asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the evidence submitted to his Department by the Dart moor Livestock Protection Society of the treatment of animals shipped on the foreign coaster "Bonteroe" in January and February, 1972, for slaughter abroad, he will take steps to secure the proper enforcement of the Exported Animals Protection Order, 1964, and the Animals (Sea Transport) Order, 1930.

Inquiries are now being made into these reports, and future action will depend on the outcome. I will see that my hon. Friend is kept informed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is now able to make a statement on the Second Report of the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments relating to Article 5(4) of the Dutch Elm Disease (Local Authorities) Order, 1971.

With a view to putting beyond doubt the statutory basis of the order I am today tabling an Amendment to the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill in the form of a declaratory Clause clarifying the Plant Health Act, 1967.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the number of persons who have, during each of the last three calendar years, been discharged or dismissed from the Armed Forces following the completion of a sentence in a naval or military prison or a military corrective training centre or following a court martial.

I regret that the information is not readily available. I will write to the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will now arrange for a Service helicopter to be based in the Western Isles for use in conveying emergency cases to hospital.

No. There is no defence requirement which would justify basing a Service helicopter in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if she will state the names of the seven officers of her Department and five members of Her Majesty's Inspectorate who gave confidential evidence to the James Committee on Teacher Education, together with their respective positions in her Department or sphere of inspectoral responsibility;

The following gave oral evidence to the James Committee:Sir William Pile, Permanent Secretary.Mr. T. R. Weaver, Deputy Secretary.Mr. Leslie Jones, Secretary for Welsh Education.Mr. H. A. Harding, Under-Secretary, Teacher Training.Mr. D. E. Lloyd Jones, Under-Secretary, Further Education.Mr. P. T. Sloman, Under-Secretary, Teacher Supply.Mr. D. O'Donovan, Assistant Secretary, Teacher Supply.Mr. H. W. French. H.M.I., Chief Inspector, Further Education.Mr. W. LI Lloyd, H.M.I., Chief Insepctor, Wales.Miss K. M. B. Burton, H.M.I., Staff Inspector Teacher Training.Mr. P. Phillips, H.M.I., Staff Inspector, Teacher Trainnig.Mr. E. Whiteley, H.M.I., Staff Inspector, Teacher Training.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if she will request local education authorities to require heads of schools to maintain a register for each teaching group within their school to show the changes in staff responsible for those groups, noting those changes resulting from staff turnover;(2) if she will request local education authorities to maintain a record of the annual turnover of staff in each of their schools including temporary supply and part-time staff, the latter counting in proportion to their attendance.

No. I do not think that this is a matter in which the effort involved in collecting national statistics would be justified. It is therefore for each local education authority to decide what information it needs and how it should be collected.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what reports she has received from Her Majesty's Inspectorate concerning the standards of attainment and skills of pupils leaving secondary schools at the earliest opportunity.

H.M. Inspectors report from time to time on general educational standards achieved in particular schools, but they do not conduct systematic tests of attainment of individuals or specific groups of pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what are the proposed national upper limits of medical school entry for each year until 1980;(2) what new medical schools it is proposed to create in 1980.

Current planning is based on a maximum of 4,100 pre-clinical entry places by the later 1970s, the annual figures being flexible. Decisions to increase that maximum or to create new medical schools must await further determination of the national need for doctors.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage unemployment rate in the Southampton area for each month since June, 1970.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many advertised vacancies in the shipbuilding industry, broken down by skills, there were at the last count at employment exchanges in the City of Glasgow, the County of Dunbarton and the County of Renfrew.

The numbers of notified vacancies in the shipbuilding and ship repairing industry remaining unfilled at 9th February, 1972, were six in the City of Glasgow, one in Dunbartonshire and none in Renfrewshire. The figures relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour in the industry. There is no occupational analysis of these figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is undertaking a widespread survey of testing of dust and dirt; and what results he has had in relation to the presence of lead poisons.

Yes. I have asked for several different investigations into lead pollution to be undertaken. Because a survey of lead in dust in Tower Hamlets revealed disquieting facts, I have commissioned a survey designed to show the extent of lead pollution around all the lead works which use particularly dusty processes and are therefore most likely to cause pollution problems. The results of the survey are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research work he is undertaking on chipping off of lead on buildings, involving lead poisoning dangerous to children; and if he will make a statement.

I believe that the essential information is already available, but I am examining whether I can usefully commission further research about it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation enabling him to override local authorities which refuse to make discretionary grants in cases where he considers grants have been unreasonably withheld.

No. Local authorities with their specialised local knowledge have been given the discretion to make these decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what response there has been in terms of numbers of applications from local authorities to the recently announced Operation Eyesore scheme; and whether he will make a statement.

The response in the six weeks since I announced the scheme has been remarkable. Fifty-three local authorities have already put forward 277 schemes; 92 schemes from 28 local authorities have so far been approved. Many other local authorities are known to have schemes in preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions have been given to the United Kingdom representative at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Santiago; and what initiatives are to be proposed to assist such countries as Mauritius to improve their trade and development capability.

The developing countries, including Mauritius, have made clear in the Lima Declaration the proposals which they would like to see U.N.C.T.A.D. III adopt. The main task at Santiago will be to find generally acceptable conclusions which arise from these proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British subjects have been expelled or made prohibited immigrants in Zambia in each year from 1965; and in how many cases were protests made by the British Representative.

About 50 British subjects were expelled or declared prohibited immigrants in Zambia during 1971 and the High Commission made representations on behalf of 11 of these. I regret that files for earlier years have been destroyed.Since all independent Governments have the right to decide who may live in their countries and to expel or exclude anyone in accordance with their laws, representations made by the United Kingdom authorities are reserved for cases where the manner in which this right is exercised appears to cause hardship.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the additional United Nations expenditure resulting from the holding of a meeting of the Security Council at Addis Ababa instead of New York.

I am told that additional expenditure incurred by the United Nations as a result of this special session is likely to amount to around £42,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what privilege will be extended by the Court of the European Economic Community after ratification of the Treaty of Brussels to speeches of Members of Parliament in either House in respect of obligations or duties laid upon them by Community Treaties defined as such in Clause 1 of the European Communities Bill, or similar duties in respect of Clause 2.

Given the nature of the jurisdiction exercisable by the Court of Justice of the European Communities there would appear to be no circumstances in which any question concerning the privileges enjoyed by Members of Parliament in respect of speeches in either House could arise in proceedings before the European Court.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain from the Northern Ireland Government and publish statistics showing the comparative rate of increase in violent incidents in Northern Ireland before and after the introduction of internment.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army and I gave on 9th March to Questions by the hon. Member for Belfast, East (Mr. McMaster).—[Vol. 832, c. 374–6, 378–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish details of the scheme for providing financial assistance to members of the police service who study in their own time.

The scheme provides for payment of 80 per cent. of the cost of registration and entry fees for approved courses and examinations; 80 per cent. of the cost of attending short residential summer schools which are an integral part of a longer course; 50 per cent. of the cost of books, subject to specified limits and conditions; and all additional travelling expenses arising out of attendance at approved courses. Details of the scheme, which will operate from 1st September, 1972, have been sent to police authorities and chief officers of police.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will propose the exclusion of State retirement pensions from tax assessment in the case of incomes below £1,250.

To increase the advantage which elderly taxpayers already have over those under 65 to the extent suggested by my hon. Friend could not be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total income to the Exchequer in a full year from each category of goods covered by the lowest rates of purchase tax.

The most recent available analysis for a full year of purchase tax receipts by categories is that for 1970–71, which is published in page 101 of the Report of the Commissioners of H.M. Customs and Excise for the year ended 31st March, 1971, Cmnd 4826. This necessarily relates to the rates of 13¾ per cent., 22 per cent., 36⅔ per cent. and 55 per cent. then in force.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the loss of Exchequer revenue from each individual category of goods which has had purchase tax reduced from 45 per cent. to 25 per cent.

The total cost of reducing purchase tax on goods previously liable at 30 per cent. and 45 per cent., is estimated to be £175 million in a full year. Estimates for individual categories have not been made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will correct the imbalance in the increases made, respectively, to the personal allowances and the age exemption reliefs made since 1968–69 to single and married persons.

My right hon. Friend announced his proposals for increasing single and married person's allowances and for raising the income limits for age exemption in his Budget Statement. He explained that administrative constraints in 1972–73 obliged him to increase the married and single allowances by the same figure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many retirement pen

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in April, 1973, he still intends to raise the

Estimates of the numbers of persons qualifying for marginal age exemption—mainly retirement pensioners—and of the amounts of income tax paid are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report details giving the total revenue received from all forms of motor taxation in each of the financial years from 1963 and the amounts of Government expenditure spent on roads for the same period.

The following is the information:personal tax allowances applying in 1972–73 by two-sevenths to take account of the abolition of earned income allowance.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the waiting lists, in the Lanarkshire hospitals serving the Hamilton constituency, for hernia, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, rheumatism, arthritis, tonsils/adenoids, congenital heart disease, and slipped disc, respectively.

I am asking the regional hospital board to provide such detailed information as is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department will undertake to inform the public, by television and Press advertisements, of his suggested regional and district boundaries for the reformed local government structure; and if he will invite the public to submit individual or group observations on the suggested boundaries.

I took steps a year ago to inform the public of the boundaries indicated in the White Paper, and in the light of the response I have made the adjustments which I announced on 22nd December.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to announce his decision regarding the proposed closure of the Paddington Clinic and Day Hospital; and whether he can indicate what period of time will elapse during which interested parties can make representations, before his decision is taken.

The proposal is not for the closure of the Paddington Clinic and Day Hospital but for its designation to the Board of Governors of St. Mary's Hospital. I have already received a number of representations about this and am willing to consider further representations up to the end of April.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what number and percentage of those in receipt of industrial injuries disablement pensions receive a weekly payment of £2 or less.

A sum of £2 is the current weekly rate of pension for an assessment of 20 per cent., and at the latest date for which figures are available 108,000 disablement pensioners, 53 per cent. of the total, were receiving pensions based on assessments of 20 per cent. or less. Forty-two per cent. of these pensioners were also receiving an allowance for special hardship.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average weekly payment received by those in receipt of industrial injuries disablement pensions.

The figure is £2·90, apart from any increases which may be payable for special hardship, unemployability and constant attendance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average weekly payment received by those in receipt of an industrial injuries pension of more than £2 per week.

The figure is £4·30, apart from any increases which may be payable for special hardship, unemployability and constant attendance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if any of the moneys to be allocated to the Health Service, under his programme announced last November, will be available to local authorities to develop in consultation with local hospitals projects such as hostels for mentally handicapped adults.

A large part of the extra £110 million announced in November, 1970, was reserved for the development of services, including local authority services, for the mentally handicapped over the years 1971–72–1974–75.—[Vol. 826, c. 957–64.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the total spent by the Medical Research Council on research is spent on discovering a cure for psoriasis; what is the number of people effectively cured; and what attention is being paid to claims made in other countries for the successful treatment of the disease.

I have been asked to reply.The Medical Research Council is supporting studies on psoriasis both directly in one of its own research establishments and through the award of project grants in university departments and other centres; it is not possible to isolate the expenditure devoted to these studies. Psoriasis is an inborn disease with an hereditary element and, as there is at present no known means of eradicating the inborn defect, all current treatments are in effect palliative and do not result in a cure.As in other fields the results of research into this problem are published in the international scientific literature and new developments are thus brought to the attention of clinicians concerned with the treatment of patients. Workers in this field also regularly foregather at conferences and meetings to exchange views and information.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library details of agreements reached with Marathon Manufacturing Company for the provision of financial assistance out of public funds to that company, including details of arrangements for monitoring how and when such assistance is spent.

An application from the company for assistance under the Local Employment Acts is under consideration, but no agreement has yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he will be making to the European Economic Community about the requests from Israel, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Rumania and Cuba for inclusion among the countries benefiting from general tariff preferences on their imports into the Community when these requests are considered by the Community and the British Government at the meeting proposed to be held in April, 1972, of the Council of Ministers with new members taking part.

We shall be consulted under the interim period procedure when the Council of Ministers has reached a common position on these requests, and we shall then make our views known to the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representation he has made to the Confederation of British Industry regarding the renewal of the German Democratic Republic/United Kingdom trade agreement; and if he will make a statement.

I take it that the hon. Member is referring to the Long Term Trade Agreement between the Confederation of British Industry and the Chamber of Foreign Trade of the German Democratic Republic concluded in December, 1969. This agreement runs for an initial period from signature until 31st December, 1972. Thereafter it will be automatically extended for further 12-monthly periods unless either of the two parties gives three months' written notice of termination before 31st December, 1972, or before the end of any subsequent annual period of the agreement's operation. The question of renewal does not therefore arise. It is for each of the parties to the agreement to decide whether they wish to give notice of termination.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the two-day round of talks between Government officials of Great Britain and Norway on North Sea problems pertaining to energy finds.

The talks were of an informal nature and provided an opportunity for exchange of information about the exploration for and exploitation of North Sea oil and gas. They were a continuation of periodic discussions which have taken place between officials of both Governments since 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total sum which is expected to be spent on improvements of main roads in Cardiganshire in the current year.

Approximately £338,000.