asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the trend of yields per acre of grain crops in the South-West.

Despite lower yields this season, the mainly upward trends for grain yields in the South-West over recent years continue.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the 1970 harvest.

Overall the harvest has been disappointing. Due to difficult weather conditions yields of spring-sown cereals have generally been well below average. Winter wheat was hardly affected by the weather, however, and has yielded well. I would not expect total cereal production to differ significantly from the average of the past two years. There is likely to be a surplus of maincrop potatoes. It is too early to assess the prospects for the yield of sugar from the beet crop.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what official briefings he has given to the Press since 18th June; which papers were involved and what was the nature of the subjects discussed during those interviews; and whether he will make a statement.

I have held Press conferences for representatives of the national, provincial and farming Press on the new Brucellosis Incentive Scheme and on the recent White Paper on the Adjustment of Agricultural Guaranteed Prices. On other occasions I have answered questions on various subjects put to me by the Press.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on his plans to charge farmers the economic costs for services rendered by the National Agricultural Advisory Service; and whether such proposals will be taken into account in the next Price Review.

Not yet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will include a requirement that the name of the country of origin should appear on consumer packs when he renews Orders covering agricultural and fishery products.

If my right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry decide to renew any Marking Orders covering agricultural and fishery products under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 I would in general expect the country of origin to be named.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the increase in costs to the farming industry since 18th June.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the increased costs which so far have fallen upon the agricultural industry in the current year; and which items represent the largest amounts.

It is not possible to assess precisely recent changes in agricultural costs, but there have been large increases since the last Annual Review especially on feedingstuffs and machinery.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take arising from the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on tea prices.

The Board's findings were directed primarily towards the tea industry. No action by the Government was called for.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of feeding stuffs as a proportion of total farming expenses in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the latest year for which figures are available.

It is estimated that in 1969–70 the cost of feedingstuffs represented some 30 per cent. of total farming expenses in the United Kingdom. No separate estimates are available for England, Wales and Scotland, but in Northern Ireland the percentage was about 47.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what acreage was under cereal crops in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; and what proportion this acreage formed of the total acreage used for agricultural purposes in each of the four countries.

The provisional results of the agricultural census taken in June, 1970, show that the acreage under cereals was nearly 7·7 million acres in England, 1·1 million acres in Scotland, 200,000 acres in Wales and 190,000 acres in Northern Ireland. This represented 33 per cent. of the total agricultural acreage in England, 7½ per cent. in Scotland, 5½ per cent. in Wales and 7 per cent. in Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of price increases of imported meat since 19th June to date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent meat prices have increased in the last four months; and what representations he has received on the matter.

Since June average retail prices of home killed beef and pork have risen between 1d. and 3d. a lb; depending on the cut, while home killed lamb has fallen by about 2d. a lb. Retail prices of imported beef and lamb have risen by about 1d. a lb. I have received no general representations on this subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take regarding the recent increase in the price of milk by approximately 8 per cent.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reductions he has made in the inquiries and forms addressed to farmers and landowners.

We have already discontinued the Pig Sample Enquiry, and we are exploring various other ways of reducing the number of demands for information which the Department makes on farmers and landowners.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he is giving to maintaining the present 40 per cent. rate of farm improvement grants for a longer period in development areas, having regard to the considerable employment potential in agriculture and particularly in intensive husbandry.

Forty per cent. will continue to be the basic rate of grant under the new Farm Capital Grant Scheme until 18th March, 1972.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the increasing damage to livestock caused by wild mink; whether he is satisfied that the conditions under which licences are granted to mink farmers are sufficiently stringent; and what proposals he has to deal with this problem.

The regular reports we receive show damage by wild mink to be insignificant and that there are no signs of an increase. We are satisfied that licences for mink farming, which are strictly enforced, need not be made more stringent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans have been made for the protection of animals from nuclear fallout.

It is the owner's responsibility to protect his animals by bringing them under cover or, as appropriate, by removing them from contaminated pastures. Plans have been made to advise the public when such steps are necessary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the review of recommendations in the Codes of Practice recently published by the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee was endorsed unanimously by all the members of that committee.

The Committee unanimously endorsed the report as a statement of the views which the Committee has taken into account in its reexamination of the controversial recommendations in the codes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement about bull licensing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will take steps to abolish bull and boar licensing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to retain bull licensing.

My right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales are considering the future of bull and boar licensing but they are not yet ready to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on agricultural ratings.

I have been asked to reply.I hope that legislation on this subject will be introduced early enough for it to complete its passage through Parliament in time for it to be in force for the next rating year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on capital grants for fishing vessels.

As a consequence of the abolition of investment grants announced today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Government have decided that the rates of grant payable for deep sea vessels shall be reduced from 35 per cent. to 25 per cent. of the gross approved expenditure. For inshore and herring vessels the reduction is to be from 40 per cent. to 30 per cent. Construction abroad at costs judged not to compare fairly with those in United Kingdom yards will not be eligible for grant. The limits on loans for inshore and herring vessels are unchanged.A scheme will be laid before Parliament to give effect to these changes and until it can be brought into operation the White Fish Authority and the Herring Industry Board have been directed to withhold approval of applications for grant received from today. Meanwhile applications for grant received up to yesterday and subsequently approved will be paid at the old rates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of the Horticulture Improvement Scheme.

Assistance for horticultural improvements will be provided under a revised Horticulture Improvement Scheme which we hope, subject to Parliamentary approval, to bring into operation on 1st January, 1971. The conditions of the new Scheme will be broadly parallel to those of the Farm Capital Grant Scheme, and are intended to simplify the procedures for claiming and paying grant; but no major alterations will be made in the basic qualifications necessary for a business to obtain assistance under the Scheme.The list of facilities eligible for grant will be revised to take account of developments in horticultural practice. The basic rate of grant provided under the Horticulture Act 1960 will be unchanged at 33⅓ per cent.As a consequence of the decision to discontinue investment grants and of the introduction of the new tax allowances for plant and machinery announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the rate of supplementary grant provided under the Agriculture Act 1967 will be reduced, giving a total effective rate of grant for items under the new Scheme of 35 per cent. of eligible expenditure.The necessary Orders will shortly be laid before Parliament.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his plans for the future of capital grants for agriculture.

The Government have decided to introduce a single, unified, Farm Capital Grant Scheme which will replace a wide variety of existing schemes providing assistance to farmers and landowners for capital investment in agriculture. In the new Scheme (to be made under powers provided by the Agriculture Act 1970) the procedure and conditions of grant are standardised and a number of present restrictions are removed in order to make more productive use of the grants. The Scheme will not cover plant and machinery, which will qualify for new tax allowances announced today by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The necessary Orders will shortly be laid before Parliament and, subject to Parliamentary approval, the new Scheme will come into operation on 1st January, 1971.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated increase in the Retail Price Index consequent on the change-over of the system of financial support to the farming industry.

It is not possible to provide such an estimate. The effect on the Retail Price Index resulting from a change in the system of financial support will depend on the precise nature and timing of the change to be made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he has given to making an application for a revision of the Sugar Agreement.

The Commonwealth Sugar Agreement is now subject to triennial review; the first such review takes place in 1971.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number of sheep in England and Wales on 1st January, 1950, 1960 and 1970; and if he will state the average flock size on each of these dates.

Figures for 1st January are not available and average

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of foul brood have been notified to his Department annually over the past five years in the United Kingdom and Shropshire, respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he now has to deal with the spread of Warfarin-resistant rats; what is the present extent of the area infested by such rats; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I recommend farmers, occupiers and local authorities who have the statutory responsibility for controlling rats to use alternative poisons in the areas where warfarin-resistant rats are found and where necessary our staff give technical advice on their safe use.Warfarin-resistant rats are unevenly distributed within an area of approximately 1,200 square miles in Shropshire and Montgomeryshire, but they have also been found on several small farms outside it as well as in a number of isolated places

Foul brood of bees is not a notifiable disease. The number of colonies in which foul brood has been confirmed in England and Wales as a result of inspections made under the Foul Brood Disease of Bees Orders has been as follows:—Fisheries for Scotland and the Ministry of Agriculture for Northern Ireland were as follows:—elsewhere in Great Britain. It is not difficult to control these rats if occupiers and local authorities follow the technical advice available, and the spread of warfarin resistance should not increase the number of rats or the risk to public health.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has of mice developing Warfarin-resistant characteristics; and what proposals he has to deal with the dangers to public health deriving from Warfarin-resistant mice.

A small percentage of mice have always possessed the inheritable characteristic that confers resistance to warfarin. The intensive use of this poison in some towns has resulted in large increases locally in the proportion of mice resistant to it, but the local authorities know how to control them by other poisons or by trapping. Such mice do not present any more danger to public health than ordinary mice.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to streamline his Department's free advisory service.

I announced on 6th August my decision to combine my Department's professional and technical services in a single Agricultural Development and Advisory Service. A copy of my announcement is in the Library of the House. The change should provide a more effective and economic organisation.Apart from this and in the course of the general review of Government activities, I am reviewing the functions of my

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing the total number of cattle in each county, the total number in each county taking part in the Brucellosis (Accredited Herd) Scheme, and the total number in each county taking part in the Brucellosis Incentive Scheme, expressing the latter two figures for each county as a percentage of the first figure, at the latest available date.

The information about the number of cattle taking part in the voluntary Brucellosis Schemes is not readily available. The position as regards herds at 30th September, 1970, was:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the development by the White Fish Authority of the Type 28 Shetland Gutting Machine; what has been its success with the distant water fishing fleet; and what further steps he is taking to fit this mechanical gutter in British trawlers.

The development of these machines is a matter for the White Fish Authority, and I am asking the Chairman to write to the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, West. They would qualify for improvement grants, but it is of course for trawler owners to decide what equipment to fit in their vessels.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will arrange for beef carcase types, as required by the main marketing centres in the United Kingdom, to be identified as a guide to producers; and whether he will consult with each region of the Meat Traders Organisation.

No. The grading of beef carcases according to regional requirements would be a matter for discussion between producers, trade interests and the Meat and Livestock Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what payment was made in the last financial year to pedigree breed societies by the Meat and Livestock Commission for the work of identification of animals and pedigree recording as required by the Commission;(2) how many of the staff of the Meat and Livestock Commission, not including those at the bull testing stations, are working on cattle improvement schemes.

These matters are entirely within the responsibility of the Meat and Livestock Commission. I am sure the Commission would be glad to let my hon. Friend have the information if he asked them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that the Meat and Livestock Commission and its programme of research and development is in accordance with Government policy.

The functions of the Meat and Livestock Commission, which is an independent statutory corporation, are laid down in the Agriculture Act 1967, and they include promoting or undertaking research into the production, marketing and distribution of livestock and livestock products. Within the terms of the Act, the Commission is responsible for arranging its own programme of work, including research.There is, of course, regular liaison between my Department and the Commission concerning the activities of the Commission, and we are satisfied that they are doing useful work. There is similar liaison, as far as its programme of research and development is concerned, between the Commission and the Agricultural Research Council.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he intends to take following Report No. 151 of the National Board for Prices and Incomes concerning increases in the price of bread.

I shall discuss the matter shortly with major plant bakers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to investigate the increased price of whisky and gin and examine the strength of competition in the distilling industry.

No. This year's price increases for whisky and gin were the first since 1961. The increases for whisky in the early part of the year were notified to the Ministry, under the previous Administration, and no objection was found. The manner in which price increases by other firms were delayed, for whisky and gin, demonstrated the strength of competition in the distilling industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends to take to prevent the ending of controls on the price of beer in public bars.

Any such decision would be a matter for the industry. I have no information on the subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals have been put to him by brewers for increasing the price of beer; what reply he has given; and if he will make a statement.

Following discussion with both brewers and licencees about increases in their costs, I agreed to release them from their undertaking not to increase public bar beer prices. I had their assurance that this relaxation would not lead to a general price increase.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take, in view of the recent announcement that there is unlikely to be a deficiency payment on barley this year, for the Home-Grown Cereals Authority to obtain their levy income to finance the Forward Contracts Bonus Scheme.

My agricultural colleagues and I have reviewed the situation with the Authority. It will be necessary for them to borrow in order to meet their liabilities, but it is intended to recover the amount involved from growers if not this year then subsequently and Orders will be laid before Parliament in 1971 accordingly. However, the Authority have been assured that if they are unable to meet their debts because of an inability to collect money owing to them the Government will seek Parliamentary approval to make a payment to the Authority to enable them to meet such debts.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give greater encouragement to the use of fertiliser.

Encouragement to the use of fertilisers is given by the subsidy scheme under which a contribution of about 27 per cent. is at present made towards farmers' costs. The increases in guaranteed prices for certain of the main farming commodities announced earlier this month should also help in this direction. I do not consider that further encouragement is necessary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many civil servants in his Department are currently operating the system of investment grants on combine harvesters, tractors and other farm machinery; and what plans he has for reducing this work.

The work on these grants takes up part of the time of a number of staff spread over some 40 locations. The equivalent in full-time staff is calculated at 105 for harvesters and tractors and 10 for fixed plant and machinery. When the Farm Capital Grant Scheme comes into operation the harvester and tractor grants will cease but the payments will still have to be made over some two years. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and my right hon. Friend have today made statements about fixed plant and machinery investment grants.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to encourage greater investment by farmers in agriculture.

Our policy for changes in the basis of agricultural support will protect farmers from low priced imports while limiting Exchequer liability. This should increase farmers' confidence in the future possibilities for increased production and provide a sounder basis for further investment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent he estimates that competition has reduced the prices of foodstuffs since June.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) and others.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department have taken or intend taking to control the retail price of flour in view of representations about profit margins submitted to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer earlier today to the hon. Member for Leicester, North West (Mr. Janner) and others.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in the interests of competition and consequent price reduction, he will now take steps to allow free and unrestricted entry to the United Kingdom of any food product.

Unilateral liberalisation of such imports would not be in the interest of consumers, producers or our balance of payments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to combat the recent infestation of spring wild oats.

It is for farmers to take action against spring wild oats. The Advisory Services have given wide publicity to ways of dealing with wild oats. Research and experiment are continuing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the high cost of feeding stuffs, he will now make the guaranteed prices for milk and beef dependent on a flexible feeding stuff formula as is the case with pigs.

I do not consider that such a change is required. Action has been taken concerning the recent exceptional increase in the cost of feedingstuffs.In general, changes in feed costs are a matter to be taken into account at Annual Reviews.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate, in pence per gallon, of the rise in costs to milk producers since the last Price Review.

I cannot give a precise assessment of the rise in milk producers' costs over this part of the year.But the estimated increase of about 4d. a gallon in the producers' price during the next six months resulting from the increase in the milk guarantee which was announced on 6th October should mitigate the effect of increased costs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to raise guaranteed prices to farmers; and what is his estimate of the effect the increase will have on food prices.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Charles Morrison) and my hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will review the basis on which Departmental Estimates are presented to the House as recommended in paragraph 23 of the First Report from the Select Committee on Procedure, Session 1968–69.

The possibility of changes in the basis of the Supply Estimates will be borne in mind as work proceeds on the development of Departmental systems of planning and control of public expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a White Paper on the future pattern of public expenditure incorporating the suggestions made in paragraph 15 of the First Report from the Select Committee on Procedure, Session 1968–69.

My right hon. Friend will take these suggestions into account in preparing the next in the annual series of White Papers on Public Expenditure, which he will present to the House later this Session.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why form DN3(S), being a final demand notice for tax due on 1st July, was issued before the end of July threatening legal action if tax was not paid immediately.

In order to reduce the burden of work and to accelerate the flow of revenue, the second application was not issued this year and the final demand was issued earlier than in previous years. The procedure is, however, being further considered and in future years the final demand will not be issued until the beginning of August.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in his next Budget, he will reduce income tax on National Insurance retirement pensions where people have continued to work for a number of years after receiving their pensions so as to enable them to put part of their pension aside to help them in their less active old age and again save the State from contributing to their upkeep.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion but as my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary said in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes) on 21st July, we do not think that it would be right to single out for special tax relief retirement pensioners who have more than one source of income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made with a comprehensive simplification of the law relating to income tax; and by what date he proposes to introduce amending legislation.

Studies are being conducted into a number of aspects of personal taxation with a view to simplification but I cannot say when it may be possible to introduce legislation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of P11D forms show a nil return.

The number is not known. There is no central record of nil returns, and the extra work involved in keeping one would not be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he now has for reducing or stabilising prices, controlling inflation and dealing with the economic situation.

The main factor generating the excessive rate of advance in prices is the rate of increase of wage costs. Our strategy must therefore be directed to the progressive moderation of present rates of wage settlement. As to the general economic situation, I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statement this afternoon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to abolish capital gains tax, reduce corporation tax, eliminate selective employment tax and reduce income tax this year; and what loss to the revenue will be involved by these measures.

The Government's policy, as stated in our Election Manifesto, is to reduce taxation; simplify the tax system; and abolish the selective employment tax. The necessary proposals, giving details of the cost to the revenue, will be brought before Parliament at the appropriate time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has regarding investment allowances; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend made this afternoon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he intends to take to reduce income tax for those workers earning less than £30 per week; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend made earlier this afternoon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the gross national product per head of population in each of the 20 leading nations, including Great Britain, in 1964 and the comparable figures in 1969, from information available from international sources.

The figures requested are given in the table below. They have been converted from national currencies into United States dollars at the current exchange rates, but this does not necessarily give a comparison of differences in the standard of living as it makes no allowance for the differences in internal prices. Any comparison between 1964 and 1968 is also affected both by price changes and changes in exchange rates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of gross national product was represented by taxation in 1964; and what was the comparable percentage in 1969.

In 1964 total taxation amounted to 33·2 per cent. of the gross national product at factor cost; in 1969 the corresponding percentage was 44·2.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider opening a branch of Her Majesty's Stationery Office in Bridge Street, Westminster.

This is at present under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the criticisms by Her Majesty's judges of Section 408 of the Income Tax Act 1952, now Section 451 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970, and of the ambiguities in the Section, what instructions he has given as to the circumstances in which tax is to be claimed under that section.

My right hon. Friend has given no such instructions, but he is considering whether any amendment of the Section is required.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the privately-owned capital wealth of the United Kingdom is owned by the wealthiest 1 per cent. of the population, what proportion is owned by the wealthiest 10 per cent., and what proportion is owned by the poorest 50 per cent.

In 1968, the latest year for which an estimate has been made, the wealthiest 1 per cent. of the population aged 15 or over owned 34 per cent. of the estimated total wealth owned by individuals, and the wealthiest 10 per cent. of the population aged 15 or over owned 75 per cent. of the wealth. The poorest 50 per cent. of the population aged 15 or over owned no wealth of the kind included in the estimates. These do not take account of wealth which can be transferred without formality on death. In 55 per cent. of the deaths in 1968 no grant of representation was required either because no property was left or because the assets were of such a kind such as National Savings Certificates, where arrangements exist for the transfer of small amounts without a grant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the proportions of the gross national product devoted to public expenditure, private consumption and private investment in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and whether he will give the corresponding figures for France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Japan

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will receive representations from the tin-mining industry in Cornwall concerning their claims for fiscal incentives and taxation structure similar to that accorded by the Governments

The information in the following table is taken from the returns made to O.E.C.D. and as far as possible comparable definitions have been used. The figures for the United Kingdom take account of revisions to the published estimates made since the O.E.C.D. return was completed.of Canada and the Irish Republic, details of which are available to him from international sources.

We are, of course, prepared to receive any representations which the industry may wish to make, though we should wish to consider them against the background of the Government's general policies for industrial investment which my right hon. Friend outlined to the House today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the relationship between the daily circulation of the newspaper and the value of the Government advertising in the newspaper in the year ending March 1970 in the case of the Daily Mirror, the Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mail and the Morning Star.

The information is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, taking the £ sterling as having a purchasing value of 20 shillings on the date when Members of Parliament's salaries were last fixed in 1964, to what extent on an annual percentage and cash basis the salary has been reduced in purchasing value to the latest convenient stated date.

The current gross figure for Members of Parliament's salaries inclusive of the £1,250 notional expenses allowance was fixed in November 1964 at £3,250 per annum, payable from 16th October 1964. Taking the purchasing power of a members' salary to be £3,250 in October 1964 its purchasing power in September 1970, the latest date for which information is available, is estimated at £2,495. This is equivalent to an average annual decline of 4·4 per cent. These figures do not take into account the effect on any individual of the secretarial allowance (maximum £500 per annum) which was introduced in 1969.These estimates are based on the movement in the Consumer Price Index from 1964 to 1969 adjusted by the movement in the Index of Retail Prices for the months at the beginning and end of the period.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to appoint a number of outside advisers on taxation.

I appointed Mr. F. A. Cockfield in July to advise on taxation policy. I have no plans for further appointments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish the Consultancy Report on the reasons for the high turnover of Inland Revenue staff when it is completed.

It would be contrary to established practice to make available to the general public copies of a report commissioned for management purposes and I am aware of no reasons why there should be a departure from the practice when this particular report is received.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a revised table for 1968–69, taking account of fuller information now available, to show the amounts of Members' expenses allowed for income tax purposes against their remuneration as Members of Parliament, together with such comparable figures for 1969–70 as can at present be obtained.

The table below brings up to date the 1968–69 figures published on 25th November, 1969.As from 1st October, 1969, a Member has been able to draw a cash allowance of up to £500 a year for secretarial expenses which he incurs on parliamentary duties. The allowance to which he is entitled is deductible from expenses incurred to arrive at the amount allowable against his remuneration for tax purposes. For 1969–70 the table shows separately admissible expenses before and after deduction of the appropriate secretarial expenses allowance.