asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average weekly grant received by students in United Kingdom universities and polytechnics.

In the academic year 1977–78, the latest for which details are available, mandatory award-holders received maintenance payments from public funds averaging £720 and should have received a further £290 on average, normally from their parents. These payments relate to academic years of varying lengths and cannot therefore be expressed in weekly terms. Data relating to universities and polytechnics alone, are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in the interests of reducing public expenditure and in the light of the decisions of several universities to leave the National Union of Students, he will bring forward legislation to abolish compulsory membership of student unions and to provide for a new system of financing.

The question of student union membership is a matter for local decision. My right hon. and learned Friend announced new arrangements for the financing of student unions on 5 February in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. van Straubenzee).—Vol. 978, c. 139–40.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what study he has made of the report "The Universities' contribution to the Nation" by the Association of University Teachers; and whether he will hold discussions on practical ways to developing further the contribution of universities to the economy and the community.

I have read the report with interest. I am sure that the report is already fulfilling its purpose of increasing public awareness of the considerable contribution that the universities' make towards the economy of the country and to society as a whole. Ways in which this contribution might be furthered are, I am sure, being studied by individual universities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what sums have been allocated by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for sponsoring of military research in higher education in Great Britain.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer he received from my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Army on 23 January. I am informed that the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation does not sponsor military research in establishments of higher education in Great Britain.—[Vol. 977, c. 235.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, how many civil servants he has in his Department of under-secretary rank and above: and how many of them are qualified scientists or engineers.

There are 23 officers in my Department of undersecretary rank and above. Of these, two are qualified scientists.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the most recent estimate of the numbers of teachers without appropriate qualifications currently teaching mathematics, physical sciences and modern languages in the city of Birmingham.

This information is not held by the Department: the hon. Member may wish to seek it from the Birmingham education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the most recent estimate of the number of teaching vacancies in the city of Birmingham in mathematics, physical sciences and modern languages.

In January 1979, the most recent date for which information is available, Birmingham education authority reported 10 unfilled vacancies in mathematics, 16 in the physical sciences and two in modern languages. Information is currently being collected with respect to January 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North-East, (Mrs. Short) Official Report, 22 November 1979, c. 298, when he proposes to publish the response of the Schools Council on 16-plus examinations; and if he will make a statement.

The Schools Council's views on sixth-form examinations were submitted to my right hon. and learned Friend on 3 January and they are being examined alongside the proposals in the Keohane report. It is not the Department's normal practice to publish Schools Council documents. However, I understand that a limited number of copies will shortly be available from the council in keeping with normal practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will announce his decisions on the section 13 notices published by the Inner London Education Authority in respect of Shelburne, Highbury Hill High, Sir Philip Magnus and Highbury Grove schools.

I am carefully considering these proposals by the Inner London Education Authority, together with the objections that have been received, and will reach a decision on them as soon as possible. I will arrange for the hon. Member to be informed of the outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he plans to seek to exempt the Merseyside and London urban development corporations from the provisions of the Wages Council Acts, the Health and Safety at Work etc., Act and the Employment Protection Act.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what changes have taken place in the number of health and safety inspections for factory workers, the numbers in the field force of inspectors and the frequency of visits on average of factory inspectors; and what recruitment has been planned or cancelled for 1979 and the current year.

The number of factory inspectors making visits to factories increased from 603 in April 1974 to 890 in January 1980, comprising 803 inspectors located at area offices and field consultant group offices, and 87 specialist inspectors in headquarters who regularly pay visits in the field. Part of this expansion was to deal with the many workplaces other than factories for which HM Factory Inspectorate became responsible in 1975. The inspectorate no longer distinguishes factories from other workplaces in its statistics so it is not possible to state whether there have been changes in the number of health and safety inspections for factory workers. On the frequency of visits generally, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) on 8 November 1979.—[Vol. 973, c. 260–1.]Recruitment for both general and specialist inspectors of factories took or is taking place as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will find means of bringing part-time workers within the scope of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

The services of ACAS are available to assist both full-time and part-time workers who inquire about their statutory rights or other matters relating to their employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to receive the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service report on contract cleaners.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) on 20 December 1979. [Vol. 976, c. 299.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will confirm that, for the purposes of the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers Compensation) Act 1979, a quarrying company which is still operational, and which employed an applicant now suffering from pneumoconiosis, is not considered to be a "relevant employer" if the work done by the employee for that company was not such that made him vulnerable to the effects of dust while undertaking that work.

Yes. Account is taken of the nature of the work undertaken by a sufferer for a firm in determining whether or not that firm is or is not a "relevant employer" for the purposes of a particular application under the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many civil servants he has in his Department of under-secretary rank and above; and how many of them are qualified scientists or engineers.

There are 36 civil servants of under-secretary rank and above in the Department of Employment group. Eight of these are qualified scientists or engineers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further steps he intends to take to amend the law following the McShane case.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what reduction in staff is planned at employment rehabilitation centres over the next three years; and what effect this will have on individual centres;(2) what representations he has received on the effect of the projected staff reductions on the work of employment rehabilitation centres; what replies he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

I will reply to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of unemployment among textile and clothing workers at the latest available date.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether a person born in Hong Kong, but claiming Chinese nationality, is part of the numerical scheme for dependent territories when applying for a work permit.

A citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies holding a United Kingdom passport issued by or on behalf of the Govenor of Hong Kong would have been eligible for a work permit under the special arrangements which existed in 1979. A person born in Hong Kong but who does not hold such a passport would not have been eligible under the scheme, unless he was in possession of a passport issued by another dependent territory.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, by country of origin, the waiting list of applicants for work permits from the dependent territories.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any proposals for changing the regulations governing the award of costs against claimants in industrial tribunals or in the Employment Appeal Tribunal, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend intends to lay before the House shortly amendments to the industrial tribunal procedure regulations, as proposed in my Department's working paper published on 25 September 1979. The regulations governing the award of costs in the Employment Appeal Tribunal are the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will investigate allegations that officers in the northern regional office of his Department are demanding from applicant firms for short-time working compensation scheme subsidies what are the names of those persons being made redundant; if he will ensure that this new practice ceases; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, under present arrangements all notification of accidents at factory nuclear installations can be given to agricultural inspectors.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 January 1980, Vol. 977, c. 24]: Where under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, notification of accidents to an inspector is required by a relevant statutory provision, it may be made to any inspector appointed by the Health and Safety Executive under section 19 of the Health and Safety at Work Act who holds a full warrant. This includes aricultural inspectors. Administrative arrangements ensure that any notice received is referred to the appropriate inspector for the particular premises to which the notice refers.Where an incident at a nuclear installation subject to licensing under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 is a dangerous occurence of a type specified in the Nuclear Installations (Dangerous Occurrences) Regulations 1965, notification is to the Health and Safety Executive.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Health and Safety Executive has up-to-date computerised information concerning the contents of hazardous materials stored on industrial premises; and, if so, to whom it is available.

[pursuant to his reply, 13 February 1980. Vol. 978, c. 453]: The Health and Safety Executive maintains no computerised information about the quantities of hazardous materials stored in industrial premises. Certain information about the composition of materials supplied under trade names is held, for convenience, on a computer. Much of this information is provided by manufacturers and suppliers on a voluntary basis and in confidence and it is used by inspectors within the Health and Safety Executive as the basis of practical advice to management and work people about precautions to be taken. The actual composition is not made available outside the Health and Safety Executive. Manufacturers and suppliers have a duty under section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to make available to users information so as to ensure that the substances which they supply are safe and without risks to health when properly used.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when he will announce the programme for the English Language Book Society low-priced books scheme, after the recent reduction in financial support to this scheme.

Expenditure in 1979–80 is expected to be £1·7 million. Financial provision for 1980–81 will be sought in the main Supply Estimates. On present plans Estimates will be published between now and Budget day.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will publish the study made by his Department of the international and political implications of cuts in awards to overseas students for study in Great Britain.

Any assessments of this nature are confidential advice to Ministers. Indications of the likely effects on the number of awards available under the aid programme have been given in the paper submitted by the ODA to the sub-committee of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is satisfied with the work of the Arts Council.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will reconstitute the committee to advise Mr. Speaker and himself on matters relating to works of art in the House of Commons area of the Palace of Westminster.

I am pleased to announce that Mr. Speaker and myself are now in a position to appoint members to the new committee. We have agreed that the membership should be limited to seven, and exactly seven nominations have been put forward. They are: the right hon. and learned Member for Hertfordshire, East (Sir D. Walker-Smith), the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. Clark), the hon. Member for Staffordshire, South-West (Mr. Cormack), the hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Crouch), the hon. Member for Dagenham (Mr. Parker), the hon. Member for Middleton and Prestwich (Mr. Callaghan). and the hon. Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds). My right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, East will be chairman. I hope that the committee will be able to hold its first meeting very shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what tonnage of waste paper is sold by the House of Commons authorities for pulping over any convenient period for which statistics are available; what money accrues therefrom to the Government; and if he will make a statement.

Waste paper for pulping or recyling is sold under a contract administered by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. The total weight of such waste paper from House of Commons during 1979 amounted to 230 tonnes, the revenue from which was £684. There is currently no intention to alter these arrangements.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what easily available statistics he has of the cost of stationery used by the House of Commons.

The cost of stationery supplied by Her Majesty's Stationery Office for use in the House of Commons in the last three years has been:

April 1977 to March 1978	£53,692 (inc. VAT)
April 1978 to March 1979	£62,707 (inc. VAT)
April 1979 to January 1980 (10 months)	£72,541 (inc. VAT)

asked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. Bottomley), as representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the estimated annual cost to public funds of the personal accident indemnity policy for hon. Members as announced in the House on 11 February; and how many firms were invited to submit alternative rates.

The annual premium is £24,100. Eight insurers, including Lloyds syndicates, were approached.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will consider having discussions regarding placing the bust of Keir Hardie in a more prominent position within the House.

I will ask the House of Commons Works of Arts Committee to consider this matter when it is reconstituted.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people are employed by his Department in Wales; and how this figure compares with the number on 3 May 1979.

One, part-time: no change.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total value of works of art which have been exported from the United Kingdom since May 1979.

The total recorded in the overseas trade statistics for the period May to December 1979 was £97,392,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present number of inmates in each London prison.

On 31 January 1980, the population of each London prison was as follows:

Brixton	1,030
Pentonville	1,058
Wandsworth	1,438
Wormwood Scrubs	1,497
Holloway	414

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average number of days spent by prison officer class civil servants on sick leave, both certificated and uncertificated.

This information is not available centrally and I regret that it could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men are sleeping three to a cell in each prison in England and Wales.

On 13 January 1980 the number of men sleeping three to a cell in each prison in England and Wales was as follows:

Bedford	117
Birmingham	519
Leicester	219
Lincoln	201
Brixton	279
Canterbury	159
Lewes	21
Norwich	171
Wandsworth	189
Wormwood Scrubs	246
Durham	240
Leeds	750
Liverpool	198
Manchester	348
Bristol	102
Cardiff	90
Dorchester	9
Exeter	12
Gloucester	93
Oxford	195
Reading	6
Shepton Mallet	72
Swansea	12
Winchester	111

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he is able to give of the success of the Campaign on the Use and Restrictions of Barbiturates (CURB), particularly in relation to children and young people.

The campaign was primarily intended to reduce the availability of barbiturate preparations to misusers of those substances by persuading doctors to curtail their prescribing of them and to warn the public of the dangers of depending on them for inducing sleep. It is impossible to assess the extent to which it was responsible for achieving a significant reduction in the prescribing of barbiturate preparations. Statistics show that the number of prescriptions for those substances has been falling since 1971 and thus, by the time the campaign was initiated, in September 1976, a downward trend had already been established. None the less, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs which conceived the campaign felt that it had achieved its aim of alerting the medical profession to the dangers inherent in the excessive prescribing of barbiturates.Statistics for the prescription of barbiturates between 1971 and 1978, the last year for which figures are available, are set out below. Information is not available as to how the reduced availability of barbiturates has affected different age groups.

Total No. of Prescriptions for barbiturates (Thousands)
1971	12,922
1972	11,601
1973	10,647
1974	9,542
1975	8,095
1976	6,802
1977	5,933
1978	5,099

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reasons he decided not to reappoint the Advisory Council on the Penal System;(2) from what source he proposes to obtain the independent advice on penal policy which he would otherwise have obtained from a re-established Advisory Council on the Penal System.

The future of the Advisory Council on the Penal System was considered in the course of the Government's recent review of all non-departmental bodies. The advisory council had then been in abeyance for nearly two years. Its deliberations and the public debates which have been prompted by its reports have made an invaluable and lasting contribution to the development of penal policy. However, its functions in practice had not been to act as a standing body providing a continuing oversight of the penal system but rather to provide a way of obtaining outside advice on particular issues of penal policy. I therefore decided that a better way to ensure that the Home Office receives the outside advice it requires, without imposing too heavy a burden on certain individuals, would be to establish ad hoc committees. I shall, as and when the need arises, appoint groups of individuals with special knowledge of or interest in particular aspects of penal policy to consider specific issues, without requiring them to assume an indefinite commitment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a full statement on the present state of the fire services, with specific reference to establishments, recruitment, equipment and morale.

No. I have no reason to believe that fire authorities are failing to discharge their responsibilities under the fire services Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will appoint a specialist committee to re-examine the reports on the fire service by Margaret Thomas, and Sir Ronald Holroyd, and of the Cunningham Royal Commission and to update and apply their findings to the fire service where still relevant.

No. These inquiries which were completed in 1969, 1970 and 1971 respectively were considered at the appropriate time and I do not think any useful purpose would be served by appointing a committee to re-examine the reports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to take direct responsibility for the fire service.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to take the necessary power to enable his Department to appoint chief, deputy and assistant chief officers for the fire services, with the local authorities having the power of veto.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to take powers to impose such technical innovations on fire authorities as are deemed necessary by his departmental experts.

No. Technical matters relating to the functions of fire authorities are considered in the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council and its specialist committees following which recommendations are made to fire authorities by the Home Office. I have no reason to believe that these arrangements are unsatisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to take appropriate action to ensure the reference of all technical matters relating to the fire services to his Department for resolution by experts.

No. I have no reason to believe that the present arrangements, under which technical matters relating to fire services are referred to the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council and its specialist committees, are unsatisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take powers to settle matters of pay, hours and duty systems for the fire services.

No. Matters relating to fire service pay and conditions of service are the responsibility of individual fire authorities, acting on the recommendations of the appropriate national joint council, on which the fire authorities and the relevant fire service staff organisations are represented.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek a meeting with the appropriate local fire authority representative bodies and, if necessary, individual fire authorities, with a view to discussing their obligations to provide adequate and uniform standards of fire fighting and prevention cover.

No. I have no reason to believe that fire authorities are failing to discharge their statutory responsibilities in these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he plans to bring forward legislation to amend the fire service Acts.

Among the bodies to be abolished following the review of non- departmental public bodies is the Fire Service College Board. It will not be possible to implement this decision until there is an opportunity to amend section 23 of the Fire Services Act 1947. I have no other plans to bring forward legislation to amend the fire services Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants he has in his Department of under-secretary rank and above; and how many of them are qualified scientists or engineers.

A total of 31—not including three officers on loan to other Departments or bodies—of whom three have qualifications in sciences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will take steps to ensure that dangerous weapons, including crossbows, swordsticks, and so on are covered by a licensing system; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will initiate a study into the growing number of dangerous weapons in public hands; what steps he is taking to curb this growth; and if he will make a statement.

I am not convinced that tighter controls over weapons of this type are either justified or practicable at present, but I am keeping the matter under review. I hope to make a statement shortly on the Government's policy in relation to firearms legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the increase of alcoholism, he will initiate a departmental investigation to ascertain the extent of sales to home brewing kits; and whether he will take steps to ensure that such kits not sold to those under 18 years old.

The information available does not suggest that home brewing kits have contributed significantly to any increase in alcoholism, or that they are particularly abused by young persons. Accordingly, we have no plans to initiate a departmental investigation, nor to propose that the scope of the Lincensing Act 1964 should be widened so as to bring the sale of the kits under its control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an estimate of the proportion of (a) Canadian and (b) other foreign investment in British commercial radio.

The award of independent local radio franchises is, under section 2 of the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act 1973, the responsibility of the Independent Broadcasting Authority. I understand that the authority always expects to see significant elements of local ownership and knowledge in the composition of independent local radio companies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will re-examine the decision not to make resources available for a shift back to probation orders.

No such decision has been taken. On the contrary, in accordance with the Government's policy of promoting the use of alternatives to custodial penalties, encouragement is being given to an increased use of probation orders and resources are available, and are being increased, in the probation and after-care service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much he estimates will be the cost of operating each of the two new proposed establishments for young offenders, on the basis of population of 300 in each.

I assume that the hon. and learned Member has in mind Stockton and Aplleton Thorn. No realistic estimates can be made at this stage. In 1978–79 the average individual cost of keeping male young offenders in borstals and young prisoner centres was about £6,200.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take on the Williams com- mittee recommendation that the National Board of Film Censors should be appointed and empowered to allocate films into six new categories, including altering the present (A) and (AA) categories to categories limiting attendance to those under 16 years and under 18 years of age.

I intend to consider carefully the recommendations made by the Williams committee on these and other matters in the light of the views of interested organisations—which I shall be seeking—and of public reaction generally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much he estimates the cost of the intensive probation supervisions is for 300 offenders.

There is no separate category of intensive probation supervision. The probation officer gives as much time to each person supervised as he deems necessary. Information published in "Probation and After-Care Statistics England and Wales"—table 49 of the 1978 issue—shows that in the financial year 1977–78—the latest year for which figures are available—the average cost of probation supervision was about £270 per person per year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be in a position to consult interested organisations about the conditions subject to which subscription television pilot schemes over cable systems may be authorised.

A consultation letter has been sent today to both broadcasting authorities, the Cable Television Association, film and cinema industry representatives and other interested parties inviting written comments by 31 May. On the basis of comments received, I shall then decide the circumstances and conditions in which subscription television may be authorised. In addition to the organisations specifically consulted, I shall be pleased to receive comments from any other organisations or individuals who would like to send them. Copies of the consultation letter will be made available on request to the Home Office, Broadcasting Department, Room 610, 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AT: telephone 01-213 3346.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been stopped and searched each year since 1970 under the Drugs Acts; and of these, each year how many were subsequently detained, and of these, how many were later charged, and of these,how many were later convicted.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 February 1980, c. 287]: The numbers of persons stopped and searched in England and Wales under the Misuse of

PERSONS STOPPED AND SEARCHED UNDER THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT 1967 AND THE MISUSE OF DRUGS ACT 1971
England and Wales
Number of persons
			Metropolitan Police District		Rest of England and Wales
Year		Total England and Wales	Total	Arrested*	Total	Found to unlawfully possess controlled drugs
1972	…	29,892	12,939	2,893	16,953	5,095
1973	…	28,521	10 454	2,918	18,067	5,170
1974	…	20,597	5,766	2,345	14,831	4,115
1975	…	19,358	5,259	2,197	14,099	3,413
1976	…	22,272	7,413	2,385	14,859	3,503
1977	…	21,668	5,818	2,001	15,850	4,026
1978	…	24,519	6,412	2,483	18,107	4,051
* Not necessarily for drugs offences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been stopped each year since 1970 under the laws relating to being a suspected person loitering with intent, and of these, each year how many were (a) detained for questioning, (b) charged and (c) later convicted.

[pursuant to his reply, 7 February 1980, c. 287]: The numbers of persons stopped and the numbers detained for questioning are not collected centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The only information readily available relates to the numbers of persons arrested for such offences in the Metropolitan Police district since 1976 and is given in the table below, together with the information readily available on the numbers of persons proceeded against and found guilty in magistrates' courts for such offences. Information on persons proceeded against and

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions have taken place with the European Economic Commission, and with his opposite numbers in other European Economic Commission countries, for increasing the market for, and products derived from coal, ranging from smokeless solid fuels to liquefaction and hydrogeneration, having regard to the excessive dependence on oil; and if he will make a statement.

The Council of Ministers has fully recognised the vital role which coal plays in decreasing Community dependence on imported oil and a number of proposals for promoting the production and utilisation of coal are variously under consideration within the Community institutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, as a petrochemical feedstock for the United Kingdom industry, what are the comparative costs of naphtha and ethane.

The latest available information on the price of naphtha sold by United Kingdom refiners as petrochemical feedstock was contained in the reply to my hon. Friend's question on 1 February 1980.—[Volume 977, c. 795–6.]There is no open market for ethane; sales are made on a specific basis and prices reflect the circumstances of the particular case.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the number of people currently employed in research and development in energy matters.

I have made no estimate of the total number of people currently employed in research and development in energy matters. This work is carried out in both private and public organisations. The UKAEA and the nationalised fuel and power industries employ about 6,000 qualified scientists and engineers in this general area, while 60 are employed in my Department and in its energy technology support unit in the planning and management of my Department's programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the increase in domestic gas and electricity charges for each of the years since 1970.

Based upon information used in the compilation of the general index of retail prices and published in the digest of United Kingdom energy statistics the percentage increases—in each year over the previous year—in the prices of gas and electricity to the domestic sector are shown in the following table.

ANNUAL PERCENTAGE INCREASE OF THE GAS AND ELECTRICITY COMPONENTS OF THE GENERAL INDEX OF RETAIL PRICES
Per cent.
Year	Gas	Electricity
1970–71	9	10
1971–72	6	7
1972–73	1	2
1973–74	5	22
1974–75	16	45
1975–76	22	25
1976–77	17	14
1977–78	3	10
1978–79	4	9

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many civil servants he has in his Department of undersecretary rank and above; and how many of them are qualified scientists or engineers.

There are 23 civil servants in my Department of undersecretary rank and above. Three are qualified scientists or engineers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if the uranium imported from the Rossing mine in Namibia is being stockpiled.

Purchases of uranium from the Rossing mine are used for electricity generation in the United Kingdom's nuclear power stations. A stockpile, comprising material from all sources, is maintained to guard against interruptions to supplies for the civil nuclear programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the cost per pound of uranium supplied by Rio Tinto—Zinc from the Rossing mine in Namibia; and what is the total cost of the 7,500 tons under contract to be supplied;(2) when the contract for the supply of uranium from the Rossing mine in Namibia expires; and if the Central Electricity Generating Board will then renew the contract.

Details of uranium supply contracts, including terms, delivery schedules and expiry date, are commercially confidential. The board's procurement policy is to diversify its sources of supply. A range of possible sources is being considered for future supplies.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if uranium from the Rossing mine in Namibia is processed or enriched for purchasers other than the Atomic Energy Authority or Central Electricity Generating Board; and if he will publish details of any such customers.

Uranium has been received in the United Kingdom from Namibia for processing and reexport on behalf of overseas customers. Details of such arrangements are a commercial matter for BNFL.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if the contract for the purchase of uranium from the Rossing mine in Namibia, initially agreed by the Atomic Energy Authority, has now been taken over by the Central Electricity Generating Board.

The contract, which was assigned to British Nuclear Fuels in 1974, has not to date been transferred to the Central Electricity Generating Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if the Central Electricity Generating Board is satisfied about the use of uranium in its nuclear reactors supplied from the Rossing mine in Namibia.

The use of uranium from the Rossing mine presents no technical problem in the operation of the board's nuclear reactors.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a study of the paper by an expert on nuclear physics on the dangers of the movement of nuclear waste through thickly populated areas, a copy of which has been sent to him; and what action he has taken or proposes to take.

[pursuant to his his reply, 19 November 1979, c. 19]: gave the following further information. I have considered the paper sent to me by the hon. Member and have placed copies of my letter to him and the ensuing correspondence in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what assessment he has made of the advantages to Her Majesty's Government of encouraging development of wide cut multi-fuel engine concepts.

I have been asked to reply.It is not possible at this stage to make a full assessment of the advantages of the introduction of engines with wide cut or multi-fuel capabilities into the total engine population. Engine developments by the industry with the encouragement of the Department may be expected to reap advantage in the form of improved fuel utilisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what evidence there is of disease attributable to radiation for employees working in nuclear power stations, non-nuclear power stations, and ash disposal sites used for coal-fired power stations; and if any of these sources create a public health hazard.

[pursuant to his reply, 11 February 1980, c. 427]: gave the following further information: I am advised by the CEGB that there have been no established cases of disease in employees attributable to radiation arising from the operation of its nuclear power stations, fossil fuel power stations or ash disposal sites. Safety practices are such that none of these sources are considered to represent a public health hazard.Power stations in Scotland and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what steps he is taking to discourage artistic co-operation with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as a part of the Government's express policy of showing opposition to Soviet imperialism in Afghanistan.

The Government have reviewed all aspects of Anglo-Soviet relations, including activities in the field of culture. We have decided to avoid cultural and other events whose main effect is to enhance Soviet prestige, or which would give the impression that nothing has changed. We wish to avoid appearing to condone Soviet aggression.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement about the future of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Turks and Caicos Government Ministers visited London in November to discuss with my right hon. and noble Friend and with me their wish for constitutional advance. Following these discussions, the Turks and Caicos Government have decided that, if they are re-elected later this year, the Islands should move thereafter to a period of internal self-government to be followed by full independence in mid-1982. These constitutional moves would be linked with a special independence aid package amounting over a few years to about £11·8 million in all.I also held discussions earlier this month with leaders of the Turks and Caicos Opposition. While they accepted independence as the Islands' ultimate destiny, it was their view that this could not be realistically considered for the time being.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the latest number of personnel employed by his Department in Wales; and how this figure compares with that of 3 May 1979.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently employs 154 permanent officers and 11 casuals in the passport office at Newport. On 3 May 1979 the staff numbered 135 permanent and 22 casuals.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many refugees, guerrillas and others have now returned to Rhodesia since the ceasefire.

About 30,000 refugees had returned by 18 February. Despite the fact that cross-border military activity should have ceased on 21 December under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, we believe that several thousand Patriotic Front military personnel entered after the dealine in contravention of the agreement.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements have been made for relaxing petrol rationing restrictions in Rhodesia for (a) candidates, (b) agents and (c) election officials.

I am consulting the Governor and will reply to the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements will be made for those Rhodesian public servants and military personnel who wish to leave in the period immediately after the election.

It is for the individuals concerned to make what arrangements they wish. But the Government made clear during the Lancaster House conference that the aim was to achieve a settlement under which as many people as possible would wish to remain in Rhodesia and contribute to its future.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the total number of (a) departmental heads, (b) senior civil servants, (c) commissioned officers and (d) police officers of inspector rank and above, in Rhodesia; and how many each category are black Africans.

The information is not readily available. I remind the hon. Member that it was agreed at Lancaster House that

"In the day-to-day administration of the country, the Governor will work through the existing public services."

asked the Lord Privy Seal what exchange controls apply on the export from Rhodesia of dollar notes and the transfer of capital; and whether he has any proposals for allowing transfers to the United Kingdom.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford (Mr. Churchill) on 28 January. The remittance of all funds from Rhodesia is subject to Rhodesian exchange control regulations.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements have been made for guarding ballot boxes during and after the election in Rhodesia; and what access Rhodesian civil servants or the military will have to ballot papers after the count.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the right hon. Member for Stepney and Poplar (Mr. Shore) on 13 February. The Government will be sending to Rhodesia a considerable number of additional British personnel whose job will be to assist the British district election supervisors by monitoring the conduct of the poll in the rural polling stations, both static and mobile. They will ensure that the voters are free to cast their votes within the privacy of the polling station without any undue influence being exerted on them. I also refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 13 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mr. Chapman).—[Vol. 978, c. 1530; c. 680.]

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is his estimate of the current numbers of (a) Rhodesian Regular Army, (b) Rhodesian police, (c) Rhodesian Air Force, (d) Selous Scouts, (e) auxiliaries and (f) mercenaries in Zimbabwe-Rhodesia.

The force levels of both the Rhodesian and Patriotic Front forces were disclosed in confidence to the Government during the Lancaster House conference. We do not intend to reveal the figures for either side now.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements are being made to protect the Governor in the event of the elected Prime Minister of Rhodesia withdrawing the protection provided by Rhodesian forces.

During the pre-independence period, all the Rhodesian forces are under the Governor's authority and control.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list the Rhodesian ceasefire guerrilla assembly points, giving with each one the nearest Rhodesian defence forces base and its distance from the assembly point.

The Patriotic Front forces are monitored from their assembly places, the dispositions of which are set out in the Lancaster House agreements. The Rhodesian forces are monitored from their company bases. Further information is not readily available.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many civil servants he has in his Department of under-secretary rank and above; and how many of them are qualified scientists or engineers.

There are now 167 officers in the Diplomatic Service, at home and overseas, graded under-secretary or equivalent rank and above, of whom one holds a degree in mechanical sciences. Of the 14 officers of similar rank in the Overseas Development Administration, one is a scientist.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government have had representations from other Governments about the purchase of uranium from the Rossing mine in Namibia.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in how many cases agricultural dwelling-house advisory

RENT (AGRICULTURE) ACT 1976
AGRICULTURAL DWELLING-HOUSE ADVISORY COMMITTEES (ENGLAND AND WALES)
		Number of cases*where
Quarter ending		Advice submitted to local authority by ADHAC	ADHAC advised that agricultural need had been established	ADHAC advised that agricultural need had not been established	Request for advice was withdrawn or otherwise terminated without ADHAC consideration
31 March 1977	…	150	145	5	45
30 June 1977	…	239	221	18	39
30 September 1977	…	171	149	22	41
31 December 1977	…	158	144	14	46
31 March 1978	…	188	173	15	41
30 June 1978	…	191	167	24	52
30 September 1978	…	179	155	24	34
31 December 1978	…	175	156	19	29
31 March 1979	…	170	154	16	28
30 June 1979	…	226	203	23	32
30 September 1979	…	197	178	19	30
31 December 1979	…	213	177	36	38
* Cases from quarter ending 31 December 1977 include forestry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about the working of the Rent (Agriculture) Act; and if he is satisfied that it is working in the interests of the agriculture industry.

We have received few representations about the working of the Rent (Agriculture) Act, which appears not to be currently causing any problems to the agriculture industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his longer-term policy is towards butter imports from New Zealand; and whether it is his intention to reduce imports to enable the British producers to compete more effectively with imports from Europe.

My aim is to secure satisfactory arrangements for the continuing importation of New Zealand butter after the end of this year. I see no reason why this should affect our own industry's ability to compete with imports from Europe.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many civil servants he has in his Department of under-secretary rank and above; and how many of them are qualified scientists or engineers.

There are 36 civil servants of under-secretary rank and above in my Department, and in addition four are on loan to other Departments, and one is on loan to the Commission of the European Communities; this gives a total of 41, of whom 12 are qualified scientists.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his policy will be at forthcoming meetings of the Council of Ministers for reducing the Community subsidy from the European Community taxpayer which results in a substantial surplus of milk produced in the Community; and if he will make a statement.

I shall be reiterating my view that a rigorous price policy is essential if the EEC milk surplus and its associated budgetary cost is to be reduced.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy towards the target price for milk; and if he will make a statement.

I shall be resisting the Commission's recent proposal that the target price for milk in 1980–81 should be increased by 1·5 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the cost of the pint milk bottle in relation to the profit agreed with milk retailers; and how many times, on average, each milk bottle is used.

I understand that the cost of a one-pint glass milk bottle is about 5p and that in England and Wales each milk bottle is used about 20 times on average. The liquid milk pricing arrangements envisage an average rate of profit for milk distributors but the actual profit will clearly vary from company to company.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to prevent potatoes from being imported during the months of July and August, in order to minimise the danger of Colorado beetle entering the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Under the EEC plant health frontier directive, which is expected to take effect before the summer, existing provisions concerning imported potatoes, will give way to a Community regime. The general effect will be that instead of applying cut-off dates for these imports there will be stringent requirements for the cleaning, packing and shipment of potatoes.The United Kingdom will continue to have powers to check individual consignments for Colorado beetle and will use them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why salt-cured herrings imported from Canada are charged duty when frozen herrings are not; and what proportion of salt-cured herrings are further processed and re-exported.

I have been asked to reply.Under the common customs tariff—CCT—no customs duties are chargeable on frozen herring imported whole, headless or in pieces. For other imported herring the full CCT rate of duty is between 12 per cent. and 18 per cent. according to category. Due to the effect of stock conservation measures on Community supplies of herring to the processing industry, member States agreed in 1977 to the temporary total suspension of CCT duties on herring intended for processing, including both frozen fillets and salt-cured herring. Subsequently, one member State objected to continuation of the total suspension of duty on salt cured herring and, since duty suspensions cannot be continued without the unanimous agreement of member States, a rate of duty of 3 per cent. was applied from 1 July 1979 as a compromise. As a result of further objections from the same member State, the rate of duty was increased to 5 per cent. from 1 January 1980. The duty suspension at zero rate on fresh, chilled or frozen fillets of herring intended for processing continues.Figures relating to the proportion of salt-cured herrings which are further processed and re-exported are not available.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) (a) what is the total number of people employed in the Department of the Comptroller and Auditor General, (b) how many are professional staff (c) what are the grading of the professional staff, (d) how many are in each such grade, (e) what is the pay scale for each grade, (f) how many are professionally qualified accountants and what particular qualifications they hold; and in the case of (a), (b), (c), (d) and (f), what were the comparable figures for 10 years ago;(2) what is the total annual income and expenditure of the Department of the Comptroller and Auditor General; how much of the expenditure relates to pay and allowance of the staff; how the charges to customers are computed; and what fee was charged in the most recent year to each customer.

						January 1980	January 1970	Current pay scale
Total staff in post			…	…	…	676	580	—
Total professional staff		…	…	…	…	567	484	—
Deputy secretary		…	…	…	…	3	1	16,714
Director of audit			…	…	…	13	11	14,250–17,000
Deputy director of audit		…	…	…	…	25*	19	11,750–15,000
Chief auditor		…	…	…	…	83†	66	8,850–11,750
Senior auditor		…	…	…	…	197	72	7,350– 8,900
Auditor	…	…	…	…	…	88	162	5,950– 7,250
Assistant auditor		…	…	…	…	158	153	3,200– 5,700
* Includes one senior principal scientific officer.
† Includes one economic adviser.

Since 1975 all new audit staff are required to qualify as members of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Previously, audit staff had to pass external examinations following a comprehensive three-year training programme, including accountancy and law, specially designed to meet the Department's auditing responsibilities but not leading to the qualification of a professional accountancy institute. Of the present 567 audit staff, 28 hold accountancy qualifications—CIPFA 18, ACCA 6, ICMA 3, FCA 1, three are members of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators, 138 are currently undertaking CIPFA training and 20 are studying for one of the above qualifications under bursary or other schemes sponsored by the Department.The latest estimate of the expenditure of the Exchequer and Audit Department for 1979–80 is £6,404,000 including £5,550,000 on salaries and allowances. Receipts are estimated at £1,188,000.Fees for those audits for which charges are raised are computed by applying unit costs to the time actually spent on each audit in order to provide for the recovery of the full costs of the service. There is a unit cost for each of the grade of staff involved directly on the audit to which is added an element for all overhead charges in respect of the salaries of senior staff and of administrative expenses falling on the Department's Vote and of costs borne elsewhere including accommodation charges and superannuation. Fees are not charged to Exchequer bodies.I understand that the Comptroller and Auditor General is writing to my hon.

In accordance with past practice, I am able to convey the following information provided by the Comptroller and Auditor General: Number of staff by grade in the Exchequer and Audit Department giving current pay scales.Friend about fees charged to individual customers.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement giving details of the arrangements for index-linking of pensions in the Civil Service and the comparable arrangements for the nationalised industries.

Public service pensions, including those of retired civil servants, are increased under section 59 of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975 by the same amount and at the same time as the additional component of long-term national insurance benefits. There is a variety of arrangements for increasing the pensions of former employees of nationalised industries and other public corporations.In some cases, there is a statutory obligation to increase pensions under the 1975 Act; in others, the trust deeds of the pension schemes require pensions to be increased as if they were covered by the 1975 Act or to provide full inflation-proofing in some other form; others simply award discretionary increases. In practice, most public sector pensions have been fully inflation-proofed in recent years.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many new posts have been created since 3 May 1979 in order to implement EEC legislative directives; what has been their cost; and if he will provide a breakdown of his statistics (a) for all EEC directives and (b) for EEC directives on matters which had not previously been matters under administrative control in the United Kingdom, and also by numbers and costs of those employed (i) in the Civil Service, (ii) by local authorities and (iii) consequentially by industry and private individuals; and whether, for any figures which are not available, he will ensure that such calculations are capable of being made for all future EEC measures.

I regret that it is not possible to provide my hon. Friend with the information about the past for which he asks, nor would it be feasible to arrange to record the information in the future. Even if it were possible, the cost of collection would be excessive.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service why the daily list of Government publications from Her Majesty's Stationery Office is being sent to subscribers in an envelope three times larger than previously; and what is the extra cost.

The daily list is produced to a tight timetable and folding it for insertion in smaller envelopes has been eliminated in order to ensure despatch on the same day. The net extra cost involved is about £5 per issue.