asked the Secretary of State for Trade what contribution British commodity markets have made to the balance of payments in each of the past three years.
Estimates of the contribution of these markets are not separately identifiable.
are the comparative amounts spent on hospitals for the mentally ill and subnormal compared with that spent by all local authority services for the same categories for the years 1969 to 1973, inclusive.
Estimated expenditure on both capital and revenue account is as follows:
| Hospitals for Mentally Ill and Mentally Handicapped | Local Authority Personal Social Services | |
| £ million | £ million | |
| 1969–70 | 149·6 | 30·5 |
| 1970–71 | 178·4 | 36·0 |
| 1971–72 | 212·5 | 42·5 |
| 1972–73 | 246·6 | — |
Notes:
1. The local authority figures exclude expenditure, which cannot be identified on support services such as health visitors and home helps.
2. Due to a change in the analysis of local authority expenditure from 1st April 1972, no comparable estimates can be made for 1972–73.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total population of persons in residence in mental hospitals and the average in each hospital; and what percentage of these are 65 years of age and over.
The relevant figures for residents in mental hospitals and units in England provided by regional hospital boards, and the distribution of beds by size of hospital or unit, are as follows:
asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects the projected Royal Commission on Commodity Markets to be established; and whether it will be within the competence of the commission to examine the conduct and performance of overseas sellers of world commodities.
As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 19th March—[Vol. 870, c. 846.]—the Government are having consultations on this. I cannot anticipate their outcome.
asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will identify the principal commodity markets centred on the United Kingdom with their dates of formation.
The principal United Kingdom commodity markets for futures trading and their dates of establishment are as follows:
| 1. The London Metal Exchange | 1877 |
| Copper | |
| Tin | |
| Lead | |
| Zinc | |
| Silver |
| Coffee | 1888 |
| Sugar | 1888 |
| Cocoa | 1928 |
| Vegetable oils | 1967 |
asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will identify the commodity markets affecting the principal foodstuffs and raw materials, and indicate their general location.
The commodity markets affecting principal foodstuffs and raw materials and their general location, apart from those situated in the United Kingdom, given in reply to the hon. Member's immediately preceding Question, are:
| Chicago | Sydney |
| Soya bean complex. | Wool. |
| Grains | Malaysia |
| New York | Rubber. |
| Copper | Tin. |
| Silver. | Palm oil. |
| Sugar. | Paris |
| Cocoa | Sugar |
| Cotton | Cocoa |
| Coffee | Coffee |