asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he expects at the next review of retirement pensions that it will be possible to reduce the period between the announcement and the first payment of the new rates.

The procedures are at present being reviewed by a working party under the chairmanship of Mr. R. A. Meyjes, the leader of the business men's team in the Civil Service Department. But the uprating of millions of pensions with other benefits is an immense task and there can be no certainty that any significant reduction in the period will prove practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning the payment of graduated pension contributions by monthly paid workers during September, 1971; and if he will make a statement.

Some 170 representations have been received that remuneration earned before 21st September should not attract the new rate of contribution. I have also met a deputation from the National and Local Government Officers Association and the National Union of Teachers. As we have said in reply to the representations made, the assessment rules have to apply the principle that liability for graduated contributions is determined by the date remuneration is paid and not the period during which it is earned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what number of widows between 40 and 50 years of age arc now drawing a widow's pension.

94,000 widows who were aged 40–49 when their husband's died or their widowed mother's allowance ceased are now drawing a widow's pension. It is estimated that about 40,000 of these widows are currently between ages of 40 and 50.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of those who received the recent increase in their retirement pensions at the same time received a reduction in the supplementary pension awards.

It is not possible to give an exact figure but the great majority of the 1,788,000 supplementary pensioners were affected. The same happened in 1967 and 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people forfeited their rights to benefit from their employers' contributions to their occupational pension funds during the 12 months to the most recent convenient date; and how many of these were people changing their employment on account of redundancy.

In the Government Actuary Survey published in 1966 it was estimated that about 90 per cent. of the members who left before pension age derived no benefit from their employer's contributions; in about one-third of the cases this was because they had preferred to withdraw their own contributions. I can make no estimate of the proportion made redundant.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the loss of purchasing power of the basic retirement pension since the 1969 increase; and how soon he expects the 1971 increase to have been cancelled out by rising prices.

As measured by the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices the loss in purchasing power of the £5 retirement pension between November, 1969 and September, 1971 was 71p. This loss was more than restored by the September increase. I am not prepared to make forecasts about future price movements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will initiate discussions with local health authorities in order to promote the extension of cervical cancer screening services to all women at risk.

No. We see no present need for such discussions. Local health authorities are already fully aware of the need to promote the screening of women aged 35 and over, the group of women considered to be most at risk of developing cancer of the cervix. The number of examinations undertaken, at all ages, has risen annually since the start of the service in 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a White Paper comparing the principle features of the British social security system and those of the countries of the European Economic Community and the other countries of the European Free Trade Association.

Comparative social security tables covering Great Britain, the Six and most of the E.F.T.A. countries are in the Library of the House. I do not think that the publication of a White Paper on the subject would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons were assisted with the costs of maintaining a telephone by the Supplementary Benefits Commission at the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

There were 42 new cases in the 12 months ending in August, 1971. There are also an unknown number of people who continue to receive help which was first authorised in earlier years. I have no statement to make at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he will take on the recommendations in the report Old and Cold in Islington, a copy of which has recently been sent to him, and, in particular, on its proposal that old people should he given heating grants which are applicable to their needs.

My Department has frequently drawn attention to the importance of co-ordinated local arrangements to give any necessary help to those elderly people who are particularly at risk in very cold weather. The Supplementary Benefits Commission considers that the improved levels of heating additions meet the special needs of supplementary beneficiaries who require extra warmth.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give an assurance that supplementary benefit will be increased as soon as electricity and gas charges are increased in order that the lower income groups can maintain additional warmth during the winter months.

The supplementary benefit scale rates, which cover the cost of normal heating, are reviewed regularly to ensure that their value is maintained. As my hon. Friend knows, they were increased in September.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of people in this country who are not eligible for supplementary benefit although in receipt of incomes which do not attract liability for income tax.

On the basis of statistics relating to 1968, it is estimated that about 2½ million retirement pensioners may be in this category. No reliable estimate can be made for other classes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the general adoption by the medical profession of metrication and the measuring of medicines in this system; in how many districts it is the practice of hospitals to give the weight of new-born babies in kilogrammes as well as pounds; and what has been the reaction of such mothers to this practice.

Almost all prescribing by general medical practitioners is in metric terms and chemists are by law obliged to supply in metric quantities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he intends to take to ensure that women in the West Midlands requiring a termination of pregnancy are able to have this operation in a hospital under the National Health Service.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member on 4th May, 1971.—[Vol. 816, c. 1150-1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is now able to announce the result of the review of the invalid vehicle service.

Not yet; this is a complex matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the Report of the Sub-Committee of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee, The Organisation of Group Practice.

I welcome this constructive report, produced after long and detailed study of the whole range of the community's health needs and how best they might be met in the context of a unified health service. I have asked the interests most closely concerned for their views, and shall then decide what guidance can usefully be issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what number of people are now drawing the constant attendance allowance.

Payments of the new attendance allowance are not due to begin until 6th December, but 36,000 awards had been made up to 2nd November, the latest date for which figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will request local authority departments to inform those who are on the register of the chronically sick and disabled that they may be eligible for a constant attendance allowance.

My right hon. Friend has already asked local authorities to help in bringing all social security benefits, including attendance allowance, to the attention of all those likely to be eligible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what number of people are now drawing the new invalidity benefit.

About 400,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are now drawing family income supplement; and what is the average level of benefit per family.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is now the take-up of family income supplement; and what has been the total amount spent to date on advertisement of this scheme.

On 8th November about 60,000 families were receiving family income supplement. The average of the weekly payment to these families is £1·72. In addition, about 25,000 families were receiving additional supplementary benefit under Section 13 of the Act. So the total number of families benefiting from family income supplement is now about 85,000–with expenditure now running at an annual rate of over £5 million. £310,000 has been spent on advertising the scheme. Substantial numbers of new claims are still coming in.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study he has made of the problems of access to hospitals and clinics in rural areas.

An operational research study has been commissioned which will consider the possible benefits and disadvantages of concentrating hospital facilities in relatively large units. Among the problems which the study will cover are the possible cost of access for patients, visitors and staff in terms of money, time and social hardships. A parallel study is concerned in a similar way with health centres and smaller hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress in implementing the provisions of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act.

We gave advice to local authorities on 16th September about implementing Sections 1 and 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act—which I assume the hon. Member has in mind—and we shall in due course be asking for progress reports.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the difficulty being experienced by public health inspectors in examining food imported in containers, he will issue a further circular to local authorities advising them of the need to increase the number of inspectors employed at ports of entry on this work.

Problems of enforcement of the relevant regulations are not necessarily to be solved by employing more staff, but the issue of further advice to local authorities is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many new hospital beds have been or will be provided in 1971 and 1972 for terminal patients.

The distinction between active therapy and terminal care cannot and should not in all cases be firmly drawn. The designation of beds specific- ally for terminal care is therefore unusual. But it would be for hospital boards to decide on such designation and we have no central records which would indicate changes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will negotiate with the General Medical Services Committee a scheme whereby a person may voluntarily carry a card which would contain information of clinical importance concerning case history, allergies and medication for use by hospitals and doctors in case of emergency.

There have been a few trials of personal medical record cards, and one such trial is still in progress in Scotland. I shall in due course be seeking information about the outcome from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and we shall then consider, in the light of experience in both countries, whether a voluntary scheme would be practicable and advantageous.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will hold an inquiry into the persistent denial of National Health Service renal dialysis to Mr. Zahoor Ahmed, who is suffering from chronic renal disease which, without dialysis, will be fatal, and about whom the hon. Member for Doncaster has been in correspondence with him.

Decisions concerning the treatment of a patient, including those on the possibility of acceptance for dialysis, are matters which are fully within the clinical discretion of the doctor or doctors concerned. These are matters on which my right hon. Friend cannot intervene. I have written further to the hon. Member about Mr. Zahoor Ahmed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has for the development of Cedars Lodge, Cedars Road, London, S.W.4, owned by his Department.

The Supplementary Benefits Commission, on behalf of my right hon. Friend, proposes to use Cedars Lodge to accommodate temporarily people awaiting places in homes which will give them care and support.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which local health authorities in England are running their own contraception clinic services approved by him under the National Health Service (Family Planning) Act, 1967, without help from the Family Planning Association or other voluntary body.

As at 31st March, 1971, the following were reported to be providing their own clinic services and had no agency arrangements with a voluntary body:

• Yorkshire (East Riding) County Council.
• Bootle County Borough.
• Coventry County Borough.
• Ipswich County Borough.
• Kingston-upon-Hull County Borough.
• Lincoln County Borough.
• Luton County Borough.
• Manchester County Borough.
• Rochdale County Borough.
• Sheffield County Borough.
• Stoke-on-Trent County Borough.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will appoint a committee to seek information on the number of hospitals in which nurses are working 12-hour shifts; and if he will make a statement.

No. Arrangement of shifts is a matter for local management, taking into account conditions in the area concerned, and we do not consider the appointment of a committee would serve a useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to introduce the necessary legislation to enable him to take responsibility and action on the Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes in 1968 which recommended three-shift systems for nurses; and if he will make a statement.

No. We consider this a matter for local management and not appropriate for legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services without giving either the names of imported drugs or the manufacturing companies, if he will give the number of cases being investigated by his Department as to possible excessive profits being made; by what general criteria he measures excessive profits; whether he is satisfied with his existing powers to deal with these matters; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

The possibility of excessive profits is investigated by regular review of the financial position of all major companies supplying drugs, imported or otherwise, but the fact of the review does not necessarily mean that excessive profits are being made.As to criteria, we have to try and satisfy ourselves that the prices charged to the National Health Service for all pharmaceutical products are fair and reasonable, and that this industry is strong, efficient and capable of the research and development necessary for new medicines. To do this we have to look at each individual company as a whole, including its performance at hone and overseas, its research activity both now and in the past and compare it with the performance of other companies. Such a situation does not readily lend itself to specific criteria for costs or profitability and we are in discussion with the industry about these matters and whether we are achieving our objectives in the best way.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases during the past 12 months admitted to Walton Hall Maternity Hospital, near Wakefield, were patients resident in the Goole postal district; and how far that hospital is from the centre of the town of Goole.

The lease of the Walton Hall Maternity Hospital was terminated in 1967. Maternity patients from Goole requiring specialist care are admitted to Manygates Hospital, Wakefield, which is 29 miles from Goole; and this is expected to continue until the maternity unit now being built at the Pontefract General Hospital is opened.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the number of contacts made by his medical officer with doctors who have had a higher cost for an average prescription than their colleagues in the same area has trebled in the last five years; why the cost of medicines in the National Health Service has risen from £142 million to £191 million in the same period; and if he will make a statement.

Visits by regional medical officers on prescribing matters are not undertaken solely because a doctor's average prescribing costs are high; indeed, the predominant reason for the increase in the number of contacts is the additional visits made to discuss unusual patterns in the prescribing of individual drugs, particularly drugs of dependence.A number of factors have contributed to the increased expenditure on medicines, including the use of new drugs which are more effective but more costly, and the changed value of money.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what regulations he intends to introduce regarding use of anaesthesia by dentists.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on 16th March. —[Vol. 813, c. 272.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many, and which, industrial diseases have been recommended to him for prescription as industrial diseases during each of the last five years.

During the period in question, nasal adeno-carcinoma was recommended for prescription under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1965, by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council and was prescribed in May, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what industrial diseases are currently being considered by the Advisory Council on Industrial Injuries.

Questions concerning vibration syndrome, pneumoconiosis, occupational deafness, brucellosis, lung cancer in chromates workers, and acrylamide poisoning have been referred to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council for consideration and advice. These questions are currently under investigation by the Council's Industrial Diseases Sub-Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how often the Advisory Council on Industrial Injuries or its relevant sub-committee have met to consider the problem of industrial deafness; and which members of that council are considering this problem;(2) when he expects to receive the Report of his Advisory Council on Industrial Injuries on industrial deafness; and when this subject was first referred to this council.

The question whether there are degrees of hearing loss attributable to exposure to noise in the course of employment which satisfy the requirements of Section 56(2) of the Industrial Injuries Act was referred to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on 16th October, 1969. I understand that the subcommittee which is considering the question on the council's behalf has so far met on six occasions. The members of the subcommittee are as follows:

• Sir Harry Crane (Chairman).
• Mr. S. Chapman.
• Dr. J. S. Grant.
• Mr. P. R. A. Jacques.
• Professor R. E. Lane.
• Mr. T. A. E. Layborn.
• Mr. A. Martin.
• Mr. J. G. C. Milligan.
• Dr. A. M. Stewart.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of those wage earners to whom a family income supplement award has so far been made are now estimated to have a family income above the supplementary benefit poverty line.

I regret that this information is not available at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now appoint a health services ombudsman.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier today to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Golding).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that due to the Government's policies there has been a rise of 500 staff in his Department at a cost of £550,000 to deal with matters connected with the rise in the numbers of the unemployed since last year; and what action he has taken, or intends taking to reduce these figures.

I am aware of the additional staff costs in my Department due to the rise in numbers of the unemployed. We are naturally concerned about the rise in unemployment, the root cause of which has been the wage-cost inflation we inherited from the previous Administration. The hon. Member will be aware that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has taken massive action both in the Budget and on 19th July to stimulate demand and so create new employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that the average weekly amount of benefit, including supplementary benefit, paid to people registering for work during the months of July, August and September, 1971, was £5·6 million; what was the figure for October, 1971; and how these figures compare with July, August, September and October, 1969 and 1970.

Yes. The figure for October, 1971 was £6·9 million, after an increase in rates coming into effect in late September. The comparable figures for July-October, 1969 and for 1970 were £3·4 million and £4 million respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the hon. Member for West Ham, North, may expect a reply to his communication regarding assistance being afforded to Mr. N. P. Stone of Caernarvon Road, E.15; whether he will give help to this man; and whether he will make a statement.

I sent a reply to the hon. Member's communication on 25th October and the Chairman of the Supplementary Benefits Commission also wrote to him on 5th November telling him of the help given to Mr. Stone.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the present arrangements for payment of maintenance by divorced men to their former wives who are responsible for dependent children; what procedure he adopts for compelling payment of arrears of maintenance; and how many divorced wives with dependent children did not receive regular payment of maintenance in the last accounting period.

I have been asked to reply.The Government are keeping under constant review the system of enforcement of maintenance orders in all courts. The Attachment of Earnings Act, 1971, makes certain improvements in the procedure whereby an order may be enforced by attachment of earnings, and came into force on 2nd August, 1971. The committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Morris Finer is at present investigating what further steps can be taken to alleviate hardship in this field.There is no information available as to the number of divorced wives who do not receive regular payment of maintenance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider taking steps to allow tax relief to persons obliged to incur expense in travelling regularly to their places of employment.

No. While I have much sympathy for those who face high costs in getting to work, I am afraid that I could not justify giving a tax allowance for this item of personal spending.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tax reliefs will be available to contributors to occupational pensions, the reserve pension scheme and the basic pension scheme under his new proposals.

Under the Government's proposals, contributions to the State basic and reserve schemes, like National Insurance contributions since 1965, will not qualify for tax relief, except for the deduction of employers' contributions in computing profits. Contributions to occupational pension schemes both from employees and employers are allowable for tax purposes provided that the schemes are statutory or are approved by the Inland Revenue under the relevant provisions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the loss in revenue of making the basic State pension tax free.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 4th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Raison).—[Vol. 825, c. 18.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to designate 1st January, 1973, and 1st May, 1972, bank holidays.

No. The hon. Member will be aware that the Bank Holidays Act, 1871, already provides for a bank holiday in Scotland on 1st January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of duty and tax is being paid on new smoking mixture, N.S.M.; if he will consider reducing or eliminating these payments if he is satisfied that it will lessen the health hazards due to smoking; and if he will make a statement.

New smoking materials are chargeable with duty at the same rates as tobacco, but in practice almost all the available supply is being used free of duty for research purposes. As to the question of a change in the rates of duty, this must await the review and evaluation of research into alternative smoking materials which is being carried out by the Standing Scientific Liaison Committee set up by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Social Services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on value-added tax; and what discussions he has had with the European Economic Community on its implementation.

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to what my right hon. Friend said on V.A.T. in his speech earlier today.There have been no substantive discussions of the detailed implementation of the tax in the United Kingdom with the E.E.C. But the E.E.C. directives on V.A.T. have been examined in the course of a joint study by officials of E.E.C. secondary legislation; and we have informed the E.E.C. of the intended date of introduction of V.A.T. in the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that £648,000 has been allocated to publicise Her Majesty's Government's policy to enter the European Economic Community, £630 has been spent on publicising the changes in retirement pensions, and nothing has been spent on publicising Her Majesty's Government's changes in food and cheap milk for school-children; and whether he will change this order of priorities.

It is for the departmental Minister responsible for the policy in each case to decide whether publicity is required. No order of priorities is laid down for individual policies and the amounts do not reflect the Government's assessment of their relative importance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, the actual or estimated number of road vehicles, both cars and lorries, which were being used without a current road fund licence, and the amount of revenue lost to the Treasury by this form of tax evasion; and whether he will take action to ascertain full details of the loss of revenue to the Exchequer by this increasing offence.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to a similar Question from the hon. Member on 26th October, 1971.—[Vol. 823, c. 1468-9.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that during 1970 there were officially reported to be 399,865 vehicles without a road fund licence; that on minimum basis of these applying to only cars and not heavy lorries the loss to the Treasury is officially estimated to be within the minimum to maximum range of £2½ million to £10 million per annum; and what action he intends taking to prevent this growing loss to Exchequer funds.

I cannot accept the hon. Member's estimate; as has been explained in previous answers, it is not possible to derive an estimate of the loss to the revenue from statistics relating to enforcement. As regards enforcement measures, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 13th July, 1971.— [Vol. 821, c. 56.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that when the ordinary taxpayer has to live in premises supplied by his employer due to the nature of his employment, such as civic building caretakers, office keepers, etc., the estimated emolument is taxed for income tax purposes; and whether he will introduce this system so far as Ministers of the Crown and their use of Government supplied homes are concerned.

In general where an employee is required for the proper performance of his duties to live in accommodation provided for him by his employer he ranks for tax purposes as a representative occupier of the accomodation and is not taxable on its value. Ministers of the Crown are dealt with under the same rule.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent to publicise eligibility for family income supplement and other family benefits.

Approximately £630,000 since April, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what communications he has received from local authorities and their associations complaining of increased Government interference in their freedom; and what replies he has sent.

A number of complaints have been received that the proposals in the White Paper "Fair Deal for Housing" reduce the freedom of housing authorities. These proposals were fully discussed with the local authority associations before the White Paper was published and have been discussed with them further since it was approved by the House on 19th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the text of the proposed Oslo Convention on Pollution of the Sea; and if he will make a statement.

At the meeting in Oslo considerable progress was made towards an agreement on controlling marine pollution in the North East Atlantic area, with special emphasis on dumping. The Agreement would cover principles and criteria to govern dumping; categories of most harmful substances; and other substances which could be harmful if not properly controlled. It would also provide for machinery to ensure co-ordination and co-operation amongst the members. tile items which were provisionally agreed are now being worked up into a legal text for approval by Governments in the next few months. The text of any agreement will, of course, be laid before Parliament in the usual way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which Ministers in his Department should be sent representations from the public about matters relating to land for house building.

My hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to impose a 40 m.p.h. speed limit through the village of Ragnall, Nottinghamshire.

It is Nottinghamshire County Council's responsibility to decide whether a speed limit should be imposed on the road through the village.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of straightening out the A57 road at Ragnall, and the estimated cost of installing traffic signals.

£60,000 and £6,500 respectively. The first figure includes improvement to 1,500 yards of trunk road.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what suggestions have been put forward to him by the Nottinghamshire County Council and the local police concerning the A57 junction with the Ragnall-Laneham road.

Various road improvement schemes have been fully discussed with the local authority concerned, who are in agreement with the scheme now proposed to straighten a length of A57 incorporating the junction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the criteria needed for the installation of traffic signals at dangerous road junctions.

A need to reduce accidents or congestion or to replace police supervision. The minimum amount of traffic justifying signals is taken to be an average flow over 16 hours of the day of about 300 vehicles per hour of which not less than 100 are on the minor road.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance regarding the installation of commercial deep freeze thermostats in close proximity to residential property he has issued to local authorities.

Local authorities are aware of the importance of taking potential noise nuisance into account in dealing with planning applications. No specific guidance has been issued about deep freeze installations. But where a planning authority have reason to think that such installations may be intended in new development it is open to them to impose appropriate conditions. In stallations in existing premises could normally be controlled only by modification or discontinuance action. There are, of course, powers to deal with noise nuisance under the Public Health Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been carried out by his Department regarding the noise nuisance caused by commercial deep freeze thermostats installed in close proximity to residential property.

None. There are well-established techniques for abating noise from such sources.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with any representatives of industries, who, by reason of existing statutory control, devote significant resources to prevention of pollution of rivers and streams, concerning the effects of such statutory control on their competitive position should the United Kingdom join the European Economic Community.

I am frequently in touch with representatives of industry on the problems arising from the statutory controls of water pollution, including their effects on industry's competitive position internationally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions or negotiations he is having concerning harmonisation of laws or regulations relevant to control of the quality of water in rivers and streams in the United Kingdom and member States of the European Economic Community.

I intend to play a constructive part in the development of the Community's ideas and policies on this and all other environmental subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he proposes to improve the machinery of compensation for those whose property is to be compulsorily purchased, adversely affected or blighted by road-building and other development or redevelopment schemes.

We are carrying out a comprehensive review of the compensation code and I have promised to make a statement when this review is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will establish a committee of inquiry into the problems of public transport in rural and semi-rural areas.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, when agreeing to the closure of the Mid-Hampshire railway line, he satisfied himself that economies in operation could not have been introduced that would have avoided the need for the closure.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in considering the future relationship of the Joint Fire Research Organisation and the Forest Products Research Laboratory with the Building Research Station, he will give an assurance that timber and fire interests will be distinctly and adequately represented on the Steering Committee of the enlarged Station.

No firm decision has yet been taken about the future relationship of the Joint Fire Research Organisation and the Forest Products Research Laboratory with the Building Research Station. Whatever the final decision I intend to maintain adequate advisory links with the timber and fire interests.

asked the Prime Minister when he next proposes to make a Ministerial broadcast.

Unless and until I make a statement to the contrary the House should assume that I have no plans to make a Ministerial broadcast.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will seek a meeting with the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland to discuss the introduction of martial law in Northern Ireland in conjunction with the appointment of a United Kingdom Cabinet Minister with sole responsibility for Northern Ireland.

No, but my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I remain in close touch with the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and have regular meetings with him.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has regarding the future form of the Government of Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer my hon. Friend to what I said in the debate on 22nd September.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with Mr. Mancham, Chief Minister of the Seychelles.

The Chief Minister paid a courtesy call on me on 5th October, when we took the opportunity to discuss some matters of joint interest.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to include in his Government a Minister with sole responsibility for unemployment.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now assume responsibility for economic affairs.

Unless and until I make an announcement to the contrary, I do not propose to alter the present allocation of functions to Departments, or to assume any of my right hon. Friends' departmental responsibilities for economic affairs or in any other field.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech made by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 19th October, 1971, to a conference in London concerning the need for bigger trans-national companies in Europe represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes. My right hon. Friend explained that, to take full advantage of the Common Market, it was important to create in Europe a climate which would allow companies to grow to their optimum size and efficiency. He also said that the experience of the present Community supported the view that smaller firms would have better opportunities for growth in an enlarged Community.

asked the Prime Minister (1) what method he intends to adopt to obtain the full consent of the electorate to the Government's decision to enter the Common Market; and, as a means of doing this, whether he will arrange for all electors to be issued with a prepaid printed postcard with a voting space to endorse or reject the Government's terms of entry;(2) whether he will make a ministerial broadcast to explain to the electorate how the Government intend to allow the people of this country to give their verdict on Great Britain's application to join the Common Market.

Entry into the Communities has been a major issue in British politics for over 10 years. The 10 days of debate in this House in July and last month, culminating in the decisive vote on 28th October, have provided a full and complete opportunity for the House to judge the matter and reach a decision of principle.It is the long-established tradition in this country, which we are following, that such decisions should be taken by elected representatives of the people in Parliament. As I stated on television on 27th May, 1970,

asked the Prime Minister when he next proposes to take the chair at a meeting of the National Economic Development Council.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is chairman of the council. While I am always ready to consider taking the chair myself, I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what reply he has given to the second memorandum recently sent him by the North West Industrial Development Association.

The points raised in the association's two memoranda were fully considered when I met their representatives in Manchester on 29th October. We also discussed the action taken by the Government to stimulate the economy generally and to help the assisted areas. I assured the association that its views would be taken fully into account.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he now has to make an official flight on Concorde.

I am looking forward to a flight in Concorde at an appropriate time, but no specific arrangements have yet been made.

asked the Prime Minister when he proposes to have another meeting with President Pompidou.

We have at present no plans for a further bilateral meeting. As to the meeting next year of Heads of Government of the Six and the applicant countries, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to a Question from the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy).

asked the Attorney General whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain how and why it took the Law Society from 3rd August, 1971, until 3rd November, 1971, to deal with a matter regarding free legal aid, reference numbers E2-1/2/5/ 1499 and E21/215/10544; why, only after the hon. Member for West Ham, North had telephoned on 3rd November, a reply was received; and what action he proposes to take to prevent such delays in the future.

The Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949, charges the Law Society with the administration of the Legal Aid Scheme subject to the general guidance of my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor. In these circumstances I cannot accept the responsibility of answering for the day-to-day administration of the schemes. I am therefore bringing the hon. Member's Question to the attention of the Law Society.

asked the Prime Minister if he will reduce the number of Ministers in his Government.

No.

asked the Attorney General if he will seek to amend Section 77(1) of the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1952, in order to dispense with the requirement for an application to be made by a party to proceedings in a magistrates' court for a witness summons to be issued, and instead to enable a subpoena or witness summons to issue on payment of a fee, thereby bringing the procedure in line with that prevailing in civil litigation.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend does not consider that such an amendment would be desirable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the future of the Birkenhead livestock landing pens.

The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company has notified my Department that it intends to cease operations at the Mersey Cattle Wharf, Birkenhead, on 31st December this year. A consortium of interest which use the facilities propose to form a company to lease the facilities from the docks company. My Department has provided the consortium with information on the conditions and regulations which would apply to the operation of a landing place for Irish cattle, but no formal application for approval to operate a landing place at Birkenhead has been received.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to appoint an independent committee of investigation into the matter of food distributors profiteering out of the conversion to decimal currency.

No.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether the staff side of the National Whitley Council have now reached agreement with his Department on the new arrangements for the premature retirement of civil servants in certain circumstances.

Yes. Since I outlined the new arrangements and compensation terms in reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Bedfordshire, South (Mr. Madel) on 12th May, there have been further discussions with the National Staff Side on a number of points raised by their constituent organisations. These discussions have led to a number of changes in the procedures leading up to premature retirement with the aim of ensuring that they are as fair as possible.Except in the case of redundancy, the new compensation terms will be introduced in due course under the powers provided in the Superannuation Bill published last Friday. It is proposed to pay compensation in accordance with the new terms, where they are more favourable than present terms, to established staff retired on abolition of office since March, 1969, and unestablished staff retired on redundancy since September, 1971.Certain outstanding issues relating to the Diplomatic Service are still under discussion between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Diplomatic Service Staff Side.—[Vol. 817, c.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what were the numbers and what was the cost of the Civil Service, excluding the Post Office, for the years 1930, 1935, 1940, 1950, 1960. 1970 and 1971; what percentage of the gross national product this cost represented in each of those years; and what is his estimate of the cost for 1973.

The information is readily available only for more recent years as follows:

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) if he will state the number of civil servants at the latest convenient date and provide an analysis which will indicate the types of work on which those civil servants are employed;(2) what improvements he proposes to make in the provision of information on Civil Service manpower.

The total number of non-industrial and industrial civil servants at 1st July was 701,915. The analysis below indicates the types of work in which civil servants are employed in relation to Ministerial responsibilities and principal activities. In the interests of providing fuller and better information to Parliament, I will announce the number of civil servants in post each quarter in this form in the future. An analysis of the position at 1st October, 1971, will be given shortly and thereafter figures