asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the reconvening of Mr. Speaker's Conference on Electoral Law.

Several hon. Members have made representations to us about this matter. It has not proved possible, however, for the necessary agreement to be reached with all concerned on the terms of reference for such a conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refugees from each of the countries in the southern zone of Latin America were accepted for settlement in Great Britain in 1977 and how many have been accepted so far in 1978.

I regret that information is not available in the form requested. In 1977, 648 people arrived here under the special programme for refugees from the Chilean regime; and 286 people arrived here from Argentina. There is a substantial overlap between these two categories, since some refugees from the Chilean regime arrived here from Argentina. The corresponding figures for the first six months of 1978 were 253 and 86.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has made to the request by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees that Pitika Ntuli, E. M. M. Mabiletsa and Johannes Moabi be granted political asylum in the United Kingdom.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth) on 5th December.—[Vol. 959, c. 561–21]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pur- suant to his reply to the hon. Member for Thornaby on 1st December, if he will give the reasons for his0 decision not to agree with the United Nations High Commissioner's request to receive Mrs. Ndziba and Mr. Mabuzela for resettlement in the United Kingdom.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees asked us to admit, exceptionally, three members of the Pan Africanist Congress out of a group of 14 detained in Swaziland about whom he was making approaches to a number of Governments. We agreed. We had already given refuge to three other members who had fled from Swaziland.We were then asked to receive two more out of the group of 14, Mrs. Ndziba and Mr. Mabuzela, but this time under the Ten or More Plan. The plan was initially set up as an arrangement by which Governments agreed to receive a small number each year of refugees in Europe who, because of medical or social disability, were exceptionally difficult to place in the usual way. We consider that Mrs. Ndziba and Mr. Mabuzela do not fit the Ten or More Plan criteria and that we have already played a fair part in helping to settle the 14 cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to reduce the administrative burdens which fall on the police caused by decisions of central Government.

My Department is carrying out a review of the administrative returns made by the police. If there is any particular aspect of this matter which concerns the hon. Member, perhaps he will write to me on it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the longest period that a non-criminal prisoner has been held in custody so far in 1978 under the Immigration Act 1971 (a) before being deported and (b) before being allowed to stay in the United Kingdom;

This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that no further police powers are required to exercise control over traffic incidents on private roads in housing estates; and if he will make a statement.

I have no reason to think that police powers are inadequate. If the hon. Member wishes me to inquire into a particular incident, perhaps he would send me details.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the 1960 extradition treaty between Great Britain and West Germany was last amended; in what way and for what reason it was amended; and if the House was notified of the change.

Extradition between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany is governed by a treaty of 1872, as amended by an agreement concluded in 1960 and by an exchange of notes in September of this year.The exchange of notes amends the treaty in three ways. First, it amends article I so that the treaty covers offences committed within the jurisdiction rather than within the territory of the requesting State. Secondly, article II is amended to bring within the scope of the treaty, in addition to the offences listed there, any offence which is extraditable in United Kingdom law and which is punishable by one year's imprisonment or more in German law. Finally, article III is amended so as to remove the former prohibition on the surrender by each State of its own nationals, and instead to make such surrender discretionary, and to place an obligation on the requested State to consider prosecution where extradition is denied on grounds of nationality.The treaty was amended as part of the continuing process of improving our extradition arrangements. It is now common form to include these provisions when amendment or replacement of an existing treaty is being negotiated with a member State of the Council of Europe.Effect was given in the United Kingdom to the exchange of notes by the Federal Republic of Germany (Extradition) (Amendment) Order 1978, which was made on 29th September 1978 and came into operation on 3rd October 1978. As required by section 2 of the Extradition Act 1870, the order was laid before Parliament on 2nd October 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the expenditure and volume of orders in 1977–78 for Her Majesty's prisons on drugs used as (a) tranquillisers, (b) general medication and (c) suitable for personality control or change.

Information in the form requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The total expenditure by the prison service in 1977–78 on medicines, drugs, medical dressings, optical and dental charges was £651,500.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will state what the total weekly drugs bill is for psychotropic drugs in each prison in England and Wales;(2) if he will state how many prisoners in each prison are regularly receiving psychotropic drugs;(3) what quantities of the following drugs are supplied weekly to the prison medical services in England and Wales: Modecate, Depixol, Largactil, Melleril, Neulactil and Librium, respectively.

Information of this kind is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. My noble Friend the Minister of State has written to my hon. Friend informing him of the Department's plans for collecting information about the use of drugs by the prison medical service.

asked the Lord President of the Council if it is proposed to give free television and broadcasting time to the National Front or any other racialist party at the General Election.

The broadcasting authorities have confirmed that at the next General Election they will apply their established convention.

asked the Lord President of the Council what action he has taken to fulfil his undertakings given to the House on 28th November 1977 concerning a Government procedural review, consultations with the Scrutiny Committee and a debate concerning the House of Commons and EEC legislation.

The Government are currently reviewing the handling of Community legislation in Parliament in the light of the report of the Select Committee on Procedure and the recent special report of the Scrutiny Committee for the 1977–78 Session. I shall consult the Scrutiny Committee on this matter before putting proposals to the House.

asked the Lord President of the Council, in view of the effect of the 40 per cent, requirement in the Wales Act and the Scotland Act, if he will take steps to provide a mechanism whereby electors of those two countries who are away on holiday on 1st March may have a postal vote in the referenda.

Such arrangements would amount to a substantive change in electoral law which cannot now be contemplated for the referenda.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will list all the Orders in Council made during the Summer Recess.

Orders in Council with the following titles were made during this period:—On 29th September:Homes Insulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1978;Theft (Northern Ireland) Order 1978;Federal Republic of Germany (Extradition) (Amendment) Order 1978;Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Switzerland) Order 1978;War Pensions (Amendment of Previous Instruments) (No. 2) Order 1978;War Pensions (Pre-Consolidation Amendment) Order 1978;Civil Service Order in Council 1978.Additionally, Orders in Council were made on this date:under the Bishops (Retirement) Measure 1951;under the charter of the British Broadcasting Corporation;amending the charter of the Textile Institute;three orders approving Acts of the Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man Parliaments;four orders directing the registration in Jersey and Guernsey of Acts of the United Kingdom Parliament;amending the statutes of the University of Oxford;amending the ordinances of the University of Aberdeen;thirteen orders under the Burial Act 1953;thirty-one orders confirming schemes made by the Church Commissioners.Orders in Council with the following titles were made on 24th October:Spain (Extradition) (Revocation) Order 1978;Naval, Military and Air Forces, etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Order 1978;Naval, Military and Air Forces, etc. (Modification of Enactments) Order 1978;Control of Off-Street Parking (England & Wales) Order 1978;

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will move to appoint a Select Committee of the House to consider the advantages and disadvantages of a unicameral system of legislation.

I have no present intention of doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why her Department discriminates against private schools in the provision of free school milk to children under the age of seven years.

Local education authorities have a statutory duty to provide free milk to children under seven in maintained schools; they also have the power to provide milk to children under seven at independent schools on such financial terms as may be agreed with the proprietors. This arrangement hardly amounts to discrimination.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the latest estimate of the proportion of advanced further education currently provided outside the polytechnics.

Latest complete figures relate to November 1976 and formed the basis of my reply to the hon. Member's Question on 27th November.—[Vol. 959, c. 321] More up-to-date information is now becoming available and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what contribution the special arrangements for retraining teachers in shortage subjects have made to the supply of teachers of those subjects.

The Government's special scheme includes two overlapping elements: retraining courses for qualified teachers; and special awards for mature people with relevant knowledge training or retraining to teach certain shortage subjects. There were just over 900 people training or retraining under the scheme in 1977–78, and we now know that about 865 of these completed courses this summer. Approximately 70 were already employed as teachers by local education authorities. Of the remaining 795, 415 responded to a recent questionnaire sent to those training or retraining on special awards; 337 of these 415 are teaching the shortage subjects, and a further 29 have other teaching posts. This suggests that, very approximately, an additional 715 teachers are teaching the shortage subjects as a result of the Government's special scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of the number of adults resident in England whose knowledge of the English language is less than adequate for everyday purposes; and what methods does her Department encourage to overcome this problem.

There is insufficient information available to enable my Department to make an estimate of this kind. Where it is a matter of teaching English as a second language to adults, the Department encourages a range of approaches, including adult and further education classes and home tuition schemes provided by local education authorities; in company language training schemes; initiatives by voluntary organisations, often directed towards reaching adults in their homes; and radio and television programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what the level of the sicence budget will be over the

		1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83
		£ million (1978 prices)	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
Agricultural Research Council	…	24·7	+1·9	+1·1
Medical Research Council	…	46·5	+1·6	+0·9
Natural Environment Research Council	…	31·1	+2·5	+1·5	+1·0
Science Research Council	…	149·7	—1·0	—0·5
Social Science Research Council	…	14·8	0·0	0·0	0·0
British Museum (Natural History)	…	4·6	+0·5	+0·5	+1·0
The Royal Society	…	2·6	+1·0	+1·0

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will revert to the former practice of six months' retrospection for application for employment transfer scheme payments.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the purpose of the employment transfer scheme is to encourage unemployed workers and those under threat of redundancy to take up employment beyond normal daily travelling distance of their homes. There are no plans to revert to the practice of including those who start next four years; how it will be divided; and if she will make a statement.

I have decided that the planned totals for the science budget at 1978 survey prices should be increased by £10 million in 1979–80, £10 million in 1980–81, £12 million in 1981–82 and £15 million in 1982–83. This will make it possible to exploit a wide range of opportunities for advance in, for example, engineering, including microelectronics, and in other areas supported by the Science Research Council which help to maintain our national scientific capability and contribute to developments in industry; studies relevant to cancer and brain disorders; geological programmes with potential for energy and mineral resources; and agricultural research with potential for higher crop yields. It will also benefit the training of postgraduate students and provide greater scope for promising young scientists.I have accepted the advice of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils that the allocations in 1979–80, subject to parliamentary approval, and the growth guidelines for planning by the recipient bodies from 1980–81 to 1982–83 should be: work before applying for assistance under the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications he has received in the current financial year and/or the same period in 1977–78 for payments under the employment transfer scheme; how many applications were successful, and how many were refused and, in each case, how many payments/refusals were in respect of school leavers; what were the reasons for refusals; and how many refusals were for late application.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the numbers of successful applications for assistance under the employment transfer scheme are as follows:

Period	No. of successful applications
1st April 1977 to 30th September 1977	12,007
1st October 1977 to 31st March 1978	14,533
1st April 1978 to 30th September 1978	12,169

I regret that the remaining information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by what percentage the wages council award for retail food trades due to become effective on 11th December 1978 exceeds 5 per cent.

By 16·4 per cent. for sales assistants outside London.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the rebate claimed by employers for redundancy payments was adjusted to an aggregate 41 per cent.

The rate of redundancy rebate was adjusted to 41 per cent. on 14th August 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department intends to lower the percentage rebate claimed by employers for redundancy payments.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement about the suspension of publication by Times Newspapers Ltd. and the dispute involving journalists on those newspapers; and whether the conciliation services of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service have been sought by either party to the dispute.

Publication of all Times Newspapers Limited titles was suspended on 30th November, but management has indicated that no dismissal notices will be issued for 14 days so that negotiations can continue. Further talks are being held between management and unions, but the National Graphical Association has indicated that it will take part only if management agrees to withdraw certain proposals related to the introduction of new technology.nderstand that the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has kept in close touch with the situation but has not been invited to assist.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the dispute concerning journalists employed by companies belonging to the Newspaper Society; and whether the services of the Arbitration, Conciliation and Advisory Service have been requested by either party.

The National Union of Journalists called upon its members employed on provincial newspapers to strike from 4th December in support of a pay claim. Publication of a number of provincial dailies has been affected. I understand that ACAS has been in touch with the parties but has not been asked to intervene by either party.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is his estimate of (a) the total number of jobs that will be lost in the United Kingdom and (b) the total number of new jobs that will be created in the United Kingdom, as a result of the introduction and development of the micro-processor and associated silicon-chip technology by 1985 and 1990;(2) if he will list which employment sectors he anticipates will be most severely hit in terms of net loss of jobs resulting from the use of microprocessors; and which employment sectors will not be significantly affected by such developments.

It is not possible to give detailed quantified forecasts of the overall job losses and job gains likely to result from the application of microelectronics or any other form of new technology over a given period of time. Likewise it is impossible to predict with accuracy which sectors of industry are likely to experience the most marked changes in their existing patterns of employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has yet concluded whether the pay agreement between the Trades Union Congress and its staff breaches the Government's 5 per cent. pay limit; and if he will publish the details of that agreement which he has received from the Trades Union Congress.

On the information presently available this settlement does not appear to be consistent with the pay policy guidelines. The Department does not divulge details of agreements.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place in the Library the full reports of a survey on technology and employment 1977 to 1982 conducted by PA Management Consultants for the Manpower Services Commission and delivered to the Commission on 30th May 1977.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will make a statement on the need for skill training in the North-West; whether he has considered the CBI survey on this sub- ject; and what plans he has to meet this need;(2) if he will call together for a meeting all interested parties with a view to discussing the needs for skill training in the North-West in view of the CBI survey on this matter.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it endeavours to take account of skill training needs as a continuing part of its operations. In addition to the contribution of the industrial training boards towards meeting training needs through the companies in their industries, in the North-West some 8,000 places are currently available under the training opportunities scheme. Four new skillcentres are being planned for Manchester, Wirral, Liverpool and East Lancashire, involving an increase of 430 places. The regional Manpower Services Board for the North-West has discussed skill shortages and the CBI survey on 8th December, and the training services division regional general manager for the North-West has arranged an initial informal meeting with CBI representatives to discuss the survey further. I will write to the hon. Member in the light of further developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the total work force of the United Kingdom is the membership of trade unions.

It is estimated that, at the end of 1976, the period to which the latest figures relate, the proportion of the total work force of the United Kingdom—that is, employees in employment, employers and self-employed persons, Her Majesty's Forces and registered unemployed—in membership of trade unions was 46·7 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many schemes and individual places have been approved by the Manpower Services Commission's programme dealing with the youth unemployment special temporary employment programme and the youth opportunities programme in each of the employment areas in Cheshire; how many of these have been sponsored by (a) local authorities, (b) firms and (c) voluntary bodies.

I regret that I am unable to give the information in the precise form requested. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information which is available relates to

		Youth Opportunities Programme Individual places			Special Temporary Employment Programme
Area		Schemes	Young people	Adults	Schemes	Individual places
Chester
Total	…	305	640	11	8	77
of which:
Private sector	…	268	433	—	—	—
Local authorities	…	20	108	—	3	11
Voluntary organisatlons	…	5	29	11	2	29
Congleton
Total	…	66	148	—	—	—
of which:
Private sector	…	61	136	—	—	—
Local authorities	…	4	4	—	—	—
Voluntary organizations	…	—	—	—	—	—
Crewe and Nantwich
Total	…	126	275	3	—	—
of which:
Private sector	…	113	201	—	—	—
Local authorities	…	4	8	—	—	—
Voluntary organizations	…	1	9	3	—	—
Ellesmere Port and Neston
Total	…	259	560	15	3	63
of which:
Private sector	…	223	354	—	—	—
Local authorities	…	7	10	2	3	63
Voluntary organizations	…	4	53	7	—	—
Halton
Total	…	246	1,062	67	5	67
of which:
Private sector	…	221	506	—	1	19
Local authorities	…	2	31	—	4	48
Voluntary organizations	…	—	—	—	—	—
Macclesfield
Total	…	163	343	33	6	74
of which:
Private sector	…	144	212	—	1	12
Local authorities	…	2	4	—	1	3
Voluntary organizations	…	7	81	20	4	59
Vale Royal
Total	…	106	381	2	4	19
of which:
Private sector	…	94	297	—	—	—
Local authorities	…	6	10	—	2	7
Voluntary organizations	…	1	10	2	2	12
Warrington
Total	…	272	919	81	8	71
of which:
Private sector	…	236	466	—	—	—
Local authorities	…	7	21	—	2	4
Voluntary organizations	…	11	185	73	3	51
Cheshire
Total	…	1,543	4,328	212	34	371
of which:
Private sector	…	1,360	2,605	—	2	31
Local authorities	…	52	196	2	15	136
Voluntary organizations	…	29	367	116	11	151

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the findings revealed by examination of the records of the Wages Inspectorate in the West of Scotland which has shown that the proportion of establishments found to be paying less than statutory minimum rates rose from 15 per cent. in 1969 to 31·5 per cent. in 1976, despite the fall in the rate of inspections during the period.

I am very concerned about this rise, which is unfortunately the same as in other parts of the United Kingdom. As my hon. Friend knows, we are tackling the problem in a number of different ways. In particular, I hope that the changes in the working methods of the Wages Inspectorate which I announced in the House on 28th November will in the longer term reduce the extent of underpayment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if offenders against wages council regulations are regularly revisited and, if so, at what intervals.

Yes. The worst offenders are revisited as often as resources allow.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of establishments visited by wages council inspectors are found not to be displaying wages council rates so that they are readily available to employees (a) in the Midlands, (b) in the West of Scotland and (c) nationally.

18·6 per cent., 27·4 per cent., 24·5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to seek to give properly accredited trade union officials statutory rights to assist in inspecting and enforcing the payment of legal minimum rates of remuneration where these exist.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers were inspected by the Wages Inspectorate in 1977, or in the latest available year; how many were found to be defaulting on their legal obligations; and how many were prosecuted.

30,930, 11,557 and seven establishments respectively in 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will issue a general direction to the Wages Inspectorate that it should abandon its present policy of not prosecuting employers who pay their workers less than statutory minimum rates when the offence is discovered for the first time; and if he will issue an announcement that employers who break the law in this respect can expect to be prosecuted unless there are exceptional extenuating circumstances.

No. As I told my hon. Friend last year, I believe that the present policy of not prosecuting first offenders unless the offence is flagrant, but always considering prosecution in the case of other offenders, is right.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will seek to require microwave ovens to be sited away from seated workers.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that the emission of radiation from microwave ovens manufactured and maintained in accordance with the relevant British Standard is such that a person could remain continuously in close proximity to an even with complete safety. There is therefore no special reason to require any minimum separation from seated workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what advice he has received from the Health and Safety Executive concerning special attention to be paid by inspectors to microwave ovens when making routine visits to catering or other establishments where they are in use.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that the advice concerning microwave ovens issued by the Health and Safety Executive to its own inspectors and to local authority inspectors to whom inspection of most catering establishments has been allocated, recommends checks upon cleanliness and maintenance of door assemblies and seals and upon the functioning of safety interlocks. Monitoring instruments suitable for measuring emissions from microwave ovens are generally available. In addition, specialised advice is available to inspectors from the National Radiological Protection Board.

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 agriculture who suffer from the disease known as farmer's lung.

As has been stated in the House on previous occasions, a working group is examining the question of compensation for workers suffering from dust related respiratory diseases as a result of their employment. The group is not limiting that examination merely to the problem of slate quarrymen. The group is not yet ready to report to Ministers and I cannot, therefore, anticipate what recommendations it might make.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Reporta list of the projects for which his Department has claimed grants from the EEC Social Fund in the current year.

Following is a list of the projects for which my Department submitted applications to the EEC Social Fund for the current year:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy on how many occasions negotiations with chemical companies have either broken down or been deferred because North Sea gas was not available at prices which would make the ventures viable.

I am not a party to negotiations between chemical companies and potential suppliers of North Sea gas, and there is no legal requirement that I should be informed of their outcome. Nevertheless I think I should be informed if a major negotiation was to founder because the supplies of North Sea gas could not be obtained at a reasonable price. I know of no such case.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he intends to reach a decision on the North Sea gas-gathering pipeline in the interests of petrochemical development; and what availability of feedstock he estimates will be available by 1985.

No final decision on a new gas-gathering trunk line is possible until there is reasonable certainty on the quantities and timing of gas to go into the line. I am keeping a close watch on developments relating to the availability of such gas. As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Dunbartonshire, West (Mr. Campbell) on 20th July, I have invited interested parties to comment by the end of the year on the report on this subject by Gas Gathering Pipelines (North Sea) Limited, published in July as Energy Paper Number 30.An estimate of the quantities of heavy natural gases, reasonably certain to be available from the United Kingdom sector, which may be used as petrochemical feedstock, was given on page 6 of the 1978 "Brown Book" as follows:

Estimated Production in 1985 (thousand tonnes)
Ethane	1,000
Propane	2,500
Butane	1,500

These figures included gas transported in both oil and gas pipelines, but excluded gas which would be within British Gas's normal specification.Other estimates of availability from the United Kingdom sector of the northern North Sea, including that from more hypothetical sources, are given in pages 77 and 78 of Energy Paper Number 30.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is prepared to modify the British Gas Corporation monopoly over gas supply and use to enable the heavier gases to be made readily available to the chemical industry and for unrestricted use in petrochemical production.

The British Gas Corporation has no statutory rights which could hinder the supply or use of any gas as feedstock for petrochemical manufacture. British Gas's special privileges, of first offer at a reasonable price, do not apply to gas supplied or used for non-fuel purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when the interim report from the joint working group considering fuel economy in motor transport will be published; and when it is anticipated that the group will complete its work.

The joint working group's consideration of the feasibility of targets for raising the average miles per gallon achieved by new cars and methods of achieving those targets is making progress, though the work has taken longer than I indicated in my previous answer to the hon. Member. The group now hopes to submit its interim report in the new year and, subject to the agreement of the parties on the group, it is my intention that the report should be published. I cannot at this stage anticipate the timing of the group's final report.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the number of direct and indirect job places created by current and proposed capital investment on nuclear power plants in the United Kingdom for the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1990.

Energy Commission Paper No. 18, "Manpower requirements of the energy industries", contains estimates of on-site jobs created by the current nuclear programme, as follows:

1977*	5,920
1978	5,720
1979	4,320
1980	4,440

The investment programme also involves substantial direct off-site and indirect employment, both in R and D and the plant and component manufacturers, but no estimates are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what changes he proposes to make following the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Communities, dated 14th November 1978, in respect of article 103 of the European Atomic Energy Community Treaty in the arrangements (a) in respect of the ownership of fissile materials located in the United Kingdom, (b) between the United Kingdom and other countries for the supply and disposal of fissile materials, (c) for the movement of fissile materials within the United Kingdom and between the United Kingdom and other countries, (d) for the security and defence of nuclear establishments within the United Kingdom and (e) in agreements between the United Kingdom and other countries concerning fissile materials.

The Court's decision concerned the participation of member States and of the Community in a proposed convention relating to the physical protection of nuclear materials, facilities and transports. The whole ruling is being carefully studied and the wider ramifications may well not become clear for some time. I will keep the House informed, since proper accountability to Parliament on all nuclear matters is a vital national interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how the English translation of the ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Communities dated 14th November 1978 in respect of article 103 of the European Atomic Energy Community Treaty can be obtained or studied; and whether he will publish in theOfficial Reportthe main findings of the Court.

The Court of Justice of the European Community publishes an official series of "Reports of Cases before the Court" in English and other Community languages. These are obtainable from Sweet and Maxwell, Spoon (Booksellers) Ltd., North Way, Andover, Hants, SP10 5BE, or direct from the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Boîte postale 1003, Luxembourg. The decision will also appear in the Common Market Law Reports published by European Law Centre Ltd, and, in brief, in the Official Journal of the European Communities, C series.In the meantime, copies of the decision, in English, may be obtained on application to the Court. For the convenience of the House, I have placed a copy of the decision in the Library.

WASTAGE FROM NON-INDUSTRIAL HOME CIVIL SERVICE
percentage rates
Reason	1973*	1974*	1975	1976	1977
Resignation	8·5	6·0	5·6	5·3	6·4
Age retirement, death in service, retirement on grounds of ill health	2·6	2·2	2·6	3·3	3·6
Other	0·3	0·2	0·3	0·4	0·5
All reasons	11·4	8·3	8·5	9·0	10·4
Figures independently rounded
*Includes Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what representations he has had regarding the dispersal of civil servants.

I regularly re-reive representations about Civil Service dispersal and I have received some 20 since the beginning of this year.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a statement on organisation and methods work within the Civil Service.

In all about 1,000 staff are now employed in the Civil Service on O&M and related management services work. The hon. Member may wish to refer to the appendices to the minutes of evidence to the General Sub-Committee of the Expenditure Committee on 17th May 1976 for information about the organisation of these resources in departments and at the centre. The position has not changed substantially since then.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the level of natural wastage in percentage terms recorded in each of the last five years amongst civil servants at each appropriate grade.

Wastage from the non-industrial Civil Service as a whole during the years 1973 to 1977 was as follows:

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he is satisfied with current levels of recruitment to the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement indicating the levels of supply and demand for civil servants in the next two years.

Recruitment to certain grades and in certain geographical areas has become markedly more difficult over the past year. This is partly because the number of vacancies, especially for some professional and technical grades, has risen sharply, and partly because the number of suitably qualified candidates has been on the decline. It is becoming more difficult to fill junior posts in London and the larger cities.As no significant change in the size of the Civil Service is expected, the demand for recruits in the next two years will be related primarily to wastage. Voluntary wastage has been at a relatively high level this year, but it is impossible to predict with any confidence the pattern of the next two years. An increase in the number of civil servants reaching retirement age in the next few years will be a further but less significant factor.With regard to supply, the number of suitably qualified candidates choosing to seek employment in the Civil Service during the next two years cannot be foreseen.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what progress the Pay Research Unit is making; and when he expects to publish a report of its findings.

The Pay Research Unit's reports are currently being received by the negotiating parties and they will provide the basis for the negotiations leading to a settlement from 1st April 1979, subject to national pay policy. The independent Pay Research Unit Board will publish its first annual report on the work of the unit in due course. For further detail about the unit's work I would refer to the answer I gave on 5th December to the Question from the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mr. Rhodes James).

asked the Attorney-General in how many cases in the past year, or in the latest available year, maintenance was granted to the former wife even though there were no children aged under 18 years; and in how many of these cases the former wife was under 50 years of age.

I regret that this information is not readily available in a form which makes it possible to relate each of the figures requested to the others. Such a correlation could be obtained only by inspection of all the individual court files in question. According to information available centrally, however, maintenance and other financial orders were made in at least 64,817 divorce cases in 1977. Information is not available in relation to children under 18, but out of all divorces in 1977 51,564 involved couples with no children under 16. 113,834 of all divorces in 1977 involved wives aged under 50.

asked the Attorney-General how many divorces in the past year, or in the latest available year, were between couples with no children aged under 18 years; and what percentage this is of the total number of divorces.

Figures are not collected in respect of children under 18. In 1977 there were 51,564 divorce decrees involving couples with no children under 16; these constituted 40 per cent. of all decrees absolute.

asked the Attorney-General if legislation is to be introduced in the current Session establishing family courts.

No. At a time when there are already serious deficiencies in court accommodation due to the volume of criminal cases it would not be possible to provide, from the resources currently available, the separate court accommodation and additional staff which a family court would require.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the reasons for the change of name of Millbank Technical Services Limited; and why control of the new company is being removed from the Crown Agents.

The name of Millbank Technical Services Limited was changed to International Military Services Limited (IMS) to reflect more accurately the nature of its business and myrighthon. Friend's responsibility for it. As announced in myrighthon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Dearne Valley (Mr. Wainwright) on 29th March 1977—[Vol. 929, c. 105]—he assumed responsibility for the defence activities of the company because, with the passage of time, it had come to provide most of its services in the field of defence exports. The shares are to be transferred to myrighthon. Friend as non-defence activities of IMS, for which the company has been responsible to the Crown Agents, have been virtually completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the level of research and development funding to the British aerospace industry for direct military production proposals for the last full year for which figures are available.

In the financial year 1977–78, the Ministry of Defence spent about £350 million at outturn prices with the British aerospace industry in respect of research contracts and project development work. Of this, a little over 6 per cent. was for research. The total figure includes expenditure on airframes, aircraft equipment, aero-engines, space, guided weapons and electronics.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much rate support grant was paid to the county of Norfolk for the years 1973–74 and 1977–78, respectively.

The totals of needs and resources grant paid to all authorities within the boundaries of the present Norfolk county council were £37,774,716 in 1973–74 and £67,173,084 in 1977–78.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in calculating the rate support grant, an allowance can be made for the increasing cost to local authorities of dealing with queries from the Local Government Ombudsman.

The total of relevant expenditure on which rate support grant is based already includes expenditure under this head.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if J. D. & S. Tighe Ltd. of Redbourne Mere, Kirton Lindsey, near Gainsborough, has any contracts with Government Departments; and if he will make a statement regarding his policy concerning the practice whereby firms are able to list themselves as contractors to Government Departments.

J. D. & S. Tighe Ltd. has carried out contracts for the Property Services Agency, the main contracting agency for Government works services.

The PSA does not object to a firm printing "Contractor to the DOE(PSA)" on its notepaper provided that the firm is on the Agency approved list of contractors and has satisfactorily carried out work for the Agency in recent years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will indicate the date or dates on which the Land Commission purchased the four sites still owned by his Department, and listed in the answer by the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mr. Barnett) on 13th November; and whether he will give specific details for each site as to why it has not been possible to dispose of it between 1974 and the present date.

The site of Horn-church airfield was purchased as to part on 10th March 1969 and the remainder on 25th March 1975. The land was rich in gravel and the Government decided that this should be extracted and the land restored before development. The local authority revived its earlier interest in the land when extraction was nearly complete and negotiations with it are now in progress.

The land at South End Road Horn-church, was purchased on 10th March 1969 as part of a larger site but was not resold by the Land Commission with the remainder because it appeared to be suitable for extension of an adjoining filling station. The petrol company could not, however, meet the requirements of the local planning authority and withdrew its interest in June 1978 since when other uses of the site have been under discussion with the local planning authority.

The land at Collinshill, Lichfield, was purchased on 25th March 1970. The county council had earmarked the site for a school but may not now require it, in which case normal disposal procedures will be put in hand.

The land at Asket Hill, Leeds, was purchased on 20th January 1970. For further details, I refer the hon. Member to a separate answer today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Reportas much detailed information as may be available to show to what extent those engaged in social welfare work have had their salaries increased.

Such information is not available to my Department.Pay of local authority social workers, welfare assistants and education welfare officers is determined by the employing authorities which negotiate the general terms and conditions in the National Joint Council for Local Authorities Administrative, Professional, Technical and Clerical Services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, regarding the 676 betterment levy assessment determined but still unpaid, he will state (a) what is the length of time for the longest outstanding assessment and (b) what is the most recent; and how many of these 676 he expects it will be necessary to write off as abortive.

From the date on which the assessment was first notified, (a) 10 years 11 months and (b) 3 years 9 months.Each determined assessment represents a debt legally due and I cannot predict how many may prove irrecoverable in whole or in part.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give details of the 37 acres purchased by his Department in 1974–75, following a commitment by the Land Commission; what was the specific nature of the commitment and to whom it was made; and when the 37 acres purchased by his Department in 1974–75 will be resold.

The 37 acres adjoin a site purchased by the Land Commission for development after the extraction of gravel. As part of a contract for this extraction the Commission agreed to buy the adjoining land and lease it to the contractor for further extraction. Negotiations for the sale of the combined site are in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why, in view of the fact that the former owner of the land at Asket Hill, Leeds, did not wish the land developed in her lifetime, it was decided by the Land Commission to buy it for that purpose; what was the cost of the transaction; what have been the interest charges on the purchase of Asket Hill to date; and whether it is anticipated it will be resold at a profit.

The Land Commission presumably bought the land in furtherance of its function to secure that land was available for the implementation of national, regional and local plans.Following the change of Government in 1970 and the announcement of the intention to dissolve the Land Commission, this site, like others, was offered back to the former owner at current market value. Although she chose not to repurchase, it was decided that in all the circumstances the site would not be developed during her lifetime.It is not the practice to disclose the financial details of Government property transactions, but no interest has been charged since completion of purchase. The disposal value has yet to be determined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the advice given to local authorities in circular 123/75 and circular 103/76 issued by his Department, that they should enforce the Government's pay guidelines by boycotting blacklisted companies and accepting tenders only from companies certifying compliance with those guidelines, remains valid.

No names of firms barred from Government contracts were circulated to local authorities. The undertaking, clause and certificate which the circulars asked local authorities to use related to section 1 of the Remuneration Charges and Grants Act 1975 which lapsed on 31st July 1978. The arrangements are therefore valid only in respect of the period when section 1 of the Act was operative.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received over the extension of regional development grants to help ports and port related industries; and what action he proposes to take.

The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company has made representations to my Department in support of a plea from the Merseyside chamber of commerce and industry for regional development grants to be extended to the port of Liverpool. As the company has been told, such grants are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will arrange transport for members of the public living in the Tiverton area, who are not objectors or witnesses but who wish to attend the public inquiry at South Molton into stage 1 of the North Devon link road, to get to and from South Molton.

No. The arrangements described in my reply to the hon. Member on 13th November are already generous.—[Vol. 958, col. 98–9.]

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what timetable is envisaged for construction of the new road from Makambako to Songea in Southern Tanzania.

The reconstruction of the road from Makambako to Songea in Southern Tanzania to all-weather standards is expected to take about five years, and construction will start around the middle of next year.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is her estimate of the cost of constructing the new road from Makambako to Songea in Southern Tanzania; what proportion of the cost will be funded by Tanzania and the United Kingdom, respectively; and whether the British contribution will be in the form of a grant or a loan.

The cost is estimated at some £40 million, including £2·3 million for design and supervision by British consultants; £2·8 million—7 per cent.—of this will be met by the Tanzanians in the form of a contribution to local labour costs, and the Tanzanian Government will also make land available where necessary. All aid to Tanzania is in the form of grants.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what topographical difficulties are considered relevant to the construction of the new road from Makambako to Songea in Southern Tanzania.

No exceptional topographical difficulties are envisaged in the construction of the road. For the most part it will follow the existing alignment, with a small central section realigned.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what estimate she has made of the number of United Kingdom-based staff and locally-employed Tanzanians who will be employed in the construction of the new road from Makambako to Songea in Southern Tanzania.

Forty to 50 United Kingdom-based staff are expected to be employed in the construction of the road, and up to 500 to 600 locally employed staff at any one time.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what studies she has made of the present traffic density on the road between Makambako and Songea in Southern Tanzania; and what forecasts she has made of the increase in traffic which can be expected to result from completion of the new road.

Present traffic density, as at October 1977, is some 110 vehicles per day between Makambako and Itoni, and some 50 per day between Itoni and Songea. The purpose of the road is to open up the Ruvuma region, and parts of the Iringa region; it will also provide a useful alternative route benefiting Mtwara and Lindi. The increase in traffic will be closely related to the development of the regions concerned, but cannot be accurately predicted at present.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will list the wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Crown Agents at the latest date stating the main functions of each and indicating any changes which have taken place since Command Paper No. 6445 was published.

The information is as follows:Four Millbank Nominees Ltd. with functions as shown in Cmnd. 6445. However, arrangements are being made for Principals' investments to be transferred to a bank nominee company in the near future. This company will then provide a nominee service for Crown Agents' assets only.Four Millbank Holdings Ltd. which acts as a holding company for the Crown Agents' wholly-owned subsidiaries other than the two nominee companies.Great Peter Nominees Ltd., formed in January 1978 to handle, as nominees, business undertaken on behalf of principals under the Crown Agents' money management service.

asked the Minister of State for Overseas Development what action is being taken by the Government to bring the main airport in the Falkland Islands up to international standards required for civil jet transport operations which the Shackleton report recommended as being a pre-requisite of economic development.

As my hon. Friend informed the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. Clark) on 22nd November, the existing airport is adequate for such traffic as can be foreseen at present. I do not propose to initiate any studies for its enlargement until I have a clearer indication of possible economic developments in the area.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many British former civil servants are currently being denied pensions due to them arising from service under the former East African High Commissions; what is the longest time for which any person has been denied his entitlement; what is the current average delay in the payment of such pensions; how much is currently outstanding in benefits; and what action she has taken to ensure proper payments are made.

In July we agreed to take over payment of pensions to the former East African High Commission civil servants for whom we have special responsibility. Not all the necessary information has been received and I regret that I cannot provide the figures for which the hon. Member asks. Ex gratia advances are available where delay is being experienced, so I should be glad to hear of any special problems of which the hon. Member may be aware.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what arrangements his Department intends to take either directly or through the EEC with the Mediterranean associates which will effectively contain their disruptive potential in the sphere of textile imports; and if he will make a statement.

The European Commission has started negotiations aimed at reaching restraint arrangements for 1979 with the Mediterranean textile suppliers. It is expected that the existing arrangements with Morocco and Tunisia will be extended, whilst in the case of Spain, Portugal and Greece the aim will be to renew the improved arrangements which have been negotiated during 1978. Malta and Turkey have so far proved unwilling to enter into negotiations, and it may be necessary again to consider safeguard action if their exports to the Community in 1979 reach disruptive levels. My Department is keeping closely in touch with these negotiations and I expect the Council of Ministers to consider their outcome when it meets on 19th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what measure of assistance is envisaged by the market entry guarantee scheme; and whether it is intended to extend the scheme to benefit large United Kingdom petrochemical companies operating abroad.

The market entry guarantee scheme is designed particularly to help smaller and medium sized firms in manufacturing industry to deal with the financial risk and problems associated with a venture to develop a new export market. In approved cases the scheme will contribute 50 per cent. of the eligible overhead costs of the market venture up to a maximum contribution of £100,000. The minimum contribution is £20,000. In return for this contribution, a levy on sales receipts is made; this is intended to recover the contributions with a commercial rate of return on the scheme's investment. If, by the end of the agreed venture period, sales have not materialised as expected, then no further levy payments are required and the firm and the scheme will share the loss. For this guarantee the firm pays the scheme an annual premium.The scheme, which is being operated by the British Overseas Trade Board on a two-year experimental basis, is, however, open to any firm irrespective of its size exporting a tangible product manufactured in the United Kingdom. Assistance under the scheme would therefore be available to large United Kingdom petrochemical companies so long as the proposed venture was capable of satisfying the scheme's guidelines.I am sending the hon. Member a leaflet which fully describes the scheme, and placing copies in the Library for the information of hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will now cause the whisky run flight to Uganda from Stansted airport to be terminated.

The question of the termination of these charter flights by Uganda Airways from Stansted has wider aviation and trade implications. I am, however, keeping the situation under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in the light of the EEC code of conduct for European firms operating in South Africa, he will ask the managing director of Ever Ready to update the information submitted to his Department in 1976 relating to the pay and conditions of work of the company's employees in South Africa.

The BEREC Group Limited—formerly Ever Ready Company (Holdings) Ltd.—submitted a report in 1977 in respect of the now superseded United Kingdom code of practice. A similar report was made earlier this year and the company has undertaken to publish future reports in accordance with the code of conduct of the Nine.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) how many applications to register a business name have been received in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available by the Registrar of Business Names for England and Wales, the Registrar of Business Names for Scotland and the Registrar of Business Names for Northern Ireland, respectively;

1. NUMBER OF ACCEPTED APPLICATIONS TO REGISTER A BUSINESS NAME
				England and Wales	Scotland	Northern Ireland includes changes and cessations)
1969	…	…	…	73,604	2,667	750
1970	…	…	…	75,981	2,805	729
1971	…	…	…	75,864	2,864	675
1972	…	…	…	92,250	3,456	706
1973	…	…	…	100,800	4,025	894
1974	…	…	…	86,600	4,040	718
1975	…	…	…	91,555	3,989	815
1976	…	…	…	102,645	4,737	973
1977	…	…	…	111,023	5,207	1,190
1978 (first 48 weeks)	…	…	…	125,679	5,510	1,391

II TOTAL RECEIPTS IN RESPECT OF FEES
			England and Wales	Scotland	Northern Ireland
Financial year			£	£	Calendar year	£
1973–74	…	…	122,060	5,304	1974	168
1974–75	…	…	110,453	5,130	1975	182
1975–76	…	…	117,756	5,940	1976	225
1976–77	…	…	135,389	7,288	1977	274
1977–78	…	…	139,256	7,364	1978*	354
*To 30th November.

III. TOTAL RUNNING COST
			England and Wales	Scotland	Northern Ireland
Financial year			£	£	Calendar year	£
1973–74	…	…	216,476	7,062	1974	3,415
1974–75	…	…	303,311	9,782	1975	3,755
1975–76	…	…	362,732	10,873	1976	4,132
1976–77	…	…	508,354	11,686	1977	4,545
1977–78	…	…	740,962	12,493	1978*	5,000
*To 30th November.

IV. AVERAGE NUMBER OF STAFF EMPLOYED
Financial year						England and Wales	Scotland	Northern Ireland
1973–74	…	…	…	…	…	52	2	1
1974–75	…	…	…	…	…	51	2	1
1975–76	…	…	…	…	…	51	2	1
1976–77	…	…	…	…	…	69	2	1
1977–78	…	…	…	…	…	75	2	1

In providing the information requested by the hon. Member I should point out that my right hon. Friend has no responsibility for the operations of the Registrar of Business Names in Belfast.The relevant figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how much of the credit of £950 million extended to the USSR in 1975 has now been taken up.

The total value of contracts financed under the Anglo-Soviet agreement is now £444 ·4 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether Her Majesty's Government are fully committed to the common fund as proposed by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; and if he will make a statement.

We are fully committed to seek an early and successful outcome to negotiations on the fund, as I made clear on 6th December in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend, the Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Bennett).

asked the Secretary of State for trade if he will publish in theOfficial Reportthe names of the countries with which Her Majesty's Government have a technical or trade agreement.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he can now make a statement on the action to be taken by the EEC Commission following the application of the British Leather Federation against dumping of finished leather by the Brazilians and the Argentinians.

,pursuant to his reply [Official Report,6th December 1978; Vol. 959, col. 709],gave the following information:The matter was discussed in the EEC Anti-Dumping Committee meeting of 4th December. Decisions by the EEC Commission to launch anti-dumping or countervailing investigations are formally announced in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the pay of medical and dental officers in the Armed Forces.

The supplementary report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body on the pay of Service doctors and dentists has been published today as Cmnd. 7288. Copies are available in the Vote Office.

The Government accept the Review Body's recommendations on the full appropriate levels of military salary for Service doctors and dentists. These will be staged and implemented in exactly the same way as the award to the remainder of the Armed Forces. As a first stage, Service doctors and dentists have received a pay increase effective from 1st April 1978 in line with that announced for the rest of the Armed Forces on 25th April 1978.

asked the Prime Minister if the Advisory Council on Applied Research and Development Committee which was looking at the social and economic application of microelectronic technology has reported its conclusions and when it will be made publicly available.

I have been asked to reply.

I understand from my right hon. and Noble Friend the Lord Privy Seal, who chairs the Advisory Council for Applied Research and Development, that the working party, under the chairmanship of Sir James Menter, which is considering the employment consequences of technological change has not yet completed its work on this large and important subject; I gather that its report is not expected for some months. When this is received, the Government will take a decision on its publication.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated number of widows in receipt of widows' pension who will become liable for income tax following the recent uprating; what is the estimated tax yield from this change in the remainder of the current tax year and in a full tax year, assuming no change in personal allowances; and what is the estimated number of civil servants, and at what cost, involved in collecting this revenue.

It is estimated that very few—perhaps around 1,000—widows in receipt of widow's pension, all of whom will have some additional source of income, will become liable to tax in 1978–79 as a result of the uprating in November 1978. The tax payable by these widows in 1978–79 could be about £5,000,

PAYMENTS OF PUBLIC SECTOR DEBT INTEREST
£ million
		Gross payments*				Net payments†
		Total	To public bodies‡	To domestic private bodies§	To overseas	Total	To public bodies||	To domestic private bodies§	To overseas
1964–65	…	1,815	436	1,210	169	1,180	—	1,055	125
1965–66	…	1,943	473	1,292	178	1,229	—	1,103	126
1966–67	…	2,152	560	1,375	217	1,327	—	1,164	163
1967–68	…	2,481	670	1,569	242	1,556	—	1,375	181
1968–69	…	2,736	795	1,653	288	1,663	—	1,420	243
1969–70	…	2,967	901	1,686	380	1,759	—	1,430	329
1970–71	…	3,172	1,044	1,815	313	1,778	—	1,537	241
1971–72	…	3,469	1,172	1,986	311	1,878	—	1,703	175
1972–73	…	3,818	1,326	2,169	323	1,992	—	1,843	149
1973–74	…	4,845	1,528	2,886	431	2,530	—	2,331	199
1974–75	…	6,166	1,943	3,558	665	3,302	—	2,922	380
1975–76	…	7,549	2,432	4,279	838	4,003	—	3,494	509
1976–77	…	9,417	2,912	5,510	995	5,129	—	4,438	691
1977–78	…	10,522	3,131	6,186	1,205	5,813	—	5,217	596
Source: National Accounts and Balance of Payments Statistics.
*Payments by central Government, local authorities and public corporations, including payments which they make to each other.
†Gross payments less receipts of interests from other bodies by central Government, local authorities and public corporations, including amounts received from each other.
‡Excluding payments on central Government debt held by local authorities, and central Government and local authority debt held by public corporations, for which figures are not available but are believed to be relatively small.
§Including payments on central Government debt held by local authorities, and central Government and local authority debt held by public corporations, for which figures are not available but are believed to be relatively small.
||Payments by the public sector to public bodies and receipe bythe public sector from public bodies cancel out by definition.