Written Answers To Quistions
Wednesday 26th July 1978.
Employment
Employment Protection
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the findings of the recent report by the Policy Studies Institute entitled "The Impact of Employment Protection Laws", particularly in the light of its failure to cover firms employing fewer than 50 people.
I believe that the report is valid for firms of the size and type covered—establishments employing between 50 and 5,000 employees in manufacturing industry. Establishments in the size range account for over 80 per cent. of all employees in manufacturing industry. I have commissioned some further research into the effects of the legislation in small firms employing less than 50 people.It should be noted that the response from those smaller independent firms employing between 50 and 199 people in the PSI sample did not differ from that of the sample as a whole.
Industrial Tribunals
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many industrial tribunal hearings are completed within one and two days, respectively.
About 80 per cent. and 95 per cent. respectively.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of industrial tribunal decisions are unanimously agreed.
About 96 per cent.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of applications for unfair dismissal expressed as a percentage of the total numbers of people in civilian employment in the last year for which statistics are available.
0·17 per cent.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of applications for unfair dismissal expressed as a percentage of all discharges and other movements out of employment in the latest year for which statistics are available.
Less than a half of 1 per cent.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment in what proportion of those cases where applicants are advised by the secretariat of industrial tribunals that their applications are outside jurisdiction the applicants persist with their applications.
About 8 per cent.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment in what proportion of industrial tribunal hearings employers and employees, respectively. are legally represented.
The most recent survey, covering four weeks in October 1977, showed that 49 per cent. of employers and 33 per cent. of employees were legally represented at industrial tribunal hearings.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment in how many cases of unfair dismissal since the inception of the legislation on the subject in 1972 monetary awards of over £5,000 have been made by industrial tribunals.
52 to the end of 1977.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment in how many cases of unfair dismissal since 1st June 1976 maximum monetary awards have been made by tribunals.
None.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the size of the median monetary award made by industrial tribunals in respect of unfair dismissal applications in the latest complete quarter for which statistics are available.
£408 in the first quarter of 1978.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many monetary awards made by industrial tribunals in respect of unfair dismissal applications were less than £400, less than £500 and £3,000 and over, respectively, in the last calendar year for which statistics are available.
In 1977, 55·5 per cent. of such awards were for less than £400; 65·4 per cent. for less than £500; 1·8 per cent. for £3,000 and over.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportions of applications to industrial tribunals in respect of unfair dismissal result in (a) a hearing, (b) conciliation and (c) withdrawal of the application.
In 1977, 36 per cent. of cases resulted in a hearing, 36 per cent. in conciliated settlements and 28 per cent. were withdrawn.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications were made to industrial tribunals in respect of unfair dismissal in 1976 and 1977, respectively.
37,869 and 38,306 respectively.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications to industrial tribunals were made in 1976 and 1977, respectively.
47,673 and 46,961 respectively.
asked the Secretary for. Employment how many industrial tribunal hearings of unfair dismissal applications there were in 1976 and 1977, respectively.
13,400 and 12,842 respectively.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many industrial tribunal hearings there were in 1976 and 1977, respectively.
19,194 and 18,962 respectively.
Small Firms (Industrial Tribunal Decisions)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of small firms as defined in the Bolton report are likely to be faced in the course of a year with a tribunal decision requiring them to pay compensation in respect of an unfair dismissal application.
About one in 1,000.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of small firms as defined in the Bolton report are likely to be faced in the course of a year with a tribunal hearing on an unfair dismissal application.
About one in 300.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of small firms as defined in the Bolton report are likely to be faced in the course of a year with unfair dismissal applications.
About one in 100.
Electoral Registration
asked the Lord President of the Council what regulations concerning the registration of an elector in more than one location for the purpose of a general election, or for the referenda on devolution, apply in Wales and in Scotland; and if they are similar in their application.
The requirements concerning the registration of electors are contained in the Representation of the People Acts which provide that electors may register in more than one location if they can satisfy the electoral registration officer in each area of their residential qualification. These provisions apply equally in Wales as in Scotland.
Home Department
Bail Hostels
65.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why his Department failed to provide bail hostel figures in a reply dated 22nd May to Mrs J. E. Lloyd of 22 High Park Road, Kew Gardens, when he provided them in a parliamentary reply to the hon. Member for Richmond, Surrey on 25th May.
Statistics supplied earlier to Mrs. Lloyd based on returns from hostel wardens had been discovered to be unreliable in some respects and it was thought unsafe to use them. This was explained to Mrs. Lloyd. On further examination it was realised that some of the figures could properly be used and these were given in reply to the hon. Member's Question on 25th May. It remains impossible to be sure from the returns how many offences were committed during residence at the hostel—which was among the information which Mrs. Lloyd had requested—or to relate further offences to absconders.
Crime Victims (Assistance)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will undertake an inquiry into the extent of assistance available to the victims of crime who often need support in dealing with the aftermath of distressing and shocking events.
I am not satisfied that an inquiry is necessary at the present time. In addition to the assistance rendered by the police and the social services, local victim support schemes are doing excellent work in this field, which I consider particularly suited to spontaneous voluntary effort at a local level. The police and the probation service are generally involved in such schemes and my Department follows their development with close interest.
Banned Organisations
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will detail in the Official Report as comprehensive a list as may be readily available giving the names of the persons or organisations which, as in the case of the Church of Scientology, have had their followers banned from entry into Great Britain for 10 years or more where no allegations, charges or prosecutions have been made against them and where no statement has been made about the reasons for imposing or continuing the ban.
There is no organisation other than scientology where the intention to support or work for it in the United Kingdom has been stated to be of itself a ground for refusing entry to a person subject to control under the Immigration Act 1971.
Pentonville Prison (Visitors' Centre)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the reason for the closure of the visitors' centre outside Pentonville prison; and what alternative arrangements are being made to maintain the service provided by the visitors' centre.
The centre had to be closed because, following differences of opinion over the operation of the centre, the Pentonville branch of the Prison Officers Association formally withdrew co-operation with it, and thus made it impossible for it to continue. Alternative accommodation has recently opened on prison premises where visitors may wait from 30 minutes before the start of visits. With the help of the Women's Royal Voluntary Service and the Inner London Probation Service it is hoped to improve these facilities shortly.
Prisoners (Pre-Release Courses)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the results of the pre-release courses held at Ashwell and Ranby prisons; if the courses are to continue in those prisons; and if they are to be extended to other prison department establishments.
Evaluation cannot be completed until we receive the final report of the Industrial Training Research Unit which designed the courses. Nevertheless, the intention is to continue the courses at Ashwell and Ranby prisons. No decision can yet be taken about their extension to other establishments.
Television Reception (Clwyd)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in the light of the generally poor state of television reception in the areas of the Ceiriog and Tanat valleys, Clwyd, North Wales, what steps he proposes to take to Improve such reception;(2) why it has been decided not to proceed with the installation of the promised television booster station at Fronfrys. Glynceiriog, Clwyd, North Wales.
The broadcasting authorities, which are primarily responsible for providing UHF television coverage, rejected the proposed Fronfrys site because problems of site access and of obtaining adequate signals for rebroadcasting led to the conclusion that a single station to serve the intended area in the Ceiriog Valley would not be feasible The BBC tells me that the possibility of providing two stations to improve reception in the Glynceiriog and Pontfadog areas is being considered, that progress is being made, but that it is still too soon to provide firm information about the future prospects.So far as the Tanat Valley is concerned, the BBC tells me that, while some parts of the valley are able to receive television services from the Wrekin UHF station, there are still no prospects in the foreseeable future of extending the coverage of Welsh television services there.
Terrorism
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests there have been since 1974 under the Prevention of Terrorism (Supplemental Temporary Provisions) Order 1976 at Holyhead and Liverpool, broken down into monthly figures for 1977 and yearly figures for the other years.
I am informed that the number of people detained at Holyhead and Liverpool under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Supplemental Temporary Provisions) Orders 1974 and 1976 are as follows:
| Liverpool: | |
| 1974 (from 29th November) | 4 |
| 1975 | 144 |
| 1976 | 346 |
| 1977 | 253 |
| 1978 (up to 20th July) | 115 |
| Holyhead: | |
| 1974 (from 29th November) | 0 |
| 1975 | 2 |
| 1976 | 28 |
| 1977 | 8 |
| 1978 (up to 20th July) | 9 |
The monthly statistics for each port in 1977 are as follows:
Liverpool:
| |
| January | 27 |
| February | 43 |
| March | 25 |
| April | 11 |
| May | 11 |
| June | 15 |
| July | 16 |
| August | 25 |
| September | 22 |
| October | 26 |
| November | 14 |
| December | 18 |
Holyhead:
| |
| January | 1 |
| February | 2 |
| March | 0 |
| April | 1 |
| May | 0 |
| June | 0 |
| July | 3 |
| August | 0 |
| September | 0 |
| October | 1 |
| November | 0 |
| December | 0 |
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been examined under article 5 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Supplemental Temporary Provisions) Order 1976; and how many people have been detained under article 10 of the order.
All persons arriving in or leaving Great Britain by ship or aircraft are liable to examination under article 5 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Supplemental Temporary Provisions) Order 1976. No records are kept of the numbers of persons examined.The police tell me that the total number of persons who had been detained at ports in Great Britain under article 9 and article 10 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Supplemental Temporary Provisions) Order 1974 and 1976 respectively was 2,384 up to 20th July 1978.
Entry Applications
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give an estimate of the number of people who had requested or were awaiting entry into Great Britain in the week ending 22nd July; how many had been refused entry and on what grounds; and whether the two Argentintian footballers who were immediately granted entry were treated on exactly the same basis as every other application for immigration.
It would involve a disproportionate effort to attempt to obtain the statistical information requested.Two Argentinian football players who propose to play for Tottenham Hotspur recently arrived here as visitors and were given leave to enter on that basis. I understand that they have since returned to the Argentine.
Sex Discrimination
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with progress under the Sex Discrimination Act 1976; and whether he proposes to seek to introduce any changes in this law.
I have nothing to add to the reply to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Butler) on 15th December—[Vol. 941, col. 350.]
Lodging Houses And Hostels (Fire Risk)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that single homeless people staying in lodging houses and hostels are adequately protected from the risk of death or injury by fire.
These are not premises affording a high fire casualty incidence and it has not been represented to me by fire authorities that the standards of fire precautions in them are generally less than adequate.
Identikit Pictures
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of Home Office Circular 109, Identification Parades and the Use of Photographs for Identification, whether identikit pictures will be treated in the same way as photographs in regard to their viewing by a witness before he attends an identify parade.
The rules and guidance on the use of photographs for identification do not in general apply to photofit and identikit pictures. But paragraph 6 of the administrative guidance states that when the use of a photofit or identikit picture results in there being a suspect available to be asked to stand on a parade, an officer should avoid showing the picture to other potential witnesses, who should instead be asked to attend any identification parade held.
Firearms Certificates
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearms licences were issued in each of the past 10 years.
Firearms certificates are granted by chief officers of police and no record of the number issued is maintained centrally. I regret that the information could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.
Legal Aid
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost in 1967 and 1968, and at the latest available date, of the free legal aid scheme, in: (a) criminal proceedings, (b) magistrates' courts, and (c) higher courts.
The total expenditure on legal aid in criminal proceedings for the financial years 1967–68, 1968–69 and 1977–78 was as follows:
| Magistrates courts | Higher courts | |
| £ | £ | |
| 1967–68 | 791,127 | 2,655,999 |
| 1968–69 | 1,205,058 | 3,063,748 |
| 1977–78 | 20,942.142 | 23,641,939 |
Immigrants (Strathclyde)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from Strathclyde community relations council following the publication of the report "Appeal Dismissed"; and if he is satisfied with its current operation of appeals on behalf of any wives and dependants of Pakistanis and Indians resident within Strathclyde Region.
One of the authors of the report "Appeal Dismissed" is a community relations officer employed by the Strathclyde community relations council and he has been in regular touch with the Department about the contents of the report. Apart from some inevitable delays, I am not aware of any reason for dissatisfaction with the current operation of appeals in Strathclyde.
Animals (Experiments)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that he is regularly informed of the number of animal technicians who are licensed to perform experiments on living animals under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876.
No. The qualifications of licensees are considered in relation to particular proposals for experiments as they are from time to time put forward.
Civil Service
Public Appointments
asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give the full and part-time public appointments held by the Baroness Scrota, Professor Sir Arthur Armitage, Mr. Derek Gladwin, Mr. Hugh Sanders and Sir George Waller and the pay and expenses which they have drawn for these appointments for the longest and most convenient period of time.
This information is not held centrally. I will arrange for the information to be compiled and will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.
Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs
Nigeria
12.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the state of relations with Nigeria.
We greatly value our good relations with this major African country. There have been a number of ministerial visits in both directions dur- ing the past year and we continue to place great importance on our regular and close consultations with the Nigerian Government. Nigeria is one of our main trading partners, and Britain was the largest exhibitor at the Lagos international trade fair in 1977.
39.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to secure the release from prison of British subjects held in Nigeria.
The hon. Member wrote to my right hon. Friend about a relative of one of his constituents who was detained in Nigeria on 5th July and he was pleased to be able to tell him that the person concerned was released on 17th July.
China (Sale Of Computers)
14.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what COCOM restrictions remain on the sale of computers to the People's Republic of China.
The sale of computers to certain countries, including China, continues to be subject to multilateral strategic control.The restrictions imposed by member countries relate to performance and capacity levels, to technology and to the end use to which the computers will be put.
Ussr
15.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he has made to the USSR concerning the incarceration in mental institutions of workers wishing to organise into free trade unions; and if he will publish the replies.
The Government's recent exchanges with the Soviet Government have been concerned with a number of aspects of human rights; and my right hon. Friend raised with Mr. Gromyko when he saw him in New York last month the impact which Soviet treatment of human rights campaigners has on British opinion. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services raised the general question of psychiatric abuse with the Soviet Government when he visited the Soviet Union last year.
18.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects next to meet the Soviet Foreign Minister.
No date has yet been arranged for my right hon. Friend's next meeting with Mr. Gromyko.
Southern Africa
16.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent developments in Southern Africa.
My right hon. Friend is in New York today for the current Security Council debate which will consider a resolution calling on the Secretary-General to appont a special representative and to submit his recommendations for United Nations involvement.
Namibia
17.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in conversations between the five Western ambassadors and the South West Africa People's Organisation about the independence of Namibia.
26.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will report progress on the Five-Power initiative for a Namibian settlement.
I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Lambeth, Central (Mr. Tilley).
Cyprus
19.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he now intends to put to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to resolve the position over allegations of contraventions of human rights by Turkey in Cyprus.
I assured my hon. Friend on 6th June that when the Cyprus complaint is again considered, the United Kingdom will do its best to ensure that a just decision in accordance with the convention is reached as soon as possible. That is still our intention.
British Information Services, New York
20.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking about the British Information Service in New York.
Following the Central Policy Review Staff Report on overseas representation, we have been considering the level of information staffing in our posts abroad, including those in the United States. We expect to announce a decision about these matters, including British Information Services, New York. shortly.
Rhodesia
21.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a farther statement on the situation in Rhodesia.
My right hon. Friend discussed the situation with the United States Secretary of State on 20th July. They agreed that the quiet diplomacy undertaken by Mr. Graham and Ambassador Low over the past seven weeks should continue. The aim of their discussions is to widen the areas of agreement between the parties in preparation for the round table talks which we are trying to establish and which are now more necessary than ever.
24.
asked the Secretary 01 State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new initiatives he intends to take towards achieving a peaceful transition to majority rule in Rhodesia.
25.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common wealth Affairs if he will make a statement about Rhodesia.
30.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had about the constitutional future of Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.
42.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he is making in his efforts to secure a meeting of the Rhodesian Government with the leaders of the guerrilla forces.
We are encouraged by the results of the discussions held by Mr. Graham and Ambassador Low in Africa since 31st May, to prepare the ground for talks with all the parties, and as my right hon. Friend agreed with Mr Vance on 20th July, they will be returning to Africa for further consultations shortly.
28.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to visit Rhodesia during the Summer Adjournment.
My right hon. Friend has no such plans at present.
33.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any further evidence regarding the willingness or otherwise of the various leaders in Rhodesia to come together in a round-table conference; and if he will make a statement.
As the House is aware, the Patriotic Front agreed at the Dar-es-Salaam talks in April to attend an all-party meeting. Although there has been no breakthrough, progress has been made in the consultations with the parties carried out by Mr. Graham and Ambassador Low, who will be returning to Africa at the end of this month.
United Nations
22.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is making a study similar to President Carter's report on the reform and restructuring of the United Nations system; and if he will publish his findings.
My right hon. Friend will shortly be publishing five papers on United Nations matters. Three of these stem from reviews of the Government's policy conducted in 1977, covering our general approach to the United Nations, economic and social questions and human rights, and another comments on President Carter's report.
Armenian People
23.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied that Her Majesty's Government have met fully their obliga- tions to the Armenian people as a signatory of the Treaty of Lausanne.
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 19th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens).
France (Vehicle Entry)
27.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance has been given by Her Majesty's Consular Service in France in assisting the drivers of vehicles belonging to British transport companies who are prevented from entering France on international journeys; and if he will make a statement.
The British Embassy in Paris has investigated a number of cases where the French authorities have detained vehicles belonging to British transport companies because of the alleged use of false transport permits. The circumstances were reported to the Department of Transport. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport, informed the House on 17th July of the action his Department has taken.
Malta
29.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next proposes to meet the Foreign Minister of Malta.
My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so at present.
36.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Malta about the exclusion of British journalists.
The British High Commission has told the Maltese Government that the British Government regret the Maltese action in banning British journalists and hope that the decision will be reconsidered.
Brasilia
31.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to pay an official visit to Brasilia.
My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so at present.
European Security And Co-Operation (Conference)
32.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will review progress under Basket II, co-operation in the field of economics, of science and technology and of the environment, of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe in the light of progress under Basket III, co-operation in humanitarian and other fields.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on 18th July to my right hon. Friend the Member for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson). The Government keep progress in all three baskets of the Final Act under review and will not be satisfied until it is implemented in all its provisions.
Portugal
34.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to pay an official visit to Portugal.
My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to visit Portugal.
Turkey
35.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British relations with Turkey.
The Government attach importance to their relationship with Turkey, which is a NATO ally and an associate of the European Community. Relations between the United Kingdom and Turkey are good.
Civil And Political Rights (United Nations Covenant)
37.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the Government's intention to sign the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 16th December 1966.
Her Majesty's Government have no plans at present to become a party to the optional protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Helsinki Final Act
38.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what latest representations he has made to the Soviet authorities regarding breaches of Basket III of the Helsinki agreement.
Within the last two months the Government have on different occasions made private representations about matters covered by Basket III, including the freer movement of peoples, the reunification of families, the treatment of journalists, and the dissemination of information.
International Commodity Centre
40.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the preliminary study of the establishment in London of an international commodity centre has been completed, and whether he will make a statement.
As I told the hon. Member for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker) on 26th April, we are conscious of the urgency of this matter. My right hon. Friend's officials continue to be in touch with the commodity organisations and we expect the preliminary study to be ready shortly. It would be premature to make a statement before Ministers have been able to consider the study.
Bbc Overseas Service (Ussr)
41.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what immediate steps he proposes to take to secure the installation of new modern transmitters for the broadcast of the BBC Overseas Service to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently considering with the BBC what additional transmitters and related equipment are required to improve the audibility of the BBC's overseas services in various parts of the world, including the Soviet Union.
European Community
Brussels
49.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will next visit Brussels.
On 19th September for the Foreign Affairs Council.
Ministerial Meeting
50.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects next to meet other EEC leaders.
51.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends next to meet his EEC colleagues.
58.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects next to meet the EEC Foreign Ministers.
61.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans next to meet his EEC counterparts in the Council of Ministers.
My right hon. Friend hopes to do so at a political co-operation ministerial meeting in Bonn on 14th September.
Middle East
55.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives he considers can be taken by the Council of Ministers to promote Middle East peace talks following the recent London meeting of Israeli an Egyptian Foreign Ministers.
For the present, I think we should support continuing talks between the parties under American auspices along the lines proposed at Leeds Castle.
Monetary Proposals
54.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will propose that the EEC Council of Ministers should hold a joint session with the EEC Finance Council to discuss the Franco-German monetary proposals issued after the Bremen conference on 7th July.
As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on 10th July, the European Council at Bremen specifically asked Finance Ministers at their meeting on 24th July to start work on guidelines for a possible European monetary scheme. At the Foreign Affairs Council meeting yesterday, we reviewed the follow-up to the European Council in general to check that all necessary steps were being taken. My right hon. Friend sees no reason to propose joint discussions between Foreign and Finance Ministers at this stage.
Ussr
57.
asked the Secretary or State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed with the other EEC Foreign Ministers the question of relations with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
My right hon. Friend's discussion of this subject collectively with other Foreign Ministers of the Nine took place at an informal meeting at Hesselet in Denmark on 21st-22nd May. However, my right hon. Friend keeps closely and constantly in touch with his colleagues of the Nine over developments in East-West relations.
Enlargement
59.
asked the Secretaty of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further progress has been made with regard to enlargement of the EEC; and if he will make a statement
Steady progress continues to be made on the Greek application. Discussions with the Greeks on the important agriculture chapter are about to begin Negotiations with Portugal are expectea to open soon after the summer break. The Commission's opinion on the Spanish application is expected at about the end of this year.
Foreign Ministers
60.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the other Foreign Ministers of the European Community.
At the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels yesterday.
Scotland
"Let The People Know" (Report)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be able to make an official response to the Scottish Consumer Council's report "Let the People Know" which was submitted for his consideration in 1977.
I have nothing to add to the terms of my reply on 24th July to the hon. Member for Inverness (Mr. Johnston).
Rate Support Grant
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of total local government expenditure in Scotland was represented by rate support grant in each of the last seven years.
Rate support grant together with specific grants as a percentage of relevant expenditure accepted for rate support grant purposes is shown in the table below:
| 1974–75 | 7975–76 | 1976–77 | 1977–78 | 1978–79 | |||
| Per cent | Per cent | Per cen | Per cen | Per cent | |||
| Needs Element | … | … | 71·53 | 76·22 | 76·02 | 75·67 | 78·98 |
| Resources Element | … | … | 23·84 | 19·05 | 19·16 | 19·00 | 19·75 |
| Domestic Element | … | … | 4·63 | 4·73 | 4·82 | 5·33 | 1·27 |
| £ million | ||||||
| 1975–76* | 1976–77 | 7977–78† | l978–79† | |||
| Borders | … | … | 14·195 | 18·298 | 19·613 | 20·756 |
| Central | … | … | 27·110 | 35·654 | 38·481 | 41·817 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | … | … | 17·982 | 23·069 | 24·781 | 27·131 |
| Fife | … | … | 41·760 | 52·580 | 56·963 | 58·433 |
| Grampian | … | … | 58·083 | 77·277 | 81·114 | 86·323 |
| Highland | … | … | 31·842 | 40·371 | 43·961 | 49·966 |
| Lothian | … | … | 88·640 | 114·560 | 118·335 | 126·273 |
| Strathclyde | … | … | 338·574 | 432·029 | 462·618 | 519·475 |
| Tayside | … | … | 48·874 | 63·251 | 65·742 | 72·015 |
| * 10½ months from 16th May 1975 to 31st March 1976. | ||||||
| † Subject to later adjustment. | ||||||
Year
| Percentage of rate support grant and specific grants to relevant expenditure
|
| 1971–72 | 66·0 |
| 1972–73 | 66·5 |
| 1973–74 | 68·0 |
| 1974–75 | 71· |
| 1975–76 | 75·0 |
| 1976–77 | 70·7 |
| 1977–78 | 68·5 |
Relevant expenditure excludes certain expenditure undertaken by local authorities, mainly on housing. The percentage figures given for 1974–75 and 1976–77 differ from those initially determined as a result of adjustments made by subsequent increase orders.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage of rate support grant, in Scotland given to (a) needs element, (b) resources element, and (c) domestic element, for each year from 1974–75 to 1978–79.
The percentage given to the various elements of rate support grant since 1974–75 is shown in the table below:
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what share of total rate support grant was allocated to each region, for each year since 1975–76, including 1978–79.
The share of total rate support grant allocated to regional councils and district councils within each region for each year since 1975–76 is shown in the table below:
Seals
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the estimated seal population in Scottish sea waters in each five year interval since 1958.
No overall figure is available for 1958, the figures for the subsequent years requested are as follows:
| Year | Common Seals | Grey Seals | Total |
| 1963 | 11,000 | 35,000 | 46,000 |
| 1968 | 11,000 | 42,000 | 53,000 |
| 1973 | 11,000 | 54,000 | 65,000 |
| 1977 | 11,000 | 60,000 | 71,000 |
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate has been made of the annual total fish loss of (a) salmon and (b) white fish as a result of being taken or being infected by seals in Scottish coastal waters.
Any division of fish predation by seals between salmon and white fish would be hypothetical. The total consumption by seals, based on their known energy requirements, is estimated at about 195,000 tonnes, of which 65,000 tonnes is the estimated loss of catch.The grey seal is the final host of the larval nematode known as cod worm and the infestation of cod by this parasite in the North Sea and in other areas is over 40 per cent.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate has been made of the total cost of the proposed seal cull in Scottish waters; why this contract was given to a Norwegian company; and if he will make a statement on safeguards to avoid undue suffering.
The proposed grey seal cull will comprise 900 adult seals and 4,000 moulted pups. Most of the pups are to be taken by Scottish seal hunters in the Orkneys and in the Western Isles at no public expense other than administrative costs. The adult cull will be carried out under contract by a Norwegian sealer because my right hon. Friend is not satisfied that any Scottish seal hunter has either the equipment or the expertise to take adults in the numbers required. The cost will be based on a daily charter to be offset by the value of the animals taken; if the full quota is taken the net cost to public funds will be nil.My right hon. Friend requires all animals to be shot wth a rifle conforming to the requirements of the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 and culls are supervised by my Department. In addition the adult cull will be observed by scientists of the Sea Mammal Research Unit and the Nature Conservancy Council and, if they wish, the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Glasgow (Immigrants)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's consistent refusal to give aid to Glasgow under section 11 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1966; and whether he envisages such funding being made available to the city in the near future.
It has not been necessary to institute a specific grant scheme under section 11 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1966 when assistance can readily and simply be made available to appropriate projects under the urban programme for which substantially increased funds have been made available. My right hon. Friend will, however, keep this arrangement under review.
Water Rates (Church Halls)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the operation of the law as it affects the levying of water rates on church halls in Scotland, in the light of the evidence sent to him by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South.
I shall write to the hon. Member when I have studied the evidence.
Councillors (Attendance Allowances)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total cost to local authorities in Scotland, for the latest available year, of councillors' attendance allowances; and what proportion this represented of revenue expenditure.
Expenditure on attendance allowances is not separately identified in regular returns provided by local authorities. The report of the Committee of Inquiry into the System of Remuneration of Members of Local Authorities—the Robinson Committee—shows that in 1975–76 local authorities in Scotland probably made attendance allowance payments of £1,250,000 and that the overall cost of attendance allowances in England, Wales and Scotland in 1975–76 was less than one-tenth of 1 per cent. of total local government expenditure.
Travelling Folk (Sites)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce a 100 per cent. grant for local authorities providing permanent sites for travelling folk, as is proposed for gipsies in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.
My right hon. Friend has just received the second report of the Advisory Committee on Scotland's Travelling People, which deals among other
| Year | Net Relevant Expenditure | Salaries and Wages | Percentage of Salaries and Wages to Net Expenditure | ||||
| £m. | £m. | ||||||
| 1975–76* | … | … | … | … | 1,037 (provisional) | 673 | 64·90 |
| 1976–77 | … | … | … | … | 1,335 (provisional) | 841 | 63·00 |
| 1977–78 | … | … | … | … | 1,436 (provisional) | 930 | 64·76 |
| 1978–79 | … | … | … | … | 1,682 (estimated) | Information not yet available | — |
| * 10½ months financial year. | |||||||
Rate Yield
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the yield of rates in Scotland; and what proportion comes from (a) domestic properties, (b) industrial premises, (c) commercial premises, and (d) other categories.
The latest estimate of the yield of rates in Scotland excluding domestic water rate and formula rated public utilities is £601 million payable in the following shares:
| Domestic | 37·9 per cent. |
| Industrial | 13·7 per cent. |
| Commercial | 27 per cent. |
| Miscellaneous | 21·4 per cent. |
Water Services Revenue
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what
things with the rate of grant for the provision of sites. My right hon. Friend intends to consider the report in consultation with the local authorities and other interests concerned.
Rate Fund Services (Expenditure)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total gross expenditure on rate fund services in Scotland for each year since 1975–76 including an estimate for 1978–79; and what is the total expenditure on wages and salaries expressed as a percentage of gross expenditure on rate fund services for each year.
Information on total expenditure on rate fund services is not yet complete for the years since 1975–76. The following table shows expenditure on salaries and wages on the rate fund services against net expenditure relevant for rate support grant purposes. excluding expenditure on housing.was the total revenue for water services of the regional councils for each year since 1975; and what proportion was met from (
a) industrial premises, ( b) commercial premises, and ( c) domestic premises.
The latest year for which information is available is 1975–76 when the provisional income of the water supply accounts of Scottish local authorities was £45·1 million. This sum comprises revenue from public and domestic water rates—£0·4 million—meter charges—£13·3 million—and Exchequer grants—£1·4 million—but information is not available on the amounts paid by different categories of ratepayers.
Derelict Land
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres of derelict land have been approved for reclamation in Scotland for each year since 1974.
Since 15th December 1975 responsibility for derelict land reclamation schemes has rested with the Scottish Development Agency, and I refer the hon. Member to the Agency's annual report. Figures of annual approval before that date are not readily available but completions of schemes approved by the Scottish Development Department prior to December 1975 were as follows:
| acres | |
| 1974 | 1,028 |
| 1975 | 849 |
| 1976 | 1,517 |
| 1977 | 604 |
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the extent of derelict land in each of the districts in Strathclyde, Lothian, Central Scotland, Fife and Tayside expressed (a) in acres, and (b) as a percentage of the total area.
Information on the total amount of derelict land is not available in respect of all district authorities. Estimates for the regions in Central Scotland are as follows:
| Derelict land (acres) | Percentage of total area | |
| Strathclyde | 23,100 | 0·7 |
| Lothian | 6,150 | 1·4 |
| Central | 5,500 | 2·1 |
| Fife | 3,700 | 1·1 |
| Tayside (Dundee District | 200 | 0·4 |
Rates
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the proportion of net disposable income taken by rate repayments.
The estimate for 1976, the latest year for which figures are available, is 3·29 per cent. in Scotland, where rate payments include water and drainage charges.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average domestic rate bill in Scotland for each year since 1974–75 including 1978–79; and what percentage increase this represented over the average bills for the previous year.
The information is given in the table below:
| AVERAGE DOMESTIC RATE PAYMENTS (EXCLUDING DOMESTIC WATER) | ||
| Year | Amount | change |
| £ | ||
| 1974–75† | 75·20 | +14·9 |
| 1975–76*† | 98·99 | +31·6 |
| 1976–77† | 110·63 | +11·8 |
| 1977–78† | 127·78 | +15·5 |
| 1978–79.‡ | 119·21 | -6·7 |
| * 10½ month financial year. | ||
| † Provisional. | ||
| ‡Estimated. | ||
Local Authorities (Staff)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest quarterly estimate of total local authority staffing in Scotland; and what is the change in staff numbers expressed as a percentage for each quarter since March 1975.
I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the return for March 1978, which has also been placed in the Library. Quarterly figures are not available for 1975. Since March 1976 the quarterly percentage change in manpower numbers has been as follows:
| Date | Percentage Change From Date Previous Quarter |
| March 1976 | — |
| June1976 | + 0·16 |
| September 1976 | -05 |
| December 1976 | -0·9 |
| March 1977 | -0·2 |
| June 1977 | -1·0 |
| September 1977 | -1·0 |
| December 1977 | -0·09 |
| March 1978 | + 0·12 |
Local Government Expenditure
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Government's forecast of percentage increases in local government spending in Scotland in real terms for each year since 1974–75; what is the actual percentage increase in local government spending for each year; and what is the amount overspent in percentage terms.
I shall write to the hon. Member.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total revenue expenditure of local authorities in Scotland for the latest available year; and what proportion of the expenditure is net from (a) grants, (b) rates (c) charges and (d) other services.
Estimated current expenditure in 1976–77 by local authorities on rate fund services was £1,835 million and estimated income £1,888 million. Estimated income comprised:
| (a) grants | 60·2 per cent. |
| (b) rates | 24·5 per cent. |
| (c) fees and charges | 2·7 per cent. |
| (d) other services (including rents) | 12·6 per cent. |
New Towns (Housing)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the proportion of rented and owner-occupied properties for each of the new towns as reported in the latest annual return available.
At 31st March 1978, owner-occupied housing as a percentage of total housing available in each new town was as follows:
| East Kilbride | 17·6 per cent. |
| Glenrothes | 14·8 per cent. |
| Cumbernauld | 19·9 per cent. |
| Livingston | 8·6 per cent. |
| Irvine | 18·4 per cent. |
Water Supply And Sewage Disposal
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average combined charge for water supply and sewage disposal in each region in Scotland for each year since 1975–76.
I regret that it is not possible to give the information requested since there is no separately defined sewerage rate and the cost of water supply is met from several sources including domestic water rate.
Septic Tanks
asked asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average annual cost of septic tank emptying in each region in Scotland.
This information is not available. Depending on the use they make of their powers under the Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968, regional and islands councils may empty septic tanks with or without direct charge to the owner. Tanks may also be emptied by private arrangements.
Scottish Development Agency
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that his Minister of State advised the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart, in a letter dated 24th May, that he had asked the chairman of the Scottish Development Agency to provide direct certain statistics requested by the hon. Member in a letter to the Minister of State dated 16th May; if, further, he is aware that no reply has yet been received; and when the request to the chairman of the Scottish Development Agency was conveyed.
I much regret that, owing to an oversight within the Department, this request was not conveyed to the Agency at the time I wrote to the hon. Member. This omission was rectified on 18th July and I understand that the chairman has now written with the information requested.
Fisheries Protection
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider acquiring high-speed hovercraft to strengthen the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland fleet of fishery protection vessels.
A Royal Navy hovercraft has recently been engaged experimentally on fishery protection work off Scotland and officers from my Department have been aboard on a number of patrols. This type of craft has limitations as a general purpose fishery protection vessel. Its suitability for specific limited tasks is still under consideration.
Official Documents (30-Years Rule)
asked the Attorney-General whether he is able to give an assurance that all official papers and documents due for revelation under the 30-years rule are now available for inspection and that none has been lost or destroyed to prevent embarrassment or possible criminal prosecution of those mentioned in the papers.
Apart from a small proportion of records on which work is outstanding, all records created more than 30 years ago and due to be opened under the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967 are available for public inspection. I am not aware that any such records have been lost or destroyed.
Legal Aid
asked the Attorney-General what representations he has received from pensioners urging a change in the financial conditions of legal aid; and if he will make a statement.
My noble Friend has received many inquiries about improving the financial conditions for legal aid, some of which have been from organisations or persons representing pensioners. My noble Friend is fully aware of the difficulties the present financial conditions can involve, particularly for elderly people who have accumulated small savings. He intends to improve the financial limits as soon as sufficient resources become available.
Industry
Microelectronics
asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the further help he proposes to give to the microelectronics industry.
I am pleased to announce that my Department is to introduce a, microelectronics industry support programme (MISP) to which an allocation of £70 million over five years has been made. This is an important new scheme which will give help to British industry to develop and exploit the latest technologies in the field of microelectronics which are becoming increasingly basic to the electronic equipment industry and to other branches of manufacture.The programme will assist the development and manufacture of those microelectronic devices where a close engineering interaction between user and supplier is needed—"specials". Companies will also be encouraged to manufacture selected standard products with the objectives of increasing exports and import substitution. These aims are in line with the recommendations on a strategy for the industry recently published by the NEDC's electronic components sector working party.
Assistance under the programme will be given on a selective basis to viable projects which contribute to the strategy of strengthening the United Kingdom microelectronics industry as a whole and which require such assistance for their realisation. The programme will support firms in the United Kingdom engaged in the manufacture of microelectronic devices and also those supplying specialised equipment, materials or services to the microelectronics industry.
Assistance will be available in the following forms:
grants of up to 25 per cent. for investment in production plant, equipment and building.
The programme will operate as from today and formal guidance for applicants will be published shortly.
Agricultural Machinery
asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the overall percentage rise in the cost of agricultural machinery over the past two years.
Between June 1976 and June 1978, the wholesale price index for home-produced agricultural machinery sold on the United Kingdom market, excluding VAT, rose by 43½ per cent. on provisional figures.
Chrysler Uk Ltd
asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will undertake discussions with Chrysler UK under the planning agreement which the Government have with it with a view to setting up production and assembly facilities in the United Kingdom to produce one-ton pick-up trucks;(2) if Chrysler UK needs Government permission under the terms of the planning agreement between itself and the Government to import one-ton pick-up Isuzu trucks from Japan; and if he will make a statement;(3) if Chrysler UK, under the terms of the planning agreement between itself and the Government, has asked for permission to import Isuzu one-ton pick-up trucks into the United Kingdom; if so, how many per annum; and if he will make a statement on the benefits to United Kingdom truck production and to the United Kingdom economy of such a proposal;(4) if, under the terms of the planning agreement between the Government and Chrysler UK, he has held or intends to hold talks with the unions on proposals to import Isuzu one-ton pick-up trucks.
pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th July 1978 Vol. 954, c. 94], gave the following information:Chrysler UK does not have any plans to import one-ton pick-up Isuzu trucks. The plans for the commercial vehicle operations of Chrysler UK are a subject for discussions under the planning agreement. Substantial changes to the assisted business must be notified to the Department under the terms of the agreement signed on 5th January 1976.
Agriculture, Fisheries And Food
European Community Council Of Fisheries Ministers
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Ministers (Fisheries) meeting in Brussels this week.
I represented Her Majesty's Government at a meeting of the Fisheries Council in Brussels on 24th and 25th July.The Council was marked by an attempt on the part of the German Presidency to force the United Kingdom to accept qualified majority voting on fishery matters. This would inevitably have prejudiced our stand for a just settlement of the common fisheries policy, and after protracted debate, in which I re-emphasised the Government's refusal to accept this procedure, I established clearly that the United Kingdom could not be com- pelled to accept voting on fishery matters which affect our fundamental national interest. This was subsequently demonstrated in the Council when I opposed the conclusion of framework agreements with the Faroes, Sweden and Norway.The Council agreed on a division of the EEC's quotas off Northern Norway for the next three months and off the Faroes for 1978 as a whole. The division preserves our share of the most important species taken in these waters on the basis of the allocation agreed last September. Consequently, it was possible to reach agreement in principle on a further roll-forward of the arrangements for reciprocal fishing between the EEC and third countries.The Council also agreed on the provision of funds to assist coastal States to maintain effective fishery protection in waters under their sovereignty or jurisdiction. Initially this will apply to waters around Ireland and Greenland, but an amendment was adopted by the Council to provide that the arrangement may tie extended to other member States, including, of course, the United Kingdom. The Council also agreed to a limited scheme of aid, not extending beyond the end of this year, for investment in inshore fishing vessels and fish farming in certain regionsFinally, I drew the Council's attention to the latest scientific advice regarding the herring fishery around the Isle of Man, but the Council did not reach any conclusion on measures to conserve this stock.
European Community Council Agriculture Ministers
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Ministers (Agriculture) meeting in Brussels this week.
I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting together with my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary.The Council considered Commission proposals for subsidised sales of butter from intervention stocks. Because of the special circumstances of the United Kingdom market, these proposals would have created difficulties here and the benefit to consumers would have been comparatively small. The Council accordingly expressed the view that the United Kingdom's share of the total of 50 million units of account allocated for these schemes should instead be added to the special United Kingdom butter subsidy. The details will be subject to further discussion and it may be some time yet before the scheme can be implemented. It would be our intention that the payments should apply to all butter sold on the United Kingdom market the amount likely to be available would be equivalent to, say, about 3p per lb over a period of three months.The Council considered the question of resuming imports of beef from Botswana, which have been suspended for several months because of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the north of that country. It was decided that, in view of the improved animal health position, imports of beef from the southern region of Botswana could safely be resumed into Britain and that urgent consideration will be given in early September to allowing imports from other disease-free areas.I drew the attention of the Council to the fact that the French Government had closed their market to imports of British sheepmeat for an unspecified period. I pointed out that this will increase the discrimination against our exports to France. The Commission undertook to consider the position.
Bulls (Veterinary And Genetic Standards)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Government have completed their review of veterinary and genetic quality standards currently being applied to the approval of bulls for artificial insemination; and if he will make a statement.
Yes. The broad conclusion reached by my right hon. Friends the Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is that veterinary controls and standards applied at present in the approval of artificial insemination bulls must continue with modifications introduced as necessary to meet changing disease patterns; but genetic quality controls should be relaxed to provide greater freedom to individual breeders provided certain prerequisites are satisfied.
The most important of these prerequisites is that there should be statutory requirements in respect of the information to be made available to potential purchasers of semen, by advertising or other means. The Agriculture Departments will shortly be consulting interested organisations about the form that such requirements might take. When the requirements have been introduced, which we think should be possible before the end of the year, my right hon. Friends will be prepared to make the following changes in the existing controls:
My right hon. Friends consider it important that these revised arrangements be monitored closely so as to measure their effect on the national dairy herd. They also wish to see rapid progress made towards the introduction of a standardised system of assessment of the important genetic characteristics of all dairy bulls used for AI. To make progress towards these objectives, my right hon. Friends propose to set up a committee which would bring together representatives of the main AI interests—breeders, the AI organisations and farmers' unions —with independent scientific experts and officials of the Agriculture Departments. The committee would be responsible for monitoring the effect of the changes in controls and proposing such further changes as may be desirable, encouraging improvement in the system of genetic assessment, and advising generally on the breeding objectives for the national dairy herd.
No immediate changes are envisaged as far as beef bulls are concerned, but breed societies are being asked to encourage a more widespread use of AI in pedigree herds.
The authentication of parentage of all bulls by blood typing will be made mandatory before they are used in AI.
Details of the new limits and other arrangements are contained in a report by a working group of officials that met under the chairmanship of the director general of ADAS. The report will be published shortly: a summary of its conclusions and recommendations has been placed in the Library.
Small Woods Scheme
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of moneys paid out under the small woods scheme to date have been paid for (a) wholly coniferous, (b) partially coniferous and (c) wholly broadleaved planting schemes.
This information is not maintained centrally. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
Tree Planting
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what advice the Forestry Commission depends when deciding whether mixtures of planting or pure conifer planting are acceptable on visual amenity and nature conservancy grounds and in order to keep in harmony with the landscape.
The Forestry Commission has a duty, whilst pursuing its main objective of timber production, to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of forest landscapes. It is aided in its task by the advice of professional foresters and landscape architects on the staff and the assistance where necessary of a retained landscape consultant. In all applications for grant aid for private planting under the basis III dedication scheme, consultations are undertaken at local level with planning authorities and other interested organisations.
Intervention Stocks
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated value in European units of account and in £ sterling, commodity by commodity, of the intervention stocks currently held in the United Kingdom.
Subject to final verification, the estimated values of intervention stocks held in the United Kingdom by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce on 14th July were:
| European Units of Account | £Sterling | |
| Bteef | 38,705,367 | 25,749,907 |
| Butter | 31,840,674 | 21,182,963 |
| Skimmed Milk Powder | 57,598,511 | 38,319,137 |
| Barley | 2,558.599 | 1,702,185 |
Feeding Stuffs (Copper Additives)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has from the EEC for harmonisation of the level of copper additives in feeding stuffs; whether these proposals accord with research evidence and with current practice in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
None. The present position is that EEC directive 70/524 requires all member States to permit the incorporation of copper in pig feeds up to 125 parts per million; in addition, under a provision at present due to terminate at the end of this year, member States may, if they wish, permit incorporation up to 200 ppm.Product licences under the Medicines Act have been granted in the United Kingdom permitting the incorporation of up to 200 ppm and the United Kingdom has asked the EEC Commission to propose an increase from 125 ppm to 200 ppm in the maximum permanently applicable. We are about to submit to the Commission results of further United Kingdom studies on the efficacy of copper in pig feed and data on environmental effects. We understand that the Commission intends to submit this material to its Scientific Committee on Animal Nutrition and will be making proposals in due course based on the advice given to it by the committee.
Coresponsibility Levy
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the collection, distribution and use of the coresponsibility levy through the EEC.
All member States of the EEC have assured the European Commission that the coresponsibility levy is being applied in their countries. We do not regard all the purposes on which the levy is to be spent as being equally effective or appropriate, but the allocation and use of the levy receipts are matters for which the European Commission is responsible.
Fishery Industry (Discarding At Sea)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to take steps to implement the recommendation in the report of the Expenditure Committee on the British fishery industry that discarding at sea of fish subject to a quota or licensing should be forbidden.
The Government are still studying the Expenditure Committee's report, including the recommendation about discarding at sea.
Environment
Seismograph Limited (Planning Decision)
62.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations took place before he reached his decision to allow the appeal by Seismograph Limited against Bromley Council's refusal of planning permission for the erection of a large industrial building on green belt land at "Holwood", Keston.
There are never any consultations about planning appeals after inquiry without a reference back to the parties in accordance with the inquiries procedure rules. The appeal by Seismo- graph Limited followed the normal procedure; the decision was reached on the information contained in the inspector's report and took into account the representations of interested parties referred to in it.
Shetland (Visit)
63.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total share to be borne by public funds of the expenses of the two-day visit to Shetland by chartered aircraft of eight British Petroleum personnel, 25 members of the Nature Conservancy Council and officials and two civil servants, during which they are to look at various oil installations from the air.
The cost to public funds of the Nature Conservancy Council's visit to Shetland was approximately £1,500. Public funds will bear no share of the cost of the aircraft.
Local Authorities (Expenditure)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount of the underspending of local authority allocations in the West Midlands County area in 1977–78; and whether he will publish details breaking this down by authorities.
Final figures for housing capital expenditure by individual authorities in respect of their 1977–78 allocations are not yet available to the Department.
Rate Fund (Revenue Expenditure)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the rate fund revenue expenditure of local authorities in England and Wales analysed by service for each year since 1974–75.
Annual figures from 1974–75 of relevant expenditure for each major service in the rate support grant settlement—broadly equivalent to net rate fund revenue expenditure—are contained in Table 23 of "Rate Support Grant: Ninth Period", published by the local authority associations, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
Flagpoles (State Occasions)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of erecting and dismantling ceremonial flagpoles in the Westminster-Buckingham Palace area for State occasions; how many times such flagpoles have been erected and dismantled in each of the last five years; and what would be the cost and disadvantages of erecting permanent flagpoles.
Different combinations of flagpoles are erected in the Westminster-Buckingham Palace area depending on the nature of the State occasion. The cost for the Romanian State Visit—including horizontal poles from Government buildings—was £29,000. The cost of 16 poles in Parliament Square, as for Europe Day, is £1,700; 37 poles as used for Commonwealth Day cost £4,500.Poles have been erected and dismantled as follows:
| 1974 | 5 times |
| 1975 | 5 times |
| 1976 | 5 times |
| 1977 | 6 times |
| 1978 to date | 5 times |
Superannuation Funds (Expenditure)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total expenditure by local authorities in England and Wales on superannuation funds for each year since 1974–75.
The available figures are as follows:
| Local authorities' expenditure on superannuation* | |
| £ million | |
| 1974–75 | 231·7 |
| 1975–76 | 381·2 |
| 1976–77 | 485·5 |
| *comprising amounts charged to local authority service accounts in respect of employers' contributions to superannuation funds, payments to superannuation fund pensioners under Pensions (Increase) Acts and payments under police and firemen's pension schemes. | |
New Town Development Corporations (Assets)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimate of the value of the assets of each new town development corporation.
No valuation of development corporation assets has been undertaken. The total net capital expenditure at historic cost of each development corporation at 31st March 1978 was as follows:
| £ million | |
| Aycliffe | 42 |
| Basildon | 139 |
| Bracknell | 72 |
| CLNT | 72 |
| Corby | 45 |
| Harlow | 83 |
| Milton Keynes | 216 |
| Northampton | 89 |
| Peterborough | 143 |
| Peterlee | 40 |
| Redditch | 96 |
| Runcorn | 103 |
| Skelmersdale | 87 |
| Stevenage | 76 |
| Telford | 156 |
| Warrington | 79 |
| Washington | 81 |
| TOTAL | 1619 |
Green Belt Land
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount of land in England and Wales subject to green belt policies of all kinds.
No central record of the details of green belt areas is maintained by the Department. The boundaries of an area subject to green belt policies are shown in the development plan. If the hon. Member will let me know of any particular area in which he is interested, I shall let him have particulars of the operative development plan.
Detergents And Allied Products (Scrutiny Group)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total cost of running the Detergents and Allied Products—Voluntary Scheme, Scrutiny Group, 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.
In the 12 months ending 31st March 1978 the cost of running the Detergents and Allied Products—Voluntary Notification Scheme Scrutiny Group is estimated at £2,580. Research and development of methodology for testing certain notified projects cost £2,500; £80 was needed for fees and other membership expenses. Costs in the 12 months to 31st March 1979 will depend on the number of notifications made to the group, but they are not expected to be significantly different from last year's figure.
Water Storage (Local Authorities)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial assistance his Department has given since mid-1976 to those local authorities seeking to make provision for the storage of water.
The public authorities which make provision for the storage of water, as part of their function of public water supply, are water authorities and statutory water companies. The main case in which grant has been paid to an English authority since 1976 in regard to the storage of water is that of the Kielder water scheme which is being constructed by the Northumbrian water authority. This grant is paid under section 7 of the Local Employment Act 1972 because most of the water will be used to support industrial expansion. About £4·3 millions has been paid to date in regard to the storage element of this scheme.
Agrément Board
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the fact that the four present members of the Council of the Agrément Board, other than the full-time, salaried director, are all male and all between the ages of 62 and 73 years, he will take into account the desirability of appointing some younger people, including women, when the present terms of office expire on 31st December, in addition to reappointing the present members.
In considering appointments to the council of the Agrément Board it has never been my right hon. Friend's policy to select or discount anyone solely on the grounds of their sex or age.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when (a) the £600 fee for the chairman of the Agrément Board and (b) the £300 fee for the other board members was fixed; and to what level it would be necessary to increase it in order to keep pace with inflation since then.
The fee for the chairman of the Agrément Board was set in 1967 on the appointment of the late Lord Peddie and the fee for other council members was set in 1966 when the original members were appointed. To keep pace with inflation since then the fees payable now would have to be approximately £1,900 per annum for the chairman and £975 per annum for other council members.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why neither Mr. T. Harley-Haddow, following his resignation on 26th January, nor Lord Peddie, followed his death on 13th April, has been replaced by new ministerial nominees to the council of the Agrément Board; why Mr. W. J. Appleton has not been replaced as an assessor by the Property Services Agency; and whether he intends to take any further action on this matter in advance of the report of the Bennett Committee.
My right hon. Friend considered that it would be premature to appoint permanent replacements for the late chairman and Mr. Harley-Haddow until he had received the report of the Agrément Study Group under the chairmanship of Mr. Philip Bennett, which is expected in the autumn. In the meantime he has asked Mr. W. S. Jones, already a council member, to serve as acting chairman. Following Mr. Appleton's retirement earlier this year, Mr. M. F. Chaplin is acting as the Property Services Agency's assessor to the board.
Construction Industry Manpower Board
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total cost of running the Construction Industry Manpower Board 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.
Fees and expenses in 1977 totalled nearly £400. Secretariat support is given by my Department's officials and board meetings are held in my Department's offices. It would be difficult to apportion these costs with any accuracy. The future role of the board is under consideration and projected costs for 1978–79 cannot yet be estimated.
Radioactive Waste (Dumping)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much radioactive waste from the British Isles has already been dumped in the sea; and what is the policy as regards future dumping.
Since 1949 some 64,000 tonnes of packages containing solid, low activity radioactive waste from the United Kingdom have been dumped in the sea. Its alpha activity was about 10,500 curies and the beta/gamma activity about 560,000 curies.The Government's response (Cmnd. 6820) to the Sixth Report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution indicated that they were already reviewing the existing arrangements for the control of radioactive waste, of which ocean disposal is one part. The results of this review will be considered by the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee and will be announced in a White Paper in due course.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the rules for safety applicable to the dumping of radioactive waste.
Sea dumping of radioactive waste is subject to the provisions of the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Waste and Other Matter, 1972 to which the United Kingdom is a contracting party. Under the terms of the convention the International Atomic Energy Agency defines categories of radioactive waste unsuitable for dumping at sea, and recommends the basis for issuing special permits for and operational control of dumping of other radioactive waste. The agency's recommendations are designed to ensure the radiological protection of man and the marine environment during and after dumping operations.The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has established a multinational consultation and surveillance mechanism for sea dumping of radioactive waste, under which participating countries are required to inform the OECD's Nuclear Energy Agency of their proposed arrangements for each dumping operation and to take account of any subsequent advice. An NEA representative is present throughout dumping operations.The Radioactive Substances Act 1960, which provides powers for controlling the disposal of radioactive waste, and the Dumping at Sea Act 1974 together impose a system of authorisation and licensing which enables the United Kingdom to meet the conditions of the convention. Authorisations issued under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 for disposal of waste on land and to inland and coastal waters specify the quantities of waste, its activity, the location at which it is to be disposed and the precautions to be taken to ensure that there is no radiological hazard.
Construction Exports
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what specific action has been taken, or recommendations made, by his National Consultative Council Working Group on Exports, since he announced on 14th February that any body would partly carry forward the work of the Construction Exports Advisory Board; and whether he will make a statement.
The National Consultative Council Working Group on Exports—now renamed Standing Committee on Exports—met on 22nd June under my chairmanship. The role of diplomatic posts abroad in export promotion activities of the construction industry, the comparative export performance of British and foreign contractors, and other matters concerning construction exporters were discussed. There will be appropriate follow-up action by both representative and official members of the committee.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there has been any change in the staffing establishment of his Directorate for Overseas Construction Exports since 5th February 1976, when it contained six people; and what alterations have taken place in its programme of work since the disbanding of the Construction Exports Advisory Board, in the light of the Minister for Housing and Constructions' reply to the hon. Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Shaw) on 7th August 1975.
At present there are six permanent members of the Construction Industry Directorate wholly or partly concerned with exports. On the disbandment of the Construction Exports Advisory Board the National Consultative Council's Standing Committee on Exports has been reconvened, and the directorate's work programme has been adjusted accordingly.
Northern Region (Strategy Team's Report)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received the final report of the Northern Regional strategy team; and why he has not yet published his response, having regard to the economic problems currently faced by the region.
My right hon. Friend received this report on 22nd March 1977. The report deals with a wide range of matters relating to the Northern Region and its many recommendations are still being considered interdepartmentally.
Commercial And Industrial Property
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has reviewed his needs for advice on commercial and industrial property matters; and if he will make a statement.
Yes. My right hon. Friend's predecessor established early in 1975, during the introduction of the Community Land Scheme, an Advisory Group on Commercial Property Development. This group in essence fulfilled its remit with the publication of its report at the end of 1975 and it has now been succeeded by a standing Property Advisory Group.The new group will carry out substantial investigations as necessary, will maintain a watching brief on the property market, give the Department regular reports of general trends and warning of difficulties, and will provide expert advice on current issues. A particular concern of the group initially will be the contribution of property development in the regeneration of inner urban areas.The chairman of the group is Jack Hughes, Esq., BSc, FRICS, and the other members are:
- Richard Caws, Esq., FRICS.
- Richard Coopman, Esq., FRICS.
- Nicholas Falk, Esq.
- David George, Esq., ARICS.
- Michael Hogg, Esq., FFA.
- Hugh Jenkins, Esq., FRICS.
- Bill Page, Esq., IPFA, FRVA.
- Brian Scholes, Esq., MA, LAMRTPI.
- Anthony Solomons, Esq., FCA.
- Wyndham Thomas, Esq.
- Derek Wood, Esq., QC, MA, BCL.
All have been appointed initially for two year terms.
The group met for the first time yesterday to decide on a programme of work. It has agreed to undertake a substantial study of the future structure and activity of the development industry: how the roles of landowner, investor and developer are changing and how the changes are likely to affect new development. This should provide useful guidance for local authorities generally in promoting development under the community land scheme, and particular attention will be paid to inner city areas. The group is likely to be seeking evidence in connection with this study later in the year.
Housing Land
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to establish whether there are adequate supplies of land for private house building; and if he will make a statement.
Nationally, the supply is adequate, but there may be difficulties in particular areas. My Department, in conjunction with the National House-Building Council, the House Builders Federation and the Federation of Master Builders, is co-operating with the 11 local authorities in the Greater Manchester area, in a comprehensive study of the availability of land for private house-building in that area. I hope that all the parties will gain valuable lessons from this which can be applied elsewhere.I have already stressed to local authorities generally in a recent circular the importance of thorough local studies in consultation with the housebuilders and I have urged the industry to co-operate in this.
Transport
Motorway (London)
asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the report of the committee currently considering motorways in London; whether he has any further proposals concerning the extension northwards of the M23, in the light of the fact that areas in Streatham are still blighted by this proposed extension.
I understand that the joint study, being undertaken by the Greater London council, Surrey county council and the Departments of the Environment and of Transport into the problems associated with the present termination of the M23 motorway, is well advanced. All concerned in this joint study want people to know as quickly as possible where they stand. I expect to receive a report in the near future and I shall make an announcement as soon as I can.
| PEDESTRIAN CASUALTIES AT PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS GREAT BRITAIN | |||||||
| Seventy of casualty and type of pedestrian crossing | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | |||
| Manually controlled | |||||||
| Killed | … | … | … | 4 | 5 | 10 | 7 |
| Seriously injured | … | … | … | 47 | 53 | 58 | 74 |
| Light controlled at junction | |||||||
| Killed | … | … | … | 27 | 24 | 19 | 22 |
| Seriously injured | … | … | … | 245 | 223 | 219 | 186 |
| Light controlled not at junction | |||||||
| Killed | … | … | … | 8 | 9 | 17 | 22 |
| Seriously injured | … | … | … | 114 | 102 | 148 | 203 |
| Uncontrolled | |||||||
| Killed | … | … | … | 133 | 103 | 102 | 86 |
| Seriously injured | … | … | … | 1,166 | 932 | 822 | 807 |
| All known crossings | |||||||
| Killed | … | … | … | 172 | 141 | 148 | 137 |
| Seriously injured | … | … | … | 1,572 | 1,310 | 1,247 | 1,270 |
Accidents (Roundabouts And Road Junctions)
asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many accidents causing (a) death and (b) serious personal injury have involved vehicles using conventional roundabout junctions and other round junctions during each of the past 10 years;(2) how many accidents causing (
a) death and ( b) serious personal injury have involved vehicles using mini-
Motorways (Heavy Vehicles)
asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a further statement about the effects of heavy vehicles on motorway surfaces.
I have no plans at this time for making a further statement. Research is continuing into the damaging effects of heavy vehicles with a view to improving materials and maintenance techniques.
Pedestrian Crossing Accidents
asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents causing (a) death and (b) serious personal injury have involved pedestrians crossing roads at pelican crossings, push-button controlled pedestrian crossings, school patrol crossings and other types of pedestrian crossings in each of the past five years.
I regret that this information is not available in the precise form requested. The following information is available:roundabout junctions in each of the past 10 years.
I regret that separate information for conventional and mini-roundabouts is not currently available nationally.In 1977 there were 9,002 accidents at or within 20 yards of a roundabout of which 62 involved fatalities and a further 1,642 involved serious personal injury.A new police accident report form is being introduced by a small number of police forces in 1978 and by further police forces in 1979. This new form will enable accidents at mini-roundabouts to be separately identified from those at conventional roundabouts.
Tachographs
asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects to be in a position to state whether or not any proceedings taken against the United Kingdom in respect of non-compliance with Common Market regulations on tachographs are to be resisted; if counsel are to be instructed accordingly; and upon what basis any such proceedings are to be resisted.
The case is being resisted and counsel has been instructed. As the case is now sub judice my hon. Friend will not expect me to go into detail.
Hazardous Substances
asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to restrict the distances over which explosive, poisonous or inflammable substances may be conveyed by road so as to limit such road transport to the minimum.
No. I do not think that a general restriction of this kind would be the right way to promote safety.
asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the explosive, poisonous and inflammable liquids currently permitted to be carried by road, and those, if any, which are required for reasons of safety to be confined to rail transport.
With the exception of certain explosives which are con-
| Number | Fire | Explosion | Toxic Gases | |||
| Liquefied explosives | … | … | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquefied inflammables | … | … | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Liquefied poisons | … | … | * | * | * | * |
| * Not known | ||||||
Accidents (Cyclist Involvement)
asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents causing (a) death and (b) serious personal injury have involved cyclists in Greater London in each of the last five years.
sidered to be unsuitable for transport by any means, the current regulations controlling the transport of these dangerous goods do not prohibit any of them from being conveyed by road. Nor are there any substances which are required to be transported by rail alone.
asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied that the vehicle insurance coverage relating to heavy road tankers covering explosive, inflammable and poisonous liquids adequately reflects the disproportionate risks of damage and injury in accidents where such vehicles are involved; and if he will make a statement.
The Road Traffic Act 1972 requires a vehicle user to insure against any liability for death or bodily injury caused by, or arising out of, the use of a motor vehicle on a road. Cover has to be unlimited.Liability for property damage is not compulsorily insurable. In practice owners of heavy road tankers insure against it but the amount of cover is a matter for them and their insurers.
asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents occurred during the last 12 months involving liquefield explosive, inflammable and poisonous substances; in how many cases fire ensued; in how many cases explosions occurred; in how many cases toxic gases were released; and what was the total cost of damages and injury caused by such accidents.
I regret that the full information is not available. Accidents reported under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928 are as follows:
Statistics of road accidents and casualties in local areas are a matter for the local authority concerned. I suggest that the hon. Member gets in touch with the Greater London council which is the local highway authority.
Roads (Safety Barriers)
asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will state his Department's current policy with regard to the provision of safety barriers on motorways and other dual-carriageway roads; and whether he intends to change this policy to take account of any plans to build all-purpose dual-carriageway roads instead of motorways in accordance with his decision to reduce the design standards of many new roads.
The current policy is to provide a central reserve barrier on all motorways and on those all-purpose dual-carriageway trunk roads where the risk of cross-over accidents is shown to be high. In these latter cases each proposal is judged on its merits.Verge barriers are provided on motorways and all-purpose dual-carriageway trunk roads where they are on high embankments, on embankments with an abnormal hazard at the foot of the slope, on the outside of tight curves on embankment or where there are obstructions such as bridge abutments. We have no present intention of changing this policy.
Level Crossings
asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received the report of the Joint Working Party on Level Crossings.
The chairmen of the joint working party have reported to me and to the chairman of the British Railways Board. The report is being published today and copies are being placed in the Library. This very thorough technical report shows that the recent safety record of British Rail's level crossings is excellent but that it could be even further improved if more of the old gated crossings could be replaced with modern automatic crossings. I will take into account any comments I receive on the report before considering with the British Railways Board to what extent its recommendations should be implemented.
Rail Passenger Business
asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in arrangements for setting targets for the different sectors of the rail passenger business.
The Government have already published, in their response to the First Report from the SCNI Session 1976–77 (Cmnd. 7038), a breakdown of the budgeted contributions for each sector based on estimates for 1977, and the British Railways Board's annual report for 1977 has since given estimated outturn figures for 1977. The budgeted figures for 1978 have been given to the House, and were in the Board's report. This practice will be continued so that the House and the public will be able to see, each year, the contributions which each sector of the railway business can make, based on the budget for the year and the grant claim which I have accepted, and the outturn achieved.Arrangements have now been worked out with the Board for this year's corporate plan, when it is submitted to me, to set out forecast sector contributions as a basis on which the Board seeks my approval for its plans under section 4(2) of the Railways Act 1974. Any public statement which it will be appropriate for me to make at that time will conform with the new arrangements described in the White Paper "The Nationalised Industries" (Cmnd. 7131).
Dangerous Substances
asked the Secretary of State for Transport what further representations he has made to the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission about the need to bring forward proposals for improving the regulation of the transport of dangerous goods by road; what action he proposes for the protection of the public in the meantime; and if he will make a statement.
First, I have told the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that I expect the tanker labelling regulations to be produced now very quickly, and that I propose to have them on the statute book before the end of this year.Second, I have again stressed the urgency of comprehensive regulations for the transport of dangerous goods including in particular the design of vehicles. The Commission expects to issue a consultative document by October, with a view to producing final proposals as soon as possible next year.Third, to deal with the interim period, I have decided to tighten the enforcement of existing requirements by greater concentration of the efforts of the Department's staff of vehicle examiners on the relevant categories of vehicles carrying dangerous substances, in particular by increasing the frequency of vehicle tests and other checks. I shall be holding discussions very soon, both with the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission and with the industry about all these matters and about the possibility of further urgent action both by means of legislation and in other ways.
Prices And Consumer Protection
Consumer Advice Centres (Scotland)
asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection which Scottish regional councils have refused to take up 100 per cent. grants, offered by his Department, for the establishment of new consumer advice centres.
The following Scottish regional councils do not operate con-
| Number of Centres | |||||||
| Regional Council | 1978–79 | 1977–78 | 1976–77 | ||||
| Strathclvde | … | … | … | … | 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Lothian | … | … | … | … | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Grampian | … | … | … | … | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Western Isles | … | … | … | … | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Shetland Isles | … | … | … | … | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | … | … | … | … | 15 | 11 | 9 |
Prices
asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will publish in the Official Report as much detailed information as may be readily available, giving lists of foods and articles which have fallen in price due to the reduction in inflation to 7·4 per cent. in July 1978, as compared with similar figures during the past four years.
The reduction in the annual increase in the retail prices index to 7·4 per cent. in June 1978 reflects primarily a slackening in the average rate of increase in prices rather than any general marked reduction in price levels Of those items for which average retail prices are published each month in the Department of Employment Gazette, prices were lower in mid-June than in
sumer advice centres and have not applied for Government grant aid:
- Highland regional council
- Tayside regional council
- Central regional council
- Borders regional council
- Dumfries and Galloway regional council
- Fife regional council.
asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the current total number of consumer advice centres in each Scottish local government region at the latest available date; and how this compares with each of the last eight years.
There are presently a total of 15 consumer advice centres in Scotland. Although a consumer advice service had been offered from some regional council premises before 1976, there were no consumer advice centres in Scotland before that date. Regional distribution for the three years in question is as follows:mid-May for certain cuts of lamb, tomatoes, canned—red—salmon, standard quality margarine, eggs, coffee and tea.
Consumer And Food Prices (International Comparisons)
asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the EEC as a whole, for each present member State of the EEC, the United States of America and Japan in (a) each year since 1970 and (b) each quarter since 1974 the percentage increase or decrease, after seasonal adjustment when appropriate, over the previous year or corresponding quarter in the previous year all consumer prices and food prices.
The percentage changes, as requested, are set out in the tables below. The information has been given for the nine countries of the EEC throughout, although Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom were not members of the Community until 1973. Because of differences in coverage, methodology and timing between the consumer price indices for
| CONSUMER PRICES—ALL ITEMS | |||||||||
| Percentage change on previous year | |||||||||
| 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | ||
| Belgium* | … | 4·0 | 4·3 | 5·5 | 7·0 | 12·7 | 12·7 | 9·2 | 7·1 |
| Denmark | … | 5·8 | 5·8 | 6·6 | 9·3 | 15·3 | 9·6 | 9·1 | 11·2 |
| France | … | 5·3 | 5·3 | 6·1 | 7·3 | 13·7 | 11·7 | 9·6 | 9·8 |
| Germany | … | 3·4 | 5·3 | 5·5 | 6·9 | 7·0 | 6·0 | 4·5 | 3·9 |
| Ireland | … | 8·2 | 8·9 | 8·7 | 11·3 | 17·0 | 20·9 | 18·0 | 13·6 |
| Italy | … | 5·0 | 4·8 | 5·7 | 10·8 | 19·1 | 17·0 | 16·8 | 18·4 |
| Luxembourg†‡ | … | 4·6 | 4·7 | 5·2 | 6·1 | 9·6 | 10·7 | 9·8 | 6·7 |
| Netherlands | … | 3·6 | 7·5 | 7·8 | 8·0 | 9·6 | 10·2 | 8·9 | 6·4 |
| United Kingdom (RPI) | … | 6·4 | 9·4 | 7·1 | 9·2 | 16·1 | 24·2 | 16·5 | 15·8 |
| United States | … | 5·9 | 4·3 | 3·3 | 6·2 | 11·0 | 9·1 | 5·8 | 6·5 |
| Japan | … | 7·6 | 6·1 | 4·5 | 11·7 | 24·5 | 11·8 | 9·3 | 8·1 |
| Percentage change on same quarter a year earlier | |||||||||||
| 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | |||||||||
| I | II | III | IV | I | II | III | IV | I | |||
| Belgium* | … | … | 8·4 | 11·5 | 14·6 | 16·0 | 15·3 | 13·5 | 11·4 | 11·1 | 10·3 |
| Denmark | … | … | 13·9 | 14·6 | 16·2 | 16·3 | 13·5 | 11·5 | 9·4 | 4·6 | 6·4 |
| France | … | … | 11·3 | 13·6 | 14·5 | 15·0 | 14·0 | 12·1 | 11·0 | 9·9 | 9·6 |
| Germany | … | … | 7·4 | 7·1 | 7·1 | 6·4 | 5·9 | 6·2 | 6·0 | 5·6 | 5·3 |
| Ireland | … | … | 13·4 | 16·3 | 17·9 | 20·0 | 23·8 | 24·4 | 18·9 | 16·8 | 16·1 |
| Italy | … | … | 14·5 | 16·4 | 20·6 | 24·7 | 22·6 | 19·7 | 15·1 | 11·6 | 12·2 |
| Luxembourg†‡ | … | 7·9 | 8·7 | 10·2 | 11·2 | 10·7 | 10·4 | 10·7 | 11·2 | 10·9 | |
| Netherlands | … | 8·7 | 8·8 | 9·8 | 10·9 | 10·5 | 10·3 | 10·6 | 9·5 | 9·1 | |
| United Kingdom (RPI) | … | … | 12·9 | 13·9 | 17·0 | 18·2 | 20·3 | 24·3 | 26·5 | 25·3 | 22·5 |
| United States | … | 9·8 | 10·6 | 11·5 | 12·1 | 11·0 | 9·6 | 8·7 | 7·3 | 6·4 | |
| Japan | … | … | 24·5 | 23·8 | 24·8 | 24·6 | 15·2 | 13·7 | 10·6 | 8·4 | 9·0 |
| Percentage change on same quarter a year earlier | |||||||||||
| 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | |||||||||
| II | III | IV | I | II | III | IV | I | II | |||
| Belgium* | … | … | 9·5 | 9·1 | 7·9 | 7·7 | 7·4 | 6·9 | 6·4 | 5·7 | |
| Denmark | … | … | 8·3 | 8·0 | 13·1 | 10·9 | 10·1 | 11·1 | 12·5 | 12·6 | |
| France | … | … | 9·4 | 9·6 | 9·9 | 9·0 | 9·8 | 9·9 | 9·2 | 9·2 | |
| Germany | … | … | 4·9 | 4·2 | 3·8 | 4·0 | 3·8 | 4·0 | 3·7 | 3·1 | |
| Ireland | … | … | 16·2 | 18·9 | 20·6 | 16·7 | 14·0 | 13·5 | 10·8 | 8·2 | |
| Italy | … | … | 16·1 | 17·1 | 21·1 | 21·7 | 18·9 | 18·5 | 15·2 | 12·8 | |
| Luxembourg†‡ | … | 10·3 | 9·6 | 8·4 | 8·1 | 7·4 | 6·4 | 5·0 | 3·4 | ||
| Netherlands | … | 9·6 | 8·2 | 8·5 | 7·5 | 6·6 | 6·6 | 5·1 | 4·6 | ||
| United Kingdom (RPI) | … | … | 15·9 | 13·7 | 15·0 | 16·5 | 17·4 | 16·5 | 13·0 | 9·5 | 7·6 |
| United States | … | 6·1 | 5·5 | 5·0 | 5·8 | 6·7 | 6·6 | 6·7 | 6·4 | ||
| Japan | … | … | 9·0 | 9·3 | 9·5 | 9·6 | 8·8 | 7·9 | 6·2 | 4·3 | |
| * Prior to June 1976 excluding rent. | |||||||||||
| † Excluding rent. | |||||||||||
| ‡ Excluding restaurant meals. | |||||||||||
| CONSUMER PRICES—FOOD | |||||||||||
| Percentage change on previous year | |||||||||||
| 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | ||||
| Belgium§¶ | … | … | … | 3·5 | 1·9 | 6·7 | 7·9 | 9·4 | 11·2 | 13·5 | 6·1 |
| Denmark | … | … | … | 8·5 | 5·9 | 8·6 | 13·0 | 12·3 | 10·3 | 10·6 | 12·4 |
| France§ | … | … | … | 5·9 | 6·4 | 7·0 | 9·7 | 12·6 | 11·5 | 10·0 | 14·6 |
| Germany† | … | … | … | 2·9 | 3·7 | 6·2 | 7·2 | 4·7 | 5·3 | 5·1 | 5·0 |
| Ireland‡ | … | … | … | 7·6 | 7·4 | 11·8 | 16·4 | 14·7 | 21·5 | 16·5 | 18·6 |
| Italy | … | … | … | 4·3 | 4·0 | 6·3 | 13·2 | 19·6 | 19·7 | 19·0 | 20·5 |
| Luxembourg | … | … | … | 5·2 | 3·5 | 7·0 | 6·9 | 9·0 | 11·2 | 12·1 | 4·0 |
| Netherlands§ | … | … | … | 4·0 | 4·0 | 6·2 | 9·1 | 7·1 | 8·1 | 9·8 | 5·6 |
| United Kingdom (RPI) | … | 6·9 | 11·1 | 8·9 | 15·1 | 18·0 | 25·6 | 20·0 | 19·0 | ||
| United States | … | … | … | 5·5 | 3·0 | 4·4 | 14·5 | 14·3 | 8·5 | 3·1 | 6·3 |
| Japan | … | … | … | 8·7 | 5·7 | 3·9 | 14·2 | 28·3 | 13·1 | 9·1 | 9·0 |
individual countries, the figures are not strictly comparable. In addition, comparisons of increases in retail food prices are further complicated in that the inclusion of alcoholic drink and tobacco varies between countries.
Percentage change on same period a year earlier
| ||||||||||
1974
| 1975
| 1976
| ||||||||
I
| II
| III
| IV
| I
| II
| III
| IV
| I
| ||
| Belgium§¶ | … | 7·3 | 7·8 | 11·0 | 11·2 | 10·7 | 10·4 | 11·1 | 12·6 | 14·2 |
| Denmark | … | 12·7 | 10·0 | 9·3 | 11·0 | 13·0 | 12·6 | 11·9 | 5·7 | 8·0 |
| France§ | … | 12·3 | 13·1 | 12·7 | 12·4 | 11·9 | 11·3 | 11·5 | 11·2 | 11·1 |
| Germany† | … | 5·4 | 4·5 | 3·8 | 4·8 | 4·4 | 5·5 | 6·1 | 5·1 | 6·0 |
| Ireland‡ | … | 11·1 | 10·9 | 16·2 | 20·2 | 22·7 | 28·1 | 19·8 | 16·0 | 16·1 |
| Italy | … | 14·5 | 16·4 | 21·8 | 28·7 | 26·8 | 23·5 | 18·1 | 13·1 | 14·5 |
| Luxembourg¶ | … | 8·3 | 7·4 | 9·6 | 10·7 | 8·6 | 10·4 | 12·5 | 13·5 | 15·4 |
| Netherlands§ | … | 9·2 | 7·6 | 8·4 | 10·0 | 7·3 | 8·7 | 8·5 | 7·7 | 8·8 |
| United Kingdom (RPI) | … | 19·1 | 17·7 | 17·7 | 17·7 | 20·7 | 27·4 | 28·4 | 25·5 | 24·2 |
| United States* | … | 19·5 | 15·5 | 10·8 | 12·5 | 9·0 | 8·5 | 9·7 | 7·2 | 4·8 |
| Japan | … | 29·6 | 26·9 | 30·3 | 31·1 | 17·2 | 17·1 | 11·9 | 10·4 | 9·3 |
Percentage change on same period a year earlier
| ||||||||||
1976
| 1977
| 1978
| ||||||||
II
| III
| IV
| I
| II
| III
| IV
| I
| II
| ||
| Belgium§¶ | … | 13·5 | 10·3 | 9·7 | 9·6 | 6·7 | 7·8 | 6·1 | 3·2 | |
| Denmark | … | 10·2 | 8·1 | 16·1 | 12·8 | 10·8 | 12·6 | 12·8 | 12·2 | |
| France§ | … | 10·7 | 10·7 | 11·8 | 11·8 | 13·3 | 13·7 | 12·2 | 11·0 | |
| Germany† | … | 5·4 | 4·5 | 4·7 | 5·3 | 5·1 | 5·5 | 4·4 | 2·3 | |
| Ireland‡ | … | 12·7 | 16·4 | 20·9 | 18·2 | 16·4 | 19·5 | 11·9 | 9·6 | |
| Italy | … | 18·6 | 19·1 | 23·4 | 23·8 | 20·2 | 21·4 | 17·3 | 14·3 | |
| Luxembourg¶ | … | 13·7 | 10·9 | 8·9 | 6·9 | 4·6 | 3·3 | 1·4 | 0·3 | |
| Netherlands§ | … | 9·6 | 10·2 | 10·3 | 8·8 | 7·8 | 6·9 | 4·1 | 2·8 | |
| United Kingdom (RPI) | … | 17·8 | 16·2 | 22·1 | 22·0 | 21·9 | 21·0 | 11·9 | 6·8 | 6·6 |
| United States* | … | 4·5 | 2·3 | 0·6 | 3·8 | 6·8 | 7·1 | 7·6 | 7·8 | |
| Japan | … | 9·4 | 9·1 | 7·2 | 8·9 | 7·7 | 7·0 | 5·7 | 3·1 | |
* Seasonally adjusted series. | ||||||||||
| † Including beverages and tobacco. | ||||||||||
| ‡ Excluding beverages and tobacco. | ||||||||||
| § Including beverages. | ||||||||||
| ¶ Excluding restaurant meals | ||||||||||
Education And Science
Workers' Educational Association
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial allocations have been made by her Department to each of the Workers' Educational Association districts in England and Wales during the financial years 1976–77 and 1977–78; what the allocations are for the current year; on what basis these amounts are determined and to what extent they take account of deficit funding in 1976–77; and how the percentage increases in each year compare with the percentage increase in tutor organisers' salaries.
The grant allocations made to districts of the Workers' Educational Association in England and Wales under the Further Education Regulations 1975, as amended, are based on the educational year—August to July—and the table of figures below therefore relates to this period and not to the financial year. The table also shows the rates of increases in tutor organisers' salaries. My Department's responsibility for the allocations for 1978–79 is limited to the English districts as a result of the transfer of responsibility for most higher and further education functions in Wales to the Secretary of State for Wales on 1st April 1978. The grant allocations shown for the two Welsh districts for 1978–79 were accordingly authorised by the Welsh Office Education Department.The amount of grant for each district in 1976–77, as in previous years, was a contribution of 75 per cent. towards approved teaching costs, but a supplementary grant was paid to most of the districts to cover deficits. Beginning in 1977–78 the basis of the grants was changed to an apportionment to each district from a cash-limited total sum and this new arrangement also allows for up to 25 per cent. of the grants to be devoted to non-teaching costs.In 1977–78 the total grant was based on the sum of the main grant to all the districts in the previous year, not taking account of the supplementary grants, together with an additional £100,000. The distribution of this total sum over the districts was based on the previous year's grants, with allowances made for vacant tutor-organiser posts, but the previous year's deficits were not taken into account. The total grant made available for 1978–79 was arrived at by revaluing the 1977–78 figure to provide for the effect
| GRANTS TO DISTRICTS OF THE WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION IN ENGLAND AND WALES | ||||||
| District | 1976–77 | Percentage increase | 1977–78 | Percentage increase | 1978–79 | Percentage increase |
| £ | £ | £ | ||||
| Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire | 43,136 | 12·95 | 50,600 | 17·30 | 56,350 | 11·36 |
| Eastern | 76,556 | 8·70 | 95,400 | 24·61 | 109,100 | 14·36 |
| East Midland | 78,787 | 8·16 | 91,800 | 16·52 | 105,000 | 14·38 |
| London | 42,575 | 7·05 | 53,100 | 24·72 | 58,200 | 9·60 |
| Northern | 54,533 | 16·31 | 67,500 | 23·78 | 72,900 | 8·00 |
| North Staffordshire | 23,881 | 10·50 | 32,100 | 34·42 | 35,650 | 11·06 |
| North Western | 51,374 | 10·89 | 63,300 | 23·21 | 68,400 | 8·06 |
| Southern | 62,288 | 8·99 | 74,500 | 19·61 | 85,200 | 14·36 |
| South Eastern | 23,846 | 1·69 | 36,600 | 53·48 | 41,800 | 14·21 |
| South Western | 37,134 | 15·69 | 43,800 | 17·95 | 48,300 | 10·27 |
| Western | 65,746 | 20·08 | 79,000 | 20·16 | 85,350 | 8·04 |
| West Lancashire and Cheshire | 65,430 | 14·11 | 78,300 | 19·67 | 84,600 | 8·05 |
| West Midland | 44,391 | 13·11 | 55,900 | 25·93 | 60,400 | 8·05 |
| Yorkshire North | 74,057 | 9·14 | 88,200 | 19·10 | 100,850 | 14·34 |
| Yorkshire South | 35,281 | 14·87 | 43,400 | 23·01 | 46,900 | 8·06 |
| North Wales | 41,708 | 5·85 | 51,300 | 22·98 | 56,150 | 9·45 |
| South Wales | 58,232 | 9·03 | 73,200 | 25·70 | 81,850 | 11·82 |
| Tutor Organisers' Salary Increase | — | 5·00 | — | 7·06 | — | * |
| * Not yet known. | ||||||
School Meals
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will announce the November free school meals scales and any other changes due to be made in the scheme.
Subject to parliamentary approval new income scales
| Number of children in the family who can have free dinners if parental net weekly income is less than: | |||||||||
| Number of dependent children in the family | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |||
| £p | £p | £p | £p | £p | £p | ||||
| 1 | … | … | … | 40·15 | |||||
| 2 | … | … | … | 48·00 | 46·75 | ||||
| 3 | … | … | … | 55·85 | 54·60 | 53·35 | |||
| 4 | … | … | … | 63·70 | 62·45 | 61·20 | 59·95 | ||
| 5 | … | … | … | 71·55 | 70·30 | 69·05 | 67·80 | 66·55 | |
| 6 | … | … | … | 79·40 | 78·15 | 76·90 | 75·65 | 74·40 | 73·15 |
| Notes: | |||||||||
| 1. For larger families, in respect of each child: | |||||||||
| (a) £7·85 is to be added at each incremental point in every additional line; | |||||||||
| (b) £1·25 is to be deducted at each incremental point in every additional column. | |||||||||
| 2. In calculating net weekly income all income from both parents—in a two-parent family—is taken into account but various deductions may be made, of which the following are the most important: | |||||||||
| (a) income tax, national insurance contributions, superannuation contributions and the cost of travelling to and from work; | |||||||||
| (b) payments for rent or mortgage, and rates | |||||||||
| (c) life assurance premiums; | |||||||||
| (d) the first £6 of earnings in a one-parent family, and the first £4 of the earnings of the mother or woman guardian in a two-parent family. | |||||||||
| 3. For the purposes of the income scale the expression "dependent child" means dependent on his parents and under the age of 19. | |||||||||
of inflation and the aim of the allocation to the districts was to even out, as far as possible, the rates of increase over the first two years of the new grant arrangements.
will come into effect on 13th November next. From the same date the allowance for special diets is also being increased from £2·10 to £2:25 per week. Local education authorities have been sent details and asked to bring them to the attention of parents; details have also been released to the press. The new scales are as follows:
Disabled Students (Access To Buildings)
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science 1) what proportion of universities in England and Wales provides wheelchair ramps and other facilities for disabled students;(2) what proportion of primary schools in England and Wales provides wheelchair ramps and other facilities for disabled pupils;(3) what proportion of secondary schools in England and Wales provides wheelchair ramps and other facilities for disabled pupils;(4) what proportion of polytechnics in England and Wales provides wheelchair ramps and other facilities for disabled students.
I regret that my Department does not have this information.
Teachers
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will produce from information available to her a table showing the distribution by age of the numbers of mathematics, science and modern language graduates at present employed as teachers in primary and secondary schools.
The distribution by age of the number of full-time teachers with a degree in mathematics or science employed in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools at 31st March 1977, the latest date for which information is available, is as follows:
| Mathematics | Science* | |
| Under 25 | 911 | 2,385 |
| 25–29 | 2,068 | 7,660 |
| 30–34 | 1,347 | 4,484 |
| 35–39 | 938 | 3,328 |
| 40–44 | 667 | 2,366 |
| 45–49 | 597 | 1,787 |
| 50–54 | 430 | 1,172 |
| 55–59 | 308 | 772 |
| 60–64 | 193 | 497 |
| 65 and over | 8 | 22 |
| Total | 7,467 | 24,473 |
| * Including agriculture, medicine and technology. | ||
School Leavers
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessments her Department is making of the numbers of school leavers who are likely to enter employment in the next five and 10 years in jobs requiring little or no formal training.
Estimates in the form required are not available. Some short-term projects of the total numbers of school leavers, and of those expected to become available for employment, were published in the Department of Employment Gazette for June 1978.
Deputations
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if it is the policy of her Department for Ministers to receive deputations on purely constituency matters without the sitting Member for that constituency being present, or invited to attend; and if a report of the meeting is sent to the hon. Member.
I shall write to my hon. Friend.
Schools (Catchment Areas)
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she intends to introduce legislation to seek to ensure that local authorities are given clearly set down guide lines for catchment areas within their authority as far as schools are concerned; and, if so, when such legislation will be introduced.
The responsibility for school admission arrangements rests with local education authorities or, for voluntary schools, the governors or managers in consultation with the local education authority. It is for them to determine in the light of local circumstances the area which particular schools serve. However, my right hon. Friend intends to introduce legislation as soon as the parliamentary timetable permits to ensure that arrangements for admissions to schools always give parents the opportunity to express a preference between schools, wherever local geography makes this practicable, and to require that local education authorities and managers or governors as appropriate take account of these preferences so far as is compatible with the comprehensive principle and the efficiency of the education system generally, including the need to be able to plan effectively for the deployment of resources during the period of falling school rolls when there will have to be planned reductions in admissions to schools.
Tracey Ali And Karen O'malley
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she has taken action to over-rule the Kirklees metropolitan council to allow Tracey, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ali, of 14 Rose Avenue, Cowlersley, and Karen O'Malley, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. Hodgson, of 7 Rose Avenue, Cowlersley, Huddersfield, as outlined in the letter from the hon. Member for Huddersfield, West of 6th July, to attend Colne Valley high school and not Royds Hall school.
My Department is pursuing inquiries with the Kirk-lees Local Education Authority and a full reply will be sent to my hon. Friend when these have been completed.
Trade
Nuclear Power (Equipment Exports)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade if the supply to Pakistan by Emerson Industrial Controls of Swindon of equipment which will form part of that Government's technological capability to manufacture their own nuclear weapons was made with his approval.
No. A licence to export such equipment would have been needed only if the goods involved had been subject to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1970.
Air Services (Delays)
67.
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what discussions he has had with the Commissioner of the EEC and Governments of its member countries about evolving air traffic flow schemes and air traffic management schemes throughout Europe to eliminate the delays and frustrations arising from the over-scheduling of holiday flights, particularly to the Mediterranean, beyond the availability of equipment and personnel, with a view to cutting out the frustrating delays now being encountered by British holidaymakers.
I have had no such discussions with the Commission. Seven members of the Community are members of Eurocontrol; and all participate in the work of the European Air Navigation Planning Group.
Shirts (Imports)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the agreed quota figure for imported knitted shirts from Greece for 1978; and how many knitted shirts from Greece have been imported so far in 1978.
The EEC Commission secured assurances from representatives of the Greek textile industry that their exports of knitted shirts to the United Kingdom in 1978 would not exceed 955,000 pieces. In the first five months of 1978, as a result of the absence of a safeguards clause in the EEC-Greece agreement, United Kingdom imports amounted to 2,181,000 pieces. The Commission has therefore imposed quantitative restrictions on imports of this product into the United Kingdom as from 7th July.
Japan
asked the Secretary of State for Trade if any specific results have emerged from the representations made to the Japanese Government regarding the registration of British geographical names as trade marks.
Over the years representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government in Japan about the registration of geographical names by firms in Japan with varying degrees of success, but the problem has continued. It is one which is not confined to the United Kingdom but also affects our Community partners. In October 1977 the EEC made strong representations regarding the matter to the Japanese Government and received a sympathetic response. However, discussions between the Community and the Government of Japan on the whole question of the registration by the Japanese of geographical names as trade marks are to continue, and will take into account revised regulations that became effective in June 1978.
Construction Exports
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what specific action has been taken, or recommendations made, regarding construction exports by the Overseas Projects Board of the British Overseas Trade Board since the Secretary of State for the Environment announced on 14th February that the Construction Exports Advisory Board had been disbanded; and whether he will make a statement.
Since the Overseas Projects Board assumed, in part, the responsibilities of the Construction Exports Advisory Board, it has considered a number of issues affecting the project industry as a whole. It has not so far considered, or made recommendations on, any matters relating specifically to construction exports but is ready to do so if the need arises.
| ANIMALS (OTHER THAN FOR BREEDING OR DAIRY PURPOSES) EXPORTED TO EEC COUNTRIES (OTHER THAN THE IRISH REPUBLIC) | ||||||||
| Sheep | Calves | Adult Cattle | ||||||
| Number | Value (£ thousand) | Number | Value(£ thousand) | Number | Value (£ thousand) | |||
| 1977 | ||||||||
| June | … | … | 8,168 | 212 | 20,339 | 1,465 | 46 | 18 |
| July | … | … | 11,092 | 286 | 27,828 | 1,974 | 48 | 22 |
| August | … | … | 13,489 | 331 | 39,377 | 3,071 | 279 | 125 |
| September | … | … | 24,863 | 567 | 60,931 | 4,928 | 284 | 112 |
| October | … | … | 14,442 | 332 | 57,058 | 4,699 | 558 | 212 |
| November | … | … | 18,327 | 453 | 40,553 | 3,314 | 189 | 61 |
| December | … | … | 20,043 | 495 | 41,136 | 3,504 | 39 | 15 |
| 1978 | ||||||||
| January | … | … | 28,104 | 698 | 33,331 | 2,805 | 124 | 56 |
| February | … | … | 22,491 | 572 | 27,058 | 2,285 | 592 | 226 |
| March | … | … | 21,775 | 551 | 24,681 | 2,112 | 831 | 363 |
| April | … | … | 29,291 | 777 | 20,636 | 1,764 | 525 | 200 |
| May | … | … | 28,879 | 792 | 24,237 | 2,213 | 98 | 47 |
United States Anti-Boycott Legislation
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what action he is taking on the extraterritorial application of recent United States anti-boycott legislation.
I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the recent amendments to the United States Export Administration Act. The regulations implementing these amendments claim to
Concorde
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress is being made on negotiations to allow Concorde to use Malaysian airspace.
I have nothing to add to my answer on 25th July to the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley).
Animals (Export)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the approximate present value of live exports to the Continent.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many (a) sheep, (b) calves and (c) live cows currently are being exported live to the Continent and what were the figures over each of the last 12 months.
pursuant also to his reply [Official Report, 10th July 1978; Vol. 953, c. 450], gave the following information:apply to certain activities of those companies incorporated in the United Kingdom which are controlled by a company incorporated in the United States of America, even if these activities take place outside the United States. The Government are concerned at this extraterritorial aspect of the United States regulations, which, in their view, infringe the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom and could have an adverse effect on United Kingdom trade and employment. Our position has been made clear to the United States Government, and my Department is discussing with United States representatives how to mitigate the effects of these regulations on United Kingdom companies. Any United Kingdom company which believes that it may be affected by these regulations should therefore contact my Department as soon as possible.
National Finance
European Community
64.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the Council of Ministers to receive the official comments on the EEC Draft Budget for 1979 from the Committee of Permanent Representatives.
The comments of the Committee of Permanent Representatives on the 1979 preliminary draft general budget of the European Communities were considered by the Budget Council on 18th July. I reported the outcome of this council to the House on 21st July in reply to a Question from the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Cant).
Value Added Tax
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases in 1977 distress was levied by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in order to recover value added tax; and what was the ratio between this number and the number of traders registered for value added tax.
In 1977 distress was levied in 4,888 cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but it was necessary to proceed to sale of distress in 216 cases only. These figures represent ratios of about one case per 240 registered persons and one case per 5,435 registered persons, respectively.
Value Added Tax Tribunal Chairmen (Pay)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is now the intention of Her Majesty's Government to restore the level of salaries paid to chairmen of VAT tribunals to that paid to chairmen of industrial tribunals.
The VAT tribunal chairmen were awarded a 10 per cent. increase in salary from 1st January 1978. I am not at present able to make any additional statement about the future level of their salaries.
Bank Current Accounts (Notional Interest)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will issue a general direction to the Bank of England to instruct banks to make an estimate of the notional value that will accrue to the United Kingdom joint stock bank current account holders if all such accounts were required to bear interest at the rates borne by deposit accounts.
No.
Double Taxation Convention
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the negotiations with the United States Government concerning the proposed United Kingdom/USA double taxation agreement.
pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 25th July 1978], gave the following information:There have been discussions between officials of the Inland Revenue and the United States Treasury to consider the implications of the recent decision of the United States Senate to approve the proposed new double taxation convention subject to a reservation on Article 9(4). There has been a useful exchange of views but certain aspects require further exploration and the discussions will be resumed.
Employment, Prices And Productivity
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Prime Minister's undertaking to look into the accuracy of the figures upon which the right hon. Lady the Leader of the Opposition based her contention that in the matter of jobs, prices, output and growth, the Labour Government were either at the bottom or next to the bottom of the league of Governments taking part in the Bonn Summit Meeting, if he has yet completed his inquiries; and if he will publish statistics to show for each of the seven countries: (a) unemployment rates for the first quarter of 1978, (b) the percentage change in unemployment since February 1974 to the latest available date, (c) the increase in consumer prices from February 1974 to the latest available date, (d) the increase in food prices from February 1974 to the latest available date and (e) the percentage change in output per person employed in manufacturing output and in gross domestic product at constant prices, between 1973 and the latest available date, to illustrate his answer.
pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th July 1978], gave the following information:The particular figures for which the hon. Member has asked have all been given in reply to recent Questions. I refer him in particular to the Question or Questions asked by the hon. Members for:
- Croydon, Central (Mr. Moore) on 23rd May.
- Chingford (Mr. Tebbit) on 6th June.
- Chertsey and Walton (Mr. Pattie) on 6th June.
- Croydon, Central (Mr. Moore) on 23rd June.
- Leek (Mr. Knox) on 26th June, 27th June and 29th June.
- Surrey, North-West (Mr. Grylls) on 4th July.
- Reigate (Mr. Gardiner) on 10th July.
The inquiries to which the hon. Member refers have also produced the following figures:
| INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION | ||
(Percentage change)
| ||
February 1973 to February 1974
| April 1977 to April 1978
| |
| Japan | 9·0 | 5·7 |
| United States | 1·0 | 4·9 |
| Germany | 1·5 | 0·5 |
| France | 5·9 | 4·8 |
| Italy | 14·2 | -1·2 |
| Canada | 6·0 | 2·1 |
| United Kingdom | -6·3 | 2·6 |
| CONSUMER PRICES | ||
(Percentage change)
| ||
February 1973 to February 1974
| May 1977 to May 1978
| |
| Japan | 25·9 | 3·9 |
| United States | 10·0 | 6·9 |
| Germany | 7·7 | 2·7 |
| France | 11·5 | 9·0 |
| Italy | 13·2 | 12·3 |
| Canada | 9·6 | 9·0 |
| United Kingdom | 11·8 | 8·6 |
Energy
Electricity Discount Scheme
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the estimated cost of administering the 1978 electricity discount scheme; and how this compares with the preceding year.
Estimated administrative costs for the 1978 scheme compared with those for the 1977 scheme are as follows:
| 1977 | 1978 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Post Office charges | 994,000 | 1,100,000 |
| Contribution to Electricity Board costs | — | 280,000 |
| Printing and publicity | 98,000 | 250,000 |
| 1,092,000 | 1,630,000 |
asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many electricity consumers have now claimed discount vouchers in respect of consumption during the March quarter; at what total cost; and how these figures compare with the same period of 1977.
Provisional figures show that almost 700,000 consumers have claimed discount totalling £5·2 million on electricity board bills based on meter readings due in the first quarter of this year. 1·6 million claims, amounting to £11 million, were lodged under the 1977 scheme, but over half of them were in respect of bills of £20 or less and under the 1978 scheme would have attracted only the £5 payment made in January.Post Offices ceased to issue 1978 discount vouchers on 30th June, but area electricity boards will continue to accept vouchers up to 31st July.
Electricity (Domestic Consumption)
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total amount of money received by the Central Electricity Generating Board as a result of the consumption of electricity for domestic purposes.
The CEGB's total revenue from sales of electricity to the 12 area boards reached £3,025 million in 1976–77. Domestic consumers are supplied by the area boards not the CEGB; sales to such consumers by the Area Boards accounted for 43·6 per cent. of their total revenues in the same year.
North Sea Oil
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the latest estimates of the output from North Sea oil by 1981.
The latest estimates of North Sea oil production are those given in the "Development of the Oil and Gas Resources of the United Kingdom 1978" which was presented to the House in April. For the year 1981 the forecast of production in millions of tonnes ranges between 100 and 120.
Venezuela Report
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in pursuit of his policy of open government, he will place a copy of Professor Odell's Venezuela report in the Library.
I am unable to identify the report to which the hon. Member refers. Professor Odell is a part-time consultant to the Department of Energy, and I have asked him to report to me on the evolution of Government/oil industry relations in certain countries including Venezuela, which he proposed to visit for other purposes in the course of this year. I hope to receive this report shortly. I shall then consider whether to place a copy in the Library.
Sullom Voe Installations
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied, in the light of possible difficulties at Moss Morran, that the various radio and radar networks based on Shetland, in particular those of the American Coastguard Station, will cause no danger to the oil and gas installations at Sullom Voe.
I understand that, arising out of queries over installations at Crimond and Mossmorran, the Health and Safety Executive is conducting studies of the possible ignition hazards caused by radio transmissions, the results of which will be published shortly. When the studies are complete their relevance to other installations will be carefully considered.
Continental Shelf (Area Designation)
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the designation of further areas of the United Kingdom continental shelf.
pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th February 1978; Vol. 944, c. 309–310], gave the following further information:An additional 3,473 sq km of the continental shelf have been designated by Order in Council made on 25th July as areas in which the United Kingdom's rights to the seabed and subsoil and their natural resources are exercisable.The designation order, which is made under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964, covers an area in the South Western Approaches. The newly designated area is adjacent to existing areas. The area now designated is available to holders of petroleum exploration licences. The designation also increases the area of continental shelf in respect of which I am able to grant petroleum production licences.I will arrange for the designation order and a map showing the newly designated area to be placed in the Library of the House on 2nd August 1978.
Statutory Instruments
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.
pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th July 1978] gave the following further information:Two hundred and twenty-seven statutory instruments have been made by the Department of Energy since its creation. This total includes Orders in Council sponsored by the Department and also instruments made jointly with either the Treasury or the Department of Employ-
| Subject Matter | Affirmative Resolution* | Negative Resolution | Simple Laying | No Parliamentary Procedure | ||
| Coal | … | … | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 (local) |
| Electricity | … | … | 4 | 11 (all local) | 2 | — |
| Gas | … | … | 2 | 7 | — | — |
| Petroleum | … | … | — | 5 | — | — |
| Atomic Energy | … | … | 1 | — | — | — |
| Energy Saving | … | … | 2 | 24 | — | — |
| Health and Safety at Work | … | … | — | 118 (104 local) | — | — |
| Offshore Safety | … | … | — | 28 (2 local) | — | — |
| Jurisdiction | … | … | — | 3 | — | — |
| Commencement Orders | … | … | — | — | — | 4 |
| 20 | 199 | 3 | 5 | |||
| * Instruments requiring approval by one or both Houses. | ||||||
Defence
Wellington Barracks, Westminster
asked the Secretary of State for Defence for how long part of the premises of Wellington Barracks, Westminster, will be occupied as a temporary coach park.
The area for the proposed temporary coach park at Wellington Barracks can be made available until March 1979.
Guards Museum
asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the proposal now to proceed with the rebuilding of Wellington Barracks, Westminster, what proposals there are to renovate the Guards Museum and matching Gate House which form part of the Barracks.
The matching Gate House and the building presently housing the Guards Museum are to be renovated as part of the Wellington Barracks rebuild.
Wales
Lands Tribunal (Written References)
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated average cost to an appellant of a written reference to the Lands Tribunal under the provisions of the Lands Tribunal
ment. The following is an analysis of the parliamentary procedure (if any) applicable to these statutory instruments.
(Amendment) Rules 1977 (S.I. 1977, No. 1820).
I cannot say, as I have no knowledge of any Welsh cases having yet been determined by the Lands Tribunal by means of written representations.
asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will take steps to ensure that, in the case of written references within Wales to the Lands Tribunal under the provisions of the Lands Tribunal (Amendment) Rules 1977, no application shall be made for costs against an unsuccessful appellant unless it is plain that his action in making the reference was vexatious or unreasonable.
No. My right hon. and learned Friend is unable to give such an undertaking.
Nursery Education
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the nursery education building programme allocations for 1978–79 for authorities in Wales.
The nursery education building programme allocations for 1978–79 are as follows:
| £ (1978 prices) | |
| Gwent | 49,100 |
| Gwynedd | 18,000 |
| Mid-Glamorgan | 82,900 |
| Powys | 27,300 |
| South Glamorgan | 13,600 |
| West Glamorgan | 49,100 |
No bids for nursery education building resources for the year were made by Clwyd or Dyfed county councils.
95.
asked the Secretary of State for Wales which local authorities in Wales did not take up their building allocation for nursery education in 1976–77.
All local education authorities in Wales took up their final building allocations for nursery education in 1976–77.
asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many places there are in maintained nursery schools and in nursery classes of maintained primary schools in each authority in Wales; and what percentage these represent of the total numbers in the appropriate age range, assuming that the number of children of nursery age is about a half of the 1-to-4-year age group.
The information is not available in precisely the form requested. The following table shows the numbers of children in nursery schools plus those under 5 in primary schools for each LEA in Wales and shows these figures as a percentage of the population in the 2–4 age group. Children under 2 years of age cannot attend nursery school.
| Number of children attending nursery schools plus under fives in primary schools* | (1)as a percentage of the forecast population in the 2–4 age group | |
| (1) | (2) | |
| Clwyd | 5,357 | 33·9 |
| Dyfed | 3,480 | 29·5 |
| Gwent | 6,609 | 37·3 |
| Gwynedd | 3,337 | 36·7 |
| Mid-Glamorgan | 9,683 | 42·3 |
| Powys | 993 | 26·8 |
| South Glamorgan | 4,521 | 30·1 |
| West Glamorgan | 6,947 | 47·9 |
| 40,927 | 37·1 | |
| * Figures as at September 1977. | ||
Derelict Land
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the extent of derelict land in each of the districts in Gwent, South Glamorgan, Mid-Glamorgan, and West Glamorgan expressed (a) in acres and (b) as a percentage of the total area.
The information is not readily available in the form requested. However, the Welsh Development Agency advise my right hon. and learned Friend that it estimates the position in each county to be as follows:
| County | Disused derelict land (acres) | Disused derelict land as proportion of total land area (per cent.) |
| Gwent | 4,600 | 1·4 |
| South Glamorgan | 1,200 | 1·2 |
| Mid-Glamorgan | 5,800 | 2·3 |
| West Glamorgan | 3,300 | 1·7 |
Sport And Leisure Facilities
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give a comprehensive list of centres of sporting excellence in Wales.
No centres of sporting excellence have been designed in Wales.
Social Services
Free Prescriptions
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if there are to be any changes in the income tests for free prescriptions, remission of dental and optical charges and free welfare milk and vitamins in the autumn.
The increases in the main supplementary benefits scale rates which will come into effect from the week beginning 13th November 1978 will also apply under existing regulations in determining eligibility on grounds of low income for all these health benefits.
Retirement
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will undertake a survey to establish how many men between 60 and 65 years would choose to retire before present pensionable age if given the opportunity; and if he will make a statement.
A survey commissioned Jointly by DHSS and the Department of Employment from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys into reasons for retirement was carried out in the spring of 1977. The survey included questions on early retirement. The results are expected to be published next year.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what studies he has undertaken to assess costs of reducing retirement age for men to 64, 63, 62 and 61 years, respectively, if a proportionate pension only was paid until the age of 65 years was reached; and if he will make a statement.
I have not undertaken any studies to assess the cost of the specific suggestion in the hon. Member's question.It is expected, however, subject to the response obtained to the discussion document "A Happier Old Age", that the costs associated with any changes in pension age will be considered in the White Paper on the elderly which it is proposed to publish next year.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will undertake a study to establish costs if single people over the age of 50 years were allowed to retire on full pension to enable them to look after an elderly relative; and if he will make a statement.
I do not consider that early payment of retirement pension is an appropriate way to provide for this contingency. Invalid care allowance or supplementary benefit is available provided the qualifying conditions are satisfied. Where these benefits are in payment there are provisions to protect the entitlement to basic retirement pension of the person looking after the elderly relative.
Northampton General Hospital (Waiting List)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest number of patients currently awaiting operations at Northampton General Hospital; and what was the number in February 1974.
The latest figures available relate to 31st May 1978 when 3,000 people were awaiting operations at Northampton General Hospital. On 28th February 1974 2,499 people were awaiting operations at the hospital.
Benefits
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the net cost of uprating short-term social security and supplementary benefits on the same basis as long-term benefits for the year 1978–79.
About £40 million in 1978–79 and £110 million in a full year.
Sterilisation
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many National Health Service female sterilisation operations were performed on social grounds in 1977 in each of the regional health authorities;(2) how many area health authorities entirely restrict sterilisation operations to what they consider medical grounds, and refuse these operations even to women who have already had several children.
I regret that none of this information is available.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the net cost or saving to the National Health Service involved in a female sterilisation operation as compared to (a) an abortion, and (b) a birth including ante-natal and postnatal care.
It is not possible to calculate the relevant costs in view of the many variable factors involved.
Emphysema And Bronchitis
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to make available the award of industrial compensation to victims of emphysema and chronic bronchitis in the same way as it is done in some other European countries.
As I indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Sowerby. (Mr. Madden) on 7th July—[Vol. 953, c. 338]—following the recommendation of the Royal Commission on civil liability and compensation for personal injury my right hon. Friend has now asked the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to consider whether, in addition to compensatory diseases listed in the schedule of prescribed diseases, compensation should be extended to any individual claimant who can show that his disease is occupational in origin and a particular risk of his occupation.
Abortion And Sterilisation
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that the National Health Service in each region provides (a) medical termination of pregnancy on social grounds to women legally entitled to this and (b) sterilisation on social grounds to women whose circumstances warrant this.
I have emphasised the need to improve NHS abortion facilities on a number of occasions and, in planning guidelines issued in March this year —circular HC(78)12—my Department asked health authorities to review the provision for women seeking termination of pregnancy and in particular to develop day-care abortion facilities. The decision on whether the criteria set out in the Abortion Act 1967 are met in any particular case rests of course, with the registered medical practitioners involved.It is the policy of my Department that sterilisation for women should be available for both medical and family planning reasons and the guidelines to which I have referred asked health authorities to expand sterilisation services within the gynaecological service and in family planning clinics.
Social Security Contributions (Married Women)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) married women and (b) widows who were paying reduced rate social security contributions opted to pay full contributions at the start of the current contribution year.
It is estimated that the number of women with reduced contribution liability who chose to pay full contributions from the start of the current contribution year was 158,000, of whom 37,500 were widows.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) married women and (b) widows were paying full social security contributions in 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978; and what proportion of married women and widows with earnings above the lower contribution limit this represents.
The latest period for which figures are available is 1975–76. It is estimated that 2,120,000 married women and 89,000 widows paid full rate class 1 contributions at some time during that year. This represents 34 per cent. and 25 per cent. respectively of married women and widows with earnings above the lower contribution limit. Figures for later periods are not yet available.
Rubella (Vaccination)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of girls between the ages of 12 and 16 years has received rubella vaccination in each of the past 10 years.
The number of rubella vaccinations is available only from 1970 when it was first recommended for 11, 12 and 13-year-old girls. For this age group the number of vaccinations received each year expressed as a percentage of the population of 11, 12 and 13-year-old girls is as follows for England:
The accumulative effect of these vaccinations means that for recent years, the percentage of girls vaccinated by their fourteenth birthday is approximately 70 per cent.1970, 11 per cent.; 1971, 36 per cent.; 1972, 27 per cent.; 1973, 24 per cent.; 1974, 22 per cent.; 1975, 22 per cent.; 1976, 25 per cent.; 1977, 25 per cent.
Development Team For The Mentally Handicapped
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total cost of running the Development Team for the Mentally Handicapped 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.
The cost of the Development Team for the Mentally Handicapped is estimated at £90,000 for 1977–78 and £110,000 for 1978–79. This includes staff costs. I regret that the figures in my reply to the hon. Member on 28th June —[Vol. 952, c. 600–3]—gave the combined costs of the Development Team and the National Development Group for the Mentally Handicapped. The costs of the latter should have been shown as £10,000 for 1977–78 and up to £20,000 for 1978–79. This includes fees and expenses paid to members but excludes staff costs.
Invalid Care Allowance
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are currently in receipt of invalid care allowance; and what is the annual cost of this benefit, assuming 1978–79 benefit rates.
5,842 people are currently receiving invalid care allowance. During the 1978–79 financial year, the benefit is expected to cost £3·5 million. When the new benefit rates are introduced next November, the annual cost will rise to £3·75 million.
Health Services Board
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total cost of running the Health Services Board 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.
Total expenditure in 1977–78 was £138,729. The approved estimate for 1978–79 is £139,000—with a cash limit of approximately £150,000.
Child Benefit
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mothers are entitled to claim child benefit allowance; and how many have done so.
The available information is that benefit is now in payment to 7,038,208 persons, not all of whom are mothers, for 13,207,406 children; which indicates that claims have been made for virtually all children for whom title exists.
Lower Income Households
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish a table similar to page 9 of the Royal Commission report on lower incomes, but including an average rent payment;(2) if he will publish a table similar to page 11 of the Royal Commission report on lower incomes, but including an average rent payment.
Average rent and rates are already taken into account in the figures relating to net earnings in these tables. The cost of the additional method of presentation could not be justified; it would not affect the general significance of the data.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table similar to p. 11 of the Royal Commission report on lower incomes. giving details of households with two and four children drawing (a) the ordinary and (b) the long-term rates of benefit and including for both groups an average rent payment.
Average rent and rates were taken into account in the figures relating to net earnings in the information which I gave in my reply to my hon. Friend on 10th July.—[Vol. 953 c. 429–32.] The cost of the additional method of presentation could not be justified: it would not affect the general significance of the data.
Benefits (Industrial Disputes)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, following an industrial dispute, when those who have been on strike receive the full back-pay which they would have been paid during the period of the dispute if they had continued to work, it is possible for the employer or for his Department to obtain the refund of any social security payments made to the strikers' families during the dispute.
In these circumstances the Supplementary Benefits Commission can only invite a refund.
Hospital Treatment
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people received treatment in National Health Service hospitals resulting from earlier treatment in private clinics and hospitals in the latest year for which figures are available.
I regret that the information requested is not available.
Cataract Operations
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what the average waiting time is for National Health Service operations for the removal of cataracts from the eyes.
In 1975, the latest date for which figures are available the average waiting time for such operations in England was about 19 weeks.
Geriatric Accommodation
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of hospital geriatric accommodation is available per head of population in Coventry, the West Midlands and England, respectively.
In 1976—the latest year for which figures are readily available—the number of hospital geriatric beds per 1,000 population aged 65 or over was as follows:
| Coventry AHA | 8·1 |
| West Midlands RHA | 9·5 |
| England | 8·4 |
Constant Attendance Allowance
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are currently receiving constant attendance allowance.
As 31st March 1978, there were 308,482 people in receipt of attendance allowance—155,209 at the higher rate and 153,273 at the lower rate. In addition, there were 6,381 people receiving constant attendance allowance under the war pensions scheme and approximately 2,600 people receiving constant attendance allowance under the industrial injuries scheme.
Retinitis Pigmentosa (Overseas Treatment)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people have attended clinics in the USSR and Switzerland for treatment of the eye disease retinitis pigmentosa; and what arrangements are made for them to report in the United Kingdom the results of their treatment.
Since all patients who have attended the Helmholtz Eye Diseases Research Institute in Moscow or the Opos Eye Clinic in Switzerland have done so privately I have no details of the numbers involved, nor could I impose any formal arrangements for results of their treatment to be reported to me. However, with regard to patients treated at the Opos Clinic, while I have no objective evidence that such treatment has been helpful, I have arranged to have inquiries made into certain individual cases which have been brought to my attention where there is apparent evidence of subjective improvement.
Kidney Machines
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the extra £50 million to be spent on the National Health Service in 1978–79 was intended for the purchase and use of kidney machines; and what proportion will actually be spent in this way.
I estimated in April that about 8 per cent. of the share of the £50 million allotted to health authorities in England would be used to expand renal dialysis services. Since then regional health authorities have submitted proposals for a very substantial expansion of these services. I have given eight of the 14 authorities approval to go ahead with schemes estimated to require nearly 5 per cent. of England's share of the £50 million. My Department is urgently discussing further proposed developments with the remaining six regional health authorities and with one of the eight which already has my approval for some of its schemes.
Ambulancemen
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has received further representations concerning the pay and conditions of ambulancemen; and whether he proposes to make a statement.
The Ambulancemen's Whitley Council, the body responsible for ambulancemen's pay and conditions of service, negotiated a settlement within the 10 per cent. guidelines effective from 1st January 1978. I understand that the Council in the course of its normal business is continuing to examine various aspects of pay and conditions of service.No representations have been made to me.
Area Health Authorities (Contingency Funds)
66.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to establish a central contingency fund to meet the costs of ex gratia payments made by area health authorities in cases where lack of adequate National Health Service resources result in failure to provide a hospital bed in emergency cases, so that costs do not fall on area health authorities which are likely to be under the greatest strain.
| TABLE A | ||||||||||
| REFERRALS TO EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE BY GOVERNMENTS OF OCHER MEMBER STATES | ||||||||||
| 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978* | |||||
| Belgium | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Denmark | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| France | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | 2 | — | i |
| Germany | … | … | … | … | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Holland | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
| Ireland | … | … | … | … | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Italy | … | … | … | … | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| Luxembourg | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| * Figures 1st January-15th July 1978. | ||||||||||
| TABLE B | ||||||||||
| REFERALS TO EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE BY NATIONAL COURTS OF OTHER MEMBER STATES | ||||||||||
| 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978* | |||||
| Belgium | … | … | … | … | 8 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 16 | 6 |
| Denmark | … | … | … | … | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 |
| France | … | … | … | … | 4 | 8 | 15 | 8 | 14 | 9 |
| Germany | … | … | … | … | 37 | 14 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 26 |
| Holland | … | … | … | … | 6 | 8 | 4 | 14 | 9 | 11 |
| Ireland | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | |
| Italy | … | … | … | … | 5 | 4 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 8 |
| Luxembourg | … | … | … | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | |
| * Figures for 1st January-15th July 1978. | ||||||||||
Employment
Employed Persons
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were in full-time employment in the United Kingdom in each of the past 20 years
Figures for 1971 to 1976 are given in the table below. Separate information on full-time employees, as distinct from all employees, including those working part-time, is only available as a continuous and comprehensive
I do not consider it necessary to establish a central contingency fund to meet such costs. Health authorities are expected to hold sums in reserve to meet contingencies.
Home Department
European Court Of Justice
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have been referred to the European Court of Justice by each of: (a) the other member States and (b) the other national courts, in each of the years since Great Britain's accession to the Common Market.
I have been asked to reply.The information requested is as follows:series from 1971 when the annual census of employment was introduced.Employees in full-time employment in the United Kingdom—excluding Her Majesty's Forces—
| (Thousands) | |
| June 1971 | 18,732 |
| June 1972 | 18,594 |
| June 1973 | 18,779 |
| June 1974 | 18,614 |
| June 1975 | 18,385 |
| June 1976 | 18,179 |
Industrial Tribunals
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate for each year for which statistics are available the number of successful complaints made through the industrial tribunal system on behalf of male applicants; and the number of successful complaints made through the industrial tribunal system on behalf of female applicants.
This information is only available about applications made under the Equal Pay and Sex Discrimination Acts, which came into force on 29th December 1975. It is as follows:
| Applications upheld by industrial tribunals: | |
| Female | |
| 1976 | 229 |
| 1977 | 69 |
| Male | |
| 1976 | 8 |
| 1977 | 39 |
Equal Pay
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with progress under the Equal Pay Act 1970; and whether he proposes to seek to make any changes in this law.
The Act has led to a substantial advance, though there is still considerable progress to be made. Both the Government and the Equal Opportunities Commission keep the working of the legislation under continuous review. I have received some suggestions from other organisations for amendment of the Act but I think it is too soon to decide what amendments need to be made.
Contracts (Fair Wages Clause)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment which nationalised industries currently insert a form of fair wages clause in their contracts.
I understand that, as a general practice, the nationalised industries use some form of fair wages clause in their contracts. An inquiry of each industry to check its precise practice could only be undertaken at disproportionate cost.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment which local autho- rities currently insert a form of fair wages clause in their contracts.
I have been asked to reply.This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, the model standing orders which, although not mandatory, we recommend to local authorities include one demanding that their contracts contain a clause based on the House of Commons fair wages resolution. This clause is also contained in the standard forms of contract that we advise local authorities to use.
Share Fishermen
asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether share fishermen are counted as employed persons by his Department for the purposes of calculating the numbers employed in the fishing industry.
Share fishermen are not included in the current statistics of employees in employment because they are not employed on a wage earning basis under a contract of service.
Disabled Persons (Coventry)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has about the numbers of firms which now meet their quotas for the employment of disabled people in the Coventry travel-to-work area.
I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that on 1st June 1978, the latest date for which figures are available, 183 employers or 30·1 per cent. of the total number of employers subject to quota in the Coventry travel-to-work area were meeting the 3 per cent. quota for the employment of registered disabled people.
Fishing Ports (Dockside Facilities)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the provision and safety of the dockside facilities in fishing ports in order that fishermen and seamen can be provided with the maximum safety when boarding and leaving their vessels.
I am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that seamen and fishermen boarding and leaving their ships are subject to the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work, &c. Act, although the means of access are not normally subject to the requirements of special regulations such as those applying to dock work. I understand that since the Health and Safety at Work &c. Act came into force. Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate has paid particular attention to the provision and maintenance of safe access to and from all ships, including fishing vessels, whenever inspections have been carried out.Over the years there has been considerable concern over this matter and in 1970 a code of safe working practices for the safety of merchant seamen was drawn up by a committee including representatives from employer and worker organisations. This code has been reviewed recently and I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade that a revised code, together with the report from the committee which prepared the text, is due to be published shortly. Both the revised code and the report are expected to give particular emphasis to the continuing need for safe access and will include specific recommendations which will be carfully considered by the Health and Safety Commission.Similar action is being taken to secure the maximum safety for fishermen and the report of another committee together with a code of practice is being prepared for publication. Any recommendations made in that report will also be considered with care by the Health and Safety Commission.
Pensioners (Domestic Heating)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average percentage of disposable income being spent on domestic heating by retired persons at the latest date for which figures are available; and how this compares with the percentage in 1973.
The nearest available information is from the Family Expenditure Survey and relates to expenditure on fuel, light and power as a whole, expressed as a proportion of total expenditure, and in respect of "retired households", that is households with one or two adult members in which more than half the total household income is provided by persons above the age of 60 and describing themselves as retired or unoccupied. Information for 1977 will be available later this year from the special tabulations required.
| Expenditure of "retired households" on fuel, light and power as a percentage of total expenditure | |
| 1973 | 1976 |
| 9·7 per cent. | 9·5 per cent. |
Construction Industry
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in the construction industry in 1976–77 and 1977–78, respectively; and how many were registered as unemployed.
The numbers of employees in employment in Great Britain in the construction industry at April 1976, April 1977 and April 1978 were 1,261,300; 1,226,100*; and 1,212,300*, respectively. The nearest dates for which the quarterly industrial analysis of the unemployment statistics was made are May 1976, May 1977 and May 1978, when the numbers who last worked in construction were 206,562; 204,108; and 186,480, respectively.
* Provisional.
Mobility Of Labour
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the grants and incentives currently available to encourage greater mobility of labour, the number of workers benefiting from each grant in each of the last six years, and the annual cost of these grants for each of the last six years; and if he has plans to introduce further incentives in order to lessen the impact of the shortage of skilled labour in a number of areas.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that financial assistance is currently available under the employment transfer, jobsearch and key workers schemes to encourage mobility of labour.Ways of improving the mobility schemes, including the possibilities for alleviating skill shortages by increased geographical mobility of workers, are under consideration by the Manpower Services Commission. The information requested is as follows:
Grant or allowance and Current rate
JOBSEARCH SCHEME
- Fare to attend interview—Actual Cost.
- Speculative temporary transfer allowance—£5 for the first night and £3·50 for subsequent nights.
EMPLOYMENT TRANSFER AND KEY WORKERS SCHEMES
- Forward fare—Actual cost.
- Settling in grant—£15.
- Assisted home visits—12 visits per year, 4 visits per year for workers under 18 with no dependants. The worker is required to pay the first £1 of each return fare.
- Temporary separation allowance—£15 per week.
| NUMBERS OF WORKERS ASSISTED | ||||||
Financial years ending 31st March
| ||||||
1972–73
| 1973–74
| 1974–75
| 1975–76
| 1976–77*
| 1977–78
| |
Jobsearch Scheme
| ||||||
| Fare to attend interview | 6,391 | 4,946 | 4,649 | 7,894 | 10,273 | 13,553 |
| Speculative temporary transfer | — | — | 294 | 382 | 386 | 462 |
Employment Transfer, Key Workers and Nucleus Labour Force Scheme
| ||||||
| Setting-in grant | 19,406 | 15,995 | 15,120 | 16,143 | 17,254 | 26,880 |
| Forward fare | 12,292 | 10,535 | 10,199 | 12,369 | 14,704 | 23,140 |
| Assisted home visits | 6,048 | 5,789 | 4,525 | 5,350 | 9,565 | 15,260 |
| Temporary separation allowance | 8,845 | 6,114 | 5,042 | 5,627 | 5,920 | 6,826 |
| Disturbance allowance | 4,396 | 5,160 | 4,749 | 4,938 | 5,573 | 11,658 |
| Continuing liability allowance | Figures not available | |||||
| Household removal assistance (includes removal expenses, legal fees grant, transfer grant and fares for dependants) | 7,808 | 7,716 | 5,637 | 6,594 | 6,363 | 14,974 |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Total costs of all schemes | 4,463,350 | 4,518,447 | 4,372,296 | 5,979,201 | 10,912,023 | 11,943,919 |
* Excludes quarter ending 31st December 1976 for which figures are not available. | ||||||
Pneumoconiosis And Silicosis
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the terms of reference of the inter-departmental working group on compensation for sufferers from pneumoconiosis and silicosis, the composition of the group, and the estimated schedule of their work, and when he expects it to report;(2) if the inter-departmental working group on sufferers from pneumoconiosis and silicosis have yet taken evidence from pottery workers or the widows of pottery
Disturbance allowance—£6 per week, £12 per week for the first 3 months of transfer.
Continuing liability allowance—Up to £15 per week maximum.
Household removal expenses—Actual cost.
Fares for dependants—Actual cost.
Legal expenses grant:
Transfer grant:
workers; and, if not, if they propose to do so.
The Departments of Employment—including the Health and Safety Executive—Energy, Environment, Health and Social Security, Industry and Trade, Treasury, Lord Chancellor's Department, Ministry of Defence and Welsh Office are represented on the working group.As I explained to the hon. Member for Merioneth (Mr. Thomas) on 2nd May, the task of the group is:
"to review all the available evidence relating to the question of compensation for workers suffering from pneumoconiosis and similar respirable dust diseases, particularly those who no longer have an employer against whom they can bring an action for damages; to obtain such further information and evidence as is necessary; and to report to Ministers with their recommendations".—[Vol. 949. c. 81–2.]
The working group regards this task as embracing the question of the compensation of widows and already has access to a great deal of relevant information, including the evidence submitted to the Pearson Commission and information about the problem in the pottery industry. It will primarily be for the group to consider what further evidence is needed. The group is actively engaged on the work involved. I cannot yet say, however, when it expects to complete its work and report to Ministers.
Unemployment
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the percentage of unemployed on Merseyside; and how these percentages compare with other special development areas.
Following is the information at 6th July:
| Special Development Area | Unemployment rate (per cent) |
| Merseyside | 12·6 |
| Dundee and Arbroath | 9·3 |
| West Central Scotland | 10·5 |
| Girvan | 11·5 |
| Leven and Methil and Glenrothes | 8·5 |
| Livingston | 10·2 |
| North East | 10·5 |
| West Cumberland | 8·6 |
| South Wales | 10·3 |
| North West Wales | 10·9 |
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the recent unemployment figures on Merseyside, particularly among young school leavers.
Provisional figures show that on 6th July 1978, there were 95,107 persons registered as unemployed in the Merseyside special development area, and that of these, 16,377 were school leavers under 18. This represents an unemployment percentage rate for the area of 12·6 per cent.The Government recognise that the level of unemployment on Merseyside is still far too high but the area will continue to benefit from the various special employment and training measures which have so far helped some 48,000 people on Merseyside, many of them unemployed young people. In the coming months, the development of the youth opportunities programme will be of particular benefit in providing a wide range of training and work experience opportunities for unemployed young people. In addition, the special temporary employment programme and the recent extension of the small firms employment subsidy will provide further assistance. Also on 17th July 1978 my right hon. Friend announced that an experimental adult employment subsidy will be introduced on Merseyside. This new subsidy scheme is aimed at encouraging the employment of people who have been out of work for 12 months or more and employers in industry, commerce and the nationalised industries on Merseyside will receive a £20 per week subsidy for up to 26 weeks for every eligible person taken into full-time employment.Because of its status as a special development area, Merseyside will also continue to benefit from the highest levels of regional assistance available under the Industry Act to encourage investment and stimulate employment.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated numbers of unemployed school leavers on Merseyside who have been unemployed for three months, six months, nine months and 12 months, respectively.
At 6th July there were 16,377 school leavers aged under 18 registered as unemployed in the Merseyside special development area. There is no separate analysis for school leavers giving the length of time on the register.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish figures showing how the level of unemployment in the Nottingham district compares with the national average.
At 6th July the unemployment rates for the Nottingham travel-to-work area and for Great Britain were 6·1 per cent. and 6·5 per cent., respectively.
School Leavers
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to assist unemployed young school leavers to find work on Merseyside.
The full resources of the Careers Service are available to help school leavers in Merseyside to find suitable employment. The area board which covers Merseyside is now finalising plans under the youth opportunities programme. Because of the exceptionally high levels of unemployment on Merseyside, Merseyside metropolitan county and Ellesmere Port have been exempted from the youth opportunities programme "close season" which would otherwise have prevented summer school leavers from entering the programme until 1st September.
Temporary Employment Subsidy
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have been safeguarded by the temporary employment subsidy within Calderdale, from the introduction of the scheme to date; and if he will make a statement.
As at 21st July, 4,827 jobs in Calderdale had been supported by TES.
Community Industry Schemes
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are employed under community industry schemes throughout the United Kingdom and in Calderdale, West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the number of young people employed under community industry schemes throughout the United Kingdom is 4,766. No community industry unit has been established in Calderdale, and consequently no community industry schemes have been mounted in the borough.
Job Introduction Scheme
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been employed under the job introduction scheme for disabled people throughout the United Kingdom and in Calderdale, West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, at the end of June, 639 disabled people had been placed into employment in the United Kingdom under the job introduction scheme, since it commenced on 4th July 1977. There have been no placings so far in the area of Calderdale, West Yorkshire. I shall shortly be making a detailed statement regarding the future of this scheme.Figures for Northern Ireland are not included in the above, as they are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Training Services Agency
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people have secured training under the Training Services Agency special courses for young people in the United Kingdom and in Calderdale, West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that separate training statistics for young people under 19 have only been kept since 1st January 1976. Between 1st January 1976 and 31st March 1978, the latest date for which figures are available, a total of 38,197 young people under 19 completed courses in Great Britain designed to help unemployed young people. In addition, it is estimated that, in the same period, over 7,500 young people started courses but did not complete them, some of these young people leaving to take up employment before the formal end of their course. In the same period 26 young people completed training in Calderdale.
Small Firms Employment Subsidy
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been employed by the small firms employment subsidy throughout the United Kingdom and in Calderdale, West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.
A total of 8,587 extra jobs have been supported by the experimental small firms employment subsidy scheme which was available in the special development areas only during the period 1st January 1977 to 30th June 1978.The enlarged scheme, which is open to eligible manufacturing firms in the assisted areas and inner city partnership areas of the country—which includes Calderdale, West Yorkshire—was introduced on 1st July 1978. As claims for subsidy are made at the end of each period of four weeks in arrears, no figures are yet available of the number of extra jobs provided under this scheme.
Job Release Scheme
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have retired early under the job release scheme throughout the United Kingdom and in Calderdale, West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement about the progress of the revised job release scheme.
Up to 18th July 1978 the numbers of applications approved under the job release scheme in the United Kingdom and in Calderdale, West Yorkshire were 30,430 and 354 respectively. Since the job release scheme was extended to cover the whole country on 1st April 1978 the number of applications received each week has risen to about 500. Between 28th March and 18th July more than 5,500 applications for job release were approved.
Job Creation Programme
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed under the job creation programme throughout the United Kingdom and in Calderdale, West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that information in the form requested is not available. However, the number of places approved since October 1975 under the job creation programme in Great Britain and Calderdale are 140,000 and 400 respectively.
Youth Employment Subsidy
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been employed under the youth employment subsidy throughout the United Kingdom and in Calderdale, West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.
As at 30th June 47,442 young people had entered employment in Great Britain under the YES scheme; the figure for Calderdale was 60. There is a separate scheme in Northern Ireland which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Fishermen (Accidental Deaths)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many British fishermen have died an accidental death in British-registered fishery vessels for each of the years since 1960.
I have been asked to reply.The information is as follows:
| Year and total accidental deaths on British-registered fishing vessels | |
| 1961 | 30 |
| 1962 | 44 |
| 1963 | 24 |
| 1964 | 30 |
| 1965 | 47 |
| 1966 | 33 |
| 1967 | 20 |
| 1968 | 84 |
| 1969 | 30 |
| 1970 | 23 |
| 1971 | 26 |
| 1972 | 23 |
| 1973 | 28 |
| 1974 | 73 |
| 1975 | 29 |
| 1976 | 31 |
| 1977 | 9* |
| *The 1977 figure is for deep sea trawlers only —the figure for other fishing vessels is not yet available. | |
Work Experience Programme
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been employed under the work experience programme throughout the United Kingdom and in Calderdale, West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that since the work experience programme commenced in September 1976, in Great Britain 71,934 young people have participated up to 30th June 1978—the latest dates for which figures are available.From 1st April 1978 to June 1978, 498 places have been approved on work experience schemes in West Yorkshire—which includes Calderdale—and 172 of these places have been taken up by young people. It is not possible to provide separate figures for Calderdale.
Northern Ireland
Supreme Court Of Judicature (Bank Account)
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why the Supreme Court of Judicature's account is with the Bank of Ireland; and when this practice commenced.
The Bank of Ireland is one of a number of banks with which departments are authorised by Her Majesty's Treasury to open accounts. The Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland has maintained accounts with this bank since the court was established in 1921.
Public Bodies (Trade Union Membership)
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full-time trade union officials in Northern Ireland are appointed by him or by
| At 1st January | Traffic branch | CID | Special branch | Total force strength | Total men | Total women | |||
| 1968 | … | … | — | — | — | 3,043 | 2,984 | 59 | |
| 1969 | … | … | — | — | — | 3,031 | 2,981 | 50 | |
| 1970 | … | … | — | — | — | 3,044 | 2,985 | 59 | |
| 1971 | … | … | 188 | 365 | 3,809 | 3,711 | 98 | ||
| 1972 | … | … | 202 | 399 | 4,086 | 3,942 | 144 | ||
| 1973 | … | … | 197 | 434 | 4,257 | 4,078 | 179 | ||
| 1974 | … | … | 185 | 453 | 108 | 4,391 | 4,172 | 219 | |
| 1975 | … | … | 195 | 473 | 212 | 4,565 | 4,283 | 282 | |
| 1976 | … | … | 210 | 482 | 236 | 4,902 | 4,549 | 353 | |
| 1977 | … | … | 208 | 576 | 254 | 5,253 | 4,811 | 442 | |
| 1978 | … | … | 249 | 578 | 285 | 5,692 | 5,140 | 552 | |
Statutory Boards (Appointments)
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he gives guidance to trade unionists in making nominations for appointments to statutory boards in Northern Ireland; and how many names are generally nominated by trade unions for each vacancy on a statutory board.
No such guidance is given. I understand that the current practice is for trade unions to put forward one name for each vacancy.
Construction Exports
asked the Prime Minister whether, pursuant to his reply
Northern Ireland Departments in accordance with paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Act 1974 to membership of bodies for which no payment is made apart from reimbursement of expenses.
Some 66 trade union officials who are members of such bodies receive no payment other than reimbursements of expenses for the work entailed.
Royal Ulster Constabulary
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the numbers of police in the Royal Ulster Constabulary traffic branch, the number of police engaged in plain-clothes duty, the number of members of the Special Branch and the total number of policemen and policewomen at 1st April for each year since 1st April 1968.
Records of the RUC strengths relate to the position at the beginning of each year. The available information on this basis is as follows:to the hon. Member for Melton on 1st July 1976 that he was satisfied with the co-ordination between the Secretary of State for Trade and the Secretary of State for the Environment in matters relating to construction exports because both Secretaries of State were advised by the Construction Exports Advisory Board, he remains satisfied since the disbandment of the Construction Exports Advisory Board in February 1978; and by what methods he now ensures proper departmental co-ordination.
Yes. The work of the Construction Exports Advisory Board has been taken on by the Overseas Projects Board of the British Overseas Trade Board and by the National Consultative Council Working Group on Exports. Officials of the Department of the Environment and the Department of Trade attend meetings of both bodies. These arrangements and continuing liaison between officials ensure proper departmental co-ordination.
Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs
Disarmament
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he will take to publicise the proceedings and outcome of the United Nations Special Session on Disarmament beyond the publishing of a White Paper at a price of £2·35.
The White Paper, published promptly after the session ended,
| Post | Annual cost* (£ millions) | United Kingdom-based staff | Locally engaged staff | ||||
| Washington | … | … | … | … | 5·30 | 126 | 161 |
| Paris | … | … | … | … | 3·64 | 87 | 132 |
| Bonn | … | … | … | … | 3·02 | 80 | 120 |
| Tokyo | … | … | … | … | 2·78 | 58 | 79 |
| Lagos | … | … | … | … | 1·98 | 54 | 96 |
| Brussels | … | … | … | … | 1·71 | 43 | SO |
| Moscow | … | … | … | … | 1·49 | 61 | 56 |
| New Delhi | … | … | … | … | 1·48 | 64 | 202 |
| Rome | … | … | … | … | 1·48 | 45 | 60 |
| Vienna | … | … | … | … | 1·38 | 34 | 52 |
| Ottawa | … | … | … | … | 1·35 | 24 | 63 |
| Islamabad | … | … | … | … | 1·34 | 70 | 93 |
| Madrid | … | … | … | … | 1·26 | 29 | 43 |
| Tehran | … | … | … | … | 1·24 | 42 | 68 |
| Jedda | … | … | … | … | 1·22 | 29 | 53 |
| Canberra | … | … | … | … | 1·14 | 32 | 49 |
| Nairobi | … | … | … | … | 1·07 | 45 | 89 |
| Dacca | … | … | … | … | 1·03 | 44 | 111 |
| Singapore | … | … | … | … | 1·01 | 36 | 51 |
| Athens | … | … | … | … | 0·97 | 30 | 61 |
| Jakarta | … | … | … | … | 0·97 | 32 | 69 |
| Kuala Lumpur | … | … | … | … | 0·97 | 31 | 55 |
| The Hague | … | … | … | … | 0·96 | 25 | 31 |
| Bangkok | … | … | … | … | 0·90 | 32 | 88 |
| Warsaw | … | … | … | … | 0·89 | 45 | 49 |
| Baghdad | … | … | … | … | 0·87 | 19 | 41 |
| Cairo | … | … | … | … | 0·87 | 36 | 68 |
| Copenhagen | … | … | … | … | 0·87 | 23 | 46 |
| East Berlin | … | … | … | … | 0·87 | 26 | 18 |
| Ankara | … | … | … | … | 0·86 | 27 | 46 |
| Kuwait | … | … | … | … | 0·85 | 21 | 43 |
| Stockholm | … | … | … | … | 0·84 | 24 | 34 |
| Caracas | … | … | … | … | 0·81 | 19 | 34 |
| Budapest | … | … | … | … | 0·75 | 27 | 34 |
| Peking | … | … | … | … | 0·71 | 29 | 23 |
| Amman | … | … | … | … | 0·70 | 20 | 31 |
| Helsink | … | … | … | … | 0·70 | 26 | 26 |
| Mexico City | … | … | … | … | 0·70 | 20 | 50 |
| Beirut | … | … | … | … | 0·69 | 20 | 35 |
| Kingston | … | … | … | … | 0·68 | 24 | 31 |
| Oslo | … | … | … | … | 0·68 | 17 | 19 |
| Nicosia | … | … | … | … | 0·67 | 33 | 47 |
| Tel Aviv | … | … | … | … | 0·67 | 24 | 37 |
| Belgrade | … | … | … | … | 0·65 | 25 | 40 |
| Khartoum | … | … | … | … | 0·65 | 20 | 32 |
is the Government's main contribution to public debate. But other efforts to keep Press and public informed have included sending the final document to a number of non-governmental organisations. My right hon. Friend plans soon to hold further discussions about the session with such organisations. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's speech at the Special Session on 2nd June also received wide publicity.
Embassies
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list British embassies in order of the annual cost of their operation, indicating in each case the number of people employed and the embassy's grading.
Post
| Annual cost* (£ millions)
| United Kingdom-based staff
| Locally engaged staff
| |||
| Pretoria | … | … | … | 0·65 | 34 | 37 |
| Seoul | … | … | … | 0·65 | 13 | 30 |
| Berne | … | … | … | 0·64 | 10 | 22 |
| Buenos Aires | … | … | … | 0·62 | 24 | 42 |
| Accra | … | … | … | 0·60 | 31 | 46 |
| Muscat | … | … | … | 0·60 | 14 | 32 |
| Wellington | … | … | … | 0·59 | 16 | 32 |
| Lisbon | … | … | … | 0·57 | 18 | 43 |
| Lusaka | … | … | … | 0·56 | 30 | 34 |
| Tripoli | … | … | … | 0·55 | 16 | 34 |
| Brasilia | … | … | … | 0·53 | 18 | 29 |
| Bucharest | … | … | … | 0·53 | 21 | 23 |
| Prague | … | … | … | 0·52 | 26 | 41 |
| Manila | … | … | … | 0·50 | 11 | 29 |
| Port of Spain | … | … | … | 0·50 | 15 | 25 |
| Addis Ababa | … | … | … | 0·49 | 18 | 55 |
| Kinshasa | … | … | … | 0·49 | 15 | 31 |
| Abu Dhabi | … | … | … | 0·47 | 15 | 23 |
| Sofia | … | … | … | 0·47 | 19 | 20 |
| Havana | … | … | … | 0·45 | 17 | 19 |
| Bahrain | … | … | … | 0·44 | 9 | 18 |
| Dublin | … | … | … | 0·43 | 23 | 26 |
| Damascus | … | … | … | 0·41 | 15 | 25 |
| Santiago | … | … | … | 0·40 | 11 | 21 |
| Sana'a | … | … | … | 0·39 | 12 | 25 |
| Colombo | … | … | … | 0·38 | 16 | 56 |
| Georgetown | … | … | … | 0·38 | 14 | 27 |
| Lilongwe | … | … | … | 0·38 | 17 | 19 |
| Dar es Salaam | … | … | … | 0·37 | 18 | 28 |
| Doha | … | … | … | 0·37 | 7 | 16 |
| Lima | … | … | … | 0·33 | 11 | 26 |
| Bridgetown | … | … | … | 0·32 | 18 | 20 |
| Dakar | … | … | … | 0·31 | 9 | 16 |
| Bogota | … | … | … | 0·30 | 10 | 24 |
| La Paz | … | … | … | 0·30 | 7 | 11 |
| Valletta | … | … | … | 0·30 | 17 | 23 |
| Nassau | … | … | … | 0·28 | 4 | 11 |
| Victoria | … | … | … | 0·28 | 4 | 7 |
| Algiers | … | … | … | 0·27 | 7 | 17 |
| Quito | … | … | … | 0·27 | 9 | 20 |
| Yaounde | … | … | … | 0·27 | 8 | 11 |
| Abidjan | … | … | … | 0·26 | 6 | 10 |
| Freetown | … | … | … | 0·26 | 10 | 18 |
| Gaborone | … | … | … | 0·26 | 14 | 11 |
| Port Louis | … | … | … | 0·26 | 9 | 15 |
| Luxembourg | … | … | … | 0·25 | 7 | 7 |
| Montevideo | … | … | … | 0·24 | 7 | 22 |
| Kabul | … | … | … | 0·23 | 7 | 34 |
| Panama City | … | … | … | 0·23 | 5 | 8 |
| Rangoon | … | … | … | 0·23 | 9 | 50 |
| Suva | … | … | … | 0·23 | 7 | 8 |
| Mbabane | … | … | … | 0·22 | 9 | 14 |
| Tunis | … | … | … | 0·22 | 8 | 17 |
| Rabat | … | … | … | 0·21 | 8 | 21 |
| Kathmandu | … | … | … | 0·20 | 11 | 27 |
| Mogadishu | … | … | … | 0·19 | 5 | 10 |
| Brunei | … | … | … | 0·18 | 6 | 9 |
| Maseru | … | … | … | 0·18 | 7 | 10 |
| Monrovia | … | … | … | 0·18 | 5 | 15 |
| Port Moresby | … | … | … | 0·18 | 5 | 6 |
| Aden | … | … | … | 0·17 | 7 | 17 |
| Asuncion | … | … | … | 0·16 | 4 | 9 |
| Banjul | … | … | … | 0·16 | 5 | 13 |
| San Jose | … | … | … | 0·16 | 5 | 9 |
| Guatemala City | … | … | … | 0·15 | 4 | 6 |
| Maputo | … | … | … | 0·15 | 9 | 12 |
| Santo Domingo | … | … | … | 0·15 | 4 | 9 |
| Vientiane | … | … | … | 0·15 | 6 | 17 |
| Hanoi | … | … | … | 0·14 | 6 | 6 |
| San Salvador | … | … | … | 0·14 | 4 | 12 |
| Reykjavik | … | … | … | 0·12 | 3 | 5 |
| Luanda | … | … | … | 0·11 | 3 | 3 |
Post
| Annual cost* (£ millions)
| United Kingdom-based staff
| Locally engaged staff
| ||||
| Ulan Bator | … | … | … | … | 0·08 | 2 | 7 |
| Nuku'alofa | … | … | … | … | 0·05 | 2 | 8 |
* Estimated costs based on expenditure in 1977–78. | |||||||
It would not be appropriate to set out gradings of individual overseas missions. The costings figures quoted relate to expenditure by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and to costs attributable in part to Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the Property Services Agency. Expenditure by the Ministry of Defence is excluded. The staff numbers refer to Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff or staff on loan to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Ascension, St Helena And Falkland Islands (Fishing Limits)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now declare a 200-mile fisheries limit round Ascension, St. Helena and the Falkland Islands.
200-mile fishery limits have already been declared in respect of St. Helena, on 29th July 1977, and Ascension, on 1st May 1978.I have nothing to add to my reply on 20th June to the hon. Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge (Mr. Stainton) on the subject of Falkland Islands maritime limits.—[Vol. 952, c.
136.]
Cannabis Offences (British Citizens)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many British citizens held by each foreign country on cannabis offences were being held by each foreign country in 1978;(2) what were the longest sentences currently being served by British citizens on cannabis offences on 1st June 1978; and if he will itemise in the
Official Report
the length of sentence and the foreign countries concerned;
(3) which foreign countries were holding British citizens convicted of cannabis offences in prison on 1st June 1978.
The information is not readily available in the form requested by my hon. Friend, but I shall publish in the Official Report as soon as possible.
Kenya (Resettlement Funds)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the British aid funds provided for the resettlement of British farmers in Kenya has now been disbursed; and how many farmers have been bought out under the provisions of this scheme.
I have been asked to reply.About 81 per cent. of the £38·325 million made available by the United Kingdom to the independent Government of Kenya for the purchase of farms owned by British citizens has now been spent, and about 1,400 farms have been bought.
European Community
Council Of Foreign Ministers
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the last meeting of the Council of Ministers.
I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Newton (Mr. Evans).