asked the Secretary of State for Trade, following the deaths of 10 people in the recent fire in Woolworths of Manchester, when he proposes to introduce legislation to protect consumers from the dangers inherent in furniture containing polyurethane foam in the upholstery.

I propose to make regulations under the Consumer Safety Act 1978 as soon as possible requiring all upholstered furniture supplied or offered for supply in the United Kingdom to be resistant to ignition from smokers' materials—cigarettes and matches.In order to give the manufacturers time to modify their furniture where necessary, the regulations will, for a limited period, permit the supply of furniture not complying with this requirement if it bears a warning label indicating that it is ignitable by smokers' materials.The length of the period during which warning labelling will be acceptable will be one of the matters to be determined in the light of consultations with interested parties which I propose to hold without delay.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will introduce legislation to implement the 12 recommendations made by Joseph Jackson, QC, and Kirkpatrick L. Young, TD, FCA in their report on Ferguson and General Investments Ltd.;(2) if he will include in his proposed legislation on company law measures to improve the law as a result of the report on Ferguson and General Investments Ltd.

As I indicated in answer to the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Davis) on 21 May my Department is considering the recommendations made by the inspectors and will discuss them with interested parties.—[Vol. 967, c. 675–71]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will state the reasons for the delay in publication of the report on Ferguson and General Investments Ltd., in view of the completion of the report on 28 December 1978.

This report was ready for publication when the Government took office and was published on 14 May. The printing and issue of a lengthy report is bound to take some time.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give as at 4 May the total number of persons appointed on a full-time and part-time basis to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations and their total payments including expenses; how many of these were members of more than one quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation; and what action he proposes to take to reduce these in total and in expenditure costs.

Information in the form requested has not been collected centrally and to do so would incur disproportionate costs. There is no official definition of a quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation but the directory of paid public appointments made by Ministers Published in November 1978, copies of which are available in the Library, lists 5,660 paid appointments and gives the salary or fee payable. The White Paper—Cmnd. 7417—published by the last Government in December 1978 lists 24 people holding more than one appointment on public boards of a commercial character. As regards action to reduce numbers and costs, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 21 May—[Vol. 967, c. 32.]

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give as detailed a list of the number of quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations, their membership and the costs as may be readily available on 18 May; and what action he proposes to take to reduce this Government expenditure.

The term quasiautonomous non-governmental organisation has no generally accepted definition and, accordingly, no list of the kind requested exists. The hon. Member may like, however, to refer to the following publications which are available in the Library and which give information for a large number of public bodies and boards "A List of Advisory Bodies"(CDS); the "Survey of Fringe Bodies"—report by Mr. Gordon Bowen; the directory of paid public appointments made by Ministers, 1978; the White Paper on public boards, Cmnd 7417; and appendix D of the annual report of the Council on Tribunals for 1977–78—HC 74.As for proposals to reduce Government expenditure in this area, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has asked Ministers in charge of Departments to carry out an urgent review.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a statement on the Government's general policy of more open government, with particular reference to the introduction of a Freedom of Information Bill; and when he expects to introduce legislation dealing with the aforementioned policy.

I have no announcement at present to make on this subject. The hon. Member is aware that the Government will be introducing legislation to reform the Official Secrets Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average cost of each school dinner provided in the administrative county of Suffolk; and what share of this, on average, is accounted for by the cost of food and the cost of preparing, distributing and administering the schools meals service, respectively.

In 1977–78, the latest year for which figures are available, the average cost of providing a school dinner in Suffolk was almost 48p. About 30 per cent. of this was accounted for by the cost of food.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated cost of bussing children to school in the administrative county of Suffolk.

This information is not available in the form requested. However, estimates of the total recurrent cost of providing transport between home and school are provided in the education statistics published annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, copies of which are in the Library. These show that in 1978–79 the cost to the Suffolk local education authority was expected to be about £1·8 million at 1978 survey prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether a scheme such as that introduced by the Greater Manchester council under its educational trust is providing a type of education that would be covered by the Government's intended educational legislation.

The Government's assisted places scheme will be designed to restore to parents of modest means the opportunity to send their children to certain non-maintained schools of high academic standards which was formerly offered by the direct grant schools. I understand that the scheme introduced by the Greater Manchester council has very similar objectives.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will take steps to ensure the early establishment in Paris of the European foundation on the basis agreed by the European Council.

The Government look forward to further discussion of the issues which have so far prevented the establishment of the foundation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provisions are to be made for new hospital facilities in the borough of Walsall.

The planning of phases IV and IVB of the Walsall district general hospital is well advanced. It is hoped to start enabling works on this project—which will provide 297 acute beds, an accident department and supporting services—at the end of this year.At its next meeting, the West Midlands regional health authority will be considering three further developments in Walsall, phase V of the district general hospital, the development of a community hospital at Aldridge—Brownhills, and the redevelopment of St. Margaret's hospital, in the context of its 10-year strategic plan.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up an inquiry into the conditions at Rampton special hospital.

As I announced in my statement on 21 May, the full text of which is as follows, I have referred the matter of the allegations of ill treatment to the Director of Public Prosecutions and a full investigation is to be carried out by the police. I also intend to arrange for a thorough review of the organisation and facilities at the hospital and I shall make a further statement on this as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the number of households and the rate per 1,000 populations in each local authority which received assistance with the installation of telephones in 1977–78;(2) if he will list the number of people and the rate per 1,000 population in each local authority which received assistance with holidays in 1977–78;(3) if he will list the number of households and the rate per 1,000 population in each local authority which received assistance with the payment of telephone rentals in 1977–78;(4) if he will list the number of households and the rate per 1,000 population in each local authority which received assistance with the provision of aids in 1977–78;(5) if he will list the number of households and the rate per 1,000 population in each local authority which received assistance with adaptations to the home in 1977–78;

In view of the length of the reply, I am sending my hon. Friend the information and placing a copy in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the rates of family allowances in each member State of the EEC expressed in £ sterling in April on the most recent date for which the information is available.

The following table shows the monthly rates of family allowances, or equivalent cash benefits, payable in each of the EEC member States as at 2 April 1979. The sterling equivalents have been obtained by applying the exchange rates current on that date.Family allowances comprise only part of the varying provision made by each country for the support of families with children. Moreover, a meaningful comparison of allowances cannot be made without taking into account the local cost of living—especially that affecting the maintenance of children—and other factors which vary from country to country, such as general wage levels, taxation and the extent to which other provision is made through free education, housing subsidies, medical care and ante and postnatal welfare and advice services. Fluctuating exchange rates also distort comparisons.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many occupied beds there were for (a) children and (b) adults in mental handicap hospitals for each year from 1971 to 1978.

The number of residents in mental handicap hospitals and units in England at the end of each year from 1971 to 1977 is set out below. Figures for 1978 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the

I regret that information is not available in the form requested. The hon. Member may find it helpful to refer to table 32.10 in "Social Security Statistics 1977" published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office which shows, with additional detail, the numbers of family income supplement—FIS—awards held by one and two-parent families since the scheme's inception. Table I below gives corresponding information for 1978. Table II below gives estimates of the numbers of children in families in receipt of FIS at December each year since the scheme's inception.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his estimate of the number of people in Dundee, including their dependants, who according to the Government's definition are (a) living on the poverty line, and (b) living below the poverty line;(2) if he will give the income limits that conform with the Government's definition of the poverty line.

Poverty is a relative matter and we do not accept that a simple poverty line can be drawn.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the new twin orthopaedic operating theatre suite at New Cross hospital, Wolverhampton, will be started, where it will be located; and when he expects it will be in use, in view of the long waiting list of three years for outpatients and even longer for inpatients.

Construction of the twin orthopaedic operating suite, to be sited in an unused dining room, is expected to start in the autumn of this year and be available by spring next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the National Health Service provides body scanning facilities: and if this service operates within (a) Merseyside and (b) the North-West.

The provision of body scanning facilities under the National Health Service is a matter for health authorities in the light of their priorities and the financial resources available to them.The only body scanner in the North-Western and Mersey regions is at Manchester university. A second scanner is on order for the Christie hospital and Holt Radium Institute and is expected to be operational by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the numbers of adults and children, respectively, on ear, nose and throat hospital waiting lists in the Barking district of the Barking and Havering area health authority; and what is the current maximum waiting time in each category.

The total number of ear, nose and throat cases on waiting lists in the Barking district at 31 March 1979 was 1,152. Separate figures for adults and children and maximum waiting times are not recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated number of X-rays to be carried out in Victoria hospital, Romford, in 1979 and the estimated cost of this radiological service.

The information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number on in-patient waiting lists in the Barking district of the Barking and Havering area health authority on 31 March; and how this number compares with the average rate per 1,000 populations for patients on waiting lists in England and Wales.

The number of urgent and non-urgent cases on in-patient waiting lists in the Barking district of the Barking and Havering area health authority on 31 March 1979 was 2,438. Information on the average rate per 1,000 populations for patients on waiting lists in England and Wales at 31 March 1979 is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what amount of money has been spent by the Barking and Havering area health authority on headquarters administration in each of the years from 1974 to date; what percentage of total expenditure this represents; and what are the figures for the separate districts.

The costs of the Barking and Havering area health authority headquarters administration for the years 1974–75 to 1977–78, the latest year available, and the percentages relative to the AHA's total expenditure are set out below. Separate figures for the districts are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has yet taken a decision on the future of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson hospital; if it is to remain on its present site at Euston Road; from what sources the additional capital and revenue will be provided; and if it will be funded as a national service with national funding.

I refer the right hon. Member to my reply on 22 May to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras South (Mr. Dobson).

asked the Attorney-General (1) whether he will consider setting up a publicly-accessible register of all land, both private and public;(2) if he will consider establishing a publicly accessible register detailing the ownership of all land, excluding that land owned by domestic owner-occupiers.

The Law Commission is currently reviewing the subject of land registration, including the question of public access to the register of title. My noble Friend will consider the question of a publicly accessible land register when he has received the Law Commission's recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of Rosyth Dockyard.

There will, for the foreseeable future, be a full load of naval refitting work for HM Dockyard, Rosyth. Its main task will continue to be the refitting of nuclear submarines and, in addition, it will undertake the refits of frigates, mine countermeasures vessels, and other smaller vessels and craft. The aim is to maintain the number of employees at approximately the present level.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what action he is taking to support the United Kingdom's lead in silicon chips made from III-V compounds; and what he is doing to ensure that British research in this field will be used by manufacturing industry.

Support is given through the Science Research Council, the computers systems and electronics Requirements Board and the Ministry of Defence to research and development on microelectronic and optoelectronic devices made from III-V compounds at universities, industrial research laboratories and Government research establishments. Some industrial manufacturers are selling products based on this work.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what he is doing to ensure British mining companies are fully exploiting deep sea nodule extraction.

When the necessary technology has been developed and proved, manganese nodules from the deep seabed will provide an important new source of cobalt, copper, manganese and nickel, United Kingdom requirements of which are all imported. It is therefore important that. British companies should have the opportunity to participate in commercial exploration for the recovery of these resources on terms which are reasonable and non-discriminatory, and at the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference the United Kingdom has been seeking to negotiate an internationally acceptable framework for seabed mining which will enable it to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what help he is giving to the development of retortable pouch packaging so that Great Britain is in a position to win a major share of this new industry.

My Department has received no applications for financial assistance, nor itself undertaken any special initiatives, to develop the capability of United Kingdom industry in the retortable pouch market.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his policy towards the Post Office joining France and Germany in supporting Europe's joint communications satellite programme.

The Post Office is already participating in the European communication satellite programmes through its membership of interim EUTELSAT, the organisation that will manage the European system. The Post Office signed the interim EUTELSAT agreement on 22 July 1977 and 16 other European countries, including France and the Federal Republic of Germany, are now signatories.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will extend the powers of the National Enterprise Board in order to restructure old industries and encourage new high technology development.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what plans he has to expand co-operative enterprise through the Co-operative Development Agency; and if he will make a statement.

One of the agency's statutory functions is to identify and recommend ways in which the establishment, development and evolution of co-operatives might be facilitated. I understand that the agency has decided to concentrate first on helping the formation of viable industrial and service co-operatives owned and controlled by the people who work in them. I welcome the prospect of a flourishing producer co-operative sector.My right hon. Friend hopes to be in touch shortly with the agency's chairman, Lord Oram, to arrange an early discussion on the best way forward.When my right hon. Friend receives the agency's report on its operations during the period ended 31 March 1979, a copy will be laid before the House.

asked the Minister of Transport when he hopes to announce proposals for a uniform system of concessionary bus fares.

As I said in answer to a question by hon. Member for New-castle-under-Lyme (Mr. Golding) on 18 May. I have no present intention of introducing a nationwide scheme.—[Vol. 967, c. 10.] But I shall be examining whether the variety of schemes operated by local authorities at their own discretion is creating avoidable difficulties. I shall be having consultations on this.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish figures showing the incidence of accidents to motorists using the A2 and A20 roads.

I regret that in the time available it has not been possible to obtain the required information, but I shall provide my hon. Friend with the data as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport how many prosecutions there were during the past 12 months against lorry owners for allowing their lorries to be overloaded; and if he will give the highest and lowest fine that was imposed on conviction.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. However, during 1978 2,111 lorry operators were prosecuted by this Department's enforcement officers for overloading offences. The average fine was £ 57·72. Similar information about prosecutions by police and local authorities is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Transport if he proposes to announce a decision on whether to extend the urban section of the M62 motorway, bearing in mind the blighting effect that the scheme is having on many properties.

There are no proposals to extend M62 into Liverpool as part of the national network. This was announced some years ago when it was made clear that any extension would be the responsibility of Merseyside county council as local highway authority.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the figures for each of the past three years of people prosecuted for driving untaxed motor vehicles.

The number of prosecutions in Great Britain for keeping or using an unlicensed vehicle was as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present length of time a motorist has to wait to receive his motor licence from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea.

Vehicle excise licences are issued by this Department's local vehicle licensing offices—LVLOs—and authorised post offices, not by the Swansea centre. A total of 85 per cent of applications are made in person and are dealt with on the spot. Most postal applications are dealt with by the LVLOs within two days.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to be able to complete the missing section of the M27 motorway between Chilworth and Hedge End.

In 1982, subject to satisfactory completion of the remaining statutory procedures and the availability of funds.

asked the Minister of transport if he will repeat the assurances given by the then Under-Secretary in an Adjournment debate on 15 February initiated by the hon. Member for Keighley regarding the conduct and provision of information at the public inquiry into the proposed Airedale trunk road.

Yes. I confirm that the Airedale public inquiry will be held in accordance with the new procedural arrangements for inquiries introduced last year, following the report on highway inquiry procedures. These cover the conduct of the inquiry and the provision of information.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will announce the date for the public inquiry into the proposed Airedale trunk road.

The public inquiry is now planned for early 1980. Details will be announced as soon as all the arrangements have been made.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to limit maximum vehicle weights in areas such as Hackney, North and Stoke Newington to 20 tons; and if he will make a statement.

The Greater London Council, and other county councils, already have powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967 to prohibit or restrict the movement of heavy goods vehicles in their areas.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the retention of 32 tons as the gross vehicle weight for lorries in the United Kingdom and encourage the use of rail and waterways for the transport of heavy loads.

This is one of the issues that will be considered by the inquiry that I announced yesterday in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member from Cambridge (Mr. Rhodes James).—[Vol. 967, c. 108.]

asked the Minister of Transport when he intends to announce the starting date of the public inquiry into the route of the M25 between Egham and Maple Cross.

This length of the proposed M25 is divided into a number of sections. The Egham to Yeoveney section is under construction and a public inquiry has already been held into the Yeoveney to Poyle section.

asked the Minister for Transport if he proposes further to reduce the lead content of petrol.

Present plans are to reduce lead content to 0·40 grammes per litre with effect from January 1981. The results of a study of the feasibility and costs of further action will be submitted to me shortly and I shall consider this along with the review of the health effects of lead now being carried out for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Social Services by a working party under Professor Lawther.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he intends to insist on the model clause included in all contracts with the scheme for new contracts with the private sector that oil recovered from the North Sea should first be landed in the United Kingdom unless he gives a specific waiver.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he intends to accept the instruction of the Commission that interest relief grants to British suppliers of offshore oil and gas equipment must be stopped;(2) when he proposes to modify the United Kingdom interest relief grants scheme available to British suppliers of offshore petroleum equipment to make it conform with EEC competition requirements.

The EEC Commission issued a decision on 2 May requiring the Government to stop offering interest relief grants under the offshore supplies two months after that date. We are considering this matter and a statement will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many people work in his Department; and how many people of each of the following ranks or equivalent grade there are: permanent secretaries, deputy secretaries, under-secretaries, and assistant secretaries.

The total number of people employed by the Department of Energy is currently just under 1,300. Included among these are:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the Paris meeting of the International Energy Agency.

I shall be issuing a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will, in the interest of law and order and public safety, ban all future National Front marches.

Under the Public Order Act 1936 it is, on each occasion, for the chief officer of police to decide whether a ban on processions should be sought on the ground that serious public disorder cannot otherwise be averted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of people convicted of child battering in each of the past three years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for which countries the Boundary Commission for England has made provisional proposals for new boundaries of parliamentary constituencies but the procedures for considering these proposals are still under way;(2) for which counties the Boundary Commission for England completed its procedures in the course of its current review of the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies, pending final report to him.

The Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England is not required to inform us of the stages it has reached in its deliberations, nor does it do so. The Commission has published provisional recommendations in respect of six counties; namely, Cleveland, Essex. Lancashire, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Somerset. The statutory public consultations so far undertaken in respect of each are as follows:

The information requested is not available. In the statistics on court proceedings acts of child battering cannot be distinguished from other offences of wounding, assault or cruelty to, or neglect of, a child. Information on the age of victims of offences currently recorded as homicide is published in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales"—table 9.4 of the volume for 1977, Cmnd. 7289.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for which local government districts he has received reports from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England with regard to new electoral arrangements, but has not yet made orders under schedule 9 of the Local Government Act 1972.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for which local government district the Local Government Boundary Commission for England has still to report to him with regard to new electoral arrangements.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether arrangements have been made to collect the additional statistical information on dependants other than wives and children, such as parents, grandparents and distressed relatives, referred to in the White Paper on Immigration, Cmnd. 7287; and what is the number of parents, grandparents and distressed relatives admitted and accepted for settlement in whatever recent period for which this information is available.

The provision of statistical information on dependants other than wives and children has been kept under review. The number of men and women in the category "others accepted for settlement (mainly dependants)", which, when United Kingdom passport holders are excluded, is close to the total number of parents, grandparents and disstressed relatives, is published annually in "Control of Immigration Statistics"—tables 3(a) and 3(b) of the issue for 1978, Cmnd. 7565—by citizenship and nationality. Statistics are also collected on the number of entry clearance certificates issued and on queue lengths of "dependent relatives (other than wives and children)" in the Indian subcontinent, and these are shown in the table below.No decision has been taken whether to collect more information to supplement that already available; the collection of additional information by type of such acceptances for settlement would involve appreciable additional work for immigration officers. The possibility of analysing information already on the landing cards on the age of those so accepted is at present being examined.Entry clearances granted for settlement to dependent relatives other than wives and children, and queue lengths, Indian subcontinent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to implement in full the recommendations of the Edmund-Davies report on police pay, and specifically that recommendation regarding the link between police pay and average earnings.

I have already announced that the Edmund-Davies recommendations are to be implemented in full with effect from 1 May 1979, and the necessary regulations will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible. The new rates will be increased with effect from 1 September in the light of movements in average earnings during the preceding 12 months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he has in mind for the reduction of tax bureaucracy.

We shall be looking at a number of possibilities, in the context both of the forthcoming Budget and of our programme over the longer term.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give a breakdown of the figure of £3,000 million a year income in oil from which the British economy has benefited referred to in the speech of the Lord President of the Council in the House of Lords on 16 May.

The Treasury's economic progress report for October 1978 carried the following estimates for the income arising from offshore oil and gas production.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that a switch from direct to indirect tax would increase the retail price index without taking into account the extra spending power which would remain, if he will consider establishing a more appropriate basis for the measurement of inflation, one which will provide the general public with a more accurate indicator.

The retail prices index is a good measure of changes in the prices of goods and services purchased by most households. A switch from direct to indirect tax will affect not only the level of retail prices—on the indirect tax side—but also the level of personal disposable incomes—on the direct tax side. The CSO publishes a quarterly series of real personal disposable income which takes into account the effect on the purchasing powers of personal incomes of changes both in direct taxes and taxes on expenditure. The question whether the existing statistics should be supplemented by other indicators will be kept under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will itemise all those benefits in kind which are either wholly or partly exempt from the normal rates of income tax.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 21 May 1979; Vol. 967, c.40–41], gave the following answer:The following benefits in kind are wholly exempt from income tax for all employees: the provision of living accommodation where certain conditions are satisfied; the provision of death or retirement benefits; the provision of meals in a canteen; meal vouchers up to the value of 15p a day; free coal received by miners or cash allowances paid to them in lieu; the use of a pooled car available to more than one employee when the private use is incidental; and cheap or interest-free loans, the interest on which would have qualified for tax relief.Employees, who are not covered by the special rules for benefits in kind, applying to directors and higher-paid employees, are also wholly exempt on benefits—other than medical insurance—which cannot be converted into cash, do not represent the meeting of a pecuniary liability or are not provided by means of a voucher exchangeable for goods, services or money.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much extra revenue will accrue to the Government from further charging of benefits in kind to income tax.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 21 May 1979; Vol. 967, c. 41], gave the following answer:I assume that the right hon. Member has in mind the extra revenue which would arise if the benefits which I have listed in answer to his other question were charged to income tax in the hands of all employees. I am afraid that there is insufficient information available to provide an estimate of the total yield.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for bringing forward improvements to the A75.

Twelve major improvement schemes on the A75 are programmed to start during the next six years. These include bypasses of Creetown, Annan, Glenluce, Gatehouse of Fleet and Castle Douglas. My right hon. Friend is reviewing this and other proposals which are within his field of responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish the revised guidelines for the Scottish Development Agency.

The agency's investment activities will be one of the subjects my right hon. Friend and I will be reviewing in our forthcoming discussions with the chairman and chief executive.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to increase the finance allocated to schools for the study of microelectronics.

I am at present considering the implications of microelectronics for the education service, and I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the fishing industry.

The Government attach major importance to the well-being of the Scottish fishing industry, which contributed some 60 per cent. by weight of the total United Kingdom catch in 1978, and recognise the dependence on fishing of many local communities around the Scottish coast. We shall therefore seek urgently to secure a revision of the common fisheries policy which guarantees the future livelihood of fishermen both in Scotland and in other parts of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to assist farmers suffering loss owing to the weather, lack of fodder and the delayed payment of allowances, due to the Civil Service dispute.

The problems confronting hill farmers were discussed at a meeting on 15 May between senior officials of the four United Kingdom Agricultural Departments and representatives of the National Farmers' Unions. My ministerial colleagues and I are now giving urgent consideration to the whole question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his assessment of the future of the pig industry in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a study of the capacity of the bacon curing industry in relation to pig production in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I am well aware of the very great problems confronting the pig industry, particularly in the North-East of Scotland. I am very concerned about the serious effects which closure of the pig slaughtering and bacon curing facilities at Lawson's factory at Dyce will have on employment and the farming industry in the North-East. The Government are in close touch with the situation, and my noble Friend the Minister of State is meeting interested parties tomorrow for discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the method of payments being made of superannuation benefits to retired teachers; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, though I greatly regret the inconvenience caused to pensioners by recent industrial action. Some 19,000 payments are made each month to retired teachers by payable orders issued by the Scottish Office computer, and normally this is an efficient method. Owing to industrial action between February and May, however, it was not possible to make the payments for March and April at the usual time. I am glad to say that the March payments were issued on 10 May and those due at the end of April were issued yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the building programme for the Border district general hospital remains on schedule.

The Borders health board, which is responsible for planning this hospital, is at present working towards the submission of a final cost limit to my Department later this year. An early meeting will be held between the board and my Department to discuss any current difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will review his Department's policy on nuclear power; and if he will make a statement.

Naturally, we shall wish to arrive at our own considered and balanced view on energy and nuclear policies in the light of the facts made available to us on assuming office. Our conclusions will be announced at the appropriate time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the position relating to the qualifications of Scottish art teachers.

I understand that the Council for National Academic Awards—CNAA—has agreed that discussions should take place between its officers and the relevant bodies on the basis of the following principles:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to meet the fish processing industry's representatives to discuss the serious problems affecting that industry at present.

I am aware that the industry, especially the herring processing sector, is experiencing difficulty and that assistance has been given to a number of individual firms. I shall keep the position of the industry under review and, although I have no plans at the moment for a meeting, I shall be prepared to consider any representations made to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he anticipates he will be in a position to give a decision on the Moss Morran petro-chemical planning application.

I refer the hon. Member to the replies given today to the hon. Members for Dunfermline (Mr. Douglas), Fife Central (Mr. Hamilton) and Kirkcaldy (Mr. Gourlay) on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state his policy on planning applications which might be submitted for development in the Island of Iona.

The Island of Iona is in part a conservation area and the planning authority—Argyll and Bute district council—exercises a careful policy of development control throughout the island. I am confident that it will continue to do so. It is my general policy to leave planning authorities to decide all planning applications unless they raise matters of national importance. However in this case I am ready, if I consider it necessary after consultation with the district council, to make a special direction requiring that all planning applications for the island which the planning authority proposes to approve be notified to me so that I can consider whether to call in for my own decision any proposals for development or change of use which would alter the unique character of the island.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which Scottish local authorities have elected members sitting in at meetings of the management team of local officials; and whether he will seek to amend the law either to prevent this practice as in the case of Kyle and Carrick district council or to guarantee equal right of access to such meetings to opposition parties.

I see no reason to change the law and impose controls over local authorities on a matter such as this which is essentially one for each authority to decide in the light of its own circumstances. Up-to-date information on the management structures now operated by each authority is not held by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will direct the Scottish Development Agency to prevent the siting of Navit-Clydesdale Limited within the Cambuslang recovery area.

No. The planning application submitted by Navit-Clydesdale Limited falls to be considered through the normal planning processes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will have an inspection made of the licensed rubbish tips in the Mount Vernon and Carmyle districts of Rutherglen with a view to the prevention of the dumping of noxious waste.

No. The inspection of rubbish tips is the responsibility of the licensing authority, in this case the city of Glasgow district council. Should I receive an appeal against the conditions imposed on the operation of these tips I would consider it on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of households and the rate per 1,000 population in each local authority which received assistance with adaptations to the home in 1977–78.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of households and the rate per 1,000 population in each local authority which received assistance with the installation of telephones in 1977–78.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of households and the rate per 1,000 population in each local authority which received assistance with the payment of telephone rentals in 1977–78.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of households and the rate per 1,000 population in each local authority which received assistance with the provision of aids in 1977–78.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of households containing disabled children and the rate per 1,000 child population in each local authority which received assistance with adaptations to the home in 1977–78.

The information requested is as follows: