asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimated income will accrue to revenue from the value-added tax on the live theatre.

At a tax rate of 10 per cent. this is likely to be between £3 million and £4 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange for visual aids, films, television, Press and radio material to explain value-added tax to the general public and to traders.

A publicity and information campaign designed to ensure that the tax will be fully understood is being planned. We are considering the use of all suitable media.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement concerning representations made to him for exemption from value-added tax on the live theatre.

My right hon. Friend has received over 100 representations from theatrical associations, theatre managements, local dramatic societies and other interested parties, asking for relief from value-added tax. But VAT is in principle a comprehensive tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that on the introduction of the value-added tax an additional 1½million traders will have to register as against the existing 74,200 registered for purchase tax as at 31st March, 1971; and what he estimates, on the basis of the 74,200 traders now paying purchase tax, are the costs involved in collecting from 1½ million traders.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to him on 11th and 12th April. It is not possible to gain a precise estimate of the cost at this stage.—[Vol 834, c. 153, 1259.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the representations he has received from the Chairman of the Bar Council and the President of the Law Society concerning the character of certain of the rules for value-added tax.

There will be opportunities for discussion of these matters during the debates on the Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that on the introduction of value-added tax there will be one and a half million traders who will have to register; and to what extent he estimates this will increase the cost-of-living index figure.

Something like one and a half million traders may be registered. Since the tax accounts they will need to keep can be based on their existing accounting systems, their administrative costs should not be greatly increased and there should be no significant effect on the cost-of-living index on that account.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of post-war credits outstanding at the most recent convenient date; and how he expects this amount to decline in the period before the final payments are made.

It is estimated that, at the end of March, 1972, some £130 million of post-war credits had not been repaid. About £80 million will be repaid during the period ending September, 1972, and up to a further £15 million during the remainder of 1972–73. No estimate can be made at present of repayments in later years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to date to the Exchequer of subsidies paid to the nationalised industries to enable them to conform to the Confederation of British Industry guide lines on price restrictions.

I have nothing to add to the answer my predecessor gave on Tuesday, 7th March to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. J. H. Osborn).—[Vol. 832, c. 279.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what follow-up is made to ascertain the extent to which purchase tax reductions are passed on to the consumer.

No special arrangements have been made to ascertain the effect on prices of the recent cuts in purchase tax, but there have been very few complaints of failure to pass on the reductions to the consumer in full.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek powers to provide that rent payments by local authority or private tenants are allowed against tax.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are estimated not to be paying income tax because their incomes are too low.

It is estimated that about 6 million single adults and 2 million married couples will not be liable to tax for 1972–73.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how soon he will be able to make an announcement about the measures he proposes to take to prevent leakages of capital from the United Kingdom to third countries when the restrictions on portfolio investment to Common Market countries are removed.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 11th April to a Question on this subject by the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis).—[Vol. 834, c. 155.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of exempting from tax, for non-surtax payers only, the retirement pension and the old persons pension drawn by men over the age of 70 years and women over the age of 65 years; and how many people are involved.

Nearly £100 million and one and a half million respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amount in £ sterling the revenue on wines and spirits, respectively, was increased in 1971 as a result of the increased wine and spirit clearances for the United Kingdom.

The increases in revenue receipts from wines and spirits in 1971 as compared with 1970 were £14·9 million and £14·5 million respectively. Since duty rates were unchanged throughout this period, these increases resulted from changes in the level and pattern of duty-paid clearances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer from information available from international sources, what was the gross domestic product per head at factor cost in New Zealand 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 latest figures available for both countries relate to 1968 and are as follows—New Zealand US $1,666 (fiscal year beginning 1st April, 1968); United Kingdom US $1,586. The figures have been taken from the United Nations Yearbook of National Accounts Statistics but that for the United Kingdom has been revised on the basis of the latest published estimates. The figures have been converted to US dollars at official exchange rates as in the United Nations publication, but this does not necessarily take account of differences in internal purchasing power.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the national income salaries have been in each of the last five years.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him on 20th April, 1972.—[Vol. 835, c. 136.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take the necessary action to increase the wages and salaries of all Government employees by 20 per cent. and to arrange a subsidy to all of the nationalised industries to enable them to increase the wages and salaries of their employees by 20 per cent.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he has taken to restore the rights to unemployment benefit of members of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers laid off at British Leyland Motor Company, Cowley, as a result of an industrial dispute to which they are not parties.

The claims to unemployment benefit made by the workers concerned have now been allowed by the statutory authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage compliance with the Code of Practice on Industrial Noise recently issued by his Department.

I have been asked to reply.The Code of Practice for Reducing the Exposure of Employed Persons to Noise was launched at a Press Conference by my hon. Friend held on 17th April. The Department has also published a free leaflet explaining the provisions of the Code which has been distributed by the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress to their member organisations.My right hon. Friend, in a foreword to the Code of Practice, urged its adoption and implementation by everybody in industry, and the CBI and TUC have welcomed its publication.Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate have been instructed to bring the Code to the notice of industry on every possible occasion and to discuss it with management during special and routine visits to factories.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many former coalminers living in the Easington constituency received retraining on Government training courses in 1971; and how many are currently undergoing such training.

Seven received training in 1971 and three were undergoing training on 20th April, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employment exchange areas there are in the United Kingdom; and if he will list those exchange areas where the male unemployment rate is greater than 12 per cent. and the female unemployment rate is greater than 10 per cent.

There are 902 employment exchange areas in the United Kingdom of which 874 are in Great Britain. My Department calculates rates for 445 areas in Great Britain which comprise employment exchange areas either singly or grouped to form travel-to-work areas. Of these the areas which at 13th March had male rates of unemployment in excess of 12 per cent. and female rates in excess of 10 per cent. were Campbeltown, Lesmahagow, Sanquhar and Shotts.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many building workers were unemployed in Manchester at the latest convenient date; how many of them were craftsmen; and how many unfilled vacancies exist.

The following table shows an occupational analysis of the numbers of men registered as wholly unemployed who last worked in the construction industry and of the numbers of notified vacancies for men remaining unfilled in that industry:

AT MARCH, 1972, NUMBERS OF MEN REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED AT THE MANCHESTER, LEVENSHULME, NEWTON HEATH, OPENSHAW, WITHINGTON AND WYTHENSHAW EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES WHO LAST WORKED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ANALYSED ACCORDING TO THE OCCUPATION FOR WHICH THEY WERE REGISTERED, AND NOTIFIED VACANCIES FOR MEN REMAINING UNFILLED IN THE INDUSTRY
	Wholly Unemployed	Vacancies Unfilled
Carpenter, joiner, shutterer	110	12
Bricklayer	32	11
Mason, stone carver	1	—
Slater, tiler, thatcher, etc.	30	—
Plasterer	12	—
Floor and wall tiler, etc.	18	—
Painter, decorator, sign writer	308	4
Plumber, gas fitter, etc.	128	3
Glazier	5	—
Paviour, road etc. surface layer	36	—
Steel erector, sheeter	38	1
Electrician, cable jointer, linesman	103	—
Mechanical handling plant, etc., operator	52	—
Erector, millwright, maintenance fitter	27	—
All other occupations	1,956	30
Total, all occupations	2,856	61

The vacancy statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has been asked to conciliate in the dispute at Falmouth Docks currently causing unemployment in excess of 1,250 workers, so as to seek to effect agreement and a resumption of work.

No. Further discussions between the Company and the unions are expected this week. My officers are keeping a close watch on the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of job vacancies in Cardiganshire.

At 5th April, the number was 157. The figure relates only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled in Cardiganshire and does not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Gazettethe most recent survey results of characteristics of the unemployed, similar to that which appeared in the Ministry of Labour Gazette of April, 1966.

There has been no further surveys of the kind undertaken in October, 1964, the first results of which were published in the April, 1966 issue of the Ministry of Labour Gazette.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the industrial dispute concerning the £16 and £17 average wage of Remploy workers in South Wales.

Remploy wages are negotiated nationally. The earnings of the severely disabled adult men employed average currently about £18·50 a week. Negotiations for an increase are in progress and industrial action in relation to these negotiations is being taken by some employees in South Wales and in a few other areas. But this action is unofficial and is not supported by the unions concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the wages paid to Remploy workers, and indicate what relationship they bear to those of employees of local authorities in blind workshops.

In the provinces the present basic rate for the severely disabled adult men employed by Remploy is £14·52 a week. Average earnings are about £18·50 in relation to a forty hour week.The corresponding basic rate in the workshops for the blind is £19·40 a week but details of average earnings are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is aware that since March, 1969 unemployment in the areas covered by the Stratford, East Ham, and Canning Town Employment Exchanges has increased from 2,962 in March 1969 to 4,274 in March, 1972; what was the reason for this; and what action he has taken or intends taking to reduce this figure of 4,274.

I am aware of the rise in unemployment in these areas which is largely attributable to a lower level of economic activity nationally. Like other parts of London they are well placed to benefit from the extensive reflationary measures we have introduced. So far as my Department is concerned all the facilities of our employment and training services will continue to be available to help unemployed people to obtain jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will give details of the number of occasions and for what subjects he has invoked the Industrial Relations Act since its inception.

The application made to the Industrial Court on Wednesday, 19th April in respect of the railways dispute, for a restraint order under Section 138(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1971, is the only occasion to date on which the Act has been invoked either by my right hon. Friend or his predecessor.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in his review of the law relating to picketing, he has had discussions with the Trades Union Congress; and whether he will make a statement.

No discussions have taken place with the TUC or any other body. The Government has already undertaken that no changes in the law on picketing will be proposed without consultation with the CBI and TUC.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost to the Supplementary Benefits Commission of payments to strikers and their dependants, and administrative arrangements necessitated thereby, in the first quarter of 1972.

The provisional total amounts paid out in larger disputes were £153,032 to those on strike and £5,516,708 to their dependants. A further £658,604 was paid following the resumption of work. The administrative cost of paying supplementary benefit in these disputes is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria are applied when deciding whether a National Health Service expectant mother should have epidural anaesthetisation.

As I said in my reply to the hon. Member on 21st April, the anaesthetic procedure to be used is a matter for decision by the clinician in charge of the patient.—[Vol. 835, c. 172.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish his departmental correspondence to the North-West Durham Hospital Management Committee containing his advice to it on how to grade workers employed on hospital maintenance.

The correspondence and the documents to which it refers are bulky and I do not think publication would be justified. With the agreement of the Committee I am sending copies to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue a circular to all hospitals advising that the tops of intravenous fluid bottles should be sprayed with alcohol after removing their protective foil.

Not at present. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Devonport on 16th March. The point raised will be considered in the light of the recommendations of the Medicines Commission Inquiry.—[Vol. 833, c. 178–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware that long-term unemployed persons who have exhausted their right to unemployment benefit are having to live on the savings which they had made for when they retire; and if he will raise the level of capital resources to be disregarded so that more of those falling within this category may claim supplementary benefit.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report a list of foreign and Commonwealth countries with which there are now reciprocal arrangements for the treatment of illness and accidents sustained by students and foreign residents; and the nature of these arrangements in detail.

Yes.Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, assuming 5 per cent. interest and the payment of maximum contributions by employee and employer since July, 1948, what part of the current pension is paid for by the past contributions of the pensioner; and what part is paid for from taxation for a single man and a married couple, respectively.

Retirement pensions are paid from the National Insurance Fund which is financed on a pay-as-you-go principle. About 83 per cent. of the income of the Fund comes from current contributions of insured persons and employers and about 16 per cent. from taxation by way of the Exchequer supplement.On an actuarial calculation, assuming 5 per cent. interest, the proportion of the current standard pension covered by the contributions of a single man who has paid an average of 50 flat-rate contributions per year and the maximum graduated contributions, and who reaches pension age and retires today would be about 19 per cent.; about the same proportion would be covered by the contributions paid by the man's employer. For a married man whose wife is five years younger than himself the proportion would be about 8 per cent. in either case.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make arrangements to allow retirement pensions and widows' pensions to be paid by Giro or into a bank if so requested.

The pensions are subject to certain continuing conditions, and before each payment is made pensioners have to sign a receipt confirming that these conditions are satisfied. This precludes payment direct into a Giro or bank account, although there are arrangements under which these pensions can be paid quarterly or monthly in arrear by crossed orders negotiable through such accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will decrease the frequency of required attendances at an employment exchange where an unemployed miner has exhausted his unemployment benefit, and thereafter relies upon the Redundant Mineworkers' Benefit Scheme.

Arrangements have been made which will have this effect for the majority of the persons concerned from the beginning of next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the percentage of owner-occupied dwellings in Manchester in 1971, as revealed by the Census; and how this compares with 1961 and 1966;(2) what was the percentage of privately rented accommodation in Manchester in 1971, as revealed by the Census; and how this compares with 1961 and 1966;(3) what was the percentage of public sector housing in Manchester in 1971, as revealed by the Census; and how this compares with 1961 and 1966.

Information on the tenure of dwellings in Manchester has not yet been extracted from the 1971 Census but it is expected that it will be available in October and I will write to my hon. Friend then. The figures shown in the reports on the 1961 Census and 1966 Sample Census were:

MANCHESTER COUNTY BOROUGH
	1961	1966
Dwellings by Tenure	Percentage	Percentage
Owner-occupied	30·4	34·2
Rented from local authority or New Town Corporation	26·1	30·2
Rented from a private person or company	40·5	33·1
Other and Not Stated	3·0	2·5
Total	100·0	100·0

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many letters he has received from people who stated they were aggrieved by demands for payment in respect of accidents in which they were blameless; and what replies he has sent.

We have received seven such letters. In reply we explained how the vehicle users can recover these payments (which are made for emergency medical treatment arising from road accidents) from the insurers or the person responsible for the accident.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will outline his Department's further plans to publicise and explain the new partial constant attendance allowance.

Very careful consideration is now being given to the publicity plans for the attendance allowance at the lower rate for those who need attention by day or by night, and the Attendance Allowance Board are being asked for advice. I will be glad to explain those plans in more detail at the appropriate time, but if in the meantime my hon. Friend has any particular points in mind he may like to let me know of them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the doctor/patient ratio in Basildon New Town; and if he is satisfied that the emergency doctor service in that area is working satisfactorily.

The average list on 1st January, 1972, was 2,848 for 30 general practitioners; the national average on 1st October, 1971, was 2,460. Two additional doctors will shortly start to practise in the area and the average list will then be 2,687. Two practices intend to take an additional partner this year, as will a third practice when difficulties over accommodation have been resolved.General practitioners are required under their terms of service to make arrangements for securing the treatment of their patients. I understand from the Essex Executive Council that the Basildon doctors in general operate off-duty rot as among themselves. The Council has not so far been asked to investigate any formal complaints about these arrangements. I have written to my hon. Friend about the arrangements for making and investigating complaints in response to a letter from him about a particular case I was unable to identify.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the doctor/patient ratio in South Bedfordshire; if he is satisfied that the emergency doctor service in that area is working satisfactorily; and if he will make a statement.

The average list size is about 2,750 for 99 general practitioners; the national average at 1st October, 1971, was 2,460. There are in addition three doctors practising as assistants. Special allowances are payable to encourage doctors to practise in areas with high average lists; the rate was substantially increased in April, 1970, for those areas with the highest average lists. Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard qualify for these allowances, the latter at the higher rate.I understand that doctors in South Bedfordshire operate off-duty rot as among themselves and that the Executive Council is not aware of any dissatisfaction with these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the dentist/patient ratio in South Bedfordshire; if he is satisfied that the emergency dentist service in that area is working satisfactorily; and if he will make a statement.

The ratio of dentists to population in South Bedfordshire is about 1 to 5,700, compared with 1 to 4,356 for England as a whole. I am much concerned at the uneven geographical distribution of dentists, and am therefore glad that it has been agreed that possible ways of overcoming this problem should be amongst the main topics to be considered by the Working Party recently set up by my Department and the British Dental Association to consider the future of the dental services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the infant mortality rates in Kidsgrove Urban District in 1940, 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965 and 1970.

Figures are as follows:

Year				Infant deaths per 1,000 live-births
1940	…	…	…	64
1945	…	…	…	56
1950	…	…	…	43
1955	…	…	…	42
1960	…	…	…	12
1965*	…	…	…	16
1970	…	…	…	26
*The area underwent a boundary change.

N.B. These rates are based upon less than 20 deaths a year, and this may affect their significance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he will not initiate a scheme, if need be by legislation, whereby retirement pensioners and others on welfare benefits will be enabled to have the right of negotiation of their welfare benefits and an appeal to an arbitration tribunal if failure to agree with his Department is registered on a basis similar to that now in operation for civil servants and other Government-paid employees.

Because Parliament itself is the proper body to decide the general level of benefits and contributions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent, under the present regulations, people in England and Wales are entitled to claim conscientious objections to having their children vaccinated against smallpox; to what extent vaccination is free for children; and how these positions will change on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

Smallpox vaccination is optional; for children it is entirely free; and we have no proposals for changing this policy. There will be no change in the position when we enter the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give details of the present position regarding retirement pensioners who, having earned their pensions in this country, reside in the Commonwealth; and to what extent, under the present rules and regulations of the European Economic Community regarding maintenance and transference of pension rights within the Six, Great Britain on entry will be entitled to claim and operate such rights to those pensioners now living in the Commonwealth.

Persons entitled to British retirement pensions can receive them in any country at the rate current when they left Great Britain or when they qualified whilst abroad. Those residing in countries with which we have appropriate reciprocal arrangements also receive any subsequent pension increases. Under European Economic Community rules, United Kingdom nationals going to European Economic Community Countries will have the right to receive their United Kingdom pensions in full, including any subsequent increases, and this right will apply to any United Kingdom nationals now living in Commonwealth countries who subsequently go to one of the countries of the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the current review of the National Health Service superannuation scheme.

The Joint Superannuation Consultative Committee, which is composed of representatives of the staff interests and of the Health Departments, has now completed its review of the National Health Service superannuation schemes for England and Wales and for Scotland. Copies of its report have been sent to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself and to the staff associations concerned. A copy has also been placed in the Library.The Committee has recommended a number of improvements including the reduction of the qualifying period for pension from 10 years to five years, the basing of benefits on final year's pay and the reckoning of service in years and days; enhanced accrual rates for those who are forced to retire prematurely because of permanent ill-health; half-rate widows' pensions (based, where death occurs in service, on the improved ill-health pension) enhanced for the first three months of widowhood to the husband's rate of pay or pension; higher rates of children's allowances; immediate death cover for all on joining the scheme; preserved benefits—with guaranteed inflation proofing—for persons leaving after five years' service payable at age 60;extension of the facilities for transferring pension rights on change of employment; some relaxation of the rules governing the abatement of pension on re-employment; extension of superannuation cover to certain part-time staff on an optional basis; and a facility for the purchase of added years by late entrants.Comparable improvements in the special superannuation arrangements for doctors and dentists in general practice are currently the subject of separate discussions between the health Departments and the British Medical Association and the British Dental Association.The Committee recognizes that these proposals represent significant and costly improvements and that it will be necessary for members of the scheme, as well as their employers, to meet part of this cost. It is proposed, therefore, that contribution rates be increased by ¾per cent. a side to 5¾ per cent. by manual workers (6⅔ per cent. by the employer) and 6¾ per cent. by other members of the schemes (8¾ per cent. by the employer).The Committee's proposals are subject to ratification by the staff associations; once ratified, they can be implemented without delay.On behalf of my right hon. Friend and myself I should like to thank the Joint Superannuation Consultative Committee for the work they have done in producing this report.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information is available about the stocks of fish on the Icelandic continental shelf; and about the rate at which such stock is increasing or diminishing.

Reports by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea show that in general demersal stocks are stable—leaving aside natural fluctuations—but herring stocks have seriously declined.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many intensive farm units have been visited since the publication of the Codes of Practice in which the lighting falls short of that proposed in the Codes; and what action has been taken to investigate whether the standards laid down in the Codes are followed in this respect.

This information could not be produced without disproportionate expenditure of time and effort; but in 1970 the State Veterinary Service surveyed more than 4,000 representative livestock units and in only 4 per cent. of these were the code recommendations on lighting not being fully complied with. In none of these cases was there evidence of unnecessary pain or distress being caused to livestock. Lighting is checked on all routine welfare inspections made by veterinary staff, and advice given to correct any shortcomings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in finding an alternative to the use of strychnine for the control of moles.

Research is continuing in an effort to devise some equally efficient and more acceptable form of control; but as yet no satisfactory alter- native technique or substance has been found.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what improvements were made in the traditional far rowing gate during its 30 years existence before the introduction of the Protect a system.

There is no standard design of farrowing crate and many types of crate have been developed over the years. Acceptable versions are described in the Ministry's advisory publications.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proper management is necessary to make the Protecta system of sow management conform to the Codes of Practice.

There is no feature of the Protecta system as used in this country which is contrary to the recommendations of the welfare code for pigs; but regular and careful supervision, such as the code recommends, is needed to ensure that the collar to which the tether is attached is properly adjusted and is not causing injury to the sow.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foot what, under his Codes of Practice, he considers to be the maximum period in which sows are to be confined in the Protecta system without being allowed out to exercise themselves; and what is the minimum period that should be allowed during which they have freedom of movement before being returned to the Protecta and tethered.

The welfare codes do not specify periods for which an animal should be housed in a particular way or kept out of any particular system of housing. These are questions of good stockmanship and the Codes emphasise that this is of prime importance.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will require that pet foods shall be clearly marked with their ingredients.

No. A voluntary system of labelling ingredients is widely used by manufacturers of tinned pet foods, and I see no need to ask for statutory powers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from information available from international sources, what was the average producer return from cattle expressed in £ sterling per live hundredweight in Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg and Italy during the year ended 30th June, 1971; and how this compares with the United Kingdom figure.

Following is information on average market prices for the period July, 1970, to June, 1971, for EEC member States and total producers' return for the period April, 1970, to March, 1971, for the United Kingdom.

			£ per live cwt.
			Good quality	Average quality
EEC:
Average market prices for cattle:
Germany	…	…	15·50	12·16
France	…	…	17·49	12·31
Belgium	…	…	15·44	14·67
Netherlands	…	…	15·31	13·52
Luxembourg	…	…	14·99	11·81
Italy	…	…	16·81	13·72
United Kingdom:
Average total return for fat cattle (including unit subsidy £11·64 per live cwt.).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the milk price cut from 2nd April for the next four months will affect the price paid by manufacturers in the various industries using milk for manufacturing purposes; and to what extent this price reduction of 1p was due to the increase in butter, cheese and skim milk prices.

The price paid for milk used for manufacturing purposes will not be affected.In answer to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Torrington (Mr. Peter Mills) on 8th March.—[Vol. 832, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what he estimates to be the differential effects of investment grants between development, special development, intermediate and non-development areas on the basis of £100 invested in plant and machinery.

For investment grants, on a discounted basis the figures are nil in non-development areas and Intermediate areas, and between 12·8 and 13·7 per £100 invested in both development and special development areas, assuming corporation tax at 40 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the factories in his Department's ownership in Wales; when each was constructed and occupied; how many people are employed in each factory; and which of them are vacant at present.

I regret the Question cannot be answered in the precise form requested without disproportionate expenditure of time and effort. There are however, at present 321 tenants occupying industrial property which the Department administers in Wales under the Local Employment Acts. At the latest available date factories in manufacturing trades provided employment for over 60,500 people. We are seeking or negotiating with prospective tenants for factories at the following locations:

Aberbargoed.	Landore.
Abercarn.	Llanelli (2).
Abercrave.	Merthyr Tydfil.
Aberdare.	Pembroke Dock (2)
Aberystwyth.	Penygroes.
Amlwch.	Pontardulais.
Bargoed.	Rhondda (2).
Builth Wells.	Rhayader.
Fishguard.	Swansea.
Hengoed.	Tredegar.
Kenfig.	Treforest (2).
Lampeter.	Waterton.

In addition factories at the following locations are under construction or in the planning stage:

Abercarn (2).	Ebbw Vale.
Bargoed.	Maesteg.
Blaenau Ffestiniog.	Merthyr Tydfil.
Brecon.	Pontardawe.
Caernarvon.	Rhayader.
Cardigan.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to make known the decision of the public inquiry into a proposed nuclear power station at Connah's Quay; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary for Industry on 21st February.—[Vol. 831, c. 207.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the estimated total value of assistance approved under the Local Employment Acts in 1971 compared with 1969 and 1970;and how much of this assistance was included within the Merthyr Tydvil constituency.

I regret that information is not readily available in the form requested. The total value of assistance approved in the development and intermediate areas has been as follows

				£ million
1969–70	…	…	…	83·9
1970–71	…	…	…	70·2
1971–72	…	…	…	64·2*
* Provisional figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for operational grants were received in 1970 and in the first quarter of 1972 under Section 4 of the Local Employment Act, 1960, for new firms being set up in the Special Development Areas; how they compare with 1969 and 1970; how many grants were offered, rejected or withdrawn; how many are under consideration; and how many in each of the instances were within the Merthyr Tydvil constituency.

I regret that information is not readily available in the form requested. Details of applica- tions for and offers of operational grants are as follows:

APPLICATIONS FOR OPERATIONAL GRANTS
	Financial Year			1st January 1972–31st March,1972*
Application Nos.	1969–70	1970–71	1971–72*
Received	65	71	186	44
Rejected	14	8	39	2
Withdrawn	18	6	21	1
Offered	88	18	43	4
Under consideration at 3 1st March, 1972				91
* Provisional figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value of assistance offered under Section 4 of the Local Employment Act 1960 in 1971 and the first quarter of 1972; how they compare with 1969 and 1970;and what was the value of such assistance to firms in the Merthyr Tydvil constituency.

I regret that information is not readily available in the form requested. Offers of loans and grants in the development areas under Section 4 of the Local Employment Act have been as follows:

	£ million
1969–70	39·5
1970–71	32·0
1971–72	23·9*
1972 (1st January to 31st March)	6·1*
* Provisional figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications have been received during 1971 and the first quarter of 1972 under section 4 of the Local Employment Act 1960;how this compares with 1969 and 1970; how many offers of assistance were made; how many were rejected and withdrawn; how many are still under consideration; and how many in each of these cases which were received and dealt with were within the Merthyr Tydvil constituency.

I regret that information is not readily available in the form requested. Details of applications for and offers of assistance in the Development Areas under Section 4 of the Local Employment Act are as follows:

APPLICATIONS UNDER SECTION 4 OF LOCAL EMPLOYMENT ACT
	Financial Year			1st January, 1972–31st March, 1972*
Application Nos.	1969–70	1970–71	1971–72*
Received	512	457	591	155
Rejected	119	79	90	5
Withdrawn	165	137	118	9
Offered	320	150	117	8
Under consideration at 31st March, 1972				294
* Provisional figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many advance factories were authorised in 1971 in Wales; how many of these are sited in the Merthyr Tydvil constituency; and how many of these have been completed and let.

Five advance factories were authorised for Wales in 1971 of which one is to be sited at Merthyr Tydvil. None of the five has yet been completed or let.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many advance factories there are in Wales; and how many have been let.

Since March, 1959, 75 advance factories have been authorised for Wales. Of these, 51 have been let but as production has ceased in five factories the Department is now seeking new tenants. In addition, we are seeking or negotiating with prospective tenants for the 12 factories which are completed but unlet, and for the 12 factories that are under construction or at the planning stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Government factories are vacant in Mid-Wales; and how long they have been vacant.

In the five mid-Wales Counties of Brecon, Cardigan, Merioneth, Montgomery and Radnor there are four vacant factories. Those at Aberystwyth and Lampeter were completed in March and April, 1972, respectively and those at Builth Wells and Rhayader were vacated in May, 1970, and July, 1971, respectively. In addition a further four factories are under construction or in the planning stage. These are at Blaenau Ffestiniog, Brecon, Cardigan and Rhayader.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what space projects, including launcher vehicles and satellites, are currently receiving Government support; and what is the total annual expenditure of his Department on space organisations and technology.

Government support is currently provided for the following national space projects:

The X4 technology satellite.

Development of the Skylark sounding rocket for Earth Resources work.

The UK5 scientific satellite.

The Skynet 2 defence communications satellite.

Various supporting satellite technology contracts.

The Government are supporting the scientific research programme of the European Space Research Organisation and that Organisation's applications satellite programme which includes aeronautical, meteorological and telecommunications satellite projects. We are also supporting studies of the United States post-Apollo programme by the European Space Conference—ESC. The United Kingdom is a member of the International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation—INTELSAT—and United Kingdom industry participates in INTELSAT'S procurement programme.Department of Trade and Industry expenditure on national projects in 1972–73 is estimated to be £3,545,000. The United Kingdom contribution to ESRO and the ESC for 1972–73 is estimated to be £8,630,000. This includes a sum of £4,150,000 paid for from a grant in aid for the Science Research Council made available by the Department of Education and Science. The remainder is DTI expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the estimated value of building grants offered in Wales in 1971 and the first quarter of 1972; how this compares with 1969 and 1970; and how many grants and at what value were made within the Merthyr Tydvil constituency.

I regret that information is not readily available in respect of individual constituencies. Offers of building grant in Wales were as follows:

	£ million
1969	4·4
1970	3·6
1971	4·6
1972 (1st January to 31st March).	2·3

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

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has yet received the report of the Monopolies Commission on the proposed acquisition by Berrow's Organisation Limited of newspapers making up the County Express Group.

I received the report on 7th April and it is being published this afternoon. The Commission has concluded that the transfer might not be expected to operate against the public interest. Formal consent to the transaction is being given to the Berrow's Organisation Limited today.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for Scotland's participation in European Heritage Year 1975.

Plans are still at a very early stage, but I will keep in touch with their development so that Scotland can participate appropriately.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the rates bill at the latest available date is accounted for in Scotland by expenditure on education.

In 1970–71, local authorities' net revenue expenditure—including loan charges—on education amounted to about £216 million representing 54 per cent. of total expenditure on services reckonable for rate support grant—£399 million. In the same year the amount of rates received was about £213 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of teachers in local authority schools has been in the same schools for less than three years; and what were the figures five. 10 and 15 years ago, respectively.

On 31st March, 1969, about 48 per cent. Information for the earlier years is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the independent mineral survey report that was commissioned by the Highlands and Islands Development Board, a copy of which is in his possession, and state what minerals were found to have commercial possibilities.

The reports which the Board has received from its consultants show that there are a number of mineral occurrences and deposits which would appear to justify further evaluation by mining companies, although it is not possible at this stage to assess the commercial possibilities. The Board announced the results of these studies last month, and at the same time informed mining companies and journals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the proposed new power station to be built in the Highlands; and what will be the means of generation.

To provide adequate supplies of electricity in the North-East of Scotland a new station will be required to be generating there by the winter of 1978–79. The Scottish Electricity Boards' brochure "Plans for the Future 1971–78", copies of which were placed in the Vote Office in January, indicated that the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board has in mind either a nuclear station at Stake Ness, Banffshire, or an oil-fired station near Peterhead. A decision on the type of station to be built has still to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total value and weight of the net catch, and the rod catch, respectively, in the area of the Aberdeenshire Dee Salmon Fishery Board during the 1970 and 1971 salmon fishing seasons.

The weights of the catches according to the returns supplied to my Department are as follows: —

		1970 (lbs.)	1971 (provisional) (lbs.)
Net catches
Salmon	…	58,421	48,745
Grilse	…	81,725	89,921
Sea Trout	…	26,619	33,739
Rod catches
Salmon	…	44,628	41,361
Grilse	…	934	610
Sea Trout	…	2,959	2,399

The value of the total net catch is estimated at £80,000 in 1970 and provisionally at £94,000 in 1971: the corresponding estimates for the rod catches are £28,000 and £35,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the proposed total number of councillors for the West Regional Council; and of these how many will come from Glasgow.

100, of whom 42 will represent the electorate of the proposed Glasgow District.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest conveniently available estimate of the shortage of physiotherapists in Scotland; what steps he is taking to expand the number of training school places available; and what steps he is taking to provide an adequate number of trained teachers of physiotherapy.

There is a shortage of physiotherapists in Scotland, but as there is no recognised establishment this is difficult to quantify. I am at present having consultations with the Eastern Regional Hospital Board on the possibility of establishing anew school of physiotherapy at Dundee which would help the situation in the longer term. Special arrangements have been made to enable physiotherapists from the areas most affected by a teacher shortage to undertake teacher training courses. In whole-time equivalent terms the number of physiotherapists employed in the hospital service in Scotland has increased since 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now appointed his proposed advisory committee to consider proposals for the reorganisation of local government; what is its numerical strength and composition; and if he will make a statement at an early date.

I hope to announce shortly the names of the persons to be appointed to a committee whose purpose will be to advise me on the electoral areas to be prescribed for the first elections to the proposed new local authorities in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is seeking the views of political parties in his consideration of electoral boundaries for the reorganisation of local government.

The political party organisations have been informed of the draft proposals which are at present being discussed with local authorities. When these consultations have been completed and the proposals considered by the advisory committee which is shortly to be established for the purpose of giving me independent advice on these matters, a scheme for each area will be published in draft. An opportunity will then be given for the lodging of objections and there will be further consideration by the advisory committee before orders are made defining the electoral areas for the elections to be held in 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in view of his proposals that elections for membership of the new authorities to be established under the legislation for the reform of local government in Scotland should take place in 1974, what action he proposes to take on the elections for the existing authorities due in that year and in 1973.

It is intended that the Bill for the reform of local government in Scotland should provide for the suspension of elections for membership of the existing authorities after the end of 1973 and for the continuation in office of the councillors who would ordinarily be due to retire in 1974. The elections due in 1973 will take place in the usual way.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the inadequate accommodation of the present Glasgow Sheriff Court's buildings; when construction of the new buildings is to be started; and if provision will be made in the design and construction to assist the disabled.

Approval has been given for a new sheriff court house in Glasgow. The responsibility for planning rests with the Glasgow Court House Commissioners who have yet to submit their plans and specifications to me. I understand that the need to alter the plans, in order to retain part of a statutorily listed building which forms part of the site, is now being examined by the Commissioners. The needs of the disabled will be taken into account in the design and construction of the new building.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of premises licensed to sell liquor in each of the years 1946, 1956, 1966, and the most recent convenient date; and if he will provide a breakdown of each of these figures into clubs, public-houses, restaurants and hotels.

The number of certificates to sell liquor to the public and the number of registrations for the supply of liquor in clubs granted in these years and in 1970 were as follows:

LICENSING CERTIFICATES
	1946	1956	1966	1970
Hotels	1,565	1,846	2,319	2,565
Restricted hotels*	—	—	170	227
Restaurants*	—	—	201	358
Public houses	4,092	4,142	4,222	4,190
Off-sales	2,224	2,286	3,449	3,766
	7,881	8,274	10,361	11,106
Registered clubs	Not available	1,132	1,607	1,938
* These categories of certificate were introduced by the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1962.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on an extension to the hospital building programme.

The programme of major hospital building projects, which was announced on 20th April, 1970, was augmented by the additional schemes which I announced on 22nd June, 1971. This has enabled the preliminary planning of major schemes to proceed. Because the planning time required for some of the large schemes can be as much as four or five years, it has now become desirable to extend the programme, though work on the additional schemes may not start on the ground until the later years of this decade. I am therefore authorising regional hospital boards to put in hand at the appropriate times the planning of the major schemes listed below which will comprise bands V and VI of the programme. The bands do not relate to financial or calendar years and schemes can be moved from one band to another if progress on planning or medical and other developments make this necessary.The list includes only the major hospital schemes selected by me after consultation with regional boards. In addition certain smaller schemes which are of high priority have been accepted for financing from the central programme when they can be fitted in and regional boards are being authorised to proceed with the planning of these schemes.In addition to the schemes in the central programme, regional boards finance from their ordinary building programme allocations smaller schemes selected by them on their own decisions about priorities and it is envisaged that a similar arrangement will apply when health boards have been set up.BAND V

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that there are adequate supplies of bricks available to meet the requirements of builders in all parts of the country; and if he will make a statement.

Some local shortages have resulted from continued increases in construction activity, particularly house-building, and reduced output in February due to the interruption of power supplies. I understand that brick producers are urgently increasing their capacity and that, despite temporary local shortages, they can meet the general level of demand. There are stocks of bricks in Scotland which are available for despatch to areas of shortage in England.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many collisions occurred on the Ml motorway in Leicestershire in each of the years from 1965 to 1971 inclusive; how many and what percentage of such accidents

Year				Number of accidents*	Number and percentage in fog	Number and percentage crossing central reservation	Number and percentage crossing central reservation in fog
1965	…	…	…	12	1	Nil	Nil
1966	…	…	…	42	2	2	Nil
1967	…	…	…	60	Nil	1	Nil
1968	…	…	…	58	Nil	2	Nil
1969	…	…	…	76	2	4	Nil
1970	…	…	…	101	7	6	Nil
1971	…	…	…	85	1	2	1
Total	…	…	…	434	13(3·0%)	17(3·9%)	1 (0·2%)
* Accidents resulting in personal injury.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many deaths and how many injuries have been caused through accidents on the M1motorway in Leicestershire in each of the months of 1972 for which records are available; how many such accidents

					Accidents resulting in personal injury
			Deaths	Injuries
					Total	In fog	Crossing central reservation
January	…	…	6	9	7	Nil	1
February	…	…	Nil	10	6	Nil	1
March	…	…	Nil	11	11	Nil	2
Total	…	…	6	30	24	Nil	4

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will order a pilot scheme in that portion of the M1motorway which is in Leicestershire, during the forthcoming autumn and winter, to ascertain whether it would be economically possible to install fog-testing apparatus to warn motorists approaching notorious fog black spots; and if he will make a statement.

No. Suitable fog detecting apparatus is not at present available for such an experiment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment he has made of the propensity

Following are the figures:occurred due to vehicles crossing the central reservation; and how many and what percentage of such accidents occurred in conditions of fog.

Following are the figures for January to March:of the Wadworth to Cantley Bridge section of the proposed M18 motorway route to become fog bound;(2) what advice he sought on the danger from fog prior to approving the present proposed route for the M18 motorway, in view of the fact that the report of the inspector who conducted the inquiry into the proposed route of the motorway through Doncaster contains no evidence on this subject.

My right hon. Friend accepted the view of the inspector that the risk of fog was common to all the alternative routes discussed. Prior to the inquiry detailed records were obtained from the local meteorological office supplemented by observations along the proposed route.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many serious accidents have occurred on the Doncaster stretch of the A1(M) as a consequence of fog during the last nine years; and how far from the proposed M18 route, at the nearest point, these occurred.

Following are the figures:

Year	Number o] fatal and serious accidents in fog	Distance from nearest point on M18 route
1963	Nil	—
1964	10	6 at 2 miles
		2 at 3 miles
		1 at 5 miles
		1 at 8 miles
1965	1	3 miles
1966	Nil	—
1967	1	3 miles
1968	Nil	—
1969	Nil	—
1970	Nil	—
1971	1	Under 1 mile

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what response his Department has had from interested bodies to his consultative letter in relation to amending the law so as to permit the drivers of police, fire brigade and ambulance vehicles to use their discretion to disregard traffic signs and signals; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he is yet able to state his conclusions on amending the law in relation to red lights at traffic signals so as to exclude police, fire brigade and ambulance vehicles when employed in emergency calls, and to limit the application to these vehicles of the traffic signs to which Section 14 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960, applies.

About half the organisations consulted have so far replied. Their reactions have differed widely. Others have asked for more time to consider the issues involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the Government's policy on the French Government's proposal to the Council of Ministers that national ministers responsible for environmental problems in common market countries should meet in the Council framework to co-ordinate national efforts;(2) what is the Government's policy on the proposal by the Commission of the European Economic Community that they should have the major rôles in the preparation and co-ordination of policy for the environment.

Within EEC there will be aspects of environmental policy on which the Commission will put proposals before the Council of Ministers, and others which will be handled by consultation between national ministers. The pattern will no doubt become clearer as work on environmental policy proceeds within the enlarged Community.