asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Boundary Commission to publish its draft recommendations for Greater London parliamentary constituencies.

I understand that the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England intends to publish its provisional recommendations for constituencies in the Greater London area in the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to amend the law on charities.

The Government have been reviewing the law in the light of the reports of the Expenditure Committee and of Lord Goodman's committee on charity law and voluntary organisations, and will bring forward proposals in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make arrangements to circularise every elector by Post Office mail with information concerning postal voting at the general election, as practised by the Welsh Office in connection with the forthcoming referendum on devolution.

We have no present plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests have been made under the Prevention of Terrorism Act since 1974 at ports of entry, and airports.

Of the 3,782 persons detained in Great Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976 between 30 November 1974 and 4 February 1978, 2,651 were detained at ports or airports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many policemen have been injured in scuffles on picket lines to date in 1979.

Our inquiries of chief officers of police, in England and Wales, indicate that since the beginning of the year 12 police officers have received slight injuries while engaged in policing picket lines.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that reference publications such as "Civil Liberty"—National Council for Civil Liberties, and "The Parole Decision —a guide compiled from official sources" —Howard League, are available in all prison libraries, including wing libraries where prisoners do not have access to a central library.

Stocking of the reference and lending sections of prison libraries is the responsibility of local authority library departments in conjunction with prison education officers. If copies of these publications are not available in a prison library, they can be obtained on request.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to answer the letters dated 15 December 1978 and 26 January from the hon. Member for Harrow, Central concerning the Licensed Premises (Exclusion of Certain Persons) Bill.

I have now replied to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest figures expressed both in numbers and percentages of acquittals over the previous 12 months of persons who were tried after pleas of not guilty in (a) the magistrate's courts and (b)crown courts.

The only readily available information on pleas and acquittals relates to defendants aged 17 and over pleading not guilty to indictable offences, which for 1977 is given in table 4.5 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1977" (Cmnd. 7289). Information for 1978 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Boundary Commission to report and publish its proposed parliamentary boundaries for the London borough of Haringey; and if he will set out its timetable for the submission of objections and appeal.

:I understand that the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England is likely to publish its provisional recommendations for constituencies in Greater London, including Haringey, later this year. Representations may be made to the Commission during a statutory period of one month from the date of publication. If an interested local authority or a body of 100 or more electors objects to its proposals, the Commission is required to hold a local inquiry. If the Commission subsequently decides to revise its recommendations, its new proposals must be published and representations submitted within one month. The Commission need not hold a further local inquiry, but may do so at its discretion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current total police force in the West Midlands; and how this compares with the number in 1974.

:On 31 December 1978 the strength of the West Midlands police was 5,869, an increase of 634 since 1 April 1974 when the force was set up.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the stat istics of crimes of violence in each of the London boroughs in 1977 and 1978.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the only information readily available is that given below:

OFFENCES OF ASSAULT, ETC.* RECORDED BY METROPOLITAN POLICE DIVISIONS WITHIN THE AREA OF THE GREATER LONDON COUNCIL†. BY BOROUGH, 1977.
London borough			Number of offences
Barking	…	…	228
Barnet	…	…	328
Bexley	…	…	199
Brent	…	…	494
Bromley	…	…	293
Camden	…	…	527
Croydon	…	…	370
Ealing	…	…	466
Enfield	…	…	244
Greenwich	…	…	375
Hackney	…	…	523
Hammersmith	…	…	588
Haringey	…	…	424
Harrow	…	…	241
Havering	…	…	204
Hillingdont	…	…	196
Hounslowt	…	…	257
Islington	…	…	483
Kensington and Chelsea	…	…	692
Kingston upon Thames	…	…	137
Lambeth	…	…	802
Lewisham	…	…	471
Merton	…	…	164
Newham	…	…	523
Redbridge	…	…	267
Richmond	…	…	167
Southwark	…	…	621
Sutton	…	…	147
Tower Hamlets	…	…	524
Wandsworth	…	…	556
Waltham Forest	…	…	258
Westminster	…	…	1,246
Total†	…	…	13,015
* Covering nearly all indictable offences of violence against the person and certain sexual offences involving violence.
† Excluding offences recorded by Thames division and the Heathrow sub-division, which cannot be allocated accurately to a particular London borough.

asked the Attorney-General if he will refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions with a view to prosecution under the Companies Acts, the activities of the Seagull Autos group of companies and the producers of the Green Guide, in the light of evidence referred to him by the hon. Member for Ealing, Acton.

No. The evidence does not disclose possible offences for which the Director of Public Prosecutions is responsible under the Prosecution of Offences Regulations 1978.

asked the Attorney-General what increases have been made in the level of capital disregarded for legal aid during the last 10 years; and what has been the relationship of that level and the level of capital disregarded for supplementary benefit purposes during the same 10 years.

Date of change		Disposable capital disregard for legal aid	Capital disregard for Supplementary Benefit	Column (2) as a percentage of column (3)
(1)		(2)	(3)
		£	£
Prior to 1972	…	125	300	42 per cent.
December 1972	…	250	300	83 per cent.
November 1976	…	300	1,200	25 per cent
November 1977	…	340	1,200	28 per cent.
November 1978	…	365	1,200	30 per cent.

My noble Friend has announced that he intends to increase the free disposable capital limit for legal aid to £1,200 and to incorporate the allowances currently made.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he proposes to publish the report on the pay of non-Home Office police forces.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy), on 24 November 1978—[Vol. 958, c. 771–2]—in which I said that the committee of inquiry into the pay and conditions of the non-Home Office police forces has been asked to report as soon as possible. I cannot yet say when the report will be available.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish figures showing the total number of civil servants employed in each year since 1960, and pointing out the Departments where the main changes have been.

It is not possible to make a direct comparison between the level of capital disregarded for legal aid and that for supplementary benefit purposes, because in the former additional allowances are made against capital for dependants and low income. Similar allowances are not made for supplementary benefit purposes. The following table shows the increases made during the last 10 years in the disposable capital disregard for legal aid as it would apply to a single person who did not qualify for a low income allowance. This is compared with the capital disregard for supplementary benefit purposes in force at those times.

For the period 1965 to 1975 I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Gow)—[Vol. 893, c.28–38]—in which he asked for the total number of civil servants employed in each Department in those years.For the period 1976–78, the publication "Civil Service Statistics 1978"—a copy of which is available in the Library—includes in table 2 corresponding information for those later years.For 1960 to 1964 the number of civil servants in post at 1 January in each year was as follows:

1960	…	…	…	…	656,400
1961	…	…	…	…	654,800
1962	…	…	…	…	662,400
1963	…	…	…	…	670,900
1964	…	…	…	…	672,200

NOTE: All figures rounded to the nearest 100.The main changes in Departments in the period 1960 to 1964 were:(i) Departments of technical Co-operation. July 1961 certain functions of Foreign Office, Colonial Office and Commonwealth Relations Office brought together in new department. Those functions were in turn transferred to the new Ministry of Overseas Development in October 1964.(ii) Ministry of Public Building and Works. July 1962 Ministry of Works functions broadened.(iii) Ministry of Defence. April 1964 creation of unified Ministry of Defence, bringing together War Office, Air Ministry, Admiralty and Defence.(iv) Department of Education and Science. April 1964 bringing together of functions of Minister of Education, Minister of Science and certain residuary research functions of the Lord President of the Council.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants at permanent secretary level retired or resigned over the period 1974 to 1977; and how many of them went into industry.

27 civil servants at permanent secretary level retired or resigned over the period 1974 to 1977. Moves by senior civil servants into industry have long been subject to rules designed to safeguard the public interest. In particular, a permanent secretary who wishes to take up a business appointment within two years of retirement or resignation is required to obtain the Prime Minister's prior approval; and he must in any case wait a minimum of three months after leaving the Service before taking up the new job. The Prime Minister's decision is given only after he has obtained the views of an independent advisory committee under the chairman. ship of Lord Diamond. Copies of the rules are available in the House of Commons Library and published as appendix 15 to the report of the Royal Commission on standards of conduct in public life (Cmnd. 6524). Of the 27 civil servants in question, 10 applied to take up jobs in industry. The Government are not informed whether applications for which permission is given are subsequently taken up.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the definition of derelict land used by his Department; and whether it is embodied in statute.

There is no statutory definition of derelict land. For the purposes of the derelict land grant scheme the description adopted is land which is so damaged by industrial or other development that it is incapable of beneficial use without treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria are used by his Department in selecting schemes submitted for assistance under the EEC's regional development fund.

The Department submits applications for aid from the European regional development fund in respect of infrastructure projects to be carried out by public authorities in England. In considering whether or not to submit applications for assistance due regard is given to the regulation establishing the fund, in particular to the requirement that infrastructure projects should be directly linked to the development of industrial and service activities and to the priority to be given to development areas. Additional important factors which are taken into account in assessing priorities against the total amount of grant likely to be available are the relative severity of the economic and employment problems of the area concerned and the contribution which individual projects would make to relieving them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what definitions his Department uses of vacant and unused land.

These terms are not generally defined; they are normally used in their everyday meaning.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he will be issuing his reply to the report of the Select Committee on nationalised industries on "Innovations in Rural Bus Services".

As soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he has any plans to increase the minimum tread depth for the tyres of motor cars(2) if he estimates that an increase in the current minimum tread depth of motor car tyres from 1 mm to 2mm would produce a significant reduction in the number of road accidents.

We do not propose to increase the current minimum tread depth for car tyres. Research by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory suggests that there would be no significant safety advantage in this.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will report on the position regarding maintenance of value payments due in respect of the United Kingdom contributions to the first three replenishments of the resources of the International Development Association.

The maintenance of value obligations accepted by the United Kingdom, in the arrangements for the replenishments, under the authority of the Overseas Aid Act 1968 and statutory orders made under it, are being met by the deposit of non-negotiable non-interest bearing notes, additional to those originally deposited for our contributions. A deposit of a note is being made for £2,970,373·70. This sum is based on disbursements made by the association from our contributions during the period 1 January 1978 to 30 June 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer the proposed takeover of W. and T. Avery Ltd. by the General Electric Company to the Monopolies Commission.

Yes. My right hon. Friend has decided to refer the proposed acquisition by the General Electric Company Limited of Averys Limited to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission for investigation and report under the provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he is now able to approve a change in clause 10 of the Hearing Aid Council's code of practice.

The Hearing Aid Council has requested a change in clause 10 of its code of practice and, having considered the views of interested parties, I have decided to approve the change. The effect of the change is that, as from 1 January 1981, dispensers will no longer be allowed to make home visits to potential customers if the visit has not been specifically requested.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the method adopted to calculate the proposed block grant to the Scottish and Welsh Assemblies.

The block funds will represent the proportion of devolved public expenditure to be met from general taxation after allowing for the local contribution from rates, for borrowing, and for the internal resources of certain public corporations. They will be settled after bilateral negotiations between the Government and the devolved administrations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines the Government have established for percentage increases in borrowing requirement by the State sector as between 1978–79 and 1979–80.

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's speech in the debate on 25 January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of extending the age allowance to single women and widows between the ages of 60 and 64 years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of extending the age allowance to single women and widows between the ages of 60 and 64 years.

The estimated cost of extending the age allowance to all single women and widows aged 60 to 64 inclusive would be about £35 million in 1978–79.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the present level of tax thresholds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the current levels of tax thresholds.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now make a statement on the levels of tax thresholds; and what representation he has had from industry in the last six months on this subject.

On the first part of the question, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Litterick). I have received a number of representations, from industry and other quarters, on the levels of tax thresholds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will seek to remove the present anomaly whereby benefits paid under permanent health insurance schemes are regarded as investment income for tax purposes, whereas benefits paid under pension schemes are treated as earned income.

I do not regard this as an anomaly. The difference in tax treatment arises from the difference in the character of the payments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to control inflation.

The Government stand by their pay guidelines and the appropriate fiscal and monetary measures to back them up.We have made it clear that the best means of controlling inflation is for negotiators to reach pay settlements in accordance with the Government's pay guidelines. To the extent that settlements turn out to be in excess of those guidelines the Government will take the fiscal and monetary measures they consider necessary to offset the inflationary pressures they generate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest annual rate of inflation for the United Kingdom, West Germany and Japan, respectively.

The year on year increase in prices for December 1978 was 8·4 per cent. for the United Kingdom, 2·4 per cent. for the Federal Republic of Germany and 3·5 per cent. for Japan. The corresponding figure for the United States was 9 per cent. and for France 9·7 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take action to alleviate the cash flow problems of those engaged in small business.

The Government are aware of the problems which may be faced, by small businesses in particular, as a result of recent industrial problems and are watching the position carefully. But the banks fully understand their customers' position, and are best placed to provide such help as may be appropriate to meet short-term difficulties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far control of the money supply is an element in pursuing his policy of maintaining the current parity for the £ sterling.

The Government's policy is to work for continued stability in sterling's effective exchange rate as part of the fight against inflation. Our determination to control the growth in the monetary aggregates makes an important contribution to the success of this policy, But I do not rely on any simple mechanical relationship between the exchange rate and the money supply. I recognise that a wide range of other factors can and do bear on the strength of sterling.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now introduce a £1 coin.

The denominations and specifications of the coinage are reviewed from time to time, as is the balance between notes and coin. These reviews continue but we have no present intention of making a change.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now adopt a uniform policy towards the taxation or otherwise of all short-term social security benefits.

In principle all short-term benefits of an income nature should be taxable. But unemployment benefit, sickness benefit and maternity allowance are long-standing exceptions to this rule because of the administrative problems of collecting tax on them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will define the Government's current attitude on incomes policy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will define the Government's current incomes policy, in the light of recent pay settlements.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Smith) earlier today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the present level of wage settlements.

No. There have been a number of settlements outside the Government's pay guidelines which bring the average since the pay round began to around 10 per cent. This includes the effect of self-financing productivity deals and other exceptions to the 5 per cent. limit which are authorised by the Government's guidelines.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now give his strategy in the event of average wage settlements reaching 12 per cent, during the course of the phase 4 wage round.

I have made clear that in the event of average wage settlements being significantly outside the guidelines I shall have to take the fiscal and monetary measures necessary to offset their inflationary impact.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to make any changes in the Government's public expenditure plans, as published in Cmnd. 7439, in the light of the present economic situation.

I have nothing at present to add to what my right hon. Friend told the House in the debate on 25th January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the cost to the United Kingdom of membership of the EEC; and what action he plans to take.

Our estimates of the United Kingdom contributions to, and receipts from, the Communities' budget until 1983 has been given in the Government's expenditure plans 1979–80 to 1982–83 (Cmnd.7439). In addition, other factors are relevant such as the food trade effects and the effects on our trade in raw materials, manufactured goods and services. These in turn have to be measured against trends in the world economy. The results of any exercise to calculate the net economic benefit or cost of Membership of the EEC would be imprecise. But the Government's concern about the level of Britain's contribution to the EEC budget is well known.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why as shown in table 2.12 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1979–80 and 1980–82" Cmnd.7439, the projected increase in retirement pension between 1979–80 and 1982–83 is less in percentage terms than the increase in the projected number of recipients of retirement pensions.

There are two main factors which account for the fact that expenditure on retirement pensions shown in line 1 of table 2.12 of Cmnd. 7439 rises more slowly over the period than the forecast average number of beneficiaries set out in the table on pages 150 and 151 of the White Paper.First, following the abolition of the married woman's contribution half-test for those retiring after April 1979, the figures allow for the payment of the reduced rate pension that some women will be entitled to on retirement.Secondly, the conventions under which table 2.12 is prepared, which are set out in paragraphs 10 and 11 of the programme text, result in the increase in expenditure that will arise from the Government's statutory obligations on the uprating of benefits being reflected not in the retirement pension line of the table but in the final line "Allowance for uprating improvements" and in the programme total.A broad indication of the projected growth in expenditure on retirement pensions can be derived from the figures given for expenditure on the elderly in the table on page 153 of the White Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will meet next the Finance Ministers for France and Western Germany.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Arnold) on 18 January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes next to meet the Governor of the Bank of England.

I maintain close contact with the Governor of the Bank of England, meeting him on a regular basis and also as and when circumstances require.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, as an incentive towards the preservation of the United Kingdoms' architectural heritage, he will now zero rate for value added tax purposes expenditure on repair and maintenance of buildings.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will last his official engagements for 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state his official engagements for Thursday 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 15 February.

Price asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15 February.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 15 February.

I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave earlier today to the, hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Brotherton).

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Trades Union Congress.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth).

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about his most recent meeting with the Trades Union Congress.

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

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Confederation of British Industry.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

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

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Tottenham on 13 February.

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

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

I meet representatives of the TUC and CBI from time to time at NEDC and on other occasions. Further meetings will be arranged as necessary.

asked the Prime Minister if he will revisit the Isle of Wight.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he intends next to chair at meeting of the NEDC.

I hope to take the chair at a meeting of the NEDC from time to time as I did on 7 February but I have no specific date in mind at present.

asked the Prime Minister if he plans to visit Bexleyheath.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he last made a ministerial broadcast.

On 7 September.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to visit High Wycombe.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what was the cost to public funds of his visit and that of his official party to Glasgow on Monday 12 February.

Only the costs of officials accompanying me on my visit to Glasgow will, following normal practice, be met from public funds; full infor mation about these costs is not yet available.

asked the Prime Minister on whose authority a Royal Air Force aeroplane was provided for his visit to Glasgow on 12 February.

The aircraft was provided on my authority.

asked the Prime Minister if the travel and other expenses of Government Ministers supporting the pro-Assembly campaign will be borne by public funds.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State at the Privy Council Office gave him on 9 November.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement about the membership of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution.

Yes. The Queen has approved that the Baroness White and Professor Thomas Southwood, F.R.S., Ph.D., D.Sc., be re-appointed members of the Royal Commission.Her Majesty has also approved that the following be appointed members:Professor Robert Clark, Ph.D., D.Sc.Professor Gordon Fogg, F.R.S., Ph.D., Sc.D.Geoffrey Larminie, Esq., O.B.E., M.A.The Lord Nathan, F.S.A., F.R.S.A., F.R.G.S M.A.Alfred Spinks, Esq., C.B.E., F.R.S., F.R.I.C., F.I. Biol., Ph.D., M.A.Mrs. Mary Warnock,The Marchioness of Anglesey, Mr. John Collingwood, Professor Sir Richard Doll, Professor Patricia Lindop, Professor John Mitchison, Professor Ronald Nicholl and Sir Ralph Verney are retiring as members of the Royal Commission. Their services to the Commission have been greatly valued

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent reports he has received from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals about the conditions in which live animals have been exported from the United Kingdom; and what action he has taken.

The Society has recently sent my right hon. Friend the Minister reports on 12 more export consignments of animals which they followed to their destinations on the Continent. The Society's evidence shows that the animals in a number of these consignments were not fed for periods exceeding 24 hours. However, proposals which could help ensure that the requirements of EEC directive 77/489 for feeding and watering animals during international transport are fully observed have now been tabled by the European Commission and, at the Council of Agriculture Ministers this week, my right hon. Friend pressed for an early discussion of these proposals.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the precentage increases in farm rents in each of the past three years made(a) by agreement, and (b) by arbitration.

The most recently published figures for percentage farm rent increases for sitting tenants in England and Wales for the past three years are as follows:

			By agreement	By arbitration
England—
1976	…	…	42·9	80·9
1977	…	…	48·0	(a)
1978	…	…	53·2	93·5
Wales—
1976	…	…	35·5	42·1
1977	…	…	41·1	(a)
1978	…	…	63·8	86·4

I must emphasise that these increases cover periods of at least three years.(

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will indicate his policy in connection with the current proposal to increase the co-responsibility levy on milk: and if he will make a statement.

I regard direct action to cut support prices as being the most effective way of achieving a balanced market in the EEC milk sector, and I have still to be persuaded that a co-responsibility levy of the sort proposed is the correct approach. In any event, the exemptions proposed would discriminate against our own larger, more efficient producers, and are not acceptable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what date the Advisory Council for Agriculture and Horticulture has been asked to consider and advise on the future needs of agriculture in England and Wales for water and measures necessary to promote its efficient use.

No date for the completion of the inquiry was specified at the outset, but the Council hopes to submit its report to my right hon. Friend the Minister and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales by the end of July.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now announce the membership and terms of reference of the committee of inquiry into how the marketing of agricultural produce might be improved; and in what period it has been asked to report.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will list the total number of civil servants employed by his Department on 1 January and the number on1 January 1959.

On 1 January 1979 the number of non-industrial staff and industrial staff were 12,971 and 1,074 respectively. On 1 January 1959 the number of non-industrial staff was 14,793; the precise figure for industrial staff on that date is not available but is estimated to have been about 1,200.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make an announcement about the support arrangements for potatoes from the 1979 crop and subsequent years.

It is not possible yet to say what arrangements will apply for the 1979 crop. Negotiations are continuing in Brussels on a common regime for potatoes and it is too early to know whether agreement will be reached in time for the 1979 crop. Furthermore, we are still awaiting the judgment of the European Court on the maintenance of our controls on the import of maincrop potatoes. Meanwhile, it is important that plantings should be close to the target area announced last August and I hope that individual growers will continue to be guided by the quota areas notified to them by the Board.In the longer term, the Government's objective is to ensure that the arrangements which apply will enable the United Kingdom to remain broadly self-sufficient in maincrop potatoes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the measures taken to support the 1978 potato crop; and if he will make a statement.

The measures introduced by the Potato Marketing Board with my agreement on 8 August and 12 December 1978 were modelled on the first and second contract arrangements envisaged in the joint National Farmers Unions/Potato Marketing Board proposals for a price stabilisation scheme. Under the first contract, growers were invited to offer 10 per cent. of their expected production to the Board. About 6,100 growers took up this invitation, and some offered additional quantities. This enabled the Board to contract to purchase about 450,000 tonnes, of which the major part will be sold for stockfeed. Under the second contract, the Board is continuing to receive offers and, taken together, the two operations will enable the Board to ensure that it has contracted for the full surplus expected from the 1978 crop.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why his public expenditure White Paper proposes increased military spending at a time when other forms of expenditure are being restrained.

The 1979 public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd 7439) does not propose any new increases in the planned level of defence expenditure. It confirms the 3 per cent. increase for 1980–81 which was reviewed in the course of last year's public expenditure survey. This increase and the real increase planned for 1979–80 are in line with the increases being planned by the majority of our NATO Allies to ensure that NATO forces remain able to counter the growing military capability of the Warsaw Pact. The Government's defence policy will be described in detail in the 1979 Statement on the Defence Estimates to be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the expense of maintaining and using aircraft for the Royal Family, in the last financial year.

The cost of maintaining and running the three Andovers and two Wessex helicopters of the Queen's Flight in the financial year 1977–78 was approximately £1·8 million. The aircraft are, of course, used by other authorised users when not required by the Royal Family.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the number of medical officers and dental officers employed in the United Kingdom in each of the three Services and the average number of patients per doctor or dentist in 1978.

The numbers of Service doctors and dentists based in the United Kingdom on 31 December 1978 were as follows:

		Royal Navy	Army	Royal Air Force
Doctors	…	259	235	318
Dentists	…	81	84	77

These figures include officers filling posts in hospitals and research establishments and exercising administrative and advisory functions. There are approximately 230,000 Service personnel stationed in the United Kingdom, including the crews of naval ships in home waters. In addition, some 70,000 dependants are registered with Service medical centres. Under reciprocal arrangements with the National Health Service substantial numbers of NHS patients receive treatment in Service hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs over what period representations have been made by the boat people at Yaumati to the Hong Kong Government; to what Departments; and what replies were given.

Individual representations have been made for a number of years and co-ordinated ones since mid-1977. The Marine Department, the City District Office, the Government Secretariat and the Governor have all been approached at various times. In response, the boat dwellers have been informed of their right to apply for public housing. Those living on boats found to be in a dangerous condition have speedily been rehoused on land. Between 1960 and 1978 some 80,000 boat dwellers were settled in public housing estates by the Hong Kong Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many boat people have drowned in Hong Kong over the past five years; and how many of them were children.

Statistics on drownings are available only as a total figure for the whole of Hong Kong. It is not possible to give separate figures for particular categories of people, but it is thought that three persons living on boats in typhoon shelters have drowned over the past two years.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the arrest of boat people from the Yaumati typhoon shelter, who are seeking resettlement in Hong Kong, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange.

Seventy-six people were arrested on 7 January and charged with unlawful assembly. They had ignored two requests to disperse. No evidence was offered against 10 minors. The remainder were found guilty as charged at their trial on 12 February. The 56 boat people involved were given absolute discharges; the others, including one student arrested subsequently, were bound over to be of good behaviour for 18 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report the occupation of those arrested on 7 January who were protesting at living conditions at Yaumati typhoon shelter and the ages of the children arrested.

The occupations were as follows:

• 29 housewives
• 10 juveniles
• 8 garment workers
• 8 unemployed
• 5 metal workers
• 4 students
• 2 cleaners
• 2 labourers
• 2 social workers
• 1 boat contractor
• 1 doctor
• 1 hawker
• l electronics worker
• 1 priest
• 1 transport worker

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will name and specify the bollard pull and brake horse power of the three tugs stationed at Flotta and the four stationed at Sullom Voe;(2) if the tugs stationed at Flotta and Sullom Voe are capable of assisting disabled ships in the open sea areas off the Orkney and Shetland Islands, bearing in mind the severe weather conditions common in the North Sea.

The information requested is as follows:

		Ahead Bollard Pull	BHP
Flotta—
"Kinloch"	…	37 tons	2,500
"Kessoch"	…	37 tons	2,500
"Kintore"	…	45 tons	4,000
Sullom Voe—
"Stanechakker"	…	54 tons	3,800
"Lyrie"	…	54 tons	3,800
"Swaabie"	…	54 tons	3,800
"Flying Childers"	…	38 tons	2,640

These sea-going tugs are capable of assisting disabled ships in the open sea areas off the Orkney and Shetlands islands. For larger vessels in distress there would be advantages to both towing and manoeuvring in having more than one of these tugs in attendance rather than a single very powerful tug.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the present position of discussions with Malaysia on a revised air services agreement; what is the position on the overflying of Malaysia by Concorde; and if he will make a statement.

Following the preliminary discussions on a revised air services agreement held in London in May a further round of talks was held in Kuala Lumpur last week. Substantial progress was made in agreeing the modali ties for capacity determination on the routes between Malaysia and the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. The Malaysians were given assurances about their planned airbus services to Hong Kong, commencing at the latter end of this year, and an indication that when the planned rearrangements for services between the United Kingdom and South-East Asia and Australia were introduced, there would be room for additional MAS capacity on the route to London.Concorde has been flying supersonically through Malaysian airspace along the Straits of Malacca since the service to Singapore resumed on 24 January. This followed an announcement by the Malaysian Government on 15 December last year that supersonic over-flight could be resumed for a trial period of six months.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the maximum liability incurred by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in relation to trade with Iran; what cover is available to exporters to Iran now; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my hon. Friend gave on 9 February to the question from the hon. Member for Harwich (Mr. Ridsdale) about liability of the Export Credits Guarantee Department in respect of trade with Iran. For obvious reasons, the Department has been following a cautious attitude with regard to cover for exports to Iran for some months. Now, however, the practical difficulties of conducting trade make it necessary for the Department to suspend new cover for this market. In particular, there is the problem of obtaining up-to-date information on Iranian buyers which is essential for the underwriting of new business. I regret this decision, and the Department will keep the situation under review, of course, with a view to resuming cover as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many British cars were exported to Japan in 1978; what percentage this is of the Japanese car market; how many cars were imported from Japan; and what help he is giving the British car industry markedly to increase its sales to Japan in the current year.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has yet received the report of the working group on the occupational safety of fishermen; and whether he will make a statement.

I am pleased to announce that the report has now been received and arrangements are being made for its earliest possible publication. The principal task of the working group was to produce an up-to-date code of safety for fishermen and I warmly welcome the recommendation in the report that the revised code should be adopted by all seagoing sector of the United Kingdom fishing industry. The group has also prepared a separate handbook dealing with personal safety on board fishing vessels and copies will be issued free of charge to all fishermen engaged in the industry.The report, a copy of which I will be placing in the Library, on publication, recommends the development of statutory regulations governing accident reporting, safety of access and the testing, examination and inspection of lifting and hauling machinery and the marking of safe working loads. This work will be put in hand immediately in consultation with all interests concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report a list of all those countries exporting textiles to the United Kingdom which exceeded the 1978 ceiling or presumed trigger level for (a) cotton yarn, (b) stranded woven cotton fabrics, (c) woven spun synthetic fabric, (d) household textiles and furnishing articles, (e) terry towels and towelling, (f) handkerchiefs, (g) bedlinen, (h) spun synthetic yarn, not for retail sale, (i) spun regenerated yarn, not for retail sale, (j) woven pile fabrics, (k) woven filament synthetic fabrics, (1) woven filament regenerated fabrics, (m) woven spun regenerated fabrics, (n) woven table, toilet and kitchen linen; and by how much the ceilings were exceeded to the period January to December 1978.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13 February 1979; Vol. 961, c. 493], gave the following information:There is no direct relationship between 1978 import statistics and quota levels. Apparent discrepancies may arise for various reasons such as additional imports licensed only for re-export, shipments arriving in 1978 but shipped in 1977 and therefore not counting against the 1978 quotas, or the legitimate use of flexibility provisions in the agreements. In the case of products covered by formal quotas for 1978, import licences issued by us for goods shipped in the 1978 quota year in no case exceeded the 1978 quota level.Imports of the products named from countries with MFA bilateral agreements with the EEC and which were not subject to restraint on 1 January 1978 exceeded the relevant United Kingdom trigger levels in the following cases:Woven spun synthetic fabric—Brazil.Bed linen—South Korea.Woven pile fabrics—Colombia and Hong Kong.Woven filament synthetic fabrics—India.Action is being pursued with the EEC Commission on the Brazilian case. Imports of bed linen from South Korea did not exceed the relevant United Kingdom trigger level if imports for re-export are excluded. While we pursue trigger cases with the EEC Commission automatically for the 17 most sensitive textile and clothing products, it has been agreed with the industry that it is for them to request action on other products. No such requests have been received on woven pile fabrics or woven filament synthetic fabrics.For the Mediterranean countries, and for those covered by the Lomé convention, the trigger levels are not a principal criterion for action. In a number of cases, however, action has been taken or is being taken to restrict imports of the products concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress to reduce tariffs with the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa, Brazil and Korea has so far been made in the current General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade multilateral trade negotiations.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13 February 1979; Vol. 961, c. 494–5], gave the following information:The United States, Australia, Canada and Japan have all made offers based on a tariff harmonising formula designed to give average cuts of 40 per cent. They are making exceptions for particularly sensitive products, and taking account of these the outcome in each case is likely to be about 25 to 30 per cent. South Korea has offered a cut of approximately equal value. The South African and Brazilian offers are at present considerably smaller. The precise details of the negotiations, which are continuing are confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in the light of the fact that excess demurrage costs at United Kingdom docks as a result of the lorry drivers' strike are causing grave financial difficulties to some small businesses, he will make a statement.

While the Government are fully seized of the problems faced by small businesses as a result of recent industrial disruption and are watching the position carefully, I have no evidence to suggest that demurrage costs are causing particular problems for the sector as a whole. However, I do understand that the Bank of England has been in touch with the major clearing banks which understand the need to assist their customers, within the limits of commercial procedure, through temporary cash flow, difficulties that have resulted from the current industrial disputes. I hope therefore that companies affected will find that their bankers totally share this understanding.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make it a condi tion of providing for the financial provision for the National Enterprise Board for the funding of British Leyland that all employees of that company are fully informed of the company's corporate plan in so far as it affects particular plants.

The Government will continue to base their funding proposals on the criteria already announced. The Government do, however, attach the greatest importance to full consultations between management and employees and to the management providing adequate information to enable meaningful discussions to take place.