asked the Prime Minister when next she expects to meet the General Council of the TUC.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 12 July.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what representation he plans to make to the USSR in support of Jewish prisoners of conscience, Ida Nudel, Vladimir Slepak and Anatoly Sharansky to assist them with a speedy emigration in view of their bad health.

The Government support those who wish to emigrate from the Soviet Union by their continuing pressure for implementation of the Helsinki Final Act. The Government will also make representations to the Soviet Union about human rights cases where there is a direct connection with the United Kingdom. In cases like the three mentioned where there is no direct connection we shall take decisions about representations on a case by case basis and, among other considerations, shall bear in mind health questions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many lone parents benefit from the married man's tax allowance or additional personal allowance in the current tax year.

About 425,000 lone parents benefit from the additional personal allowance in 1979–80. I regret that it is not known how many lone parent families benefit from the married man's allowance, but the number is believed to be very small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the gross income for tax payers at net earnings of

Gross pay	Income tax effect	Indirect tax effect	Effect of devaluation of green pound
(£ per year)	(£ per week)	(£ per week)	(£ per week)
2,000	1·67	1·29	0·07
4,000	3·23	2·22	0·12
6,000	4·65	3·12	0·17
10,000	8·29	5·07	0·27

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table comparing the tax thresholds (including child benefits where appropriate) of a two wage married couple, a pensioner couple, and married couples with each of one, two, three and four children.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9 July 1979; Vol. 970, c. 35], gave the following answer:The figures are as follows:

Threshold
	£
Two wage married couple	2,980
Pensioner couple	2,455
Married couple with one child	2,023
Married couple with two children	2,231
Married couple with three children	2,439
Married couple with four children	2,647

The thresholds represent the amount of income—including tax free child benefit where appropriate—that can be received before tax is payable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be £14,136, £13,680, £12,304, £11,006, £15,999, £19,796, £18,758 and £17,788 given the last Budget's tax changes.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the net income charges for a taxpayer earning £2,000, £4,000, £6,000, and £10,000 after taking into account (a) income tax changes, (b) indirect tax changes and (c) devaluation of the green pound.

The following estimates give the effect of the Budget tax changes and of the 5 per cent, devaluation of the green pound announced by the present Government. The figures assume that the taxpayer is a married man, and are on the same basis as the estimates made by my right hon. and learned Friend in his Budget Statement [Vol. 968, c. 261]:the gain per head of beneficiaries of the raising of the investment income surcharge threshold for those whose total income is between £2,000 and £3,000, and for each successive £1,000 income band above that.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons currently paying the investment income surcharge have incomes of less than £2,000 and in each £1,000 band above £2,000; in each case how many of these are pensioners; and what is the aggregate surcharge payable by each income category.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the year by year growth of gross national product, manufacturing output and productivity (per employee) in Great Britain, France, Germany, Japan and the United States of America from 1973 to 1978 inclusive.

GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AT CONSTANT MARKET PRICES
Annual percentage growth rates
			United Kingdom	France*	Germany	Japan	United States of America
1973–74	…	…	-2·0	+2·8	+0·4	-0·6	-1·4
1974–75	…	…	-2·3	+0·3	-1·9	+1·4	-1·3
1975–76	…	…	+3·8	+4·6	+5·1	+6·5	+5·7
1976–77	…	…	+0·6	+3·0	+2·6	+5·4	+4·9
1977–78	…	…	+3·6	+3·3	+3·4	+5·6	+4·0
* Gross domestic product at constant market prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends that any reductions in the incidence of capital gains and capital transfer taxes that may result from his proposed detailed study of those forms of revenue shall have effect, retrospectively, from the date of his last Budget statement.

As far as capital transfer tax is concerned, I refer my hon.

Estimates for gross national product have been derived from data published by the IMF.year 1973 to 1978 of manufacturing output and 1973 to 1976 for manufacturing output per employee.Friend to the written answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Scunthorpe (Mr. Brown) on 2 July 1979 [Vol. 969, c.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the accumulated revenue deficit of the nationalised industries.

The aggregate deficit to date is £1,920 million. This figure is based on the industries' published annual reports and accounts and excludes the 1978–79 results for some industries which have not yet been announced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many lone parents benefit from the additional personal allowance.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6 July 1979; Vol. 969 c. 773], gave the following answer:About 425,000 lone parents benefit from the additional personal allowance in 1979–80.

PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON SUBSIDIES FROM CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND RATE FUND (EXCLUDING RENT REBATES)
					Total	per local authority/ new town dwelling
					£m	£
1970–71	…	…	…	…	315	58
1971–72	…	…	…	…	330	59
1972–73	…	…	…	…	325	58
1973–74	…	…	…	…	435	77
1974–75	…	…	…	…	800	138
1975–76	…	…	…	…	1,045	176
1976–77	…	…	…	…	1,295	212
1977–78	…	…	…	…	1,365	218
1978–79 (provisional)	…	…	…	…	1,620	255

MORTGAGE TAX RELIEF AND OPTION MORTGAGE SUBSIDY
				1. Mortgage tax relief £ million	2. Option mortgage £ million	Total 1+2 per mortgaged dwelling £	[Total 1+2 per owner-occupied dwelling £
1970–71	…	…	…	282	15	58	32
1971–72	…	…	…	307	18	61	34
1972–73	…	…	…	361	28	72	39
1973–74	…	…	…	504	51	99	55
1974–75	…	…	…	687	75	134	74
1975–76	…	…	…	855	104	165	91
1976–77	…	…	…	1,078	140	206	114
1977–78	…	…	…	1,030	154	197	108
1978–79 (Provisional)	…	…	…	1,098	150	205	1121

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage he estimates the buying power of the £ sterling will have diminished by the end of the six-month period commencing on 5 May.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 11 July 1979; Vol. 970 c. 220], gave the following answer:The inflation forecast made recently in the context of the uprating of social

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount paid for each year from 1970 in tax relief on house mortgages and the amount paid in subsidies for public sector housing over the same period; what was the average payment to each person receiving tax relief; and the average payment per each local authority tenancy during each of the same periods.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2 July 1979; Vol. 969, c. 459], gave the following answer:The nearest available figures for Great Britain, at outturn prices for each financial year since 1970, are as follows:security benefits implies a decline of about 9½ per cent. in the purchasing power of the pound, as measured by the retail prices index, in the six months between mid May and mid November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the appreciation in the trade-weighted exchange rate since the Financial Statement was prepared; what estimate he has made of the impact which this change will have on the retail price index and when; and if he will now publish a revised version of table 3 to take account of this change.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 11 July 1979; Vol. 970 c. 210], gave the following answer:The effective exchange rate, at the close of business on 10 July, was 5·2 per cent. higher than the average for the week ending 8 June. Because this increase has resulted partly from the rise in oil prices it would not be appropriate to consider the impact of the higher exchange rate by itself on the retail price index. It is not proposed to publish a revised economic forecast at this time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give consideration to the zero rating for VAT purposes of specialised items of equipment for the sick and disabled donated by bona fide public subscriptions.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 12 July 1979; Vol. 970, c. 290], gave the following answer:Under items 2 and 3 of group 14 of schedule 4 to the Finance Act 1972 such equipment can be zero rated provided the supply is made direct to a chronically sick or disabled person for his own domestic use. Item 3 of group 16 of the same schedule also zero rates the supply of specialised equipment for use in the treatment of the sick or disabled in hospitals when the equipment is purchased from charitable or voluntary funds and is for donation to a hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the completion of the inquiry he established into the death of Blair Peach has been delayed; and when he now expects to receive the report.

I understand that the report of the investigation by Commander Cass is expected to be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the coroner before 17 July, when the inquest resumes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have appeared before the governor of Hull prison in the last 12 months for disciplinary offences, pursuant to the Prison Rules 1964; how many have been found guilty, and how many acquitted; if he will give like information in relation to the board of visitors at the same prison; and, in relation to the sentences imposed either by the governor or the board of visitors, if he will state the length of time spent in solitary confinement by those subject to an award under the prison rules in the following brackets: seven days or less, seven to 14 days, 14 to 28 days and 56 days or more.

I regret that the information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the licensing of a further number of local radio stations.

The Home Office local radio working party, on which the BBC and the IBA are represented, is responsible for preparing proposals for my consideration for the further development of local radio by stages over the United Kingdom as a whole. The working party has almost completed its second report which includes proposals for a second stage of local radio development. I intend to publish the report so that I can take account of public comment in reaching decisions on the working party's proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the practice of the Metropolitan Police to collect, as a matter of routine, details of the organiser, chairman and speakers at political meetings; whether he endorses such a practice; if he will say on what basis he endorses it; if he will publish the form in which the information is collected by the police; if he will state what meetings are considered political; if he will indicate the use to which such information is put, where it is stored and who has access to it; and under what authority the information is collected.

These are operational matters for the Commissioner. I fully support his collecting information necessary for discharging his responsibility for the maintenance of public order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has completed his consideration of the working of the Equal Opportunities Commission with a view to working out a detailed policy regarding it; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing at present to add to the replies given to questions by the hon. Member for Islington, Central (Mr. Grant) on 25 May and by my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Mr. Brotherton) on 4 July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will specify those penal establishments in which prison staff receive " inconvenience of locality allowances ".

An inconvenience of locality allowance is paid to established non-industrial staff employed at the following penal establishments in England and Wales:

• Acklington
• Albany
• Aldington
• Ashwell
• Askham Grange
• Bela River^*
• Blantyre House
• Brockhill
• Camp Hill
• Campsfield House
• Dartmoor
• Drake Hall
• East Sutton Park
• Eastwood Park
• Erlestoke
• Everthorpe
• Featherstone
• Finnamore Wood (Feltham)†
• Foston Hall
• Gartree
• Gaynes Hall
• Grendon/Spring Hill
• Gringley Camp (Hatfield)†
• Guys Marsh
• Hatfield
• Haverigg
• Hewell Grange
• High Point
• Hollesley Bay
• Huntercombe
• Kirkham
• Leyhill‡
• Long Lartin
• Lowdham Grange
• Moor Court
• Morton Hall^*
• New Hall
• North Sea Camp
• Onley
• Parkhurst
• Pollington^*
• Prescoed (Usk)†
• Send
• Standford Hill
• Stoke Heath
• Sudbury
• Swinfen Hall
• Whatton
• Wymott

and at the following prison farms/quarters estates:—

• East Burrow farm (Exeter)
• Frankly/Newbrook farm (Birmingham)
• Tadnoll farm (The Verne)
• High Legh quarters estate

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what legislative provision it is an offence for foetuses to be destroyed which are capable of being born alive.

It is an offence under the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929 for any person, with intent to destroy the life of a child capable of being born alive, by any wilful act to cause a child to die before it has an existence independent of its mother, except where the act causing the death of the child was done in good faith for the purpose only of preserving the life of the mother.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what legislative provision there is a liability for prosecution in cases in which a foetus, when it leaves the womb, is not given all possible assistance to preserve its life, including protection from experiments for purposes of research.

If the foetus does not achieve a life independent of its mother the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929 applies to any wilful act done with intent to destroy it. If a child does achieve life independent of its mother, wilful neglect leading to the death of the child may amount to manslaughter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names of voluntary organisations to which grants or loans are made by his Department together with the amounts for the latest period if such information is available.

Grants (other than grants-in-aid) made through the voluntary services unit in 1978–79 (to a total of some £2·64 million) were listed in the reply given to a question by the hon. Member for York (Mr. Lyon) on 2 July. In addition the following grants were made in that year:

	1978–79 £
National Council of Social Service (grant-in-aid)	392,000
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (grant-in-aid)	5,000
United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service	393,000
Women's Royal Voluntary Service (grant-in-aid)	2,639,000

The probation and after-care department of the Home Office administers a system of grant aid and grant-in-aid to voluntary organisations which, for 1978–79, totalled some £2·59 million. £1·16 million was allocated to the deficit funding of some 230 hostels administered by more than 200 voluntary bodies. In addition, the following voluntary orga-

nisations were assisted with grants in 1978–79:—

	£
National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (grant-in-aid)	255,750
Stonham Housing Association	112,000
National Association of Voluntary Hostels	22,000
Circle Trust	21,500
Anchor Club, Leicester	3,600
Apex Trust	18,328
Recidivists Anonymous	500
New Bridge	6,600
N.E. London St. Leonard's Society	1,500
York A.C.R.O. Lodging Scheme	1,650
Preston & District Lodging Scheme	1,650
West Midlands Lodging Scheme	1,400
Birmingham Prisoners Visitors' Centre	2,000
Pentonville Prisoners Visitors' Centre	1,000
Brixton Prisoners Visitors' Centre	2,000
Bristol Prisoners Visitors' Centre	1,100
Leeds Prisoners Visitors' Centre	250
Prisoners Wives Service	4,000
Catholic Social Services for Prisoners	900
Newham Alternatives Project	9,900
HACRO Crisis & Support Centre	3,000
Dartmoor Accommodation Scheme	3,300
St. Giles Day Centre	1,000
EXANEX	400
Prisoners Wives and Families Society	800
Selcare Anchor Club, Oldham	600
Bulldog Manpower Services Ltd.	190,000
National Marriage Guidance Council	343,000
Institute of Marital Studies	115,000
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council	55,000
Family Welfare Association	9,000
Jewish Marriage Education Council	3,000

Some £240,000 was made available on a once-for-all basis mainly on capital itsms to assist special projects to be set up or maintained by some 40 voluntary organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is considering any further restrictions on the sale and use of airguns.

I have no changes in the law in mind at present, but I am considering whether the misuse of air weapons calls for any further action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how may fires occurred in old people's homes, both privately owned and local authority owned, in each of the last five years; how many resulted in fatalities; and how many fatalities occurred on each such occasion.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on recruitment levels in the Civil Service.

I have nothing to add at present to the answer I gave the hon. and learned Gentleman on 20 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what orders he has issued, or he is in the process of issuing, to local education authorities in Wales, under section 99 of the Education Act 1944, to require them to make available, wherever demand exists in Wales, primary and secondary education through the medium of the Welsh language.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he had, and what correspondence was exchanged, together with their respective dates, with the Gwynedd education authority prior to his issuing of orders under section 99 of the Education Act 1944 against the Gwynedd county council in relation to education requirements at Llandudno.

Since 9 April when a formal complaint was made on behalf of governors and parents of John Bright school, Llandudno, the Welsh Office has sent five letters on this topic to Gwynedd local education authority on 1, 15 and 23 May and on 5 and 21 June. Two letters, dated 10 and 24 May, were received from the authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many petitions, with how many names, he has received between 3 May and 5 July from the Llandudno area concerning the teaching of Welsh at John Bright school; what was the wording of any such petition; and what indication was there that the signatories were parents of children at that school.

I have received one petition signed by 1657 parents in Llandudno calling upon the Gwynedd local education authority to withdraw the proposal to introduce Welsh or Welsh studies as a compulsory subject after the third year at John Bright school. I have also been sent the results of a survey conducted by a parents' action group. This indicated that 263 questionnaires were distributed; 205 were returned of which 197 expressed opposition to compulsory Welsh or Welsh studies. I shall send details to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what letters he has received from the governors of John Bright school, Llandudno between 3 May and 5 July; and on what dates any such letters were written.

One letter dated 11 June, has been received from solicitors acting on behalf of a majority of the governors and two letters, dated 25 and 26 June, have been received from individuals known to be members of the school's governing body.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, in the event of a high court action by a local education authority against the Welsh office arising from the issuing on an order by the Welsh office against that authority, the Welsh office would bear the costs of this action by the local education authority if the local education authority's stance were upheld by the court.

The payment of costs in any action would be a matter for decision by the court.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to safeguard the jobs currently in jeopardy at the SCM factory at Porthmadog.

Decisions about the future of the factory are a matter for the company's commercial judgment. My Department, and others concerned, have kept in close touch with the situation and have been ready to offer any possible aid. However it is clear that there is no appropriate avenue of Government financial assistance. Every effort will continue to be made to attract new industry to the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the Government's intentions with regard to aid for bilingual education in Wales.

The Government have decided to seek legislative power to pay specific grant towards the cost of bilingual education in Wales. A provision to this end will be included in the second of the education Bills to be introduced this Session.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list those industrial training boards whose grants from the Manpower Services Commission will be cut, together with the amount of each individual cut;(2) if he will list the travel to work areas with rates of male unemployment at 6 per cent. or over from which the special temporary employment programme has been withdrawn.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report all the strikes where intimidation, whether of physical violence or threat of loss of union membership, has occurred, in each year since 1974.

This information is not included in the statistics on industrial disputes compiled by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will define the grounds, other than religious or political, which he intends will constitute a deeply held personal conviction not to join a trade union;(2) whether membership of an anti-trade union political party would constitute a " deeply held personal conviction " for not belonging to, or joining, a trade union.

The Government intend to introduce a provision to extend the protection of the existing unfair dismissal provisions to, among others, those who have deeply held personal convictions as to union membership. As our recently issued working paper on the closed shop indicates, there is more than one way that the legislation could treat such a provision, and views on this and other matters have been invited.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will define the practical reasons why employers and employees enter into trade unions closed shop agreements.

It is clear that some employers as well as trade unions see advantages in closed shop agreements in their particular circumstances, and it is only they who can fully define the advantages and circumstances which have led them to make such agreements.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the religious orders, membership of which has proved acceptable to trades unions as grounds for not belonging to a trade union.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much crocidolite was used in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available; and in what products it was used.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will state the approximate number of garages and filling stations which have gone out of business since the beginning of the current year.

Information is not available in the exact form requested. The information available relates to the number of insolvencies in garage, filling station, motor dealer and motor accessory dealer businesses in England and Wales for the first quarter of 1979. The number of bankruptcies (of unincorporated businesses) was 27 and the number of liquidations (of companies) was 41 (excluding members' voluntary liquidations, which do not involve insolvency and for which no quarterly analysis is made).

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether, in the light of the Government's policy of reducing public expenditure and reducing prices to the consumer and the monopoly position of those concerned, he will issue a general direction to the Post Office to prevent it spending large sums of money on advertising through the various sections of the media.

No. Advertising policy is a matter for the Corporation, and my right hon. Friend has no powers to issue a general directive on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will publish the amount to be saved in the current year by deferring payment of regional development grants in Scotland;(2) how much less aid will be available to Scottish industry in the current financial year as a result of the deferments in regional development grants.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9 July 1979; Vol. 970, c. 91], gave the following answer:It is estimated that deferment will postpone payment of about £40 million of regional development grants to Scottish industry for the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (i) if he will publish the amount to be saved this year by deferring payment of regional development grants in Wales;(2) how much less aid will be available to Welsh industry in the current financial year as a result of the deferment of regional development grants.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9 July 1979; Vol. 970, c. 91], gave the following answer:It is estimated that deferment will postpone payment of about £25 million of regional development grants to Welsh industry for the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy in the latest full year for which figures are available, what was the total over-capacity of power stations connected to the national grid including the insurance margin, as a percentage of (a) maximum peak demand and (b) average demand.

The maximum peak demand on the CEGB system during the 1978–79 winter occurred on 19 December 1978 and was 44·1 GW. The declared net capability of all CEGB power stations in England and Wales in December 1978 was 55·8 GW: this represented a plant margin of 26·5 per cent. to cover plant breakdown, non-availability and all other operating contingencies. At the time of peak demand a total of 44·3 GW of plant (including 0·6 GW of outside sources) was delivering electricity to the grid; plant available for service at that time totalled 46·1 GW.In calculating the size of margin required, the CEGB plan with respect to expected maximum system demand. The demand for electricity varies widely from hour to hour so that a figure for average demand is of little value. However, the maximum demand on an average weekday last winter was 42·5 GW.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much has been spent to date by the Central Electricity Generating Board in developing pressurised-water reactor plant.

Following the previous Government's announcement in January 1978 that the electricity supply industry should develop the option of adopting the pressurised-water reactor the CEGB has initiated the necessary outline design work with the Nuclear Power Company and has spent some £2 million-£3 million to date.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will seek to amend the Gas Act 1972 so as to oblige the British Gas Corporation to provide a gas supply to any location provided that it is economically feasible to do so.

No. Such an amendment is not necessary, as the British Gas Corporation already has a duty under section 2(1) of the Act

" … to satisfy, so far as it is economical to do so, all reasonable demands for gas in Great Britain."

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will take steps to amend section 12 of the Pipe-lines Act 1962 to make provision for the renewal of a right to a pipe-line when the original right has lapsed and no compulsory powers exist to deal with an obdurate owner;(2) whether he will seek to amend section 57 of the Pipe-lines Act 1962 relating to the Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Act 1923 in so far as it relates to ancilliary rights for pipe-lines to cover anomalies under section 12.

Section 57 of the Pipe-lines Act 1962 repealed provisions in the Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Act 1923 which enabled the compulsory renewal of wayleaves for mineral pipe-lines. In response to a request from the CBI my Department is considering with others concerned whether means should be found to restore these powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the Housing Corporation and its finances.

The Housing Corporation has a continuing function to perform in the support and regulation of the work of housing associations. The Government expect to publish shortly its response to the recommendations concerning the Housing Corporation contained in the fifth report (1978–79 Session) of the Public Accounts Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has happened to the information collected for the rating review; and to what use he intends to put it.

Such rating return forms as have been received have been put in store by the Valuation Officer, but there are no present plans for using them for any purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, if he intends that the proposed shorthold arrangements shall apply uniformly throughout the United Kingdom or if there will be a regional application.

The Government intend that the legislation to introduce shorthold should apply throughout Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider amalgamating the security functions of the county court and rent tribunal into a single housing tribunal dealing with landlord-tenant disputes.

My right hon. Friend is considering the various suggestions on this subject that were made in response to the last Administration's review of the Rent Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the local authorities who refused to participate in his Department's count of gipsies and other travellers which took place in January and July of the current year.

Wyre Forest district council and Malvern Hills district council decided not to participate in the count of gipsy caravans on 17 January 1979.Information is not yet available for the count held on 11 July 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the fact that Mrs. Baker of 30 Harrow Road, Barking, who is at an advanced stage of negotiation with the London borough of Barking for the sale of her house and, expecting an early completion of contract, has sold almost all her furniture and now finds the sale is frustrated by his Department's instructions to local authorities on housing allocations for 1979–80, he will give sanction to the London borough of Barking to complete its purchase.

We have recived an application for individual borrowing approval for the purchase of Mrs. Baker's house which we are considering.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the fact that his circular to local authorities of 21 June on housing allocations for 1979–80 is causing particular hardship to persons who have committed themselves to the purchase of other premises or to the sale of furniture or fittings be- cause they are in negotiation for the sale of their house to the local authority, he will issue a further circular giving permission for the sale to proceed in these cases.

I am considering what arrangements may be necessary to deal with acquisitions which were in progress on 21 June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what decision has been taken regarding the continuation of the Football Grounds Improvement Trust's activities to assist football in general; and if it is his intention to permit the trust to continue its function and obtain its finance from " spot the ball " competitions.

I have no responsibility as such for the Football Ground Improvement Trust. I am of course very conscious of its valuable work in assisting football; also that its source of finance is dealt with in the report of the Royal Commission on gambling, now under consideration. In reaching decisions with other responsible Ministers on this aspect of the report I shall bear in mind the trust's excellent record.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the report on the monitoring of progress in housing action areas.

Data on progress recorded by local authorities in annual reports on their housing action areas is published in Local Housing Statistics, a copy of which is available in the Library.In addition seven HAAs have been studied in detail. Reports on progress in two of these have already been published and the remainder should follow later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to place the countryside Bill before Parliament; and whether it will be similar to his predecessor's Bill.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply on Friday 25 May to the hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Marks). These matters are continuing to receive close attention.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will expedite the publication of the basis of support for the growers in the potato industry, in view of the fact that further delay will prejudice the preliminary arrangements which the Potato Marketing Board requires to make for the current year.

My right hon. Friend announced on 9 July that the potato guarantee arrangements will continue, with provision for the stabilisation of the market through support buying should this prove necessary. I understand that the Potato Marketing Board expects to offer firm tonnage contracts to individual producers before the end of August, a month earlier than last year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals are being recommended for finance to be made available to the White Fish Authority in order that grants may be made available for the construction of new fishing vessels for replacement of out-of-date vessels.

I am very much aware of the concern in relation to the White Fish Authority grants and loans scheme. My right hon. Friend is considering the position.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now introduce a compulsory slaughter and compensation policy as the most effective and cheapest way to contain and ultimately eradicate Aujesky's disease amongst pigs.

A major factor governing any decision to commit public funds and manpower to a compulsory slaughter and compensation policy would be the relationship between the likely cost and the benefits which might be expected to accrue. The disease will shortly be made notifiable and the information thus gathered, together with data from serological surveys which will be completed before the end of the year, will enable the Government to determine what action is appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deputations he or his Ministers have had since taking office to discuss the possibility of assistance to industry.

I have had 13 meetings with representative organisations and other interested parties to discuss industrial matters, including assistance policy or the circumstances of individual firms. In addition my Ministers have had 32 such meetings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total amount of aid offered by him to industries in Scotland which have required such aid; how much of that aid has been accepted; and what is the total number of jobs protected as a result.

In the period 3 May-30 June 1979, 33 offers of assistance have been made totalling £14 million in grants with project costs accounting to £127 million. The associated number of jobs expected to be created or safeguarded is 6,829. The corresponding figures for 3 May-30 June 1978 were 29 offers of assistance totalling £3·3 million in grants with project costs amounting to £25 million, associated with the creation or safeguarding of 2,324 jobs. It is too early to provide meaningful estimates of the proportion of offers accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given the Queen regarding the flying of the English Royal Standard in Scotland during the occasion of the Queen's latest visit.

No question of advice arose. The Sovereign's personal standard, flown wherever She is in residence in the United Kingdom, conforms to the Arms of the United Kingdom prescribed by Royal Proclamation of 1801, as provided for under the Act of Union of 1800 between Great Britain and Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to prohibit sales outlets designating tomatoes as " Scotch " when in fact the tomatoes have been imported from abroad.

It is already an offence to sell imported tomatoes as " Scotch " and any evidence of this practice should be drawn to the attention of the police.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to provide for medical practitioners who are compelled to prescribe drugs and medicines due to the absence of qualified pharmacists in the rural areas of Aberdeenshire, East proper remuneration for the additional work and overheads involved in inducement practices.

The scale of fees payable to dispensing general medical practitioners in Scotland is negotiated with the profession in the light of the general recommendations of the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body. I am satisfied that dispensing doctors are properly remunerated for this aspect of their work.All practitioners in inducement practices receive an inducement payment to bring their total net remuneration, including dispensing fees, up to a " yardstick " figure agreed with the profession.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to make an announcement of an increase in the hill cattle subsidy.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to my hon. Friend the Member for Galloway (Mr. Lang) on 5 July 1979.