asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the checks made by his Department before the issue of a National Insurance card; and whether he will make a statement.

I am satisfied with the checks but it would not be in the public interest to disclose their nature.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the negotiations to enter the European Economic Community can be successfully concluded on other terms, whether Her Majesty's Government will be prepared to accept the commitment under Articles 117 and 118 of the Treaty of Rome to coordinate social policies with other member countries with a view to the harmonisation of the living and working conditions in the member states in an upward direction.

Her Majesty's Government are prepared to accept Articles 117 and 118 of the Treaty of Rome.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether reciprocal arrangements for treatment under the health services of each member country for nationals of other member countries have been made by the members of the European Economic Community; and whether similar arrangements to enable British citizens to be treated under the health services of the six European Economic Community countries would be concluded if Great Britain became a member of the European Economic Community.

Regulations of the European Economic Community enable persons covered by the sickness insurance of one Member State to receive treatment, subject to certain conditions, under the sickness insurance of another Member State. If we join the Community, the Regulations will apply to our citizens.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average weekly unit cost of patients' meals and of meals in staff dining rooms in the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board area.

The average weekly cost of meals for patients and staff in hospitals in the Region in 1969–70 was £2·72. Separate figures for patients are not available.The service of meals in staff dining rooms cost a further £1·81 per week. The cost of service to patients is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the plight of pensioners and of the need for some reflation of the economy, he will now bring forward the review of social security benefits to June.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he now has plans to increase retirement pensions before the end of July, 1971.

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement I made last week.—[Vol. 814, c. 1499–514.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for providing accommodation, with treatment, for autistic adolescents in Essex and the eastern boroughs of Greater London.

The North East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board has no plans to provide special facilities for autistic adolescents. Patients are placed in the most suitable hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he anticipates any diminution of job opportunities for dental practitioners or a falling-off in the numbers of students in dentistry as a result of higher charges for dental treatment.

No. I do not expect any significant interruption of the long-term trend for the number of courses of treatment to increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in view of the recently increased costs of lighting and heating which retired pensioners now face, whether he will now make arrangements to introduce as from the autumn of this year a special financial allowance for these items to cover the autumn and winter months of each year.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has studied the details of the measures adopted by the Exeter City Council towards the implementation of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, supplied to him by the hon. Member for Exeter; and if he will make a statement.

I am encouraged by the information sent me, and I have no reason to think that other authorities will not also use all available opportunities to develop these services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a further statement on the implementation of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, generally, and in the Kettering constituency in particular.

All sections of the Act have been implemented, with the exception of Sections 1 and 21, which are subject to Appointed Day orders. I understand that the Northamptonshire County Council, like other authorities, is considering what it can do further to develop the services for which it is responsible under the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made in the county borough of Preston, Lancashire, towards the imple- mentation of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.

I am informed that the Council has discussed the Act on a number of occasions and decided on several developments of its services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further statement on the implementation by local authorities of Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.

All local authorities are implementing this Section; and the need to develop the services for which it provides, along with the other health and personal social services, was taken into account in the recent Rate Support Grant Order and the White Paper on Public Expenditure (Cmnd. 4578).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken, and what further steps he will be taking, to make it clear to local authorities and the general public that the provisions of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, apply, where appropriate, as much to the mentally handicapped as to other handicapped persons.

This point was specifically brought to the attention of local authorities in the joint Departmental circular on the Act issued on 17th August, 1970, and we do not think that any further guidance to authorities on our part is necessary. When Section 1 of the Act comes into force on 1st October authorities will be under a duty to publicise their services for disabled people, and they will, I am sure, in this publicity, make it clear that, where appropriate, the services extend to mentally disordered people of any description. We are considering what general publicity the Department could usefully undertake to supplement that of local authorities, and we will bear the hon. Member's point fully in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up an inquiry into the method by which the South-East Regional Hospital Board carries out its functions of appointment to management committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up an inquiry into the method by which the South-East Regional Hospital Board carries out its functions of appointment to management committees.

No. I recognise my right hon. Friend's concern but I have satisfied myself that there is no case at all for an inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost of supplying blood and plasma and the services of doctors by Guy's Hospital to private nursing homes which he has approved for the medical termination of pregnancy in the last 12 months.

I am advised that Guy's Hospital has not supplied any such blood, plasma or medical services within the last 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria he is taking into account in deciding on the size of the forthcoming increase in the National Insurance pension.

I do not think I need now add anything to my statement of 31st March.—[Vol. 814, c. 1499–1514.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it is proposed to use the all-numerical form for calendar dates recommended by the International Organisation for Standardisation in social security benefit forms.

I have no such proposals at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many post-aural hearing aids have now been issued to children; how many more are to be ordered; what assessment has been made of their effectiveness; and if he will make a statement.

16,000 of these aids have been supplied for children in England and Wales for whom they are suitable; probably about 2,000 a year; the aid has been generally welcomed but it is effective for moderate hearing loss only.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will instruct the Fisher Committee on Social Security Benefits also to investigate ways in which people might be helped to get the welfare benefits to which they are entitled, but for which they frequently fail to apply.

No. This problem is outside the terms of reference to the Fisher Committee. But an unprecedentedly large take-up campaign covering a wide range of welfare benefits begins nationally next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the standard of medical qualifications held by National Health Service doctors practising in this country who have been trained abroad; and if he will make a statement.

The approval of overseas medical qualifications for practice in this country is a matter for the General Medical Council. The Council is initiating a review of the present arrangements for the registration in this country of doctors who have qualified overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish the A code used by officers of the Supplementary Benefits Commission.

No. Internal instructions to staff are not published, and in any event the Supplementary Benefits Handbook provides a detailed explanation of the scheme and full information in non-technical language on the way in which the Commission exercises its discretionary powers in deciding claims to benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the relative proportions of money spent on psychiatric and non-psychiatric patients in the hospital services.

Precise figures are not available, but it is estimated that about 20 per cent. of hospital running costs are incurred on services for patients who are either mentally ill or mentally handicapped.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will promote an educational campaign on the dangers of venereal disease.

We look to the Health Education Council and local health authorities to warn the public of the dangers of venereal disease. In addition to providing publicity material for general use, the Council is preparing an intensive health education campaign for one area. Evaluation of this should help to determine the validity of the educational techniques used.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will institute an inquiry into the treatment of terminal patients.

There are studies in progress, supported by my Department; I am particularly awaiting the results from one of these before considering what further action may be desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many drug addicts centres he has visited officially.

None as yet. My noble Friend the Minister of State has visited an in-patient unit and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State has visited an out-patient unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has an estimate conveniently available of the amount of benefit paid out to women who have been awarded alimony by court order, and who have failed to receive it.

It is difficult to make a reliable estimate on the evidence available. I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will appoint a committee to inquire into the extent of the problem of failure to take up social security benefits, and to review the measures taken to meet it.

No. But a nationwide campaign will be launched after Easter in connection with take-up of free milk, exemption from National Health Service charges and entitlement to Family Income Supplements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the effect of his Department's actions on the achievement of national unity.

I estimate that the help initiated by my Department for a whole range of groups in sore need of help—the over 80s, those in family poverty, the severely disabled, the chronic sick, the mentally handicapped, the mentally ill, the alcoholics, the infirm elderly—coupled with the increased protection of the poor from charges strengthens national unity.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received on the operation of the State Graduated Pension Scheme since 18th June, 1970.

A few points have been raised with me but I have received no formal representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now make a further statement on the reorganisation of the Health Service.

I will issue a consultative document very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make an estimate of total unemployment benefits paid out because of short-time working as a result of agreements between industry and the trade unions, by working from Monday to Thursday in the first week and Tuesday to Friday in the second week and thereby creating four consecutive days of unemployment to justify the payment of unemployment benefits, in the first quarter of 1971; and how this figure compares with those for the previous four quarters in 1970 and previous years.

The information on which to base such an estimate is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make an estimate of the value of benefits paid to the families of those on official and unofficial strikes in the first quarter of 1971; and how this compares with each quarter in 1970.

The provisional amount of supplementary benefit paid during disputes, whether official or unofficial, for the dependants of persons involved in them up to Tuesday, 23rd March in the current quarter is £3,532,105. With permission I will circulate the quarterly figures for 1970 in the OFFICIAL REPORT but the current quarter figure was more than nine times that of their average.Following is the information:

Supplementary benefit paid during trade disputes for the dependants of persons involved in them during 1970.
Quarter			£
January-March	…	…	193,062
April-June	…	…	367,881
July-September	…	…	310,846
October-December	…	…	574,123

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost to public funds of supplementary benefits paid to strikers and their dependants during the first three months of 1971; and what percentage change this represents on the corresponding periods of 1970 and 1964, respectively.

The provisional amount of supplementary benefit paid during trade disputes to persons involved in them up to Tuesday, 23rd March in the current quarter is £3,535,892. This is more than 18 times the corresponding figure for 1970 and more than 230 times that for 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to revise the rules governing the appointment of members of regional hospital boards and of hospital management committees so as to provide for a proportion of such members to be appointed automatically on the nomination of elected local authorities in the areas concerned.

Members of regional hospital boards and hospital management committees are appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 and the Third Schedule to the National Health Service Act, 1946. I do not intend to introduce an Amendment such as my hon. Friend proposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the administration and functioning of the private practice element within the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

I have made it clear that I support the existing arrangements for the provision of pay beds, and in general I have no reason to be dissatisfied with the way in which they are administered.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give an undertaking that the next increase in retirement pensions will be such as not only to include provisions for a real increase in the living standards of such pensioners in addition to covering the depreciation of the pension due to rising living costs since the last adjustment, but also an increase to cover the depreciation in the purchasing value of the £ sterling from 1970 onwards in general and in particular for the increased cost of living resulting from Great Britatin's entry into the European Economic Community.

I have nothing to add to the statement made on 31st March.—[Vol. 814, c. 1499–1514.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has received from the Hospital Advisory Service relating to the treatment of patients at Oakwood Hospital.

I have not yet received the Hospital Advisory Service's report on its recent visit to Oakwood Hospital Such reports are made in confidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families were known to be homeless in England and Wales on the latest date for which figures are available.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris) on 11th December, 1970.—[Vol. 808, c. 204–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he takes to ensure that doctors and surgeons who are employed in the National Health Service are fully qualified and have their documents of qualification examined before employment; and whether he will make a statement on Abdul Latif Sharify who obtained employment in eight hospitals as a qualified doctor without medical qualifications.

National Health Service authorities have been instructed that, before allowing a person to take up duty in any medical post, they should satisfy themselves that he is appropriately registered. Registration is granted by the General Medical Council only where a person satisfies them that, inter alia, he holds a medical qualification recognised by them. It is understood that Mr. Sharify obtained temporary registration with the Council on the basis of a forged diploma. Such instances have been ex- tremely rare and I understand that the scrutiny procedures are being carefully re-examined by the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will issue instructions to the post offices that until 25th September, 1971, they should overstamp all pension order books by £1·60 and £1·00 for married and single pensioners, respectively, and pay these extra amounts as from 1st April, 1971.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what administrative difficulties there are in arranging for all retirement pension books to have the first order payable from 20th September, 1971, with the accumulated arrears of £1·60 for a married pensioner and £1·00 for a single person retrospective to 1st April, 1971; and whether he will consider doing this when taking action to amend the existing pension books.

No, quite apart from administrative implication and the repercussions on contributions the question of retrospective payments does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek powers to introduce a special supplementary family allowance for all handicapped children living at home.

I have nothing to add to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Miss Lestor) on 13th January.—[Vol. 809, c. 72.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultants in the National Health Service in England and Wales have written contracts of service that give approval to doing work in private medical practice; and what is the average percentage of both.

At 30th September, 1970, 5,367 doctors in the consultant grade in England and 200 in Wales held paid part-time contracts and were thereby entitled to engage in private practice. These represented 63 per cent. of all consultants in England and Wales with paid National Health Service contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average weekly unit cost of patients' meals and of meals in staff dining rooms at the Queen Victoria Nursing Institution at Wolverhampton.

The average weekly cost of meals for both patients and staff in 1969–70 was £6·05. Separate figures of cost per patient are not available. The service of meals in staff dining rooms cost a further £4·55 per week. The cost of service to patients is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is the policy of the Government to achieve an increase in the purchasing power of the National Insurance pension since it was last increased in 1969.

I anticipate that the rates we propose to introduce in the week beginning 20th September will do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware that the recent pay award to nurses, coupled with the increased charges for living-in, will mean that many nurses will be worse off than they were 12 months ago and what steps he intends to take to eliminate this effect.

No. I do not see how the settlement could have that effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are registered as disabled in each of the inner London and outer London boroughs, respectively.

Following is the information:

Registration of Handicapped Persons (General Classes)*under Section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948.
Inner London	1969†
Camden	1,554
Greenwich	1,356
Hackney	2,013
Hammersmith	974
Islington	1,739
Kensington and Chelsea	1,514
Lambeth	2,493
Lewisham	2,050
Southwark	4,487
Tower Hamlets	1,092
Wandsworth	2,354
Westminster	1,508
City of London	120
Total	23,254
Outer London
Barking	1,399
Barnet	1,657
Bexley	759
Brent	1,101
Bromley	1,332
Croydon	2,412
Ealing	1,633
Enfield	2,024
Haringey	1,134
Harrow	791
Havering	1,039
Hillingdon	805
Hounslow	1,653
Kingston-upon-Thames	781
Merton	1,414
Newham	1,002
Redbridge	1,111
Richmond-on-Thames	745
Sutton	1,083
Waltham Forest	1,591
Total	25,466
Total—Inner and Outer London	48,720
* Excluding persons primarily with auditory and visual defects.
† Figures for 1970 not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list from amongst those areas where the four-week rule is at present applied to certain single unemployed men seeking supplementary allowances, those districts which are included within development areas, special development areas or intermediate areas.

Supplementary allowances paid to fit, single unskilled, unemployed men under the age of 45—or a lower age, if appropriate—may be limited to four weeks at the outset of their claim in areas in which the Department of Employment considers that unskilled work can be obtained without difficulty. If at the end of the four weeks the claimant is still unemployed his allowance is continued only if there is good reason why he has been unable to obtain employment. The situation in each area is kept under constant review and the arrangements may be introduced, discontinued or modified in the light of this review. At present they operate in districts within development areas as follows:

SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS
Wales
Cymmer*	Pontypridd*
Maesteg*	Resolven*
Neath*	Ystalyfera*
Pontardawe*	Ystrad Mynach
Pontyclun*

DEVELOPMENT AREAS
Wales
Blaenavon*	Pontypool*
Bridegend*	Porthcawl*
Burry Port*	Port Talbot*
Caerphilly*	Rhosymedre*
Gorseinon*	Senghedydd*
Llangollen*	Swansea*
Llanelli*	Wrexham*
Morriston*	Penmaenmawr*†
Conway*†	Llanwrst*†
Bethesda*†
North west (Merseyside)
Ellesmere Port	St. Helens
Prescot	Widnes
Runcorn	Winsford
South West
Barnstaple†	Penzance†
Bideford†	St. Austell†
Ilfracombe†	Truro†
Launceston†

INTERMEDIATE AREAS
Wales
Barry*	Newport*
Cardiff*	Penarth*
Cwmbran*	Risca*
Llantwit Major*
North West (Manchester)
Accrington	Gt. Harwood
Bacup	Haslingden
Blackburn	Nelson
Burnley	Padiham
Colne	Rawtenstall
Darwen
Yorkshire
Bridlington†	Normanton*
Castleford*	Rotherham‡
Dinnington‡	Todmorden
Filey†	Wakefield
Maltby‡
South West
Devonport	Plympton
Gunnislake†	Saltash
Plymouth	Tavistock†
* Men under the age of 35 only.
† Summer season only.
‡ Men under the age of 30 only.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his attention has been drawn to the advertisement on page 9 of the Daily Telegraph for Saturday, 27th March, 1971, paid for by the National Dairy Council, regarding the method of claiming for free milk; and whether he will initiate a national Press campaign based on this advertisement and have leaflets issued throughout his Department's offices and post offices throughout the country.

I have seen the advertisement. The National Dairy Council campaign and the Government's campaign to encourage take-up of benefits, including free milk and relief from National Health Service charges, both aim at promoting the take-up of free milk. The booklet and form mentioned in the advertisement are issued by my Department. The Government campaign begins in a week's time. Millions of leaflets will be available through post offices, Social Security offices and child health clinics.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services regarding means tests imposed for the receipt of rent rebates, rate rebates, free school meals, welfare foods, uniform grants, educational maintenance allowances, prescription charges and child care services, in which cases have the income ceilings for eligibility been raised since 1960; and by how much in each case.

The income ceilings for prescription charges and welfare foods rise each time supplementary benefits are increased. The amount of the increase depends on individual circumstances.Free school meals, uniform grants and educational maintenance allowances are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science. Rent rebates and assessment of parental contributions in respect of children in care of local authorities are the responsibility of individual local authorities. Income levels for rate rebates are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of national average earnings has the national assistance or supplementary benefits level for, respectively, a married couple without children, a married couple with two children and a married couple with four children, represented each year since 1948 during October of that year.

The following table provides the information requested:

NATIONAL ASSISTANCE/SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT SCALE RATE AS PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS† OF MALE MANUAL WORKERS IN OCTOBER
		Married Couple
Year		(i) Without children	(ii) With two children (aged 4 and 8)	(iii) With four children (aged 3, 8, 12 and 14)
1948	…	29·0	41·0	56·2
1949	…	28·0	39·6	54·3
1950	…	28·9	40·9	56·8
1951	…	30·1	42·8	59·0
1952	…	33·1	46·8	64·7
1953	…	31·2	44·1	61·1
1954	…	28·9	40·8	56·5
1955	…	28·3	40·1	55·4
1956	…	28·2	40·1	55·3
1957	…	26·6	38·0	52·3
1958	…	29·6	41·9	57·5
1959	…	31·4	44·3	61·2
1960	…	29·2	41·3	57·1
1961	…	29·3	41·4	57·0
1962	…	30·1	42·4	58·5
1963	…	31·2	43·9	60·6
1964	…	28·9	40·6	56·1
1965	…	32·0	44·7	61·8
1966*	…	30·8(32·8)	43·0(45·4)	59·6(62·7)
1967	…	33·0	45·8	63·2
1968	…	32·4	45·2	62·6
1969*	…	30·0(31·6)	41·9(43·9)	58·0(61·0)
1970*	…	28·0(30·3)	38·9(42·1)	54·0(58·5)
* In these years supplementary benefit scale rates were increased in November; the entry in brackets shows the relevant percentage of the increased rate.
† Average earnings of full-time manual wage earners in manufacturing and some of the principal non-manufacturing industries, taken from the inquiry conducted by the Department of Employment in October each year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present distribution of private beds in National Health Service hospitals as between regional hospital board areas.

The distribution at 1st April was as follows:

Regional Hospital Board area		Number of Authorised Pay Beds at 1st April,1971
Newcastle	…	193
Leeds	…	303
Sheffield	…	303
East Anglia	…	147
North West Metropolitan	…	750
North East Metropolitan	…	214
South East Metropolitan	…	422
South West Metropolitan	…	443
Wessex	…	158
Oxford	…	206
South Western	…	238
Birmingham	…	451
Manchester	…	405
Liverpool	…	178
Total	…	4,411

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for each month since prescription charges were reintroduced in June, 1968, how many persons have been accepted in each of the six exemption categories.

Information cannot be supplied in the form requested. The available information about the extent of exemptions from prescription charges is as follows:1. Persons under 15 years old or aged 65 years or over are entitled to claim exemption without holding an exemption certificate. The numbers so entitled in England and Wales were:—

				Under 15 million	65 and over million
1968	…	…	…	11·4	6·1
1969	…	…	…	11·5	6·3
1970	…	…	…	11·6	6·4

2. The numbers of certificates issued by Executive Councils in England and Wales to expectant mothers and mothers of children under 1 year of age, to persons suffering from specified medical conditions, and to applicants for prepayment certificates are shown below.

Period	Expectant and nursing mothers	Specified medical conditions	Prepayment certificates
10.6.68 to 31.12.68	498,000	310,000	44,000
			(1.11.68 to 31.12.68 only)
1.1.69 to 30.6.69	279,000	35,000	38,000
1.7.69 to 31.12.69	277,000	23,000	50,000
1.1.70 to 30.6.70	278,000	22,000	40,000
1.7.70 to 31.12.70	289,000	24,000	59,000

The initial period includes certificates issued to persons who because of pre-existing conditions were entitled to apply for exemption immediately on the day that prescription charges were reintroduced. Certificates in relation to specified medical conditions have a validity of 3 years; prepayment certificates are valid for 6 or 12 months.3. The estimated numbers of war or service disablement pensioners in Great Britain under 65 years of age who held exemption certificates entitling them to claim exemption in respect of prescriptions for treatment for their accepted disablement were as follows:

1968	…	…	…	253,000
1969	…	…	…	249,000
1970	…	…	…	244,000

4. The number of persons in Great Britain between 15 and 65 years of age covered by exemption certificates issued to recipients of supplementary benefit were as follows:—

1968	…	…	…	1,280,000
1969	…	…	…	1,340,000
1970	…	…	…	1,358,000

5. In addition, short-term exemption certificates were issued and refunds were made covering people not in receipt of supplementary benefit but with incomes at or about supplementary benefit level, and their dependants. The table below shows figures for Great Britain.

Quarter ended		Number of certificates issued to claimants on grounds of income	Number of refunds to claimants on grounds of income
September, 1968	…	13,800	10,000
December, 1968	…	9,100	6,500
March, 1969	…	7,300	4,300
June, 1969	…	6,400	3,300
September, 1969	…	5,700	2,600
December, 1969	…	5,400	2,800
March, 1970	…	5,000	3,500
June, 1970	…	4,300	2,700
September, 1970	…	3,800	2,200
December, 1970	…	4,400	2,200

It is not possible to say how many people were covered by these arrangements mainly because over a period one person may receive one or more certificates as well as one or more refunds.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many households are at present rent-stopped; how they are distributed throughout the Department's administrative regions; and what is the average size of shortfall in coverage of the rent in each of these areas.

At November, 1970, the latest date for which information is available, the net rent payable by 32,000 claimants of supplementary benefit was not met in full, or 1·4 per cent. of 2,330,000 householder claimants. The average amount of rent unmet was £1.20. Information about the regional distribution is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the light of experience of the new means-tested heating allowances granted at the limited discretion of the Supplementary Benefits Commission, he will now institute the payment of a heating grant as of right to all persons certified by their doctors to be housebound, severely disabled, or chronic sick of whatever age.

No. My right hon. Friend announced last week a substantial package of improvements for the chronic sick.—{Vol. 814, c. 1499–1514.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications have been received for grants for the provision of fishing vessels since 27th October, 1970; what is their total value; how many have been granted how many decisions were delayed or refused; what explanations he has given; and if he will make a statement.

These grants are administered by the White Fish Authority and Herring Industry Board who tell me that by the end of March some 700 such applications had been received in Great Britain, though none have as yet been approved. I am informed, however, that it would not be practicable to provide the other detailed information in the form requested.Approvals were deferred until the Fishing Vessels (Acquisition and Improvement) (Grants) (Amendment) Scheme, 1970, could be brought into operation. Differing views, however, were taken of that Scheme by the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments of this House and by another place and the Special Orders Committee there, and my right hon. Friends and I thought it right to examine the resulting situation with care.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many public appointments other than those supervised by the Civil Service Commission depend on his nomination; what is the annual cost of the consequential emoluments chargeable to public funds; and whether he will publish a schedule of the offices within his gift, other than those which are supervised by the Civil Service Commission.

109 paid appointments depend on my nomination, in some cases after consultation with my colleagues. The current annual cost chargeable to public funds is approximately £80,000 but not all these appointments are so chargeable as is indicated in the schedule below:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received for the protection of British fishing vessels; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no representations about our fishery protection services.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under the present known conditions of entry into the European Economic Community, what estimate he has made of the changes in quantity, types and costs of imports of coffee and brandy, respectively, into the United Kingdom.

It is impossible to make precise estimates at this stage. But our main Commonwealth suppliers of coffee have been offered association. If they decide to accept this, United Kingdom entry into the European Economic Community should have little effect on the quantity, types or cost of United Kingdom coffee imports. Most of our brandy is imported from the European Economic Community, and since the duty is mostly excise, our entry into the European Economic Community would have negligible effect on quantity, types or cost of brandy imports.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he is aware that the European Economic Community countries have now agreed to increase farm prices by 10 per cent. and that on known terms for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community on 1st January, 1973, Great Britain would have price increases of 25 per cent. to 30 per cent. for grain, 60 per cent. for milk used in dairy industries, and 70 per cent. for beef; and whether he will give an estimate as to how much these increases would depreciate the purchasing value of the £ sterling, raise wholesale and retail prices, and raise the cost of living index figure;(2) whether he is aware that food prices in the Common Market are to rise again including a rise of four per cent. for beef, rising to 10 per cent. over the next two years; and on any known basis of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community at present, by how much food prices would have to rise to show parity with the European Economic Community at present and in the future if these four per cent. to 10 per cent. increases in the next two years were applied in Great Britain;(3) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT as full and detailed a statement as may be possible showing to what extent Great Britain's acceptance of the Community regulations for liquid milk, pigmeat and eggs will alter or affect the present position so far as British farmers and the consumers are concerned.

The increases in question range from 1 per cent. to 6 per cent. with the exceptions of those for skim milk powder (14½ per cent.) and beef (10 per cent. over 2 years). The extent to which United Kingdom prices would increase following the adoption of the common agricultural policy would depend on relative price levels at the time and other factors.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) to what extent the new agricultural policy of the European Economic Community of reducing and amalgamating the number of farm units will affect British farmers on Great Briatin's entry into the European Economic Community;(2) whether he will give a detailed statement on the effects on the British farming industry on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community if the Mansholt Plan on provisions for withdrawing farmers over 55 years of age is implemented; and what will he the costs, direct and indirect, if this plan is implemented.

The Community's recent decision to encourage voluntary amalgamations and retirements should not cause any difficulty if we enter the Common Market, as it is broadly in line with the policy which successive Governments have been pursuing in this country. I cannot forecast the cost, as I understand that member States will be free to vary the financial incentives according to regions, and to exclude regions from some or all of the measures. In general, however, the creation of larger farms can increase farm incomes and lead to a more efficient use of resources.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the European Economic Community non-reciprocal agreement with Iran on the entry into the Community of raisins and dried apricots at preferential tariff rates has been renewed; and how this will affect Great Britain's trade with the Commonwealth on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community on such goods entering Great Britain at preferential tariff rates over the Commonwealth products.

My right hon. Friend is aware that the trade Agreement between Iran and the European Economic Community has been renewed. It is, however, a non-preferential agreement. Imports of raisins and dried apricots from third countries, including the Commonwealth, therefore benefit from the reduced tariff levels established under it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the scheme for a free trade in fish, as agreed to by the Common Market countries; and how this will affect the British fishing industry if applied to Great Britain on her entry into the European Economic Community, so far as national territorial waters and other matters are concerned.

The European Economic Community common fisheries policy as so far formulated is set out in a number of regulations and copies of my Department's unofficial translations have been placed in the Library of the House. On the implications for the United Kingdom of this policy I have nothing to add to my reply on 30th March to the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. Deakins).—[Vol. 814, c. 334.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will report progress on the scheme for monitoring a wide range of foods for heavy metals, especially mercury, which he announced in January.

The results available to date, from the monitoring by four laboratories, indicate that the total amount of mercury and methyl mercury, being ingested by consumers generally in this country from food, is at a low and safe level. This confirms the conclusions reached independently from earlier total diet studies.Monitoring for mercury in various foods is continuing. Wheat flour, milk, certain vegetables, meat, some processed foods, and fish from both deep sea and coastal waters are among those being studied. On the advice of the Pharmacology Sub-Committee of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy, attention is also being directed to establish whether, within a reassuring national position, there could be some people whose eating habits expose them to higher levels of intake of mercury than had been found to exist generally. No evidence of harm to health has been found, but studies will continue.The monitoring exercise for heavy metals in food is now being extended, on the advice of the Pharmacology Sub-Committee, to establish also the levels of lead and cadmium. As I informed the House at the beginning of the year, I shall publish a statement on the results of the monitoring at half-yearly intervals. The first report will appear in the autumn.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in tabular form his estimate of what increase in national resources will result over the next 10 years, showing each year separately, on the basis that, respectively, the gross national product increases by the same amount as the average over the last 10 years, there is an increase in this growth rate of one-half per cent. and 1 per cent., respectively, and the gross national product increases at the same rate as the average increase in the European Economic Community countries in the last 10 years for which figures are available.

The result of the calculations on the assumptions specified by my hon. and gallant Friend is as follows:

ANNUAL INCREASES IN GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AT FACTOR COST AT 1970 PRICES RESULTING FROM VARIOUS RATES OF GROWTH
£ million
		Average annual rate of growth
		2·7* per cent.	3·2 per cent.	3·7 per cent.	5·5† per cent.
1971	…	1,152	1,366	1,579	2,347
1972	…	1,183	1,409	1,637	2,476
1973	…	1,216	1,454	1,698	2,612
1974	…	1,248	1,501	1,761	2,756
1975	…	1,281	1,549	1,826	2,908
1976	…	1,317	1,598	1,893	3,067
1977	…	1,352	1,650	1,964	3,237
1978	…	1,388	1,702	2,036	3,414
1979	…	1,426	1,757	2,111	3,602
1980	…	1,464	1,813	2,190	3,800
* Average annual rate of growth of gross national product at 1963 factor cost in the United Kingdom, 1960–70.
† Average annual rate of growth of gross national product at 1963 market prices in the European Economic Community, 1959–69.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will propose the abolition or reduction of purchase tax on brass musical instruments, in view of its particular effect on amateur brass bands.

I am afraid I would not be justified in making an exception for brass musical instruments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will reconsider the rates of purchase tax applicable to special underwear for incontinent patients, supplied outside of National Health Service establishments, in view of his decision not to act on existing purchase tax rates in general until the longer-term restructuring of indirect taxes takes place.

We shall, of course, be prepared to make any necessary adjustments in the purchase tax before its replacement; in the particular case raised by my hon. Friend, I am afraid it is not practicable to single out for special treatment those garments which are only modified versions of ordinary underwear.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in order to improve business liquidity, he will take steps to ensure the speeding-up of settlement of accounts incurred by Government Departments.

I am not aware that Government Departments delay payment of accounts. The

NET EFFECT (£ PER ANNUM) ON INCOME OF MARRIED COUPLE WITH NUMBER OF CHILDREN SHOWN
Earnings			0	1	2	3	4
£28 (average weekly earnings)	…	…	+8	+12	+20	+29	+37
£15	…	…	+4	+89	+104	+130	+156
£20	…	…	+4	+17	+34	+49	+77
£25	…	…	+6	+10	+19	+27	+53
£30	…	…	+8	+12	+20	+29	+37
£35	…	…	+1	+5	+14	+22	+31
£40	…	…	-5	-1	+7	+16	+24
Notes:
(1) The figures are averages for the family types and earnings levels specified—the effect of the social service charges will vary with individual circumstances.
(2) The youngest child in each family is assumed to be under 5 and the other children, if any, between 5 and 11.
(3) The husband is assumed to earn the whole of the amount shown and in addition to receive family allowances where appropriate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent, under the tax laws for the year ending April, 1971, a man and wife with normal allowances paid tax and surtax on an earned income of £17,500 per annum; what will be the taxes paid under the 1971 Budget proposals; and if he will give similar details for a couple with an earned income of £20,000 per annum.

Assuming, that the husband earns the whole of the income and that 1970–71 surtax rates continue for 1971–72 the desired figures are:

		1970–71	1971–72
£		£	£
17,500	…	10,284·81	8,721·02
20,000	…	12,536·31	10,553·83

NOTE. The reduction in tax for 1971–72 includes the effect of the reduction in the standard rate to 38·75 per cent. under the

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average annual impact on the incomes of families with no children, one child, two, three and four children, respectively, earning the average weekly wage, and £15, £20, £25, £30, £35 and £40 per week, of the following, the reduction in standard rate of income tax, higher child allowances, increased social service charges, family income supplement, and larger graduated National Insurance contributions.

Following is the information:Income and Corporation Taxes (No. 2) Act, 1970.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the gross national product for each of the last 10 years, and the amount by which the weighted average rate of growth in the European Economic Community countries exceeded that in the United Kingdom.

My hon. and gallant Friend will find figures for the gross national product at constant market prices for the European Economic Community and for each of its member countries, together with comparable figures for the United Kingdom, on page 2 of the National Accounts Year-book 1959–69 published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities, a copy of which is in the Library. Adjusting the figures for 1959 to include the Saar and West Berlin, the figures show the weighted average annual rate of growth in the European Economic Community between 1959 and 1969 was 5·5 per cent.; the comparable growth rate for the United Kingdom over this period was 3 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Crown Land to the north of Forest Road and west of Elmbridge Road, Hainault, in the borough of Redbridge is used by the borough council; what restrictions there have been or still are on building in that land; and to what extent these restrictions have been and are to be modified in the future.

Fifty-seven acres of Crown land north of Forest Road and west of Elmbridge Road, Hainault, were sold to the borough council's predecessors in 1939, the use being restricted to educational purposes or recreational purposes in connection with a school. These restrictions remain in force and building for any other purpose must have the consent of the Crown Estate Commissioners. From time to time the Commissioners have allowed parts of the land to be used temporarily for other purposes; for example, housing, shops, allotments and a gypsy encampment. The Commissioners have no information about the borough council's plans for the future use of the land.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent his proposals to deal with the situation known as the lump in the building industry will affect the 5 and 10 ton sand and gravel lorries now being used untaxed by these operators; and whether he will take action to ensure retrospective action to claim the arrears of payment due to the Treasury.

The Budget proposals will deal with evasion by labour-only sub-contractors of income tax, not of vehicle excise duty. The existing law makes provision where appropriate for retrospective payment of vehicle duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government, in ascertaining the effects of the introduction of value-added tax, will investigate what happened in Belgium when this tax was recently introduced; and to what extent it affected the rise in the cost of living in each of the countries of the Six.

I am watching with interest the experiences of Belgium and other countries with a value-added tax.Mr. Arthur Lewis ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he is aware that on 1st January Luxembourg increased its 4 per cent. to 8 per cent. value-added tax rates to 5 per cent. and 10 per cent. on all items other than food; and to what extent such an application of a value-added tax in Great Britain will increase the cost of living;(2) whether he is aware that in January Belgium introduced the value-added tax at rates of 6 per cent. on essential consumer goods and services such as food, tobacco and newspapers, 14 per cent. on clothes, leather goods and electricity, 18 per cent. on household appliances, and 25 per cent. on luxury goods such as television sets and record players; and, on the latest convenient date, what will be the increase in the cost of living on the basis that these rates are applied similarly in Great Britain.

No estimates have been made of the hypothetical effects of introducing in the United Kingdom a value-added tax with the coverage and rates of the Luxembourg or Belgian taxes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed statement giving the amount of value-added tax at current rates, and the items of food upon which such a tax is imposed in each of the countries of the Six.

All food is taxed in each of those Member States of the European Economic Community which have a value-added tax, in most cases at a reduced rate; but detailed information about the amount of tax collected on food is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the net increase in the income of a married couple on retirement pension, as a result of his Budget, for a couple who have only their retirement pension, retirement pension

		Before Budget	After Budget	Increase
		£	£	£
Retirement pension only	…	421·20	504·40	83·20
Retirement pension plus other pension of	…
£50	…	471·20	554·40	83·20
£100	…	521·20	604·40	83·20
£1,000	…	1,173·06	1,231·18	58·12
£5,000	…	3,906·53	3,983·67	77·14
Retirement pension plus investment income of	…
£50	…	471·20	554·40	83·20
£100	…	521·20	604·40	83·20
£1,000	…	1,086·95	1,155·51	68·56
£5,000	…	2,972·86	3,013·19	40·33

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to give oral evidence to the Expenditure Committee.

My right hon. Friend has no plans for doing so.