asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will propose that professional boxers should be allowed to spread their earnings over a period of years for tax purposes.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what general proposals he has that sportsmen, whose anticipated career in a highly paid sport is short, should be allowed to spread their earnings over a period of years for tax purposes.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has now been able to estimate what effect decimalisation will have on the Cost of Living Index.

There need be no overall increase in price levels due to decimalisation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the practice of his Administration in dealing with complaints arising from the changeover to decimal currency.

It depends where responsibility lies for the matter complained about.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between Departments responsible for determining Government prices, charges, etc., following decimalisation; and if he will make a statement.

All Departments are aware of the policy to be followed on price conversion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give figures showing the total costs, actual or estimated, involved in the changeover to decimal currency, including the net costs incurred by the central Government, local authorities, private manufacturing industry, the rest of the private sector, and individuals, and the net percentages of all these elements within the latest estimates of the gross national product.

I regret that this information is not available. As the Halsbury Committee pointed out many costs are not measurable, and the expense of conducting a detailed but partial inquiry would not, in my view, be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps are taken to control the circulation of Treasury forecasts of the rate of inflation;(2) how many copies of documents containing Treasury forecasts of the rate of inflation are circulated to other Government Departments and to nationalised industries, respectively.

The circulation of internal Treasury economic forecasts is restricted to the minimum consistent with the efficient conduct of Government business. It would not be in accordance with normal practice to disclose the arrangements in detail.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his current estimate of the underlying percentage rate of inflation and of the current direction of the trend in that rate.

As has already been published, the retail prices index in December, 1970, the latest available date, was 7·9 per cent. higher than a year earlier. My hon. Friend will agree that there is now much greater public recognition of the dangers of the present rate of inflation and that this is assisting the Government in their policy.

asked the Chancellor the Exchequer what was the increase in domestic credit during the six months up to the middle of June, 1970; and what is his estimate for the following six months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequere what is his estimate of the increase in the money supply during the six months up to the middle of June, 1970; and what is his estimate of the increase in the following six months.

Reliable figures for periods ending at the middle of the month are not available. Figures for the first three calendar quarters of 1970 have been published in Financial Statistics. Figures for the fourth quarter will be published in March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage rate of increase, expressed at an annual rate, of the money supply during the six months up to the middle of June, 1970; and what is his estimate of the corresponding figure for the following six months.

Money supply figures for the first three calendar quarters for 1970 have been published in Financial Statistics. The figures for the fourth quarter will be published in March. The increase in money supply in the first half of the year was 5·6 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the United Kingdom's overseas indebtedness has been reduced since June, 1970.

From end-June to end-December, 1970, United Kingdom official long-term debt was reduced by £74 million. Short and medium-term debt rose by £150 million to end-September, 1970: I cannot anticipate the normal publication of later debt levels, but there have since been published reductions of this debt totalling £156 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give consideration to rectifying the anomaly whereby purchase tax is charged at 55 per cent. of the wholesale value on Audio Visual slide projector apparatus used solely for educational purposes.

These projectors form part of a broad class of taxable pro- jectors and it is not practicable to exempt those used for educational purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for an inquiry into the effects of unemployment on the economy, particularly in the field of growth expansion and cost inflation; and if he will make a statement.

No; for 1 do not think it would add to our present information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what urgent steps he will take to reduce unemployment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the persistent and growing number of unemployed, what action he now proposes to take to stimulate industrial activity.

The Government's policy is to curb inflation which represents the most serious threat to employment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider further financial measures to lessen the incidence of unemployment amongst older and disabled workers.

The most important contribution that can be made to the improvement of employment prospects among older and disabled workers, as well as in the country generally, is to slow down the rate of cost inflation. Questions about specific measures to assist particular types of workers or workers in particular industries should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange to have placed on the agenda of the National Economic Development Council meeting an item dealing with the unemployment situation in Great Britain.

The Council considers from time to time all aspects of the country's economic situation and prospects, including the level of unemployment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect he estimates his taxation and monetary measures will have on the of unemployment in 1971.

They will help to curb inflation, which represents the most serious threat to employment prospects.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received in regard to the pension provisions of the Finance Act, 1970; and if he will make a statement.

We have received a number of representations from bodies concerned with occupational pension arrangements. They raise several major matters of principle. We are considering them but I cannot say any more at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the reports of the unofficial Tax Simplification Committee; and if he will make a statement.

The Committee report to the Chancellor in confidence and my right hon. Friend does not propose to publish their reports.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set up a committee of inquiry to investigate the full extent of current avoidance and evasion of income tax, surtax, capital gains tax and estate duty in this country, and to make recommendations for its mitigation.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will seek to amend the Customs and Excise Act, 1952, to enable customs duty and purchase tax to be refunded in all cases where imported goods are found to be faulty and subsequently returned to the country of origin.

No. There is already provision in the Customs and Excise Act, 1952 for the repayment of duty and purchase tax where goods imported in pursuance of a contract of sale but found not to be in accordance with the contract by reference to description, quality, state or condition, are returned unused to the foreign seller.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for preserving the privacy and confidentiality of personal taxation information stored at Pay-As-You-Earn computer centres.

Precautions are taken to ensure that no unauthorised person gains access to information from the computer, and that the Revenue's principle of strict confidentiality is fully preserved. I am satisfied that the present safeguards are adequate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the computerisation of Pay-As-You-Earn will lead to any changes in the administrative arrangements of Pay-As-You-Earn as it affects employers; and whether it has led him to reconsider the whole basis of Pay-As-You-Earn with a view to simplification.

The main change for employers under the existing computer system is that P.A.Y.E. matters are dealt with at the Computer Centre instead of by local tax offices. On the question of simplification, I would refer the hon. Member to what my hon. Friend, the Financial Secretary, said in the debate on the Report of the Estimates Committee on 7th December, 1970, when he announced that work on the computer programme was being suspended for the time being.—[Vol. 808, c. 130–1.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish statistics showing the share of the national income taken in wages and salaries in the period 1960–70.

Figures for 1970 are not yet available. As the rest of the answer is in the form of a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.Following is the information:

INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT AS A PERCENTAGE OF NATIONAL INCOME*
		Income from employment†	of which Wages and salaries
1960	…	72·7	65·8
1961	…	73·4	66·5
1962	…	74·1	67·0
1963	…	73·3	66·0
1964	…	73·4	66·2
1965	…	74·2	66·6
1966	…	75·7	67·6
1967	…	74·6	66·5
1968	…	75·7	67·3
1969	…	77·5	68·9
1970	…
* After deducting stock appreciation and capital consumption.
† Wages and salaries plus pay of H.M. Forces plus employers' contributions to national insurance, superannuation funds, etc.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the national income was derived from employment, self-employment, rent dividend and net interest received, respectively, in 1969, 1964, 1959 and 1954; and what estimate has been made of the position five years hence.

I cannot give an estimate of the position five years hence. The rest of the answer is in the form of a table:

PERCENTAGE SHARES OF NATIONAL INCOME*
	1954	1959	1964	1969
Income from employment	70·5	72·1	73·4	77·5
Income from self-employment	9·5	8·4	7·5	7·3
Rent, dividends and net interest received by the personal sector†	8·9	9·7	11·7	11·8
* After deducting stock appreciation and capital consumption.
† Including receipts by life assurance and pension funds and by private non-profit-making bodies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is contemplating for the introduction of further save-as-you-earn schemes in this Parliament.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the written reply which I gave to a Question on Contractual Savings Schemes on 2nd February to my hon. Friend the Member for the Cities of London and Westminster (Mr. Tugendhat).—[Vol. 810, c. 326.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue would accrue to the Exchequer from an increase of 10 per cent. in tobacco duties, taking into account consequential changes in consumption; and whether he will make such an increase in the interest of the nation's health.

Probably about £25 million in a full year. I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion but I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is contemplating in this Parliament for allowing a portion of corporation tax to be set against a shareholder's individual income tax liability.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on Tuesday, 3rd November, 1970.— [Vol. 805, c. 841.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will propose to exempt small investors, particularly those saving on a contractual basis as members of bona fide investment clubs, from capital gains tax.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revenue from capital gains tax in the first nine months of 1970–71 and what this corresponds to at an annual rate; and whether he will give an estimate of the long-term annual yield of this tax, taking the good years with the bad.

The net receipt of capital gains tax during the first nine months of 1970–71 was £108 million, which is three-quarters of £144 million. The long-term yield may be about £100 million per year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to increase the exemption limit for capital gains to £500, combined with a system of marginal relief.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will propose to extend the income tax allowances now obtainable to those who save on a contractual basis through insurance and pension schemes, to other forms of contractual savings, such as through unit trusts and investment clubs.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to change the present practice of treating maintenance payments made to deserted, separated and divorced women as unearned income for tax purposes, where such payments do not exceed £780 per year.

I cannot add to the reply which my hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Cormack) on 28th January.—[Vol. 810, c. 198.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the yearly revenue from the fuel oil tax between 1964 and 1970.

£67 million in 1964, and £73 million, £82 million, £91 million, £94 million, £113 million and £130 million respectively in the following years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that tax offices apply age relief or age exemption to tax assessments in respect of taxpayers over the age of 65 years without the taxpayer having to apply for it.

The tax office can normally give these reliefs if they know that the qualifying income conditions are satisfied and the individual has entered his date of birth in the appropriate section of his tax return. It may be necessary for taxpayers who qualify for one or other of these reliefs following a change in circumstances to apply to the tax office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he now intends to recommend a national guideline for wage increases throughout the economy based on prospective increases in productivity.

The Government's policy is to encourage those concerned with determining pay increases to bring them more closely into line with the rate of growth of productivity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions he has issued to valuation officers about the action they should take when decisions of local valuation courts on the rating of farm buildings go against them.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will remove the upper limit for holdings of Premium Bonds, National Savings Certificates and British Savings Bonds.

The existing limits are kept under review but I have no statement to make on them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what priority he is giving in his consideration of tax reform to the need to relieve private companies and small businesses from estate duty and capital gains tax with special reference to deemed disposals.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestions but I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements he is making to receive from the Cycle and Motor Cycle Association a deputation to present the case for relaxation of financial restrictions on the sale of bicycles and motor cycles.

None but representations were received from this Association last August.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give consideration in his forthcoming Budget

RECEIPTS
Year		Quarter ended		Purchase Tax	Hydrocarbon Oils	Alcoholic Drinks	Tobacco	Betting and Gaming	Other Customs and Excise Duties	Motor Vehicle Duties (Net Value of Licences Issued)
				£m.	£m.	£m.	£m.	£m.	£m.	£m.
1969	…	31st March	…	290·3	289·6	158·4	289·3	19·1	51·8	127·6
		30th June	…	243·6	327·9	193·3	290·2	23·8	53·9	106·6
		30th September	…	265·7	332·7	218·2	284·6	26·9	63·1	92·6
		31st December	…	286·5	328·4	285·6	302·7	41·9*	51·4	94·6
1970	…	31st March	…	315·7	315·6	165·8	266·3	26·5	58·0	120·5
		30th June	…	298·3	350·6	206·2	296·5	27·8	67·1	116·1
		30th September	…	305·7	351·2	267·1	303·2	35·3	61·1	104·6
		31st December†	…	325·9	350·9	279·3	281·9	33·5	69·9	Not available
* Includes arrears in respect of earlier years.
† Provisional.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to introduce depreciation allowances for privately rented accommodation and for owner occupiers, in order to assist the maintenance of the stock of houses.

My hon. Friend will not expect me to comment on his suggestion at this time of year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to pay a visit to the Organisation for European Co-operation and Development.

The Government will be represented at the O.E.C.D. Ministerial Council Meeting in June.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing the revenue deriving from the following taxes in each quarter since the first quarter of 1969: purchase tax, duties on oil, duties on alcohol, duties on tobacco, motor vehicle duties, betting and gaming duties and other customs and excise duties.

The following is the information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now make a statement on the new range of inducements to industry in Northern Ireland.

Discussions with the Northern Ireland Government about their proposals for industrial incentives have now been completed, and I understand that a statement is likely to be made in Stormont today.My right hon. Friend proposes that the system of capital allowances for tax purposes announced in the White Paper on investment incentives (Cmnd. 4516) should apply in Northern Ireland in the same way as in development areas in Great Britain, subject to broadly similar transitional arrangements for expenditure qualifying for investment grants or for Industries Development Act assistance; with my right hon. Friend's authority the Northern Ireland Government are indicating this in their statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will announce proposals to abolish the disallowance of loan interest as a charge against personal tax.

I must ask my hon. Friend to await the Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the inflation of wage rates, by what percentage he estimates the receipts for income tax for the current year will increase compared to the estimate given in the Budget statement of April, 1970.

It is not the practice to publish revisions to the Budget estimates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to abolish purchase tax on Harris tweed.

No. Apart from other objections, this would be contrary to our international treaty obligations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he will not seek an extension of his powers to enable officers of Customs and Excise to seize offensive and dangerous literature sought to be imported into the United Kingdom.

There is no corresponding statutory restriction on the home market.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the daily amount of money allowed to holders of British passports resident in Rhodesia from their own funds blocked in the United Kingdom when they visit the United Kingdom.

There is no limit on the amount which residents of Rhodesia who visit the United Kingdom, whether or not they hold British passports, may draw from an ordinary Rhodesian Sterling Account for their own and their families' living expenses in the United Kingdom. If the funds are on a Suspense Account, in which are placed sums due to residents of Rhodesia but withheld from them under the current sanctions policy, and no Rhodesian funds are available, permission is given on application for drawings at the rate of £10 per week per person if under 70, and £15 per week per person if over 70.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to the Revenue in a full year of a reduction of five new pence per gallon in petrol tax and fuel oil tax, respectively, in Scotland.

Assuming that regional differentiation was practicable, the cost for road fuel would be about £20 million. The duty on fuel oil is one new penny a gallon, and on the same assumption its abolition in Scotland would cost about £13 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the effective rate at each stage from £20,000 upwards of estate duty in real terms as compared with the rates in force on 30th July, 1949.

I regret that there is no basis on which the suggested comparison could be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to the revenue of allowing as a deductible expense in respect of tax liability expenditure incurred by persons acting as receivers under the arrangements of the Court of Protection for relatives suffering by reason of senility or otherwise from an infirmity of mind incapacitating them from conducting their own affairs.

I cannot make an estimate but the cost would be small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reduce the purchase tax on mirror glass, whether framed or not, from 36⅔ per cent. to 13¾ per cent.

I cannot add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Doncaster (Mr. Harold Walker) on 8th February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost of providing Parliamentary Answers to the Questions put down for Written Answers by his Department on 11th February, 1971.

Approximately £300.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he had with the European Economic Community's Commissioner, M. François Deniau, during his recent visit to London.

A general discussion about the United Kingdom's application to join the Community.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when further reports are now expected from Professor Reddaway in regard to selective employment tax; what action had been taken on the Reddaway Report dealing with the Distributive Trades; and if he will make a statement.

On the first part of the hon. Member's Question, I would refer him to my reply of 3rd December to the hon. Member for Farnworth (Mr. Roper).As regards Professor Reddaway's report on the Distributive Trades, the Chancellor of the Exchequer under the last administration took no action in his Budget last year. I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.—[Vol. 807, c. 472.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to complete his review of the present arrangements for the licensing of gold coins; and if he will make a statement.

I must ask my hon. Friend to wait a little longer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage the current amount of identifiable public expenditure from central Government sources in Wales represents of such expenditure in the United Kingdom as a whole.

The proportion of identifiable public expenditure incurred by the central Government in Wales in 1969–70 represented 5·6 per cent. of such expenditure in the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provision there is by Her Majesty's Government to ensure that, when securities of public boards in the narrow range of trustee investments cease through partial or whole default to be eligible investments in the narrower range of trustee securities, the trustee's portfolio is balanced by topping up the narrow range by other eligible investments.

The Trustee Act, 1925, provides that a trustee is not liable for breach of trust if he continues to hold an investment which has ceased to be authorised for trustees; nor is he required to top up the narrower-range part of his trust fund if it contains such an investment.As for the responsibilities of the Government, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him earlier today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the estimates of Identifiable Public Expenditure in Scotland for the next five years.

The recent White Paper on Public Expenditure (Cmnd. 4578) gives estimates up to 1974–75 of public expenditure within the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. Forecasts of other items of identifiable public expenditure in Scotland are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the increase in interest rates charged on borrowings from the commercial banks and in interest rates paid on deposits with the commercial banks, that would result from ending the bank cartel.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr. Hordern) on 15th December, 1970.—[Vol. 808, c. 1100.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will invite M. Pierre-Paul Schweitzer, Chairman of the International Monetary Fund, for official talks at No. 10 Downing Street to discuss the question of reflation in the light of the latest unemployment figures.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will propose a conference of Finance Ministers in London to discuss the question of inflation.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the taxation system in its entirety.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he received a communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, giving details of the waste of money, neglect and maladministration resultant upon the removal of the Mint from Tower Hill to Wales; and whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed reply to the various points as contained in the submitted document.

This letter was received on 5th February and the hon. Member will have received a detailed reply. I do not propose to publish this in the OFFICIAL REPORT; but take this opportunity to rebut publicly the allegations conveyed by the Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD a full and comprehensive list giving the amounts and dates of cupro-nickel coins rejected from Wales to Tower Hill in pounds or tons, or on a cash basis; and how these figures of rejects compare with any equal stated period of time for production at Tower Hill prior to the move to Wales.

During the 17 months from April, 1968, to August, 1969, 8,413 tons of cupro-nickel coins were struck at Tower Hill, of which 252 tons or 2·7 per cent. were rejected.Striking of cupro-nickel coin at Llantrisant began in September, 1969. During the 17 months from September, 1969, to January, 1971, 5,842 tons were struck at Tower Hill, of which 145 tons or 2·5 per cent. were rejected. The corresponding figures at Llantrisant for this period are 2,293 tons, 39 tons and 1·7 per cent. respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the net effects on companies operating in Scotland of the change from 40 per cent. investment grants to free depreciation and the reduction of corporation tax announced on 27th October, 1970, assuming the Scottish proportion of corporation tax to be that given in the Scottish Budget 1969.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Lanarkshire, North (Mr. John Smith) on 2nd December, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost in a full year of an increase in retirement pensions of 16s. a week for married couples and 10s. a week for single persons.

About £175 million without allowing for accompanying changes in other benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for setting up a court of inquiry into the salaries and conditions of all grades of nurses; and if he will make a statement.

None: a claim for a new settlement to operate from 1st April is currently under discussion in the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total amount collected in prescription charges last year, including pre-payment certificates, and the increase in the total cost of prescriptions over that of the previous year.

Over £18 million was collected in Great Britain in 1970. The gross cost of the Pharmaceutical Service rose by about £18½ million between 1969 and 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning the payment of prescription charges by persons suffering from Parkinson's disease; what reply he has sent; if he will now discuss with the British Medical Association the need to exempt such persons from the payment of these charges; and if he will make a statement.

We have received a number of representations. Our replies explain the grounds on which exemption is available, the difficulties of widening the range of chronic illnesses giving entitlement to exemption and the prepayment certificate arrangements. On the third part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 1st December to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden), and to the hon. Members for Islington, South-West (Mr. George Cunningham), and Halifax (Dr. Summerskill).—[Vol. 807, c. 1062–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many prescription charge refunds have been made during each month since June, 1968; and what percentage the figures for the month of January in the years 1969, 1970 and 1971 represent of the totals for unemployed men during those months.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind refunds made to unemployed men at Employment Exchanges. Following are the details so far as they are available:

PRESCRIPTION CHARGE REFUNDS AT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES
Month				Number of 2s.6d.charges refunded
1968—	June	…	…	18,000
	July	…	…	35;000
	August	…	…	42,000
	September	…	…	34,000
	October	…	…	40,000
	November	…	…	37,000
	December	…	…	33,000
1969—	January	…	…	43,000
	February	…	…	35,000
	March	…	…	38,000
	April	…	…	29,000
	May	…	…	36,000
	June	…	…	30,000
	July	…	…	29,000
	August	…	…	29,000
	September	…	…	26,000
	October	…	…	34,000
	November	…	…	27,000
	December	…	…	31,000
1970—	January	…	…	37,000
	February	…	…	29,000
	March	…	…	34,000
	April	…	…	31,000
	May	…	…	29,000
	June	…	…	25,000
	July	…	…	29,000
	August	…	…	23,000
	September	…	…	24,000
	October	…	…	30,000

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to admit men to the Health Visitor Service.

The Council for the Training of Health Visitors are now considering the revision of a training syllabus which this proposal would entail.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has to widen the scope of work undertaken by health visitors; and if he will make a statement on the future development of the Health Visitor Service.

I should prefer not to pronounce on these matters until I have received and considered the report of the Committee on Nursing set up under the chairmanship of Professor Asa Briggs to review the wider questions of the rôle and the education and training of the nurse and midwife in the hospital and community.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to draw the attention of students and those following courses of further education to the desirability of paying National Health Insurance contributions, and the consequences in later life of having failed to do so.

Our National Insurance leaflets for students already make clear the need for contributions and the effect of not paying. Educational establishments for students over 18 have been asked to display a poster showing the position briefly and drawing attention to a detailed leaflet. A short version of this is issued to sudents by local authorities with the grant literature. We have other leaflets for students under 18 and school-leavers, which are issued to them by Careers Officers. My Department has also helped the National Union of Students with a booklet covering the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue a direction to the Supplementary Benefits Commission to desist from the practice of making advance preparations for the opening of emergency centres for the distribution of taxpayer subsidies to strikers and families in expectation of the start of major strikes.

The Department make such preparations only when it becomes clear that a strike which has commenced or is about to start would otherwise cause serious disruption of the normal work of the local offices affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements he is making to inform local authorities of his intention to activate Section 1 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, from 1st April, 1971; if he will send out an interim circular on the implications for local authorities of the action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is consulting the local authority associations and will make a further statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what guidance is offered by his Department for house adaptations for disabled persons under the National Assistance Act; and if he will make copies of this guidance available to Members;(2) what advice he has given to local authorities on the possible use of chemical closets in households where a disabled person cannot climb stairs and where it is not possible to have a downstairs water closet.

The possibilities of adaptation or the provision of alternative facilities depend on the individual needs of handicapped persons and the design of individual dwellings. General guidance is therefore of little value, but my Department takes appropriate opportunities of drawing to the attention of local authorities sources of information on the design of buildings for the disabled.In addition, my Department and the Department of the Environment are arranging to co-operate in a study of the housing needs of the handicapped, and I expect this to provide further information about the extent to which the adaptation of dwellings is both possible and helpful to handicapped people.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many assessors are employed by the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board in prescribing Possum equipment for the severely disabled; what training instruction they have received; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many assessors are employed by the South-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board in prescribing Possum equipment for the severely disabled; what training and instruction they have received; and if he will make a statement;(3) how many assessors are employed by the North-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board in prescribing Possum equipment for the severely disabled; what training and instruction they have received; and if he will make a statement;(4) how many assessors are employed by the North-Western Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board in prescribing Possum equipment for the severely disabled; what training and instruction they have received; and if he will make a statement;(5) how many assessors are employed by the Liverpool Regional Hospital Board in prescribing Possum equipment for the severely disabled; what training and instruction they have received; and if he will make a statement;(6) how many assessors are employed by the Wessex Regional Hospital Board in prescribing Possum equipment for the severely disabled; what training and instruction they have received; and if he will make a statement;(7) how many assessors are employed by the South-Western Regional Hospital Board in prescribing Possum equipment for the severely disabled; what training and instruction they have received; and if he will make a statement;(8) how many assessors are employed by the Oxford Regional Hospital Board in prescribing Possum equipment for the severely disabled; what training and instruction they have received; and if he will make a statement;(9) how many assessors are employed by the Manchester Regional Hospital Board in prescribing Possum equipment for the severely disabled; what training and instruction they have received; and if he will make a statement;

These Boards each employ one assessor. As regards their training, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 10th February.—[Vol. 811, c. 209–210.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many severely disabled persons in the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board area were assessed for Possum equipment for the severely disabled; how many have eventually been prescribed; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many severely disabled persons in the South-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board area were assessed for Possum equipment for the severely disabled; and how many have eventually been prescribed; and if he will make a statement;(3) how many severely disabled persons in the North-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board area were assessed for Possum equipment for the severely disabled; how many have eventually been prescribed; and if he will make a statement;(4) how many severely disabled persons in the North-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board area were assessed for Possum equipment for the severely disabled; how many have eventually been prescribed; and if he will make a statement;(5) how many severely disabled persons in the Wessex Regional Hospital Board area were assessed for Possum equipment for the severely disabled; how many have eventually been prescribed; and if he will make a statement;(6) how many severely disabled persons in the Oxford Regional Hospital Board area were assessed for Possum equipment for the severely disabled; how many have eventually been prescribed; and if he will make a statement;(7) how many severely disabled persons in the Manchester Regional Hospital Board area were assessed for Possum equipment for the severely disabled; how many have eventually been prescribed; and if he will make a statement;(8) how many severely disabled persons in the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board area were assessed for Possum equipment for the severely disabled; how many have eventually been prescribed; and if he will make a statement;(9) how many severely disabled persons in the Liverpool Regional Hospital Board area were assessed for Possum equipment for the severely disabled; how many have eventually been prescribed; and if he will make a statement;(10) how many severely disabled persons in the South-Western Regional Hospital Board area were assessed for Possum equipment for the severely disabled; how many have been prescribed; and if he will make a statement.

The numbers of severely disabled persons concerned are shown in the following table:

Regional Hospital Board	Numbers of Patients assessed	Numbers prescribed
South West Metropolitan	36	23
South East Metropolitan	23	11
North East Metropolitan	31	18
North West Metropolitan	15	11
Wessex	4	—
Oxford	14	8
Manchester	28	12
Birmingham	18	9
Liverpool	10	8
South Western	23	14

On other aspects of this matter I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to him on 3rd, 9th and 10th February.—[Vol. 810, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what methods are used by the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board to inform general practitioners, welfare workers and other interested persons and bodies of the availability of Possum equipment for the severely disabled; and if copies of such documents or information can be made available to Members of Parliament;(2) what methods are used by the South-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board to inform general practitioners, welfare workers and other interested persons and bodies of the availability of Possum equipment for the severely disabled; and if copies of such documents or information can be made available to Members of Parliament;(3) what methods are used by the North-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board to inform general practitioners, welfare workers and other interested persons and bodies of the availability of Possum equipment for the severely disabled; and if copies of such documents or information can be made available to Members of Parliament;(4) what methods are used by the North-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board to inform general practitioners, welfare workers and other interested persons and bodies of the availability of Possum equipment for the severely disabled; and if copies of such documents or information can be made available to Members of Parliament:(5) what methods are used by the South-Western Regional Hospital Board to inform general practitioners, welfare workers and other interested persons and bodies of the availability of Possum equipment for the severely disabled; and if copies of such documents or information can be made available to Members of Parliament;(6) what methods are used by the Oxford Regional Hospital Board to inform general practitioners, welfare workers and other interested persons and bodies of the availability of the Possum equipment for the severely disabled; and if copies of such documents or information can be made available to Members of Parliament;(7) what methods are used by the Manchester Regional Hospital Board to inform general practitioners, welfare workers and other interested persons and bodies of the availability of Possum equipment for the severely disabled; and if copies of such documents or information can be made available to Members of Parliament;(8) what methods are used by the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board to inform general practitioners, welfare workers and other interested persons and bodies of the availability of Possum equipment for the severely disabled; and if copies of such documents or information can be made available to Members of Parliament;

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his estimate of the number of people affected in the same way as the constituent of the. hon. Member for Heywood and Royton, whose particulars have been sent to him, whose graduated pension contribution is calculated on a monthly salary in one sum instead of more correctly being apportioned over the month;

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to him on 3rd and 9th February.—[Vol.810, c.306; 811, c.113–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the properties controlled by the Central Middlesex Group Hospital Management Committee, the use to which they are now put and this estimate of their current value.

The properties administered by the Central Middlesex Group Hospital Management Committee and their current uses are as follow:(2) what is his estimate of the additional graduated pensions contribution paid by some monthly salary earners arising from the system of refusing to allow the earnings to be correctly apportioned and calculated on a one-weekly basis;(3) if he will review the system whereby some monthly salary earners have their graduated pension contributions calculated in such a way as to cost them more than would be the case if they were paid the same amounts but on a weekly basis; and if he will make a statement.

I see no reason to review the system by which remuneration paid monthly is treated as a single payment for the calculation of graduated contributions.If the hon. Member is referring to cases where a person has two employments with the same employer and receives two sets of remuneration payable at different regular intervals, e.g., one weekly and the other monthly, the liability is governed by provisions of the National Insurance Act, 1965 and regulations made under it. The general effect of these provisions is that where a person receives weekly remuneration the liability is to be calculated on a weekly basis and any other payments are to be aggregated with the weekly payment of the week in which they are made, unless it is impracticable to do so. A general rule requiring such payments to be treated separately for the purpose of liability would create more anomalies than it would remove.No estimate is available of the number of people affected in this way, nor of the amount of graduated contributions collected in such cases.I am writing to the hon. Member about the particular case which he has referred to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Inland Revenue will take over the collection of all National Insurance contributions on a graduated basis as from 1st April, 1972 as previously planned.

Not next year. We shall announce our plans in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take to remedy the inconvenience caused by the failure of contractors to meet demands for bone conductor hearing aids.

Recent production difficulties have been overcome and deliveries are now being received from an additional source of supply. All contractors are being pressed to improve their delivery rates.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the requirements of the various regional hospital boards in England for bone conductor hearing aids for the years 1968, 1969 and 1970, and the number actually supplied by the contractors in each of those years.

Records are not available of the number of patients whose needs can be met only by bone-conduction aids, nor is an analysis readily available of issues during 1968. Issues in the two later years were:

Regional Allocation		1969	1970
Newcastle	…	620	378
Leeds	…	635	348
Sheffield	…	545	335
East Anglia	…	220	165
North West Metropolitan	…	743	491
North East Metropolitan	…	557	459
South East Metropolitan	…	717	540
south West Metropolitan	…	330	225
Oxford	…	217	172
South Western	…	500	330
Birmingham	…	775	507
Manchester	…	733	526
Liverpoo1	…	412	320
Wessex	…	305	304
		7,309	5,100

Manufacturing difficulties prevented the issue of these aids in the quantities ordered by hospital authorities and distribution of the total available was made as fairly as possible. As a result of efforts over a considerable period a significantly greater number is currently being issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of time patients have to wait before replacements can be made for bone conductor hearing aids.

The period is usually about two months, but occasionally it is somewhat longer.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date his Department first received an approach requesting action regarding the disablement of Mr. Gustav Polya of Forest Gate, E.7; what was the first date his Department received an approach from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, and on how many subsequent occasions; what action has so far been taken; and, as this matter has now been outstanding for almost 2½ years, whether he will now take action to resolve this difficulty.

I understand that the first approach was by the hon. Member on 17th December, 1967 and that he subsequently wrote to or telephoned my predecessors on five occasions and put down a Question. The London Borough of Newham consider that the most appropriate care for Mr. Polya would be in a residential home. They have been making strenuous efforts to provide this but a place may not be available for some time. In the meantime, he is remaining in hospital and attending a local authority training centre each day.

Year			Number of Prosecutions resulting in conviction	Total amount of fines	Number of cases in which
				£	Gear confiscated	Catch confiscated
1966	…	…	15	2,325	10	10
1967	…	…	18	1,978	6	5
1968	…	…	11	945	3	4
1969	…	…	9	1,345	4	3
1970	…	…	9	1,605	26	28
Totals	…	…	62	8,198	26	28

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the strength of the inshore fishing fleet by categories registered in ports in England and Wales in each of the past five years to the nearest convenient date.

Details of the inshore fishing fleet of England and Wales as at 31st December in each of the last five years are:

Year	Registered Under	Length	Total
	40ft.	40–79·9ft.
1966	2,259	543	2,802
1967	2,201	562	2,763
1968	2,265	610	2,875
1969	2,348	631	2,979
1970 (provisional)	2,292	675	2,967

As far as possible these figures exclude vessels registered as fishing vessels but which are not engaged in commercial fishing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions resulting in convictions occurred, during each of the past five years to the nearest convenient date, of masters of foreign fishing vessels poaching within British fishing limits; what was the total of fines imposed; and in how many cases gear and the catch, respectively, were confiscated.

Following is the information:whether he will make a statement of his discussions with the National Farmers' Union on the Government's proposals to withdraw grant on cattle and sheep to hill farmers to facilitate Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community; what was the nature of this Union's response to the Government's ideas, suggestions and proposals; whether he will make a statement before the Government make a decision on these proposals.

The Government have advanced no ideas nor made any suggestions or proposals of this kind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give a detailed list of the number of factors which will affect the price of imported Australian mutton and lamb, on the introduction of the proposed import tax arrangements; and whether he has discussed these factors with the National Farmers' Union and the Farm Workers' Union.