Written Answers To Questions
Tuesday, 23rd February, 1971
Social Services
Chronically Sick And Disabled Persons Act, 1970
10.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps have been taken by his Department to help to increase the indoor and outdoor mobility of disabled persons under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.
Development in this field, namely in artificial limbs, wheelchairs and powered vehicles, is a continuing process.
11.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that a number of his local offices are not adequately informed of the provisions of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970; and whether he will take immediate steps to see they are fully informed.
All my Department's local offices have been informed of the provisions of the Act in sufficient detail to enable general inquiries to be answered.
26.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date he now proposes to make operative Section 1 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.
36.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will advise local authorities to start to prepare lists of chronically sick and disabled persons in anticipation of the implementation of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.
50.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received for the early implementation of Section 1 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and if he will now make an order by statutory instrument to bring this Section into operation.
54.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make an order bringing into force Section 1 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and if before then he will correct the impression given in Circular 12/70 that this Section does not require the full identification of permanently and substantially handicapped persons.
88.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to ensure the full implementation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.
109.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now announce his intention to activate Section 1 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, as from 1st April, 1971.
As already stated, my right hon. Friend proposes to make an Order shortly after 1st April, and this will bring Section 1 of the Act into operation on 1st October. This date is chosen because the results of the national survey of the handicapped will by then be available to help authorities in implementing the Section, and their new social services departments will be better placed to undertake the work.
51.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he has taken to implement Section 17 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970; and when he expects to lay before each House of Parliament his first annual statement under the provisions of Section 17(2) of the Act.
Guidance on implementation was sent from my Department to hospital authorities in August. They have been asked for information about the period 1st October to 31st December, 1970, and we expect to receive this shortly. We are considering the most appropriate form and timing for laying information before the House.
53.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the cost to date of official publicity by Departments of State on the provisions of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.
Apart from the issue of circulars of guidance to the responsible authorities, the cost of which is not readily identifiable, no such publicity has been undertaken.
73.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has now been made towards the implementation of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.
I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Tyne-mouth (Dame Irene Ward) on 11 th February.—[Vol. 811, c. 250.]
83.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will institute a check to ensure that all local authority social work services are adequate to meet the demands of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.
Local authorities are now engaged in re-organising their social work services along the lines contemplated in the Seebohm Report and laid down by the Local Authority Social Services Act. This must take time, and the kind of investigation proposed would be neither desirable nor practicable at present.
96.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what reports he has received showing failure on the part of local authorities to bring into operation reforms under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.
I have had no formal report, but I am well aware of the scope for improved services for the disabled and handicapped.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the first of the annual reports provided for by Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, will be presented to Parliament.
It is expected that the first report, for the year 1970, will be available by the end of 1971.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local authorities with welfare responsibilities have appointed disabled persons to advisory committees under Sections 9 to 14 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.
I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the social services committees which are now being constituted under the Local Authority Social Services Act. The information he requires is not available, but particular attention was drawn to the inclusion of disabled persons on these committees in paragraph 37 of the Circular sent to local authorities on 17th August last, and I have no doubt that authorities have taken account of this advice.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he is satisfied that local authorities are meeting their obligation to provide transport in appropriate cases under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970; and if he will make a statement;(2) what information he has concerning the implementation by local authorities of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.
I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) on 11th February.—[Vol. 811, c. 250.]
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken to obtain information under Section 17(2) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, with regard to the separation of younger from older patients.
I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to the hon. Member for Manchester, Openshaw (Mr. Charles R. Morris).
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice his Department is giving to local authorities and their directors of welfare services regarding the equipment and services which are now available to disabled people under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons' Act, 1970; and if he will make a statement.
I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to the hon. and learned Member for Stoke Newington and Hackney, North (Mr. Weitzman) and the hon. Members for Gateshead, East (Mr. Conlan) and Paddington, North (Mr. Latham).
Dental Charges
25.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of the findings of the Survey on Adult Dental Health, 1970, a copy of which is in his possession, that of 50 million teeth requiring attention in 1968 only 38 million received treatment, he will estimate the effect of increased charges upon this gap.
Because it will encourage regular attendance the new system of charging should help to reduce the volume of unmet need for treatment.
56.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what changes will be necessary to Clause 23(i) of the terms of service of general dental practitioners as a result of the change of principle involved in the levying of proportional charges for dental treatment.
I assume that the hon. Member is referring to Regulation 23(1) of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Regulations, 1967. This provision was amended by the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Amendment Regulations, 1969, and no further change is needed.
57.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to lay before the House statutory instruments relating to new patient charges for general dental practitioner services.
In the early part of next month.
58 and 59.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations have been made to him regarding the effect of the proposed new charges upon numbers of patients seeking dental treatment; and what replies he has sent;(2) what representations have been made to him concerning his announced intention of reducing the exemption age for payment of patient charges for dental treatment under the National Health Service from 21 years to 18 years; and what replies he has sent.
I have received correspondence from the British Dental Association and from a considerable number of individuals. In reply, I have explained why I do not share the fear that the introduction of proportionate charges will lead to a long-term decline in the number of patients seeking dental treatment, and have indicated the Government's reasons for proposing to reduce the age limit to exemption from dental treatment charges.
72.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultations took place between his Department and the British Dental Association prior to last October's announcement of the increased charges for dental treatment.
I had met representatives of the British Dental Association before the Government's decision was announced and, therefore, knew their views about charging policy and the future development of the general dental services.
Family Income Supplement
27.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of families, living on or below supplementary benefits level, will benefit from Family Income Supplement.
It is not possible to give a precise figure, but the best available estimate is that over one half of the families with the breadwinner in full-time work but living on or below supplementary benefit level will benefit from Family Income Supplement.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether family income supplement claimants will be given a notice of assessment showing how their gross weekly income and the supplement payable to them have been calculated.
Yes.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what circumstances it is envisaged that a family income supplement will be reviewed before the end of the period for which it was awarded.
I would draw the hon. Member's attention to regulation 11 of the Family Income Supplements (General) Regulations, 1971, which were laid before the House yesterday.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what benefits, rebates and exemptions will recipients of a family income supplement be automatically entitled.
It is intended that recipients of a family income supplement will automatically be entitled to the following:
Free welfare milk and foods.
Relief of prescription charges.
Relief of optical and dental charges.
My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Education and Science and the Secretary of State for Scotland are considering whether free school meals should be added to the list of automatic benefits.Refund of the necessary expenses of travelling to hospital for treatment.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the 110,000 married couples with children and of the 54,000 single-parent families with children who will be helped by the family income supplement he estimates have an income above the level of their supplementary benefit entitlement.
Since, as I have explained to the House, our estimates were unavoidably based on out-dated surveys and very small samples, I would ask the hon. Member to await the outcome of our current examination of the more recent data.—[Vol. 806, c. 217.]
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish the form on which claims for family income supplements are to be made.
I have arranged for an advance copy to be placed in the Library of the House.
Tobacco Smoking (Hazards)
28 and 29.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what steps he has taken to draw the attention of the community to the serious health hazards involved in smoking tobacco;(2) what steps he has taken to draw the attention of children and young people to the serious health hazards involved in smoking tobacco.
The Health Education Council regards smoking and health as its main priority. Its activities in recent months have included Press advertising, posters and the production of publicity material for use by local authorities. Future plans are under consideration.
Retirement Pensions
30.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the next change in the basic rates of retirement pensions will take account not only of the rate of inflation since the last increase was granted, but also the projected increase in inflation over the next two years and the growth of average earnings in the same period.
I can only repeat our pledge to ensure that retirement pensions at least maintain their purchasing power and that pensioners' living standards are properly protected.
49.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost in a full financial year of an increase in retirement pensions of £1 a week for married couples and 14s. for single people.
About £240 million without allowing for accompanying changes in other benefits.
87.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he now expects his forthcoming review of retirement pensions to be begun, completed and brought into effect, respectively.
The review is now in progress and the results will be announced as soon as they are ready. We intend that the changes should take effect in the autumn.
94.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will introduce legislation to provide for credits in lieu of contributions for the purpose of entitlement to retirement pension for unmarried daughters caring for elderly or sick parents.
I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe) on 2nd February.—[Vol. 810, c. 317–9.]
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will invite a representative group of retirement pensioners to 10 Downing Street to discuss his proposals for implementing Her Majesty's Government's social and fiscal policies.
I received deputations from the two man retirement pensioner organisations last autumn, and discussed the problems affecting them.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what increase on the basic retirement pension would be required to give it the same value as it had immediately after the first post-war increase in 1946.
None. The standard rates of retirement pension for a single person and a married couple are, in fact, worth £1·56 and £2·54 more respectively (on the basis of the Index of Retail Prices for January, 1971) than the rates introduced in October, 1946.
Handicapped Persons
32.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware of the discrepancy in the expendi-
| REGISTRATION OF HANDICAPPED PERSONS (GENERAL CLASSES)* UNDER SECTION 29 OF THE NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT: RATES PER 1,000 POPULATION RANKED ORDER FOR 1969 | ||||||||||
| Rate per 1,000 population | ||||||||||
| County Councils | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969† | ||||||
| Lincolnshire (Holland) | … | … | … | 6·9 | 7·9 | 8·2 | 8·9 | |||
| Buckinghamshire | … | … | … | … | 4·0 | 5·1 | 7·4 | 7·5 | ||
| Bedfordshire | … | … | … | … | … | 4·3 | 5·1 | 5·7 | 6·3 | |
| Lincolnshire (Lindsey) | … | … | … | … | 4·0 | 4·4 | 4·6 | 5·7 | ||
| West Sussex | … | … | … | … | … | 4·7 | 5·0 | 5·4 | 5·6 | |
| East Sussex | … | … | … | … | … | 4·2 | 4·6 | 5·3 | 5·5 | |
| Dorset | … | … | … | … | … | … | 4·1 | 4·3 | 4·8 | 5·1 |
| Essex | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3·7 | 4·1 | 4·4 | 4·8 |
| Yorkshire (East Riding) | … | … | … | 3·1 | 3·7 | 4·2 | 4·7 | |||
| Cornwall | … | … | … | … | … | 5·4 | 4·3 | 4·6 | 4·5 | |
| East Suffolk | … | … | … | … | … | 3·2 | 3·6 | 4·0 | 4·5 | |
| Berkshire | … | … | … | … | … | 3·4 | 3·9 | 4·8 | 4·4 | |
| Derbyshire | … | … | … | … | … | 2·5 | 3·0 | 3·4 | 4·4 | |
| Rutland | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3·3 | 3·1 | 3·9 | 4·4 |
| Cheshire | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3·8 | 3·9 | 4·3 | 4·3 |
| West Suffolk | … | … | … | … | … | 3·3 | 3·5 | 3·8 | 4·3 | |
| Wiltshire | … | … | … | … | … | 4·2 | 4·2 | 4·4 | 4·3 | |
| Gloucestershire | … | … | … | … | … | 4·4 | 4·5 | 4·5 | 4·1 | |
| Lincolnshire (Kesteven) | … | … | … | 4·2 | 4·1 | 4·1 | 4·1 | |||
| Nottingham | … | … | … | … | … | 3·1 | 3·4 | 4·0 | 4·1 | |
| Yorkshire (West Riding) | … | … | … | 2·8 | 3·3 | 3·6 | 4·1 | |||
| Norfolk | … | … | … | … | … | … | 2·5 | 2·8 | 3·3 | 4·0 |
| Devon | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3·1 | 3·6 | 3·8 | 3·9 |
| Surrey | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3·1 | 3·5 | 3·7 | 3·9 |
| Herefordshire | … | … | … | … | … | 2·9 | 3·3 | 3·7 | 3·8 | |
| Hertfordshire | … | … | … | … | … | 2·7 | 3·1 | 3·4 | 3·8 | |
| Oxfordshire | … | … | … | … | … | 2·0 | 2·8 | 3·5 | 3·8 | |
| Somerset | … | … | … | … | … | 2·8 | 3·2 | 3·4 | 3·7 | |
| Huntingdonshire and Peterborough | … | … | 2·2 | 2·7 | 3·1 | 3·6 | ||||
| Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely | … | … | 2·7 | 3·0 | 3·1 | 3·5 | ||||
| Worcestershire | … | … | … | … | … | 2·9 | 3·2 | 3·1 | 3·4 | |
| Cumberland | … | … | … | … | … | 2·3 | 2·7 | 3·1 | 3·3 | |
| Durham | … | … | … | … | … | … | 2·5 | 2·8 | 3·1 | 3·3 |
ture per head of registered disabled persons in each local authority; if he will take positive action to improve the performance of the backward authorities; and if he will make a statement.
There are, of course, wide variations from one area to another, as there are in local needs and local resources. Provision has already been made in the rate support grant negotiations in November last for a faster rate of growth in expenditure on these services over the next two years; and when the forthccoming report of the national survey of the physically handicapped has been studied by local authorities I shall be considering these matters with them.
33.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number per thousand of registered physically handicaped persons, in ranked order for each local authority, for the periods 1964–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69 and 1969–70; and if he will make a statement.
Following is the information:
Rate per 1,000 population
| |||||||||
County Councils
| 1966
| 1967
| 1968
| 1969 †
| |||||
| Hampshire | … | … | … | … | … | 2·1 | 2·6 | 2·9 | 3·3 |
| Warwickshire | … | … | … | … | … | 2·5 | 2·8 | 3·2 | 3·3 |
| Yorkshire (North Riding) | … | … | … | 1·8 | 2·1 | 2·6 | 3·2 | ||
| Lancashire | … | … | … | … | … | 2·7 | 2·8 | 2·9 | 3·0 |
| Staffordshire | … | … | … | … | … | 2·3 | 2·5 | 2·8 | 3·0 |
| Northamptonshire | … | … | … | … | … | 2·0 | 2·2 | 2·5 | 2·7 |
| Salop | … | … | … | … | … | 2·1 | 2·3 | 2·5 | 2·7 |
| Northumberland | … | … | … | … | … | 2·3 | 2·4 | 2·5 | 2·6 |
| Isle of Wight | … | … | … | … | … | 1·9 | 2·3 | 2·4 | 2·4 |
| Kent | … | … | … | … | … | 1·7 | 2·0 | 2·2 | 2·4 |
| Westmorland | … | … | … | … | … | 2·0 | 2·0 | 2·0 | 2·0 |
| Leicestershire | … | … | … | … | … | 1·4 | 1·6 | 1·6 | 1·8 |
| Isles of Scilly | … | … | … | … | … | — | 0·5 | 0·5 | 0·5 |
County Boroughs
| |||||||||
| Kingston-on-Hull | … | … | … | … | … | 10·7 | 11·5 | 10·9 | 11·9 |
| Wallasey | … | … | … | … | … | 6·6 | 7·3 | 8·1 | 8·8 |
| Hastings | … | … | … | … | … | 7·2 | 7·9 | 8·0 | 8·2 |
| Bath | … | … | … | … | … | 8·0 | 8·0 | 8·1 | 8·1 |
| Wakefield | … | … | … | … | … | 6·2 | 5·8 | 6·9 | 7·8 |
| Salford | … | … | … | … | … | 6·3 | 6·8 | 6·9 | 7·2 |
| Rochdale | … | … | … | … | … | 3·1 | 4·5 | 6·0 | 7·0 |
| Rotherham | … | … | … | … | … | 5·1 | 5·3 | 5·9 | 7·0 |
| Bolton | … | … | … | … | … | 4·7 | 3·2 | 6·4 | 6·9 |
| Burnley | … | … | … | … | … | 6·4 | 6·5 | 6·7 | 6·8 |
| Norwich | … | … | … | … | … | 4·0 | 4·9 | 5·9 | 6·7 |
| Wigan | … | … | … | … | … | 6·0 | 6·3 | 6·7 | 6·7 |
| Great Yarmouth | … | … | … | … | … | 4·4 | 5·6 | 6·0 | 6·6 |
| Preston | … | … | … | … | … | 7·2 | 7·0 | 6·2 | 6·6 |
| Doncaster | … | … | … | … | … | 4·5 | 5·2 | 5·9 | 6·4 |
| Leicester | … | … | … | … | … | 4·4 | 5·2 | 5·7 | 6·4 |
| Sheffield | … | … | … | … | … | 3·8 | 4·3 | 5·5 | 6·4 |
| Southend-on-Sea | … | … | … | … | … | 4·1 | 4·8 | 5·7 | 6·4 |
| Burton-upon-Trent | … | … | … | … | … | 6·0 | 6·5 | 6·2 | 6·3 |
| Dewsbury | … | … | … | … | … | 4·1 | 5·2 | 5·7 | 6·3 |
| Leeds | … | … | … | … | … | 4·7 | 5·0 | 5·4 | 6·1 |
| Plymouth | … | … | … | … | … | 4·1 | 4·5 | 5·2 | 6·0 |
| Barnsley | … | … | … | … | … | 5·0 | 5·2 | 5·6 | 5·6 |
| Bradford | … | … | … | … | … | 3·7 | 4·5 | 5·1 | 5·5 |
| Huddersfield | … | … | … | … | … | 3·6 | 4·2 | 5·0 | 5·4 |
| South Shields | … | … | … | … | … | 3·9 | 4·1 | 4·8 | 5·4 |
| Exeter | … | … | … | … | … | 5·0 | 5·2 | 5·1 | 5·3 |
| West Bromwich | … | … | … | … | … | 4·7 | 5·2 | 5·4 | 5·3 |
| Southampton | … | … | … | … | … | 3·9 | 4·3 | 4·8 | 5·2 |
| Birkenhead | … | … | … | … | … | 5·4 | 5·5 | 4·4 | 4·7 |
| Stockport | … | … | … | … | … | 4·1 | 4·5 | 4·6 | 4·7 |
| Reading | … | … | … | … | … | 4·6 | 4·7 | 4·5 | 4·6 |
| St. Helens | … | … | … | … | … | 4·3 | 4·5 | 4·6 | 4·6 |
| Oldham | … | … | … | … | … | 5·0 | 4·3 | 4·6 | 4·5 |
| Bournemouth | … | … | … | … | … | 3·2 | 3·6 | 3·9 | 4·3 |
| Dudley | … | … | … | … | … | 2·7 | 3·0 | 3·5 | 4·2 |
| Manchester | … | … | … | … | … | 3·5 | 3·9 | 4·0 | 4·2 |
| Northampton | … | … | … | … | … | 1·8 | 2·8 | 3·2 | 4·1 |
| Nottingham | … | … | … | … | … | 3·2 | 3·5 | 3·9 | 4·1 |
| ‡Teesside | … | … | … | … | … | — | — | 2·7 | 4·1 |
| Worcester | … | … | … | … | … | 3·8 | 3·8 | 3·9 | 4·1 |
| York | … | … | … | … | … | 4·2 | 4·2 | 4·3 | 4·1 |
| Warley | … | … | … | … | … | 2·5 | 3·1 | 3·6 | 4·0 |
| Newcastle-on-Tyne | … | … | … | … | … | 3·2 | 3·8 | 4·1 | 3·9 |
| Derby | … | … | … | … | … | 2·5 | 3·0 | 3·3 | 3·8 |
| Sunderland | … | … | … | … | … | 3·1 | 2·9 | 3·6 | 3·7 |
| Bootle | … | … | … | … | … | 3·0 | 3·2 | 3·3 | 3·6 |
| Darlington | … | … | … | … | … | 2·8 | 3·1 | 3·5 | 3·6 |
| Eastbourne | … | … | … | … | … | 2·4 | 2·6 | 3·0 | 3·6 |
| ‡Hartlepools | … | … | … | … | … | — | — | 3·0 | 3·6 |
| Warrington | … | … | … | … | … | 2·7 | 3·1 | 3·3 | 3·6 |
| Birmingham | … | … | … | … | … | 2·8 | 2·6 | 3·2 | 3·5 |
| Halifax | … | … | … | … | … | 3·4 | 3·5 | 3·5 | 3·5 |
| ‡Torbay | … | … | … | … | … | — | — | 3·7 | 3·5 |
| Tynemouth | … | … | … | … | … | 3·6 | 3·6 | 3·3 | 3·5 |
| Blackpool | … | … | … | … | … | 2·8 | 3·0 | 3·2 | 3·4 |
| Brighton | … | … | … | … | … | 4·0 | 3·2 | 3·2 | 3·4 |
Rate per 1,000 population
| |||||||||
County Boroughs
| 1966
| 1967
| 1968
| 1969† | |||||
| Bristol | … | … | … | … | … | 3·1 | 3·4 | 3·3 | 3·4 |
| Gateshead | … | … | … | … | … | 2·1 | 2·5 | 3·0 | 3·4 |
| Gloucester | … | … | … | … | … | 3·1 | 3·2 | 3·1 | 3·4 |
| Liverpool | … | … | … | … | … | 2·1 | 2·5 | 2·8 | 3·3 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | … | … | … | … | … | 3·1 | 3·2 | 3·2 | 3·3 |
| Barrow-in-Furness | … | … | … | … | … | 1·1 | 1·4 | 2·2 | 3·2 |
| Lincoln | … | … | … | … | … | 2·4 | 2·7 | 2·8 | 3·2 |
| Luton | … | … | … | … | … | 2·9 | 3·4 | 4·0 | 3·2 |
| Bury | … | … | … | … | … | 2·5 | 2·8 | 3·0 | 3·1 |
| Walsall | … | … | … | … | … | 2·6 | 2·8 | 2·9 | 3·1 |
| Portsmouth | … | … | … | … | … | 2·9 | 3·0 | 3·0 | 3·0 |
| Southport | … | … | … | … | … | 1·3 | 1·7 | 2·5 | 3·0 |
| Ipswich | … | … | … | … | … | 2·2 | 2·4 | 2·6 | 2·8 |
| Solihull | … | … | … | … | … | 2·1 | 2·5 | 2·5 | 2·7 |
| Wolverhampton | … | … | … | … | … | 2·3 | 2·4 | 2·5 | 2·6 |
| Blackburn | … | … | … | … | … | 1·9 | 2·0 | 2·0 | 2·4 |
| Carlisle | … | … | … | … | … | 2·0 | 2·1 | 2·2 | 2·4 |
| Grimsby | … | … | … | … | … | 2·1 | 2·2 | 2·3 | 2·3 |
| Chester | … | … | … | … | … | 0·8 | 1·1 | 1·8 | 2·2 |
| Oxford | … | … | … | … | … | 1·3 | 1·4 | 1·5 | 2·1 |
| Coventry | … | … | … | … | … | 1·4 | 1·7 | 1·8 | 1·9 |
| Canterbury | … | … | … | … | … | 1·4 | 1·5 | 1·5 | 1·5 |
London Boroughs
| |||||||||
| City of London | … | … | … | … | … | 23·9 | 25·2 | 29·0 | 27·6 |
| Southwark | … | … | … | … | … | 6·4 | 11·0 | 13·5 | 15·4 |
| Hackney | … | … | … | … | … | 5·8 | 6·7 | 7·5 | 8·4 |
| Barking | … | … | … | … | … | 5·7 | 6·3 | 7·4 | 8·3 |
| Hounslow | … | … | … | … | … | 4·2 | 5·5 | 7·1 | 8·1 |
| Lambeth | … | … | … | … | … | 4·6 | 5·6 | 6·4 | 7·7 |
| Merton | … | … | … | … | … | 3·7 | 5·0 | 6·3 | 7·7 |
| Enfield | … | … | … | … | … | 4·8 | 5·7 | 6·7 | 7·6 |
| Croydon | … | … | … | … | … | 4·6 | 6·2 | 6·4 | 7·4 |
| Islington | … | … | … | … | … | 4·9 | 5·7 | 6·5 | 7·4 |
| Wandsworth | … | … | … | … | … | 4·1 | 4·7 | 5·8 | 7·4 |
| Kensington and Chelsea | … | … | … | 3·4 | 4·9 | 6·4 | 7·3 | ||
| Lewisham | … | … | … | … | … | 4·8 | 5·3 | 6·5 | 7·3 |
| Camden | … | … | … | … | … | 4·0 | 5·2 | 6·2 | 6·8 |
| Waltham Forest | … | … | … | … | … | 4·5 | 5·5 | 6·4 | 6·7 |
| Sutton | … | … | … | … | … | 4·5 | 5·5 | 6·2 | 6·5 |
| Westminster | … | … | … | … | … | 3·5 | 4·6 | 5·5 | 6·3 |
| Greenwich | … | … | … | … | … | 4·1 | 4·7 | 5·3 | 5·9 |
| Tower Hamlets | … | … | … | … | … | 5·8 | 5·3 | 5·7 | 5·8 |
| Ealing | … | … | … | … | … | 3·1 | 3·8 | 4·9 | 5·5 |
| Kingston-on-Thames | … | … | … | … | … | 3·3 | 4·3 | 5·1 | 5·4 |
| Barnet | … | … | … | … | … | 2·8 | 3·7 | 4·6 | 5·3 |
| Hammersmith | … | … | … | … | … | 3·9 | 4·8 | 5·3 | 5·1 |
| Haringey | … | … | … | … | … | 3·1 | 3·6 | 4·3 | 4·7 |
| Redbridge | … | … | … | … | … | 3·2 | 3·7 | 4·2 | 4·5 |
| Bromley | … | … | … | … | … | 2·0 | 2·9 | 3·8 | 4·4 |
| Richmond-on-Thames | … | … | … | … | … | 2·9 | 3·5 | 4·1 | 4·2 |
| Havering | … | … | … | … | … | 3·5 | 4·2 | 4·2 | 4·1 |
| Newham | … | … | … | … | … | 3·5 | 3·7 | 4·0 | 4·0 |
| Brent | … | … | … | … | … | 2·5 | 2·9 | 3·4 | 3·9 |
| Harrow | … | … | … | … | … | 2·3 | 2·9 | 3·5 | 3·8 |
| Bexley | … | … | … | … | … | 2·3 | 2·9 | 3·3 | 3·5 |
| Hillingdon | … | … | … | … | … | 2·3 | 2·5 | 2·8 | 3·4 |
* Excluding persons primarily with auditory and visual defects. | |||||||||
† Figures for 1970 not yet available. | |||||||||
‡ Reorganisation of Local Authority Areas: | |||||||||
| New County Borough appointed day April, 1968 (Teesside Order 1966) | |||||||||
| New County Borough appointed day April, 1967 (Hartlepool Order 1966) | |||||||||
| New County Borough appointed day April, 1968 (Torbay Order 1966). | |||||||||
Retirement Pensioners
34.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many retirement pensioners are now living below the poverty line as defined by his Department.
The level of requirements below which retirement pensioners qualify for a supplementary pension is sometimes used as a basis for comparisons; but it is not defined by my Department as the poverty line. There is no firm estimate of the numbers who are entitled to supplementary pension but do not claim it, but there is reason to believe that the number is now well below what it was before the introduction of the supplementary benefit scheme in 1966.
Voluntary Social Work
35.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he will take to create new opportunities for voluntary social work; and if he will make a statement.
I shall continue to take every opportunity of encouraging the further development of voluntary service, particularly in the context of the hospital, health and personal social services.
Drug-Taking
38.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study he is making of the medical, social, and psychological reasons which lead 15 to 18 year old girls to embark on the taking of drugs, other than cannabis.
My Department supports a number of studies into addiction which will provide some information on drug-taking by girls aged 15 to 18 years.
Industrial Disputes (Supplementary Benefit Payments)
39.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the cost to public funds to date of supplementary benefits to the families of persons involved in the Post Office strike.
To Tuesday, 16th February, the total of such payments was £1,547,554.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps the officials of his Department are taking to ensure that supplementary benefit is not drawn by any Post Office employee involved in the postal strike who has a secondary, undeclared, tax free, part-time occupation.
All persons claiming supplementary benefit whether on strike or not are questioned closely about their resources, and claim forms contain a warning that any person making a false statement may be prosecuted. Where it is suspected that a claimant has failed to disclose all his resources, further inquiries may be made.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the entitlement of a striker to supplementary benefit is calculated when his wife is also on strike.
A person to whom the disqualification in Section 10 of the Ministry of Social Security Act applies is not entitled to supplementary benefit for his own requirements, but he can receive benefit for his dependants. A husband and wife, both of whom were disqualified, would not receive any benefit for themselves, but if they had a child benefit would be payable for that child and an addition for family rent would be made in the assessment.
91.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total payment of social security benefit to unofficial strikers for the period July to December, 1970.
Supplementary benefit payments during disputes to the dependants of persons disqualified on account of the dispute from receiving benefit for themselves totalled £884,969 in the period July-December, 1970. The statistics do not distinguish between official and unofficial disputes.
90.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to abolish the social security payments made specifically to the employee whilst on unofficial strike.
I assume my hon. Friend has in mind the supplementary benefit which can be paid in certain circumstances to persons involved in trade disputes who are disqualified from receiving benefit for their personal requirements. It would not be right to abolish this power to prevent hardship in exceptional cases, but payments are very few in number and restricted to cases of great urgency.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what amount has been paid out per week in supplementary benefit, to how many recipients per area, and at what administrative cost, to employees of the Ford Motor Company during the present dispute.
Figures are so far only available for the week (to 16th February) in which the first supplementary benefit payments for the dependants of persons involved in the Ford dispute were made. Details are as follows:
| Area | Amount Paid | Number of Payments |
| £ | ||
| London | 25,471 | 4,463 |
| Liverpool | 19,174 | 4,360 |
| Wales and SouthWest | 3,358 | 620 |
| Midlands | 2,018 | 480 |
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what amount has been paid out per week in supplementary benefit, to how many recipients, and at what administrative cost, to employees of the Post Office during the present dispute.
Supplementary benefit was paid for the dependants of postal workers on account of the current dispute as follows:
| Week Ending | Amount Paid | Number of Payments |
| £ | ||
| 26th January | 293,759 | 40,110 |
| 2nd February | 379,405 | 53,767 |
| 9th February | 413,583 | 56,654 |
| 16th February | 460,807 | 59,845 |
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress of the Government's review of the payment of supplementary benefit in industrial disputes.
No. But I hope to make an announcement before long.
Deaths (Persons Living Alone)
41.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases occurred in the years 1968, 1969 and 1970 in which there was delay in the reporting of deaths attributable to the deceased having lived alone and the fact of his death not being known.
I regret that the required information is not available.
Immigrants (Repatriation)
42.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many cases in the last convenient 12-month period immigrants of non-European origin have been repatriated at public expense; and if he will make a statement on his policy in this matter.
During 1970 payments were made by my Department to 138 individuals or families to enable them to return to their countries of origin in the Commonwealth and elsewhere.
Ear, Nose And Throat Operations (Birmingham)
43.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to speed up treatment for children needing ear, nose and throat operations in the Birmingham area.
I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to her on 2nd February.—[Vol. 810, c. 301.]
Wives' Earnings (Limits)
45.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to raise the present limits on wives' earnings, in view of the effect of rising prices on the families of sick or unemployed men.
I must ask the hon. Member to await the announcement of our proposals.
Abortions
44.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the cost to the National Health Service of abortion operations since the passing of the Abortion Act.
No separate costing figures are produced in respect of different medical and surgical conditions, and I regret, therefore, that the information is not available.
47.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what savings on National Health Service and local authority maternity, gynaecological, infant welfare and other services, including hospital bed and drug costs, have been made as a result of 84,764 abortions carried out in National Health Service hospitals since the Act was passed.
I regret that this information is not available.
Family Planning Clinics
46.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now issue a direction requiring all local health authorities to set up family planning clinics.
No.
National Insurance Scheme (Reconstruction)
48.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in the Government's consideration of the reconstruction of the National Insurance Scheme, particularly as regards the earnings rule for retirement pensioners.
I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Hitchin (Mrs. Shirley Williams) on 2nd February.—[Vol. 810, c. 312.]
Supplementary Benefits (Strikers And Prisoners)
52.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what distinction his Department make in differentiating between the grant of supplmentary benefit to the family of a man on strike and to the family of a man in prison
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there is any difference in entitlement to social security benefits between the family of a man on strike and the family of a man in prison.
The amounts paid reflect the difference in household circumstances. The requirements of a striker's wife are based on the scale rate for a person living in someone else's household (£4·15), whereas the requirements of a prisoner's wife, who has become responsible for all the household outgoings in the absence of her husband, are based on the householder scale rate (£5·20). Requirements for children and rent are treated similarly in both cases, but there is some difference in the treatment of any resources available to the husband.
Children (Cooked Lunches)
55.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research has been conducted by his Department into the health benefits to children of a cooked lunch.
None. Nutritional health of children depends upon the total diet, and this is the subject of study and research under the auspices of my Chief Medical Officer's Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy.
National Health Service (Finance)
60.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the terms of reference, composition and timetable of the committee currently investigating the financing of the National Health Service.
Alternative sources of revenue for the health services are constantly under consideration. In accordance with normal practice, I am not willing to give detailed information about the Government's internal arrangements for the discussion of public business.
Dental Services
61.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence is in his possession concerning the social status of regular attenders for dental treatment under the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.
The evidence of the Survey of Adult Dental Health shows that although proportionately more people in Household Social Class I, II and III (non-manual) had some of their natural teeth and went to the dentist regularly, nevertheless in 1968 nearly half of all regular attenders came from Social Classes III (manual) IV and V.
77.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the basis on which the Dental Estimates Board made its recent reductions in the discretionary fees paid to dentists.
I understand that, in reviewing these fees in the light of the most recent recommendations by the Dental Rates Study Group, the Dental Estimates Board had referred to the amounts fixed for analogous items in the scale of fees. the timings of the different operations and procedures involved and, where appropriate, current laboratory and workshop custs.
Family Allowances
62.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now increase family allowances.
67.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now raise family allowances.
I have nothing to add to my reply to similar Questions on 2nd November.—[Vol. 805, c. 269–70]
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what increase in the family allowance would at present be required to restore its purchasing power to the level of April, 1968.
None. The present purchasing power of family allowances is greater than it was in April, 1968.
Nurses' Uniforms
64.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now recommend standard styles of nurses' and sisters' uniforms.
I hope shortly to take a decision in this matter.
National Health Service (Costs)
63.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the full cost and the marginal cost of a range of standard operations and other services available under the National Health Service, indicating the extent of variation between the most and least expensive institutions providing them.
The overall costs of hospitals are available, classified by type of hospital, but until hospital activity analysis has been extended to cover all hospitals, I regret that comparisons of cost per case in respect of different medical and surgical conditions are not available.
Prescription Charges
65.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has had from the Pharmaceutical Society in respect of proposed increases in National Health Service prescription charges; whether he will enter into consultations with the pharmacists before making any change in these charges; and whether he will make a statement.
The Society asked that the proposal to increase the prescription charge to 20p be reconsidered. My reply explained the reasons for the Government's decision and that we are retaining wide exemptions. The Society also expressed opposition to charges related more closely to a proportion of the cost of the individual prescription, and I have assured it that no action would be taken on this proposal without full prior consultation with the pharmaceutical profession.
Means-Tested Benefits
66.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what changes he plans in the regulations covering means-tested benefits.
I have already drawn attention to the new income levels for various health and welfare benefits.
Maternity Facilities (Medway Area)
68.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the recommendation contained in his Department's Report, "Domiliciary, Midwifery and Maternity Bed Needs", what steps he is taking to increase maternity facilities in the Medway area.
During the period 1971–73 the South-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board intends to increase the facilities for delivery at All Saints Hospital, Chatham. In the longer term it plans to provide a new maternity unit at Medway Hospital.
Concessionary Bus Fares
69.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent the availability of concessionary bus fares for pensioners granted by certain local authorities are taken into account when assessing entitlement to supplementary benefit.
No regard is paid to concessionary fares in assessing entitlement to normal weekly benefit. When special additions arc paid to help with fares in exceptional circumstances, they are related to the actual cost borne by the claimant.
Pensioners' Luncheon Clubs
71.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which local authorities in Greater London impose a means or other test as a condition of membership of pensioners' luncheon clubs; and what guidance he has given to local authorities concerning membership of these clubs.
This information is not available centrally. Where facilities are still limited, local authorities no doubt use various criteria to ensure that those most in need of meals receive them. It has not been considered necessary to issue guidance to local authorities about membership of luncheon clubs.
Nurses (Pay)
74.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will announce increases in nurses' pay.
I have nothing to add yet to the answer which my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member on 29th January.—[Vol. 810, c. 222–3.]
78.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken to ensure that all fully-qualified State Registered Nurses who return to service within National Health Service hospitals as part-time employees secure emoluments which take into account all service rendered both in the National Health Service and the local authority health services.
The agreements of the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council which are sent to all hospital authorities already provide that previous nursing service in an equivalent or higher grade either in the hospital service or in the local authority nursing service should be taken into account in determining a nurses' commencing salary.
Non-Urgent Operations (Waiting Time)
75.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further steps he is taking to shorten the waiting time for non-urgent operations.
The increasing use of out-patient diagnostic and treatment services, including day surgery, will lead to the more effective use of resources. This, together with the increasing number of new hospitals and other facilities, should in its turn be reflected in a reduction of waiting time.
79.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the annual rate of increase in waiting lists for minor or non-urgent gynaecological operations since the implementation of the Abortion Act, 1968; and what was the annual rate of increase for the two years preceding it.
Information in the precise form requested is not available but the following table shows gynaecological waiting lists and annual rates of change for the years in question except 1970, for which there are as yet no figures. Most of these patients will have been awaiting operations.
| Year | Number on waiting lists as at 31st December(England and Wales) | Percentage rate of change |
| 1965 | 76,138 | |
| 1966 | 83,569 | Increase 9·8 |
| 1967 | 83,297 | Decrease 0·3 |
| 1968 | 82,787 | Decrease 0·6 |
| 1969 | 89,470 | Increase 8·0 |
Supplementary Benefits (Fuel Allowance)
81.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the minimum element of supplementary benefit being paid to recipients of supplementary benefits to enable them to purchase fuel; and if he will make a statement.
The supplementary benefit scale rates provide for all normal living expenses, including fuel requirements. Since individual needs and preferences vary, it is not possible to apportion an element of the scale rate to the cost of fuel or any other single item of expenditure. When a person needs extra heating the Supplementary Benefits Commission makes special additional payments to
| Year | St. Cross Hospital Rugby | Coventry | Nuneaton | |||||
| Total number of candidates | Percentage pass rate | Total number of candidates | Percentage pass rate | Total number of candidates | Percentage pass rate | |||
| 1961 | … | … | 6 | 100 | 77 | 79 | 29 | 62 |
| 1962 | … | … | 16 | 88 | 79 | 75 | 27 | 85 |
| 1963 | … | … | 17 | 88 | 64 | 84 | 18 | 61 |
| 1964 | … | … | 23 | 87 | 87 | 85 | 28 | 71 |
| 1965 | … | … | 21 | 86 | 84 | 87 | 24 | 96 |
| 1966 | … | … | 22 | 77 | 65 | 83 | 23 | 78 |
| 1967 | … | … | 17 | 87 | 74 | 76 | 26 | 77 |
| 1968 | … | … | 19 | 79 | 80 | 70 | 25 | 84 |
| 1969 | … | … | 13 | 85 | 105 | 62 | 17 | 71 |
| 1970 | … | … | 14 | 86 | 109 | 64 | 19 | 74 |
Hospitals (Parking Facilities)
82.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will issue instructions to regional hospital boards to provide adequate parking facilities besides large hospitals; and whether he is aware of the lack of parking at Dorchester County Hospital.
Guidance on provision of car parking facilities in association with new hospital building schemes was issued some years ago, and is currently being reviewed. But hospital authorities have to have regard to such factors as the space available and the needs of essential users. The space available for car parking at Dorchester County Hospital has been restricted temporarily because of building developments on the site. The restriction is likely to continue for about 12 months and the provision will then be reviewed by the hospital management committee.
cover the expense. As my right hon. Friend told my hon. Friend the Member for Reading (Dr. Vaughan) on 26th November, these payments are being improved.—[Vol.807, c. 210–11.]
Nurses' Examinations
76.
asked the secretary of State for Social Services what was the percentage pass rate of State Nurses Register finals examinations at St. Cross Hospital, Rugby, over the past 10 years; and what were the figures at Coventry and Nuneaton hospitals.
The following table shows the percentage pass rates of candidates from St. Cross Hospital, Rugby, Coventry and Nuneaton for the final examination for the general post of the Register of Nurses.
Cot Deaths
89.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what studies, and in what areas, he has ordered in finding causes of cot deaths in infancy.
As I explained in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Dame Joan Vickers) on 25th January, the findings of two large-scale studies commissioned by my Department into sudden deaths in infancy (1965) and post-neonatal mortality (1970) are being supplemented by similar locally-based surveys.—[Vol. 809, c. 50].
Operations (Leicester)
92.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what urgent steps he is taking to reduce waiting time for operations in Leicester, in view of the fact that the city is one of the seven worst in the country in this respect.
Urgent cases are admitted without delay. Waiting lists for non-urgent cases in some surgical specialties have been reduced in recent years, and continuing improvement can be expected as numbers of medical staff have been and will be further increased; improvements to the Leicester Royal Infirmary will be completed this year; and further substantial development of that hospital takes place over the next few years.
Foster Parents (National Register)
97.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up a national register of persons willing to become foster parents.
No. Statutory responsibilities in connection with fostering are vested in local authorities, and it is my view that any related administrative arrangements in England are most appropriately made on a local basis.
Mentally Handicapped Persons
98.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what surveys have been undertaken in recent times of the conditions under which mentally handicapped adults and children are cared for; and whether it is intended to publish reports of such surveys.
All regional hospital boards have surveyed conditions in their own hospitals for the purpose of working out improvement programmes, not for publication. Information about facilities and services in hospitals is also collected annually by my Department and published in its Statistical Report Series. Since February, 1970, the Hospital Advisory Service has visited hospitals for the mentally handicapped in 11 hospital regions; reports on these visits are not for publication but general comments will be included in the Director's Annual Report, which will be published. A recent census of residential accommodation provided by local authorities and voluntary homes will provide information on the mentally handicapped in such accommodation, and a report will be published. A number of people, some sponsored by my Department, have also undertaken research studies, publication of which is normally a matter for the individual concerned.
Handicapped Children
99.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to introduce a system for greater home support for handicapped children and their parents.
A main objective of the reorganisation brought about by the Local Authority Social Services Act, 1970, is to develop all the services providing home support to these and other families in need of help.
Television (Effects On Eyesight)
100.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will commission an inquiry by oculists into the possible adverse effect on the eyesight of television viewers, particularly young people, of the use of bright flashing lights, swiftly moving backgrounds and deliberate picture distortions in programme material and also television advertisements.
I do not consider an inquiry to be necessary. I am advised that there is no evidence that eyesight is injured by the features of television referred to.
Hospitals (Capital Building Programmes)
103.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to increase the amount of money to be allocated to regional hospital boards for their capital building programme; and by how much.
Regional hospital boards will share in the increased capital programme for hospitals announced on page 37 of Cmnd. 4578, "Public Expenditure 1969–70 to 1974–75". Estimates will give details shortly.
Battersea, Putney And Tooting (Hospitals)
104.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the imminent restructuring of the Battersea, Putney, and Tooting Group Hospital Management Committee, whether he can give any details of the proposed structure of the pathology departments.
It is proposed to provide an area pathology service based on St. Stephen's Hospital, Chelsea.
Hospitals (Oldham)
102.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make an official visit to the hospitals in the Oldham area.
I have at present no plans to do so.
Bootle General Hospital (Physiotherapists)
106.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many physiotherapists and assistants will be in attendance at Bootle General Hospital when his re-organisation of this hospital takes place on 31st March, 1971; and if he will make a statement.
Two full-time physiotherapists and one part-time helper. Patients at present receiving out-patient physiotherapy treatment at Bootle Hospital will continue their current treatment there.
Battersea, Putney And Tooting (Hospitals)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has fixed the date for the closing of Battersea General Hospital; and what proposals he has for the use of the outpatients' department of that hospital.
No. Before I reach a decision, any recommendation the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board may make to me following local consultation on its proposal to close Battersea General Hospital will be carefully considered together with any other representations received.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has fixed a date for the restructuring, or amalgamation, of the Battersea, Putney and Tooting Group Hospital Management Committee with the South-West London Group Hospital Management Committee; and if he has decided to what groups the various hospitals will be joined.
I have approved the transfer of Putney Hospital to the Board of Governors of Westminster Hospital from 1st April, 1971. The proposal to place the other hospitals of the Battersea, Putney and Tooting Hospital Management Committee with those of the South-West London Hospital Management Committee under a single management committee from 1st April, 1972, remains under consideration.
Homelessness (London)
107.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further consultations he has had with non-governmental bodies concerning homelessness in London; and when he expects to be able to announce proposals for its relief.
Consultations are taking place by means of the working party now being set up to consider the Greve Report referred to in the reply to my hon. Friend on 2nd February. I shall await the result of its work before formulating proposals.—[Vol. 810, c. 300.]
Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry (Private Patients)
108.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement as to the action he proposes to take to inquire into the matter of the admission of private patients to Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry, for which no proper authority exists.
I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to the hon. Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Leslie Huckfield).
Disabled Drivers (Grant)
110.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the rising cost of petrol and oil, he will give consideration in his forthcoming Budget to increasing the annual grant to disabled drivers from the current rate of £5 to £10.
No.
Abortion Act, 1967
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress of the official inquiry into the workings of the Abortion Act, 1967.
I would refer my hon. Friend to the Statement I made earlier in the day.
Pneumoconiosis
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many deaths were caused by, or attributed to, pneumoconiosis over the past 10 years; and how many of these involved miners.
The statistics available relate to cases for which death benefit was awarded under the Industrial Injuries Act, and the Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Diseases Benefit Scheme and to cases certified for workmen's compensation purposes. The figures for 1960–69 are given beyond; those for 1970 are not yet available.
| Total number of cases | Number involving coal-miners | |
| 1960 | 1,282 | 1,017 |
| 1961 | 1,354 | 1,054 |
| 1962 | 1,226 | 950 |
| 1963 | 1,293 | 1,016 |
| 1964 | 1,131 | 866 |
| 1965 | 1,096 | 860 |
| 1966 | 915 | 697 |
| 1967 | 813 | 631 |
| 1968 | 871 | 675 |
| 1969 | 807 | 629 |
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were certified under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1946, as suffering from pneumoconiosis; and how many of these were miners, for the years 1960 to 1970.
The figures for Great Britain for the years 1960 to 1969 are set out below. Those for 1970 are not yet available.
| Total number Certified | Number of miners | |
| 1960 | 3,654 | 3,319 |
| 1961 | 3,223 | 2,807 |
| 1962 | 2,609 | 2,209 |
| 1963 | 2,688 | 2,307 |
| 1964 | 1,648 | 1,249 |
| 1965 | 1,403 | 1,036 |
| 1966 | 1,264 | 968 |
| 1967 | 1,103 | 762 |
| 1968 | 1,108 | 804 |
| 1969 | 964 | 655 |
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current total of certified cases of pneumoconiosis in the United Kingdom; and how many of these are miners.
At 30th September, 1969, the latest date for which figures are available, benefit for pneumoconiosis Injuries Fund in 51,157 cases; 44,035 cases related to work in coal-mines. These figures do not, of course, include Northern Ireland.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the figures, for the years 1960 to 1970, of the number of certified cases of pneumoconiosis whose deaths were certified as not being caused by, or contributed to, the disease; what was the number of deaths arising from the disease where there had been no previous certification; and how many of these were miners.
I regret that this information is not available.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how accurate, in percentage figures, are the X-ray results in determining whether a person is suffering from pneumoconiosis, in the light of subsequent post-mortem findings.
It is not possible to give any percentage, but a high degree of accuracy can be obtained by careful consideration of the evidence from an adequate radiological examination, occupational history and clinical examination.
Edgware General Hospital
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what staff shortages at Edgware General Hospital have been reported to his Department following the opening of Northwick Park Hospital.
None.
Possum
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that regional hospital boards, hospital consultants and general medical practitioners are fully informed about the availability of the Patient-Operated Selector Mechanism Unit to chronically sick and disabled persons; and if he will make a statement.
Yes. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 3rd February.—[Vol. 810, c. 306.]
Social Security (Approaches To Charities)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether social security officers are authorised to advise claimants to make approaches to charities for financial assurance, or offer to make approaches on their behalf.
Yes, in certain clearly defined circumstances officers of the Supplementary Benefits Commission may do so.
Dental Service And Fluoridation
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost per head per annum of the National Health Dental Service; and what would be the estimated cost per head per annum of fluoridation of the national water supply to the level of 0·9 parts per million.
Information in the form requested in the first part of the Question is not available; but the cost of the general dental services per head of population in England and Wales for the year ended 31st December, 1970, is estimated to have been a little under £2. The average annual cost of fluoridation is estimated at about 5p per head.
Poverty
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further policies he now intends to pursue, in addition to the Family Income Supplement Scheme, to remedy family poverty in this country.
I have no further statement to make at the present time.
Welfare Milk
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the income limit for entitlement to free welfare milk for a family with two children under school age paying an average rent, as a proportion of average male earnings, when the scheme commenced and in 1970.
In October, 1970, the proportion was about 58 per cent.; in 1941 when the national milk scheme started it was about 52 per cent.
National Insurance Stamps
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by what statutory authority he is failing to make available National Insurance stamps; what authority he has to enable contributors to omit stamping their cards each week; what authority he has to claim arrears at a subsequent date on his failure to make stamps available; and to what extent he estimates a short-fall in contributions to the National Insurance Fund since the commencement of the postal workers' strike.
The temporary non-availability of stamps during the postal dispute makes it impossible for contributions to be paid by this method until they are again available. The authority to claim arrears of contributions is contained in Section 8(2) of the National Insurance Act, 1965, Section 3(4) of the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1965, and Section 95 and 96 of the National Insurance Act, 1965. I estimate that the current shortfall of contributions to the National Insurance Fund at some £50 million but I see no reason why this should not be made good when the strike ends.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he issued a statement on Friday, 12th February, regarding non-availability of National Insurance stamps due to the Post Office strike, in view of the fact that these could have been issued from his Department's office, local employment exchanges and other Government offices; and whether he will take this action in future.
Security and manpower considerations, and the necessity for local offices of the Department to concentrate all available resources on benefit payments, rule out alternative methods of sale of national insurance stamps during the period of the postal dispute. Stocks of decimal national insurance stamps are in any case strike-bound within the Post Office organisation.
Prescription Charges
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was spent for the second half of 1968, 1969 and 1970, respectively, in staffing costs in checking fraudulent claims for prescription charge refunds and exemptions throughout the United Kingdom; how many forms were checked during each of the three stated periods; how many persons were found not to be in any of the exemption or refund categories; and how much was recovered by the Exchequer.
Information in this form could not be assembled without a disproportionate amount of work.
Wage-Stopped Households
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the annual average number of wage-stopped households for each year since 1950; and what were the average percentage unemployment levels for each of these years.
Following is the information requested:
| Year | Number of unemployed subject to wage stop* | Percentage of work force unemployed† |
| 1950 | Not available | 1·5 |
| 1951 | Not available | 1·2 |
| 1952 | Not available | 2·0 |
| 1953 | Not available | 1·6 |
| 1954 | 2,100 | 1·3 |
| 1955 | 1,700 | 1·1 |
| 1956 | 2,100 | 1·2 |
| 1957 | 2,400 | 1·4 |
| 1958 | 6,280 | 2·1 |
| 1959 | 18,200 | 2·2 |
| 1960 | 12,400 | 1·6 |
| 1961 | 12,200 | 1·5 |
| 1962 | 24,400 | 2·0 |
| 1963 | 23,400 | 2·5 |
| 1964 | 13,200 | 1·6 |
| 1965 | 16,200 | 1·4 |
| 1966 | 15,300 | 1·5 |
| 1967 | 25,100 | 2·4 |
| 1968 | 25,800 | 2·4 |
| 1969 | 24,500 | 2·4 |
| 1970 | 26,300 | 2·6 |
| * From annual sample enquiries until 1963 and thereafter the average of four quarterly returns. | ||
| † From the Department of Employment Gazette, January, 1971, Table 104. | ||
Doctors (Political And Industrial Prejudice)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will seek powers to circulate all doctors within the National Health Service instructing them not to show political and industrial prejudice against patients on their lists.
No. I do not consider that such action is necessary or appropriate.
Mental Disorders (Financial Assistance)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how he intends to allocate the extra financial assistance already agreed for mental disorders as between local authorities, regional hospital boards and voluntary societies.
As I said in the House on 11th November, the additional money available for the care of the mentally ill and the mentally handicapped will be split roughly half local authority, half hospital. I have not yet decided how much of the additional money for voluntary organisations will be devoted to those operating in these fields.—[Vol 806, c. 391–8.]
Four-Week Rule
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which towns have been added since July, 1968, to those to which the four-week rule was originally applied; which towns have been removed from the original list; and what were the reasons in each case.
I regret that this information is not immediately available and will write to the hon. Member.
National Finance
Central Policy Review Staff
111.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will refer the question of inflation to the Central Policy Review staff.
The Government have access to a wide range of economic advice, including that of the C.P.R.S.
Inflation
112.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the Government's latest estimate of expected price rises, he will make regular broadcasts on the effect of the Government's policies on the problem of inflation.
No such estimate has been published, and I do not think the procedure the hon. Member suggests would be an appropriate one.
Economic Problems (Overseas Countries)
113.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to seek to make official visits to countries with economic problems he considers to be similar to those facing Great Britain.
My right hon. Friend has no such plans at present.
£ Sterling (Purchasing Power)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the basis of the £ on 1st May, 1969, what is its current purchasing value today, in new curency and in old; and what percentage variation this represents.
Taking the value of a pound to be 20s. Od. in mid-May, 1969, its purchasing power in January, 1971, the latest date for which information is available, is estimated at 17s. 11d. an equivalent of 89½p. This represents a fall of 10½ per cent.This estimate is based on the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices for the whole of the period, as the Consumer Price Index for 1970 is not yet available.
Unemployment
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will refer the question of unemployment to the Central Policy Review Staff.
The Government have access to a wide range of economic advice including that of the Central Policy Review Staff.
Building Industry
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reply he has sent to the request of the National Federation of Builders' and Plumbers' Merchants for relief in his forthcoming Budget on the grounds that the building industry is facing the worst depression since the last war, that bankruptcies are mounting, and that skilled workers are leaving the industry.
My right hon. Friend has replied saying that he will bear the Federation's representations in mind when framing his Budget proposals.
Selective Employment Tax
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now able to give a date when selective employment tax will be ended.
I have nothing to add to Answer given by my hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Questions by the hon. Members for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) and Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 16th February, l971.—[Vol. 811, c. 1592–94.]
Cost Of Living
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in his forthcoming Budget he will take fiscal action to ensure a reduction in the cost of living.
I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.
Trade And Industry
Central Policy Review Staff
114.
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration is being given by his Central Policy Review Staff to the effect of competition in stabilising prices.
None. The facts are already well demonstrated. During the last five and a half years of the last Conservative Government, when competition was the sole arbiter of price, prices rose at less than half the rate they did under the interventionist policy of the Labour Government.
Pinnock Finance Company (Great Britain) Limited
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the latest position of the Pinnock Finance Company (Great Britain) Limited; whether the liquidator made an interim distribution to the creditors; if he now intends to publish the inspector's report of the affairs of this company; and if he will make a statement.
The court on 17th February gave the liquidator sanction to pay an interim dividend of 2.5p in the £ to unsecured creditors. I have decided to publish the inspectors' report as soon as possible.
Third London Airport
115.
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has calculated what public money might be saved if an existing estuarial airport was chosen for a third London or national airport rather than any of the sites looked at by the Roskill Commission.
No. There is no evidence that any existing estuarial airport could at all conveniently cater for the growth of traffic which has its origin and destinations in the South East.
Nationalised Industries And Private Consultants (Overseas Work)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what policy is pursued by his Department and by the nationalised industries, in regard to competing with private British consultants for work overseas.
As was confirmed in Lord Cromer's Report on "Exhort Business from Capital Projects Overseas" (Cmnd. 3516), the nationalised industries have a considerable expertise which they can usefully deploy overseas. Where independent British consultants have also established interests in overseas markets, the industries normally seek to work through, or in collaboration with, the consultants. I am currently discussing with the consultants representatives and the chairmen of the nationalised industries for which my right hon. Friend is responsible whether more might be done to further this collaboration.
Bloodstock (Exports)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total value of exports of British bloodstock in 1969 and 1970, respectively; and which countries were the principal importers.
Bloodstock are not separately distinguished in the trade statistics.
Coal Industry (Redundant Workers)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many men returned to work in the coal industry subsequent to being declared redundant, and receiving redundancy pay, in the years 1968–69 to 1969–70.
I am informed by the Chairman of the N.C.B. that the number was 144.
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the men made redundant in the coal industry during the period 1968 to 1970 have been approached by the National Coal Board to return to work in that industry.
This is a matter for the Chairman of the N.C.B. and I am asking him to write to the hon. Member direct.
Education And Science
Women's National Commission
116.
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the reconstituted Women's National Commission will have direct access to Ministers; and if it will be consulted formally by Ministers on all matters in the field of education, health, the social services and the environment where consultations with outside bodies are appropriate.
Access to Ministers will be through the usual channels available to similar national organisations, and through the Ministerial co-chairman. There are no formal arrangements for consultation but I do not envisage any difficulty in making the views of the W.N.C. known to the relevant Departments.
Durham
Q6.
asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to pay an official visit to Consett and Stanley, County Durham, in the near future.
I have at present no plans to do so.
Q14.
asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to West Durham.
I have at present no plans to do so.
Q18.
asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to North Durham.
I have at present no plans to do so.
Civil Servants And Service Personnel (Public Statements)
Q7.
asked the Prime Minister what is the practice of his Administration in relation to senior civil servants and senior generals making political statements to official Press conferences, outside the United Kingdom.
Civil Servants are required to seek permission from their Department before making public statements about official matters. Service personnel are similarly required to seek permission from the appropriate Service authorities.
Social Science Research Council
Q10.
asked the Prime Minister whether he will make it a condition of Government grants to the Social Science Research Council that no finance is made available to the Economic Review, in view of the employment of its editor in an advisory capacity by Her Majesty's Opposition.
I understand that the editor is not now employed in this capacity. The question therefore no longer arises.
President Of Cyprus (Visit)
Q12.
asked the Prime Minister if he will invite the President of Cyprus to make an official visit to the United Kingdom.
There are at present no plans for such a visit. I had a valuable exchange of views with President Makarios in early January when he kindly invited me to lunch in Nicosia.
National Economic Development Council
Q3.
asked the Prime Minister if he proposes to take the chair at the National Economic Development Council after the new Director-General is appointed.
As I told the hon. Member on 29th October, 1970, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is Chairman of the Council but I intend to take the Chair myself from time to time. I will continue to follow this procedure when the new Director-General is appointed.—[Vol. 805, c. 197.]
Pensions
Q15.
asked the Prime Minister what replies were given by him to the 138 letters he received from 1st January to 1st February on the question of increased pensions.
The replies set out the various ways in which the Government are helping or propose to help pensioners.
Industrial Disputes (Reporting)
Q16.
asked the Prime Minister if he will initiate and participate in discussions with the Secretary of State for Employment, the Law Officers, the Newspaper Publishers' Association, the Newspaper Society, the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Independent Television Authority and the National Union of Journalists, concerning the reporting of industrial disputes by the mass media.
No.
Prime Minister (Public Speeches)
asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library sets of copies of his public speeches in which he has made reference to particular subjects.
No.
Agriculture, Fisheries And Food
Prices
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that there have been reductions in the wholesale price of home-produced and imported bacon; and whether, without controlling prices, he will have discussions with the wholesalers and retailers to see to what extent they will ensure that these price reductions are passed on to the consumers.
I am aware of recent bacon price movements. It is not my policy to intervene in the pricing decisions of individual firms. There is evidence that the decline in wholesale prices of bacon is being reflected at the retail level.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that here has been a drop in the supply of hatching of eggs, together with an increase in price, what plans he has to arrange for an adequate supply of eggs; to what extent eggs are now being imported; and whether imports are to increase between now and the autumn.
Egg Production at present appears to be slightly lower than the very high level reached at this time last year, but there is no sign of any shortage. Imports form only a small part of total supplies—at present about 2 per cent.—and it is not possible to forecast them.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that his Meat and Livestock Commission's third report gives warnings of a decline in sheep production; and what action he proposes to take to arrest this decline and thus prevent a further rise in the price of lamb to the consumer.
I am fully aware of the decline in sheep production. The state of the sheep industry is being examined at the Annual Review.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the Government's Meat and Livestock Commission's Annual Report: to what extent he estimates the report's announced increases in the price of beef and lamb will affect the cost of living; and by how much per retail pound of fresh meat he estimates these prices will rise.
Copies of the Meat and Livestock Commission's third annual report were laid before Parliament on 16th February. The report describes the work of the Commission during the year ended 30th September, 1970. When the report was published the Chairman of the Commission commented on the Government's proposals for levies on some imported meat. So far as the effect of these proposals on retail prices is concerened, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Mrs. Doris Fisher) on 8th December, 1970.—[Vol.808, c. 60–1]
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in his monitoring of prices following decimalisation, whether he has studied increases in the price of chips in fish and chip shops, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Bolton, East.
I have received my hon. Friend's letter and shall be writing to him.
Quarter Sessions
asked the Attorney-General how many cases were heard by courts of quarter sessions in the County of Montgomery in the years 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970, respectively.
The number of cases heard by courts of quarter sessions in the County of Montgomery were as follows:
| 1967 | 9 |
| 1968 | 8 |
| 1969 | 10 |
| 1970 | 9 |
asked the Attorney-General what is the total number of hours taken by all cases heard by quarter sessions in the counties of Cardigan, Merioneth and Montgomery, respectively, in each of the years 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970.
The total number of hours taken by all cases heard by quarter sessions in the counties of Cardigan, Merioneth and Montgomery respectively in each of the years 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970 was as follows:
| 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | |
| Cardigan | 40 | 41 | 42 | 47 |
| Merioneth | 26 | 32 | 34 | 49 |
| Montgomery | 28 | 14 | 27 | 24 |
asked the Attorney-General what estimate he has made, in determining the location of courts of quarter sessions, of the average travelling time taken by defendants and witnesses attending courts of quarter sessions in England and Wales using public transport services.
My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor, in determining his provisional choice of Crown Court locations, has broadly followed the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Assizes and Quarter Sessions, and has not therefore made any exact calculations of the travelling times likely to be taken by defendants and witnesses attending Crown Courts in England and Wales using public transport services.Nevertheless, my noble Friend appreciates that, whilst his provisional selection of court locations may be broadly the most desirable under the present conditions, the right balance between convenience and the economic use of court resources must be maintained in future, and that it will be necessary to review the location of Crown Court centres regularly so as to ensure that they continue to match the needs of the public. My noble Friend will make his final determination in the light of any representations which may be made to him.
Aviation Supply
Re-Usable Space Vehicles And Shuttles
asked the Minister of Aviation Supply if he will now make a further statement of the funding provided by Her Majesty's Government for collaborative feasibility and design studies by the British Aircraft Corporation and North American Rockwell into re-usable space vehicles and shuttles.
The Department has agreed to contribute one half of the cost to B.A.C. of these studies, subject to a maximum contribution of £100,000.
Rolls-Royce Limited
asked the Minister of Aviation Supply when he proposes to set up a nationally-owned company to take over certain assets of Rolls-Royce Limited, as announced on 4th February, 1971.
A nationally-owned company, known as Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd., is being registered today. This is the company to which certain of the aero-engine and marine and industrial gas turbine assets of Rolls-Royce Ltd. will be transferred, when they are acquired from the Receiver, as I announced in my statement of 4th February. The Chairman of Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. will be Lord Cole and the following have agreed to be members of the new company's board of directors:
- Mr. I. T. Morrow.
- Mr. H. Conway.
- Dr. S. G. Hooker.
- Sir William Cook.
- Sir St. John Elstub.
- Sir Charles Elworthy.
- Mr. Gordon Richardson.
- Sir Arnold Weinstock.
Yarrow (Shipbuilders) Limited
asked the Minister of State for Defence what consultations he has had with Vosper Thornycroft and other naval shipbuilding firms on the implications for their competitive ability of the Government's new financial relationship with Yarrow Limited; and whether he will make a statement.
No consultations of this sort have been necessary. As my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence made clear on 18th February, the existence of the loan to Yarrow Limited would be one of the factors taken into account for assessing future competitive tenders for warship contracts.—[Vol. 811, c. 544–5.]
asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the administrative, management and employment consequences for the Royal Naval dockyards of the Government's new financial relationship with Yarrow Limited.
The arrangements with Yarrow Limited will not affect the administrative, management and employment situation in H.M. Dockyards.
asked the Minister of State for Defence why the loan to be made to Yarrow Shipbuilders is to be made by his Department instead of from the same source as other Government loans to shipyards.
Because of the importance of Yarrow (Shipbuilders) for the present orders and future programme of the Royal Navy.
asked the Minister of State for Defence whether regard will be had to the loan made by his Department to Yarrow Shipbuilders in comparing its tenders for naval vessels with tenders from other shipyards, and in what way.
As my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence made clear on 18th February, the existence of the loan to Yarrow Limited would be one of the factors taken into account in assessing future competitive tenders for warship contracts.—[Vol. 811, c. 544–5]
asked the Minister of State for Defence whether the loan to be made by his Department to Yarrow Shipbuilders is conditional on their building only, or mainly, warships, and for what period.
The detailed terms of this loan have not yet been worked out.
asked the Minister of State for Defence whether loans on similar terms to that to be made to Yarrow Ship-builders will be offered to other shipyards engaged principally in building warships.
We have no plans for making loans on similar terms to any other firms.
Employment
Chorley
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to assist those made redundant by closures of mills in the Chorley constituency to find alternative employment.
Arrangements have been made for job teams to interview the redundant employees at the mills concerned and a special canvass has been made for vacancies in the surrounding area. We are continuing to do all we can to help those affected to find other employment.
Wilberforce Inquiry (Cost)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT full details concerning the costs to public funds of all expenses and expenditure spent on the Wilberforce Inquiry into the power workers' dispute, itemising these various costs.
The cost to public funds of the Wilberforce Inquiry into the power workers' dispute is as follows:
| £ | |
| Staff and administrative costs: | |
| Department of Employment and H.M. Treasury | 5,000 |
| Hire of Premises and equipment | 540 |
| Verbatim shorthand | 630 |
| Printing of the Report* | 1,550 |
| 7,720 | |
| *Estimated revenue from sales £1,350. | |
Work Vouchers (Bradford-Shipley)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list the number of work vouchers granted in the Bradford-Shipley area to Commonwealth citizens for each year from 1962 to 1970, inclusive.
The number of employment vouchers 1issued in response to applications made by employers in the areas covered by the Bradford and Shipley employment exchanges was:
| Bradford | Shipley | |
| 1962 | 37 | Nil |
| 1963 | 98 | 4 |
| 1964 | 81 | 12 |
| 1965 | 29 | 3 |
| 1966 | 34 | 10 |
| 1967 | 22 | 1 |
| 1968 | 18 | 3 |
| 1969 | 13 | 4 |
| 1970 | 15 | 3 |
Special Development Areas, Scotland
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total working population, male and female, of the special development areas in Scotland announced on 18th February.
The following table shows the estimated numbers of employees, employed and unemployed, in the area specified:
| ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES, EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYED, AT JUNE 1969 | ||
| (Thousands) | ||
| Males | Females | |
| Dumbarton | 6·5 | 4·8 |
| Alexandria | 5·8 | 4·0 |
| Helensburgh | 4·3 | 2·3 |
| Glasgow | 286·7 | 202·9 |
| Glasgow South Side | ||
| Bridgeton | ||
| Govan | ||
| Hillington | ||
| Kinning Park | ||
| Maryhill | ||
| Parkhead | ||
| Partick | ||
| Springburn | ||
| Barrhead | 5·5 | 4·0 |
| Cambuslang | 5·1 | 2·6 |
| Kirkintilloch | 6·2 | 3·7 |
| Rutherglen | 8·8 | 3·7 |
| Greenock | 19·9 | 10·6 |
| Port Glasgow | 6·0 | 4·1 |
| Irvine | 7·9 | 4·5 |
| Dalry | 1·3 | 0·7 |
| Kilwinning | 1·3 | 1·0 |
| Saltcoats | 10·5 | 5·6 |
| Motherwell | 23·4 | 7·4 |
| Airdrie | 13·0 | 8·4 |
| Bellshill | 8·2 | 2·7 |
| Carluke | 1·8 | 2·1 |
| Coatbridge | 15·7 | 7·4 |
| East kilbride | 13·3 | 10·8 |
| Hamilton | 16·2 | 11·3 |
| Blantyre | ||
| Larkhall | 2·7 | 2·9 |
| Uddingston | 6·0 | 4·0 |
| Wishaw | 8·0 | 4·6 |
| Paisley | 26·3 | 21·6 |
| Johnstone | 13·8 | 5·6 |
| Renfrew | 12·3 | 2·4 |
| Cumbernauld | 5·7 | 3·0 |
| Kilsyth | 1·5 | 1·1 |
Unemployment (Cornwall)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the latest monthly unemployment figures expressed as a percentage of the working population for each of the employment areas in Cornwall, together with comparable figures for each of the additional special development areas and intermediate areas announced on 18th February.
I have been asked to reply.The most recent count of the numbers registered as unemployed was made on 8th February. It has been possible to calculate unemployment rates in respect of this date for some but now all of the areas requested in the time available. The table below therefore gives the January rates for all areas. I will send my hon. Friend the February figures as soon as they are available:
| Percentage rates of unemployment in Cornwall and for the additional Special Development Areas and Intermediate Areas at 11th January, 1971 | |
| Cornwall | |
| Bodmin | 3·8 |
| Bude | 7·7 |
| Redruth and Camborne* | 5·6 |
| Camelford | 13·8 |
| Falmouth | 7·0 |
| Helston | 11·0 |
| Launceston | 3·8 |
| Liskeard and Looe* | 10·7 |
| Newquay and Perranporth* | 8·7 |
| Penzance | 8·1 |
| St. Austell | 3·7 |
| St. Ives | 18·5 |
| St. Mary's | 9·1 |
| Truro | 3·5 |
| Wadebridge | 10·0 |
| Additional Intermediate Areas | |
| Okehampton | 6·2 |
| Tavistock | 5·5 |
| Oswestry | 5·3 |
| Bridlington | 10·1 |
| Filey | 8·9 |
| Edinburgh, Portobello, etc.* | 4·3 |
| Additional Special Development Areas | |
| Hartlepool and Hartlepool Headland* | 6·9 |
| Peterlee and Wingate* | 7·1 |
| Tyneside* | 5·6 |
| Wearside* | 6·4 |
| Aberdare and Mountain Ash* | 4·5 |
| Merthyr Tydfil, Dowlais and Treharris* | 5·2 |
| Pontypridd, Pontyclun, Tonyrefail, etc.* | 5·1 |
| Dumbarton, Alexandria and Helensburgh* | 7·1 |
| Glasgow group* | 6·2 |
| Greenock and Port Glasgow* | 8·0 |
| Irvine, Dalry, Kilwinning and Saltcoats* | 6·5 |
| North Lanarkshire* | 6·5 |
| Paisley, Johnstone and Renfrew* | 3·9 |
| Kilsyth | 10·8 |
| Cumbernauld | 5·7 |
| * Travel-to-work areas. Rates can be calculated for the whole of a travel-to-work area but not separately for its constituent parts. | |
Pontefract, Castleford And Featherstone
asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many men are at present unemployed in Pontefract, Castleford and Featherstone, respectively; what percentage rate of unemployment these numbers represent; and what where the respective figures and percentages at 18th June, 1970;
| NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED | ||||||||
| Pontefract (including Featherstone) | Castleford | |||||||
| Males | Females | Males | Females | |||||
| 8th February, 1971 (provisional) | … | 742 | 143 | 1,039 | 161 | |||
| 8th June, 1970 | … | … | … | … | 641 | 80 | 911 | 102 |
| Pontefract, Castleford and Featherstone are all within a travel-to-work area which consists of the Castleford, Knottingley, Normanton and Pontefract Employment Exchange areas. The percentage rates of unemployment for males in this area at 8th February, 1971, and 8th June, 1970, were 6·2 and 5·3, respectively. The corresponding rates for females were 2·1 and 1·3. Information is not available for 18th June, 1970. Percentage rates cannot be calculated for parts of a travel-to-work area. | ||||||||
Yorkshire Coalfield
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men are unemployed in the Yorkshire Coalfield; and what were the figures at 18th June, 1970.
In the Yorkshire Coalfield Intermediate Area, the numbers of males registered as unemployed at 8th February, 1971 (provisional) and 8th June, 1970, were 16,446 and 15,247, respectively. Information is not available for 18th June, 1970.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the men unemployed in the Yorkshire coalfield are 55 years of age and over; and how this figure compares with that obtaining at 18th June, 1970.
Detailed age analyses of the registered wholly unemployed are made in January and July each year. In the Yorkshire Coalfield Intermediate Area the number of men aged 55 years and over who were registered as wholly unemployed at 11th January, 1971, and 13th July, 1970. were 4,880 and 4,968, respectively.
Industrial Training Boards (Review)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on his review of industrial training boards; and what interim guidance he proposes to issue to the boards.
(2) how many women are at the present time unemployed in Pontefract, Castle-ford and Featherstone, respectively; what percentage rate of unemployment these figures represent; and what were the respective figures and percentages at 18th June, 1970.
Following is the information available:
I have considered this further since my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. John Page) on 28th January—[Vol. 810, c. 155]. The work of the training boards is an important part of manpower policy generally, which includes the Government's direct training activities and the whole range of employment policies and services. I think it is right to consider the future of industrial training within this broader framework before concluding whether, and if so how, its present organisation should be modified. These are complex and important questions and I now anticipate that it will be some months before I am in a position to publish a consultative document.In the meantime, the industrial training boards will have to submit further proposals to me for financing their activities and are looking to me for guidance. While I recognise that the circumstances of different industries and the state of progress of different training boards may justify some exceptions, I should like boards to develop their financial policies on the following lines.Steps must be taken to control the cost of grant schemes and the administrative expenditure of boards more effectively. Better control and a more selective choice of training priorities should enable some reduction in levy rates to be introduced progressively. A proposal to increase the rate of levy will not normally be approved. Arrangements for "netting" levy payments against grant return should be introduced generally. I shall look for a significantly greater exemption of small firms from levy schemes. As in the past boards will be expected to have consulted their industries before submitting proposals for my approval and to have borne in mind in framing their proposals the need to give employers, educational authorities and Colleges of Further Education sufficient warning of changes.These steps, which some training boards have already taken, will I believe go some way to reducing the difficulties which have arisen in the operation of the Industrial Training Act and should help the boards to gain wider support for the development of their constructive work.
Vacant Dwellings
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many dwellings owned by local authorities have been allowed to remain vacant for a period in excess of three months in 1970 in each of the outer London boroughs;(2) how many dwellings owned by local authorities have been allowed to remain vacant for a period in excess of three months in 1970 in each of the inner London boroughs.
This information is not available in the Department and the hon. Member may wish to approach the London boroughs direct. No doubt he will bear in mind that statistics of the number of vacant dwellings mean very little without knowing the reasons why they are vacant.The hon. Member may be interested in a circular letter dated 4th July, 1969, which was sent to all London authorities urging them to make more interim use of their empty housing awaiting demolition, and I am sending him a copy of that circular letter.
Inner London (Housing Overspill)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in his discussion with local authorities regarding the nature and extent of the assistance outer London boroughs may give to inner London boroughs to relieve housing stress.
Discussions about the whole question of London housing are taking place with the authorities concerned, and I am not in a position to make any further statement at the moment.
Construction Industry
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next proposes to meet construction industry leaders to discuss the present state of trade.
I shall discuss the state of business with my National Consultative Council of the Building and Civil Engineering Industries at its next meeting on 17th March. In addition, I am in frequent contact with leaders of the industry on this and other matters.
Chronically Sick And Disabled Persons Act, 1970
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to make all establishments under the control of his Department more accessible to disabled people under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris) on 1st December, 1970.—[Vol. 807, c. 366.]
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many senior officers in, and branch offices of, his Department have responsibility under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.
The primary responsibility for implementing the Act rests with local authorities. So far as my own few responsibilities are concerned, I am advised by various senior officials as the need arises.
Rates
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that the Greater London Council and many other local authorities have announced rate increases of as much as 27 per cent.; and if he will take some action in his forthcoming Budget, to increases Exchequer grants to offset these increases.
The total of Exchequer grants was fixed in the Rate Support Grant Order which was approved by the House on 10th December, 1970. This provides for 57½ per cent. of local authority relevant expenditure in 1971–72 to be met by grant. The rate to be levied by each authority is a matter to be decided in the light of local circumstances, and I have noted, for example, that the G.L.C. recommended rate makes substantial provision for capital expenditure from revenue and for the building up of reserves.
Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs
World Population Control
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken by Her Majesty's Government to assist in the implementation of any of the recommendations made by the intenational organisations concerned with world population control on which Her Majesty's Government is represented.
Her Majesty's Government studies carefully recommendations in the field of population problems which are made by the international organisations on which it is represented, and fully supports their operations. It is not practicable to comment here on particular recommendations, but if the hon. Member cares to write to me about any such recommendation which he has in mind, I will be pleased to give him further information. A measure of our support for the activities of international organisations in this field was the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development in a written reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Dame Joan Vickers) on 9th February, 1971, that British aid to international organisations for family planning and population activities will—subject to the approval of Parliament—be roughly doubled to over £1 million in 1971–72.—[Vol. 811, c. 154.]
Home Department
Immigrants
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he is to introduce a voluntary system of repatriation of immigrants on a Government-financial aid basis; and whether he will make a statement.
The Government's views on this topic will be made known at the appropriate time following publication of their proposals for legislation about immigration generally.
Tobacco
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he considers it inappropriate to control the use of tobacco as a dangerous drug under the dangerous drugs legislation.
The control of dangerous drugs under the dangerous drugs legislation involves prohibition of the unauthorised possession and supply of scheduled drugs. Such a method of control would be quite inappropriate to tobacco in view of the degree to which it is socially acceptable.
Licensing Laws (Erroll Committee)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members will serve on the Erroll Committee on licensing laws; and if he will now announce their names.
I have nothing yet to add to the reply given to a Question by the hon. Member on 28th January.—[Vol. 810, c. 177–8.]
House Of Commons
asked the Lord President of the Council if he will now consider taking further action to facilitate the collection and delivery of letter mail addressed to hon. and right hon. Members of Parliament; and if he will make a statement.
The arrangements for Members' mail during the Post Office strike were fully set out in my answers of 8th and 15th February. No extension of these arrangements would be possible with the existing staff of the House.
Scotland
New Towns (Unemployment)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest unemployment figures, male and female, for
| PROVISIONAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT 8TH FEBRUARY, 1971 IN EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AREAS WHICH MOST NEARLY CORRESPOND WITH THE SCOTTISH NEW TOWNS | ||||||
| Males | Females | Total | ||||
| Cumbernauld | … | … | 387 | 163 | 550 | |
| East kilbride | … | … | 516 | 172 | 688 | |
| Glenrothes | … | … | 498 | 217 | 715 | |
| Irvine | … | … | … | 440 | 100 | 540 |
| Livingston | … | … | 261 | 70 | 331 | |
| PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT | |||||||||
| February, 1971 (provisional) | February, 1970 | February, 1969 | February, 1968 | February, 1967 | |||||
| Cumbernauld | … | … | … | … | 6·3 | 3·8 | 2·8 | 2·6 | 7·0 |
| North Lanarkshire travel-to-work area, which includes East Kilbride | … | … | 6·4 | 4·9 | 4·8 | 5·4 | 4·9 | ||
| Kirkcaldy travel-to-work area, which includes Glenrothes | … | … | … | 6·3 | 5·5 | 5·5 | 6·0 | 4·9 | |
| Irvine travel-to-work area | … | … | 6·9 | 5·0 | 4·5 | 5·4 | 6·2 | ||
| Bathgate travel-to-work area, which includes Livingston | … | … | … | 6·3 | 3·3 | 2·8 | 3·1 | 4·4 | |
| Percentage rates can be calculated for the whole of a travel-to-work area but not separately for its constituent parts. | |||||||||
New Towns (School Population)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimated increase in school population, primary and post-primary, is expected in 1971 in new towns; and what additional expenditure on education in each as been approved.
The information required is not maintained centrally.
Limestone Deposits (The Minches)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that large limestone deposits have been found in the Minches; and whether, in view of their value to the cement industry and as a fertiliser, he will take steps to ensure that they are exploited commercially.
The Government are well aware of the existence of off-shore deposits of calcareous material in Scottish waters, but it is for commercial interests to decide for themselves whether exploitation would be profitable.
Livingston New Town
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his future policy in relation to the new town of Livingston.
new towns, and what were the percentage figures for the last five years.
I have been asked to reply.Following is the inforamation:
I will give the Development Corporation all possible help in its efforts to make the town an increasingly attractive place in which to live, work and conduct business.I was glad to meet leading members of the town's community when I opened the Road Research Laboratory and Materials Testing Station in Livingston last September.
Development Areas
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total population of the special development areas announced on 18th February.
The population of the West Scotland special development area is estimated to be about 2·1 million as at 30th June, 1970.
European Economic Community
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will prepare a statement for publication at an early date of the State Law in Scotland and the provisions of the Common Law in Scotland which would have to be repealed or amended if the United Kingdom signed the Treaty of Rome and implemented the various resolutions and directions already in force thereunder.
The extent to which the laws of the United Kingdom would require modification in the event of our accession to the Treaty of Rome is at present under close examination; and it is too early to make a statement on this matter.
Muirkirk (Industrial Development)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to assist Ayr County Council in making Muirkirk more attractive for industrial development.
I am considering an application from Ayr County Council for a grant towards the rehabilitation of the Kames Colliery bing at Muir-kirk.
Rural Transport
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if, as his Department is currently engaged on a pilot study of transport in rural areas, at a time when many services are under threat of withdrawal, he will act, or seek powers to act, to maintain these services until such times as the result of the Departmental studies are made known;(2) in which area his Department is conducting pilot studies of rural transport; when these studies commenced; and when he expects a full report to be produced.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the En-
| HOUSES IN PROPOSALS APPROVED | ||||||||
| (Local authorities, New Town and S.S.H.A.) | ||||||||
| Number | ||||||||
| Less than 2 apartments | 2 apartments | 3 apartments | 4 apartments | 5 or more apartments | Total | |||
| 1962 | … | … | 1,042 | 4,621 | 14,146 | 6,997 | 449 | 27,255 |
| 1963 | … | … | 967 | 6,153 | 15,604 | 6,733 | 584 | 30,041 |
| 1964 | … | … | 831 | 5,753 | 13,939 | 6,206 | 752 | 27,481 |
| 1965 | … | … | 830 | 6,503 | 16,750 | 7,050 | 543 | 31 676 |
| 1966 | … | … | 506 | 6,402 | 16,078 | 6,920 | 798 | 30,704 |
| 1967 | … | … | 231 | 8,951 | 19,108 | 9,947 | 861 | 39,098 |
| 1968 | … | … | 233 | 6,149 | 15,304 | 10,886 | 1,177 | 33,749 |
| 1969 | … | … | 173 | 5,598 | 16,396 | 10,423 | 1,166 | 33,756 |
| 1970 | … | … | 160 | 4,505 | 9,383 | 5,806 | 970 | 20,824 |
| Total | … | … | 4,973 | 54,635 | 136,708 | 70,968 | 7,300 | 274,584 |
Teachers(Recruitment)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the operation of the special recruitment
vironment is carrying out such studies in Devon and West Suffolk. I am keeping in close touch with these. Any questions about them should be addressed to my right hon. Friend but I am not at present carrying out such studies in Scotland.
Adequate powers are available to local authorities under the Transport Act, 1968 to support, with the aid of Government grant, rural bus services which they consider essential and which may be proposed for withdrawal.
Housing
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of local authority houses built in Scotland in the years 1962 to 1970; and if he will give a breakdown of the figures showing the number of two-apartment, three-apartment, four-apartment, and five-apartment houses.
The only readily available analysis of public sector houses by number of apartments relates t htop ea—p—to the approval stage. Figures for the years 1962 to 1970 are in the table below.Numbers of houses completed in each year from 1962 to 1969 are given in Table 1 of the Housing Return for Scotland, 30th September, 1970. In 1970, 29,456 houses were completed by local authorities, 2,790 by New Town Development Corporations, and 3,525 by the Scottish Special Housing Association.scheme for teachers; and if he will state the number of people recruited through this scheme in 1970, placing them in the categories married male, single male, married woman, widow, and single woman.
The special recruitment scheme continues to make a valuable contribution to the supply of teachers. The table below shows the number of men and of single and married women who began courses at universities, central institutions and colleges of education and courses of preliminary study under the scheme in the present academic year; the satistics do not distinguish between married and single men, or between single women and widows.
| Men | Single Women | Married Women | Total |
| 570 | 266 | 629 | 1,465 |
Wales
Agriculture (Annual Price Review)
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what special steps he is taking to ensure that the problems of Welsh agriculture are fully answered in the 1971 Annual Price Review.
The problems of Welsh agriculture are being taken into account together with all those of the industry in the United Kingdom. Representatives of Welsh producers take part in the Annual Review consultations.
Housing (Newport)
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give further details of the 600 houses which Newport County Borough Council has sought his approval to build in 1971.
The council has not yet sought my formal approval for any individual housebuilding scheme in 1971 but I understand that the following schemes are likely to reach the tender-acceptance stage in 1971:
| Scheme | No. of Dwellings |
| St. Julians North | 83 |
| Gaer | 83 |
| Bettws | 12 |
| Cardiff Road | 147 |
| Magor St. | 9 |
| St. Julians | 278 |
| Bettws | 6 |
| 618 |