asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make an estimate of the cost of disengaging British forces and equipment from Malta, and of the cost of returning British forces and equipment to Malta following the acceptance of the new terms.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply yesterday to a Question by the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis).—[Vol. 834, c. 212.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements he is making to increase the number of trainee craftsmen for the building industry.

My right hon. Friend has taken steps to provide as soon as possible, 150 more places at Government training centres for trainees in bricklaying. In addition 750 places will be provided in unused industrial premises for training in construction trades.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many inspectors he employs to enforce safety-at-work legislation; and how many of these operate within the Bolton travel-to-work area.

There were 712 factory inspectors in post on 1st April. Four of these are at the Bolton district office which covers the Bolton travel-to-work area, and also adjacent localities including Bury and Radcliffe. They are supported as necessary by the specialist inspectors from headquarters in London and the North-Western divisional office in Manchester.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men over 50 years of age are registered with the Professional and Executive Register in the employment areas in the Leek parliamentary constituency.

On 11th April, 1972, seven men—three unemployed and four still in work—over the age of 50 and resident in the Leek constituency were registered with the Professional and Executive Register.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in the different employment areas in the Leek parliamentary constituency, who left school in 1971, have not yet obtained their first job.

On 13th March, 1972, there were seven school leavers registered as unemployed in the parliamentary constituency area; four in the area of Leek careers office and three in the area of Cheadle careers office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have taken place between his Department and the Greater London Council regarding the road improvements on the Al and the owner of No. 80, Archway Road, London, N.19, whose garden has been incorporated in the scheme, without the prior consent of the owner.

None, but part of the garden of No. 80 Archway Road is in a compulsory purchase order made by the Greater London Council and confirmed by the Minister of Transport in September, 1969. This followed a public inquiry at which the owner was present and professionally represented. Beyond that, the acquisition is entirely a matter for the Greater London Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the acreage of land occupied by urban allotments in England and Wales at the last date for which figures are available.

The acreage of allotments in county boroughs, boroughs and urban districts in England and Wales on 30th September, 1971, was about 35,000 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in the metrication of privately commissioned building work; and whether he will make a statement.

Steady progress is being made in the metrication of privately commissioned building work. Statistics published by the R.I.B.A. reveal that the value of private sector projects designed to metric controlling dimensions which had reached the production drawings stage by the end of 1971 totalled £490 million. The proportion which these projects represented of the total private sector workload increased from an average of about 13 per cent. up to the end of 1970 to 29 per cent. by the last quarter of 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many operatives are currently employed by the directly employed labour force of his Department; and what the equivalent figures were for 31st December, 1971.

31,156 on 31st March 1972; 31,576 on 31st December, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary schools there are in the Leek parliamentary constituency that were built before 1900.

The Department does not collect figures by reference to parliamentary constituencies. My hon. Friend may obtain the information from his local education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable as to why the police in Bedfordshire failed to communicate to the Press, within a reasonable time of the commissioning of the crime, the fact that a 19-month old child, Tessa Smith, of Kempstone, was brutally assaulted and diedsoon after the event, in view of the facts that rumours were rife and that the public were entitled to be apprised of the broad details of the crime.

A report has been called for and I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the policy of his Department towards the arrival in Great Britain of British citizens from East Africa who have travelled via India.

My right hon. Friend is considering the matter in the light of recent developments and he hopes to make a statement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Asian holders of British passports admitted temporarily have left after the permitted period in Great Britain.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount of fines collected from magistrates' courts, assizes and quarter sessions for the year ending March, 1971, and the amounts from March, 1971, to the latest and most convenient stated date; what was the amount for the previous 12 months 1970–71; how much in both instances had to be written off as irrecoverable; and for these periods how much in fines for which the time for payment had expired was still outstanding.

The fines received from these courts in the years ending 31st March, 1971, and 31st March, 1972, totalled £18,095,965 and £22,824,784. During these years the amounts written off were £481,908 and £564,950. The other information asked for is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will announce a decision on the future of Hill Hall, Theydon Mount; whether he is satisfied that adequate arrangements exist for its proper maintenance; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that I cannot say when a decision will be taken but I am considering further proposals for the use of the site. Measures have been taken to protect the fabric of the building from further deterioration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money is being spent on the police recruiting campaign this year, with comparative figures for the last 10 years.

The figures for England and Wales are:

	£
1962–63	Nil
1963–64	191,400
1964–65	198,483
1965–66	320,906
1966–67	305,330
1967–68	261,815
1968–69	161,374
1969–70	384,254
1970–71	586,602
1971–72(provisional figure)	542,000
1972–73(estimated)	600,000

In addition some money is spent centrally on recruiting material; and police authorities incur expenditure, of which I do not have details, on local recruitment campaigns.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers have been murdered in the course of duty in each of the past 20 years.

In England and Wales, one in 1965; none in any other year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to refer the legislation on children and young persons to the Law Reform Committee for consideration.

There are no such plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to improve conditions at Stoke Park Mental Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with conditions at Stoke Park Mental Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Conditions in the older wards at this hospital are still, I regret, far from satisfactory. The proper solution lies in greatly reducing patient numbers. To this end the regional hospital board is providing 60 beds at Gloucester in the current financial year as the first instalment of developments co-ordinated with those of the local authorities, as recommended in paragraph 268 of "Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped" (Cmnd. 4683).In the meantime a programme of improvements is being implemented at Stoke Park with the object of achieving by 1975 the minimum standards referred to in paragraph 226 of the Command Paper. This has included the installation of new laundry equipment which should overcome the present problems with clothing.Since March, 1969, revenue allocations to the Stoke Park Group have been increased by more than £300,000. In about the same period, some £650,000 of capital has also been spent on improvements at Stoke Park and Purdown Hospitals and schemes estimated to cost £250,000 are in progress or planned for the near future at these hospitals. My Department is considering an application from the regional hospital board for an additional consultant appointment based at Stoke Park and has given special approval for the immediate erection of two temporary units at Stoke Park and another two at the adjoining Purdown Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research studies have been made on the use of high doses of sodium fluoride as a means of influencing favourably otosclerosis bone lesion and arresting deafness development from this cause.

I am not aware of the results of any studies using high doses of sodium fluoride in otosclerosis; but research work is in progress in the United States, and in at least one centre in England, to evaluate the effect of high doses of sodium fluoride in one particular form of otosclerosis, by means of a long-term controlled study.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what correspondence he has had with the Bristol Local Optical Committee on the charges now imposed under the National Health Service for optical and ophthalmic assistance and treatment.

The committee sent my right hon. Friend a resolution on this subject in June, 1971. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of my Department's reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the average national figures for aid given, during the last year for which these are available, by county, county borough and other local authorities per head to deaf persons.

This information is not available as the only figures collected which specifically relate to the deaf and hard of hearing are net expenditure per deaf person registered under Section 29 of the National Assistance Act. These relate to only part of an authority's services for deaf people.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applicants for treatment in his Department's specialised tropical units have been rejected by his Department's area medical board.

None. Medical boards act only in an advisory capacity in relation to war pensions matters. Decisions on applications for treatment are made by the Department's own doctors who are aware of the undertaking given by our predecessors that any Far Eastern prisoner of war who considers he is suffering from a condition which results from his experience as a prisoner of war may, if he asks for a medical check-up, be admitted to a tropical unit for special investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the infant mortality rates in Leek Rural District in 1940, 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965. 1970, and at the latest available date.

Figures are as follows:

Leek Rural District
Deaths under 1 year of age, per 1,000 live births
Year	Rate
1940	49
1945	41
1950	34
1955	24
1960	28
1965	28
1970	15
1971	Not available

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are now receiving constant attendance allowance.

At 7th April, 1972, the new attendance allowance was being paid in respect of just over 72,000 severely disabled people; this number comprised almost 55,000 adults and just over 17,000 children. The total of allowances in payment is less than the number of awards in the main because of cessations on death, or suspension of payment for people in hospital or prescribed accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the amount of social security benefits, including unemployment benefit, earnings related supplement and supplementary benefit, paid during 1971 or for the latest convenient date to the unemployed.

£330 million in 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT those local authorities which provide help under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, in circumstances where the cost of a journey by a parent to a child in hospital causes substantial hardship to the visitor and whore there is urgent reason for the visit, or it would in the opinion of a doctor assist the patient's response to treatment;(2) how many applications were received by each local authority providing help under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, from parents desiring to visit a child in hospital in each of the years 1968 to 1971; how many were granted; and what was the total expenditure involved.

This information is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of families classified officially as being homeless who are being provided with bed and breakfast accommodation by each of the London boroughs.

The extent to which board as well as accommodation is provided is not known. Generally families are enabled to cater for themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if any of the London boroughs are defaulting in their statutory duties to provide Part III accommodation for the homeless; and what action he proposes.

No. London boroughs face great difficulties in carrying out their functions but are endeavouring to do so as well as their situation permits. We have with the Secretary of State for the Environment commended to them the principle that accommodation for homeless families should be provided under housing powers and not under the National Assistance Act and we await their response.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to encourage the development of child resistant containers and closures to prevent accidental poisoning of children.

As I informed the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, North-West (Mr. Greville Janner) on 1st March, the British Standards Institution has, at the request of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, agreed to set up a technical committee on methods of test for child-resistant containers. We welcome this decision and my Department will do all it can to assist the technical committee to draw up interim guidance in order that pharmacists, doctors and the industry concerned can be advised as soon as possible. In the meantime, my Department will be instituting early discussions with the representatives of the professional and commercial interests concerned about the practical considerations which could be expected to arise from the introduction of child-resistant containers.—[Vol. 832, c. 131–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for industrial development certificates have been refused in the Leek Urban District in each of the past 10 years.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the United Kingdom's exports went to the Commonwealth in 1945, 1958 and 1971.

35 per cent., 37 per cent. and 22 per cent., respectively, for those countries members of the Commonwealth in 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many requests he has received, in the last 12months, for the making of orders for origin markings; and from which industries these requests have been made.

Since 1st April, 1971, I have received 16 requests for origin marking orders from industries making the following goods:

• Shirts and pyjamas.
• Sporting cartridge cases.
• Ceramic sanitary ware.
• Domestic pottery.
• Glazed tiles.
• Hand tools.
• Domestic electrical appliances.
• Leather goods.
• Surgical instruments.
• Overalls.
• Gloves.
• Matches.
• Knitwear.
• Handknitting wool and rug yarns.
• Woven woollen cloth and garments.
• Smokers' lighters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the effect of the current levels of imports of polyester filament yarn on domestic producers; and if he will make a statement.

The principal British producers have complained of the effect of the recent high level of imports on their sales. I am considering this urgently.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the assisted area status of Winsford Urban District.

The White Paper on Industrial and Regional Development (Cmnd. 4942) explained that the town of Winsford, which had hitherto been treated as a detached part of the Mersey-side development area, would form part of the new North-West intermediate area but that regional employment premium would continue to be paid there for the time being. The Intermediate Areas and Derelict Land Clearance Areas Order, 1972 (S.I. 1972/421) included Winsford as part of the new North-West intermediate area with effect from 22nd March.It had always been our intention that the urban district part of Winsford should continue to receive full development area treatment until 2nd May this year with R.E.P. continuing thereafter. I am, however, now advised that S.I. 1972/421 had the effect of making it no longer possible to treat the urban district as if it were a development area in the period between 22nd March and 2nd May.Accordingly an order is being laid today to exclude the urban district of Winsford from the North-West intermediate area for the period from now until 2nd May. Notice is being given pursuant to section 1(5) of the Local Employment Act, 1972, that Winsford Urban District will be treated as if it were a development area in that period. It is proposed in forthcoming legislation to provide that the urban district shall also be treated as a development area during the period between 22nd March and today, notwithstanding its inclusion as part of the North-West intermediate area during that period.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exempt from value-added tax both antique and contemporary works of art in order to preserve London's standing in the world's art markets.

There will be opportunity to discuss questions about the application of value-added tax during the debates on the Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how often Bank Rate has been increased and decreased since 1958; and what are the comparable figures for member countries of the European Community, from information available from international sources.

Since the beginning of 1958 there have been the following changes in the Bank Rates of the United Kingdom and of the member countries of the European Economic Community:

	Increases	Decreases
United Kingdom	10	23
Belgium/Luxembourg	12	24
France	6	11
Germany	10	17
Italy	3	4
Netherlands	8	10

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the National Income has been devoted to saving in each year since 1959.

The information is contained in the following table:

	Net saving* as a percentage of National income	Gross saving as a percentage of gross national product at factor cost
1959	11·3	19·0
1960	12·1	19·5
1961	12·9	20·2
1962	11·6	19·2
1963	11·7	19·2
1964	13·5	20·8
1965	13·8	22·2
1966	13·7	21·3
1967	12·8	20·6
1968	13·2	21·1
1969	14·9	23·0
1970	14·9	23·1
1971	13·9	22·4
* After deducting stock appreciation and capital consumption.
†After deducting stock appreciation.
The figures for 1959 to 1965 have been derived from the National Income Blue Book for 1971 and for 1966 to 1971 from the National Income and Balance of Payments White Paper (Cmnd. 4935).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much productivity rose in manufacturing industry in each of the last five years.

Percentage increases over the previous year in output per person employed in manufacturing industry are as follows:

1967	2·8
1968	6·9
1969	2·1
1970	1·5
1971(provisional)	3·2

Persons employed include employees, employers and self-employed persons; full-time and part-time workers are all

counted as full units. The figures are published regularly in the

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer from information available from international sources, what was the gross domestic product per head at factor cost in Australia and Canada for the most recent year for which information is available; and how this compares with the figure in the United Kingdom for the same year.

The figures are given in the table below. They have been taken from the United Nations Yearbook of National Accounts and relate to 1968, the latest year for which the information is available. The United Kingdom figures have been revised on the basis of the latest published estimates. The figures have been converted to United States dollars at official exchange rates as in the United Nations publication, but this does not necessarily take account of differences in internal purchasing power.

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AT FACTOR COST PER HEAD OF POPULATION
	1968 Percentage
United Kingdom	1,586
Australia	2,264*
Canada	2,621
* Figures relate to fiscal year beginning 1st July, 1968.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the proportion of total national resources pre-empted by public expenditure in the financial years 1964–65, 1970–71 and 1971–72; and what is now his forecast of the proportion for the coming financial year.

Public expenditure other than transfer payments as a proportion of gross national product at factor cost was 27·7 per cent. in 1964–65 and 31·1 per cent. in 1970–71. It is estimated that the corresponding figures for 1971–72—for which only provisional data are so far available—and 1972–73 will also be about 31 per cent., though fractionally less in the latter year than in the former.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the purchasing power of the £ sterling was on 1st January, 1972, compared with 1st January, 1964.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling as 100p in January, 1964, its value in January. 1972, is estimated at 67½p.This estimate is based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for calendar years adjusted by movements in the General Index of Retail Prices for the months at the beginning and end of the period. Prices are recorded in the middle of the month.