asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many letters he has received on the subject of nuisance caused to people from factory farming practices in the last year.

Since 1st April, 1969, fifteen letters about nuisance alleged to be caused by intensive farming practices have been received by my Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive the Report of the Waterhouse Committee; and how soon after its receipt he will make a statement about quarantine arrangements for dogs imported from abroad.

On the first point, there is nothing that I can yet add to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the right hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Godber) on 25th March. On the second, a statement on the Committee's recommendations will be made as soon as the Committee's Report has been received.— [Vol. 798, c. 420–1.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many less civil servants will be required by his Department as a result of the changes in the sampling arrangements for the Agricultural Census Returns, details of which were sent to some farmers in March.

The main purpose of these proposals is to reduce form-filling for the majority of farmers. There will be some consequential reduction of time spent by the Department's staff in processing the returns.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will have an interim Price Review later this year to deal with the rise in costs.

There is provision for holding a special Review if circumstances require it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to review the machinery on presentation of the Price Review.

I am always prepared to look at constructive suggestions for improvements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made to him about increases in costs to farmers since the Price Review; and what is his estimate of the total additional cost to date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much costs have increased for Review commodities since 19th March, 1970.

I have received a number of representations about cost increases subsequent to those shown in the Annual Review White Paper. An estimate of these changes for guaranteed commodities in conventional Review terms would give a net increase of some £ 8 million in a full year. However, this estimate cannot be related directly to the value of the determinations at the 1970 Review; nor does it reflect the actual effect on farm incomes

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now refer the 1970 Price Review to the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and if he will make a statement.

There is no question of referring to the Board the Government's determinations in the 1970 Review, which were made after a full examination of all the relevant data. The possibility of some general appraisal of trends and developments and certain other suggestions arising out of discussions with the presidents of the three unions are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on an increase in the dog licence fee; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

On various occasions my right hon. Friend has been asked to raise the licence fee, to keep it as it is, and to abolish it. It has been represented that an increased fee would reduce the problems associated with stray dogs or dogs allowed to roam free by irresponsible owners. Whether an increase in the fee would solve these problems or even contribute to their solution is a matter of conjecture.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the Eire Government banned the import of raw tomatoes from 25th April; and what representations he has made about this breach of Article 6 of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement.

The import of United Kingdom tomatoes into the Republic of Ireland is not banned. During the Republic's import control period which began this year on 25th April, 1,000 tons may be imported. This limitation is not in breach of the Agreements relating to the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total tonnage of fertiliser qualifying for subsidy which has been ordered and delivered between 1st June, 1969, and 19th March, 1970.

It is estimated that 2¾ to 3 million product tons of fertilisers were delivered to farmers between 1st June, 1969, and 18th March, 1970.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what per- mission has been given to industrial firms in the past to dump chlorinated hydrocarbon residues in the sea; what is his policy in the future in view of the established effect on marine life; and what studies he is undertaking on the problems of control, depth of water, ocean currents, solubility and concentration associated with these residues.

Under the voluntary arrangements operated by my Department agreement has been given to dump in very deep waters small quantities of these residues sealed in containers. All applications are very carefully examined to ensure that the disposal arrangements will not cause human or biological hazards and we intend that these detailed procedures should continue. In addition to advising on specific applications for dumping, scientists of my Department are continually studying the effects of these substances on marine life, including matters such as the rate of dispersal in the sea.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider withholding subsidy from any farmer who burns his straw at harvest, instead of gathering and storing it, in view of the fact that straw is now priced at £ 10 per ton.

No. This is a matter for individual farmers and it would not be appropriate for the Government to intervene.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to increase the price for milk for manufacture.

The increase in the guaranteed price of milk at the Annual Review applies to a considerable quantity of milk for manufacture which falls within the standard quantity. For the rest, butter prices are maintained by import quotas, which for 1970–71 are the second lowest since 1963–64. Cheese prices are stabilised by restaint of supplies from overseas to an agreed quantity which for 1970–71 will be slightly lower than the average of the quantities agreed for the last two years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is now taking to revise the declining numbers in the dairy herd in view of the fact that its size and the level of calf retentions is the main factor in the production of extra beef.

We certainly want more beef from both beef and dairy herds. The Government were aware of the decline in the dairy herd, but although the March returns for England and Wales confirm a small decline in the number of dairy cows, the number of dairy heifers in calf is at the highest level for March since 1962, indicating the potential for further expansion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers have left agriculture in the South-West Region since 1964.

I have no information on the number of farmers who have left the industry, but between June, 1964 and June, 1969 the number of holdings in the South-West Region in the Agricultural Cenusus fell by about 13,000. Within that total, some 8,000 holdings were excluded from the Census in 1968 because the agricultural production from them was not significant.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers have given up producing milk since 1964.

The number of registered milk producers in the United Kingdom fell from 130,539 in March, 1964 to 100,617 in March, 1970. During the period the number of cows rose from 3,247,000 in 1963–64 to 3,275,000 in 1969–70.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to improve the economy of upland farms.

Upland farmers will benefit from the increases in hill cow and beef cow subsidies, and the higher guaranteed prices for fat cattle and sheep. The increases in the rates of capital grants will also encourage investment and improve the economy of the upland areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when incentive payments will start to be made to dairy herds which are accredited under the Brucellosis Eradication Scheme.

Payments to accredited dairy herd owners who elected to transfer to the new scheme will be retrospective to 1st April or to the first month following registration whichever is later.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the increase in returns to a producer of bacon pigs as a result of the increase in guarantee price for pigs announced in the 1970 Price Review.

Returns on pigs sold by bacon pig contract rose by about Is. per score at the beginning of April when the new higher guaranteed price came into effect.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with the Food Manufacturers' Association to discuss the Government's early warning system to prevent impending food prices; and to what extent the Association have agreed to co-operate with the Government in their endeavours.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given today to the hon. Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge (Mr. Stainton).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the rents of tenant farmers have been increasing rapidly and consistently over many years; and whether he will seek to amend Section 2 of the 1958 Agriculture Act to deal with this situation.

In recent years rents per acre in England and Wales have risen by about 7 per cent. a year. The legislation relating to agricultural holdings in England and Wales is at present under review, in consultation with the industry, and it would not be appropriate for me to anticipate the outcome.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement about his policy in connection with agricultural tied cottages.

The effect of the amendment made to Clause 99 of the Agriculture Bill on 5th May would be to weaken the protection given by Clause 99 to occupants of agricultural tied cottages. The Government propose on Commons' consideration of Lords' amendments to move a further amendment restoring that protection in its original form.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about plans for introducing the metric system in the agricultural and horticultural industry.

My right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales, and I have welcomed the steps taken by the National Farmers' Unions to set up a Metrication Group as the main planning body for metrication in agriculture and horticulture and to establish a timetable for the change. We are participating in the work of this group which is in close touch with work being done in related industries. The efforts of the group will continue to have our full encouragement and support.In their report published today, the Metrication Board have suggested that a target of 1972–73 should be used for planning purposes in agriculture and horticulture while recognising that some of the necessary changes may extend beyond this two year span into 1974. We agree with this suggestion and we understand that it has been endorsed by the Unions' Metrication Group.We for our part are planning on the basis that, subject to consultation with all the interests concerned, the information published in the 1973 Annual Review White Paper and the guaranteed prices determined for the year 1973–74 should be expressed in metric terms.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will make a further statement about the availability of photocopying machines to hon. Members in the House of Commons.

Photocopying machines are available for the use of Members in the Sale Office, Westminster Hall Annexe, Nos. 6 and 7, Old Palace Yard and No. 2, The Abbey Garden. Further machines are also available to Members in the Fees Office, the Public Bill Office and the Library when not in use by these Departments.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will make available to members of the public visiting the Public Gallery copies of Bills under discussion, together with any relevant amendments which may be under discussion.

I am looking into this possibility, and hope to submit proposals to the Services Committee shortly after the Whitsun Recess.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will move to appoint a Select Committee to consider any police and military arrangements that may be necessary to deal with the proposed South African cricket tour.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland' if he will estimate the percentage loss of timber production during the winter months in Forestry Commission woodlands during each of the last two years due to British Standard Time.

No precise estimate can be made, but the loss in timber production is not thought to be significant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of hepatitis have occurred in the Western General Hospital and the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, this year; whether the cause of them has been determined; and what action is being taken to prevent any recurrence.

Fifteen cases of viral hepatitis have occurred in 1970 in the Medical Renal Unit at the Royal Infirmary and four in the Nuffield Transplantation Unit at the Western General Hospital. Three of the cases in each hospital were members of staff.It has not so far been possible to establish precisely the origin of the current outbreak in these hospitals or the mode of infection in every case.Procedures for handling potentially infected material have been reviewed and reinforced. Every case is being intensively followed up to try to trace the origin and route of infection. Contacts of cases have been given gamma globulin as a prophylactic measure. In addition, the South-Eastern Regional Hospital Board is establishing a professional working party under a distinguished microbiologist to examine and advise urgently on current procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average annual subsidy in 1969 for each local authority house, paid from central Government sources and from local rates, respectively; and what was the average annual rent.

In 1969–70 Government subsidies represented about £34 per house and, in 1968–69, rate subsidies about £50 per house, in each case averaged over all council houses. The average standard rent of council houses in November, 1969, was £65.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what acreage of sugar beet has this year been planted by growers having contracts with the British Sugar Corporation Cupar factory; and how many farmers are this year growing sugar beet for the Cupar factory.

13,839 acres have been planted by 564 growers this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure continued public access to the Cairngorm mountains; and if he will make a statement.

Agreement has been reached for the sale by the Forestry Commission of the area of Cairngorm above the tree line to the Highlands and Islands Development Board. The board is already working closely and successfully with the Cairngorm Sports Development Board on the development of sports facilities in the area and, with the ownership in its hands, it will be better able to continue this work in co-operation with the Sports Development Board to the benefit of the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement about the future of the local authority fee-paying and selective schools in Scotland.

In January of this year, I informed Edinburgh and Glasgow local education authorities that with the abolition of fee-paying from 1st August, 1970, I considered that the existing special arrangements for the admission of children to their fee-paying selective schools should be discontinued. Both authorities were asked to submit revised arrangements for the admission of children to these schools. It is clear from the answers I have received that the authorities intend to continue to exclude the schools concerned from their normal pattern of school provision. In particular the schools are not to be included in the schemes of secondary reorganisation on comprehensive lines which have been adopted for the rest of their areas. As I have already made clear, I see no justification for the continuation of these special arrangements. I therefore intend to introduce legislation to give me specific statutory powers to require an education authority to submit plans for the reorganisation of their schools on a non-selective basis and to require that plans submitted should include proposals for all schools— both primary and secondary— under the authority's management. The legislation will also include such additional powers as I consider necessary to meet the main purpose I have stated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to send a representative to the West European Fishing Conference in Aberdeen in September of this year.

This is a private gathering of representatives of trawler owners and the question of my being represented does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now obtain any records of the total amount of unpaid fines outstanding in Scotland.

The work involved in producing this total would be disproportionate to its value.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that the total school-building allocations for the 1970 to 1972 period will enable local education authorities to complete the buildings required for the raising of the school-leaving age; and if he will make a statement.

The full effect of the raising of the school leaving age will not be felt until session 1973–74. While the building of most of the remaining accommodation required will have to start before March, 1972, some can start after that and be ready in time. The allocations for the periods involved will enable authorities to do the work required.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further discussions he has had with the agricultural and transport industries concerning the haulage of livestock in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Officials of my Department and the Ministry of Transport met representatives of farming, auctioneering and road haulage interests on 11th May. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and I will study the reports of that meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details for each of the past 16 years to the nearest convenient date of the number of persons convicted of murder in Scotland who were released from prison, stating how long each one had been in prison.

I refer to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 7th May. In addition, two prisoners were released in 1954, one after 4 years 8 months and one after 8 years 9 months; and one has been released since 7th May, after 11 years 8 months.— [Vol. 801, c. 177–8]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when steps will be taken to review the scheme of designation of schools of teacher shortage.

The present designation scheme covers the period of three years to 31st March, 1971. I intend within the next few months to submit proposals to the Scottish Teachers Salaries Committee for the period from 1st April, 1971.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the meeting of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Committee on Shipping, held at Geneva from 20th April to 1st May.

The recent meeting of the Committee on Shipping considered various matters including expansion of and protection for the merchant marines of developing countries, liner conference practices, and the level and structure of liner freight rates. Six resolutions were adopted unanimously and one by majority vote.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of exports of footwear in 1969, 1967 and 1965 to the United States of America and to other countries, respectively.

In 1965, 1967 and 1969 respectively, £ 3·5 million, £ 4·4 million and £ 9.2 million to the U.S.A., and £ 11·7 million, £ 15·5 million and £ 24·4 million to other countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the numbers of new company registrations in the years 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970 to date, and the numbers of bankruptcies in the same year.

		New company registrations	Compulsory and creditors' voluntary liquidations
1964		48,315	2,203
1965		36,315	2,727
1966		28,256	3,410
1967		31,292	3,715
1968		20,654	3,290
1969		25,154	3,672
1970 (1st quarter)		6,926	1,028

The numbers of bankruptcies for the years 1964 to 1968 are given in the Bankruptcy General Annual Report for 1968.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if Her Majesty's Government intend to ratify the International Convention of Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, signed under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation at Brussels in November, 1969.

Yes, we intend to ratify this Convention, which was signed by 19 States including the United Kingdom, and copies of which have been placed in the Library. It provides a considerable improvement in the legal position of the claimant in the event of marine oil pollution damage. Though it contains some undesirable features, which we will seek to avoid in any future conventions on similar topics, I believe these are outweighed by the overall advantage to the United Kingdom in this case. The necessary legislation will accordingly be prepared as soon as possible. I sincerely hope that other countries, and especially the tanker-owning countries, will follow our lead and signify their intention to ratify this Convention.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he first informed Cammell Lairds of the possibility of a decision to place no further contracts for nuclear propelled warships with them; and what account he took of the unbalancing of the work of the yard, and the effect on employment there.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he informed Cammell Laird and Vickers, respectively, of his decision to concentrate all building of Fleet nuclear submarines at the latter yard.

The decision was notified to Cammell Lairds in February, 1968, some three years before the last contract was due to be completed. They were also assured that they would continue to be invited to tender for other naval orders within their capability. As indicated in my reply of the 11th March, 1969, to my hon. Friend the Member for Bebington (Mr. Brooks) the decision was not communicated formally to Vickers.— [Vol. 779, c. 261.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action has been taken by the forces in Ulster to apprehend and hand over to the civil authorities those who have conspired to procure the recent riots in Ulster.

The Regular Army and the Ulster Defence Regiment co-operate with the Police in Northern Ireland in every way possible, in particular by close intelligence liaison, joint patrols, road checks and the arrest of suspects.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much he estimates all-year round British Standard Time has added to the costs of his Department during the winter months.

Information on the extent of costs or savings is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the Polaris and Fleet submarines which have either been constructed, or are in process of completion, in British shipyards; and whether he will indicate the final cost of those completed, or the latest estimated cost of those under construction, in each case.

A list of Polaris submarines which have been accepted into H.M. Service with figures of final or estimated final cost is as follows:

			£ million
" Resolution "			40· 2
" Renown "			39· 5
" Repulse "			37· 5
" Revenge "			38· 6

For Fleet submarines, the list is as follows:

			£ million
" Dreadnought"			18· 5
" Valiant"			24· 9
" Warspite "			21· 5

The following Fleet submarines have not yet been accepted into H.M. Service,

and for this reason it is not the practice, on commercial grounds, to publish their final estimated cost:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present estimate of the cost of producing a Polaris submarine, less missiles, and the cost of producing the latest type of Fleet submarine armed with conventional weapons; how many of each type of submarine the Government intends to construct during the next five years; and what the total cost of this future programme will amount to.

The cost of the Royal Navy's four Polaris submarines, less missiles, but including first of class costs, has varied between £ 40·2 million and £ 37·5 million. There are no plans for procuring more of these boats. The estimated final cost of the latest Fleet submarine to be accepted into H.M. Service, Warspite, is £21·5 million. For commercial reasons, it is not customary to publish the estimated final cost of ships before they are ordered or while they are still under construction. Future Fleet submarines will be of the improved type announced in paragraph 22 of Chapter IV of the 1968 Statement on the Defence Estimates. An order for the ninth Fleet submarine is expected to be placed shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the increased industrial injury rate during the past year in Portsmouth Dockyard and on the consequent action being taken by his Department.

In H.M. Dockyard, Portsmouth in 1969 there were 552 accidents to industrial staff of which 411 can be classified as cuts, bruises and strains. This is an increase of 94 over the 1968 figure. This is thought to be only an apparent increase because minor accidents of the sort not previously reported are now being counted.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards the three electrical fitter drillers in Portsmouth Dockyard who have been on pay without work since April, 1969.

As I told the House on 27th February in reply to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Pink) this matter is being discussed with the trade unions who have previously objected to the re-employment of these men on other work which they were capable of undertaking. However, at a recent meeting between the Unions concerned and the local management it was agreed that fresh efforts should be made to find other suitable alternative work which would be acceptable to all concerned. It is still hoped that the problem will be finally resolved in productivity negotiations.— [Vol. 796, c. 423.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what allowance he made for the buoyancy of the revenue when he estimated that the yield of income tax and surtax would rise by 18 per cent. between 1969–70 and 1970–71 before Budget changes.

The estimates are based on a forecast of money incomes consistent with the forecasts in Table 4 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1970–71.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show the yield of income tax and surtax at each income level given in Table 62–5 of the Inland Revenue Statistics 1970, and compare it with the yield with the rates and allowances applicable in 1964–65 and 1967–68.

No, it is not customary to publish forecasts of incomes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table, of the sort needed by his Department to estimate the effect of tax changes on Exchequer revenue based on Tables 62–5 of the Inland Revenue Statistics 1970, showing the aggregate level of personal income in total and by type of income, by each slice of income in the effective graduations of the income tax and surtax scales.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates will be the level of money incomes in 1971–72 with present policies unchanged; and what yield of income tax will result in that year.

It is not customary to publish forecasts of the level of money incomes, nor forecasts of the yield of income tax beyond the current financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of consumers' expenditure in Blue Book categories and Family Expenditure Survey categories for 1970–71 and 1971–72 as a basis for the formulation of the Government's taxation policy.

The formulation of taxation policy takes account of trends in the pattern of consumers' expenditure in so far as they can be foreseen. It is not. however, the custom to publish detailed forward estimates of individual items of expenditure which must be subject to a wide margin of error.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department used to forecast prospects for consumers' expenditure in 1970 and the first half of 1971 for the effect of a £ 100 million change in domestic credit expansion; and what is his estimate of the effect of this on his estimate of the tax revenue in 1970–71.

The forecast for consumers' expenditure was not based on any direct relationship with domestic credit expansion, and the effect on the forecast of a change in domestic credit expansion would depend on how the change was brought about. Nor is there any necessary relationship between domestic credit expansion and tax revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the reconciliation for 1968 used by his Department for the detailed breakdown of consumers' expenditure as shown in Table 23 of the 1969 Blue Book with the different breakdown used in the 1968 Family Expenditure Survey when estimating the effect of his tax changes by family group and income size.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the detailed reconciliation between the schedule and yield of purchase tax as set out in the 1969 Customs and Excise Report with the detailed breakdown of consumers' expenditure and of family expenditure as used when his Department assesses the impact of purchase tax rate changes on different family groups and income levels.

No such reconciliation is necessary. The incidence of taxes on expenditure for different types of household and different income ranges is estimated directly from the detailed schedules of actual expenditure recorded by each household taking part in the Family Expenditure Survey.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of unemployment his Department assumed in estimating expenditure on social security at £ 1,005 million in 1970–71 as published in Table 2 on page 3 of Command Paper No. 4331; and what level of both his Department anticipates on the basis of unchanged policies in 1971–72.

The Supply Estimate for 1970–71 assumed unemployment of 550,000, as this was the level at which it stood when the estimate was prepared. My right hon. Friend will be considering with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Social Services, towards the end of this year the implications of the economic situation, as it then appears, for his estimates for 1971–72.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish tables similar to Tables 62 to 65 of the Inland Revenue Statistics 1970, showing, where relevant, distribution of incomes before tax in 1967–68 by numbers and range of total income between the limits £ 0–50, £ 50–100, £ 100–150, £ 150–175, £ 175–200, £ 200–225, £ 225–250 and £ 250–275.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a table showing levels and the percentage changes in public expenditure on housing, education, health and welfare and social security between 1959–60 and 1964–65, and between 1964–65 and 1969–70, excluding selective employment tax payments and the clawback on family allowances and adjusted for a constant level of unemployment, on any convenient consistent constant price basis, deflating current transfers where necessary by a measure of the decline in the purchasing power of money.

As I explained in reply to the hon. Member for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. Kenneth Lewis) on 25th March, there are technical difficulties involved in converting into constant prices the expenditure on individual programmes for financial years before 1964–65; but progress has been made in overcoming these difficulties. The figures, together with those for the years after 1964–65, will be sent to the hon. Member as soon as they are available.—[Vol. 798, c. 439–440.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a table showing public expenditure as analysed in Table 1.4 on page 16 of Command Paper No. 4234 for the years 1970–71 to 1973–74, and what his Department estimates will be the expenditure at current or outturn prices.

No information at constant prices later than that given in Table 1.4 and Table 1.6 of Cmnd. 4234 or at current or outturn prices, is available in this form.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a table showing public expenditure as analysed in Table 1.4 on page 16 of Command Paper No. 4234 at constant 1963 prices, for each financial year from 1959–60 to 1969–70 and as estimated for the years 1970–71 to 1973–74.

This information is not available at 1963 prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the table used by his Department when estimating the effect of changes in rates of selective employment tax payments on the output prices by minimum list headings of the Standard Industrial Classification calculated from the latest input output data.

It is not possible to estimate the effect of indirect taxation on output prices in this degree of detail.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish details of the assumptions made by his Department of the effect of selective employment tax changes on the final prices of expenditure by family expenditure survey category used when estimating the impact of Government policy by family group and income size.

It is not certain how far S.E.T. is passed on in the price of goods and services bought by particular family groups. For the purpose of relating taxation to family size and income distribution, it is necessary to use the conventional assumption that all indirect taxes are fully reflected in prices, but the allocation of S.E.T. on this basis is not a reliable guide to the actual incidence of the tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show the breakdown, by industry group, used by his Department of the forced loan element of selective employment tax at present outstanding; and what he estimates will be the detailed figures by industry group in 1970–71 and 1971–72 on the basis of present policies.

It is estimated that the amount of selective employment tax which manufacturing and other employers in the private sector have paid and for which they are waiting to claim refunds varies from about £ 125 million to about £ 200 million during the quarterly repayment cycle. I regret that it is not possible to break these figures down by industry groups. On the basis of current tax rates these limits are not liable to vary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the tables used by his Department showing selective employment tax payments, gross, and net of repayments, by industry group as defined in the minimum list headings of the Standard Industrial Classification.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate was used by his Department of total personal money incomes in 1970–71 to estimate the yield of income tax at £ 5,653 million for that year in Table 9 on page 19 of the Financial Statement.

It is not customary to disclose forecasts of personal money incomes. The estimates of the yield of tax are consistent with the national income forecasts in Table 4 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1970–71.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on tax revenue of¼ per cent. faster growth in gross domestic product,½ per cent., ¾ per cent., 1 per cent., and 2 per cent., respectively, between 1970–71 and 1972–73.

The total of tax revenue depends not only on the aggregate of the real gross domestic product but on the proportions of the elements which make up G.D.P. and on price movements. It is therefore not possible to give useful estimates of tax revenue on assumptions about the rate of growth of aggregate G.D.P. alone.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contribution to, or what call on Exchequer financing from, the Exchange Equalisation Account in 1970–71 his Department assumed when deciding the appropriate level of domestic credit expansion in that year.

It is not customary to publish forecasts of this item.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what levels of personal disposable income, consumer pries, real personal disposable income and personal savings his Department took into account when estimating the yield of purchase tax at £ 1,260 million in 1970–71 as shown in Table 9 on page 19 of the Financial Statement; and what levels he forecasts on the basis of no change in policy for 1971–72.

It is not the practice to publish details of the individual estimates referred to by the hon. Gentleman which are only a few among the many factors taken into account in estimating the yield of purchase tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give his estimated yield of purchase tax in 1970–71 and 1971–72 broken down by family expenditure survey category, and an estimate of what per cent. the tax on each item will represent of total expenditure on that item in each year.

No. I do not consider that the expenditure of time and money in making these estimates would be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show, for each financial year since 1965–66, the difference between the estimated and out-turn revenue from the individual taxes listed in Table 9 of the 1970–71 Financial Statement and Budget Report, and the total difference between estimated and out-turn recipts ignoring signs as a proportion of out-turn in each case.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Financial Statement for 1964–65 to 1968–69, the Financial Statements and Budget Reports for 1969–70 and 1970–71, and to the Reports of Commissioners of Customs and Excise and Commissioners of Inland Revenue for the year ended 31st March, 1969.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the table used by his Department in calculating the effects of assistance to investment showing the cost of initial allowances by industry group according to the minimum list headings of the Standard Industrial Classification in 1969–70; and what he estimates the cost will be in 1970–71 and 1971–72.

The information is not available in the detail requested. The estimated gross relief afforded by all initial allowances due on expenditure in the years 1969, 1970 and 1971 is £ 135 million, £ 155 million and £ 160 million respectively. These estimates take no account of the reduction in subsequent writing down allowances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish tables similar to Table 62–5 of the Inland Revenue Statistics 1970 showing the distribution of incomes before tax in 1967–68 by range of total net income between the limits of £ 10,000–£ 11,000, £ 11,000–£ 12,000, and so on by £ 1,000 jumps to £ 30,000 per annum, then by £ 2,000 jumps to £ 40,000, by £ 5,000 jumps to £ 60,000, and by £ 10,000 jumps to £100,000.

The information asked for could only be provided at the cost of disproportionate time and effort.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give comparable figures showing, by main programmes, the total increase in public expenditure between 1964–65 and 1969–70 proposed in the National Plan, the total cuts in that programme decided upon between the two years, and the actual increase over the period.

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the latest available figures for 1969–70 of the main programmes, individually and in total, on a basis comparable with the National Plan as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department estimates will be the scope for reducing

					£ million
	1960–61	1961–62	1962–63	1963–64	1964–65
Residuary Share of Reserved Taxation	81·9	90·6	94·8	108·7	125·1
Social Services Agreement Act 1949	7·0	6·8	7·0	7·0	9·0
Remoteness Grants, Agriculture Act 1957	1·1	0·9	1·1	1·5	0·8
Regional Employment Premium, Finance Act 1967	—	—	—	—	—
Total	90–0	98·3	102·9	117·2	134·9

					£million
	1965–66	1966–67	1967–68	1968–69	1969–70
Residuary Share of Reserved Taxation	138·0	151·1	171·3	194·8	226·9
Social Services Agreement Act 1949	9·5	10·3	10·3	19·4	16·0
Remoteness Grants, Agriculture Act 1957	1·3	1·6	1·8	1·7	1·7
Regional Employment Premium, Finance Act 1967	—	—	3·7	9·3	10·0
Total	148·8	163·0	187·1	225·2	254·6

The residuary share of reserved taxation is based on the taxation raised in Northern Ireland. Together with the revenue from transferred sources, it forms the bulk of the revenue of the Northern Ireland Exchequer and as such its allocation is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Government.The payments made under specific agreements however are related to objects set out in the relevant legislation.It may be noted that the National Insurance Fund for Northern Ireland also receives balancing transfers from the Great Britain Fund.

The Budget judgments for 1971 and 1972 will be made in the light of forecasts of the developing economic situation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contributions from the Exchequer were made to the Government of Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; how the sums were allocated; and what were the contributions for each of the years from 1960 to 1964, inclusive.

The following were the main payments made from the United Kingdom Consolidated Fund to the Government of Northern Ireland in each of the past 10 years:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the net medium- and short-term overseas debt position at the end of each quarter from 31st March, 1964 to 31st March, 1970, expressed in sterling and United States dollars broken down into the following categories, namely, all items in Table 3 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1970–71, borrowings from the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Ex-ImBank, and under the German Offset Agreement, the United Kingdom official reserves, and the loss of the dollar portfolio.

(a) Table 3 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1970–71 gives levels of short and medium term borrowing from the I.M.F. and other monetary authorities quarterly from

UNITED KINGDOM SHORT AND MEDIUM-TERM BORROWING*
			1964				1965
					Outstanding at end of
		March	June	September	December	March	June	September	December
$million	…	—	15	200	1,605	2,083	3,012	3,523	3,283
£ million.	…	—	5	71	573	744	1,075	1,258	1,172
* As defined in Table 3 of the 1970–71 Financial Statement and Budget Report.

(

asked the Minister of Technology if he will estimate the cost of investment grants, both gross and net of corporation tax, by industry group according to the minimum list headings of the Standard Industrial Classification in 1969-70; and what is his estimate of the cost in 1970–71 and 1971–72.

The gross cost in 1969–70 was £ 587 million; this will be analysed by industry groups in the Annual Report which will be presented later this year. Information on which to base an estimate of the cost, net of corporation tax, is not readily available. The estimate of the gross cost for 1970–71 is £ 600 million. The estimate for 1971–72 will be presented in the usual way at the appropriate time.

asked the Chancellor of Exchequer what is the approximate notional market value at the latest convenient date of the total of development grant capital paid out since 1964 to companies, representing such capital, pro rata, as ordinary shares of the companies concerned.

I have been asked to reply.I regret that the information needed to make such an estimate is not readily available, but in any case it is doubtful whether any useful conclusions could be drawn from such a hypothetical calculation. My hon. Friend may however like to know that since 1964 rather more than £ 100 million has been paid in grant under the Local Employment Acts to companies in development districts and development areas, and I have no doubt that employment has been greatly assisted.

asked the Minister of Technology, when the first annual report of the Metrication Board will be published; and if he will make a statement.

The first Report of the Metrication Board is being published today. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House and in the Vote Office.It covers the first five years of progress since the Government statement on metrication in May, 1965. A number of industries have already made the change. Many more have firm programmes which are now being implemented. There is now a growing emphasis on metric measurements throughout our educational system. The international background is of a growing determination on the part of many countries to adopt an international system of metric units. Since I addressed the House in July, 1968, Australia, Canada and New Zealand have decided to change to the international system of metric units and metrication is being actively studied at the request of Congress by the Government of the U.S.A.The Government intend to introduce at an early opportunity legislation to remove barriers to metrication, to amend the Weights and Measures Act, 1963 and to give legal status to certain metric units which are not now recognised in law. The legislation will give statutory status to the Metrication Board, provide for the Minister of Technology to continue to receive advice on units and standards of measurement and determine the powers of the Minister in this field.The main departments concerned with Government purchasing have already announced their programme for turning their orders over to metric specifications. The Government will continue to give full support to industry's plans for the use of metric units by specifying and purchasing metric supplies as and when this becomes practicable.I should like to thank the Chairman of the Metrication Board, Lord Ritchie-Calder and the Deputy Chairman, Lord Bessborough, whose enthusiasm, understanding and single-mindedness have enabled the Metrication Board, the members of their sector steering committees and their staffs to produce this valuable record of progress. The Government are also indebted to a great number of representative organisations of industry, trade, commerce and the public, whose continuing support is essential to this important reform.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will reconcile the figure of £ 2,474 million for public expenditure on education in 1970–71 given in Table 2 of Command Paper No. 3936 of February, 1969, with the figure of £ 2,381 million given in Table 1.4 in Command Paper No. 4234 of December, 1969.

The figure of £ 2,474 million (unlike the £ 2,381 million and all other Command 4234 figures) includes £ 106 million for imputed rent. But it excludes £ 18 million attributable to higher rates of selective employment tax paid by local authorities following the 1969 Budget. The combined effect of these two changes is a figure of £ 2,386 million. The remaining difference of £ 5 million is the net result of a number of minor changes, some up and some down, made to the forecasts in the interval between the two documents.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what reply he has sent to representations by the Schools Council Committee for Wales about provision of nursery education in Wales.

The Schools Council Committee for Wales has not made representations to me on nursery education. It has, however, recently published a book " Aspects of Primary Education: The Challenge of Gittins " which includes comment on developments recommended in the Gittins Report, including nursery education. Projects to provide about 300 additional nursery places in Wales at a cost of £ 83,475 have so far been included in the Urban Programme and local authorities will be asked shortly to submit further proposals under the next phase of that programme. On the question of a general expansion of nursery education, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave on 9th April to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Renee Short).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement about the situation in the Middle East, so far as British policy and interests are concerned.

The Security Council is considering complaints by the Lebanon and Israel about hostilities in the border region between those two countries. On 12th May, the Council unanimously adopted the following Resolution:

" The Security Council demands the immediate withdrawal of all Israeli armed forces from Lebanese territory."

My right hon. Friend undertook to give the House further information on the subject first raised by my right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) on 30th April. On the basis of all the information available to us, we believe that combat-ready aircraft manned by Soviet pilots are now operating over certain areas of the United Arab Republic.We shall continue to do all in our power to help bring about a comprehensive political settlement and to promote measures which might tend to reduce the prevailing level of hostilities in the region.— [Vol. 800, c. 1460–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what, for the three-month period ended 28th February, 1970, was the total number of people injured on the road in the London Borough of Newham; how many were killed or seriously injured; and how many of this total figure were children.

The police have records of 494 personal injuries during the period, of which 90 were fatal or serious. It would involve a disproportionate effort to discover how many of those injured were children.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will need send a circular to local authorities asking them to concentrate the provision of housing for elderly people in areas where provision of such housing would free substantial amounts of under-occupied municipal housing.

Last November my right hon. Friend sent local authorities the report of the Housing Management Subcommittee of the Central Housing Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of Professor Cullingwarth, commending this report to their attention. Most under-occupation occurs in privately rented and owner-occupied, not municipal property, and this report suggests that the real problem is one not so much of under-occupation but of providing a good balance of house types in each locality and assisting the movement of those who are occupying dwellings of a size which they themselves consider to be too large. About 25 per cent. of local authority housebuilding is now suitable for elderly people; 331,000 such dwellings have been built in the last 10 years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take steps to encourage the selective clearance of fit houses to enable elderly peoples' housing to be built, in areas where, by reducing under-occupation, this would produce a net gain in housing accommodation.

This object can be better attained by converting suitable three-bedroom houses into two one-bedroom flats. The local authorities already carrying out this policy include Birmingham City Council.

asked the Ministerter of Housing and Local Government how much he estimates all-year-round British Standard Time had added to the cost of his Department during the winter months.

I know of no extra cost due to this cause.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he has given to local authorities on methods of reducing under-occupation on municipal housing estates.

Previous advice in circulars from 1938 onwards has now been superseded by the Cullingworth Report. This report advocates concentrating attention on providing small dwellings for, and assisting the movement of, tenants who want smaller accommodation. It not only suggests encouraging the taking in of lodgers but also comments that there is no reason why a small household who prefer to occupy a larger house should not pay more for this than they would for a smaller one.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what coverage there is for colour television within the Mid-Wales counties.

None, yet; but the colour services are being provided as fast as practicable.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give directions for removal of the floodlights alongside the footbridge in St. James's Park.

These floodlights form part of some experiments which I have instituted and will be removed by the end of the week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware that the interpretation being given to the Acts which govern the question of payments to be made to persons on strike stops payment of a rent allowance to single householders or to married couples who are on strike and that this is creating hardship; if he will take steps to ensure that rent allowance is paid; and if he will make a statement.

Under Section 10 of the Ministry of Social Security Act, persons taking part in a strike may not receive supplementary benefit for their own requirements. This has the effect that neither a person, who is single and has no dependants, nor a married couple both of whom are disqualified and have no dependants, is entitled to benefit and so cannot be paid an addition for rent. Section 13 however provides that the Supplementary Benefits Commission may use its discretion to make payments in cases of urgency, though it rightly uses its discretion sparingly, in view of the clear statutory disqualification.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects work to start on the improvement of the section of the Newport to Shrewsbury trunk road A465 east of Hall's Bridge.

I have authorised Monmouthshire County Council as my agents to accept the £ 185,286 tender of Brunswick Contractors (Cardiff) Ltd. for the improvement of this section of the road. I understand that work is expected to start shortly and will take about 21 months to complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what conclusions he has reached regarding the report of the working party set up to consider the issues involved in forming a University Hospital Group in the Cardiff area.

The working party has reported that the establishment of a University Hospital Group in the Cardiff area is both feasible and desirable. After consulting the University of Wales and other interests concerned I have accepted their recommendations. I have today laid the Order designating the group as a university hospital.