asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further statement regarding the implementation of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act.

My right hon. Friend intends shortly to give guidance to local authorities on carrying out their duties under Section 1 of the Act and on the development of services under Section 2.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list the provisions of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, which provide for a chronically sick or disabled person resident in a private nursing home to be treated in the same way that a chronically sick or disabled person is provided for who lives in his own home.

Under Section 2 of the Act, which I assume the hon. Member has in mind, each responsible local authority has the duty of deciding whether any substantially and permanently handicapped person ordinarily resident in its area, including a person in a private nursing home, needs a service covered by the Section, and if so of arranging for it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to enable persons, who are in receipt of supplementary benefit and whose children are taking free school meals, to receive extra payments during school holidays.

No. The supplementary benefit scale rates are intended to provide for all normal living expenses including the cost of food.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, having regard to the decision of the Family Planning Association to extend its sphere to that of abortion, he will withdraw or curtail support from public funds.

I understand that the association has made no such decision. If it seemed to me that its policies were in fact aimed at confusing abortion with contraception, I would need to reconsider the Government's attitude to further support for its work.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will require National Health Service hospitals not to proceed with experimental research on patients unless the patient has given his consent in writing to any such intervention unrelated to the direct treatment of his condition, at least 48 hours previous to his admission to hospital;(2) what are his instructions to hospitals concerning experiments on voluntary patients; and, in particular, whether he will publish the form of consent which voluntary patients are required to sign for this purpose.

The participation of patients in clinical experiments is an ethical matter on which the relevant professional bodies have issued advice and guidance. The advice, which has been commended to hospital authorities, makes it clear that a patient's consent to participation must be freely given and must be based upon a proper understanding of the nature and consequences of what is proposed. There is no standard form of consent for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many chronic sick and their families are expected to benefit from the new package of allowances that becomes effective in September.

It is estimated that some 340,000 households may benefit from the new invalidity allowance, the higher rates for the children of the chronic sick and the relaxed earnings rule for working wives between them. But a proportion of these households will have reductions in their supplementary benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now state in detail his proposals for compensating persons with low incomes, other than those in receipt of National Insurance and supplementary benefits, for any effect on retail prices resulting from British entry into the European Economic Community.

Retirement pensioners and those dependent on other social benefits will be protected from price increases. It was these people I was referring to in my speech on 14th June. As the White Paper indicated, the effect on prices of entry into the European Economic Community is likely to be small.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he proposes to take to prevent misappropriation by the recipients of public money paid to persons receiving social security benefits in respect of rent due.

Where the Supplementary Benefits Commission becomes aware that a rent addition is not being used to pay the rent, it takes whatever steps within its power that may be necessary. In the last resort, the rent may be paid direct to the landlord if this seems necessary to protect the interests of the tenant or his dependants.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the provision of residential accommodation for short-time care for mentally handicapped children in the Hull and East Riding area; and if he will make a statement.

We are not satisfied with the present arrangements, but the regional hospital board and the local authorities concerned are jointly pursuing ways of improving them urgently.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has now received on his proposals for reorganising the National Health Service; and what replies he has sent.

I have received well over 200 letters from authorities, organisations and individuals. All are being acknowledged and are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will postpone the implementation of Clause 7 of the Social Security Bill, which deprives claimants of three days' benefit for sickness, unemployment or industrial injury, in view of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's acknowledgement of the need to reflate the economy.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount paid out in social security benefits in the latest week for which these figures are available and the amount paid out for similar benefits in the corresponding week 12 months earlier.

It is estimated that the average weekly amount paid out in April, 1971, was £75 million compared with £70 million a week in April, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of persons receiving social security payments for the latest week in which these figures are available, and the number of persons receiving such similar benefits in the corresponding week 12 months previously.

In 1970, on average, the number of social security benefits being paid per week was approximately 17 million. In 1969 the number was about 16½ million. Figures for 1971 are not yet available. The figures include National Insurance and industrial injury benefits, family allowances, supplementary benefits and war pensions. The number of persons receiving benefits was substantially less, because one person may receive two or more benefits, but it is not practicable to make an estimate of their number.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of the total population is represented by persons receiving social security payments, together with their dependants, in the latest week for which figures are available, and the corresponding week 12 months previously.

It is not practicable to make an estimate of the number of persons receiving social security benefits, and their dependants, because one person may receive two or more benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average remuneration paid to principals in general medical practice in each of the years 1960 to 1970; and what he expects it to be in 1971.

Following is the information:

AVERAGE GROSS REMUNERATION (I.E., INCLUDING PRACTICE EXPENSES) PAID TO PRINCIPALS PROVIDING GENERAL MEDICAL SERVICES (ENGLAND AND WALES)
Financial Year	Average gross remuneration to nearest £10
	£
1960–61	3,550*
1961–62	3,600
1962–63	3,700
1963–64	4,130
1964–65	4,160
1965–66	4,460
1966–67	4,720†
1967–68	5,640
1968–69	5,970
1969–70	6,370
1970–71	7,800
1971–72	‡
* Excluding arrears paid in respect of earlier years.
† New system of remuneration introduced from 1st October, 1966.
‡ Remuneration from 1st April, 1971, is currently under consideration by the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' remuneration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation to enable school-leavers under the age of 16 years, who are unable to find work, to claim benefit if they are registered at an employment exchange.

There is no lower age-limit for unemployment benefit, but the normal contribution conditions have of course to be satisfied. There is, however, a lower age-limit of 16 for supplementary benefit, and the Government agree with their predecessors that the age-limit should be maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the fact that the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board accepts the need for additional nursing staff to maintain the required hospital services, if he will provide the necessary finance to support the regional board's policy.

The funds available for running hospital services are allocated each year among hospital boards in relation to their comparative needs and to cover all services. Boards are then responsible for deciding the appropriate priorities for the use of the funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent estimates he has made of the number of members of occupational pension schemes approved for exemption from tax who lose their rights annually through changes of employment before the normal age of retirement; and what is the value of the rights that they lose by so doing.

I cannot give an estimate in the form requested but I will write to my hon. Friend giving him such information as I have.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he next Intends to review the amounts of capital which may be disregarded in any assessment for supplementary benefit.

At the appropriate time, but I cannot yet say when that will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what estimate he has made of the cost of giving an exemption from al prescription charges to women between the ages of 60 and 65 years who are unmarried or widows.

About £¾ million a year in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will extend exemption from prescription charges for fabric supports to those groups, in particular the elderly, currently entitled to prescription charge exemptions.

No. Arrangements exist for financial assistance when necessary.

asked the Secreary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the productive capacity for each establishment making anti-flu vaccine for the National Health Service in England and Wales; where these establishments are; and who owns them.

The vaccine is made by Evans Medical Limited (owned by Glaxo Group Limited) which manufactures at Liverpool. The productive capacity of the plant, which covers private and export trade and can be varied according to need, is a matter of commercial confidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the rate of the present annual allowance paid to users of invalid tricycles supplied by his Department to offset the tax on petrol; and when it was last fixed;(2) if he will take steps to provide an immediate increase in the allowance paid to users of invalid tricycles supplied by his Department to offset the tax on petrol, in view of the rise in the tax since the rate was last fixed.

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris) on 30th July, 1971.—[Vol. 822, c. 184–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give immediate consideration to assisting disabled persons to purchase their own cars rather than using invalid tricycles by granting a maintenance allowance comparable to that provided to service pensioners and National Health Service patients who are eligible for cars, but who choose to buy their own vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will withdraw the Department of Health and Social Security circular RM 34889/1 /4903 5m 9/10 TL relating to provision of invalid vehicles and make provision for a wider range of disabled people to apply for and obtain an invalid vehicle; and if he will issue an appropriate circular.

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 30th July.—[Vol. 822, c. 185–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has read the policy statement by the Disabled Drivers' Association calling for a more flexible scheme of mobility assistance, a copy of which is in his possession; and if he will now provide suitably adapted small cars for disabled mothers with children under 15 years of age.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris) on 30th July.—[Vol. 822, c. 185.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now make vehicles available to disabled young persons at school so that they may learn to drive before going to work.

Tuition is available to children before the minimum legal driving age of 16 when it is known that the child's disability will make him eligible for a vehicle on attaining that age.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will establish a committee of inquiry into the problems of mobility among the disabled.

The invalid vehicle service is currently under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what investigations he is making in order to identify those occupations most likely to be disadvantaged by the withdrawal of the three waiting days for industrial injury benefit.

None. We considered the whole matter most carefully before introducing legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount paid out in sickness benefits in the latest week for which these figures are available and the amount paid out for similar benefits in the corresponding week 12 months earlier.

It is estimated that the average weekly amount paid out in April, 1971, was £7·3 million compared with £8 million in April, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of families in the Bournemouth and Christchurch area who will qualify for Family Income Supplement; how many have so far applied; and how many applications have so far been granted.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many widows in the Bournemouth and Christchurch area are now in receipt of the new sliding-scale pension for women widowed between the ages of 40 and 50 years.

Precise information is not available but it is estimated that about 650 widows are now receiving an age-related widow's pension in the area covered by the Bournemouth local office.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons in the Bournemouth and Christchurch area are now in receipt of the new State pension for persons unable to join the present national insurance pensions scheme, and how many are expected to qualify when this pension is extended to other very elderly people in September, 1971.

The number of awards made under Section 1 of the National Insurance (Old Persons' and Widows' Pensions and Attendance Allowance) Act, 1970, to persons in the area covered by the Bournemouth local office, which includes Bournemouth and Christchurch, was approximately 2,500 and the great majority of these are still in payment. It is expected that about 600 further awards will be made under Section 5 of the National Insurance Act, 1971, to people in this area over the age of 80.

asked the Secretary of Slate for Social Services how many prosecutions have now taken place for failure to comply with the Census Order, 1971; and whether he will make a statement.

None yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has to ensure adequate standards in the local provision throughout the country of services for the physically disabled, mentally handicapped and mentally ill, and the elderly.

I would remind the hon. Member of the action already taken to make available over this and the next three financial years an extra £40 million for improved hospital and local authority services for the mentally ill and the elderly; a further £40 million for similar developments for the mentally handicapped; and provision in the Rate Support Grant Order for a faster rate of growth in local authority services for these groups and the physically disabled during this year and next.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will request the Tunbridge Committee to report not later than October in view of the fact that evidence given will otherwise be out of date by the time the Report is published.

As I told my hon. Friend when she came to see me on 1st March and as my right hon. Friend told her in his reply on 16th March, 1971, we hope to have this report before the end of the year. I know that the committee is fully seized of the desirability of an early report.—[Vol. 813, c. 277.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what, for each

FAMILY INCOME SUPPLEMENTS SCHEME
Cumulative totals of claims and determinations up to 27th July
Region				Claims Received	Awards	Rejections
Northern	…	…	…	4,569	1,772	2,118
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	…	…	6,908	2,854	2,989
East Midland and East Anglia	…	…	…	6,215	2,791	2,504
London North	…	…	…	2,768	940	1,318
London South	…	…	…	4,689	1,932	2,070
London West	…	…	…	3,824	1,465	1,692
South-Western	…	…	…	5,570	2,438	1,966
West Midlands	…	…	…	4,040	1,643	1,873
North-Western (Manchester)	…	…	…	3,511	1,452	1,334
North-Western (Merseyside)	…	…	…	4,274	1,587	1,659
England (Total)	…	…	…	46,368	18,874	19,523
Wales	…	…	…	2,890	1,197	1,313
Scotland	…	…	…	6,971	3,081	2,465
Great Britain (Total)	…	…	…	56,229	23,152	23,301

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many cases, for each week since 3rd May, a supplementary benefit has been awarded to claimants of a Family Income Supplement who were rejected because they were not in full-time work.

I regret that this information is not available. Whenever a claim for Family Income Supplement is rejected the claimant is advised that he may be entitled to supplementary benefit if he is not in full time work but it is not known how many claims to supplementary benefit have followed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue a public statement during each week of the Recess showing the number of claims, awards and rejections for the Family Income Supplement and other associated means-tested benefits and exemptions that have been handled in the previous week.

No.

An estimate of potential beneficiaries, region by region, is not feasible. Following is a regional distribution of the numbers of claims received, awards made and claims rejected up to 27th July, the last date for which figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what statutory authority the Supplementary Benefits Commission advances the cost of repatriation of immigrants, on the basis that it is subsequently repayable; and in what other circumstances recipients of supplementary bengfit, other than persons in fulltime work, are asked to repay it subsequently.

Help with repatriation expenses is given at the discretion of the commission under Section 7 of the Ministry of Social Security Act, 1966. These awards are not statutorily recoverable but successful claimants are invited to sign an undertaking to repay the amount awarded. (Repayment is not pressed if it would cause hardship.) Other claimants are occasionally invited to repay benefit where it seems reasonable to do so, for example, where benefit has had to be paid merely because an expected remittance has been delayed in the post or when a wife's maintenance payment from her separated husband has not been received on time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many advances of the cost of repatriation made to immigrants by the Supplementary Benefits Commission have been repaid in each of the last three years.

I regret that it would not be possible without disproportionate effort to give the number of cases where refunds or part-refunds were made but the total amounts recovered were:

1968	1969	1970
£1,033	£1,172	£1,347

		Free Welfare Milk and Foods		Prescriptions		Dental		Optical
		Number of Received	Claims Successful	Number of Received	Claims Successful	Number of Received	Claims Successful	Number of Received	Claims Successful
Week ending:
22nd June, 1971	…	3,895	3,425	3,422	2,831	4,136	2,940	6,469	4,728
29th June, 1971	…	4,027	2,059	4,079	1,992	5,626	2,087	9,237	3,549
6th July, 1971	…	3,214	2,153	3,377	1,952	4,567	2,119	7,338	3,292
13th July, 1971	…	2,571	1,820	2,744	1,728	4,248	2,448	6,833	4,003
20th July, 1971	…	2,880	1,844	2,653	1,673	4,269	2,239	6,813	3,785
Total for period 1st April–20th July, 1971		148,828	77,692	105,257	51,344	73,646	30,962	128,025	55,073

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons are now receiving free welfare milk on grounds of low income, other than those receiving supplementary benefits; and how many have ceased to receive free welfare milk as a result of changed financial circumstances and for other reasons since 1st April.

On the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Dr. Stuttaford). Information for an answer to the second part of the Question is not available but as entitlement is normally granted for 26 weeks few new beneficiaries since 1st April will have ceased to receive welfare milk. Before 1st April

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims have been received for free welfare milk and other foods, and for exemption from prescription, dental and optical charges, on grounds of low income, other than by persons in receipt of supplementary benefits, in each week since 15th June, 1971; how many awards were made in each of these weeks; and what is the total number of claims and awards for each of these benefits since 1st April.

The following are the figures:there were less than 2,000 persons receiving free welfare milk on grounds of low income, other than those receiving supplementary benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons have applied for a constant attendance allowance during each week since January, 1971; and how many have been granted and how many rejected.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the new attendance allowance to be provided under the National Insurance (Old Persons' and Widows' Pensions and Attendance Allowance) Act, 1970. Claims to the allowance have been accepted from 7th June, 1971, in preparation for first payments from 6th December, 1971. The number of claims received for each week ending on a Tuesday are:

8th June, 1971	39
15th June, 1971	3,251
22nd June, 1971	5,715
29th June, 1971	7,136
6th July, 1971	5,802
13th July, 1971	4,230
20th July, 1971	3,778
27th July, 1971	3,145
	33,096

The process of deciding claims is in its early stages, and to 27th July there had been 3,022 awards and 2,970 rejections.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much it is expected that the increase in child tax allowances under the Finance Bill will reduce the take-up of the Family Income Supplement, free welfare foods and milk, exemptions from prescription, dental and optical charges, and other means-tested benefits for which the information is available.

The increase will have no effect on entitlement to Family Income Supplement since this is related to gross and not to net income. The extent to which the resulting increase in net incomes may reduce the number of families eligible for other benefits cannot be reliably estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the effects on retirement pensions and on the cost of living of retirement pensioners of the Government's recent economic measures; and by how much the increased pensions payable in the autumn are enhanced by them.

The effect of the recent measures cannot be estimated with any precision, but as they open up the prospect of a slower rise in prices and faster growth, they must benefit pensioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish for wide public distribution a comprehensive guide embracing all family social service benefits, including educational welfare benefits.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 6th July, 1971, when I gave details of the booklet entitled "Family Benefits—Your right to claim them" which covers family social service benefits and includes educational welfare benefits. A new up-to-date edition of half a million copies of the booklet will be available in the autumn free of charge to voluntary organisations and welfare departments of local authorities.—[Vol. 820, c. 332.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to ensure that the Finer Committee set up in October, 1969 will finalise and issue its report at the earliest opportunity, having regard to the need for urgent action to relieve the plight of one-parent and deserted families.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Renée Short) on Monday, 26th April. I am in no doubt of the committee's determination to complete their work as soon as possible.—[Vol. 816, c. 43.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a test of the adequacy of the facilities available in the Palace of Westminster to persons confined to wheelchairs to gain access to the parts open to the public.

I have been asked to reply.I am satisfied with the adequacy of the existing facilities, but if the hon. Member has a particular problem in mind I shall be pleased to look into it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consult the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs as to the action to be taken to protect the British fishing industry against the Icelandic threat to extend its fisheries limits to 50 miles.

My Department will continue to maintain continuous contact with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to safeguard the interests of our fishing industry in the waters off Iceland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the factual information upon which he has based his estimate that food prices will rise by 20p per week on a £7 to £8.50 per week food outlay during the transitional period of entry if Great Britain enters the European Economic Community.

Paragraph 88 of the White Paper "The United Kingdom and the European Communities" (Cmnd. 4715) says that membership will affect food prices gradually over a period of about six years, with an estimated average increase of about 2½ per cent. each year in retail prices. This rate of increase would add about 20p each year to the weekly food shopping bill of an average family of two adults and two children which at present amounts to about £7 to £8·50.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department will be represented at the forthcoming discussions with the European Economic Community over a common fisheries policy.

I am always represented at official level in the entry negotiations with the European Economic Community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will institute an emergency campaign to deal with the problem of Dutch elm disease.

There is at present no known cure for the disease, but the Forestry Commission has put in hand a special programme of research and is carrying out a survey of the affected areas. The Commission is also giving further publicity to the control measures which it recommended last year, and is considering whether further measures are required.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the results of his discussions with the fishing industry on the new operating subsidy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on Government assistance towards implementing the requirements of the Holland-Martin Report on safety at sea in the fishing fleet;(2) if he will make a statement on the new rates of distant-water operating subsidies for the fishing fleet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has completed his talks with the fishing industry regarding the new operating subsidy after mid-1971; and if he will make a statement.

After discussion with the industry my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of Slate for Wales and I have reviewed the level of support for the deep sea fishing industry for the last two years of the five-year period covered by current legislation. We have taken into account the undertaking given by the previous Government in 1968 that the support arrangements then introduced would be reviewed after the first three years with the objective of maintaining a corresponding level of return for the last two years commencing 1st August, 1971 and also the additional cost to the industry of implementing the recommendations made by the Committee of Inquiry into Trawler Safety.We have decided to improve the operating subsidy by increasing the basic level of operating profits in the formula by which it is calculated from £4 million to £4·8 million with a similar increase in the ceiling of profits plus subsidy from £7 million to £7·8 million. The effect of this will be to increase the total amount of subsidy payable to the industry in a 12-month period by £400,000 up to a maximum amount of subsidy which will remain unchanged at £4 million. The method of distribution of the subsidy on the basis of added value will remain unchanged.The extra operating costs arising from the implementation of the safety recommendations will be treated in the same way as other operating costs so that, under the subsidy arrangements, these extra costs will be borne by the Government and industry in equal shares. Additional capital expenditure for new vessels or improvement of existing vessels resulting from the recommendations will be eligible for 25 per cent. grants available from the White Fish Authority.The Government will meet the full cost of stability tests on vessels undertaken to comply with the safety recommendations, and will continue, for the time being, to bear the full cost of the support ship.We trust that these measures will be regarded as evidence of the Government's determination to support the industry, and that they will encourage it to con-

APPLICATIONS TO THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD FOR NEW ORIGIN MARKING ORDERS
Applications under consideration			Foods, etc.
National Farmers' Union	…	…	Fresh apples.
			Eggs (hen or duck) in shell.
			Dried eggs.
			Raw tomatoes.
			Bacon and ham.
			Dead poultry.
			Meat.
			Rose trees.
			Butter.
			Raw cucumber
			Cheese.
			Fresh and preserved milk products pre-packaged for retail sale (other than butter or cheese).
			Fresh strawberries.
			Fresh pears.
			Early potatoes.
Bee Farmers' Association and Local Branches	…	…	Honey.
London Provision Exchange	…	…	Bacon and ham.
National Committee of the Provision Importing Trade	…	…	Bacon and ham.
Wholesale Produce Merchants' Association	…	…	Bacon and ham.
National Committee of the Wholesale Provision Trade		…	Bacon and ham.
Provision Importers' Association	…	…	Bacon and ham.
Association of Butter Makers, Blenders and Packers	…	…	Butter.
United Kingdom Dairy Association	…	…	Butter.
			Other pre-packaged milk products such as cream.
National Association of Multiple Grocers	…	…	Meat.
National Federation of Meat Traders' Associations	…	…	Meat.
Scottish Federation of Meat Traders Associations	…	…	Meat.
National Association of Poultry Packers Ltd.	…	…	Dead poultry.
Fishmongers Company	…	…	Frozen or chilled salmon.
			Frozen or chilled sea trout.
Association of Scottish District Salmon Fishing Boards		…	Frozen or chilled salmon.
			Frozen or chilled sea trout.
Association of Malt Products Manufacturers	…	…	Malt products.
Association of British Rose Producers	…	…	Rose trees.
National Egg Packers' Association Ltd.	…	…	Eggs (hen or duck) in shell.
British Egg Products Distributors' Association	…	…	Dried eggs.
Commercial Rabbit Association	…	…	Rabbit meat.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the trade associations, industries, and products for which he is responsible, for which he has received applications for making orders relating to country of origin under the Trade Descriptions Act; and if he will state in each case the nature of the decisions, and the reasons for it.

All the applications are at present under consideration by my right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and they are as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications he has now received for the renewal of marking orders for products for which he is responsible relating to country of origin under the Trade Descriptions Act; how many are under consideration; how many decisions he has given; and what has been the nature of these decisions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications have reached him asking for marking orders relating to country of origin under the Trade Descriptions Act to be renewed, and what action he has taken with regard to them.

My right hon. Friend has received 34 applications for replacement of existing origin marking orders made under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926. All the applications are being considered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for a Ministerial broadcast to explain his policy on inflation.

My right hon. Friend explained his policy in his broadcast of 19th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now make a statement about the details of the proposed issue of proof and ordinary souvenir sterling currency sets.

As I told my hon. Friend on 26th April, I expect to make a further announcement about souvenir sets of the coinage in the autumn. I regret that I cannot say anything more at present.—[Vol. 816, c. 32.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why knitting wool is subject to purchase tax while made-up children's knitwear is exempt.

It is possible to distinguish in most cases between garments for children and those for adults, but no such distinction is possible with unknitted wool My hon. Friend will be aware the rate of purchase tax on knitting wool has recently been reduced from 13¾ per cent. to 11¼ per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the total revenue payable by Football League clubs on the imposition of value-added tax of 10 per cent. on their transfer fees and other financial operations;(2) what estimate he has made of the total of a 1 per cent. value-added tax payable to the Common Market funds imposed on British Football League clubs.

It is estimated that if a 10 per cent. value-added tax were placed on admission charges to football matches it would probably produce revenue of the order of £2 million per year. A 1 per cent. rate should produce about one-tenth of this amount.The application of V.A.T. to football transfer fees should produce no net additional revenue, because of the operation of the normal V.A.T. credit mechanism.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated annual decline in the purchasing power of Members of Parliament's salaries for each year since they were last revised; and what is the total amount of depreciation since that date.

The estimated annual percentage decline in the internal purchasing power of a Member of Parliament's salary for each year since October. 1964, is as follows:

	Per cent.
October, 1964 to October, 1965	4·4
October, 1965 to October, 1966	3·5
October, 1966 to October, 1967	1·9
October, 1967 to October, 1968	5·1
October, 1968 to October, 1969	5·0
October, 1969 to October, 1970	6·0
October, 1970 to June, 1971	7·3

The total decline in purchasing power between October, 1964, and June, 1971, the latest date for which information is available, is estimated at 29·0 per cent., giving the Member's salary a purchasing power of £2,308 compared with £3,250 for October, 1964.These comparisons are based on the movement in the Consumer Price Index for calendar years adjusted to each October and to June, 1971, by the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the net cost to the Highland counties of the selective employment tax since its introduction.

I regret that it is not practicable to provide this information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the growing practice of persons establishing themselves as alleged accountants and tax consultants, without any qualifications or degrees, and that this causes difficulties for the Inland Revenue Department; and whether he will consider taking steps to initiate a system of registration on a similar basis to that adopted for opticians, doctors and dentists for persons acceptable to and qualified for this liaison with the Department of Inland Revenue.

I am not aware of any special increase in the number of unqualified tax advisers. If the hon. Member has any particular cases in mind perhaps he will send me particulars of them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list the communications that have been made to his Department by firms of solicitors relating to cube cutting since the investigation of this illegal practice began, stating their nature and the action that was taken upon them.

My right hon. Friend has no knowledge of any such communications.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the concern felt by many charities that the date for return of old pennies and threepenny pieces does not allow sufficient time for them to clear their charity collecting boxes without recourse to special clearing arrangements entailing considerable expense to the charity concerned; and if he will consider taking steps to postpone these dates.

Provisions have been made to meet problems of this sort and the Decimal Currency Board has written to charities about them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he proposes to take steps to extend the free depreciation rules for immobile plant and machinery to agriculture within the development areas.

Yes. The extension of free depreciation which was proposed on 19th July will apply to capital expenditure incurred after that date on new machinery and plant—other than mobile equipment—for use in a development area or Northern Ireland for the purpose of any trade including agriculture.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what attempts have been made by the Customs and Excise authorities during the past three years to determine the whereabouts, or the passage through ports or airports in this country, of Mr. William Ross Wright, formerly of the Pinnock Finance Company Limited; and with what result.

None. This is a matter for the police in whose hands it rests.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what attempts have been made by the Exchange Control and other financial authorities to establish the whereabouts of Mr. William Ross Wright, formerly of the Pinnock Finance Company Limited; what information has come into their possession in this connection; and what action was taken thereon.

None. The matter is in the hands of the police.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that on 1st July the hon. Member for West Ham, North, wrote to him about the effect which the United Kingdom's possible entry into the European Economic Community would have on the United Kingdom fuel oil duty and that by 26th July no reply had been received; why it is taking so long to give an answer; and whether he will ensure that all factual information on the economic effects of Great Britain's possible entry into the European Economic Community is more speedily made available to the public in general and to Members of Parliament in particular.

The hon. Member asked me on 25th May for detailed factual information about existing fuel oil taxes in the E.E.C. I sent him this on 7th June; and at his request it was published in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 22nd June. I wrote again on 29th June in reply to a further query. He then wrote to me on 1st July with a number of supplementary questions of a hypothetical nature. As these necessitated some consultation, I was not able to reply at once; and the hon. Member was informed on 21st July that there would be some delay. I subsequently gave him a substantive reply on 30th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been recovered by the Inland Revenue during each year since 1965 as a result of the detection of attempts to evade capital gains tax; what percentage these figures represent of the total annual yield from capital gains tax; how many persons were involved; and what penalties were exacted.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has in mind to replace the Supplementary Benefits Section at Bank Street, Coatbridge, as the existing building is sub-standard and inadequate, to meet the needs arising from the increased numbers now registering for benefits.

It is proposed to move about half the section early in 1972 to a new office now under construction in Graham Street, Airdrie. This will eliminate the present overcrowding at Bank Street.

asked the Secretary of Slate for the Environment if he will list the statutes under which exaggerated schedules of dilapidations constitute an offence under the criminal law.

I am advised that in certain circumstances the improper use of a schedule of dilapidations for fraudulent purposes could constitute an element in an offence under the Theft Act, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received the recommendation of the Construction Research Advisory Council that expenditure on construction research should be doubled; and whether he will make a statement on the action he proposes to take.

My Department has already acted on the council's recommendation and has placed a number of research contracts with research associations, universities and industrial firms. The future level of support and the question of an increased contribution to construction research by the Building Research Station is being considered as part of the current review of the Department's research programme. My Department has also brought the council's recommendation to the notice of other organisations sponsoring construction research, such as the Science Research Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will list the services provided by the National Building Agency which are also provided by consultancy firms or similar private organisations; and whether it is his policy that an agency which receives grant from public funds should undertake such activities in direct competition with private enterprise;(2) why the National Building Agency offers management consultancy services in direct competition with the provision made by a number of private organisations in the construction industry; and whether the salaries of the consultants are met out of Government grant-in-aid.

The following list illustrates the consultancy services provided by the National Building Agency:

Project co-ordination of capital works programmes;

Reports on management structure and organisation of professional offices and building organisations;

Installation of incentive schemes for maintenance work;

Assistance to local authorities in the declaration of general improvement areas;

Product planning reports for producers of building components for the public sector.

Advice on the application of design disciplines to housing.

The agency does not normally compete directly with private consultancies as it usually offers specialised services, often in response to specific invitations from clients, based on techniques developed in collaboration with public authorities in the course of advisory work aimed at improved efficiency in building. The salaries of the agency's staff employed on such work are met from fees.The future of the National Building Agency is under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the proposed grant-in-aid for the National Building Agency in 1971–72; and what detailed control he exercises over the expenditure of this money.

The National Building Agency's grant-in-aid for 1971–72 is £454,000, which includes £4,000 from the Northern Ireland Government. The annual grant-in-aid is assessed on the basis of estimates of expenditure on the several areas of activity undertaken by the agency. The Department's prior consent is needed for any significant variation from these estimates; for any new services; or for any long term arrangements implying substantial financial commitments. Within these limits the agency has full responsibility for the way in which it uses grant-in-aid.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the projects for which his Department is responsible for which Peterlee new town is being considered as a suitable location.

The only proposal is that for the establishment of a centre for the training of transport and land use planners. As my right hon. Friend told the hon. Member on 19th May, he will consider Peterlee, along with other places, if he decides to set up such a centre.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of the fact that, following change of political control, the London Borough of Camden has taken the decision not to sell land or houses to housing associations, whether he will issue a circular to local authorities urging them to encourage the work of housing associations by making land and houses available to them.

The Government's desire that encouragement be given by local authorities to suitable housing associations is already well known. I understand Camden London Borough Council is intending to continue support by ways of loans to suitable associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the grant to be made by the Government towards the Bristol West Dock project will be on the basis of a percentage of the total cost or a lump sum unrelated to the total cost of the project.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newport (Mr. Roy Hughes) on 30th July.—[Vol. 822, c. 199.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will arrange for provision fo some form of fan in the lifts throughout the Palace of Westminster during the summer, for use in particular by the lift attendants, some of whom are disabled people.

We will certainly look into this proposal, and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what account he took of the representations he received from the Transport and General Worker's Union about the introduction of tachographs before he agreed with the European Economic Community on the rules covering lorry drivers' hours.

Accession to the Community involves acceptance of Community Regulations already in force, though the timing of their application in the United Kingdom is negotiable. Her Majesty's Government rave requested a deferment of Regulation 543/69 which deals with drivers' hours and rest periods, and also of the date by which tachographs must be fitted to new vehicles under Regulation 1463/70; both requests are under discussion. I propose to discuss the matter further with the unions and trade associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will provide a more detailed timetable for the implementation of the Humberside Feasibility Study.

As there are no pressing reasons for major decisions on the Humberside Report before 1972 it is not practicable to provide a detailed timetable at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the accident rate after dark on the lighted three-lane sections of Motorway M4 compares with that on a similar distance of an equally busy unlighted section of any other three-lane motorway.

The estimated injury accident rate after dark on the lighted dual three-lane section of the M4 is 0·54 accidents per million vehicle miles; that on a comparable but unlighted length of M1 is 1·3 accidents per million vehicle miles. The comparison relates to the year 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the cost of building the M4 as a three-lane motorway for all its through length; what was the final cost of it as a part three- and part two-lane motorway; and what will be the cost of conversion from this to a completely three-lane motorway.

The estimated cost of building the whole route to dual two-lane standard, from the approaches to the Severn Bridge to Chiswick, with the Maidenhead and Slough bypasses and the elevated section of the motorway from Langley is about £107 million. There are no plans for widening the elevated section of the motorway, but the two bypasses are being widened to dual three lanes at an estimated cost of £2·7 million, including ancillary works. To have built these bypasses to the full standard initially would have cost an extra £1·25 million at 1961 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider introducing legislation to cover the operation of maggot farms in the United Kingdom, in view of the undesirable odour that emanates from such premises, particularly in residential areas.

Existing powers under Sections 107 and 108 of the Public Health Act, 1936, enable local authorities to make—subject to confirmation by my right, hon. Friend—orders declaring trades of this kind offensive and byelaws for their control. These powers have been used in respect of maggot breeding. In places affected where the powers have not yet been exercised, local authorities are proposing to submit such orders and byelaws. Technicaly advice upon effective legislative provisions may come from the findings and recommendations of a broadly based working party currently being set up by my Department, under the chairmanship of Dr. F H. H. Valentin of the Warren Spring Laboratory, to examine the problem of unpleasant odours emitted by offensive and similar trades and to make recommendations about the best practicable means for their minimisation and suppression.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for control of development carried out by the Post Office.

The Post Office has inherited the G.P.O.'s general powers to provide overhead or underground telephone and telegraph cables and apparatus without planning control; but at present an application for planning permission is required for any other kind of development. Under the Post Office Act, 1969, the Post Office is deemed to be a statutory undertaker for the purposes of the planning Acts. Following consultations with the local authority associations and other interested bodies, the Government intend in due course to lay before Parliament an order designed to give the Post Office a general permission to carry out small, scale developments such as installing telephone kiosks, posting boxes and self-service postal machines, to use land temporarily in case of emergency and to carry out limited development on operational land. Operational land will be defined in regulations shortly to be laid before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of public concern and in the light of his general co-ordinating responsibility for anti-pollution measures, he will state the steps currently being taken to establish the facts about the accumulation of lead in the natural environment.

The following surveys are being carried out or sponsored by various Government Departments and research councils:

1. Survey of all vehicle exhaust pollutants, including lead, near to and away from a busy main road in Reading. The survey is being related to the density and composition of traffic (Road Research Laboratory and Warren Spring Laboratory).

2. Measurements of airborne lead and other vehicle exhaust components at two points in London, one with heavy traffic and one away from traffic (Medical Research Council Air Pollution Unit).

3. Survey of airborne pollutants, including lead and of the rate of deposition in soils and vegetation (Atomic Energy Research Establishment).

4. Study of airborne dispersal of heavy metals in an industrial area including contemporary effects from old tips (A University Department).

5. Measurement of lead content of soil near busy roads (Road Research Laboratory).

6. Survey of 60 elements including lead in food, air, water and human tissue, and of the relative importance to man of lead from different sources (National Radiological Protection Board).

7. Study of lead levels in plants and small animals near roads (Monks Wood Experimental Station).

8. Study of differing lead levels in the blood of two groups of professional drivers working in London, one in daytime and one at night (Medical Research Council Air Pollution Unit).

9. Survey of lead in dust in an urban area surrounding an industrial process using lead (Warren Spring Laboratory).

In addition, surveys of lead in food are being carried out under the control of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what medical tests have been conducted on the speed of the reflexes of the men aged over 60 years in relation to their ability to fly supersonic aircraft.

There have been no special tests conducted on the reaction times of individuals in relation to flying supersonic aircraft. But Concorde is specifically designed to require no special pilot qualifications beyond those required for the attainment of an Airline Transport Pilot's licence.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to implement the proposals drawn up by the Institute of Weights and Measures Administration, a copy of which is in his possession, with regard to the setting up of trading standards offices, as a measure of consumer protection.

I have noted this report, which the Government will shortly be discussing with the Institute.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table showing which Commonwealth countries now give significant imports from European Economic Community countries equal or preferential tariff treatment in comparison with similar categories of imports from the United Kingdom.

The Commonwealth countries which at present give preferential tariff treatment to imports from the E.E.C. which they do not give to the United Kingdom are the members of the East African Community (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda). Under the Arusha Convention they accord such preferences on some 60 products. The agreement between the E.E.C. and Malta will result in the elimination of United Kingdom preferences on most Maltese imports by 1976 and in some cases may create preferences in favour of the Community. It is not practicable to analyse the tariffs of the remaining 32 independent Commonwealth countries in order to show the extent to which they accord most-favoured-nation treatment to both the E.E.C. and the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the projects for which his Department is responsible for which Peterlee new town is being considered as a suitable location.

No such projects are under consideration at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of concern as to the adequacy of insurance legislation and the involvement of many small investors in property bonds, he is satisfied that the terms of reference of the departmental committee headed by Sir Hilary Scott are adequate; what progress is being made; and whether the principal findings or the complete report will be promptly published.

Yes. It is too early to forecast when the Committee will be ready to report but they have received and are now studying a considerable volume of written evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in how many establishments for which he is responsible are animals used for purposes of experimentation and research; and how many animals were used in those establishments for such purposes in 1970.

Only one of the establishments in this Department, the Torry Research Station, carries out experiments on animals. In 1970 the Station used about 1,300 animals of which 95 per cent. were mice. Experiments were also carried out on some 20 fish.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether either of the two vacant factories which his Department has been told are currently available in the borough of Rawtenstall, were built after 1871, and in which such year.

Both factories were built before 1871.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why, in view of the evidence available to him of malpractices and illegalities in contravention of the Companies Act by directors of Hawkings Brick Company, he has refused since June, 1970, to initiate legal proceedings.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to Hawkinge Brick Company Limited which was ordered to be wound up in 1960 and was dissolved in 1965. As the hon. Member knows, allegations about the conduct of that Company's affairs have been closely investigated; I have no evidence that legal proceedings would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why he will not publish the communication from Mr. A. Hughes concerning alleged illegalities and malpractices upon the part of public and private companies and their continuing evasion of the Companies Act, and his reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Because we do not regard the correspondence as of sufficient interest to merit publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many motor vehicles were exported in 1970 in completely constructed form; and how many were exported in kit form to be assembled overseas.

The approximate breakdown of production for export was as follows:

	Cars	Commercial vehicles
	"000 units
Vehicles built-up	367	69
Vehicles knocked-down	356	121
Total	723	190
Non-countable knocked-down sets*	233	1·7
* Defined as sets of components not sufficiently complete to be eligible for inclusion in the vehicles production figures but sufficiently complete to make it possible to identify the number of vehicles which will be produced from them with the addition of components of mainly local manufacture.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the present liquidity position of all motor insurance companies; and if he will make a statement.

It is not my practice to comment about the financial position of insurers except when action has been taken under the Insurance Companies Acts of a kind which has to be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to discuss with motor insurance companies the question of their restricting premium increases to 5 per cent. per annum, in the light of the recent Confederation of British Industry policy.

My right hon. Friend's responsibilities under the Insurance Companies Acts mean that insurers must be free to charge sufficient premiums to maintain their solvency margin.