asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the light of recent representations from property developers, he will make a further statement on his forecast of a yield of £80 million a year from the new development gains tax.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's statement on 17th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that a man with a wife and two children, with an income of £30·00 a week, has £26·15 spending power when at work and £28·30 for the first 14 weeks when not at work ; and whether he will take action to change this situation.

The general situation to which my hon. Friend draws attention is certainly very undesirable but in practice it can only arise for limited ranges of incomes and for limited periods. It will be corrected by the tax credit scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the case of married men with two children under 11 years of age earning, respectively, £1,000, £2,000, £3,000, £5,000, £8,000, £10,000, and £20,000 a year in October 1970, what are their respective take-home pay, net of tax and national insurance contribution, both at current prices and in real terms at October 1970 prices, at October in 1971, 1972, and 1973. respectively.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the take-home pay in real terms at October 1970 prices of a married man with two children under 11 years of age, after deductions of income tax and national insurance and assuming all income is earned, in the years 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73 and 1973–74, respectively, where he earned £1,000, £2,000, £5,000, £10,000, and £20,000, respectively ; and, in each case, what was the percentage annual change in post-tax real income for each year.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what way the annual take-home pay figures for 1973–74 given by him on 10th December (column 45–46) are affected by his subsequent statement

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will direct the Bank of England to instruct banks that credit card transactions which were entered into before 17th December 1973 shall not be subject to the new limitations imposed by his announcement of that date.

No. However, the measures announced by my right hon. Friend on 17th December were not intended to put card holders in financial difficulties, and the credit card companies have made it clear that, in respect of debts incurred on the previous terms, they will deal sympathetically with cases of hardship.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why it was decided to make subject to income tax specific allowances for expenses in respect of mayors and chairmen of local authorities.

No change is proposed in the tax treatment of these allowances. They will continue, as in the past, to be regarded as non-taxable, so long as they are wholly or substantially expended in connection with the duties of the office

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what restraints are being applied to the growth in the supply of money.

There has been a decline in the narrower definition of the money stock Ml since last July. The growth of the broader definition M3 is being restrained by the measures announced on 13th November and 17th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in the money supply according to the M3 definition over the latest period of three months for which information is available, at an annual rate ; whether this increase was in accord with the monetary policy of Her Majesty's Government ; and if he will now redefine the objectives of monetary policy for the remainder of the current financial year.

On a seasonally-adjusted basis, M3 rose by 5·7 per cent. in the three months to mid-November, or at an annual rate of about 25 per cent. The measures announced by my right hon. Friend on 17th December included a new technique for improving the authorities' control over the growth of money and credit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on his policy towards the TUC's economic proposals.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions have been given to the Department of Customs and Excise about the importation of obscene books and films ; what books are now on the banned list ; and why "Last Tango in Paris" and "Blow Out" were allowed to be imported into the country by his officers without examination.

In operating the prohibition against the import of indecent or obscene articles, Customs are guided by the relevant legal decisions. Control is not exercised on the basis of comprehensive lists. Lists issued to Customs officers of books the import of which may be prohibited are for guidance only. Copies of the two films mentioned by my hon. Friend were cleared through Customs under normal procedures.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of removing the tax on the pensions of war widows.

The information on which to base an estimate is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make provision for tax relief for small business men whose commitments will not be covered by their takings during the current reduction in the working week.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedfordshire, South (Mr. Madel).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ease bank credit restrictions for small businesses due to the liquidity problems arising from the oil and coal shortages.

I feel sure that the banks will give sympathetic consideration to requests for credit from small businesses in temporary liquidity difficulties as a result of the present restrictions. We are of course keeping a careful watch on the situation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make arrangements for banks to receive a Government guarantee on loans made to small businesses which are considered sound, and are at present restricted from receiving the necessary credit required to maintain their liquidity.

The Government are keeping the liquidity position of small businesses under close review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for remittances of value added tax from small manufacturing businesses to be deferred to ease the liquidity position of these firms.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedfordshire, South (Mr. Madel) on 16th January.—[Vol. 867, c. 131–2.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for special long-term credit facilities for the provision of fuel-saving insulation of domestic premises.

Powers already exist under which local authorities may make loans for work of this nature.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now make a statement on the future of the regional employment premium.

The House will be informed when we have reached conclusions on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to repeal the Sunday Observance Acts in view of the widespread support shown for Sunday football.

There are conflicting views about such a change and my right hon. Friend believes that the policy of successive Governments, to leave such matters to Private Members' legislation, should be maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often and for how long young offenders on remand are left in solitary confinement ; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that this information is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary "f State for the Home Department why he requires British citizens travelling on some internal flights of British airlines in the United Kingdom to complete immigration forms, and what use is made of the information obtained.

A number of chief officers of police with airports in their areas have arranged for passengers to and from Ireland to be asked to complete landing and embarkation cards. This decision was made by the chief officers concerned, and the procedure is on a voluntary basis. The object of obtaining the information is to increase security at ports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been refused entry to, or deported from, Great Britain by reason of their association with terrorist organisations in 1971, 1972, 1973 and January 1974 ; and at which airports or seaports they were apprehended, stating the figures for these.

To give the hon. Member a satisfactory reply would entail a search of the records and an appraisal of each case to determine whether it falls within the terms of the hon. Member's Question. This would involve disproportionate staff time and cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many VASCAR (visual average speed computer and recorder) devices are in use by the police in the East Midlands and in Northamptonshire, respectively ; and which other counties have adopted this method of detection.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None". The Essex and Southend-on-Sea Joint Constabulary have three VASCAR instruments in operational use and 27 instruments have been ordered for the Metropolitan Police. I understand that most other police forces in England and Wales are considering the purchase of one or more.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of public concern regarding the use of live animals for experimental purposes, the Government will take urgent steps to initiate studies directed towards the development of alternative techniques which can be used to replace live animal experiments.

I have been asked to reply.I am not convinced that such studies could be effective in isolation. It is only in the centres in which research is being conducted that the problems of developing alternatives to the use of animals can be fully appreciated and overcome. The Medical Research Council advises me that this is where effective techniques are in fact most frequently developed and that medical research workers already use such alternatives wherever possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he can now state the total cost of the Sunningdale Conference.

I regret that I am not yet in a position to state the total cost. I will write to the hon. Member when all the figures are available

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a progress report on the work by officials of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland Departments to define and agree the areas of common interest to be dealt with by the Council of Ireland ; and by what date he anticipates the work will be completed.

Officials from United Kingdom. Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland Departments have met to review possible areas of common interest, and further meetings will be held as required. It is too soon to say when studies will be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons in Northern Ireland hold valid firearms certificates although legally debarred from possessing firearms by reason of conviction for criminal offences.

None. Firearms certificates may not be held by anyone convicted of a criminal offence, but Section 19(5) of the Firearms Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 gives the Secretary of State power to remove this prohibition and this power has been exercised in respect of four people who would otherwise have been debarred.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the total amount of all expenses incurred by the first Secretary of State for Northern Ireland during his term of office ;(2) what was the total amount of all expenses incurred by the Minister of State for Northern Ireland, the hon. Member for Guildford (Mr. David Howell), during his term of office.

Expenses incurred by Ministers in performing their official duties in the Northern Ireland Office form part of the administrative costs of the Department and of other Departments supplying services, which are provided by Vote of Parliament. It would not be possible to obtain the information requested without disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is now able to reply to the representations made by the National Farmers' Union on 26th September 1973 asking for immediate additional support for dairy and livestock farmers.

I announced on 8th October that we had decided that the right time to consider this problem was at the 1974 annual review. We brought forward the start of this review to 6th December and I hope to announce the determinations by about the end of February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to reply to the letter of Wednesday 9th January from the Chairman of the Northampton County Farms Tenants Association drawing attention to the rise in the cost of dairy concentrates from approximately £40 per ton in the winter of 1972–73 to £74 per ton at the present time without any corresponding increase in prices for milk and with a decline in the prices received for calves and culled cows

The letter was acknowledged on my right hon. Friend's behalf on 15th January and he will be replying to the Chairman of the Northampton County Farms Tenants Association as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will institute an urgent inquiry into the incidence of mastitis in cattle ; the declining effectiveness of penicillin as a treatment for it ; and if he will make a statement ;(2) what losses were caused by mastitis in cattle in each of the last three years.

Mastitis is not a notifiable condition. Estimates of losses caused by it are not available for particular years, but it is considered that losses arising from reductions in the quality and quantity of milk, illness and death of cows, and cost of treatment are about £30 million a year.Frequent surveys to assess the prevalence of mastitis in the national dairy herd are undertaken by the Ministry in conjunction with various bodies including

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the percentage increase in food prices during 1973 in each EEC and EFTA country.

The information to the latest available date is as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he now expects to receive the report of the committee inquiring into the export of live animals from the United Kingdom.

During February 1974.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the number of heifers in calf being sent to slaughterhouses, owing to the increased price of feeding stuffs ; and if he will take steps to halt this trend.

We have no indication that this is occurring on any significant scale.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the 8 per cent. import duty on boned beef and boneless cuts of beef imported from outside the EEC and the Commonwealth is reduced to nil by monetary arrangements.

Monetary compensatory amounts (mcas), which serve to offset currency fluctuations, are determined to reflect the current rate of exchange of sterling in terms of the Community currencies that are floating jointly. Their effect is to reduce charges on imports ; and, in the beef sector, mcas have exceeded import charges on many imports of beef from non-Commonwealth countries so that charges on these imports have been reduced to zero.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advantages there will be for the United Kingdom in adopting EEC categories for the pig census ; and if he is satisfied that producers will be able to assess weights of pigs as accurately as they do age under the present system.

This change will aid comparison with statistics produced elsewhere in the Community. Weight is in principle a more certain method of assessing development in pigs than age since it is objective and not dependent on recordkeeping for its efficiency.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money was received from the Guarantee Section of the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (FEOGA) in 1973 by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce ; and how this money was expended.

In the 11 months up to 31st December 1973 the Intervention Board received £63·3 million from the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (FEOGA). Of this £62·3 million was spent directly by the board in the form of intervention payments, and £1 million was a repayment of costs incurred by the board in intervention buying, storing and selling.The principal fields of expenditure were import refunds on intra-Community trade (net of levies in that trade), £20·4 million ; denaturing of wheat for use as feeding stuffs, £14·7 million ; denaturing of skimmed milk and skimmed milk powder, £5 million ; starch production subsidy, £5·6 million ; export refunds on third country trade, £5·2 million ; consumer subsidies for butter, £7·1 million. The board also spent £3 million in subsidies for private storage of sugar, cereals and butter ; and £1·3 million on herbage seed and oilseed subsidies.In addition to this expenditure the board collected two Community levies—an agricultural levy on sugar marketing of £1·9 million and export levies on third country trade of £0·2 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has completed his consideration of the report by the Advisory Council for Agriculture and Horticulture in England and Wales on straw disposal ;I and if he will make a statement.

I have now received from the Advisory Council for Agriculture and Horticulture in England and Wales its report on straw disposal. I am arranging for its publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make representations on safety grounds to the United States authorities with regard to low flashpoint fuel for British airlines operating out of the United States of America.

I am advised by the Civil Aviation Authority that although the additional risk arising from the use of JP4 (wide-cut gasolene) as against JP1 (aviation kerosene) is only marginal, it recommends that United Kingdom airlines should wherever possible use JP1 in preference to JP4. Our preference for the use of JP1 is being brought to the attention of the United States authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied with the arrangements for security at Ringway Airport, Manchester.

To suggest satisfaction might imply a degree of complacency that would be incompatible with the degree of vigilance and the continual review that exists at Manchester and other airports.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much fuel oil, suitable for power station use, was exported in October, November and December 1973, respectively ; what is the estimated figure for January 1974 ; and how these figures compare with those for the equivalent months one year earlier.

Information up to November 1973 is given against SITC(R) 332.4 in Table VI of the appropriate issue of the monthly Overseas Trade Statistics. The December 1973 figure will be given in the December 1973 issue of the Overseas Trade Statistics, the publication of which, due on 29th January 1974, will be delayed by the electricity restrictions. Figures for the preceding year are shown in the corresponding monthly issues of the Overseas Trade Statistics for 1972. I prefer not to venture an estimate for January 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is Great Britain's current level of consumption of, respectively, iron, lead, tungsten, copper, potassium, sulphur, phosphorus, aluminium, chromium, manganese, nickel, tin and zinc ; what percentage of this consumption is, respectively, imported and indigenous; and what, from information available, are the comparable figures for USA, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium. Japan and South Africa.

The information for six non-ferrous metals is shown in the table below.United Kingdom consumption of pig iron in 1972 was 15·6 million metric tons, less than 2 per cent. of which was imported.United Kingdom consumption of sulphur in all forms in 1972 was 1,203·5

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the companies whose affairs are being investigated under the Companies Act, the thousand metric tons, of which home production was negligible. In 1972 home deliveries of potash in terms of K₂O were 444 thousand metric tons, all imported. Information relating to the consumption of phosphate rock is not available. In 1972 1,665 thousand metric tons was imported. The other information is not readily available.dates on which the inspectors were appointed and when he expects to receive their reports.

Investigations under the provisions of the Companies Acts are being made into the affairs of the following public companies and commenced on the dates indicated:—

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps designed to prevent a black market developing in goods made scarce as a result of the three-day week.

I believe that the business community is dealing with shortages as fairly as possible and I do not consider that steps by Government would at present be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide interest-free loans for small business men whose commitments will not be covered by takings during the three-day working week.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that the three-day week will cause difficulty for small firms and enterprises in the Stroud valleys ; what steps he is taking by way of special credit arrangements, advice to the banks or otherwise, to ensure that small firms can survive the present difficulties ; and whether he will make a statement.

I am, of course, aware of the difficulties which are facing small firms in general at this time. The Government's advice is that businesses with temporary liquidity problems should turn in the normal way to their banks which will, I am sure, react sympathetically. The Government for their part will be watching the situation closely and will wish to ensure that banks have sufficient liquidity to meet the reasonable needs of industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date Hillside Gardens Limited was dissolved as a company ; and if he will now take action under Section 355 of the Companies Act, or other suitable legislation, to ensure that the area of the Hanger Hill Garden Estate can be properly maintained for the benefit of the residents.

Hillside Gardens Limited was dissolved on 16th November 1973. Action under Section 355 of the Companies Act 1948 is a matter for the Treasury Solicitor. I understand that he is already in communication with the relevant residents' association.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will introduce legislation to make illegal the selling of shares by directors of public companies during take-over bids.

This would inhibit takeover transactions to an extent which could not be justified. But the Companies Bill now before Parliament provides that directors should observe the utmost good faith towards their companies, and that directors should not normally deal in the shares of their companies when they are in possession of price-sensitive information which is not generally available.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will instruct the Central Policy Review Staff to undertake a comprehensive study of Great Britain's energy problems.

These are matters for the Department of Energy, but of course we shall continue to consult frequently with the CPRS and other departments.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will show in the OFFICIAL REPORT the calculations indicating that without three-day working critical levels of coal stocks would have been reached in late January or early February ; and if he will also give the dates when he expects that position to be reached on the basis of current levels of coal delivery and electricity consumption.

The stock position underlying the electricity industry's calculations was set out in the statement issued by the Minister for Industry on 1st January 1974. The present electricity restrictions are intended to ensure that the critical level of coal stocks will not be reached before the end of March 1974.

asked the Minister of Energy when he intends to announce a decision on the type of design to be used for the next stage of Great Britain's nuclear programme.

The Government intend to announce early this year their decisions on the choice of thermal reactor systems for the United Kingdom's next nuclear plant orders.

asked the Minister of Energy how many million units of electricity per day were consumed in the month of January 1973 ; and how much coal is burnt in order to produce 1 million units of electricity.

The average daily rate of consumption of public supply electricity in January 1973 was 757 million kilowatt hours.The amount of coal burned to generate a given quantity of electricity depends on the themal efficiency of the power station at which the electricity is generated ; on average, about 500 tons of coal had to be burned to generate I million kilowatt hours of electricity.

asked the Minister of Energy if he will ensure that the one-hour extension given to hairdressers does not occur at 8.30 a.m., as that time is commercially useless to them.

The extra hour beginning at 8.30 a.m. was so fixed in order to avoid the peak demand period at lunchtime. It was discussed with and agreed by the National Hairdressers' Federation. Many hairdressers' establishments need to use electricity to heat water before they can begin to take customers.

asked the Minister for Energy whether he will make a statement about alternative forms of fuel for motor vehicles which look like being successful in place of petrol or diesel oil.

The Department of Energy with the Department of Trade and Industry are examining a number of possible alternative fuels for motor vehicles. This is being done in co-operation with the chemical, motor and oil industries. Problems surrounding the use of these alternative fuels include supply, transportation, storage, and safety.

asked the Minister for Energy, in view of the importance of shoe repairers to the welfare of the community and in view of the lighting concessions he has given to hairdressers, if he will now respond favourably to the letter of 18th December 1973 on behalf of the 3,000 independent shoe repairers who are members of St. Crispin's Boot Trades Association of Desborough, Northants.

The concession to hairdressers was given because many cannot function effectively without electricity for heating water and hair drying and for reasons of hygiene and not solely because of their service to the public. The same considerations do not arise in the case of shoe repairers and I regret that I cannot extend to them a similar concession

asked the Minister for Energy if he will consider amending his regulations in order to permit electricity boards to give permission to industrial undertakings of low electricity consumption to work more than three days a week ; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister for Energy how many electricity boards have continued advertising campaigns for the sale of electric appliances since the onset of the energy shortage ; what emergency regulations apply to these

No. It would be impossible to monitor such an arrangement effectively, and though each undertaking's electricity usage may be small in itself the total electricity demand could well be substantial.

asked the Minister for Energy what were the weekly levels of oil stocks at power stations in Great Britain for each week between 28th October and 1st April during each of the last five years, including the present year.

Following is the information requested:advertisements ; and if he will direct them to discontinue these practices.

There were two national campaigns running which ended on 20th November and 21st December respectively. Three area boards have advertised since Christmas ; one ceased to do so on 7th January and the others have been asked to terminate their advertisements. The emergency regulations do not apply to advertising.

asked the Attorney-General if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of applications, orders made, orders refused and applications

asked the Prime Minister whether he will seek to pay an official visit to Switzerland.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library a copy of the transcript of his ministerial broadcast on 13th December.

I did so on 17th December.

The information requested by the hon. Member is available only for the month of February 1973. it is as follows:

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the coordination between the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Employment with regard to the location of industry.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his official visit to China.

As I told the House on 18th December—[Vol. 866, c. 11651—I had with the deepest regret to postpone my visit to China. New dates have not yet been fixed.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

On Monday 14th January.

asked the Prime Minister what invitations he has under consideration to visit African countries south of the Sahara during 1974.

Since taking office my numerous meetings with African leaders have brought several invitations to visit African countries south of the Sahara. I have no firm plans for any such visits at present though I would like to go there at a convenient time.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on his discussions on payment for scientists in the Civil Service.

The question of the method and criteria for determining scientists' pay is being considered by the Pay Board. Its report is awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases involving United States citizens have been referred to his Department during the past 10 years under the Status of Forces Agreement ; how many of these cases involve claims by one American subject against another ; and what has been the result of these references.

Under Article VIII of the NATO Status of Forces Agreement, approximately 5,900 cases involving United States visiting forces were referred to my Department during the past 10 years. Of these, approximately 5,100 resulted in claims. No statistics are kept which show the nationality of the claimant or how many claims have been paid, and how many repudiated. If the hon. Member has any specific cases in mind, perhaps he will write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of repainting the Royal Yacht "Britannia" since it was commissioned ; and what was this cost in each major refit.

Records on the cost of repainting the Royal Yacht covering the period since she was completed 20 years ago are no longer available.As I explained to the House on 8th February 1973—[Vol. 850. c.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on the painting of Her Majesty's Royal Yacht "Britannia" during the last refit ; what was the total cost of the paint recently flown out to New Zealand to repaint the vessel ; and what was the total cost of the paint per pint.

The cost of painting Her Majesty's Yacht "Britannia" internally and externally during her last refit, inclusive of labour and material charges and all overheads, was £136,000.The total purchase price of the paint recently flown to New Zealand to make good the paintwork on the hull was about £180 ; 28 pence a pint.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will withhold approval of the Croydon Education Authority's plans for the new open-plan Park Hill Infants' School, pending further consideration of the alternative proposals submitted to her Department by the parent-teachers association.

Provided plans for new school buildings meet the Department's statutory requirements, the design of the buildings is primarily a matter for the local education authority. The Department, has, however always stressed the need for co-operation between those who design schools and those who use and run them, and has referred to the Croydon authority the comments which the staff of the school had sent to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what instructions she has given to local education authorities to modify designs of new schools so as to reduce glass and thereby produce economies in heating.

None. A general reduction in window areas in schools would not necessarily save fuel, as additional electric lighting would be required to supplement the lower level of daylight. Local authorities are aware that the cause of fuel economy is better served by designing schools with improved thermal insulation in walls and roofs, and by ensuring that the heating controls in buildings operate effectively and that electric lights are not used unnecessarily.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which school building proposals in the major and minor works programmes within the excepted district of Widnes, Lancashire, will be deferred by the Chancellor's announcement of public spending cuts.

One major project at Widnes Bankfield County Secondary School will be delayed until after June 1975.The local education authority is responsible for deciding which minor works projects at county schools should be carried out within its minor works allocation. My Department has yet to decide whether final approval can be given to a proposed aided minor work at St. Bede's RC School.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which school building proposals in the major and minor works programmes within Division No. 16 of Lancashire Education Authority will be deferred by the Chancellor's announcement of public spending cuts.

No major school building project in the programme for Division 16 of the Lancashire Education Authority will be delayed under the terms of Circular 15/73, which dealt with projects eligible for approval up to 30th June 1975.The Lancashire Education Authority is responsible for deciding which minor projects should be carried out within its minor works allocation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to announce her decision on the plan for the reorganisation of education submitted to her by the council of the London borough of Sutton.

My right hon. Friend hopes to reach her decisions this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give the figures for the total amounts spent on school building in Exeter during the last eight years, on a year-by-year basis.

Following are the total value at 1973 prices of building work on primary, secondary and special schools started in each calendar year:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the level of earnings, taking June 1970 as 100, for December 1970, June 1971, December 1971, June 1972, December 1972, June 1973, and December 1973, or the nearest convenient date.

The following information is based on the monthly index of average earnings of all employees in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of labour disputes in which the Department's conciliation and advisory service was involved in the years 1972 and 1973, respectively, and if he will give, in each case, the annual percentage of cases in which help was requested by (a) trade unions, (b) employers, and (c) jointly.

In 1972 my officers conciliated in 716 collective disputes, in 61 per cent. of which assistance was requested by trade unions, 14 per cent. by employers and 20 per cent. jointly. Figures for 1973 as a whole are not yet available but in the first half of the year the figures were 415, 57 per cent. 16 per cent. and 24 per cent. respectively. I will write to the hon. Member shortly when the full figures for 1973 are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what effect a one penny, five pence and 10 pence increase, respectively, per gallon on the retail price of petrol and diesel oil would have on the cost of living index, if the whole of these costs are passed on to the consumer of the goods and services.

The direct effect on the retail prices index of increases in the retail price of petrol would be as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, in order, for the years 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973, the five industries with the greatest percentage of fatal and serious-injury accidents related to the industrial workforce employed.

The following table gives particulars for the years 1970–1972 of the industries subject to the Factories Act with the highest percentage of fatal and serious injuries in relation to the numbers employed. The figures for 1973 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average percentage increase in wage rates agreed by those workers who have already made settlements within stage 3.

Information on the average level of increases in wage rates resulting from settlements approved by the Pay Board under the provisions of the stage 3 code is not available.Settlements affecting 1,000 or more employees must be notified to, and approved by, the board before they can be implemented. Those affecting 100 and up to 1,000 employees must be reported within seven days of being implemented. Information on average pay increases resulting from settlements approved by the board was included in the second quarterly report of the board made to the Secretary of State for Employment and laid before Parliament in accordance with paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 1 to the Counter-Inflation Act 1973. These average pay increases are mostly based on earnings, excluding overtime, except in national agreements, when they are usually based on representative rates of pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what aid he expects to be made available from the European Social Fund towards expenditure incurred in the United Kingdom in 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what aid he expects to be made available from the European Social Fund towards expenditure incurred in Northern Ireland in 1973.

The United Kingdom has not yet received formal notification of the extent to which its applications for assistance from the fund have been approved by the Commission of the European Communities. I understand, however, that the sum is likely to be of the order of £24 million. Some £4 million of this would be for expenditure in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what new form of financial assistance the Government intend to introduce for hostels for the homeless.

Details of the new scheme for hostel finance will be contained in the Housing and Planning Bill which is to be introduced shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his discussions with industry on the use of hard-core detergents which contribute to the foam nuisance and buildup of hard materials in rivers ; and what consideration he has given to the associated problems concerned with international trade.

Agreement was reached with manufacturers in 1964 to restrict the manufacture of hard anionic detergents for use in the home, and subsequently major manufacturers also agreed to discontinue the production of hard nonanionic detergents for use in the home by the end of 1971. In paragraphs 45 and 46 of its fourteenth progress report the Standing Technical Committee on Synthetic Detergents referred to the position reached in discussions with industry at March 1973 and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the report.The EEC has since adopted a directive which, when implemented in member States, will have the effect of banning the sale and use in the Community of detergents which contain surface active agents which are on average less than 90 per cent. biodegradable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in his Department's survey of the nature and extent of the non-agricultural uses of pesticides ; and what consideration has been given to dieldrin and DDT in this survey.

Consideration of the evidence collected in this survey is nearly complete. The survey includes non-agricultural uses of dieldrin and DDT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what help his Department has given towards the prevention of damp in new houses and flats since the publication of the two pamphlets by the National Building Agency ; and if he will issue relevant regulations.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to booklets published, one by the old Ministry of Public Buildings and Works and the other by my Department. They came out in 1970 and 1971 respectively and were part of a major publicity exercise about condensation. Proposals will shortly be circulated for amending the thermal insulation requirements of the building regulations, with a view of reducing condensation in the interests of health. Meanwhile, I am advised, the British Standards Institution is working on a code of practice on condensation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now seek powers to extend security of tenure to houseboat owners.

I have no evidence that there is any widespread need for such legislation. It would not be practicable to include houseboat owners within the scope of existing provisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out tables demonstrating entitlement to rent rebates and rent allowances for persons with incomes of £8–£40 per week, for a range of rents from £2–£8 per week, comparable to those on pages 25–26 of "Fair Deal for Housing" (Command Paper No. 4728).

My right hon. and learned Friend has already done so in a leaflet "There's Money off Rent", which is available free of charge. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek powers to make plastic bags and containers illegal until it has been proved that these are self-destructive in a maximum of five years, thereby reducing pollution in the rivers of the United Kingdom and the surrounding seas.

No. I understand that there are serious difficulties about degradable plastics and these have yet to be overcome. Nevertheless, the Department is studying with interest current developments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to reply to the letter, dated 31st December, from the Church with Chapel Brampton Parish Council, Northants, concerning the planning application on a cold store at Boughton Crossing.

My Department replied to this letter on 10th January 1974 and I am sending the right hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the correspondence received by his Department from the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth and on the replies sent concerning the implications for Portsmouth of the Local Government Finance Bill.