asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effects increased competition has had in recent months on keeping prices down; and what further steps he has in mind for reducing prices.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him and others on 27th October.—[Vol. 805, c. 7–11 and 19.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make an estimate of the effect on food prices of the proposed transfer from a guaranteed prices system to an import levy system for agriculture.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 27th October.—[Vol. 805, c. 10.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will institute an inquiry into the practice of increasing prices by means of reducing the weight and quality of foods and other goods for which he is responsible.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the Government's agricultural policy, what steps will be taken in the Price Review to protect the small hill farmer.

I cannot anticipate the outcome of the 1971 Annual Review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he told a member of the National Farmers' Union that 60,000 acres of fruit trees will have to be dug up to reduce the growing of some 200,000 tons of fruit produce; whether he is aware that this will adversely affect some 3,000 British growers and 60,000 full-time and casual workers; whether this proposal is to facilitate Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community; and under what statutory authority he is giving this advice.

I have made no statement to this effect. In the course of an informal conversation with the National Farmers' Union I mentioned an unofficial estimate of the acreage of apples and pears that might possibly go out of production if British growers had to face immediate unrestricted competition from E.E.C. countries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the problems for pensioners and those living alone, caused by the growing numbers of foods sold in pre-packed quantities too large for them; and what steps he will take to remedy the situation.

There is a problem but very small packs cost proportionately more than larger ones. The food trade must assess whether there would be a demand at the price.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the present stocks of butter in the United Kingdom.

Stocks of butter in public cold stores in the United Kingdom at 31st October, 1970, were 20,500 tons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what, from information available from international sources, is the relative proportion of the average housewife's budget spent on butter in Great Britain and in the countries of the European Economic Community.

Precise information is not available but it is estimated that expenditure on butter as a proportion of total consumers' expenditure in 1968 was about 1½ per cent. in Belgium, about 1¼ per cent. in France and West Germany and about ½ per cent. in Italy and the Netherlands; for the United Kingdom a comparable estimate would be ¾ per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is his estimate of the effect, since June, 1970, of competition on the price of tinned meats;(2) what is his estimate of the effect, since June, 1970, of competition on the price of coffee.

I do not make such estimates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the future of the Farm Amalgamation Scheme.

My right hon. Friend is reviewing the farm structure schemes to see whether we can give more effective help for amalgamations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that Paraquat spread in concentrated form from aircraft can be a fatal poison; and whether he will take steps to forbid its being spread from the air.

Paraquat has been cleared for safe use under the Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme. It is not dangerous to people when used in accordance with the instructions agreed under this scheme which are printed on all product containers; and spraying Paraquat from the air has caused no deaths or injuries in the United Kingdom. Our scientific advisers are currently reviewing the suitability of all chemicals, including Paraquat, for aerial spraying operations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will announce his plans on the future of the existing bull licensing scheme; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on 27th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Pembroke (Mr. Nicholas Edwards) and others.—[Vol. 805, c. 5–6.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he has received from fishing interests about pollution in the North Sea; and if he will make a statement;(2) what representations he has made to foreign governments about North Sea pollution and the damage to international fishing interests; and if he will make a statement.

Both the British Trawlers Federation Ltd. and the Scottish Inshore White Fish Producers Association Ltd. have asked for comments on a recent Press report of pollution of the North Sea.My Department has, for some years, been keeping a close check on the possible effects of pollution and we play an active rôle in international discussions. There is no evidence that, apart from some local damage in estuaries and coastal waters, North Sea fish stocks have been affected by existing levels of pollution.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has studied the Report from the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee dated September, 1970; if he proposes amendments to the existing codes of recommendations for the welfare of livestock; and whether he is now in a position to state his proposals for amendments in the light of the Advisory Committee's recommendations.

Yes, and also the report of the State Veterinary Service. Both Reports were placed in the Library of the House on 29th September. My right hon. Friend and I feel that these reports indicate the need for some revisions in the codes, to clarify the intention of certain recommendations and to cover additional points found in the course of the State Veterinary Service survey. We shall shortly be consulting interested organisations on our proposals prior to presenting our final decisions to the House for approval.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the way calves exported to Belgium are being handled and are being slaughtered; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the visit to Brussels on Monday, 9th November by officials of his department to investigate allegations of cruelty to calves in Belgian slaughterhouses exported from Great Britain; and to what extent Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community will affect the regulations regarding humane methods of slaughter in the countries of the Six.

My right hon. Friend is inquiring urgently into the allegations about calves exported to Belgium. As soon as the inquiry has been completed he will inform the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it is his intention, in the next Price Review, to raise the Government subsidy on wool.

I cannot anticipate the Government's determination of guarantees at the next Annual Review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what calculation his Department has made into the financial benefit which British cereal producers would receive in the event of a British adherence to the European Economic Community's agricultural policy at existing European Economic Community price levels.

As E.E.C. cereal prices are hider than those which currently obtain in this country, United Kingdom prices would be expected to rise during transition to the common agricultural policy, but it is not possible to assess the overall benefit to cereal producers as this would depend on the movement of production costs between now and the material time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will the future be of the Milk Marketing Board as a statutory board in the event of the United Kingdom's accession to the Treaty of Rome.

The Government expect that, in the event of the United Kingdom acceding to the European Economic Community, the Milk Marketing Board will continue to play a vital rôle in the marketing of milk.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the evidence submitted to him by the hon. Member for Aylesbury, he is satisfied that Vapona strips contain no potential hazard to health; and if he will now introduce regulations to regulate the manufacture of these strips.

All new evidence on the toxicity of pesticides is automatically reviewed by the Government's scientific advisers as part of the normal operation of the Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme. When they have appraised the evidence submitted by the hon. Member, and other new data on Vapona strips, my right hon. Friend will consider whether any further action is necessary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the vaccination of birds against fowl pest; and to what extent the present outbreak is caused by the failure to vaccinate.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Merioneth (Mr. William Edwards) on 3rd November. Of the 1,606 outbreaks confirmed between 24th August and 12th November, only 130 were in fully vaccinated flocks.—[Vol. 805, c. 336–8.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the current fowl pest epidemic; what estimate he has made of the present and future price of poultry; to what extent turkeys are being affected by the disease; and if he will make a statement concerning the effect of the epidemic on the poultry industry generally.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) today and the hon. Member for Merioneth (Mr. William Edwards) on 3rd November.There was a slight increase in wholesale prices of broilers last week. It is impossible to predict future price movements.Up to 12th November, there were 246 outbreaks of fowl pest affecting turkeys.The epidemic has affected all sections of the poultry industry, but the highest losses have occurred in broilers. This is because very young birds cannot acquire the degree of protection from vaccination that is necessary to withstand the high concentration of infection that has been present in East Anglia recently. It is impossible at this stage to estimate the effect of the epidemic on egg and poultry production.—[Vol. 805, c.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now grant sufficient subsidies to egg producers to prevent increases in the price of eggs.

An increase in the eggs subsidy would not be consistent with the Government's policy of phasing out the guarantee and moving to a free market for eggs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that there is sufficient competition between manufacturers of baked beans to prevent unreasonable increases in price; and if he will make a statement.

One firm has a large share of total sales of baked beans, but in the markets for snack foods and processed vegetables, beans compete with many other products.

asked the Attorney-General if he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes charges made by solicitors in connection with transactions under the Leasehold Reform Act, 1967.

Solicitors' charges for work done in connection with transactions under the Leasehold Reform Act, 1967 are governed by the ordinary rules relating to non-contentious business. Solicitors' remuneration is already under review by the National Board for Prices and Incomes whose next Report is expected early next year.

asked the Attorney-General if he will institute proceedings against Mr. Jerry Rubin and others who smoked drugs in the David Frost Show on Independent Television on Saturday, 7th November, 1970.

Police inquiries into this matter began immediately after the show and are still continuing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will include affiliation payments received by an unmarried mother in respect of her child under the rule for parent-child aggregation.

These payments already rank as income of the mother under the ordinary law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he proposes in the tax law under which a child's income is aggregated with that of its parents when the child is living at home.

We have undertaken to repeal the parent/child aggregation provisions which were introduced in 1968, but I cannot say more at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make available to Members of Parliament full details of any proposals for economic and monetary union put forward by the Commission or the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

A translation is in hand of the Commission's recent proposals on this subject; copies will be placed in the House of Commons Library shortly. As to a statement, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) yesterday.—[Vol. 806, c. 336.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government propose to take to protect retirement pensioners and other low-income groups against the immediate impact of membership of the European Communities on the cost of living.

The Government have made it clear that they will ensure that retirement pensioners and other low-income groups are protected against the adverse effects of any food price increases by means of adjustments of social benefits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider introducing legislation to extend the tax relief available on life assurance policies to those which provide for benefits during disability through accident or sickness.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will instruct the Board of Inland Revenue to return unequivocal answers to applications for clearance under Section 464 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act, 1970.

The Section envisages that the Board of Inland Revenue, subject to their power to request further information if necessary, will notify the applicant within thirty days whether or not they are satisfied that the transaction in question is such that they will not seek to counteract it under Section 460. If the hon. Member considers that these provisions are not being properly administered, perhaps he will let me have particulars.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider introducing amending legislation designed to limit Section 460 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act, 1970, to cases of dividend stripping.

I have taken note of my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, without incurring disproportionate costs, he will publish as much information as may be readily available to him of the numbers of Peers of the Realm who hold paid employment with the Government or any organisation where Exchequer money is expended; whether such appointments are on a full- or part-time basis; and what salaries and/or expenses are paid or allowed in each instance.

The hon. Member may like to refer to the annual White Paper which lists the appointments of members of Public Boards of a commercial character. A number of these appointments are held by Peers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the merger of professional firms in the interests of greater efficiency and economy may be inhibited by income tax and surtax liability on the debtors and work in progress of one of the merging firms; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. If one of the firms has to change the basis of its accounting to conform to that of the other, there may be an immediate additional tax liability under Section 144(2), Income and Corporation Taxes Act, 1970, in respect of the debtors or work in progress or both of the firm making the change without there being any inflow of additional cash. This was neither envisaged nor intended when the Section (originally 18(2) of Finance Act, 1968) was enacted and is manifestly unfair.Accordingly in such circumstances by the device known as "top-slicing", the additional surtax attributable to the Section 144(2) liability will be reduced to six times what it would have been if only one sixth of the amounts in question had been liable to tax. There will be appropriate modifications for firms which have not existed for as long as six years. In the first place this arrangement will be an extra-statutory concession, but my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will seek a suitable opportunity to propose legislative provisions to make it statutory.I realise that this proposal will not solve all the difficulties, but as a further measure of assistance the Inland Revenue will be willing to consider proposals for the payment of the income tax and surtax involved by instalments. For the avoidance of doubt, this extra-statutory concession does not apply to individuals who change their basis of accounting without joining a partnership or to partnerships which change their basis of accounting without merging with another partnership.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Departments have changed their letter-heads to blue since the Government took office; how much letter-paper was wasted as a consequence; and what was the cost.

It is customary for Ministers to have a choice of letter-heads and alterations frequently follow Ministerial changes. Since the present Government took office there has been a change to blue in two Departments. 32,000 sheets of letterpaper costing £124 will now be used for other purposes so that wastage will be minimised.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he will not introduce legislation to amend the Income and Corporation Taxes Act, 1970 so that the general rule whereby benefits which cannot be converted into cash are not taxable is not applied to Ministers of the Crown.

I see no reason to discriminate against Ministers as compared with other persons outside the scope of the special provisions about expenses payments and benefits in the business field.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the total amount owed by Government Departments to United Kingdom firms in respect of work done or equipment delivered, but for which full payment has been delayed due to unresolved queries or other causes.

I regret that this information could not be assembled without a disproportionate expenditure of time and money.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the Inland Revenue, when calculating capital gains assessments involving bonus shares held prior to 6th April, 1965 is writing down the price of these shares on an arithmetical basis instead of using the market price; if he is aware that this can mean a grossly exaggerated taxable figure which conforms to no market value and is calculated to deceive the taxpayer; and if he will direct that the market price standard be enforced.

I am not sure what my hon. Friend has in mind but if he would write to me giving further details I shall be glad to look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measurement his Department uses for determining the increase in the cost of living for retirement pensioners.

We have regard to the official indices of retail prices issued by the Department of Employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many retired pensioners are in receipt of supplementary benefits in the Colne Valley constituency at the latest available date.

I regret that the information is not available because the offices concerned cover a much larger area than the constituency and separate statistics are not maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many retirement people are in receipt of State retirement pensions in the Colne Valley constituency.

I regret that the information requested is not available as the records for retirement pensioners are maintained centrally and not by local areas. On the assumption that the age structure of the population in the Colne Valley constituency does not differ markedly from the rest of the country, it is estimated that the number will be approximately 10,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what investigation he has carried out into the abolition of the earnings rule for retirement pensioners; and what would be the cost of entirely abolishing the earnings rule.

The earnings rule for retirement pensioners is included in the consideration the Government are giving to the reconstruction of the National Insurance scheme. The cost of abolishing this rule and consequently the retirement condition which the rule supports would be about £100 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average cost of each prescription dispensed in 1965 and in each subsequent year to the present date.

As the Answer consists of a table of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to make an announcement on the appointment of an ombudsman for the National Health Service.

I have nothing at present to add to my answer of 14th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 199.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be in a position to issue further guidance to the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board concerning the appointment of a fire safety officer by the North-West Surrey Hospital Management Committee; and when the request for such guidance first reached his Department.

The South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board consulted my Department in July and were told that additional guidance on fire precautions, including advice about the appointment of specialist officers, was being prepared. This guidance will be issued shortly, but meantime the Board will be given the advice they await.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in relation to the practice of certain doctors in the Black Country of charging individuals fees of up to £10 per head before agreeing to include them on National Health Service lists; and if he will make a statement.

I have no evidence of this practice referred to but I understand that Dudley Executive Council have received representations concerning a report that a doctor requires one member of some families to become a private patient before accepting the others as National Health Service patients. Under the procedure for investigating such matters I could have an appellate function to perform and therefore cannot comment further at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many vacancies exist at the present time for fully trained qualified nurses in the hospital services in the city of Carlisle.

The hospitals in Carlisle have nine vacancies for nurses.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications under the National Insurance (Old Persons) Act, 1970, by men over 87 years of age and women over 82 years of age, have been approved by those of his offices concerning persons resident in the Colne Valley constituency.

Separate figures are not available for the Colne Valley constituency but the number of wards made under Section 1 of the Act up to and including 13th November, 1970, by those social security offices which deal with parts of that constituency are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the supply position of pension books for old persons newly entitled under the recent Act.

The supply is adequate to meet our requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of families in the Easington constituency who will receive payments under the Family Income Supplements Bill.

I regret that the information is not available for the reason I gave the House yesterday.—[Vol. 806, c. 348.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he proposes a review of the prescribed sum for family income supplement on a two-yearly basis as he has promised for retirement pensions.

It is certainly my intention to keep the prescribed sums under review, but at this stage in the development of an entirely new benefit I do not think that it would be right to specify the frequency of review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families in Wales and Cardiganshire, respectively, have a total income which is below supplementary benefits level.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are in receipt of war disablement pensions as a result of injuries sustained in the First and Second World Wars, respectively.

94,000 and 295,000 as at 30th June, 1970. The first figure includes a small group of pensioners of earlier wars, mainly the South African War, and the second figure includes persons awarded pensions for disablement from service in the Armed Forces since the end of the Second World War.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the figures of male deaths recorded over the last five years in course of employment on labour-only sub-contracts.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many deaths have been recorded over the last five years of males who have not been covered by National Insurance.

The numbers of male deaths in Great Britain which did not attract death grant under the National Insurance Act are estimated to be as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of persons over 70 years of age living in their own homes on incomes of less than £12 per week.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much the retirement pension and other social security benefits have been reduced in purchasing power since the date of the last increase due to the rise in the cost of living; and by how much he estimates there will be a further fall as a result of the proposals of the mini-budget and when the rise in rents, rates, fares, coal, gas, electricity and other announced increases are fully implemented.

The purchasing power of the standard rate of retirement pension and other national insurance benefits has fallen by 6s. for a single person and 9s. 8d. for a married couple since November, 1969. The second part of the Question is for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many insured workers had claims for injury benefits and sick benefits, respectively, turned down by insurance officers in 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will consider setting up a Department under his administration to collect dental charges to obviate the embarrassment that will be caused by such charges being collected by individual dentists at the time of treatment.

I have considered my hon. Friend's suggestion but I do not think it would be right to adopt it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for which particular groups of people the Mass Mobile Radiography Service continues to be needed.

The Service will continue to be needed for those population groups who are known to have a higher incidence of respiratory tuberculosis than the general population, for example, the inmates of prisons and borstals; for other groups at risk such as people who have been in contact with an infected person; and for people living in areas where direct referral to hospital is not practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards the provision of special driving training for ambulance drivers; and whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of those relevant local authorities which do and do not provide such training.

Training of ambulance staff, including drivers, is a matter for the local health authorities responsible for the provision of ambulance services under Section 27 of the National Health Service Act, 1946. Some guidance on driving competence and training was given in Part I of the Report of the Working Party on Ambulance Training and Equipment published in 1966, and notes on driver training have been issued to local authorities for the use of ambulance instructors. The Local Government Training Board are currently examining the possibilities of introducing further training for ambulance drivers. Detailed information about local authorities' arrangements for driving instruction is not centrally available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to improve the provision of hospital beds and associated facilities in the Royal Northern and Whittington Hospital, Islington, N.19.

The North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board proposes to provide some additional beds and also a small intensive therapy unit at the Royal Northern Hospital. As regards Whittington Hospital I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 24th July.—[Vol. 804, c. 288.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the Government's decision to increase the salaries of the Comptroller and Auditor General from £9,800 per annum to £14,000 per annum, he will give the reasons why he will not take whatever action may be necessary to increase the salaries of all personnel in the health and welfare services by 43 per cent.

These salaries generally are settled by collective bargaining. As regards doctors and dentists I am currently discussing with the professions arrangements for the re-establishment of an independent Review Body to advise the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the purposes for which the Serpentine Gallery is used.

The Gallery has been made available to the Arts Council for the display of works by young artists in the United Kingdom who have not previously had the opportunity of showing their works in London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what damage was caused to Hyde Park, and what was the cost to public funds of holding and clearing up after the pop festival held there.

The pop concert held on 12th September caused very little damage to the Park. The cost to public funds of holding the concert was £2,175 and it cost £150 to clear up afterwards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the building industry concerning Government policy on public expenditure and council house subsidies since 27th October; and what replies he has sent.

The only representations received are a letter which arrived yesterday (16th November) from the Chairman of the National House-Builders Registration Council about housing finance for owner-occupation. My right hon. Friend is considering this letter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount of loans, directly or indirectly from Government sources, which have been made for building work in Manchester, Salford and district to the Manchester and District Housing Association and Slade Properties; at what rate of interest; and what Government housing subsidy is paid to their tenants.

There have been no Exchequer loans to these two bodies. Local authorities have been authorised to make loans totalling £881,814 to the Manchester and District Housing Association with the sanction of the Minister of Housing and Local Government under Section 119 of the Housing Act, 1957. The amounts sanctioned cover site acquisition as well as building work. It is not known whether all sanctions have been exercised. The interest rate is determined for each advance by the local authority. All schemes except a single cost-rent one are subject to arrangements for the passing on of housing subsidy to the association; subsidy is not paid directly to tenants. I am not aware of similar loans to Slade Properties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the number of prosecutions brought by each of the 20 largest local authorities outside London during each of the past five years for failure by private landlords to comply with improvement orders made by medical officers of health; and whether he will also publish similar statistics covering the number of such orders made and the number of those with which landlords did and did not comply.

Failure to comply with an improvement notice is not an offence. The local authority have, however, power in such cases to carry out the works and to recover the expenses incurred.I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures of the total number of notices of this kind served by the 20 largest authorities in each of the last three years. Corresponding information for the two earlier years cannot, however, be provided without a disproportionate use of staff time. The further information about compliance with notices is not available to me.The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to improve the advice available from his Department to local authorities in the field of district heating; and whether he will publish such advice.

My right hon. Friend hopes to issue a circular shortly advising local authorities of questions and points to bear in mind when they consider proposals for district heating schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what technical and financial research he has commissioned into the operation of district heating by local authorities; and if he will list the projects being studied.

The Heating and Ventilation Research Association have been commissioned to carry out research which should give better technical and financial information on district heating schemes in operation. The first part of this work is an analytical study of data from some 40 schemes. The contract for the second part of the study, which will be a detailed investigation into three or four schemes, has recently been placed. The co-operation of the selected authorities will be sought shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what detailed investigations his Department is now undertaking to get district heating in major developments; and if he will list the schemes which his Department is planning to sponsor;(2) what steps he is taking to ensure proper consideration of district heating schemes where they are likely to have economic, social and technical advantages.

Discussions have been held and are continuing with a number of authorities about their major schemes. Better advice based on recent work and experience will shortly be available to enable local authorities to give full and balanced consideration to any proposals for district heating. But, subject to any statutory approvals that may be required, the decision whether to invest their money in district heating rests with the local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he intends to maintain the District Heating Panel originally constituted two years ago by the then Ministries of Housing and Local Government, Public Building and Works, and Power;

It is certainly intended to continue co-operation between the Departments concerned with district heating. The form that co-operation will take is under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will ensure that the case for district heating or total energy schemes is considered as a matter of course in all new and expanded towns and major redevelopment schemes.

Recent evidence suggests that new and expanded towns already consider the case for district heating and that for total energy when the opportunity occurs. They should continue that practice. Local authorities will also be encouraged to do so for their major redevelopment schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will further review standards of building insulation and publish the Report on the subject prepared by the then Ministry of Public Building and Works earlier this year.

Two pieces of work on thermal insulation are in hand. The first is an updating of a Guide Book on Thermal Insulation which gives factual architectural and engineering data on insulation materials. This will be published next year. Secondly, the subject of thermal insulation in housing is being considered inter-Departmentally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what firms engaged on contracts with Government Departments apply labour-only subcontracting; and if he will make a statement.

The information called for is not readily available and would involve disproportionate staff costs and time to obtain. Contracts let on Government form CCC/Wks/1 require contractors to observe the working rules of their industry. In the building sector this includes National Working Rule 8 which sets out agreed conditions to be observed in the employment of a labour-only sub-contractor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has now published the Report to him of the work of the Construction Research Advisory Council and the Construction Industry Research and Information Association.

The Report was published on 1st October and copies have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to strengthen the powers of local authorities to enable them to make safe empty properties in slum clearance and development areas where these properties are not in the immediate ownership of the local authority.

None at present but I am always willing to take note of suggestions on this difficult problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that the Rate Support Grant Amendment Order provides that full account is taken of increased costs to local authorities during the current financial year including the recent pay award to local authority manual workers.

I shall be laying the Rate Support Grant Increase Order before the House shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has approved the Port of Bristol Authority's proposal to build a new West Dock.

Yes. The Port of Bristol Authority have been informed today that the West Dock scheme has been authorised under Section 9 of the Harbours Act, 1964. A decision on any application for grant under Section 12 of the Act will be made in the light of the Government's current review of the future of port modernisation grants generally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost of the preliminary work at present being undertaken in connection with the Neasden Bypass; and if this sum was included in the estimate given by his Department at the public inquiry.

£11,477. Provision was made for this work in the estimate given at the public inquiry, although it was not separately identified in the cost figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to restock rivers with fish.

In general, restocking is a matter for the river authorities or the owners of the fishing rights; and I see no need for special action on my part to secure the restocking of the fairly short stretches of the three or four rivers where there were substantial fish kills as a result of the measures taken during the course of the recent strike of local authority manual workers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will initiate as a matter of urgency the construction of a third lane on the existing two-lane stretch of the M1 between South Bedfordshire and Hendon.

My right hon. Friend has received the report of a Departmental project feasibility study upon the widening of this section of the M1 and he is urgently investigating the best means of providing additional capacity, or otherwise improving conditions for traffic, on this section of the M1.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which Government Department is responsible for arranging discussions with local authorities and other interested bodies on proposals or suggestions made by a regional planning council concerning the location of a regional airport.

My right hon. Friend's department is primarily responsible for the Regional Economic Planning Council and is always ready to give them any help they may request in approaching other Departments or authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has now had with representatives of the farming industry about anomalies in the rating of farm buildings; and if he will make a statement.

Consultations with representatives of the farming industry are in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to bring to the attention of local authorities their powers to give financial help to rural transport.

My right hon. Friends, the Secretaries of State for the Environment and Wales have today sent circulars of guidance to local authorities in England and Wales. Copies are available in the Library. They have been prepared in close consultation with the associations representing local authorities and bus operators, and with the benefit of the experience of those local authorities who have been among the first to make use of their rural bus grant powers. The Government reimburses to local authorities 50 per cent. of their expenditure on these grants.The circulars explain that assistance may be given to services whether operated by buses or by smaller vehicles such as minibuses, cars, taxis or dual-purpose vehicles. Local authorities do not need prior approval before introducing schemes on which they intend to claim the Government contribution, so long as they follow the guidance code, but an annual review will be made of the progress of the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which local education authorities have informed her that they do not intend to proceed with the reorganisation of secondary education on comprehensive lines.

None. Circular 10/70 conferred greater freedom on authorities to determine the shape of secondary provision in their areas and many are still reviewing their position. I believe that this opportunity has been generally welcomed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of students in each of the constituent colleges of the University of Wales.

The number of full-time students at the beginning of the autumn term, 1970, was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what increase there has been in the approximate total value of indemnities given to owners for the total loss of objects loaned to the Tate Gallery, since the publication of the Supplementary Estimates, as a result of the holding of temporary exhibitions.

The exhibition "Leger and Purist Paris" temporarily increases the published liability by approximately £4½ million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's responsibility for price increases.

The responsibility for current price increases lies largely with the previous Government who set in motion the wage inflation which is their principal cause.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has given further consideration to the Report of the inspectors appointed to investigate the affairs of the Pinnock Finance Company; and whether he has now decided to publish the Report.

We have not yet decided whether to publish the Report. We are at present consulting the liquidators of the company and of its associated companies on the matter but these consultations will take a little time.

asked the Secretary of Trade and Industry what was the total tonnage of imported butter in each of the years 1965 to 1969; from which countries the imports came; and in what annual tonnage from each source.

Information up to 1968 is published in Volume II of the Annual Statement of Trade of the United Kingdom. For 1969 the information appears in Table I of the Overseas Trade Accounts for December, 1969. Imports varied from 413,000 tons in 1969 to 453,000 tons in 1967, and the main sources of supply were New Zealand, Denmark and Australia.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure collaboration between the fuel industries and public authorities on the problems of technical evaluation, design and financing of total energy and district heating schemes.

None. This is a matter for the industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure more adequate evaluation of total energy and district heating schemes by private and public developers.

Officials of the Department are taking part in an inter-Departmental study of these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to set up State-operated factories in areas affected by pit closures.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of New Zealand's exports came to Great Britain in 1939, 1959 and 1969.

80 per cent., 56 per cent. and 39 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that, following the passage of legislation to compel farmers to fit cabs to tractors, the manufacturers of such tractors have increased the basic price of tractors considerably; and if he will therefore introduce legislation to control such prices.

As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Employment said in the House on 23rd July, the Government believe that competition is the most effective means of safeguarding the consumer. In the circumstances legislation to control prices would not be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what proportion of North Sea gas supply comes from the West Sole field;(2) what is the current daily flow rate of natural gas extracted from North Sea fields;

I am asking the Chairman of the Gas Council to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the United Kingdom total energy consumption is now met from the natural gas fields beneath the North Sea.

Approaching 5 per cent. so far this financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for a White Paper on the Common Market negotiations so far to be published.

It would not be appropriate at this stage of the negotiations to publish a White Paper. My right hon. Friend the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster reported to the House on the progress of the negotiations on 23rd July and I made a statement on 29th October. I will continue to keep the House informed as the negotiations progress.—[Vol. 804, c. 784–6; Vol. 805, c. 439–41.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will state the general nature of the agreement or understanding reached with the European Economic Community regarding liquid milk.

As I told the House in my statement on 29th October, the Community recorded, on 27th October, its agreement with our understanding of the possibilities which will be open to us and which would ensure the provision of adequate supplies of liquid milk to meet the consumer demand throughout the country throughout the year. The subject of liquid milk need not be raised again except in the general context of transitional arrangements.—[Vol. 805, c. 439–41.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, consequent on the proposals to impose levies on imported food, he has had consultations with the Governments of New Zealand and Australia; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. We have begun consultations with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand; and also with those of Argentina, Canada, Denmark, the Irish Republic and the United States. We are having multilateral talks today on our proposals for beef and veal with the Governments of the countries which are our main suppliers, and with others interested in the trade. One of our objects is to minimise the disturbance to trade. We intend to achieve this object through the consultations and negotiations which we are engaged in.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to and received from foreign governments concerning searches made by Her Majesty's naval vessels of foreign-owned vessels in the Irish Sea and British territorial waters since 1st November.

The Ambassador of the Irish Republic called on my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Stale on Friday, 13th November, to express his Government's deep concern at the boarding and search by H.M. ships of certain vessels flying the flag of the Irish Republic. All the incidents referred to by the Ambassador took place within Northern Ireland territorial waters.

asked the Secretary of Stale for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware of the concern felt by the career diplomats of the practice of appointing bankers, industrialists and party politicians to the top Ambassadorial jobs; and whether he will take action to prevent such appointments in the future.

The appointment of distinguished people from outside the Diplomatic Service as Ambassadors and High Commissioners is a well-established practice and from time to time the public interest requires it. The number of such appointments is less now than at any time since the war and I have no reason to believe that there is concern among members of the career service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to require magistrates' and other courts to state reasons whenever they fail to award costs to acquitted defendants.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications were made in 1969 and 1970 for legal aid in Manchester and Salford magistrates' courts; and how many of these were refused.