asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what use has been made of the British contribution to Special Drawing Rights.

Allocations of Special Drawing Rights are made to countries in proportion to their I.M.F. quotas. Allocations to the United Kingdom are added to the official reserves and drawn on, like other reserve assets, as occasion arises.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now take steps to simplify the taxation system.

Studies are being conducted into a number of aspects of taxation with a view the simplification but I cannot say when it may be possible to introduce legislation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the fact that taxes on income are lower in this country than in the United States of America and elsewhere, he will take steps to reduce indirect taxation, which bears most hardly on the poor.

As my right hon. Friend explained in his Statement on 27th October, the immediate need is for a cut in our direct taxes which are among the highest in the world.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those taxes which he intends to abolish during the present Parliament and those which he intends to reduce during the present Parliament; and if, in each list, he will place the taxes in the order of priority which he proposes for their abolition or reduction, respectively.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what cuts in taxation have been made since June, 1970.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement my right hon. Friend made on 27th October, and to the announcement about betterment levy on 22nd July.—[Vol. 805, c. 37–75; Vol. 804, c. 548–55.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increases he estimates will be made in the total yield from taxation by April. 1973.

I regret that I am not prepared to make such estimates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the percentage of gross national product attributable to taxes, including social security contributions, in the United Kingdom and in other countries of Western Europe, from information available to him from international sources.

The hon. Member will find this information in the article and tables on this subject published in the August, 1970 issue of Economic Trends, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reduce the qualifying age for the repayment of postwar credits.

My right hon. Friend has no change in the qualifying ages in mind at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the additional expense for clothing which a person who is suffering from the loss or partial loss of a limb can incur, he will introduce a special income tax allowance for this purpose for the family wage earner.

I sympathise with the people to whom my hon. Friend refers but I am afraid that we could not adopt his suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what specific measures he has taken to encourage expansion of exports.

The measures I announced last week were designed to increase the drive and efficiency of the British economy, and so help our export position.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government will alter the arrangements for the payment of income tax rebates to strikers.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what examination of the practicability of negative income tax has now been carried out by his Department.

A preliminary examination has now been completed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce legislation to enable sums payable in death duty to be held in trust for the benefit of the surviving spouse until death and for any children under the age of 18 years or attending any higher education centre.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider legislation exempting charitable gifts under Deed of Covenant from surtax.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the date on which the issue of bound volumes of the Commons HANSARD reports was most in arrears since 1951; how many fortnightly volumes were awaiting publication on that date; how many such volumes are in arrears now; and what steps he is taking to expedite publication in future.

The 10th November, 1969, when 17 volumes were in course of production. As of today, only four volumes are now outstanding and these will be published in the next fortnight or so.The Parliamentary Press aims to produce the bound volumes within about four months but while Parliament is in session, urgent day-to-day requirements necessarily take precedence. Arrears are normally made up during the Recess, as will virtually have been the case this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will abolish the requirement whereby business entertainment in restaurants and hotels is classed as a non-allowable item for tax relief.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he has had with the monetary authorities with a view to procuring a general reduction in interest rates; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now take action to reduce the general level of interest rates.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations have been made to him that purchase tax on sweets and on toothpaste, now taxed at 22 per cent. and 36⅔ per cent. respectively, should be interchanged; and if he will make a statement.

We have received letters from many sections and branches of the British Dental Association. We have noted what they say and will keep it in mind during the current review of indirect taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to exempt dental care requisites from purchase tax.

We will bear the tax position of these articles in mind during the current review of indirect taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to reduce purchase tax on toothpaste.

We will keep this suggestion in mind during the current review of indirect taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the loss of revenue by the cancellation of selective employment tax on the construction industry in Scotland and the North-East Region of England, respectively.

I regret that I cannot give figures precisely as my hon. Friend wants. The best and latest estimates I can make are of the order of £19 million in respect of Scotland and £10 million in respect of the whole of the Northern Region.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he will take to ensure that the consumer benefits directly from the proposed abolition of selective employment tax.

How far prices will be reduced will depend on how far the tax has been passed on and on competitive conditions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he now proposes to seek the removal of selective employment tax.

Proposals for the abolition of S.E.T. will be laid before the House at the appropriate time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the net cost to Scotland of the selective employment tax since its inception until the latest convenient date.

The estimate for 1967–68 is £30 million. There are difficulties in making estimates other than for complete financial years in which there has been no change in the rate of tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why exchange control regulations between South Africa and this country are non-reciprocal in that capital can be exported freely from the United Kingdom to South Africa but is prohibited from being exported or re-exported from that country to the United Kingdom; and if he will place restrictions on the flow of United Kingdom capital to South Africa.

The main provisions of the Exchange Control Act, 1947, do not apply to transactions between the United Kingdom and other countries of the sterling area. South Africa is only one of many sterling area countries whose exchange controls apply to transactions with the United Kingdom. Since 1966, under the Voluntary Programme, United Kingdom companies and institutions have limited their investment in the developed sterling area countries including South Africa.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will propose the exclusion of South Africa from the World Bank and from the International Monetary Fund.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that a Scottish bank note is accepted as tender by commercial interests in the south of England; and if he will make a statement.

No. I do not think it would be right to require by law the acceptance of a variety of bank notes by people who may find them difficult to recognise. Scottish bank notes are in practice accepted in English banks and by many commercial concerns in England.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the amount of revenue to be lost by discontinuing form CT.61 and the Inland Revenue relying solely on form CT.62.

If Schedule 9 tax, at present accounted for monthly on Form CT.61, were from 1971–72 accounted for only at the year end, collection of about £750 million of tax would be postponed to the following year. Thereafter, the loss arising from the deferred collection of the expected annual increment in the tax yield would be about £50 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he intends to take to improve the position of the United Kingdom electrical appliance industry both in the home and overseas markets.

The Government's policies are intended to create the economic conditions in which industry can expand its output and operate profitably.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the purchasing power of the £ now, taking it as 20s. on 18th June, 1970.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling as 20s. 0d. in mid-June 1970 its value in mid-September 1970, the latest date for which information is available, is estimated at about 19s. 9d.This estimate is based on the movement in the Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now make a statement on the Government's economic policy and on cuts in Government expenditure.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement that my right hon. Friend made in the House on 27th October.—[Vol. 805, c. 37–75.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, in the context of his policy of reducing taxation, is his policy regarding capital gains tax.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Truro (Mr. Dixon).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will take steps to reduce the costs of collection of the short-term and long-term capital gains taxes;(2) if he will make a statement of his policy on the short-term and long-term tax on capital gains; what the yield on both these taxes was for the fiscal year 1969–70; and what is the estimated yield for the fiscal year 1970–71.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Truro (Mr. Dixon). The yield is shown in the following table:

		Tax on Short Term Gains	Capital Gains Tax
		£m.	£m.
1969–70	…	7	127
1970–71	…	3	150

These figures do not include corporation tax on the chargeable gains of companies, which is provisionally estimated at £200 million in 1969–70 and £300 million in 1970–71.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will establish an insurance scheme, similar to those provided by many other countries, whereby private enterprise can insure against the inability to remit profits on new capital investments in developing countries of the Commonwealth, and reduce overall aid accordingly.

The Government are examining this matter but it is too soon to say what conclusion we shall reach.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the size of the tax demand below which it is regarded as unprofitable for the Inland Revenue to pursue a claim and the sum is therefore remitted.

The amount of tax liability which may be remitted on the ground that the amount recoverable would not be sufficient to justify the cost of proceedings will depend on the facts of the case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps will be taken by Her Majesty's Government to ensure the maximum use of the new halfpenny after decimalisation day.

Nine hundred and fifty million new halfpennies will be available on Decimal Day and more will be provided whenever needed. Official advice and information will continue to emphasise the important rôle of the new halfpenny in decimal price structures.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action the Government intends to take to moderate the rise in the cost of living.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27th October to the hon. Member for The Hartlepools (Mr. Leadbitter) and to the reply given on 2nd November to the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Bishop).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he has taken to curb rising prices since 18th June, 1970.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27th October to the hon. Member for The Hartlepools (Mr. Leadbitter) and to the reply given on 2nd November to the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Bishop).—Vol. 805, c. 24; Vol. 805, c. 297–8.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures the Government proposes to take to restrain the rise in the cost of living.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27th October to the hon. Member for The Hartlepools (Mr. Leadbitter) and to the reply given on 2nd November to the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Bishop).—Vol. 805, c. 24; Vol. 805, c. 297–8.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce proposals to ensure greater Parliamentary accountability in those nationalised industries, such as posts and telecommunications, in which the corporations enjoy monopolistic powers and are not subject to competition from free enterprise organisations.

There are already quite comprehensive arrangements for Parliamentary accountability. In their Green Paper on Select Committees of the House of Commons (Cmnd. 4507) the Government have proposed that the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries should be retained.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has yet received the recommendations of the National Economic Development Council on the future of the Economic Development Committees; and if he will make a statement.

No. The review of the Economic Development Committees is being conducted as a tripartite exercise by the Government, C.B.I. and T.U.C.; the results are likely to be considered by the Council at its December meeting.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the redemption of 4 per cent. Consols issued in 1953.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums have been made available up to 1st July, 1970 in the form of Treasury loans to the Council for Small Industries in rural areas; what part of this sum has been for the assistance of hotels and tourism, respectively; and whether he will now reconsider the arrangements with regard to giving reasons when such loans are rejected.

Loan funds totalling £1,564,500 have been made available to the Council from the Development Fund for lending up to 31st March, 1970. A comparable figure cannot be given for the period 1st April to 1st July, 1970, but the amount approved for the year to 31st March, 1971 is £1,180,000 making a total of £2,744,500.Of this, £1,770,000 relates to assistance to tourism in rural parts of Development Areas, but it is not possible to split this sum between "hotels" and "tourism" as the scheme covers accommodation only and not other tourism amenities. Separate figures are not maintained for hotels and other types of accommodation. It is not the Council's practice to disclose the reason for the rejection of loan applications and no modification to the practice is contemplated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to provide that old-age pensions shall be free from income tax, as is the case in unemployment pay, sickness benefits and allied supplementary benefits; and what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of such concessions in a full year.

The cost of exempting National Insurance retirement pensions would be about £175 million, and I cannot accept the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now give details of the issue by the Royal Mint of proof sets of the new decimal coinage.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement about proof sets of United Kingdom coins shortly. Mint officials have yet to complete their consultations with numismatists and others about the potential market for these coins.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an estimate of the amount of man-hours that will be saved to industry and the public service by the introduction of investment allowances instead of investment grants.

In the case of the public services the ending of the Investment Grant Scheme will eventually result in a saving of about 1,000 staff. I am confident that the change in the system of investment incentives will significantly reduce the administrative load on industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered Newsletter No. 21 issued by the Decimal Currency Board which indicates that the 6d. is to be replaced and is unlikely to be used by shopkeepers; and, in view of the Government's decision to consider the future of the 6d. in due course, if he will give a direction to the Decimal Currency Board to cease issuing documents which condition the public and shopkeepers to the disappearance of the 6d. and prejudice the issue.

The Government's policy is that the 6d. will remain legal tender for at least two years after Decimal Day. Its future thereafter will fall to be decided in the light of public demand for it; meanwhile the Decimal Currency Board have a statutory duty to furnish factual information and advice on decimalisation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why patient hoists for disabled people when used in the home carry purchase tax, in view of the fact that the same and similar equipment when used in conjunction with a car is free from purchase tax; why this distinction was made; why it has been continued; and if he will make a statement.

The tax applies with certain exceptions to domestic appliances and apparatus but does not apply to motor vehicle accessories. Certain specific kinds of domestic invalid aid are already exempted from the tax, and I am prepared to consider representations in favour of relief for others if they can be satisfactorily distinguished from similar equipment of a kind used by the able-bodied.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value to industry in Scotland of free depreciation for each year between April, 1963, and January, 1966, as compared with the amount received by industry in Scotland in investment grants for each year since January, 1966.

Free depreciation was available from 1963 to 1966 in respect of new immobile machinery and plant bought for industrial use in the former development districts. Figures for the value of free depreciation are not available for separate development districts or groups of development districts. The value of investment grants paid to eligible undertakings in the whole of Scotland in respect of machinery and plant, mining works and computers is as follows:

1966–67	1967–68	1968–69	1969–70 (Provisional)
£ million	£ million	£ million	£ million
—	43·8	60·0	74·3

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had about Great Britain's outstanding debts to the International Monetary Fund and other institutions; and if he will make a statement.

I have had no such discussions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he will now take to provide new encouragement for a higher rate of personal savings.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider further measures to restrain imports.

No. I do not know what measures my hon. Friend has in mind, but we have no intention of using controls of this kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many back duty cases are now pending which relate, in whole or in part, to years of assessment prior to 1950–51.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the trend of the balance of payments on current account and the overall balance of payments.

The trend of the visible trade account in recent months has been obscured by the dock strike but I am satisfied that the current account as a whole remains in substantial surplus. In the seasonally unfavourable second half of the year there may well be some outflow of currency even though the current account remains satisfactory.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will ensure that the commercial considerations which brought about a redistribution of Government advertising in the year ended March, 1970 in favour of the New Statesman, Spectator and New Society, will result in a distribution in favour of Tribune and Time and Tide in the current year.

As ordinary commercial considerations will continue to be applied, I cannot ensure a redistribution of Government advertising in favour of any particular journal.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the distribution of Government advertising to national daily newspapers is determined commercially.

Government advertising in national daily newspapers, as in other media, is placed wholly on a commercial basis. The cost of access to the particular audience is calculated by relating the newspapers' certified circulation figures and analyses of readership to the cost of advertising space.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now take steps to limit price increases brought about by the increase in profit margins referred to in the Treasury's August assessment of the economic situation.

No. I do not accept the hon. Gentleman's interpretation of the facts. For over recent years company profits have been, and are still,

			1968–69
Licence		Revenue accruing to the Treasury	Annual Licence Fee	Cost of Collection
		(£ million)		(£ million)
Dog	…	Nil	7s. 6d.
Radio and Television	…	86	(a)	4
Motor Vehicle	…	399 (b)	£25 (e)	10 (c)
Driving	…	6	15s. (d)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Members of Parliament who claim reimbursement for petrol costs involved in travel between the House, designated office, and their homes, and between their homes and their constituencies are taxed on the amounts received; and why Ministers who use official cars for travel between their homes and offices and

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the latest, longest and most convenient period of time the total amount of revenue accruing to the Treasury for dog licences, driving licences, radio and television licences, and the road fund licences; what was the licence fee in each instance and the cost of collection; and how much of this cost was accounted for by sending reminders in each instance for the licensees to renew their licences.

Revenue from dog licences accrues to local authorities, who are responsible for collection. Reminders are not issued in the case of motor vehicle licences; in respect of none of the other licences is the cost of sending reminders available. As the rest of the Answer involves a number of figures I will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.between their homes and constituencies are not taxed on such use of cars, provided as an emolument.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes". This follows from the rule that cash payments received in respect of the cost of travel between home and work are taxable. In general, benefits which cannot be converted into cash are not taxable and the provision of official cars for Ministers is in this category.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that local Government officers, Government employees, and private citizens who have to live on the premises due to the nature of their employment are assessed for income tax purposes and taxed on a notional amount to cover the equivalent of the rent, rates, cost of heat, light, services, etc.; why this is not done in the case of Ministers; and by what authority tax is not paid on these emoluments.

In general where an employee is required for the proper performance of his duties to live in accommodation provided for him by his employer he ranks for tax purposes as a representative occupier of the accommodation and is not taxable on its value. Ministers of the Crown are dealt with under the same rule.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his proposals to rearrange housing subsidies so that those able to pay meet the economic rents will apply to the occupants of all council and Government properties where any form of Treasury grant is made in the form of rent and rates subsidies; and whether he will take steps to apply this to Ministers who occupy premises supplied on a 100 per cent. subsidy paid basis from public funds.

The position on local authority tenants was dealt with in my right hon. Friend's statement earlier this afternoon. For the rest of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Civil Service Department, on 14th July.—[Vol. 803, col. 186.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that his proposals to cut income tax by 6d. in the £ sterling next April will tend to switch investments into industrial equities from building societies for the higher investment income return to the disadvantage of the building societies so that the present equivalent gross return on building society shares of £8·5 per cent. will in effect drop to £8 per cent. next April; and if he will make proposals for dealing with the problem.

The Government fully recognises how important it is that building society funds should be maintained; but I see no reason to take any special action on the point referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the cost to the Treasury of unemployment benefit paid out in the 12 months ended 30th September, 1970.

The cost to the National Insurance Fund was about £140 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will announce an increase in old-age pensions before Christmas.

No. The hon. Member will be aware that Parliament has already approved increases in supplementary pensions which will take place this week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost per person of dental treatment carried out under the National Health Service.

Currently about £4 10s. per course of treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost of the dispensing element in ophthalmic treatment provided under the National Health Service.

The average dispensing fee paid to opticians under the General Ophthalmic Services in England and Wales in 1969 was £1 4s. 1d.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration has been given to the proposal that student nurses should be admitted in England and Wales at the age of 17½ years as in Scotland.

This has been considered by the General Nursing Council who have recently stated that they are not opposed to a reduction in the minimum age of entry but that the change should not be made until the conditions in which training is conducted have been improved. The matter is being kept under review and will no doubt be the subject of advice from the Committee on Nursing.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements are being made to ensure payment of the new age-related pensions for the under-50 widows to all those entitled.

These pensions are to be paid from April, 1971. We are in contact with the majority of widows concerned because they are already receiving the 30s pension and the Department will be writing to these widows between now and the end of the year to tell each one of her entitlement. For the other widows concerned claims will be necessary. Early in the New Year there will be a publicity campaign inviting widows who have not heard from the Department to claim the new pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the numbers of special investigators employed by his Department on a full-time or part-time basis.

The present strength of special investigators is 248, all of whom are employed on a full-time basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what effect the decision to increase prescription charges will have on the 30s. and 55s. for six or 12 months exemptions certificate which any patient can purchase from the executive councils.

I am considering this; I hope to make the prepayment certificate an even better bargain than before.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to provide that complete passenger lists from travel agencies and air companies should be made available to his Department, London, so that supervision of contacts can be made immediately a case of imported disease is reported; and if he will make a statement.

We are aware of the problem and are arranging, in consultation with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, for discussions with the bodies concerned.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what salaries are to be payable to Ministers and permanent secretaries, respectively, in major Government Departments in 1971.

Under existing arrangements the salaries will be £8,500 and £14,000 respectively.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service why he has agreed to a further £2,000 a year increase in the salaries of the chairmen of the boards of the nationalised industries, operative as from 1st January, 1971; and whether he will reconsider these increases.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer on 27th October to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Golding). The Government have no intention of reconsidering these increases.—[Vol. 805, c. 95–97.]

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether, in view of the increases approved for civil servants, chairmen and members of nationalised boards, judges, local government officers and public employees since 1964, he will now move to increase the salaries of Members of the House of Commons.

I have been asked to reply.The answer is, No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he has given to extending investment grants to forestry equipment for the harvesting and extraction of timber.

None. As stated in the White Paper on Investment Incentives published on 27th October, we shall in the remaining life of investment grants avoid, as far as possible, making changes in the policy under which they are at present being made.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied that the methods used to calculate the monthly trade figures are accurate; and if he will make a statement.

The figures are not calculated but are a compilation of data from documents lodged with Her Majesty's Customs and Excise by traders and their agents. The figures do not relate precisely to the movement of goods in the month concerned. While the receipt of import documents corresponds closely to imports themselves, in the case of exports the correspondence is less close because documents are generally received after shipment and with varying delay.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give an undertaking that he will encourage Departments under his control whenever possible to place orders with firms in development areas even where slightly cheaper tenders have been forwarded from firms outside such areas.

No. Purchasing departments are required to obtain best value for public money. Preference is, however, given to development area firms where possible when price, quality and other factors are equal.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage, by tonnage, of total imports of agricultural products comes to Great Britain via the Cape route.

For food and feeding stuffs (S.I.T.C. Divisions 01–09) about 25 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage, by tonnage, of total imports of oil comes to Great Britain via the Cape route.

About 50 pet cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage, by tonnage, of total imports of minerals comes to Great Britain via the Cape route.

About 5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to inform local authorities in special development areas on the change of Government policy towards aid to industry.

The Department took steps to encourage in the national and Scottish Press full coverage of the changes. There are close links between the Department's regional offices and local authorities for clarification of particular local problems.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consult the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress before measures are introduced to change regulations concerning immigration from the Commonwealth.

There will be ample opportunity for interested organisations to express their views before the new arrangements for the entry of Commonwealth citizens for employment are brought into operation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public money is spent by the Community Relations Commission; if he is satisfied with the means of Government control of such expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

The grant-in-aid to the Commission for 1970–71 is £395,000. Government control is exercised in accordance with the provisions of the Race Relations Act, 1968. The Annual Reports of the Commission are presented to Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will increase the grant payable to local authorities under Section 20 of the Industrial Development Act.

No. Under the present grants system, schemes for reclamation are being approved at an increasing rate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he now has for extending the crash barrier along the central reservation on motorway M1.

Every effort is being made to install safety fences on the M1, London to Catthorpe, by the end of 1971.This involves completing the gaps between Scratchwood and M1-M10 junction, between Junction 11 and Junction 16 and between the M1-M45 junction and the proposed Junction 19.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking pursuant to the Report of the Departmental Committee of Inquiry into allotments.

Eighteen organisations concerned with allotments have been invited to comment upon the report. The majority have replied and, although there is some divergence in the views expressed, those comments will be helpful to my right hon. Friend in the consideration which he is giving to the report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will lay the draft Section 7 and Section 9 Orders in respect of the Whitchurch bypass, which were due to be laid in October this year; and if he will give an assurance that the delay in publishing these Orders will not cause a delay in completion of the by-pass which is urgently needed for the safety of both people and houses in the village.

I hope to advertise the draft Orders before the end of the year. This scheme has now been transferred from the Trunk Road Preparation Pool into the firm Roads Programme. Subject to funds being available and to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures, work is planned to start towards the end of 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce a decision on the proposed Abingdon bypass.

The inspector's report on the public inquiry is under consideration. A decision should be available within about three months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received urging the reorganisation of local government; and whether he will make a further statement on the subject.

I have received a number of letters and other representations urging the early reorganisation of local government. I shall make a further statement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many projects have now been approved under the Countryside Act; and how many await approval.

If the hon. Member has country parks and picnic sites in mind, 17 country parks, 23 picnic sites and three analogous projects by private bodies have been approved for grant in England and Wales under the Countryside Act, 1968. 247 such projects are currently under consideration; of these 71 have been approved in principle by the Countryside Commission and 162 await further information from the local authority concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will set up a committee to investigate the gearbox problems of rear-engined buses and instruct it to produce an early report.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the local authority housing programme in the County Borough of Sunderland, including information on the position regarding completions, houses under construction and tender approvals.

The question concerns matters which are primarily the responsibility of the county borough council. I suggest therefore that the right hon. Member should seek the information he requests directly from the council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) on what previously estimated figure of expenditure his proposed saving of £100–£200 million a year on housing subsidies for 1974–75, given in Command Paper No. 4515, is based;(2) on what number of municipal housing starts his proposed saving of £100–£200 million a year on housing subsidies for 1974–75, given in Command Paper No. 4515, is based;(3) on what level of capital expenditure in 1974–75, as compared with 1970–71, his proposed saving of £100–£200 million a year on housing subsidies by 1975, given in Command Paper No. 4515, is based.

My right hon. Friend's estimate did not relate to a particular year but to the middle years of the decade. The estimate of the savings for these years was a broad one as the many factors involved do not yet make it possible to assess precisely what advantage local authorities will take of the new system of housing finance under which authorities with severe housing problems will be better placed to solve them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to introduce a regional housing subsidy scheme; and whether he will make a statement.

Plans for housing subsidies are outlined in the statement which my right hon. Friend made today about the reform of housing finance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to alleviate hardship to house owners with low incomes who cannot afford to undertake the necessary repairs to their property and so obtain the necessary qualification certificate to enable them to increase the rent.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of weekly rental increases of council houses in the urban districts of Houghton-le-Spring and Seaham, and the county borough of Sunderland, arising directly from recasting of housing subsidies.

The plans for the reform of housing finance outlined in my right hon. Friend's statement today will need to be discussed with the local authority associations before the effect on individual authorities can be assessed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish as detailed a list as is available of the State-owned accommodation occupied as private residences; who occupies each; what the accommodation consists

Residence		Occupant		Approximate Annual Cost
10 Downing Street	…	Prime Minister	…	£2,400
11 Downing Street	…	Chancellor of the Exchequer	…	£2,650
1 Carlton Gardens	…	Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs	…	£2,350
Admiralty House	…	Secretary of State for the Home Department	…	£2,000
Admiralty House	…	Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster	…	£1,450

The extent of accommodation in each residence varies, but comprises at least a drawing room, study, dining room, bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom.The figures shown for approximate annual cost cover normal annual maintenance of buildings, furnishings and furniture, repairs, heating, electricity, gas and water costs, and contributions in lieu of rates. It is not possible to assess a realistic rental for this type of property.As has been the position in previous Administrations, no contributions are recovered from Ministers in respect of official residential accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of the high level of demand for home ownership in the city of Sheffield; if he is further aware that potential home owners in that city cannot obtain a Corporation mortgage because the money allocated for this purpose for the year 1970–71 is already exhausted; and if he will examine the situation in Sheffield with a view to making a special allocation of mortgage money.

Owing to the need to maintain credit restraint, my right hon. Friend reluctantly found it necessary to continue to restrict the amounts lent by local authorities for house purchase to of; what facilities and services are provided; what is the actual or estimated total cost per annum of each; what rent or payments are made by the occupants for each; and what is the estimated market cost of the accommodation provided in each case.

The following list shows details of State-owned accommodation occupied as private residences by Ministers. The list does not include details of State-owned accommodation used for married quarters or allocated to key personnel who are required to be available in an emergency, details of which are not readily available.the level imposed by the previous Government. My right hon. Friend is not at present able to increase the amounts for authorities like the Sheffield City Council who have exhausted their allocation for the financial year. Allocations for 1971–72 are at present being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the proportion of owner-occupied dwellings to total dwellings in the city of Sheffield now and in the last full year before April, 1964.

The West Riding County Reports on the Censuses of Population and Housing indicate that between April, 1961, and April, 1966, the proportion of owner-occupied dwellings in the city of Sheffield rose from 32·8 per cent. to 37·5 per cent. If my hon. Friend wishes to obtain a later estimate I suggest that he approaches the city council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total sum paid in housing subsidies to public housing authorities in the Northern Region in each of the past five years, and the amounts paid, respectively, to the urban district councils of Houghton-le-Spring and Seaham, and to the county borough of Sunderland.

The following subsidies were paid to the named authorities:

		Houghton-le-Spring Urban District Council	Seaham Urban District Council	Sunderland County Borough Council
		£	£	£
1965–66	…	82,372	79,414	538,546
1966–67	…	85,469	76,451	619,514
1967–68	…	89,915	80,339	785,019
1968–69	…	99,468	78,729	835,955
1969–70	…	109,360	83,812	999,602

These figures exclude payments for housing associations, improvements, and temporary dwellings. The information in respect of the Northern Region involves a large number of local authorities and could not be provided without unjustifiable expense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if local authorities have yet submitted to him proposals under Section 3 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities have submitted proposals for the provision of 26 dwellings for the disabled since Section 3 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, came into force; and it is known that a number of further proposals are under consideration. Authorities have, of course, been making provision for the disabled by the erection of purpose-built dwellings long before the passing of this Act.