asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the figures for the exports of agricultural sprays and fertilisers, respectively, from the United Kingdom for the years 1970, 1971, and 1972; and what is the trend to date in 1973.

I have been asked to reply.Agricultural sprays are not separately distinguished in the export statistics but following is the information for categories believed to include these products:

thousand tonnes
		Insecticides fungicides and weed-killers	Fertilisers, crude and manufactured
1970		47	271
1971		54	148
1972		50	279
1973	January/	52	342
	October

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take special steps to assist the dairy farmer, in view of the problems created for the industry by the latest increase in the cost of feedstuffs and concentrates.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. David Steel).—[Vol. 864, c. 142.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the Government propose to give special assistance to the National Gallery to enable it to purchase the painting "The Immaculate Conception" by Velasquez.

The Government have agreed that Parliament shall be asked to approve an advance to the gallery in the current year of £185,000 for this purpose, the advance to be set against the annual purchase grant for 1974–75. A Supplementary Estimate will be laid before Parliament in due course but meanwhile the money has been advanced from the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what studies have been made and what conclusions have been reached concerning the attainments and skills of school leavers, other than statistics related to public examinations; and, if no such studies exist, whether she will cause them to be made.

As the hon. Member knows, examination results provide a useful indication of attainment for the majority of school leavers and should not be excluded from consideration of this matter. In 1970–71 55·5 per cent. of school leavers had achieved qualifications in examinations for the GCE or CSE. The latter has made an important contribution to widening examination opportunities since its inception in 1965; the percentage of school leavers gaining one or more CSE grades 2–5 rose from 10·7 per cent. in 1965–66 to 21·2 per cent. in 1971–72.A series of national representative surveys of reading standards of 11 and 15-year-old pupils has been conducted periodically since 1948. The last one covered the period 1970–71 and in 1972 my right hon. Friend established the Committee of Inquiry into Reading and the Use of English under the chairmanship of Sir Alan Bullock. This committee is including in its remit a study of arrangements for monitoring attainment.The National Foundation for Educational Research, with the help of a grant from my Department, is currently investigating the feasibility of conducting a national survey of attainment in mathematics.I have arranged with the National Children's Bureau to include tests of reading comprehension and mathematics, as part of its National Child Development Study, of a sample of children born in 1958. These children who are now approaching school leaving age may be expected to represent all levels of ability.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many projects in the city of Plymouth will not now be put into operation in 1974, 1975 or 1976.

The Department's Circular 15/73 announced that of major school building projects only those to meet basic needs for additional places would be eligible for approval between 1st January 1974 and 30th June 1975. Two major projects to replace old primary schools in the Plymouth local education authority area, Mount Street Primary School and Oxford Street Primary School, will therefore be delayed until after June 1975. One other replacement project had plans approved in July 1973, and, provided a tender meeting the Department's requirements is obtained, that project will be allowed to proceed. The local 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 what is her policy towards the establishment of public lending rights.

My right hon. Friend and I are impressed by the arguments for seeking to recompense authors for the use of their works through public libraries, but there is the practical problem of finding a way to do this fairly at reasonable cost and within the resources available. The matter is being considered urgently in consultation with interested parties

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will reconsider free entry to the national museums and galleries by the members of the Museums' Assistants' Group who work therein, following the group's representations.

No representations have been received from the group referred to in the Question. I gave the hon. Member details on 21st December—[Vol. 866, c. 475–6]—of the arrangements for visits by museum and gallery staff to other national museums and galleries.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if employed persons will be able to obtain free school meals and other educational means-tested benefits on the basis of reduced income as a result of the three-day working week; and, if so, what will be the basis for assessing income.

The statutory arrangements for remitting the charge for school meals on grounds of financial hardship are set out in the Provision of Milk and Meals Regulations: under these arrangements a parent is entitled to free school meals for children at school for any week in which his income falls below the prescribed levels or he receives supplementary benefit or family income supplement. There are no statutory arrangements for determining entitlement to other educational benefits—apart from awards for degree or equivalent courses—and it is for individual authorities to decide how far their arrangements need modification to meet the present employment situation. in the case of mandatory awards for degree or equivalent courses and most other higher education awards the parental contribution may be assessed on the current financial year's income, instead of the previous year's, if it is at least 20 per cent. less.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many males and females were registered as unemployed at the Bexhill, Hailsham and Rye employment exchanges on 16th January 1974; and how many of these were over 55 years of age, under 18 years of age and school leavers, respectively.

Statistics of unemployed men and women aged 55 and over are normally compiled for January and July each year. Because of the emergency situation, however, it will not now be possible to publish the figures for January 1974. Figures for July 1973 were given in reply to my hon. Friend's Question of 18th July 1973.—[Vol. 860, c. 229–30]. The January figures for the remainder of the information requested should be available within a few days. The figures for 10th December 1973—the most recent available—were as follows:

	Men, aged 18 and over	Women, aged 18 and over
Bexhill	262	18
Hailsham	120	8
Rye	71	14

In addition, there were four girls and one boy aged under 18 registered at the Bexhill careers office, which also covers Rye, Hailsham and Battle. There were no school leavers unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what number and what proportion of settlements made under phase 3 have taken advantage of the threshold provisions.

This information is not available. It is estimated that at least half of the 4 million workers covered by settlements reported to the Pay Board which provide for principal increases in pay in stage 3 are also covered by provisions in their settlements which take advantage of the cost of living safeguard in the stage 3 code.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will list the average posted price of oil from OPEC countries on the date when the draft stage 3 pay code was published, when the revised code was statutorily enacted and at the latest available date.

It is impracticable to give an average posted price but the following are the posted prices of Arabian light crude, a reference crude, on the dates requested:

	$ a barrel
8th October 1973	3.01
26th October 1973	5.18
1st January 1974	11.65

asked the Minister for Energy what saving of coal or oil stocks at power stations has been achieved by refusing those applications which have been made by firms that they should be allowed to work from Wednesday midnight until 0600 hours on Thursday instead of the same hours on Sunday mornings; how many firms have made such applications; what margin of unused generating capacity existed at these hours on Wednesday 9th January 1974; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister for Energy how much research and development work is sponsored and carried out by his Department on energy resources and uses.

Public sector research and development in these areas is carried out mainly by the State energy and power industries and the UKAEA. These programmes are developed in consultation with my Department and in the last completed financial year amounted to approximately £83 million. The whole of energy research and development is of course under review in view of the present energy situation.The United Kingdom Government's contribution to energy projects within the research programme of the European Atomic and Economic Communities during 1973 was £1·5 million.

asked the Minister for Energy what research he is conducting into the use of methanol as a fuel for motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is having detailed discussions with industry on the technical and supply aspects of producing methane-derived alcohols and their use as blending components for motor spirit.

asked the Minister for Energy what is the total investment benefit in the North Sea oil contracts which have come to British firms, nationally and by regions, since he set up the North Sea Offshore Supplies Unit.

The quarterly returns so far provided by the oil companies of their purchases have not been complete and officials are still in discussion with the companies. However the returns show overall that about half—by value—of the orders are being placed with United Kingdom registered companies.I am not sure what the hon. Member means by "investment benefit".

asked the Minister for Energy what new contracts have been awarded to firms in Hartlepool since the Offshore Supplies Unit was established.

Detailed records of contracts are not kept but eight firms in the Hartlepools area have benefited in the last 12 months from the development of North Sea oil.

asked the Minister for Energy what policy conclusions he has reached as a result of the loss of the oil rig Transocean 3; and if he will make a statement.

As I said in the House on 16th January 1974, I am awaiting the outcome of investigations being carried out by my Petroleum Production Inspectorate with the assistance of the owners and petroleum production licensee. I hope shortly to lay before the House regulations governing the design and construction of offshore installations.

asked the Minister for Energy whether he will give details of the number of cases reported of overcharging for petrol and paraffin; what action was taken in each instance; and with what results.

A number of reports by letter and telephone of alleged overcharging for petrol and paraffin, contrary to the Motor Spirit and Paraffin (Maximum Retail Prices) Orders 1973, have been received at the headquarters of the Department, at the regional offices of the Department of Trade and Industry, at the various offices of the Price Commission, and by weights and measures inspectors. As a first step, the alleged offender has been reminded of the requirements of the orders and his obligation to comply forthwith by reducing prices to the permitted level

asked the Minister for Energy whether he will exempt from the present emergency fuel regulations optical and dental laboratories.

Laboratories on the premises of registered opticians and dentists are exempt. Applications, provided they are sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Security, for exemption of other optical and dental laboratories will be considered by the regional offices of the Department of Trade and Industry.

asked the Minister for Energy what plans the Government have for the gasification of coal in the United Kingdom; and what is the estimate of production costs compared with natural gas from the English basin and the North Sea.

There are no immediate plans, but development work both in the United Kingdom and abroad is being carefully followed, in consultation with the British Gas Corporation and the National Coal Board. It is too early to give a realistic estimate of production costs but on our present information they are likely to be considerably higher than those of North Sea gas.

asked the Minister for Energy what commercial processes for obtaining oil from coal are available to the British Government; and what is the best estimate of production costs in dollars (United States) per barrel of the Lurgi process and the system adopted by SASOL in South Africa.

The only oil from coal process available commercially at the present time is the combination of Lurgi gasification and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis employed by the SASOL Corporation of South Africa to yield a range of products in which oil predominates. A rough guide to the cost of oil production by this route in a notional large plant in the United Kingdom can be obtained by use of a conversion factor of 2·5 which when multiplied by the delivered price of coal in £/ton provides an ex-works cost in terms of $/US barrel.

asked the Minister for Energy what quantity of liquefied natural gas will be imported into the United Kingdom in 1974 compared with each of the last three years; and what were the terms of the agreement sanctioned by the Government for the sale of a British consignment of LNG to Gaz de France.

I am informed that British Gas expects to import some 330 million therms of LNG in 1974. Imports for 1971, 1972 and 1973 were 332 million, 306 million and 293 million therms respectively. British Gas has recently arranged to sell some LNG to Gaz de France in exchange for naphtha. Such exchanges are of mutual benefit to the two gas industries and do not require ministerial consent.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will make a statement giving as much information as possible on the position of foreign car-owning tourists coming to Great Britain for a holiday, in the event of petrol rationing.

Arrangements are being made for the AA and RAC to issue motor fuel coupons to overseas visitors to the United Kingdom if rationing were introduced. Coupons would be issued both at ports of entry and at inland offices of the two organisations. The size of the ration would depend on the oil supply situation at the time.I am asking the RAC, the AA and the British Tourist Authority to do as much as possible to see that appropriate publicity is given to these arrangements overseas for intending visitors to Britain in the event that rationing is introduced.

asked the Minister for Energy how many extra staff have been taken on to carry out work related to petrol rationing; and what is the area distribution of this extra recruitment.

1,264 extra temporary staff have been taken on by the regional petroleum offices as follows:

Birmingham	84
Cardiff	64
Glasgow	81
Leeds	97
London	564
Manchester	137
Newcastle	75
Newport	61
Nottingham	101

asked the Minister for Energy how CEGB oil stocks in November 1973 compared with those in November 1972.

On 25th November 1973 the Central Electricity Generating Board had 642,700 tons of oil stocks compared with 532,400 tons on 26th November 1972.

asked the Minister for Energy what variation in electricity consumption he estimates would arise from altering the clock in either direction by one hour, and by two hours.

I do not consider that such alterations would have a significant effect on electricity consumption as I am advised by the Electricity Council that the total number of units consumed in a 24-hour period is substantially the same irrespective of the time system in operation.

asked the Minister for Energy what are the number of coal mines which have been closed since January 1971 and the number due for closure in 1974.

Twenty-nine colleries ceased production in the period January 1971 to the end of 1973, mostly because of exhaustion of workable reserves. One colliery has ceased production so far this year and the board has also discussed and agreed with the unions the closure of two others owing to exhaustion of workable reserves. Any further closures during 1974 will follow discussions between the board and the union within their agreed colliery review procedure.

asked the Minister for Energy whether he has yet completed his review of the practice of some garages in restricting petrol supplies to customers having an account at the filling station; and if he will make a statement as to his conclusions.

This was a practice which became prevalent when petrol shortages developed in some parts of the country in early December. The problem has now very largely disappeared.

asked the Minister for Energy what is expected to be the percentage addition to their total wages bill as a result of the recent power workers' settlement.

It is estimated that the recent settlement reached in the National Joint Board (Electricity Supply Industry) which provides for staged increases in payments for out-of-hours working will, when fully implemented in February 1974, add between 1½ per cent. and 2 per cent. to the salary bill of the staff concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the interest of road safety, he will advise motorists to use dipped headlights whenever street lighting is inadequate as the result of present restrictions.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if employed persons will be able to claim rent rebates and rent allowances on the basis of reduced income as a result of the three-day working week; and, if so, what will be the procedure for assessing income.

Any tenant is entitled to apply to the local housing authority for the granting or reassessment of a rent rebate or allowance as a result of a change in his circumstances. Rent rebates and allowances are calculated on an assessment of the tenant's likely income over the period of the rebate or allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to prevent property companies seeking deposits from prospective house purchasers who fail to obtain mortgages

I have no evidence of a need for such legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he or one of his Department's Ministers will attend the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch in an official capacity.

With much regret, I have written to the New Zealand Prime Minister informing him that I cannot accept his kind invitation to represent Her Majesty's Government at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. The reason for this decision is that my new responsibility for speeding up planning procedures makes it impracticable to undertake this long journey in present circumstances.I am grateful to the Chairman of the Sports Council, Dr. Roger Bannister, for agreeing to represent me personally at the Games, which I am sure will prove to be a great sporting and Commonwealth occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will support the proposal by the International Association against Painful Experiments on Animals that the United Nations should establish a research institute for the purposes of collating information relating to research techniques not involving the use of live animals for experimental purposes and of studying and developing these techniques in order that they be adopted in an increasing degree to replace animals tests.

I have been asked to reply.In the present state of research Her Majesty's Government doubt the practical advantages of urging the United Nations to establish an institute of the kind envisaged.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will give consideration to the banning of all tests on live animals which cannot be shown to be essential for the well-being of mankind, such as, for example, those concerned with the testing of cosmetic preparations and colouring agents in food.

Offences			Total Sentence
Taking and driving away. No insurance	…	…	Borstal training.
Theft	…	…	Borstal training.
Burglary	…	…	2 years' imprisonment.
Possessing firearm with criminal intent. Attempted robbery	…	…	3 years' imprisonment.
Possessing firearm in suspicious circumstances, and without a certificate			3 years' imprisonment.
Aggravated burglary. Assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Taking and driving away. No insurance	…	…	3 years' imprisonment.
Manslaughter	…	…	4 years' imprisonment.
Obtaining goods by deception	…	…	5 years' imprisonment.
Armed robbery. Taking and driving away. No insurance. Possessing firearm with intent	…	…	5 years' imprisonment.
Armed robbery. Taking and driving away. No insurance. Possessing firearm with intent	…	…	5 years' imprisonment.
Assault with intent to rob. Taking and driving away	…	…	6 years' imprisonment.
Theft. Fraudulent conversion. Bigamy	…	…	6 years' imprisonment.
Possessing dangerous drugs. Knowingly concerned in carrying prohibited drugs	…	…	7 years' imprisonment.
Aggravated burglary	…	…	7 years' imprisonment.
Shopbreaking with intent. Shopbreaking and larceny. Possessing explosives. Burglary	…	…	10 years' imprisonment.
Aggravated burglary	…	…	10 years' imprisonment.
Aggravated burglary	…	…	10 years' imprisonment.
Causing explosions. Possessing explosives	…	…	12 years' imprisonment.
Murder	…	…	Life imprisonment.
Murder. Robbery	…	…	Life imprisonment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will propose altering the closing hours for voting in parliamentary elections from 10 p.m. to 9 p.m.

This would require legislation, and will be considered in the light of whatever recommendation may be made by Mr. Speaker's Conference on Electoral Law.

The testing of substances on animals to ascertain whether they will be harmful when used or consumed by man is permissible under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876. Tests of this nature are necessary to protect the consumer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the offences committed and the sentence imposed on each of the 20 people sentenced to imprisonment in Northern Ireland and who are at present serving the sentence in Great Britain.

Following are the particulars:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will, in view of the increase in printing costs since the last General Election, propose increasing the allowable expenses for parliamentary candidates in elections.

This would require legislation, and will be considered in the light of whatever recommendation may be made by Mr. Speaker's Conference on Electoral Law.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications why the Chatton television transmitter is not yet in service; and when he expects it to begin operating.

The priority for opening new television transmitting stations is primarily a matter for the BBC and IBA. They tell me that they hope to open the Chatton UHF station later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the shortage of blood for use in Scottish hospitals due to the difficulty of getting blood donors to give time, when industry is working a three-day week.

Blood supplies are at their normal level at this time of the year after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Few blood withdrawal sessions at factories have had to be cancelled and any loss in blood donations has been made up by donors attending other nearby sessions or the regional transfusion centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the payment of councillors from May 1975.

Subject to approval by the Pay Board, I have it in mind to prescribe the maximum rate of attendance allowance at £10 for a period of 24 hours. This allowance, which is taxable, will replace the present financial loss allowance of £5·50 per day, and may be claimed as of right by all councillors. In addition, travelling and subsistence allowances will be payable as at present. I shall be making the necessary regulations in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why Mr. Barrie Roughley's disabled person's vehicle has not been repaired or replaced after a six-month delay; what is the average time for delivering such replacement vehicles; if his Department will give clear indications regarding waiting time; and if he will make a statement.

Economical repair of this vehicle, which was damaged in an accident, was not possible. It has now been replaced. The delay resulted largely from a mishandling of documentation within the Department which is deeply regretted. Appropriate action has been taken. The aim is immediate replacement of the vehicle and this is frequently achieved, but production difficulties in the motor trade and sometimes the need for modifications may on occasion involve a waiting period of up to a few weeks. if so the gap is bridged by the temporary loan of a three-wheeler whenever possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will draw special attention to the need for implementing Section 7.3.1 of the Code of Practice for the Protection of Persons against Ionising Radiations arising from Medical and Dental Use, published in June 1972, with a view to ensuring that the 10-day rule is strictly adhered to.

On its publication in 1972 this code was brought to the attention of hospitals and general medical practitioners who were referred, in particular, to Section 7 which covers the protection of the patient. There is already awareness of Section 7.3.1 and in some hospitals X-ray request forms draw attention to the "10 day" rule and require the date of the last menstrual period to be entered. Similar information will be contained in a standard X-ray request form which will be made available to the new health authorities and my Radiological Advisory Committee is considering what further measures are necessary as to implementation of the rule.

BENEFITS AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE NET EARNINGS *
				Standard rate retirement pension		Supplementary pension†
				Single person	Married couple	Single householder	Married couple
October 1969	…	…	…	24·8	38·2	27·8	41·6
October 1970	…	…	…	25·0	38·4	26·5	39·6
October 1971	…	…	…	27·1	41·8	28·4	42·9
October 1972	…	…	…	25·7	39·8	27·2	41·1
October 1973‡		…	…	26·5	41·3	27·9	42·5
* Since the majority of pensioners do not pay income tax or national insurance contributions, the comparison can best be made with net rather than gross earnings.
†The supplementary pension rates used are the scale rates plus long-term addition until October 1972 and the long-term rate (which incorporates the long-term addition) for October 1973. Additional provision is made for rent and rates.
‡ The results of the October 1973 earnings enquiry are not available. The earnings figure used is the latest available estimate based on the provisional October figure from the monthly index of earnings.

Published statistics do not provide comparable information on average weekly earnings or average pension rates for the other countries mentioned. Even if this information could be provided, a meaningful comparison could not be made without taking into account the social conditions in the countries concerned and, in particular, the differences in standards of living, levels of taxation and social security systems as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give urgent consideration to the linking of retirement pensions to the cost-of-living index through the introduction of a threshold clause similar to that regarding wages under phase 3.

As my hon. Friend knows, the Government have committed themselves to ensuring by annual reviews that the pension at least keeps pace with the rise in the cost of living.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects that the Lane Committee will report; and whether he will take steps to expedite the publication of its report.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing (a) State retirement pensions and (b) statutory supplementary pensions, where applicable, as a percentage of the national average wage, over each of the past five years in the United Kingdom, and in each of the nine EEC member States plus Sweden.

The information for the United Kingdom is given in the following table:

The committee's report has now been received and it is hoped that it will be published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the expenditure that has been allocated to Springfield Hospital, Tooting, SW17, in each of the last five years.

I must apologise to the hon. Member for the inadvertent omission from my reply of 6th December 1973—[Vol. 865, c. 441–2]—of the information about Springfield Hospital. This is:—

	£'000	£'000
	Revenue	Capital
1968–69	1,206	—
1969–70	1,284	—
1970–71	1,557	38
1971–72	1,808	63
1972–73	2,196	89

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the staffing allocation in hospitals was last reviewed.

It is the responsibility of each hospital to review periodically its own staff needs. Apart from the special arrangements made for medical consultants, there are no central allocations of staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of approved hospital staff in each of the following hospitals; St. George's, Tooting, S.W.17, St. Benedict's, Tooting, Springfield Hospital, Tooting, and Tooting Bee Hospital, Tooting; and what present vacancies exist in these hospitals.

The information requested is:

NUMBERS OF STAFF IN POST AND VACANCIES (WHOLE TIME EQUIVALENT) AT 31ST DECEMBER 1973
Hospital	Medical
	In post	Vacancies
St. Benedict's Hospital	4·5	—
Tooting Bec Hospital	15	2
Springfield Hospital	22·5	1·5
St. George's Hospital, Tooting	108	1
Hospital	Nursing
	In post	Vacancies
St. Benedict's Hospital	132·99	12·01
Tooting Bec Hospital	485	114
Springfield Hospital	503	—
St. George's Hospital, Tooting	429	59
	Professional and Technical
Hospital	In post	Vacancies
St. Benedict's Hospital	13·14	10·87
Tooting Bec Hospital	24·01	15·07
Springfield Hospital	23·75	15·26
St. George's Hospital, Tooting	103	10
	Administrative and Clerica
Hospital	In post	Vacancies
St. Benedict's Hospital	7·68	2·01
Tooting Bec Hospital	40·24	16·53
Springfield Hospital	50	14·25
St. George's Hospital, Tooting	195	14
	Ancillary
Hospital	In post	Vacancies
St. Benedict's Hospital	105·82	24·7
Tooting Bec Hospital	330·69	54·84
Springfield Hospital	292·0	35·5
St. George's Hospital, Tooting	410	38

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the approved staffing allocation per 100 patients, for the following types of hospital, namely, general hospital nursing, geriatric hospital nursing and mental hospital nursing.

There are no nationally determined yardsticks for assessing the nurse staffing requirements of hospitals. Individual hospital authorities (in association as appropriate with regional hospital boards) are responsible for fixing nursing establishments for the hospitals which they administer and allocating nursing staff within these hospitals.My Department has, however, laid down minimum standards of nurse staffing which authorities have been asked to achieve for geriatric hospitals and departments and hospitals for the mentally ill and mentally handicapped, as part of an overall programme to improve services in those hospitals. These minimum standards, which authorities should seek to improve on as resources and local circumstances permit, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the definition of a "suspended worker", as given in his answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 21st December 1973, column 473.

The reference to a suspended worker in my answer to the hon. Member on 21st December 1973 (Vol. 866, c. 473.]—was to a person whose employment has, in the terms of Section 3(1)(a) of the National Insurance Act 1966,

"not been terminated but … has been suspended by the employer".

The expressions "terminated" and "suspended by the employer" are not defined in the legislation but are for interpretation by the independent statutory authorities in the light of the circumstances of any particular claim to benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how Parliament will be informed about duty changes resulting from the EEC GSP scheme.(2) if full details of the final EEC GSP for 1974 are now available.

The EEC GSP Scheme for 1974 is described in an article in the journal "Trade and Industry" of 3rd January 1974. A copy of the relevant section of the Customs Tariff will be deposited in the Library of the House as soon as possible as well as a copy of the appropriate EEC Official Journal.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about current negotiations in GATT with regard to the renegotiation of existing United Kingdom commitments to GATT, resulting from the Import Duties (General) No. 8 Order 1973.

Negotiations are continuing. The Community has made an offer of tariff concessions; this is being considered by interested parties. Further discussions are likely before these negotiations are completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any further changes are contemplated in the membership of the British Airways Board.

Sir Keith Granville, who is at present a deputy-chairman of the British Airways Board, has decided for personal reasons that he wishes to resign from membership of the board with effect from 31st March 1974. I have accepted Sir Keith's resignation with particular regret in view of the distinguished contribution he has made to the development of British civil aviation over a period of 45 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the percentage increase in world trade for each year since 1950; what has been the percentage increase in liquidity; and in what form this has been for each of these years.

Following is the information:

	Word Exports* (valued in U.S. dollars) increase on preceding year Per cent.	International Liquidity† (valued in U.S. dollars) increase on preceding year Per cent.
1950	4·8	7·0
1951	35·2	0·9
1952	−4·1	1·5
1953	2·5	3·8
1954	2·8	3·1
1955	8·8	1·7
1956	11·0	3·9
1957	7·4	0·6
1958	−3·7	1·9
1959	5·6	−0·4
1960	11·3	5·1
1961	4·7	3·4
1962	4·9	1·3
1963	9·1	5·5
1964	12·4	3·7
1965	8·0	2·8
1966	9·7	7·4
1967	5·0	−2·6
1968	11·7	4·2
1969	14·4	1·1
1970	14·9	18·3
1971	12·1	41·0
1972	17·9	21·2
*Source: For years subsequent to 1967, "Trade and Industry ", 6th December 1973; for earlier years United Nations Statistical Yearbooks. Exports of centrally planned economies are excluded.
†Source: International Reserves as set out in Table 191 of the 1972 United Nations Statistical Yearbook and corresponding figures in earlier Yearbooks.

Details of the forms of increase in liquidity are given in Table 191 of the 1972 United Nations Statistical Yearbook and corresponding tables in earlier issues. Copies are held in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Motor Services (Manchester) Limited has now been exempted from power restrictions; from what date the firm was exempted; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is aware that hairdressers in the London borough of Barking and elsewhere have been ordered to close their establishments on Thursday, Friday and Saturday each week from 30th December; and if he will authorise them to close instead on the first three weekdays.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements he proposes for providing electricity to given zones on different three-day periods in successive weeks, so that tradesmen whose principal business is done on particular weekdays are not obliged always to be shut on those days.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in view of evidence that hardship will be caused to customers and shopkeepers by the regulations that the three days on which shops may use electricity must be consecutive, whether he will reconsider this requirement having in mind that a change would not use any more electricity and would give the public more regular service and eliminate the

NET PAY (£)
Annual Earnings		October 1970	October 1971		October 1972		October 1973
		A	A	B	A	B	A	B
£1,000	…	863·00	897·82	820·61	928·74	786·64	928·10	715·56
£2,000	…	1,524·09	1,561·30	1,427·03	1,602·31	1,357·16	1,599·42	1,233·15
£3,000	…	2,217·10	2,271·33	2,076·00	2,299·35	1,947·55	2,281·50	1,759·04
£5,000	…	3,527·68	3,639·39	3,326·40	3,667·60	3,106·46	3,681·77	2,838·64
£8,000	…	5,064·20	5,341·15	4,881·81	5,338·35	4,521·58	5,590·06	4,309·94
£10,000	…	5,912·81	6,259·87	5,721·52	6,214·82	5,263·95	6,557·56	5,055·88
£20,000	…	7,598·81	9,619·10	8,791·86	9,236·17	7,823·04	10,083·81	7,774·62
Notes:
Column A shows the net pay at October each year. Column B shows the same net pay at October 1970 prices. The general index of retail prices for October in the years referred to has been used in all these calculations. Where appropriate, surtax and also the 10 per cent. surcharge on 1972–73 surtax liability have I seen deducted in calculating net pay.
It has been assumed that the men with £1,000 and £2,000 per year are not contracted out of the Graduated Pension Scheme, and that those with £3,000 and above are contracted out.
The figures of net pay do not include family allowances (£46·80 for all years) but the tax on the family allowance and the family allowance deduction ("clawback") have been taken into account Where it is to is the taxpayer's advantage to forgo family allowance, tax has been calculated on that basis.

Food shops will be exempted from the order. All other shops may use electricity for part of every day from Monday to Friday and during both morning and afternoon on Saturday. The times will be 0930 to 1230 and 1430 to 1700 hours. Shops which are normally open on Sunday will also be allowed to use electricity within certain hours on that day. The order which will be made will indicate which shops can use electricity in the morning and which in the afternoon. The system will rotate each week. Under this arrangement shops must accept the risk of disconnections during the times when the use of electricity is permitted.

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.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 17th January 1974], gave the following information:The figures are:

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.

NET PAY (£)
Annual Earnings		1970–71	1971–72		1972–73		1973–74
		A	A	B	A	B	A	B
£1,000	…	862·14	820·61	−4·8	793·14	−3·3	734·13	−7·4
£2,000	…	1,522·57	1,427·03	−6·3	1,368·37	−4·1	1,265·14	−7·5
£5,000	…	3,524·15	3,326·40	−5·6	3,132·13	−5·8	2,912·28	−7·0
£10,000	…	5,906·90	5,721·52	−3·1	5,307·46	−7·2	5,187·03	−2·3
£20,000	…	7,591·21	8,791·86	+ 15·8	7,887·69	−10·3	7,976·29	+ 1·1

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in the weeks preceding and during the allocation of petrol rationing coupons over 20 per cent. more road fund licences were issued in Greater London, as compared with a similar period in 1972; what was the extra amount which accrued to the Exchequer from this source; and whether he will also give the national figures for the increased revenue from road fund licences during this period.

The rate at which the licences are issued is kept under constant review; but it is misleading to base conclusions on figures for short periods, which may be distorted by various factors. Taking the months of November and December 1973 together, the Greater London Council issued 298,540 vehicle licences valued at £7·4 million. In the corresponding

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 17th January 1974], gave the following information:The figures for "real" income known in the table are largely meaningless, in that they allow for price changes but make no allowance for the much larger changes in average earnings. The index of average earnings increased by 10·2 per cent. in 1971–72, by 13·8 per cent. in 1972–73 and has so far increased by 11·6 per cent. in 1973–4 compared with the 1972–73 average.The figures the hon. Member requests are as follows:months of 1972 the figures were 301,166 licences valued at £7·9 million. National figures—including Post Office issues—are not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase or decrease in the value of the £ sterling between mid-December 1972 and 10th December 1973 against the currency of the following ocuntries, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Argentine, Israel, Spain and the countries of the EEC; and what further percentage changes have occurred since 10th December.

Changes have been measured on the basis of closing middle market rates on 11th December 1972, 10th December 1973, and 14th January 1974. The following table gives the percentage increase or decrease of sterling in terms of the currencies of the countries indicated:

	Percentage change (depreciation —)
Country	11th December 1972 to 10th December 1943	10th December 1973 to 14th January 1974
U.S.A	−1·1	−3·7
Canada	−1·2	−4·5
Australia	−20·7	−3·5
New Zealand	−17·8	−1·0
South Africa	−15·3	−3·0
Argentine	−1·0	−3·4
Israel	−1·6	−1·7
Spain	−11·3	−2·4
France	−11·1	+4·0
Belgium	−10·0	+1·6
Holland	−13·7	—
Germany	−18·1	+2·3
Italy	+3·2	—
Denmark	−10·1	−2·5

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentages of national income and income from property, respectively, go to the top 1 per cent., the top 5 per cent. and the top 10 per cent. of the population.

The figures for the personal sector given in the national income accounts include charities and non-profit-making bodies as well as individuals. It is not possible to distinguish the income of individuals within the personal sector totals. The concept of income used in the income distributions published by the Inland Revenue excludes non-taxable benefits, and these distributions relate only to individuals—counting married couples as one—with incomes above the effective tax exemption limit.

PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN GNP AT CONSTANT (1963) MARKET PRICES OVER PRECEDING YEAR
		1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1969	1970	1971	1972
United Kingdom	…	2·4	−0·4	4·7	3·9	3·1	1·2*	2·0*	2·5*	2·3*
U.S.A.	…	8·3	3·5	4·4	−1·4	7·4	2·6	−0·5	2·8	N.A.
France	…	5·8	3·5	2·6	4·2	4·7	7·6	6·1	5·5	5·4
Germany	…	10·4	8·9	8·3	7·4	12·0	8·2	5·8	2·8	2·9
Italy	…	N.A.	4·5	7·5	3·6	6·7	5·8	4·9	1·6	3·2
Netherlands	…	1·9	2·2	8·5	6·6	7·2	7·0	6·8	3·8	4·4
Belgium	…	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	3·8	4·9	6·5	6·7	3·5	5·4
Japan	…	N.A.	N.A.	5·7	6·1	9·1	11·9	10·5	6·3	N.A.
* Based on latest United Kingdom estimates at 1970 prices, adjusted to international definitions. N.A. = Not available.

For Sweden, estimates of GNP at constant prices are no longer published by the international organisations, but details of the annual percentage increases

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the case of a married man with two children under 11 years of age, earning a national average wage and paying not-contracted-out national insurance contributions, what was his gross and net income, respectively, in 1945, and for each subsequent year in the case of a man in the same situation, what was his gross and net income, respectively, the annual percentage increase in the retail price index, his net real income, and the percentage change in his net real income compared to 12 months previously and to the level at 1945.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual percentage growth of GNP in, respectively, the United Kingdom, United States of America, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Japan and Sweden for each year since 1950; and what are now the current absolute and per capita levels, respectively, of GNP in each of these countries.

Details of the annual percentage growth in GNP at constant (1963) market prices in the period 1956 to 1968 for all the countries specified, with the exception of Sweden, are given in Table A3 (pages 4–7) of "National Accounts 1961–1971", published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities (SOEC). Corresponding figures for the period 1950–55, and the latest estimates for the period 1969–72 as published by the SOEC are given in the following table:in GDP (Gross Domestic Product) at constant market prices in the period 1961–71 are given in "National Accounts of OECD Countries 1960–1971"

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now exempt from excise duty any vehicle used solely for the transport of groups of disabled people.

I have noted my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the date of installation of a pelican crossing at the junction of the A55 and the Holway, Holywell; and if he will make a statement.

June 1974, when delivery of the necessary equipment is expected.