asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has given to the milk distributing trade about the use of indestructible plastic containers for milk, in view of the pollution problem which they cause.

In discussions with the Dairy Trade Federation, officials of my Department and of the Department of the Environment have stressed the importance of early consultation between a dairy and the local authority about disposal problems if a dairy is considering a change to plastic containers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the review of forestry policy will be complete; and whether he proposes to publish a White Paper on its conclusion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he now expects to publish his review of the work of the Forestry Commission.

My right hon. Friends are considering whether a White Paper would be appropriate. I cannot yet say how soon they will be able to announce their conclusions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends to take to ensure that concealed price increases are not imposed on the housewife in the form of decreases in the quality and quantity of food products sold in cans and other containers.

I am satisfied that consumer interests are adequately safeguarded by existing legislative provisions and by the operation of competitive forces.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will state the percentage increase in retail food prices for each half year of three consecutive half years ended 29th February, 1972, or nearest convenient dates; and what rate of retail price escalation these figures represent.

Over the half year ending 19th January, 1971, the food index rose by 3·4 per cent.; over the half year ending 20th July, 1971, by 7·8 per cent.; and over the half year ending 18th January, 1972, by 3·4 per cent. Although seasonal factors mean that these figures are not directly comparable, I am satisfied that the rate of increase is slowing down.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the price rise of those imported foods that feature in the official index of retail food prices since 18th June, 1970, to the latest available date.

There is no clear-cut division in the food index between imported and other foods. However, between 16th June, 1970, and 18th January, 1972, the latest date for which information is available, the sub-group of the food index covering items mainly imported for direct consumption rose by 23·3 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the trend of grocery prices as a whole during the past four months; and what commodities have been principally responsible for this trend.

Between 21st September, 1971, and 18th January, 1972, the food index rose by 4·0 per cent. This was largely due to seasonal price increases on fish and fresh fruit and vegetables. Butter, cheese, and bacon, all of which we import to a significant extent, also became dearer, as did bread, sugar and some other manufactured foods.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much the cost of food has risen since 18th June, 1970.

Between 16th June, 1970, and 18th January, 1972, the food index rose by 15·7 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the trend in world food prices during the past 12 months, from information available from international sources; and how these compare with British food prices.

There is no index of world food prices that can properly be compared with the United Kingdom food index.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to secure the signature of more countries to the Balfour Agreement on humane slaughter of animals.

It rests with the Governments of countries which want to import live animals for slaughter to decide whether they can give the necessary assurances. If they do so, I expect them to be able to comply fully with them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make regulations to provide that the composition of all coated fish products is indicated on the packaging; and if he will make a statement.

Existing legislation already requires for prepacked coated fish products a full declaration of ingredients in descending order of proportion by weight unless the quantity or proportion of each ingredient is specified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further representations he has received regarding the implementations of his proposals to reduce the number of staff employed by the Agriculture Development Advisory Service.

The implementation of these reductions is at present under discussion with the Staff Side under normal Whitley procedures.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek powers to require a warning label to be attached to dichloryos insecticidal strips; and if he will make a statement.

There is no need for this. In the United Kingdom all dichloryos insecticidal strips are already marketed with warnings and instructions in the terms prescribed by the Government's Advisory Committee on Pesticides and Other Toxic Chemicals.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to make it easier for heavier modern vehicles to reach remote hill farms.

We provide grants for improving private farm roads and unadopted access roads under the Farm Capital Grant Scheme. Local highway authorities will no doubt note the hon. Member's Question when considering their programmes of work for unclassified roads which are their responsibility.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total number of farmworkers employed in British agriculture in 1971 and what is his estimate of a comparable figure for 1973.

At June, 1971, there were 423,000 workers engaged in United Kingdom agriculture, including horticulture. Future employment in agriculture depends on a large number of factors and precise estimates cannot be made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the average age of farmworkers in Brecon and Radnor, in Wales, and in the United Kingdom.

The average age of regular whole-time male workers is approximately 34 in Brecon and Radnor, 34 in Wales and 38 in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will arrange for the representatives of the milk producers and distributors including the Co-operative Societies in the United Kingdom to be consulted before agreeing to or negotiating for Great Britain's compliance with the European Economic Community regulations under which there will be only two grades of milk for liquid consumption, based on butter fat percentages: whether these organisations will be able to retain the present system; and what advice he is giving to the milk industry on this matter.

We consulted the National Farmers' Union, the Milk Marketing Boards and the Milk Distributive Council—now the Dairy Trade Federation—which includes representatives of the Co-operative Milk Trade Association, on these matters in March, 1971, and again later, and we shall continue to keep in close touch with them. I would also refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for East Ham, South (Mr. Oram) on 22nd February.—[Vol. 831, c. 263–4.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if agreement has been reached with the Brussels Commission on the level of compensatory amounts for apples and pears to be introduced on 1st February, 1973, under Article 65 of the Accession Treaty; what percentage increase is expected in retail prices for apples and pears under that Article; and what calculations have been made to project producer prices for United Kingdom apples and pears and to ascertain whether this will exceed the basic Community prices.

Detailed discussions with the E.E.C. Commission have not yet taken place.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under Protocol 17 of the Treaty of Accession referring to the importation of sugar after 1st March, 1975, whether he will give an assurance that it remains his policy to give first priority to home sugar production; and by what percentage he estimates home production of sugar can rise after that date.

The precise scope for increased production after 1974 will depend on the Community's definitive sugar regime, which has yet to be negotiated. But it is certainly my aim to secure for our farmers a fair share of the opportunities which will be available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of current trends and short-term prospects for world and European Economic Community prices, he will now reassess the estimate contained in the White Paper on entry into the European Economic Community.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton) and others earlier today.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set up a committee to report on the main changes required to the common agricultural policy to reflect to a greater extent the interests of British consumers and producers.

I do not think it would be appropriate to set up a committee for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the concern in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa that their apples and pears exported to the United Kingdom during the summer period will be subject to compensatory amounts when basic European Economic Community prices are applicable, and that these compensatory amounts will restrict supplies of such fruit to the United Kingdom thereby increasing prices; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

I am aware of the views expressed by these countries. The details of the system have yet to be worked out, including the period during which the compensatory amounts are applicable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the total amount of Government' subsidies to the farming industry for each of the past six years, and the comparable figures for the wages paid in the industry each year.

The cost of Exchequer support to agriculture in the United Kingdom, including administrative expenses, was £237·6 million in 1965–66 and £269 million in 1970–71. Total labour costs to farmers in 1965–1966 were £319 million and were forecast at £361 million for 1970–71.The figures for the intervening years are as follows:

Year	Exchequer Support (a)	Total Labour Costs (b)(1)
	£ million	£ million
1965–66	237·6	319
1966–67	229·1	320
1967–68	261·5	322
1968–69	265·4	331
1969–70	277·1	340
1970–71	269	361
All figures are on a United Kingdom basis.
Sources:
(a) White Papers on Annual Review and Determination of Guarantees.
(b) Annual Abstract of Statistics 1971.
(1) Includes the remuneration (wages, salaries and National Insurance contribution) of all those engaged in agriculture and horticulture except farmers, senior partners and their wives.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes he envisages for the remainder of this year in the application of the middle band of bacon production in the light of his recent determination of the total quantity required.

The middle band is part of the guarantee arrangements for pigs and does not relate specifically to bacon production. The future level will be determined following this year's Annual Review, the result of which cannot be anticipated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the Forestry Commission acquired no planting land in the south of England during 1970–71; and to what extent this represents a new policy.

For many years the acquisition of land for planting by the Forestry Commission has been concentrated in the upland areas, particularly in Scotland, where the social merits of afforestation are highest. The fact that the commission acquired no land in the south of England in 1970–71 therefore does not represent a new policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much beef production of the United Kingdom has increased since June, 1970; and what rise in retail price of such beef, expressed overall and percentage, has occurred in that period.

Home-fed beef production in the year ending June, 1972, is expected to be some 6 per cent. above production in the year ending June, 1970. Average retail prices of home-produced beef have risen by between 41p and 11p per lb., depending on the cut, since June, 1970. The percentage increase over this period varies from 19 per cent., to 25 per cent.—again depending on the cut. Most of these increases occurred in 1970–71.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the effect a £20 minimum wage will have on agricultural production costs.

My right hon. Friend has not made any such estimate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to receive the final report of the Food Standards Committee on date-marking of perishable foods; and if he will make a statement.

The review by the Food Standards Committee is well advanced. Its report to my right hon. Friend is expected in the near future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the concern of the National Federation of Fruit and Potato Trades about the effect that the proposed level of compensatory amounts of over £20 per ton will have on retail prices for apples and pears in the United Kingdom; and what action he proposes to take.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the views of the National Federation. Details of the system have not yet been worked out.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what talks he has had with the trawling industry following the adoption by the Icelandic Parliament of the proposal to extend the fishing limits to 50 miles from 1st September.

None. The resolution of the Icelandic Parliament does not represent a change in the policy of the Icelandic Government, and I am well aware of the industry's views on that policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present gap between farmworkers' weekly earnings and average weekly industrial earnings, based on a 40-hour week; and if he will make a statement.

The average weekly earnings of regular whole-time men in agriculture in Great Britain in the third quarter of 1971 were £22·31 for a 49·9 hour week. Those for industrial workers in the United Kingdom were £30·93 for a 47·7 hour week in October, 1971. Comparable statistics based on a 40-hour week are not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what penalties he intends to propose for those found guilty of infringing the recent Oslo Convention, signed by 12 European countries, on dumping chemicals and other polluting materials in the North Sea.

The United Kingdom will ratify the Oslo Convention as soon as it proves possible to secure the passage of the necessary legislation through Parliament. Our proposals to control dumping into the sea, including the provision to be made for penalties, are under consideration, but I cannot give details at this early stage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that 40p per week is sufficient for a shepherd to keep one dog, as from 29th May, 1972: and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the Agricultural Wages Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to implement the Recommendation of the Committee of Inquiry on Foot and Mouth Disease that the importation of meat and meat products from all sources be subject to revocable conditional licences.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have today made the Importation of Carcases and Animal Products Order, 1972, which will come into force on 1st May, 1972. The order will give effect to the Committee's recommendation by prohibiting the import into Great Britain of animal carcases, including parts of carcases, and animal products to which the order applies except in accordance with the terms of licences to be granted by our Departments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the use of bank and Post Office Giros and of remote access terminals to ease the load on centralised value-added tax data input has been rejected.

These matters are still being considered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider incorporating regional variations in the value-added tax to be introduced in April, 1973.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next intends to visit the headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

My right hon. Friend hopes to attend the meeting of the council at Ministerial level next May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his practice with regard to letters addressed to him on the cost of living.

The answer depends on what is said in the letter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the recent industrial dispute between the National Union of Mineworkers and the National Coal Board, he will take steps to remove the duty on oil used in manufacturing industry.

I have noted my hon. and learned Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, the harmonisation of policies so far as Scotch whisky is concerned will involve the raising of the European Economic Community import duty to Great Britain's present level or the uniform adherence to duties at the existing level in the European Economic Community.

I know of no current proposals for harmonising the rate of internal taxes on spirits throughout the European Economic Community, and at present member States are free to decide their rate individually; but protective import duty harriers will be progressively removed between existing and new member States.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will bring in lesgislation in next Budget to allow the Board of Inland Revenue to assess farmers' income tax over to take into account good years and bad years

Our studies suggest that this would create more problems than it would solve and I could not recommend it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the potential sources of Government revenue from the exploration and exploitation of the North Sea oil fields.

The present specific sources are rentals and premia on licences, and royalties on the wellhead value of production. I do not think it would be profitable to speculate on other sources; but I can assure my hon. Friend that the matter is kept under careful review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the need to expand the economy without causing inflation and to assist in combating rising unemployment, he will consider in his forthcoming Budget increasing all social welfare benefits by 10 per cent. and increase the income tax level before tax is paid to remove all those in receipt of incomes below the national average from paying income tax.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of all the public appointments held by Lord Taylor of Gryfe and the salaries and expenses received; and whether, additionally, he is able to keep £8·50 per day for expenses when attending the House of Lords;(2) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of all the public appointments held by Lord Holford and the salaries and expenses received; and whether, additionally, he is able to keep £8·50 per day for expenses when attending the House of Lords;

The hon. Member has sought similar information before. I must make it clear that this kind of information is not readily available, whether in whole or part, whether in relation to total numbers, named individuals or otherwise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish tables to illustrate the net increase in weekly income for men affected by the Wilberforce Committee's principal recom-

EFFECTS ON NET INCOMES OF MINEWORKERS OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COURT OF INQUIRY UNDER LORD WILBERFORCE
		£ per week
		Addition to minimum weekly rate*	Increase in earnings including overtime†	Increase in tax	Increase in national insurance contributions	Net increase
Face workers
Single	…	+4·50	+5·18	-1·56	-0·21	-3·41
Married	…
Married with two children	…
Other underground workers
Single	…	+6·00	+6·90	-2·08	-0·30	+4·52
Married	…
Married with two children	…
Surface workers
Single	…	+5·00	+5·75	-1·73	-0·26	+3·76
Married	…
Married with two children	…
Notes:
* On basis of Appendix 1 of the Recommendations of the Court of Inquiry under Lord Wilberforce.
† In order to take account of overtime an addition to the minimum weekly rate of 15 per cent. has been made; this reflects the average level of overtime payments made by the N.C.B. though these will vary widely between different individual groups of workers.
1. None of the family groups illustrated qualifies for F.I.S. payments at the income levels shown.
2. No estimate is possible of changes in entitlement to other social benefits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will reconsider the present position whereby war disability pensions which are paid to the recipient tax-free as compensation for disablement become liable to taxation when transferred, as pension, to the widow of the former recipient after his death.

As I explained on 21st February in answer to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South (Mrs. Lena Jeger) the pensions are different in kind. I have considered the question of exempting war widows' pensions from tax but I am afraid I could not justify it.—[Vol. 831, c. 236.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was

Following is the information.the value of the investment allowances in all development areas from October, 1970, to October, 1971; and what were the figures for Scotland, Wales and the Northern Region.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the capital allowances given for tax purposes. Information on the value of these allowances for the period in question will not begin to become available until the end of this year. I am afraid that it is not possible to distinguish the figures for individual development areas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much of the £8,588,290 spent on Government advertising during 1971 went to each of the national newspapers;(2) what was the total amount spent by the Government and its various agencies, on advertising during 1971.

The amount spent by the C.O.I. on Government advertising in each of the national newspapers is listed below. To provide all the information requested would involve disproportionate costs since details are not available centrally.

Newspaper
	£
Daily Express	381,595
Daily Mail	119,403
Daily Mirror	768,794
Daily Sketch	39,480
Guardian	43,676
Sun	318,912
The Telegraph	215,619
The Times	72,026
The Financial Times	41,840
Sunday Newspapers
News of the World	331,112
Observer	79,249
People	213,635
Sunday Express	183,620
Sunday Mirror	322,066
Sunday Telegraph	49,111
Sunday Times	171,813
Observer Magazine	90,184
Daily Telegraph Magazine	156,212
Sunday Times Magazine	147,490
	£3,745,837

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many elderly persons in receipt of a supplementary pension are currently receiving a heating allowance of, respectively, 25p, 50p and 75p per week; and what is the total annual expenditure on this extra allowance over and above the cost of the long-term addition in these cases.

I regret that this information will not be available until the spring.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what special steps he is taking to inform elderly recipients of supplementary benefits of their eligibility for heating allowance.

A small minority of supplementary pensioners are eligible for special additions to meet exceptional needs for extra heating over and above the long-term addition of 50p a week. Visiting officers have standing instructions to look out for these cases. As I told the House on 7th February, plans for new visiting arrangements now being discussed on the Whitley Council provide for regular postal contact with supplementary pensioners in which their attention is drawn to the extra help, for heating and other things, available under the scheme.—[Vol. 830, c. 1103–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the cost to the National Health Service of treatment for mental, psychoneurotic and personality disorders in each of the past four years.

Information is not available in the form requested. These conditions are treated both by general practitioners and in psychiatric and other hospitals; in neither case are details maintained of the cost of treatment of particular conditions. The cost in England of hospitals classified as for mental illness and for mental handicap was as follows:

	£ million
1967–68	116·8
1968–69	127·6
1969–70	137·5
1970–71	162·3

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of public health officers and assistant public health officers accredited to local authorities; and how many of these are women.

It is estimated that local authorities in England and Wales employ 5,600 public health inspectors, of whom 2 per cent. are women, and 5,000 full-time or part-time medical officers, of whom about half are women.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to apply the proposal that an invalid vehicle issued to a person who needs it to get to full-time work shall be withdrawn on cessation of employment only to those who have ceased work permanently or also to those who are seeking alternative employment.

We intend to strike a sensible balance between an unreasonably rapid withdrawal and such long deferment as to defeat the object of the change.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give financial figures and the number of persons involved for each of the changes recently announced by him in the arrangements for providing vehicles to severely disabled persons.

This was a package deal and I cannot offer meaningful figures for each change because the numbers involved depend upon the options exercised for differing benefits and upon individual medical examinations yet to be undertaken of thousands of people. My broad objective has been to ensure that, given any reasonable permutation of applications, any net additional cost of the service will not exceed the available resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his proposal to reduce the cash assistance accompanying an invalid vehicle will apply only to future recipients of vehicles or to all those who hold a vehicle.

The petrol allowance will continue to be paid to all who now receive it. The higher rate of cash assistance to those already using cars issued by the Departments will continue while they provide a garage.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what studies he has carried out on the cost effectiveness of prescribing oral contraceptive pills on the National Health Service.

In the course of the review of policy on the family planning services which I am at present undertaking I shall take into account, amongst other aspects, the economic implications of providing oral contraceptives under the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the provi- sion of treatment equipment for cancer radiotherapy in relation to population at risk in the area of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board compared with other hospital board areas.

The figures for megovoltage equipment of all types are as follows; other radiotherapy equipment is not recorded centrally:

	Population (Millions)	Megavoltage Equipments (Number of Units)
Birmingham	5·2	7
Newcastle	3·1	7
Leeds	3·2	6
Sheffield	4·6	11
East Anglian	1·8	6
Oxford	2·0	6
South Western	3·1	10
Manchester	4·6	4
Liverpool	2·3	4
Wessex	2·0	7
Metropolitan Regions	14·4	50

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for an increase in consultant radiotherapists and treatment equipment for cancer radiotherapy in the area of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board.

Two additional consultant posts are under consideration; two additional units of megavoltage equipment have been approved.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the ratio of consultant radiotherapists to population in the area of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board in comparison to other hospital board areas.

The provisional figures, in whole-time equivalents per million population for the year ended 30th September, 1971, are as follows:

Region
Birmingham	2·4
Newcastle	2·5
Leeds	2·9
Sheffield	2·7
East Anglian	3·3
Oxford	3·1
South Western	3·5
Manchester	2·5
Liverpool	3·9
Wessex	3·5
Metropolitan Regions	4·0

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what percentage of the resident staff in residential establishments for the old and for children in care leave each year;(2) what percentage of the resident staff in old people's residential establishments leave after the first year of work(3) what percentage of resident staff in residential homes for the old and for children have had training.

Information about the qualifications and movements of staff of residential establishments for the old is not at present collected centrally. As regards establishments for children in care, the available information, from returns for the two years ending 31st March, 1971, is that in England and Wales nearly 40 per cent. of the full-time. resident or non-resident, care staff moved each year, either to other posts in residential social work or out of this field of work; and that on 31st March, 1971, 21 per cent. of the full-time care staff in post had had professional training in residential child care or in teaching or nursing.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider supporting research and development of a powered disabled person's wheelchair with proportional control and a degree of flexibility which will permit its use within the home on every type of floor covering as well as with safety on ramps and pavements; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has sponsored such research. So far no system capable of easy maintenance and likely to be manufactured at reasonable cost has emerged.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will establish an independent committee of inquiry to evaluate the safety, reliability and relative costs of the present issue of three-wheeler cars; and if he will make a statement.

No. The three-wheelers currently on issue by the Department satisfy the relevant Construction and Use Regulations and we are satisfied that they do not compare unfavourably with other light vehicles in relation to safety and reliability. I am also fully informed about their relative cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of general practitioners in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board's area; how many are from overseas; and how many vacancies exist at the present time.

At 1st October, 1971, the total number of general practitioners was 1,788, of whom 230 were born outside the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. A single-handed practice is vacant and action has been taken to fill it. Partnership practices have been given approval to replace 34 outgoing general practitioners; a few have already taken in an assistant with a view to partnership.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of doctors in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board's services; how many of them are from overseas; and how many vacancies exist at the present time.

1,458, excluding locums and general practitioners employed on a part-time basis; 602—born outside the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic; 175, of which 58 were filled or partly filled by locums. These are provisional figures relating to 30th September, 1971, but they represent increases of 5·0 per cent. in the number of doctors employed and 1·9 per cent. in the number of those born outside the United Kingdom and Irish Republic, compared with the figures at 30th September, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will award a contract to the Medical Research Council to finance a project to investigate the possible harmful effects of the use of hexachlorophane in medicinal preparations:

Short-term studies are now being undertaken by manufacturers under arrangements made after consultation between my Department and the Toiletry Preparations Federation into the absorption of hexachlorophane into the blood. When these studies have been completed my Department will consider whether any further investigations will be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take concerning existing stocks in retail outlets of preparations containing hexachlorophane; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading (Dr. Vaughan) on 18th February.—[Vol. 831, c. 183–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a comprehensive list of preparations on the market used for child and baby care which contain hexachlorophane.

No comprehensive list is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the companies who manufacture hexachlorophane in Great Britain.

As far as I am aware there are only two manufacturers of hexachlorophane in Great Britain. These are Givaudan and Company Limited and Robinson Brothers Limited. Both companies are being most co-operative in supplying whatever information they have been asked for in connection with the recent report of the Committee on Safety of Medicines.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families in the area covered by the Whitehaven office of his Department are in receipt of social security benefit.

In November, 1971, there were 4,378 recipients of supplementary benefit. Information about their family status is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will hive the numbers of institutional confinements in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board area over each of the past six years; and if he will give comparable figures for home confinements.

Information about confinements is not available in the form requested. Information about births is given in the table below.

LIVE AND STILLBIRTHS IN THE SHEFFIELD REGIONAL HOSPITAL BOARD AREA
	Hospital births		Domiciliary births
Year	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage
1965	55,825	65·9	28,924	34·1
1966	57,553	68·5	26,375	31·5
1967	59,503	71·9	23,295	28·1
1968	62,152	75·2	20,469	24·8
1969	63,458	79·2	16,621	20·8
1970	64,754	82·4	13,807	17·6

NOTES:Hospital births includes births in non-National Health Service hospitals.Domiciliary births include all non-hospital births.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date he received a communication from Task Force, sent under date of 18th February, 1972, regarding the serious condition of old people in general and in nine London boroughs in paticular; what was the nature of his reply; and whether he will make a statement.

The leter to which the hon. Member refers was received on 21st February. A reply will be sent as soon as it has been fully considered. Meanwhile I am meeting the hon. Member for Islington, East (Mr. John D. Grant) and the Director of Task Force on 16th March to discuss the report by the Force on the "Old and Cold in Islington" and the preliminary findings of its surveys in nine other London boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that the cost of unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit for unemployed persons during the period from January, 1969, to June, 1970, was £3·8 million per week and during the period from July, 1970, until 1971 £5·3 million per week; and to what extent this difference in cost was due to higher benefits and the increased number of unemployed, respectively.

Yes. It is estimated that about a quarter of the additional cost was due to higher benefits and about three-quarters to the increase in the number of unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that, during the period from January, 1969, to June, 1970, the average cost of payments of supplementary benefit to strikers and their families was £17,000 a week and £61,000 a week between July, 1970, and December, 1971; and to what extent this increase was due to higher benefits and to the increased numbers of persons on strike, respectively.

Yes. Approximately £3,500 of the increase was due to higher benefits and £40,500 was attributable to the increased number of strikers drawing supplementary benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of the recent Welfare Services Statistics Report by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers, a copy of which is in his possession, he will now publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table of local authorities, in rank order according to their total net expenditure for the handicapped per thousand population; and if he will include average figures for county boroughs, London boroughs, and the counties.

The report to which the hon. Member refers includes figures of expenditure on services for the handicapped under section 29 of the National Assistance Act only. It is not possible to separate out expenditure on the many major services for the handicapped provided under other legislation from expenditure on these services provided for other groups. Figures of total net expenditure for the handicapped are not therefore available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his progress in reviewing company law legislation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave yesterday to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Trew).—[Vol. 832, c. 27–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now make a statement on his review of the Irish Free Trade Agreement in the light of United Kingdom entry to the European Economic Community.

It has been agreed during the negotiations for accession to the E.E.C. that the tariff provisions of the agreement may be continued during the transitional period. The agricultural provisions will largely be overtaken at the outset of the transitional period, when both parties adopt the common agricultural policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total cost of the Government-owned factories in the North-East Development Area and their valuation at the latest available date.

The cost of acquisition of construction of factories owned by the Department at 31st March, 1971, was £35,705,000. Their depreciation book value at the same date was £26,848,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total revenue to date from the exploration and exploitation of the North Sea oil fields.

£75,000 is the revenue from licence rentals in respect of the four fields announced to date.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to allow the nationalised industries to reduce the supply of services, such as electricity, up to a prescribed limit where this is necessary for the public good without the introduction of a state of emergency.

It would not be right to relieve nationalised industries of their statutory obligations unless a clear need to do so has been recognised by the Government, as is the case when Emergency Regulations are introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the detailed concessions given to the National Union of Mineworkers in addition to the basic Wilberforce recommendations; and what is the total cost of the miners' award, specifying the percentage increase for the surface workers, the underground workers and those on the National Power Loading Agreement.

The following information requested has been given by the National Coal Board:

1. Further points in the settlement, in addition to the recommendations of the court of inquiry, are:—

(i)Consequential increases for coke workers, weekly paid industrial staff, canteen workers and clerks—all from 1st November, 1971.

(ii) Juveniles (under 21 years) to receive the adult wage increase at the age of 18 from 1st November, 1971, by stages. On the resumption of work, 20-year-olds will receive the adult rate (previously the adult rate had been paid at age 21); one year later, 19-year-olds will receive the adult rate; one further year later, 18-year-olds will receive the adult rate.

(iii) Those on personal rates under the 1955 Daywage Agreement or the Third Day-wage Structure to receive the full increases appropriate to their grade.

(iv) An extra five individual days' holiday, in the holiday year beginning 1st May, 1972, to be taken by agreement with the manager.

(v) Winding enginemen to receive an extra 80 pence a week—making their total wage increase £5.80 from 1st November, 1971.

(vi) A new structure for lorry drivers with five grades according to the weight of vehicles. The lowest grade rate to be £23.00 and the top grade rate to be £24.50, from 1st November, 1971.

(vii) The five-day week bonus to be consolidated in the shift rate from 1st June, 1972, thereby including it in the calculation of overtime.

(viii) Agreement that the calculation of next summer's holiday pay would not be reduced because of the overtime ban and the strike.

(ix) The board and the union to try to agree a productivity payment scheme by September, 1972.

(x) The board and the union to discuss a national subsidised transport agreement and try to reach such an agreement by 1st May, 1972.

2. The total estimated cost of the basic Wilberforce recommendations would be about £85 million for a full year's work from 1st November, 1971, with a further £5 million for the other changes.

3. The percentage increases in basic weekly rates are 27·14;8 per cent. on the surface minimum, 31·6 per cent. on the underground minimum, and would represent 15 per cent. on the National Power Loading Agreement rate excluding the implementation of parity on 31st December, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, having regard to the virtually complete control now exercised by brewers over the sales of wines and spirits in their tied licensed houses and the policy of Watney Mann to change from tenant control to manager control, he will refer the proposed takeover of International Distillers and Vintners Limited by Watney Mann to the Monopolies Commission to ascertain its effect on the public interest.

On 24th January Watney Mann announced its desire to increase its 38 per cent. holding in International Distillers and Vintners Ltd. to 100 per cent. We announced on 17th February that we did not intend to refer this proposal to the Monopolies Commission. International Distillers and Vintners Ltd. have for some while been wholesale suppliers of wines and spirits to Watney Mann tied houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the retention of coal-fired power stations.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the policy to be followed by Her Majesty's Government in regard to the use of oil at coal-fired power stations arising from the Government's relaxation of emergency powers following the ending of the mining dispute.

Lighting-up oil is being used at Blyth temporarily to increase the output of the station during the emergency. There is no application from the C.E.G.B. to convert this station to oil-firing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give an undertaking that none of the present existing coal-fired power stations will be converted to other forms of fuel.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will indicate the approximate date on which he expects to be in a position to make a statement relating to cotton textile orders placed in some of the restricted countries prior to the announcement on 8th December to retain import quotas in 1972.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer on 25th February given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr. Normanton). —[Vol. 831, c. 399–400.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the capacity of the largest civil airliner in service in 1968, and in 1971; and what runway length is required for each aircraft.

In 1968 the largest aircraft in service carried up to 250 passengers and required 12,000 ft. of runway. The largest aircraft in 1971 carried normally 340 to 400 passengers and required a runway length of 11,500 ft.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of international air traffic from London Heathrow is represented by journeys of under 300 miles, 300–400 miles, and 400–500 miles, respectively.

The proportions in respect of journey lengths of air passengers beginning or ending their journeys at Heathrow, for the 12 months ended 30th September, 1971, are:

under 300 miles	24 per cent.
300–400 miles	4 per cent.
400–500 miles	10 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reduction of air passenger revenue has been suffered by British European Airways since the electrification of the London Midland main line; between London and Birmingham, and London and Manchester, respectively.

B.E.A. estimates that in the period of nearly six years since electrification of the main rail links it has earned £200,000 less revenue on its London-Birmingham services and £10½ million less revenue on its London-Manchester services than it would have done in the absence of electrification.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the effect on short-haul air traffic movements from London Heathrow Airport of the opening the Channel Tunnel and the introduction of the advanced passenger train.

No worthwhile estimates can be made at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is his intention to discourage air traffic from using Heathrow Airport when Foulness Airport is commissioned; and what compensation will be available to British and foreign companies adversely affected.

I have nothing to add at present to the statement made on 27th July last year to the effect that the Government expect it will be possible after Maplin is opened to impose stricter limits on air traffic movements and to apply other restraints at Heathrow and Gatwick. —[Vol. 822, c. 73–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied that the United Kingdom's law on trademarks, enacted in 1938, adequately meets the needs of British industry; and if he will make a statement.

We have decided to appoint a departmental committee to consider this subject. I am glad to say that Mr. H. R. Mathys, a deputy chairman of Courtaulds Limited, has consented to act as its chairman. The Committee's terms of reference will be:

"To examine the British trade mark law and practice and consider whether any changes are desirable in the light of present day trading conditions and international developments."

I will announce the names of members later. In view of the work involved, it is proposed that Mr. Mathys will in due course relinquish his present chairmanship of the Standing Advisory Committee on Patents.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer the supply of primary batteries to the Monopolies Commission.

My right hon. Friend has today asked the Monopolies Commission to investigate the supply of zinc/carbon (Leclanché) batteries and zinc/mercuric oxide batteries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give an assurance that, when the inquiries which are now in progress concerning alleged irregularies and fraudulent activities on the part of the past and present directors of the International Investors Group and the Real Estate Fund of America are completed, he will make a statement in the House of Commons in connection with same.

I have been asked to reply.I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe) on 21st February. —[Vol. 831, c. 894.]

Hamilton asked the Secretary of State for Employment on how many occasions in the last 20 months he has intervened in attempted settlements of industrial disputes.

My officers intervened in some 1,100 disputes, in seven of which my right hon. Friend has personally met the parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disputes his Department conciliated in 1971, and how many disputes were arbitrated.

My officers conciliated in 650 disputes during 1971. Seventy-six differences referred to arbitration with the consent of both parties were the subject of hearings under the provisions of the Industrial Courts Act, 1919, and other relevant legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in view of the need for retraining of the growing number of unemployed persons in the Nottinghamshire area, he will establish more training centres in the area in the near future.

A new Government training centre with about 170 places is planned in the Chesterfield/Mansfield/ Alfreton area and should be open for training by the spring of 1974. An additional 146 training places will be provided as soon as possible by utilising unused industrial premises in Nottingham as an annexe to Long Eaton G.T.C. Suitable premises have already been identified.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how the number of employees in employment in Wales in June, 1970, compares with the latest available figure;(2) how the figures of employees in employment in each of the economic planning regions in June, 1970, compare with the latest available figures for each region.

Following is the available information:

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT AT JUNE, 1970, AND AT JUNE, 1971, THE LATEST DATE FOR WHICH INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE, IN WALES, SCOTLAND AND THE STANDARD REGIONS OF ENGLAND
	(Thousands)
	June, 1970	June, 1971
Wales	935	930
Scotland	2,077	2,018
South East	7,698	7,616
East Anglia	637	620
South West	1,310	1,308
West Midlands	2,259	2,218
East Midlands	1,392	1,363
Yorkshire and Humberside	1,976	1,924
North West	2,842	2,779
North	1,270	1,242

The standard regions coincide with the regions used for economic planning except that Poole (Dorset) is in the South-West Economic Planning Region but in the South-East standard region.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how the number of female employees in employment in Wales in June, 1970, compares with the latest available figure:(2) how the number of male employees in employment in Wales in June, 1970. compares with the latest available figure.

The estimated numbers of male employees in employment in Wales at June, 1970, and at June, 1971, the latest date for which figures are available, were 608,000 and 603,000, respectively. For females, the estimate was 327,000 at both dates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present level of subsidy for council housing in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Housing subsidies, including improvement contributions, payable to the council in respect of dwellings owned by it are expected to total about £200,000 for 1971–72.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will institute an inquiry into the Hillingdon Borough Council's objections to the Greater London Council's proposals to raise the speed limits on certain stretches of road in the borough; and if he will make a statement on the matter as soon as possible.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates will be the comparative travel times between central London and central Paris by air via London, Heathrow; by advanced passenger train and the Channel Tunnel; and by air via Foulness. respectively.

Average journey time via Heathrow is at present about three and three-quarter hours. High speed trains using a Channel Tunnel could do the journey in under three hours; a figure for travel via Maplin will depend on decisions about the system of access from London.