asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to see that bottles of spirits are marked with alcoholic content as a percentage with the discontinuation of the present proof-marking, in view of the confusion it causes.

No. I do not consider that a change in the law is necessary at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to limit food imports from countries whose pesticide and antibiotic regulations are less stringent than those to which United Kingdom producers must conform.

This is necessary neither on grounds of health nor the costs incurred by British producers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what criteria he proposes to estimate the effect of competition on prices.

It is not possible to isolate the effect of any one factor on food prices; but I am confident that where there is competition there will be no unnecessary or unjustified price increases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage food prices increased between October, 1964, and June, 1970.

About 31 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (l) what representations he has received from women's organisations on the level of food prices since 18th June; and what replies he has sent;

I have received a number of representations from different sources, but as I told the hon. Member on 20th November, neither the content of most representations, nor the form in which they are recorded, makes the information for which the hon. Member has asked readily available and it could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.—[Vol. 807, c. 41.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what rise in the price of foodstuffs occurred during the months of October and November, 1970, respectively.

Between 22nd September and 20th October, the latest date for which information is available, the Index of Retail Food Prices rose by 0·8 points.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what procedure is being carried out by his Department to identify increases in food and other commodity prices.

Information is obtained from various sources. The official figures in the Retail Food Price Index are derived from information collected by the Department of Employment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of movements in the price of fruit and of vegetables by the end of December.

It is not the practice to forecast future price levels.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the effect of the Government's policy to impose import levies on meat on retail shop prices.

The principal effect of our present proposals for levies on imported meat is to put a floor under the market and thereby to give it a firmer tone. Retail meat prices will continue to be determined mainly by market forces.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the fall in the Food Price Index between June and September in 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970.

5·1, 1·5, 2·0 and 1·0 points.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a further statement on the continuing rise in retail food prices, having regard to Christmas demand and trade.

The Food Index has been relatively stable for some months because of seasonal factors but we must expect it to start rising shortly since inflationary wage settlements are bound to increase food as well as other prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department will circulate to trade unions, employers' associations and consumers' associations a list of grocery food items which have increased in price from 1st July to 30th November.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce the necessary legislation to enable him to keep a register of food prices and the rise and falls since the first registered date of 18th June, 1970, such register to be collated from details supplied to him by consumers who shall be supplied by his Department with a pre-paid printed postcard on the basis of the sample forwarded to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on his Department's report, which shows that since June, 1970 major food prices have risen and that 48 out of 76 items of a sample list taken at 500 and 1,000 shops show increases; and whether he will make this report available in the Library.

I assume the hon. Member has in mind the Press notice my Department issues each month giving the average retail prices for certain foodstuffs. These prices are collected by the Department of Employment and are included in the calculation of the Food Index which showed a slight fall, from 141·6 to 141·4, between June and October. This information is already available in the Library.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the increases in cost to farmers as a result of the introduction of tractor safety cabs.

New tractors sold or hired after 1st September, 1970, have to be fitted with safety frames or cabs. No estimate is possible of the precise immediate increase in costs to farmers, but the additional capital costs of purchasing tractors with safety frames might be of the order of £3 million at current prices in a full year. If manufacturers were to continue to refuse to supply tractors unless they are fitted with their own cabs, a further £2 million in a full year might be involved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now take steps to make it clear who is responsible for ensuring that a safety cab or frame is fitted to a tractor at the time of sale.

Paragraph 4 of the Agriculture (Tractor Cabs) Regulations, 1967, places this responsibility on the person who sells the tractor.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he estimates will be the saving in human lives and injuries of the introduction of tractor safety cabs.

Experience in Sweden and in this country suggests that most of the 30 or so persons who, on average, are now killed in the United Kingdom each year by overturning tractors would have suffered no more than minor bruising if they had been provided with safety cabs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the number of persons engaged in the horticultural industry, including packaging and distribution of home-grown produce, in the United Kingdom, in the county of Kent and in the Faversham constituency, respectively.

It is estimated that there were 85,000 employees and self-employed persons on full-time horticultural holdings in the United Kingdom in June, 1969, and that 11,000 of these were in Kent. The estimates include persons engaged in packaging and distributions on these holdings, but no information is available as to the numbers engaged elsewhere in the packaging and distribution of horticultural produce. I regret that separate figures for the Faversham constituency are not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total annual value of horticultural produce in the United Kingdom.

In this year's Annual Review White Paper the value of horticultural output at farm gate prices was forecast at £226 million for 1969–70.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make a statement on the future of the White Fish Authority and the Herring Industry Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is his policy regarding the future of the White Fish Authority; and whether he will move the headquarters from London to Kingston-upon-Hull;(2) if he will now make a statement regarding his plans for the future of the White Fish Authority.

In a reply to the hon. Members on 27th October I reminded them of my earlier undertaking to make a statement about the White Fish Authority before the end of the year. That undertaking extended also to the Herring Industry Board.—[Vol. 805, c. 13–15.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the effect on British horticulture of imported cucumbers from Romania and other countries; and if he will make a statement.

Home production figures for the main marketing season (March to October) 1970 are not yet available. Total imports in this period at 15,900 tons (including just under 500 tons from Romania) were 1,100 tons down on last year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what estimate he has made of the number of flocks that have become infected with fowl pest which were not vaccinated with dead vaccine.

Flocks were not vaccinated or were only partly vaccinated in 2,157 cases out of the 2,370 confirmed outbreaks in the period 24th August to 3rd December.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has now made of the effect on egg production of the present outbreak of fowl pest.

It is difficult to estimate the effect so far of the fowl pest outbreak on production but it appears to be small.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received for further time for the change-over from the British Egg Marketing Board to the new Egg Authority; and if he will make a statement.

None. The Eggs Authority is now in being.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to prevent the period of change-over to a free market in eggs resulting in egg production falling into the hands of a small number of large groups.

The trend towards large units has been a feature of egg production for many years. It will probably continue in a free market, but the industry remains extremely competitive and I see no reason to intervene.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he has removed the import levy on eggs; by how much extra he anticipates the price of eggs will rise as a result; and what estimate he has made of the general increase in food prices which will result over the years as a whole.

The levies have been removed because the prices of all imported eggs in shell are now above the minimum import price levels. As there are now no levies, they can have no effect on prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to protect the consumer interest, particularly with regard to food.

I consider the present arrangements are satisfactory in areas where the consumer needs protection.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the Brewers' Society concerning the technical and financial problems for British brewers of adjusting to the proposed new brewing regulations for member States of the European Economic Community; what reply he has given; and what action he is taking.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had from the Brewers' Society about the effect that the proposed Common Market brewing regulations will have on the taste of English beer; and what answers he has given.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 1st December. The proposals are not, in fact, regulations but a draft directive.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the appropriate arrangements for consultation with the United Kingdom National Farmers' Unions in an enlarged Community, when the current negotiations for United Kingdom entry into the European Economic Community are concluded.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 27th November.—[Vol. 807, c. 225.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements have been agreed with the European Economic Community for keeping the situation in the British bacon market under review during the transitional period before the United Kingdom becomes a full member, and thereafter.

The Six have agreed on the need for keeping the pigmeat and bacon situation in an enlarged Community under review during the transitional period and thereafter. It is too early to decide the mechanics for so doing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the agreement with the European Economic Community Council of Ministers relating to contacts between the Commission and agricultural organisations as part of an annual review will be given statutory force within the United Kingdom.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now give full details of the agreement with the European Economic Community Council of Ministers relating to the provision of adequate supplies of liquid milk to meet consumer demand throughout the country and throughout the year.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my hon. Friend, gave to him on 24th November.—[Vol, 807, c. 77.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will seek from international sources a detailed list of as many stated food prices as possible as charged to the retail customer on 17th June, 1970 in each of the countries of the Six, and similar details for 1st December, 1970 with comparable details for prices in Great Britain, and an estimate as to what extent, on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, British food prices would have to be adjusted upwards to those in operation in the countries of the Six.

Information relating to the dates mentioned is not available but recent price quotations for a number of food items were given in my reply to the hon. Member for East Ham South (Mr. Oram), on 2nd December; as for the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the estimate given in the White Paper, Cmnd. 4289, published earlier in the year.—[Vol. 807, c. 418–20.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations took place with the national farmers' unions before he decided to change the wheat deficiency payments from a tonnage to an acreage basis.

The proposal was extensively discussed in the course of the 1970 Annual Review. The Farmers Unions were given an opportunity to make further representations and these were considered before the final decision was announced in the House on 9th November, 1970.—[Vol. 806, c. 43–4.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in putting into effect the Government's policy to impose levies on the import of agricultural produce, he will take into consideration the special needs of Pennine hill farmers.

Yes. All relevant considerations will be taken into account.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department will discuss with the Forestry Commission both the economic and amenity considerations of the Commission's programme of afforestation in the Yorkshire Dales.

The Forestry Commission have no present proposals for afforestation in the Yorkshire Dales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many members there are on the Northern Pennine Rural Development Board; how many are full-time and how many part-time; how much salary they have been paid during the first year of operation; and how much expenses have been allowed.

Eleven, including the Chairman and Deputy Chairman. All are part-time. Remuneration and expenses totalled £7,199 and £1,102, respectively, in the first 12 months.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number of people employed by the Northern Pennine Rural Development Board on full-time employment, and the number part-time employed; what is the total salary bill and expenses allowed; and what other sums of public money the Board have expended during their first year of operation.

Thirteen, all full-time, at a total cost of £22,960 in salaries and expenses. Other expenditure, excluding remuneration and expenses of Board members, amounted to £20,869.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number of sales of land and property which have been prevented, delayed or interfered with by the Northern Pennine Development Board; and how much land it has nationalised.

The Board has received 493 applications for its consent to the transfer of land and has refused one. All these were dealt with within the statutory time limit. The Board at present owns no land other than its own premises, but negotiations have been taking place for the purchase of two farms totalling about 160 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount of herring caught in the United Kingdom in 1969; and how this compares with other nations engaged in the North Atlantic fisheries.

The total quantity of herring landed in the United Kingdom by British vessels in 1969 was 121,750 tons (123,700 metric tons).Catches in 1969 by the other main countries which fish in the North Atlantic were:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the amount of beef, lamb and pork, respectively, consumed by humans in the United Kingdom for the last three years.

Estimates of total supplies of beef and veal, mutton and lamb and pork used for human consumption in the United Kingdom for the years 1967 to 1969 are as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will define the subjects on which he will answer Questions in Parliament.

In general, I try to answer all Questions on subjects for which the primary responsibility is mine, but Questions of overseas trade policy, on which my hon. Friend has asked me to answer, are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to promote international study of the growing problem of the disposal of solid radioactive waste, at present packaged and dumped in the Atlantic, and its effect on the environment in the United Kingdom.

We have played a leading part in two international studies of the disposal in the sea of solid radioactive waste conducted by the European Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency respectively, and we are continuing to participate in reviews of the situation by these bodies. I do not therefore consider that any further initiative for international study is called for.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is the Government's policy to retain the 12-mile limit indefinitely.

There are no plans to change our present fishery limits.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the deteriorating financial situation of poultry rearers, he will take steps to make additional public money available to the poultry industry.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the concern expressed by many employees of the Forestry Commission as to the effect on their estates of the increased use of private contractors for felling, he will instruct the Commission to review their policy.

The proportion of timber sold by the Commission for felling has in fact decreased from 53 per cent. of their total production in 1965 to 45 per cent. in 1970. The Commission should in any case have freedom to sell their timber in the way which is most sensible in local circumstances; and they have no arbitrary bias in favour of selling it standing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a statement concerning bull licensing, having regard to breeding interests for Hereford cattle in Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he is aware of the recent increase in the price per ton of animal feeding-stuffs; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the increase.

Yes. I understand that the price increases were due to higher raw material costs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to establish a food prices, distribution, and statistics board and invite on to membership thereof representatives of the Confederation of British Industry, Trades Union Congress, representatives of the wholesale and retail food distributors, the Co-operative Society and the Housewives League.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give details of the assurance given him by brewers and licensees that his releasing them from their undertaking not to increase public bar beer prices would not lead to a general price increase.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Bishop) on 7th December.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that the mother ship "Miranda" and the Fishery Protection Squadron work in close liaison with the British deep sea trawling fleet from Hull and Grimsby, particularly when British vessels are off the Norwegian coast and thus avoid dependence upon foreign services for medical assistance and welfare of British crews.

I have been asked to reply.In accordance with recommendation 4 of the Holland-Martin Report the "Miranda" will be deployed this winter off the north-west coast of Iceland. Patrols off the Norwegian coast are included in the programme of H.M. ships allocated for fishery protection duties during 1971; while in the area H.M. ships will as in previous years also be available to provide assistance to the British trawling fleet. There are inevitably occasions when foreign medical and other services have to be used by British trawlers just as British services are available to foreign fishermen.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) to what extent it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to maintain full employment;(2) what the Government regards as a tolerable level of unemployment;

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to maintain full employment.

It is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to promote full employment and to prevent inflation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on interest rates charged for bank guarantees offered by the Export Credit Guarantee Department.

I have nothing to add to the Background Note by the Treasury published with the Bank of England announcement in the Board of Trade Journal of 7th October. I am sending the right hon. Gentleman a copy of this.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he estimates the income of charities will be cut through the reduction in tax reclaimable under covenant, as a result of the 6d. remission of income tax in the first full financial year thereafter.

I cannot give a precise figure but it might be of the order of £½ million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now study the introduction of a smoothly progressive income tax.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion but he will appreciate that it involves important Budgetary considerations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the considerable difficulties for his Department and the Department of Health and Social Security in securing the exemption from the payment of vehicle excise duty of those who are so severely disabled that they are unable to drive themselves and require another person to drive for them.

I am writing to my hon. Friend on this subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the fact that under present regulations legal tender defines the maximum amount of silver or copper coins persons are bound to accept as payment in cash, what similar limit has been fixed for the new decimal coins; and if he will make a statement.

From D Day the decimal bronze coins, the present penny and the threepenny piece will be legal tender for amounts up to 20 new pence (4 shillings), and silver or cupro-nickel coins up to and including the 10p (2 shillings) for amounts up to £5. The 50p coin is now legal tender up to £10.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of privately-owned capital wealth of each country is owned by the wealthiest 2 per cent. of the population and the wealthiest 6 per cent. of the population, respectively, in each of the countries comprising the European Economic Community, from information available to him from international sources, and in the United Kingdom.

For Great Britain, and for 1968, the latest year for which figures are available, the estimates are 44 per cent. and 64 per cent. respectively. No comparable figures are available for the countries of the E.E.C.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the proposed increases in the foodstuff levies of 10 per cent. on livestock, 6 per cent. for certain dairy products and 5 per cent. on selected cereals applicable if Great Britain joins the Common Market would affect this country's balance of payments.

I have no information about any official proposals for such increases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make an approach to Mr. Emile van Lennep, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, requesting that he grants a request from Her Majesty's Government to be released from the terms of confidentiality so far as recent discussions are concerned so as to enable him to publish in HANSARD particulars of Mr. Emile van Lennep's demand for the introduction of an incomes policy by Her Majesty's Government.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance not only that the Government's views on the financial aspects of local government reform will be published as soon as it has completed its studies of these matters but also that a statement in connection therewith will be made in the House of Commons.

I can assure the hon. Member that the House will have an opportunity to consider the Government's proposals when these have been published.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange to circulate to Members of Parliament a memorandum explaining how they can arrange to accept a voluntary reduction of 10 per cent. in their salaries without having such details publicised by the Departments concerned with paying salaries to Members of Parliament.

I do not think that it is necessary to circulate a memorandum as the hon. Member suggests. If any Member wishes to forgo his Parliamentary salary in whole, or in part, he can do so by writing to the Accountant in the Fees Office. Such arrangements would, as is customary, be confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken to encourage reciprocal medical benefits between this country and the United States of America.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Wembley, North (Sir E. Bullus) on 3rd December, 1970.—[Vol. 807, c. 459.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many American visitors have received free medical treatment over the past three years, and what is the approximate cost to public funds.

Since the start of the National Health Service we have always provided treatment for visitors to this country where the need for treatment arises during their visit but no figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to give his permission for the building of the Wirral Post-Graduate Medical Centre at Chatterbridge Hospital, Wirral, to commence, in view of the lapse of time since this project received the approval of the Liverpool Regional Hospital Board.

My right hon. Friend approved in principle the building of this Centre but some details are still under discussion with the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will publish the findings of the Government social survey on disability.

I hope the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys will be able to publish the report in the late Spring of 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of savings which would have accrued to the National Health Service during the past five years if seat belts had been worn in accidents where drivers or passengers were injured.

Information on which an estimate could be based is not available.

asked the Secretary at State for Social Services whether he will consider the provision of disposable needles on prescription for use by diabetics.

No. In the few cases where disposable needles are essential they can be supplied through the hospital and specialist services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the figure of the Registrar-General's estimate of the United Kingdom population aged 18 years and over in June 1970.

The Registrars-General estimate that there were 40·1 million persons in the total population of the United Kingdom at 30th June, 1970 who were aged 18 years and over.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what number of barbiturates have been prescribed in the last convenient period of 12 months.

The number of prescriptions for barbiturates dispensed by chemists in England during the year ended 30th June, 1970 was 12·7 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will require pharmacists to label all medicines supplied under a prescription with their names, unless a contrary instruction is given by the doctor.

This would involve a change in the ruling convention between the medical and pharmaceutical professions as to the labelling of a dispensed medicine where the prescriber has given no specific directions.At the present time the opinion of local Pharmaceutical Committees is being sought on the willingness of dispensing chemists to adopt it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the four-week rule curtailing supplementary benefit entitlement was first applied;(2) how many men with child dependants have been subject to the four-week/three-month rule curtailing supplementary benefit entitlements for each month since August 1968.

Since July, 1968, as a general control measure, awards limited initially to four weeks have been given to men under the age of 45 and living in areas with a good supply of unskilled jobs provided they are fit, single and have no special skills.Claims from all other fit workers under the age of 45, men or women, married or single, are reviewed after they have been claiming for three months and at that time a four weeks limit may be set on further benefit if unemployment seems unnecessarily prolonged unless the claimant has dependants to whom withdrawal of the allowance would cause hardship.This means in practice that an allowance should seldom be withdrawn from a man with dependent children and such cessations of entitlement are not recorded except on the individual case paper. I regret therefore that the total number is not available. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind the Supplementary Benefits Commission will gladly look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the raising of the wage-stop level will be back-dated, following the recent increase in National Joint Council local labouring rates; to what date; and whether those who have in the meantime returned to work will receive the back-dated increase.

Yes. The operative date will be 9th November when the local authority settlement came into force.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will appoint an inter-Departmental committee to assess the costs to public expenditure arising from the effects of smoking.

My Department is already considering this with others concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study his Department is making into the measures that will be necessary to protect the living standards of retirement pensioners upon British entry into the European Economic Community.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Torrington (Mr. Peter Mills) by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 17th November.—[Vol. 806, c. 365.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many men and women over 80 years of age living in the West Ham, North, constituency have been granted pensions under the recent Act.

Separate figures are not available for the constituency of West Ham, North, but up to and including 3rd December, 1970, the number of awards made under Section 1 of the National Insurance (Old Persons' and Widows' Pensions and Attendance Allowance) Act, 1970, by the Woodgrange Park Office, which includes the hon. Member's constituency, is 98.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the fact that social security benefits are losing their purchasing value by 6·6 per cent. per annum, he will, without awaiting any ultimate review, pay as from 1st January, 1971, an additional 6·6 per cent. on all social welfare payments.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the fact that social welfare benefits are depreciating in purchasing value by 6·6 per cent. per annum, he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to investigate the whole system of social security payments and the best method of seeing that these maintain their purchasing value.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he proposes to take to increase protection for purchasers of houses against unsatisfactory construction; and whether he will consult with the National House-Builders Registration Council for further action in this field.

I am satisfied that basically the National House-Builders Registration Council's scheme provides adequate protection for new house purchasers. I shall keep in close touch with the Council and I know that it keeps its scheme under continual review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of the growing danger to health and the foul smell which results from the working to rule by certain dustmen; and if he will take steps to prevent this practice.

The responsibility for the collection of domestic refuse and the terms of employment of labour for that purpose rests with local authorities. The unpleasantness resulting from failures in refuse collection can be obvious but there has been no evidence of a growing danger to health in any area where dustmen are working to rule.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings have been officially designated as slums in England and Wales; and how many dwellings he estimates can be satisfactorily improved or rehabilitated.

The only estimate available of the total number of unfit houses is that of 1·8 million published in the 1968 White Paper "Old Houses Into New Homes". The White Paper estimates that there were in addition about 4·5 million houses not technically unfit but in need of significant repairs or lacking one or more basic amenities or both. I would hope that most of these could be improved, and the number being improved is now rising steadily.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses, both council and private, were completed in the Borough of Carlisle during 1969; how many houses were completed in the first nine months of 1970, both council and private; and how many houses are planned for 1970 and 1971, respectively.

The information for 1969 is published in Local Housing Statistics No. 13 February, 1970, copies of which are available in the Library. The hon. Member should seek the information he requires for 1970 and 1971 from the county borough council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to enable council tenants to apply to an impartial body for the issue of a certificate of disrepair upon a local authority.

I have no evidence to show that a procedure for certificates of disrepair is needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department will conduct an investigation into the problems that arise for people living in overspill housing estates and the relationship of such estates with the local authority in whose areas they have been sited with a view to giving guidance to local authorities on this question.

I recognise that difficulties are apt to arise for people living in overspill housing estates, but they can only be overcome by close and willing co-operation between management and tenants' organisations. At the moment I do not think an inquiry necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a circular to rating authorities in Wales in order to explain in detail to those authorities how current Government policies will affect local rates.

No. The Government's views on local authority expenditure generally are set out in my right hon. Friend's Report on the Rate Support Grant Order (H.C. 172), and I understand that the local authority associations will be issuing to their members a detailed report on the negotiations leading up to that Order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects completion of the M1-M6 link through Great Barr.

December, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the increase in trunk traffic in the Midlands region over the last five years.

The overall increase in trunk road and motorway traffic in the Midland regions cannot be estimated reliably. A regular sample traffic census, which started in 1966, includes 11 points on trunk roads and motorways in the West and East Midlands planning regions. At these points traffic in August, 1970, ranged from 40 per cent. below to 50 per cent. above traffic in August, 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of principal roads are sub-standard in the Midlands region.

Responsibility for principal roads rests with local highway authorities, who have the facts required to judge the state of roads.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of trunk road are overloaded in the Midlands region.

Over 500 miles of trunk road in the East and West Midlands Economic Planning Regions are estimated to be carrying traffic in excess of their design capacity. Many roads can, however, operate considerably in excess of their design capacity without significant reduction in the standard of service provided. Schemes now under construction, programmed or in preparation will substantially reduce this mileage of overloaded road within the next few years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what preparations and subsequent programming he has for road and rail improvement based upon the redevelopment of Blaydon; what total estimated cost is involved; and if he will make a statement.

The report of the Land Use Transportation Study for the Tyne-Wear area including Blaydon, is expected early next year. The Blaydon to Scotswood Bridge Road scheme costing approximately £2 million is expected to start in the spring.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has which would encourage the average gross annual earnings of men and women in the Northern Region to rise to the national average.

The Government announced on 27th October new measures of regional assistance, which are intended to stimulate the provision of employment and reduce disparities between the regions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the amount of the annual domestic rate subsidy paid to Newark Borough Council, and Newark and Southwell Rural District Councils, respectively, in poundage and amount for each year since the subsidy was paid; and what increase is proposed for the coming financial year.

The latest estimates of the domestic element for these three local authorities are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of the proposed Thames flood barrier, excluding the cost of any downstream flood defences associated with or arising from it.

The Greater London Council estimate that in terms of current prices, a drop-gate barrier at Silvertown would cost £35 million and a rising sector gate barrier £23 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete his study of the pro- posals for the improved road access necessary between Hull and the present planned terminal of the M62 at Balkholme.

Early in the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the urban or rural district councils in England having incineration plants capable of handling domestic refuse.

The information requested is not available. However, in the last five years loan sanction for incinerators to deal with domestic refuse has been given to the following urban and rural district councils:

• Castle Donington Rural District Council.
• Barrow upon Soar Rural District Council.
• Lichfield Rural District Council.
• Winchester Rural District Council.
• Upton upon Severn Rural District Council jointly with Malvern Urban District Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the official governmental inquiries into public transport outside the cities since 1900.

The complete information for which the hon. Member asks is not readily available but the following reports on rural transport have been published by H.M.S.O. in the last 10 years:

• Rural Bus Services—Report of the "Jack" Committee (1961).
• Bus Services in the Highlands and Islands— Highland Transport Enquiry (1961).
• Report on the Rural Transport Problem in Wales (1962) (Cnmd. 1821).
• Rural Transport Surveys—Report of Preliminary Results (1963).
• Rural Bus Services—Report of Local Enquiries (1965).