asked the Minister for the Civil Service what proposals he has for improving the operational efficiency of the Civil Service.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what plans he has to improve efficiency in the Civil Service.

Departments have already been required to make a cut of 3 per cent. in their staff costs this year and departmental Ministers are currently examining options for significant savings While the main savings in the medium term will have to come from a reduction in functions, we certainly hope to achieve savings through greater efficiency, and all Ministers are committed to the search for this Sir Derek Rayner will advise departments on how to promote efficiency and eliminate waste He is consulting my right hon. Friends on the best way of doing this.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what action he is taking radically to reverse the low number of scientists entering the Civil Service.

The Government are continuing with a review of the recruitment, structure and management of the Scientific Civil Service which will look in some detail at the factors influencing the recruitment of scientists.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, whether he is satisfied that the inflation-proofing of Civil Service pensions is taken fairly into account in the assessment of Civil Service salaries.

Differences in pension benefits, including provision for pensions increase, are taken into account in comparing Civil Service salaries with outside rates by a deduction made on the advice of the Government Actuary, who is the Government's independent adviser in this field. This deduction represents the Government Actuary's own professional judgment, and I have no reason to doubt it.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is his estimate of the total number of Civil Service jobs which will be lost in Wales as a result of the Government's reduction in public expenditure.

The reductions in 1979–80 public expenditure programmes announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget speech on 12 June did not include any reference to Civil Service jobs. As for the Government's intentions to secure savings on the size and cost of the Civil Service over the next few years, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Totnes (Mr. Mawby) on 11 June [Vol. 968, c. 68].

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what consultations he is having in his reappraisal of the Government's policy on Civil Service dispersal.

We shall be consulting with the Departments concerned with dispersal, taking account of the views expressed in representations made during the reappraisal, and inviting the views of the staff side of the National Whitley Council.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what are his proposals for the future recruitment of personnel for the Civil Service.

The present temporary ban on recruitment will be reviewed shortly Ministers in charge of Departments are conducting a radical review of their activities. The Government's decision on this will be announced in the autumn, and the level of recruitment will be adjusted accordingly.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is satisfied that the cost of official paid stationery is shown satisfactorily in the accounts of all those using it.

The form in which the cost of official paid stationery is shown in departmental accounts is a matter for the user Departments.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is his latest estimate of the annual cost to public funds of tax-free retirement payments to civil servants.

Retiring civil servants have since 1935 received a lump sum payment equal to three times their annual pension The cost of these payments, which are no greater in value than the lump sum retirement benefits offered in most good occupational pension schemes, is estimated to be £131·3 million in the current financial year. Such benefits are tax free, in common with all similar benefits payable under schemes approved for tax purposes by the Inland Revenue.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the co-ordination concerning elimination of waste in Government Departments; what instructions she has issued to her Ministers to undertake a programme of eliminating waste; and if she will ensure that these programmes are carried through diligently.

I have asked my Cabinet colleagues to make it their personal responsibility to promote efficiency and eliminate waste in their Departments. They will be reporting to me from time to time on their progress, and I am asking Sir Derek Rayner to assist in co-ordinating the exercise.

asked the Attorney-General whether he and his noble friend the Lord Chancellor have plans for ensuring that law centres are funded independently of local authorities and neither directly nor through the urban aid programme.

No The Government's policy on law centres will be reviewed in the light of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on legal services, whose report is expected later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what precise steps he is taking to uncover, and thereafter to eliminate, waste in the nationwide organisation of his Department for which he is ultimately responsible; and if, in due course, he will seek to make a statement in the House thereon.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has given today in answer to his question concerning the elimination of waste in Government Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has received any request to reinforce the Hong Kong garrison; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. This was discussed during the Governor's recent talks in London. The Government have agreed to a request for additional forces to assist the Hong Kong Government more effectively to control illegal immigration from China Reinforcements, consisting of an infantry battalion from the United Kingdom and two companies from the Gurkha battalion in Brunei, together with helicopters, hovercraft, a fast patrol boat and supporting personnel will start to move to Hong Kong in the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the SALT II agreement.

My right hon. Friend has been asked to reply.The Government welcome the completion of the SALT negotiations and the signature of the agreement by President Carter and President Brezhnev. We have long supported efforts to achieve strategic arms limitation. We hope that the treaty will be ratified successfully.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if, immediately, he will move to reappoint the Expenditure Committee so that the uncompleted inquiries of the Committee's sub-committees may be concluded.

I suggest that any further decisions on the Select Committee structure of the House should await the forthcoming debate on the Procedure Committee's proposals. I hope, however, that, whatever the House decides about these proposals, arrangements can be made to ensure that, where feasible, Select Committee inquiries outstanding at the Dissolution of the previous Parliament are completed.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total financial support from public funds given in the current financial year to the Arts Council.

The revised Estimates which will be presented to the House will include a grant of £59,736,000 to the Arts Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend the community service scheme, or a variant of it, to cover juveniles.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what would be the loss of revenue arising from a concessionary half price television licence to be granted to all retirement pensioners, including those at present benefiting from a 5p licence.

The latest available estimate of the cost of providing half price television licences to all households containing one or more retirement pensioners is between £50 million and £55 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give for the longest and most convenient stated period of time the annual and cumulative amounts of fines outstanding; what action has been, or is to be taken, to ensure that payment is made; and whether he will consider appointing a fine collecting service paid for on a basis of costs being recovered from the fines as collected.

The following table shows the amounts of fines collected by magistrates' courts in England and Wales during each of the financial years for which the information is available and the amounts outstanding—excluding inner London—at the end of each of those financial years:

	Fines collected	Fines outstanding
	£	£
1970–71	18,095,966	6,381,604
1971–72	21,338,865	6,946,074
1972–73	25,529,658	7,871,879
1973–74	32,045,242	10,436,914
1974–75	35,570,348	12,800,148
1975–76	45,885,990	17,818,896
1976–77	59,022,051	20,581,337
1977–78	71,246,594	22,126,110

The figures for outstanding fines include fines imposed but not yet due for payment.The enforcement of fines is a matter for the courts concerned. They have several methods open to them, including the threat of imprisonment and distress upon goods.We have no plans to appoint a separate fine collecting service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what precise steps he is taking to uncover and thereafter to eliminate, waste in the nationwide organisation of his Department for which he is ultimately responsible; and if, in due course, he will seek to make a statement in the House thereon.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has given to his question on the same subject today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to prevent the sale of air guns and air rifles which are imitations of ordinary firearms.

I have no such proposals in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will introduce legislation to require the production of a birth certificate before air guns can be purchased and to raise the age for purchase to 18 years;(2) if he will introduce legislation to seek to raise the age of entitlement to use an air rifle from 14 to 16 years.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the details of the present pension arrangements for prison governors; and if he will make a statement.

Members of the prison governor grades are covered by the principal Civil Service pension scheme and in general are entitled on retirement to an annual pension calculated on the basis of 1/80th of salary for each year of reckon-able service, plus a single lump sum payments of 3/80ths for each year of reckonable service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of the Metropolis, in the light of the comments of Sir Ivor Rigby at Marylebone magistrates court over the veracity of police evidence after the acquittal of the defendants charged with assaulting the police during the match through Soho in October 1978.

I understand that the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has appointed an investigating officer to enquire into associated complaints against the police. His report will in due course be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, unless it is clear that no criminal offence has been committed, and to the Police Complaints Board for its independent consideration of the disciplinary aspects. It would not be appropriate for me to intervene in the procedures provided by law for the investigation and consideration of such complaints.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to meet the general secretary of the Prison Officers' Association.

I have already met the general secretary of the Prison Officers' Association on two occasions since becoming Home Secretary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he expects the review of local authority boundaries to be completed in time for the 1980 elections in South Tyneside.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Jarrow (Mr. Dixon), on 14 June.—[Vol. 968, c. 265–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many New Commonwealth and Pakistan citizens were admitted to Great Britain under the distressed relatives category for 1977 and 1978;(2) how many New Commonwealth and Pakistan citizens applied for entry to Great Britain under the distressed relatives provisions in 1977 and 1978;(3) how many citizens of the New Commonwealth and Pakistan applied for entry under the provisions for parents, grandparents and children over 18 years, in 1977 and 1978;(4) how many citizens of the New Commonwealth and Pakistan were admitted to Great Britain under the provisions for parents, grandparents and children over 18 years in 1977 and 1978.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he proposes to conduct with ethnic minority groups in Great Britain and Governments abroad, prior to any impending changes in the immigration rules.

I am ready to consider carefully the views of ethnic minority groups but I have no plans for consultations with them or with Goverments abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to clarify the Licensing Acts in relation to the giving of prizes of bottles of alcoholic drink at fetes held on unlicensed premises.

I am certainly aware of the problem and have it under examination. How ever, I do not expect that there will be an early opportunity for Government legislation on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the current categories of work-permit-free employment.

They are listed in paragraph 25 of the "Immigration Rules for Control on Entry: E.E.C. and Other non-Commonwealth Nationals"—House of Commons paper 1972–73, No. 81—and paragraph 29 of the corresponding rules about Commonwealth citizens—House of Commons paper 1972–73, No. 79.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what precise steps he is taking to uncover, and thereafter to eliminate, waste in the nationwide organisation of his Department for which he is ultimately responsible; and if, in due course, he will seek to make a statement in the House thereon.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

asked the Paymaster General what precise steps he is taking to uncover, and thereafter to eliminate, waste in the nationwide organisation of his Department for which he is ultimately responsible; and if, in due course, he will seek to make a statement in the House thereon.

Apart from a small caller office in London, the whole of my Department is located in Crawley, Sussex.For many years my Department has taken advantage of modern methods to increase efficiency with the result that the work load of the Department, which is entirely demand-related, has increased since 1956 by 300 per cent. with an increase in staff of only about 50 per cent. This has been achieved by the effective use of office machines and computers, coupled with a continuing review of staffing levels by a small group of O & M specialists.In spite of the extent of the past economies the officers of my Department are co-operating fully with me in a fresh examination of the work load and working methods to see whether there are any additional savings which can be contributed towards the present economy drive.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has seen the chairman of British Leyland since Sunday 10 June.

The chairman of BL and my right hon. Friend see each other as frequently as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps he is taking to increase investment in the North-West, in Merseyside and in Kirkby, in particular.

My right hon. Friend is currently studying the arrangements to help areas such as Merseyside.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what plans he has to encourage investment and industrial expansion in the Brigg and Scunthorpe constituency.

My right hon. Friend is currently reviewing the arrangements for encouraging industrial development in different parts of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what precise steps he is taking to uncover, and thereafter to eliminate, waste in the nationwide organisation of his Department for which he is ultimately responsible; and if, in due course, he will seek to make a statement in the House thereon.

% FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION*
						£ per capital
			1973	1974	1975	1976
United Kingdom		…	190	227	292	336
North-West		…	182†	197	215	247
North	…	…	223†	269	371	401
Scotland	…	…	207	268	358	389
Wales	…	…	211	227	300	369
Source: Regional Accounts.
* Total for all industries excluding shipping distribution and private services.
† Regional boundaries for the North-West and North were adjusted after 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the Government capital formation per capita in each of the last four years in the North-West, the Northern region, Scotland and Wales.

CENTRAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION
						£ per capital
			1973	1974	1975	1976
North-West		…	61*	68	71	77
North	…	…	78*	81	94	100
Scotland	…	…	76	101	117	121
Wales	…	…	70	78	97	108
United Kingdom		…	65	78	89	97
Source: Regional Accounts.
* Regional boundaries for the North-West and North were adjusted after 1973.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received on the present system of training motor cyclists.

I attach very great importance to the need to increase the number of riders taking training. I will consider what steps can be taken after I have received the recommendations of the advisory committee on motorcycle training.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given him today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the fixed capital formation per capita in each of the last four years for (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the North-West, (c) the Northern region, (d) Scotland and (e) Wales.

I have been asked to reply.Fixed capital formation by all industries except distribution, shipping and private services is given below for the latest four years for which information is available.

I have been asked to reply.Information for the latest four years for which information is available is as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he intends to take to improve the training of motor cyclists.

I wish to consider the forthcoming report of the advisory committee on motorcycle training before developing policy in more detail.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to limit fare increases on public transport.

I do not have powers to determine fares.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now agree to a public inquiry into the proposed Liverpool inner ring road.

I have nothing to add to answers I gave to the hon. Members on 12 June.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has any plans to expand the road building programme.

My plans, along with other public expenditure plans, will be announced in due course.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects next to meet the chairman of the National Bus Company.

Shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has any plans to make a statement on his policy towards the Blenner hasset report.

I intend to do so as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport what is his policy towards concessionary bus fares for the elderly and disabled.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to open discussions on the proposals contained in the Green Paper on concessionary fares for elderly, blind and disabled people.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress he has made in his consultations on concessionary bus fares.

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

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give an undertaking that the permitted weight of lorries using roads in the United Kingdom will not be increased pending the results of his inquiry.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has any plans for improving driving standards.

I shall consider any proposals put forward to improve driving standards.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will explain the reason for the delay in completing the second stage of the Retford relief road.

This is a local authority scheme for which responsibility rests with Nottinghamshire county council, but this Department has been involved in the statutory procedures. These are complex and in particular the compulsory purchase orders for the land will have to be laid before Parliament because of the effect on public open space.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects next to meet the chairman of the British Railways Board.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to meet the chairman of British Railways.

I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Derby, South (Mr. Johnson) and Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead).

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the situation on the East coast railway line at Penmanshiel in Berwickshire.

The railway is being restored on a new alignment in open cut to the west of the tunnel which is being abandoned. Good progress is being made and the Railways Board plans to reopen the line on 1 October 1979.

asked the Minister of Transport what recent discussions he has had with bodies representing commuters.

I hope to have such talks shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the cost of recent repairs to the bridges over the M1 between Luton and Hemel Hempstead; how long he expects it to be before further repairs either to the bridges or the road surface in this section of the M1 will be necessary; and if he will make a statement.

The repairs to these three bridges cost about £100,000.The work involved the provision of a waterproofing layer between the road surface and the bridge structure. Two further bridges will require waterproofing in the near future, but there are no immediate plans for any carriageway works.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to publish the report on the first stage of the joint British Rail-Department of Transport review of the case for further main line rail electrification.

I expect to receive the interim report this summer, and I shall then consider the case for publishing it.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the Government's plans for the construction of the Evesham bypass.

I am aware of the importance which my hon. Friend attaches to this scheme. I hope that public consultation about the route will start early next year. Subject to satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and availability of funds, construction could start in the mid 1980s.

asked the Minister of Transport what discussions he has had with British Rail on the latest proposals for a Channel tunnel link; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions between British Rail and my Department are continuing. It is too soon to say what the outcome may be.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the National Freight Corporation.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport (Mr. Viggers).

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects construction to start on the Bridgnorth bypass in Shropshire; how long he estimates the work to take; and what is the estimated cost.

There are no trunk roads running through Bridge-north. Responsibility for any bypass proposals therefore rests with Salop county council as highway authority.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has any plans for the improvement of transport in rural areas.

One of my aims will be to reduce the obstacles that now lie in the way of the provision of transport services attuned to the needs of rural areas.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to have more extensive use made of continuous-edge carriageway road markings in non-built up areas in order to reduce the number of road accidents.

The use of edge lining is generally a matter for decision by local highway authorities, but this Department drew their attention in November 1977 to its safety benefits. The relative effectiveness of broken and unbroken edge lining will be the subject of a two-year experiment starting later this year.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received regarding the replacement of diesel multiple units on British Railways.

I have received a number of letters on this matter, but it is for the Railways Board to decide its own investment priorities in the light of operational requirements and available funds. The hon. Member may also like to refer to the debate on the Adjournment for 12 June in which I spoke about the replacement of diesel multiple units.—[Vol. 968, c. 407–8.]

asked the Minister of Transport what is his policy towards the future responsibilities of the British Transport Docks Board.

I have no immediate plans to change the responsibilities of the British Transport Docks Board.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will set up an inquiry into the continued industrial disruptions in the port of Hull.

I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will review his standards for the construction of new roads so as to reduce the cost and the quantity of agricultural land required for the purpose.

The Department's road design standards are constantly under review with a view to reducing the cost of the construction of new roads, and I shall ensure that the need to minimise the loss of agricultural land continues to be borne in mind as an important feature of that review.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to publish the White Paper on roads.

asked the Minister of Transport when the annual roads White Paper will be published.

I intend to publish a White Paper on roads but have not yet decided on the timing.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the implementation of the EEC tachograph regulations.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson).

asked the Minister of Transport if it is his policy to refund expenses to those learner drivers unable to take driving tests as a result of industrial action.

No refund of expenses is made where a test is lost as a result of industrial action involving withdrawal of labour for which the Department is not responsible. Applications for refunds arising from examiners' working to rule whilst working for the Department are considered on their merits. In all cases a fresh test is arranged without charge.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now announce his decision in relation to the Barthomley link with the M6 motorway.

Numerous alternative routes put forward by the public have had to be considered. I hope to announce the preferred route soon.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the latest estimate of the cost of the proposed M54; and whether he will review this project in view of the fact that the case against a six-lane motorway has been accepted and bearing in mind the need to cut public expenditure and save good agricultural land.

The present estimated cost of this scheme is about £54 million. Trunk road schemes are kept under review in the light of changing circumstances. I cannot comment on the question of the land required for the current proposals as this is the subject of a public inquiry. When the inspector's report is received, the proposals before the inquiry and the objections and representations in respect of them will be full considered.

asked the Minister of Transport how many vehicle driving test examiners retired or resigned in the last year; how many applied to become driving instructors; and what was the rate of failure in the latter test.

Our records do not in general distinguish between former examiners and other applicants to become driving instructors. But of the 94 examiners who retired or resigned in the year ended 31 May 1979, six applied to qualify as instructors before leaving; four succeeded and two have not completed their examinations.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied with the safety precautions surrounding the transportation by rail of radioactive materials; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. All radioactive materials carried by rail are required to be packaged in accordance with very high standards prescribed in the internationally agreed International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) transport regulations. The type of packaging varies according to the contents and level of radioactivity involved, and safety is ensured by the packaging used.In the case of irradiated fuel moving from CEGB power stations to Windscale the massive flasks which carry the fuel are transported under conditions designed to ensure that they would withstand without failure the effects of very severe accident conditions. This Department has responsibility for assessment and approval of the flask designs against the comprehensive performance standards prescribed in the IAEA regulations and for approving the shipment arrangements specific to the design. The appropriate approval certification from this Department is required in order for the flasks to be accepted for carriage by rail.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has any plans to introduce further road safety measures.

Improving road safety is one of my priorities. I lay particular value on reducing accidents to children and young people. I am continually seeking measures to achieve this.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the latest estimate of the cost to local authorities of snow clearance and extra maintenance due to the severity of the winter.

In March the Association of County Councils estimated that these particular local authority costs would be about £32 million for snow clearing and £55 million for extra remedial maintenance work. I am aware of no further estimates.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take action to stop the transport of nuclear waste on the London transport system through the heavily congested areas of the East End of London until such time as investigations take place on the adequacy of safety precautions.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member to his question on 14 June.—[Vol. 968, c. 318–9.]

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list in the Official Report his Department's pre-tender estimates of the prices for each trunk road contract let in 1978, together with the actual price of the accepted tender.

Scheme							Pre-tender estimate	Accepted tender
							£m.	£m.
A1 Felton bypass, stage 2B			…	…	…	…	2	1·4
A1 Grade separated junction at Darrington					…	…	1·4	1·5
A3 Burpham-Ladymead diversion				…	…	…	11·0	10·6
A40 Gloucester Northern bypass, advance earthworks						…	1·6	1·3
A259 Bexhill Old Town bypass			…	…	…	…	1·8	1·4
A406 Hanger Lane-Western Avenue junction					…	…	3·1	3·1
A428 Little Houghton bypass			…	…	…	…	1·7	1·0
A629 Skipton bypasses-advance drainage works						…	0·6	0·8
M5 Widening Lydiate Ash-Quinton				…	…	…	4·3	3·6
M20 Ashford-Sellindge		…	…	…	…	…	17·9	14·9
M20 Sellindge-Folkestone		…	…	…	…	…	15·2	13·8
M25 Thorpe-Chertsey		…	…	…	…	…	8·8	7·6
M25 A13-A12 stage 1		…	…	…	…	…	11·5	11·0
M25 Chertsey-Wisley advance bridges—related road works	…	…	…	…	…	…	1·4	1·1
M56 Hapsford-Stoak		…	…	…	…	…	6·6	5·4
M56 Stoak Interchange		…	…	…	…	…	6·6	4·8
M56 Stoak-Powey Lane		…	…	…	…	…	4·7	4·3
M58 Aintree-Skelmersdale		…	…	…	…	…	29·3	9·7	21·8
Bickerstaffe section			…	…	…	…
Melling section			…	…	…	…		12·1
M67 Denton relief road stage 1			…	…	…	…	10·3	10·1
NOTE: The pre-tender estimates listed above correspond in coverage to the tender they exclude contingency allowances (land) and ancillary items included in estimates of total cost.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list in the Official Report all motorway and trunk road schemes with a total cost of between £1 million and £10 million in the same format as the appendix on page VI-23 of the Supply Estimates 1979–80.

The total provision for schemes costing between £1 million and £10 million also covers expenditure on motorway communications, service areas, noise barriers and some other miscellaneous items. The estimates for individual schemes are those current at the time, and cover their total cost, including land and a contingency allowance. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.

asked the Minister for Transport what factors have led to the reduction from the figure of £508·3 million for spending on the motorway and trunk road programmes estimated in Cmnd. 7439 to the figure of £487·2 million given in the supply estimates, all figures at 1978 survey

The information required is as follows:prices as given in columns 7 and 8 of page VI-x of the Supply Estimates 1979–80; and if this reduction indicates that further underspending of the motorway and trunk road budget is anticipated in the current financial year.

I shall answer for England, where the apparent reduction in spending provision for the programme is £17 million. However, this includes £10 million attributable to a technical adjustment relating to the price base, which does not represent a cut in the volume of expenditure. There will be a further reduction of about £8 million resulting from the cuts in public expenditure announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12 June 1979. We have no reason, at this stage, to expect that expenditure this year will be below provision for reasons other than these.

asked the Minister of Transport what precise steps he is taking to uncover, and thereafter to eliminate, waste in the nationwide organisation of his Department for which he is ultimately responsible; and if, in due course, he will seek to make a statement in the House thereon.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given him today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list in the Official Report all the cycle schemes with a substantial experimental element, or which serve as demonstration projects to which his Department has made a financial contribution.

So far cycle schemes of this kind in Portsmouth, Peterborough and Middlesbrough have received financial support. Discussions are continuing with other authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied with the impartiality of professional witnesses submitting evidence on behalf of his Department to the M25 inquiry.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Transport if any progress has been made in the drawing up of regulations for the safe transport of steel coils.

Regulation 97 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1978 embodies a general requirement for the safe and secure loading of vehicles. It would not be feasible also to include detailed requirements on all the various types of load. How ever, the Department's published code of practice on safety of loads gives advice on the loading of metal coils, and the intention is to review it shortly in the light of recent tests.

asked the Minister of Transport when the EEC directive with regard to noise levels emitted by motor cycles will be implemented.

We hope shortly to consult interested bodies on draft regulations to apply these limits.

asked the Minister of Transport how many local authorities have asked for the loan of the film "Free Wheeling".

51. In addition, officers from 15 local authorities have attended showings of the film organised by the Department's regional offices.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will provide an estimate for 1979–80 of the taxation revenue and public road cost figures given in page 112 of the transport policy consultation document; and if he will break down the road cost figures into construction, maintenance, traffic policing, courts and administration.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to introduce petrol rationing; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement that I made in the House on Monday 11 June, in which I discussed the matter of rationing of oil supplies, which includes the rationing of petrol.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, in the light of the current policy of major petrol suppliers which causes withdrawal of supplies to rural areas, if he will consult with the suppliers to ensure that a commitment is made by them to maintain the supplies of petrol and diesel fuel to such areas.

Rural areas have in many cases felt the shortage of petrol more than other areas because they have fewer filling stations, but the oil companies are conscious of the needs of rural areas and I am confident they will seek to keep them supplied on an equitable basis. The underlying shortfall in supplies of some 5 per cent. does, of course, mean that everyone must economise in the use of diesel fuel and petrol.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will authorise British Petroleum to refine and market royalty oil obtainable after the end of June instead of appointing the British National Oil Corporation as his agents for the disposal of the crude oil.

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what action has been taken by his Department to ensure that all Government Departments conserve energy; and with what success.

In response to the shortage of Iranian oil, all Government Departments, in common with all sections of the public sector, have been asked by my Department to make real and determined efforts to economise in their use of oil products. Arrangements have been made for Ministers in each Department to oversee these efforts, and for progress to be monitored. I shall be reporting to the House on the savings achieved in due course.The Government are committed to pursue a vigorous energy conservation policy, and the statement of my right hon. Friend on 7 June referred to our conviction that the Government and the public sector must give a sensible and firm lead on energy conservation. The Department continues to co-ordinate inter-departmental efforts in this field. The Property Services Agency (PSA), which has the responsibility for energy conservation measures in the Government civil estate and the Ministry of Defence estate, is already involved in a four-year programme of energy conservation measures; and has recently reported that in 1978–79, the first year of the programme, energy saving measures (including improved controls for heating systems, improved thermal insulation of buildings, hot water and steam pipe-work and draught-proofing of buildings) have resulted in an estimated annual saving to the value of £1·9 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made since the IRA bomb incident on Canvey Island earlier in 1979 to tighten security precautions at oil, gas and chemical installations in the Canvey Island-Thurrock area; and whether any new arrangements are to be tested.

Security measures at the oil and gas installations were reviewed following the bomb incident on 17 January and certain improvements are in hand.My Department is in close touch with both the British Gas Corporation and the oil companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what precise steps he is taking to uncover, and thereafter to eliminate, waste in the nationwide organisation of his Department for which he is ultimately responsible; and if, in due course, he will seek to make a statement in the House thereon.

I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

asked the Secretary of Slate for Energy if he will make a statement on the sufficiency of domestic and industrial reserves of coal, including power station reserves, to meet expected demand in the winter of 1979–80 in Scotland, England and Wales, respectively.

On present expectations, there should be sufficient coal to meet demand next winter in Scotland, England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with nationalised or State-controlled organisations or bodies for which his Department accepts ministerial responsibility, concerning the uncovering and thereafter the elimination of waste; if he welcomes detailed information thereon from the general public; and if, in due course, he will make a statement in the House.

My right hon. Friend is seeking to ensure that the promotion of efficiency and elimination of waste is actively pursued wherever he has responsibility, as part of the review outlined by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in her answer to my hon. Friend earlier today. Any suggestions which come to him will be welcome and will of course be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many occupiers of premises have applied to the Health and Safety Executive for certification under the Fire Certificate (Special Premises) Regulation 1976; and, of these, how many applications have come from premises within the Bury and Radcliffe constituency.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that to date, 953 employers have applied in writing for certificates; an application has been received (for an amended certificate) from a factory situated within the Bury and Radcliffe constituency.