asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to increase the rate of investment.

Measures to encourage private investment were introduced in July and on 23rd November arrangements to bring forward nationalised industries' investment were announced. In addition the measures taken to strengthen demand generally and to reduce inflation will help industrial investment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now use the regulator to stimulate consumer demand and reduce unemployment.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend said on 2nd December.—[Vol. 827, c. 669–76.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will cause to be printed on every pound note a red lettered warning that the value of the note will diminish if wage cost inflation does not cease.

I agree that the danger and full implications of wage cost inflation need to be brought home to everyone, but I do not think this would be an appropriate way of doing so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what yield could be anticipated from charging capital gains tax on all winnings from football pools in excess of £500.

I regret that the information on which to base an estimate is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total sum expended since June, 1970, in extra tax reliefs and extra welfare benefits, respectively; and how much of this total has been distributed to the wealthiest I per cent. and the poorest 40 per cent.. respectively, of the population.

It is estimated that in 1972–73 the value of the tax cuts made since June, 1970, will be about £1,400 million. I am not clear precisely what the hon. Member has in mind by welfare benefits, but expenditure on social security benefits will have increased by about £609 million. I regret that the information needed to allocate these amounts to specified sections of the population is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage savings have increased in the last 12 months.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to personal savings. The volume of National Savings increased by more than 6 per cent. in the 12 months ended October, 1971. The personal savings ratio in 1970 was 8·5 per cent. compared with 8·0 per cent. in 1969. Full figures for 1971 will not be available until the middle of next year but provisional estimates of the quarterly figures are published in Financial Statistics.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of foreign indebtedness of the United Kingdom on 18th June, 1970; and what is it now.

At end-June, 1970, short and medium-term official overseas debt was £1,461 million. It is now £415 million. The figures for total official debt, including long-term, are £3,697 million and £2,522 million, respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in total personal wealth in the past 10 years; and what has been the percentage increase in receipts from death duties over the same period.

For the period 1960 to 1969, the latest year available, and on the basis of wealth covered by estate duty the estimated increases are 77 per cent. and 55 per cent., respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reconsider the decision to withdraw the regional employment premium in 1974.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's statement of 27th October, 1970.—[Vol. 805, c. 40.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of the tax relief received in the last financial year by firms in the Greater London area in respect of the cost of providing private coaches and other transport for employees to and from work.

The information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations have been made to him concerning the impact of income tax on pensioners; and whether he will make a statement.

We have received a number of proposals that pensions should be exempted from income tax or charged at a low rate, but to do this would breach the general principle that liability is based on total income without regard to the source from which the income is derived.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of uncertainty and financial difficulties experienced by disabled people in purchasing equipment specially designed for them, he will consider proposing that value-added tax will not be allowed to impose an additional burden for disabled people purchasing equipment designed exclusively for them; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is considering all aspects of the value-added tax and will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reply he has given to the representations made to him by the Newspaper Society in regard to the effect of value-added tax on the regional and local newspaper industry.

My right hon. Friend has assured the Newspaper Society that its representations will be borne in mind when the time comes to take decisions about the scope and nature of the relief to be given to newspapers, periodicals and books.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made on United Kingdom prices of harmonising British legislation with that of the European Economic Community by the introduction of a value-added tax at the rate currently being applied by France and Germany.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to relieve the hardship caused to people on low incomes by the imposition of the value-added tax.

My right hon. Friend does not accept that the introduction of value-added tax in the United Kingdom combined with the abolition of S.E.T. and purchase tax will necessarily have the result assumed in the Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had asking him, in view of the complications involved in the application of value-added tax to a variety of trades and industries, to postpone its introduction beyond the present date contemplated; and what consideration he is giving to this proposition.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Heywood and Royton (Mr. Joel Barnett) on 12th November, 1971. As my right hon. Friend reaffirmed during the debate on the Address on 9th November, V.A.T. is planned to come into operation in April, 1973.—[Vol. 825, c. 286–7 and 852.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider taking steps to establish a national council comprised of both sides of industry and relevant Departments of State in an endeavour to resolve the growing problem of unemployment.

My right hon. Friends already meet representatives of the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress at the regular meetings of the National Economic Development Council. The council is currently considering a wide range of topics related to inflation, unemployment and economic growth.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many telephone calls he has received about unemployment in the West Midlands.

No record is kept of the number or subject of telephone calls made to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the total sums made available by the Treasury for the attraction of industry to Northern Ireland.

			Single man		Married couple, no children		Married couple, one child under 11
			1970–71 Per cent.	1971–72 Per cent.	1970–71 Per cent.	1971–72 Per cent.	1970–71 Per cent.	1971–72 Per cent.
Earnings £ per annum
1,000	…	…	18·7	17·5	12·9	12·1	8·2	6·1
1,500	…	…	23·1	21·7	19·3	18·1	16·1	14·1
2,000	…	…	25·4	23·8	22·5	21·1	20·1	18·1

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will seek to make the implementation of his proposals arising from his review of estate duty retrospective to the date of the commencement of the review, in view of the expectations aroused in those suffering from terminal illness, and their dependants.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

A direct payment is made to the Northern Ireland Government in respect of the Northern Ireland equivalent of regional employment premium; the estimate for this payment in 1971–72 is £10·75 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the proportion of gross incomes paid in direct taxation of a married man with two children earning £1,000, £1,500, and £2,000 per annum, respectively; and how these percentages compare with 18 months ago.

Assuming the children to be under 11 for 1971–72 the figures are 3·0 per cent., 11·8 per cent. and 16·3 per cent. For 1970–71 the figures were 6·4 per cent., 14·7 per cent. and 18·9 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the proportion of gross incomes paid in direct taxation of a single man, a married man with no children, and a married man with one child, respectively, earning £1,000, £1,500 and £2,000 per annum, respectively; and how these percentages compare with 18 months ago.

Comparing with 1971–72 with 1970–71, the figures are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Revenue of reducing the maximum rate of estate duty to 45 per cent.

About £75 million for a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contribution his Department has made to the review of dispersal policy currently being undertaken by the Civil Service Department.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Civil Service Department on 8th December.—[Vol. 827, c. 327–28.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will give for the latest annual period the loss to the revenue of allowing three-quarter litre of spirits and three-quarter litre of wine as a tax-free concession to persons entering Great Britain;(2) whether he will give for the latest annual period the amount of perfume and toilet waters allowed into Great Britain as a tax-free concession.

It is not possible to form any reliable estimates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest figure for the value of the pound taking it as 100p at 18th June, 1970.

Taking the value of the pound sterling to be 100p in mid-June, 1970, its purchasing power in mid-October, 1971, the latest date for which

I.
BETTING AND GAMING DUTIES: TOTAL RECEIPTS
	Betting duties				Gaming duties				£ thousand
	Pool betting duty	General betting duty	Betting premises licence duty	Total betting duties	Gaming licence (premises) duty	Gaming machine licence duty	Bingo duty	Total gaming duties	Total betting and gaming duties
1967–68	32,896	30,237	—	63,132	1,907	2,861	—	4,768	67,900
1968–69	39,493	54,435	—	93,928	2,802	2,935	—	5,737	99,665
1969–70	46,207	58,989	3,380	108,577	1,394	7,705	1,351	10,450	119,027
1970–71	45,341	71,149	400	116,890	1,717	7,910	3,918	13,545	130,435

II
GENERAL BETTING DUTY: BREAKDOWN OF RECEIPTS
£ thousand
							Totalisators
					On-course bookmakers	Off-course bookmakers	Horse racing	Dog racing	Total
1967–68	…	…	…	…	3,325	24,295	846	1,771	30,237
1968–69	…	…	…	…	5,159	44,384	1,547	3,345	54,435
1969–70	…	…	…	…	4,898	49,540	1,419	3,135	58,989
1970–71	…	…	…	…	5,216	61,452	1,527	2,954	71,149

information is available, is estimated at 89½p. This comparison is based on the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all those measures introduced since 18th June, 1970, which have affected the disparity between investment incentive in development areas and in the non-development areas.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statements in the House on 27th October, 1970, and 19th July, 1971. The Government have also, of course, introduced a number of other measures in order to encourage investment in the development areas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT as much detailed information as may be readily available, giving for the longest period of time the amount of revenue received from all forms of taxation on betting, gambling and gaming; and how much of this was received from bookmakers, the Horse-race Totalisator Board and other forms of gambling.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange a series of official visits to companies in which Her Majesty's Government have a shareholding.

These already take place where appropriate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer of raising the single person's allowance to £400, £500, £600, and £700 a year, repectively.

Assuming that the married man's allowance and the wife's earnings allowance are unchanged, about £240 million, £515 million, £750 million and £950 million, respectively, for a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will authorise the repayment of post-war credits to everyone who has been unemployed for more than three calendar months.

No, but I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply today to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bebington (Mr Cockeram).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instructions were issued to management side negotiators for the pharmaceutical Whitley Council about the maximum increase to be offered to all grades of pharmacists covered by the agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what instructions were issued to management side negotiators for Professional and Technical "B" Committee "E" relating to the maximum increase to be offered to medical physics technicians;(2) what instructions were issued to management side negotiators for Optical Whitley Council Committee A and B relating to the maximum increase to be offered to all grades of opticians covered by the agreement.

I do not instruct management sides: departmental representatives express views on my behalf but offers are decided by the management sides as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will investigate the delays which are occurring in the supply of spectacle frames to Birmingham children.

I am aware that delay has occurred in some areas in the supply of children's standard spectacle frames. Following discussions with my Department the manufacturers have undertaken to make special arrangements where there is an urgent need.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to study the scale of poverty in Great Britain and its relationship to economic conditions, employment, and welfare benefits.

No. I am not convinced of the need to appoint a Royal Commission when my Department, in consultation with the Departments of other Ministers, is actively engaged in the study of poverty and in implementing new policies to relieve it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he proposes to take to relieve the difficulty arising in new housing developments from the shortage of dispensing chemists available to deal with National Health Service prescriptions.

Executive councils are responsible for the arrangements for pharmaceutical services but neither they nor my right hon. Friend have power to direct a chemist to establish a pharmacy in a particular locality. However, if the hon. Member has in mind difficulties which have arisen in a particular area, perhaps she will let me have details.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ban the supply of all medicinal samples except for clinical trial and research purposes in support of the policy of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, details of which are in his possession.

We see no convincing grounds for taking such steps.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that an average profit level of 20 per cent. on capital employed in the pharmaceutical industry is in accordance with his policy purposes of his purchase of drugs

ABORTIONS: OCCURRENCES IN 1968, 1969 AND 1970—ENGLAND AND WALES
By Vacuum Aspiration—Gestation period under 13 weeks
			All cases†	Deaths attributed to		Cases associated with
				Operation	Other causes	Haemorrhage	Sepsis	Other Complications
1968*	…	…	4,717	—	—	(not available)
1969	…	…	15,190	—	2	83	72	(not available)
1970 (provisional)		…	27,414	1	—	156	127	229
By Dilatation and Curettage—Gestation period under 13 weeks
			All cases†	Deaths attributed to		Cases associated with
				Operation	Other causes	Haemorrhage	Sepsis	Other complications
1968*	…	…	7,324	1	—	(not available)
1969	…	…	15,041	—	—	80	84	(not available)
1970 (provisional)		…	26,823	—	1	101	79	168
* 27th April to 31st December.
† The numbers involving sterilisation are not known.

asked the Secretary of state for Social Services how many women were aborted with sterlisation and discharged from National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales on the same day as the operation, the next day,

NUMBERS OF WOMEN ABORTED WITH STERILISATION IN NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE HOSPITALS
IN ENGLAND AND WALES
		All durations including not stated	Duration of stay in hospital (completed days)
Year			0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7+
1968*	…	4,994	1	13	26	61	53	62	90	4,677
1969	…	10,895	18	37	76	158	168	129	297	9,990
1970	…	13,756	33	67	183	320	331	343	535	11,445
* 27th April–31 St December, 1968.

under the Voluntary Price Regulation Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

The Voluntary Price Regulation Scheme calls for the industry's profitability to be reviewed and discussions are now taking place with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. We would prefer to await the outcome before making any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions without sterilisation were performed in England and Wales by vacuum aspiration or by dilatation and curettage up to 12 weeks' gestation, for each of the years 1968, 1969 and 1970, and of this number how many deaths were attributed to the operation and how many to other causes, and how many were associated' with haemorrhage, sepsis and other complications.

The available information is as follows:and two, three, four, five, six and seven or more days later in each of the years 1968, 1969 and 1970.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women died from legal abortion operations directly following illegal and spontaneous abortions, and from other causes following legal abortions, respectively, with details of these causes in 1970.

It is not known how many women died from legal abortion operations directly following illegal or spontaneous abortions. During 1970 in England and Wales there were three deaths from other causes following legal abortions. The causes of death were:

1. Endotoxic shock, due to Peritonitis, due to Perforated gangrenous caecum.

2. Acute peritonitis, due to Infected vaginal vault incision, due to Hysterectomy for menorrhagia.

3. Acute heart failure, due to Thrombosis of left pulmonary artery, due to Patent foramen ovale.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that sufficient time has been allowed for those wishing to tender evidence to the Lane Committee to prepare and submit it before 31st December; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The committee issued in August invitations to all hos-

TOTAL NATIONAL INSURANCE AND NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CONTRIBUTIONS
AS A PERCENTAGE OF GROSS INCOME
Gross Income (Annual Earnings plus Family Allowances where appropriate)
	£1,000		£1,500		£2,000
	At 14th June, 1970	At present rates	At 14th June, 1970	At present rates	At 14th June, 1970	At present rates
(1) EMPLOYED MAN
Not in contracted out employment
Single	7·04	7·11	5·73	6·13	4·41	5·75
Married, no children
Married with one child
Married with two children*	6·72	6·79	5·56	5·94	4·31	5·61
In contracted out employment
Single	5·67	5·75	4·82	5·22	3·73	5·07
Married, no children
Married with one child
Married with two children*	5·41	5·49	4·67	5·07	3·64	4·95
(2) SELF-EMPLOYED MAN
Single	6·45	7·80	4·30	5·20	3·22	3·90
Married, no children
Married with one child
Married with two children*	6·16	7·45	4·17	5·04	3·15	3·82
* Annual gross income for a man in this category includes Family Allowance amounting to £46·80.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital management committees have tendered evidence to the Lane Committee.

So far 34, out of a total of 310 in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the proportion of gross incomes paid in National Insurance and health contributions of a single man, and married man with no children, one child and two children, respectively, earning £1,000, £1,500 and £2,000 per annum, respectively; and how these percentages compare with 18 months ago.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the figures quoted on 23rd February, 1971, in reply to a Question about handicapped persons cover only the general classes of the physically handicapped and exclude the blind, partially sighted, deaf and hard of hearing; and whether he will make a statement on the effect which this exclusion had on the figure showing reduced expenditure per person by the county borough of Bolton during 1969–70.

Yes, as the reply indicated. Since expenditure on the blind, partially sighted, deaf and hard of hearing was excluded from all the figures quoted comparisons between individual years and individual authorities were not affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that in most of the countries of the European Economic Community there is no system of supplementary benefits for those who are poor, but are not eligible for unemployment benefit or its equivalent; and what plans he has to harmonise British social security legislation with that of the Community.

Member countries of the Community have locally administered schemes of social assistance providing means-tested benefits for those in need. There is nothing in Community law which would require us to change the principles on which our supplementary benefits scheme is based.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date the committee under the chairmanship of Professor Frank Young was set up by him to consider the questions relating to diet and cardio-vascular disease; and whether he will give the precise terms of reference of this committee and the members thereof.

The Chief Medical Officer's Annual Report for 1970 (page 115) referred to the setting up of this panel in July, 1970, with terms of reference:

" To advise the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy on the significance of any relation between nutrition and cerebro-vascular and cardio-vascular disease, and on any indications for future action".

It is not customary to give names of members of the sub-committees and panels of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy in advance of such published reports as they may make.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what contribution his Department has made to the review of dispersal policy currently being undertaken by the Civil Service Department.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Civil Service Department on 8th December.—[Vol. 827, c. 327–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families have so far successfully claimed the family income supplement in London, and how many in each of the next 20 largest cities and towns in Great Britain; and what percentage each of these totals is of the population of the city or town concerned.

I regret that information of the kind requested is at present available only for departmental regions, as I explained to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, East (Mr. Prescott) on 22nd November, 1971.—[Vol. 826, c. 275.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the visible trading surplus for that part of 1971 for which figures are available.

The surplus on visible trade for the first 11 months of 1971 is provisionally estimated at £263 million, seasonally adjusted.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has now made of the level of manufacturing investment in the first half of 1972.

Information is collected in the Investment Intentions Inquiry only for calendar years as a whole. The latest inquiry taken in August/September suggested little change in investment between 1971 and 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the percentage tariffs which will be imposed by the European Economic Community against the United Kingdom on wheeled agricultural tractors for each of the five years commencing January, 1972; and what will be the reciprocal tariffs in each of those years imposed by the United Kingdom against the European Economic Community.

The tariff movements are set out in the table below. For convenience I also give the movements towards the common external tariff of the United Kingdom tariff against third countries not enjoying preferential arrangements.

	Six's duty against U.K.	U.K. duty against six	U.K. manufacturing duty
	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
1st January, 1972	18·0	7·5	7·5
1st April, 1973	14·4	6·0	7·5
1st January, 1974	10·8	4·5	11·7
1st January, 1975	7·2	3·0	13·8
1st January, 1976	3·6	1·5	15·9
1st July, 1977	Nil	Nil	18·0

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the noise levels are, on take-off and landing, at the statutory measuring points of the Concorde, the Boeing 707–320C, and the DC8–50, respectively; and if he will seek to publicise the figures.

The manufacturers estimate that the noise levels of Concorde at entry into service will compare as follows (figures in E.P.N.d.B. on the basis of the requirements of I.C.A.O. Annex 16):

	Lateral noise on take-off	Flyover noise after take-up	Approach noise on landing	Total
Boeing 707–320C	108	114	120	342
DC 8–50	106	115	117	338
Concorde	111	114	115	340

This information has been published and sent to airlines and to the relevant national and international regulatory bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) to what extent it is his policy to encourage the British Export Board to provide literature which will enable British salesmen abroad to assist exports generally by disseminating details of the Concorde;(2) if he will invite the British Export Board to assist with the promotion and advertisement of Concorde, in view of the relevance of the Concorde project to the export potential of the British aerospace industry;(3) if he will invite the British Export Board to acquire detailed marketing information on the Concorde project for dissemination to British export salesmen.

The responsibility for promoting sales of Concorde lies primarily with the manufacturers. The British Export Board does not start to operate until the beginning of next year. But I am sure the board will consider favourably any requests from the manufacturers for assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to publicise the fact that Concorde will be the first jet aircraft to emit no smoke, thus contributing to the diminution of environmental pollution.

The fact that when in service Concorde will emit very much less smoke than most existing civil jet aircraft has already been widely publicised.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will invite the British Export Board to publicise British technical achievements, particularly in the aerospace industry.

This will be a matter for the board to consider when it assumes responsibility in January for directing the official services in support of export promotion. It will of course remain for the aerospace manufacturers to take the lead in publicising their technical achievements and products.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the British Export Board will promote overseas the achievements of individual British companies, particularly those achievements which have been developed through the participation of public funds.

This will be a matter for the board to consider when it assumes responsibility in January for directing the official services in support of export promotion. Export promotion is a major task of the Government information services overseas and a great deal of this effort is devoted to promoting the achievements of individual British companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what was the volume of imports of oil into Great Britain in the period February to August, 1971, expressed as a percentage of those for the same period in 1970;(2) what was the cost of imports of oil into Great Britain in the months February to August, 1970; what was the cost for the months February to August, 1971; and what percentage the costs in 1971 bear to the costs in 1970.

Imports of crude petroleum in the period February to August were £380 million for 1970 and £542 million for 1971, the latter being 143 per cent. of the former; by weight the corresponding percentage was 110.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by how much prices have risen since July, 1971; and how this compares with the same period in 1970.

The General Index of Retail Prices rose by 0·8 per cent. between 20th July, 1971, and 19th October, 1971. The rise between 21st July, 1970, and 20th October, 1970, was 1·5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been made redundant in Flintshire since July, 1970, according to the notification received by his Department.

Not all redundancies are notified to my Department and it is not the practice to keep records of every minor redundancy. However, our records show that redundancies involving about 340 workpeople were due to occur in Flintshire in the period 1st July, 1970, to 30th November, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many civil servants are now employed in the Department of Employment; how this figure compares with 1969 and 1970; and what proposals he has to reorganise the Department in view of the high level of unemployment.

On 1st October, 1971, there were 32,788 non-industrial and industrial civil servants in the Department. The corresponding numbers on 1st October, 1969, and 1st October, 1970, were 30,984 and 32,090, respectively. As a result of the present high level of unemployment the resources for training unemployed people are being increased.As regards the second part of the Question my right hon. Friend's plans for the reform of the public employment services are being published today in "People and Jobs". In addition the resources for training unemployed people are being substantially increased.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the numbers of men, women and youths registered as unemployed in each of the employment exchanges in Rhondda in October, 1971, October, 1970, and October, 1969, respectively.

Following is the information:

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AREAS IN THE RHONDDA
	Men	Women	Boys	Girls
Tonypandy
October, 1971	687	146	145*	88*
October, 1970	627	102	128*	50*
October, 1969	763	150	89*	39*
Treorchy
October, 1971	393	85
October, 1970	298	93
October, 1969	383	97
Ferndale
October, 1971	252	99
October, 1970	253	66
October, 1969	263	60
* Boys and girls registered as unemployed at the Tonypandy Careers Office which covers the Tonypandy, Treorchy and Ferndale Employment Exchange areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men and how many women have been wholly unemployed for over six months and for over 12 months in Wales and in the Rhondda, respectively, at the last count.

Following is the information for 11th October, the latest date for which detailed figures are available:

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED AT 11TH OCTOBER, 1971
	Over 26 weeks	Over 52 weeks included in previous column
Wales
Males	13,328	8,167
Females	1,904	992
Rhondda (Tonypandy, Treorchy and Ferndale Employment Exchange areas)
Males	589	422
Females	106	63

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department keeps records of workers on short-time.

Estimates of the numbers of operatives working short-time at establishments with 11 or more employees in manufacturing industries, except shipbuilding and ship-repairing, in Great Britain are publised monthly in the Department of Employment Gazette, for example at page 1042 of the November, 1971, issue.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans there are for increasing the number of jobs available for blind people in sheltered workshops in Scotland.

Grants are being paid by my Department towards the cost of two new factories being built by the Edinburgh Corporation (work almost completed) and the Aberdeen Royal Workshops for the Blind (work just commenced) to replace existing workshops housed in old buildings. The Edinburgh factory will provide 100 extra jobs for blind and other severely disabled people and the Aberdeen factory will provide an extra 20 places.The managements of the five Scottish factories for blind people have jointly set up the Scottish Executive Development Council, the aim of which is to co-ordinate marketing arrangements and rationalise production. The council is working closely with the Industrial Advisers to the Blind Limited to expand markets and provide satisfying job opportunities for those blind people in Scotland who require employment under sheltered conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what new items for manufacture have been introduced into production in sheltered workshops for the blind in Scotland in the last five years.

New items for manufacture introduced into production in sheltered workshops for the blind in Scotland in the last five years have included a wide range of tubular, wooden and upholstered furniture; interior springs for mattresses; wooden pallets and animal pouffes. The range of wirework goods has been extended, and the plastic dipping of wire introduced; an example of a new product in this trade is the "Sackmaster" refuse bin. In addition, the manufacture of bedding has been modernised and new lines in beds and mattresses introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs for men and women are provided in sheltered workshops for the blind in Scotland; and how these figures compare with those for 1930, 1940, 1950 and 1960.

At 31st December, 1971, the number of jobs provided in the workshops for the blind in Scotland were 521 for men and 86 for women. These compare with 602 and 119 in 1960, 579 and 139 in 1950, and 609 and 164 in 1941. Figures for 1930 are not readily available. These figures have been extracted from the annual returns of the Register of the Blind compiled by the Scottish Home and Health Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered blind men and women of working age and available for work there are in Scotland; how many are in work in sheltered workshops, and how many in open industry.

At the latest date for which figures are available there were in Scotland, 1.006 blind men and 259 blind women who were in the working age range and available for work. The numbers in work, in training and avail-

				Under 16		16–17		18–29		30–29
				M	W	M	W	M	W	M	W
31st March, 1946	…	…	…	77	72	33	24	209	157	356	263
31st March, 1950	…	…	…	92	78	21	18	206	152	340	225
31st March, 1960	…	…	…	136	119	23	11	176	133	244	180
31st December, 1970	…	…	…	123	84	42	24	215	151	199	142

				40–49		50–69		70*		Totals
				M	W	M	W	M	W	M	W
31st March, 1946	…	…	…	536	419	1,749	1,481	1,347	1,859	4,308	4,311
31st March, 1946	…	…	…	535	401	1,704	1,516	1,577	1,989	4,475	4,379
31st March, 1960	…	…	…	455	314	1,556	1,767	1,766	3,029	4,336	5,553
31st December, 1970	…	…	…	324	240	1,522	1,596	1,693	3,730	4,118	5,967
1946 is the earliest year for which figures are readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of registered blind people in Scotland in full-time employment, available for but unable to find work, and unfit for work either in sheltered workshops or in open industry, broken down by sex and convenient age bands.

The number of registered blind people, men and women, in Scotland in full-time employment, available but unable to find work and unfit for work either in sheltered or open employment, is set out in the following table. Separate figures relating to age bands are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present registered blind population in Scotland, broken down in terms of age and sex; and how many there were in 1930, 1940, 1950 and 1960, or any convenient comparable dates.

At 31st December, 1970, and comparable dates the registered blind population in Scotland, broken down in terms of age and sex:

	Men	Women
In full time employment	837	219
Unemployed and available for work	152	33
Not capable of work	694	720
These figures have been extracted from statistical returns of the Register of the Blind compiled by the Scottish Home and Health Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now introduce legislation to lay down minimum qualifications for the post of safety officer in industry.

No. This is one of the many aspects of safety and health at work which are being studied by Lord Robens' Committee. It will receive further consideration in the light of the committee's report.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make available additional financial resources to enable orders for the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod to be brought forward, thus safeguarding numbers of jobs both of design and production workers in the North-West.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Wilkinson) on 25th November.—[Vol. 826, c. 417.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) on what duties the Army have been employed at the Crumlin Road Prison, Belfast, since a bomb was placed at the prison gates;(2) after the escape of nine Irish Republican Army men from the Crumlin Road Prison, Belfast, recently what steps were taken by the Army to provide greater security at the prison;(3) why the Army did not mount a perimeter guard at Crumlin Road Prison, Belfast, until there had been three successful gaol breaks by Irish Republican Army men.

Responsibility for the security of the prison is a matter for the civil authorities. In their support, the Army man the watchtowers, guard the main gate, and provide external patrols. They also maintain quick reaction forces on call in case of need.After the recent escapes the Army has increased the surveillance from watchtowers and extended its external patrols.

asked the Minister of State for Defence why the Ulster Defence Regiment was not mobilised immediately after the last gaol break from the Crumlin Road Prison, Belfast, to help man the road blocks set up by the Army.

All troops who were readily available, including members of the Ulster Defence Regiment, were used to mount road blocks as soon as the escape was reported. As time elapsed and the net was widened, additional members of the Ulster Defence Regiment were employed.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances Sergeant Kenneth Smyth of the Ulster Defence Regiment was shot dead in Northern Ireland on the morning of Friday, 10th December.

At approximately 8.45 a.m. Seargeant Smyth was travelling to work with a companion, Mr. D. McCormack. They stopped at the gate of a farmhouse near Strabane to pick up a third man. Two shots were fired from the bushes on the right hand side of the Landrover, killing Mr. McCormick. Sergeant Smyth took cover in a ditch but the gunman emerged from the bushes and shot and killed him. The gunman then walked down the road, and met another man; both then walked across the border with the Republic of Ireland, about 200 yards away.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Irish Republican Army blew up an Ulster Defence Regiment Land Rover on the night of Thursday, 9th December, near Coagh, Northern Ireland; what sort of explosive device was used; how it was detonated; and with what result.

At about 12.30 a.m. on 10th December, two Ulster Defence Regiment vehicles were damaged—though no one was hurt—by an explosive device of the "Claymore" type. These home-made mines are commonly placed at the side of a road and on detonation —in this case electrically—they discharge shrapnel, etc., towards the target vehicle. An Army ammunition technical officer estimated that the device had contained approximately 15 lb. of explosive. He later recovered 42 lb. of gelignite from a further device which had failed to explode.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many members of the Ulster Defence Regiment have been killed by the Irish Republican Army since the inception of the regiment in Northern Ireland.

Five members of the Ulster Defence Regiment have been killed as a result of acts of terrorism.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what arrests have resulted from inquiries into the shooting of Ulster Defence Regiment men by the Irish Republican Army.

I understand that no arrests have yet been made as a result of the investigations into the fatal shootings of five members of the Ulster Defence Regiment.

asked the Minister of State for Defence, in view of the Irish Republican Army murder campaign of Ulster Defence Regiment men in their homes, if he will now order that all members of the Ulster Defence Regiment can take their weapons home with them.

No. But the matter will be kept under review.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the agreement reached concerning the rates of pay and superannuation of those transferred from the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment to the Ministry of Defence and about the progress made in the negotiations concerning the age of retirement.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement on these matters. Exploratory discussions with the staff sides are proceeding and I hope that negotiations with the trade union sides will begin soon.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the total additional expenditure which arises from Government announcements of additional defence measures and provisions in all services since January, 1971.

I would refer the hon. Member to Table 2.1 of Cmnd. 4829. To the figures set out in that Table, a total of about £5 million should be added over the period 1972–73 to 1974–75 to reflect the defence share of the additional measures in aid of unemployment as explained by my hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 25th November.—[Vol. 826, c. 453.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence what proportion of the increased defence costs to be undertaken by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation will be borne by the United Kingdom.

About 12 million dollars.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many children, county by county, now receive school meals compared with 18th June, 1970.

Figures are not available for 18th June, 1970. In October, 1971, 247,096 or 52·8 per cent. of pupils present in maintained schools in Wales took the school dinner compared with 273,884 or 60·4 per cent. in autumn, 1970.The details are as follows:

PUPILS TAKING MID-DAY MEALS IN MAINTAINED SCHOOLS IN WALES
	Autumn,	Autumn.
Authority	1971	1970
Anglesey	7,743	8,392
Breconshire	6,123	6,496
Caernarvonshire	14,534	15,018
Cardiganshire	6,959	7,408
Carmarthenshire	17,674	19,347
Denbighshire	18,399	20,824
Flintshire	14,793	18,510
Glamorgan	64,112	71,764
Merioneth	4,353	4,530
Monmouthshire	28,629	32,666
Montgomeryshire	5,894	6,179
Pembrokeshire	10,713	12,133
Radnorshire	2,316	2,455
Cardiff	19,926	22,281
Merthyr Tydfil	4,040	4,522
Newport (Mon.)	7,922	8,614
Swansea	12,966	12,745
Wales	247,096	273,884

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to present a White Paper on the reform of the National Health Service; what is his target implementation date; and if he will make a statement.

As already announced, unification of the Health Service will take effect in April, 1974, when local government is reorganised. A full and definitive statement of the Government's intentions will be made in about the middle of 1972. Before then I expect to make announcements about particular matters such as the arrangements to safeguard the interests of staff. In the meantime consultations with interested bodies are proceeding and the expert studies foreshadowed in the consultative document are in train.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether the term derelict land as used for the purposes of reclamation grants includes land held by the Ministry of Defence;(2) whether the term derelict land as used for the purposes of reclamation grants includes land held by the National Coal Board;(3) whether the term, derelict land as used for the purposes of reclamation grants includes land held by British Rail.

If the land is no longer in use by or required by the body concerned, it can be considered for grant aid.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the population in England lives in private, furnished and rented accommodation; and what the figures are for London, Birmingham and Newcastle, respectively.

2·5 per cent. of the population of England lived in households renting their accommodation furnished from a private person or company, according to the results of the Sample Census of 1966. The corresponding percentages for Greater London, Birmingham and Newcastle were 6·1, 3·9 and 3·0, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of erecting and dismantling the exhibition stand in Westminster Hall during the week ending 10th December, 1971; and why no exhibition took place.

£900. The exhibition was eventually postponed for the reasons my right hon. Friend gave in reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Robert Cooke) on 10th December. I hope to make use of the stands when the exhibition finally takes place.—[Vol. 827, c. 407–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he has made to ensure that every member and senior official of every county and county borough council in England and Wales has now received a copy of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.

The circular of 17th August, 1970, issued jointly by all the Departments principally concerned with the Act, in order to draw attention to its provisions, stated that copies of the Act could be obtained from Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent by his Department during the last three years on advertising campaigns in respect of seat belts for cars and crash helmets for motorcyclists respectively.

Following is the information:

	1968–69	1969–70	1970–71	1971–72
	£	£	£	£
Seat Belts	307,000	220,650	171,000	72,000
Safety Helmets	50,500	2,000	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek powers to institute safety checks for caravans.

Such powers already exist.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many caravans were involved in accidents last year.

326 were involved in injury accidents (15 fatal, 81 serious and 230 slightly).