asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present internal purchasing power of the pound as compared with 20 shillings in 1945, and with 20 shillings in October, 1964, respectively.

It is not possible to make an estimate of the present purchasing power of the £ compared with 20s. in 1945. Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ as 20s. in 1946 and in October, 1964, its value in December, 1967, the latest date for which information is available, is estimated at 9s. 6d. and 17s. 10d., respectively.These estimates are based on changes in the consumer price index for calendar years, adjusted by movements in the retail price index for the months at the beginning and end of the period.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will now make a statement on the negotiations with industry on allowing Government Departments equal access to information when they enter into contracts;(2) if he will make a statement on the progress of his discussion with the Confederation of British Industry about the problem of equality of information in the Government's relations with its contractors.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 12th December last by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.—[Vol. 756, c. 102.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that imports are not unnecessarily increased by public sector purchases of foreign goods.

Government Departments already buy British goods when they are competitive with, and as suitable as, the best foreign products. Other purchasers in the public sector are expected to follow the same line.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the Departments in which the increase of 8,000 in the number of non-industrial civil servants in the period 1st July to 1st October, 1967, has occurred.

Yes.

Departments showing increases in non-industrial staff of 50 or more in the period 1st July to 1st October, 1967 are: —
Department		Increase in staff
County Courts	…	52
Customs and Excise	…	144
Defence	…	4,305*
Education and Science	…	123
Health	…	112
Home	…	571
Inland Revenue	…	117
Labour	…	1,567
Land Commission	…	88
Land Registry	…	104
Ordnance Survey	…	67
Overseas Development	…	56
Public Building and Works	…	386†
Social Security	…	1,887
Trade	…	148
Transport	…	325
Other Departments	…	342
Total increases	…	10,394‡
Departments showing decreases
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	…	89
Diplomatic Service	…	220
Technology	…	111
Other Departments	…	94
Total decreases	…	514
Net increase in quarter	…	9,880‡§

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the quarter increase in the total number of non-industrial civil servants since October, 1964.

Yes.

The Quarterly Increases in Non-Industrial Civil Servants (excluding the Post Office) are as follows: —
	Quarter				Increase
1964 Fourth	…	…	…	…	930
1965 First	…	…	…	…	3,220
Second	…	…	…	…	850
Third	…	…	…	…	2,980
Fourth	…	…	…	…	2,730
1966 First	…	…	…	…	4,200
Second	…	…	…	…	4,500
Third	…	…	…	…	5,650
Fourth	…	…	…	…	7,570
1967 First	…	…	…	…	6,480
Second	…	…	…	…	5,320
Third	…	…	…	…	9,880*
* Revised figure, which includes 3,825 staff transferred from industrial to non-industrial status.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Departments of State have had increases in staff since October, 1964.

All Departments have had increases in non-industrial staff, with the exception of twelve very small ones.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies are being carried out to establish whether it would be practicable to pay certain social security benefits through a system of Income Tax in reverse.

Schemes of this kind are kept under review by the Departments concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to which schemes for the amalgamation of Income Tax and allowances with social insurance and benefits detailed consideration has now been given.

Schemes which have been or are being considered range from those examined by the Royal Commission on the Taxation of Profits and Income to more recent ideas of "Income Tax in reverse" or "negative Income Tax".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take under the Prices and Incomes Act to require the compulsory notification from companies of higher dividend decisions.

None at present. In the period from 20th July to 8th January, 1968, 331 quoted public companies reduced their dividends as against 384 making increases plus 511 remaining constant. The Government attach great importance to companies continuing to exercise moderation in distributions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the true reserves, stated in terms in gold at $ 2·80 to the £on 1st January, 1968 compared with the five previous years, including the dollar portfolio and all future debt commitments.

Our future debt commitments will be met out of our future receipts. It would be misleading to attempt calculations of the kind for which the hon. Member is asking.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the cost of living has increased in the first two months since devaluation.

The increase in the cost of living, as measured by the Index of Retail Prices, between mid-November and mid-December, 1967, the latest date available, was about 0·7 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will extend the foreign currency limit to £75 each in the case of married couples when one is aged 70 years or more.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the amount obtained by confiscating all income above the lowest Surtax level; and what this represents per head of population.

If all individuals with incomes over £2,000 were to forfeit the whole excess over £2,000 and continue to pay Income Tax as now on the remaining £2,000 the increase in yield would be about £1,200 million or £22 per head of the population.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent devaluation has caused him to modify the proposals in the White Paper on Fuel Policy about the continuance of the tax on fuel oil.

This, with all other duties, will come under review in preparing the forthcoming Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will remove or reduce the Purchase Tax at present levied on domestic waste disposal units.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will remove or reduce the Purchase Tax at present levied on motor car seat belts.

Motor car seat belts are not chargeable with Purchase Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will remove or reduce the Purchase Tax at present levied on crash helmets for the use of motor cyclists.

Crash helmets are not chargeable with Purchase Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent purchases in this financial year from West Germany have offset the foreign exchange costs to Great Britain of the British armed forces in Germany.

The current Anglo-German Agreement sets a target of DM550 million for 1967–68, or about 60 per cent. of our expected military foreign exchange costs, to which must be added the United States payments which formed part of the tripartite agreement. German payments in the first six months amounted to about one-third of the target, but the rate of payment in particular parts of the year is not very significant and I am confident that the agreement will be satisfactorily completed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he now estimates will be the increase in the gross national product in 1968.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my right hon. Friend's speech in the House on 17th January in which he said that we should be able to achieve a rate of expansion of roughly 4 per cent. a year during 1968 and 1969. —[Vol. 756, c. 1787.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums were paid collectively in Income Tax and Surtax for each of the last three financial years, by consultants holding, respectively, part-time and full-time appointments in the National Health Service.

It is not the practice to divulge information about narrow groups of taxpayers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will define the borrowing requirement limited to £1billion in 1968–69 in the Letter of Intent sent to the International Monetary Fund on 23rd November, 1967; and if he will give an assurance that it is the Government's intention to specify the exact amount corresponding to this concept in the revised form of accounts it proposes to produce this year and in the future.

The borrowing requirement is defined for this purpose as the Central Government net balance in the national income accounts classification, as it appears in Table 9 of the Financial Statement 1967–68 and on a quarterly basis in Financial Statistics (Tables 13, 15 and 16). This item will continue to appear in future tables of Central Government transactions in the national accounts classification.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the loss which will arise to United Kingdom invisible earnings from the commodity markets in the absence of a forward exchange market in other sterling area currencies.

I do not think that any meaningful estimate could be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will compensate, by way of grant rather than loan, British firms trading in commodities for losses caused by his refusal to permit a forward exchange market in other sterling area currencies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether, in view of the help given by other Commonwealth Governments to their commodity traders, he will receive a deputation from the commodity merchants of Great Britain;(2) whether, in view of the fact that the suggested Bank of England loan to the merchants in commodities suffering the effects of devaluation will only postpone the immediate call on their capital, he will take further action to help merchants who in the past were responsible for large invisible exports.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in addition to the offer of the Bank of England to grant loans up to £5,000,000 to those traders who sustained losses in commodity trading with the non-devalued currencies of Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda, he will now consider other and additional steps to help these traders, many of whom have lost heavily owing to devaluation.

Permission for forward exchange market facilities in sterling area currencies was not refused; no permission was, or is, required. I fully appreciate the foreign exchange earnings of the commodity markets, but the Government cannot accept liability to compensate traders who will sustain losses because they bought forward in local sterling area currencies for onward sale in sterling. I understand, however, that the Bank of England's loan offer still stands. I saw representatives of the traders concerned on 11th January, and explained the position to them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had regarding the introduction of a wealth tax; what reply he has sent; and if he will give an assurance that the proposal will receive favourable consideration.

I have had representations from the T.U.C. and a few other bodies and individuals which have been acknowledged. As my hon. Friend knows I cannot make statements in advance of the Budget about proposals of this kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government will make a financial contribution to the Salvation Army's building fund appeal.

No. Response to appeals for charitable purposes is a matter for the individual to decide for himself, and direct contributions by Government Departments would normally be inappropriate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the recommendation of the Commission who inquired into the subject that barristers should cease to enjoy the privilege of receiving their last year's salary prior to retirement free of Income Tax, what action he intends to take during the current year to implement this recommendation.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the £71 million of cuts in investment by nationalised industries are expected to take place in Scotland.

I regret that this information is not at present available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his revised estimate of the revenue from tobacco duties during 1967–68; and to what extent this has diminished as a result of Her Majesty's Government's campaign against cigarette smoking.

It is not the practice to publish revisions of revenue estimates in the course of the financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has now completed arrangements to ensure that compensation for foot-and-mouth disease is free of assessment to liability for Income Tax, Surtax, Corporation Tax and Capital Gains Duty; and whether he will make a statement.

I am not at present able to add anything to the answer of my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the hon. Member on 21st December.—[Vol. 756, c. 487.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if the general subscription and any special turnover subscription paid by companies to the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry are allowable as expenses and completely exempt from taxation;(2) if subscriptions and donations to the Office of Health Economics are allowed as business expenses to the companies making them and are allowable against tax liability.

These two organisations are treated for taxation purposes as a single body having the status of a trade protection association. Accordingly ordinary subscriptions by members are allowed as deductions in computing their taxable profits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, during the recent dock strike, firms which imported goods and materials by air were charged Customs Duty on the increased freight costs; and whether he will arrange that, where emergency action is taken by firms, they are not penalised by an increased Customs charge of 150 per cent.

The charge of duty is made in accordance with the law and I am satisfied that no change is called for.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy with regard to the waiving of duty on chemicals, unobtainable in this country and imported from abroad by universities for research and teaching; and if he will take steps to simplify the customs formalities for the import of such chemicals.

Duty is waived where the Treasury are satisfied, on the recommendation of the Board of Trade, that the chemicals are intended for use non-commercially in scientific research, or in the advancement of any branch of learning, and that it is expedient that the duty should not be charged. The Customs formalities are already simple, but are kept under close review to see if further simplifications are possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is introducing to help those firms with very full export order books standing to lose in 1968, as a result of the withdrawal of Selective Employment Tax repayments after these had been costed into prices, and which are unable to recoup this loss by price adjustments upon existing contracts; and if he will make a statement.

The Government appreciates that devaluation and the consequent tax adjustments may present difficulties in particular cases. However, devaluation and the Government's measures give an advantage to exports, and further effort here—even from firms which are already successful—should provide opportunities to compensate for these unavoidable difficulties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount paid to the latest available date into the Exchequer by retail co-operative societies in respect of the Selective Employment Tax and the corresponding total amount returned by way of premiums to co-operative societies engaged in manufacturing processes.

I estimate that some £14 million has been paid by these societies in respect of selective employment tax in the period of 69 weeks from the introduction of the tax to the end of 1967. The amount of refund and premiums they have received is not readily available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to require the publication of the total value deposits owned by untraced depositors held by joint stock banks for the years 1947, 1957 and 1967; and if he will make a statement.

No. I understand that the total sum involved is small, and I see no purpose in requiring the banks to publish these figures.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a further statement on the location of an Inland Revenue computer centre in the North-East.

This matter is still under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to commence further international discussions on means of increasing the world's money supplies, having regard to the recently announced restrictions on United States expenditure and investment overseas.

Such discussions are now taking place, with the object of completing the scheme for special drawing rights approved in outline at Rio de Janeiro last September.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to prevent a turn-down in world trade consequent on recent United States economic measures.

If economic adjustment is to work smoothly, countries now in surplus or a strong reserve position will need to accept a worsening in their balances of payments, in order to make room for the necessary improvement in the balance of payments of both the United Kingdom and the United States. We are at present discussing these problems with the Governments of the other countries in the appropriate international organisations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the cost to public funds of the National Savings Movement; whether he is satisfied that the movement has the staff and resources to mount the public Back Britain National Savings Campaign; and if he will make a statement.

Expenditure on the two National Savings Committees was just over £2 million in 1966–67. I am confident that the National Savings Movement have adequate resources to take full advantage of the present situation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what improvement he now estimates there will be in the balance of payments this year.

I cannot yet add to the statement in the Letter of Intent which my predecessor sent to the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund on 23rd November, 1967, and I circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 30th November.—[Vol. 755, c. 348–51.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he calculates has been the loss to the balance of payments position of the United Kingdom in the last six months resulting from the closure of the Suez Canal.

The loss resulting from the Middle Eastern situation as a whole was about £10 million a month in July-September, 1967; it may have been running at some £20 million a month in October-December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange that all local offices of Government Departments which have direct relations with the public, such as Social Security and Inland Revenue, should be open and staffed on Saturday mornings to enable persons with problems requiring personal interviews to avoid the necessity to take time off during the working week.

No. I appreciate my hon. Friend's point, but each Department with offices serving the public makes arrangements appropriate to its own work and to economy in its staff.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the total saving to the Exchequer resulting from a 5 per cent. cut in all salaries paid from Government funds.

A 5 per cent. cut in the level of wages and salaries paid to public service employees (including members of the Armed Forces but excluding employees of local authorities) would have yielded a saving of approximately £100 million in 1967–68. based on the estimated provision for that year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what authority the gift of dollar securities involves the surrender of 25 per cent. of the dollar premium to the reserves; and if he will introduce amending legislation to correct this anomaly.

Gifts, settlements and distributions of foreign currency securities by U.K. residents require permission under the Exchange Control Act, 1947. Until recently, permission for such dispositions was normally subject to the 25 per cent. requirement. This requirement no longer applies in these cases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average weekly Income Tax levied on Pay-As-You-Earn reclaimed each week; what is the average length of time taken to meet each claim; and what is the main reason for the claims for repayment.

I am afraid that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in his plans for computerising Pay-As-You Earn he will provide for the possibility of benefits other than repayments of Income Tax being paid to the citizen through Pay-As-You-Earn.

Not at this stage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what year will virtually all Pay-As-You-Earn become administered through computers.

On present indications it will take something over 10 years to put all the P.A.Y.E. work from local tax districts on to computers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent in sterling and other currencies, respectively, in the attempt to enter the European Economic Community since May last until the latest convenient date; and what plans he has for reducing such expenditure.

I regret that the information could only be made available at a disproportionate cost of time and money.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the numerical increase in the Civil Service since 1st January 1966; and what has been the increase in the total cost of the Civil Service since that date.

Following is the Answer:

NUMBERS OF CIVIL SERVANTS (EXCLUDING POST OFFICE AND LOCALLY ENGAGED STAFF OVERSEAS)
	1st January, 1966	1st October, 1967	Change
Non-industrial	426,077	469,674	+43,597
Industrial	233,329	223,614	-9,715
Total	659,406	693,288	+33,882

WAGES AND SALARIES OF CIVIL SERVANTS (EXCLUDING POST OFFICE AND LOCALLY ENGAGED STAFF)
	1965–66 (including supplementary estimates	1967–(first estimates only)	Increase
	£ million	£ million	£ million
Non-industrial	481·5	536·6	55·1
Industrial	158·3	162·7	4·4
Overtime	29·2	38·5	9·3
	669·0	737·8	68·8

Meaningful figures of total cost, or wage and salary figures for the precise dates referred to in the Quest on, could not be made available without undue effort and expense.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now publish the monthly gold and convertible currency figures net of any external liabilities.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to announce any further reductions in Government expenditure before presenting his Budget.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Tuesday, 16th January, which was published a; Command Paper No. 3515.—[Vol. 756, c. 1577–1621.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish the new double taxation agreement between Australia and the United Kingdom; and whether he will make a statement.

The new agreement was published as a White Paper (Cmnd. 3484) on 15th December, 1967.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in his consideration of a turnover tax he will take into account the fact that all ships are exempt from such taxes in France, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden, and make similar provision for British ships.

Ships are already exempt from Purchase Tax, which is the British counterpart of the Continental turnover taxes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to substitute for the Selective Employment Tax and the Purchase Tax an appropriate form of Turnover Tax.

Ideas for reform of taxation are many and are, of course, examined. Any change would be a Budgetary matter, and I cannot comment now.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to encouraging the maximum freedom of movement of scientific and technical staff from industry to Government organisations and quasi-Government organisations, he will arrange for an inquiry into the possibility of evolving a system of transfer from Civil Service non-contributory pension schemes to the F.S.S.U. superannuation system or other systems used by research associations, independent research organisations and research departments of industry.

Facilities already exist for the transfer or preservation of pension rights where movement takes place in either direction between posts superannuable under the F.S.S.U. and the Superannuation Acts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now undertake to publish the reports on the progress of the British economy which he is to submit to the International Monetary Fund in February, July and November, 1968.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give in column form and in alphabetical order, the names of the member States of the United Nations, their respective populations, the size in square miles of their countries, the gross national product, their income per capita, and the density of population, respectively.

No. The available information is already published by the United Nations—population, area and density in Table 17 of the Statistical Yearbook and gross domestic product in total and per capita in Tables 9a and 9b of the Yearbook of National Accounts Statistics. Both volumes are in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum has been realised by the withholding of 25 per cent. of the dollar premium sales, up to date.

Under the scheme referred to the equivalent in foreign currency of 25 per cent. of the proceeds of sales of foreign securities has to be exchanged for sterling at the official rate. As a result the reserves benefited by the foreign currency equivalent of $563 million between April, 1965 and November. 1967.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the money attracted from abroad by the 8 per cent. Bank Rate.

The increase in Bank Rate was one of a number of measures designed to relieve pressure on sterling. Quantitative estimates of the effect of a single measure are not possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that a considerable proportion of British subjects taking their holidays abroad take advantage of the Customs and Excise concession to bring back 200 cigarettes and a bottle of spirits into this country, he will consider making arrangements to give a similar annual concession to all British subjects who satisfy the authorities that they have not taken a holiday abroad during the previous 12 months.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the percentage change and the change in money terms between his latest estimate of public sector expenditure in 1968–69, and the estimate relating to the same period his Department gave in July, 1967.

No estimate of public expenditure in 1968–69 was given in July, 1967, or at any time subsequently until my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's announcement on 16th January. —[Vol. 756, c. 1577–620.]

asked the Minister of Power in what area of the United Kingdom two research nuclear reactors were dismantled; how long it took; and what was the cost.

Three research reactors licensed by my right hon. Friend have been dismantled, of which two were afterwards rebuilt elsewhere. The locations were Slough, Aldermaston, and East London. The respective dismantling times were 1½ months, 6 months and 3 months. This was private expenditure, so I cannot give costs but I understand the sums involved were small.

asked the Minister of Power when he expects to announce his revisions to the Fuel Policy White Paper; and in what form his decisions will be published.

As is made clear in paragraph 6 of the White Paper (Cmnd. 3438) fuel policies are kept under continuous review in the light of changing circumstances.The main features of devaluation in relation to fuel policy are the increase in the price of fuel oil and the possibilities of increased coal exports.Devaluation increases the schedule price of fuel oil by 0·75d. per gallon but this has to be compared with the figures in the White Paper (Appendix I, Table C) which considered the effect of an increase of 2·0d. per gallon. In the export market the N.C.B. hope to increase exports by 2–3 million tons per annum.As I explained in the House on 22nd January these changes would not be sufficient: o affect materially the policy guide lines in the White Paper or to obviate the need for support for coal at power stations and gasworks in the period up to March, 1971.

asked the Minister of Power what were the total numbers of civil servants employed by the Ministry of Power and its subsidiaries and by its predecessors, as appropriate, at the beginning of 1946, 1951, 1964 and at the latest available date.

The total number of Civil Servants (non-industrial and industrial) employed by the Ministry at the relevant dates was:—

1st January, 1946	…	…	8,410
1st January, 1951	…	…	5,406
1st January, 1964	…	…	1,685
1st January, 1968	…	…	1,805

asked the Minister of Power whether he will refuse to approve the Central Electricity Generating Board's applications for nuclear power stations at Heysham in Lancashire and Seaton Carew in Durham on the grounds that his Department do not now expect electricity produced from the first of the atomic gas-cooled reactor stations to be as cheap as that from coal-fired stations now being completed in the coalfields, despite the considerably greater capital cost of the nuclear stations.

The decisions will be taken on the merits of each case, and on the best current estimates.

asked the Minister of Power what is the capital cost per kilowatt and cost per unit produced based on most recent estimates of the most advanced nuclear power station offered to the Central Electricity Generating Board.

The C.E.G.B.'s estimate of the construction cost of Hinkley Point B is £71/kW and of the base load generating cost, including capital charges, is 0·52d./kWh.

asked the Minister of Power what is the capital cost per kilowatt and cost per unit produced based on most recent estimates of the most advanced coal-fired thermal power station offered to the Central Electricity Generating Board.

The C.E.G.B.'s estimate of the construction cost of Drax is £52/ kW and of the base-load generating cost, including capital charges, is 0·60d./kWh.

asked the Minister of Power what insurance cover is taken out for nuclear power stations; and if any private insurance company has offered or been given the opportunity to give insurance cover.

The Nuclear Installations Act, 1965, requires all nuclear licensees, including the Generating Boards, to provide £5 million cover against third party liability in respect of each licensed site.

asked the Minister of Power (1) on the assumption that the average cost of coal supplied by the National Coal Board to the Central Electricity Generating Board is 3d. per therm, what estimate he has made of the generating cost of electricity per unit, based on generating costs for the most advanced coal-fired power stations in the country and on the fact that the power station is sited near the pithead;(2) on the assumption that the average cost of coal supplied by the National Coal Board to the Central Electricity Generating Board is 4d. per therm, what estimate he has made of the generating cost of electricity per unit, based on generating costs for the most advanced coal-fired power stations in the country and on the fact that the power station is sited near the pithead:(3) on the assumption that the average cost of coal supplied by the National Coal Board to the Central Electricity Generating Board is 5d. per therm, what estimate he has made of the generating cost of electricity per unit, based on generating costs for the most advanced coal-fired power stations in the country and on the fact that the power station is sited near the pithead;(4) on the assumption that the average cost of coal supplied by the National Coal Board to the Central Electricity Generating Board is 6d. per therm, what estimate he has made of the generating cost of electricity per unit, based on generating costs for the most advanced coal-fired power stations in the country and on the fact that the power station is sited near the pithead.

I am advised by the C.E.G.B. that the estimated base load generation cost per kWh of the most advanced coal-fired power station would be 0·55d., 0·65d., 0·74d. and 0·83d. with respective pithead coal prices of 3d., 4d., 5d, and 6d.

asked the Minister of Power (1) on the basis that the National Coal Board supplies the Central Electricity Generating Board with its annual requirements at 3·7d. per therm, what estimate he has made of the effect on the annual deficit or surplus of the National Coal Board;(2) on the basis that the National Coal Board supplies the Central Electricity Generating Board with its annual requirements at 4·7d. per therm, what estimate he has made of the effect on the annual deficit or surplus of the National Coal Board;(3) on the basis that the National Coal Board supplies the Central Electricity Generating Board with its annual requirements at 5·7d. per therm, what estimate he has made of the effect on the annual deficit or surplus of the National Coal Board;(4) on the basis that the National Coal Board supplies the Central Electricity Generating Board with its annual requirements at 6·7d. per therm, what estimate he has made of the effect on the annual deficit or surplus of the National Coal Board.

The average pithead price of coal supplied by the National Coal Board to the Central Electricity Generating Board in 1966–67 was 81 shillings a ton, or roughly 4·2d. per therm. Assuming an annual consumption of about 60 million tons of coal by the C.E.G.B. and no change in the average calorific value, each difference of 1d. per therm would affect the Coal Board's revenue account by about £60 million a year.

asked the Minister of Power if the National Coal Board have yet made application to him to reimburse them if they keep open Harrington No. 10 Colliery until suitable employment is available.

No decision on this closure has yet been taken. If it is decided to defer such a closure the N.C.B. will be reimbursed in accordance representatives with a view to laying with Section 5 of the Coal Industry Act, down centrally objective criteria for 1967.

asked the Minister of Power whether he has yet received an application for authorisation of opencast mining in the Polesworth, Dordon and Shuttington areas of North Warwickshire.

No.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of human brucellosis were reported in 1966 and in 1967; how many deaths have resulted; End how many of these cases have been linked with the sale of raw milk.

Year		Reported Cases	Deaths
1966	…	169	Nil
1967	…	242 (provisional)	2 (first nine months only)

The disease can be contracted through contact with infected as well as by drinking infected raw milk, and the number of cases associated with the latter is not known.

asked the Minister of Health how much it is estimated has been lost to the Exchequer since the National Health prescription charges w ere abolished in 1964.

No reliable estimate of the cost can be made.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the criteria for defining the chronic sick for exemption from the 2s. 6d. prescription charge; and whether he proposes that the responsibility for interpreting this in individual cases will fall upon general practitioners.

This matter is to be discussed with general practitioner representatives with a view to laying down centrally objective criteria for establishing entitlement to exemption.

asked the Minister of Health if he will recommend to all regional hospital boards and other similar bodies covered by his Department, that all vehicles are fitted with reflective safety number plates in the interest of road safety in accordance with the Road Transport Lighting Act, 1967.

I will consider what advice I might give to hospital authorities in the light of general experience in the use of these plates on the road and the cost of providing them.

asked the Minister of Health what were the total numbers of hospitals, hospital beds, and appropriate hospital staff in England and Wales at the beginning of 1946, 1951, 1964 and at the latest available date.

No figures for 1946 are available. Figures are not collected for the beginning of each year but the following table gives the best indication of the position in the later years.

	1951	1964	1967
Hospitals	Figure not available	2,550	2,528
Staffed beds	458,000	472,000	468,000
Staff:
Medical and dental	12,900	18,500	20,100
Nurses and midwives	148,300	207,700	231,500
Other professional and technical	13,700	25,400	29,200
Administrative and clerical	27,300	34,800	39,300
Works, maintenance and domestic:
Whole-time	103,300	157,200	160,400
Part-time	29,900	52,500	61,100

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will designate as a special area under the Civic Amenities Act the Bloomsbury site not now needed for the National Library.

This is a matter for the Camden Borough Council or the Greater London Council, who as local planning authorities are responsible for designating conservation areas under the Civic Amenities Act.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will ask medical officers of health to report regularly on the amount of lead in the public water supply at different times of day, so that an assessment can be made of possible health hazards there-from.

In November, 1967, as a result of a letter to the "Lancet", I asked all public water supply undertakings to report to me on the measures they take to guard against water being contaminated by lying in contact with lead pipes and I advised them to work in co-operation with their local medical officers of health.Over 90 per cent. of the reports have now come in. They reveal no grounds for general concern. But some give too little information and a few suggest that the precautionary measures, including sampling checks, could be improved. The Department are following all these up.In these circumstances I do not think that reports from all medical officers of health are necessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why television and radio masts are classified as plant and are therefore not subject to the town and country planning regulations affecting buildings; if he is satisfied that the proposals by the British Broadcasting Corporation to set up television and radio masts at Cross-pool have been subject to proper planning procedures by the Shiffeld City Council; and if the will institute an inquiry.

Some aerial masts less than 50 feet in height may not require planning permission but B.B.C. masts are almost invariably higher than this. In July, 1967 Sheffield City Council gave permission for a mast of 150 feet at Crosspool to replace one of 100 feet. This is within their competence as a local planning authority; and my right hon. Friend does not intend to institute any inquiry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses he estimates will not now be built in the county of Dorset in 1968 consequent upon the new Government cuts announced under paragraph 44 of Command Paper No. 3515.

The reductions in the planned programme of public authority housing will not affect the level of completions in 1968. This will be determined by the rate at which houses already under construction are finished. It is too early to give any estimate of the number of houses likely to be built in a particular county in 1968.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what effect the proposed reduction in approvals of local authority housebuilding will have on local authority house construction in the London Borough of Lambeth.

Until we have discussed with local authorities their requirements in the light of the new situation, it is not possible to say what the future programmes of particular local authorities will be. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in his statement on 16th January, our measures will safeguard the housing priority areas, of which Lambeth is one.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total expenditure up to 30th November on the Polaris submarine programme; how much has been expended on the base at Gareloch; and what is his current estimate of the total expenditure likely to be incurred on these items.

Total capital expenditure up to 30th November, 1967, on the Polaris submarine programme is just over £200 million, including £32½ million on the Clyde Submarine Base. The total estimated capital costs are £350 million and £45 million respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made to compensate Gurkha pensioners for the effects of devaluation.

Gurkha pensioners have not suffered as a result of devaluation. Their pensions are not expressed in sterling and they will receive the same number of Nepalese rupees as they did before.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how he proposes to replace the Royal Navy's role of policeman on the beat for the protection of British shipping and trade East of Suez after 1971; and how he proposes to carry out this country's obligations to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies to provide protection for their ships trading East of Suez.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear in his statement on 16th January, we shall retain a general capability based in Europe which can be deployed overseas as, in our judgment, circumstances demand. This capability will include Naval forces. Our obligations under the North Atlantic Treaty are, however, restricted to the North Atlantic area.—[Vol. 756, c. 1581.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the total numbers of Army divisions, Royal Navy ships in commission, and airworthy Royal Air Force aircraft in service at the beginning of 1946, 1951, 1964 and at the la test available date.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the total numbers of officers and other ranks serving in the Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force, respectively, at the beginning of 1946, 1951, 1964 and at the latest available date.

		Royal Navy and Royal Marines	Army	Royal Air Force
1946	…	389,200	2,406,381	825,034
1951	…	136,600	402,800	212,100
1964	…	97,200	187,600	137,900
1968	…	96,300	192,949	121,415

The figures for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines are those for 1st July, 1946, as the figures for the beginning of 1946 are not readily available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the annual percentage increase or decrease in the number of passengers using Turn-house Airport, Edinburgh, in each of the last 10 years, compared with similar figures in respect of the average annual increase or decrease at all the other airports in the United Kingdom which report their traffic figures to his Department.

The increases are:

	Percentage Increases
	Turnhouse	Other U.K. Aerodromes
1958	5	2
1959	33	17
1960	44	27
1961	20	21
1962	22	12
1963	21	12
1964	14	13
1965	10	13
1966	9	13
1967 (Provisional)	15	6

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many aircraft were diverted from Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh, in 1966 and 1967, respectively; how many passengers were involved; and what were the causes of the diversions.

The following is the information:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of metal containers exported for each of the last three years.

Figures for 1964 (revised) are given on page 194 of the Overseas Trade Accounts for December, 1965, and figures for 1965 (revised) and for 1966 on page 194 of the Overseas Trade Accounts for December, 1966. Figures for 1967 will be given in the Overseas Trade Accounts for December, 1967, which are due to be published on 25th January, 1968.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the discussions he is having about the establishment of an exhibition centre for industry at Crystal Palace.

As was announced on 3rd August, 1967, it is unlikely that a viable scheme for a National Exhibition Centre can be brought into operation on the Crystal Palace site.My noble friend the Minister of State has been studying the problem of finding a suitable site with the assistance of a committee including representatives of commerce and industrial bodies, the Greater London Council and Government Departments. I hope soon to be able to announce a decision on whether or not the Government feel able to go ahead with the construction of a National Exhibition Centre.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the need to increase exports, he will now restore the advertising budget of the Export Intelligence Department to the figure prevailing before the summer cut of 20 per cent.