his Department on 20th June, there was any discussion about future airport sites in the south-east; if a list is to be prepared for future consideration; and if he will make a statement.

The purpose of the meeting on 20th June was to discuss the setting up of an advisory committee on airports policy and its programme of work. There was no consideration of specific airport sites but my Department undertook to prepare a note on the longer-term airport options for the southeast as a basis for further discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will tabulate in the Official Report, from information available to him, what numbers of scheduled airline and charter holiday flights have been delayed to date in each week so far in July; what has been the average delay per flight; what have been the main destinations involved and the numbers of passengers affected; and if he will express this as a percentage of all flights leaving from and arriving in the United Kingdom for these destinations.

The information is not available, and could only be assembled at disproportionate expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why, in the light of the Prime Minister's statement that the four Rolls-Royce Avon jet engines currently held, in defiance of a court order, at Rolls-Royce, East Kilbride, belong to the Chilean Government, it is necessary to provide an export licence for their return.

The Export of Goods (Control) Order 1978 prohibits the export to any destination of certain goods, including aircraft engines, whether used or unused, except under the authority of a licence granted by the Secretary of State. These engines fall within the scope of the order and may be exported only under licence.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what is his estimate of the total annual costs of the export of

	£
Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham.	57,900	Guarantee to meet cost of specified numbers of places in various training courses.
Course on Development, University of Cambridge	82,100
Centre for Urban Studies, University College of London.	17,000
Department of Administrative Studies, University of Manchester.	198,900
Development Planning Unit, University of London	Up to 105,000	45 per cent, of costs.
Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Centre, University of Reading.	93,945	Grant.
Centre for Development Studies, University College of Swansea.	5,000	Contribution to cost of professorial Chair.
Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex.	Up to 953,000	Core support including training for development administrators and planners.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20th July 1978], gave the following information:Materials for the insulation of lofts in dwelling-houses are not identified in the

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will list the academic institutions training development administrators and planners which receive funds from the aid programme together with the annual subsidy to each.

The institutions are listed below, with details of the financial support agreed for 1978–79:the annual cost to her Department of the Institute of Development Studies; and if she is satisfied that it is fulfilling the purposes for which it was established.

Up to £953,000 is being provided for the Institute's core budget in 1978–79. Additional payments will be made, as appropriate, for specially commissioned research work and for students financed from technical co-operation fund.There was a thorough review of the Institute's work in 1975 prior to the decision on further financial support for the quinquennium 1976–81. I believe that it is fulfilling its current agreed objectives, and that its work is of very considerable merit and value.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will list the three most significant examples of improved economy in the use of public funds by her Department in each of the past three years.

I am always concerned to secure economy for the sake of maximum effectiveness in our aid programme. The analysis of three years' work needed to answer this Question would hinder that purpose.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will arrange that, when loans are made or aid given to Zambia by the British Government, debts which are owed to British individuals and companies shall be settled in full either directly in the United Kingdom or as an undertaking by Zambia as a quid pro quo for the loan being made in the first place.

No. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has emphasised to President Kaunda our concern that moneys standing to the credit of British companies and individuals in Zambian banks should be remitted as quickly as possible. I understand that the Zambian Government are now applying recent IMF credits to reduce the arrears.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what percentage of gross domestic product has been given in each year from 1968 to 1978 to assist underdeveloped countries.

Net flows of official development assistance — ODA — are usually expressed as a proportion of gross national product for international comparison. I therefore give details of ODA expressed as a percentage of both gross domestic product and gross national product for the years 1968 to 1977. Information for 1978 will not be available until next year.

	Percentage of GDP	Percentage of GNP
1968	0·40	0·40
1969	0·39	0·39
1970	0·37	0·36
1971	0·41	0·41
1972	0·38	0·39
1973	0·34	0·34
1974	0·37	0·37
1975	0·38	0·37
1976	0·38	0·38
1977	0·38	0·38

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners with mental disorders are at present accommodated at Her Majesty's Prison, Bedford; whether it is the practice of the service that local prisons should be expected to handle such cases; for how long; and whether adequate provision has been or is being made for their retention in more specialist accommodation.

On 30th June 1978 there were five prisoners in Bedford prison, all unsentenced, who in the opinion of the medical officer were suffering from mental disorder of a nature or degree warranting their detention in hospital for medical treatment under the Mental Health Act 1959. Under section 60 of the Act the courts have power on convicting such a person to make a hospital order authorising his admission to and detention in hospital for medical treatment.There is no similar power with respect to a defendant whom the court wishes to remand in custody. A defendant who is mentally disordered and is remanded in custody will normally be detained in a local prison until the court has passed sentence or otherwise disposed of the case. Where his condition makes it necessary, steps may be taken to ensure that he is detained in a local prison which has a full-time medical officer. If such a prisoner is suffering from mental illness or severe subnormality of a nature or degree which warrants his detention in hospital for medical treatment, and his need for specialist care or treatment is so urgent as to justify his immediate removal to a hospital, he may be so transferred on the direction of the Secretary of State under section 73 of the Act.Under section 72 the Secretary of State has a similar power to direct the transfer to hospital of a sentenced prisoner who is suffering from mental disorder of a nature or degree which warrants his detention in hospital, and this power extends to psychopathic disorder and subnormality as well as mental illness and severe subnormality.These powers of the courts and the Secretary of State can be exercised only where a suitable hospital is willing to receive the prisoner as a patient. As regards sentenced prisoners who are mentally disordered to a lesser extent or whose admission to hospital cannot be arranged, whether they remain in local prisons will depend upon a number of factors including length of sentence and their suitability for treatment at one of the psychiatric centres which are provided within the prison system. I am considering with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services what improvements can be made in the present arrangements for mentally disordered offenders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made on the production of an EEC directive on the law regarding illegal immigration, illegal employment and illegal immigrant workers.

Within the Community the Commission's draft directive is being considered by the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee, and the Social Questions Working Group under the Council.At Westminster the draft and an explanatory memorandum have been forwarded to the Scrutiny Committee of each House. The Government will wish to take into account any views that may be expressed in Parliament and the outcome of the discussions within the Community before taking any final decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the numbers of residents of bail hostels subsequently found not guilty has increased from 3·4 per cent. in 1976 to 50 per cent. in 1977, as set out in his reply to the hon. Member for Richmond on 25th May.

I regret that an error occurred in the answer to the hon. Member's Question on 25th May—[Vol. 950, c. 657–8.] The words "not guilty" in the second sentence should have read "guilty". Of the residents in bail hostels whose cases were finally disposed of during 1977, nine were found not guilty—2·9 per cent. compared with 3·4 per cent. in 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for driving offences on motorways there were per mile of motorway in 1962, 1967, 1972 and 1977.

Information is available only for offences against the motorway regulations and not for other motoring offences committed by drivers while on motorways. It is shown in the following table. Information about speeding offences on motorways is not available for 1962, and information for 1977 is not yet available.

NUMBERS OF CONVICTIONS FOR OFFENCES AGAINST MOTORWAY REGULATIONS PER MILE OF MOTORWAY
ENGLAND AND WALES
	Excluding speeding offences	Including speeding offences
1962	14·6	—
1967	12·6	15·8
1972	10·5	18·6
1976	10·2	22·3

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will refer to the department of public prosecutions with a view to prosecution the admission by Mr. Mohsen Berenchi of unlawful intercourse with a girl under 16 years of age.

No. In a case of this kind it is for the chief officer of the police for the area concerned to decide whether to seek the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions and, subject to that, whether to bring proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why some coloured people who call at police stations to make a complaint are required to produce their passports before their complaint is considered.

Such action would not be in accordance with the Commissioner's policy. If my hon. Friend can let me know of specific instances, I shall make inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the criticisms made by Sir Colin Woods, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, on the rise in crime and the failure of the police to arrest the growth of crime.

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary rightly drew attention in his annual report to the rise in recorded crime as one of several additional burdens borne by the police in 1977. The Government have repeatedly recognised those burdens and shown their determination to reinforce the police to deal with them, most recently by the decisions which I announced on 17th July on the implementation of the recommendations of the Edmund-Davies committee for substantial increases in police pay. As Her Majesty's Chief Inspector also recognised in his annual report, however, it is not to the police alone that we must look for efforts to arrest the growth in crime, and others in the community have an important part to play.

Force					Date				Strength
Bedfordshire and Luton Constabulary			…	…	31st December 1970		…	…	697
Bedfordshire Police	…	…	…	…	31st December 1974		…	…	789
Bedfordshire Police	…	…	…	…	31st December 1977		…	…	859
Bedfordshire Police	…	…	…	…	30th June 1978	…	…	…	852

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total strength of the police forces of England and Wales outside the Metro

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the three most significant examples of improved economy in the use of public funds by his Department in each of the past three years.

My Department seeks constantly to secure improved efficiency and economy in the use of public funds. About 80 per cent. of the public expenditure with which the Home Office is concerned is incurred by local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about progress in his decision about increasing the approved establishment of policemen in Greater Manchester.

Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary has had a preliminary discussion with the chief constable about his review of organisation and establishment. A detailed examination is now being made so that the police authority can consider the chief constable's proposals in the light of comments by Her Majesty's Inspector and my officials before seeking my approval for a new establishment. The force has 470 vacancies. The present establishment does not, therefore, constitute a restraint on recruitment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total strength of the police force in the County of Bedfordshire in 1970, 1974 and 1977, respectively; and what is the figure for the latest date for which statistics are available.

The figures are:politan area in 1970, 1974 and 1977, respectively; and what is the figure for the latest date for which statistics are available;

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what study he had made of the Lord Edmund-Davies Report on police pay and conditions; and if, in the light of this report, he will now amend the police regulations to enable shorter men to enter the police forces thus increasing the strength of these forces.

I have carefully studied the report on police pay. The Committee did not find any evidence that the standards for entry to the police are set too high. I do not think there are sufficient grounds at present for altering the current height requirements for police recruits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each year since 1973 the number of people entering and leaving the United Kingdom, going to or coming from each member State of the European Community, in order to take up a position of employment for (a) under five years, (b) between five and 10 years and (c) over 10 years.

The legal position of EEC nationals, other than citizens of the Republic of Ireland, taking up work in the United Kingdom and the information available on them are set out in the Home Office memorandum of evidence to the Select Committee on Race Relations and Immigration—Minutes of Evidence, Wednesday 19th April 1978, H.C. 410–1 (paragraphs 8 to 11 and Appendix B).No information is available on people leaving the United Kingdom to take up employment elsewhere in the European Community.

The figures are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to amend the law relating to the rehabilitation of offenders so that endorsements for motoring offences are removed from a person's record after 10 years in the same way as those for rape or violence so that those concerned may not be prevented from obtaining employment where a clean driving licence is needed.

No. It would not be practicable for a rehabilitation period under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 to be shorter than the duration of any related disqualification, disability or prohibition, and section 5(8) of the Act provides accordingly. Any change in the law relating to endorsement of road traffic offences on a driving licence is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a list in order of their size of the parliamentary constituencies in the four countries of the United Kingdom, giving in each case the extent to which the electorate exceeds or falls short of the electoral quota.

This information is already listed in alphabetical order of the parliamentary constituencies in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys Monitor EL78 /2 issued on 27th June, 1978, which is available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has received concerning the possible closure of the police station in Tottenham Court Road; and what consultation has taken place with local people.

None. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is currently studying local policing arrangements in the Metropolis, including the future of existing police stations. It is for the Commissioner, not for me, to take decisions about the future of stations as operational matters are primarily involved. No firm decisions have yet been taken and the Commissioner has given an assurance that before any changes are made he will consult those concerned, including the local authorities in the Metropolitan Police district.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the total amount of overtime worked by non-industrial civil servants in each of the last five years.

Figures for the number of man-years of non-industrial overtime are not available centrally and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost. The table below gives the total financial provision in the Supply Estimates for overtime worked by both industrial and non-industrial civil servants in each of the last five years:

Table
	£ million
1973–74	71
1974–75	100
1975–76	133
1976–77	120
1977–78	120

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the total number of non-industrial civil servants in each of the last five years.

The table below gives the total number of non-industrial civil servants in post at 1st April from 1973 to 1978. Part-time staff are counted as half-units. The figures are published annually in "Civil Service Statistics".

Table
1973	511,000
1974	511,800
1975	524,100
1976	568,500
1977	571,100
1978	567,300

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the total number of people employed by St. Stephen's Parliamentary Press; how many of them are members of a trade union; and if he will ascertain which trades unions they belong to.

As at 21st July 1978 there were 556 people employed at St. Stephen's Parliamentary Press. Of these, 466 industrial staff, including apprentices and learners, are members of one of the following trade unions, as appropriate to their occupation:

• National Graphical Association
• National Society of Operative Printers, Graphical and Media Personnel
• Society of Graphical and Allied Trades
• Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union
• Amalgamated Union of Engineering and Foundry Workers
• Transport and General Workers Union
• Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians

The other 90 are non-industrial staff and are represented by the following unions:

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each year since 1945 (a) the total number of civil servants, (b) the number of civil servants per 10,000 population, (c) the total number of Government employees and (d) the number of Government employees per 10,000 population.

I can answer only for the Civil Service. Total numbers of civil service staff-in-post and the numbers per 10,000 population for each year since 1945 are given in the table below.Over the 30-year span of the table a number of machinery of government changes are reflected in the Civil Service numbers. Details of these changes are given in the annual publication "Civil Service Statistics". However, the numbers of Post Office employees have been excluded throughout. Part-time staff are counted as half-units.The number of civil servants for each 10,000 of population is based on the mid-year estimate of home population for the United Kingdom. The estimate for the 1978 population is not yet available.

TABLE
Year	Total number of civil servants at 1st April (000)	Number of civil servants per 10,000 population
1945	1,114	225
1946	819	165
1947	784	160
1948	761	150
1949	784	155
1950	746	145
1951	740	145
1952	762	150
1953	756	150
1954	751	150
1955	719	140
1956	711	140
1957	696	135
1958	664	130
1959	647	125
1960	643	125
1961	643	120
1962	647	120
1963	662	125
1964	658	120
1965	655	120
1966	662	120
1967	680	125
1968	693	125
1969	684	125
1970	701	125
1971	700	125
1972	690	125
1973	700	125
1974	692	125
1975	701	125
1976	748	135
1977	745	135
1978	736	—

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish in the Official Report an analysis of statutory instruments currently in force and made during each of the last 10 years which were made by powers granted under previous pieces of delegated legislation.

The following statutory instruments, made under sub-delegated powers during the past ten years, are at present in force:

Instrument	Enabling power
1968/1575	1908/1312
1972/1718	1965/1952
1972/1942	1960/688
1973/1419	1972/1991
1973/1420	1972/1991
1976/1982	1976/1783
1976/1983	1976/1783
1976/1984	1976/1783
1976/1985	1976/1783
1976/1986	1976/1783
1977/1547	1976/1783
1977/1548	1976/1783
1978/11	1976/1783
1978/140	1976/1783
1978/483	1972/674
1978/542	1976/1783
1978/838	1976/1783
1978/873	1976/1783
1978/877	1976/1783

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether, using on the same basis the detailed information given by him in Written Question No. 108 on Wednesday 12th July to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West, he will show how these figures compare with the salaries and pension rights of hon. Members on the same dates as quoted in the reply.

I have been asked to reply. In 1965 the Member's salary for both pay and pension purposes was £3,250. On 1st April 1978 the basic rate in payment was £6,270, and the rate for pension purposes was £8,208; a resolution is currently before the House to increase these amounts to £6,897 and £9,372 respectively with effect from 13th June 1978.A Member of the House of Commons who retired in 1965 was entitled to a pension at age 65 if he had at least 10 years' reckonable service. The annual pension payable was £60 for each year of reckonable service up to 15 years and £24 for each additional year up to a limit of 45 years. Only 10 years before 16th October 1964 could be counted as reckonable. A Member who retired on 1st April 1978 would have been entitled to a pension at age 65 if he had at least four years' reckonable service. The annual pension payable would have been 1/60th of pensionable salary for each year of service, subject to a limit of 10 years reckonable service before 16th October 1964—to be raised to 15 years for Members in service in the House of Commons on the passing of the Parliamentary Pensions Bill currently before Parliament. Part of the pension may be commuted as a lump sum.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy in what respects the United Kingdom standards governing the temperature limits of the external parts of gas cookers and similar appliances differ from those operating within Europe; and whether his Department's representative on the British Standards Institution currently considering this and related matters will be proposing the early harmonisation of standards.

The temperature limits set by the present British Standard for external surfaces of gas cookers and similar appliances are generally lower than those specified in other European countries. Work on a harmonised European standard is already well advanced.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are his present estimates of the proportion of energy needs in Great Britain which may be supplied from renewable sources in 30 years' time.

Renewable sources of energy are likely to make only a modest contribution to total energy supply before the end of the century. The recent Green Paper, "Energy Policy" (Cmnd 7101), estimates that by the year 2000 they could be contributing up to 10 million tonnes of coal equivalent a year, which is about 2 per cent. of estimated total primary fuel demand for that year. However, their contribution could well increase significantly in the first quarter of the next century.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he proposes to conclude planning agreements with the electricity industry; and what arrangements would be necessary to reconcile apparently conflicting interests with the coal industry.

Yes. I intend to develop tripartite discussions with representatives of the electricity industry and relevant trade unions, and to sign planning agreements with them. Such agreements would form part of an integrated national energy policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report an analysis of all statutory instruments made by his Department since its creation indicating which were made by an affirmative resolution of the House, which were made subject to a negative resolution procedure and which by other procedures, and, if so, what forms of order.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will indicate, from international sources available to him, the comparative rates of direct Govern-met assistance for domestic solar heating installations in the United Kingdom, the countries of the EEC and the United States of America, together with any other countries where the assistance is higher than in the United Kingdom; and whether he will make a statement.

There is no direct Government assistance in the United Kingdom for the installation of domestic solar space or water heating and there is no information available on comparative rates of assistance in force or proposed in other countries. The Homes Insulation Bill now before Parliament will provide financial assistance for private householders for the insulation of roof spaces and water supply. The Government consider these to be more cost-effective energy conservation measures in United Kingdom conditions than is solar heating at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what examination his Department has made of the recent experiments by Dr. John Wilson of the Heriot-Watt University into the growing of silicon on stainless steel plates with a view to tapping the sun's energy; and what contribution he considers this might make to energy resources.

I have been asked to reply.My Department is aware of this work which is being funded and monitored by the Science Research Council up until September 1980 at a cost of £31,975. Whilst the ultimate objective of the work is to evaluate the application of the technique to the development of solar cells, it is not possible to say at present whether there will be any contribution to energy resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what amount of crude oil was refined in the United Kingdom in the first six months of 1978; and what proportion that represents of gross refinery capacity.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 21st July 1978], gave the following further information:Figures for the amount of crude oil refined in the United Kingdom in the first six months of 1978 are not yet available. In the first five months of this year the throughput of crude and process oils through United Kingdom refineries was 40·1 million tonnes. This throughput represents 67 per cent. of gross refinery capacity in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has received from the Health and Safety Commission with regard to any lessons which may have been learnt from explosions of liquefied gas in the United States of America which might be relevant to the storage of these gases at Sullom Voe.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Energy on 20th March—[Vol. 946, c. 418–20]—in which he said that the lessons of the incidents in the United States would be studied by the Health and Safety Commission as soon as information on them became available. I am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the report by the Ameri- can authorities has not yet been published but that it will be studied as soon as it becomes available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has requested the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission to examine the recent explosion in Spain with a view to learning any lessons in the handling of gases which might be relevant to the storage of these gases at pipeline terminals.

I have been asked to reply.I am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the incident in Spain is still under investigation by the appropriate authorities. A specialist inspector of the Health and Safety Executive is at present in Spain to gather information about the circumstances surrounding the disaster, but at this stage it is unclear whether these will be relevant to the storage of liquefied petroleum gases at pipeline terminals. As soon as any information on the Spanish disaster becomes available, it will be studied to see what steps may be necessary in the United Kingdom to reduce the possibility of such an incident occurring here.

asked the Lord Advocate if, in view of the continued retention of the Chilean Government's Avon aero-engines by Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd., he is satisfied with the law relating to enforcement of judgments for the return of property.

I have no reason to suppose that there is any material defect in the law relating to the enforcement of judgments for the delivery of moveable property.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what targets have been set and what moneys have been allocated for the future of derelict land reclamation in Gwent, Mid-Glamorgan and West Glamorgan.

With my right hon. and learned Friend's agreement the Welsh Development Agency announced on 18th July 1978 a further programme of land reclamation which included a number of schemes for Gwent, Mid-Glamorgan and West Glamorgan. The following information relates to schemes planned for completion by 1981–82:

	Area (acres)	Cost (£ million)
Gwent	670	3·9
Mid-Glamorgan	1,076	10·7
West Glamorgan	975	6·2

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, what acreage of derelict land has been reclaimed since 1966 and at what cost in the counties of Gwent, Mid-Glamorgan and West Glamorgan, respectively.

Up to 30th June 1978 the figures for land reclaimed through grant aided schemes, including work in progress at that date, are as follows:

	Area (acres)	Cost (£ million)
Gwent	3,772	15·4
Mid-Glamorgan	3,574	15·9
West Glamorgan	1,415	6·3

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the three most significant examples of improved economy in the use of public funds by his Department in each of the past three years.

My Department seeks to secure economy generally in the use of public funds for which it is responsible. It would not be meaningful to categorise individual cases as suggested by the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress he is making in encouraging the sale of Concorde to foreign airlines.

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Watkinson) on 29th June, there have been no recent inquiries about purchases of Concorde, but discussions continue to be held with airlines about possible Concorde leases.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the United States Federal Aviation Administration is refusing to permit any American airlines to operate Concorde.

Not so far as I am aware.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations he has received concerning the effect of the industrial action of members of the Post Office Engineering Union, in banning work on new telephone installations; and what estimate he has formed of the effect of this upon the import and export trade.

It is for the Post Office to estimate how many people are affected by the industrial action taken by members of the Post Office Engineering Union but my Department has received several letters, including two from the hon. Member drawing attention to the fact that the dispute has affected certain people or groups of people. My right hon. Friend is very much aware that an early settlement of this dispute would be of benefit to all concerned and had this in mind when asking Lord McCarthy to undertake his special review of the matter. That review is being pursued urgently.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the three most significant examples of improved economy in the use of public funds by his Department in each of the past three years.

My Department constantly seeks to improve the economy with which it uses public funds in all its activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry why he will not cause an investigation to be made to ascertain to what extent British companies, industries and property are owned and controlled by foreign persons and organisations; and why he will not publish the results of such investigations.

As I indicated in my previous answer on 11th July 1978—[Vol. 953, c. 501–2]—some of this information is already published. If my hon. Friend will indicate the areas of specific supplementary information he feels it is necessary to obtain and publish, the suggestion will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total regional assistance to industry per head of employees in the assisted areas in England for the latest available year.

The following is the information:

Total estimated gross expenditure on regional assistance to industry in the English Assisted Areas in the 1976–77 financial year—£388·5 million.

Total number of employees in the English Assisted Areas—mid-1976 estimate—6·8 million.

Expenditure per employee in the English Assisted Areas in the 1976–77 financial year— £57·1.

The expenditure figure is at out-turn prices and includes payments of regional assistance to nationalised industries. The major items are regional development grants, selective financial assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972, Local Employment Act assistance, regional employment premium, and the investment grant differential—estimated—in favour of the assisted areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what plans he has for mitigating the effect of the new scale of effluent treatment charges on the wool-scouring section of the textile industry.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, further to his answer of 4th July to the hon. Member for Renfrewshire, West (Mr. Buchan), whether British Shipbuilders' forecast of loss assumes that Intervention Fund subsidies will be available in the current year; and how much was assumed to be available.

The Corporation's tentative estimate was not based on any specific amount of Intervention Fund support.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether, in his consultations with British Shipbuilders on its future finance, the size of its future labour force was considered, having regard to the lack of world demand for ships and the gross over-capacity of the world shipbuilding industry.

My Department did not discuss with the Corporation the manpower projections underlying the Corporation's forecast of loss for this financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what assistance is given by his Department to the firm United Builders' Merchants.

Companies within the United Builders' Merchants Group are eligible for regional development grants, regional selective assistance and assistance through the various schemes under section 8 of the 1972 Industry Act on the same basis as any other company.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in view of its success, he will consider extending the consultancy service introduced under the footwear industry scheme beyond groups employing 500 workers.

I have received recently representations from the NEDO footwear industry working party about amending the consultancy provisions of the footwear industry scheme. I am giving this careful consideration and hope to make a statement in the near future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, on the basis of 1978–79 figures, he will estimate the revenue cost of cutting the basic rate of tax to 30 per cent., restoring the main personal allowances to their real equivalent value of April 1973 and restoring the higher rate tax bands to their real equivalent values of April 1973; and if he will indicate the cost of introducing all three changes simultaneously.

The information is as follows:

	Cost £ million
Reduction of basic rate to 30 percent	1,125
Restoration of main personal allowances to real equivalent value of April 1973	1,475
Restoration of higher rate tax bands to real equivalent value of April 1973	480

The cost of introducing the three changes simultaneously would be about £3 billion at 1978–79 income levels.

					Excess income per capita
	Level of total income £	Number of incomes above that level	Excess income £ million	Income tax on excess income £ million	Gross of tax £	Net of tax £
(a)	10,000	320,000	1,800	1,210	32	11
(b)	15,000	105,000	880	670	16	4
(c)	20,000	46,000	530	410	9	2

The estimates are based upon the Inland Revenue's survey of personal incomes. The income covered is that which is assessable for tax purposes and therefore excludes, for example, certain imputed income and non-taxable benefits. The data are based on a sample and subject to sampling error. Married couples are counted as one.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers had incomes of more than £26,000 per annum in the last tax year for which such figure is available.

About 23,000 in 1975–76, counting married couples as one.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West on Monday 10th July 1978, he will explain in more detail how the Inland Revenue makes inquiries at appropriate intervals to check the pattern of visits to the United Kingdom by tax exiles; and how many staff are engaged in this work.

In the majority of cases the Inland Revenue get informa-

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will estimate, for the latest year available, the number of persons with incomes over (a) £10,000 per annum, (b) £15,000 per annum, and (c) £20,000 per annum; how much income in aggregate is received by those people, taking only that portion of income in excess of the figure stated; how much income tax is paid on such excess income; and how much per capita of the population would be available if those totals, gross and net of tax, were evenly redistributed.

Estimates relating to 1975–76, the latest year for which information is available, are given in the following table.tion about the comings and goings of former residents by calling for it periodically from the individuals themselves if it appears to be relevant to do so. Other sources of information are used to check such statements or to indicate the need for inquiries. Individuals who appear to the Inland Revenue likely to be or to have become resident are in any case called upon to make a return of income and, if they claim not to be resident then to establish the claim.These inquiries are part of the general process of assessing liability and dealing with claims to relief and it is not practicable to quantify separately the manpower involved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much it would cost at 1978 prices to introduce a tax credits scheme on the lines of the 1972 Green Paper with credits equal to (a) supplementary benefit entitlement levels and (b) 120 per cent. supplementary benefit entitlement levels, including, in each case, an allowance for housing costs.

This information is not available and could not be provided without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources. The cost of introducing a tax credit scheme on the lines of that proposed by the previous Government has, however, been estimated at £6 billion in current prices; and since the credit levels requested by the hon. Member would be substantially higher than in such a scheme, the cost would be correspondingly greater.

PERCENTAGE OF EARNINGS ABSORBED BY INCOME TAX AND EMPLOYEES' SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTIONS
			Average United Kingdom earnings (£4,706) Per annum	2 times average United Kingdom earnings (£9,412) Per annum	3 times average United Kingdom earnings (£14,118) Per annum
Belgium	…	…	17·2(17·7)	26·8(27·8)	32·3(33·9)
Denmark	…	…	7·7(17·8)	16·8(33·9)	23·5(42·9)
France	…	…	9·4	11·8	14·8
Germany	…	…	22·8	24·3	28·0
Ireland	…	…	18·7	30·4	40·3
Italy	…	…	17·6	25·1	29·3
Luxembourg	…	…	12·0	17·0	22·7
Netherlands	…	…	24·0	29·5	35·0
United States of America	…	…	8·7 (8·7)	17·0(19·1)	20·1(23·8)
Australia	…	…	11·8	24·5	32·2
Japan	…	…	7·8 (8·1)	11·1 (13·7)	11·7(16·4)
United Kingdom	…	…	26·1	30·6	36·1

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the principal personal income tax allowances would have to be at present to restore their real value to the value of those of April 1973; and what the cost would be.

On the basis of the change in the retail price index between April 1973 and April 1978 the principal personal allowances would be as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will update the table published in response to the Question of the hon. Member for Norfolk, South in the Official Report, 14th February, column 156.

The information requested is as follows:

Allowance	£
Single person	1,257
Wife's earned income allowance	1,257
Married person	1,637
Age allowance—single	1,477*
Age allowance—married	2,110*
The cost of an increase to these amounts at 1978–79 income levels and proposed rates of tax would be about £1,475 million.
* These amounts are based on the value of age exemption for 1973–74.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state, for the following family categories, the amount of income tax payable in 1973–74, in 1977–78, in 1978–79 according to the original Budget proposals and in 1978–79 according to the Finance Bill as approved at Third Reading: married couple with husband's earned income of £5,000,

MARRIED COUPLES
					Tax
Earnings					1973–74	1977–78	1978–79 (Budget proposals)	1978–79 (Budget proposals as amended)
£					£	£	£	£
5,000	…	…	…	…	1,267	1,205	1,111	1,083
10,000	…	…	…	…	3,524	3,162	2,922	2,766
15,000	…	…	…	…	6,596	6,144	5,690	5,334
20,000	…	…	…	…	10,057	9,749	9,161	8,680
25,000	…	…	…	…	13,769	13,702	12,948	12,429
50,000	…	…	…	…	32,519	34,452	33,693	33,136

SINGLE PERSONS
					Tax
Earnings					1973–74	1977–78	1978–79 (Budget proposals)	1978–79 (Budget proposals as amended)
£					£	£	£	£
5,000	…	…	…	…	1,321	1,379	1,298	1,265
10,000	…	…	…	…	3,623	3,420	3,170	2,987
15,000	…	…	…	…	6,713	6,478	6,047	5,665
20,000	…	…	…	…	10,183	10,131	9,574	9,091
25,000	…	…	…	…	13,904	14,126	13,405	12,842
50,000	…	…	…	…	32,654	34,876	34,155	33,592

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on approaches to the EEC about participation by the United Kingdom in a scheme for mutual assistance between national tax authorities, including details of all subscribing countries and the criteria on the supply and use of tax information; and if he will undertake that entry into any such scheme by the United Kingdom will be subject to the approval of this House.

A directive providing for mutual assistance between the tax authorities of the nine EEC member countries in the field of direct taxation was issued by the Council of the European Communities on 19th December 1977. Details of the assistance involved are contained in the Directive, the number of which is 77/799/EEC (published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 27th December 1977 under the reference L336/15).A provision to authorise the Inland Revenue to disclose the information required to be provided by the directive is included in clause 77 of the current Finance Bill.

The figures are as follows:A proposal has been made to the Council by the EEC commission to extend the scope of the directive to include value added taxes. The United Kingdom has reserved its position on this proposal which has been brought in the usual way to the attention of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on European Secondary Legislation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the amount of revenue lost to the Exchequer through tax evasion for the last two financial years.

I regret that it is not possible to estimate the tax lost through undetected evasion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total duty payable on road fund licences for the last year for which figures are available; and what is the equivalent tax on gasoline that would have to be imposed to replace receipts from the grants of road fund licences.

It is estimated that in 1978–79 the revenue from vehicle excise duty will be £1,075 million, £840 million coming from petrol-driven vehicles. If vehicle excise duty was abolished and the revenue recouped by an increase in tax on road fuel the price of a gallon of petrol would rise by 20p. If vehicle excise duty were abolished for petrol-driven vehicles alone the increase would he 19p per gallon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates in percentage terms to be the amount of vehicle excise duty lost per annum due to evasion by motorists and arising from other causes.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport gave on 3rd May to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Jessel).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of collecting vehicle excise duty and the cost to the revenue of collecting tax on road fuels.

For 1976–77—the latest figures available—the estimated cost of collecting vehicle excise duty was £30 million and the estimated cost of collecting all hydrocarbon oil duties was £4·2 million. This figure does not include the cost to Customs and Excise of preventive and fraud work.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he anticipates the Exchequer would secure a greater revenue by abolishing the road fund tax and replacing it with additional tax on vehicle fuels.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to improve the methods of funding the public sector borrowing requirement, he will introduce the tender method of selling gilt edged stock.

A number of changes in the way in which the authorities sell gilt edged stock have recently been proposed in the press and elsewhere. I can assure my hon. Friend that officials in the Treasury and the Bank of England keep constantly under review the possibility of changes to improve the functioning of financial markets and facilitate the economical funding of Government borrowing. Indeed, a number of changes have been introduced over the last 18 months; and any further modifications of technique will be introduced as seems appropriate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will meet representatives of the Managerial, Professional and Staff Liaison Group to discuss the next phase of incomes policy.

I regret that it is not possible for me to meet every group which wishes to put its views to me about the future of pay policy. However, I am always happy to receive views on this subject, as I have done in this case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied that there will be no conditions governing the granting of loans from the European Currency Reserve Fund other than those appertaining to the periodicity of repayments and rates of the interest on loan capital.

The question of the conditionality of access to the proposed European Monetary Fund is one of the many issues that the Government will he looking at carefully over the next few months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will seek to rename the National Land Fund the National Heritage Fund so that this will reflect the Fund's functions and purposes;(2) if he will introduce legislation to place the National Land Fund under the control of independent trustees to be appointed by the Prime Minister.

The Expenditure Committee recently reported on the National Land Fund. Replacing that fund by a National Heritage Fund and placing the new fund under the control of independent trustees appointed by the Prime Minister are two recommendations in the report, which is being studied by the Government. The Government's reply will be issued in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to section 7 of the National Health Service Act 1966, what rate of interest the Government expect the General Practice Finance Corporation to charge general practitioners who borrow from the corporation; whether the rate of interest is fixed at the time a loan is made or whether it fluctuates with minimum lending rate; and what are the normal terms for repayment of the principal.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether specific application was made to the Bank of England by the football club concerned, or bankers acting on its behalf, to exceed the limit of £100,000 laid down in section C14 of the Bank of England exchange regulations applying to payments made abroad for services;(2) what criteria are normally applied in considering requests for the remission of sums abroad exceeding £100,000 for services under section C14 of the Bank of England exchange regulations; and how these criteria were applied to the decision to grant a sum of £700,000 for the payment of footballers' transfer fees.