Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Thursday 7th December 1978

Jurors (Translation Facilities)

asked the Attorney-General in how many instances in courts in England during the past 12 months translation facilities have been introduced for the benefit of those called for jury service whose knowledge of English is imperfect.

None.

Home Department

Children (Protection)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the outcome of the discussion of the draft convention on the international enforcement of custody and wardship orders at the meeting held in September by a committee of experts in the Council of Europe;(2) what date has been fixed for a discussion of child kidnapping by the Hague Conference on Private International Law; and whether his Department will be submitting to the conference proposals for improving the tracing of kidnapped children who are taken abroad.(3) what progress has been made by the Commonwealth Secretariat in following up the discussion at the Commonwealth Law Ministers' Conference in August 1977 of the possibility of an agreement on the mutual enforcement of custody and wardship orders.

My right hon. Friends and I understand that the Hague Conference on Private International Law will be considering child kidnapping in 1980, and this will be preceded by a special commission meeting in the spring of 1979. The hon. Member's point will be drawn to the attention of the United Kingdom's representatives at these discussions. The framing of a draft convention is still under discussion in the Council of Europe committee of experts to which the hon. Member refers. I understand that the Commonwealth Secretariat has commissioned a study of problems of custody conflicts within the Commonwealth and has had some informal preparatory discussion with the Law Commission.

Non-Violent Offenders (Prison Sentences)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of persons received into prisons is sentenced for non-violent offences.

In 1977, 83 per cent. of those received under sentence into prison department establishments in England and Wales had been sentenced for offences other than violence against the person, a sexual offence or robbery.

Gingerbread (Grant)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the voluntary services unit of his Department will increase the grant given to Gingerbread in order to enable that organisation to avoid collapse.

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Services stated on 27th November in a written reply to a Question by my hon. Friend, I am reviewing the voluntary services unit grant to Gingerbread in the light of the recent decision to increase the DHSS grant to Gingerbread from £12,000 to £23,000 and of representations made by the association.

Metropolitan Police (Pensions And Commutations)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report a table of figures giving for the Metropolitan Police details of pensions and commutations on the basis requested by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West in his letter of 28th November 1978.

My hon. Friend sent me a table showing the approximate gross pension and maximum commutation possible for members of provincial police forces retiring on ordinary pension on 1st September 1978 and 1979. The comparable figures for the Metropolitan Police are set out in the table below:

POLICE PENSIONS-METROPOLITAN POLICE As AT 1ST SEPTEMBER 1978
			Constable £4,237(a)		Sergeant £4,882(a)		Inspector £5,857(a)
Years Pensionable Service	1/60ths Pension	l/80ths commutation	(b)	(c)	(b)	(c)	(b)	(c)
			£	£	£	£	£	£
25	30	90	2,119	4,767	2,441	5,492	2,929	6,589
25½	31	93	2,189	4,925	2,522	5,675	3,026	6,809
26	32	96	2,260	5,084	2,604	5,858	3,124	7,028
26 ½	33	99	2,330	5,243	2,685	6,041	3,221	7,248
27	34	102	2,401	5,403	2,766	6,224	3,319	7,468
27½	35	105	2,472	5,561	2,848	6,408	3,417	7,687
28	36	108	2,542	5,720	2,929	6,591	3,514	7,907
28½	37	111	2,613	5,879	3,011	6,774	3,612	8,127
29	38	114	2,683	6,038	3,092	6,957	3,709	8,346
29½	39	117	2,754	6,197	3,173	7,140	3,807	8,566
30	40	¼nett pension	2,825	9,097^*	3,255	10,481^*	3,905	12,574^*

As AT 1ST SEPTEMBER 1979
			Constable £6,019(a)		Sergeant £6,569(a)		Inspector £7,759(a)
Years Pensionable Service	1/60ths Pension	1/80ths Commutation	(b)	(c)	(b)	(c)	(b)	(c)
			£	£	£	£	£	£
25	30	90	3,010	6,771	3,285	7,390	3,880	8,729
25½	31	93	3,110	6,997	3,394	7,636	4,009	9,020
26	32	96	3,210	7,223	3,503	7,883	4,138	9,311
26½	33	99	3,310	7,449	3,613	8,129	4,267	9,602
27	34	102	3,411	7,674	3,722	8,375	4,397	9,893
27½	35	105	3,511	7,900	3,832	8,622	4,526	10,184
28	36	108	3,611	8,126	3,941	8,868	4,655	10,475
28½	37	111	3,712	8,351	4,051	9,114	4,785	10,766
29	38	114	3,812	8,577	4,160	9,361	4,914	11,057
29½	39	117	3,912	8,803	4,270	9,607	5,043	11,348
30	40	¼ nett pension	4,013	12,922^*†	4,379	14,100^*†	5,173	16,657^*†
^* Based on age 51 next birthday:£12·88 per £1 of pension surrendered.
†These figures compare with those given in the original table. The actuarial factors have however recently been amended, so that for retirements as at 1st September 1979 £14†00 would be payable as a commuted lump sum for every £1 of pension surrendered.
Notes:
(a) Average annual pensionable pay for officer on top rate for the past year.
(b) Gross pension payable (approximate)before surrender of part of the pension in return for a commuted lump sum.
(c) Lump sum payable if the officer commutes to the maximum extent allowed.

Traffic Wardens(Industrial Dispute)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is taking to settle the industrial dispute of traffic wardens; and if he will now refer this to arbitration through the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

The Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District—who is, subject to my agreement, responsible for the pay and conditions of service of Metropolitan Police traffic wardens—is in touch with the Civil Service Union, and is, with my support, attempting to achieve an early return to normal working. As regards the reference of the dispute to arbitration, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing North (Mr. Molloy) on 24th November.—[Vol. 958, c. 762.]

Mr Richard Milhous Nixon (Police Protection)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to the Metropolitan police fund of the police protection for Mr. Richard Milhous Nixon during his recent visit.

It would involve disproportionate effort and expense to estimate the additional cost to which the deployment of officers who would not otherwise have been on duty gave rise.

Pakistan Nationals (Registration Of Minors)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning registration of minors of Pakistani nationality; and if he will make a statement about delay in considering applications.

We have received a number of representations from and on behalf of applicants, the most recent being from the minorities resource centre at Saltley, Birmingham. I regret that there has been delay in considering applications for the registration of certain Pakistani minors. Outstanding applications are now being cleared as quickly as staff resources allow and about a quarter of them have been determined during the last six weeks.

Missing Children

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet issued his circular to chief officers of police to draw their attention to the fact that information from social security records is available to the police to assist in tracing a missing child.

I have now completed my consultations with the police and the Department of Health and Social Security and shall be issuing the circular tomorrow; a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Equal Opportunities Commission

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many posts at the Equal Opportunities Commission, at the principal and higher executive officer level, are currently not filled and in which departments these vacancies are; what the average vacancy level has been within the Equal Opportunities Commission, at the principal and higher executive officer levels, over the past 12 months what was the turnover of staff, at principal and higher executive officer levels, within the Equal Opportunities Commission, over the past 12 months; and how these figures break down between the various departments of the Commission.

The staffing of the Equal Opportunities Commission is a matter for the Commission within the approved staff complement. I am, however, asking the chairman of the EOC to write to my hon. Friend.

Mr Fahad Mihyi

asked the Attorney-General whether he proposes to authorise proceedings under section 3 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 against the editors or publishers of those newspapers which published reports of events which occurred at the remand hearing of Mr. Fahad Mihyi at Marlborough Street magistrates' court on 23rd August 1978.

This matter was brought to my attention by the Director of Public Prosecutions and I am satisfied that reports of what occurred at the remand hearing contained in a substantial number of newspapers contravened section 3 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967—" Restrictions on reports of committal proceedings ".This section applies with equal force to remand hearings as to the subsequent hearing at which the court considers the evidence as examining magistrates. Nothing which is said by the accused or anyone else in court at any of these hearings, and no incident which occurs whilst the accused is before the court, may be reported other than as is expressly permitted by the section.Having carefully considered all the circumstances of the present case, I consider it sufficient to draw attention to the provisions of the section and I have decided that it is not necessary for me to authorise the institution of proceedings.

House Of Commons

Parliamentary Questions

asked the Lord President of the Council what is the number of Oral and Written Questions which were asked in the last Session of Parliament and the average cost of answering each of them.

The information is as follows:

	Number	Estimated average cost
		£
Oral	9,036	33
Written	28,739	20

Tea Room And Smoking Room (Newspapers)

asked the Lord President of the Council how many copies of"The Times ","The Daily Telegraph ", and"The Guardian ", respectively, were provided daily in the Members' Tea Room and Smoking Room prior to 4th December; what changes have been made since that date; on whose authority; and whether he will now take steps to increase the availability of"The Guardian"in those rooms.

Prior to 4th December provision of the three newspapers was as follows:

	Members Tea Room	Smoking Room
The Times	7	6
The Daily Telegraph	5	3
The Guardian	3	2

As a result of the recent suspension of publication of The Times, the Authorities of the House hoped to make the following provision:

Members Tea Room

Smoking Room

The daily Telegraph

The Guardian

However, I am informed that the extra copies of The Guardian cannot be guaranteed. I regret that it is not, therefore, practicable to increase the order further.

Microelectronics

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the Government's approach to microelectronics.

It is the Government's policy that microelectronics technology should be adopted widely throughout British industry. This view is supported by the recent report from the Advisory Council for Applied Research and Development, a new report by the Central Policy Review Staff, and by the electronic components sector working party. The Government recognise that the new technology will involve job losses as a result of higher productivity, for example on certain production lines and in telecommunications operations. But there will be offsetting gains in producing microelectronic devices and in the software industry; from the production and export of new products; and from the general increase in real incomes which microelectronics can make possible.However, the main effect of this technology on jobs will be through its impact on the United Kingdom's international competitiveness: as a trading nation, we have no option but to adopt it if we are to compete in world markets. For this reason I announced at a meeting of the National Economic Development Council on 6th December a programme of action with three main aims: first, to increase the number of people with the relevant skills through education, training and retraining for those whose jobs will disappear: secondly, to increase awareness of the technology in industry and more widely; and, thirdly, to encourage companies to apply it.The details of this comprehensive programme, which will cost about £100 million over three years, are contained in the Government's paper to NEDC. I have placed a copy of this paper in the Library of the House, together with copies of the CPRS paper, a paper by the director general of the National Economic Development Office, a paper by the chairman of the electronic components SWP, and my introductory statement at the NEDC meeting.

Prime Minister (Engagements)

Q4.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 7th December.

Q5.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 7th December.

Q7.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 7th December.

Q8.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 7th December.

Q9.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 7th December.

Q10.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 7th December.

Q11.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 7th December.

Q15.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 7th December.

Q17.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 7th December.

Q18.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 7th December.

Q19.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 7th December.

Q20.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 7th December.

Q21.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 7th December.

Q22.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 7th December.

23.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his offiical engagements for 7th December.

24.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 7th December.

Q26.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 7th December.

Q29.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 7th December.

Q30.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 7th December.

Q32.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 7th December.

Q33.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 7th December.

Q35.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his engagements for Thursday 7th December.

Q42.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 7th December.

Q43.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 7th December.

Q46.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 7th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 7th December.

I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).

Tuc And Cbi

Q6.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the TUC.

Q27.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the TUC.

Q34.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the TUC.

Q37.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the TUC.

Q38.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the TUC.

Q41.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the TUC.

I met representatives of the TUC at NEDC yesterday. Further meetings will be arranged as necessary.

Q25.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the CBI and TUC.

I met representatives of both the CBI and TUC at NEDC yesterday. Further meetings will be arranged as necesary.

Q39.

asked the Prime Minister when he intends next to meet the CBI.

Q45.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the CBI.

I met representatives of the CBI at NEDC yesterday. Further meetings will be arranged as necessary.

New York

Q12.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to visit New York.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, East (Mr. Lamond) on 30th November.

Q28.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to pay a visit to New York.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on 30th November.

President Brezhnev

Q13.

asked the Prime Minister when he expects next to meet President Brezhnev of the USSR.

I have at present no plans to meet President Brezhnev.

Rome

Q14.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

Isle Of Ely

Q16.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will visit the Isle of Ely.

I have at present no plans to d oso.

Hove

Q31.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit Hove.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Scottish Tuc

Q36.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek an early meeting with the Scottish TUC.

I have no immediate plans to meet the STUC.

European Monetary System

Q40.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement regarding the decisions taken by EEC Heads of Government on the European Monetary System.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made to the House yesterday.

Sidcup

Q44.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

Investment Potential (Report)

Q47.

asked the Prime Minister what action he has taken on the report on the investment potential in the North-East and North-West of England which he asked the National Enterprise Board to make for him.

Of the report's 15 recommendations, nine have been implemented by the Government or the NEB; two are still under consideration; three have not been accepted; and one is for Liverpool corporation. I am asking my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry to write to my right hon. Friend with the full details.

Parliamentary Questions

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give for the longest and most convenient stated period of time the number of Oral and Written parliamentary Questions addressed to him, the number answered and the breakdown into groups where these Questions were similar, such as visits to places, meetings with TUC and CBI, and so on; and whether he will take steps to widen the scope of the Questions which may be addressed to him.

In the 1977–78 Session, 2,728 Oral and Written Questions were addressed to me, of which I answered 2,537 and 191 were transferred to the responsible Ministers. These figures exclude Questions withdrawn before a reply was given. Records are not kept of the number of similar or identical indirect Questions, but it is clear that a large proportion of Oral Questions fall into this category. So far as my practice in transferring Questions is concerned, I have no proposals for change.I refer my hon. Friend to the criticisms of the indirect Question contained in the Fifth Report from the Select Committee on Procedure Session 1976–77.

Northern Ireland

Short Brothers Ltd

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the present and future prospects for Short Brothers with particular regard to the manufacture of aircraft and guided missiles and the design capacity of the firm in respect of such manufactures.

I am pleased to be able to announce that the Government have now approved the five-year corporate plan submitted by Short Brothers Limited. Under the plan, which the company prepared in conjunction with a firm of international management consultants, Short's will continue its three main activities of aircraft production, manufacture of aerostructures for other companies and the design and production of guided weapons.Despite the company's financial losses in recent years, the Government have confidence in its future and plan to invest some £60 million up to 1982 to allow a major capital re-equipment programme which, by helping to increase productivity and by expanding the company's technical capability in all areas, should enable the company to achieve a return to profitability by that date.The plan recognises the great importance of maintaining good industrial relations, and the necessary changes will be implemented in full consultation with the trade unions concerned, which have already indicated their general satisfaction with the plan. The work force at Short's is expected to increase by approximately 300 to 6,500 by 1982. Progress against the corporate plan will be systematically monitored and subject to regular reviews.

Electricity Service (Accounts)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the accounts of the Northern Ireland electricity service are published, laid before Parliament or presented to him; who audits them; and who chooses that auditor.

The annual report of the Northern Ireland electricity service, which includes a statement of account, is presented to the Minister responsible and published. It is not laid before Parliament but copies are placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.The Electricity Supply (Northern Ireland) Order requires the service to appoint auditors annually with the approval of the Department of Commerce. The auditors since the inception of the service have been Atkinson and Boyd, chartered accountants.

Security

16.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in the heavily bombed towns of Cookstown, Omagh and Castlederg.

The towns of Cookstown, Omagh and Castlederg have suffered considerable damage as a result of recent bomb attacks. Local security measures are under review and the RUC, supported as necessary by the Army, will take appropriate action to counter the threat of further attacks. I was concerned to ensure that all practical measures were taken to mitigate the effects of the bombing, and I understand that the central and local services have reacted quickly and positively. I have written to the hon. Member about these matters.

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the latest series of terrorist incidents, and the present state of security.

25.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the security situation.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to a Question from the hon. Member for Londonderry (Mr. Ross).

Social Democratic And Labour Party

17.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has talked to the Social Democratic and Labour Party since its recent conference.

I have had no formal talks since that date, but informal contacts have been maintained.

Site Meetings

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will reconsider his decision to change the rules governing a site meeting in an hon. Member's constituency on those matters which in the rest of the United Kingdom are the responsibility of elected local authorities.

No change in the rules has taken place, but I take it that the hon. Member is referring to recent correspondence which I have had with several hon. Members in which I suggested that it would be helpful to observe certain guidelines in setting up site meetings. I did not lay down any inflexible rules. In particular I made it clear that I would be open to direct approaches from hon. Members who wish to seek a site meeting to discuss an urgent matter at short notice.

Political Situation

18.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there are any political indications that the two major communities in Northern Ireland are moving towards one another across the sectarian divide; and if he will make a statement.

I can see little sign of any dramatic change of attitude on the part of the political parties most identified with the two traditions in Northern Ireland, although I am encouraged by the fact that they are prepared to talk to me about the possibility of making some political progress.

Infant Mortality

20.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he proposes to take in the light of the serious problem of infant mortality in Northern Ireland.

The Government have given priority to community health including maternity and child health services in their planning and allocation of funds to health and social services boards in Northern Ireland. The Eastern health and social services board has recently jointly appointed with the Queens university, Belfast a consultant lecturer in midwifery and gynaecology with a special interest in foetal medicine. In addition, an expert committee has recently been appointed to advise on the whole range of preventive and caring measures in the field of infant mortality and to make recommendations for improvements.

International Sporting Events

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assistance he has given in support of international sporting events held in Northern Ireland during the last three years.

The Government continue to give special emphasis to the development of sport in Northern Ireland. A major programme to increase sporting facilities has been undertaken, which will encourage wider community involvement. This programme, and special coaching arrangements that are also being provided, will enable top-class sportsmen and women to compete in international events.During the past three years, over 145 international sporting events covering 17 major sports ranging from amateur boxing and badminton to association football and motor sports have been held in Northern Ireland. Already this year over 40 international events have taken place, attracting teams from 16 nations in addition to the home counties. In recent weeks visits have been made by the All Blacks rugby team and the Danish international soccer squad.

The Sports Council for Northern Ireland has made modest grants to a number of sporting organisations towards the deficit caused by arranging home events. In addition, the Department of Education for Northern Ireland has given capital grants to governing bodies to enable them to improve facilities for staging international events.

The reciprocal obligation, to compete in international events outside Northern Ireland, is also recognised, and Northern Ireland teams have travelled to many countries to compete in world-class events. Assistance has been given to these teams and representatives of governing bodies of sport in the form of travel grants paid by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland.

Prisons (Smuggling)

23.

asked the Secretary of of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement concerning the smuggling of contraband into Her Majesty's prisons in Northern Ireland and the number of prosecutions which have taken place for such offences since 1968.

Over recent months there has been an increase in the number of attempts made by visitors to smuggle prohibited articles into prisons in Northern Ireland. In response, security searches of visitors and parcels intended for prisoners have been intensified.Records of prosecutions for the offence of conveying prohibited articles into prisons are not available for every year since 1968, but there have been 30 such prosecutions since 1973.In addition to the occasions following which prosecutions took place, there have been other cases where a person who is detected smuggling contraband is warned, and may not be allowed to carry out the visit.

Blind Persons (Free Travel)

24.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the free system of travel for blind persons in Northern Ireland will commence.

Free travel facilities are already available to the blind using the Citybus services in the Belfast area. Similar facilities will be extended to the remainder of Northern Ireland as soon as the administrative arrangements can be completed.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

European Community (Butter Sales)

26.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in the attempts to prevent the sale of large quantities of EEC butter to the USSR at heavily subsidised prices.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the member for Thurrock (Dr. McDonald) on 22nd November.—[Vol. 958, c. 607–08.]

Milk Products (Intervention Stocks)

27.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the total amounts of milk products held by the United Kingdom intervention agency at the latest date for which he has a figure.

Subject to final verification, the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce held 26,782 tonnes of butter and 69,084 tonnes of skimmed milk powder on 17th November 1978.

Bread And Flour

28.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will indicate any difficulties which may have prevented his implementation of the recommendations of the Food Standards Committee's second report on bread and flour; when he now intends to implement these recommendations; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to her on Thursday 22nd June.—[Vol. 952, c.260.] The report of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy on the nutritional importance of bread, flour and cereal products in the United Kingdom diet is not yet available. We propose to await the report of this Committee before making proposals to change the legislation affecting bread and flour.

Farm Buildings

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the code of practice for farm buildings, initially sponsored by his Department, provides guidelines for grant approval for farm buildings under the capital grants scheme.

I take it that the hon. Member is referring to British Standard 5502 for buildings. When considering the eligibility for capital grant of farm buildings to which a British Standard, including 5502, is appropriate, we would require that building to conform to the relevant section. Thus the standard can be said to provide guidelines for grant approvals.

Common Agricultural Policy

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action has been taken by the Council of Agriculture Ministers in respect of the report of the EEC Commission to Heads of Government outlining five areas of possible modification of the common agricultural policy.

The Commission's report has not been presented to the Council of Agricultural Ministers but the Council will shortly begin its consideration of 1979–80 price proposals which will reflect it.

Seed Potatoes (Certification)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the objectives of the new scheme to be introduced on the certification of seed potatoes; and if he will make a statement.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the Seed Potatoes Regulations 1978. Their main effect is to bring marketing of seed potatoes in this country within the scope of the EEC seeds regime. The broad objectives of that regime are to facilitate trade throughout the Community in certified supplies of approved varieties; and to prevent marketing of unsatisfactory material. The regime already applies to the generality of our seed trade; and earlier this year it was extended to home trade in seed potatoes. We await completion of current negotiations before applying it to seed potato imports where we must have adequate plant health safeguards both generally and in particular to protect our high grade production regions.

Fishing Industry

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the high costs incurred by fishing companies, particularly those based in Fleetwood, Hull and Grimsby, he will now seek to give additional assistance to the industry.

Changes in traditional patterns of fishing have had serious repercussions on the dock and landing charges payable to the British Transport Docks Board by fishing vessel owners at Fleetwood, Grimsby and Hull. I therefore propose, as an exceptional and temporary measure, to seek the approval of Parliament to a scheme of financial aid to cover approximately half of such charges in 1978 in respect of vessels of 80 ft. registered length or over based on these three ports. The European Commission is being informed. The cost of this measure is expected to be about £1·2 million and will be met by an increase in my Ministry's MAFF 2 cash limit and an offsetting reduction in the MAFF 1 cash limit.

Defence

Hms"Ark Royal "

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the scrap value of HMS"Ark Royal ".

The market for scrap fluctuates. In coming months HMS"Ark Royal"will be de-stored and de-equipped. Her scrap value thereafter cannot be forecast accurately, but HMS"Eagle"fetched rather over £1 million.

Energy

North Sea Oil (Participation Agreement)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what recent progress has been made in participation negotiations with companies involved in North Sea oil development.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 10th July 1978; Vol. 953, c. 348], gave the following further information:

Today I signed definitive participation agreements with the British National Oil Corporation, Amerada Exploration Limited and Amerada Petroleum Corporation of the United Kingdom Limited and Texas Eastern (UK) Limited and North Sea Inc.

The agreements will apply to the companies' interests in the Fulmer field and also to any further fields in the UKCS that the companies may develop under their first to fourth round licences, but not to their interests in the Beryl and Montrose fields for which separate participation agreements were signed on 5th April and 4th May respectively.

Under the new agreements BNOC will have an option over up to 51 per cent. of each company's share of petroleum production against payment of market price. Any equity interest held by the British Gas Corporation will be taken into account in calculating the amount of petroleum to which BNOC is entitled. BNOC will become a co-licensee with the companies and will have an effective voice and vote on all operating committees.

I am placing a summary of the agreements in the Library of the House.

National Coal Board

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what suggestions he has made to the National Coal Board for improving procedures for informing men of their rights when under threat of redundancy due to pit closures.

Detailed procedure is a matter for the NCB in consultation with the NUM. If my hon. Friend has any specific point in mind, I should be glad to draw it to the chairman's attention.

Brazil (Uranium Supply)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library the formal documents relating to the recent Anglo-Dutch-German deal to supply low enriched uranium to Brazil as communicated to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 28th July 1978; Vol. 954, c. 985], gave the following further information:Copies of the relevant documents have been laid in the Library of the House and communicated to the International Atomic Energy Authority.

Employment

Textile Industry (Byssinosis)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, following the announcement in the Queen's Speech that the Government are examining schemes to provide compensation for those such as slate quarrymen who have suffered respiratory diseases from dust in their employment but who are unable to obtain such compensation through the courts, any proposals which may be brought forward will include those employed in the textile industry who suffer from the disease known as byssinosis.

I am happy to confirm that our examination is not confined to slate quarrymen and includes workers in the textile industry suffering from byssinosis.

Journalists (Wage Claim)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he will be making a decision and replying to the submissions made to him by the Newspaper Society that the wage claim of the provincial journalists should be treated as a special case outside the Government guidelines.

I have received no such formal submission.

Training Opportunities Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what timetable is envisaged for implementing changes in the rules of the training opportunities scheme, recommended in the Manpower Services Commission's recent report on the training opportunities scheme review.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the following changes in the TOPS rules will apply with effect from 4th December:

(i) the qualifying period away from full-time education is reduced from three years to two;

(ii) the minimum waiting period between two full-skill courses is reduced from five years to three. In addition, from 4th December the"waiting period"rule will not apply to adults who have completed a short industrial course or work preparation course under TOPS, or who have taken part in a scheme under the special temporary employment programme; nor will it apply to young adults who have taken part in a scheme under the youth opportunities programme.

The application of these changes is subject to the general rule that TOPS trainees must be 19 years of age or over when training starts. I am informed by MSC that the other changes in the rules recommended by the report will be considered over the coming months, in consultation with the education departments and other interests affected, and in the light of resource implications where appropriate.

Chemical Projects (Construction Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will compare major chemical project construction costs with those obtained in other EEC countries.

I have been asked to reply.No. Absence of relevant and reliable information makes such a comparison impracticable.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Mr Louis Gelman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if lie will permit Mr. Louis Gelman to appear in person on 11th December before the Advisory Committee on Rhodesian Travel Restrictions in order to put his case: and if he will make a statement as to his reasons.

My right hon. Friend is arranging for Mr. Gelman's admission to the United Kingdom to appear before the Advisory Committee on Rhodesian Travel Restrictions, as it has advised him that this will assist it in its scrutiny of his (Mr. Gelman's) case. This is the procedure laid down in the then Commonwealth Secretary's statement of 27th June 1968.

Industry

Textiles

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many mill closures in the textile industry have taken place, or been announced, in the last three months; and if he will make a statement on Government intentions to prevent the flow of imports of cotton yarns from Turkey.

According to our records, there were 15 mill closures in the textiles industry, including hosiery and knitwear, during the months of September, October and November 1978. The impending closure of a further six mills was also announced.The Government suspended all imports of Turkish cotton yarn from outside the 'Comm0unity, except for consignments in transit, on 15th September 1978, and are seeking authority from the Commission to waive the free circulation provisions of the Treaty of Rome in any cases where consignments of Turkish cotton yarn are imported through other member States.

CHANGES IN ASSISTED AREAS
Employment Office Areas^*	Change in Assisted Area status involved	Effective date	Statutory Instrument
Aberdeen Group (Aberdeen, Inverurie and Stonehaven)	Development Area to Intermediate Area	14th April 1977†	1977 No. 683
Malton, Northallerton, Pickering Richmond and Thirsk	"	"
^*These areas are based on Employment Office Areas as defined at the date of the change.
†As a transitional arrangement the areas remained eligible for regional incentives on the basis of the old grading until 1st April 1978.

ADDITIONS TO ASSISTED AREAS
Employment Exchange Area Employment Office Area(as appropriate)	Type of Assisted Area	Effective date	Statutory Instrument
North East Lancashire	Intermediate	5th March 1970
Accrington	Area		1970 NO.308
Bacup	"	"	"
Barnoldswick	"	"	"
Blackburn	"	"	"
Burnley	"	"	"
Colne	"	"	"
Darwen	"	"	"
Great Harwood	"	"	"
Haslingden	"	"	"
Nelson	"	"	"
Padiham	"	"	"
Rawtenstall	"	"	"
Yorkshire
Askern (now part of Doncaster)	"	"	"
Barnsley	"	"	"
Castleford	"	"	"
Dinnington	"	"	"
Doncaster	"	"	"
Goldthorpe	"	"	"
Hemsworth	"	"	"
Hoyland	"	"	"

Regional Policy

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the dates, and the areas of the United Kingdom involved, in the last 10 years, when either a special development area, a development area, or an intermediate area, has had its designation for regional policy purposes removed, or altered to one of a lower priority; and if he will indicate in such cases to what sort of priority it was changed;(2) if he will publish in the

Official Report a table showing, for the last 10 years, the dates and areas which have been added for regional policy purposes to the categories of special development area, development area, or intermediate area.

The information is as follows:

Employment Exchange Area Employment Office Area(as appropriate)	Type of Assisted Area	Effective date	Statutory Instrument
Knottingley	Intermediate Area	5th March 1970	1970 No. 308
Maltby
Mexborough	"	"	"
Normanton	"	"	"
Pontefract	"	"	"
Rotherham	"	"	"
Royston	"	"	"
South Kirkby	"	"	"
Thorne	"	"	"
Todmorden	"	"	"
Wakefield	"	"	"
Wombwell	"	"	"
North Humberside
Beverley	"	"	"
Goole	"	"	"
Hessle	"	"	"
Hull	"	"	"
Notts./ Derbyshire	"	"	"
Alfreton	"	"	"
Heanor	"	"	"
Sutton-in-Ashfield	"	"	"
Worksop	"	"	"
South East Wales
Abergavenny (excluding that part which was outside the Abergavenny Municipal Borough and the Abergavenny Rural District)	"	"	"
Barry	"	"	"
Cardiff	"	"	"
Cwmbran	"	"	"
Llantwit Major	"	"	"
Newport	"	"	"
Newport Docks (now part of Newport)	"	"	"
Penarth	"	"	"
Plymouth	"	"	"
Devonport	"	"	"
Gunnislake	"	"	"
Plymouth	"	"	"
Plympton	"	"	"
Saltash	"	"	"
Scotland
Leith	"	"	"
South West
Okehampton	Intermediate Area	10th March 1971	1971 No. 329
Tavistock	"	"	"
West Midlands
Oswestry	"	"	"
Yorkshire
Bridlington	"	"	"
Filey	"	"	"
Scotland
Edinburgh	"	"	"
Portobello	"	"	"
Yorkshire and Humberside
Attercliffe (now Firth Park)	Intermediate Area	22nd March 1972	1972 No. 421
Barton-on-Humber	"	"	"
Batley	"	"	"
Bradford	"	"	"
Brighouse	"	"	"
Chapeltown	"	"	"
Dewsbury	"	"	"
Driffield	"	"	"
Elland	"	"	"
Grimsby	"	"	"
Halifax	"	"	"

Employment Exchange Area Employment Office Area(as appropriate)	Type of Assisted Area	Effective date	Statutory Instrument
Harrogate	Intermediate	22nd March 1972	1972No.421
Haworth(now part of Keighley)	Area	"	"
HebdenBridge	"	"	"
Horsforth	"	"	"
Huddersfield	"	"	"
Keighley	"	"	"
Leeds	"	"	"
Morley	"	"	"
Otley	"	"	"
Pocklington(now part of York)	"	"	"
Ripon	"	"	"
Rothwell	"	"	"
Scunthorpe	"	"	"
Seacroft	"	"	"
Selby	"	"	"
Sheffield	"	"	"
Shipley	"	"	"
Skipton	"	"	"
SowerbyBridge	"	"	"
SpenValley	"	"	"
Stanningley(nowBramley)	"	"	"
Stocksbridge(nowpartofSheffield)	"	"	"
Tadcaster (now part of York)	"	"	"
Wetherby	"	"	"
Woodhouse	"	"	"
Yeadon (formerly Guiseley)	"	"	"
York	"	"	"
North West
Altrincham	"	"	"
Ashton-in-Makerfield	"	"	"
Ashton-under-Lyne	"	"	"
AthertonandTyldesley	"	"	"
BamberBridge	"	"	"
Blackpool	"	"	"
Bolton	"	"	"
Bury	"	"	"
Buxton	"	"	"
Chapel-en-le-Frith (now part of Buxton)	"	"	"
Chester	"	"	"
Chorley	"	"	"
Clitheroe	"	"	"
Congleton	"	"	"
Crewe	"	"	"
Denton	"	"	"
Eccles	"	"	"
Failsworth	"	"	"
Farnworth	"	"	"
Fleetwood	"	"	"
Glosworth	"	"	"
Golborne(now part of Leigh)	"	"	"
Heywood	"	"	"
Hindley	"	"	"
Horwich	"	"	"
Hyde	"	"	"
Irlam	"	"	"
Kirkham	"	"	"
Lancaster	"	"	"
Leigh	"	"	"
Levenshulme	"	"	"
Leyland	"	"	"
Littleborough	"	"	"
Lytham	"	"	"
Macclesfield	"	"	"
Manchester	"	"	"
Marple	"	"	"
Middleton	"	"	"
Middlewich	"	"	"
Morecambe	"	"	"
Mossley	"	"	"
Nantwich	"	"	"
NewMills	"	"	"

Employment Exchange Area! Employment Office Area(as appropriate)	Type of Assisted Area	Effective date	Statutory Instrument
Newton Heath	Intermediate	22nd March 1972	1972 No. 421
Newton le Willows (formerly Earlestown)	Area	"	"
Northwich	"	"	"
Oldham and Chadderton	"	"	"
Openshaw	"	"	"
Ormskirk	"	"	"
Preston	"	"	"
Prestwich	"	"	"
Radcliffe	"	"	"
Ramsbottom	"	"	"
Rochdale	"	"	"
Royton	"	"	"
Saddleworth (now part of Oldham)	"	"	"
Salford	"	"	"
Sandbach	"	"	"
Shaw (now part of Oldham)	"	"	"
Skelmersdale (excluding that part which lies within the designated area of Skelmersdale New Town)	"	"	"
Southport	"	"	"
Stalybridge	"	"	"
St. Anne's-on-the-Sea	"	"	"
Standish (now part of Wigan)	"	"	"
Stockport	"	"	"
Stretford	"	"	"
Swinton	"	"	"
Thornton Cleveleys	"	"	"
Warrington	"	"	"
Westhoughton	"	"	"
Wigan	"	"	"
Wilmslow	"	"	"
Winsford	"	"	"
Withington (now Didsbury)	"	"	"
Worsley	"	"	"
Wythenshawe	"	"	"
Lincolnshire
Gainsborough	"	"	"
Horncastle	"	"	"
Louth	"	"	"
Mablethorpe	"	"	"
Skegness	"	"	"
North Wales
Buckley (now part of Shotton)	"	"	"
Colwyn Bay	"	"	"
Flint	"	"	"
Holywell	"	"	"
Llandudno	"	"	"
Mold	"	"	"
Rhyl	"	"	"
Shotton	"	"	"
South East Wales
Chepstow	"	"	"
Monmouth	"	"	"
Northern Region
Ashington	Special Development Area	10th August 1972	1972 No. 1234
Aspatria	"	"	"
Bedlington	"	"	"
Birtley	"	"	"
Bishop Auckland (including the area served by the sub-office of Evenwood)	"	"	"
Blaydon	"	"	"
Blyth	"	"	"
Chester-le-Street	"	"	'
Cleator Moor	"	"	"
Cockermouth	"	"	"
Consett	"	"	"
Crook	"	"	"
Durham	"	"	"

Employment Exchange Area/ Employment Office Area(as appropriate)	Type of Assisted Area	Effective date	Statutory Instrument
East Boldon	Special Development Area	10th August 1972	1972 No. 1234
Felling		"	"
Gateshead	"	"	"
Haltwhistle	"	"	"
Hartlepool	"	"	"
Hartlepool Headland (now part of Hartlepool)	"	"	"
Houghton-le-Spring	"	"	"
Jarrow and Hebburn	"	"	"
Lanchester	"	"	"
Maryport	"	"	"
Millom	"	"	"
Newburn	"	"	"
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	"	"	"
North Shields	"	"	"
Peterlee	"	"	"
Prudhoe	"	"	"
Seaham	"	"	"
Seaton Delaval (now Cramlington)	"	"	"
Shildon	"	"	"
South Shields	"	"	"
Southwick	"	"	"
Spennymoor	"	"	"
Stanley	"	"	'
Sunderland	"	"	"
Walker	"	"	"
Wallsend	"	"	"
Washington	"	"	"
West Moor	"	"	"
Whitehaven	"	"	"
Whitley Bay	"	"	"
Wingate	"	"	"
Workington	"	"	"
Scotland
Airdrie	"	"	"
Alexandria	"	"	"
Barrhead	"	"	"
Bellshill	"	"	"
Blantyre	"	"	"
Bridgeton (now Glasgow Central)	"	"	"
Cambuslang	"	"	"
Carluke	"	"	"
Coatbridge	"	"	'
Clydebank	"	"	"
Cumbernauld	"	"	"
Dumbraton	"	"	"
Easterhouse	"	"	"
East Kilbride	"	"	"
Girvan	"	"	"
Glasgow (South Side)	"	"	"
Govan	"	"	"
Greenock	"	"	"
Hamilton (including the area served by the sub-office of Strathaven)	"	"	"
Helensburgh	"	"	"
Hillington	"	"	"
Irvine (including the area served by the sub-office of Dairy)	"	"	"
Johnstone	"	"	"
Kilsyth	"	"	"
Kilwinning	"	"	"
Kinning Park	"	"	"
Kirkintilloch	"	"	"
Larkhall	"	"	"
Lesmahagow	"	"	"
Leven and Methil	"	"	"
Maryhill	"	"	"
Motherwell	"	"	"
Paisley	"	"	"
Parkhead	"	"	"
Partick	"	"	"

Employment Exchange Area! Employment Office Area(as appropriate)	Type of Assisted Area	Effective date	Statutory Instrument
Port Glasgow	Special Development Area	10th August 1972	1972 No. 1234
Renfrew	"	"	"
Rutherglen	"	"	"
Saltcoats (excluding the Isle of Arran)	"	"	"
Sanquhar	"	"	"
Shotts	"	"	"
Springburn	"	"	"
Uddingston	"	"	"
Wishaw	"	"	"
In addition the area designated by the New Town (Glenrothes) Designation Order 1948(a) as the site of a proposed new town and the area designated by the New Town (Livingston) Designation Order 1962(b) as the site of a proposed new town.
Wales	Special Development Area	10th August 1972	1972 No. 1234
Aberdare	"	"	"
Abertillery	"	"	"
Ammanford (excluding those areas served by the sub-offices of Llandeilo and Llandovery)	"	"	"
Bargoed	"	"	"
Blackwood	"	"	"
Brynmawr	"	"	"
Cymmer	"	"	"
Dowlais (now part of Merthyr Tydfil)	"	"	"
Ebbw Vale	"	"	"
Ferndale	"	"	"
Garnant	"	"	"
Llantrisant	"	"	"
Maesteg	"	"	"
Merthyr Tydfil	"	"	"
Mountain Ash	"	"	"
Neath	"	"	"
Newbridge	"	"	"
Pontardawe	"	"	"
Pontlottyn	"	"	"
Pontypridd	"	"	"
Resolven	"	"	"
Tonypandy	"	"	"
Tonyrefail	"	"	"
Tredegar	"	"	"
Treharris	"	"	"
Treorchy	"	"	"
Ystradgynlais	"	"	"
Ystrad Mynach	"	"	"
Merseyside
Birkenhead Group (Bebington, Birkenhead and Wallasey)	Special Development Area	14th August 1974	1974 No. 1372
Ellesmere Port	"	"	"
Hoylake	"	"	"
Liverpool Group (Bootle, Crosby, Garston, Kirkby, Liverpool Old Swan, Regent Road (Liverpool) and Walton)	"	"	"
Neston	"	"	",
Prescot	"	"	"
Runcorn	"	"	"
St. Helens	"	"	"
Widnes	"	"	"
In addition the area designated by the Skelmersdale New Town (Designation) Order 1961(a) as varied by the Skelmersdale New Town (Designation) Amendment Order 1969(b) as the site of a proposed new town.
North West Wales
Blaenau Ffestiniog	Special Development Area	14th August 1974	1974 No. 1372
Caernarvon	"	"	"
Bangor	"	"	"
Penygroes	"	"	"
Pwllheli	"	"	"
Bethesda	"	"	"
Porthmadog	"	"	"
Holyhead	"	"	"

Employment Exchange Area/ Employment Office Area(as appropriate)	Type of Assisted Area	Effective date	Statutory Instrument
Amlwch	Special Development Area	14th August 1974	1974 No. 1372
Beaumaris	"	"	"
Llangefni	"	"	"
Scotland
Edinburgh, Leith and Portobello	Development Area	14th August 1974	1974 No. 1372
Wales
Barry, Cardiff, Llantwit Major and Penarth	"	"	"
Chesterfield, Clay Cross, Eckington and Staveley	Intermediate Area	14th August 1974	1974 No. 1372
Scotland
Arbroath, Cumnock, Dundee (excluding the area served by the sub-office of St. Andrews), Kiburnie and Lanark	Special Development Area	14th April 1977	1977 No. 683
Grimsby, Hull Group (Beverley, Hessle and Hull) and Shotton Group (Flint, Holywell, Mold and Shotton)	Development Area	14th April 1977	1977 No. 683
Bransholme	Development Area	20th April 1977	1977 No. 706

Capital Returns

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish in the Official Report the percentage rate of return on capital employed before and after allowing for stock appreciation, for manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom for every quarter from 1945 to the latest date for which figures are available.

These are not available. There are difficulties in producing reliable quarterly estimates of rates of return on capital employed. Annual estimates back to 1960 were recently published in an article"Companies' rate of return on capital employed 1960 to 1977"in Trade and Industry on 22nd September—page 675, table 1, columns 5 and 6.

Airbus (Equipment Changes)

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to accept the continuing right of the French Government to decide if there can be equipment changes between earlier versions of the airbus and the A310; and whether there is a memorandum of understanding between the French and the British Governments on this and other matters affecting British participation in the project.

The choice of equipment for members of the airbus family is essentially a matter for Airbus Industrie. The principles of co-operationon

on the airbus programme agreed between the Governments of France, West Germany and the United Kingdom provide that the United Kingdom equipment industry will be eligible to contribute to the supply of equipment for airbus on the same basis as the French and German equipment manufacturers. A copy of the document setting out the agreed principles is in the Library.

Common Ownership (Grants And Loans)

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will set out the grants and loans made so far under the Industrial Common Ownership Act 1976.

Grants under section 1(1), for the purpose of assisting relevant bodies to provide advice about the organisation of common ownership enterprises and co-operative enterprises, have been made as follows:—

Year 1 (22 November 1976–21 November 1977)	Industrial Common Ownership		Movement	£20,000
	Scottish Co-operatives Development		Committee	£4,000
Year 2 (22 November 1977–21 November 1978)	Industrial Common Ownership		Movement	£20,000
Scottish Co-operatives Development	Committee	£8,000	Co-operative Union	£2,000

Section 1(2) authorises my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to make available up to £250,000 over the five years the Act remains in force to assist with the provision of small loans to worker-controlled enterprises. The scheme is administered by Industrial Common Ownership Finance Ltd (ICOF) which receives these funds in the form of grants for on-lending to the enterprise concerned in accordance with the conditions specified in the Industrial Common Ownership (loans) Regulations 1977 (Statutory Instrument 1977 No. 1386). Seven such loans have been made so far, involving public funds of £46,000 altogether, In addition, grants totalling £18,000 have been made to ICOF in respect of its administration costs.

South Africa (British Companies)

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what approaches have been made by his Department to British firms for them to indicate the effect on them of British adherence to a policy of economic sanctions against South Africa; and whether he will state their response.

My Department keeps in touch with firms under its sponsorship about any problems of concern to them. Such discussions are a matter of commercial confidence.

National Finance

Pensions (War Widows)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to exempt war widows' pensions from income tax.

War widows' pensions already enjoy the benefit of 50 per cent. exemption from income tax. I do not think it would be justifiable to extend this exemption further.

Dependent Relative Allowance

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for increasing dependent relative allowance.

I have no proposals for such an increase. Generally, I believe that help for elderly or infirm relatives is nowadays more effectively provided through the social security system.

Capital Taxes Office, Shepherds Bush

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the staff inspectors' report on the capital taxes office at Shepherds Bush carried out earlier in 1978.

The staffing inspection report covers, amongst other matters, the detailed working procedures of the capital taxes office and contains references to particular categories of taxpayer and to accounting processes. I do not propose, therefore, to place a copy in the Library, but if there is any particular point which the hon. Member wishes to raise, perhaps he will write to me.

Travelling Expenses

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make provision for a tax-deductible annual allowance of £122'20 to be permitted for all people in full-time employment for travelling expenses.

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

Pay Settlements (Government Action)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in his consideration of sanctions against the TUC and the Labour Party for breaches of the 5 per cent. wages policy, he will consider refusing to appoint persons from those organisations to quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organisations or to other public appointments.

Such a consideration is not relevant to making these appointments.

Ford Motor Company

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the additional annual cost to the Exchequer of the Government's decision not to buy Ford motor vehicles.

It is not possible to forecast what additional costs may arise.

Industrial Investment

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the volume of investment in the United Kingdom at 1975 prices in (a) all industries and (b) manufacturing industries for every year from 1945 to the latest available date.

The information available is given below. Estimates of investment at 1975 prices are available for all industries only from 1948, and for manufacturing industries from 1955.

GROSS DOMESTIC FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, AT 1975 PRICES
		(£ million)
	All Industries	Manufacturing
1948	6,217	N.A.
1949	6,792	N.A.
1950	7,181	N.A.
1951	7,231	N.A.
1952	7,282	N.A.
1953	8,084	N.A.
1954	8,788	N.A.
1955	9,308	2,197
1956	9,747	2,548
1957	10,281	2,696
1958	10,367	2,552
1959	11,161	2,433
1960	12,169	2,835
1961	13,360	3,369
1962	13,387	3,114
1963	13,564	2,723
1964	15,838	3,075
1965	16,592	3,410
1966	17,006	3,497
1967	18,440	3,413
1968	19,287	3,641
1969	19,360	3,898
1970	19,845	4,192
1971	20,209	3,922
1972	20,240	3,399
1973	21,609	3,504
1974	21,164	3,822
1975	20,817	3,522
1976	20,489	3,345
1977	19,738	3,573

Note: The figures for 1968 and 1969 have been adjusted to transfer from 1968 to 1969 capital expenditure brought forward to secure the higher rate of investment grant operating up to 31st December 1968.

Value Added Tax Officials (Court Case)

asked the Chancellor of of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied as to the conduct of the value added tax officials who were found in the case of Wat (trading as Kam Tong Restaurant) v. Customs and Excise to have extracted a false confession from a taxpayer who was scared as he had been warned that he might be imprisoned or deported.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 4th December 1978; Vol. 959, c. 508]. gave the following answer:

I am satisfied that the confession was not obtained under duress, but in accordance with the Judges' Rules.

Inland Revenue Prosecution (Leeds Crown Court)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Inland Revenue circulated a notice of pending criminal trial giving the name, address and professional designation of an accountant to be charged at Leeds Crown Court with submitting false balance sheets with intent to defraud the Revenue; whether it is normal practice to circulate details of those to be prosecuted; and why, when the Revenue abandoned the prosecution, no notice to this effect was circulated and a professional journal or inquiry at Somerset House was told that a full report was not available as the solicitor concerned was engaged on another case.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th December 1978; Vol. 959, c. 690], gave the following answer:It is the normal practice of the Board of Inland Revenue to issue a press notice giving particulars of each impending criminal prosecution and, as soon as possible after the event, a further press notice indicating the outcome, whether favourable or unfavourable to the Revenue. In the case to which the hon. Member refers, a breakdown in communication within the Department resulted in the failure to issue the second of the two notices. The Revenue regrets this omission and is reviewing its working procedure to ensure that there will be no recurrence.

Petrochemical Companies (Investment Incentives)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider granting new petrochemical ventures investment incentives to locate their plants in the United Kingdom; and what is his estimate of the cost of such a concession.

I have been asked to reply.A range of incentives is already available to encourage such investment.

Trade

Construction Exports

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, pursuant to his predecessor's reply on 26th July, the overseas projects board of the British Overseas Trade Board has yet considered or made any recommendations on construction exports, following the disbanding of the Construction Exports Advisory Board on 14th February.

Since my predecessors' reply on 26th July to the hon. Members' previous Question the overseas projects board, through its link members, has continued to maintain contact with the construction industry and to bear in mind the interests of that industry. The overseas projects board has considered a number of matters relating to the project industry as a whole and most of these issues have been of considerable interest to the construction industry.

South Africa (British Companies)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what approaches have been made by his Department to British firms for them to indicate the effect on them of British adherence to a policy of economic sanctions against South Africa; and whether he will state their response.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State for Industry, to the hon. Member on the same subject today.

Shipping Lanes(English Channel)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take steps to ensure that the Royal Navy has control over shipping lanes in the English Channel in the same way as supervision over risky and dangerous cargoes is exercised by the French Navy; and if he will make a statement.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th December 1978; Vol. 959, c. 709], gave the following information:

Acting on behalf of my Department, Royal Navy aircraft already have a role in the Dover Strait in identifying vessels that contravene the international collision regulations. My Department works in close consultation with the French authorities on these matters and has formulated an experimental scheme for the reporting-in of tankers and other ships carrying dangerous cargoes but we do not consider that the Royal Navy should attempt to control the passage of merchant ships in such schemes.

Air Fares

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proposals he has received from British Airways on the question of fare increases on domestic routes; and if he will make a statement.

None. The approval of domestic air fares is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will give a general direction to British Airways to publish a statement showing the loss or profit obtained on each domestic route before they submit proposals for increased fares.

No.

Wales

Trees And Woodland

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what proportion of the land surface of Wales is covered by trees; and what area this represents;(2) how many acres of broadleaved woodland there are in Wales; and what proportion of the total land surface area this represents.

It is estimated that approximately 568,000 acres, representing 11·1 per cent. of the total land area, is woodland: 155,000 acres, representing 3·0 per cent. of the total land area, contain broadleaved trees.

Mid-Wales (Economic State)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the state of the economy within the Development Board for Rural Wales area in Mid-Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I am always anxious to see improvements in the economy of Mid-Wales and I am encouraged by the achievements to date of the Development Board for Rural Wales.

Development Board For Rural Wales

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are employed by the Development Board for Rural Wales.

There were 77 staff in post at 1st December 1978 of whom 17 are manual workers mainly engaged on housing maintenance and landscaping work in Newtown.

Tolls

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total amount of revenue collected through tolls; what is the cost of collection; and if he will publish a table showing the amount collected in respect of each bridge or other toll facility.

There are no tolls for which my right hon. and learned Friend is responsible. I am informed that toll revenue from Dyfed county council's Cleddau Bridge amounted to £357,875 in the financial year ended 31st March 1978 and that collection costs came to approximately £80,000. Information is not available about any other tolled facilities in Wales.

Education And Science

National Theatre Museum

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the present causes of delay in completing the National Theatre museum in the flower market, Covent Garden; and if she will make a statement.

The area earmarked for the museum has been badly damaged by a flooding accident. My noble Friend is considering how this severe setback to our plans can best be overcome.

Educational Maintenance Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, because of the inner area problems, the high number of school leavers unemployed and the small number of young people staying on at school after the statutory school leaving age, she will designate the Hull division of the Humberside education authority as one of the areas for introducing the pilot educational maintenance scheme for pupils over 16.

I cannot yet say which areas will be selected to take part in the pilot programme. Only authorities wishing to take part will be considered, and of those a limited number will be selected so as to constitute an appropriate programme which will provide useful information about the possible impact of a national scheme and, at the same time, give some help to some of our more hard-pressed areas.

Social Services

Cancer

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of deaths in the United Kingdom from cancer in each of the past 10 years broken down into specific sites.

The numbers of cancer deaths by site are published regularly by the Registrars General of the United Kingdom.For England and Wales there are serial figures up to 1975 in OPCS publication Mortality Statistics, series DH1, table 6, and for years 1976 and 1977 in OPCS Monitor DH2 78/8. Finer detail by site and age is to be found annually in table 17 of the Registrar General's statistical reviews up to 1973 and in OPCS Mortality Statistics, series DH2, table 2 for years 1974, 1975 and 1976.Serial figures up to 1976 are published by the Registrar General for Scotland in his annual report, part 1, table

c1·1 and provisional figures for 1977 in his quarterly return for December of that year.

Figures for Northern Ireland are published annually in abstract 12 of the Registrar General's annual report for Northern Ireland.

Giro Cheques

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of Giro cheques issued by his Department has been reported as missing, in the last 12 months for which figures were available, including Giro cheques reported as missing which have subsequently turned up as cashed.

During 1977, the latest period for which information is available, my Department issued 57·3 million Giro cheques, of which some 78,000–0·14 per cent.—were reported missing.

Disabled Persons (Day Centres)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much cash was allocated by his Department through the rate support grant to Lancashire county council to support occupational day centres for the physically disabled in 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977; and of those amounts, what proportion was actually taken up by the county.

Rate support grant is a block grant. The allocation of the amounts received by individual local authorities to particular services is for them to decide. Net expenditure by Lancashire county council on day centres, occupational centres and clubs for the younger physically handicapped for the years requested was as follows:

Year	Net Expenditure
	£
1974–75	297,500
1975–76	433,700
1976–77	542,000
1977–78	544,400

Renal Dialysis And Transplantation

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the number of new patients accepted for renal dialysis and transplantation is lower in Great Britain than in the USA, Japan, France, West Germany, East Germany, Italy aod Spain.

The number of patients per million population treated by renal transplantation in the United Kingdom in 1977 was 12.4, a higher rate than all the countries mentioned in the question, except the USA. The rate of acceptance for dialysis treatment in this country in 1977 was lower than that in many countries including all those mentioned. Contributory factors include widely varying clinical selection criteria for treatment between countries, and also the shortage of dialysis facilities in this country. The. Government are concerned about this shortage and have recently taken several urgent measures, including setting aside from the extra money made available to the NHS earlier this year an additional £3½1 million for increasing the availability of this form of treatment.

Haemophilia

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what plans he has for increasing the manufacture by the National Health Service of substances for haemophilia treatment and to reduce reliance on commercial sources in the light of the high cost of commercial preparations and the fact that they are more likely to be contaminated with hepatitis;(2) why the National Health Service has not reached its target of self-sufficiency in the production of factor VIII for the treatment of haemophilia by July 1977; why none of the three plasma fractionation centres in the United Kingdom is working at full capacity; and what his plans are to remedy this.

The production of factor VIII in England and Wales estimated in 1975 to be needed was exceeded by July 1977, and production has risen substantially since then. The two fractionation centres for which my Department is responsible are working at full current capacity. My Department is reviewing current levels of production in relation to present demands and resources.

Hospital Admissions

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the number of hospital admissions in each of the five years 1973 to 1977 inclusive in England and Wales, and a table showing the numbers within each area health authority hospital for rickets and osteomalacia treatment.

The estimated number of discharges from hospitals in England and Wales of patients treated for diseases where the main diagnosis was given as vitamin D deficiency, which includes rickets and osteomalacia, was 810 in each of the three years 1973 to 1975. These figures are for spells in hospitals and do not necessarily relate to individual cases or new patients. Figures for 1976 and 1977 are not yet available, and figures of discharges from individual hospitals could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Joint Financing

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now issue revised guidelines on joint financing in the light of experience showing that the present arrangement tends to restrict its use to social service projects.

The main purpose of joint financing is to facilitate the collaborative efforts of health and local authorities by helping to fund personal social services projects, but the original guidelines have been extended to encompass the funding of agreed projects in the primary health care field.

Retirement Pensions

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what the actual rates of the retirement pension, both single and married, were in March 1974 and their value, at November 1977 prices, in that month.

In March 1974 the rates of retirement pension were £7·75 for a single person and £12·.50 for a married couple. On the basis of the movement in the general index of retail prices from March 1974 these rates were, in November 1977, equivalent in value to £14·.16 and £22·83 respectively, compared with the actual rates of £17·.50 and £28·00 introduced in that month.

Family Planning Association

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money is given by his Department to the Family Planning Association and for what purposes.

My Department funds half the net expenditure of the eight regional centres in England belonging to the Family Planning Association up to a maximum of £40,000 per annum. The grant is initially for a period of three years from 1st January 1976 and is in support of the general aims of these centres, which are to promote and publicise local family planning services. My Department also sponsors courses organised by the education unit of the Family Planning Association for health visitors and for social workers. Expenditure on these courses is limited to £39,000 in this financial year.The Health Education Council receives from my Department a grant of £200,000 a year in respect of the central family planning information service, which is jointly managed by the Council and the Family Planning Association.

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements are being made to ensure the full working of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson hospital pending the report of the working party set up by him.

In general, I expect the present level of services to be maintained until the discussions on future accommodation are completed.As with other hospitals, however, provision of services must depend on the availability of sufficient nursing and other staff to ensure a safe standard of care and it will be necessary to close some beds over the Christmas period. Some of these beds may have to remain closed thereafter if nurses and other staff cannot be recruited.

Association For Spina Bifida And Hydrocephalus

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what financial help he is giving to the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is currently making a contribution of £12,000 a year towards the general administrative costs of the assocation. This grant was made in the financial year 1977–78 and is being continued in the current financial year and in 1979–80. In addition, we are making an annual grant of £13,750 towards the salary and expenses of one of the association's field officers over the same period. I have also recently approved a grant of £5,000 for the current financial year towards the costs of the association's new social rehabilitation training courses for young people. I am much impressed by the enterprising and imaginative work of the association and am very glad to have been able to give it practical support.

One-Parent Families

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many one-parent families there are in the United Kingdom;(2) the total number of one-parent families, how many are widows, widowers, divorcees, separated, or single girls who have never married.

pursuant to his reply[Official Report, 1st December 1978; Vol. 959, c. 411], gave the following information:I regret that, as indicated in the following table, recent information is available only for Great Britain and it is not possible to classify lone fathers as my hon. Friend has requested.

Estimated Numbers of One-Parent Families in Great Britain in 1976
Sex and marital status	Number
Mothers
Single	130,000
Widowed	115,000
Divorced	230,000
Separated (married)	185,000
Total	660,000
Fathers
Total	90,000
Total	750,000

Further information, including a discussion of the difficulties of making regular and detailed estimates of the numbers and family characteristics of one-parent families in the years between censuses of the population, is contained in the September 1978 issue of

Population Trends.

Scotland

Trees And Woodland

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many acres of broadleaved woodland there are in Scotland; and what proportion of the total land surface area this represents;

		£million at outturn prices
	1975–76 (10½ months)	1976–77	1977–78
Current (excluding loan charges)	33·6	40·6	43·4
Capital	5·0	5·1	2·8

(2) what proportion of the broadleaved trees in Scotland are elms

(3) what proportion of Scotland's land surface is covered by trees; and what area this represents.

It is estimated that an area of 2,142,000 acres, representing 11·2 per cent. of the total land surface, is woodland; 277,000 acres—1·5 per cent. of the total land area—contain broadleaved trees. While the total number of trees is not known, it has been estimated that there are some 2 million to 3 million elms in Scotland, including elms in woodlands, elms elsewhere in the countryside and elms in towns.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the acreage of broadleaved woodland in Scotland was planted in each 50-year period since 1700.

Planting figures for each 50-year period are not available, but the current productive area of approximately 94,000 acres is estimated to occur in the following age groups:

50 years of age and younger, 16 per cent.
51–100 years of age, 32 per cent.
Over 100 years of age, 52 per cent.

No breakdown is available for the 183,000 acres of unproductive woods, but a substantial proportion of them is at least 50 years of age.

Tayside (Educational Expenditure)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the amount spent by Tayside region on each category of educational expenditure in each of the last four years, indicating by how much this fell short of the region's allocation in each case.

The table below shows outturn expenditure for the three financial years following local government reorganisation and the establishment of Tayside region.

Under the rate support grant arrangements, no specific allocations of grant are made in relation to current expenditure on particular services. So far as capital expenditure is concerned, there were no allocations for expenditure in 1975–76 and 1976–77 as authorisations for these years were made on a starts basis. The allocations for expenditure in 1977–78 covering schools and colleges of further education totalled £2·9 million.

Tolls

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total amount of revenue collected through tolls; what is the cost of collection; and if he will publish a table showing the amount collected in respect of each bridge or other toll facility.

The accounts for the Forth and Tay bridges do not show collection costs separately from maintenance. For 1976–77, the last financial year for which figures are available, the available information requested in respect of tolled crossings is:

Erskine Bridge		Forth Bridge	Tay Bridge
Revenue	Costs of Collection	Revenue	Revenue
£	£	£	£
471,743	300,078	1,587,248	695,513

Environment

Local Authority Representatives

29.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met representatives of the local authorities.

My right hon. Friend last met representatives of the local authorities at the rate support grant statutory meeting on 24th November.

Rates

30.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in order that the general public may be aware of the implications of the wage claims recently tabled by the public service unions, he will make available his approximate estimate of the domestic rate increase required to meet the claims in full.

Only the parties to a settlement are in a position to cost the claim. But each 5 per cent. increase in the manual workers pay bill—the main claim under consideration—would, if financed wholly from the rates, imply an increase of about two percentage points in average domestic rates in 1979–80.

Fluoridation

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in relation to the current fluoridation of the public drinking water in the United Kingdom (a) the names of the companies supplying equipment and maintenance for the operation and (b) the cost per annum to regional health authorities of the installation and maintenance of that equipment.

Fluoridation operations are, in England and Wales, a matter for water undertakers. The costs of installing and maintaining the necessary equipment are not available centrally, and could not be obtained without disproportionate expense. It is difficult to be precise about suppliers, as much of the plant is developed from or incorporates standard equipment designed for allied aspects of water treatment. Most of the maintenance is carried out by water undertakers' staff as part of their normal work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, in relation to the fluoride currently being used to treat the public drinking water in the United Kingdom (a) the names of the companies supplying the fluoride, (b) the quantities supplied by each company over the past 12 months and (c) the cost per ton at which it is being purchased by regional health authorities.

Purchase of chemicals for fluoridation is, in England and Wales, a matter for water undertakers. A number of companies are able to supply the two chemicals mainly used for the purpose, but no details are available centrally of the individual transactions of water undertakers. In the last 12 months some 400 tonnes of sodium silicofluoride and 1,200 tonnes of 20 per cent. hydrofluorosilicic acid have been supplied in total. The cost of the former, which contains about 44 per cent. fluoride, is in the range of £175 to £225 per tonne, dependent largely on the quality delivered; the latter, containing about 16 per cent. fluoride, costs between £45 and £60 per tonne, according mainly to the distance of the delivery.

Air Pollution Control (Grants)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make' more resources available by grant or otherwise to local authority departments of environmental health to enable them to monitor and control emissions of dangerous chemicals into the atmosphere and air pollution in areas where there is a high concentration of chemical plants such as at Avonmouth, Bristol; and if he will make a statement.

Where works arc registered under the Alkali Act, the control of emissions is the responsibility of Her Majesty's Alkali and Clean Air Inspectorate. The Inspectorate will where necessary require emissions to be monitored or carry out its own monitoring.Local authorities are responsible for the control of emissions from other premises. They also have power, under the Control of Pollution Act 1974, to require information about emissions from any premises in their area and may monitor the quality of the general atmosphere there.

ESTIMATED^* AMOUNTS FOR 1977–78
					£million
Housing Revenue Account	England	Wales	Scotland	Northern Ireland †	Total
Supervision and management expenditure	330·2	13·5	26·0	7·3	377·0
Repairs and maintenance expenditure	449·6	27·1	75·0	20·2	571·9
Gross rent income (unrebated)	1,382·0	77·2	183·9	38·3	1,681·4
Rent rebates paid	315·1	9·5	27·4	2·6	364·6
^*subject to adjustment on audit.
† Housing administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, a public body with broadly the same range of housing duties as a local authority.

Sports Council Grants

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) in which year applicants for Sports Council grants were required to give a written declaration that they would not be participating in events with South African teams or individuals;(2) if he will ask the chairman of the Sports Council why applicants for council grants have to give written assurances that they will not be participating in events with South African teams or individuals;(3) by what authority applicants for Sports Council grants are required to give Rate support grant paid to local authorities includes an element for local environmental services. The forecast of expenditure on these services has been increased in the recent settlement to reflect the level of expenditure that authorities are actually undertaking. It is for each authority to decide on its priorities within the block grant. There are no plans to amend these arrangements.

Local Authorities (Housing)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total amount paid in rent rebates to local authority tenants in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively, in 1977–78;(2) what was the total expenditure by local authorities in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively, on supervision and management and repairs and maintenance of their housing stock during 1977–78;(3) what was the total income on the housing revenue account of local authorities in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively, from unrebated rents for local authority dwellings in 1977–78.

The information is attached.a write assurance that they will not be participating in events with south African teams or individuals;(4) what is the cost to public funds in a full year of Sports Council travel grants;(5) if he will ask the chairman of the Sports Council whether any application for council grants have been turned down because applicants have refused to give a written assurance that there would not be participation in events with South African teams or individuals.

:Assurances which applicants for Sports Council grants have to give about South African participation in international sporting events are in accordance with Government policy. This was set out in a letter dated 18th October 1977 from the Sports Council's director to governing bodies. I have placed a copy in the Library. Grants have been refused where appropriate assurances could not be given.The Sports Council gives grants of over £3 million per year to governing and national bodies of sport, some £800,000 of which covers travelling costs.

Housing Co-Operatives

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the present arrangements for promoting housing co-operatives; and if he will make a statement.

Co-operative housing in this country is growing. There were 106 co-operative groups in 1977, compared with 36 in 1975. The movement is still a small one, struggling to make an impact, and I have been examining ways in which co-operatives can be given more positive support, especially in their formative stages. Following discussions with the Housing Corporation, I have agreed that the Corporation should be more directly involved in the arrangements which it at present carries out through the Cooperative Housing Agency. This work will in future be integrated within a specialist section of the Corporation devoted to promoting co-operative housing, other new forms of tenure, and participation of tenants in housing management. This will also enable more practical help to be given to co-operatives across the country through the Corporation's regional offices.About £8 million was invested in housing co-operative projects last year and a similar level of investment is expected in 1978–79. The Housing Corporation has agreed to allocate up to 10 per cent. —currently about £36 million—of its annual budget, for investment in cooperative housing. I hope that the movement will now take up the considerable funds being made available.I also wish to see the development of an independent national body representing the housing co-operative movement as a whole. During the coming months I shall seek views from the Advisory Committee on Co-operatives, the Federation of Housing Co-operatives and the Cooperative Development Agency on how this could be achieved. Meanwhile, the advisory committee will continue to advise the Housing Corporation on co-operative housing matters.

Rate Support Grant

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been in each of the last 10 years (a) the percentage increase in the needs element of the rate support grant allocated to Cheshire, (b) the percentage increase for England and Wales as a whole, (c) the increase in the population of Cheshire and (d) the increase in the population of England and Wales as a whole.

Owing to the changes in local authority boundaries at the date of local government reorganisation in 1974, figures of the needs element of rate support grant in respect of the area covered by the present Cheshire county council do not exist for earlier years. The available figures for percentage increases in the needs element are as follows:

PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN NEEDS ELEMENT ON PREVIOUS YEAR
Year	England and Wales	Cheshire
1969–70	16·3	*
1970–71	15·6	*
1971–72	16·2	*
1972–73	17·0	*
1973–74	21·2	*
1974–75	14·6	—
1975–76	22·2	27·7
1976–77	9·4	4·8
1977–78	2·8	—0·1
1978–79	9·8	5·9†
^*·Not·available.
†·Latest·estimates

The increases in population as certified for rate support grant purposes are as follows:

INCREASE IN POPULATION ON PREVIOUS YEAR
		(thousands)
Year	England and Wales	Cheshire
1968	233·0	16·0
1969	194·0	13·0
1970	140·0	11·0
1971	174·7	13·6
1972	184·0	12·5
1973	139·4	15·8
1974	23·1	9·0
1975	—1·8	7·1
1976	—12·4	3·3
1977	—67·5	—1·3

The figures of population for Cheshire have been calculated on the basis of the present boundaries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the total needs element of the rate support grant has been allocated to Cheshire in each of the last 10 years.

Owing to boundary changes at the time of local government reorganisation comparable figures for the earlier years are not available. The proportion of the total needs element of the rate support grant going to Cheshire in each of the years from 1974–75 is as follows:

	Per cent
1974–75	1·635
1975–76	1·710
1976–77	1·637
1977–78	1·591
1978–79	1·536
1979–80	1·536

The figures for 1979–80 are in accordance with the Rate Support Grant Order 1978 at present laid before the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what distinctions he has made between London boroughs in the allocation of the forthcoming year's rate support grant; and on what basis he came to his conclusions.

The arrangements for needs element distribution and rates equalisation within London for 1979–80 are set out at appendix E of the report on the Rate Support Grant Order 1978, which is now laid before the House. These arrangements use the analysis of London authorities' expenditure needs accepted by the London Boroughs Association and the Greater London Council. They also use the same mechanics for the rate equalisation arrangements as in 1978–79. We decided, however, in the light of the recent widening of the gap between inner and outer London average rate burdens, to set the level of the all-London rate equalisation scheme to give a bigger relative advantage to inner London.

Standing Committee On Exports

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give details of the follow-up action referred to in the reply on 26th July by the hon. Member for Durham, North-West (Mr. Armstrong) subsequent to the meeting on 22nd June of his Standing Committee on Exports; and whether, in view of the Government's decision that this committee should carry forward the work of the recently abolished Construction Exports Advisory Board, he will ensure that the committee concerns itself with specific, practical action to help exporters, rather than dealing with general or diffuse issues.

Most of the follow-up action to the meeting on 22nd June involved the preparation of future papers and the assembly of additional information which the committee will consider in due course. Since the Construction Exports Advisory Board had covered so many of the general problems affecting construction exports so recently, I reminded the meeting that the success of the committee would largely depend on industry members identifying subject; of real concern to the industry for study and discussions.

Agrement Board (Bennett Report)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be in a position to publish the Bennett report on the Agrement Board; and whether he will make a statement on the progress of this inquiry.

The report of the agrement study group is to be published next Tuesday, 12th December. I am grateful to Mr. Phillip Bennett and the other members of the group for the speedy and efficient way they completed their task. The report sets out the issues and makes clear recommendations which I am discussing with my ministerial colleagues. I shall announce my conclusions as soon as possible.

Building Research Establishment

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the exact terms of reference of the inquiry by Mr. E. H. A. Stretton into the Building Research Establishment; why the draft terms, as outlined in departmental correspondence on 6th October, referred specifically to the responsibilities of the director; whether Mr. Stretton has accepted the appointment; and by what date he is being asked to report.

Mr. E. H. A. Stretton has been appointed to conduct a review on behalf of the Department's management services division with the following terms of reference:" To review:

(1) the responsibilities of Director BRE in identifying and meeting appropriate needs for research and advice for the Department of the Environment, for other Government Departments, for the various sectors of the construction industry, and for the community;

(2) the role of Director, BRE, within the Directorate General of Research, DOE/ DTp; and

(3) the responsibilities of Director BRE for administrative matters such as finance, manpower and personnel management, the review to include the relationships between the Establishment and other parts of DOE/DTp, and the related operations, procedures and levels of delegated responsibility; and to report to the Director General of Research and the Director General of Organisation and Establishments."

He is expected to report by about April next year but an earlier preliminary

	Complement 1st December 1978	Staff in post at 1st December 1978
Science Category—
Director (CSO A)	1	1
CSO B	1	1
DCSO	6	6
SPSO	22	21
PSO	75	71
SSO	123	119½
HSO	148	129½^*
SO	109	104
ASO	72	64½
	557	517½
^* This figure will be substantially increased following a promotion review now in progress.
Research Officers—
SRO	2	—
RO	—	1
Professional and Technology Category—
Supt. Eng	1	—
PPTO	15	15
PTOI	16	19
PTOII	13	12
prom	13	13
PTO IV	18	14
	76	73
Administration Group—
Prin	1	1
SEO	2	2
HEO	7	6
EO	15	16
CO	70	69
CA	19	18
	114	112

report has been called for to assist with the appointment of a successor to the present director whose impending retirement in July 1979 has been the immediate occasion for this review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will bring up to date the table of staffing of the Building Research Establishment given in the reply by the hon. Member for Durham, North-West (Mr. Armstrong) on 27th July; what is the current shortfall of staff in post compared with authorised complement (a) overall and (b) in the science category; what progress is being made with recruitment; what proportion of the recruits are young, inexperienced staff entering junior grades; and whether he will make a statement on the general level of morale at the Building Research Establishment.

The complement and staff in post figures are attached:

	Complement 1st December 1978	Staff in post at 1st December 1978
InformationOfficers—
SeniorInformationOfficer	1	1
InformationOfficers	3	2
AssistantInformationOfficers	2	2
	6	5
GraphicsOfficers—
GraphicsOfficerIII	1	2
GraphicsOfficerIV	3	2
DrawingOfficeAssistant	5	4
Tracer	1	1
	10	9
PersonalSecretariesandTypists—
SeniorPersonalSecretary	1	1
PersonalSecretary	20	20
SeniorSuperintendentofTypists	1	1
SuperintendentofTypists	2	2
Typists	24	24
	48	48
Photographers—
ChiefPhotographer	1	1
PrincipalPhotographer	2	3
SeniorPhotographer	5	5
Photographer	6	5
AssistantPhotographer	—	1
	14	15
OtherGrades—
AssistantChiefPhotoprinter	1	1
PhotoprinterI	3	1
PhotoprinterII	8	10½
SeniorDataProcessor	4	5
DataProcessor	16	15
Paperkeeper	1	1
SeniorMessenger	2	2
Messenger	8	6½
Telephonists	6	6½
LaboratoryAttendant	—	1
	49	49½
GRANDTOTAL	876	830

The current shortfall in staff in post compared with authorised complement is 46 overall and 39½ in the science category. Promotion reviews now in progress and scheduled for early next year should result in staff being brought largely up to strength in the higher grades leaving the great majority of vacancies as assistant scientific officer and scientific officer levels. Hence the intake from recruitment exercises now in progress and planned for early 1979 will be mostly young people entering these grades. Staff cuts necessitated by the restrictions in public expenditure have made this a difficult period for BRE but the recent resump tion of promotion at normal rates and the expected reduction in the shortfall of numbers should help morale.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of staff at the Building Research Establishment in the science category aged 50 years or over, or of seniority of senior scientific officer or over, who (a) left voluntarily, (b) were compulsorily retired immediately on achieving retirement age, or (c) were denied promotion, and left for that reason, following his policy decisions in that regard after the International Monetary Fund public expenditure cuts; and what effect these changes have had on the operational efficiency, and level of internal morale, of the establishment.

Of the staff in the Building Research Establishment in the science category who were aged 50 years or over, or of SSO grade or higher, on 1st January 1977, 17 have left voluntarily, including seven voluntary premature retirements, and 13 have been retired as a result of the reduction in the retirement age. None of the staff leaving voluntarily had been denied promotion as a result of the economies. The reductions in manpower have curtailed research in some fields and reduced the output of the establishment and this, with the restrictions on promotion, has undoubtedly affected morale.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many senior staff of the Building Research Establishment due to retire have been asked to stay on so far in 1978 at a very much more junior grade and salary; how many have (a) accepted, (b) refused and (c) still not decided; and what is the purpose of the policy of inviting them to work in a grade which they achieved many years ago.

The offer of reemployment in the grade of SO to officers at HSO level and above is being made at the request of the relevant staff association in order to allow individuals the option of continuing their research. Of the 13 officers to whom the offer has so far been made, five have accepted and eight have declined. In addition, three officers holding key positions have continued in post beyond the age of 60 at the same grade.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current number of staff in post at the building integrity division of the Building Research Establishment; what is the current programme of work; what steps are being taken to improve recruitment to the permitted complement of 10; and whether he will make a statement on the level of performance and morale within this division.

There are five staff in post in the building integrity divi- sion, including the head of division, against a complement of 11. A number of prospective recruits are being interviewed. The current programme of work of the division includes investigations into lintels, suspended ceilings and the possible effects of energy conservation measures. A report on the investigation of trussed rafter roofs is due to be published in early 1979. An investigation into wall ties has been completed and a report is being prepared. The collection and analysis of data on defects continues. BID has experienced difficulties like the rest of BRE, but members of the division have continued to pursue their objectives with determination and have maintained a high standard of output.

Transport

Railways (Passenger Services And Freight Charges)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will have a comprehensive investigation made into all aspects of transport to ascertain to what extent there would be economic and environmental advantages if all public transport services were free of charges, if freight on rail were 10 per cent., 15 per cent., or 20 per cent. subsidised, taking into account the reduction of road vehicles and the saving of petrol and oil costs on the balance of payments.

I am not convinced that an investigation of the kind my hon. Friend advocates would be justified. His proposals run counter to the policies set out in the Government's White Paper on transport policy (Cmnd. 6836), which was the result of a full review involving wide consultation.

Nuclear Waste

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a statement concerning the type and weight of vehicles used to transport nuclear waste by road and the routes taken by these vehicles.

Nuclear waste as such is not currently transported but irradiated nuclear fuel—containing about 2–3 per cent. of waste fission products—is transported to Windscale for reprocessing. This fuel is transported in flasks designed to withstand very severe accidents and thus to render unnecessary other safety measures related to the nature of the fuel. Nearly all the flasks travel to and from Windscale by rail with only short-distance road hauls between power stations and the nearest rail link. The road vehicles used are heavy tractors and low-loader trailers which, together with the flask, weigh some 85–90 tons and are, therefore, subject to special restrictions on speed and to other requirements. The routes they follow are the quickest and most convenient.

Railways (Labour Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what action he will take in the light of his remarks about labour costs of the railways, Official Report, 22nd November, column 1264.

I shall continue to encourage the Board in its efforts to contain and reduce unit costs.

Road Construction (Contracts)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he insists on the full implementation of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act, the Employment Protection Act and the Contracts of Employment Act when he places contracts with firms for trunk road and motorway construction.

The Department's conditions of contract for trunk road and motorway construction require the contractor to ascertain and conform in all respects with the provisions of any Act of Parliament and the regulations and bye-laws of any local or other statutory authority which may be applicable.

Railway Sidings

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway sidings have been opened and how many closed in each year since 1974 to date.

I understand from the British Railways Board that the figures for private railway sidings are as follows:

	Number opened	Number closed
1974	56	75
1975	22	113
1976	26	104
1977	28	135
1978 to date	14	48

British Rail's own terminals and marshalling yards have not been included in the above figures.

SPILLAGES FROM ROAD TANKERS OR BY ROAD IN SMALL CONTAINERS: AND FROM RAILWAY TANKERS
										1978 up to 30th Nobember
	1974		1975		1976		1977		1978
	Road	Rail	Road	Rail	Road	Rail	Road	Rail	Road	Rail
Spillages	2^*	2	6^*	10	17^*	4	9^*	3	7^*	6
Injured	2	Nil	7	1	15	Nil	37	Nil	31	Nil
Killed	Nil	Nil	2	Nil	9	Nil	3	Nil	1	Nil
^* Accidents reported under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928 which are those including loss of life or personal injury during the conveyance of prescribed hazardous substances.

The reports on which the above figures are based do not show whether the injuries or deaths were caused by a traffic accident in which the vehicles concerned may have been involved, or by the spillage. No distinction is drawn between spillages from large road tankers and those from small units.

Railways (Electrification)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether studies using cost benefit analysis have been undertaken with regard to electrification projects in the course of the current British Rail-Department of Transport review of the case for further main line electrification.

M5, Exminster (Site Restoration)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will, forthwith, require the contractors of the Exminster section of the M5 motorway to restore to its previous levels and condition the area used as a contractor's work site during the bridge and motorway construction.

This is not a matter for for which my right hon. Friend has any responsibility. The land is outside the motorway boundaries and not owned by the Department. The contractor negotiated his occupation of the site directly with the landowner concerned.

Dangerous Loads (Spillages)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many spillages of hazardous materials have occurred in each year since 1974 from road tankers, small road containers and railway tankers; and what casualties have resulted in each category.

The following is the information so far as it is available.

The joint steering group set up to review the case for a programme of main line electrification is required to analyse the various relevant considerations and formulate the issues for decision. I expect the steering group to make financial evaluations and to take wider aspects into account with whatever techniques are most appropriate.

Road Schemes (Northwich)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all road schemes for which his Department is responsible that are currently in hand or in the pipeline which directly affect the Northwich constituency and if he will make a statement.

The Department has no road schemes currently under construction which directly affect the Northwich constituency, but the following four schemes are in preparation:

A54—Kelsall bypass.
A51—Tarporley bypass
A51—Tarvin south-western bypass.
54—Tarvin northern bypass.

There is nothing further 1 can add to my response in the Adjournment debate of 1st November.

Concessionary Fares

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what form the investigation into the possibility of a national concessionary fares scheme, announced by him on 29th November, is taking; and which bodies are being invited to submit evidence for consideration.

I have nothing to add to the replies I gave to the hon. Gentleman in the House on 29th November.—[Vol. 959, c. 241–42.]

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what he estimates would be the cost of a national concessionary bus fares scheme based 6n the principle of half-fares for retirement pensioners, the registered disabled and the blind.

My public ex penditure plans provide £140 million—at November 1977 prices—for half-fare concessions on local buses in England and Wales for people of pensionable age and those who are blind or disabled. This estimate would retain the existing more generous schemes.

M27 (Southampton Airport)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether a tunnel or deep embankment will be required for the proposed route of the M27 to pass by Southampton airport; and, if so, what is the cost of the work involved.

The design of the M27 motorway where it passes close to Southampton airport is still under consideration.

Volume 959: debated on Thursday 7 December 1978

Written Answers To Questions

Jurors (Translation Facilities)

Home Department

Children (Protection)

Non-Violent Offenders (Prison Sentences)

Gingerbread (Grant)

Metropolitan Police (Pensions And Commutations)

Traffic Wardens(Industrial Dispute)

Mr Richard Milhous Nixon (Police Protection)

Pakistan Nationals (Registration Of Minors)

Missing Children

Equal Opportunities Commission

Mr Fahad Mihyi

House Of Commons

Parliamentary Questions

Tea Room And Smoking Room (Newspapers)

Microelectronics

Prime Minister (Engagements)

Tuc And Cbi

New York

President Brezhnev

Rome

Isle Of Ely

Hove

Scottish Tuc

European Monetary System

Sidcup

Investment Potential (Report)

Parliamentary Questions

Northern Ireland

Short Brothers Ltd

Electricity Service (Accounts)

Security

Social Democratic And Labour Party

Site Meetings

Political Situation

Infant Mortality

International Sporting Events

Prisons (Smuggling)

Blind Persons (Free Travel)

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

European Community (Butter Sales)

Milk Products (Intervention Stocks)

Bread And Flour

Farm Buildings

Common Agricultural Policy

Seed Potatoes (Certification)

Fishing Industry

Defence

Hms"Ark Royal "

Energy

North Sea Oil (Participation Agreement)

National Coal Board

Brazil (Uranium Supply)

Employment

Textile Industry (Byssinosis)

Journalists (Wage Claim)

Training Opportunities Scheme

Chemical Projects (Construction Costs)

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Mr Louis Gelman

Industry

Textiles

Regional Policy

Capital Returns

Airbus (Equipment Changes)

Common Ownership (Grants And Loans)

South Africa (British Companies)

National Finance

Pensions (War Widows)

Dependent Relative Allowance

Capital Taxes Office, Shepherds Bush

Travelling Expenses

Pay Settlements (Government Action)

Ford Motor Company

Industrial Investment

Value Added Tax Officials (Court Case)

Inland Revenue Prosecution (Leeds Crown Court)