asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make available the facilities of his Department through the Industrial Training Board for Hairdressing and Allied Services to assist the establishment of a joint industrial council for this trade.

The Industrial Training Act, 1964, does not provide for an industrial training board to assist in establishing a joint industrial council. Remuneration and conditions of employment in the hairdressing trade are regulated by the Hairdressing Undertakings Wages Council. I have not received representations from this Council that it should be replaced by a J.I.C.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received replies from all the organisations which originally received the Consultative Document on the future of the Youth Employment Service; and how many have still to reply.

Nearly all organisations consulted by my Department have now replied. Only a handful are still outstanding.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why the training levy on patternmaking and foundry-workers is higher than that on other sections of the engineering industry, in view of the fact that they make an equally important contribution to the economy.

The rate of levy on foundries is higher than that for engineering firms only in the case of establishments which have an annual payroll between £7,500 and £17,500. There is no reduction for foundry firms in this range since compared with engineering firms of the same size they employ a higher proportion of craft labour, especially in pattern-making.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is aware of the severe handicaps in the way of epileptics obtaining employment; and what measures his Department is taking to assist these people to find jobs which they are capable of doing.

I am well aware of these problems. My Department's Disablement Resettlement Officers try to overcome the reluctance of some employers to consider candidates with epilepsy by informing them about the real nature of epilepsy and how to deal with it in the working situation. Courses are available for those afflicted at Industrial Rehabilitation Units and we sponsor a number of suitable vocational training courses. Sheltered employment is available for the more severely afflicted.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what advice his Department gives to employers regarding the inclusion of handicapped employees in company pension schemes.

Employers in difficulty about this are advised to consult the National Association of Pension Funds, or the Life Office concerned, about possible modifications to provide a more flexible scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, whether, as the time spent at work in this country is greater than in most other industrial countries, he will institute an inquiry as to whether increased public holidays would contribute to the health, spirit and efficiency of the people of the United Kingdom.

No. I do not consider such an inquiry necessary. Nor would it be likely to produce useful results.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, whether he will establish a committee to inquire into the subject of public holidays in the United Kingdom.

No. Public holidays as distinct from Bank Holidays are not a concern of Government but are matters for arrangement between the parties concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the national staff side of the Civil Service Whitley Council concerning the Industrial Relations Bill; and what replies he has sent.

My right hon. Friend has not received direct representations from the Staff Side of the Civil Service National Whitley Council, but its views on the Industrial Relations Bill have been made known to the Government in a letter of 3rd November last from its Secretary General to the Head of the Civil Service. Discussions are continuing within the Whitley machinery.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to fill the three vacancies now existing or pending on the Commission for Industrial Relations.

Yes, in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the reference numbers of all the forms used by local employment exchanges for information about dismissed employees by their former employers, the purposes for which each form is used, how long each form is kept, and which forms are not shown to the employee concerned; and if he will put a copy of all these forms in the Library of the House of Commons.

A specimen copy of each of the forms has been placed in the Library.

The following is the reply: Such forms are used for two purposes, administration of unemployment benefit and registration for employment. A list of all the forms used and a brief description of their function is given at the end of this statement.

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT Form UI 85 is used by employment exchanges to seek information from the former employer of an unemployment benefit claimant about the reasons for the termination of his employment. There are similar forms for special categories of claimants and for persons claiming credit of contributions but not benefit. The purpose of the enquiry on form UI 85 is to establish whether an unemployment benefit claimant incurs a disqualification for receiving unemployment benefit under Section 22(2) ( a ), ( b ) or ( c ) of the National Insurance Act 1965, i.e. whether he is disqualified for receiving unemployment benefit for a period of up to six weeks because he has voluntarily left his employment without just cause or has lost it through misconduct or whether he has refused or neglected to avail himself of a reasonable opportunity of alternative employment. The enquiry also asks for details of any terminal payments which may affect entitlement to benefit. If the employer's reply shows no ground for disqualification or disallowance of benefit, it is not shown to the claimant and the form is destroyed within 2½ to 3 months of the date of issue. When the reply raises a doubt as to whether a disqualification is incurred, the employer's reply to the initial enquiry and any subsequent enquiries made of him on forms UI 95A and/or UI 95B are copied to the claimant, unless the employer's reply to the subsequent enquiry enables a decision to be given that the claimant is not disqualified for receiving benefit. Decisions on quesions arising on claims for benefit are a matter for independent adjudicating authorities and a decision to disqualify a claimant is not made until he has been given an opportunity to comment on all the statements made by the employer and to give his version of the circumstances leading to the termination of employment. Forms which are referred to the independent adjudicating authorities for a decision are destroyed after 18 months.

REGISTRATION FOR EMPLOYMENT In the interests of both employers and applicants seeking a job it is important that adequate information relative to employment should be available to officers at employment exchanges and certain forms used in registering a person for employment or for giving employment advice provide for reasons for leaving previous employment to be recorded. Forms ED2 and OG1 used in connection with the Professional and Executive Register and the Occupational Guidance Service respectively are completed by the applicant. The remainder of the forms shown in the supporting list are completed during an employment interview or subsequently if relevant information becomes available to the employment exchange staff.

ADULTS The UI 589, which is a blank form and does not carry the departmental number is used

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT FORMS Form Number UI 85 … Enquiry of previous employer of unemployment benefit claimant about the reasons for termination of employment and asking for details of any payments made in lieu of notice or for premature termination of contract of service. UI 85 (SF) … Enquiry of previous employer of unemployment benefit claimant—Share fisherman. UI 85A … Enquiry of previous employer in case of numbers of discharged workers. UI 85C … Enquiry of previous employer who has agreed to special arrangements when employees are on short-time. UI 85M … Enquiry of previous employer in the case of a mariner (other than share fisherman). UI 86 … Transcript of employer's reply from UI 85/85A—Letter to claimant inviting observations on employer's statement. UI 86A … Transcript of additional information from employer—Letter to claimant inviting comments on employer's statement. UI 86M … Transcript of employer's reply from UI 85M—Letter to claimant inviting observations on employer's statement. UI 86 (SF) … Transcript of employer's reply from UI 85 (SF)—Letter to claimant inviting observations on employer's statement. UI 95 … Letter to employer returning incomplete form UI 85/85A for completion. UI 95A … Letter to employer seeking further information arising out of his replies to initial enquiry on form UI 85. UT 95B … Transcript of claimant's statement (given on form UI 86 or UI 86A)—Letter to employer seeking additional information or qualification of claimant's statement. CR 85 … These forms are used for the same purpose as the corresponding numbered UI forms but for claimants claiming credit of contributions and not benefit. The National Insurance Act 1965, section 67(1) (b) provides, in effect, that any period in respect of which a person would have been disqualified under section 22 of the National Insurance Act 1965 for receiving unemployment benefit if he otherwise had a right to it, shall not be regarded as unemployment and thus credit of contributions would not be awarded. CR 86 … CR 86A … CR 95 … CR 95A … CR 95B …

in two ways. It is used to enter any additional details thought necessary for employment purposes. Secondly, if any such remarks are considered to be derogatory, then a separate blank sheet is used and headed "UI 589 (Der)". This is done in the interests of the individual so as to ensure that any information on UI 589 (Der) shall not be disclosed to a prospective employer without the registrant's consent. Registration documents are normally retained for a minimum of 5 years although this may be reduced in respect of Professional and Executive Register documents to 3 years and to Occupational Guidance Service documents to 2 years. UI 589 (Der) is retained indefinitely. All registration documents are regarded as confidential and not shown either to the registrant concerned or to persons outside the Department.

YOUNG PERSONS Careers Officers make notes of their vocational guidance and employment interviews with young persons on a personal worksheet, which is not in any standard form, and on an individual record card (YIB or YIG) which constitutes the official document. Derogatory information is not recorded on the YIB or YIG but could be noted by the Careers Officer on his personal worksheet. Any such information known to the Careers Officer would not be disclosed to an employer or any other person without the consent of the individual boy or girl concerned. The Y1B or YIG is regarded as confidential to the Youth Employment Service but may be shown to the young person's parents on request. The YIB or Y1G may be retained until the young person has reached the age of 21.

EMPLOYMENT FORMS Form Number ED 2 Application form for inclusion on Professional and Executive Register—completed by client. ED 4 Employment history sheet completed by Departmental Officer during interview. The current print of this form has a different format and does not include a space for "reason for leaving". Any relevant information on this point would be shown on UI 589. ED 64 Interview record form used by Professional and Executive Register. ED 828 (Part 2) Interview report—resettlement of ex-regular members of Her Majesty's Forces. OG 1 Occupational Guidance Service Questionnaire—completed by client. OG 8 Interview report completed by Occupational Guidance Officer. UI 589 A blank sheet used to record other general information relevant to employment work. UI 589 (Der) A blank sheet headed UI 589 (Der) used to record information regarded as derogatory. Y 1B Individual record card for young persons giving details of education, employment, etc Y 1G

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what communication he has received from the Cornwall Productivity Association about the termination of the grant to the British Productivity Council; and what reply he has made.

The Chairman of the Association wrote expressing concern at the phasing out of the grant. The reply explained that, while the valuable work of the British Productivity Council and the local productivity associations is recognised, the Government consider it more appropriate for these services to be financed by industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons were unemployed in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Newburn Urban District, respectively, on 18th June, 1970, and the latest available date.

In the areas covered by the Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Elswick and Walker Employment Exchanges, and by the Newburn Employment Exchange, the numbers registered as unemployed at 8th June, 1970, were 6,627 and 397, respectively. The corresponding provisional figures for 11th January, 1971, were 7,639 and 433. Information is not available for 18th June, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he is taking to assist the employees declared redundant by Hawker Siddeley Aviation Limited at Woodford and Chadderton in finding alternative employment.

Until discussions between the management and the unions have been completed, the action which can be taken by my Department is very limited. However, provisional plans are being prepared in consultation with the company for giving the necessary information and advice about other jobs to employees who became redundant. We also propose to make special approaches on their behalf to other employers in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will initiate discussions with both sides of the engineering industry in order to remove trades union-imposed obstacles to the employment of former Royal Navy mechanicians in that industry.

No. The responsibility for negotiating with trade unions on recognition of service trades rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. He is continuing to seek official union recognition of Royal Navy mechanicians as skilled in their trade and it is not appropriate for my right hon. Friend to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average wage for males and females in the Northern Region on 1st January, in the south-east and west Midlands, respectively.

The following table gives estimates of average earnings. They were

ESTIMATES OF GROSS WEEKLY EARNINGS OF FULL-TIME ADULTS IN APRIL, 1970, OBTAINED FROM THE NEW EARNINGS SURVEY Northern Region South-East West Midlands Manual workers £ £ £ Men aged 21 and over 25.5 27.3 28.0 Women aged 18 and over 12.2 13.8 13.4 Non-Manual workers Men aged 21 and over 33.3 38.5 35.1 Women aged 18 and over 16.2 19.4 16.7 All workers Men aged 21 and over 27.6 32.1 30.1 Women aged 18 and over 14.6 17.8 15.2 All workers (excluding those whose pay was effected by absence) Men aged 21 and over 28.5 32.6 30.9 Women aged 18 and over 15.0 18.1 15.7 All the estimates are subject to sampling error.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of redundancies in the wool textile industry in the Bradford-Shipley area during 1970; what percentage of those affected found further employment in that industry; what percentage is now in work in other industries; and what percentage remains unemployed.

Redundancies involving approximately 2,200 employees in the wool textile industry were recorded as due to occur in 1970 in the Bradford-Shipley area. I regret that information about what happened to all of these workers is not available. However, of those now in employment who registered and told us where they subsequently started work, about two thirds have returned to the wool textile industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on what date and at what time he received a communication from the General Secretary of the Post Office Union, Mr. Tom Jackson, requesting the assistance of his conciliation department in resolving the Post Office workers' dispute; on what date he replied; whether this was done by telephone or letter; and why it took so long for a reply to be sent, in view of the urgency of the matter.

A letter from the General Secretary of the Union of Post Office Workers requesting the use of the Department's conciliation services was received on the evening of Friday 15th

obtained from the New Earnings Survey They were and relate to April, 1970.

January. In response, my officials arranged by telephone to meet representatives of the Union and the Post Office on Monday 18th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of the Construction Industry Training Centre.

The C.I.T.B. is at present considering the scale and form of the training operations at the Centre and my right hon. Friend is not in a position at this stage to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of the Construction Industry Training Board.

As my right hon. Friend informed my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. John Page) on 14th January, the Constructional Industry Training Board has accepted his offer of a loan of up to —8 million. I hope that the assistance provided by this loan and the action in progress by the Board to place its operations on a secure financial basis will now enable the Board to concentrate on its training work. The future of the training boards generally is, as the House knows, at present under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, in view of the current financial position of the building industry, if he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to afford relief to small builders who cannot afford to pay their dues to the Construction Industry Training Board.

I have no power to amend at this stage the Board's current levy order so as to vary any employer's liability under it. For the future, I have asked the Board to consider seriously the scope for the exemption of small firms and I shall look particularly at this when considering their next levy proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many interpreters qualified in Indo-Pakistani langauges are currently on the staff establishment of the employment exchanges in the Bradford/Shipley area; and whether he is satisfied that this establishment is adequate.

Bradford Employment Exchange has one staff member who is fluent in Indo-Pakistani languages. I am satisfied that the arrangements are adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied with the existing legislation on factory safety; and if he will make a statement.

Legislative provision for safety and health in employment is now being reviewed by the Committee on Safety and Health at Work under the chairmanship of Lord Robens. Any major revision must await the recommendations of that Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the figures of unemployment on Merseyside in January, 1971, and January, 1970.

In the Merseyside Development Area the numbers registered as unemployed at January, 1971, and January, 1970, were 37,178 and 31,230 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies there have been in Glenrothes and at each of the other new towns in Scotland in the last six months; and if he will institute an inquiry into the reasons for this increase in unemployment.

Comprehensive figures are not available as all redundancies are not notified to my Department. However, redundancies involving the following number of workpeople were notified as due to take place at Glenrothes and the other new towns in Scotland during the period 5th July, 1970, to 5th January, 1971: Glenrothes … … … 564 East Kilbride … … … 93 Cumbernauld … … … 124 Irvine … … … 42 Livingston … … … 88 Total … … … 911

As the total numbers of persons registered as wholly unemployed in the areas in which the new towns are situated increased at much the same rate as in Scotland as a whole between July and December, 1970, I do not consider that a special inquiry is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on recent and planned closures and redundancies in the Portsmouth area with special reference to the existing unemployment level in comparison with that of the South-East Region as a whole.

As all redundancies are not notified to my Department the relevant information is not comprehensive. However, our records show that redundancies involving some 850 employees were notified in the Portsmouth area as due to occur in October, November and December, 1970, and a further 550 in the first half of 1971. Most of the workers who have so far become redundant have been able to find other jobs without much difficulty.

Provisional figures indicate that the January, 1971 unemployment rate for the Portsmouth travel-to-work areas was 3.8 per cent. compared with 1.9 per cent. for the South East Planning Region. We shall continue to keep a close watch on the employment situation in Portsmouth.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by how much the average power station worker's wage was above or below the national average on 1st December, 1965; and what are the comparable figures on 1st December, 1970.

Figures of average earnings are not available for December but are available for October of each year.

The average weekly earnings of men manual workers, aged 21 years and over, in the electricity supply industry in the United Kingdom at October, 1965 were £1 5s. 6d. less, and at October, 1970 are provisionally estimated to be £2 14s. 5d. less than the corresponding average for men in all the industries and services covered by the Department's regular enquiry; this meant that in October, 1965 they were 93 per cent. and in October,

Solent sub-division South-East Region Great Britain Manual workers £ £ £ Men aged 21 and over 25.9 27.3 26.2 Women aged 18 and over 12.1 13.8 12.9 Non-Manual workers Men aged 21 and over 33.7 38.5 35.7 Women aged 18 and over 16.9 19.4 17.6 All workers Men aged 21 and over 28.6 32.1 29.4 Women aged 21 and over 15.2 17.8 15.8 All workers excluding those whose pay was affected by absence Men aged 21 and over 28.9 32.6 30.0 Women aged 18 and over 15.6 18.1 16.3 All estimates are subject to sampling error.

Earnings in the Solent area are slightly below the national averages and are intermediate between those in the Greater London and the outer metropolitan area and those in Sussex, Kent and Essex.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, before appointing Lord Wilberforce as Chairman of the Committee of Inquiry into the power workers' dispute he considered the fact that Lord Wilberforce is known to be a member of the Conservative Party and stood as a candidate on behalf of that party for election to the House of Commons, and might for these reasons 1970 90 per cent. of the all-industry average. The corresponding figures for hourly earnings would be 105 per cent. and 99 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of current average earnings in the Portsmouth area; and whether he will make a statement on them in comparison with those in the South-East Region as a whole and to those in the country as a whole.

Although estimates of average earnings in Portsmouth are not available, estimates for the Solent and other sub-divisions of the South East region are now available from the New Earnings Survey. They relate to April, 1970 and to the average gross weekly earnings of full-time adults.

in the opinion of the trades unions appear to be prejudiced.

Lord Wilberforce is not—and has not been for many years—a member of any political party. Other distinguished Judges have earlier in their career been active supporters of a particular political party, without prejudice to the highest standards of impartiality necessary to their office.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, before appointing Mr. James Mortimer as a member of the Wilberforce Committee of Inquiry into the power workers' dispute, he gave consideration to the fact that Mr. Mortimer had accepted a full-time paid appointment with the London Transport Board dealing with the wages and working conditions of the workers of this Board, some of whose wages are associated with and affected by the wages paid to power workers, and might for these reasons in the opinion of the trades unions appear to be prejudiced.

When the trade unions were consulted about possible appointments to the court, they themselves included Mr. Mortimer amongst those who might be considered; I can see no grounds for the suggestion that he will not carry out his task impartially.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, before appointing Mr. R. P. Brookes as a member of the Committee of Inquiry into the power workers' dispute, he considered the fact that he is a Conservative and a director of a big company who have given money to the political fund of the Conservative Party, and might for these reasons in the view of the trades unions appear to be prejudiced.

STOPPAGES OF WORK DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES: UNITED KINGDOM Stoppages beginning in year 1970 (provisional) 1969 1968 Number Percentage of total Number Percentage of total Number Percentage of total Total (all causes) 3,888 100 3,116 100 2,378 100 of which: wages disputes 2,454 63.1 1,783 57.2 1,230 51.7 employment of particular classes of persons* 542 13.9 486 15.6 479 20.1 other working arrangements, rules and discipline 607 15.6 569 18.3 500 21.0 trade union status 180 4.6 179 5.7 109 4.6 Stoppages beginning in year 1967 1966 1965 Number Percentage of total Number Percentage of total Number Percentage of total Total (all causes) 2,116 100 1,937 100 2,354 100 of which: wage disputes 986 46.6 883 45.6 1,180 50.1 employment of particular classes of persons* 428 20.2 397 20.5 420 17.8 other working arrangements, rules and discipline 562 26.6 556 28.7 626 26.6 trade union status 80 3.8 59 3.0 69 2.9 *Comprises demarcation dispute; disputes concerning the employment or discharge of workers (including redundancy questions); other disputes mainly concerning personnel questions

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the aggregate working time of the total work-force of the United Kingdom was lost

Sir Raymond Brookes was appointed because of his knowledge and personal experience of industrial affairs and for no other reason. There are no grounds for doubting his ability to judge the issues involved impartially any more than for doubting the impartiality of Members of past Courts of Inquiry who have been leading trade unionists known to be Socialists, whose unions have contributed to the political fund of the Labour Party.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of stoppages and disputes in 1970, and of these how many were wage disputes, employment and redundancy disputes, disciplinary disputes, and disputes involving trade union status, respectively; and how these figures and percentages compare with those for each of the previous five years.

Following is the information:

due to strike action in the period January, 1969, to January, 1970.

The number of working days lost due to industrial disputes in 1969, in the establishments where the disputes occurred, was about one-tenth of 1 per cent. of the estimated total number of man-days available in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the rise in unemployment.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department indicated in the House on 21st January, the January unemploy-

TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AND PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT AT JANUARY 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 Total registered unemployed(000s) South-East 147.3 141.3 137.2 148.2 145.0 76.0 79.3 103.0 185.3 102.9 102.9 East Anglia 18.4 14.7 13.8 13.9 14.6 8.8 9.9 11.3 21.7 11.1 .9 South-West 45.0 42.6 38.2 39.5 41.0 25.9 24.3 27.6 46.8 25.5 22.6 West Midlands 56.9 47.9 43.8 64.3 70.3 16.9 29.6 45.9 112.1 40.4 45.2 East Midlands 37.8 34.2 29.8 29.5 28.0 14.8 13.6 17.8 39.4 16. 13.9 Yorkshire and Humberside 67.3 61.8 57.1 55.2 43.7 24.5 25.6 34.4 61.1 32.4 24.1 North-West 93.1 79.8 74.9 79.5 73.7 45.3 56.9 78.0 117.3 68.0 52.1 North 67.6 67.9 68.5 62.3 52.3 36.6 41.4 56.8 84.4 46.7 37.3 Wales 42.3 42.1 41.6 43.2 42.7 30.4 28.0 40.6 54.9 32.1 30.3 Scotland 115.1 96.0 89.6 95.3 88.9 70.6 79.7 101.4 128.1 85.3 81.5 Northern Ireland 40.9 38.7 41.3 40.1 40.9 33.1 32.8 39.6 45.9 42.1 39.1 Percentage rate for males South-East 2.7 2.5 2.4 2.6 2.5 1.2 1.2 1.7 3.3 1.7 1.7 East Anglia 3.9 3.1 2.9 2.9 3.0 1.8 2.0 South-West 4.4 4.2 3.7 3.7 3.8 2.4 2.1 2.3 4.5 2.2 1.8 West Midlands 3.3 2.8 2.6 3.8 4.0 0.9 1.5 2.4 6.4 2.1 2.5 East Midlands 3.6 3.3 2.9 2.7 2.5 1.3 1.2 1.8 3.6 1.6 1.2 Yorkshire and Humberside 4.5 4.2 3.9 3.6 2.7 1.5 1.4 North-West 4.4 3.8 3.6 3.6 3.1 1.9 2.3 3.1 4.7 2.6 2.0 North 6.8 7.0 7.1 6.2 4.9 3.4 3.7 5.0 7.8 4.1 3.1 Wales 5.4 5.4 5.3 5.2 5.0 3.4 3.0 4.7 6.4 3.5 3.0 Scotland 7.0 5.9 5.4 5.5 4.9 3.8 4.1 5.3 7.1 4.5 4.2 Northern Ireland 9.9 9.5 10.1 8.8 9.0 7.8 7.5 9.2 10.8 9.7 9.6 Percentage rate for females South-East 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.8 1.1 0.8 0.8 East Anglia 1.0 0.8 0.8 1.0 1.2 0.7 1.0 South-West 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.6 1.8 1.2 1.3 1.6 1.8 1.5 1.6 West Midlands 1.0 0.8 0.7 1.0 1.2 0.4 0.8 1.2 2.1 1.1 1.1 East Midlands 1.0 0.9 0.7 0.9 1.0 0.5 0.6 0.9 1.5 1.0 0.9 Yorkshire and Humberside 1.2 0.9 0.9 1.0 1.0 0.6 0.8 North-West 1.1 0.9 0.9 1.2 1.5 0.9 1.2 1.7 2.5 1.7 1.2 North 2.1 1.8 1.8 2.0 2.0 1.4 2.0 2.9 3.5 2.3 2.3 Wales 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.8 3.0 2.2 2.3 2.7 3.7 2.8 3.4 Scotland 2.6 2.1 2.2 2.6 2.7 2.2 2.8 3.4 3.7 2.8 2.9 Northern Ireland 4.6 4.1 4.4 6.1 6.2 4.5 4.8 5.9 6.8 6.7 5.4

ment figure is higher than we expected but not too much weight should be put on one month's figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the unemployment figures for each planning region of the United Kingdom in January, 1971, the percentage of unemployment of male and female, respectively; and how this compares with the same month in each of the past 10 years.

Following is the information available:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average retail price of a pint of beer on 1st January, and the comparable figure at the beginning of each quarter for the previous five years, with the percentage increase in each instance; and what evidence he has of excessive increases in isolated instances.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Bishop) on 7th December.—[Vol. 808, c. 39.]

Following is the statement:

The General Index of Retail Prices relates to a Tuesday near the middle of each month. The prices given below therefore relate to the middle of each month. The latest figure available is that for 15th December, 1970.

AVERAGE PRICE OF DRAUGHT BEER SOLD IN PUBLIC BARS IN PENCE A PINT Year January April July October 1966 … 19.6 19.7 19.8 20.8 1967 … 20.8 20.8 20.8 20.8 1968 … 20.8 20.8 20.9 20.9 1969 … 21.9 24.0 24.0 24.0 1970 … 26.1 26.5 26.5 26.5 The average price in December, 1970 was 27.2d. a pint.

PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN THE AVERAGE PRICE OF DRAUGHT BEER SOLD IN PUBLIC BARS COMPARED WITH THE AVERAGE PRICE THREE MONTHS EARLIER Year January April July October 1966 … — +0.5 +0.5 +5.1 1967 … Nil Nil Nil Nil 1968 … Nil Nil +0.5 Nil 1969 … +4.8 +9.6 Nil Nil 1970 … +8.8 +1.5 Nil Nil The percentage change between October, 1970 and December, 1970 was 2.6.

The average price relates to a variety of beers in differing proportions and the figures are therefore not strictly comparable, in particular the change between January and April, 1969, was due largely to the inclusion of new types of beer.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to receive the report of the Wilberforce Committee of Inquiry into the power workers dispute; whether he will ask Lord Wilberforce why it took the tribunal an interval of several days after their appointment before they commenced their hearings; why they declined to take evidence from certain interested parties and those who could have assisted the tribunal; and whether he will ask them to publish this information in their report.

Lord Wilberforce has said that the report should be ready early in February. It was the responsibility of the Court to determine how they should conduct their inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to examine drug-taking among school pupils.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17th December, 1970.—[Vol. 808, c. 394.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what sum has been allocated to the Inner London Education Authority for the minor works programme in 1971–72 and 1972–73.

£1,200,000 in 1971–72 and £900,000 in 1972–73.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what procedure is open to members of the public wishing to register objections to the proposals for reorganisation of the following schools, Windsor Grammar, Windsor High, Dedworth County, Trevelyn County, Royal Free, and Princess Margaret Rose.

The procedure is laid down in Section 13 of the Education Act, 1944 (as amended). Ten or more local government electors and the governors or managers of voluntary schools affected may submit objections to the Secretary of State during a period of two months following the publication of Notices describing any proposals for the enlargement or significant change in character of a maintained school. Proposals for county schools are made by the local education authority, those for voluntary aided schools must be made by the governors, those for voluntary controlled schools by the governors and the authority together. Proposals within the scope of Section 13 cannot be implemented without the Secretary of State's approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if discussions are still proceeding between the Science Research Council and three universities on possible research projects on the micro-biological degradation of plastics in view of the recent decision of the Department of Trade and Industry not to support such projects.

Yes. A decision on one or more projects is likely to be taken within the next six months.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools in the Inner London Education Authority area were built before 1903 and what is her policy with regard to their rebuilding and modernisation.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available in the Department. The I.L.E.A. have submitted a list of 157 schools built before 1903 which, in their view, are those most urgently in need of replacement or improvement. My right hon. Friend's policy is to secure the replacement or modernisation of 19th century primary schools as fast as resources allow; and she has approved the replacement of all 12 primary schools in London proposed by the Authority for the 1972–73 programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals have been submitted to her for grant aid for primary schools in the Inner London Education Authority area.

The Inner London Education Authority submitted 15 primary school proposals (none for Islington) for the 1971–72 Design List which will form the basis for Starts in 1972–73. Fourteen of these projects were accepted, including 12 replacements, at a cost of £1,564,000 and £1,428,000 respectively.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what orders have been issued to the Army in the Springfield Road district of Belfast to enter into agreements with the residents of certain areas in that district whereby members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary will not be permitted into those areas.

No such orders have been issued and no such agreement operates.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what reports he has of an incident which took place at approximately 1.45 a.m. on 15th January, 1971, on the Kasmir Road, Belfast when two policemen had to leave their duty area and return to their station on the orders of a group of armed men whose demands were supported by a Sergeant Thorpe and an Army land-rover patrol; and if he will condemn the action of this patrol and apologise to the policemen concerned for the humiliation to which they were subjected.

A small routine military patrol encountered two R.U.C. constables surrounded by a hostile crowd, and urged the constables, purely in the interests of their personal safety, to leave the area. Appropriate steps have been taken with the police at Divisional level to remove any possible misunderstanding arising from this incident and to ensure that it is not repeated. The R.U.C. are continuing to patrol this area in cooperation with the Army.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what plans he has for speeding up promotion in the trades section of the Royal Air Force.

If my hon. Friend is referring to airmen employed in the 19 groups of ground trades, the answer is that there are no overall plans at present to alter the generally satisfactory rate of promotion. In individual trades and trade groups, short-term problems occur as, for example, in certain medical trades where improvements in the rate of advancement are about to be announced.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the capability for night rescue operations of the search and rescue helicopters of Number 18 Maritime Group, Royal Air Force Strike Command; whether he is satisfied with this; and whether he is considering improvements either in equipment or training.

The search and rescue helicopters of Number 18 (Maritime) Group are able to carry out search operations by night over the sea but not to undertake winching. The case for an improvement in capability is now under study.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will change the retirement age for civil servants in the Royal Air Force section of his Department from 50 to 45 years of age.

The normal minimum age of retirement for civil servants is 60. Any question of a reduction would be for the Minister for the Civil Service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to name members of the committee on the licensing laws.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the names of the members of the Committee of Inquiry into the Licensing Laws.

Shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had from the Governments of the various Channel Islands about the effect on their several economies of Great Britain joining the European Economic Community; and what reply he has sent.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 25th January by my right hon. and learned Friend, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, to a Question by my hon. Friend, the Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Clark Hutchison).—[Vol. 810, c. 5.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Mr. Vrajlal Kakan, who holds a British passport and whose wife and three children are living legally in Hampshire, was refused entry to the United Kingdom.

Because he came to this country for settlement without a document of entitlement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of Probation Service officers of all grades who left the Probation Service in 1970 to take positions with local authority social service departments.

78.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it has taken so long for him to lay before the House of Commons amending regulations to ensure that a policeman who is suspended during an inquiry does not lose any wage or salary until a misdemeanour is proved against him; and whether he will before next month take action to introduce this measure.

Because extended discussions with the various interested bodies proved necessary. The amending regulations will be laid before the House early in February and will have retrospective effect in the case of an officer under suspension at the time the regulations become operative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, for the longest convenient stated period of time, the number of Soviet and other foreign people who have claimed asylum in this country for reasons connected with improving their artistic, financial, or political position, how long in each case it took his Department to reach a decision, and similar details for coloured British citizens of the Commonwealth.

I regret that there is no record of this information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his decision to replace visiting committees of prisoners with a board of visitors.

Visiting committees are in general appointed by courts of quarter sessions to prisons which receive direct committals; and my right hon. Friend appoints boards of visitors to other penal establishments. Since the Courts Bill proposes the abolition of courts of quarter sessions, provision is made for the appointment of boards of visitors for all establishments. My right hon. Friend is considering representations from the Magistrates' Association about the composition of these boards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the revision of ward boundaries within the County Borough of Norwich.

The Commissioner hopes to be able to send my right hon. Friend his warding scheme by early March. This should give time for an Order in Council to be made coming into effect for the Council elections next May, and for local arrangements to be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide, in his forthcoming Bill to wind up the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme, that all employees will be assured of adequate compensation.

The Superannuation Act, 1965, empowers the Government to pay compensation in appropriate cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in his forthcoming Bill to wind up the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme, he will ensure that all pension rights to past employees of the Scheme are protected.

Pension rights of past employees of the Scheme are protected under the existing Superannuation Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has held, or plans to hold, with representatives of the Government of Northern Ireland about a possible review of the existing provisions of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, with particular reference to the size of the Northern Ireland House of Commons, the composition of the Northern Ireland Senate, and the financial relationship between the two parts of the United Kingdom.

I will await any proposals which the Northern Ireland Government may in due course wish to discuss with me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will direct the Board of Customs and Excise to impound all copies of The Anarchist's Cook-book by William Powell and published by Lyle Stuart Incorporated which are sought to be imported into the United Kingdom.

I have been asked to reply.

No. H.M. Customs and Excise have no power to seize imported books unless they are indecent or obscene.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning the future of the Totalisator Board.

I endorse the objects for which the Horserace Totalisator Board was established and attach importance to its continuing rôle in providing an alternative form of betting on horse-races.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to visit East Africa; and if he will seek to include Somalia in his itinerary.

My right hon. Friend has no plans at present for such a visit.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give an assurance that the British Government will be able to invoke anti-dumping legislation against horticultural imports from other Community countries during the transitional period.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the hon. Member for Waltham-stow, West (Mr. Deakins) on 25th January.—[Vol. 810, c. 42. ]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what criteria Members of Parliament are able to claim the use of Embassy cars when abroad; what is deemed official business; whether all Members attending Western European Union meetings are entitled to use these cars; how many Members of Parliament have used these services; and whether he will make a further and more detailed statement on the £1,000 damage caused to the Embassy car in Paris on 10th December, 1970.

No Member of Parliament has the right to claim the use of an Embassy car, but every endeavour is made to assist Members whenever it is possible and appropriate to do so. A Member is deemed to be on official business when he is travelling abroad at public expense. Official transport is provided for Party Leaders attending Western European Union Assemblies.

In answer to the latter parts of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to his Question and a Question from the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 25th January.—[Vol. 810, c. 11-18 .]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will initiate an inquiry into delays and other complications in the City of Portsmouth's housing programme with particular reference to their impact on the cost of the housing programme and the level of rents in comparison with those of the majority of other local authorities in England and Wales; and whether he will make a statement.

No. Portsmouth City Council have sustained delay in their housing programme through sewerage and planning difficulties but hope to make this good during the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money was provided from Government funds for house building research and for other building research in the last financial year; and how this compares with expenditure on military research in the same period.

Expenditure from Government funds for construction research and development was some £6 million in 1968, the latest year from which full figures are available. Most of the research was designed to benefit all forms of construction and separate figures for housing cannot be distinguished. The Defence estimates show military R. & D. expenditure for 1968–69 at £254 million falling to £222 million for 1970–71.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will reconsider his intention to use 4, St. James's Square for additional courts of law, in view of its current use for literary and artistic meetings; and if he will make a statement.

No. The temporary use of this building for courts is an essential part of the Government's emergency programme to reduce delays in the administration of justice in London. It will cease as soon as other premises can be found and in any case by 1st April, 1974. In the meantime I am considering an appropriate long-term use for the building.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will direct the Transport Holding Company not to dispose of its interest in Skyways Coach Air until after he has conducted an official inquiry into the conduct and affairs of the company.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now able to announce a decision on the proposed Abingdon bypass; and whether he has decided to build the whole length including the section from Drayton to Chilton at one time.

My right hon. Friend announces today that he has made orders fixing the route of the Abingdon Bypass (South Hinksey-Drayton) and the adjacent Drayton-Chilton section. The one modification to the orders considered at the public inquiry is an alteration in the line at Bagley Wood. My right hon. Friend is still considering the programming of the Drayton-Chilton section but subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures construction of the Abingdon Bypass will start early in 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which grant-aided passenger service railway lines in Wales will come up for renewal in 1972–73; and what is the level of the grant at present.

Grant undertakings expiring on 31st December, 1971 are: £ Swansea—Llanelli—Shrewsbury 388,000 Cardiff—Crewe 211,000 Chester—Llandudno—Holyhead 443,000 Llandudno Junction—Blaenau Ffestiniog 99,000 Machynlleth—Pwllheli 235,000 Wrexham—New Brighton 271,000

Grant undertakings expiring on 31st December, 1972 are: £ Swansea—Carmarthen—Milford Haven 269,000 Whitland—Pembroke Dock 76,000 Cardiff—Gloucester 101,000 Cardiff—Penarth 63,000 Cardiff—Rhymney 307,000 Cardiff—Coryton 48,000 Barry Island—Cardiff—Treherbert/Merthyr 764,000 Cardiff—Bristol 212,000 Shrewsbury—Aberystwyth 335,000 Wolverhampton — Shrewsbury — Wrexham—Chester 509,000 No undertakings extend beyond 31st December, 1972. The figures exclude surplus grant payable under section 40 of the Transport Act, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those Tidal Waters Orders which are now in force; and when he intends to introduce further Orders to cover all major estuaries.

The list is as follows:

Orders under Section 20 of the Rivers Prevention of Pollution Act 1876 which are deemed by virtue of paragraph 9 of Schedule 2 to the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1951 to be orders under Section 6 of the latter Act.

River; Local Government Board Order and Year River Afon Llwyd (8968/1879); River Rumney (Rhymney) (21972/1887); River Medway (25165/ 1890); Skelton Beck (30062/ 1893); Avon and Stour (36043/1897); Willington Cut, Willington Burn, Wallsend Burn (43212/1902).

Orders under Section 6 of the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1951.

Title and Order No. The River Alt (Prevention of Pollution) (Tidal Waters) Order 1953 (S.I. 1953 No. 964); The Hull and East Yorkshire River Board (Prevention of Pollution) (Tidal Waters) Order, 1954 (S.I. 1954 No. 1604); The River Axe (Prevention of Pollution) (Tidal Waters) Order, 1957 (S.I. 1957 No. 1637); The River Wye (Prevention of Pollution) (Tidal Waters) Order, 1958 (S.I. 1958 No. 588); The West Sussex (Prevention of Pollution) (Tidal Waters) Order, 1959 (S.I. 1959 No. 2144); The River Exe (Prevention of Pollution) (Tidal Waters) Order, 1960 (S.1. 1960 No. 1024); The Milford Haven and River Dau Cleddau (Prevention of Pollution) (Sea and Tidal Waters) Order, 1960 (S.I. 1960 No. 1034); The River Yare (Prevention of Pollution) (Tidal Waters) Order, 1960 (S.I. 1960 No. 1334).

My right hon. Friend is prohibited by Section 6 of the Act of 1951 from making further Orders, except on the application of a river authority or other interested person, but he is considering the recommendation of the Working Party on Sewage Disposal in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to which local authorities he has written concerning the promotion of improvement grants; and what response he has had.

I wrote to the Mayor or Chairman as the case may be of 50 local authorities last August inviting their co-operation in organising house improvement months in their cities and towns. 42 have accepted, two are still considering the invitation, five were un- able to take part. A further three towns were subsequently added to the list. About 40 of these local campaigns will have been held by the early summer. The full list is as follows: Acceptances Birmingham. Manchester. Blackburn. Mansfield. Bradford. Newcastle. Bristol. Nottingham. Cannock. Nuneaton. Carlisle. Plymouth. Carlton. Portsmouth. Chadderton. Ripley. Darlington. Rotherham. Derby. Salford. Eastleigh. Southend. Gloucester. Stockport. Huddersfield. Stoke on Trent. Hull. Stretford. Ilkeston. Sunderland. Ipswich. Swindon. Keighley. Teesside. Keynsham. Tyldesley. Leeds. Wallsend. Leicester. Walsall. Liverpool. Warley. Luton. Windsor. Macclesfield. Under consideration Burton-on-Trent. Rawmarsh. Not taking part Ashton-under-Lyme Exeter. Castleford. Swadlincote. Cheltenham.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply if he will give the dates in the past 12 months when announcements have been made by his Department giving details of the further production of components and engines for Concorde.

The House was informed on 2nd February, 1970, that the manufacturers had been authorised to start work on the first six production aircraft. My right hon. Friend confirmed this and at the same time informed the House on 20th January, 1971, that authority had also been given to order some materials for a further four aircraft. On the same day he informed the House that in addition to the engines required for the development programme, authority has also been given for the manufacture of the first 14 production engines.—[Vol. 795 c. 28–9 ; Vol. 809, c.1040–4.]

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply how many jobs at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Aberporth, Cardiganshire, he expects to be lost within the next two years.

On present plans the reduction in the numbers of staff employed at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Aberporth, within the next two years will be small; I cannot give a precise figure but the reduction is not expected to involve actual redundancy. I must however emphasise that the activities of all Ministry of Aviation Supply establishments will be kept under regular and critical review.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his official visit to Canada.

As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary told the House on my behalf on 14th January, the visit provided an opportunity for a full exchange of views on questions of mutual interest.—[Vol. 809, c. 259–61.]

asked the Prime Minister how many Royal Commissions have been set up in the past 50 years; what were their terms of reference; and how many have still to report their findings.

Seventy-two, of which two have still to report. I am sending a list to the hon. Member. The terms of reference can be found in their reports.

asked the Prime Minister why he will not make it a practice of his Administration to ensure that, when Ministers make public speeches criticising wage increases on the grounds that they may prove inflationary, they at the same time draw attention to rises in the price of goods which have come in short supply.

My right hon. and hon. Friends are well able to decide for themselves what points to make in their speeches.

asked the Prime Minister whether, during his recent talks with President Nixon, he discussed the damage to British exports such as footwear and to world trade generally of any revival of protectionism in the United States of America.

We discussed trade questions, and I am confident that President Nixon remains opposed to protectionist policies.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to manufacturing units in the North-West under Government control.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the enforced 28-day delay in all litigation due to the Post Office strike, he will take steps to provide that all deadlines relating to Government grant schemes, planning applications and appeal procedures, will be extended by the same period.

This problem involves a wide range of time limits, some of which are laid down in statutes or in subordinate legislation. Where it has been established that the difficulty can be resolved administratively, this is being done. The remaining time limits are being examined urgently by the Departments concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now announce his decision on the future of bull, boar and stallion licensing in England and Wales.

No. But an announcement will be made shortly.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the legislation which empowers persons to enforce forcibly the homes of citizens who are neither criminals nor suspected of acting against national security.

I am preparing an up-to-date list and will send this to the hon. Lady in due course.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will set aside some of the telephone kiosks in the cloisters of the Palace of Westminster for the use of non-smokers so that they can transact their calls free from the smell of stale smoke.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why it is his policy to allocate money for winter relief of unemployment.

What I have done is to bring forward essential work because it seems sensible that this work should so far as possible be undertaken when unemployment is seasonally highest.

asked the Secretary of State (1) if, in view of the unemployment figures announced on 21st January, he will now reconsider previous requests from the hon. Member for South Ayrshire to have no less than an additional allocation of £10 million for winter relief of unemployment;

(2) if he will request every county council and large burgh in Scotland to submit to him a list of public works which they will be able to undertake within the next two months, and which will create new jobs; and if he will sanction such works and provide the necessary finance within a total of £15 million;

(3) if he will request each regional hospital board to submit to him a list of works which they will be able to undertake within the next two months, and which will create new jobs; and if he will sanction such works and provide the necessary finance within a total of £5 million.

No significant reduction in unemployment during the present winter could be achieved by authorising expenditure not already committed by now. To invite spending authorities at this stage to identify additional work which they could start before the end of March would merely divert effort from the preparation of projects already planned to start in this financial year and the next.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the concern about Scottish unemployment, he will make a Ministerial broadcast explaining the action the Government intends taking to reduce unemployment.

I have already explained on television the measures which we are taking to deal with the problems which were clearly emerging before we took office.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will identify the sectors of employment in which he estimates there will be a substantial reduction in the labour force over the next five years; and if he will give, in each case, the current labour force, and the anticipated job loss over the period specified;

(2) what estimates he has made of the possible total job loss to Scotland in the period 1971 to 1976 due to increasing technological improvements in industry; and if he will make a statement.

As a result of a variety of factors including technological improvement and changing conditions, there have been significant reductions in recent years in the numbers employed in certain industries such as shipbuilding, coal mining, heavy engineering, agriculture, textiles and transport. It is expected that the numbers employed in certain of these sectors will continue to decline. Estimate of job losses in the future must be speculative and neither my right hon. Friends who have responsibilities in this field nor I consider that any useful purpose would be served by publishing forecasts for the next five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the reduction in unemployment which will be achieved by the Government undertaking a public works programme involving expenditure additional to the current allocation by the following amounts, £10 million, £15 million and £19 million, repectively.

This would depend on the nature of the works and the period over which these were undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the amount of money recently allocated to the Western Regional Hospital Board for winter relief of unemployment, and show how this compares with the previous four years.

I have authorised the Board to bring forward to this winter essential works estimated to cost £85,000. In 1967–68, 1968-69 and 1969–70 the Board undertook programmes of special winter works costing £550,000, £170,000 and £482,000. There were no such programmes in earlier years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, before deciding the amount of money to be allocated for winter relief of unemployment, he will assess the estimated level of unemployment during the winter months; and at what time in the year such an assessment is made.

My decision to authorise a programme of accelerated essential works was taken on the information available from the third quarter of 1970, which gave some indication of the level of unemployment which might be expected during the coming winter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that Scottish unemployment will be reduced below the December. 1970, total in the current year.

The Government's general economic policy and new investment incentives are designed to remedy the stagnating economic situation and increasing unemployment which we inherited and to produce an economic climate in which industrial growth and new development will be stimulated in Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children were taken into care in each of the last five years.

The figures for 1970 are not yet available. The numbers of children received into care by local authorities in Scotland in each of the previous five years were as follows: Year ending 30th November: 1965 … … … … 6,875 1966 … … … … 6,975 1967 … … … … 7,044 1968 … … … … 6,927 1969 … … … … 6,764

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the net income scale for a range of families on which, respectively, exemption from prescription charges on grounds of low income, exemption from ophthalmic and dental charges, and eligibility for free welfare milk and other welfare foods will be based from next April; and on what exact date will the new scales be introduced.

The following are examples of the net income levels at which full remission of the respective charges will be obtainable. One-child family—child aged 4 Two-child family—children aged 4 and 8 Three-child family—children aged 4, 8 and 11 £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Ophthalmic and Dental 16 5 6 18 5 0 20 9 0 (£16.28) (£18.25) (£20.45) Prescription 15 12 6 17 12 0 19 15 0 (£15.63) (£17.60) (£19.80) Welfare Milk 16 2 6 18 2 0 20 6 0 (£16.13) (£18.10) (£20.30)

These levels will apply from the start of the new charges (i.e. 1st April for ophthalmic and dental, and prescriptions; 4th April for welfare milk). They can only be taken as a guide since they depend on such variable factors as rent, expenses in

One-child family (child aged 4) Two-child family (children aged 4 and 8) Three-child family (all children under 5) Gross earnings Net earnings Gross earnings Net earnings Gross earnings Net earnings Ophthalmic and Dental … £19 11s. £16 12s. 6d. £20 15s. £17 14s. £21 18s. £18 18s. (£19.55) (£16.63) (£20.75) (£17.70) (£21.90) (£18.90) Prescriptions … £18 13s. £15 19s. 6d. £19 17s. £17 1s. £21 1s. £18 5s. (£18.65) (£15.98) (£19.85) (£17.05) (£21.05) (£18.25) Welfare Milk … £19 6s. £16 9s. 6d. £20 11s. £17 11s. £21 14s. £18 15s. (£19.30) (£16.48) (£20.55) (£17.55) (£21.70) (£18.75)

Note:

It has been assumed in all cases that there are expenses in connection with employment of about 7s. (35p) a week; and that Family Allowances at the normal rates will be received in addition to these earnings. It has also been assumed that the rent (including rates) lies in the range £2 15s. (£2.75) to £3 a week. The levels can only be taken as a guide; higher or lower rents. for example, would increase or lower the levels of entitlement.

The figures in my reply today to the Hon. Member for Oldham. West (Mr Meacher) relate to net income.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultants for each 100,000 population are practising in the area of the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board; and how this compares with the national average.

connection with employment, and ages of children. In the above examples a rent of £2 15s. 6d. (£2.78) as been assumed in the one-child family case and £2 19s. Od. (£2.95) in the others. Net income is assumed to include Family Allowance.

The figures in my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Luton (Mr. Simeons) relate to gross and net earnings.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the scale of earnings, stating gross and net earnings, respectively, for a range of families on which, respectively, exemption from prescription charges on grounds of low income, exemption from ophthalmic and dental charges and eligibility for free welfare milk and other welfare foods will be based from next April; and on what exact date will the new scales be introduced.