asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many pounds of pork per head of population in Great Britain were consumerd in 1972, 1973 and the first six months of 1974, respectively.

Estimates of the total consumption of pork are available only for the United Kingdom as a whole. The figures for 1972 and 1973 are 27·2 and 26·7 lb. per head per annum respectively and 13·9 lb. per head for the first six months of 1974.

£ per live cwt.
				Variable Premium		Total average producers' returns
Week beginning		Target Price	Beef Premium	Great Britain	Northern Ireland	Great Britain	Northern Ireland
18th November	…	18·00	2·27	0·10½	0·80½	18·34½	14·65½
25th November	…	18·45	2·27	0·57½	1·27½	19·13½	14·92
2nd December	…	18·90	2·83½	1·25	1·95	19·46	15·84
9th December	…	19·35	2·83½	0·35½	1·05½	20·28	14·79
16th December	…	19·80	2·83½	0·19	0·89	20·63½	15·64
23rd December	…	20·30	3·04	—	—	21·17	16·89
30th December	…
6th January*	…	20·80	3·40½	0·04	0·74	21·27	18·66½
* Provisional.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the total average returns including both subsidies to beef producers selling on a live-weight basis in England, in Scotland and in Wales compare with the target prices for cattle in each week since the variable premiums were introduced.

£ per live cwt.
			Beef Premium	Variable Premium	Total Average Producers' Returns
Week beginning		Target Price	Great Britain	Great Britain	England and Wales	Scotland
18th November	…	18·00	2·27	0·10½	18·34½*	18·34½*
25th November	…	18·45	2·27	0·57½	19½04	19·54½
2nd December	…	18·90	2·83½	1·25	19·29	20·18½
9th December	…	19·35	2·83½	0·35½	20·32½	20·09
16th December	…	19·80	2·83½	0·19	20·69½	20·41
23rd December	…	20·30	3·04	—	21·30	20·63
30th December	…
6th January (Provisional)	…	20·80	3·40½	0·04	21·38	20·76½
* Great Britain figure—no separate figures available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the total average returns including both subsidies to beef producers selling on a live-weight basis in Great Britain and in Northern Ireland compare with the target prices for fat cattle in each week since the variable premiums were introduced.

Since variable premiums were introduced on 18th November 1974 target prices, the amounts of beef premium and total average returns to producers in Great Britain and Northern Ireland have been as follows.

Since variable premiums were introduced on 18th November 1974 target prices, the amounts of beef premium and variable premium and total average returns to producers in England and Wales and in Scotland have been as follows. No separate figures are available for Wales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will activate forthwith the provisions of the Farm and Garden Chemicals Act 1967 to ensure that pesticides are marked with a red, yellow or green band around the label to warn amateur gardeners of their relative toxicity to human beings; and if he will make a statement on the considerations that have led him not to bring this provision into effect earlier.

We are concerned that any action of this kind should be founded upon the proposed international symbols which are under discussion and which would readily be distinguished by those who are colour-blind. In the meantime, all concerned are already protected by the existing safeguards described in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Butler) on 5th July 1974.—[Vol. 876, c. 285.] It may further reassure my hon. Friend to know that, under the Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme, only the less toxic formulations can be marketed for use in home gardens.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now take steps to review the law relating to deportation to prevent conflict with the laws operating for the time being in Northern Ireland.

We are not aware that there is any such conflict.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider proposing the institution of controls upon the keeping of wild animals as domestic pets; and whether he will make a statement.

Not at present. The Animals Act 1971 has clarified the liability at civil law for damage done by wild animals which are dangerous and it is an offence at common law to cause a public nuisance by keeping animals to the danger of the public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will propose in the Bill for a Common Market referendum that the referendum should be available to all voters and that postal votes will be permitted for those voters who might be on holiday at the time.

My right hon. Friend cannot anticipate the contents of any enabling legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder or manslaughter in the 12 months ended 1st January 1958 and in each succeeding 12-month period to the latest convenient date.

The information is set out in the table below which shows, for England and Wales, the number of persons convicted of murder or manslaughter and sentenced to life imprisonment since 1st January 1957 including those ordered to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure or for life under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, and those sentenced to death whose sentences were commuted to life imprisonment. The figures do not include cases where a sentence of life imprisonment was not unheld on appeal.

Year	Murder	Manslaughter (diminished responsibility)	Other Manslaughter
1957	25	3	—
1958	22	11	—
1959	39	7	—
1960	36	11	—
1961	45	12	—
1962	28	9	—
1963	42	14	—
1964	41	11	—
1965	57	10	3
1966	69	7	—
1967	56	9	3
1968	71	3	—
1969	73	6	2
1970	97	12	1
1971	97	13	1
1972	79	6	3
1973	88	12	2

These figures do not include those sentenced to death and executed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were under sentence of life imprisonment for murder or manslaughter on 1st January 1957; how many of them were in prison and had served five years, 10 years, 15 years or 20 years, respectively; how many of them were on licence and, of the latter, how many had served five years, 10 years, 15 years or 20 years in prison respectively; and if he will give similar figures for every succeeding 12-month period to the latest convenient date.

I regret that information in this form is not available. I shall write to the hon. and learned Member sending such information as can be provided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any organisations other than the police will have access to the information on the police national computer.

Access to information from police records on the police national computer will be confined strictly to police forces. The computer will also contain a limited amount of information from the motor taxation record of each vehicle registered under the centralised vehicle licensing system at Swansea. The Investigation Division of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise sometimes needs information from these vehicle records; since it would in any case properly be available to them from Swansea, but less conveniently, I have agreed that they may have access to the vehicle registration information on the police computer. Suitable safeguards will be observed to ensure that such access is limited to the purposes for which I have authorised it.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to meet the TUC General Council in the near future.

asked the Prime Minister when next he intends to meet the TUC.

I have no immediate plans to meet the General Council, but I do of course frequently see TUC representatives, most recently at the National Economic Development Council meeting on 8th January.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has now submitted evidence to the Royal Commission on the Press.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has yet given his evidence to the Royal Commission on the Press.

asked the Prime Minister if he has now given his evidence to the Royal Commission on the Press.

Work on this is well advanced but, as I have informed the House, part of it is held up by the need to await information as a result of police inquiries and other information.

asked the Prime Minister when he last had official conversations with the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic.

At the meeting of EEC Heads of Government in Paris on 9th and 10th of December. The hon. Member will be aware that I had talks with the Taoiseach also on 21st November, when I was in Dublin for the funeral of the late President of the Irish Republic.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will give the same details about the remuneration and other benefits for Members of Parliament in the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Belgium and Italy as he gave for other countries in his answer to the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare (Mr. Wiggin) on 26th November—[Vol. 882, c. 135–6.]

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2nd December; Vol. 882, c. 327], circulated the following information:

PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF PARLIAMENTARIANS IN UNITED KINGDOM, THE NETHERLANDS, NORWAY, DENMARK, BELGIUM, AND ITALY
	(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)	(e)
	Basic Annual Salary	Special Allowances and Concessions	Secretarial and Office Services	Travel Concessions (on Parliamentary Business)	Postage, Telephone, Services (on Parliamentary Business)
United Kingdom	£4,500	Subsistence allowance of up to £1,050 p.a. when Member has to stay away from home. Allowance of £228 p.a. for Members representing London constituencies.	An allowance of up to £1,750 p.a. of which up to £550 can be spent on research assistance.	Repayment of fare or car allowance for all journeys between home, Westminster, and constituency, and within constituency, and to other locations on constituency business. Limited free travel for wives.	Free stationery; free inland telephone and postage service.
The Netherlands	Fls. 65,209 (£11,240), but this may be reduced if the member derives income from another source.	Subsistence allowance of Fls. 6,650–13,275 (£1,150–2,290). Entitlement to special unemployment benefits, old age pension, etc.	An allowance of up to Fls. 8,640 (£1,490) for personal assistant. The Government also contributes towards secretarial and office costs.	An allowance of Fls. 5,375 (£930) p.a. for inland travel; refunds for travel abroad as for Civil Servants.	Free telephone calls from Parliamentary buildings; free postage.
Norway	Kr. 91,800 (£7,590)	Session allowance of Kr. 42·50 (£3·50) per day for representatives living near Oslo, and Kr. 85 (£7) per day otherwise.	Free typing etc. facilities, plus financial assistance to parties.	Free inland travel, plus certain travel allowances.	Free telephone service.
Denmark	Kr. 105,972 (£8,000)	Subsistence allowance of Kr. 9,414, 14,366, or 27,752 (£710, £1,080, or £2,090) p.a., according to where members live.	Financial assistance given to party groups.	Free inland travel	Free use of inland telephone service from Parliamentary building; free stationery.
Belgium	BF 1,000,073 (£11,910)	Subsistence allowance of BF 2,500 (£30) per day when on official business. Representational allowance of BF 22,000 (£260) p.a.	Supplied by the Government.	Free inland rail and bus travel. Use of pool car, but no private car allowance.	Free postage and telephone service from Parliamentary building.
Italy	Lire 13,849,897 (£9,130)	Subsistence allowance included in basic salary.	None, but tax allowance is made on basic salary.	Free travel by rail, plus certain other concessions for members and their families.	Free use of telephone for local calls.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech on population growth made by the Lord Privy Seal to the Family Planning Association on Friday 6th December represents Government policy.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Overseas Development on policy relating to world food problems.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint an adviser to the Cabinet on the social contract.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a special adviser to the Government on the social contract, on a similar basis to the recent appointment of the special adviser on industrial policy.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, South-East (Mr. Rost) on 14th January.—[Vol. 884, c. 77.]

asked the Prime Minister whether the public statement of the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection on 10th December in Washington on inflation rates represents Government policy.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) on 19th December.—[Vol. 883, c. 528.]

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet heads of Government from EEC countries.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bedwellty (Mr. Kinnock) on 14th January.—[Vol. 884, c. 77.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Holy Loch.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Holy Loch.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements during the recess.

No, although if the hon. Gentleman has a specific point on my official engagements during the recess I should be glad to consider it.

asked the Prime Minister how many days he has spent in Scotland on official business since February 1974.

I had the pleasure of visiting Scotland at the outset of the election campaign in September 1974, and will be returning on 27th and 28th February for discussions with the Scottish Trades Union Congress.

asked the Prime Minister whether, during his forthcoming visit to Washington, he will discuss with President Ford the problems of the motor industry in Great Britain and the United States of America, with special reference to the future of United States-controlled motor manufacturing companies in Great Britain.

My talks with the President will provide a useful opportunity for a full exchange of views on the economic problems in Britain and the United States which are of concern to the motor industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current rate of travel allowance for Service personnel using their own cars for travel from home to place of work; what is the weekly maximum; and when these allowances were last revised.

The current rate of allowance is 1·7p per mile, the maximum amount payable £3 per week. The present rate was fixed with effect from 1st April 1970. It is now being reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average age of the Wessex helicopters used by the Royal Navy for amphibious operations by the Royal Marines; and what are his plans for their replacement.

The Wessex 5 helicopters used by the Royal Navy are on average about 10 years old. These aircraft still have many years of useful life and any question of replacement should not arise for some considerable time.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent it is intended to retain Royal Navy helicopter squadrons specialising in amphibious operations by Royal Marine commandos.

This matter is under consideration in the context both of the defence review and of our consultations with our allies.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement about the payment of London weighting to personnel of the Armed Forces serving in London.

Yes. The Armed Forces Pay Review Body has presented to the Government a second supplement to its Third Report dealing with London weighting and separation allowance. The supplement is being published this afternoon as Cmnd. 5853. The Government are grateful to the Review Body for this report and accept its recommendations.London weighting will be paid with effect from 1st April 1974 to all personnel up to and including the rank of brigadier and equivalent serving in London. The rates, which are set out in the table below, are in line with those recommended by the Pay Board in its Advisory Report on London Weighting (Cmnd. 5560) after allowing for the fact that most of those serving in London do not spend more on accommodation and travel to work on that account.The rates of separation allowance are being increased, and the rules of eligibility simplified, with effect from 1st February 1975.

Following is the table:
(a) For owner-occupiers travelling daily from home to work:
Serving in Inner London	£327 p.a.
Serving in Outer London	£185 p.a.
(b) For all others:
Serving in Inner London	£186 p.a.
Serving in Outer London	£105 p.a.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the total of central Government financial assistance to Urdd Gobaith Cymru in each of the past five years; and whether he can yet say what proposals the Government have for this aid in the coming year.

The Department has made grants to Urdd Gobaith Cymru as follows:

	Towards HQ administration	Towards capital projects
	£	£
1970–71	11,400	10,083
1971–72	11,400	Nil
1972–73	13,225	41,824
1973–74	14,285	8,845
1974–75	15,570	1,005

As a new approach to the assessment of recurrent grants towards headquarters administration costs is under negotiation, the amount for 1975–76 has not yet been determined. The grant allocated in the coming year to capital projects sponsored by the organisation will not be known for some months.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will consider the provision of mandatory grants to Open University students in respect of their fees, books and travel to and from summer school.

Open University students are part-time, and I do not at present envisage the introduction of mandatory awards for part-time students.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many medical students are currently studying at medical schools in England; and what is the average number of qualified doctors who emerge from the schools each year.

11,610 students were enrolled on all years of courses in medical schools in England in 1973–74. The number who obtained a first registrable qualification averaged 1,722 in the last five years and reached 1,937 in 1973–74.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many medical students are currently studying at the Welsh School of Medicine; and what is the average number of qualified doctors who emerge from the school each year.

Of the 480 students enrolled on all years of medical courses in Wales in 1973–74, 247 were on the clinical courses provided by the Welsh National School of Medicine. The number who obtained a first registrable qualification from the Welsh National School averaged 73 in the last five years and reached 97 in 1937–74.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many work permits were issued during the last 12-month period for which figures are available to foreign nationals seeking employment in domestic service and in the hotel industry and what they were in respect of each country of origin.

In the period 1st October 1973 to 30th September 1974, 3,884 work permits were issued for foreign nationals to take employment in domestic service in private households, hospitals, schools and similar establishments and 6,799 for employment in the hotel and catering industry. Figures of permits issued for these types of employment in respect of each country of origin are not available for this period, but were published for the calendar year 1973 in the Department of Employment Gazette for May 1974. Similar tables will be published when figures for 1974 are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the members of the Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive already appointed.

The following appointments have been made:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest available figure for unemployment amongst registered disabled workers in the Gravesend employment area; what percentage of registered disabled people this represents; and how this compares with the position 12 months ago.

On 11th November 1974, the latest date for which figures are available, 113 registered disabled people, or 12·8 per cent. of the total register, were unemployed in the Gravesend employment office area. Comparative figures for 12th November 1973 were 107 and 11·4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will define in numerical terms the term "full employment" as used by his Department.

I should like to refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Luton, West (Mr. Sedgemore) on 25th November.—[Vol. 882, c. 49.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if it is still the policy of Her Majesty's Government to ensure full employment.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the most recent estimate of the number of persons unemployed.

The estimated number of unemployed in Great Britain on 11th November 1974 is 621,437. I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on Monday 13th January.—[Vol. 884, c. 26–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the five wage settlements to which he referred in his answer of 13th December 1974 to the hon. Member for Chingford as being self-evidently in breach of the social contract; and whether he has noticed any further breaches since that date.

The five settlements to which my right hon. Friend referred on 3rd December 1974—[Vol. 882, c. 393]—were those for BBC staff, for manual workers at Fords and Rolls-Royce (Glasgow), for lorry drivers in Scotland and for some bank staff. He has not commented publicly on any other cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects a solution to the industrial disruption preventing publication of up-to-date figures of unemployment.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statement on 13th January.—[Vol. 884, c. 26–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the consumption of petrol since the introduction of the new speed limits to the latest convenient date; and how this compares with the same period a year earlier.

The new speed limits were imposed on 15th December 1974 and information on deliveries into consumption of motor spirit in that month are not yet available. However, a comparison with information for the same period a year earlier would be affected by other factors including the supply difficulties that existed at that time and the increases in price that have occurred during the past 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report the monthly consumption of motor vehicle fuel for each month of 1973 and 1974.

The Department only collects data on the deliveries into consumption of motor vehicle fuels. Changes in the level of stocks held by independent distributors, retailers and consumers may mask the actual consumption. Monthly deliveries into consumption are given in the "Monthly Digest of Statistics" (Table 68) and in "Energy Trends" (Table 16). For convenience the complete run of figures requested, so far as available, is given below:

DELIVERIES INTO CONSUMPTION OF MOTOR SPIRIT, 1973 AND 1974
						'000 tons
	Derv	1973 Motor Spirit	Total	Derv	1974 Motor Spirit	Total
January	442	1,242	1,684	448	1,191	1,639
February	428	1,192	1,620	434	1,122	1,556
March	495	1,415	1,910	459	1,262	1,721
April	436	1,389	1,825	436	1,329	1,765
May	483	1,457	1,940	465	1,430	1,895
June	461	1,438	1,899	446	1,350	1,796
July	453	1,506	1,959	465	1,500	1,965
August	443	1,579	2,022	417	1,504	1,921
September	443	1,402	1,845	442	1,373	1,815
October	543	1,510	2,053	500	1,487	1,987
November	522	1,414	1,936	496 (p)	1,386 (p)	1,882(p)
December	420	1,115	1,535		Not available
January-November	5,149	15,514	20,693	5,008	14,934	19,942
January-December	5,569	16,659	22,228		Not available

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of North Sea oil production in 1975, 1976 and 1977, respectively.

Updated estimates will be published soon in my 1975 report to Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet completed his consideration of the desirability of making it possible for council manual employees to serve on the councils which employ them; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is still actively considering the question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reconsider the policy concerning the display of repeater speed limit signs in built-up areas to ensure that motorists are reminded of the need to check their speed.

Repeater signs are installed on roads in built-up areas which carry a speed limit over 30 mph, and on roads subject to the 30 mph limit which have no street lighting. The Highway Code reminds drivers that, unless signs say otherwise, there is a 30 mph speed limit where there are street lights. The benefit from installing repeater signs for all roads subject to the 30 mph limit would not be commensurate with its cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will amend the construction and use regulations to provide for standardisation of tyres and the laying down of minimum road holding standards.

The United Kingdom has sponsored at the United Nations a draft Economic Commission for Europe Regulation which lays down construction standards for tyres for passenger cars. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport is considering the possibility of incorporating these standards in our regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the £500 million loaned by the Government to building societies has so far been repaid.

£179 million of the £500 million loaned to building societies has so far been repaid.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the proposed transport supplementary grants for each of the counties of England for 1975–76; and what were the comparable figures for 1974–75.

The transport supplementary grant (TSG) payable to counties in England for 1975–76 is given in the following table. 1975–76 is the first year for the payment of transport supplementary grant and there are, therefore, no comparable figures for 1974–75.

County	Transport Supplementary Grant (£m)
Greater London Council	85·28
Manchester	12·60
Mersey	10·58
Tyne and Wear	21·32
West Midlands	17·56
South Yorkshire	6·52
West Yorkshire	14·72
Avon	1·22
Bedfordshire	2·15
Berkshire	3·13
Buckinghamshire	1·31
Cambridgeshire	1·34
Cheshire	5·95
Cleveland	5·91
Cornwall	0·17
Cumbria	0·34
Derbyshire	0·58
Devon	3·65
Dorset	0·91
Durham	0·72
East Sussex	1·63
Essex	1·83
Gloucestershire	1·27
Hampshire	8·43
Hereford and Worcester	3·17
Hertfordshire	3·02
Humberside	0·19
Isle of Wight	0·41
Kent	1·47
Lancashire	0·45
Leicestershire	0·74
Lincolnshire	0·61
Norfolk	0·77
Northamptonshire	4·35
Northumberland	1·21
North Yorkshire	0·63
Nottinghamshire	1·42
Oxford	0·68
Salop	0·96
Somerset	0·38
Staffordshire	4·00
Suffolk	0·62
Surrey	0·90
Warwickshire	0·62
West Sussex	1·38
Wiltshire	1·86

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list persons or organisations which have sent him written comments on the report "Control of Demolition" by Mr. George Dobry, QC; and when he intends to announce his decision on its recommendations.

The following organisations sent me written comments:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the nature of the assurances he has given the metropolitan borough of Knowsley about its housing problem.

Although Knowsley Borough Council has been assured of sympathetic consideration of its proposals to deal with its particular housing problems, the only specific assurance, given in 1974, was that a loan would be available for works on three lifts in the Cantril Farm flats. This assurance was taken up by Knowsley Borough Council and loan sanction was given on 18th November 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give details of his circular recently issued to local authorities advising them that they should not introduce new schemes for free or travel-subsidised fares for old-age pensioners or extend existing schemes; what is the object of this circular; and whether he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.This is a joint circular issued by a number of Government Departments on 23rd December 1974, referring to rate fund expenditure and rate calls in 1975–76. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. The circular concerns the rate support grant settlement for 1975–76 agreed by the House on 12th December 1974, and gives guidance to local authorities about the effect of the settlement on their services in that year. So far as concessionary fares are concerned it indicates that

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the agreements between the United Kingdom and United States governing the extradition of hijackers of aircraft; and if he is satisfied that the arrangements under those agreements are satisfactory.

The United Kingdom and the United States of America are parties to the 1970 Hague Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft. This convention, together with domestic legislation, establishes reciprocal facilities between the two countries for the extradition of hijackers. I am satisfied that the normal machinery of extradition is available for the offence of hijacking.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he can yet make a statement on the establishment of channels for the submission of claims by British subjects attempting to recover property which has been requisitioned or sequestrated by the Turkish military authorities in Cyprus.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Thomas) on 19th December 1974.

asked the Chancellor or the Exchequer if he will take immediate action to fill the vacancy for a Government director on the board of British Petroleum.

I expect to be able to make an appointment in the reasonably near future.

asked the Chancellor or the Exchequer (1) what is the total sterling value of outstanding loans made to the British Government by overseas countries as at 1st January 1975;(2) how much in total has to be paid in interest in 1975 on foreign loans already made to the British Government;(3) what is the present total sterling value of foreign loans that have to be repaid by the United Kingdom on or before 1st January 1980.

The total sterling value of outstanding loans made to the British Government by overseas countries and by banks was £2,462 million at the end of December 1974. This total includes the equivalent of £638 million drawn before the end of 1974 on Her Majesty's Government's foreign currency loan from the clearing banks. During 1975 interest payments will total £42 million, plus the interest payable on Her Majesty's Government loan: the latter cannot be estimated precisely since the loan is on a floating interest rate basis with different tranches of the loan drawn at different rates and subject to modification at different roll-over dates.The dollar equivalent of £359 million of Her Majesty's Government loan is repayable on or before 1st January 1980.The sterling equivalents of dollar amounts indicated in the figures above are computed on the basis of market rates on 31st December 1974.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the interpretation which Customs and Excise place on the income to language schools in the United Kingdom from foreign visitors; if he will consider introducing legislation to encourage the invisible earnings of such language schools; and if he will make a statement.

I have written to my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, taking the value of the £ sterling as 100 on 1st January 1930, what was its value on the 1st January 1931, 1932, 1940, 1950, 1960, 1970 and 1975, respectively.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ as 100p in 1930, its value is estimated to have been

• 107p in 1931.
• 110p in 1932.
• 101p in 1938^*.
• 49p in 1950.
• 35p in 1960.
• 25p in January 1970.
• 15p in November 1974 (the latest available date).
• ^* Information for 1940 is not available.

The basis for these estimates is given in "The Internal Purchasing Power of the Pound", a leaflet released by the Press and Information Service of the Central Statistical Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the percentage rate of inflation, calculated on the rise in the retail price index over the three months to December, adjusted to an annual rate; and what were the comparable figures for the three months to last November, October, September, and August, respectively.

The figures for December have not yet been published; I will circulate them, when available, in the Official Report. For the figures for previous months I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19th December.—[Vol. 883, c. 514.]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give a general direction to the Post Office to require compensation payments from contractors who fail to complete contracts on time.

No. This is a management matter for the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will give an estimate of what is likely to be the inflationary effect of the recently announced increases in the postal and telephone charges if these are passed on to the consumer by industry and those having to pay these extra charges.

The direct effect is an increase in the retail price index of just over one-third of 1 per cent. The calculation of the indirect effect is more difficult, but it could be up to two-thirds of 1 per cent. The latter would, of course, take place over a period of time as firms adapt their prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the qualifications and business interest of each of the members of the Industrial Development Advisory Board.

As required by Section 9(3) of the Industry Act 1972, the membership of the Industrial Development Advisory Board embraces wide experience in industry, banking, accounting or finance. All members notify their current financial interests but this information is provided on a confidential basis.

asked the Secretary of of State for Industry if he will list the salary paid and any expenses to each member of the Industrial Development Advisory Board.

No payments are made to members of the board beyond reimbursing claims for expenses at appropriate Civil Service rates.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will now take action to ensure that the families of all members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary killed by terrorist action receive a payment of at least £16,575.

Special and favourable pension arrangements are made for the widows of former members of the RUC killed as a result of terrorist activity. They are entitled to a police pension which is nearly half of their husband's average pay with an addition for dependent children. In addition they receive a gratuity amounting to £5,731.Further benefits available are a lump sum award of £1,000 for a widow plus £250 for each dependent child from the Government Police Fund. If the husband was a subscriber, a further £1,500 can be awarded under a widows' and dependants' scheme and £200 from the voluntary fund.As is the case with widows and dependants of Service men, widows and dependants of members of the RUC killed as a result of terrorist activity are also eligible to claim compensation under the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968, but any award takes account of payment of pensions from public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many terrorist bomb explosions occurred in Kilrea, County Londonderry, in each year since the 1st January 1969 until 1st January 1975.

The number of terrorist bomb explosions occurring in Kilrea, County Londonderry, since 1st January 1969 have been as follows:

1969	Nil
1970	Nil
1971	1
1972	7
1973	3
1974	1

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many claims for bomb damage were received relative to bomb explosions in Kilrea, County Londonderry, in each year since 1969;(2) how many claims made in Kilrea, County Londonderry, for compensation for bomb damage in each year since 1969 have been settled by a figure being agreed, whether actually paid to the claimant or not;(3) in respect of claims made in Kilrea, County Londonderry, for compensation for bomb damage in each year since 1969, in how many cases compensation has actually been paid to the claimants;(4) how many claims for bomb damage in Kilrea, County Londonderry, remain to be settled; and what is the total sum involved;(5) when he expects the remaining claims for compensation for bomb damage in Kilrea, County Londonderry, to be finalised;(6) how many claims for compensation as a result of the three car bomb explosions in Claudy, County Londonderry, on 31st July 1972, still have to be settled; and what is the total sum involved;(7) how many claims for compensation were received as a result of the three car bombs which exploded in Claudy, County Londonderry, on 31st July 1972;(8) what is the total sum involved in claims for compensation as a result of the three car bomb explosions in Claudy, County Londonderry, on the 31st July 1972.

I regret that the records on criminal injury compensation have not been maintained from the outset on a basis on which the information requested can be provided without disproportionate effort. I shall be writing separately to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Scottish Office has carried out, or intends to carry out, investigations or surveys into land use; and whether he will give details of such studies including information on the incidence of good farm land in Scotland being allocated for housing purposes.

Under the Planning Acts, surveys of land use, to the extent necessary for development planning, are a statutory function of local authorities. Figures which I obtain periodically on the loss of agricultural land for development are published in the annual volume of Agricultural Statistics for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the starting date for works on the Bridgemill diversion as designated under the Gretna-Stranraer-Glasgow-Stirling Trunk Road (Side Roads) Order 1974; if he can indicate what effect this work will have on the property of Mr. J. Malcolm, Caledon, Bridgemill, Girvan; and when this work will affect this property.

The scheme designated by the draft Bridgemill Diversion (Side Roads) Order would, if approved, entail the acquisition and demolition of Mr. Malcolm's property. The making of this order, to which objections have been received, is not, however, complete, and a further draft order, still to be published, relating to the land needed for the scheme will also be open to objection. In these circumstances I cannot yet forecast when work on this scheme might start.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will take steps to extend the pneumoconiosis grant at present payable to miners to sufferers who have contracted the disease in other industries.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Evans) on 20th December.—[Vol. 883, c. 727–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many British citizens with a doctorate in medicine gained at a British medical have emigrated in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and to the latest available date in 1974, respectively.

Period (1st October—30th September)							Outflow	Inflow	Net Outflow
1964–65	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,050	530	520
1965–66	…	…	…	…	…	…	940	560	380
1966–67	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,030	580	450
1967–68	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,060	590	470
1968–69	…	…	…	…	…	…	830	520	360
1969–70	…	…	…	…	…	…	910	650	260
1970–71	…	…	…	…	…	…	800	530	270
1971–72	…	…	…	…	…	…	710	700	10
1972–73							Not available	Not available	290
									(provisional estimate)
1973–74							Not available	Not available	290
									(provisional estimate)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report the level of supplementary benefit, excluding rent payments, available to a married couple with two children, aged between 5 and 9 years, on 1st January of each year from

SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT SCALE RATES AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS* OF MALE MANUAL WORKERS
			Married couple with two children aged between five and nine years		Single householder with two children aged between five and nine years
			Sum of ordinary scale rates	Percentage of average weekly earnings	Sum of ordinary scale rates	Percentage of average weekly earnings
			£		£
1966	…	…	8·97½	45·4	6·50	32·8
1967	…	…	9·45	46·8	6·85	33·9
1968	…	…	10·05	46·1	7·30	33·5
1969	…	…	10·65	45·2	7·75	32·9
1970	…	…	11·15	43·8	8·10	31·8
1971	…	…	12·10	41·8	8·80	30·4
1972	…	…	13·45	42·6	9·80	31·0
1973	…	…	15·15	41·5	11·05	31·3
1974	…	…	16·55	41·5	12·05	30·2
* Taken from the inquiries conducted by the Department of Employment in October of each year and interpolated to the following January.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she can yet say what progress is anticipated in implementation of the remaining recommendations of the Quirk Report on speech therapy services; and whether she will seek to expedite it.

The recommendations of Lord Halsbury's committee of inquiry into the pay and related conditions of service of the professions supplementary to medicine and speech therapists

Information in the form requested is not available. The following table gives migration data per doctors born in the United Kingdom or Irish Republic.1966 to 1975, respectively, showing what percentage of average weekly earnings this represents and also publish the corresponding figures for a single parent family with children of the same ages.

The information requested for 1st January 1975 is not yet available but that for earlier years is contained in the following table:bear directly on those recommendations of the Quirk Report that concern the health service. The right hon. and learned Gentleman will recall that my right hon. Friend accepted the pay increases recommended on behalf of the Government on 9th January, the date the report was published. Further action must now await consideration of the report by the Whitley Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the ratio overall of administrative staff to medical and nursing staff in the running of the health services in England; and what were the corresponding ratios for 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973, respectively.

The latest year for which figures are available is 1973. The information requested is as follows:

1970	1:31·8
1971	1:30·3
1972	1:29·7
1973	1:27·8

NOTES:1. These figures relate to the former hospital boards, hospital management committees, boards of governors and executive councils only; information in regard to the administrative staff of former local health authorities is not available.2. The above figures exclude secretarial, clerical and other specialised grades within the Administrative and Clerical Group.

				Whole-time	Part-time	Total whole-time equivalent
1. In hospitals:
(a) Registered nurses	…	…	…	57,214	32,393	76,057
(b) Enrolled nurses	…	…	…	25,772	19,913	39,327
(c) Certified midwives	…	…	…	8,076	4,009	10,475
2. In community services:
(a) Health visitors	…	…	…	6,812	1,360	6,212
(b) Home nurses	…	…	…	10,296	1,674	10,217
(c) Certified midwives	…	…	…	4,855	522	3,735
(d) Others registered and enrolled	…	…	…	2,970	2,075	3,412
Total—1 and 2	…	…	…	115,995	61,946	149,435
Notes:
1. The above figures exclude:
(a) nursing staff employed by Regional Hospital Boards (total whole-time equivalent 100 at 30th September 1973);
(b) agency nurses and midwives employed in the National Health Service (total whole-time equivalent 4,059 at 30th September 1973).
2. Health Visitors and Home Nurses are also qualified as State Registered Nurses.
3. Information about the number who are married is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost of running the health services in England in all their aspects during 1974; and how this figure compares with the figures for 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1973, respectively.

The total cost of the National Health Service in England in 1973–74 is estimated to have been £2,552 million. The cost in earlier years was as follows:

	£ million
1969–70	1,466
1970–71	1,713
1971–72	1,966
1972–73	2,247

asked the Secrtary of State for Social Services how many qualified nurses are employed in full-time nursing and in part-time nursing in England, respectively; how many of them are qualified SRN and how many are qualified SEN or otherwise; how many are engaged in hospital service; how many are engaged in other services; and how many of them are married women.

The following table gives numbers of qualified nurses, certified midwives and health visitors employed in the National Health Service in England at 30th September 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total administrative staff employed or retained in the health and personal social services in England; and how many of this number are qualified medical practitioners, how many are qualified nurses and how many others have qualifications in ancillary skills to the medical and nursing professions.

As at 30th September 1973, the latest date for which figures are available, the total number of administrative staff—whole-time equivalent—employed or retained in the National Health Service in England was 11,339 and at headquarters and area offices in local authority social services departments was 6,700. The figures quoted exclude clerical, secretarial and some specialised grades within the administrative and clerical group; they also exclude medical, nursing and other professional staff employed wholly or partly on administrative duties.I regret that information is not held centrally as to the individual qualifications of administrative staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many doctors are in full-time general medical practice in England; what is the ratio of doctors to patients; and how this has changed over the last five years.

The numbers of doctors providing the full range of general medical services in England and the average numbers of patients on the lists of these doctors are given below.

	Number of doctors	Average list size per doctor
1969	18,901	2,495
1970	19,099	2,478
1971	19,374	2,460
1972	19,775	2,421
1973	19,997	2,398
1974	20,218	Not yet available

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many fully qualified doctors are either in full-time or part-time service in hospitals in England at the present time; and how many of these doctors are foreign citizens.

Figures for 1974 are not yet available. At 30th September 1973 there were 25,289 doctors holding permanent paid appointments and 1,463 holding honorary appointments in hospitals in England. Of these, 9,277 were born outside the United Kingdom or the Irish Republic. In addition, 6,120 part-time medical officers, mostly general practitioners, were engaged in hospital work.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many fully qualified doctors are employed on full-time administrative work, either in the Department of Health and Social Security or under the various area health authorities in England.

There are 53 community physicians employed at regional health authorities and 475 at area health authorities. The medical administrative staff of the Department of Health and Social Security in England includes 314 qualified doctors, a number of whom devote a proportion of their time to duties of a clinical nature.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make a statement of progress with regard to phase 2b of the new Ipswich District Hospital especially with regard to any likely delays.

The East Anglian Regional Health Authority was at an advanced state of planning, with the intention of starting in 1975–76; but in view of pressures on capital resources it now seems unlikely that a start will be possible within that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what part of the crude trade deficit of £964 million with the EEC in the first half of 1974 was represented by any net contribution to the EEC budget and by capital flows, respectively.

Neither of these factors contributed to the crude trade deficit which relates to trade in goods. Transfers relating to the EEC budget are included among invisible transactions, and in the first half of 1974 the net contribution was £33 million. There is no comprehensive information available for capital flows between the United Kingdom and the EEC.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will detail the modifications that have been made to the agreement with the clearing banks to restrict their rate of return under the refinancing scheme for export credits referred to in Command Paper No. 5786.

The modifications provide for the tapering of the agreed rate of return to the banks when the observed rate, on which this is based, is between 7½ per cent. and 14 per cent. This should provide substantial savings to public funds over the next three years. We shall be giving further details of the revised refinancing arrangements in the course of the debate on the Export Guarantees Amendment Bill which is soon to receive its Second Reading.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the ratio overall of administrative staff to medical and nursing staff in the running of the health services in Wales; and what were the corresponding ratios for 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973, respectively.

1973 is the latest year for which figures are available. For the NHS the information is as follows:

	Administrative staff	Medical and nursing staff
1970	436	16,769
1971	435	19,198
1972	489	20,226
1973	501	20,132

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total administrative staff employed or retained in the health and personal social services in Wales in the Welsh Office, the area health authorities and generally in Wales; how many of this number are qualified nurses; and how many others have qualifications in ancillary skills to the medical and nursing professions.

The total staff employed in the Health and Social Work Department of the Welsh Office—excluding ancillary, support and clerical staff—was 205 at 2nd January 1975. There are nine qualified nurses.The latest date for which information is immediately available about total administrative staff in the National Health Service in Wales is November 1973. The total then was 526.This figure excludes clerical and secretarial and some specialised grades within the administrative and clerical group. Information for earlier years in relation to the former hospital service is contained in Table 3.15 of "Health and Personal Social Services for Wales." Information is not held centrally about the professional qualifications of administrative staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many qualified nurses are employed in full-time nursing and in part-time nursing in Wales, respectively; how many of them are qualified SRN and how many are qualified SEN or otherwise; how many are engaged in hospital service; how many are engaged in other services; and how many of them are married women.

On 31st March 1974 the following numbers of qualified nurses were employed in full-time and part-time nursing in Wales:

	Full-time	Part-time
HOSPITAL SERVICE
Registered nurses	3,936	2,186
Enrolled nurses	1,958	1,329
Certified midwives	534	284
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Registered nurses	814	236
Enrolled nurses	151	175
Health visitors	366	144
Certified midwives	417	41

Figures showing the number of nurses who are married women are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many doctors are in full-time general medical practice in Wales; what is the ratio of doctors to patients; and how this has changed over the last five years.

As follows:

	Number of doctors providing unrestricted general medical services	Average list size
1970	1,258	2,192
1971	1,259	2,203
1972	1,269	2,198
1973	1,269	2,207
1974	1,291	Not yet available
	(provisional figure)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many fully qualified doctors are either in full-time or part-time service in hospitals in Wales at the present time; and how many of these doctors are foreign citizens.

On 30th September 1973, the latest date for which figures are available, 1,761 doctors were employed whole or part-time in the hospital service in Wales, of whom 463 were born outside the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many fully-qualified doctors are employed on full-time administrative work, either in the Welsh Office or under the various area health authorities in Wales.