asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of rabbit clearance societies in controlling pests; what is the current rate of tax-borne assistance for these societies; and if he will make a statement.

As part of the review of my Department's functions, my right hon. Friend has had a very full assessment made of the effectiveness of rabbit clearance societies. Grants to them are currently running at about half a million pounds a year and we hope shortly to anounce the conclusions of the review.

OVERNIGHT STAYS
								(000s)
Year					England	Scotland	Wales	Great Britain
1965	(Years ended 30th September)		…	…	333·0	140·7	43·3	517·0
1966						356·0	168·9	43·9	568·8
1967						415·6	191·9	48·7	656·2
1969	(18 months ended 31st March)		…	…	469·3	218·4	49·1	736·8
1970	(Year ended 31st March)	…	…	…	565·5	225·4	58·0	848·9

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what plantations of the Forestry Commission in Kent and Sussex do the public have access.

As a general rule the Forestry Commission allows public access on foot to all its forests in Kent and Sussex, subject to its obligations to third parties on leased and tenanted land. Access to particularly vulnerable plantations may also have to be restricted during the periods of high fire risk.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to encourage fish farming in Wales and in Flintshire; what estimate he has made of the scope for cultivating fish in water heated by power stations and of the resultant increase in the supply of protein; and if he will make a statement.

Certain scientific and practical problems remain to be

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the public resided in plantations of the Forestry Commission in each of the years 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969.

There is no census of residents from which this information can be provided.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the public made overnight stays in the plantations of the Forestry Commission in each of the years 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969.

The following is the information:overcome before marine fish farming could be established on a commercial scale. My Department is carrying on basic research work on flatfish, molluscs and crustaceans, and development work is being done by the White Fish Authority. The White Fish Authority's programme includes cultivation of sole in the warm water effluent of the Hunterston Nuclear Power Station, and my scientists will be conducting experiments at Wylfa.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will be in a position to make a statement on the effects of the proposed Thames barrage in relation to water levels and flooding of the Thames, with particular reference to Rainham and the valley of the Ingrebourne River.

Detailed studies have been made of the effects of the closure of a barrier at different stages of the tide on river levels at all places downstream. The information gained is being used by the Essex and Kent River Authorities and the Greater London Council in consultation with my Department in considering the design standard of any works necessary in their areas, either as a consequence of, or associated with, the operation of a Thames flood barrier.

asked the Attorney-General what steps he is proposing to take to obviate the present delay in issuing certificates of the result of official searches under the Land Charges Act, 1925 at the Land Charges Registry.

25 additional staff were recently engaged and up to 60 temporary part-time staff will be engaged from next week to overtake the arrears of work.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will initiate a joint effort with other coastal states to clear the remaining minefields that hazard shipping in the North Sea.

The Royal Navy has co-operated regularly in the past in mine clearance operations to widen the shipping channels in the North Sea, and the requirement for future sweeps is under discussion with other North Sea coastal nations.The hazard to shipping using the recognised routes is minimal and the chances that it would actuate any of the mines which still remain in the North Sea are negligible.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many Army recruits with addresses in the Republic of Ireland have deserted from the Depot of the Royal Irish Rangers in each of the last five years, showing each training squad respectively.

Starting with 1965, the total figures are 31, 39, 50, 42 and 50, respectively. Figures for recruits alone and by training squads are not available.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many soldiers have deserted from the Army in each of the last five years; and how many soldiers with home addresses in Eire deserted in each year for the same period.

Starting with 1965, the total figures are 1,635, 1,721, 1,748, 1,832 and 1,761, respectively. The figures, included in these totals, for soldiers with home addresses in Eire are 254, 202, 217, 219 and 250, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now take steps further to increase grants to university students and others in higher education.

A review of standard rates of awards to students is now in train to determine levels of grant for the period beginning 1st September, 1971. This was announced on 29th October.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the figure for those unemployed, registered in the Petersfield constituency to the most recent convenient date, broken into male, female and school-leavers, compared with similar figures for 1969 and 1968 at the same calendar date.

Following is the information:

TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE PETERSFIELD AND ALTON EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES
	Males	Females	Total
12th October, 1970	310	65	375
13th October, 1969	324	53	377
14th October, 1968	292	51	343

The numbers of school leavers registered as unemployed in the whole of the area covered by the Basingstoke Youth Employment Service Careers Office, part of which is within the Petersfield constituency, at October, 1970, October, 1969 and October, 1968 were 27, 14 and 18, respectively. Information about school-leavers is not available for parts of the Basingstoke Careers Office area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to be able to evaluate the trial census of employment carried out this year.

Within the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the current formula, with items of consumption, used in calculating the Cost of Living (All-Items) Index.

The weights used in the calculation of the General Index of Retail Prices are revised annually in January on the basis of the information obtained from the Family Expenditure

Jurisdiction			1965	1966	1967	1968	1969	To 25th September, 1970
Industrial Training Act 1964.	England & Wales		397	923	491	514	201	248
	Scotland	…	103	123	38	45	22	22
Redundancy Payments Act 1965.	England & Wales		—	3,733	6,361	6,602	6,358	5,148
	Scotland	…	—	431	862	798	727	538
Contracts of Employment Act 1965.	England & Wales		—	102	61	53	40	21
	Scotland	…	—	22	22	10	3	3
Compensation Regulation (mainly made under schedule 7 to the Red Payments Act 1965).	England & Wales		—	11	16	7	13	10
	Scotland	…	—	—	—	—	2	1
Selective Employment Payments Act 1966.	England & Wales		—	10	593	512	316	212
	Scotland	…	—	1	51	49	38	19
Docks and Harbours Act 1966 (section 51).	England & Wales		—	—	1	1	6	4
	Scotland	…	—	—	—	—	—	—

In a sample of cases taken earlier this year, 18 per cent. of applicants were represented by solicitors and 24 per cent. by trade union officials; 20·5 per cent. of respondents were represented by solicitors and 5·3 per cent. by officials of employers' associations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average length of time elapsing between initial applications for hearings to industrial tribunals and appearance by applicants before tribunals.

A quarter of all applications are settled without a hearing. A

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of each type of industrial tribunal hearings were conducted in the period 1965 to 1970; and at what proportion of these were persons appearing before tribunals represented by lawyers and trade union officials, respectively.

Following are the figures:sample of all which came to hearing showed that approximately 10 weeks elapsed between date of application and date of final hearing.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many times during the period 1965 to 1970 were appeals lodged against the findings of industrial tribunals; and how many such appeals were upheld.

In England and Wales, 255 effective appeals were lodged, of which 97 were allowed, 121 dismissed and 37 have not yet been heard. In Scotland, of 33 appeals lodged, six were allowed, 20 dismissed and seven have not yet been heard.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total membership of the Construction Industry Training Board; and how many of these members either live in Wales or represent firms who operate from Wales.

The board comprises a chairman, deputy chairman and 27 members, of whom one education member lives in Wales. The employer members are not appointed as representatives of firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that there is representation on the Construction Industry Training Board of the more sparsely populated rural areas in Wales.

None. The membership of an industrial training board is representative of sectors of its industry rather than particular areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many copies of his Department's consultative document on industrial relations have been published; and how many have been distributed in South Wales.

To date 130,000 copies of the consultative document have been printed. Of these 92,000 have been distributed through headquarters and the Department's local offices throughout the country. Approximately 3,000 copies have been issued in South Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that baths with built-in seat provided in old people's dwellings are proving satisfactory in use; and if he will make a statement.

I do not know how extensively sitz baths are used. They seem to suit some old people but not others. As with any bath for old people, care must be taken to set the bath so that the rim is not too high from the floor for an older person to climb in.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now make a statement on the future of the Romford to Upminster push-pull railway line.

I am awaiting the views of the Greater London Council, which I am obliged to consult, and will, of course, consider these views carefully before reaching a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will wipe out the capital charges on public passenger road transport.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will subsidise further public passenger road transport.

No. The industry already benefits considerably from Government financial assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will implement forthwith the decision to raise the speed limit for light vans from 40 miles per hour to 50 miles per hour.

I shall announce very shortly my plans for dealing with the light van speed limit as well as the limits for light vehicles drawing trailers and for heavy goods vehicles on motorways.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that on 29th October just north of Newport Pagnell the southbound carriageway of the M1 was reduced to single-lane working by roadworks, as a result of which vehicles took an hour to pass; why a lane of unobstructed northbound carriageway was not made available as an additional lane for southbound traffic; what was the total estimated delay in vehicle hours; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that unnecessary delays of this kind on important motorways are avoided.

I am sorry about the inconvenience which may have been caused. Resurfacing to improve the safety of the road was carried out during two weeks from 21st October. Every effort, consistent with the safety of drivers and men on the site, is made to keep traffic moving. To direct traffic to either

Date			Location		Duration of count	Number of vehicles
August, 1961		…	Between Southwood Lane and Jackson's Lane	…	24 hours	21,959*
August, 1965		…	Between Southwood Lane and Jackson's Lane	…	24 hours	24,691*
May, 1969	…	…	Between Southwood Lane and Jackson's Lane	…	24 hours	29,000†
* Ministry of Transport census.
† Consultants' Origin and Destination Survey.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for which parts of the A1 road inside the North Circular Road he intends to approve widening.

I am at present considering the report of the inspector who held the public inquiry into the proposed widening of Aylmer Road, Lyttleton Road and Falloden Way, and the consultants' recommendations for the improvement of the section of Archway Road from "The Wellington" junction to Winchester Road. I cannot yet say what the outcome will be.Work on widening the length between Winchester Road and Archway, which is largely the responsibility of the Greater London Council as highway authority, is due to start next year.The remainder of the route south of Archway is the responsibility of the Greater London Council or the Corporation of the City of London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to permit the severance of secondary east side of the central reserve would produce hazardous movements. I regret I cannot estimate the delays in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give figures of traffic loadings on Archway Road for the year 1960, and the years 1965 to 1970, respectively, or for as many of those years for which figures exist.

Following is the information:west road communication through Highgate Village as shown on the road-maps illustrating the Greater London Development Plan: and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any such proposal in the Greater London Development Plan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many secondary roads in London it is proposed to widen to dual three-lane standards.

At present there are 12 schemes programmed or in preparation on those trunk and principal roads shown as secondary routes on the Greater London Development Plan where widening to dual 3-lane standards is proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will order work to stop on the intended widening of the A1 road between Archway and the North Circular Road until the findings of the current inquiry into the Greater London Development Plan are known.

No. I do not consider that the improvement of this route should be deferred if it can be justified on its own merits irrespective of other highway proposals in the Greater London Development Plan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what change there has been in the estimated completion date of the A19 road between Sunderland and Sheraton.

None. Estimated completion date is still late in 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether there will be delay in the plans for the dualling of the Pedmore Road route between Dudley to Stourbridge, consequent upon the Government's plans for public expenditure;(2) whether there will be delay in replacing the temporary bridge on the Pedmore Road between Dudley and Stourbridge, consequent upon the Government's plans for public expenditure.

None that can be foreseen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider introducing legislation to raise the maximum penalties on a conviction for the pollution of fresh-water rivers.

As my hon. Friend will be aware, the last administration began a review of the scale of penalties for all forms of pollution of the environment, including the pollution of fresh water. The Government are continuing it. No conclusion has yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that the oil industry expects to be able to exploit oil from beneath the seabed at a water depth of 3,000 feet before the close of the decade; and whether he will consider initiating talks with the Danish Government to delimit the Continental Shelf between the Shetland Isles and the Faeroes.

I am aware of the possibility mentioned in the first part of the question. We shall certainly consider initiating talks of the kind proposed as soon as this appears to be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the negotiations for the entry of the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community, he will seek to ensure that coffee produced in the Commonwealth will not be subject to levies or duties in gaining access to the United Kingdom market.

Yes. If we join the Communities imports of coffee will not be subject to levies. As regards duties on coffee under the Common External Tariff of the Communities, we are, as stated by the last Government in the White Paper "The United Kingdom and the European Communities" (Cmnd. 3345), seeking the revival of the provisional agreement reached in 1961–63 that association under what was later negotiated as the Yaoundé Convention should be open to independent Commonwealth countries in Africa and the Caribbean.The terms of the Yaoundé Convention provide for duty-free entry of coffee into the Communities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the negotiations for the entry of the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community, he will seek to ensure that tea produced in the Commonwealth will not be subject to levies or duties in gaining access to the United Kingdom market.

Yes. If we join the Communities imports of tea into the United Kingdom will not be subject to levies. The Common External Tariff of the Communities on tea in packets of 3 kg. and above is suspended at nil.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the proposals submitted to the Common Market for the solution of the problems of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement and New Zealand.

The proposals submitted to the conference with the European Communities are confidential negotiating documents. It would not be appropriate for me to publish them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Church of Scotland about Great Britain's entry to the European Economic Community.

In August I replied to a letter from the Principal Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland drawing my attention to the May report of the Church and Nation Committee to the General Assembly which included a section on the negotiations with the European Communities. My Department also commented in late October, at the request of the Vice-Convenor of the Church and Nation Committee, on the factual content of the report submitted by this Committee to the General Assembly earlier that month. I have received no other communication from the Church of Scotland, about entry into the European Communities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have now been held with the illegal régime of Rhodesia.

There have been no discussions but I would refer the hon. Member to my speech in the debate on 9th November in which I said that a preliminary communication had been sent to Mr. Smith.—[Vol. 805, c. 33–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he proposes taking to strengthen the Commonwealth ties.

The strength of the Commonwealth relationship is a matter for all its members jointly to sustain. We have made it clear that we shall continue to play our full part in the association. The Prime Minister and the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary will be attending the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference in January in Singapore.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what statutory authority the police are assisting private contractors in getting their unlicensed and uninsured vehicles to sites to clear the mounting refuse in West London.

The police duty to facilitate the movement of road traffic is not imposed by Statute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average net increase in the total number of police officers in England and Wales for the financial years 1965–66 to 1969–70; and what is his estimate of the net increase or decrease for 1970–71.

The increase in strength in each of the financial years 1965–66 to 1969–70 was 3,232, 2,778, 3,665, 506 and 851, an average of 2,206. I hope that the net increase for the financial year 1970–71 will be about double that achieved in the financial year 1969–70.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many CS cartridges have been issued to the police forces of England, Wales and Scotland during each month since January, 1968;(2) how many CS gas grenades have been issued to the police forces of England, Wales and Scotland during each month since January, 1968.

The police in Great Britain contemplate the use of CS weapons only for dealing with armed criminals or violently insane persons in buildings from which they cannot be dislodged without danger of loss of life. Against that rare eventuality, and for purposes of training, police authorities purchase small stocks; but the information requested by the hon. Lady is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what commercial companies are allowed to manufacture the CS gaseous agent under the provisions of the Firearms Act, 1968.

The manufacture of CS is not controlled under the Firearms Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list dates of the remaining Bank Holidays for 1970 and 1971.

I have been asked to reply.The following list applies to England and Wales. It includes statutory bank holidays and the common law holidays—Good Friday and Christmas Day—which by long-standing tradition are observed as bank holidays:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to publish details of his plan to assist tenants, other than those presently in receipt of social security benefit, to meet higher rents now being charged; and if he will make a statement.

This is one of the matters which I will be discussing with the local authority associations. The recently published report on Rent Rebates for Courcil Tenants by a Sub-Committee of the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee will be relevant to these discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Registrar-General for Scotland expects first to publish information on births and deaths registered, analysed by birthplace, respectively, of the parents and of the deceased.

The Registrar-General for Scotland published statistics of births in Scotland by place of birth of parents in his Return for the first quarter of 1970. He will publish corresponding statistics for the year 1970, together with statistics of deaths by place of birth of the deceased, in his Return for the fourth quarter of 1970, expected to be published about the end of May, 1971.

asked the Secretry of State for Scotland how many official Press statements have been released by the Scottish Office containing information on changes in Government policies since 27th October; and if he will send a copy of each Press statement to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire.

The text of a speech I made in Aberdeen on 6th November, relating to the proposals in the White Paper on Investment Incentives, was given to the Press. Otherwise I cannot identify any official press notice that might answer the hon. Member's description.It is not normal practice for press notices to be sent to hon. Members other than to those who are working journalists and who have requested this service. Copies of all press notices issued by the Scottish Information Office are, however, sent to the headquarters of the main political parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the totals of the funds and investments held by the 26 teaching hospitals in London at 31st March, 1969.

The information is as follows:

Hospital	£'000
St. Bartholomew's	4,411
London	2,615
Royal Free	608
University College	1,058
Middlesex	2,024
Charing Cross	907
St. George's	1,168
Westminster	1,242
St. Mary's	1,490
Guy's	6,182
King's College	861
St. Thomas'	5,676
Hammersmith	383
Sick Children's	1,445
Nervous Diseases	122
Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear	277
Moorfields	280
Bethlem and Maudsley	2,017
St. John's	30
Diseases of Chest	627
Royal National Orthopaedic	161
National Heart	159
St. Peter's	68
Royal Marsden	1,297
Queen Charlotte's	417
Eastman Dental	13

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the rule was made that wives of doctors resident in single accommodation at the University College Hospital must leave at 11.30 p.m. and under no circumstances stay the night.

The rule referred to was applied in 1962; it was rescinded in 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many general practitioners are in contractual service with the London Executive Council; and what is the number of these who have registered deputising arrangements for night calls and weekends.

1,976 doctors are in contract with Inner London Executive Council to provide full general medical services, and all of them have arrangements, notified to the executive council, for deputies to act for them when they are absent from their practices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many retirement pensioners are in receipt of supplementary benefits in Scotland at the last available date.

In August, 1970, about 156,000 excluding the wives of male recipients.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) in which quarterly return the Registrar-General will publish the live birth registrations, by birth-place of parents, for the fourth quarter of 1969 and the first quarter of 1970;(2) in which quarterly return the Registrar-General will first publish information on registrations of deaths, by birthplace of the deceased.

The Registrar General's Return for the third quarter of 1970, due out early next year, will contain detailed figures and a short commentary on births occurring in England and Wales analysed by birthplace of parents, and deaths analysed by birthplace of the deceased, for the first twelve-month period for which this information has been collected (April, 1969 to March, 1970).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what manner he intends that claims to family income supplement should be made and dealt with.

In accordance with the normal practice in Social Security Regulations, regulations under Clause II of the Bill will provide for the claim to be made on a form approved by the Secretary of State or in such manner as he may accept as sufficient in the circumstances of any particular case. Claim forms will be available in all local social security offices and will be sent by post on request.

asked the Secretary of Staee for Social Services in what circumstances he proposes to prescribe that a person over 16 years of age is to treated as a child for the purposes of the Family Income Supplements Bill.

I intend that persons over 16 shall continue to be treated as children while they are attending a school or receiving full-time instruction of a kind given in schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision he proposes to make by regulations as to the circumstances in which a person is to be treated as in remunerative full-time work for the purposes of Clause 1 of the Family Income Supplements Bill.

The general rule I propose is that a person will be treated as in remunerative full-time work if he normally works for 30 hours or more per week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision he proposes to make by regulations as to the circumstances in which a family is to be treated as being in Great Britain for the purposes of Clause 1 of the Family Income Supplements Bill.

I propose to exercise the power in Clause 11(2)(c) so as to secure that families will in general be treated as being in Great Britain notwithstanding that they or members of them are temporarily absent therefrom and that families will in general be treated as not being in Great Britain, notwithstanding that they, or members of them, are temporarily present therein. It is contemplated that temporary absence and presence will ordinarily be measured by reference to a period of six months.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision he proposes to make by regulations as to the calculation of a person's normal gross income for the purposes of Clause 4 of the Family Income Supplements Bill.

In general terms, my present intentions are as follows:1. Regulations made under Clause 4(2) will provide that the weekly amount of a person's normal gross income will be calculated or estimated, in so far as it consists of earnings from any gainful occupation, by reference to the average of that person's earnings from that occupation over the period of the five complete weeks (two months if he is paid monthly) immediately preceding the week in which the claim for F.I.S. was made, unless the determining authorities are satisfied that it is appropriate to have regard to the earnings of that person from that occupation over a longer or a shorter period in order fairly to determine what are his normal weekly earnings from it, looking at that Question as at the date of the claim. Where, for example, the person concerned had changed his job within five weeks of the claim for F.I.S. being made, or was in business on his own account, or was in a job in which the earnings varied with the seasons, or was temporarily working short-time, it would normally be appropriate to have regard to a shorter or a longer period than the five weeks (two months) norm.2. In so far as earnings from any gainful occupation comprise salary, wages or fees related to a fixed period, the gross amount will be taken into account. In fixing the make-up levels allowance is made for working expenses.3. In so far as earnings from any gainful occupation do not comprise salary, wages or fees related to a fixed period, the profit from that occupation will be taken into account.4. Initially it is not proposed to exercise the powers conferred under Clause 4(2)(

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will now make a statement about the future development of the Hospital of St. Cross, Rugby;(2) when he expects St. Lukes Hospital, Rugby, to be taken out of use;(3) when he expects Harborough Magna Maternity Hospital, Rugby to be taken out of use;(4) what is the cost of the latest scheme submitted to him by the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board for the development of the Hospital of St. Cross, Rugby.

A twin operating theatre unit was recently completed at the Hospital

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the criteria on which grants are made to voluntary organisations by his Department.

We do not apply rigid or uniform criteria, but expect to assist only organisations of national scope or projects of more than local significance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) which voluntary organisations have applied for grants and been refused by his Department during the period 1965 to 1969;(2) if he will give details of grants made by his Department to voluntary organisations for each of the years 1965 to 1969.

The following table gives details of grants made for the financial years 1965–66 to 1969–70.of St. Cross, and the Department is now studying the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board's proposals to re-develop this hospital to provide 376 beds (224 acute, 112 geriatric and 40 maternity), and supporting services at an estimated cost of £3,800,000.The next stage of development is planned to provide 40 maternity beds and 128 acute beds with other services including new boilers, ante-natal clinic and pharmacy, and on its completion the board envisages that St. Luke's Hospital, Rugby, and St. Mary's Hospital at Harborough Magna will no longer be required for their present use. It will be for the board, which has the primary responsibility for planning hospital services in its region, to decide when a start can be made on the scheme, in the light of the amount of money allocated to it for capital expenditure and the many competing demands upon its resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated total operating cost of St. Cross Hospital, Rugby, during the current financial year.

£610,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the fact that men on reaching retirement age of 65 years can apply for a refund in regard to prescription charges, if he will take steps to allow women, who retire at 60 years, also to apply without waiting five further years.

No. People are exempt from these charges at 65 because from that age they are likely to need an increasing number of prescriptions, not

RETIREMENT PENSION
				Single person						Man plus wife on his insurance
				Rate of pension in payment on that date			Purchasing power at June, 1970 prices			Rate of pension in payment on that date			Purchasing power at June, 1970 prices
Date				£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
June, 1945	…	…	…		10	0	1	5	1	1	0	0	2	10	2
June, 1950	…	…	…	1	6	0	2	17	9	2	2	0	4	13	3
June, 1955	…	…	…	2	0	0	3	7	5	3	5	0	5	9	7
June, 1960	…	…	…	2	10	0	3	14	1	4	0	0	5	18	7
June, 1964	…	…	…	3	7	6	4	7	11	5	9	0	7	2	0
September, 1970		…	…	5	0	0	4	18	10	8	2	0	8	0	2

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for altering the pattern of shipping routes in the Dover Strait and in the southern North Sea.

The present internationally-agreed traffic separation schemes in the area are working well. The schemes are, however, under constant review.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied with arrangements for recording noise levels of aircraft at Heathrow Airport; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state at June, 1970, prices the purchasing power of the National Insurance retirement pension for a single person, and for a retired couple, at the latest date for which figures are available and 1964, 1960, 1955, 1950, and 1945.

The figures are as follows:

The monitoring of noise levels of aircraft taking off from Heathrow is at present carried out by mobile units, and while the arrangements themselves are satisfactory, we hope to improve the coverage from about 80 per cent. to nearer 100 per cent. of all takeoffs by the installation of an automatic system during 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for dispersing wrecks which endanger shipping in the North Sea.

The Department does not possess wreck removal powers. Under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, when port authorities do not have such power Trinity House and the Northern Lighthouse Board have powers to remove wrecks which are a danger to navigation in the North Sea and are within their areas of jurisdiction.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the total operational aircraft fleet of Caledonian/British United Airways is British; and what percentage of the total operational aircraft fleet of British Overseas Airways Corporation is British.

57 per cent. of the long-haul aircraft and all the short-haul aircraft currently operated by Caledonian/British United Airways are of British manufacture. The comparable figures for B.O.A.C. long-haul only, is 50 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to abolish the tax on fuel used by publicly-owned transport.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in his review of purchase tax, he will take into account the difficulties following the change-over to decimal coinage experienced by manufacturers of goods now paying purchase tax at the current rates.

I am not aware of any special difficulties. A notice explaining how decimalisation will affect purchase tax accounting was issued by the Customs and Excise in September.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why it took him until 2nd November to send a formal acknowledgement to the communication addressed to him on 26th October by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, enclosing a letter from the Borough Librarian of the London Borough of Newham concerning proposed library charges; and if he will see that such formal communications are despatched more speedily in the future.

Because the hon. Member's letter did not arrive at the Treasury until three days after the date on the letter.Any inconvenience which may have been caused by the delay in sending a formal acknowledgement until after the intervening weekend is nevertheless regretted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the tax concessions available to parents of a child and to other close relatives who wish to contribute towards the cost of full-time private education for the child.

There are no special tax concessions for this purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the rising cost of travel and the desirability of arranging for many workers to live outside the urban areas in which they work, he will consider, in connection with his next Budget, giving some allowance for tax purposes in respect of travel expenses to and from work.

No. I could not justify giving a tax allowance for this particular form of personal expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the financial condition of first class county cricket clubs, he will take steps to relieve them from paying selective employment tax before the coming season.

I do not think that special action of this kind would be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements have been made for the publication of the interim report of the Review Board for Government Contracts.

The Board made its report on the interim review to the Government and the Confederation of British Industry on 31st July. The report was published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office on 28th August, 1970. I have arranged for a copy of this report, together with a copy of the Board's Annual Report, to be placed in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed and up-to-date list as of 31st October, 1970 of the various Ministerial appointments in Her Majesty's Government, the salaries and allowances in each instance, and the normal tax deductions for a man with wife, with statutory declared allowances and for any person receiving these salary amounts in each instance; and what tax savings will accrue next April as a result of the proposed 6d. reduction in income tax.

(1)				(2)	(3)	(4)			(5)
				Ministerial Salary	Parliamentary Allowance	Income tax and surtax 1970–71			Reduction in income tax
				£	£	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, and Minister for the Civil Service.				14,000	1,250	4,182	1	3	199	12	6
						(see note iv)
Secretary of State for the Home Department.				8,500	1,250	3,247	3	4	166	2	9
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.				8,500	1,250
Lord Chancellor	…	…	…	14,500	—	7,681	16	3	312	2	6
Chancellor of the Exchequer		…	…	8,500	1,250	3,247	3	4	166	2	9
Lord President of the Council		…	…	8,500	1,250
Secretary of State for Defence			…	8,500	—
Secretary of State for Social Services			…	8,500	1,250
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster				8,500	1,250
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and President of the Board of Trade.				8,500	1,250
Secretary of State for Employment			…	8,500	1,250
Secretary of State for Education and Science.				8,500	1,250
Secretary of State for Scotland			…	8,500	1,250
Lord Privy Seal	…	…	…	8,500	—
Secretary of State for the Environment				8,500	1,250
Secretary of State for Wales		…	…	8,500	1,250
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.				8,500	1,250
Minister for Overseas Development			…	8,500	1,250	3,247	3	4	166	2	9
Minister for Trade	…	…	…	8,500	1,250
Minister for Housing and Construction				8,500	1,250
Minister for Transport Industries			…	8,500	1,250
Minister of Posts and Telecommunications.				8,500	1,250
Minister of Aviation Supply		…	…	8,500	1,250
Minister for Industry	…	…	…	7,625	1,250	2,751	6	8	146	13	11
Minister for Local Government and Development.				7,625	1,250
Minister without Portfolio		…	…	7,625	—
Paymaster General	…	…	…	7,625	—
Chief Secretary to the Treasury			…	7,625	1,250
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury				5,625	1,250	1,687	2	6	102	5	0
Financial Secretary to the Treasury			…	5,625	1,250
Ministers of State, Home Office (Two)				5,625	1,250 (1 only)	1,687	2	6	102	5	0

The Ministerial offices shown in column (1) below carry the salaries and parliamentary allowances shown in columns (2) and (3). The income tax and surtax payable for 1970–71 (including surtax—where applicable—at the current (1969–70) rates) by a holder of an office, assuming him to be a married man with no other income or allowances on salaries as in column (2) is shown in column (4) and the reduction in income tax following the proposed reduction of 6d. in the rate is shown in column (5). The figures in columns (4) and (5) are calculated on the assumption that parliamentary expenses absorb the whole of the allowance in column (3). The figures in columns (4) and (5) are based on assumptions set out above and do not necessarily represent the position of the particular holders of the offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the percentage of the land of Carmarthenshire that is under forestry use, either Forestry Commission or private afforestations; what this represents in total acreage; and how this compares with the figures for Wales as a whole.

The woodland statistics for Carmarthenshire and for Wales as a whole, are as follows:

	Area 000 acres	Percentage of total land area per cent.
Carmarthenshire	60·6	10
Wales	543·7	10