asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Royal Air Force strength is engaged as aircrew as against ground crew; how many in each category have served on the Air Force Board; and what action is being taken to ensure that promotion to the highest levels of command and authority is available to all branches of the Service.

Officers and airmen aircrew form about 10 per cent. of the total trained strength of the RAF; for officers only it is about 46 per cent. One officer of a ground branch has been a member of the Air Force Board. Officers in all the main branches may be considered for promotion to level posts but the duties of certain posts are such that they are held by officers of particular branches. These posts include those of Chief of the Air Staff and Vice Chief of the Air Staff, who are members of the Air Force Board and the C-in-Cs of the three RAF Commands all of which are required to be officers of the General Duties Branch.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish board of inquiry reports into accidents involving Royal Air Force aircraft.

Civil aircraft accident investigations, which are published, are limited to establishing the circumstances and conclusions as to the causes of accidents, but RAF boards of inquiry seek not only to establish the cause of an accident but also where appropriate to allocate blame in their findings. Their proceedings are tailored to these ends. There would consequently be difficulties over publication of the evidence or findings of RAF boards of inquiry, not least the legal difficulties occasioned by witnesses not being protected by rules of evidence which apply in the courts. There could also be security objections to publication in some instances. Unless the rules laid down for the conduct of boards of inquiry in Queen's Regulations for the Royal Air Force were changed—and this would require the approval of the House—I could not make a practice of publishing their reports. However, I recognise that aircraft accidents are a matter of public concern and I have therefore put in hand a study to examine what can be done to release more information about the findings of boards of inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the existing lines of communication for the exchange of information and views of Royal Air Force Service men.

The importance of effective lines of communication for the exchange of information and the transmission of views within the Royal Air Force is recognised and methods aimed at improving them are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects next to meet his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation counterparts.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects next to meet the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Defence Ministers.

I next expect to meet my NATO colleagues collectively at the Ministerial meeting of the Defence Planning Committee towards the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the consultations about the future of the Defence Codification Agency, Mottingham.

A formal consultative document setting out a proposal to transfer the Defence Codification Authority to Glasgow in the early 1980's was submitted to the MOD staff and trades union sides on 30th January, 1978. Comments were received from the staff side on 26th June 1978 and these are at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of his recently circularised guidance to procurement departments of his Department, outlining policy to prevent the use of sperm whale oil products in the Services.

I have today placed in the Library a copy of the internal instruction.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to meet the Defence Minister of the People's Republic of China.

I have no such plans at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what rules apply to the use of Royal Air Force personnel assisting or providing services at functions or events held by senior officers in either an official or a private capacity.

Personnel on duty may normally be employed only in approved posts on duties appropriate to their rank and skill. Off duty, subject to certain safeguards, personnel are free to use their time as they wish.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action is being taken to improve the air defence system of the United Kingdom.

Within the last eighteen months we have announced major orders for improved air to air missiles, a wider deployment of surface to air missiles, an increase of a third in our airborne tanker force, a go-ahead to the important Nimrod airborne early warning programme, and our intention to order the advanced Tornado F2 aircraft to replace the Lightning and Phantom fighters. Additionally, we intend to update our radar warning and control system.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will renegotiate the fixed price Ministry of Defence contract reached with Westland Helicopters in 1973.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the contract for the supply of Lynx helicopters to the British and French forces. This contract was freely negotiated between the parties and will therefore continue to stand. However, under the terms of the contract, Westland Helicopters Ltd. has submitted a claim which is being considered by the British and French Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by how many the members of the Armed Forces of the Crown have been reduced since 1st January 1978; and whether he remains satisfied with the prospects of future recruitment to the Armed Forces.

The total strength of the Armed Forces at 1st January 1978 was 323,516. The corresponding figure at 1st June 1978 was 317,657. Recruiting has been difficult in a number of areas, and we are taking steps to ensure that adequate resources are directed towards the recruitment of shortage categories.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of work undertaken by Royal ordnance factories is of a non-military nature.

Less than 1 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the future plans for hydrofoil purchase by the Royal Navy will include any provision for part construction in British shipbuilding yards.

There are at present no plans to purchase hydrofoils beyond the Boeing jetfoil recently ordered for operational evaluation. If further jetfoils were to be required. Boeing would expect to transfer construction to a United Kingdom contractor so that at least 70 per cent. of the work would be done in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received against his proposal to supply Indonesia with eight Hawk ground attack-trainer aeroplanes.

The recent announcement by British Aerospace of the sale to Indonesia of eight Hawk trainer aircraft has prompted letters from MPs, members of the public, and constituency Labour parties, and Questions have been tabled in the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration is being given by the Royal Air Force to a widening of the operation for members of the Women's Royal Air Force to undertake duties across a greater range of Royal Air Force activities including aircrew.

Members of the Women's Royal Air Force are not employed in combatant roles. Apart from this, the aim is to widen the opportunities for women to undertake duties across a greater range of Royal Air Force activities, but account has to be taken of their different terms of service, for example, the right to leave on marriage, and the effect of these on training costs and manning requirements. With the exception of air loadmasters, aircrew service is not open to airwomen because aircrew must at present be recruited as potential combatants. The policy is kept under regular review. I would, however, welcome the view of the hon. Member on this question.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, having regard to the increase in the last four years of 167 per cent. in the numbers unemployed to the present figure of 1,446,000, he will reconsider his policy of defence cuts, under which it is expected that a further 35,000 job opportunities in the defence industries will be lost by 1979, as stated in his answer to the hon. Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence) on 4th July 1978.

Our plans for future defence expenditure provide for a real 3 per cent. increase in 1979–80 over the previously-planned level for 1978–79 and, subject to review in the light of our economic circumstances, for a further real 3 per cent. increase in 1980–81. The actual level of direct employment in the defence industries, which has remained fairly constant at around 200,000 since 1975, should therefore remain at this mark, or even rise a little, during the next few years. The figure for lost job opportunities in the defence industries, referred to in the Answer given to the hon. Member for Burton on 4th July 1978, is based on a comparison between our currently planned defence equipment programme and the pre-defence review programme planned for 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he proposes to reinstitute close formation flying for 38 Group, Royal Air Force.

We have no current plans to reinstitute this form of training for our Hercules aircraft. Jaguar and Harrier aircraft of 38 Group practise close formation flying as part of their normal operational training.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why, and in what circumstances, Royal Air Force personnel are expected to pay all or part of the cost of travel to work from purpose-built married quarters to operational sites on the same station.

This matter was considered in detail by the National Board for Prices and Incomes in its second report in 1969 (Cmnd. 4079). Under the concept of the military salary, it is thought fair that as a civilian is normally required to bear the cost of his journey to work, a Service man should do likewise. However, to allow for the fact that in many cases a Service man has to live further from his work than a civilian would, the cost to him of his daily travel is normally limited to that of a 3-miles single journey. A Service man travelling more than six miles a day will therefore be refunded his fares, less a personal contribution of £1·35p per week to take account of the initial six miles journey each day. This is a subject that will receive consideration in the general context of any review of allowances and conditions of service.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to order further maritime reconnaissance Nimrods.

My right hon. Friend has no such plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give for the latest convenient date the numbers of alien vessels boarded by Her Majesty's Royal Navy while fishing illegally in British territorial waters; how many were towed into harbour: and how many of these were found guilty.

The Royal Navy does not confine its fishery protection duties to the United Kingdom's territorial sea, which is only three miles in breadth. Within the British fishery limits as a whole during the period 1st January 1977 to 14th July 1978, Royal Navy fishery protection vessels boarded 2,192 foreign fishing vessels. Of these, 55 were escorted to port and 50 skippers were subsequently convicted of fishery offences.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recent industrial unrest at the Royal dockyards; and what steps he intends to take to remove the causes.

The recent industrial unrest in the Royal Dockyards is primarily attributable to the state of negotiations on the pay of the Industrial Civil Service. I hope these negotiations will soon be concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what further action is proposed to reduce the proportion of the nation's resources devoted to defence, so that the burden will be brought into line with that carried by the United Kingdom's main allies.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens) on 27th June.—[Official Report, Vol. 952, c. 454.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the gross national product was devoted to defence expenditure in 1973–74 and what percentage is proposed in 1978–79.

The defence budget estimates for 1973–74 represented just over 5 per cent. of gross domestic product at market prices. The 1978–79 defence budget estimates represent about 4¾ per cent. of our forecast gross domestic product at market prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the requirements of his Department for cruise missiles and on the discussions held with United States manufacturers recently in London on their development by his Department.

As I have made clear on a number of occasions, we have no plans for the development or production of cruise missiles, although we have let limited contracts for research studies of the technology involved. We have had no discussions with United States manufacturers about the development of cruise missiles by the United Kingdom, althought from time to time we hear something of what United States firms themselves are doing.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many minelayers there are in the Royal Navy; and if he is satisfied with their capacity.

We have only one special minelaying vessel—HMS "Abdiel"—but we have contingency plans for taking over and adapting merchant ships for this purpose in emergency. This whole subject is currently under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the availability and state of readiness of men and equipment to fulfil any contingency plans which may exist for the protection of British subjects in Africa.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct the probation service to institute a management committee for the proposed bail hostel in Kew following the clear recommendation in the inspector's report dated 31st October 1977, paragraph 14, referring to the probation service's willingness to co-opt local representatives on to the hostel management committee.

The South-West London Probation and After-Care Committee is responsible for the management of this hostel. My right hon. Friend has no power to direct it how it should carry out this responsibility, but I understand that that it is conscious of the need to involve the local community in the affairs of the hostel.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been under the Race Relations Ast of employers asking the religion of applicants for jobs; and how many of these prosecutions resulted in convictions.

The Race Relations Act 1976 does not extend to discrimination on grounds of religion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England to publish its provisional recommendations for constituencies in Staffordshire.

It seems unlikely that the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England will publish provisional recommendations for parliamentary constituencies in Staffordshire until next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to encourage younger voters to use their vote in parliamentary and local elections.

Each year there is a national advertising campaign to remind all electors to make sure that their names are included on the draft register or electors' lists. This advertising draws particular attention to the position of young people who will become of voting age during the currency of the new register of electors. I believe that candidates and the political parties are in the best position to encourage all electors, including young people, to vote when parliamentary or local government elections take place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police on the robbery from Princess Hannan, daughter of King Khalid of Saudi Arabia, in Belgravia on or about 12th or 13th July 1978; how many of this family are in Great Britain; and for what purposes they were allowed to enter and remain.

I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by calling for a report or listing the members of the family in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been prosecuted to date under the various Acts prohibiting racial discrimination; how many people have been imprisoned; and what was the average length of sentence.

The only conduct made a criminal offence by the race relations legislation is incitement to racial hatred, which may only be prosecuted by or with the consent of my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters he has received from members of the public since 1st January concerning the restoration of capital punishment; and, of that number, how many were in favour of such restoration.

Up to 20th July, I had received this year 92 letters from members of the public specifically about the restoration of capital punishment, of which 86 were in favour of restoration. The subject may also have been mentioned in more general letters along with other issues.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to alter the size of the deposits that candidates must make at parliamentary elections.

The Government consider that this matter should be considered by a Speaker's Conference on electoral law before amending legislation is prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to repair "green goddesses" since the firemen's strike; and what is the total number of firefighting appliances at the disposal of the armed forces now compared with the end of that strike.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by him on 2nd February. The programme for servicing and refurbishing the "green goddesses" is well in hand. A similar number of appliances to that deployed during the strike would be available for use in any future emergency.—[Vol. 943, c. 281.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to introduce legislation to seek to amend the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976 so as to extend the anonymity rule to complainants and defendants in allegations of indecent assault contrary to section 14 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 or, alternatively, to seek to amend the 1976 Act so as to end the principle of anonymity altogether; and if he will make a statement regarding the operation of the anonymity principle.

We have no present plans to do so. In the course of its current review of sexual offences, the Criminal Law Revision Committee will be considering the question of anonymity for complainants and defendants in such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a full statement about consideration being given to a European standard for fire extinguishers and pressure vessels; what draft standards have, to date, been prepared; and what attitude British representatives have adopted to each draft standard;(2) if he will list the names of all interested parties, including manufacturers, whom he has consulted to date in the matter of any European Standard relating to fire extinguishers and pressure vessels; and if he will ensure the widest consultation before British representatives agree to any such draft standard;(3) what draft European standard for portable fire extinguishers has been proposed by French representatives in Working Group CEN WG 70; what is the view of British representatives to such a draft standard; and if he will ensure British interests are fully protected.

I understand that work is proceeding in the Committee for Standardisation of the European Economic Community (CEN) on the preparation of a standard for portable fire extinguishers. This is purely a commercial matter which does not bind the Government. The standard comprises five component parts, relating to (I) efficiency tests and test fires, (II) the retention of pressure, dielectric tests, compaction tests, (III) the resistance of the container to pressure, (IV) loads, and (V) temperature, vibration, fittings and identification. Of these parts, Part I (EN3 /I) was accepted by CEN as a European standard on 1st February 1975, but I understand that this has not been fully accepted as a British standard. The other parts are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money is paid each year in maintenance by divorcees to ex-wives or ex-husbands; what percentage of maintenance payments orders are in arrears; how much is paid in supplementary benefits to ex-wives and ex-husbands to make the payments sufficient; and what is the cost of enforcement each year.

I have been asked to reply.I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will take steps to compile a central register of information of Government paid and unpaid appointments held by Members of the House of Lords.

There is a wide range of public appointments for which individual Ministers are responsible. Much information is already given in the directory of paid public appointments, but the collation and maintenance centrally of the information which my hon. Friend suggests is not necessary for my Department's functions, and the cost in money and resources of so doing cannot therefore be justified.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what action he intends taking against those civil servants mentioned in reports of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration alleged to be guilty of maladministration and neglect, evasion of duty and deliberately losing papers and documents which they knew would be self-incriminating; and when such action is likely to be taken;(2) in view of the fact that the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration's Annual Report for 1977 shows that he investigated 91 complaints against 17 Government Departments and agencies and that of those complaints he found that in 33 such cases the complaints were wholly justified and that in a further 29 cases Departments concerned were criticised for their mistakes, what action he proposes to take to ensure an improvement during 1978.

It is the responsibility of the Minister of the Department concerned to take whatever remedial action he considers necessary following an investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, and my hon. Friend may be assured that Ministers are fully conscious of their responsibilities in this area.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service in view of the growing number of official reports from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration of gross maladministration and neglect in various Government Departments, including in some instances deliberate withholding and destruction of documents which can prove to be incriminating against the civil servant concerned, whether he will change the conditions of service of civil servants so that their disciplinary codes will warrant dismissal and prosecution in such cases.

I would refer my hon Friend to my reply today to his other Questions concerning the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. It is already the case that disciplinary action may he taken against a civil servant who fails to observe the rules of conduct set out at paragraphs 9860–9999 ("General Principles of Conduct") of the Civil Service Pay and Conditions of Service Code, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give details for the longest period of time of the number of former Prime Ministers who have received cars on grounds of security, other than the right hon. Members for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson) and Sidcup (Mr. Heath); and if any of these have been attacked in any way since relinquishing office.

No other former Prime Ministers have been provided with cars on security grounds, because this has not been judged, or found to be, necessary for their personal protection.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what pension and other emoluments are payable to a permanent under-secretary of state who retired aged 60 years on 31st March 1978 after 38½ years total service and nearly five years in his final appointment.

A permanent under-secretary of state who retired at age 60 on 31st March 1978 with 38½ years' reckonable service would be awarded a pension of £10,206·74 a year, and a lump sum, less any outstanding widows' pension contributions, of £30,620·21. Depending on personal circumstances, a contingent widow's pension may also be awarded, which would not exceed £5,103·37 a year.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he is satisfied with the level of requests from the public for copies of "The Government's Record".

I have been asked to reply."The Government Record" was produced as a reference work for Members of Parliament and Government Departments rather than for members of the public—though copies have been issued to those who have asked for them.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will prosecute Sir Hugh Fraser and the others concerned in the recent Scottish and Universal Investment Trust case for breaches of the Companies Acts.

Following the recent proceedings in Glasgow sheriff court, certain further inquiries are being made.

asked the Lord Advocate what report he has received from the procurator fiscal on the material referred to him by Sheriff Smith after the recent Scottish and Universal Investment Trust case; and if further prosecutions are intended.

This matter is under investigation.

asked the Lord President of the Council what was the net salary of hon. Members in 1972 and in July 1978 in real terms, assuming that they are married men with no dependent children, and following the recent announcement of a 10 per cent. pay increase, taking 1972 as the base year.

In January 1972 the Members' net salary was £3,078 per annum. Assuming a further 10 per cent. increase in gross pay, the net salary in July 1978, at January 1972 prices, would be £1,963 per annum.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will give an assurance that any draft EEC standard, either in the form of an EEC directive or draft regulation, will be presented to Parliament before any British approval of such a directive or draft regulation is granted; and if he will also ensure that the maximum consultation occurs with all interested parties before such a directive or draft regulation is published.

All draft EEC proposals (for legislation are considered by the Scrutiny Committee and debates are arranged on their recommendation. It is the Government's policy to consult interested parties before such legislation is adopted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total acreage of land lost to farming, to all other land uses, in England during the last 10 years; and what has been the average rate of farmland loss over that period.

The average annual net transfer of land in England out of agriculture, including rough grazings, to other uses over the 10 years 1965–66 to 1974–75, according to the latest information available, is estimated to be 55,770 acres (22,580 hectares) based on the following annual totals:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will institute a research project into the possibilities of soya bean cultivation and use in the United Kingdom.

My right hon. Friend the Minister has no such project in mind. Work supported by the Agricultural Research Council has established that climatic and other difficulties are likely to prevent cultivation on any significant scale in this country.

asked the Attorney-General, whether he will raise the upper income limit to qualify for legal aid under the civil legal aid scheme, and also the income below which no contribution is payable for legal aid under the scheme, so that the same proportion of the population as in 1950 is eligible for free legal aid and for legal aid with a contribution.

My noble Friend intends to improve the financial limits for legal aid as soon as sufficient resources are available.

asked the Attorney-General what is his estimate of the net annual cost, after deducting contributions, of abolishing the upper income limit for civil legal aid.

Any estimate of the net cost of abolishing the upper income limit for civil legal aid would depend on assumptions about the increase in the number of applications for legal aid, the number of new certificates issued in each type of case, and the disposable income of those to whom new certificates were issued. I regret that sufficient information on which to base an accurate estimate is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for prices and Consumer Protection whether, in view of the fact that a merger of the Imperial Group and J. B. Eastwood would give the combined group a 35 per cent. share of the United Kingdom broiler chicken market and a substantial share of the egg and turkey markets, he will refer the bid to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

My right hon. Friend will announce his decision as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, since S.I. 1977, No. 1866, provides a new statutory measurement for the purpose of the excise duties on hydrocarbon oils, if he intends to make an order prescribing that petrol should be sold by retail sale by the litre and not by the gallon.

The Government announced, in the reply to the hon. Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Shaw) on 16th May, that they will not be proceeding with orders which impose statutory cut-off dates for the use of imperial units at the point of retail sale. In making this announcement, however, the Government made it clear that they hope that the use of metric units at the retail level will he achieved on a voluntary basis with broadly the same target dates as currently envisaged and that they would be taking steps to assist such a changeover. This remains the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what has been the total cost of running the Electricity Consumers' Council including all main constituent costs of any sort whatsoever such as expenditure on its own programmes, wages, rent, heating, lighting and maintenance, in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what are the projected costs for 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement as to the availability of a suitable site in the United Kingdom for the European Community Trademark Office.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Lyons) on 21st July.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the result of recent negotiations concerning landing rights of Concorde within the United States of America.

Under the SST noise regulations announced on 27th June, the United States Government will permit the 16 Concordes in the current production programme to operate to United States airports, although airport proprietors continue to have the right to limit or ban aircraft operations at their airports through reasonable, non-discriminatory noise rules. Following representations by my Department, on 13th July the Civil Aeronautics Board announced its intention to approve the agreement under which Braniff will operate a British Air

The total cost of the Electricity Consumers' Council from its establishment on 31st October 1977 to 31st March 1978 was £18,000; the estimate for 1978–79 is £96,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how much has been spent by his Department on research in the last four years.

The information is as follows:ways Concorde on from Washington to Dallas. However, this agreement cannot be effective until a United States type certificate of airworthiness has been granted and a number of other legal obstacles resolved.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the negotiations with the Malaysian Government to allow Concorde to overfly the Malacca Straits.

During talks with a Malaysian delegation in London on 24th-25th May, answers were provided to the outstanding questions about Concorde's effect on Malaysia's environment and my Department asked that the Concorde service be allowed to resume as soon as possible. A general election in Malaysia has since intervened. We are now considering how best to achieve an early favourable decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the import of electrical goods from Eastern Europe, in the light of the recent decision of electric motor manufacturers in the Common Market territories to make joint representations to the Common Market Commission about this matter.

Imports of electric motors in the range 1hp to 100 hp from Eastern bloc countries took under 1 per cent. of the United Kingdom market in 1977. We are assisting the United Kingdom manufacturers' association with its contribution to a Community anti-dumping application for submission to the EEC Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what arrangements are being made to station ocean-going tugs in Shetland and Orkney; and who is to pay for them.

While I have nothing to add at present to the answer I gave the right hon. Member on 17th May, my officials will be discussing with the authorities concerned the safety of marine traffic and possible pollution hazards in these areas.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when lie last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

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

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI and the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC and CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC and CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC and CBI.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) on 18th July.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts) on 18th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with progress in developing the role of the European Council.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state his official engagements for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his engage. ments for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for Tuesday 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister is he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official appointments for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for Tuesday 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 25th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 25th July.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Welsh).

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has for taking the chair at the National Economic Development Council.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Radice) on 9th May.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to pay an official visit to Helsinki.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will dismiss the Secretary of State for Industry.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) on 13th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will visit Bromley.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied, in the light of his overriding responsibility for the safety of the realm, with the level of stocks of strategically important commodities held in the United Kingdom at the present time by Departments of Her Majesty's Government or by agencies acting on its behalf.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the heads of nationalised industries.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. Lewis) on 20th July.

asked the Prime Minister why he will not discuss with the various Opposition leaders and the Procedure Committee the possibility of extending his twice-weekly 15-minute Question Time to half an hour.

Prime Minister's Question Time was considered last year by the Sessional Committee on Procedure, and I am not aware of any significant developments since then which would be likely to lead to further changes.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with arrangements made between the Secretaries of State for Defence and for the Environment and housing authorities for the allocation of council houses to ex-Service men at the end of their terms of Service.

The allocation of council houses is entirely within the discretion of local authorities. However, the Department of the Environment Circular 54/75 urged local authorities to recognise the difficulties which retiring Service men may face, and my right hon. Friends seek every opportunity to underline that advice.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list the duties of the Lord Chancellor.

The Lord Chancellor is responsible for promoting general reforms in the civil law, for the procedure of the civil courts and for the administration of the Supreme Court—Court of Appeal, High Court and Crown Court—and county courts in England and Wales. He advises the Crown on the appointments of judges and certain other legal officers, and is himself responsible for the appointment of masters and registrars of the Supreme Court, district and county court registrars and magistrates, and for the filling of a large number of Crown livings in the Church of England. He is responsible for giving general guidance in respect of the civil legal aid, advice and assistance schemes. In addition, the Lord Chancellor is Speaker of the House of Lords.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will seek an early opportunity to discuss the question of shipbuilding capacity, shipbuilding subsidies and building for stock with the Prime Minister of Sweden.

The Government are kept informed of the situation in Sweden, but I do not think that a personal discussion with the Prime Minister of Sweden is necessary on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the results of his request to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service to resolve the Grunwick industrial dispute: and with what success.

Two trade union recognition issues were referred to ACAS under section 11 of the Employment Protection Act by APEX and TGWU in respect of recognition at Grunwick Processing Laboratories. The ACAS Council announced on 12th July that it had carefully considered all aspects of the references and concluded that it was unable to proceed with either of these references.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of people available for and seeking employment, but who are not registered as unemployed; and whether this figure can be broken down into sexes.

The latest estimates of the numbers of people seeking employment but not registered as unemployed were published in the June 1977 issue of the Department of Employment Gazette. This gives, for mid-1976, estimates of 50,000 males and 175,000 females.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of State appointments held by members of the Trades Union Congress general council at present.

Of the public appointments for which I am responsible, 68 are held by members of the TUC General Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the cost in the latest 12 months for which figures are available of training persons through the training opportunities programme to be secretaries and typists.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that during the financial year 1977–78 an estimated amount of £23,916,818 including allowances, training fees and an attribution of overheads incurred by the Manpower Services Commission was incurred on the training of secretaries and typists.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in West Gloucestershire have applied for job release.

Up to 11th July 1978 the number of applications approved under the job release scheme in West Gloucestershire was 17.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have applied for early retirement under the job release scheme.

Up to 11th July 1978 the number of applications approved under the job release scheme in Great Britain was 29,207.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young persons have been unemployed for over six months in West Gloucestershire

The latest available information is for January 1978 when there were 532 unemployed young persons under 25 years of age in West Gloucestershire who had been registered for more than 26 weeks. West Gloucestershire has been taken as the area covered by the Cinderford, Coleford, Lydney and Gloucester employment offices. Figures for July 1978 will become available shortly, and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate for each year for which statistics are available the percentage of members of the 28 area boards of the Manpower Services Commission represented by female members and the percentage of those who undertake training schemes provided by the Manpower Services Commission represented by female participants.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the percentage of members of the 28 special programmes area boards represented by female members is 9. The area boards were set up to implement the special programmes which came into operation on 3rd April 1978.The percentage of those who completed training courses provided by the Manpower Services Commission under the training opportunities scheme represented by female participants is shown in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the average weekly wage of (a) male and (b) female workers for each year for which statistics are available.

An extensive range of estimates of average weekly earnings has been produced during the present and the last century. Many are published in the Historical Abstract and Yearbooks of British Labour Statistics and the Department of Employment Gazette.