asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to enable earnings related supplement to be available to all workers, including those of pensionable age, immediately they cease work due to industrial lay-off, unemployment or sickness; and if he will make a statement.

No. The present rules were carefully considered and my right hon. Friend has no plans to alter them in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he proposes to take to ensure that earnings-related supplement will be payable in cases when for a period of months prior to application being made the equivalent of £450 per annum has been earned irrespective of whether or not £450 has been earned during the relevant income tax year.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for increasing the number of midwives and encouraging the return of married midwives to nursing.

Hospital and local authorities have had advice on measures to facilitate recruitment generally and the employment of part-time midwives. In addition we shall shortly be discussing with the interests concerned a report of a Sub-Committee of the Standing Maternity and Midwifery Advisory Committee on the future organisation and staffing of the hospital and domiciliary maternity services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for social security benefit were received as a consequence of the recent industrial action of bus crews in Scotland.

Up to 9th December, 1,156 claims for supplementary benefit were made in respect of the dependants of persons involved in the recent Scottish bus strike, resulting in 1,021 payments at a total cost of £6,700. A very few claims were also made by persons unable to get to work on account of the strike.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what communications he has received from the Scottish Trades Union Congress relative to his proposed legislation on pension provision; and what replies he has sent.

The Scottish Trades Union Congress sent my right hon. Friend a memorandum in August in which they expressed general approval of the scheme, with certain reservations on points of detail. They also invited him to address a special conference on national superannuation on 23rd November, and in his speech on that occasion he explained the Government's proposals in detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the number of civilian disabled persons at present entitled to an invalid three-wheeler who require a car.

Some of the 17,800 civilian disabled three-wheeler users would prefer a car but I know of none who requires one for his own personal mobility.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up a specialist welfare service for the deaf-blind, staffed by social workers with knowledge of the dual disability and organised on a regional or national basis.

I am doubtful whether a separate national or regional service is desirable. In my view deaf-blind people will best be helped by developing the existing welfare services of local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the increase in hospital beds made available in the Hull area by the building of the Hull Royal Infirmary.

185.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware of the increasing concern in Hull regarding the delay in gaining admission to the Royal Infirmary; and what capital developments he is proposing to overcome this.

Over the past two years there has been a continuing improvement in the waiting times for admission to the Hull Royal Infirmary. Excluding those awaiting tonsil and adenoid operations, over 40 per cent. of the patients at present requiring non-urgent operations have been waiting less than three months. The Leeds Regional Hospital Board is taking steps to reduce waiting times further, including the planning of an additional operating theatre at Westwood Hospital, Beverley.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the waiting period for operations for varicose veins and tonsillectomy in hospitals in the Manchester region; and what is the period in cases in which fees are paid to consultants.

Waiting times vary according to medical priority. Information relating to private patients is not available, but inquiries suggest that waiting time might vary from about a week to about three months or more.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why post offices in the Greater Manchester area did not have available on 3rd November, 1969, the day that new scales came into operation for low-paid workers claiming relief from prescription charges, supplies of the up-to-date version of the necessary form PC11.

Supplies of the revised version of form PC11, showing the higher scale rates used in the calculation of requirements of persons claiming refund of, or exemption from, prescription charges on hardship groups were distributed nationally in good time for copies of the form to be available in local post offices on that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, why no publicity was given by his Department to the fact that on 3rd November, 1969, the income levels under which a low-paid worker could qualify for exemption from charges for prescriptions, teeth, spectacles and welfare foods were all raised.

Entitlement to help with, or exemption from, these charges on grounds of hardship is based on the scale rates of supplementary benefit. The increases from 3rd November, 1969, in these rates were publicised in the Press and on the radio. Arrangements were also made for the appropriate leaflets and claim forms, showing the increased scale rates, to be available from 3rd November, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware of the absence of uniform boundaries of areas for the purposes of National Insurance and supplementary benefits within the premises at Maryhill Road, Glasgow, and between that office and those serving contiguous areas; and if he will take steps to obviate these administrative anomalies and the inconvenience to applicants.

Yes. We are anxious to establish uniform boundaries for all the Social Security offices in Glasgow, as elsewhere. Changes in the boundaries of one office, however, affect the work loads, staff complements and premises requirements of adjoining offices; progress, therefore, largely depends on getting new premises.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will extend the exemption from the statutory charges for dentures to young people attending technical colleges.

My right hon. Friend has no power to do this.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has investigated the two cases sent to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, showing that a wife whose husband was earning £1,000 per annum received £9 4s. per week National Assistance and that in the other case a man capable of work drew unemployment pay for one and a half years when he had made no contributions to the National Insurance scheme; and what action he proposes to take to stop such abuses of the welfare schemes.

I have now written to my hon. Friend about the cases to which he refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what new proposals he has for paying for the social services.

The National Superannuation and Social Insurance Bill will be published shortly. My right hon. Friend has no new statement to make on financing the social services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what help is available through the National Health Service to people wishing to put on weight.

The general practitioner should be consulted so that the cause of the under-weight can be ascertained and dealt with if necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will estimate the number of underweight people in Great Britain.

The absence of any universally accepted standard by which to judge under-weight, and the multiplicity of causes which would need to be taken into account, would make this exercise a piece of statistical self indulgence.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent study his Department has made into the causes of under-weight in people.

My Department has made no specific studies of the causes of under-weight in the population; but recently completed nutrition surveys and one that is in progress will provide information about under-nutrition in the groups covered by them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to ensure that a standard procedure is adopted in hospital casualty departments for dealing with people injured in road accidents.

Guidance on standard procedure for staff dealing with all accident and emergency patients has been given to hospital authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of hospital casualty departments which do not have facilities for full X-ray examinations.

This information is not available centrally but hospital authorities have been advised that X-ray departments with full facilities should where possible be located close to accident and emergency departments, and that otherwise these departments should have X-ray facilities adequate for the immediate handling of emergencies.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the numbers of general practitioners and the average number of patients on the lists in the Atherstone Rural District for the latest available date.

Eleven doctors, 3,150 patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the figure of 20s. was fixed as the total of other income to be disregarded in calculating supplementary pensions for people over pension age; what is his estimate of the present figure on the basis that it had been increased from that date in line with the rise in the cost of living; and what plans he has for increasing the present level.

This disregard of 20s. of other income was introduced in November, 1966, when the supplementary benefits scheme started. On the basis of the Retail Prices Index at October, 1969, the current equivalent would be 22s. 7d. There are no plans at present for making any increase in the level of disregards.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital medical staff committees have declined to take part in his scheme for the assessment of foreign doctors entering Great Britain.

I am aware of three such refusals but no regional hospital board has reported inability to provide sufficient places in the region as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will introduce an examination comparable to that used in the United States of America, details of which have been sent to him, for the purpose of assessing the knowledge of medicine and of the English language possessed by foreign doctors entering Great Britain.

As my right hon. Friend told the House on 24th July, 1969, it is our view that this kind of assessment can best be made by attaching doctors to a hospital under consultant supervision. Since 28th November such assessment has been required as a condition of entry of overseas doctors to National Health Service hospital employment, except for certain categories of doctor who are exempt.—[Vol 787, c. 437–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to classify disease in man caused by brucella abortis as an industrial disease for compensation purposes.

Before a disease can be added to the list of diseases prescribed under the Industrial Injuries Act my right hon. Friend has to be satisfied that it fulfils the conditions laid down in Section 56(2) of that Act. He is not satisfied on present evidence that brucellosis does so. Nevertheless the need does not arise since the occupational risk is essentially one of accidental infection. Such infections are already fully covered by the accident provisions of the Industrial Injuries Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied at the rate of recruitment into the ranks of chiropodists, dieticians, occupational therapists, orthoptists, physiotherapists, radiographers, remedial gymnasts and speech therapists, respectively, in the National Health Service; what plans he has to improve recruitment; and if he will make a statement.

Numbers in all these professions have been increasing, but any statement on future needs and plans must await the outcome of studies which have been undertaken of the work of these occupational groups.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent Ministers of the Crown are allowed special priority by his regulations in obtaining private beds when going into National Health Service hospitals; and whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed list giving for the longest convenient stated period of time the number of Ministers, and their Departments, who have had private ward treatment in National Health Service hospitals.

The order in which patients are admitted to hospital, whether as National Health Service patients or as private patients, is not governed by Regulations but is a matter for the doctors under whose care they are being admitted.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what facilities exist under the National Health Service in the Barrow-in-Furness area for the continuation, on release from prison, of drug addiction treatment given during a prison sentence.

If specialist treatment were still considered necessary, the patient could be referred to the consultant psychiatrist who holds an outpatient clinic at North Lonsdale Hospital, Barrow-in-Furness.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many letters he has received from employees of the National Coal Board expressing concern about the future of their Principal Staff Superannuation Scheme in relation to the Government's superannuation proposals; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

We have received about 50 such letters. We have replied that the new State scheme is designed to work in partnership with good occupational schemes, not to push them out, and that there is no question of members of occupational schemes being unfairly treated under the new scheme. As regards the effect on the National Coal Board Staff Superannuation Scheme, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Technology, to the hon. Member for Somerset, North (Mr. Dean) on 17th November.—[Vol. 791, c. 202.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to come to a decision on the claim for increased salaries presented in respect of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists.

I understand that a Staff Side claim was submitted on Friday. It is a matter for the Whitley Council in the first instance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the most recent estimate of the net yield of prescription charges in the current financial year.

About £16½ million after allowing for administration and other costs. In addition prescription charges were followed by a moderation of demand on the service which produced a further saving in public expenditure giving an estimated total of about £25 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware that the range of spectacle frames supplied through the National Health Service is inadequate and out of date; and if he will consider new designs and ranges of frames, and ensure that all frames supplied are clearly marked with their price.

Within the broad specifications of the National Health Service range of frames, there have been considerable advances in detailed design, particularly as regards the eye-shapes and colours of plastics frames. The possibility of further improvements in National Health Service frames is being kept under review. The rules of the General Optical Council do not permit frames on display to be marked with their prices, but opticians should always be able to inform applicants about the prices of frames, including National Health Service ones.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has now considered the defects revealed in the administration of his Department by the case of R. V. Taylor, who drew social security money from Weymouth at the same time as he or his son had eight bank accounts and £1,700 in cash banked in the name of his 19-year-old son; what inquiries he has made into the number of fit young men who draw social security at South Coast resorts during the summer; and if he will make a statement.

No such defects have been revealed. Mr. Taylor was required to state his resources on each of the several occasions when he claimed supplementary benefit and resources declared were properly taken into account. Under the Ministry of Social Security Act only resources which have belonged to Mr. Taylor or his wife or other dependent members of the household can be taken into account. As the hon. Member may know, questions relating to the ownership of the £1,700 have recently been before the courts. As regards the second part of the question, special precautions are taken at seaside resorts to ensure that supplementary allowances are paid only for short periods while fit young migrant workers find jobs. Such men arrive in substantial numbers to fill the many vacancies for workers in the hotel and catering trades.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to provide immediate assistance to childless widows under 50 years of age who will not benefit from his proposals on widows' pensions.

Special arrangements under the present national insurance scheme already ensure that when a widow does not qualify for widow's pension

		Initial short-term allowances issued to fit, single unskilled men under the age of 45	Allowances curtailed on review after three months (fit men and women under the age of 45 other than men in column (2))	Allowances Extended informally (a)*	Appeals to Tribunal
Period ending					Decision confirmed	Decision reversed
(1)		(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)
1968
19th November	…	8,950	605	223	103	10
17th December	…	6,774	527	193	103	16
1969
21st January	…	8,609	769	301	129	18
18th February	…	7,822	1,734	251	109	20
18th March	…	7,395	631	226	101	23
22nd April	…	7,619	729	254	145	10
20th May	…	5,816	507	150	64	5
17th June	…	4,902	282	116	72	12
22nd July	…	6,819	469	91	81	11
19th August	…	6,448	393	89	43	5
23rd September	…	6,648	283	105	85	18
21st October	…	5,766	368	102	50	9
(a)* Where claimants show good reasons why they have not found work.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, following the special review measures in July, 1968, how many persons in the following categories of workers have had supplementary benefit allowance withdrawn for each month since that date, namely, single unskilled workers, married unskilled workers, single skilled workers, married skilled workers, and manual workers; and how many for each category exercised their right of appeal to the appropriate appeal tribunal.

I regret the information is not available in the form requested. Records show the following numbers of decisions to issue allowances for a short period initially or to curtail allowances after the review at three months, and the appeals in both types of case:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of beds currently available in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board Area for accident emergency cases.

As such patients are referred as quickly as possible to the appropriate specialty department, it is not possible to state as a separate figure the number of beds currently available for accident and emergency cases in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of doctors currently available for casualty duties in hospitals in the Sheffield Regional Board Area; and what is the number required to meet normal establishment.

Following is the information:The total staffing of the Accident and Emergency departments in this area up to consultant level is as follows:—

Medical Assistants	16
Registrars	19
Senior House Officers	27
Part-time General Practitioners whose services are equivalent, in whole-time terms, to	4½

The additional numbers required to fill vacancies are as follows:

Senior House Officers	3
General Practitioners	part-timers totalling 4 half-day sessions a week=half whole time equivalent of one general practitioner.

In addition to these doctors, the departments are supervised by consultants whose main duties lie in other hospital departments, but it is not possible to quantify their services in terms of numbers of staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received to date regarding the proposed new superannuation scheme; and how many of these were, in general, in support of the scheme.

Some 2,000 individuals and organisations have written to the Department about the proposed scheme. The majority of letters were concerned with particular aspects of the scheme and in so far as they were critical were often based on misunderstandings. Very few opposed the scheme in principle.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to enable the Supplementary Benefits Commission to finance the provision of telephones for old people living alone; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about his proposals for a constant attendance allowance to severely disabled persons; and what replies he has given.

Representations have been received from individuals and organisations, welcoming the proposal to introduce the allowance and seeking detailed information about its scope and the timing of its introduction. They have been told that more will be said about these and other matters during the passage of the National Superannuation Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware of the shortage of geriatric beds in the Greater Manchester area; and what steps he proposes to take to ease this situation.

I understand that there is no general shortage of beds for geriatric patients in this area at present; however in order to meet the needs of an increasing elderly population the board has proposals in hand which will lead to a net increase of 110 geriatric beds by 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what reply he has sent to the Scottish Old Age Pensioners Association's resolution passed at their recent conference in Glasgow, a copy of which has been sent to him, demanding increased pensions.

We have not yet received a copy of the resolution to which my hon. Friend refers. When it is received we shall, of course, be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what schemes he proposes to remedy the present imbalance of hospital beds and facilities in the Hull area, with particular reference to the number of gynaecologists at the Hull Royal Infirmary.

Gynaecology services for the Hull and East Riding area are provided at the Hull Royal Infirmary (Sutton), the Hospital for Women and the Beverley Cottage Hospital. The regional hospital board is considering the need to appoint another gynaecologist in the area and any other steps that this would require as a consequence.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what future plans exist for Nuneaton hospitals as casualty and accident centres;(2) what are the major casualty and accident centres to be designated by the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board in their future plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board has for transferring the treatment of major casualties from St. Cross, Rugby, to Coventry.

A report at present under consideration by the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board on the proposed future development of the accident ser- vices in their area envisages the initial reception of all major accident cases at 13 main hospitals, designated as major reception units, with facilities at associated hospitals for the treatment of traumatic and orthopaedic cases transferred from the main hospitals and for the treatment of minor accident cases where necessary. The 13 major units would be:

• Birmingham Accident Hospital
• North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary
• Royal Hospital, Wolverhampton.
• Coventry and Warwickshire Stoney Stanton Road Hospital
• Dudley Road Hospital, Birmingham
• East Birmingham Hospital
• Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield
• The Guest Hospital, Dudley, Worcs
• Worcester Royal Infirmary
• General Hospital, Hereford
• Copthorne Hospital, Shrewsbury
• Warwick Hospital
• Burton-on-Trent General Hospital.

The report envisages that the Manor Hospital, Nuneaton, would continue to be associated with the major accident unit at Coventry until the planned redevelopment of hospital services in Nuneaton has been completed on the George Eliot Hospital site. The Board are considering whether the George Eliot Hospital would then be associated for accident services with the major reception unit at Coventry or itself be designated as a major reception unit.The report envisages that St. Cross, Rugby, would be associated with the major reception unit at Coventry.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the maximum travelling distance that he plans should exist in future in reaching a casualty and accident centre.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study has been made by his Department of the effects upon people seriously injured in road accidents being taken lengthy journeys to major accident units.

The Sub-Committee of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee on Accident and Emergency Services, whose report was commended to hospital authorities, strongly recommended that all injured persons requiring hospital treatment should be taken direct to hospitals having accident and emergency departments staffed and equipped to deal immediately with major injuries and other emergency cases. They considered that it was normally better for an injured patient to have a longer ambulance journey to an accident and emergency unit than to be taken to the nearest hospital unless it had such a unit, and that there were very few cases in the country where distances were so great and transport so difficult that an efficient service could not be provided by a unit serving a population of 150,000 or more.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, sent to him on 9th November, concerning a constituent's case affecting her widow's pension and income tax, was referred without consulting the hon. Member to the Board of Inland Revenue, from whom a reply signed by an official was received on 8th December; and why it took so long to send a negative reply.

I regret that on this occasion my hon. Friend did not receive a reply signed by a Minister. I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans exist for the rationalisation of accident and casualty facilities in the area under the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board; and how these will affect Nuneaton's hospital facilities.

A report outlining the proposed future development of the Accident Services in their area was recently considered by the Planning Committee of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board. The report envisages the initial reception of all major accident cases at 13 main hospitals, with facilities at associated hospitals for the treatment of traumatic and orthopaedic cases transferred from the main hospitals, and for the treatment of minor accident cases where necessary. In the proposed plan Nuneaton would be associated with the major reception unit at Coventry or alternatively would itself be designated as a major unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for casualty and accident facilities in hospitals serving population areas of less than 150,000.

It is for regional hospital boards in consultation with boards of governors of teaching hospitals to plan the rationalisation of accident and emergency services in their regions and their concentration into major departments capable of giving a full service at any hour of the day or night, as recommended by the Standing Medical Advisory Committee sub-committee on Accident and Emergency Services. In some areas the retention of accident and emergency departments serving populations less than the minimum of 150,000 recommended by the sub-committee will be justified although in these it may well be difficult to provide a full service at all times.The first responsibility of hospitals is to provide a service for the seriously injured and emergency cases, and it is in the interest of such patients that they should be taken direct to a hospital that has the full supporting services needed to deal with them. Full services can generally be provided only where a population of 150,000 or more is served. Patients with minor injuries not requiring hospital attention are the responsibility of the general practitioner services and the development of group practices and health centres is making it easier for general practitioners to fulfil this responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what directions he has given to employing authorities in the National Health Service regarding the provision of facilities for Save As You Earn for hospital staff.

I am grateful for the suggestion implicit in the hon. Gentleman's question and am acting upon it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the date on which the Committee of Inquiry into the Hornsea Children's Convalescent Home, East Yorkshire, completed taking evidence and presented its report, respectively; what action has been taken; and whether the report is to be published.

18th July and 20th October, 1969. I am considering the board's proposals on action and publication and shall be writing to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the change in the number of prescriptions issued since the reintroduction of charges; and if he will give details for each six months since the reintroduction of charges.

Prescription charges were reintroduced on 10th June, 1968. The number of prescriptions dispensed by chemists in England and Wales was 124 million in the half year 1st July to 31st December, 1968, and 133 million in the half year 1st January to 30th June, 1969. These figures represent decreases of 8·0 per cent. and 7·2 per cent. respectively compared with the corresponding periods twelve month earlier.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what estimate he has made of the total cost of paying a full retirement pension to those surviving non-pensioners who were over retirement age in July, 1948, and thus ineligible for the present National Insurance Scheme, and of the consequent saving in supplementary benefit;(2) how many people who were over pensionable age in July, 1948, and thus ineligible for retirement pensions are still alive.

It is estimated that there are about 120,000 people who were not able to become insured under the present national insurance scheme when it began in July, 1948, because they were then over pension age and were not insured under earlier schemes for contributory pensions. The immediate annual cost to the National Insurance Fund of paying them retirement pensions at the present standard rate, without taking account of any consequential charges for other classes, would be about £30 million. There would be savings of about £14 million on supplementary pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent advice he has given hospital boards about the centralisation of accident services.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the most recent memorandum of guidance issued in November, 1968.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether the application of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Medical Scheme includes subscribing to the Blue Cross health insurance scheme in respect of any of the United Kingdom officials serving in posts in the United States of America.

I have been asked to reply.Eligible United Kingdom based officers in United States were insured through the Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans for certain hospital and surgical benefits between 1948 and 1961. It was then decided to withdraw from these schemes in accordance with the Government policy of carrying its own risks, and the present arrangements are as described by my right hon. Friend the Minister without Portfolio, on 10th December.—[Vol. 793, c. 131–2.]

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will now state the result of his consultations as to the adjustments necessitated in public service pensions by his proposed pensions scheme.

Each employing authority is responsible for these consultations which will involve many complicated points. It is thus far too soon to say when results can be expected.

asked the Minister of Technology if, following the publicity given by his Department to the financial advantages obtainable under the Local Employment Bill 1969, he will give the number of firms, showing the number of jobs involved, who have shown interest in the intermediate areas within the Yorkshire and Humberside district.

Notifications of intent to apply for building grant for projects in the proposed intermediate areas in Yorkshire have been received from 48 firms, whose estimates of the additional jobs to be provided total some 1,600. Numerous requests for information have also been received.

asked the Minister of Technology whether, in view of the impending creamery closure, he will authorise an advance factory to be built at Port William or some other place in the Machar of Wigtownshire.

I have no plans to build an advance factory in the Machars area, but assistance under the Local Employment Acts is available to any eligible undertaking which may be established in the area.

asked the Minister of Technology what are the differences in prices between natural, synthetic and reclaim rubber as used by manufacturing industry.

No precise answer can be given as there is a wide range of grades. For the grades most used, natural rubber now costs about 13d. a pound more than reclaim, and synthetic rubber about 9d. a pound more.

asked the Minister of Technology, in view of the declining percentage of reclaim rubber now being used as compared with 1966, how many reclaim rubber factories are now in operation; whether he is satisfied that there is sufficient capacity of a modern type in use to meet potential demand and assist the balance of payments; and if he will make a statement.

There are three large factories and a few smaller ones. A fourth large factory was shut down last year because reclaiming capacity in this country was excessive. I am satisfied that existing capacity is more than enough to meet any likely demand.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the effect on the price of energy coming from Libya of the Libyan Government's decision to increase prices.

There has been no announcement of any decision to raise the price of Libyan oil.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will enter into discussion with the oil companies with a view to initiating a policy for the exercise of more domestic control over oil supplies.

I already have satisfactory arrangements for regular contact with the oil companies on the security of supplies.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) whether he will list those companies or groups which hold production licences in the North Sea issued in September, 1964, stating how many wells have been drilled by each company or group, and what percentage performance this is compared to the drilling obligations which were undertaken by the companies or groups;(2) whether he will list those companies or groups which hold production licences in the North Sea issued in November, 1965, stating how many wells have been drilled by each company or group, and what percentage performance this is compared to the drilling obligations which were undertaken by the companies or groups.

I regret that I am unable to disclose the obligations and performance of each licensee because such information is confidential. The licensees, with their licence numbers, are listed in the Annual Report, dated 18th December, 1968, made under the Continental Shelf Act, 1964; licences numbered P.001-P.053 were granted in 1964 and P.054-P.090 in 1965.

asked the Minister of Technology what investigations he is making into the causes of failure of a number of electricity generating sets; and if he will make a statement about the availability of power supplies for the remainder of this winter.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain why, within a few days of the first cold spell of winter, power cuts were instituted by the electricity authorities; and whether he will make a statement.

The maximum output capacity of C.E.G.B. using all existing plant is now about 45,500 MW and the highest demand on the system this winter has been around 36,000 MW. By the beginning of next year, the Board expects capacity to approach 47,000 MW and forecasts the maximum demand in January and February in average cold spell conditions as about 39,000 MW. The gross margin of capacity on this basis should normally be sufficient to assure supplies in average winter weather.However, there is at present an abnormal level of plant breakdowns, particularly among the new 500 MW units. The Board expect and allow for some initial difficulties in bringing high pressure plant into operation, but when, as has happened, an unexpectedly large number of sets are simultaneously affected the system is strained. Recent difficulties have been contained by voltage reduc- tions and there have been no disconnections.I do not think an investigation would help since the C.E.G.B. and the manufacturers are working hard to overcome the present difficulties.

asked the Minister of Technology what information he has as to how much coking coal, additional to long-standing trivial shipments, is to be shipped up from England to Scotland; and when these shipments will commence.

The distribution of particular types of coal is a matter for the National Coal Board and I am asking the Chairman to write to the hon. Lady.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he is satisfied that Concorde over-pressure will not cause the structural damage to buildings which other sonic bangs have caused; and whether he will make a statement.

I do not know what incidents my hon. Friend has in mind, but I am satisfied that Concorde should not cause structural damage to well maintained buildings. As is well known, the Department is researching into the possible effects on buildings of all kinds, particularly cathedrals and ancient monuments.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he is satisfied that the Concorde sonic bang will be of lower intensity than that of military aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

The intensity of an aircraft's sonic bang depends upon the manner and conditions in which it is flown, and there is no simple answer to this question. But Concorde's bang will be of a far lower intensity than, for example, that of military aircraft manoeuvring super sonically at low level.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board that, where local authorities do not wish to buy surplus National Coal Board houses available for disposal, every tenant should then receive an individual offer of sale from the board in writing.

No; this is best left to the Board.

asked the Minister of Technology how many Short Skyvan aircraft have been delivered to customers; how many are on order; and what is the current rate of production of this aircraft.

It would be against Short's commercial interests for me to disclose the exact state of their order book or production rate. I understand that thirty-one Skyvans have been delivered.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give a favourable reply to the request of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund for additional funds for the Nigerian operation, in view of the phasing out of Red Cross relief activities.

The United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the United Nations has just received a further appeal from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund for a contribution to their Nigerian programme. In considering possible further contributions by Her Majesty's Government towards the cost of relief in Nigeria, we shall certainly bear in mind the needs of U.N.I.C.E.F. as well as those of the many other organisations which are doing valuable work in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will now make a contribution to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund's Nigerian emergency aid programme, in view of the fact that current funds for the programme will be exhausted by the end of December.

I would refer my honourable Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Gentleman (Mr. Dodds-Parker) the Member for Cheltenham.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to expedite the hearing of the appeal of Mr. Reay and others sentenced in Bari earlier in the year.

The date for the appeal hearing has been set for the 2nd February, 1970. This is within a fortnight of the re-opening of the court after the Christmas recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to raise at the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations the dangers to peace in Africa arising from the persecution and killing of Africans in the Sudan.

No. Our attitude towards action at the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations on this subject would depend upon the case which was presented for it. I do not consider that it would be helpful for Her Majesty's Government to take the initiative in raising allegations at the United Nations which so closely concern the responsibilities of the Government of the Sudan.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to raise at the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations the dangers to peace in part of the Middle East arising from the bombing of and atrocities against Kurds carried out by the Iraqi Government.

No. I do not consider that it would be appropriate for Her Majesty's Government to take the initiative in raising this matter at the United Nations. Our attitude towards action at the United Nations, were this subject to be raised in the Human Rights Commission, would depend on the case that is presented.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the British Government on 14th November voted against a resolution in the Special Political Committee of the United Nations calling for action against the policies of South Africa.

Our reasons for voting against the Resolution to which my hon. Friend refers were explained by the United Kingdom representative in his statement to the Special Political Committee on 14th November, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the situation in Gibraltar.

Latest reports indicate general satisfaction in Gibraltar over the outcome of the talks in London earlier this month, described by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in reply to the hon. Member for Haltemprice on the 8th December.—[Vol. 793, c. 23–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will initiate a conference of Commonwealth representatives to discuss the civil war in Nigeria.

No, it would be for the Nigerian Federal Government to approach the Commonwealth Secretary-General if they wished to discuss the civil war at such a conference. It is not for one member of the Commonwealth to initiate a conference to discuss the internal affairs of another. At the present time the Nigerians look primarily to the Organisation of African Unity to promote direct negotiations with a view to a settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common- wealth Affairs whether he will give an assurance that no immigration into the Falkland Islands from either Argentina or the mainland of South America will be allowed other than that under the direct control of the Executive Council of the islands.

Immigration into the Falkland Islands is controlled by local legislation enacted by the Islands' Legislative Council. I am not aware of any difficulties in the working of the present law nor have I had any proposal to change it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when compulsory primary school education is to be introduced into Hong Kong.

The position has not yet been reached where it is possible to consider making primary education compulsory. The declared aim of the Hong Kong Government is to provide free primary education for all who desire it and the immediate objective, which I expect to be attained by the end of next year, is to extend as rapidly as possible the number of places in Government and subsidised primary schools so as to provide places for all children of primary school age who seek them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, following the reduction of the age of majority to 18 on 1st January, 1970, he intends similarly to reduce the age below which consent is needed for the grant of passport facilities.

Yes. As from 1st January, 1970, consent for the grant of passport facilities will be required only in respect of persons under the age of 18. From the same date caveats objecting to the grant of passport facilities will be accepted only in respect of persons under the age of 18.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he has not made claims against the Libyan Government for compensation on behalf of the British women who were raped by soldiers.

I understand that the two women concerned do not wish to press for further action against the Libyan Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will order a full-scale inquiry to be held in camera concerning the alleged raping of British nurses in Libya during the recent coup d'état; and what advice was given to the victims with regard to complaints of these actions.

No. The two women concerned have indicated that they are reluctant to pursue the matter, and that they wish to forget the incidents. The question of advice with regard to complaints has not, in these circumstances, arisen.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government expect to issue their detailed memoranda on the effects of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community; why these investigations are taking so long; and if Her Majesty's Government will consult the Confederation of British Industry and other bodies on preparing this document.

On the first and second parts of his Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) on 18th November; as to the last part, I understand that the Confederation of British Industry are in the process of revising their own study of the effects of British entry into the European Communities.—[Vol. 791, c. 1107–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to raise at the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations the danger to peace in a part of the Middle East arising from conflicts between Egyptian and Saudi Arabian elements in the Yemen and the bombing and gassing of civilians by Egypt in that area.

No. All United Arab Republic forces were withdrawn from the Yemen in the latter half of 1967. So far as I am aware, there are no Saudi forces in the Yemen.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of all publications included in the Press advertising campaign for Widows and Pensioners and National Insurance Changes in the autumn of 1969, together with the total cost in respect of each publication and its certified circulation figure at the time of insertion.

As the information requested takes up several lengthy tables, I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the dollar value of the residue of the dollar portfolio held by the British Government in the United States of America in the years 1951, 1964 and 1969.

The value of Her Majesty's Government's dollar portfolio was approximately $500 million at the end of 1951 and $1,321 million at the end of 1964. Part of the portfolio was transferred to the reserves in February, 1966, and the remainder in November, 1967.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints he has received to date about the failure of the Inland Revenue at East Kilbride to answer letters from members of the public; and how many such letters have been involved.

No statistics are kept of representations specially concerned with East Kilbride, and the cost of obtaining the information would not be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is now taking to meet representations which have been made to him for the simplification of the tax system.

The Board of Inland Revenue and a group of people professionally concerned from a taxpayer's point of view are already holding informal consultations about these problems. It is likely that the consultations will take some time as the problems are difficult and complex.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the annual taxable income required to yield a net income of £100,000, £200,000, and £300,000, respectively, assuming that the taxpayer is a single man.

At present tax rates the figures are as follows:

Net Income			(a) Income all earned	(b) Income all from investments
£			£	£
100,000	…	…	1,079,014	1,106,606
200,000	…	…	2,221,871	2,249,464
300,000	…	…	3,364,728	3,392,321

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many unemployed men were on the books of her Department at the most recent date who had exhausted their entitlement to unemployment benefit; and how many were receiving supplementary allowances.

On 3rd August, 1969, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of men registered at local offices of my Department who had exhausted their entitlement to unemployment benefit was 107,628. Of this number, 77,230 were receiving supplementary allowance, through local offices of the D.E.P.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what action she is taking to ensure that there will be no repetition of the incident at the Severnside chemical plant when quantities of arsenic escaped, killing livestock and contaminating nearby land.

The incident has been investigated both by H.M. Factory Inspectorate and by the Alkali Inspectorate of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government. In the light of their advice the company has agreed upon a number of steps to be taken to prevent any repetition. The inspectors will continue to keep in close touch with the company and to report progress to me and to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what she estimates the rise in unit costs was between January and December, 1968, calculated by the same method used to produce the figure for March—December, 1968, on page 7 of the White Paper, Command Paper No. 4237; and why the White Paper refers to an annual vote based on the March—December figures rather than the annual figure itself.

It is almost the same at 2 per cent. The recent White Paper refers to the annual rate of increase between March and December, 1968, because the White Paper on productivity, prices and incomes policy in 1968 and 1969 dates from March, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether the figures of 6 and 8½ per cent. quoted in paragraph 9 of Command Paper No. 4237 refer to increases in wage rates or earnings; and whether these figures are for local or national settlements.

The figures relate to wage and salary rates and cover only national settlements.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) whether she is satisfied with the operation of Statutory Instrument, 1967, No. 1252; and if she will make a statement;(2) how many employers of registered dock labour have gone out of business since the introduction of Statutory Instrument, 1967, No. 1252;(3) what representations she has received from employers of registered dock labour about the workings of Statutory Instrument, 1967, No. 1252; and what replies she has sent;(4) how many registered dock workers have been transferred from one employer to another under the provisions of Statutory Instrument, 1967, No. 1252, to the latest convenient date.

I am in general satisfied with the operation of the Dock Workers' Employment Scheme embodied in Statutory Instrument 1967, No. 1252. Various representations have been made from time to time by employers' organisations about particular features of the Scheme, each of which has been replied to on its merits. The National Association of Port Employers has recently suggested, in connection with the Government's plans for the re-organisation of the industry, that continuation of the Scheme is unjustified and inappropriate. The Government consider it essential, however, to continue the protection afforded by the Scheme against reversion to a system of casual employment. The number of registered employers has been reduced, in accordance with the policy supported by both sides of the House during the passage of the Docks and Harbour Act, 1966, from 1,268 in September, 1967, to 445 in July, 1969. Information is not readily available from the National Dock Labour Board about the number of registered dock workers permanently transferred from one employer to another.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what progress has been made in bringing together the parties to the dispute at the International Nickel Works at Clydach, where production has ceased for the past 13 weeks; and if she will make a statement.

Officers of my Department have had a number of meetings with both sides in this dispute. The most recent of these was held on 2nd December, when lengthy discussions took place with both sides. These showed clearly that there was then no basis of settlement acceptable to both sides. My Department is keeping in close touch with the parties, and will be ready to undertake further intervention as soon as this seems likely to be useful.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the percentage rate of unemployment among the registered disabled in Scotland in each November of the last 10 years; and how this compared with the overall rate.

The Percentage rates of unemployment among registered disabled persons in Scotland and in Great Britain as a whole—including Scotland—in November of each year from 1960 to 1969 were as follows:

		Scotland	Great Britain
1960	…	11·7	7·3
1961	…	11·9	7·6
1962	…	13·3	9·0
1963	…	13·7	9·1
1964	…	12·0	7·6
1965	…	10·7	7·1
1966	…	11·2	8·0
1967	…	12·3	9·5
1968	…	12·6	10·2
1969	…	13·2	10·9

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what guidance has been given or is being considered by the Central Training Council to industrial training boards with reference to the possible implementation of Section 14 of the Industrial Training Act in order to facilitate the problems of obtaining practical training for overseas students.

None, since boards may only exercise functions under Section 14 at the specific request of the Secretary of State, and no such request has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she is aware that retail prices rose during October by 1 per cent. over the month of September, and the weekly wage-take rose by only 0·1 per cent.; and what action she now proposes to take to enable the lower-paid workers to offset this worsening in their standard of living.

I am aware that the increase in the weekly wage rate index was about 0·1 per cent. The increase in the retail price index was ¾ per cent. The period is too short to draw any useful comparison. The longer term trend is for earnings to rise faster than prices. The Government's views on the problem of low pay are set out in the White Paper, "Productivity, Prices and Incomes Policy after 1969" published last week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the difficulties which some young voters have experienced in inspecting copies of the new electoral rolls; and if he will take steps to clarify where these rolls are in fact available.

By regulations made under the Representation of the People Act it is for the electoral registration officer to give notice of the places at which the electoral lists may be inspected. This has been done by Press advertisements and the posting of notices locally. The Scottish Information Office has also arranged for national Press publicity and for radio and television announcements. I have received no representations that electors are having difficulty in getting access to the lists.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of prisoners in Scotland at the time of the passing of the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act, 1965; and what is the number today.

2,440 and 3,122.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the ratio between the number of prison officers and the number of prisoners which complies with the criteria for efficiency; and what is the ratio in the special security prisons.

The appropriate ratio will vary according to the circumstances of each establishment; but I should like to see an improvement in the present average ratio of 1 to 2·8.There is no special security prison in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many places at security prisons have been provided in Scotland since the passing of the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act in 1965; and if he will specify the prisons and the number of prisoners.