asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he is aware of the state of neglect surrounding the ancient monument of Ewloe Castle, Flint-shire; and if he will take steps to restore the beauty of this site, to make good damage done, and to obtain the services of a curator and restore the amenity.

I am aware that Ewloe Castle has suffered from damage and debris caused by hooliganism.The castle area will be cleared later this month, and regular grass cutting will be resumed. Restoration of the castle walls will begin in the Autumn, but this will take some time.I am looking into the possibility of reappointing a custodian.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards labour-only sub-contracting in the construction industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier today to the hon. Members for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton), Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Loughlin), Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer), Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton) and Brixton (Mr. Lipton).

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) when the new Government offices in the Horse-ferry Road/Marsham Street area are to be opened; and which Departments will work there;(2) how long the new Government buildings in Horseferry Road/Marsham Street area have taken to build; and what is the total cost;(3) when the new Government offices are opened in the Horseferry Road/Marsham Street area, what arrangements have been made for the parking of cars.

The new Government offices in Marsham Street are expected to be occupied, by about the end of the year, by the Ministries of Housing and Local Government and Transport.Construction will have taken just over six years, including a 13-months' stoppage due to strike action. The total cost, including site purchase and work on the foundations, is expected to be about £7·85 million.Over 300 car parking spaces will be provided, for use by the Government Car Service, for other official purposes and for visitors.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the purpose and the cost of the work of resiting the sculpture in the Abingdon Street Gardens.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten).

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will continue the service to local authorities regarding condensation in houses and flats which was given by his Department under the previous Administration.

Yes. The Building Research Station, through its advisory service, will continue to be available to any local authority with condensation problems.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will give the Government's policy and programme regarding the efficient use of public buildings in general and Civil Service offices in particular; and to what extent it is his policy to remove Ministerial and other Civil Service offices out of London and other congested areas into development areas, where this can be done without damage to Government administration.

It is the Government's policy to seek to house the Civil Service as economically and efficiently as possible. It follows from this that it is also Government policy that work which need not be done in Central London should be dispersed.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will give for the latest most convenient stated date the number of Government buildings rented or leased and the total cost to the Government of such rentings and hirings, either annually or at the latest stated date.

On 1st October, 1969 my Ministry held 6,238 leases, as distinct from leased buildings, in the United Kingdom, for which the total rent was then £27,817,000 per annum. At 31st March, 1970 there were 784 leased buildings in the Ministry's overseas estate, with a rental of £1,670,000 per annum.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider introducing a statutory minimum price scheme for white fish in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy in relation to a statutory minimum price scheme for white fish in England and Wales.

I am ready to consider any scheme that may be submitted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the growing infestation of domestic and business premises by rats and mice, especially in areas of urban renewal; whether he is satisfied that the provisions of existing legislation are adequate to support local authorities in their attempts to eradicate the problem; and if he will make a statement.

The annual reports we receive from local authorities do not show that infestation by rats is increasing either in domestic or business premises although there is some preliminary evidence to suggest that infestation by mice may be increasing. I am satisfied that local authorities have all the powers they need to deal with infestation. In a circular letter of 9th June from my Department they were advised how to tackle the specific problems resulting from the demolition of old buildings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce regulations to make it obligatory for most dairy products, particularly milk and creams, to be marked clearly with the date of packing.

No. The general provisions of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, protect the consumer from buying unsound or stale food including milk and dairy products.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps further to extend the period within which soft drinks manufacturers may use on their bottles labels already in stock.

Yes. Subject to the usual consultation with interested organisations, I propose to extend the period by one year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that British agriculture, in view of its present financial position, can increase production sufficiently to meet future needs; and if he will make a statement.

We are assessing the resources which are available, and my right hon. Friend will take whatever action is appropriate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food approximately how many tons of cereals are imported per year for use by the distillery and brewery industries of the United Kingdom.

Between 500 and 600 thousand tons. Most of this is maize used in production of grain whisky.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he is taking to prevent the spread or to eradicate heracleum mentagall ziamium, giant hogweed.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West (Mr. Janner) on 16th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 260.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the cost of fertiliser to the British farmer has been pegged following the last Price Review until the Review next year; and if he will make a statement.

My hon. Friend will be aware of the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe) on 16th July. We are now studying information supplied to us by the National Farmers' Union, but, because claims for fertiliser subsidy can be made up to three months after delivery, I cannot yet go beyond the reply to which I have referred.—[Vol. 803, c. 260.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers there were in England and Wales in 1951, 1961, 1966 and March, 1970, respectively.

The number of employers and self-employed in agriculture in England and Wales are estimated at about 299,000 in 1951, 274,000 in 1961, 256,000 in 1966 and 240,000 in 1970, respectively. Estimates for particular months are not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agricultural workers there were in England and Wales in 1951, 1961, 1966 and March, 1970, respectively.

The number of workers on agricultural holdings in England and Wales was 708,100 at June, 1951, 534,800 at June, 1961, 429,700 at June, 1966, and 323,200 at March, 1970.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further representations he has now received to increase the price awards of the 1970 Price Review.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Cornwall. North (Mr. Pardoe) on 15th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 231–2.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his proposals for controlling beef and mutton prices during the dock strike.

The Government have taken emergency powers to regulate the prices of all foods, and would use these powers if the need arose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what agreement he has now made with other European countries in regard to the protection of salmon for the prevention of over fishing.

Both the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission and the International Commission for the North-West Atlantic Fisheries have approved measures to prevent escalation of fishing for salmon.I am placing copies of the resolutions in the library.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what specific policies he has in mind to implement Her Majesty's Government's policy of promoting the efficient development of the fishing industry; and whether he will give a schedule for these policies, particularly bearing in mind the needs of the North-East of Scotland.

My right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friends will review in consultation with the industry the method of support of the deep-sea fleet, including the working of the incentive to efficiency in the present arrangements. We are asking the House to continue the inshore subsidy. The effectiveness of these and other policies will be kept under review, but if my hon. Friend is concerned about the way particular fishery policies may affect North-East Scotland this is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy as regards support to the fishing industry.

For the deep-sea fleet the method of support introduced in 1968 is due to be reviewed later this year in consultation with the industry and I do not propose to anticipate the outcome. For the inshore fleet the House will be asked on Thursday to approve a scheme continuing the subsidy for a year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the fall in food production from farms in England and Wales; and what steps he intends to take to remedy the situation.

Production of some commodities has fallen over the last few years but production of others, notably poultry meat, pigmeat and milk, has increased.We are assessing the resources which are available, and my right hon. Friend will take whatever action is appropriate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with members of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement on the future of the agreement in relation to Great Britain's current negotiations for entry to the European Economic Community; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs have both been in touch with the Chairman of the Commonwealth Sugar Exporters and my right hon. Friend has confirmed that the Government will consult with the other parties to the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Article 6(3)(b) of the Agreement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will have talks with the White Fish Authority regarding the need for improved facilities at the main fishing ports for fish processing.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) and others.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the duties carried out by the newly appointed Chairman of the Forestry Commission on which he works two days a week and for which he is paid a salary of £5,000 per annum.

He is responsible to the forestry Ministers for the implementation of policy under the Forestry Act, 1967, and related legislation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, before seeking to reduce direct taxation, he will take steps to repay all persons still holding post-war credits.

I cannot give any such undertaking.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the number of men and women still awaiting repayment of post-war credits, the total value of the credits due, and the amount of interest involved.

I cannot give firm figures but it is estimated that £765 million of post-war credits was created in favour of 17 million people, and that of this £154 million remains to be paid to 6½ million people. Interest accrued to date on the unpaid credits would be £47 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to repay the post-war credits of holders who are in receipt of industrial injury benefit.

Persons who are in receipt of industrial injury benefit for a continuous period of 26 weeks are entitled to claim repayment of their post-war credits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to make immediate repayment of post-war credits to all persons suffering from a scheduled industrial disease.

No. But the existing regulations provide for post-war credits to be payable to claimants who receive appropriate benefits under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Acts, whether owing to a prescribed disease or not.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, before seeking to abolish selective employment tax, he will initiate discussions with all the trades and services who have been affected by it with a view to obtaining from them a guarantee that when it is abolished they will reduce their prices by as much as they put them up as a consequence of the cost of selective employment tax to them.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Bishop) on 17th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 273.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the effect on a new house costing £4,500 of abolishing selective employment tax and introducing a value-added tax of 10 per cent. in its place.

Any estimate would be crucially dependent on assumptions about a large number of variables and it is not feasible to give a meaningful answer on the basis of the hon. Member's question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps with a view to the early removal of selective employment tax from the building industry.

We have undertaken to abolish the selective employment tax. Proposals will be placed before the House in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total of the United Kingdom's first and second line reserves of international currency on 30th September, 1964; and what they were on the last available date before 18th July, 1970.

The official reserves on 30th September, 1964, totalled £907 million. In addition the Treasury dollar portfolio was valued at about £470 million. On 30th June, 1970, the official reserves, into which the dollar portfolio had been taken during the intervening period, totalled £1,163 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fall in the value of the £ sterling, he will raise the income limit above which form P11D is required, in order to save man-hours to the staff of the Inland Revenue and to employers generally.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now consider introducing measures to provide increased tax abatement for retirement pensioners in respect of first and second pensions, or first pensions and the next source of earnings derived from any activity.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion but I do not think it would be right to single out for special tax relief retirement pensioners who have more than one source of income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the attendance allowance for severely disabled people will be subject to tax.

As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security, announced on 15th July, the attendance allowance will not be subject to tax.—[Vol. 803, c. 1592–3.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Her Majesty's Government intend to seek powers to control price increases in the nationalised industries; and if he will make a statement.

No. I have nothing to add to what was said in the debate on the Address on 7th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 510–11.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the discussions with the nationalised industries on their future rates of return on capital.

I have no statement to make on this subject at present. Financial objectives for those industries for which they have not yet been agreed will be announced as they are settled.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to assist exporters whose liquidity is becoming strained as a result of an accumulation of unpresented cheques arising from the strike of Irish bank clerks.

My hon. Friend will know that the banks have already received a general request to give priority in their lending arrangements to the finance of export transactions. I have no reason to suppose that exporters affected by the strike have not been able to make alternative payment arrangements and it would not be appropriate for the Government to intervene in individual cases between banker and customer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange for the procedure for dealing with customs charges on parcels imported into the United Kingdom by parcel post to be brought into line with the appeals procedure applying to parcels brought in by travellers entering at seaports or airports.

So far as is possible in circumstances which are not entirely analogous, an equivalent appeals procedure does already operate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government accepts Recommendation No. 571 on the introduction between member states of simplified customs arrangements in respect of goods carried in travellers' luggage or contained in gift parcels, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 2nd October, 1969; and whether they will comply with the proposals made in paragraph 4 of this recommendation.

For travellers' baggage, the United Kingdom already gives statutory reliefs similar to those recommended, and the Government therefore accepts this part of the Recommendation in principle, on the understanding that its application may vary from one country to another in the light of local circumstances. The Government does not accept the recommendation on gift parcels, but concessions, based on somewhat different considerations, already exist which enable a very large number of gifts sent to this country by post to be admitted without payment of Customs charges.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the present system of collecting tax from self-employed persons, what is the loss to the Exchequer of immigrants working in the United Kingdom on this basis who return home before the tax due can be collected.

It is recognised that there is a loss of revenue on account of tax due on business and professional profits earned in the United Kingdom by taxpayers from abroad who return home before it can be collected. The amount lost is not known, but action is in hand to reduce losses on this account.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average delay in getting a reply from Her Majesty's Inspector of Taxes' Office in East Kilbride.

This information is not available. But I assure by hon. Friend that the East Kilbride office, like other tax offices, does all it can to avoid delays in answering correspondence.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of tax revenue foregone in the fiscal years 1967–68 and 1968–69 by reason of the tax allowance in respect of interest payments on loans for purposes other than house purchase or house improvement.

About £25 million for each year leaving aside interest paid for business purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of tax revenue foregone by reason of the tax allowance in respect of interest payments on loans for house purchase over the last five fiscal years, the number of persons who benefited from this relief, and the average relief per person.

The estimated figures are:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of persons subject to tax relief in the present year in respect of interest paid on loans for house purchase in each of the following pretax income brackets, £0-£999, £1,000 to £1,999, £2,000 to £2,999, £3,000 to £3,999, £4,000 to £4,999 and £5,000 to £10,000.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to reduce the level of interest rates; and if he will make a statement.

The level of interest rates is kept under continuous review, in the context of the economic situation and overall policy objectives. I have no further statement to make at this stage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the tax revenue to be derived from the taxation of sickness, unemployment and supplementary benefits at present exempt from tax; and what adjustment in the standard rate of income tax will be required to offset the extension of taxation to such benefits.

For sickness and unemployment benefit, about £150 million for the full year, equivalent to nearly 3d. off the standard rate. I cannot make an estimate for supplementary benefits but the yield is unlikely to be large.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many more people are now paying no income tax as a result of the last Budget; how many are paying reduced amounts; and on what date his Department brought the tax changes into force.

It is estimated that just over 2 million people—counting earning wives separately—were freed from tax for 1970–71 who would otherwise have been liable either because their level of income at the beginning of the year was sufficient to make them liable to tax or because an increase during the year would have brought them into liability. A further 16½ million will have their tax reduced. The changes apply for the year beginning on 6th April and came into effect in P.A.Y.E. cases on the first pay day after 5th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the total of the United Kingdom's short-term overseas debt on 30th September, 1964, and from where the United Kingdom had borrowed; and what was the comparable debt on the last available date before 18th July, 1970;(2) what was the relationship of the United Kingdom's indebtedness to the reserves on 30th September, 1964; and what was the comparable relationship on the last available date before 18th July, 1970.

The outstanding short and medium-term official overseas debt was £71 million on 30th September, 1964, and £1,461 million on 30th June, 1970. Official reserves totalled £907 million on the first of these dates, and £1,163 million on the second, in the intervening period the Treasury dollar portfolio—valued at about £470 million at end September, 1964—had been taken into the reserves.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was, for the borough of Newark, the number of council houses or units of accommodation provided for each of the past five years, and the number of houses designated as slums and as sub-standard and the number on the waiting list for each year.

The information about council house-building and slum clearance is as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to allow local authorities to register or license all second-hand car dealers.

No, I see no reason for taking such action.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the further decay in the structure which has developed in the Thrashbush Old Folk's Home, Airdrie; if he will now give approval to the proposals submitted to him for the replacement of this home; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware that the structure of Thrashbush House is deteriorating. In May, 1969, the local authority was given provisional approval to make a start in 1971–72 on a replacement scheme. I am about to review the social work building programme and will give full consideration to the local authority's request that this project should be allowed to start in the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the school population of Aberdeen for each of the years between 1945 and 1969; and what proportion these figures represent of the total school population of Scotland.

The information is as follows: