asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax relief is available per annum in the case of an individual obtaining a £40,000 mortgage over a 25-year period at the current rate of interest assuming surtax is paid at the highest rate.

The interest will fall from £3,200 in the first year to £278 in the last year. At current rates the income tax together with top rate surtax on these amounts is £2,414 and £210, respectively, for earned income, and £2,840 and £247, respectively, for investment income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to help control inflation and to encourage the moderation of wage claims, he will introduce further legislation to allow rent increases in both the private and public sector coming into effect on or after 1st April, 1972, to be offset against income tax in the form of special tax allowances.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend to the rest of the country the facility now available to companies in development areas allowing capital allowance to be set off against profits of the previous three years if current year profits are inadequate.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I am sure that he will not expect me to anticipate the Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why it is not possible to allow interest to continue to accrue where post-war credits which qualify for repayment are not immediately claimed.

Because the law provides that interest cannot accrue for more than three months after the claimant qualifies for repayment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will seek to impose a tax on the transfer of professional footballers.

The part of a transfer fee paid to the player is already liable to income tax and surtax, and the part paid to the club is liable to corporation tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a revised estimate of the balance of payments cost of entry into the European Economic Community in view of the higher farm prices proposed for 1972–73 in the European Economic Community and the reductions in some world food prices since Command Paper No. 4715.

The Council of Ministers has not yet decided on the level of farm prices for the coming year, and we are in close touch with the present members of the E.E.C. to ensure that the British interest in these proposals is taken fully into account. The general trend in world food prices has been upwards since Cmnd. 4715 was published.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will negotiate with the European Economic Community countries in order to narrow the margins of fluctuations between the £ sterling and the European Economic Community national currencies to limits of 2½ per cent.

We are working closely with the Community on this and other matters concerned with monetary developments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has made to the European Economic Community Council of Ministers on behalf of the British Government about the West German Government's proposal for an economic policy orientation committee at present being considered by the Council of Ministers.

We are in close touch with the Finance Ministers of the E.E.C. My right hon. Friend has just returned from a meeting with them in Brussels—and all aspects of economic and monetary integration are covered in our discussions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will seek in conjunction with the European Economic Community countries and other West European countries to establish a common European unit of working capital to replace the present use of the dollar.

Several units of account already exist in the E.E.C. Progress towards economic and monetary union in Europe is under consideration in all its aspects, in consultation with the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what statistical evidence he arrived at the calculation in paragraph 57 of the Common Market White Paper than an extra growth of ½ per cent. per annum would, by the fifth year of European Economic Community membership, enable the United Kingdom to meet the extra balance of payments cost of entry in that year.

The calculation given in paragraph 57 of the White Paper (Cmnd. 4715) is given as an example to illustrate the additional resources which would be available to Britain at the end of a five-year period, if the rate of growth of national income had, in each of five years, been ½per cent. higher as a result of entry into the E.E.C. We have always made it clear that a reliable quantified assessment of the overall economic effects of entry, including those on the balance of payments, is impractical. But the improvements in the efficiency and competitive power of British industry resulting from entry should enable the United Kingdom to meet the balance of payments costs of entry as they gradually build up over the next decade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give details showing to what extent, on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community under present conditions, he will be able to undertake to review the provisions of the Customs and Excise Acts whereby tax on fuel oil used in power stations for the manufacture of chemicals is paid in full, if 50 per cent. of the energy is used for refinery purposes and remitted in full if less than 50 per cent. is so used.

My right hon. Friend's discretion will remain unfettered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent, under the present rules and regulations of the European Economic Community if Great Britain enters, he would be able to extend depreciation allowances to cover the fabric of hotel buildings and structures.

I am not aware of any rule or regulation of the European Economic Community which would prevent such an extension of our present system of depreciation allowances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the Government's policies for corporation tax and investment incentives do not work to provide a disincentive to investment in 1972–73.

I am aware that some comments have been made on this point; but hon. Members will not expect me to make any statement at this time of the year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he intends to take in the field of taxation to implement the proposals contained in the Law Commission Working Paper No. 42 on Family Property Law.

This document is still being studied.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, together with a communication from Jill Gee on behalf of war widows; and whether in his forthcoming Budget he will increase war widows' pensions.

My hon. Friend the Financial Secretary answered the hon. Member's letter on 2nd March.War widows' pensions will be reviewed this year under the Government's policy for the annual uprating of pensions and related benefits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will propose similar provisions in income tax allowances for war widows who are gainfully employed, as is done for retired pensioners who are in employment; and if he will make a statement.

War widows are entitled to the same income tax allowances as retirement pensioners whose personal circumstances are similar.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in the next financial year, he will publish a guide to taxation similar to the booklet on Family Benefits and Pensions issued by the Department of Health and Social Security.

The Inland Revenue already publishes a great deal

	1948	1951	1956	1961	1966	1970
	£ million
National income*.	9,671	11,859	16,845	22,349	30,174	38,745
Income from employment	6,785	8,501	12,267	16,407	22,746	30,252
Income from self-employment*	1,165	1,212	1,506	1,875	2,380	2,854
Rent, dividends and net interest received by personal sector†	1,065	1,086	1,344	2,394	3,501	4,244
	Expressed as a percentage of national income
Income from employment	70·2	71·7	72·8	73·4	75·4	78·1
Income from self-employment*	12·0	10·2	8·9	8·4	7·9	7·4
Rent, dividends and net interest received by personal sector†	11·0	9·2	8·0	10·7	11·6	11·0
* After deducting stock appreciation and capital consumption.
† After deducting capital consumption on dwellings; including receipts by life assurance and pension funds and by private non-profit making bodies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exclude from all taxation any motor vehicle exhaust system which complies with future antipollution requirements.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the national income in 1971 was accounted for by wages, salaries, income from self-employment, rents, interest, and dividends broken down by value and expressed as a percentage; and if he will compare these figures with the position five, 10, 15 20 and 25 years ago, indicating how the income from all forms of saving has changed over this period.

The information available is given in the table below. Figures for 1946 are not available and those for 1971 are not yet available. The table therefore includes figures for 1948 and 1970. Comprehensive figures for income from savings are not available but the item in the table for rent, dividends and net interest provides a measure of the income from earnings of the personal sector to the extent that these are invested in real estate or financial assets.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will allow the cost of hearing aids as a necessary expense attracting income tax relief for persons who need such aids in order to earn their living.

I have every sympathy with those workers who are deaf but I am afraid that I could not accept the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning the impact of the proposed new system of corporation tax on private and close companies; and what reply he has sent.

I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. David Mitchell) on 15th February.—[Vol. 831, c. 59.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the extra-statutory concession under which employees may receive luncheon vouchers from employers without being charged tax on them was last fixed, and at what amount.

In 1948, at 3s.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will bring in legislation in the next Budget to remove from the Board of the Inland Revenue its power to levy any retrospective income tax or surtax demand in cases resulting from its own oversight or error.

No. Following recommendations from the Select Committee on the P.C.A., the Government last year reviewed their practice and extended the category of case in which relief is given on hardship grounds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the progress made in placing Pay As You Earn tax administration on computer.

The computer at Centre 1, East Kilbride, is fully operational and building work is continuing on Centre 2 at Bootle and on Centre 3 at Cardiff. I announced on 1st December, 1971, that the plans for the other pro- posed centres are unlikely to be implemented. —[Vol. 827, c. 120–1.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bear in mind, in framing his Budget proposals, those families in which one spouse is considerably disabled and which receive no financial aid nor tax relief on expenditure incurred because of the disablement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for income tax relief for the disabled.

I have noted the hon. Members' suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to provide for paper mills to be eligible for relief on expenditure on pollution abatement and for Section 85(iii) of the Capital Allowances Act, 1968, to be widened to permit capital allowances to be made available in respect of treatment or disposal of their trade effluence.

Paper mills like all industrial traders are already eligible for capital allowances on this expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reduce taxation on electric road vehicles.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been paid out in tax rebates as a result of unemployment benefit, sickness benefit and supplementary allowance being exempt from taxation, in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how this compares with the figures for the previous 12 months.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to accord the Scottish £1 note parity with the English £1 in purchasing transactions.

The use of Scottish banknotes in purchasing transactions is a matter for the parties concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the amount of tax obtained, in each group, in a full financial year if a tax on personal wealth were introduced in the following categories, namely, ½ per cent. on all personal wealth from £20,000 to £50,000; 1 per cent. from £50,000 to £100,000; 2 per cent. from £100,000 to £200,000; 3 per cent. from £200,000 to £300,000; 4 per cent. from £300,000 to £400,000; and 5 per cent. on over £400,000, respectively.

£315 million, on the assumption that the rates given would be applied to the respective slices of wealth. The estimated yields of the six groups are £55 million, £45 million, £60 million, £40 million, £50 million and £65 million, respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further measures he proposes to take to encourage industrial investment in Great Britain.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon) earlier today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the contribution made by net invisible earnings to the balance of payments in 1971; and what proportion of these earnings represented dividends received on overseas investments held by British individuals or companies.

The net invisible surplus in 1971 was £655 million. Total interest, profits and dividends earned by private sector enterprises and individuals on external assets formed 25 per cent. of gross invisible credits; net private sector earnings amounted to £719 million. Full details are contained in the tables published today by the Central Statistical Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what wage level a man with two children under 11 years of age starts to pay income tax, assuming he has no mortgage or insurance commitments.

Assuming he is entitled to the married allowance, £17·22 a week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reply he has sent to the secretary of the Scottish Football League as a result of the League's letter of 19th January on the question of value-added tax.

In the reply the secretary was assured that the views of the Management Committee of the Scottish Football League had been noted and would be taken into account in planning the tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received asking for special provision in the Finance Act to ensure that retailers do not have to pay double tax when purchase tax is phased out and value-added tax introduced.

Over 800 representations on this subject have been received through hon. Members. Many of the general representations which Customs and Excise has received direct from trade associations and professional bodies following publication of the Green Paper on V.A.T. have also referred to it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the percentage increases in the Retail Price Index for all items except seasonal food in each of the latest three months for which data is available, compared with six months earlier; and what trend this indicates.

The percentage increases in the Retail Price Index for "all items except seasonal food" compared with six months earlier, were, for November, 1971, 3·1 per cent.; for December, 1971, 2·9 per cent.; and for January, 1972, 2·6 per cent. These figures show a welcome downward trend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in the money supply in the December quarter.

This information will be published on Thursday in the Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin, which will also contain a new monthly series of money supply statistics.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total sum earmarked for the nationalised industries by means of annual grant or subsidy in 1971 to contain inflation in accordance with the Confederation of British Industry initiative; and if he will tabulate the breakdown industry by industry, respectively, and in total, indicating the estimates for the current year.

The only grants so far approved are those for the British Railways Board and the National Bus Company referred to in my answer on 25th January to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne), and the emergency grant for the National Coal Board announced in my right hon. Friend's statement yesterday. In addition, the recent capital reconstruction of the British Steel Corporation takes into account all the considerations, including price restraint, affecting its financial position.—[Vol. 829, c. 364–65.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce legislation at an early date in respect of death duties to exempt all estates from the payment of interest charges at present levied from date of death to the granting of probate, for a period of two months from date of death.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why purchase tax is applied to soft drinks and not to tea, coffee or other similar beverages.

Because it was decided to extend purchase tax to soft drinks in the Finance Act, 1962.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of duty paid, in old and new pence, on a pint of beer with original gravity 1037.

4·7p or 11·2d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average original gravity of draught lager beers sold in the United Kingdom; and what is the duty per pint on this average original gravity.

This information is not available because the statistical records of original gravities do not distinguish between different types of beer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions are taking place in furtherance of declared Government policy to encourage the flow of private funds to charities.

My right hon. Friend has received representations on the subject from a number of hon. Members and others, including the National Council for Social Service.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Inland Revenue scrutinise the accounts of all non-profit companies which claim exemption on mutuality grounds; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, the accounts of all such companies are scrutinised annually. I have no further statement to make.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates will be the rate of growth of the gross domestic product in the second half of 1972 compared with the second half of 1971.

The Government's forward estimates of G.D.P. are published with the Budget. For estimates covering the second half of this year I must ask my hon. Friend to await the publication of the Financial Statement and Budget Report on 21st of this month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the latest date for which information is available, how many firms or individuals assessed for corporation tax or income tax Schedule D submitted accounts showing gross receipts of less than £10,000 per annum; and how many of these related to professions or service industries.

As the figures of turnover in accounts are not analysed I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many ten shilling notes and 50-penny pieces were in circulation at the beginning of 1970 and 1972, respectively; and how many counterfeits of each he estimates were in circulation.

At the beginning of 1970 about 100 million 10s. notes of the final series and 160 million 50-penny pieces were in circulation. At the beginning of 1972 the figures were under 1 million and 195 million, respectively. There is no evidence that the number of counterfeits in cirulation is other than negligible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current rate of fuel oil tax, and what is his estimate of the revenue from this tax in 1971, and assuming the same rate, the revenue he estimates for the current year; and how this compares with the revenue from this tax brought in five, 10, and 15 years ago.

The rate is 1p per gallon, and the revenue in 1971 is estimated to have been £131 million. No estimate for 1972 is yet available. The duty was not introduced until 1961, and the revenue was £91 million in 1967 and £58 million in 1962.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of all the public appointments held by Lord Wigg and the salaries and expenses received; and whether, additionally, he is able to keep £8·50 a 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 Hill of Luton and the salaries and expenses received; and whether, additionally, he is able to keep £8·50 a day for expenses when attending the House of Lords;(3) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of all the public appointments held by Lord Aylestone and the salaries and expenses received; and whether, additionally, he is able to keep £8·50 per day expenses when attending the House of Lords.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29th February.—[Vol. 832, c. 68–71.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take action to enable him again to collect information concerning the various public positions held by Peers of the Realm, and their salaries and expenses received; and when his Department ceased keeping records on these matters.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's obligations to creditors of companies in which it has a financial interest.

Following upon the Third Report of the Public Accounts Committee, 1970–71, which dealt with the case of the Beagle Aircraft Company, I am concerned that there should be no misunderstanding as to the position of creditors in relation to limited liability companies in which the Government has a financial interest—for example, as creditor, minority, majority, or sole shareholder. I should make it absolutely plain that those doing business with such a company must act on the assumption that liability for the company's debts will be determined solely in accordance with the normal rules applicable to a limited liability company under the Companies Acts except where the Government undertake or have undertaken a specific commitment in relation to those debts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the estimated loss to the revenue if the earnings rule for retirement pensioners was abolished up to a limit of £2,000 income per year per person.

An increase in the retirement pensions earnings rule limit of the size suggested would be tantamount to abolishing both the retirement condition and the earnings rule. The cost to the National Insurance Fund would be about £110 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he intends to take on the memorandum from Task Force, a copy of which is in his possession, concerning the heating conditions of old people.

I shall be discussing the Islington Task Force report with the hon. Member for Islington, East (Mr. John D. Grant) and the Director of Task Force on 16th March next. The preliminary findings of the surveys, which are not yet complete, in nine other London boroughs will be discussed at the same time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state in numbers the estimated national need for doctors in 1975, 1980 and 1985, respectively, and the present number of qualified doctors in the United Kingdom.

No precise estimates have been adopted. The Royal Commission on Medical Education, which reported in 1968, estimated that the number of doctors needed per million population would rise by 1·5 per cent. a year up to 1975 and 1·3 per cent. a year thereafter; this estimate has been taken into account in the existing plans for increasing the number of doctors trained in Great Britain, under which medical school places should rise from just over 3,000 last year to 4,100, or by over 1,000, by the end of the present decade compared with the beginning. It is estimated that there are at present 70,000 doctors in active practice in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of general practitioners in the Liverpool Regional Hospital Board 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 964, of whom 93 were born outside the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Partnership practices have been given approval to replace 18 outgoing general practitioners; a few have already taken in an assistant with a view to partnership. There are no vacant single-handed practices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now raise the amount of savings disallowed when consideration is given to the payment of supplementary benefits.

We intend to review the amount of capital disregarded in assessing supplementary benefit at an appropriate time, but I cannot yet say when that will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make provision for the heating allowance to be paid to all those in receipt of a supplementary pension.

No. The normal heating costs of supplementary pensioners are provided for in the supplementary benefit scale rates. In addition they receive the long-term addition of 50p a week. The heating allowances to which the right hon. Gentleman refers are discretionary additions which the Supplementary Benefits Commission is authorised by the Ministry of Social Security Act, 1966, to provide only in exceptional circumstances and to the extent that a claimant's need for extra heating, which may arise from ill health or bad accommodation, is not covered by the long-term addition.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that the work of his Department in the field of social security is adequately explained to the public; and if he will make a statement.

We must always try to increase our efforts to make benefits known to those entitled to them, but I believe that in the last year my Department has done more than ever before in this direction. Well over 1 million new claims have been made for family benefits including family income supplement, attendance allowance, welfare food, free prescriptions and help with charges for dental treatment and glasses.

			Amount of supplementary benefit/national assistance paid		Strikes lasting 12 days or more
			Strikers	Dependants	Number of disputes	Number of man days lost
			£	£
1950	…	…	—	9,327	71	56,000
1951	…	…	—	37,524	67	55,000
1952	…	…	127	30,620	93	80,000
1953	…	…	141	11,037	62	25,000
1954	…	…	93	55,604	67	101,000
1955	…	…	2,114	155,580	87	138,000
1956	…	…	85	25,466	89	46,000
1957	…	…	445	122,163	94	211,800
1958	…	…	263	80,265	102	96,000
1959	…	…	1,093	67,052	116	149,700
1960	…	…	463	75,789	125	109,000
1961	…	…	1,001	91,367	155	133,000
1962	…	…	316	52,827	162	33,000
1963	…	…	147	27,023	105	34,000
1964	…	…	602	50,015	141	42,700
1965	…	…	173	65,936	174	131,000
1966	…	…	1,454	127,588	116	71,700
1967	…	…	1,770	377,100	172	77,300
1968	…	…	749	334,471	230	103,600
1969	…	…	1,401	747,141	283	417,500
1970	…	…	2,191	1,445,912	508	828,300
1971	…	…	3,708	3,877,643	*	*
* Information not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was paid out each week to miners and their

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many meetings have now taken place between his Department and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry in connection with his interim review of the Voluntary Price Regulation Scheme; when he expects to complete his review; and if he will publish his findings.

There have been six meetings with the association. I cannot say at the moment when the work will be complete, or what then should be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the amounts paid out in social security benefit to strikers and their families separately, showing the number of strikes involved, and number of man days lost in each year since 1950.

The following is the information required:families separately during the recent dispute; and how much these payments cost his Department in administration.

The information required is as follows:

	Amount of supplementary benefit paid
Week ended	To strikers £	To dependants £
11th January	600	Nil
18th January	68,607	21
25th January	969,047	3,049
1st February	891,157	20,761
8th February	920,659	31,709
15th February	971,158	35,749
22nd February	958,904	38,973
29th February	590,689	22,397
Totals	5,370,821	152,659

The administrative cost of paying supplementary benefit is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the latest total cost to public funds of supplementary benefit payments to strikers involved in the industrial dispute at British Leyland, Bathgate, to their dependants, and after resumption of work; and whether he yet has details of the administrative costs to his Department arising from this strike and the Chrysler Linwood dispute;(2) what has been the total cost to the Supplementary Benefits Commission of payments made to those involved in the British Leyland strike at Bathgate and their dependants, including the cost of administrative arrangements and payments made after the resumption of work.

The amount paid up to 29th February in the dispute at British Leyland, Bathgate was £11 to strikers themselves and £29,204 for dependants. This dispute is still on. The administrative cost of paying supplementary benefit in this dispute is not yet known. The administrative cost of paying benefit in the Chrysler Linwood dispute was about £4,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the latest total cost to public funds of supplementary benefit payments to strikers involved in the mining strike, and their dependants, of payments made after return to work, and of administrative arrangements made by his Department to provide such payments;(2) what has been the total cost of payments made to those involved in the miners' strike and their dependants to the Supplementary Benefits Commission, including the cost of administrative arrangements and payments made after the resumption to work.

From the beginning of the dispute to 29th February, £152,659 was paid to the strikers themselves and £5,370,821 for their dependants. Payments made after return to work are not yet known, nor is the administrative cost of paying supplementary benefit in this dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total cost to public funds of supplementary benefit payments to strikers and their families after settlement of the recent Linwood strike; and whether, in view of the amount of these payments, he will now expedite the study into application of the refund provisions of the Social Security Act, 1971.

The amount of supplementary benefit paid after return to work was £46,732. The provisions of the Social Security Act, 1971, relating to the recovery of supplementary benefit paid after resumption of work will come into operation on 3rd April.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost to public funds of supplementary benefits payments to strikers and their dependants during and after industrial disputes, together with administrative arrangements necessitated thereby, during the first two months of 1972; and how this total compares with the total paid out in national assistance to those involved in industrial disputes and their dependants over the whole of the period 1951–1966.

From 1st January to 29th February, 1972, the total amount of supplementary benefit paid out during and after the larger disputes including the miner's strike was £5,707,325. The administrative costs are not yet known.During the years 1951–1966 the total cost of payments of national assistance during and after strikes was £1,166,076. The administrative costs are not known.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received about charges of 35p and more being made for private sick notes by doctors registered under the National Health Service; what action he is proposing to take; and if he will make a statement.

Very few. The amount charged for private certificates is entirely a matter for agreement between doctors and their patients; but the British Medical Association issues guidance to its members from time to time on the recommended level of charges. The Government have encouraged employers and others to keep their demands for private certificates to a minimum.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will issue a directive to regional hospital authorities concerning the need for hospital visiting teams to keep continuous professional watch on the hospital service.

Regional hospital boards already know of the importance which I attach to periodical visits by their professional staff as part of a board's function to oversee hospital administration and standards of care for the patients, especially in long-stay hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider again the war pension position of Mr. C. Ashworth, of Bristol, consequent upon the wounds attributable to Army service during the 1914–18 war, about which the hon. Member for Bristol, Central, has already corresponded with his Department.

We are always willing to review the assessment of a war pensioner's disablement if medical evidence is submitted showing that the accepted disability has worsened since the last assessment was made. Since I last wrote to the hon. Member on 23rd December, 1971, we have received no evidence to suggest that his constituent's accepted disabilities have worsened.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has completed his consideration of providing family income supplement statistics for areas smaller than Departmental regions.

This matter is still being examined; we hope to have some statistics available in the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will examine all cases in which a member of the Junior Hospital Doctors' Association has made five or more applications for jobs which constitute promotion and where all have been unsuccessful, in order to ensure that no victimisation has taken place.

As the hon. Member is aware, my Department has told the Junior Hospital Doctors' Association that if the association or its members have specific evidence of alleged victimisation and are willing to forward it to the Department, the matter will be investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) why he did not make a statement to the House concerning the cessation of the limited awards system under the four-week rule;(2) what proposals he has for the reintroduction of the standard control procedures concerning the four-week rule.

The Supplementary Benefits Commission has discretion to apply its standard control procedure involving limited awards where and when it thinks fit. The system is self-adjusting to employment opportunities and I understand they hope that some areas will be sufficiently back to normal to reintroduce these arrangements in three or four weeks' time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many paid prescriptions have been taken out, and how many dental consultations made, for each month since April, 1970.

The numbers of prescriptions dispensed by chemists in England on which charges were paid were as follows:

Month	1970	1971
January	—	10,219,900
February	—	9,370,800
March	—	11,124,200
April	9,849,000	8,096,800
May	9,393,600	8,271,500
June	9,550,300	8,509,800
July	9,281,000	8,536,800
August	8,290,800	7,580,000
September	9,415,100	8,349,400
October	10,102,000	8,595,400
November	9,234,200	8,638,200
December	9,511,300	—

Figures of the number of separate dental consultations are not available. In the general dental services in England, however, the numbers of courses of treatment, including emergency cases, scheduled for payment by the Dental Estimates Board were as follows:

Month	1970	1971	1972
January	—	1,716,200	1,788,700
February	—	1,495,100
March	—	1,619,600
April	1,665,600	1,813,900
May	1,795,900	1,866,300
June	1,662,400	1,758,500
July	1,651,200	1,762,300
August	1,636,900	1,822,100
September	1,555,900	1,708,400
October	1,638,100	1,768,100
November	1,728,300	1,917,900
December	1,714,100	1,902,700

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the gross cost of increasing retirement pensions as implemented on 20th September, 1971; what was the cost net of the clawback of part of the supplementary pension in certain cases; and what was the cost net of this clawback and also of tax payable on the increase in pension.

The annual cost of increasing retirement pensions, including the improvements for persons over 80, will be £391 million gross or £344 million net after adjustments of supplementary pensions. Income tax payable at current rates on the increased retirement pensions would be of the order of £40 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if lie will make a statement on the current position with respect to the discussions on the reform of local authority finance.

Consultations on the Green Paper on "The Future Shape of Local Government Finance" began last September and will, I hope, be completed this spring.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why, contrary to United Nations agreement, the United Kingdom classes 50 c.c. assisted bicycles as motor vehicles and so insists on taxation; and whether, following the signing by the United Kingdom of the Treaty of Accession to the European Communities, he will seek to bring the United Kingdom practice into line with all other European nations.

Our practice does not conflict with either the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic or European Community legislation. I see no reason to change it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that in Austria, Belgium, the German Federal Republic, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey and Yugoslavia, motorists are required to display red warning triangles in case of an accident or breakdown; and what consideration he has given to having similar requirements in Great Britain.

My Department's studies have shown the four-way flasher to be more effective than the warning triangle. I am awaiting the outcome of discussions within Europe before making a decision on a mandatory requirement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the present charges per 1,000 inhabitants by the district auditors for auditing the accounts of local authorities; and what, as revealed from their accounts, are the comparable charges to county boroughs and non-county boroughs by other auditors.

It is not possible to provide the comparisons requested, since private auditors do not audit all the accounts of county and non-county borough councils and because local authorities are not required to make known details of audit fees paid.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to ensure that motor car bodies fulfil certain minimum requirements in terms of strength as a safety measure.

This question is being studied by the Economic Commission for Europe and as part of the experimental safety vehicle project in which my Department is participating.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses in new towns have become vacant from all causes in the years 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971; and what were these figures as percentages of new towns housing stock in each year.

Information is not available in this form. In the English new towns the numbers of development corporation and commission houses empty for all management reasons, including let but not occupied, under offer, undergoing repair or available for letting or sale at 31st December, 1970, and 31st December, 1971, were 3,561 and 4,368, respectively. They represented 2·8 per cent. and 3·1 per cent. of the total stock.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to set up a toxic waste advisory group to advise local authorities and industry on the safe disposal of all toxic chemicals.

Recruitment to new professional posts in the Directorate General and Water Engineering in my Department is already in hand to enable any necessary advice to be given. The report of the Technical Committee on the Disposal of Solid Toxic Wastes which was published in August, 1970, already contains much valuable advice for local authorities and for industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the derelict areas justifying treatment in England lie within development, intermediate or derelict land clearance areas, and how many lie outside.

On 31st December, 1970, there were some 46,900 acres of derelict land justifying treatment in England within the development, intermediate and derelict land clearance areas and some 16,100 acres outside. This information is based on the last survey completed by local planning authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, when he receives the proposals of the British Railways Board for the reorganisation of its regional administrative structure, he will make them available to hon. Members so that they may make representations before he takes the decision upon them required by Section 45 of the Transport Act, 1948.

I have not yet received any proposals from the British Railways Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will now begin to compile statistics to show how many primary schoolchildren and how many secondary schoolchildren die as a result of road accidents in the immediate proximity of their schools;(2) whether he will now begin to compile statistics to show how many primary schoolchildren and how many secondary schoolchildren suffer personal injury as a result of road accidents in the immediate proximity of their schools.

It would not be practicable to compile these statistics nationally but I am sure that local authorities in their detailed accident investigations take account of the position of schools.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Operation Eyesore Scheme will apply to the rural districts of Cheadle, Staffordshire, and Leek; and what rate of Government grant will operate.

The scheme will extend to both rural districts; the rate of grant will be 75 per cent. in each case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce amending legislation to exempt from compulsory passenger insurance mopeds, whether or not adapted to carry passengers or persons other than the driver.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average price per acre his Department expects to receive from the sale of 640 acres of land formerly held by the Land Commission and soon to be disposed of for private housing development.

Land formerly held by the Land Commission is being disposed of either by auction or by negotiated sales to local authorities. I cannot forecast what price will be realised.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will make it a practice of the Administration that, in circumstances where Her Majesty's Government wish to refuse to answer Questions on certain classes of questions, specific statements to that effect will be made in the House.

No, I think this must remain a matter for ministerial discretion in the circumstances of each individual case.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will detail the expert assistance available to him in the Cabinet Office for the settlement of industrial disputes.

The responsibility for conciliation properly lies in my Department. Some 100 staff are involved in this work.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will appoint an additional expert to his staff to advise him on Great Britain's future manpower requirements.

No. I have advisers on my staff and I also receive advice from outside bodies with specialist knowledge of employment in particular areas or industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the average earnings for textile workers in the Lancashire area.

The average weekly earnings of full-time manual men aged 21 and over in the textile industries—order XIII of the Standard Industrial Classification—in the North West Region in October, 1971, were £27·13.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the skills and experience which are required by citizens of Cyprus who wish to enter the United Kingdom with an A voucher.

The criteria for the issue of a category A voucher were listed in the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading (Dr. Vaughan) on 26th May, 1971. —[Vol. 818, c. 179–81.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the terms, other than those for A or B vouchers, under which citizens of Cyprus may enter the United Kingdom to work.

The categories of Commonwealth citizens who may be admitted for employment without vouchers are listed in paragraph 29 of Cmnd. 4298. Unlike voucher holders, persons in these categories are admitted for limited periods and not for settlement.In addition Commonwealth citizens may be admitted without vouchers for limited periods of training in the course of employment, with the prior approval of my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are being taken to provide increased employment for disabled persons in Wales; and what information there is of such requiring employment in Wales, Glamorgan, and in the Port Talbot travel-to-work area.

The measures we have taken to expand the economy and create more employment opportunities in the assisted areas should generally improve employment prospects, including those of disabled persons in Wales. They should also benefit from the measures to help disabled people which I announced in the House on 25th March, 1971, which are being implemented, and which include plans for 340 more places in sheltered workshops. Some 7,330 registered disabled persons were unemployed in Wales on 10th January. Of these, 696 were registered in the Port Talbot travel-to-work area and 3,584 at employment exchanges in Glamorgan.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will investigate with a view to prosecution cases of Spanish and Portuguese workers being enticed to come to work in Great Britain on false promises, and false job descriptions, details of which are in his possession.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state for each year since 1961 the average gross level of income per family living in each European Economic Community country, and the equivalent figure for each member State's development areas; and if he will compare these with those for the United Kingdom and United Kingdam development areas, using the 1961 United Kingdom gross income figure as the base level of 100.

I regret that the information requested by the hon. Member is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will encourage threshold wage agreements linked to the cost of living as a means of safeguarding the interests of lower paid workers in the event of British membership of the European Economic Community.

I have no present plans to do so. Following discussions at the National Economic Development Council, the T.U.C. and C.B.I. are now considering the practical implications of threshold agreements. While these studies are in progress I do not think it would be appropriate for me to commend or condemn the use of such agreements for any groups of workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the percentage increases in the Index of Retail Prices from mid-December, 1970, to mid-July, 1971, and from mid-July, 1971, to mid-December, 1971.

The percentage increases were as follows:

	per cent.
Mid-December. 1970 to mid-July, 1971	7·0
Mid-July, 1971, to mid-December, 1971	1·9

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many university medical schools have been built during the past six years; and how many were built north of the Trent.

Two new medical schools have been established, one at Southampton and one at Nottingham, on the north side of the Trent. A third, at Leicester, is now being planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what number of pre-clinical entry places she is planning for university medical schools in the United Kingdom for the years 1975, 1980 and 1985, respectively, compared with those for 1965 and 1970; and if she will give separate figures for Scotland compared with England and Wales.

In 1965, 2,478 students entered pre-clinical courses in universities in Great Britain, and in 1970 the number was 2,878. The figures for Scotland were 570 and 598; and for England and Wales 1,908 and 2,280. On

NURSERY SCHOOLS
Nil.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
St. John's Primary, Whetstone, London, N.20	…	…	…	…	18th February, 1971
Albert Walk Primary, Salford	…	…	…	…	15th March, 1971
Broadwalk Primary, Salford	…	…	…	…	15th March, 1971
West Liverpool Street Primary, Salford	…	…	…	…	15th March, 1971
St. Boniface Roman Catholic Primary, Salford	…	…	…	…	15th March, 1971
New Windsor Primary, Salford	…	…	…	…	15th March, 1971
Signhills Primary, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire	…	…	…	…	30th April, 1971
Widden Street Junior and Infants, Gloucester	…	…	…	…	17th May, 1971
Newton Street Cyres County Primary, Devon	…	…	…	…	16th July, 1971
Bickleigh Church of England Primary, Devon	…	…	…	…	16th July, 1971
St. Michaels Church of England Aided Primary, Headingley, Leeds				…	3rd November, 1971
Chandos Junior and Infants, Birmingham	…	…	…	…	12th November, 1971
Halifax Primary, Ipswich	…	…	…	…	26th November, 1971
Burton's Farm Junior, Warwickshire	…	…	…	…	3rd December, 1971
COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOLS	…	…	…	…
Netherley School, Liverpool	…	…	…	…	14th May, 1971
Archbishop Grimshaw Roman Catholic, Chelmsley Wood, Warwickshire					3rd December, 1971