asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he is satisfied that there is no discrimination against women in the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement.

Within the non-industrial Civil Service, women receive equal pay and their terms and conditions of service, including their eligibility for promotion, are the same as those of men. There is a very small number of posts from which women are at present excluded because the work is considered unsuitable for them; the reasons for these exclusions are reviewed regularly.In the industrial Civil Service, there are still certain differences in the treatment of men and women. These differences will all be reviewed as a consequence of the Equal Pay Act.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what economic and marketing changes in fisheries policy and administration he envisages in the event of the United Kingdom joining the European Economic Community.

Certain important aspects of the European Economic Community's common fisheries policy are still in the process of formulation. Consequently, as I said in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 17th December, 1970, I cannot at present foresee what changes in fisheries policy and administration will be required should we join the Community.—[Vol. 808, c. 448.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of staff in his Department at present engaged in administering sea fisheries policy; and by how many as a percentage and an absolute figure he envisages the staff being reduced as a result of the proposals outlined in Command Paper No. 4564.

On 1st January, 1971, there were 113 non-industrial civil servants in my Department engaged on the administration of sea fisheries policy.It is not possible to estimate at this stage what staff changes might result from the consideration being given to the aspects of fisheries policy referred to in the White Paper (Cmnd. No. 4564).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the £15 million saving by 1974 outlined in Command Paper No. 4564 will be borne by the fishing industry; and in what areas of the Government aid to industry he hopes to make his savings.

The reduction in the rates of capital grant, following the end of investment grants for industry generally, should save some £¾ million a year, but I made no assumption about other areas of fishery expenditure which are subject to review.

Deep-sea operating subsidy payments for Great Britain are set out below. The further amount payable under the present Scheme will depend on the aggregate operating profit of the industry from voyages terminating in the six months October, 1970 to March, 1971.
	Period during which voyages terminated			Voyage Rate	Added Value	Total
				£	£	£
12 months to 31st July,1963	31st July, 1960	…	…	1,535,512	—	1,535,512
	31st July, 1961	…	…	1,502,749	—	1,502,749
	31st July, 1962	…	…	2,672,273	—	2,672,273
	31st July, 1963	…	…	2,829,323	—	2,829,323
	31st July, 1964	…	…	2,552,935	—	2,552,935
	31st July, 1965	…	…	2,005,506	—	2,005,506
	31st July, 1966	…	…	1,678,149	—	1,678,149
	31st July, 1967	…	…	1,400,711	—	1,400,711
8 months August, 1967 to March,1968		…	…	1,497,751	—	1,497,751
6 months August, 1968 to September, 1968		…	…	480,956	1,188,323	1,669,279
12 months October, 1968 to September, 1969		…	…	704,713	1,231,695	1,936,408
12 months October, 1969 to September, 1970		…	…	—	1,520,000*	1,520,000*
GRAND TOTAL (including estimated amount for last period)						£22,800,596
* Estimated. £752,700 has been paid on account and the balance will be paid as soon as audited returns are complete.

asked the Minister of State for Defence why members of the Army allowed themselves to be pushed out of Ardilea Street, Belfast, on Tuesday, 9th February, while uniformed Irish Republican Army members fired shots over the coffin of a man who had been killed by the Army during recent riots.

The Army were deployed near but not in Ardilea Street, Belfast, on this occasion. Therefore, no such incident took place.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT all the medals issued to Service men that carry an annual annuity, and state the amount of each annuity.

The medals which carry an annuity and the amounts concerned are as follows:

Medal	Amount of Annuity	Remarks
	£
Victoria Cross	100
George Cross	100
Meritorious Service Medal	10	The annuity is awarded to a limited number of pensioners holding the medal. It is subject to pension increases under the Pensions Increases Warrants as they occur. The number of annuity holders is limited to 750 at any one time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what use is currently being made of the barracks in Kensington Church Street; what negotiations he has held with a view to the disposal of the site; and if he will make a statement.

Kensington Barracks is now occupied by the London District Provost Company. The site, which is leased from the Crown Estate Commissioners, is due to be handed back in the near future. The disposal of the site after the lease expires is a matter for the Crown Estate Commissioners.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will detail what military accommodation in the central London area is surplus to requirements; and when this accommodation will be disposed of.

There is no surplus military accommodation in the central London area at present. On current plans, a part of the Ministry of Defence site at White City will probably be vacated within the next two years or so and then sold.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what steps he is taking to introduce staff economies in the British Embassy in Washington, where 779 persons are at present employed.

The British Defence Staff, which forms part of the Embassy in Washington, is subject to frequent review both of its task and of its complement, which has been reduced from 257 in 1967 to a current figure of 176. These reviews, which include periodical inspection of the staffs on the spot, will be maintained with a view to seeking economies if possible.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the reserve service obligations of soldiers who prematurely purchase their transfer to the Reserve.

Arrangements were introduced in 1964 whereby certain soldiers who would previously have been allowed to purchase their discharge from the Army were required instead to transfer by purchase to Section B of the Regular Reserve. This measure has proved very successful, and it will be extended in future to enable selected soldiers who purchase their transfer to be placed in Section A of the Regular Reserve instead of in Section B. This change will not apply to, for example, compassionate cases, who will continue to be transferred to Section B.The new measure will help to increase the strength of Section A Reservists, who are more readily available for service should the need arise; and also produce a more balanced Regular Reserve.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice she has given to local education authorities concerning per capita allowances to infants' schools which, unlike junior and secondary schools, do not have full rolls until the summer term, but have per capita payments based on the September roll.

None. This is a matter entirely for the local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total acreage of derelict land so far cleared in Cornwall; how this, as a percentage, compares with the national average; and what is his estimate of the remaining acreage in Cornwall justifying treatment.

The derelict land surveys started in 1964 show that between 1st January, 1964, and 31st December, 1969, 74 acres of derelict land were restored in Cornwall. This compares with 12,034 acres restored in the whole of England in that period and is 0·6 per cent. of the national figure. The Cornwall County Council estimated that at 31st December, 1969, there were 1,763 acres of derelict land in Cornwall justifying treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that large concerns, particularly those in the oil and aviation industries, including airlines, the motor car industry and chemicals are aware of and are paying adequate attention to existing legislation on pollution.

My Department and local authorities are continually in touch with industry about measures to reduce pollution. We have recently introduced orders to place more industrial processes under the Alkali Inspectorate. We expect to keep under constant review ways in which we can encourage and, where necessary, enforce anti-pollution orders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment since the coming into force of the Housing Subsidies Act, 1967, what proportion of Exchequer subsidy paid to Nottingham Corporation under the Act in each year was in respect of expensive site subsidy.

The percentages are as follows:

				Per cent.
1966–67	…	…	…	Nil
1967–68	…	…	…	Nil
1968–69	…	…	…	Nil
1969–70	…	…	…	0·61

These figures exclude payments which might still fall to be made in respect of unsettled claims relating mainly to the subsidy for land costs and expensive site subsidy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates to be the compensation paid annually under the Town and Country Planning Acts, 1954 to 1968, in respect of the depreciation of land values, refusal of planning permission and for similar reasons for each year since 1960.

COMPENSATION/PAYMENTS MADE UNDER THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACTS 1947, 1954 AND 1962 AND EQUIVALENT SCOTTISH ACT'S
Financial Year	Part I/1954	Part II/1954Part VI/1962	Part V/1954	Section 59/1947	Part IV/1954	Totals
	£	£	£	£	£	£
1961–62	325,504	2,054,324	63,873	—	72,558	2,516,259
1962–63	18,100	1,644,324	35,508	—	7,121	1,705,053
1963–64	14,275	1,016,556	—	337	1,020	1,032,188
1964–65	18,244	1,088,132	9,948	—	217	1,116,541
1965–66	8,617	812,629	130	—	301	821,677
1966–67	9,219	448,331	112	—	2,272	459,934
1967–68	11,295	525,148	174	679	1,680	538,976
1968–69	9,665	277,407	—	—	6,990	294,062
1969–70	3,106	245,433	—	—	486	249,025
1970–71 (up to 31st January, 1971)	882	247,546	—	—	743	249,171
Totals	418,907	8,359,830	109,745	1,016	93,388	8,982,886
The amount of compensation paid by local planning authorities under these Acts is not know.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the latest available figures for the amount provided by Her Majesty's Government

Great Britain
Exchequer housing subsidies to local authorities, new towns and housing associations in 1969–70.	£163 million (equivalent to £29 per tenant).
Rate fund contributions to Housing Revenue Accounts in 1968–69	£81 million (equivalent to £15 per tenant).
United Kingdom
Tax relief on mortgage interest payments (including option mortgage subsidy) in 1969–70.	£224 million (equivalent to £25 per owner-occupier).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of man-hours spent since 13th October, 1970, on redecorating the hall and staircase of Lancaster House; and what will be the cost of this work when completed.

5,770 man hours; this includes time spent erecting the extensive scaffolding required. The cost of the work when completed, including scaffolding, will be £19,440.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he anticipates

The compensation and payments paid out of central government funds under the Town and Country Planning Acts for loss of development value as a result of adverse planning decisions and for similar reasons for each year since 1960 are as follows:The figures are for England, Wales and Scotland.and local authorities in the form of subsidies for council houses; and how this compares with tax relief given to owner-occupiers.

The latest available estimates are as follows:that Lancaster House will be reopened for public viewing.

On Easter Saturday, 10th April, 1971, provided that no official functions requiring the use of the State Rooms arise at short notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases of illegal eviction by landlords occurred in England, Wales and Scotland in each of the years from 1957 to 1970.

Eviction without a court order became an offence for the first time in 1964, under the Protection from Eviction Act.During the year in which this Act was in force, there were 32 convictions in England and Wales on prosecutions under it. The statistics under it. The statistics do not show how many persons were concerned.Under the Rent Act, 1965, which followed the Protection from Eviction Act and re-embodied its provisions on un lawful eviction, the numbers of persons convicted in England and Wales year by year are: in 1966, 94; in 1967, 98; in 1968, 84; in 1969, 81; and in 1970 up to 30th September, 55.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION AT DATES INDICATED
	31st December, 1965	31st December, 1966	31st December,1967	31st December,1968	31st December,1969	30th September 1970
Inner London:
City of London	—	5	Nil	5	1	9
Camden	442	549	446	350	507	595
Greenwich	322	358	364	267	206	262
Hackney	880	708	612	621	741	654
Hammersmith	454	295	342	328	361	363
Islington	621	706	886	1,185	1,522	1,930
Kensineton and Chelsea	243	202	252	301	337	289
Lambeth	916	980	1,340	1,394	1,512	1,681
Lewisham	467	505	480	608	668	664
Southwark	525	568	564	640	649	575
Tower Hamlets	391	280	256	266	298	477
Wandsworth	556	623	610	636	706	712
Westminster	469	422	408	450	372	424
TOTALS	6,286	6,201	6,580	7,051	7,880	8,635
Outer London:
Barking	2	46	26	61	35	58
Barnet	175	181	157	177	234	227
Bexley	—	18	90	145	177	238
Brent	110	114	164	256	451	620
Bromley	24	47	61	90	115	108
Croydon	35	34	103	219	319	426
Ealing	165	152	186	185	187	195
Enfield	6	26	19	26	39	20
Haringey	61	153	289	342	482	644
Harrow	19	59	47	44	52	47
Havering	203	15	43	12	18	27
Hillingdon	118	111	92	96	90	128
Hounslow	89	53	213	366	424	503
Kingston-upon-Thames	—	21	13	39	17	44
Merton	117	138	115	151	185	261
Newham	147	173	220	232	173	222
Redbridge	—	39	73	54	99	103
Richmond-upon-Thames	13	38	35	81	103	111
Sutton	43	41	63	96	115	129
Waltham Forest	—	61	78	68	101	120
TOTALS	1,327	1,966	2,087	2,740	3,416	4,231
GRAND TOTALS	7,613	8,167	8.667	9,791	11,296	12,866

I have been asked to reply.The available information relates to men, women and children who are resident in local authority temporary accommodation because they are homeless, and these figures are given below. Comparable figures for 1964 are not available due to the reorganisation of local government in London in April, 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the report will be available to him on estuarial storage of water; and if he will make a statement.

The Water Resources Board's report on the desk study of water conservation in the Wash has recently been received and is being considered; the Board's report on the Morecambe Bay feasibility study is expected at about the middle of the year; and the report on the present studies on the Dee Crossing and associated water conservation is expected in a few months' time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what target percentage return on capital has been set for British Rail for the present year; and how that target has been calculated.

I have set the British Railways Board the target of earning £17 million in 1971 over and above interest on capital and historic depreciation. It is based on estimates of trading results and the need to make provision for replacement of assets.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will have the mud washed off the speed limit signs on the elevated section of Motorway M4, as the figures on them are invisible to many of the drivers who use the road.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the recent visit of the West German Foreign Minister, Herr Walter Scheel; and to what extent discussions concerning Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community took place.

Herr Scheel paid an official visit to this country from 4th to 6th February. There was a very useful discussion on a number of current problems, including negotiations for Britain's entry into the European Economic Community. There was a wide measure of agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that, since his last published details of price comparisons between the countries of the Six and Great Britain, there have been changes; and whether he will publish an up-to-date list of the price of one pound of rump steak, one dozen standard eggs, one pound of best bacon, a two pound loaf, one pound of sugar and one pound tin of peaches in Bonn, Brussels, Paris and London.

No. Exact comparisons of retail prices are in any event not possible due to differences in product definition, quality and systems of distribution.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, under the existing provisions of the Treaty of Rome, Commonwealth workers in Great Britain would have to register as citizens of the United Kingdom before they would be acceptable as community workers within the European Economic Community.

Discussions with the Communities on the categories of British subject which would be entitled to benefit from the provisions of the Treaty of Rome on the free movement of labour are not complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with other countries seeking membership of the European Economic Community concerning possible changes in the fishing policies of the European Economic Community; with whom were the discussions held; and if a common approach was agreed.

Her Majesty's Government take a close interest in the attitudes of the other applicant countries to the common fisheries policy of the Community. We are in contact with them on matters of mutual interest. Her Majesty's Government have reserved their position on the common fisheries policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's intention that Great Britain should join the European Economic Community, he will take steps to co-operate with the Commission to agree a legal basis for the establishment of a European Company, as distinct from those covered currently under separate national legislation.

We intend to play a full part in the realisation of measures of this kind if we join the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will enumerate all the Departmental committees of inquiry or commissions coming under the responsibility of his Department and indicate the dates on which these were set up.

Following is the information asked for. It includes both standing bodies and bodies appointed to consider a particular issue:

• Advisory Committee on the Administration of the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876–1913.
• Advisory Committee on Drug Dependence—October, 1966.
• Advisory Committee on the Protection of Birds for England and Wales—1954.
• Advisory Committee on Race Relations Research—May, 1969.
• Advisory Committee on Service Candidates—1963.
• Advisory Council on the Penal System—September, 1966.
• Advisory Council for Probation and AfterCare—June, 1968.
• Carlisle & District State Management Scheme Advisory Committee—February, 1969.
• Central Committee on Common Police Services—1948.
• Civil Defence Industrial Advisory Committee —1964.
• Commission on the Constitution—April, 1969.
• Committee on Long Term Communcations—1966.
• Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council (England and Wales)—1948.
• Committee on Privacy—April, 1970.
• Committee on Death Certification and Coroners–1965.
• Committee on Programmed Learning in the Fire Service—May, 1967.
• Criminal Injuries Compensation Board—1964.
• Criminal Law Revision Committee—1959.
• Community Development Project: Central Steering Group—May, 1969.
• Community Relations Commission—November, 1968.
• Electoral Advisory Conference—1947.
• Fire Services Central Examinations Board—1958.
• Fire Service Building Development Group Development Committee—1965.
• Fire Service Building Development Group Steering Committee—1965.
• Fire Service Research and Training Trust—1940.
• Gaming Board for Great Britain—October, 1968.
• Horserace Betting Levy Board—1963.
• Horserace Totalisator Board—1963.
• Home Office Standing Committee on Crime Prevention—January, 1967.
• Home Office Scientific Advisory Council—November, 1965.
• Inner London Juvenile Courts Consultative Committee—1945.
• Immigration Appeals Tribunal—July, 1970.
• Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust—Appointed as necessary.
• Joint Committee on Adoption Practice—1966.
• Local Review Committees (one at each prison)—Appointed under the Criminal Justice Act, 1967.
• London Cab Trade Consultative Committee—March, 1966.
• Parliamentary Boundary Commissions for England, Northern Ireland and Wales—January, 1966.
• Police College Board of Governors—1947.
• Police Promotion Examinations Board—1956.
• Police Advisory Board for England and Wales —1965.
• Police Council for the United Kingdom—July, 1970.
• The Parole Board—November, 1967.
• The Poisons Board—1933.
• Police Building Development Group Steering Committee—October, 1967.
• Police Building Development Group Development Committee—October, 1967.
• Police College—Advisory Committee to the Board of Governors—1948.
• Probation and After-Care Research Advisory Committee—November, 1967.
• Race Relations Board—February, 1966 (Reconstituted November, 1968).
• Standing Advisory Committee on Deprivation of Citizenship—Appointed as necessary.
• State Management Districts Council—1921.
• Standing Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances—1965, Visiting Committees for certain prisons and all remand centres—Appointed under the Prison Act, 1952.
• Boards of Visitors for all penal establishments not covered by a Visiting Committee (see above)—Appointed under the Prison Act, 1952.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to enable women to serve on juries whether or not they are householders or hold property, basing their qualification on the electoral register.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 18th January to a Question by the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. Deakins).—[Vol. 809, c. 220–221.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if a company's contributions to a strike indemnity fund of an employers' association are allowable for tax purposes.

This would depend on the constitution of the association and the rules governing the indemnity fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of total investment in the United Kingdom; and what proportion of this is accounted for by publicly-owned industrial and commercial enterprises.

In 1969 total gross fixed capital formation in the United Kingdom was about £8.000 million, of which publicly-owned industrial and commercial enterprises (including housing) accounted for about 31 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the gross national product is attributable to publicly-owned industrial and commercial enterprises.

In 1969 about 14 per cent. of the gross national product at factor cost was attributable to publiclyowned industrial and commercial enterprises.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will cause an inquiry to be made into the tax laws, with a view to recommending equity of taxation between men and women and the non-aggregation of income of husbands and wives.

I have noted the hon. Member's views; but I do not think a special inquiry such as he suggests is called for.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to require that wives or common law wives shall also be required to sign the income tax returns of their husbands.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that husbands separated from their wives are allowed tax reductions only in respect of maintenance actually paid to their wife and children, and that such wives are not taxed on allowances they do not in fact receive.

Where the Inland Revenue receives evidence that the full amount due under a maintenance order will not be paid. appropriate adjustments will be made to the tax liability of both parties.If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind I shall be glad to look into it if he sends me the details.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the size and timing of a second distribution of special drawing rights.

The arrangements agreed at the 1969 I.M.F. Annual Meeting for the three years 1970–72 provide for an allocation of S.D.R. 3,000 million on 1st January, 1972. The question of allocations for subsequent years will fall to be considered in 1972 and I have no statement to make now.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what was the date and percentage amount of the most recent increase for Post Office Corporation executive grades.

I assume the hon. Member refers to the various grades of Executive Officer. The pay of its staff is a matter for the Post Office, but I understand that the most recent increases for those grades took effect on 1st January, 1970, and were, in percentage terms:

	Per cent.
Executive Officer	…	8·7
Higher Executive Officer	…	10
Senior, Chief, Senior Chief and Principal Executive Officers	…	8·5

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (1) what is the degree of regional variation in the average earnings of Post Office employees in the United Kingdom;(2) what has been the average earnings of part-time employees in the Post Office over the last 12 months;(3) what have been the average earnings of full-time Post Office employees over the past 12 months;(4) what have been the average earnings of all Post Office employees over the past 12 months.

The pay of its staff is a matter for the Post Office. I have not the information for which the hon. Member asks and, as there are over 200 different grades of staff in the Post Office, I do not think I should be justified in asking for it.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is the total employed force of the Post Office; how many of them are full-time and how many of them are part-time employees.

This is a matter for the Post Office, but its latest Report and Accounts show the figures as 392,169 full-time and about 31,000 part-time (excluding staff employed on an agency basis) at 31st March, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish any readily available statistics for the incidence of divorce and separation in the years 1960 to 1970.

The relevant statistics for the years 1960–69 are contained in the Civil Judicial Statistics. The corresponding figures for 1970 are at present available only in relation to actions for divorce and separation in the Court of Session. They are as follows:

Divorce
Actions in which final judgment was given	4,809
Divorce granted	4,589
Divorce refused	220
Separation
Actions in which final judgment was given	1
Separation granted	1
Separation refused	-

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the Finer Committee on One Parent Families to report on the Scottish aspects of its remit; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply which was given on 2nd November, 1970, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services to the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis).—[Vol. 805. c. 280.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints have been brought to the notice of his Department for non-payment of aliment to divorced or separated women.

Eight since 1st January, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has received a letter dated 22nd December, 1970, from the British Dental Association, explaining its reasons for opposing the proposed new dental charges; and what reply he has sent.

Yes: I am sending the hon. Member a copy of my right hon. Friend's reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will enumerate all the departmental committees of inquiry or commissions coming under the responsibility of his Department and indicate the dates on which these were set up.

The following bodies appear to fall within the scope of the hon. Member's Question. There is, in addition, large number of advisory committees concerned with various aspects of the health and personal social services but these do not appear to come within the scope of the Question and the work required to list them and the subjects with which they are concerned would be disproportionate.

Remedial Professions Committee—June, 1969.

Committee on One-Parent Families—November. 1969.

Committee on Nursing—March, 1970.

Advisory Group on the use of Foetuses and Foetal Material for Research—May, 1970.

Committee on Complaints against Hospitals—February, 1971.

Committee of Inquiry into Whittingham Hospital, Preston—February, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost of providing anti-influenza vaccine free of charge for the whole community.

At current prices, the cost of the vaccine in England would be about £25 million a year. This makes no allowance for fees to general practitioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost of providing anti-influenza vaccine free of charge for all retirement pensioners.

On the assumption that the hon. Member has in mind the total population of men over 65 and women over 60—which includes many who are not retirement pensioners—the cost of vaccine at current prices would be about £4½ million a year. This makes no allowance for fees to general practitioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further action he proposes to take to remedy the lack of essential supporting services for those helping to keep mentally handicapped children in the community, as required by the Mental Health Act, 1959.

As I have already announced, it is my intention that part of the English share of the extra £110 million the Government plan to make available to the health and personal social services over the next four years should be used to expand community services for the mentally handicapped over and above the annual increase which would otherwise have been expected, and I am already in touch with the local authority associations to discuss priorities for the use of these extra funds. Support for families with mentally handicapped children living at home is a vital part of any comprehensive service. The number of qualified mental health social workers employed by local authorities has doubled since 1960, and the number of trainees is also growing. Facilities for daytime care, education and training, and for short-term residential care in emergencies and to relieve families under strain also continue to increase. I hope that the policy guidance I expect to issue this spring will provide further impetus to the development of these services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much the United Kingdom spends per capita on social welfare compared with each of the six countries of the Common Market. showing in addition the breakdown of expenditure by classes of welfare.

I regret that the information asked for is not available.The only figures on a comparative basis relate to social security benefits and the national health services in the United Kingdom and corresponding schemes in the Six. The total current public expenditure in this part of the field (including administrative costs) was, in 1968, per head of population:

				£
United Kingdom	…	…	…	91
Belgium	…	…	…	117
France	…	…	…	146
Germany	…	…	…	141
Italy	…	…	…	75
Netherlands	…	…	…	114

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the Finer Committee on One Parent Families to report; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis) on 2nd November.—[Vol. 805, c. 280.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what statistics he has readily available of the additional social security payments made since 1965, directly or indirectly as a result of the increase in the incidence of divorce and separation.

I regret that no such statistics are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the number of women coming forward for cervical cytology tests; and whether he will cause an investigation to be undertaken with a view to devising more effective methods of persuasison.

Present policy on cervical cytology is aimed at women over 35 years of age. So far the response from women in this age group has been lower than desired and consideration is already being given to ways by which it might be improved.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the reason for the fact that, while the number of fraudulent claims for supplementary benefit identified in Scotland last year increased, the number of prosecutions diminished.

The figures in my written reply on 2nd February to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr Oswald) refer to all social security benefits. Staffing difficulties in the Department in 1967 caused a backlog of cases awaiting consideration of proceedings. The subsequent resolution of those difficulties produced an exceptionally high number of submissions to the Procurator Fiscal in 1968, and this in turn resulted in an abnormal number of prosecutions concluded in 1969. In 1970 there were about 70 more submissions to the Procurator Fiscal than in 1969, but not all of these cases came to court during the year.—[Vol. 810, c. 315.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he will take to encourage all parents to continue to purchase the same quantity of milk for family consumption after the cheap milk entitlement ends for certain families on 4th April, 1971.

Publicity in connection with the consumption of milk is the concern of the National Dairy Council which, I understand, is promoting a publicity campaign, commencing in March, directed principally at those mothers who will be called upon to pay the full price for their milk when cheap welfare milk ends. The campaign will be based on the nutritional importance of milk in the diet and will involve the use of television, Press and posters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many specific and precise complaints about aircraft noise from Leeds-Bradford Airport, other than those voiced at the Court of Inquiry in 1969–70 into the proposed runway extension, have been registered in each of the last five years.

Excluding complaints to the airport authorities and the many protests about possible increased disturbance if the runway extension were allowed, my Department received the following complaints:

1966	…	…	…	…	1
1967	…	…	…	…	1
1968	…	…	…	…	3
1969	…	…	…	…	0
1970	…	…	…	…	31

Regular jet flights were introduced in 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in view of the ending of the Consumer Council, he will seek to protect housewives and other consumers by launching a publicity drive drawing attention to the comprehensive protection afforded by the Sale of Goods Act, 1894, the Trades Descriptions Act, 1968, and other measures.

No. Such matters are already publicised in the Press and by private consumer organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give a general direction to the publicly controlled airlines to employ women pilots, especially in view of the requirements of the Sex Discrimination (Removal) Act, 1919.

I have no power to give such an instruction.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms have, since 18th June, 1970, made inquiries with a view to developing in Cardiganshire.

Since 18th June, 1970, Cardiganshire has been suggested as a suitable location to three firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government grant is made to the North-East Development Committee to assist its work.

The Government grant to the North-East Development Council for the current financial year will amount to £10,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the amount of Government grant given to each regional development committee or similar body, other than the North-East Development Committee.

The Government grant to the Cumberland Development Council for the current financial year will amount to about £2,000. The grants to the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) and the Development Corporation for Wales are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied that the Soviet authorities allow British firms to establish subsidiary companies to operate on terms of equality in competition with other Soviet enterprises; and if he will make a statement.

Foreign companies are not allowed to establish subsidiaries in the U.S.S.R. in competition with State enterprises.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he proposes to announce further route allocations to Caledonian/British United Airways; and if he will make a statement.

We will make an announcement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to publish the Crowther Report on Consumer Spending.

I cannot add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bethnal Green (Mr. Hilton) on 1st February.—[Vol. 810, c. 244.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he intends to set a time limit for the acceptance of applications for investment grant.

Yes. I intend that no grant shall be made on expenditure incurred before 1st January, 1969, unless an application, containing such information and in such form as I require, is made before 1st January, 1972. Thereafter for a period I intend to maintain the three-year interval quarter by quarter so that, for example, applications in respect of expenditure incurred between 1st January, 1969, and 1st April, 1969, would have to be made before 1st April, 1972. In the light of experience, I shall consider whether it would be right to shorten the interval between the incurring of expenditure and the latest date for making application. I shall, however, give due notice to industry of any such change. I am considering whether these arrangements should be embodied in legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to consult the interests of the wine and spirit trade about the implications of relevant European Economic Community directions; and whether it is proposed to establish closer liaison with the trade on the lines of the consultation which Her Majesty's Customs and Excise maintain with the Wine and Spirit Association.

I have been asked to reply since the wine and spirit trade is within my general field of responsibility.We are already in consultation with the trade about the implications of E.E.C. legislation. I consider our arrangements for consultation are satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in considering the reorganisation of local government in Wales, he will so plan as to allow the Welsh counties to retain their identities.

I cannot anticipate my proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what further consideration he has given to the question of bilingual traffic signs.

There is already provision for the use of certain kinds of bilingual traffic signs in Wales and Monmouthshire. Under arrangements announced in 1969, local authorities in Wales and Monmouthshire were given full powers to erect bilingual destination and local informatory signs if they so wished. The decision whether or not to put up such signs is entirely the responsibility of the local authorities concerned. Some have done so.Under these arrangements, no bilingual regulatory, warning or direction signs may be erected. I have considered whether some extension of the use of bilingual signs would be feasible and desirable, having regard to safety and other considerations. Complex issues are involved, and I believe that a full study of the whole matter is necessary before decisions can be taken one way or the other.I have, therefore, decided to set up an independent committee to examine the matter and to report to me. The committee's terms of reference will be:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will allow a special allocation of moneys to county councils to enable them to adopt and maintain more unclassified roads.

No. The Government have made provision in their capital spending programmes and in the Rate Support Grant Order, 1970, for the reasonable requirements of local authorities for the adoption and maintenance of unclassified roads.