asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee met in 1971; and what payments were made to each of its members in the form of fees and expenses.

The Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, its Research Sub-Committee and working parties held a total of nine meetings in 1971; in addition a working party made four field visits to study livestock premises. No fees have been paid to members but £1,220.29 was paid in travelling and subsistence allowances at the rates applicable to members of Government Committees for visits and meetings in 1971.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will now introduce legislation to implement the provisions of the Livestock Export Control Bill, introduced by the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South in August, 1966;(2) what representations he is making to the Governments concerned in the light of the evidence set out in the Report. dated 1st May. 1972, by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a copy of which is in his possession, to ensure that the Balfour Agreements concerning the transit and feeding of live animals exported from Great Britain are implemented in Belgium and France;(3) if, in view of the Balfour Agreements, he will discuss with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals the evidence in the Society's Report, dated 1st May, 1972, a copy of which is in his possession, concerning poor transport and lack of feeding and watering of animals exported from the United Kingdom to the Continent and methods of avoiding such cruelty in the future;(4) what representations he has made to the European Economic Community authorities about the non-compliance with the Balfour Aereements and the ill treatment inflicted on live animals exported from Great Britain.

The RSPCA report has not yet reached my right hon. Friend He will wish to examine it thoroughly before coming to any decision about future action.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ban the use in the food given to veal calves of antibiotics which can be absorbed in the meat and build up resistance to therapeutic drugs in humans.

The sale or supply of animal feedingstuffs containing such antibiotics is already prohibited except in accordance with a prescription or written direction of a veterinary surgeon or practitioner.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many men and women are employed in Government establishments and offices on Teesside; and what proportion this represents of the total employed population.

At 1st July, 1971, there were about 2,400 civil servants employed in Government Departments on Teesside. They formed 1·.5 per cent. of the employed population in that area.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about recruitment to the Ulster Defence Regiment, and resignations therefrom, since the suspension of Stormont.

Since the suspension of Stormont, the average weekly application rate has been 114, the increase in strength 67 and resignations 16. The corresponding figures since 1st January, 1972, have been 147, 112 and 14.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many roads have been cratered by the Army on the Northern Ireland border; how many of these since 24th March, 1972; how many have been filled by the Army since then; and how many incidents there have been in relation to cratering in that period.

Up to 1st May, 1972, 129 unapproved roads had been closed by the Security Forces of which on 1st May 97 remained closed. Since 24th March, 1972, the security forces have re-closed 18 roads; no roads have been reopened by the Army during that period. Since 24th March, there have been no incidents of civil disturbance involving the security forces arising from attempts by the public to fill in cratered road.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many children leaving school have impaired hearing; and what percentage this is of the total number leaving school in any one year;(2) how many children entering primary school have impaired hearing; and what percentage this is of the total number entering school in any one year.

The figures for 1970 were as follows:

	With hearing defects requiring
	Treatment		Observation
	Number	Percentag	Number	Perrentage
Children enteringmaintained primaryschools	9,569	1·2	28,611	3·6
Children leaving maintained schools	2,126	0·3	3,555	0·6

Many of the defects were minor or temporarv and readily amenable to treatment

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish a survey of unemployment showing how many have lost their last jobs involuntarily, how many left their last jobs voluntarily, how many were re-entering the labour force, and how many were entering for the first time.

I regret that some of the information sought cannot be obtained without an undue expenditure of staff time within my Department. On 13th March, 1972, there were about 80.000 unemployed registrants who were either entering the labour force for the first time or re-entering it after an absence of over a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received notification from Aberdeen Town Council of their refusal so far to operate that part of the Industrial Relations Act, 1971, which requires employers to inform employees of terms and conditions of work; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon Friend has received no such notification from the council.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received regarding the refusal so far of Aberdeen Town Council to operate that part of the Industrial Relations Act which requires employers to inform employees of their terms and conditions of work and any changes therein; and what reply he has sent.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from the Chairman of the Conservative Group of Councillors in Aberdeen Town Council about this matter. I have replied deploring the council's decision and indicating how employees of the council can obtain the written particulars due to them through application to the industrial tribunals.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment regarding which local authorities or other employers he has received notification of refusal to work any part of the Industrial Relations Act, 1971.

My right hon. Friend has received no such notifications, but he has received representations concerning Aberdeen Town Council as indicated in my reply to the hon. Member's earlier question.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many adult males were employed in the Dartford and Gravesend employment exchange areas, respectively, in 1961, 1966 and at the latest available date; and what these figures were as percentages of the population in those areas.

Estimates are made of the total numbers of male employees in the Dartford and Gravesend Employment Exchange areas but not separately of the numbers of adults and young persons. Following is the available information:

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF MALE EMPLOYEES (EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYED) IN THE AREAS COVERED BY THE DARTFORD AND GRAVESEND EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES
		(Thousands)
	Dartford	Gravesend
June, 1961	33·9	28·8
June, 1966	33·5	31·3
June, 1970	36·0	30·8

Population figures for employment exchange areas are not available. Censuses of Population indicate that the number of male residents, employed or self-employed, as a percentage of the male population 15 years of age and over for the closest approximation in terms of local authority areas arc as follows:—

	Dartford MBand Dartford RD	Gravesend MB Swanscombe UDand Northfleet UD
1961	84·0	89·4
1966	82·8	85·3
1971	80·3	79·5

The areas used are a good approximation in the case of Dartford Employment Exchange but omit a considerable proportion of Strood Rural District, contained within the Gravesend Employment Exchange area.The figures from the 1971 Census of Population are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the total of redundancy payments that is likely to be made available to the former employees of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders; whether these payments will be available for those who have continuity of employment through re-engagement with Govan Shipbuilders and Marathon Manufacturing (United Kingdom); and if he will make a statement.

It is not possible to make an estimate. The question whether the employment will be continuous for the purposes of the Redundancy Payments Act, and the payments due if it is discontinuous, will depend upon the circumstances of the particular cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) why he will not seek to arrange a meeting with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress to discuss the possibility of introducing a national system whereby all workers will be compelled to work overtime and on their normal rest days on instruction of their employers;(2) why, at the next meeting of the National Economic Development Council he attends, he will not raise the question of making it the universal practice that all workers will have to work overtime and on their normal rest days when requested to do so by their employers.

Because it would serve no useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the total unemployed in the Skipton Employment Exchange area on 1st March, 1970, 1971 and 1972.

Following is the available information:

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN IHEAREA COVERED BY THE SKIPTON EMPLOYMENTEXCHANGE
	Total registered	Temporarily stopped included in total
9th March, 1970	350	77
8th March, 1971	391	7
13th March, 1972	437	45

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of vacancies notified in the Skipton employment exchange area on 1st March, 1970, 1971 and 1972.

Following is the available information:

NUMBERS OF NOTIFIED VACANCIES REMAINING UNFILLED IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE SKIPTON EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE
4th March, 1970	531
3rd March, 1971	147
8th March, 1972	224

The figures 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 what is the threshold limit in terms of fibres per millimetre laid down in respect of asbestos in the working atmosphere and what are the equivalent limits in each of the European Economic Community countries and the United States of America, from information available from international sources.

The threshold limit value for asbestos in the working atmosphere in Great Britain is two fibres per cubic centimetre, except that in the case of crocidolite asbestos the threshold limit value is 0·2 fibres per cubic centimetre.We have no detailed information of threshold limit values in the European Economic Community countries. In the United States of America the threshold limit value published by the American Congress of Governmental Industrial Hygienists for all types of asbestos is five fibres per cubic centimetre.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he intends to take steps to lower the threshold limit of asbestos in the working atmosphere.

Not at the present time but the matter is kept constantly under review and one of the aims of the survey which was announced by my right hon. Friend on 21st December, last year, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Esher (Mr. Mather) is to provide a sound basis for future assessments of preventive measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many children leaving school require special help over finding employment as the result of complete or partial deafness.

I regret that information is not available in the form requested. Department of Education statistics indicate that in England and Wales about 400 young people aged 16 and over left special schools for the deaf or partially hearing between January, 1970, and January, 1971. The equivalent figure for Scotland for the year ended July, 1971, is about 50.Information as to the number of children with hearing defects leaving maintained schools in 1970 is being given today by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich. South (Dr. Stuttaford).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the number of unfilled vacancies registered at offices of his Department on 30th April in the Northern Region.

At 5th April, the latest date for which information is available, 7,953 notified vacancies remained unfilled in the Northern Region. The figure relates only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and does not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many major sports schemes will be proceeding during the present financial year.

A large proportion of major sports schemes is being undertaken by local authorities out of their normal allocation for locally determined projects. Details of these are not available, although I expect an encouraging increase in investment over previous years' figures.Figures are, however, available for schemes proceeding in each Sports Council region under the infrastructure programme and as large projects under the Department's Circulars 2/70 and 66/71. These are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to direct that the planning applications for the redevelopment of the Piccadilly Circus area should be referred by the Westminster City Council for decision by him.

The arrangements made with the Westminster City Council, including the issue of short-dated office development permits which were legally pre-requisite to the planning applications, were designed to put the whole redevelopment scheme on public view at the earliest possible stage. I am most grateful to the city council for making this possible. But the issue is of such public importance and nterest that I am consulting the Westminster City Council about referring, the applications to me now without going, through the ordinary planning, procedures, which are bound to take time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a date has yet been agreed with the Prime Minister of British Honduras for the independence of that country if he is satisfied that the necessary steps are being taken to ensure that the views of all the people of British Honduras are being asked for; and if he will make a statement.

No date has been agreed for the independence of British Honduras. Following the normal practice, a constitutional conference, to which representatives of both government and opposition parties would be invited, would be held before independence was granted. There are no present plans for such a conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Guatemalan Government has agreed to recognise the sovereignty of British Honduras after that country has obtained independence.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if agreement has been reached to safeguard the integrity of British Honduras after that country has obtained independence; and if he will make a statement.

The question of the defence of British Honduras after independence would be a matter for discussion at an independence conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of incidents which there have now been on the Northern Ireland border since 24th March, 1972; and if he will indicate the incidents on which a protest has been lodged with the Republic of Ireland Government.

Since 24th March, this year, there have been 19 cross-border incidents involving violence perpetrated by the IRA along the Border of Northern Ireland and the Republic. Her Majesty's Government are in regular contact with the Government of the Republic about such incidents; and the authorities in the Republic are in no doubt of our views on the measures which should be taken to prevent them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions on which protests have been received from the Republic of Ireland Government in relation to border incidents; and what reply has been sent by Her Majesty's Government.

From time to time the Government of the Republic have forwarded allegations of incursions by our troops across the Northern Ireland Border into the Republic. All these allegations are carefully investigated and detailed replies are then sent to the Government of the Republic. To give a full list would involve a disproportionate amount of work. On the few occasions where incursions had in fact occurred, these were inadvertent and we have expressed regret to the Irish authorities: but in the vast majority of cases our inquiries showed that no incursion had taken place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons and remand centres, respectively, in the United Kingdom have facilities for providing an appropriate Welsh speaking prison officer to be present at a prisoner's visit where the conversation is in Welsh.

In England and Wales on 3rd May there were Welsh speaking members of the staff at:

• 30 prisons for men, two of which have remand centres attached,
• one prison for women, and
• three remand centres, one for men and two for both men and women.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether facilities are provided in every prison and remand centre in England and Wales to cater for supervision by a prison officer of a prisoner's visit wherein any main language other than English is the medium of conversation; and how many visits have since 1st January, 1972, been refused on this ground.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No ". When no prison officer speaking the language in question is 'available to supervise a visit, visitors and inmates able to do so are required to condut their conversation in English. On two occasions since 1st January, 1972, inmates or visitors have been unwilling to accept this requirement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he intends to take to end the situation whereby lower-paid workers receiving wage increases may be in receipt of no more, or less, financial benefit, as a consequence of losing supplementary or means-tested benefits for themselves or their families.

It is likely that in practice this situation arises only rarely. Studies are in progress to help in estimating the number of people theoretically at risk and finding ways of minimising it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement describing the duties of special investigators employed in his Department.

The duties of special investigators, who are ordinary executive officers of the Department, are to investigate suspicion of supplementary benefit fraud of all kinds where inquiries would be too complex or time consuming for officers engaged in the day-to-day work of local offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what expenditure is incurred in the employment of special investigators by his Department in respect of their duties concerning inquiries into applications for benefit made by women alleged to be cohabiting with men.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 21st October, 1971. No record is kept of the proportion of special investigators' time spent in inquiry into cases of alleged cohabitation, but of all the cases investigated in 1971 little more than one third were in this category.—[Vol. 823, c. 199-200.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated savings derived from disallow. ing benefits to women alleged to have been cohabiting with men.

An approximate estimate of savings in 1971 in cases in which cohabitation has been established by special investigators is £887,000. There is also a saving for which figures are not available, in cases resolved by the local office without reference to the special investigator.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the short-term and long-term plans for the Royal Hospital, Sheffield.

The new Hallamshire Hospital is expected to be opened in 1975-76, and until then the Royal Hospital will continue to be used as an acute general teaching hospital. Future hospital development in the Sheffield area, including the rôle of existing hospitals, is under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest annual total of patients on the waiting list of the Royal Hospital, Sheffield, who were notified of their admission and then had it cancelled by the hospital on the day preceding or on the actual day of admission.

It is occasionally necessary at the Royal Hospital Sheffield as at other hospitals to defer the admission of a patient from a waiting list because of the need to admit another patient as an emergency. A separate record of such deferments is not maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time for patients for 'thyroid operations at the Royal Hospital, Sheffield, on the National Health Service waiting list and as private patients, respectively.

Ten National Health Service patients are at present on the waiting list; the longest waiting time is six months, but most patients wait less than three months. The waiting time for private patients depends on individual arrangements made between the consultant and the patient.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the average pension to a person in 1975 who has fully contributed to the Graduated Pension Scheme.

A man retiring from regular employment at minimum pensionable age in April, 1975, who has paid graduated contributions at the maximum rate since the scheme began in April, 1961, will be entitled to a graduated pension of £1·93 a week in addition to his flat-rate pension. A woman will be entitled to a graduated pension of £1·60 a week. Both amounts take into account the higher contributions from next October.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the amount of weekly pension lost to contributors to the Graduated Pension Scheme who were earning £20, £30 and £40 per week, respectively, on the basis of termination of the scheme now.

For each complete tax year contributions paid at the current rates by men, not contracted out, with earnings of £20, £30 and £40 a week earn approximately 10p, 18p and 25p a week graduated pension respectively. The corresponding figures for women are 8p, 15p and 20p.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many private occupational pension schemes are at present contracted out of the Government scheme.

It is estimated that at 31st December, 1971, 27,918 private occupational schemes, covering about 2·3 million employees and 482 schemes in the public sector and overseas schemes, covering about 3 million employees, were contracted out of the Government graduated pension scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total annual income from contributions under the graduated pension scheme.

It is estimated that the income from graduated contributions paid by employers and employees in the financial year ending 31st March, 1972, will be about £1,060 million. The national insurance scheme is financed on a "pay-as-you-go" basis and although all graduated contributions qualify for graduated pension, the graduated contribution income is largely required to finance the current national insurance flat-rate benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total cost of research in the current financial year at present being undertaken by the Department into deafness in children.

There are no research projects in the current financial year aimed specifically at deafness in children.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when transistorised hearing aids will be available to all children requiring them;(2) how many children, after leaving school having been equipped with a transistorised hearing aid, are then refused replacement with an aid of the same type.

All hearing aids issued through the National Health Service are transistorised. A head-worn model (OL 67) has been available since 1969 to all children for whom it is suitable. The number of children who are refused replacement of their head-worn aid if it has to be withdrawn for repair after they leave school is not known, but it is likely to be small at present. The aid has proved reliable in service and has a good potential life.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children entering primary schools require hearing aids.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many centres equipped for the full assessment of a child's hearing are at present available, and how many are planned.

It is not possible to provide this information because of the differing circumstances in which full assessment of a child's hearing may take place in the community. As regards hospitals, we have recently made over £1 million available to hospital authorities to enable 37 new comprehensive assessment centres to be established which will provide facilities for assessing children with any handicapping condition, including deafness. Others are planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research the Department is undertaking on hearing aids for teenagers; when the research was started; and when the findings will be published.

Research currently being sponsored by my Department is designed to benefit all hearing aid users, including teenagers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children below the age of 16 years have hearing aids, and of what type.

I regret that information is not available in the form requested, but it is estimated that about 15,000 children at school in England and Wales have hearing aids.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children below the age of 16 years are both deaf, or partially deaf, and blind.

The information is not available, but I understand that local education authorities in England knew of 460 children with defects of both sight and hearing in 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children are assessed for the first time as being deaf, or partially deaf, at one year, two years, three years, four years, five years, and six years of age, respectively.

The information is not available but I understand that in 1970, 59 deaf and 53 partially hearing children below age 5 were assessed by the Depart- ment of Education and Science as needing special educational treatment. 1971 figures are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the production cost of a transistorised hearing aid; and what is the production cost of a chest type hearing aid.

National Health Service hearing aids, all of which are transistorrised, are obtained under competitive contracts and it is not the practice to disclose production costs. Experience of purchasing hearing aids for children shows that a head-worn aid is likely to cost about three times as much as a body worn model.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average number of persons per household in Islington, London and Great Britain, respectively.

These figures have not yet been extracted from the 1971 Census and I will write to the hon. Member when they become available towards the end of this year. In the 1966 Sample Census the number of persons enumerated per household was as follows:

Islington LondonBorough	2·70
Greater London Council Area .	2·83
Great Britain	2·99

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

Figures are as follows:

LEEK URBAN DISTRICT
Deaths under 1 year of age, per 1,000 live births
Year	Rate
1940	70
1945	50
1950	19
1955	19
1960	23
1965	12
1970	10

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress being made for the opening of an artificial limb fitting centre at Sykes Street Clinic, Hull; and when he anticipates that the Centre will be opened.

Building work to provide artificial limb fitting facilities at the Sykes Street Clinic is in hand; and it is hoped to open a limb fitting centre on a part time basis in the Autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many invalidity allowances are being paid to residents in the Hornchurch area.

I regret that the information is not available for local office areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many families on low incomes with children are receiving increased supplementary benefits in the Hornchurch area.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many widows, between the ages of 40 and 50 years, are being paid pensions in the smallest area, to include Hornchurch, for which he can supply figures.

Excluding widowed mother's allowance, 30,400 widows between the ages of 40 and 50 were receiving national insurance widows pensions in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons resident in the smallest area, to include Hornchurch, for which he can supply figures are receiving attendance allowances.

The smallest area for which figures are readily available to include Hornchurch is that part of the London (North) administrative region which is apvered by the Greater London Council. In this area the allowance was being paid at 7th April—the latest date for which figures are available—for about 2,200 people. including just over 500 children.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many old persons' pensions are being paid to residents in the Hornchurch area.

Figures are not maintained of the numbers of people receiving old persons' pensions in local office areas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider restyling the 50p piece so as to make it more easily distinguishable from the lop piece.

No: I do not think that such a change is necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what rates value-added tax is applied to non-edible horticultural products in member countries of the European Economic Community.

My understanding is that the rates of value-added tax on most non-edible horticultural products are as follows:

	Per cent.
Belgium	18
France	7½
Germany	5½
Luxembourg	10
Netherlands	14

NOTE:—Italy has not yet imposed a value-added tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present total of the National Debt; and, from information available from international sources, how this compares on a per capita basis with the equivalent figures for the member countries of the European Economic Community.

£35,853 million (provisional) at 31st March, 1972, equivalent to some £640 per head. This total is in nominal terms and includes substantial United Kingdom official holdings. The table below gives the sterling equivalents per head for the EEC countries at the end of March, 1971 (calculated at the exchange parities at that date).

National debt per head
	£
Belgium	540
France	150
Germany	150
Italy	130
Netherlands	300

Great caution is needed in interpreting these figures as their comparability is affected by large differences in the structure and size of the public sectors in the various countries. The definition of debt for the EEC countries is as given in EEC "General Statistics ".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of revenue collected from the excise duty on whisky in each of the past five years.

In the last five financial years, duty receipts from mature British spirits (virtually all of which is whisky) have been as follows:

Year	£ million
1967–68	157·4
1968–69	164·3
1969–70	180·4
1970–71	195·6
1971–72 (April to February onlt)	200·3

The figure for March, 1972 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that under the Films Act, 1970, the National Film Finance Corporation is entitled to a grant of £5 million; and whether it is his intention to make this money available as soon as possible.

No grants are made to the National Film Finance Corporation. The Cinematograph Films Production (Special Loans) Acts, 1949 to 1970, authorise the Department to make repayable advances not exceeding E7½million to the Corporation. £71 million has already been advanced. The question of a further advance is under consideration, and it is hoped to announce a decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number of industrial development certificates granted to British footwear manufacturers in each of the last five years to 31st December, 1971.

Following are the numbers of industrial development certificates issued to footwear manufacturers for schemes of 10,000 sq. ft. and over:

1967	7
1968	13
1969	6
1970	10
1971	6

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what growth in electricity demand is envisaged in the next three years; and what measures are being taken to meet this demand.

The Electricity Council forecast of the growth of maximum demand envisages that the peak demand in the winter of 1974–75, in average weather conditions, will be 47,700 megawatts, or about 16 per cent. above the comparable figure for 1971–72. By the end of 1975, the CEGB expect to have about 60,000 megawatts of generating capacity to meet this demand, taking into account stations now being built. This should provide an ample margin for any contingencies.

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

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what increase he estimates will occur in coal prices as a result of Great Britain's entry into the Common Market as fuel taxes are harmonised.

Consideration by the Community of proposals to harmonise taxes on fuels is at an early stage. As a member of the Community, the United Kingdom would play a full part in determining any future Community policies that might affect coal prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what capital approval has been sought by the Gas Council for investment in Conoco Methanation in the redesigning of the coal gas plant at Westfield, Fife.

I understand that this scheme involves no capital expenditure by the Gas Council or the Scottish Gas Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to warn all tourists against the danger of rabies caused to children by attacks from dogs.

Information about the danger of rabies is included in the pamphlet "Notice to Travellers: Health Protection" issued by the Department of Health and Social Security and copies are made available to tour operators for distribution to tourists.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what persons outside the Government the inter-Departmental report on the future of Great Britain's aerospace industry, chaired by Sir Robert Marshall, has been shown; whether this was with his authority; and if, in view of the details supplied to him, he will investigate the leak procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what persons outside the Government the inter-Departmental report on the future of Great Britain's aerospace industry, chaired by Sir Robert Marshall, has been shown; whether this was with his authority; and if, in view of the details supplied to him, he will investigate the leak procedure.

I have no reason to suppose that copies of the report have been shown to anyone outside the Government. The details provided do not in my view amount to prima facie evidence of a leak.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will issue a general direction to the Post Office to make it easier for handicapped persons to use coin boxes and telephones.

The Post Office makes considerable efforts to meet the special telephone needs of the handicapped wherever possible and a general direction would not be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will obtain a list of those housing authorities which have imposed the 50p increase in April under the terms of the Housing Finance Bill; whether he will publish that list; and whether he will seek information regarding the proportion of tenants in receipt of rent rebates, as laid down by the Housing Finance Bill, in each of these authorities.

Local authorities are under no obligation to provide me with the information sought in the first part of the Question, but I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. Member. It will not be possible to answer the second part until local authorities have implemented the provisions of the Bill when it becomes law.M

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will discuss with the European Commission the type of aid which they would in principle be willing to sanction in Wales in the event of Great Britain entering the European Economic Community.

The Government have no reason to believe that the aid systems provided for in our present policy conflict with Community principles.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the date on which he received his inspector's report into the Cardiff Central Area Development proposals; and when he expects to announce its findings and his decision.

The Inspector's report was received on 17th January, 1972. I hope to make an early decision but I must ensure that all the issues involved, including the many representations that have been made, are fully considered in the light of the inspector's report.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy towards all the recommendations of the Hughes Parry Report on the legal status of the Welsh language.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Fred Evans) on 1st May, 1972.—[Vol. 835. c. I.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with his Department's action to safeguard the position of the Welsh language, as recommended in the Hughes Parry Report; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has already taken the appropriate steps to fulfill the main recommendations of the Hughes Parry Report. I am always prepared to consider specific suggestions for improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many electricity consumers in Londonderry have had their supplies discontinued for nonpayment of bills during 1971, 1970 and 1969, respectively.

The information is as follows:

Calendar year	No. of consumers disconnected
1971	13
1970	43
1969	79

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements will be made to take recovery action against tenants of public authority dwellings who are withholding rents.

Where social security benefits are payable to defaulters, the Northern Ireland Ministry of Health redirects part of these to the housing authorities to cover the current rent and rates and part of the arrears.

asked the Secretary ot State for Northern Ireland whether he will ensure that the action of some public authority tenants in withholding rents will not result in tenants who are paying their rent having to pay higher rent and rates now or in the future.

Action is already being taken to recover rent and rates due from public authority tenants. This action is aimed at avoiding a situation in which tenants in general would have to pay higher rent or rates as a result of the civil disobedience campaign.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the findings of the post-mortem examination of Corporal Elliott, of the Welsh Defence Regiment, who was abducted by the Irish Republican Army.

In accordance with the Coroner's Act (Northern Ireland), 1959, a copy of the post mortem report may be made available to properly interested persons at the coroner's discretion.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the incidents in Belfast on Monday, 17th April, at 9.30 p.m., when shots were fired from Divis Flats towards Percy Street, and shots were fired from Summer Street towards Cliftonpark Avenue.

At 9.30 p.m. a burst of 17 shots was fired from the Divis Flats complex towards Percy Street. The target is not known. We have no knowledge of shots having been fired from Summer Street towards Cliftonpark Avenue but at 9.25 p.m. 10 shots were fired at an army mobile patrol in Cliftonpark Avenue from the direction of Oldpark Road Crumlin Road junction. The army returned one shot.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the incident in Belfast on Monday, 17th April, at 9.38 p.m., when automatic gunfire occurred in the Joanmount Gardens area.

We have no knowledge of shots having been fired there at this time.

We have no know-edge of any shots having been fired at Musgrave Street Police Station at that time. Mr. Stratton Mills asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the incident in Belfast on Monday, 17th April, at 9.39 p.m., when shots were fired at the staff of the Crumlin Road picture house from Century Street and Tasmania Street.

Security forces have no record of shots having been fired at the staff of the Crumlin Road picture house from either Century Street or Tasmania Street, but the Army reported that at 9.26 p.m. 10 shots were fired at a mobile patrol in Crumlin Road from Agnes Street.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the incident in Belfast on Monday, 17th April, at 9.40 p.m., when shots were fired in Ardilee Street, Oldpark.

At 9.40 p.m. five shots were fired from Ardilea Street. It is thought that they were fired at an army "Sanger" outside Oldpark RUC Station. No one was hurt and fire was not returned as the gunman was not spotted.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the incident in Belfast on Monday, 17th April, at 9.46 p.m., when shots were fired from a car in Manor Street at an old man and a girl.

At 9.50 p.m. on the day in question one shot was fired at a man and a girl from a cream coloured Morris Oxford car in Manor Street. Police who went to the scene were unable to locate the vehicle and no further description was available. No injuries were sustained.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the incident in Belfast on Monday, 17th April, at 9.50 p.m., when shots were fired at Berwick Street.

Two bursts of automatic fire, approximately 15 rounds in all, were fired from Brompton Gap into Berwick Road towards Alliance Avenue. The target is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the incident in Belfast on Monday, 17th April, at 10.08 p.m., when shots were fired from a car in the Oldpark area.

We have no knowledge of shots having been fired in this area at that time.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the incident in Belfast on Monday, 17th April, at 10.30 p.m. when shooting occurred in Oldpark Road.

We have no knowledge of any shots fired at 10.30 p.m. but at 10.25 p.m. a 22 bullet was fired through a bedroom window of number 605 Crumlin Road. The source of the shot is not known. There were no injuries.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Eire External Affairs Minister on 27th April.

Dr. Patrick Hillery, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Government of the Irish Republic, called to see me on Thursday, 27th April. We discussed a number of matters of common interest but the details of our conversation must remain confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on assistance for Harland and Wolff Limited. Mr. Stratton Mills asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on assistance for Harland and Wolff Limited.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Duffy) on 4th May.—[Vol. 836, c. 579.]