asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, when the present cuts in public expenditure are reviewed, she will restore to a place of high priority the deferred replacement of St. John's Church of England and Pro-Cathedral Primary Schools in West Bristol.

Arrangements for resuming the programme to replace or improve old primary schools have not yet been made, but my right hon. Friend would expect to obtain the views of local education authorities about priorities within their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases of acro-osteolysis have been notified to his Department with regard to men and women engaged in the polymerisation of vinyl chloride.

Acro-osteolysis is not a disease which is notifiable under Section 82 of the Factories Act 1961. Therefore, although my Department has learned informally of certain cases, it has not figures available for this disease.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing basic pay and average earnings for the five groups of workers who topped the wages league in 1960 1965, 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1973.

The figures set out below are for the five industries—generally orders of the Standard Industrial Classification—with the highest average weekly earnings for men manual workers at October in each of the years requested except October 1973, for which date the figures will be available shortly. This follows the basis of ranking used in the report of the Wilberforce Court of Inquiry (Cmnd. 4903, 1972). The figures, except those for coal mining, are taken from the Department's regular inquiries into the earnings and hours of manual workers in manufacturing and certain other industries. Comparisons of average earnings for different groups of workers are affected by many influences, for example, variations in the proportions of skilled and unskilled workers and differences in the average hours worked and in the extent of premium payments for overtime, shift and weekend working, and so on.Comparable averages for basic pay are not available.The figures are as follows:

EARNINGS OF MEN MANUAL WORKERS (21 YEARS AND OVER)—UNITED KINGDOM
	Average weekly earnings
	£
October 1960 (1958 Standard Industrial Classification)
Vehicles manufacture	16·98
Paper, printing and publishing	16·95
Coal-mining*	16·28
Metal manufacture	16·14
Engineering and electrical goods manufacture	15·26
October 1965 (1958 Standard Industrial Classification)
Paper, printing and publishing	22·83
Vehicles manufacture	22·43
Coal-mining*	21·21
Metal manufacture	21·16
Chemicals and allied industries	20·38
October 1970 (1968 Standard Industrial Classification)
Paper, printing and publishing	33·68
Vehicles manufacture	32·43
Coal and petroleum products manufacture	30·82
Metal manufacture	29·98
Transport and communication (except railways)	29·6

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage increase in average weekly earnings in the 12-month periods ending 30th September and 31st October 1972 and 1973, respectively.

The information requested is as follows:

MONTHLY INDEX OF AVERAGE EARNINGS (SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
	Percentage increase compared with same month of previous year
September 1972	14·0
October 1972	15·2
September 1973	13·3
October 1973	12·6

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will take steps to establish a fund against which people may claim in the event of their suffering damage as a result of strike action being taken by others for which the injured parties bear no responsibility.

I do not think this would be practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by how much the percentage increase in the food element within the retail price index exceeded the rise in national average earnings between October 1972 and the latest available date.

The food element, which carries a weight of 25 per cent. in the retail prices index, increased by 19·8 per cent. between October 1972 and November 1973. Average earnings—seasonally adjusted—increased by 13·9 per cent. over the same period and the retail price index itself by 10·7 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons in Scotland have accepted pay increases under stage 3 of the counter-inflation policy at the latest available date.

The numbers of employees covered by stage 3 pay settlements received by the Pay Board are published monthly by the board on a national basis. Information is not available to produce other than national figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in Wales in March 1971, March 1972 and December 1973, respectively.

The current series of employment statistics for Wales is based on censuses of employment and information is available only for each mid-year. At June 1971 and June 1972 the numbers were 962,000 and 973,000, respectively. Information for June 1973 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were made redundant in Wales in 1971, 1972 and 1973.

According to notifications of redundancy received in my Department the total numbers of workpeople recorded as due to become redundant in Wales were 14,960 in 1971; 11,290 in 1972; and 4,350 in 1973. The figures for 1973 are provisional at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies have been announced in Wales since June 1970; and if he will give a breakdown of these figures between the different travel-to-work areas.

During the period 1st June 1970 to 30th January 1974 inclusive redundancies have been notified to my Department in Wales involving the following numbers of workpeople in the different travel-to-work and local office areas:

Chepstow	210
Monmouth	Nil
Pontypool	3,520
Newport	3,600
Abertillery	5,140
	(*4,500 Ebbw Vale)
Cardiff	9,300
	(*4,600 East Moors)
Bargoed	1,460
Pontypridd	4,790
Merthyr Tydfil	1,290
Aberdare	890
Swansea	2,860
Neath	2,420
Ammanford	1,100
Llanelli	2,050
Port Talbot	2,530
Carmarthen	230
Fishguard	Nil
Haverfordwest	100
Llandeilo	Nil
Milford Haven	50
Pembroke Dock	340
Tenby	Nil
Barmouth	50
Blaenau Ffestiniog	310
Brecon	Nil
Llandrindod Wells	100
Machynlleth	10
Newtown	50
Welshpool	220
Towyn	Nil
Aberystwyth	10
Cardigan	10
Lampeter	20
Anglesey	660
Caernarvon	720
Porthmadog	250
Llandudno	140
Wrexham	2,930
Shotton	6,890
	(*6,000)
Rhyl	390
Colwyn Bay	200
Denbigh	220
Llangollen	80
Total	54,940
Note. The above figures have been rounded, and therefore the final total is not the same as the total of the original figures.
*Included figures of BSC long-term redundancies announced in proposals of 1972, and totalling 15,100.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the numbers of skilled craftsmen and unskilled personnel in the building trade in the Merseyside travel-to-work area to date.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people are registered unemployed in Wales and in the Rhondda travel-to-work areas, respectively; and how this compares with the same period of 1971, 1970, 1969 and 1968.

The numbers of registered disabled people in Wales and in the Rhondda travel-to-work area known to be unemployed in December 1973 and in each of the five preceding years were:

	Wales	Rhondda travel-to-work area
December 1973	5,105	519
December 1972	6,731	694
December 1971	7,380	757
December 1970	6,254	602
December 1969	6,282	584
December 1968	6,062	561

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men and how many women are at present following courses in Government training centres in Wales and in the United Kingdom, respectively.

On 31st December 1973 there were 856 men and five women in training in Government training centres in Wales and 10,547 men and 17 women in training in Great Britain. These figures are provisional.Training facilities under the Training Opportunities Scheme are available only in England, Scotland and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what vacancies exist for men and for women at Government training centres in Wales and in the United Kingdom, respectively.

On 31st December 1973 there were 347 vacancies in Government training centres in Wales. In Great Britain as a whole there were 3,207 vacancies. These figures are provisional.Vacancies are open equally to men and women.Training facilities under the Training Opportunities Scheme are available only in England, Scotland and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further research he plans into the causes of interruptions to production in the British car industry.

My right hon. Friend welcomes the recommendation in the recent report by the National Economic Development Office for a study into the causes of interruption to production in the car industry. He would always be prepared to consider any research proposals which were put to him but considers that in the first instance this is a matter for NEDO and the parties in the car industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish the study undertaken by his Department in 1969 about interruptions to production in four British car manufacturing plants.

My Department did not undertake such a study in 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he proposes to introduce legislation to make unions responsible to their members for the payment of strike pay in the event of their giving official support to industrial action, thereby enabling social security benefits to be abated by the union contributions deemed to have been paid.

I have been asked to reply.I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member fo South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 6th November 1973.—[Vol. 863, c.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of evidence that there is a dangerous level of lead content in Plymouth domestic water supply, if he will have this matter investigated at the point at which it reaches the consumer, to ascertain whether it is within the limits considered safe by the World Health Organisation.

As a matter of routine, water supply undetakings—and Plymouth is no exception—test the effectiveness of the treatment given to plumbo solvent waters by analysing for lead content samples of water taken from houses with lead pipes. Samples of water taken from such houses in Plymouth show a lead content within the limits recommended by the World Health Organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can now say when he expects work to begin on the cleaning of the Palace of Westminster.

I hoped that work would begin this year but have decided that the expenditure of some £2 million could not be justified for the time being.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the construction of the various sections of the proposed M16 motorway.

Construction of the section between the A13, near the Dartford Tunnel, to the A12, west of Brentwood, should be ready to start in mid-1975, subject to the satisfactory completion of the remaining statutory procedures and to funds being available at the time. The two sections between the A10 and the A12 are not yet in the firm programme and dates for start of construction cannot therefore yet be given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the two extensions of the A329(M) road will be completed.

I expect the north-westwards extension to the A4 will be opened in March 1974 and the south-eastwards extension to Amen Corner on the A329 in December 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the effects of public expenditure cuts on road construction programmes in the city of Bournemouth and Christchurch.

Work will continue on schemes under construction. The national principal road programme is being reviewed and a statement will be made soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to issue any office development permits for Inner London in 1974; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply given on 30th January to the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (Mr. Sandelson).—Vol. 868, c. 106–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the figures for the taking up of road fund licences in the towns comprising the Hey-wood and Royton constituency as compared to the rest of the country during the weeks when petrol rationing coupons were allocated.

Figures are not kept on the basis of parliamentary constituencies. For the Lancashire County Council area 177,771 vehicle licences were issued in November and December 1973. The comparable 1972 figure was 216,488.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any contracts have been entered into for the construction of a rehabilitation/resettlement centre for single homeless males and a driving test centre on the Enners-dale Road Drill Hall site at Hither Green, Lewisham.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his most recent estimates of the rate of take-up of rent rebates and rent allowances among those eligible, apart from those in receipt of supplementary benefit or supplementary pensions.

As I stated in a reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 18th October 1973—[Vol. 861, c. 293–4.]—it was estimated that by May 1973, 70 per cent. to 80 per cent. of eligible unfurnished tenants not in receipt of supplementary benefit had successfully claimed rebates and that 10 per cent. to 15 per cent. had successfully claimed allowances. These remain the latest estimates, but further surveys are in hand and results are expected shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a circular to local authorities asking them to ensure that the new rate rebate scheme and the existing rent rebate and allowances scheme are integrated so that a single application form will cover both schemes.

Responsibility for the administration of the schemes of rent rebates and allowances and of rate rebates rests with local authorities. For this reason the use of a common application form is a matter for those authorities to determine. However, my Department proposes in a circular to be issued about the new rate rebate scheme to draw the attention of authorities to the advantages of using a dual-purpose application form.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his decision on the Kingston upon Hull (Walmesley Street) Compulsory Purchase Order.

This decision is expected to be issued in March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of persons who have been killed and the number injured at or close to the Lodge Lane crossroads on the A57 in the parish of Aston-cum-Aughton during the last 10 years.

Three were killed and eight injured within 50 yards of this junction between 1st January 1968 and 31st January 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the fact that it is becoming increasingly urgent to enlarge Grimwith reservoir, when he will be in a position to issue a decision upon the scheme proposed by the water authority.

I recognise the urgency of a decision upon this scheme. My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to be able to announce his decision by the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps designed to ensure that adequate sports fields are retained within urban areas.

Local authorities already have powers to do this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miners' wives are gainfully employed.

I have been asked to reply. I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will be directly represented at the forthcoming World Population Conference; and if a statement about United Kingdom views will be made before the conference.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many former Government servants or public officials are being detained or are wanted in connection with corruption charges in Hong Kong; who they are; and how long each has been wanted.

18 former Government servants are serving prison sentences for corruption offences: four ex-prison officers; 11 ex-police; one ex-registration of persons department; one ex-housing department; one ex-judiciary clerk.Four Governments servants are on trial for corruption offences: two police; one marine department officer; one prison officer.15 former Government servants are wanted, having absconded or jumped bail: 12 ex-police; one ex-urban services department; two ex-housing department. Five of these have been sought since 1968, three since 1969, three since 1970, one since 1971, two since 1972 and one since 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many notified road accidents have occurred in Hong Kong in each of the past five years; how many of these accidents caused injuries; and what number of these cases produced prosecutions and convictions.

The table below shows road accidents notified to the police during the calendar years 1969 to 1973. Slight accidents were those where no injury was caused. Serious accidents were those where an injury was caused. Figures for convictions for road traffic accidents are classified by the type of offence. They do not therefore show whether injuries were caused in individual cases. That information and the figures for prosecutions could not be obtained without prolonged research. The table also shows convictions for the more serious traffic offences—defined as dangerous and careless driving, driving without a licence or third party insurance, speeding, drunken driving, failing to stop after an accident, forgery of a driving licence and driving whilst disqualified—and for all traffic offences. The drop in the latter in 1972 and 1973 was caused by the introduction

				Accidents Notified
			Fatal	Serious	Slight	Total	Serious Traffic Offences	All Traffic Offences
1969	…	…	314	3,970	5,891	10,175	N.A.	174,350
1970	…	…	367	4,908	6,555	11,730	21,525	170,814
1971	…	…	362	4,346	7,572	12,280	27,636	169,494
1972	…	…	414	4,679	7,705	12,798	24,351	94,286
1973	…	…	455	4,819	7,240	12,714	28,375	133,086

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have died as a result of injuries sustained in road traffic accidents in Hong Kong in each of the past five years; and how many of these cases have resulted in prison sentences for those found guilty of dangerous or unlawful driving.

The number of people killed as a result of road traffic accidents during the calendar years 1969 to 1973 was:

1969	326
1970	381
1971	383
1972	441
1973	482

In some cases more than one person was killed in the same accident. Because of the way the statistics are classified, it is not possible to say without substantial further research how many of these cases have resulted in prison sentences.The following table shows the number of people who served or are serving prison sentences for dangerous driving and other road traffic offences:

	(A)	(B)
Financial Year	Dangerous Driving	Other Road Traffic Offences
1969–70	Not available (different classification used)
1970–71	6	40
1971–72	4	4
1972–73	2	13
1973–74	5	68

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the rules for extradition between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom; and on how many occasions they have been used over the past five years.

Extradition arrangements between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom are governed by the Fugitive of a fixed penalty ticket system for parking offences, which are thus excluded for those years.Offenders Act 1967 as applied and modified by the Fugitive Offenders (Hong Kong) Order 1967.During the last five years the figures of applications for return of fugitives from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom were as follows: 1969, nil; 1970, nil; 1971, 1 application—successful; 1972, 1 application, which was withdrawn following the voluntary return of the fugitive; 1973, nil. There were no applications under the Fugitive Offenders Act for any returns to Hong Kong from the United Kingdom over the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many murders took place in Hong Kong in each of the past five years; how many of these resulted in criminal charges being preferred; and how many and of what kind were the subsequent sentences.

Homicides cannot be classified as murders until the courts have so found. During the calendar years 1969 to 1973 the following numbers of homicides were reported to the police with the results indicated:

No. of Cases Reported
1969	55
1970	71
1971	98
1972	115
1973	110
No. of Cases Taken to Court
1969	35
1970	46
1971	67
1972	65
1973	62

The following table shows the outcome of murder cases dealt with in the Supreme Court during the financial years 1968–69 to 1972–73. Although all cases were trials for murder, some convictions were for lesser offences. Convictions for murder in Hong Kong carry the death sentence—although this has not been carried out since 1966—and can therefore be distinguished from manslaughter

			1968–69	1969–70	1970–71	1971–72	1972–73
Number Committed for Trial		…	39	44	64	72	103
Nolle Prosequi	…	…	2	5	2	1	—
Acquitted	…	…	13	12	10	12	19
Pending	…	…	—	—	—	—	37
Convicted	…	…	24	25	52	59	47
Death Sentence	…	…	3	—	8	12	13
Prison	…	…	12	15	22	22	22
Detained at HM pleasure		…	—	1	—	10	7
Training Centre	…	…	8	8	16	7	2
Probation	…	…	1	1	3	2	—
Bound Over	…	…	—	—	3	1	—
No Sentence passed	…	…	—	—	—	1	—
Mental Hospital	…	…	—	—	—	4	3

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the investigations into corruption now taking place in Hong Kong to be completed; and to whom the report will be handed.

As I informed the hon. Member in my reply on 21st January, the Governor has set up an independent Anti-Corruption Commission. The commissioner, who will be subject to the control and direction of the Governor, has been appointed and the commission starts operations this month. The commission is a permanent body and its functions broadly are to investigate complaints of corruption, to take steps for the prevention of corruption and to enlist community support in its elimination. Its work will be continuous and long-term. It is not a commission of inquiry in the sense suggested in the Question, though the commissioner will be required to report annually to the Governor and the Legislative Council.—[Vol. 867, c. 239.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of the comments by Lord Justice Scarman in the Court of Appeal in the case of Regina v Jackson on 27th January 1974, he will introduce legislation to repeal the Vagrancy Act 1824.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to the judgment of Lord Justice Scarman in the case of Regina v

This will be considered in the course of a review of the law on vagrancy and street offences which is already being undertaken by the Departments concerned.

asked the secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as to the effects on the towns in the Heywood and Royton constituency of the cuts in his Department's expenditure arising out of the statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17th December 1973.

No major capital projects are involved. The review of proposed starts is not yet complete, but it is possible that some minor police works and one urban programme project will be affected. It will be for the local authorities concerned to achieve the necessary reduction in procurement expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the statutory provisions governing the rights and obligations of pickets during industrial disputes and the rights and obligations of those who are seeking to discharge their normal business or commercial commitments;(2) if he will introduce legislation to clarify the rights and obligations of em- ployees against whom picketing is directed either during their access to or at their place of work;(3) if he will list the statutory provisions governing the impeding of the movement of vehicles and pedestrians by pickets during an industrial dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the statutory provisions governing peaceful picketing, in the light of recent court judgments; and if he will indicate by what means he proposes to make the state of the law publicly known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the statutory provisions relating to the right to picket.

Picketing in furtherance or contemplation of an industrial dispute must be carried out solely for the purpose of peacefully obtaining or communicating information and/or peacefully persuading someone to work or not to work.The right to engage in peaceful picketing has long been protected by the law. That protection is continued by Section 134 of the Industrial Relations Act 1971, but it does not extend to picketing which involves violence or intimidation; such picketing is a clear breach of the criminal law.In particular, the law does not sanction picketing in such numbers as to cause intimidation or obstruction. Recent decisions of the courts confirm that a picket is not entitled to stop the driver of a vehicle or anyone else against his will and compel him to listen to what the picket has to say.Under the civil law an aggrieved party can seek relief against picketing which involves an unfair industrial practice or a civil wrong such as trespass or nuisance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will increase the value of meal vouchers which may be issued to employees free of income tax by reason of the extra-statutory concession from 15p each working day to 30p; and whether he will extend the ambit of the concession to enable self-employed persons to purchase vouchers.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total net weekly income of a man with a wife and three children under 11 years of age, assuming a weekly wage of £15, £20, £25, £30, £35 and £40, respectively, and that the previous year's pay was the same, allowing for tax repayments and welfare benefits, (1) for a week's work after 39 weeks of work at the appropriate rate, and (2) when unemployed after 39 weeks of employment and when qualifying for earnings-related supplement; and how many weeks of the year the take-home pay when out of work could exceed the take-home pay when at work.

The following are the figures:

Weekly wage	A	B	Number of weeks when take-home pay when out of work could exceed take-home pay when at work
	£	£
£15	15·75	18·80
FIS	4·80	4·80
	20·55	23·60	Up to 52
£20	20·49	19·58
FIS	2·30	2·30
	22·79	21·88	Nil
£25	24·34	30v70	Up to 4
£30	27·59	32·40	Up to 11
£35	30·84	33·18	Up to 16
£40	34·09	33·96	Nil

Column A shows the man's net weekly income at work for week 40 in the tax year. Column B shows the income from unemployment benefit including earnings-related supplement for week 42 on the assumption that that is the third consecutive week of unemployment and where appropriate tax refunds.The figures take account of family allowances and national insurance contributions but they do not include any supplementary benefit that might be receivable during unemployment.Family income supplement payments are shown separately. They appear under column B as well as column A because a man who becomes entitled to FIS will receive it for the period of the award regardless of whether he becomes unemployed during that period.A man earning £15 a week could of course only have a higher income when out of work than when in work for the maximum period of 52 weeks if he became unemployed immediately after becoming entitled to FIS.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate the total net weekly income of a man with a wife and no children, assuming a weekly wage of £15, £20, £25, £30 and £35, respectively, and that the previous year's pay was at the same rates, allowing for relevant tax repayments and any welfare benefits in the following circumstances, namely, for a week's work after 39 weeks at the appropriate rate and when unemployed after 39 weeks' employment and when qualifying for earnings-related supplement; and how many weeks of the year the take-home pay when out of work could exceed the take-home pay when at work.

The figures are:

Weekly wage	A	B	C
£15	13·85	13·26	—
£20	17·09	20·00	Up to 11
£25	20·34	21·73	Up to 18
£30	23·59	23·25	—
£35	26·84	24·03	—

Column A shows the man's net weekly income when at work for week 40 in the tax year.Column B shows the income from unemployment benefit including earnings-related supplement for week 42 on the assumption that that is the third consecutive week of unemployment and where appropriate tax refunds.Column C shows the number of weeks when take-home pay when out of work could exceed take-home pay when at work.The figures take account of national insurance contributions but they do not include any supplementary benefit that might be receivable during unemployment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he is aware that a man with a wife and two children under 11 years of age with a wage of £25 per week has a net weekly income of £22·89 when at work and £28.03 for the first seven weeks when unemployed; and if he will take steps to rectify this situation;(2) if he is aware that a man with a wife and two children under 11 years of age whose weekly wage is £30 a week has £3·41 more spending power in the first 14 weeks of unemployment than when at work; and if he will take steps to rectify this situation.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his Question of 17th January 1974.—[Vol. 867, c 135.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate the components of the net weekly income of a man with a wife and two children under 11 years of age, assuming a weekly wage of £25 per week and that the previous year's pay was at the same rates, showing relevant tax payments, repayments and any welfare benefits in the following circumstances: (a) for a week's work after 39 weeks at the appropriate rate, and (b) when unemployed after 39 weeks' employment and when qualifying for earnings-related benefit.

The figures are:

	A
	£
Weekly wage	25·00
Family allowances	0·90
	25·90
National Insurance Contributions:
Flat rate	0·84
Graduated	0·82
Income tax	1·35
Net income	22·89
	B
	£
Unemployment Benefit:
Flat rate	15·60
Earnings-related supplement	5·33
Family allowances	0·90
Income tax refund	6·20
Net income	28·03

Column A shows the components of the net weekly income when at work for week 40 in the tax year.Column B shows the components for week 42 on the assumption that this is the third consecutive week of unemployment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate the components of the net weekly income of a man with a wife and one child under 11 years of age, assuming a weekly wage of £25 per week and that the previous year's pay was at the same rates, showing relevant tax payments, repayments and any welfare benefits in the following circumstances: (a) for a week's work after 39 weeks at the appropriate rate, and (b) when unemployed after 39 weeks' employment and when qualifying for earnings-related benefit.

The figures are:

	A
	£
Weekly wage	25·00
National insurance contributions:
Flat rate	0·84
Graduated	0·82
Income tax	1·95
Net income	21·39

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the tax revenue to be derived from the taxation of sickness, unemployment and supplementary benefits, at present exempt from tax.

As regards sickness and unemployment benefit, there is no information available which would enable me to amend the figure of £160 million previously given to my hon. Friend. It is not possible to estimate the yield of making supplementary benefit liable to tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the most recent figures available for the gross national product per head and gross domestic product per head of each of the countries of the European Community in the currency of the country concerned;(2) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the most recent figures available for the gross national product per head and gross domestic product per head for the European Community as a whole.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what investigation has taken place in Gibraltar by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise (Investigation Branch) into the invoicing practices of a firm whose name has been supplied to him; what was the outcome of the investigation; what fines were imposed; and if he will make a statement.

Details of Customs and Excise inquiries are treated as confidential.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the property transferred by voluntary disposition inter vivos in Great Britain in the year 1963–64 became chargeable to estate duty on account of the death of the transferor within the chargeable period.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, of those 250 persons found last year to have been evading taxes to the extent of more than £10,000 in each case, what was the breakdown between these cases according to which taxes were involved; how many were earning, respectively, less than £2,000 per year, £2,000 to £5,000, and over £5,000 per year; how many were employees, self-employed, employers, pensioners or others; how many were, respectively, prosecuted, convicted, fined or otherwise penalised; and what was the level of fine in each case.

The information could not be produced without a disproportionate expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will publish a table showing, for each half-year from January 1971 to December 1973, the percentage of the total increase in total corporate profits in the private sector which was attributable to adjustments in the book value of inventories;(2) whether he will publish a table showing, for each half-year from January 1971 to December 1973, the percentage of the total increase in non-financial corporate profits which was attributable to adjustments in the book value of inventories.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 1st February 1974; Vol. 868, c. 181], gave the following information:It is not clear to which adjustments in the book value of inventories the Questions refer. Information about the increases in gross trading profits of companies, before and after deducting estimates of stock appreciation, are given in the following table.

PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER PRECEDING HALF-YEAR IN GROSS TRADING PROFITS OF ALL COMPANIES, SEASONALLY ADJUSTED
	Before deducting stock appreciation	After deducting stock appreciation
1971—
January—June	+ 6	− 1
July-December	+ 2	+18
1972—
January-June	+ 7	+ 1
July-December	+12	+ 5
1973—
January—June	+18	+17
1973—
March-September	+15	+ 2

PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER PRECEDING YEAR IN GROSS TRADING PROFITS OF NON-FINANCIAL COMPANIES
	Before deducting stock appreciation	After deducting stock appreciation
1971	+ 8	+10
1972	+15	+13

An estimate of gross trading profits in the final quarter of 1973 is not yet available; half-yearly estimates for non-financial companies are not available. Stock appreciation is the difference between the change during a period in the book value of stocks and the estimated physical change valued at the average prices of the period in question. The effect of normal accounting methods is that in times of rising prices the book value of stocks increases by more than the physical volume valued at the prices of the period in question, and profits thus include an amount which in national accounting terms is regarded as a form of capital gain rather than as income contributing to the national product. The estimates of stock appreciation are regarded as subject to a wide margin of error. The basis of estimation is described in Chapter XIII of "National Accounts Statistics: Sources and Methods" (Her Majesty's Stationery Office).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been, for each year since 1945, the level of gross company United Kingdom trading profits; the level of these profits net of corporation tax, or its preceding equivalent, at current prices; the level of these profits net of tax at 1945 prices, and the percentage annual change in these profits at 1945 prices; and what are the equivalent figures for dividends or interest payments since 1945.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 31st January 1974; Vol. 868 c. 139], gave the following information:Estimates of the gross trading profits of companies for the years 1951 to 1972

		Dividend and interest payments by companies (before deduction of tax at source)	Dividend and interest payments by companies (after deduction of tax at source)*	Annual percentage increase in internal purchasing power of the pound	Dividend and interest payments (after deduction of tax) adjusted to 1956 purchasing power	Annual percentage change in column (4)
		(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
		£m.	£m.		£m.
1956	…	951	618	—	618	—
1957	…	1,033	671	3·2	650	+ 5·2
1958	…	1,107	724	2·7	683	+ 5·1
1959	…	1,203	803	0·6	753	+10·2
1960	…	1,515	1,028	1·0	954	+26·7
1961	…	1,707	1,161	2·9	1,047	+ 9·7
1962	…	1,758	1,193	3·8	1,037	−1·0
1963	…	1,908	1,296	2·0	1,105	+ 6·6
1964	…	2,166	1,453	3·3	1,199	+ 8·5
1965	…	2,549	1,758	4·8	1,385	+15·5
1966	…	2,705	1,825	3·9	1,383	− 0·1
1967	…	2,762	1,878	2·5	1,389	+ 0·4
1968	…	2,953	2,042	4·7	1,442	+ 3·8
1969	…	3,308	2,311	5·4	1,548	+ 7·4
1970	…	3,347	2,333	6·4	1,469	− 5·1
1971	…	3,591	2,531	9·4	1,457	− 0·8
1972	…	3,786†	2,708†	7·1	1,455	—0·1
* Tax on dividends and most interest paid was deducted at source at the standard rate. Some recipients are liable on the top slice of their total income at higher or lower rates, and others—e.g., charities—are not liable to tax on dividends and interest received.
† The timing of payments of dividends on ordinary shares in 1972 was affected by delays m order to take advantage of the transitional arrangements for changeover to the new system of corporation tax in 1973, the effect being to distort figures for 1972 downwards.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers of vehicles using the Erskine Bridge and the Clyde Tunnel for the years 1972 and 1973, respectively.

The numbers of vehicles which used the Erskine Bridge and Clyde Tunnel in 1972 and 1973 were as follows:

Erskine Bridge
1972	1,876,563
1973	2,237,170
Clyde Tunnel
1972	13,226,253*
1973	14,940,575*
*Figures supplied by Glasgow Corporation which is responsible for the tunnel.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what effect the cuts in public expenditure will have on the improvement and realignment of the trunk road A9 north of Invergordon.

The intention is that improvement schemes already in progress will be allowed to continue: the implications for schemes which have not yet started are being examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what report he has received from the Nuclear Inspectorate regarding the nuclear security aspect of the Hunterston project; and what conclusions he has drawn from it.

The report has not yet reached me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in the light of the coastal erosion which has occurred at and south of Golspie, Sutherland, he will take urgent steps to prevent the further deterioration of the position.

This is for Sutherland County Council, as coast protection authority; I shall be glad to consider any further proposals it may submit.I understand that the council is acquiring land for a scheme of which the hon. Member is aware, and that it will shortly be considering representations about erosion at the golf course.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the intended implementation date of the Family Planning Act and the target date of the commencement of any Government advertising campaign associated with the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date general practitioners will be permitted to prescribe the oral contraceptive on forms E.C.10 in cases in which there is no medical need for avoidance of conception.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if family planning provision for non-medical reasons will be introduced by general practitioners on 1st April; and if he will make a statement.

I am still considering future arrangements for family planning, and I intend to make a statement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he can estimate how many of the women who were delivered in each of the years 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973 in England and Wales had previously had a legal abortion.

I regret that there is insufficient information available upon which to make estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is now in a position to give a date for the publication of the Lane Report on abortion.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. and learned Member for Aberavon (Mr. John Morris) on 18th January.—[Vol. 867, c. 195.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost to public funds of repealing the regulations which make seasonal workers ineligible for unemployment pay for the whole country, for the development areas, for registered disabled persons, and for those over the age of 55 years, respectively.

The information needed to make a reliable estimate of the cost to the National Insurance Fund is not available. Seasonal workers are eligible for supplementary allowances under the ordinary rules if they register for work during their off season, but separate records of the amounts paid to them are not kept.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated or average time between the date when an application for leave to appeal to the National Insurance Commissioner against a decision of the Attendance Allowance Board is lodged and the date when that case is heard by the commissioner.

The time taken by the Department to prepare and forward to the office of the National Insurance Commissioner an application for leave to appeal to the commissioner against a decision of the Attendance Allowance Board is currently about seven weeks. It is, however, for the commissioner to decide whether or not he will hold an oral hearing of an application and to fix the date of any such hearing.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the fact that he has appointed no women to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation reflects a change in the policy of Her Majesty's Government of making appointments on grounds of qualification and suitability.

No. Members of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation are specialists in different fields selected for the particular contribution they can be expected to make to problems of vaccination and immunisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he hopes to make a decision on the provision of a health centre in the Swinton and Pendlebury area; if he is aware of the need in this area; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware from the hon. Member's letters of the need in this area. There are also competing needs in other areas. My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to make a decision within the next two weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether chief administrative officers to local health authorities are included in the categories of officers who will be permitted to retire on enhanced terms before normal retiring age between 1st April 1974 and 31st March 1975.

Chief administrative officers to local health authorities are not included in the categories specified in the regulations which will shortly be laid before the House, but their position is under consideration and amending regulations will be made if it is agreed to include them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the aggregate cost to public funds of supplementary benefit payments made to those involved in industrial disputes to their dependants, and on resumption of work and not subsequently recovered, since the inauguration of statutory control over wages and prices; and what is the corresponding figure in respect of industrial disputes arising from the rejection of wage claims which employers have been advised that they would be in breach of the legislation to accept.

Payments of supplementary benefit between 30th November 1972 and 1st January 1974 for strikers' families and strikers' own urgent needs were, respectively, £731,997 and £2,950. During the same period £104,065 was paid after resumption of work and is fully recoverable. I regret that the other information requested by my hon. Friend is not recorded and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will raise the earnings limit for Class 1 national health insurance contribution liability.

The raising of the upper and lower earnings limits of liability for Class 1 national insurance contributions is normally considered in the context of the annual review of contribution and benefit rates. The limits were last increased on 1st October 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the estimated cost of extending the exemption of prescription charges for the same periods at present given to nursing mothers to those mothers who experience loss of a baby at birth.

About £13,000 a year—in England and Wales—in respect of stillbirths and losses in the first week after birth.