asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost to the Inland Revenue arising out of legal actions involved in settling matters pertaining to rating and valuation annually from 1960 to the nearest available date.

Information about the total cost to the Inland Revenue is not available. With permission, I shall circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the annual figures of costs paid and recovered by the Inland Revenue in appeals against valuations, in accordance with the award of the Lands Tribunal or the courts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many temporary staff are employed in his Department and in the Inland Revenue department; how many of these are secured from employment agencies; and what is the increased cost to his Department over and above the cost of normal establishment rates of pay.

In the Treasury, 20 staff are employed on a casual short-term basis, all from employment agencies. The extra cost is estimated at £550 per annum.1,076 staff are employed in the Inland Revenue on a casual short-term basis, of whom 145 are employed part-time only. None is secured from employment agencies. There is no cost to the Department above the cost of normal establishment rates of pay.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of national savings, adjusted to constant prices, on 31st December of each of the years 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969, respectively.

The information, based on the movement of the index of internal purchasing power of the pound on 1963 prices is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the form sent to occupiers of dwelling-houses requires them to make a return under the General Rate Act 1967 of night-storage heaters used on the premises, in view of the fact that such heaters are not taken into account in arriving at the rating assessment; and if he will have the form amended to make this fact clear.

Because this is the simplest way of ascertaining whether the central heating is or is not a type which affects the value for rating.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to extend tax rebates on mortgage interest repayments to additional rates assessment caused solely by owner occupiers installing central heating.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from representatives of the legal profession about the administrative burden of the returns to be made to the Inland Revenue by solicitors of interest received on behalf of clients which, as a result of the Finance Act 1969, will be received gross instead of after deduction of tax; and what plans he has for lessening this burden.

None, except a letter which the hon. Member himself forwarded last November. I understand that satisfactory arrangements have been made between the firm concerned and the Inspector of Taxes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his most recent estimate of moving the Royal Mint to Llantrisant.

The estimated cost of the land, buildings and plant for the new Royal Mint is £8 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated benefit in monetary terms to a married man with two children under the age of 11 years and earning £15, £20, £25, £30, £35, respectively, on the basis that income tax was reduced by 6d. and 1s. in the £1, respectively.

On an annual basis, nil, 11s., £5 12s., £10 13s. and £15 14s. for a 6d. reduction in the standard rate, and roughly double these amounts for a reduction of Is.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the cost of changing the standard rate of income tax by 6d. with no change in the reduced rate.

About £180 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will give an estimate of the cost of changing the reduced 6s. rate of income tax by 6d., with no change in the standard rate.

About £135 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to reintroduce the liability of sick- ness and unemployment benefits to income tax.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of changing the standard rate of income tax by 6d. with a proportionate change in the reduced rate.

About £280 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will give an estimate of the marginal savings ratio out of the income left in the hands of individuals on the basis of reducing by 10 per cent. the rates of surtax;(2) if he will give an estimate of the marginal savings ratio out of the income left in the hands of individuals on the basis of making a reduction of 6d. in the standard rate of income tax with a proportionate change in the reduced rate;(3) if he will give an estimate of the marginal savings ratio out of the income left in the hands of individuals on the basis of increasing the single and married allowances by 10 per cent;(4) if he will give an estimate of the marginal savings ratio out of the income left in the hands of individuals on the basis of abolishing earned income relief and consolidating tax rates at the present earned income rates.

Income tax and surtax changes of the kind postulated will have varying effects on the distribution of disposable income among the various classes of taxpayers and the marginal savings ratio applicable to each change will vary accordingly. I am not prepared to give an estimate which must therefore necessarily be highly uncertain.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of increasing the single person's personal allowance against income tax by £25 10s. per annum, with an increase of £37 10s. in the married allowance.

About £295 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of putting a ceiling on the combined rate of income tax and surtax of 15s., with no other change in tax rates.

If the top rate of surtax were limited to 6s. 9d. the cost would be about £30 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of putting a ceiling on the combined rate of income tax and surtax of 12s. 6d., with no other changes in tax rates.

if the top rate of surtax were limited to 4s. 3d. the cost would be about £80 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is prepared to consider representations about his proposals for restricting concessions at present available to occupational pension schemes in respect of taxation before introducing legislation.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent instructions have been issued to customs officers regarding the personal importation of obscene books and similar articles by passengers returning from abroad.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Mr. Bishop) on 9th March.—[Vol. 797, c. 250]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the clearances from bond of imported high strength wines in 1969 were 8·7 per cent. down on 1968, and that clearances from Portugal were down 11·7 per cent.; and whether he will undertake to make a detailed examination of these reductions before deciding upon his Budget policy with regard to customs duties on wines.

The actual figures which are not quite as stated in the Question, will be taken into account together with all other factors relevant to the wine duties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring up to date the figures given in Nationalised Industries, a Review of Economic and Financial Objectives, showing their net income as a percentage of their average net assets; and if he will provide figures for years prior to 1955–56.

With permission, I will circulate figures for 1967–68 and 1968–69 in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Figures for years prior to 1955–56 are not available on the same basis.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the decline in acreage of blackcurrants, and that this decline is closely parallel with the increases in purchase tax on some blackcurrant juices; and if he will review both the level and the incidence of that tax.

My right hon. Friend has received representations on this subject and will bear them in mind in his review of taxation before the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why British subjects are allowed to deal in stocks and shares of public companies in the illegal Republic of Rhodesia and to profit from same; why stockbrokers are allowed to quote and deal in such stocks and shares; and whether he will take steps to prevent these and any other British citizen from benefiting from the illegal régime in Rhodesia.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to a similar Question by him on 9th March, 1970. The question of British citizens benefiting in these circumstances from the illegal régime does not arise.—[Vol. 797, c. 247.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the purpose of the dissemination with notices of tax coding of the Inland Revenue leaflet, tax rates on pay and overtime, being a summary of percentage rates on an average basis.

To help remove taxpayers' misunderstandings about the true rates of income tax on earned income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that negotiations for entry into the Common Market will not be concluded without a plan for safeguarding pensions and social service benefits of those who are financially aided by the State against the foreshadowed rise in the cost of living, and without a scheme having been devised to protect those living on small fixed incomes and who are not in any way indebted for finance to the State.

We shall ensure that social benefits are adjusted to protect pensioners and others from the adverse effects of food price increases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for interim payments to be made forthwith to Mr. Purvis and Mr. Munson, both of Colchester, with respect to their find of treasure trove in that borough on 13th February, 1969.

An offer of interim rewards has now been made in respect of a small selection of coins which the British Museum wishes to retain.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the value of additional funds loaned in the form of overdraft to industry by the banks on 1st January, 1969, and subsequently during 1969, which have been transferred to fixed interest debenture, and other stock including equity, by 1st January, 1970; and what was the additional sum made available by this means for loans to industry within the ceiling set by him.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has now made of the level of domestic credit expansion for the private and public sectors in the year ending 31st March, 1970.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is now his estimate of the basic balance of payments surplus during the current financial year.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Robert Sheldon).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the net income, including family allowances, after payment of income tax and surtax, National Insurance and graduated pension contributions, of an employed man whose gross income was at the following levels for 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69 and 1967–70, namely, £320, £520, £720, £1,000, £2,000, £3,000, £4,000, £5,000, £10,000,

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the value of Great Britain's net sterling external liabilities at 31st December, 1969 compares with the corresponding figure for each of the previous 10 years.

This information is given in the February, 1970 issue of "Economic Trends", page 40 for the years 1964 to 1969, and for earlier years in the United Kingdom Balance of Payments "Pink Book", 1969, Table 31.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the net inflow and outflow of funds from overseas into this country in each of the last 12 quarters.

Quarterly figures for the long-term capital account and for monetary movements for a number of years past will be published as usual in Economic Trends towards the end of March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate

The figures are as follows:the cost of giving a 35s. family allowance to all children, on the basis that the whole allowance for all children were clawed back by means of a reduction in the children's allowances against income tax designed to leave the standard rate taxpayer, with earned income relief, unaffected.

I am not quite sure what the hon. Member has in mind. But if he means that there would be a reduction in parents' tax allowances, such that standard rate taxpayers would be deprived of all benefit from family allowances, and would lose the net benefit they now receive, the extra tax charged would roughly equal the increase in the gross cost of family allowances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the cost of increasing the family allowance to 35s. for the second and subsequent child, clawing the increase back precisely for the standard rate taxpayer, with earned income relief, by means of a reduction in the child allowances;(2) if he will estimate the cost of giving a 35s. family allowance to all children, including the first, clawing the increase back, and the whole of it in the case of the family allowance for the first child, by means of a reduction in children's allowances, in such a way as to leave the standard rate taxpayer, with earned income relief, unaffected financially.

About £40 million and about £115 million for 1969–70 for Great Britain, disregarding consequential changes in other social security benefits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the yield of exercising the regulator by 10 per cent. in the case of duty on alcohol, duty on oil, duty on tobacco, purchase tax, and all the duties to which the regulator may apply, respectively.

About £300 million a year in all.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the average national weekly wage in 1965 and 1969, respectively, and of the average weekly expenditure on domestic rates in shillings and as a percentage of weekly wage, respectively.

Figures of average weekly expenditure on domestic rates are not available on a basis comparable with average weekly wages. For households co-operating in the Family Expenditure Survey, average weekly earnings in 1965 from wages, salaries and self-employment were £20 2s. per household and average weekly expenditure on domestic rates 12s., or 3·1 per cent. of average earnings. The corresponding figures for the year ended June, 1969, the latest period for which information is available, were £25 6s., 15s. and 3·0 per cent. respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage of accidents during the hours of darkness occur to vehicles parked in side roads without lights.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish statistical information available to him from international sources showing, for those countries where it is obligatory for motorists to carry advance warning triangles, the effect on road safety of this requirement.

No such information is available.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will implement his decision to raise the speed limit for trailer caravans.

Draft regulations to give effect to this and some other changes in speed limits, with associated rules to make driving of certain vehicle/trailer combinations safer, will shortly be circulated for comment.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will bring up to date the figures for the loss on unremunerative services incurred by the Tillings and Scottish Bus Groups which were given for 1958 on page 44 of the Report of the Committee on Rural Bus Services.

Figures are not readily available but I am writing to my hon. Friend today.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that Statutory Instrument No. 1487, Road Traffic, The Traffic Signs (Speed Limits) Regulations and General Directions 1969, together with the Minister's Circular in connection with this Statutory Instrument, were not received by Kendal Borough Council in November; and what steps are being taken to ensure that all local authorities are informed in similar circumstances.

I am aware that Kendal Borough Council did not receive copies of this Statutory Instrument and Circular. It is not a speed limit order-making authority and was not, therefore, on the Department's distribution list at that time. I am, however making arrangements for all future circulars on speed limit signs to be sent to agent authorities which are not order-making authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to amend the Transport (London) Act 1969 so as to place a statutory obligation on the Greater London Council to discuss with the London borough councils matters falling within the policy and financial framework which the London Municipal Transport Organisation is compelled to operate by the Greater London Council, and particularly the operation of Section 40 of that Act.

I am not aware of any refusal by the G.L.C. to discuss with the London boroughs issues under Section 40 of the Transport (London) Act 1969. I would certainly regret anything which delays the provision of travel concessions for the elderly when the responsible borough council wishes to give this facility to its senior citizens.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to exempt greenhouses erected in private gardens from calculations to assess domestic rateable value.

My right hon. Friend has no plans for such exemption but he will see that the situation is examined as part of his present review of local government finance.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to exempt from rating assessment central heating apparatus when installed in houses in smokeless zones.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will exempt central heating from rating when installed in houses in smokeless zones.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bebington (Mr. Brooks) on 16th December. I see no reason for distinguishing between central heating installations for rating purposes according to where or why they have been installed. There are other ways of complying with the requirements of the Clean Air Act.—[Vol. 793, c. 268.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether all the owners and occupiers of property in the borough of Mal-don listed as Grade II in his Department's supplementary list have been advised.

All owners and occupiers of Grade II buildings in Maldon were notified when their buildings were listed in 1951 and 1969. A revised statutory list is being prepared and owners and occupiers of any buildings added to it will be notified when it is issued.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to receive the desk study of the Wash Barrage; and what progress is being made in the consideration of the barrage proposals for Morecambe Bay and the Dee.

I hope to receive the Water Resources Board's report on the Wash desk study this summer. Its full feasibility of the Morecambe Bay barrage scheme will be completed about the beginning of 1971 and I expect its assessment of it later in that year.Preliminary engineering studies, completed in 1967, showed that a multi-purpose Dee crossing project was feasible. Further studies are in progress to establish the best place for a crossing and to determine its likely effect on both sides of the estuary. These should be completed early next year and this spring, respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made in releasing land in the Outer Metropolitan Area to meet the Government's target of 35,000 extra homes a year.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Costain) on 3rd February.— [Vol. 795, c. 195.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now announce his decision whether or not to allow the new potash developments to proceed at Hawsker and Stainsacre.

I hope to announce my decisions shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will ascertain when Phase 1 of the renovation of the Curzon Crescent Estate, Willesden, is due to commence before considering any application for grant.

The information is not at present available but I am making inquiries.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to exempt from rating assessments for a period of 10 years all improvements carried out to private owner-occupied or rented property up to a maximum value of £1,000.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 16th December, 1969, to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bebington (Mr. Brooks).—[Vol. 793, c. 268.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether Her Majesty's Government accepts Recommendation No. 588 on the development of sport for all and the creation of co-ordinating structures which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th January, 1970; and whether they will comply with paragraph 6 of the recommendation.

It is the aim of Her Majesty's Government to achieve the most fruitful co-operation between voluntary and statutory effort, so that the greatest possible opportunities are provided for members of the community to enjoy the form of sport or physical recreation in which they are interested.National co-ordinating machinery is already provided by the Sports Council, the Regional Sports Councils and the Central Council of Physical Recreation.On the question of European coordination Her Majesty's Government will be considering any recommendations which may result from the symposium on "Sport for All" in September next.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the average weekly increase in council house rents needed for existing dwellings in shillings on the basis that housing subsidies to Plymouth Borough Council are abolished excepting old people's accommodation; and what is the estimated weekly increase needed to offset the subsidy on dwellings under construction at 1st January, 1970.

In the light of information provided by the council I estimate that the cost to Plymouth County Borough Council of abolishing housing subsidies for existing dwellings, excepting old people's accommodation, would, in 1969–70, be equivalent to an average increase in council house rents of about 12s. a week.If subsidies were withdrawn from dwellings under construction on 1st January, 1970, the cost might be equivalent to rent increases in the range 50s. to 70s. a week if applied only to the rents of those dwellings, or in the range 2s. to 3s. a week if pooled over the whole of the authority's housing stock.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the average weekly increase in council house rents needed for existing dwellings, in shillings, on the basis that housing subsidies to Wolverhampton County Borough Council are abolished excepting old people's accommodation; and what is the estimated weekly increase needed to offset the subsidy on dwellings under construction at 1st January, 1970.

I estimate that the cost to Wolverhampton County Borough Council of abolishing housing subsidies for existing dwellings, excepting old peoples' accommodation, would, in 1969–70, be equivalent to an average increase in council house rents of about 10s. a week.If subsidies were withdrawn from dwellings under construction on 1st January, 1970, the cost might be equivalent to rent increases in the range of 55s. to 75s. a week if applied only to the rents of those dwellings, or in the range 5s. to 7s. a week if pooled over the whole of the authority's housing stock.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many colliery tips in Durham and Northumberland counties have been removed, or otherwise cleared, and the acreage of land reclaimed with the assistance of public funds; at what costs; and how many such tips remain to be removed.

Since 1960, 40 schemes for the reclamation of colliery tips in Durham and Northumberland affecting 1,043 acres at a cost of £1,220,000 have been completed by local authorities with the aid of Government grants. The bulk of this work has been carried out since the passing of the Industrial Development Act, 1966. 265 tips remain, in the two counties of which 46 are in active use.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what rep- resentations he has received concerning the proposals by the mineral valuers to impose rating assessments on the operation of shale tips; and if he will take steps to reduce the level of rating to such as can be carried within increased volume of production without harmful effects on commercial sales and employment.

My right hon. Friend has received representations on behalf of the North East Development Council, the National Coal Board, the Durham and Northumberland Shale Contractors' Association, and the National Union of Mineworkers. These representations are being considered and a decision will be announced as soon as possible. Any change in the present position would require legislation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what effect he estimates that the burning off to atmosphere of coke oven gas, resulting from failure to find alternative markets for gas displaced by North Sea gas, will have on the environment.

I am informed that burning off may prove unnecessary. Nevertheless the Alkali Inspectorate are discussing with the industry the best ways of dealing with the problems that might arise. I am advised that there need be little or no adverse effect upon the environment.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on how many occasions between 1955 and 1970 were representations made by local authorities and their associations concerning local government finance and Exchequer subsidies; on how many occasions they expressed satisfaction, demanded changes or sought larger subsidies, respectively; and what response was made by way of changed means of raising local finance or of changed housing subsidies.

This information is not available and the cost of extracting it would be unreasonable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to give shareholders the right to contract out from participating in the financial support given by companies to political and charitable organisations if they so wish.

I do not think that it would be practicable to give shareholders the right to contract out.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive the Report of the Crowther Inquiry into credit control; and if he will take interim action to lessen the impact of selective forms of credit control such as hire-purchase restrictions.

We expect to receive the Crowther Comittee's report within the next six months. It would be premature to ease hire-purchase controls at this stage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation about the need for more effective international arrangements to determine responsibility for loss of life at sea, in view of the inadequacy of the inquiry held in Piraeus concerning the loss of the Greek-manned Liberian flag steamship 'Irene'.

None. Investigation of a casualty to a ship can be undertaken effectively only by the Administration having jurisdiction over the ship. The Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation has recommended that flag states should allow other states affected to participate in such investigations, and the Board of Trade was given full facilities to take part in the inquiry held in Piraeus. The purpose of this inquiry was not to determine responsibility for the loss of life on the Longhope lifeboat.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the annual cost to his Department of the British National Export Council.

In the current financial year, the grant in aid to the British National Export Council is £950,000. In addition, the missions scheme administered by B.N.E.C. on behalf of the Board of Trade will cost £550,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what savings are achieved by his Department as a result of approving the sharing of offices and administrative expenses between the South African Committee of the British National Export Council and the United Kingdom South African Trade Association;(2) if he will reduce the grant payable to the British National Export Council until the council ceases to share offices with the United Kingdom South African Trade Association, in view of the Zambian Government's concern expressed to him regarding these matters.

Until very recently, the British National Export Council and the United Kingdom South African Trade Association occupied adjacent rooms and there was a certain amount of administrative co-operation.The council does not and never has, actually shared accommodation with U.K.S.A.T.A.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in the light of the Zambian Government's representations about the political activities of the United Kingdom South African Trade Association, made on 14th January, 1970, he will order an official investigation into the affairs of the latter body.

I am not aware of any grounds for inquiry into the affairs of the association, at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in the light of the political and public relations activities of the United Kingdom South African Trade Association, he will strengthen his Department's surveillance of the embargo on arms sales to South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the existing arrangements, which are operated in conjunction with the other interested Departments, are fully effective in ensuring compliance with the Government's declared policy on the embargo on arms exports to South Africa.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations were made to his Department by the Zambian Government which related to the actions in Great Britain of representatives of the South African Government and the United Kingdom South African Trade Association; what reply he made; and if he will make a statement.

None, but I understand that the Zambian High Commission made representations on this subject to the Chairman of Barclays Bank D.C.O.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many cars were exported to South American countries in 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969.

Following is the information—

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much public money was made available to the British National Export Council during 1969; how many overseas trade missions were assisted by the council; and what is his estimate of the appropriate value of exports resulting from these visits.

In the current financial year, the grant in aid to the British National Export Council is £950,000. Additionally, the missions scheme administered by B.N.E.C. on behalf of the Board of Trade will cost £550,000. So far during this period B.N.E.C. has given assistance to 215 outward trade missions. It is not possible to estimate the value of exports resulting from these missions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide the hon. Member for Arundel and Shoreham with a copy of his Department's recent survey into the future of air transport in the South and West, in which it is laid down that no airport is likely to be developed on any existing West Sussex airfield or aerodrome, or on any new site in the county.

No such survey has been made by the Board of Trade. A survey into the airport requirements of South Hampshire has been commissioned by the South Hampshire Plan Advisory Committee, with financial support from the Board of Trade, and is currently being undertaken by aviation consultants. The consultants' final report is expected shortly.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) whether he will take steps to extend the scope and powers of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration;(2) whether he will seek powers to allow the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration to initiate inquiries on the receipt of information or on his own initiative;(3) whether he will consult with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration regarding possible spheres for extending the commissioner's powers.

The Government have no plans at present for extending the Parliamentary Commissioner's powers, though it is considering the Report of the Select Committee and consultations are proceeding about the possibility of setting up commissioners for local government and for the health service.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he has altered the basis on which agreement is reached on he Annual Price Review to one of negotiation, in view of the previous practice of consultation.

There have been no changes in the Annual Review arrangements.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what are the latest relative comparative figures for Derbyshire County Council, Staffordshire County Council, Durham County Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, and also the national average figures for all county councils, with regard to the cost of teachers' salaries per pupil in primary schools and secondary schools, respectively;(2) what are the latest relative comparative figures for Derbyshire County Council, Staffordshire County Council, Durham County Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, and also the national average figures for all county councils, with regard to the cost per pupil of repairs and maintenance expenditure on primary schools and secondary schools, respectively;(3) what are the latest relative comparative figures for Derbyshire County Council, Staffordshire County Council, Durham County Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, and also the national average figures for all county councils, with regard to the total expenditure on a cost per pupil basis of repairs, books, furniture and fittings, educational equipment and school stationery for primary schools and for secondary schools, respectively.(4) what are the latest relative comparative figures for Derbyshire County Council, Staffordshire County Council, Durham County Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, and also the national average figures for all county councils, with regard to the costs per pupil of transport for primary schools and for secondary schools, respectively.(5) what are the latest relative comparative figures for Derbyshire County Council, Staffordshire County Council, Durham County Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, and also the national average figures for all county

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the latest relative comparative figures for Derbyshire County Council. Staffordshire County Council, Durham County Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, and also the national average figure for all county councils, with regard to their expenditure per 1,000 of population in each year from 1960 to 1969.

This information is available for 1968–69 in "Education Statistics 1968–69" of which a copy has been sent to my hon. Friend. Corresponding information for the earlier years

All this information can be found in "Education Statistics 1968–69" published by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants and the Society of County Treasurers a copy of which has been sent to my hon. Friend by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the latest relative comparative figures for Derbyshire County Council, Staffordshire County Council, Durham County Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, and also the national average figures for all county councils, with regard to the expenditure each county council makes from rates and rate support grant on a 1d. rate product and adjusted for resources element, respectively.

The estimated figures for 1969–70 which have been supplied by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government are as follows:is to be found in previous volumes of the publication, copies of which are in the library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will obtain from local education authorities the figures of pupils in maintained primary and secondary schools who, or one or both of whose parents, were born in the new Commonwealth, irrespective of whether they entered the United Kingdom within the previous 10 years, in order to provide figures on a comparable basis with those of the Registrar General for births.

I am considering the form in which future statistics of immigrant pupils should be collected, in the light of the Government's comments (Comnd. 4268) on the relevant recommendation of the Select Committee on Race Relations and Immigration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to which of the boards and committees to which he appoints members other than civil servants he has appointed women members; and how many in each case.

The following list shows the boards and committees to which I have appointed women members and the number of such members:—