asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science for which quasi-autonomous national government organisaions he is responsible.

Some 25 bodies are involved, which I list below. They include a wide range of executive and advisory bodies.LIST OF BODIES FOR WHICH THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EDUCATION AND SCIENCE HAS SOME RESPONSIBILITYAdvisory Board for the Research CouncilsAdvisory Committee on the Supply and Education of TeachersAdvisory Council for Adult and Continuing EducationAgricultural Research Council and InstitutesAssessment of Performance Unit Consultative CommitteeBritish Museum (Natural History)Burnham CommitteesBusiness Education CouncilCentral Bureau for Education Visits and ExchangesCentre for Information on Language Teaching and ResearchCentre for Information and Advice on Educational DisadvantageComputer Board for Universities and Research CouncilsCouncil for Educational TechnologyCouncil for National Academic AwardsCouncil for Accreditation of Corresponddence CollegesFurther Education Curriculum Review and Development Unit Board of ManagementGenetic Manipulation Advisory GroupLeague for Exchange of Commonwealth TeachersMedical Research CouncilNatural Environment Research CouncilSchools CouncilSocial Science Research CouncilScience Research CouncilTechnician Education CouncilUniversity Grants Committee

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in the light of meetings on 16 and 17 February, he is asking the Standing Commission on Pay Comparability to conduct a speedy inquiry into the pay of university technicians using data already available and appropriately updated.

The Commission has agreed to report on university techni- cians' pay as soon as possible using data already collected suitably augmented and adjusted.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if it is his intention that legislation to re-establish financial support for pupils who qualify for entry into direct-grant schools will make provision for children who qualify to take up places in the autumn of 1979.

I would hope that the Government's proposed assisted places scheme would be ready for implementation in the autumn of 1981. How far it will extend on introduction will depend on the resources available at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations he intends to have with regard to his proposals to amend the Education Act 1976.

The Education Bill published on 17 May follows the clear commitment given by the Government to introduce this legislation forthwith.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in his plan for comprehensive education for the city of Liverpool, he intends to maintain the policies of the previous Government; and, if not, what criteria he will use to alter the situation.

It is not for my my right hon. and learned Friend to make plans for the organisation of education in individual local authorities. If the Liverpool authority or the governors of any voluntary secondary schools in the city make proposals to him, he will consider them carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the current salary claims of teachers.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Melton (Mr. Latham) and for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton). I have no responsibility for the settlement of pay claims from teachers—other than university teachers—employed in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the level of teachers' pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he has made with the teachers' unions toward settling their pay dispute and ending disruption of children's education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to assist the local education authorities and the teachers' trade unions to reach agreement over the teachers' current pay demands.

I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Melton (Mr. Latham) and for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for reducing the price of school meals.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no such plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make an announcement about any proposals to increase the money available to help parents on low incomes to buy school uniforms for their children.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans for such an announcement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects next to meet the general secretary of the National Union of Teachers.

No date has been fixed for our next meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement indicating his decision on the proposal of the Manchester local education authority to close Brookdale Park high school. Manchester.

My right hon. and learned Friend has not yet reached a decision on this proposal, but hopes to do so shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools will participate in his Department's plans for the study of microelectronics; what will be the highest, and lowest, amount to individual schools; and what will be the average amount to all schools.

My Department recently invited comments on proposals to set up a programme to promote an awareness of microelectronics in schools and colleges in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. My colleagues and I will be considering the scope for such a programme in the light of public expenditure decisions and the part to be played by the education system as a whole in developing and applying this new technology. Questions about participation by individual schools in a programme might need examination thereafter, although any programme should be designed to bring benefits to schools generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to allow the reintroduction of the 11-plus examination in areas where it has been abolished; and whether this will mean the reintroduction of the secondary modern school.

It will be for local education authorities to decide the most appropriate form of organisation of secondary education for their areas, and to submit proposals to my right hon. and learned Friend, wherever necessary, under section 13 of the Education Act 1944, as amended. My right hon. and learned Friend would expect to receive proposals only after the most full and thorough consultations had taken place with parents, teachers, schools and other parties concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether pilot schemes for grants to sixth formers to encourage more children to stay at school beyond the age of 16 years will be continued.

The previous Government's plans for pilot schemes of mandatory grants to 16–18-year-olds depended on the passage of their Education Bill, which fell with the Dissolution of Parliament. We opposed their plans at the time and will not seek to resurrect them now. We intend to review education and training for this age group and the question of financial support must be considered against the priorities emerging from that review.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he received from Kirklees metropolitan council in spring 1979 for reorganising schools in the Batley area as comprehensives; whether the second proposal submitted, for 11 to 18-year-old schools within the town of Batley, was the council's preferred scheme; and what procedures he proposes to adopt to ensure that the preferred scheme is implemented quickly to end uncertainty for all those concerned.

Two proposals were received by my right hon. and learned Friend's predecessor: one envisaged 11–16 comprehensive schools with sixth-form provision in a sixth-form college; the other, which the council indicated that it preferred, was for 11–18 comprehensive schools. Kirklees will now be asked whether or not it wishes to proceed with either scheme, following my right hon. and learned Friend's statement in the House on 16 May that he was withdrawing all requirements made by his predecessor under section 2 of the Education Act 1976 pending its repeal.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he will now put forward to reduce the incidence of truancy.

It is the statutory duty of parents to see that their children receive full-time education and local education authorities have powers to deal with cases of default. Earlier this year, my Department published a booklet on truancy and behaviour problems based on a survey carried out by Her Majesty's inspectors. The pamphlet drew attention to a number of aspects of good practice for consideration by LEAs and schools. It is too early to judge the response to this publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has received a copy of the report "Books for Schools"; and if he will make a statement on the variation between local education authorities in the amount spent on books per pupil.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received and is studying this report by an independent working party set up by the National Book League. Although there are technical difficulties in interpreting statistics of local education authorities' spending on books, the evidence points to some variations between authorities. But it is for each local authority to decide its own pattern of spending, in the light of local needs and circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has for encouraging nursery education.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short).

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the additional public expenditure would be per annum if the most recent Boyle committee recommendation on hon. Members' salaries were fully implemented; and whether he will give consideration to these recommendations.

Full implementation of the recommendation contained in the Review Body on Top Salaries' seventh report—Cmnd. 6136—would cost about £0·7 million per annum. As the hon. Member is aware, the general issue of Members' pay is currently the subject of a further review by the TSRB. A report is expected shortly, which the Government will then consider with all due speed.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how he proposes to carry out his duties in respect of Church of England appointments.

I have decided not to undertake these duties: in circumstances such as the present, it has been the custom for them to be performed by the Clerk of the Council.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to resume the practice of regular business statements concerning the expected agendas of the EEC Council meetings.

A written forecast of Community ministerial business will be deposited in the House on a monthly basis. The forecast of business for June will be deposited before the Whitsun Recess. My right honourable Friend the Lord Privy Seal will also make a regular oral statement to the House concerning forthcoming EEC ministerial business as parliamentary time allows.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will assist in the establishment of an industrial museum at the Bugsworth basin on the Peake Forest canal.

No proposal to this effect has been put to me. If the hon. Member will write to me with details, I will consider the matter. The Government's responsibilities in respect of local museums are, however, limited, and I am afraid that I cannot promise any help.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he will announce an order for the construction of an oil platform or module at Hunterston.

Announcements of orders for items of equipment for the offshore market are a matter for the oil operating companies responsible for field developments. However, as the hon. Member may have seen from press reports, a letter of intent has been issued to Ayrshire Marine Constructors Ltd. at Hunterston for the construction of the steel gravity platform required for development of the Maureen oilfield. The formal contract is now being negotiated.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what action he will take to provide ample supplies of petrol and oil products in Scotland to prevent developing scarcities in supply in view of Scotland's anticipated oil production of 65 million tons in 1979.

Oil is in short supply internationally and seems likely to remain so. Oil supply shortages can have very damaging effects on the international economic order, from which the United Kingdom, as a major trading nation, could not be insulated, whatever the disposition of our domestic oil production. We seek, with others, an international solution to an iternational problem. We are, specifically, committed with other signatories of the international energy agreement, and in the European Economic Community, to the exercise of internal demand constraint. It is for all of us, whether in Scotland or elsewhere, to practise strict economy in the use of oil products.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he estimates would be the return to companies in respect of the top 10 oilfields in the North Sea, assuming a petroleum revenue tax of 60 per cent. and a reduction of the uplift as envisaged by the previous Government.

I have been asked to reply.It woud not be right for me to provide information based on confidential data.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what plans he has for cuts in the size of the Civil Service.

To help with their objective of reducing the claims of the public sector on the nation's resources, the Government are committed to making economies in Civil Service manpower. As a first step, the Civil Service pay component of the 1979–80 cash limits will be reduced by 3 per cent. before limits are adjusted to accommodate the non-industrial, and subsequently the industrial, pay settlement. Any exceptions will be strictly limited and subject to offsetting savings being found in other expenditure.As a complementary measure, the Government have instituted a ban on recruitment into the Civil Service. It will last for three months in the first instance, and will be reviewed against the achievement of the 3 per cent. target. Exceptions will be strictly limited and made on a case-by-case basis.This action in 1979–80 will be followed by careful consideration of ways of achieving greater savings in the longer term.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to protect the ancient monument at Bugsworth basin from despoliation by commercial interests.

The owners of the monument, British Waterways Board, have been considering together with the local authority and amenity societies whether and how Bugsworth basin could be restored and developed for continued use, but no scheme has yet been submitted. Officers of the Department are in touch with the authorities concerned and are advising on the archaeological effects of proposals as they are being developed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish details of his proposals for legislation to enable all tenants of development corporations and councils to purchase their own houses.

On 17 May my right hon. Friend, during the debate on the Address, referred to our proposals to give council and new town tenants a right to buy their houses. The details of the legislation are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the percentage of spending in the partnership programmes on sport and recreation.

Expenditure on sport and recreation schemes in 1979–80 in partnership programmes represented some 9 per cent. of their total urban programme funds. We will be looking carefully at the resources which can be devoted to the urban programme, and discussing with local authorities the assessment of local needs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the numbers (a) eligible and (b) receiving (i) rent rebates and (ii) rent allowances for each year since the scheme's inception; and if he will express the numbers receiving as a percentage of those eligible.

Following is the information:

RENT REBATES AND RENT ALLOWANCES: ENGLAND AND WALES
					Local authority tenants			Tenants of private unfurnished accommodation			Tenants of private furnished accommodation Numbers receiving
					Estimated numbers eligible	Numbers receiving	Numbers receiving as a percentage of those eligible	Estimated numbers eligible	Numbers receiving	Numbers receiving as a percentage of those eligible
					(thousands)	(thousands)		(thousands)	(thousands)		(thousands)
May 1973	…	…	…	…	1,000	700	60–70	500	48	10–15	7
April 1974	…	…	…	…	1,100	840	70–75	500	120	20–25	11
April 1975	…	…	…	…	1,200	870	70–75	450	150	30–35	10
April 1976	…	…	…	…	1,200	970	80–85	400	190	45–50	12
April 1977	…	…	…	…	1,200	1,000	80–85	350	200	55–60	10
April 1978	…	…	…	…	Not available	995	Not available	Not available	200	Not available	9
January 1979	…	…	…	…	Not available	985	Not available	Not available	200	Not available	8
Notes:
1. All figures exclude tenants receiving supplementary benefit (except short term cases).
2. From April 1976 eligible non-claimants who would be better off claiming supplementary benefit are excluded from the estimated numbers entitled to rebate or allowance.
3. It is not possible to provide estimates of the numbers of furnished tenants eligible for allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities which have officers designated to assist co-operative development in the industrial and housing fields, stating whether this is their sole responsibility or not, and listing each officer's title.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the Community Land Act.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend in the debate on 17 May.—[Vol. 967, c. 407.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the present definition of operational land in the Community Land Act 1975.

The definition in the 1975 Act is the same as that in section 222 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, which we are not proposing to change.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what allocations have been made to finance the community land scheme over the next five years.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Environmental Services gave on Monday 21 May to my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. Lewis).—[Vol. 967, c. 67–8.] Any residual public expenditure provision will be made in the light of that statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the powers presently available under which local authorities are enabled to purchase land.

Apart from the general powers in part VII of the Local Government Act 1972, many enactments dealing with specific local authority functions include land acquisition powers. To check and list all of them, as well as the powers in local Acts, would involve disproportionate cost.

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

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent local authorities have used the rating system to make the holding of derelict and unused land unprofitable.

Derelict and vacant land is not normally liable for rating since it is not in beneficial occupation. As for empty buildings, our most recent information is that approximately half of all rating authorities exercise their discretion under schedule 1 to the General Rate Act 1967 to levy the empty property rate, which includes all the London boroughs and the great majority of metropolitan districts. Nearly half of the authorities which are levying the empty property rate are levying it at 100 per cent. on all classes of property.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if, when the local discussions following replies from the nationalised industries on land release are concluded, he will propose that the partnership authorities publish the results;(2) when he expects the local discussions arising from replies from the nationalised industries on land release in partnership areas to be concluded;(3) if he will publish in the

The release of surplus land by local authorities and nationalised industries is vital. I am not satisfied that the review of surplus land holdings in certain inner city areas by local authorities and nationalised industries which was initiated under the last Government will produce the results that are needed or that publication of its conclusions would be of value. I am considering what more needs to be done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to extend the liability for rating to derelict and vacant land.

I am not convinced that it would be appropriate to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take powers to promote the use of clear signposting of ownership on undeveloped land so as to inform local people and assist permanent and temporary uses.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the rate at which surplus land is being released for development by statutory undertakers.

No. I refer the hon. Member to what my right hon. Friend said in the debate on the Address on 17 May.—[Vol. 967, c. 406.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will further assist local authorities in the provision of allotments by taking steps to make available for use by short-term letting and temporary usage derelict, unused land and land planned for a particular use but awaiting development.

Local authorities already have sufficient powers to enable them to enter into agreements with landowners for the use of such land for allotment purposes on a short or long-term basis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will make inner London boroughs sub- ject to the statutory requirements which apply to other local authorities to provide allotments;(2) what power inner London boroughs have to make provision to satisfy the need for allotments.

No. Inner London boroughs have discretionary powers under section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 as amended by section 55 of the London Government Act 1963 which enable them to provide allotments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions he will make to encourage the growth of allotments.

Local authorities have sufficient powers relating to allotments to enable them to discharge their statutory duties. No special provisions are considered necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he plans to amend the relevant Acts to require undertakers to apply to the appropriate local planning authority for planning permission in the same way as all other people;(2) if he will review section 40 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, which allows development by statutory undertakers to receive deemed planning consent following authorisation by an appropriate Department.

Section 40 is now used only in the case of certain operations of energy statutory undertakers. In other cases, statutory undertakers apply for permission for proposed developments in the ordinary way, unless permission already exists under the general development order. My right hon. Friend will keep the matter under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the exemption of Crown land from the development control provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971.

Crown development is exempt from development control, but DOE circular 7/77 sets out corresponding non-statutory procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the arrangements for administering London docklands; and whether he is satisfied with them.

The Greater London Council and the five London boroughs in whose area it falls are generally responsible for administering London dock-lands. These authorities have delegated certain functions—relating principally to planning, development control and industrial promotion—to the Docklands Joint Committee. Docklands is one of seven areas in which special partnership arrangements operate, and my right hon. Friend has recently written to the leaders in each of these areas saying that he intends to take their views before deciding the future of the arrangements.

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

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

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

asked the Prime Minister when she last met representatives of the Trades Union Congress.

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

asked the Prime Minister when last she met the TUC.

I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove and Redditch (Mr. Miller).

asked the Prime Minister if she will amalgamate the Departments of Trade and Industry.

No.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Defence.

The Secretary of State for Defence has overall responsibility for the work of the Ministry of Defence and for the Armed Forces.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her engagements for 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 22 May.

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

asked the Prime Minister what changes in her diary have had to be made for Tuesday 22 May arising out of the result of the general election.

My duties in the House and elsewhere have been included.

asked the Prime Minister when she intends to make an official visit to Scotland.

I hope to visit Scotland later this year, but dates have not yet been fixed.

asked the Prime Minister if she will visit Basildon.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will visit Seahouses.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement about her meeting with the Taoiseach.

The Taoiseach called on me briefly on 10 May. It was a useful first discussion, and we touched on a number of topics. But it was not an occasion for substantive discussion.

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Heaton Norris.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will put in the Library those passages in her speech at Perth on Saturday 12 May which related to the Scotland Act and all-party talks.

I did so yesterday.

asked the Prime Minister what are her plans for visiting Merseyside.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Brighton.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Leicester.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make an official visit to Kirkby.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects to meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will publish her views on the Expenditure Committee's report on the Civil Service.

The Expenditure Committee's report covered a wide range of issues concerning Civil Service management and relations between Parliament and Government. The Government will study the issues which it raised, bearing in mind the costs of implementing changes.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects to visit Washington, DC.

I have no firm plans at present to visit Washington. DC.

asked the Prime Minister when she is going to visit Dundonald in Ayrshire.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will have a review carried out of all quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations and of all boards, advisory boards and committees responsible to Ministers with a view to a reduction in their numbers and expense.

Yes. I have asked Ministers in charge of Departments to carry out an urgent review to this end.

asked the Prime Minister whether she plans to locate departmental responsibility for a publicly accessible land register in the Department of the Environment.

No.

asked the Prime Minister which Ministers are responsible for determining, and for which public landholders, whether land is operational under planning and rating legislation such as section 290(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971.

Under planning legislation, the information is as follows:

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Glasgow.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage change in real personal disposable income for each year since 1945.

The available information is given in the following table. Estimates of real personal disposable income are not available before 1948.

Real personal disposable income
Percentage change on preceding year
1949	2·8
1950	3·3
1951	-1·3
1952	1·5
1953	5·0
1954	3·3
1955	4·6
1956	2·6
1957	1·7
1958	1·8
1959	5·2
1960	6·6
1961	4·1
1962	0·8
1963	4·4
1964	3·7
1965	2·6
1966	2·2
1967	1·4
1968	1·9
1969	1·0
1970	3·4
1971	2·9
1972	7·9
1973	5·9
1974	0·8
1975	-0·6
1976	NIL
1977	-1·8
1978	6·4

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take as a result of the decision in Cook v Customs and Excise in which the VAT tribunal found that the Commissioners of Customs and Excise had not assessed the appellant taxpayer to the best of their judgment and awarded costs against the commissioners.

The Commissioners of Customs and Excise will be withdrawing the assessment and paying costs in accordance with the tribunal decision. Additionally, they will, in accordance with their usual practice, be studying the decision mentioned to see whether there is anything to be learnt from the particular facts of this case which could be applied generally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, assuming an identical pattern of spending, what would be the extra annual cost to a family of two adults and two children with a total gross family income of £4,000 per year of a standardisation of value-added tax of 12½ per cent.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 21 May 1979; Vol. 967, c. 40], gave the following answer:It is estimated from the results of the family expenditure survey that the extra cost would be about £60 a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will review the allowances obtainable for the tourist industry and, in particular, hotels and restaurants so that they may be treated for tax purposes for allowances on the same basis and in the same manner as industrial allowances.

I have noted my hon. and learned Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to negotiate a double taxation agreement with Malaysia; and if so, when the negotiations will take place.

A comprehensive double taxation agreement with Malaysia has been in force since 1973. An amending protocol is being discussed with the Malaysians to take account of changes in their tax system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the number of persons liable to tax and the number of persons taken out of tax for each financial year since 1945 on the following basis: (a) married couples counted as one and (b) married women counted separately.

Year				Number liable to income tax		Numbers not liable who would have been liable if allowances of preceding, year had remained unchanged
				('000)		('000)
				(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
1945–46	…	…	…	··	··	Nil	Nil
1946–47	…	…	…	··	··	··	2,000
1947–48	…	…	…	··	··	··	··
1948–49	…	…	…	14,300	··	··	Over 2,500
1949–50	…	…	…	··	··	Nil	Nil
1950–51	…	…	…	··	··	Nil	Nil
1951–52	…	…	…	16,200	··	··	··
1952–53	…	…	…	15,400	··	··	Over 2,000
1953–54	…	…	…	15,900	··	Negligible	Negligible
1954–55	…	…	…	16,600	··	Nil	Nil
1955–56	…	…	…	16,300	··	··	2,400
1956–57	…	…	…	17,100	··	Nil	Nil
1957–58	…	…	…	17,300	··	··	··
1958–59	…	…	…	17,700	··	··	··
1959–60	…	…	…	18,400	20,900	Nil	Nil
1960–61	…	…	…	19,200	··	Negligible	Negligible
1961–62	…	…	…	19,900	··	Nil	Nil
1962–63	…	…	…	20,100	23,200	··	··
1963–64	…	…	…	17,800	20,400	··	3,700
1964–65	…	…	…	18,500	21,100	··	··
1965–66	…	…	…	19,300	22,000	··	100
1966–67	…	…	…	19,700	22,800	Negligible	Negligible
1967–68	…	…	…	20,000	23,300	Negligible	Negligible
1968–69	…	…	…	20,700	24,200	-200	-200
1969–70	…	…	…	20,600	23,700	600	1,100
1970–71	…	…	…	20,000	23,100	1,300	2,100
1971–72	…	…	…	19,700	23,400	200	200
1972–73	…	…	…	18,900	21,700	1,800	3,000
1973–74	…	…	…	19,800	23,300	100	100
1974–75	…	…	…	20,500	24,500	500	1,500
1975–76	…	…	…	20,900	25,400	600	800
1976–77	…	…	…	21,300	26,000	500	800
1977–78 (provisional)			…	20,500	24,700	1,300	2,100
1978–79 (estimated)		…	…	21,200	25,700	200	400
(a) Married couples counted as one.
(b) Married women counted separately.
·· Not available.

Figures for numbers of taxpaying earning wives are available directly only since 1959–60 for years in which a survey of personal incomes was held. Estimates of the numbers of persons not liable to tax but liable on allowances of the previous year are often made at the time of the Budget Statement, on the basis of the information available at that time. For the earlier years these estimates have been included in the table where available. It has not been possible without expenditure of undue resources to determine whether these figures would need revision if they were recalculated in the light of the more recent—and more complete—information. In years when allowances and limits were not changed, it is, of course, known that no persons were taken out of tax.

The information readily available is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total net contribution made to the EEC by the United Kingdom since Great Britain joined the EEC; and what estimate he has made of the likely contribution in 1979.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 21 May 1979; Vol. 967, c. 40], gave the following answer:The total net contribution by the United Kingdom to the Community Budget since accession is £1,416·5 million, The latest estimate of the United Kingdom's net contribution in 1979, given in the "Government's Expenditure Plans 1979–80 to 1982–83" (Cmnd. 7439), was £780 million at 1978 survey prices, equivalent to about £850 million at current prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the United Kingdom gross and net contributions to the EEC budget since joining the Community, together with whatever forecasts are available to him for future years.

, pursuant to his reply [Offical Report, 21 May 1979; Vol. 967, c. 40], gave the following answer:The United Kingdom's contributions to, and the public sector receipts from, the Community budget since accession have been as follows:

£ million
	Gross Contribution	Receipts	Net contribution
1973	181·1	78·7	102·4
1974	180·5	149·9	30·6
1975	341·7	397·7	-56·0
1976	462·8	295·5	167·3
1977	736·8	368·4	368·4
1978	1,348·3	544·5	80·38

The latest forecasts for future years, at 1978 survey prices, were published in the White Paper "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1979–80 to 1982–83" (Cmnd. 7439) as follows:—

	Gross Contribution	Receipts	Net contribution
1979	1,430	650	780
1980	1,655	760	895
1981	1,715	940	775
1982	1,710	925	785
1983	1,600	720	880

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will list the value of United Kingdom exports to and imports from each African State in 1978.

This information is available in table IB of the December 1978 issue of the overseas trade statistics of the United Kingdom, in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will list the estimated value of invisible earnings in 1978 to the United Kingdom from each African State.

I regret that, for practical and conceptual reasons, information on invisible earnings in total is not available in the detail requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will list the estimated United Kingdom direct investments and portfolio investments in each African State.

The information available relates only to the book value of net direct investment overseas by the United Kingdom, excluding oil, insurance and banking. The latest figures for individual countries relating to the position at the end of 1974 are published in table 1 of Business Monitor, M4, 1974 supplement, "Census of Overseas Assets 1974", a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many acres of land are owned by the British Airports Authority, civil aviation, and lighthouse undertakings, respectively; and how much of each acreage is surplus to requirements and is being offered for sale as development land.

The British Airports Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority own 8,975 acres and 4,300 acres of land respectively. None is surplus to requirements. To obtain this information for lighthouse authorities would involve disproportionate cost.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will take steps to renegotiate the Simonstown agreement; and if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of the protection of sea routes in the South Atlantic.

The agreement was terminated in 1975, so the question of renegotiating it does not arise. The freedom of the trade routes in the South Atlantic is of great importance, and Her Majesty's Government are ensuring that arrangements for their protection are as effective as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to devalue the green pound during the next six months; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when, and to what extent, he proposes further to devalue the green pound.

The Government are taking stock of the situation in farming. Our policy is to devalue the green pound within the normal lifetime of Parliament to a point which would enable United Kingdom producers to compete on equal terms with those in the rest of the European Community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to help the marginal farmers; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what immediate steps he has in mind for assisting farmers of marginal land.

My right hon. Friend is studying the cost and feasibility of helping those areas of poor land which are farmed extensively in the same way as the hills but which lie outside the existing less-favoured areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the state of the dairy industry; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is currently giving urgent consideration to the position of the dairy industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the vandalism at the British War Graves cemetery near Cologne.

During the weekend of 28 and 29 April, 146 headstones commemorating Commonwealth war burials and 19 headstones commemorating post-war Service burials in Cologne Southern cemetery were damaged. None of the graves was disturbed. Of the total of 165 damaged headstones, 143 have since been repaired and work has begun on the other 22. An investigation into this vandalism is being carried out by the West German authorities, which have now arranged for the cemetery to be patrolled at night.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the self-help married quarter internal decorations system in the Royal Air Force; and if he will make a statement.