asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement as to the future planning of the proposed motorways between Balkholme and the city of Kingston upon Hull.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 8th March, 1972.—[Vol. 832, c. 329.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the hon. Member for Willesden, West, will get a reply to his letter to the Minister for Local Government and Development, sent on 22nd March, 1972, on the subject of a deputation he received concerning matters within the London Borough of Brent.

A reply was sent on 4th April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT detailed list showing to what extent, under the existing rules and regulations of the European Economic Community and those now proposed, on Great Britain's entry, the use of cars and vehicles on the roads will be affected so far as tax, insurance, vehicle licensing, road testing, and all other existing legislationis concerned; and to what extent harmonisation will have to take place with the European Economic Community regulations.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek to introduce on-the-spot fines when he brings in his anti-litter legislation.

The Dangerous Litter Act, 1971, which raised the maximum litter penalty from £10 to £100, is less than a year old. I am not contemplating further legislation at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of the new parliamentary building exhibition in Westminster Hall; how many members of the public visited the exhibition and for how many hours it was open to the public; and what plans he has for further public exhibition of the winning design and other award winning and highly commended schemes.

The cost of the exhibition was about £10,000. It was open to the public for 123 hours, and was visited by some 14,000 people. I have no plans at present for any further public exhibition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had as part of his programme for the preservation and improvement of ancient cities with the appropriate local authorities and amenity organisations on the preservation of open spaces, suitable for recreational purposes and children's play areas, as well as their scenic potential, in Norwich.

I understand that my hon. Friend has written on this topic to my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State, who will be replying as soon as he can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is yet in a position to make a statement on the appointment of a Parliamentary Commissioner to investigate allegations against local authorities.

I shall shortly be seeking the views of local authority associations and staff interests on proposals for the establishment by law of a Commission for Local Administration to investigate complaints of maladministration by local authorities. I envisage that the Commissioners would report annually on the performance of their functions to a body representative of local government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a general direction to British Rail that litter bins be provided in the compartments of passenger trains.

No, but I understand that the Railways Board has agreed to provide litter bins in passenger stock as soon as a satisfactory design has been evolved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now reduce the toll on the Severn Bridge to 10p.

No. My right hon. Friend is now reviewing tolls, but it will be some time before he is able to publish any proposals he may decide to make.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his decision following the public inquiry into the future of Covent Garden.

I shall aim to take the decision on the Greater London Council's proposals as quickly as possible after I receive the Inspector's report, which is awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to make all land on which a grant of planning permission for housing development has been made and no building start has been made within 12 months liable to be rated.

No. Subject to agricultural exemptions, such land is already rateable if it is beneficially occupied. If my hon. Friend has in mind a form of rate on the value of sites for development, I would refer him to the discussion of site value rating in paragraphs 2.71 to 2.78 of the Green Paper on the Future Shape of Local Government Finance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in considering the report of the sub-committee on water charges; and if he will now make a statement as to whether consideration has been given to a method by which users would be charged a price which relates directly to the quantities of water consumed.

The Central Advisory Water Committee's Sub Committee on Water Charges, reporting in 1963, found no general system of charging for domestic supplies which would be better, on balance, than the water rate. It considered that the cost of metering household supplies would be out of scale with the cost of the water supplied. The Government have nothing against metering in principle; the question is one of the right time and circumstances for making a change.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his forthcoming legislation to require local authorities to produce annual reports on the working of their departments will include the requirement of an annual report on the activities of the direct labour building departments.

My right hon. Friend has no plans for legislation on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ascertain how much land was available for development in the county of Norfolk before receipt of Circular 10/70 by the planning authority; and by how much this figure has been increased since.

I have not got this information at present, but I am considering such further steps which I can take in pursuance of the aims of Circular 10/70 as will not impose unreasonable burdens of record keeping and reporting on local planning authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of total vehicle registrations is represented by articulated vehicles; and what information he has about the percentage of articulated vehicles recorded as having been involved in serious accidents.

Information is not available on the exact number of articulated vehicles registered, but in 1971 their traffic mileage represented 1·9 per cent. Of all vehicles involved in fatal and serious accidents in 1971, 1·4 per cent. were articulated vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the considerations he took into account in deciding to permit the withdrawal of the Southampton/Guernsey/ Jersey British Rail cargo service from Southampton to Portsmouth.

No; British Rail does not need my consent to withdraw its shipping services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set up a Departmental inquiry to consider future policy, in the light of the insufficient time available for archaeological record making at Baynard's Castle.

No, but I will consider the point should that seem to be desirable when the recent excavations at Baynard's Castle and those due to start there in mid-June have been evaluated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the powers available to the Inspectorate of Ancient Monuments, in the light of experience at Baynard's Castle; and if he will make a statement.

The statutory powers available to me as regards ancient monu- ments are considerable, but I hope that Parliament will extend them as proposed currently in the Field Monuments Bill and later in a more general Measure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list conveniently available information showing the variation in the percentage of the penny rate, given by local authorities, to archaeological or historical work.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the percentage of a penny rate, and the total money spent, on archaeological work by, respectively, Winchester, Exeter, Lincoln, York, and the City of London authorities.

I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek to amend the Field Monuments Bill, to require developers to allow archaeologists more time for study and recording of important archaeological sites.

No. The Field Monuments Bill is concerned solely with a scheme to preserve ancient monuments threatened by agriculture and forestry, but I hope to introduce a more general Measure before long which would include powers of compulsory excavation in suitable cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, when information was first given to his Department by the Court of Common Council or other City of London or Guildhall authorities about the historical importance of the Baynard's Castle site; and what action was taken.

On14th January last, my Department was approached by the Corporation regarding proposed excavations at this and one other site. I agreed to provide a contribution towards the costs involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, taking into account such facts as the Venerable Bede's assertion that London was a mart for traders of many lands, what policy conclusions he deduces on the need to preserve remains from 7th, 8th, and 9th-century London.

I yield to no one in my veneration for the Venerable Bede and will bear this assertion of his in mind. But his are not the only facts and assertions I have to take into account: other aspects and other periods of London's monumental history have to be considered, too.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, what estimate he has made of the archæological and historical importance of the Roman Basilica and Forum in the Bishopsgate-Leadenhall Street area of London.

In June, 1967, the then Ministry of Public Building and Works drew the Corporation of London's attention to the quite exceptional importance of the whole of this area. The Common Council transmitted these views to the company which was then developing a part of this area, and a valuable excavation took place in 1968–69. Similar arrangements would, I am sure, be made on future such occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will place in the Library a copy of the plans for the development of the Bishopsgate-Leadenhall Street area of London.

The general development proposals for the Bishopsgate-Leadenhall Street area are contained in the Initial Development Plan for Greater London and the Greater London Development Plan, copies of which are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if Her Majesty's Government, as an experiment, will set up an official tip in the Midlands with fully qualified staff to deal with the dumping of toxic waste and with a reclamation plant on site.

The capability of industry and local authorities to secure satisfactory disposal of toxic wastes might best be considered in the light of information obtained in due course as a result of the notification procedure under the Deposit of Poisonous Waste Act. Greater provision of treatment and reclamation plant is clearly desirable, and I hope that local planning authorities will give every assistance to waste disposal firms which wish to establish themselves to meet particular demands.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the oil companies concerning the level of lead additives in petrol; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend will make an announcement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider increasing the maximum mortgage permitted under the option mortgage scheme in view of the fall in the value of the £ sterling since the present limit of £7,500 was fixed.

The limit applies only to Government assisted guarantees for high percentage loans made under the option mortgage scheme, not to the scheme itself. I think it right that these special guarantees should continue to be directed towards borrowers who are less well off.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the information supplied to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, regarding matters connected with the pollution of the environment, loss of life, danger to the aged and children, from the Channelsea River, Stratford, E.15, ownership or responsibility for which is denied by every public body other than Her Majesty's Government and by every private concern, he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain what action he can take to improve this situation.

I am looking into this urgently.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, following his findings of faulty workmanship in the safety barriers on the southern section of the M1, he intends to take action against those responsible; and what steps he proposes to take in order to ensure that such faulty workmanship does not occur again, in view of the dangers which it can cause.

I have satisfied myself that my agent authority, the Hertfordshire County Council, has taken all necessary action against those responsible and that no further intervention on my part is called for. All deficiencies in workmanship have been required to be rectified by the contractor at his own expense. I am ensuring that the lessons learned on this contract are applied to future similar works especially concerning the level of supervision.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will take steps to obtain a more consistent standard of service from the House of Commons switchboard, to raise the level to that of the most efficient operators at present on the staff and to replace the least competent.

:I am sure that all our operators do their best, but some are inevitably more experienced than others. The present overloading of the switchboard is bound to result in occasional delay. The new automatic exchange is due to come into operation—I hope, during August—will considerably improve telephone facilities throughout the Palace of Westminster.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is satisfied that the present procedure for dealing with unopposed bills allows adequate scrutiny of new legislation; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any dissatisfaction over the present procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will authorise a study to be made of the likely effects of the oil industry on the environment of the North of Scotland.

I have no evidence that statutory development control by the appropriate authorities, and particularly the local planning authorities, is inadequate to protect the environment, but I am keeping in close touch with developments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many adults and youths, respectively, lost their lives due to drowning whilst bathing from beaches during each of the past five years; and what advice and assistance he gives to local authorities designed to reduce this loss of life.

As regards the first part of the Question, the available information is as follows:

DEATHS FROM ACCIDENTAL DROWNING, NOT INVOLVING SHIPS OR BOATS, IN THE COASTAL WATERS OF ENGLAND AND WALES
				Age
			0–14	15–19	20+
1966	…	…	37	22	76
1967	…	…	31	16	78
1968	…	…	16	15	93
1969	…	…	18	13	90
1970	…	…	7	14	98

The Home Office has circulated to local authorities a comprehensive guide on the prevention of drowning accidents, prepared by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, and sponsors publicity designed to support the activities of local authorities in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain from the Chief Constable the number of police prosecutions there were in Bolton for offences against the Litter Act, 1958, and the Civic Amenities Act, 1967, during the past 24 months.

In Bolton, during 1970 and 1971, the police took proceedings against four persons under the Litter Act, 1958, and none under the Civic Amenities Act, 1967.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on his recent actions taken in connection with the rules and regulations regarding the import of animals and rabies resulting there from.

:I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Weston-super-Mare (Mr. Wiggin) on 29th March announcing further decisions, following recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry on Rabies, on the control of imported dogs and cats. My Department's officials are now in consultation with representatives of quarantine kennel owners on the detailed implementation of these decisions.—[Vol. 834, c. 103–4.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made with the disposal of the 38,100 acres of land held by his Department on 9th February, 1971; and whether he will make a statement.

Just under 11,000 acres of this land which were originally purchased in connection with forestry acquisitions have been transferred to the Forestry Commission for management; the Bosbury smallholdings estate of 680 acres in Herefordshire which I held in trust has been transferred to the trusteeship of the county council; and 1,200 acres of freehold and leasehold land have been sold for £345,000.The acreage under the management of my Department is now about 25,200 acres. This includes some 9,300 acres originally purchased in connection with forestry acquisitions. Arrangements are in hand for the disposal of 5,500 acres of this, and the future of the remainder is being kept under review.The remaining 15,900 acres under the management of my Department includes 6,500 acres of statutory smallholdings in Lincolnshire (Holland), which I have decided, following discussions with the local authorities, to retain for the time being, together with the Laxton Estate of 1,800 acres in Nottinghamshire which was acquired in 1952 in order to preserve its medieval open field system. I have at present plans for the disposal of about a fifth of the remaining 7,600 acres and shall continue to seek, as opportunity offers, to dispose of any other land surplus to the requirements of my Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of the rules and regulations &c. which food manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers will have to observe on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, and a brief summary of these giving an account of how they will affect the manufacturer, price, sale and distribution of such food items.

Pre-accession texts of the relevant Community legislation have already been published. I do not think it would be appropriate to summarise them in the Official Report, or to describe their effect in isolation from other factors.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what currently available figures he has on the average cost of written and oral parliamentary questions; and if he will make a statement on the criteria on which such calculations are made.

:A detailed analysis was carried out in 1965 which, taking into account cost increases since, gives current average figures of £16 for an oral Question and £12 for a written Question; these are almost wholly staff costs. A new analysis is currently in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, from information available from international sources, how much the proportion of the national income of the Netherlands devoted to capital expenditure on education increased between 1960 and the most recent year for which statistics are available; and how this compares with the figure for the United Kingdom over the same period.

Between 1960 and 1967, the percentage of gross national product increased from 1·3 to 1·5 in the Netherlands and from 1·0 to 1·3 in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom figures correct an Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North (Mr. Miscampbell) on 7th April, 1971, when the figures were incorrectly recorded as 0·6 and 1·0.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, when the projected legislation is drafted to transfer to the Charity Commissioners the powers and duties at present exercised under the Charities Act, 1960, by the Secretary of State for Education and Science, an up-to-date and comprehensive list will be inserted therein of the national museums and galleries in England and Wales which possess exempt charity status; and whether the National Museum of Wales and the Wallace Collection will be added to the list.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is aware that India is violating the Geneva Convention relating to prisoners of war by bargaining about the return of Pakistan prisoners of war to their homeland and thereby setting an international precedent; and if he will bring these facts to the notice of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

The hon. Member's allegation relates to a matter which is not within the direct responsibility of Her Majesty's Ministers. I am, of course, concerned that international agreements of the importance of the Geneva Conventions should be honoured. As far as the United Nations Human Rights' Commission is concerned, I think it more appropriate that the parties directly concerned should decide to which body, if any, the question should be referred.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he is satisfied with the present arrangements under which the capital requirements of the Post Office necessitate periodic increases in telephone charges, and whether he will consider alternative ways in which the corporation's capital requirements can be met.

:The Post Office already has an alternative source of finance for its capital requirements, namely borrowing, and I will continue to consider proposals to increase tariffs on their merits.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will make a statement giving any conveniently available statistics of kiosk vandalism in March, 1972.

I regret I have no information later than that contained in the reply to hon. Member's Question of 22nd March.—[Vol. 833, c. 1473.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients are waiting to be admitted to the Ipswich and East Suffolk Hospital for non-urgent surgical operations.

1,152 on 17th April, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what increase there has been in the number of special investigators in his Department under the present administration.

During the period from 1st July, 1970, to 1st April, 1972, there has been an increase of 54 special investigators employed in my Department.

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

Figures are as follows:

CHEADLE RURAL DISTRICT
Deaths under 1 year of age, per 1,000 live births
Year				Rate
1940	…	…	…	46
1945	…	…	…	18
1950	…	…	…	26
1955	…	…	…	22
1960	…	…	…	20
1965	…	…	…	18
1970	…	…	…	13
1971	…	…		Not available

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made in finding a suitable tenant for the advance factory at the Mosshill Industrial Estate.

We are doing all we can to find a suitable occupier but have no prospect in view as yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what works within his responsibility, over and above those directly concerned with the present advance factory, are now being carried out at the Mosshill Industrial Estate.

:The first phase in a programme of estate development involving the laying of roads and drains is in progress. It is hoped to complete this work in the next two or three months.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what organisations are available to give free and independent advice to motorists who feel themselves to be aggrieved by the treatment they receive from motor insurance companies seeking to impose unfair settlements in respect of their legitimate claims.

Motorists can consult any motoring organisation to which they belong or they can seek legal advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is aware that some insurance companies giving comprehensive insurance coverage to motorists decline to fulfil their obligations in full when claims are made against them; and if he will carry out an investigation to see whether further legal protection needs to be given to the motoring public to protect them against exploitation by such companies.

:I have no evidence to suggest that insurance companies are repudiating their legal obligations. If my hon. Friend has such evidence and will let me have it, I will consider the matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were issued in the South Ayrshire constituency in the first three months of 1972; how many male and female jobs are expected from the developments; and how this compares with the previous eight quarters

SOUTH AYRSHIRE CONSTITUENCY (ALL SCHEMES) (AYR, GIRVAN AND CUMNOCK EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AREAS)
						Estimated Additional Employment†
				Number*	Area '000 sq.ft.	Males	Total
1970—
1st Quarter	…	…	…	3	26	40	60
2nd Quarter	…	…	…	4	78	40	70
3rd Quarter	…	…	…	2	63	70	90‡
4th Quarter	…	…	…	1
1971—
1st Quarter	…	…	…	1	57	60	60‡
2nd Quarter	…	…	…	—
3rd Quarter	…	…	…	1
4th Quarter	…	…	…	1
1972–1st Quarter	…	…	…	3	115	70	220
Notes:
* In comparing individual quarters account must be taken of the raising of the exemption limits for Industrial Development Certificates from 5,000 sq. ft. to 10,000 sq. ft. in December, 1970.
†Based on the applicants' estimate of the additional employment expected to arise when the projects are complete and fully manned.
‡Details of individual quarters cannot be provided owing to the risk of disclosure of information about individual projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table comparing the discounted value to industry, as a percentage of the cost of investment, of the new investment incentives set out in the White Paper, Industrial and Regional Development, Cmnd. Paper No. 4292, and of the previous two investment incentives systems operating at 26th October, 1970 and from 27th October, 1970, respectively, distinguishing between assisted and non-assisted areas.

TABLE COMPARING THE NET PRESENT VALUE OF GRANTS AND TAX SAVINGS FROM CAPITAL ALLOWANCES, AS PERCENTAGE OF COST OF INVESTMENT, FOR THE PRE- AND POST- 27TH OCTOBER INCENTIVE SYSTEMS AND THE NEW (MARCH, 1972) INCENTIVE SYSTEM
		Pre October, 1970 System	Post October, 1970 System	New System
New Plant and Machinery only(1)
Eligible for grant under pre-October, 1970 system:
National and Intermediate Areas	…	36·1–39·6(2)	31·9	33·9
Development Areas	…	49·8–52·4	33·9	52·9
Special Development Areas	…	49·8–52·4	33·9	54·8
Ineligible for grant under pre-October, 1970 system:
National and Intermediate Areas	…	26·4–29·6	31·9	33·9
Development and Special Development Areas	…	26·4–29·6	33·9	33·9
Second-hand Plant and Machinery
All areas	…	26·4–29·6	31·9	33·9

Following is the information:

:Yes. The information is given in the following Table for both plant and machinery and industrial buildings. Since the discounted value for industry's investment projects will vary according to the mix of plant and buildings in each project, the Table also contains for illustration a typical example. I must emphasise that the figures should be read in conjunction with the notes to the Table, since the figures alone cannot entirely reflect all the differences between the three incentive systems or the benefits to industry of the Government's other fiscal and economic measures introduced in the last 18 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table to show what proportion of the net present value to industry of the new investment incentive system outlined in the White Paper, Industrial and Regional Development, Cmnd. Paper No. 4942, is profit related, and showing comparative figures for the net present values of the two incentive systems in operation at 26th October and from 27th October, 1970, respectively.

Yes. The following Table gives the figures asked for by my

TABLE COMPARING THE PERCENTAGES OF THE TOTAL NET PRESENT VALUE OF GRANTS AND TAX SAVINGS FROM CAPITAL ALLOWANCES WHICH ARE PROFIT RELATED FOR THE PRE-OCTOBER, 1970, POST-OCTOBER 1970, AND NEW (MARCH, 1972) INCENTIVE SYSTEMS
	Pre-October, 1970 System	Post-October, 1970 System	New System
New Plant and Machinery(1)
Eligible for grant under pre-October, 1970 system:
National and Intermediate Areas	49·7–54·1(2)	100	100
Development Areas	27·0–30·6	100	64·0
Special Development Areas	27·0–30·6	100	61·7
Ineligible for grant under pre-October, 1970 system:
National and Intermediate Areas	100	100	100
Development Areas	100	100	100
Special Development Areas	100	100	100
Second-hand Plant and Machinery
All Areas	100	100	100
Industrial Buildings
National	100	100	100
Derelict Land Areas	100	100	56·6
All assisted areas (if ineligible for Local Employment Act grant)	100	100	54·2–56·6
Intermediate Areas (attracting a full Local Employment Act grant)	45·1	45·1	56·6
Intermediate Areas (attracting a full higher Local Employment Act grant)	33·7	33·7	56·6
Development Areas (attracting a full Local Employment Act grant)	45·1	33·7	56·6

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table comparing the differential between the discounted value to industry in development areas and non-assisted areas of the new investment incentives set out in the White Paper, Industrial and Regional Development, Cmnd. Paper No. 4942, and of the previous investment incentive systems operating at 26th October, 1970 and from 27th October, 1970, respectively.

Yes. The information is given in the following Table in the form of percentages of the cost of investment. I must emphasise that the figures should be read in conjunction with the notes to the Table, since the figures alone cannot entirely reflect all the differences between the various incentive systems nor some variable factors which can affect comparisons. With this qualification, it is clear that the regional differential in

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

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the number of manufacturing firms which have currently informed the Government of their intention to develop in mid-Wales.

Three.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider increasing the permitted value of luncheon vouchers in view of the fall in the value of the £ sterling since the present limit of 15p was fixed.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total net weekly income of a man with a wife and two children under 11 years of age, assuming a weekly wage of £15, £20, £25 and £30, respectively, and that the previous year's pay was at the same rates, allowing for relevant tax repayments and any welfare benefits in the following circumstances, for a week's work after 39 weeks at the appropriate rate and when unemployed after 39 weeks' employment and when qualifying for earnings-related supplement; and how these figures compare with those for the year 1971–72.

The figures are:

Weekly		1972–73		1971–72
Wage		A	B	A	B
		£	£	£	£
£15	…	14·72	15·10	14·72	14·43
F.I.S.	…	3·10	3·10	2·10	2·10
		17·82	18·20	16·82	16·53
£20	…	19·47	18·75	18·53	22·50
F.I.S.	…	0·60	0·60	—	—
		20·07	19·35	18·53	22·50
£25	…	22·89	26·90	21·87	24·20
£30	…	26·15	28·30	25·10	25·55

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the taxable income, unearned and earned, respectively, required to produce a net annual income of £100,000, £150,000, and £200,000, assuming the taxpayer is a single man; and what are the comparable figures for a married man with no children and whose wife is not working.

The figures are:

	Gross Income
Net Earned Income	Earned		Investment
	Single	Married	Single	Married
£	£	£	£	£
100,000	388,916	388,410	851,416	850,311
150,000	592,479	591,973	1,295,860	1,294,756
200,000	796,041	795,535	1,740,304	1,739,200

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the National Art Collections Fund and the Contemporary Art Society qualify as recipient bodies under Schedule 25 of the Finance Bill.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average annual surplus or deficit on the current account of the balance of payments in the periods 1945 to 1951, 1952 to 1957, 1958 to 1964, 1965 to 1970, and in 1971, respectively.

The average annual balance on the current account of the balance of payments is given below:

			£ million
1946† to 1951	…	…	-108
1952 to 1957	…	…	+ 118
1958 to 1964	…	…	+17
1965 to 1970	…	…	+83
1971	…	…	+952
† The comparable figure for 1945 is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much productivity rose for all industries and services in each of the last five years.

Percentage increases over the previous year in gross domestic product at constant prices per person employed are as follows:

1967	…	…	3·1
1968	…	…	4·7
1969	…	…	2·4
1970	…	…	2·7
1971 (provisional)	…	…	3·5

The estimates of gross domestic product are based on output statistics. 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 Monthly Digest of Statistics.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost of raising the estate duty exemption limit from £12,500 to £15,000 and leaving the rates above £15,000 unchanged.

£23 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will compile statistics of the number of applicants for council houses in various parts of Wales.

No. Local authorities maintain lists of applicants for council houses in their own areas. To gross these lists for the whole of Wales would not produce a realistic indicator of the extent of the need for new house building since the numbers of applicants on waiting lists are invariably higher than the numbers of people requiring houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Roman Catholics were employed in the Government of Northern Ireland on 29th March, 1972; and how many Roman Catholics were members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and of the Ulster Defence Regiment on that day.

No records are kept of the religious denomination of members of the Government Service in Northern Ireland or of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. On 29th March, 436 officers and men of the Ulster Defence Regiment out of a total of 8,160 were Roman Catholics.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Provisional Irish Republican Army movement has been declared a prohibited organisation under the Special Powers Act; and to what penalty those who are found to be members of it are liable.

Regulation 24(a) under the Special Powers Act refers to the IRA generally, and my right hon. Friend is considering in consultation with my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General, whether any amendment is required. The penalties for offences against the regulations under the Special Powers Act are set out in Section 4 of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been appointed to his Advisory Committee; and on what basis selection for service on the committee is made.

I am not yet in a position say whom I shall appoint to the Advisory Commission but hope to do so in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of shooting and of bombing have taken place in Northern Ireland since 29th March, 1972.

:Up to 8 a.m. on Friday, 14th April, there had been 218 shooting incidents, 81 bombs placed in premises and 33 incidents involving the explosion of nail bombs, grenades or similar weapons.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been killed and how many injured in Northern Ireland since 29th March, 1972.

Eleven people were killed between 29th March and 13th April and 117were injured and required hospital treatment between 29th March and 11th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has when the United Kingdom enters the Common Market to ensure that teachers trained in the Republic of Eire will not be permitted to be recognised teachers in Northern Ireland unless they satisfy the higher minimum standards required in Ulster.

There are at present no obligations requiring members of the European Economic Community to recognise one another's teaching qualifications. We would participate in any future Community discussion of such matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many school teachers are interned; what are the names of the schools in which they were last employed; and whether he is satisfied that in the cases of these schools there has been no infringement on the ban on using school premises for political purposes.

Five teachers are interned. They were last employed as follows:St. Columban's Secondary School, Kilkeel.St. Patrick's Secondary School, Dungiven.St. Joseph's Secondary School, Crossmaglen.Holy Child Boys' Primary School, Belfast.County Tyrone Education Authority (remedial teacher).I have no evidence of any infringement of the ban referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to protect the employment of the Northern Ireland civil servants, and the staffs of the two Houses of Parliament and of the Government Information Office.

:There will be no redundancies in the Northern Ireland Civil Service arising from the prorogation of Parliament for twelve months under the Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1972. Staff may be temporarily redeployed if necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of civil servants in the service of the Northern Ireland administration who left their employment in each of the last three financial years; and what are the most frequent reasons for resignation.

916, 1,124 and 1,123 non-industrial civil servants left their employment during the calendar years 1969, 1970 and 1971 respectively. Apart from normal retirement, information voluntarily supplied suggests that the most common reasons for leaving were to take up other employment; to resume full-time education or training; and (in the case of women) because of marriage, pregnancy or family commitments.