asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policy is pursued with regard to the bolding of suspects in police custody for mere than forty-eight hours before being brought before the courts.

Section 38(1) of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1952 requires the police, unless the offence appears to them to be serious, to release on bail a person taken into custody for an offence without a warrant, if it will not be practicable to bring him before a magistrates' court within 24 hours; section 38(4) of the Act requires them to bring a person who is retained in custody before a magistrates' court as soon as practicable. It is for the police, and ultimately the courts, to apply these provisions in the circumstances of a particular case. The holding of suspects in police custody is a matter which falls within the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on Criminal Procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration is given in the formulation of policy on maximum and minimum prison sentences and in the operation of the prison regime to the principles laid down in the United Nations standards minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners.

Prison regimes take account of the United Nations standard minimum rules, which were influenced in many respects by the Prison Rules 1949. If the hon. Member will let me know how he would wish the standard minimum rules to influence policy on maximum and minimum prison sentences, I shall be glad to look into his suggestions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the provisions of the Bail Act which give a statutory entitlement to persons arrested to make a telephone call to a close family member, in the light of the fact that these may be exploited by criminal elements who are thus enabled to transmit coded messages to fellow criminals.

Section 62 of the Criminal Law Act 1977, to which I assume the hon. Member is referring, does not grant such an entitlement. Its effect is to entitle an arrested person to have intimation of his arrest and of his whereabouts sent to a reasonably named person without delay, but where some delay is necessary in the interest of the investigation or prevention of crime or the apprehension of offenders, with no more delay than is so necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for breaches of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 have been conducted in each of the last five years.

In the period 1973 to 1977 there were no prosecutions under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men and women have been recruited to or resigned from the Greater Manchester Metropolitan Police force during the last year.

In the 12 months from 1st July 1977 to 30th June 1978 302 men and 201 women were recruited. In the same period 216 men and 114 women resigned without pension or gratuity and 175 men and 10 women retired.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the Police Complaints Board rejected the decisions of chief constables that a complaint does not call for disciplinary action against the officer concerned.

I understand from the chairman of the Board that between 1st June 1977 and 30th June 1978 the Board recommended the bringing of disciplinary charges in four cases in which the deputy chief constable had decided not to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for every year since 1945 the number of Metropolitan Police officers (a) killed, (b) seriously injured, and (c) attacked, in the course of their duties.

Information is not available in the form or for the period requested.The number of officers who have died on duty as a result of accident or injury since 1962 is as follows:

Year	Number of officers
1962	1
1963	2
1964	3
1965	4
1966	6
1967	5
1968	1
1969	3
1970	2
1971	3
1972	5
1973	2
1974	10
1975
1976
1977

Information about the number of officers reporting injury as a result of being assaulted while on duty is available from 1974 as follows:

year	Number of officers reporting injury as a result of being assaulted while on duty	Placed on sick list	Admitted to hospital
1974	2,925	592	9
1975	2,990	617	10
1976	3,550	779	15
1977	4,030	779	22

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions have taken place in recent years for infringements of the Employment of Children Act 1973; and if he will give a breakdown of the offences in the Official Report.

None; this Act is not yet in force.

asked the Scretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of electors registered in the parliamentary constituency of Norfolk, North-West for each of the last five years.

Electorates for each of the years 1974–77 have been published annually by the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys in the booklet "Electoral statistics England and Wales". Provisional figures for the 1978 register have been published by the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys in an O.P.C.S. Monitor (Reference EL 78/2) and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for every year since 1945 the value of a police constable's pay as a percentage of average industrial earnings.

Directly comparable figures back to 1945 are not available.Police Council earnings surveys show that the average weekly earnings of uniform police constables in Great Britain in 1972, 1974, 1976 and 1977 were £42·43, £54, £80·72 and £82·36 respectively. These figures include overtime payments and the value of a provided house or rent allowance in lieu.The average weekly earnings for full-time male manual workers aged over 21 in manufacturing industry in Great Britain for the same periods were £34·50, £45·10, £67·40 and £74·20.The earnings of uniformed police constables were thus 23 per cent., 19·7 per cent., 19·8 per cent. and 11 per cent. greater than these industrial earnings figures in these years.

asked the Secretary of Satte for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a list showing the annual figure by which the number of policemen in England and Wales has fallen short on quota for the last five years to the latest convenient date.

There is no annual quota for recruitment of police officers.

Date					Total authorised establishment	Total police strength	Vacancies	Percentage deficiency
31st December 1973	…	…	…	…	113,178	100,566	12,612	11·14
31st December 1974	…	…	…	…	115,806	102,086	13,720	11·84
31st December 1975	…	…	…	…	117,176	107,138	10,038	8·56
31st December 1976	…	…	…	…	118,101	109,476	8,625	7·30
31st December 1977	…	…	…	…	118,279	108,201	10,078	8·52
30th June 1978	…	…	…	…	118,568	107,799	10,769	9·08

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to assess the needs of the United Kingdom for radio frequencies in preparation for the coming World Administrative Radio Conference of the International Telecommunications Union; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) on 10th May 1978.—[Vol. 945, c. 503–504.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what radio frequencies are retained for standby use by the British Government; and what are these standby uses.

I regret that I cannot reveal this information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will convene a conference of Commonwealth countries to assess and harmonise the radio frequency needs of the United Kingdom and Third World countries in preparation for the coming World Administrative Radio Conference of the International Telecommunications Union.

No. Discussions have already taken place with certain Commonwealth countries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of police convicted of felonies in the last three years.

Information about the numbers of police officers convicted of criminal offences is given in the annual reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary and of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the number of antique dealers and furniture dealers convicted of felonies in the last three years.

Information on the occupation of offenders is not centrally available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the desire of the more reputable of the various security firms to be licensed, the views of the House in their support and his own agreement to investigate this possibility, what action he has taken along these lines; why he has not introduced appropriate legislation; and when he expects to do so.

As I indicated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 9th June—[Vol. 951, c. 260–1] —I intend to publish a paper to facilitate further discussions of the important issues raised by proposals for control over private security activities. I shall decide in the light of that discussion what action is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress Lord Shackleton is making in his review of the prevention of terrorism (temporary provisions) legislation.

I have now received Lord Shackleton's report and have made arrangements for it to be printed and published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress the Government have made in their consideration of the Wolfenden Committee's report on the future of voluntary organisations; and if he will make a statement.

We plan to publish a consultation document in the early autumn and hope that there will be a full response by all those interested. The substance of the replies will form the basis for developing Government policy in continuing consultation with voluntary organisations and other interested parties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take on the report of the Royal Commission on Gambling; and if he will make a statement.

The Royal Commission has produced a wide-ranging and comprehensive report containing many interesting ideas, which the Government will wish to examine. It would assist the Government in its consideration of these matters if those affected by the Commission's proposals would send their comments to the Home Office, Queen Anne's Gate, London, SW1H 9AT, or, in Scotland, to the Scottish Office, New St. Andrew's House, St. James Centre, Edinburgh, by not later than the end of this year. In the meantime, I am giving urgent consideration to the Commission's recommendations on society and local authority lotteries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that the chairman of FMC, the meat wholesale corporation, has announced a fall in profits from £3,101,000 in 1977 to £929,000 in the current year due in part to the operation of the Common Market rules on monetary compensation amounts, heavily subsidised imports and penalised exports, what action he proposes to take to change these unfair rules.

Many companies engaged in processing pigmeat have faced difficulties which arise in part from the system of monetary compensatory amounts. The 8 per cent. reduction in these amounts which my right hon. Friend negotiated in June will help to improve the situation. My right hon. Friend is, however, continuing his efforts to secure agreement within the EEC to further changes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the make-up of the panels of agricultural dwelling house advisory committee chairmen; and if he will review the guidelines which his department issues to agricultural dwelling house advisory committees.

I am satisfied that ADHAC chairmen are doing a good job, but I believe that some additional appointments could with advantage be made to the panels to widen their membership.The guidelines have in practice proved to be a useful handbook for ADHACs. However, I believe some misunderstanding has arisen on occasion about the possible use of other accommodation available to the farmer. It is not part of an ADHAC's function to take a view on whether a farmer could provide suitable alternative accommodation for the existing occupier or a new worker. That is a matter for the local housing authority. However, the guidelines suggest that there may be occasions where it would be useful if the ADHAC drew to the attention of the housing authority factual information about other accommodation available to the farmer of which it is aware. A number of ADHACs have, indeed, done this, and for the future I am asking them to do so as a matter of course.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report his annual estimates of the

UNITED KINGDOM LIVESTOCK NUMBERS
Thousand head
		At June of each year
		1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
Total cattle and calves	…	14,445	15,203	14,717	14,069	13,854
Total sheep and lambs	…	27,943	28,498	28,270	28,265	28,104
Total pigs	…	8,979	8,544	7,532	7,947	7,736

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the increase in the average price of a pound of beef since February 1974.

The price of beef varies considerably according to quality, the type of cut, the price charged by individual retailers and the season. Average prices of selected representative cuts are published each month in the Deparment of Employment Gazette. Figures for mid-February 1974 and mid-June 1978 (the latest available) are given below.

Pence per lb.
Home-killed beef	19th February 1974	13th June 1978
Chuck	56·3	96·2
Sirloin (without bone)	78·8	164·1
Silverside (without bone)	68·6	136·6
Back ribs (with bone)	51·1	91·7
Fore ribs (with bone)	50·1	88·5
Brisket (without bone)	49·9	85·3
Rump steak	91·5	183·7

asked the Lord President of the Council, in view of the Government commitment that electoral registration procedures apply similarly in Scotland and Wales for the purposes of the referenda on devolution, what changes he proposes to the law in Wales to bring it in line with Scots case law on this issue, with particular regard to the judgment in the Walter Scott case in 1973 which restricted multiple registration in Scotland.

The Government have no proposals at present for amending legislation.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Prime Minister whether any decision has yet been reached on the publication of an official history of British Intelligence in World War II.

Yes. Three volumes dealing with British strategic and operational intelligence in World War II have been under preparation by a team of official historians under Professor F. H. Hinsley, President of St. John's College and Professor of the History of International Relations in the University of Cambridge. The first is complete and will be published by HMSO, probably in the early part of next year. Preparation of the two further volumes is well advanced with a view to publication in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, on the assumption that the Welsh Assembly, as constituted in the Wales Bill, is operative in the parliamentary Session 1978–80, how many Written and Oral Questions he would expect to answer as compared with the average annual number of such Questions in the parliamentary Sessions 1976–77 and 1977–78.

In the current Session, and therefore on the basis of present responsibilities, Welsh Office Ministers have so far answered 839 parliamentary Questions. Had the Welsh Assembly been in existence during the Session, with the responsibilities set out in the Wales Act, I estimate, on the basis of an analysis of Questions for oral answer, that about half of these Questions would still have fallen to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether the case of Mrs. Freda Hughes of Is y Twr, Llandesfan, Anglesey, an employee of the Gwynedd area health authority, details of which have been sent to him by the right hon. Member for Anglesey and which has been pending for over two years, will be considered urgently; and if he will make a statement.

This is a dispute between the Gwynedd area health authority, on the one hand, and Mrs. Hughes and the National Union of Public Employees, who have been representing her, on the other. I am aware of the delay in reaching a solution and the Welsh Office is ready, as in the past, to use its good offices.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West on Friday 21st July, he will bring this information up to date by adding the latest Boyle Committee Report recommendations and include his recommendations for hon. Members over the same period of time as mentioned in his original reply.

The Prime Minister announced the Government's decision on the Tenth Report of the Review Body on Top Salaries on 4th July.—[Vol. 953, c. 97.] In the light of this statement, the following salaries will be paid from 1st January 1978:

Post
Chairman, British Steel Corporation	£31,390
Lord Chief Justice	£25,584
Head of the Home Civil Service	£22,422
Permanent Secretary to the Treasury
Secretary to the Cabinet
Admiral of the Fleet	£21,871
Field Marshal
Marshal of the Royal Air Force

The recommended figures were, respectively, £45,000, £34,000, £28,000 and £28,000, which will be implemented in stages on 1st April 1979 and 1st April 1980.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service for what reasons civil servants who have been dispersed from London to the provinces continue to be paid a London weighting allowance.

The reserved right to London weighting originated as part of the evacuation arrangements in the Second World War so that staff evacuated from London should not suffer a reduction in pay. It was discontinued in November 1973 and replaced by a dispersal cash allowance ranging from £110 to £228 a year. Staff dispersed since that date have retained the excess of London weighting over the cash allowance until it is eroded by pay increases of any kind. The dispersal cash allowance is itself lost when an officer receiving it is either promoted or transferred elsewhere.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) whether he will withdraw from the form of application for employment in Government service the question "Have you any relative by blood or marriage who is living or has lived in a country, having at the time of residence, a Communist Government?" or, alternatively, insert a similar question about fascist countries run by non-elected military juntas;(2) whether he will withdraw from the form of application for employment in Government service the question "Have you at any time visited or resided in a country having, at the time of the visit or residence, a Communist Government?" or, alternatively, insert a similar question about fascist countries run by non-elected military juntas.

I am informed that the questions to which my hon. Friend refers do not appear on any form of application for employment in Government service. However, if he would kindly forward to me a copy of the form to which his Question refers, I will institute the necessary inquiries.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the latest position regarding the pay negotiations of industrial civil servants.

Negotiations were resumed on 1st August. After a lengthy but useful exchange of views, the two sides agreed to adjourn and meet again on 7th August.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether, taking account of the numbers switched to the Post Office and other similar types of strictly non-Civil Service departments, he will give for the latest and most convenient date the total number of civil and public servants and their salaries and how these figures compare with October 1974.

I can answer only for the Civil Service. The total number of civil servants in post at 1st October 1974 was 687,200. At 1st October 1977, after taking account of the transfer into the Civil Service of some 20,800 staff of the Manpower Services Commission and its agencies, staff-in-post numbered 741,300. This figure had been reduced by 1st April to 735,700, a fall of some 12,000 over a period of two years.The provision taken for 1974–75 in the Main and Supplementary Estimates for Civil Service pay was £1,599 million and in 1977–78 it was £2,565 million.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give the total number of Ministers and those on the ministerial payroll and the total costs of the same in October 1974 and similar details at the latest most convenient date.

At 28th October 1974 the total number of Ministers was 109, including one unpaid Cabined Minister. The total salary bill was £856.250.At 31st July 1978 the total number of Ministers was 108, including two unpaid Cabinet Ministers. The current total salary bill is £936,432.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give, for the year 1974, the total number of overseas visits made by Ministers and their total costs and similar details for the year 1978.

As I told my hon. Friend on 28th July 1977, records of ministerial visits overseas were not held centrally before August 1975. On 19th April 1978 I gave my hon. Friend details of the cost to public funds for each Minister leading visits overseas between February 1977 and February 1978. Since February 1978 my Department has been notified of some 25 further visits at an estimated cost of £39,800.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about preparations for the sixth round of offshore licensing.

pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 5th July 1978; Vol. 953. c. 183], gave the following further information:I have now completed consultations about the proposed arrangements for the sixth round, which I announced to the House on 10th May. The formal invitation of applications will be published in the

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current position in oil exploration in the Celtic Sea.

In addition to continuing seismic survey work, six exploration wells

				1980	1985	1990	1995	2000
Coal	…	…	…	35	35	36	35	34
Oil	…	…	…	38	37	35	32	27
Natural gas	…	…	…	20	21	20	19	10
Nuclear and hydro	…	…	…	7	7	8	11	19
Policy gap	…	…	…	—	—	1	3	10
Total	…	…	…	100	100	100	100	100

The policy gap represents a residual energy requirement which could be filled by coal production or new nuclear plant over and above the levels of supply postulated in the Green Paper. Alternatively, this demand could be met by additional energy imports.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received during the last 12 months from the Common Market Commission regarding oil landings from North Sea oil rigs in the United Kingdom; and if he will undertake to resist any attempts that may be made by the Commission to reduce such landings and resultant refining processes in the United Kingdom, even if action should be taken against the United Kingdom in the courts of the Community.

Representations have been received from the Commission on this subject. We have told the Commission that we see no reason to doubt that the landing requirement is compatible with the Treaty of Rome. The landing requirement is an important part of our oil policy, and I shall continue to maintain it, as an essential national interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage mix of energy resources his Department expects will be in use to meet Great Britain's demand for energy in the years 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, and 2000.

On the basis of the assumptions used in the reference case projection of the Green Paper on Energy Policy (Cmnd. 7101), the percentage mix of primary fuels used to meet energy demand in the United Kingdom would be as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether it is his policy that the private operators in the United Kingdom sector of the Continental Shelf should in due course cease to operate, and that the British National Oil Corporation would have a monopoly.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the increase in the average price of a ton of household coal since February 1974; and what percentage this represents.

There are marked regional variations in the price of household coal.

TYPICAL PRICES FOR HOUSEHOLD COAL IN A SELECTION OF TOWNS
			February 1974	July 1978	Increase
			£/ton	£/ton	£/ton	Per cent
Aberdeen	…	…	22·20	49·20	27·00	122
Birmingham	…	…	18·40	41·40	23·00	125
Cardiff	…	…	19·00	44·80	25·80	13
Ipswich	…	…	20·00	47·00	27·00	13
Leeds	…	…	17·20	37·80	20·60	120
London	…	…	21·60	49·20	27·60	128
Manchester	…	…	16·60	40·60	24·00	145
Nottingham	…	…	16·40	37·20	20·80	127
Plymouth	…	…	23·60	50·80	27·20	115

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he intends to give directions to the Central Electricity Generating Board about the use that the Board should make of coal in its power stations.

No. As the hon. Member will be aware, I have put in hand with the NCB and CEGB an urgent examination of the potential for burning additional quantities of coal in power stations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is, at latest survey prices, the total expenditure on research and development associated with the advanced gas-cooled reactor programme; what contributions are made by the electricity authorities to those costs; and what is the capital expenditure to date on each of the five advanced gas-cooled reactor stations.

The UKAEA spent £157 million net at historic prices on generic research and development in support of the AGR programme up to the end of the financial year 1977–78. The information at latest survey prices is not available. No contributions have been made by the

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the total electricity output from each of the advanced gas-cooled reactor stations to date.

I am advised by the CEGB that the total electricity generated by its AGR stations was about 6·2 TWh up to end June 1978. Hunterston is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much coal has been imported by the Central Electricity Generating Board since 1st January.

I am advised by the Central Electricity Generating Board that between 1st January and 31st July 1978 just over 0·4 million tonnes of imported coal was delivered to its power stations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the likely total expenditure on the steam generated heavy-water reactor programme; and what contributions are made by the electricity authorities to this expenditure.

The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority spent about £145 million net on research and development for the steam generating heavy-water reactor between the start of work on the system and 31st March 1978. The Central Electricity Generating Board has not contributed to this expenditure. I am asking the chairman of the CEGB to write to the hon. Member about the board's own expenditure on research and development in connection with the system. The Scottish boards are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the safety of the proposed natural gas liquids pipelines from St. Fergus.

At my request, the Health and Safety Executive has carried out a hazard evaluation of the proposed natural gas liquids pipelines from St. Fergus, and I am sending copies of this report to all local authorities and Members concerned. In view of the amount of public interest in these matters, I have thought it only right that the report should not be restricted in its circulation, and it is being made available to all who want it at the Health and Safety Executive office in Edinburgh with effect from 2nd August. I shall be writing to all the known objectors to these proposals, drawing their attention to the availability of the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether his energy policy planning takes account of future changes in the costs of energy supply; and if he will publish the assumptions which he makes about these costs.

My Department's forecasts of energy supply and demand take account of expected changes in the costs of supplying different forms of energy. I intend to publish as much detail as possible of these cost assumptions in the updating of the energy policy Green Paper which is to be presented to the Energy Commission early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what fire-fighting capacity is possessed by the Boeing Jetfoil, purchased from the United States Navy for oil rig protection;(2) what is the maximum speed in gale force conditions in the North Sea of the Boeing Jetfoil;(3) what is the crew complement of the Boeing Jetfoil, purchased from the United States Navy for oil rig protection; and how this compares with the standard crew of a Royal Navy corvette;(4) what is the range of the Boeing Jetfoil which has been purchased from the United States Navy for oil rig protection;(5) what alternative designs of British ships were evaluated against the Boeing Jetfoil which has been purchased from the United States Navy for oil rig protection;(6) what would be the maximum speed of the Boeing Jetfoil, purchased from the United States Navy for oil rig protection, against a 50-knot wind in the North Sea;(7) what is the maximum speed in a 20ft sea of the Boeing Jetfoil, purchased from the United States Navy at a cost of £17 million for oil rig protection.

The Boeing Jetfoil has been ordered from the Boeing Company to enable the Royal Navy to evaluate its effectivess in a variety of roles, including offshore patrol, currently undertaken by conventional ships. It will not have a fire fighting capability. My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension about the price of the craft, which is less than £7 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report a list showing the number of Service men and Service women who have applied for and been granted early release from the Services for the past five years to the earliest convenient date.

Service men and women serve on a large number of different types of engagement and the three Services handle applications for premature release differently. It is not, therefore, possible to give overall figures for applications, but the number of Service men and women who actually left prematurely and at their own request during the last five financial years are as follows:

	Servicemen	Service-women	Total
1973–74	10,009	589	10,598
1974–75	10,233	367	10,600
1975–76	7,723	424	8,147
1976–77	7,209	538	7,747
1977–78	8,840	475	9,315

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report a list showing the number of Service men and women in the Armed Forces for the last five years to the latest convenient date.

The total number of Service men and women in the Armed Forces at 31st May in each of the last five years was as follows:

	Service men	Service women	Total
1974	287,483	12,321	299,804
1975	278,253	12,452	290,705
1976	277,047	12,877	289,924
1977	271,495	12,554	284,049
1978	262,712	12,651	275,363

These figures do not include officers or locally employed personnel.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the rates of pay for workers in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Rosyth, and those for equivalent jobs outside.

pursuant to his answer [Official Report, 24th July 1978; Vol. 954, c. 616], gave the following information:The basic pay rates of employees at the Royal Dockyard, Rosyth are the same as those paid to other industrial civil servants, but additional amounts are paid under incentive and productivity schemes. Average earnings for a 40-hour week are as follows:

Craftsmen	£74
Semi-skilled workers	£62
Unskilled workers	£58

Average earnings including overtime are as follows:

Craftsmen	£83
Semi-skilled workers	£73
Unskilled workers	£64

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have renounced the Treaty of Lausanne.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the opinion of Her Majesty's Government that the Government of Turkey have fulfilled their obligations to the non-Turkish minorities living in Turkey, under the terms of the Treaty of Lausanne.

The constitution and laws of Turkey establish civil and political rights which are in line with the obligations which Turkey assumed in the Treaty of Lausanne.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times Her Majesty's Government have made representations to the Government of Turkey under the terms of the Treaty of Lausanne.

In 1926 the British ambassador made representations about the position of British subjects in Turkey, in which reference was made to the Treaty of Lausanne. I am not aware that representations have been made since then.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is now his intention not to introduce a bill providing for the independence of the Gilbert Islands until after the final determination of the appeal in the case of Tito and Others v. Mr. Attorney General; and, if it is not, when he proposes to proceed with an independence measure.

No. A timetable for the Gilbert Islands' progress to independence has not vet been determined.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to make any statement outlining the position of Her Majesty's Government on the forthcoming United Nations conference on racism in Geneva; and what will be the response of the British delegation should efforts be made to raise the "Zionism equals Racism" issue.

Her Majesty's Government hope that the World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination will make a positive contribution to the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms and to the elimination of racial discrimination. Together with our partners in the Nine, we have consistently opposed the contention that "Zionism equals Racism" and shall continue to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will install a telephone answering or recording system in smaller British embassies which have no night staff.

It has been normal practice for over 10 years to provide answering devices at British embassies and consulates wherever there was an apparent need. Where practicable these have been rented from the local telephone authority; otherwise equipment has been provided by my right hon. Friend's Department from the United Kingdom. If the hon. Member has any particular post in mind my right hon. Friend will be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are being made for the publication of the report of the Bermuda Royal Commission into the 1977 disturbances.

The Governor of Bermuda is arranging for Lord Pitt's report to be published in Bermuda today, 2nd August Advance copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government hope to publish their reply to the Central Policy Review Staff review of overseas representation.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I are presenting a White Paper on this subject to Parliament today. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

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

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what pledges she has given in respect of contributions to United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund towards the cost of the 1979 International Year of the Child.

We have agreed to contribute £150,000 over three years towards the administration costs of the International Secretariat of the International Year of the Child, established by UNICEF.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will list in the Official Report the development projects in St. Kitts-Nevis for which

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th July 1978], gave the following information:British aid was approved during the period 1967 to 1977, showing separately those completed and those yet to be completed.

I regret that the detailed information requested is not readily available from existing records and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether the Government propose to accept the recommendations of the Law Commission and of the Royal Commission on Civil Liability and Compensation for Personal Injury that producers should be strictly liable for personal injury caused by defective products.

The Government are sympathetic to this proposal and believe that it would be an important and widely welcomed reform in the civil law. However, in the light of the many representations made since publication of the reports, they are also aware of the anxiety in industry about the possible effect of this change on competitiveness and the introduction of new products, about the possible burden on small firms and about the special problems for some product sectors.Before reaching any final decision, therefore, I am arranging further detailed consultation with industry in order to assess these potential problems and to examine how the principle of strict liability might be implemented in such a way that the interests of the consumer and of industry are equitably balanced.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any further plans to control private nonresidential parking in urban areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any further plans to control private nonresidential parking in urban areas.

Not at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many comments or complaints about the current driving licence have been received in his Department since its introduction.

In the two and a half years or more since it was introduced, we have issued about 28 million licences in the current form. There have been about 80,000 inquiries, comments or complaints about the information on the licence.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will incorporate in the design for the M20 a sound barrier where the motorway crosses the main railway line and the M25 at Sellindge, Kent, in order to prevent further noise nuisance and damage to property.

I will examine this possibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on the present standard and levels of road maintenance throughout the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on the present standard and levels of road maintenance throughout the country.

About 50 from individual organisations since the beginning of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are used by his Department in Assessing applications for section 8 grants for railway sidings.

The main criterion is that the rail scheme should secure environmental or other local benefits, through the reduction of lorry traffic, commensurate with its cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received the letter from the honourable Member for Newham, North-West of 18th July regarding the transport of dangerous loads by road; what was the essence of this letter and of the reply he has sent; and if he will publish both letters in the Official Report.

I have received my hon. Friend's letter of 18th July, the essence of which is contained in his parliamentary Question of 21st July. I see no point in publishing the correspondence, but my hon. Friend is free to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects to meet his opposite numbers in the EEC.

The next Council of Transport Ministers is planned for 23rd November, but I hope to meet individual colleagues meanwhile.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport on which date during the summer the preferred route of the Staffordshire section of the Stoke to Derby road will be published.

My right hon. Friend expects to make an announcement during the recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will revise the design standards for the improvement of the Al north of Morpeth so as to ensure that sufficient opportunities exist for motorists to overtake heavy vehicles and caravans in safety.

I consider that the design standards for the proposed improvements of the A1 to the north of Morpeth provide sufficient opportunities for motorists to overtake heavy vehicles and caravans in safety.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what case he will be putting to the European Court on tachographs.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Cardiff, North-West (Mr. Roberts) and Petersfield (Mr. Mates).

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of the fact that the roads in the area between Barnsley and Doncaster are inadequate to carry present day traffic, if he will make a statement on present plans to improve these roads.

South Yorkshire County Council is responsible for planning and programming developments to the local road network in this area. I believe that it is considering a number of improvements. In addition, the Department has schemes planned for this financial year and next which will improve two junctions on the A638 trunk road just north of Doncaster.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to extend trunk road status to local roads.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer earlier today to the hon. Member for Braintree (Mr. Newton).

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends next to meet the General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when next he expects to meet the General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen.

I refer the hon. Gentleman and my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Bulmer) earlier this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a statement on the Government's review of their arrangements for dealing with oil pollution following the "Amoco Cadiz" and "Eleni V" incidents.

We have now carried out a critical re-examination of our contingency arrangements for dealing with oil pollution with the help of all the Departments and Services concerned. I am placing copies of the resulting reports by an interdepartmental working group and steering group in the Library. Copies will also be available from the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what changes the Government are seeking to achieve in the multilateral trade negotiations on the pattern of international agricultural trade.

We support the objectives on agricultural trade expressed in the statement issued by the major negotiating partners in Geneva on 31st July. These included the need for improved international co-operation possibly through the establishment of a GATT consultative committee; an understanding clarifying the GATT art. XVI: 3 so as to avoid distortions of trade in traditional markets through the use of export subsidies; completion of satisfactory settlements on the removal of specific obstacles to trade—which should include obstacles faced by the British food and drink industry such as United States wine gallon assessment; and the conclusion of new international agreements on the major agricultural commodities such as wheat, coarse grain, dairy products and meat, which will improve market stability and expand opportunities for trade, which should provide for improved access for New Zealand cheese and Australian beef.We share the view expressed that a positive result in agriculture is critical to the successful completion of the negotiations before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied with the restraint exercised by the Japanese Government over that country's car exporters to the United Kingdom in the light of recent increase in Japanese car imports just revealed.

£ million
		SITC(R)			SITC (Rev 2)
		1972	1977	January-June 1977	January-June 1977	January-June 1978
World:
Imports (cif)	…	6,093	21,305	10,788	10,942	12,956
Exports (fob)	…	8,257	26,796	13,129	13,332	14,928
EEC (6):
Imports (cif)	…	2,034	8,835	4,290	4,331	5,321
Exports (fob)	…	1,836	7,434	3,729	3,773	4,239
Irish Republic:
Imports (cif)	…	189	638	295	303	352
Exports (fob)	…	355	1,149	532	537	715
Denmark:
Imports (cif)	…	122	273	139	140	164
Exports (fob)	…	181	537	278	280	262
EFTA(1972):
Imports (cif)	…	1,331	3,966	2,126	2,138	2,810
Exports (fob)	…	1,343	4,172	2,081	2,098	2,194
Western Europe:
Imports (cif)	…	3,639	13,760	6,870	6,940	8,699
Exports (fob)	…	3,848	13,775	6,878	6,955	7,571
Commonwealth:
Imports (cif)	…	775	1,738	904	917	940
Exports (fob)	…	1,588	4,180	2,023	2,058	2,383
United States of America:
Imports (cif)	…	829	2,663	1,445	1,455	1,607
Exports (fob)	…	1,012	2,418	1,162	1,180	1,353

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in the interest of

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 14th June to which I have at the moment nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will provide the statistics of United Kingdom total exports and imports of manufactures for as much of 1978 as is available, for the corresponding period of 1977, for the calendar years 1977 and 1972, in respect of total world, the original six members of the EEC as a group, the Irish Republic, Denmark, the European Free Trade Association as its membership stood in 1972, the whole of Western Europe, the United States of America, and the Commonwealth.

Following is the information:safety at sea, he will seek to improve methods of communication between ship and shore in the matter of weather forecasting since present arrangements pay insufficient regard to the speed with which ships' masters and amateur yachtsmen can take in what is received and communicated.

I am not aware of any general criticism of this service; but if the hon. Member will send me details, I will have them considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will discuss with his fellow Trade Ministers in the EEC common action to be taken to prevent the flooding of member countries with dumped pianos thereby putting at risk the European piano industry.

No. Anti-dumping action can only be taken by the EEC

£ million
	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
USSR:
Deficit	108·1	110·8	128·4	229·7	277·8	179·8	403·6	439·8
Czechoslovakia:
Deficit	3·2	5·9	8·6	11·9	10·2	7·9	10·0	21·0
German Democratic Republic:
Surplus	0·9	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Deficit	—	2·4	6·7	12·7	5·0	6·2	15·3	40·8
Poland:
Surplus	—	4·7	4·9	16·4	29·6	68·7	37·3	22·0
Deficit	1·9	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Hungary:
Surplus	8·2	11·4	11·1	9·6	17·1	16·4	19·1	18·4
Yugoslavia:
Surplus	21·7	35·1	25·2	32·2	53·1	69·9	95·0	134·6
Romania:
Surplus	5·9	10·0	15·4	2·4	—	3·9	—	31·1
Deficit	—	—	—	—	0·2	—	0·5	—