asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider scheduling emphysema as an industrial disease to people working, or who have worked, in the coalmining industry.

No. On present evidence, emphysema does not satisfy the requirements for prescription laid down in the Industrial Injuries Act.The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council is currently reviewing the definition of pneumoconiosis and what special provision, if any, should be made for disablement due to other respiratory conditions, which would include emphysema, found in the presence of pneumoconiosis. It is not possible to anticipate when the Council will be in a position to report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Social Services what estimate he has made of the amount of savings which will be made in the expenditure of his Department as a result of recent Government policy statements.

Estimates of savings and increases are shown in Cmnd. 4515.

asked the Secretary of State for the Social Services whether he will make a statement on the measures which he is taking to increase the accessibility of advice on benefits available under present and future health and social security legislation.

The Department will seek to improve public awareness of social benefits through thousands of personal letters to those best placed to advise, direct approach through voluntary organisations and extensive newspaper advertising. In addition, Social Security leaflets, of which 19 million are distributed each year, will be systematically simplified.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local authorities have in the last six months ceased to have a Mass Radiography Service operating in their areas.

All Regional Hospital Boards will be retaining one or more mobile units which will be available to visit local authority areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the fact that mass X-ray facilities were provided for Members of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster on 25th November, he will reconsider his decision not to provide such facilities for the general public.

No. I would expect Regional Hospital Boards to fulfil current programmes for routine general population surveys, which should then be discontinued.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will encourage for residents of elderly persons welfare homes the provision of medical treatment which will remove the need for them to be moved into hospital for minor ailments.

The care provided for elderly people in local authority residential homes is intended to be of the kind they would receive from relatives in their own homes with the help and advice of the general practitioner and the home nurse, and should be adequate for minor ailments.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give official approval to the setting up of community hospitals, so that the regional board may proceed with the planning and setting up of such hospitals.

We are studying the question. Particular types of community hospital are to be tested by means of pilot schemes in the Oxford region.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will undertake a review of terms of engagement and conditions of employment for all nurses in the National Health Service.

The salaries and conditions of service of nurses are matters for negotiation in the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council and the rôle of the nurse generally in hospitals and the community is being reviewed by the Committee on Nursing under the Chairmanship of Professor Asa Briggs.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will indicate how his Department assesses the various age and income groups' fuel requirements for a one, two and three-bed-roomed house, respectively; whether the age and state of health is provided for in all such assessments; and if he will make a statement.

I assume that the hon. Member has the supplementary benefits scheme in mind. The scale rates, which cover normal fuel requirements, take account of the size of the family, but do not vary with the type of accommodation, since housing costs are dealt with separately. Those who have exceptional needs for extra heating, because of bad accommodation or poor health, receive special additional payments to cover this expense. As I told my hon. Friend, the Member for Reading (Dr. Vaughan) on 26th November, these payments are being improved.—[Vol. 807, c. 210–11.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in view of the rise in fuel costs, if he will consider a special fuel allowance for the coming winter for retirement pensioners as an emergency measure.

No. Those on supplementary benefit, however, will be helped by the increases in the scale-rates which came into effect on 2nd November. And, as I told my hon. Friend the Member for Reading (Dr. Vaughan) on 26th November, the Supplementary Benefits Commission are improving the provision made for those claimants who are in special need of extra heating.—[Vol. 807 c. 210–11.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the earliest day on which mothers of one-child families earning less than £18 13s., of two-child families with earning and family allowances obtaining £20 15s. or less, and of three-child families obtaining £22 19s. or less, respectively, may apply to their local office of the Department of Health and Social Security to receive a prescription exemption certificate; when the necessary forms will be available; and if application has to be personal.

The new income levels will apply from the introduction of the higher charges on 1st April, 1971; parents with slightly lower incomes can, however, apply for exemption at present. All children up to 15 are exempt. Forms are always available and claims can be made either by post or in person.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number of persons who pay £1 10s. and £2 15s. to cover the cost of prescriptions for six months and 12 months, respectively; and what opportunity is given to those persons to pay either of the aforementioned amounts by an instalment method.

In the twelve months ended 30th June, 1970, 83,600 prepayment certificates were issued by Executive Councils in England, 45,500 for a period of six months and 38,100 for a period of twelve months. An instalment method of payment would not be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of porters employed at the Central Middlesex Hospital; and what is the weekly rate of pay of the head porter and the rate for other grades in the portering service.

77 excluding two posts of Deputy Head Porter which are at present vacant. The Head Porter's basic weekly rate is 461s. The rates for the Deputies are 415s. and 395s. The rates for other grades range from 310s. to 341s. All these rates will be increased by 50s. from 13th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be able to announce his new hospital building programme.

My statement of 11th November fore-shadowed an increased hospital building and improvement programme.—[Vol. 806, c. 391–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the result of his consideration of the cost of providing the disabled with a normal type car as opposed to the three-wheeled vehicle currently supplied.

This point is one of those that will be taken into account in the review of the invalid vehicle service which my right hon. Friend is pursuing and I cannot anticipate the outcome of this review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will seek to arrange that all new designs of vehicles introduced for use on the road by disabled drivers will be tested and examined by the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

No. But we will continue to consult interested organisations, including the Institute, when appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further statement on his policy relating to the reduction of smoking of cigarettes in the United Kingdom.

I cannot at present add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon) on 2nd November.—[Vol. 805, c. 270.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the Mac- Gregor Committee on the definition of drugs has been discontinued; and what measures he intends to take to ensure that this work is continued.

Because enquiries showed that "Proplist", the publication containing the Committee's classifications, was little used by general practitioners. The Health Services Councils are making new arrangements for advising whether certain borderline substances should be regarded as drugs or as foods, toilet preparations etc.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the facilities available to allow a rapid determination of the drugs being misused by an addict, when he comes to a centre for the treatment of narcotic addiction; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Laboratory facilities for this purpose are available to all such treatment centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will authorise the refund of prescription charges where the drugs or medicines prescribed are found to have undesirable side effects and have to be discontinued, or if for any other reason the treatment is altered and the original supplies of drugs or medicines are withdrawn.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a further statement of policy on family allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now increase the level of family allowances.

I would refer my hon. Friends to my reply to similar Questions on 2nd November.—[Vol. 805, c. 269–70.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons over 80 years of age have taken advantage to date of the pension scheme introduced in July, 1970.

Up to and including 24th November, 1970, 113,000 pensions had been awarded under Section 1 of the National Insurance (Old Persons' and Widows' Pensions and Attendance Allowance) Act, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what statistics he maintains regarding the value of occupational pensions and the response of occupational pension schemes to changes in the value of money.

Information is available from the periodic surveys of occupational pension schemes carried out by the Government Actuary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will establish the practice of an annual review of retirement pensions.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that since November, 1969 the single person's retirement pension has fallen in purchasing value by 6s. per week and the married couple by 9s. 8d. on official cost of living figures; and, as during this period the Government have increased the salaries of the higher paid civil servants by 43 per cent., whether, in his two-year review, he will increase retirement pensions by 43 per cent.

I do not accept the basis of comparison, and in any case, the outcome of next year's review cannot be anticipated.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for changing the structure of local appeal tribunals.

A recent review of the number and distribution of Supplementary Benefit Appeal Tribunals has shown that appeals can be heard more speedily by concentrating the work in a smaller number of centres. After consulting the Council on Tribunals, I have decided to reduce the number of these tribunals from 151 to 119 and to re-locate some of them. Tribunal members are being informed of these changes which will take effect as from July, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what closures of hospital beds have taken place in the last week in North Staffordshire hospitals; how many of these were pay beds; and how many pay beds remain.

The temporary closure of 193 beds in the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary and the City General Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, was announced on 10th November. Seven of these were pay beds; 41 pay beds remain in hospitals in the North Staffordshire Hospital Management Committee area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he intends to take to provide medical and pharmaceutical facilities at Knutton, Staffordshire.

I understand that family doctor and pharmaceutical services for Knutton are provided by nearby doctors and chemists, some of whom have premises about a mile away. The Staffordshire Executive Council, who are responsible for arranging the provision of these services, have not had reports of patients experiencing difficulty in obtaining them. Neither my right hon. Friend nor the Executive Council have power to direct doctors and chemists where they should practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the report on London's homeless by Mr. John Greve, commissioned by his Department, will be published.

I understand that the research team expect to publish this report about the end of March next.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the numbers of working days lost because of sickness and industrial injuries in the years 1967, 1968 and 1969; and what was the amount of money paid in benefits in each of these years.

The following is the information:

NUMBERS OF DAYS OF SICKNESS AND INDUSTRIAL INJURY NOTIFIED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY
Days (million)
	Sickness	Industrial Injury	Total
1966–67	301	23	324
1967–68	328	23	351
1968–69	329*	23*	352*
* Provisional figures.

AMOUNTS PAID IN SICKNESS AND INJURY BENEFIT
£ (million)
	Sickness	Injury	Total
1966–67	262	32	294
1967–68	323	35	358
1968–69	348	34	382

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a comprehensive booklet setting out a full explanatory list of family benefits available from his Department, discretionary allowances made by local authorities to families and the names of charitable societies concerned with alleviating family poverty.

The preparation of such a booklet is one of several measures I am considering to ensure that families, and in particular needy families, know of benefits and exemptions to which they have a right. It would not be practicable to include discretionary allowances by local authorities as these vary from authority to authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many low-paid workers are at present claiming each of the following benefits for their families, free school meals, free welfare milk, prescription charge refunds, school uniform grants, educational maintenance allowances, spectacle charge refunds, free welfare foods, rent rebates, rate rebates and, where provided, assistance in regard to the costs of child care, home help, day nursery care and boarding education; and for each benefit what is the proportion of those applying to the total number of families eligible on grounds of low income.

Below is the available information in regard to my Department's responsibilities. There is no reliable method of making the estimates requested in the last part of the Question.Following is the available information. It relates to low-paid workers, and others on low incomes, but does not include recipients of supplementary benefit who obtain automatic exemption from a refund of National Health Service charges:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why Mr. A. G. Webb, 60, St. Stephen's Road, E.6, who loses three days' wages every few months so as to attend hospital for the treatment of a prescribed industrial disease, is only paid one day's hospital treatment allowance every time.

Because the Chief National Insurance Commissioner, to whom the hon. Member's constituent appealed, decided that the allowance was not payable for the day on which he was admitted to hospital or for the day on which he was discharged. The reasons for the Chief Commissioner's decision are fully set out in his decision, a copy of which I understand the hon. Member has studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to amend Section 16 of the Industrial Injuries Act so as to make sure that hospital treatment allowances are paid for the days of entering and leaving hospital as well as complete days spent in hospital.

No. My right hon. Friend does not consider that such a change, which would be inconsistent with the way in which days of entering and leaving hospital are treated for other purposes under the National Insurance Acts, is necessary or desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the survey of precautions against tuberculosis in hospital laboratories, post-mortem rooms and animal houses in England and Wales, will be available; and what form its publication will take.

The attention of all hospital authorities has been drawn to the survey findings and they have been asked to ensure that remedial action is taken in any case where the survey disclosed deficiencies. They have also been asked to report on action taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the study of life expectancy of medical laboratory technicians is now under way; and, if so, when the report can be expected.

Experts in occupational health are carrying out a feasibility study and we expect to receive their findings early in the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when it is intended to commence the construction of a new hospital in Oldham; how many beds will be provided in the new hospital; and over what period of time will its building be phased.

Redevelopment of the hospital services in Oldham is under review by the Manchester Regional Hospital Board, and we await the outcome of that review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date the instruction was issued for the revision of welfare milk tokens as from the week ending 10th April, 1971.

Immediately after the announcement of the date of operation of the revised arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why, when a person has suffered from a prescribed industrial disease for a number of years, this fact is not mentioned on the death certificate as a contributory factor.

It should be mentioned only if the certifier considers it to be a contributory factor.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what degree of malnutrition his latest survey into poverty has revealed among the children of Great Britain.

Information on the nutritional state of children will be provided by special nutrition studies which have been or are being carried out. Such results as are available indicate that the degree of malnutrition is slight.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many retirement pensioners were in receipt of supplementary benefits at the last convenient date; how these numbers compare with the situation in November, 1969; and what percentage, respectively, these constitute of the total number of persons in receipt of retirement pensions on these dates.

In August, 1970, the last month for which information is available, and also in November, 1969, about two million retirement pensioners were receiving a supplement to their pension. This figure, which includes about one-third of a million wives whose requirements are taken into account in assessing their husband's supplementary pension, represents 27·2 and 27·7 per cent., respectively, of the total number of persons receiving retirement pensions on those dates.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, whether he will take steps to make interim provision for those known cases of hardship who must otherwise wait until April, 1972, to receive the Constant Attendance Allowance.

My hon. Friend will appreciate that if we could put attendance allowance into payment earlier, we would do so. We shall push ahead as quickly as possible with our work on this.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to improve the mental health services of Hull and North Humberside.

Improvements and extensions are in hand at Tilworth Grange and Brandesburton Hospitals; further improvements at these and at Winestead Hospital are planned. The Regional Hospital Board hope during the next two years to add 15 beds to the children's unit at De la Pole Hospital and to improve the rehabilitation facilities there; and to start work on a 30-bed admission unit with out-patient facilities at Broadgate Hospital, Beverly.My Department are to discuss further developments with the Regional Hospital Board in the light of the Government's decision that more resources should be allocated to mental health. The local authority capital programme for the mentally ill includes new day centres at Hull and Withernsea and a hostel at Bridlington.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what his Department's plans are for new hospital building in Bradford; and if he will make a statement.

The Leeds Regional Hospital Board proposes to develop the Bradford Royal Infirmary and Lynfield Mount Hospital as the district general hospital for Bradford. The proposal is questioned by Bradford City Council and is being considered with alternative proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will announce the result of his investigation into the allegations concerning the sale of live foetuses for research.

These allegations were investigated by my predecessor, and I do not consider that any further investigation is called for. An Advisory Group is inquiring into the ethical, medical, social and legal implications of using foetuses and foetal material for research.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department has investigated the new unit to assist severely disabled people known as System Sun, details of which are in his possession; and what conclusions he has reached about making it available on the National Health Service.

The hon. Member may have intended to refer to an aid called System Seven. Arrangements are being made to examine this.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospitals have had to curtail or stop abortion facilities because of refusal of nursing or medical staff to co-operate.

I have been informed of 13 cases where services have been stopped or curtailed other than for a short period.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what hygiene regulations are laid down by his Department concerning the opening of eating places in London; and whether he will make a statement.

Catering premises are subject to the requirements of the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1960, which are designed to protect the consumer by ensuring that food is kept and handled under hygienic conditions and that the premises, equipment and facilities for keeping clean are satisfactory. Revised Regulations were laid on 18th August to come into operation on 1st March next.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the annual death rate from bronchial diseases since 1965 to the present time.

The figures are as follows:

England and Wales, Annual death rates from Bronchial diseases per million living
(i) Asthma, emphysema, bronchitis (acute and chronic) bronchiectasis
1965	692
1966	734
1967	637
1968	751
1969	772 provisional

Figures based on I.C.D. categories (7th Revision) 241, 500–502, 526 for years 1965–67, and on categories (8th Revision) 466, 490–493, 518 for years 1968 and 1969.

(ii) Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung
1965	554
1966	563
1967	585
1968	593
1969	610 provisional

Figures based on I.C.D. categories (7th Revision) 162, 163 for years 1965–67 and on category (8th Revision) 162 for years 1968 and 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to publish a White Paper on the plight of the subnormal.

I expect to issue policy guidance probably in the early spring.

asked the Secretary of State for the Social Services whether he is yet able to make an announcement on the appointment of an ombudsman for the National Health Service.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital in-patients during 1968, 1969 and the first nine months of 1970 have been requested to leave hospital before their course of treatment is completed in order to create bed vacancies for persons more seriously ill than themselves.

The discharge of a patient is a matter for the individual doctor concerned, but if the hon. Member wishes me to look into a particular case, I would willingly do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which benefits related to the relief of family poverty he is planning to promote within the next year by advertising campaigns; and how much he is proposing to devote from the advertising budget for each benefit.

Two campaigns next year will cover free milk, free dental and optical treatment, exemption from prescription charges, free school meals and Family Income Supplement, the second campaign being devoted entirely to Family Income Supplement.Exact amounts for the two campaigns have not yet been settled and will depend on the most effective advertising method aimed to reach families who have a right to the benefits and exemptions; but substantial sums will be spent and the advertising will include national newspapers and will be backed up by direct approach to thousands of workers in local government and in social and other related services and the voluntary organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his official meeting with the British Dental Association.

I had a full discussion with representatives of the Association about the proposed new charges for dental treatment. I hope to write to the Association later this week about the specific matters they asked me to consider.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will implement the suggestion in paragraph 992 of the Report of the Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers' Associations 1965–68 to define the expression, directly interested, in cases where social security benefit is being received or claimed by persons affected by a trades dispute.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much he estimates the various stated social service benefits have been reduced in purchasing power since 17th June to the latest stated date; by how much he anticipates a further fall when the various price increases and tax adjustments now anticipated have been fully implemented; and whether he will take steps to increase these benefits by the last-mentioned figure.

From June to October this year, the purchasing power of social security benefits fell by about 2·2 per cent., as measured by the general index of retail prices. Supplementary benefits have since been increased. On the question of future estimated movements in the retail prices index, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 24th November.—[Vol. 807, c. 65.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the maximum marginal levy in terms of means-tested benefits forgone which he plans to implement for low-paid workers.

I take it that the hon. Member is referring to the interaction of the various systems of means-tested benefits. This problem is under examination.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, for very low-paid workers who are unemployed and for whom the addition of the family income supplement to normal gross family earnings would produce a figure that is still below the current National Joint Council local authority labouring rates, the latter rather than the former will continue to form the basis of the calculation of any wage-stop that may be imposed.

National Joint Council rates are only used as a measure of likely earnings for those claimants for whom it is not possible to take an individual earnings figure. Actual rates of earnings, plus next year's family income supplement, will continue to be used to determine wage-stop levels wherever possible; National Joint Council rates plus family income supplement only being used where reliable evidence of likely earnings does not exist.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the addition to a family's weekly earnings of the family income supplement will be taken into account in assessing entitlement to other means-tested benefits.

Yes. But I should make it clear that in most cases of statutory means-tested benefits the payment of family income supplement will not affect entitlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether recovery of other benefits will be permitted under the Family Income Supplement Bill where an intention is attributed to a family so to rationalise the stream of its weekly earnings as to maximise its entitlement to the supplement.

The provision for recovery of overpaid supplement will apply only in cases where the payee has not disclosed all material facts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the Government's decision to increase the pay of the higher paid civil servants by 43 per cent., he will give the reasons why he will not take steps to increase all social security benefits by 43 per cent.

No Government has ever accepted such comparisons as the basis for determining the levels of social security benefits.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ban the Unicar system of cattle farming.

The Unicar system is not being used in this country. My right hon. Friend cannot impose a ban without sufficient evidence to justify it. Ministry officials are taking steps to obtain further information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the purposes for which a large number of ponies were shipped from Great Yarmouth during recent weeks.

Ponies may be exported only for breeding, riding or exhibition. If the hon. Member has any evidence that exports in recent weeks were for any other purpose, I hope he will supply me with it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the regulations imposed over the movement of ponies from one place to another for the purposes of sale.

Orders under the Diseases of Animals Act provide for the protection of ponies in transit by road, rail or sea. Under the Ponies Act, 1969 ponies may be exported only for breeding, riding or exhibition. Otherwise there are no restrictions on movement other than those that apply when outbreaks of notifiable diseases occur.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many outbreaks of fowl pest have been recorded in Wales to date; what precautions are being taken; and if he will make a statement.

There have been two outbreaks in Wales this year, both in small flocks in Monmouthshire. Movement restrictions on poultry, eggs and persons on both premises were imposed immediately the disease was confirmed, and poultry farms in the vicinity of the outbreaks were visited to check the health of stock and advise on security and hygiene precautions. Wide publicity has been given to the precautions all poultry keepers should observe.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will give immediate assistance to those farmers who are in danger of losing the whole of their stocks through fowl pest;(2) if he will take action as a matter of urgency to bring assistance to those farmers in the constituency of the hon. Member for Heywood and Royton, about whom information has been supplied; and if he will make a statement.

Ministry officials are already doing all they can to restrict the spread of fowl pest and to help producers with advice on the prevention and control of the disease. It would not be right for the Government to go further and assume financial responsibility for the effects of the disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tonnage of animal feedingstuffs was sent from Great Britain to Northern Ireland in the years 1968, 1969 and to the most convenient date in 1970; what was the retail price per ton in Great Britain of these feeding stuffs; and what was the increase in retail price per ton as the result of shipment to Northern Ireland.

The tonnage of animal feeding stuffs sent from Great Britain to Northern Ireland was 180,000 tons in 1968, 117,000 tons in 1969 and 45,000 tons up to the end of September this year. Since these totals cover a wide variety of feedingstuffs it is not possible to specify retail prices in Great Britain or Northern Ireland without a disproportionate amount of effort.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many boats in England now have licences to catch salmon by drift net; and how this number compares with the total in each of the last five years.

Licences, which are issued by river authorities, are for nets, not boats. I am afraid that it is not possible, in those areas where different kinds of net are equally permissible, to say how many licensees actually used drift nets in any year. The total number of licences issued, in England and Wales, in areas where drift nets, or nets of a similar type, are allowed were:

Season	Number
1965	213
1966	213
1967	218
1968	231
1969	245
1970	332

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average cost of production of carrots this year; what was the average price paid to the grower; what was the average wholesale price; and what was the average retail price.

I regret that information on current costs of production of carrots and prices paid to growers is not available. Because both wholesale and retail prices of carrots are subject to marked variation within each season average prices calculated over a period longer than a month would be misleading.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the number of miles of hedgerow uprooted in each of the last 10 years.

No such estimates are available, but figures which have been published by the Nature Conservancy suggest that farmers on arable land may have removed 3,500 miles per year between 1962 and 1966, and that this figure may have fallen to 2,000 miles per year between 1966 and the present day.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his assessment of the effect on the United Kingdom home market of fish imports in the event of the United Kingdom joining the European Economic Community.

Various detailed provisions of the Community's common fisheries policy have yet to be settled, and much would of course turn on the transitional arrangements and other terms of entry for the United Kingdom and other applicants. But because so much of the fish we import at present comes with little or no restriction from present members or applicants for membership of the Community, I should expect any effect on our market to turn mainly on the relative attractions of other markets inside and outside an enlarged Community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends that the flexible guarantee arrangements for pigs shall continue in operation during the transition period before the United Kingdom becomes a full member of the European Economic Community.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to him on 30th November.—[Vol. 807, c. 294–5.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the possibilities that will be open to the United Kingdom relating to the liquid milk market in an enlarged Community.

The European Economic Community does not yet have a regulation for liquid milk. I anticipate, however, that, if the United Kingdom were a member of the European Economic Community, the differential between the price of milk for liquid consumption and the price of milk for manufacture would be sufficient to ensure that an adequate supply of milk for liquid consumption would be available throughout the country and throughout the year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the present proposals in the European Economic Community on the control of the ingredients and composition, including strength, of draught beer will apply to Great Britain if she enters the Common Market; and whether he will discuss this subject with representatives of the brewing industry.

We are already discussing these proposals with the brewing industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current annual expenditure of his Department on coastal protection.

Grants by my Department to river authorities and their predecessors towards capital works of improvement to sea and tidal defences have been running at just under £1 million per annum. Grants towards expenditure by local authorities on works to arrest coast erosion are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to protect fishery resources of the sedentary species against industrial operations on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf.

Inter-Departmental arrangements enable my right hon. Friend to consider any fishery aspects of proposed operations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for strengthening the pollution abatement powers of the district sea fisheries committees.

Ministers are at present considering the recommendations made in the Report of the Working Party on Sewage Disposal as well as that of the Technical Committee on the Disposal of Solid Toxic Wastes which were published in July and August respectively. Both reports commented on the question of pollution control within the three-mile territorial limit.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the National Federation of Meat Traders Associations concerning a possible shortage of home-produced meat in March; what was his reply; and whether he will make a statement.

The Federation have suggested to my right hon. Friend that the detailed application of the recent increase in the guaranteed price for fat cattle might result in an excess of marketings this autumn and a consequent shortage of home-produced beef next spring. The increase in the guaranteed price was an essential step in safeguarding our home-produced beef supplies; and the revised seasonal scale of standard prices together with the operation of the scale of abatements and supplements should encourage orderly marketing of fat cattle throughout the winter and spring months.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the danger to human beings from mercury compounds deposited in the sea, revealed by studies recently made in the United States of America, details of which are in his possession, what work is being done in Great Britain on the problem; and what action he proposes to take.

I am aware of United States studies of this matter. My Department in association with other Government Laboratories, is also studying the problem of mercury compounds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on flood alleviation measures for the River Wey.

The Thames Conservancy as the responsible land drainage authority have prepared outline schemes to give protection to Guildford and the lower Wey Valley. These schemes, which are both complex and costly, are under consideration by my Department for grant purposes and we expect to be in touch with the Thames Conservancy about them shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the first proof specimens of decimal currency to be on sale.

The Royal Mint are currently planning to issue a final £ s. d. proof set towards the end of 1971. This will probably be followed by a decimal proof set.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the first proof decimal sets to be sold will include Maundy money.

Present plans for the issue of United Kingdom proof sets do not include Maundy money.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a breakdown of the statistics showing how a family of man, wife and two children aged seven and 12 years, with an earned income of £1,500, £2,000, £3,000, £5,000, £10,000, and £25,000, respectively, will fare as a consequence of the proposed income tax reduction, the proposed increase in charges for school meals, prescriptions and other health charges, school milk and welfare milk.

The reduction in income tax will benefit the two-child family at each level of income mentioned in the question: details are given in the table at the end of this Answer.The effect of the increased prescription and other health charges will depend upon the use made of the health services. The charges, for which only the parents are liable, will have an average annual effect from April, 1971 in the region of 30s. each parent per year. Assuming that the children take school meals, higher school meals charges will cost about £6 10s. a year each from April, 1971. The lowering of the age of eligibility for free school milk, starting in school year 1971–72, will not affect the 12-year-old since secondary school children are ineligible now. The seven-year-old will be affected by the withdrawal of free school milk if his seventh birthday occurred before the end of the preceding summer term. It would cost about 30s. in the financial year 1971–72 if the parents decide to replace the milk by greater private purchases. Children over five are ineligible for welfare milk.

				Tax that will be paid after reduction of standard rate
Income Per annum	Tax Reduction Per annum			Tax Paid Per annum
£	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
1,500	13	2	6	203	9	3
2,000	22	17	0	354	3	1
3,000	42	5	11	655	10	10
5,000	84	1	7	1,303	3	6
10,000	193	5	0	2,995	7	6
25,000	568	5	0	8,807	17	6

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a breakdown of the statistics showing how a family of man, wife and two children aged seven and 12 years, with an earned income of the average national weekly wage of £25 16s. 5d. will fare as a conseqeuence of the proposed increase in charges for school meals, prescriptions, and other health charges, school milk, and welfare milk.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton). The information there on the effect of increases in charges is applicable also to the family of a man earning £25 16s. 5d. a week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in his study of value-added tax, he will consider the desirability of enabling local authorities adding a surcharge to this tax, the level being determined by each local authority.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he will take to amend the provisions of the Finance Act, 1970 in regard to pension schemes offering cover for death in service; and if he will make a statement.

This question is under review, and my right hon. Friend will announce the results of the review as soon as it is completed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of gilt-edged maturities falling due within the next 18 months, with the dates and the amounts currently outstanding for redemption in each case.

The following Government stocks and bonds fall due for redemption before 1st June, 1972:

Title	Final Redemption Date	Amount Outstanding
		£m.
6½% Treasury Stock 1971	28th January, 1971	568
5% Conversion Stock 1971	15th July 1971	409
British Gas 3½% Guaranteed Stock 1969–71	10th September 1971	72
6¾% Exchequer Loan 1971	10th September 1971	900
6% Conversion Stock 1972	15th February 1972	301
	TOTAL	2,250

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is intended that hotel development expenditure should be accorded the same treatment for tax purposes as other development of an industrial nature.

The new allowances which enable 60 per cent. of the expenditure to be written off for tax purposes in the first year and 25 per cent. of the reducing balance in later years apply to hotel equipment in the same way as to other plant and machinery. Hotel buildings, like other commercial buildings, do not qualify for tax allowances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of old people over 65 years of age who continue working, but who, if they did not work, would get a higher net income with allowances and pensions.

Information on which to base this estimate is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which industries have increased their yearly productivity during the last 10 years at a higher rate than that achieved by the electricity supply industry.

This information is not available. Estimates of changes in output per head are calculated only for those industrial groupings where overall the coverage of the output and employment data is reasonably close. These appear in the Monthly Digest of Statistics and in the Employment and Productivity Gazette. The basis of the estimates and their limitations were described in an article which appeared in the October, 1968, issues of both Economic Trends and the Employment and Productivity Gazette.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of investment expenditure allowable for investment allowances took place in development areas in each year of the operation of the investment allowance system.

There is no reliable information on which to base an estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on his recent discussions with M. Emile van Lennep, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; and to what extent M. van Lennep urged upon Her Majesty's Government an incomes policy.

My discussions with M. van Lennep were confidential.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the visit of a team from the International Monetary Fund; and to what extent it suggested or requested Her Majesty's Government to institute a wages, prices and incomes policy.

This was a routine visit, to enable the Fund to keep in touch with developments in the United Kingdom economy. Consultations with the Fund are confidential.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether, as Members of Parliament have to meet expenses of living away from home with no allowances and these expenses are continually rising, he will take steps to grant to Members of Parliament the same subsistence allowance as is now paid to Ministers, civil servants and chairmen of nationalised boards;(2) whether he is aware that in October, 1964 the nightly subsistence allowance paid to Ministers of the Crown and senior civil servants was 63s. per night and that since April, 1970 a rate of 110s. generally and 120s. in London has been operating; and whether he will make the latter rates applicable to Members of Parliament who have to stay away from home on Parliamentary duties.

Ministers of the Crown are eligible for subsistence only when they are required to undertake official Ministerial duties away from their normal place of work. The rates and conditions of payment are those applying to senior civil servants. Members of Parliament are eligible for subsistence when living away from home on the business of the House (e.g. as members of a Select Committee) in a place away from London and their constituency. It would not be consistent with the basis on which Members' remuneration is fixed to pay them the same rates as, or to apply the subsistence arrangements in force for, the chairmen of the nationalised boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy on arbitration as a means of settling industrial disputes.

There has been no change in the Government's policy towards arbitration.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage increase in the price of beer since 18th June.

The index for beer in the General Index of Retail Prices rose by 0·4 per cent. between 16th June, 1970, and 20th October, 1970, the latest date for which the index is available. This is based on the movements of a large variety of different kinds of beer including both bottled and draught beers and makes allowance for variation in the original specific gravity.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give, for the latest available date, the number of unemployed registered at the Bridgeton Employment Exchange;(2) if he will give, for the latest available date, the number of male unemployed registered at the Bridgeton Employment Exchange; and what is the average period of unemployment.

At 9th November, 1970, there were 2,632 persons (2,412 males and 220 females) registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Bridgeton Employment Exchange. Of these, 2,402 males were registered as wholly unemployed and the periods for which they had been on the registers were as follows:

Up to 2 weeks	236
Over 2 and up to 4 weeks	167
Over 4 and up to 8 weeks	244
Over 8 weeks	1,755

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons will be made redundant, as a result of the closure of British Road Services' Carlton Depôt; what he proposes to do to help them find alternative employment.

My information is that the British Road Services' proposal to close down the haulage side of its activities at its Carlton Depôt in Carlisle is likely to affect the jobs of 24 men and 2 women. I understand that the run down is expected to begin early in the new year and to extend over six months. My Department's local officers are in close touch with the depôt and will be ready to give advice and information about alternative jobs to those who require our help.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many Ministers and Departments in the Government publish magazines and journals; which Ministers or Departments; how many personnel are engaged on their preparation, full-time or part-time; and what is their cost, earnings and circulation.

A very wide range of journals are published by Departments. It includes official departmental publications, specialist and technical journals, statistical publications and house journals. I regret that information about the number, type, staffing, cost and circulation of these journals is not centrally available and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will state for any stated grade of civil servant who was on a salary of £3,250 per annum in October, 1964, the rate this man is receiving at the date of 24th November, 1970.

In October, 1964, a salary of £3,300 was the scale maximum of a senior chief executive officer and the scale minimum of an Assistant Secretary. (These salary scales took effect from 1st January, 1964). As from 1st April, 1970, the S.C.E.O. scale maximum is £4,555 and the Assistant Secretary scale minimum is £4,390.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will press for the admission of China to the United Nations, in view of the fact that a majority of the members of the United Nations Organisation now support this course.

For many years we have supported the seating of the representatives of the People's Republic of China in the China seat in the United Nations. We did so again this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what tonnage of milk products per year was proposed for delivery by New Zealand to the enlarged Community during the agricultural transitional period; and what proposals for price were made in the proposals by the United Kingdom tabled to the European Economic Community in early November.

Details of the proposals made by Her Majesty's Government to the European Communities about New Zealand dairy products are confidential. We have asked for some form of continuing arrangements, subject to review, in order that we can assess the position as we go along.