asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the work on the third nuclear store due to commence next month in Chatham Dockyard will be completed; and what it will cost.

The contract for a radioactive equipment store will be placed in the near future and it is anticipated that it will be completed in the early spring of 1979. The latest estimated cost is £280,000 at January 1978 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the total numbers of men and women of all grades employed in Chatham Dockyard in each of the years 1970 to December 1977 inclusive; and what is the estimated work force in each of the next five years.

The numbers of Navy Department civilian personnel employed in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Chatham were:

April 1970	6,832
April 1971	6,878
April 1972	6,569
April 1973	6,573
April 1974	6,547
April 1975	6,283
April 1976	6,160
April 1977	6,167
December 1977	6,351

The figures prior to 1975 include 48 personnel who were transferred, together with their tasks, to another element in the naval base in that year. The December 1977 figure includes 171 staff transferred from another element of the base.The number is expected to remain at about the present level for the next five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what types of Royal naval vessels it is intended to repair or refit in Chatham Dockyard in future; and what other Royal naval dockyards will be able to carry out the same work.

It is intended that Chatham Dockyard should continue to refit and repair nuclear Fleet submarines, frigates and various other vessels and small craft. Facilities for the refitting of Fleet submarines are available at Rosyth and are being provided at Devonport. Frigates can be refitted at all of the Royal dockyards.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the existing refit and repair basins in Chatham Dockyard it is intended to close down.

It is not intended to close any of the refit and repair basins in Chatham Dockyard.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what trades in Chatham Dockyard will become redundant or drastically reduced in each of the next 10 years.

The planned programme of work for Chatham Dockyard for the next 10 years will not lead to any trade becoming redundant. Nor is it envisaged that there will be any drastic reduction in numbers in any trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the proposed development plan for Chatham Dockyard; and what part of the alleged expenditure of £60 million has already been spent on projects now completed.

Following a detailed review of the facilities and resources available in Her Majesty's Naval Base Chatham a comprehensive development plan was drawn up at the end of last year as a basis for planning the modernisation and rationalisation of the dockyard.The plan identifies some 60 individual works projects, each of which will be considered for implementation as and when required. The total order of cost is over £60 million. A number of projects are in the preliminary stages of detailed planning but there has been, as yet, no expenditure on construction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what aid has been made available to the Government from the European Economic Community to help in financing gipsy camp sites.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he is giving to the revisions of the draft strategic plan for the South-East in the light of the proposals to increase capacity at Gatwick Airport from 6 million to 25 million passengers a year.

Any proposal by the British Airport Authority to develop terminal capacity at Gatwick to cater for 25 million passengers a year would be examined under the appropriate planning procedures, and the effect of such a proposal on the surrounding area would be taken into account then. The strategy for the South-East will allow for the possibility of airport expansion in this growth area but cannot anticipate any specific decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what criteria he has laid down to determine the proper use of inner city area funds in the city of Birmingham, particularly with regard to their use in financing highway programmes;(2) what representations he has received from Birmingham City Council regarding the West Midlands county council's proposals to replace transportation funds by inner city area funds.

I have had no representations from the city council on the lines suggested. The county council has been examining how far certain highway projects to serve inner Birmingham can be accommodated within its expected level of transport funds for the next five years; to the extent that it cannot, it will be discussing first with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport whether additional main programme funds can be made available. If a gap remains, the partnership may wish to consider whether the priority it attaches to the schemes would justify a contribution from the urban programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what use is being made of the offices at 1 Victoria Street, SW1, previously occupied by the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection; and who were the previous occupants of the accommodation which the Department is now occuping in the Millbank Tower.

The offices referred to at 1 Victoria Street will shortly be taken up by the Department of Trade. The offices in Millbank Tower recently occupied by the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection were formerly occupied by the Department of Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of currently ocupied local authority houses which were built prior to 1st January 1972.

It is estimated that there were about 4·2 million occupied local authority housing revenue account dwellings in England at the end of 1977 that were constructed prior to 1st January 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not agree to meet representatives of the Church of Scientology to discuss the ban on foreign Scientologists entering the United Kingdom; and why he insists that all such approaches must be in writing; and whether he will make a statement.

I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by my meeting representatives as proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has been having with members of the Commission of the European Economic Communities concerning immigration and repatriation policies.

I have had no separate discussions with the EEC Commission but the United Kingdom has participated fully with other member States in examining proposals made by the Commission to combat illegal migration and illegal employment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it took him until 16th March 1978 to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West of 12th January 1978 enclosing a communication from Councillor W. Watts, J.P., regarding illegal immigration; what was contained in this letter which was not known on the date of its receipt; and whether this is the usual time taken to send information in such circumstances.

I receive many thousands of letters each year from hon. Members on immigration and other matters; each one is dealt with as rapidly as possible. It is not always practicable for me to reply as soon as I would wish, and I am sorry that in the case of the particular leter referred to a reply could not be sent earlier.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is possible for a former immigrant now settled in Great Britain to claim adoption of children from his home country and to arrange for them to be allowed entry into Great Britain and what check is made to ascertain that these are proper adoptions and not a subterfuge to obtain entry for children who would otherwise not be admitted into Great Britain.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State gave to a Question by him on 8th March—[Vol. 945, c. 651]—She has also written to my hon. Friend on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, when giving consideration to the question of immigration, he will consider restoring passports to their original purpose of a travel document rather than evidence of nationality or country of origin or rights of entry into the United Kingdom.

The original purpose of a passport was, as the word implies, to enable the holder to pass through the ports. A passport remains one of the most convenient ways by which a traveller may establish his right to enter the United Kingdom because it usually provides adequate evidence of his identity and of his nationality or citizenship and may contain in a convenient form other information which would show whether or not he qualifies for entry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he is aware that Captain Abdul El Sayed has admitted to knowingly and deliberately breaking the British immigration laws, and the laws of his own country, Egypt; and whether, when giving consideration to his deportation, he will bear in mind that this man's claim that he would be shot if he returned to Egypt has been officially denied by the Egyptian Government;(2) why Mr. Abdul El Sayed who was admitted into Great Britain in August 1976 to attend a radar course for a period of 10 months and should have left in June 1977 was allowed to remain from June until the present; and what action he is taking to deport him in the knowledge that he admitted to breaking British law and the law of his own country of Egypt.

I have this case under consideration in the light of Mr. Abdul El Sayed's conviction for overstaying and representations that have been made on his behalf.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish details of the boards, commissions, committees or other types of organisations established by his Department since October 1974, giving in each case the purpose of the organisation, the chairman's and members' salaries and expenses, and the total cost of the organisation for each year since 1974.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on those recommendations of the Select Committee on Race Relations which he accepts and those which he does not accept; and if he will state his reasons.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been detained under the provisions of the Prevention of Terorrism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been subsequently charged with offences; and with what offences they have been charged.

3,167 people have been detained in Great Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976. An extension of detention under Section 7 of the 1974 Act or Section 12 of the 1976 Act has been approved in 277 cases; a further 668 people were detained for 48 hours or less. 2,222 people have been detained pending further examination at ports under the supplemental orders made under the Acts.142 people detained under the Acts have been charged with offences in Great Britain. 20 of them have been charged with offences under the Acts. Four of the remainder have been charged with murder, three with attempted murder, 16 with conspiracy to cause explosions, 11 with unlawful possession of explosives, one with conspiracy to possess or procure explosives with intent to endanger life, 12 with offences under the Firearms Act 1968, one with causing an explosion, five with conspiracy to defraud the Inland Revenue, 22 with theft, eight with burglary, one with causing criminal damage, one with threatening to cause criminal damage, one with attempting criminal deception, one with taking a motor vehicle, one with handling a stolen vehicle, five with handling stolen property, one with unlawful wounding, two with possession of drugs, three with wasting police time, one with harbouring a person known to have committed an arrestable offence, four with assault on police, one with being found on enclosed premises, one with possession of an offensive weapon, three with offences under the Road Traffic Act 1972, five with criminal deception, one with obtaining a passport by deception, one with arson and six with non-payment of fines.In addition, five people have been removed to the Irish Republic, and there charged, three with burglary, one with robbery, and one with theft.30 people have been returned to Northern Ireland, and there charged, seven with murder, three with robbery, five with firearms offences, four with unlawful possession of explosives, five with causing an explosion, one with the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, three with burglary, and two with arson.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and under which sections of the Act the charges have been brought.

17 people have been charged in Great Britain with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976: three under Section 10(1)(a), two under Sections 10(1)(a) and 10(2), two under Section 10(1), one under Section 10(1)(b)—who was not initially detained under the Act—three under Section 1(1)(b), two under Section 9(1), two under Section 9(2)(a) and two under Section 11(1). Four people were charged in Great Britain under Section 1(1)(b) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been served with exclusion orders under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been deported to (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland; how many have appealed against exclusion orders; and how many appeals have been successful.

125 exclusion orders have been made under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976. Notice of the making of an exclusion order has been served on 117 people, 109 of whom have been removed, 84 to Northern Ireland and 25 to the Irish Republic. 22 of the 117 made representations objecting to the order. The order has been revoked in six of these cases. One case is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has refused an extension of five days to the police for the holding of a suspect under the Prevention of Terrorism Act; if so, how many.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department of the charges brought against suspects initially held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, if any have been dropped before the case was heard; if so, which charges; if any charges have led to an unsuccessful prosecution, and, if so, which charges; and if any charges led to a successful prosecution, if so, in each case, what was the sentence imposed.

Details of the outcome of the more serious charges made in Great Britain are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report the number of arrests and detentions by each of the regional police force of persons

Police Force			Number of Detentions	Number of Applications for extensions of Detention
Metropolitan Police	…	…	739	100
Avon and Somerset Constabulary	…	…	39	3
Bedfordshire Police	…	…	42	0
Cambridgeshire Constabulary	…	…	0	0
Cheshire Constabulary	…	…	6	0
City of London Police	…	…	24	8
Cleveland Constabulary	…	…	7	1
Cumbria Constabulary	…	…	2	2
Derbyshire Constabulary	…	…	1	0
Devon and Cornwall Constabulary	…	…	27	4
Dorset Police	…	…	16	0
Durham Constabulary	…	…	0	0
Essex Police	…	…	33	6
Gloucestershire Constabulary	…	…	10	0
Greater Manchester Police	…	…	54	3
Hampshire Constabulary	…	…	144	67
Hertfordshire Constabulary	…	…	0	0
Humberside Constabulary*	…	…	5	0
Kent Constabulary	…	…	40	8
Lancashire Constabulary	…	…	57	4
Leicestershire Constabulary	…	…	7	0
Lincolshire Constabulary	…	…	3	0
Merseyside Police	…	…	801	16
Norfolk Constabulary	…	…	0	0
Northamptonshire Police	…	…	20	1
Northumbria Police	…	…	5	0
North Yorkshire Police	…	…	1	0
Nottinghamshire Constabulary	…	…	3	0
South Yorkshire Police	…	…	0	0
Staffordshire Police	…	…	0	0
Suffolk Police	…	…	8	0
Surrey Constabulary	…	…	82	25
Sussex Police	…	…	18	0
Thames Valley Police	…	…	15	5
Warwickshire Constabulary	…	…	0	0
West Mercia Constabulary	…	…	2	1
West Midlands Policet	…	…	97	8
West Yorkshire (Meropolitan) Police	…	…	104	7
Wiltshire Constabulary	…	…	3	0
Dyfed Powys Police	…	…	57	0
Gwent Constabulary	…	…	2	2
North Wales Police	…	…	37	0
South Wales Constabulary	…	…	58	2
			2,568	273

In addition, 599 people have been detained under the legislation in Scotland, in respect of four of whom extensions of detention were granted.

The total number of persons detained in England and Wales under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976 and the total number of applications for extensions of detentions, none of which were refused, for each police force are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken against the research scientist who continued to perform experiments on animals for several months after his licence had expired, despite the fact that he had received three reminders from the Home Office to the effect that his licence was due for renewal and a notice informing him of its expiry.

I referred the papers to the Director of Public Prosecutions who caused inquiries to be made by the police but did not advise prosecution. The experiments carried out by the scientist, who had held his licence since 1966, were within the scope of his licence and certificates which would have been continued in force if he had applied at the proper time as had happened on the previous expiry date in 1971. The administrative lapse was a serious one and the person concerned was left in no doubt on this point. Subsequently he has applied for a new licence and this has been granted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will set out full details of the policemen who resigned from the service without pension or gratuity in 1977 showing (a) how many resigned and (b) details of the number of years service completed before resignation.

The available figures are as follows:

Less than 2 years service	2,726
2–5 years service	939
5–10 years service	920
10–15 years service	447
15–25 years service	134
Total	5,166

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many policemen resigned from the services in England and Wales prior to pension or gratuity in the first quarter of 1978.

These figures are not yet available. I will write to the hon. Member when all the March returns from police authorities have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints were made against the police in England and Wales during 1977.

The number is provisionally estimated to be 27,700. Detailed information will be published later in the year in the annual reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary and the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the dissatisfaction felt by members of the London taxicab trade at the increase in cases of defrauding by non-payment of fares; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the problem.

I have no evidence of an increase in the non-payment of London taxi fares, but further protection for taxi drivers and others has been proposed in the Theft Bill.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is aware that between June 1976 and mid-February 1977 the purchasing value of Members' salaries had fallen by 11·6 per cent. and what were the figures between mid-February 1977 and mid-February 1978.

The parliamentary salary was, in February 1978,5·5 per cent. lower than it would have been had it moved in line with the index of retail prices since February 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which Mr. Nicholas Love was shot dead by Botswana border guards; and what steps he has taken or is taking to secure from the Government of Botswana a fully apology and substantial compensation for the tragic loss of life of a British subject.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Colchester (Mr. Buck) on 5th April—[Vol. 947, c. 134]. My right hon. Friend is now studying the High Commissioner's report of his meeting with President Seretse Khama.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how he proposes to make political progress in Northern Ireland.

The Government wish to see established in Northern Ireland a new elected authority responsible for the administration of the great majority of those matters which most closely affect the lives of the people who live there but, as all the main parties in the House have agreed, that new authority must be one which both parts of the community in Northern Ireland will be prepared to support and sustain. I believe that within the basic principles of the framework for talks which I circulated to the leaders of the four largest political parties in Northern Ireland on 22nd November—[Vol. 941, cc. 1839–40]—it would be possible to devise a system of government which would be both workable and inherently fair, and in which the political representatives of both the majority and minority communities could participate I am ready at any time to discuss the setting up of an elected authority on this basis. I would hope that there will be a willingness on the part of the parties in Northern Ireland to make a positive response.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any proposals to fill the gap between the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland and Parliament at Westminster by returning to locally-elected control in Northern Ireland those matters which elsewhere in the United Kingdom are the responsibility of local or regional authorities.

Yes. The framework which I put to the main political parties in Northern Ireland last November envisages the establishment of a locally elected authority above the district council tier. This authority's responsibilities would include the administration of a wide range of services including those which before October 1973 were the responsibility of county councils or county boroughs in Northern Ireland. The system under which the authority would operate would need to be acceptable to this House as a whole and, as has been recognised by all the main parties here, acceptable also to both sides of the community in Northern Ireland. It would therefore need to reflect the special circumstances of Northern Ireland.I remain ready to take part at any time in further discussion within the principles laid down in the "framework"

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons excluded from Great Britain under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Northern Ireland) Act have been sent to Northern Ireland; and how many have been subsequently detained or charged with offences in Northern Ireland.

As at 31st March 1978, 85 persons excluded from Great Britain had been removed to Northern Ireland under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976, 13 of whom were detained on arrival. Of these, 12 were subsequently released after questioning and one was charged with offences committed in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been detained in Northern Ireland under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have subsequently been charged with offences; and with what offences they have been charged.

As at 31st March 1978, 451 persons have been held in Northern Ireland under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976. 229 of these persons were subsequently charged with the following offences:

Murder	84
Attempted murder	33
Conspiracy to murder	7
Explosives Offences	57
Conspiracy to cause explosion	4
Firearms offences	51
Membership of a proscribed organisation	28
Burglary	1
Robbery	5
Offences against the person	4
Unlawful collection of information	4
Theft	8
Hijacking	3
False imprisonment	5
Malicious damage	1
Taking part in an illegal procession	1
Withholding information	3
Intimidation	1
Arson	1

Some of the 229 were charged with more than one offence.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been charged under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act in Northern Ireland; and under which section of the Act.

As at 31st March 1978, 25 have been charged. Two persons have been charged under Section 9—failure to comply with an exclusion order; four under Section 10—contributions towards acts of terrorism, and 19 under Section 11—withholding information about acts of terrorism.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many persons have been excluded from Northern Ireland under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and how many have been sent to Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, respectively;(2) how many people have been excluded from Northern Ireland under the terms of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act.

As at 31st March 1978, two persons have been removed from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland in pursuance of orders excluding them from the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people from Northern Ireland have been excluded and subsequently been charged with breaking an exclusion order under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act.

As at 31st March 1978, no residents of Northern Ireland have been charged in Northern Ireland with breaking an exclusion order either from Northern Ireland or the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people from the Republic of Ireland have been excluded from Northern Ireland under the terms of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act and subsequently charged with breaking an exclusion order.

As at 31st March 1978, no person from the Republic of Ireland has been charged in Northern Ireland with breaking an order excluding him from Northern Ireland. Three such persons have been charged within Northern Ireland with breaking an order excluding them from the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will retain the present level of concessionary bus fare in respect of those who are 70 years old in Northern Ireland.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th April 1978], gave the following information:No. A new concessionary fares scheme came into operation on 3rd April 1978 in the Belfast area served by Citybus and enables everyone over the age of 65 to travel for half fare at all times. This represents a significant improvement for a large number of pensioners in Belfast.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report details of the size and composition of British representation at the Tokyo Round talks, indicating which of those involved have current or recent commercial experience of export and import business.

The European Commission conducts these negotiations on behalf of the Community as a whole. It does so in consultation with member States and within a framework agreed by the Council of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the nature of the surface material to be used on the outer orbital road, Hunton Bridge to Maple Cross.

At present this road is surfaced in concrete and there are no proposals to resurface it.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what he estimates to be the likely cost to public funds if all local authorities paid 50 per cent. of the cost of concessionary travel for pensioners and the disabled, as recommended in his Circular 2/78.

If local authorities which do not at present do so were to provide a half-fare concession for pensioners and handicapped people, as suggested in Circular 2/78, the total cost to public funds of all concessionary fare schemes in England and Wales—both existing and new ones—would be about £110 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the estimate of £1 million as the cost of the Pembury bypass on the A21, given in the White Paper "Policy for Roads: England 1978", has been made on the basis that the bypass will have dual carriageways in each direction, or on what alternative basis.

The standard of road has not yet been decided. The estimate of £1 million is a rough order of cost based on the approximate length.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will now answer the letter sent to the Under-Secretary of State on 23rd February, by the hon. and learned Member for Royal Tunbridge Wells, of which a reminder was sent on 22nd March, concerning the Pembury bypass on the A21.

I will be replying very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport which ferry services are currently in operation which would require parliamentary approval to be discontinued.

The information could be provided only by an exhaustive study of the numerous private and local acts and common law rights and obligations, the cost of which would be disproportionate.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in his "Policy for Roads: England 1978" Command 7132, he has given consideration to the introduction of recommended and mandatory routing for large and heavy commercial vehicles, having regard to the damages resulting from their use of unsuitable roads and the environmental problems to which they give rise in these circumstances.

The new White Paper on roads policy emphasises that the priorities for the road programme will give special weight to vital industrial routes and to dealing with those parts of the trunk road network where the problems of congestion and environmental damage are most severe.Last year's Transport Policy White Paper explained that the Government had concluded that a national system of mandatory lorry routes would not be a practical proposition for some time. However, my Department's long-standing advice is that lorries should, as far as possible, keep to the motorway and primary route network—the roads with the blue and green-backed signs. Local authorities are encouraged to make full use of their extensive powers to regulate lorry traffic to keep it away from unsuitable roads and environmentally sensitive areas, where better alternative routes are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will reconsider the transfer of responsibility for health checks on ships from the City of London health authority to the National Health Service on 1st April in view of the informed resistance to this change in regulation;(2) whether he will reconsider the transfer of responsibility from port health authorities to the masters of ships for the reporting of infectious diseases from 1st April in view of the informed concern about this change of regulation;(3) whether he will seek to increase the maximum £100 fine levied on ships' masters who fail to report cases of serious illness in their crews.

I refer my hon. Friend to the very full reply that I gave on these matters in the debate of 3rd April 1978 on Prayers to annul the Public Health (Aircraft) Amendment Regulations and the Public Health (Ships) Amendment Regulations (SI 1978/286 and 287), which now govern these arrangements.—[Vol. 947, c. 193–203].Although the motion to annul the regulations was negatived I explained the options open to the London Port Health Authority, in consultation with the area health authority, within those regulations and that I would consult my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department on any representations to me about the penalties referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will identify the officials criticised in the Fourth Report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration for 1977–78; whether disciplinary action has been taken; if so, what; and if he will make a further statement.

As I explained in my reply of 3rd April 1978 to my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Pavitt)—[Vol. 947, c. 25–6]—I do not think it right to identify the officials involved. The Parliamentary Commissioner did not find it necessary to interview them, and, so long after the events in 1964 to which the Report relates, they would find it difficult to assemble evidence bearing on their individual responsibility. I have strongly condemned the actions of the officials concerned, but I am satisfied that there would be no advantage now in attempting to take further steps to attribute individual responsibility. Of the four middle grade officials involved, three, including both those who took the decisions, have since retired. The fourth is working abroad

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what other sub-regional security units are planned in the South-West Region apart from that which is to be the subject of a public inquiry at Langdon near Dawlish in Devon; when each of these other sub-regional units is intended to be in operation; and what the catchment area for each is supposed to be.

The South-Western Regional Health Authority plans to provide two units; the one at Langdon to serve the southern part of the region—Cornwall, Devon and part of Somerset—and one within the Avon Health Area to serve the northern part of the region—Gloucestershire, Avon and part of Somerset. The precise location and date of opening of the latter unit have yet to be determined.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take in the light of the Oates Inquiry report into the death of Paul Brown; and if he will make a statement.

The Committee of Inquiry into aspects of the care of Paul and Liam Brown, under the chairmanship of J. S. Oakes, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, was set up by the Wirral Area Health Authority and the Wirral Borough Council and the report was published by them on 3rd April. The responsibility for considering what action should be taken rests in the first instance with the two authorities; the report is to be considered by each of them at meetings this month and they have undertaken to let me know the outcome. I am studying the report and will be considering in the light of the authorities' comments whether it raises matters calling for action at the national level.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why an elderly lady patient, details of whom have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Twickenham, was transported from her home in Twickenham for treatment at St. Peter's Hospital, London, WC, in a mincab (a) which arrived an hour late to collect her, (b) which carried the driver and four other sick passengers who were destined for different hospitals and some of whom had to sit on the laps of others, (c) which arrived at St. Peter's Hospital one-and-three-quarter hours later for the appointment and (d) the driver of which refused to take her home; if he will describe the system of employment of and payment to minicabs; what check is made of the quality of work done before payment is made; whether in the above case payment was made before or after the job; and if he will make a statement.

I am making inquiries and will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the retirement pension entitlement of a married woman depends primarily upon her own age or that of her husband; and, if the latter is the case, if he will cease to use the term "pensionable age" which implies that all married women are automatically entitled to the benefit when they reach the age of 60 years.

A married woman who satisfies the contribution conditions for a retirement pension on her own contributions is entitled to a retirement pension at age 60, subject to her retirement from regular employment, irrespective of her husband's age. A married woman who fails to satisfy these conditions may have an alternative title to a pension on her husband's contributions, but that title does not arise until he has become a pensioner and provided she has reached the age of 60 and has retired. "Pensionable age" is defined in Section 27(1) of the Social Security Act 1975 as meaning in the case of a man the age of 65, and in the case of a woman the age of 60.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning the refusal of the Committee on Safety of Medicines to inform mothers who are known to the Committee to have taken a hormonal pregnancy test during pregnancy that any claim for compensation for resultant congenital damage to their children must be lodged before 25th May 1978; and what reason the Committee has given him for the refusal.

The Committee on Safety of Medicines was asked by a community health council whether it would be prepared to notify mothers identified in a study of congenital abnormality and maternal drug use as having been given a hormone pregnancy test of the existence of the Association for Children Damaged by Hormone Pregnancy Tests. The committee has always undertaken its studies of adverse reactions to drugs on the basis of strict confidentiality to protect participants and ensure continuing co-operation with its work, and it felt that it could not use confidential information for the purpose proposed. I have received no representations.The results of the committee's study of a selected sample of mothers must not be misinterpreted to give the false impression that any mother can be identified as having given birth to an abnormal child as a result of a hormonal pregnancy test. While a marginal increase was shown in the kind of abnormalities which occur spontaneously, no specific abnormalities were found which could aid the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships in individual cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish in the Official Report the number of arrests and detentions by each regional police force of persons within their area under the terms of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; in how many cases applications were made for detention to be extended by a further five days; and in how many cases was it refused.

The number of persons arrested and detained in each region in Scotland between 29th November 1974 and 28th March 1978 under the authority of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976 were:

Strathclyde	84
Tayside	2
Lothian and Borders	7
Dumfries and Galloway	504
Grampian	2
Other Regions	Nil

Applications for the extension of detention by a further five days were made in four cases and none of these applications was refused.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how the overseas contracts for reprocessing fuel at the proposed

Date established	Title	Function
October 1974	Advisory Council on Energy Conservation	To advise and assist the Secretary of State for Energy in carrying out his duty of promoting economy and efficiency in the use and consumption of energy, in particular by:
		(a) identifying fields in which improvements in energy use can be achieved;
		(b) advising on the means of realising such improvements;
		(c) stimulating and maintaining public interest in energy conservation with a view to the widespread adoption of more efficient practices; and
		(d) reviewing progress made.
2nd December 1974	Committee of Inquiry	To examine the structure of the electricity supply industry in England and Wales and to report to the Secretary of State for Energy.
February 1975	Advisory Committee on Fixed offshore Installations	(i) To advise the Secretary of State for Energy on matters related to the Department's statutory safety responsibilities in connection with the design, construction, certification and performance of fixed offshore installations;
		(ii) To consider the whole offshore engineering scene, including developing technology, and to advise the Department of Energy on steps to be taken to promote participation by British industry.
		(iii) To establish ad hoc technical working groups on specific matters as may be required by the Committee to discharge its functions, provided that where such groups are thought necessary liaison is established with other bodies, groups or committees to avoid duplication of activity; and
		(iv) To provide advice to the Department of Energy on such other specific problems relevant to fixed offshore installations as are referred to the Committee.

I am advised that the proposed contracts would not be affected if a decision were taken to return plutonium as slightly irradiated fuel elements.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish details of the boards, commissions, committees or other types of organisations established by his Department since October 1974, giving in each case the purpose of the organisation, the chairman's and members' salaries and expenses, and the total cost of the organisation for each year since 1974.

Details of boards, and so on, set up since October 1974 are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what recent progress has been made in participation negotiations with companies involved in North Sea oil development.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th March 1978; Vol. 945, c. 771], gave the following further information:The Secretary of State for Energy, the British Oil Corporation, Phillips Petroleum Company, American Petrofina Exploration Company, Agip (UK) Ltd., Century Power and Light Ltd., Ultramar Exploration Ltd. and the British Electric Traction Company Ltd., today signed a definitive agreement which provides for majority State participation in the Maureen discovery in Block 16/29a. The agreement will become fully effective when commercial development of Maureen is initiated and its main provisions will be applied also to any further fields on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf that the companies may develop under their 1st to 4th round licences.Under the agreement BNOC will have an option over up to 51 per cent. of each company's share of Maureen petroleum production against payment of market price. BNOC will become a co-licensee with the companies and will have an effective voice and vote on all operating committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will set out in the Official Report the persons or organisations connected with consumer protection that are in receipt of public funds from central or local governments; and the annual cost of each.

The relevant budget estimates for central Government expenditure in 1978–79 at November 1977 prices are as follows:

	£
British Standards Institute (BSI)	1,700,000
Expenses of Consumer representatives on BSI standards making activities	10,000
Committee of Enquiry into Motorway Service Areas	25,000
Consumer Advice Centre Grants for Running and Capital costs	3,580,000
Consumer Protection Advisory Committee	7,000
Local Price Surveys	225,000
Monopolies and Mergers Commission	725,000
National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux	1,097,000
National Consumer Council	664,000
National Federation of Consumer Groups	6,000
Nationalised Industry Consumer Councils	1,911,000
Open University ("Consumer Decisions" Course)	6,000
Price Commission	7,170,000
Payments to members of Price Commission	123,000
Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents	33,000

Local authority expenditure on consumer protection is determined by individual authorities, but the White Paper on the Government's Expenditure Plans (Cmnd. 7049), is based on the expectation that local authorities' current expenditure for Great Britain in 1978–79 will be £29·2 million.If the hon. Member requires fuller information on particular items of expenditure he may wish to write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what are the reasons for the removal of his Department from Victoria Street to the Millbank Tower, S.W.1; and what are the comparative annual costs of the present and previous accommodation.

The move is part of a rationalisation of accommodation which will bring the staff of my Department together in one building. The comparative costs of the various buildings is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost in the current academic year of paying all students on postgraduate certificate in education courses non-means-tested mandatory awards.

The cost of abolishing the parental and other contributions for such students in England and Wales is estimated at £2 million for the academic year 1977–78.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the expenses of sales promotion by United Kingdom companies within Third World countries is allowable for tax relief.

In general, yes, provided they are incurred wholly and exclusively for the purpose of the company's trade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of his reply to the hon. Member for Woolwich, East on 16th December 1977, why mail order advertisements placed in the national Press by the Royal Mint do not include a reference to the availability of Giro payment facilities.

The Royal Mint is reviewing its current practice to see whether Giro payment facilities might be included in a future series of advertisements. When the review is completed, I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the savings in administrative costs if the present 10 income tax bands were reduced to five.

It is estimated that the overall savings might be somewhere about £400,000. This figure does not take account of the cost of the new PAYE tax tables which would be needed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the light of recent collapses of building societies, what further measures he is considering to protect investors.

I imagine my hon. Friend has particularly in mind the irregularities in the Grays Building Society. The Building Societies Association announced on Friday 31st March that sufficient assurances had been received from a number of member societies to ensure that investors in the Grays Building Society will not lose their money. Arrangements to implement these assurances, which take fully into account also the interests of mortgagors, are being made with the knowledge and encouragement of the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies. In addition, as also announced on Friday, the Chief Registrar with the approval of the Treasury has appointed Mr. Ian F. H. Davison, managing partner of Arthur Andersen & Co., as inspector to inquire into and report on the affairs of the society. The procedure for the inquiry is comparable to that under the analagous provisions of the Companies Acts and the inspector has powers to require production of books and other documents of the society and to examine on oath its officers, members, agents and servants in relation to its business. The inquiry will ensure that the authorities are fully informed about the way in which the irregularities occurred and, naturally, we shall be giving very careful consideration to the inspector's report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in the light of the collapse of the Grays Building Society, he will bring forward legislation to provide compensation for savers and mortgage holders in such circumstances.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ask employers to notify their employees that they are entitled to an annual tax allowance for tools and wear and tear of clothes where this has been agreed by the Inland Revenue, and also the amount agreed.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the approximate number of workers entitled to an income tax allowance for tools and wear and tear of clothing; and how many are receiving this allowance.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present annual allowance for tools and wear and tear of clothing for individual skilled fitters and turners in the engineering industry; and what were the allowances in April 1968 and April 1975.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will hold an investigation into the reason tax inspectors in many cases have not granted a tax allowance on the full current allowance agreed with the unions; and if he will instruct inspectors to check all allowances forthwith and grant the correct relief, and also to make, retrospectively, the proper allowance for the past six years.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a table showing the annual rates of growth of both M1 and £M3, on a seasonally adjusted basis, over the three months and six months to mid-March 1978, and similarly over the three months and six months to mid-March 1974.

Money supply figures for mid-March 1978 are not yet available. I will give the hon. Member a substantive reply when they are.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the net balance in (1) visible trade and (ii) the current account of the balance of payments between the United Kingdom and other EEC member States for each of the past five years.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the net weekly income in 1977–78 after taking account of income tax, child benefit, family income supplement and the value of free school meals, where applicable, for a married couple with three children where the husband is earning £40, £80 and £120 per week, respectively; what are the corresponding figures for a family where the children are resident overseas in a country without reciprocal arrangements for payment of child benefit; and what these figures will be in 1978–79 assuming that no further changes are made to the regulations in respect of allowances for children overseas, tax allowances or benefits other than those already announced.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of income is retained after deduction of tax and social security payments by a married man with two children below the age of 11 years (a) on average earnings, (b) on twice average earnings, and (c) three times average earnings in each Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th April 1978], gave the following information:Figures of average earnings in OECD countries are not available, but figures are published for most OECD countries for the average earnings of production workers in industry. The latest year for which this information is available is 1974.It would involve a disproportionate cost to carry out such calculations for all 24 OECD countries. I hope the hon. Member will find it sufficient to have information for the EEC countries, USA,

PERCENTAGE OF INCOME RETAINED AFTER DEDUCTION OF TAX AND SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS
					Average earnings	Twice average earnings	Three times average earnings
Belgium	…	…	…	…	93(5)	79(5)	76(5)
Denmark	…	…	…	…	68(5)	53(5)	48(5)
France	…	…	…	…	97	94	91
Germany	…	…	…	…	76	75	69
Ireland	…	…	…	…	87	80	71
Italy	…	…	…	…	98	87	82
Japan	…	…	…	…	92(5)	86(5)	81(5)
Luxembourg	…	…	…	…	91(1)	83(1)	76(1)
Netherlands	…	…	…	…	75	69	61
Sweden	…	…	…	…	76(5)	55(5)	46(5)
United Kingdom	…	…	…	…	79	73	68
USA	…	…	…	…	85(5)	78(5)	75(5)
NOTES
(1) Tax rates and earnings are those for 1974 or 1974–75, except for Luxembourg—1973.
(2) All figures refer to a married man with two children under 11. It is assumed all the income is from employment of the husband.
(3) Cash benefits for children are included. In accordance with OECD convention they are regarded as reducing tax liability before the percentage of average earnings retained is calculated.
(4) Normal personal reliefs and minimum expenses deductions are assumed: allowance is made for deductible social security contributions.
(5) Local income taxes are included as follows:
Belgium—at the rate payable by the great majority.
Denmark—at the average rates.
Japan—at the rates payable by the great majority.
Sweden—at the average rates.
USA—at the California rates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the total sum converted to £ sterling at current exchange rates now owing to overseas governments as a result of borrowings;(2) what was the total amount of interest due or paid to overseas Governments as interest on overseas borrowing during the year 1977; and what was the total repayment of debts incurred by borrowing from foreign Governments in the same period.

It is assumed that both of the Questions refer to direct foreign currency borrowing by Her Majesty's Government from overseas Governments.At 31st March 1978, the current sterling value of total outstanding inter-Government loans to the United Kingdom Government in foreign currencies amounted to about £2,027 million. The loans in question are the long-term North American loans from the United States and Canadian Governments, which date from the end of the Second World War; and the 1969–71 Anglo-German Offset Agreement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of allowing school fees against tax at the standard rate.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will allow the interest on the cost of borrowing for school fees to be set against income tax at the standard rate.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish two tables showing index numbers of (a) industrial output and (b) manufacturing output at constant market prices in the United Kingdom, United States of

TABLE 1
INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT*
1973=100
			United Kingdom	United States	West Germany	France†	Japan	Italy
1973	…	…	100	100	100	100	100	100
1974	…	…	98	100	99	102	97	104
1975	…	…	93	91	93	95	87	95
1976	…	…	94	100	100	103	98	106
1977	…	…	96	106	103‡	105‡	103‡	108§
Source:
United Kingdom—latest published estimates.
Other countries—OECD Main Economic Indicators.
* Index of Production for all industries excluding construction.
† Based on annual and quarterly data which represent only 78 per cent. of total industrial output, and for 1977 on monthly data which relate to 53 per cent. of industry.
‡ Average of eleven months January to November 1977.
§ Average of ten months January to October 1977.

TABLE 2
MANUFACTURING OUTPUT
1973=100
			United Kingdom	United States	West Germany	France*	Japan	Italy
1973	…	…	100	100	100	100	100	100
1974	…	…	98	100	98	102	97	104
1975	…	…	92	89	92	94	86	94
1976	…	…	93	100	99	103	98	106
1977	…	…	94	105†	102†	105†	102†	109‡
Source:
United Kingdom—latest published estimate.
Other countries—OECD Industrial Production—Quarterly supplement to Main Economic Indicators 1977–4.
* Based on annual and quarterly data quarterly data which represent only 77 per cent. of manufacturing output, and for 1977 on monthly data which relate to 50 per cent. of manufacturing industry.
† Average on nine months January to September 1977.
‡ Average of eight months January to August 1977.

The hon. Member will appreciate that questions on other countries' performances raise issues on the compatibility and quality of data available through the various international organisations. I am asking the Central Statistical Office to write to the hon. Member to explain

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 5th April 1978; Vol. 947, c. 150], gave the following information:The tables below show industrial output and manufacturing output at constant prices, re-scaled to 1973=100, for each of the countries specified in the question:the technical problems associated with international comparisons of this sort and the limitations of such data as are readily available here in the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing index numbers of output per head of occupied population at constant market prices in the United Kingdom, United States of America, West Germany, France, Japan and Italy, for each year from 1973 to 1977, taking 1973 as 100 for each of the countries specified, and taking the 1977 figure as the average of those months for which figures are already available in each case.

TABLE 1
OUTPUT PER HEAD*
1973=100
			United Kingdom	United States	West Germany	France	Japan	Italy
1973	…	…	100·0	100·0	100·0	10·0	100·0	100·0
1974	…	…	99·0	97·1	102·4	·0	99·4	101·9
1975	…	…	97·8	97·5	103·2	104·3	102·1	97·9
Sources:
GDP—National Accounts of OECD countries 1976, Volume 1. Main aggregates.
Employment—Labour Force Statistics 1964–75.
* Gross domestic product (GDP) in purchasers' values at 1970 prices and 1970 exchange rates per head of total employment re-scaled to 1973=100.

Some later data—shown below—is available in quarterly publications, but can only be scaled to 1974=100 because compatible data for 1973 or earlier years

TABLE 2
OUTPUT PER HEAD*
1974=100
			United Kingdom	United States	West Germany	France	Japan	Italy
1974	…	…	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0
1975	…	…	98·6	100·1	101·0	101·8	102·7	96·1
1976	…	…	102·3	103·0	107·7	107·2	108·2	100·7
1977	…	…	101·9†	104·4†	110·6‡	··	111·7†	··
Sources:
United Kingdom—latest published estimates.
Other countries—
OECD Main Economic Indicators.
OECD Labour Force Statistics, Quarterly Supplement, November 1977.
* Gross domestic product at constant market prices per head of total employmen for United Kingdom and Italy; gross national product for United States, West Germany and Japan.
† Average of first three quarters of 1977.
‡ Average of first two quarters of 1977.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing index numbers of manufacturing output per person employed in manufacturing, at constant market prices, in the United Kingdom, United States of America, West Germany, France, Japan and Italy, for each year from 1973 to 1977, taking 1973 as 100 for each of the countries specified, and taking the 1977

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 5th April 1978; Vol. 947, c. 149], gave the following answer:Information comparing the United Kingdom figures with the countries listed for the period requested is not readily available. Such annual information as is available that can be re-scaled to 1973=100 is shown in the table below.is not shown in these publications, and revisions to 1974 figures would imply that these cannot be directly linked to the data used to compile table 1.figure as the average of those months for which figures are already available in each case.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 5th April 1978; Vol. 947, c. 148], gave the following answer:Information comparing the United Kingdom figures with the countries listed for the period requested is not readily available. Such annual information as is

MANUFACTURING OUTPUT PER HEAD*
			United Kingdom	United States†	West Germany	France‡	Japan	Italy
1973	…	…	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0
1974	…	…	97·7	100·1	99·6	101·7	98·0	100·8
1975	…	…	97·0	97·7	98·6	96·0	92·2	90·3
Sources:
OECD Industrial Production—Quarterly supplement to Main Economic Indicators 1977–4.
OECD Labour Force Statistics 1964–75.
* Manufacturing output at constant prices per head of manufacturing employment.
† The employment definition used for the U.S.A to derive manufacturing output per head at constant prices covers only wage earners and salaried employees and excludes the self-employed.
‡ Based on annual data which represents only 77 per cent. of manufacturing output.

It is not possible to compile estimates of manufacturing output per head for countries other than the United Kingdom for periods since 1975 because compatible data on manufacturing employment are not available.The latest available estimates for the United Kingdom re-scaled to 1973 are as follows:

MANUFACTURING OUTPUT PER HEAD
1973=100
1973	100·0
1974	98·4
1975	96·6
1976*	100·6
1977*	100·2
Source: Department of Employment Gazette. March 1978.
* Provisional.

The difference between such data for the United Kingdom as are available from OECD publications and data from the latest United Kingdom publications reflects the availability of later information.