asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of public concern about recent cases of stale food on sale in London, he will ask the Food Standards Committee to report immediately on its findings and recommendations for the date-marking of perishable food.

The Food Standards Committee has almost completed its review and expects to submit its report shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the United Kingdom will be able to continue to extract a premium from the liquid milk market under the European Economic Community marketing arrangements.

The EEC's regulations do not limit the premium on milk for liquid consumption. Since competing imports would incur transport costs, a substantial premium should still be obtainable in full common market conditions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to inform United Kingdom egg producers of the necessity for preparing for the change over to European Economic Community quality standards and weight grades.

An explanatory booklet is available free of charge and has been widely distributed among producers and the trade. Arrangements are in operation for maintaining close touch between my Department and representatives of producers, the trade and consumers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to prevent unfair competition against United Kingdom egg producers after entry to the European Economic Community as a result of the operation of the compensatory system.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply I gave on 8th February to my right hon. Friend the Member for Thirsk and Malton (Sir Robin Turton).—[Vol. 830, c. 297.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many main intervention centres and subsidiary intervention centres will be established in relation to cereal production in the United Kingdom after entry to the European Economic Community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the new regulations which will come into force in the United Kingdom on entry to the European Economic Community for cereals, and as to what the minimum quantity for intervention purposes will be.

I explained in reply to a Question on 9th May by my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Charles Morrison) the arrangements that need to be made to apply the common agricultural policy of the Community to cereals, including the minimum quantities for sales into intervention. The pattern of intervention centres and of prices are to be worked out in consultation with the Community and will then become the subject of regulations under the Act of Accession.—[Vol. 836, c.321–4.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether United Kingdom producers of poultry meat will be obliged to change to spin chilling of their produce on entry to the European Economic Community.

Spin chilling is already a common practice both in the United Kingdom and on the Continent. As a member of the enlarged Community the United Kingdom like all other members, will be expected to ban the use of the spinchiller from 1st January, 1977 in accordance with the EEC's poultry health directive.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he intends to make during the period when eggs graded to both European Economic Community and United Kingdom standards are sold side by side in United Kingdom shops.

A change-over period is necessary while grading machines are being adjusted, but it will be kept as short as possible. The Government will ensure that there is sufficient publicity at the time of the change-over to enable housewives to assess the new grades.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers of oversight he will have over officials of his Department who go to work in the European Economic Community Agricultural Directorate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if officials of his Department who go to work in the European Economic Community Agricultural Directorate in Brussels will continue to be responsible to him.

Officials who accept employment with institutions of the European Communities will be responsible to those institutions and the question of oversight by me will not arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a statement on the continuation of statutory marketing boards after British entry into the European Economic Community, and in order to conform to the Common Market agricultural policy.

I have nothing to add to the answer which my hon. Friend gave on 8th February last.—[Vol. 830, c. 299–300.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to make a statement regarding the agricultural intervention agencies which will operate in the United Kingdom if Great Britain joins the Common Market.

Announcements have already been made about the proposed establishment of the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce and about the operational functions to be undertaken by the Home Grown Cereals Authority as agents of the board. My Department is in consultation with the Meat and Livestock Commission about its possible functions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what rôle, after entry into the European Economic Community, is to be allocated to the Home Grown Cereals Authority.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Home Grown Cereals Authority, after entry to the European Economic Community, will be responsible for the denaturing arrangements.

As I said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Charles Morrison) on 9th May, the Home Grown Cereals Authority has accepted a rôle as executive agents of the proposed Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce in respect of functions relating to denaturing, support buying, storage and selling of grain and information about prices.—[Vol. 836, c. 321–324.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the contributions which the cow-heifer could make to British beef supplies; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend does not consider that the cow-heifer system of beef production would be likely to help significantly in the expansion of beef supplies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish the findings of the review of forestry policy before decisions on the industry's future are taken.

There will be a publication. Copies will be available to the House as soon as possible after the recess and I will then make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many conifers and other soft woods have been planted in each of the past 10 years by the Forestry Commission, and how many oak, ash, chestnut,

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the difference between farm gate prices and retail prices for beef and veal in the European Economic Community compared with the United Kingdom.

No meaningful comparison can be made because qualities of cattle and cuts of meat vary so widely.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what encouragement he is giving to the increasing possibilities of marine fish farming in selected areas; and if he will ensure that adequate grants are available for the establishment of experimental farms.

My Department already plays a substantial part in research into marine fish farming, both through the work carried out at the Government laboratories and through its contribution to the White Fish Autho- walnut and other hard wood trees; and what were the net earnings from soft and hard woods, respectively, in each of those years.

Following is the information:rity's development programme. I do not envisage any changes in the scope of this assistance at the present time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what check will be made this year to show any difference between the acreage of sugar beet grown as compared with the acreage of this crop contracted with the British Sugar Corporation.

The British Sugar Corporation Ltd. has informed me that it will, as usual, carry out detailed checks on a randomised 5 per cent. sample selected by computer. It will, in addition, pay particular attention to farmers known to have oversown in the past.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that adequate precautions are taken to ensure that imported cattle, which may be infected with brucellosis, do not enter disease-free areas; and if he will make a statement.

The movement of cattle, whether home-bred or imported, into brucellosis eradication areas is controlled under the provisions of the Brucellosis (Area Eradication) Orders. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that these controls provide effective safeguards against the introduction of brucellosis into these areas by imported cattle.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the regulations governing the export of animals for slaughter are humane in their application; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that our transit and export regulations and the Balfour assurances which other Governments have given make proper provision for the humane treatment of animals exported for slaughter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present price of barley per ton; and how that figure compares with the price two years ago.

Taken from the corn returns, the average ex-farm price of barley in the United Kingdom in the week ended 20th April, the most recent week for which information is available, was £26·12 per ton. Two years ago the corresponding price was £22·48 per ton.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consult the French Scientific Institute of Fisheries with a view to establishing conservation regulations satisfactory to both Great Britain and France for the six-to-12-mile fishing areas off the coast of England in which French vessels are allowed to fish.

In accordance with the European Fisheries Convention, countries which have traditional rights to fish within these areas are informed before regulations are issued and are consulted if they so wish.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will state the increase in retail food prices during the 22 months ended 30th April, 1972, or the nearest convenient date; and to what extent these increases are due to the need to adjust prices to assist Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

As to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. William Price) and others. As to the second part, not at all.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Protecta farrowing system is recommended by his officers for use by pig breeders.

My Department's officials do not recommend particular systems but, if requested, they will advise pig breeders on suitable types of management and housing systems for farrowing sows. Where there is a satisfactory level of stockmanship there would be no reason to exclude the Protecta system from those discussed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take action to counteract the introduction of synthetic hormones in meat in order to reduce the risk of cancer.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 10th May, 1972, to my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Mr. Burden).—[Vol. 836, c. 375.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the basis for his calculation that the number of blue whales has risen from between 1,000 to 3,000 in 1963 to 10,000 in 1972; and if he will make a statement.

This population estimate was prepared by the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, reviewed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, and is acceptable to most scientists working in this field. It was produced by applying standard statistical techniques to the sighting sampling of survey ships.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what study he has made of the extent to which the rule of the International Whaling Corn-mission that female whales with calves should not be killed is enforced.

My Department's officials take part in annual meetings of the commission, when the results of the inspections carried out by the Government inspectors aboard each factory ship are scrutinised. Last year the review showed 48 lactating females killed out of a total catch of 39,000.An international observer scheme is being introduced to reinforce national inspections.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the arrangements for repayment of debts incurred by the United Kingdom Government with the International Monetary Fund between 15th October, 1964, and 18th June, 1970, falling due next month, and the extent to which any such repayment will involve an increase in the proportion of the reserves held in inconvertible dollars.

As already announced, we fulfilled all our obligations to the IMF, totalling £479 million, on 28th April. Abouts one-third of the transaction involved the use of our own holdings of SDRs. I cannot give details of the Exchange Equalisation Account's holdings of reserve assets ahead of the normal publication date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer in the current financial year of subsidies to the nationalised industries to enable them to conform to the Confederation of British Industry's price guidelines.

A full assessment of the effects of price restraint on the financial position of the nationalised industries for the current financial year cannot yet be made. The CBI has itself deferred until July its conclusion on an extension of its guidelines beyond 31st July, 1972.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax will be collected in a full year from the application of Clause 76 of the Finance Bill.

No forecast can be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his estimate of the yield of a 10 per cent. value added tax on caravans as defined in Group 10 of Schedule 4 of the Finance Bill; which of the countries of the European Economic Community operate a value added tax on such items as defined in this group; and at what percentage rates;(2) what is his estimate of the yield of a 10 per cent. value added tax on food as defined in Group 1 of Schedule 4 to the Finance Bill; which of the countries of the European Community operate a value added tax on food as defined in this group; and at what percentage rates;(3) what is his estimate of the yield of a 10 per cent. value added tax on books and other items set out in Group 3 of Schedule 4 to the Finance Bill; which of the countries of the European Economic Community operate a value added tax on such items as defined in this group; and at what percentage rates;(4) what is his estimate of the yield of a 10 per cent. value added tax on water as defined in Group 2 of Schedule 4 to the Finance Bill; which of the countries of the European Economic Community operate a value added tax on such items as defined in this group; and at what percentage rates;(5) what is his estimate of the yield of a 10 per cent. value added tax on newspaper advertising as defined in Group 4 of Schedule 4 to the Finance Bill; which of the countries of the European Economic Community operate a value added tax on such items as defined in this group; and at what percentage rates;(6) what is his estimate of the yield of a 10 per cent. value added tax on news services as defined in Group 5 of Schedule 4 to the Finance Bill; which of the countries of the European Economic Community operate a valued added tax on such items as defined in this group; and at what percentage rates;

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT an estimate of the number of sports clubs and societies of all kinds, which are commercially engaged, which will come within the scope of the exemption of the payment of value added tax on the basis of those organisations having a turnover in taxable goods and services not exceeding £5,000 per annum.

No. Adequate information is not readily available on which to base an accurate estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, on his decision to reintroduce value added tax, the Customs and Excise Department and its staff had to be reorganised due to the increase of 74,000 tries of the European Economic Community operate a value added tax on such items as defined in this group; and at what percentage rates.

As regards the first part of each of these Questions, I have nothing to add to my answer to the bon. Member for Heywood and Royton (Mr. Joel Barnett) on 9th May.—[Vol. 8:6, c. 326–8.]The answer to the second part of the Questions depends on the interpretation of the different national legislations in the Six. There are differences in the definition of the various items from country to country which make an exact comparison impracticable. But the following table shows what I understand to be the general position in the five EEC countries which have a value added tax.firms paying purchase tax to 1½ to 2 million due to pay the new value added tax; to what extent discussions and agreement with the appropriate trade unions took place before this reorganisation; and whether he will make a statement.

The reorganisation of the Customs and Excise Department was agreed in 1971 after four years of joint study and negotiation by management and a team fully representative of all the various staff associations in the Department. The discussions were started long before the decision to introduce the value added tax was taken; but the reorganisation will facilitate the Department's task in coping with the work of the new tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, due to the increase from 74,000 firms paying purchase tax to 1½ to 2 million which will be liable for value added tax, there will be an increase in the work and responsibility of Customs and Excise officers; whether he will ensure that there will be the required increase in status of the executive officers to higher executive officers and that their salaries will be increased between £500 per annum to £1,000 per annum; and what he estimates the costs of these changes will be.

As I indicated in reply to the hon. Member on 12th April, about 6,000 extra civil servants will be required for the value added tax. The grading of the staff will be appropriate to their duties.—[Vol. 834, c. 1258.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in the European Economic Community countries value added tax is charged on admission to museums and galleries at the standard rate of tax and that in France a reduced rate of 17·6 Per cent. is applied; and to what extent he estimates a return to the Revenue on the introduction of value added tax on entry into galleries and museums at the present stated rate and on the rates as now applied in the countries of the Six.

Revenue from value added tax on admissions to museums and galleries will depend on several factors and no precise estimate is possible. It would involve disproportionate time and effort to estimate the hypothetical effect on the revenue in the United Kingdom of the legislation of other countries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give details of the discussions he had with the National Chamber of Trade before his decision to introduce the value added tax; and, as this Chamber has declared that many shopkeepers will face hardship or ruin on the introduction of the value added tax, if he will arrange to discuss these matters with the National Chamber of Trade.

The National Chamber of Trade has discussed various aspects of value added tax with Customs and Excise, which is available to have further discussions at any time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the overall rate of growth of industrial output per annum in Great Britain in the years 1960 to 1971; and how this compares with the European Economic Community, from information available from international sources.

The annual percentage increases are given below. The figures relate to the mining and quarrying, manufacturing, gas, electricity and water industries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the steps taken to eliminate discrimination on grounds of sex from those fields of law and administration which are within the control of his Department; and in which matters such steps have not yet been taken.

As far as the Inland Revenue is concerned, provision has been made that where a married couple jointly so claim, the wife's earnings—although not her investment income—shall be charged to tax as if she were a single person.In the fields which fall within the responsibility of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's other departments, I am not aware of any steps which need to be taken to eliminate discrimination on grounds of sex.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage of male unemployment in Sunderland at the latest available date; and what was the corresponding figure 12 months ago.

The percentage rates of male unemployment in the Wear-side travel-to-work area at April, 1972, and April, 1971, were 11·4 and 9·2, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will seek to amend the Industrial Relations Act to protect trade unions and their officials from fines resulting from unofficial action by their members who are acting without the permission or instruction of their union.

No. I consider that the protection afforded by the law of agency is already adequate in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will seek to enact a declaratory Clause amending the Industrial Relations Act to state that any action which does not arise from breach of contract cannot constitute an unfair industrial practice short of a strike within the meaning of the Act.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the steps taken to eliminate discrimination on grounds of sex from those fields of law and administration which are within the control of his Department; and in which matters such steps have not yet been taken.

The statutory limitations on hours worked by women in factories are at present under review. The level of training allowances paid to women trainees and the level of training grant paid to employers in respect of women employees under training, both of which are lower than those for men, are being kept under review to take account of changes which result from the operation of the Equal Pay Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people seeking work are now unemployed in the North-West Region and the City of Manchester, respectively; how these figures compare with those for Great Britain and England and Wales; if he will also give the figures in percentage terms; and if he will make a statement.

On 13th March, 14,495 registered disabled people or 16·3 per cent. of those registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act were unemployed in the North-West Region, and 2.606 or 15·3 per cent. were unemployed in Manchester. Comparable figures for Great Britain are 92,781–14·9 per cent. and for England and Wales, 81,664–14·6 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he is taking to improve employment opportunities for disabled people in the North-West Region and the City of Manchester, respectively.

A substantial improvement in employment opportunities for disabled people depends upon an upturn in the employment situation generally. The measures we have already taken to expand the economy and to create more employment opportunities in the assisted areas should help disabled people in Manchester and the North-Western Region as elsewhere. Meanwhile my Department's officials are making every effort to find suitable jobs for them.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment at what precise time on 11th May, 1972, he consulted the Transport Salaried Staffs Association as to his proposal to apply to the National Industrial Relations Court for a compulsory ballot; and what was the nature of the consultation.

The General Secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association telephoned me shortly after 5 p.m. and told me that he felt unable to accept my earlier invitation to a meeting that evening. He further told me that he was unable to accept the offer of the British Railways Board and was not prepared to ballot the union's membership on this offer. I then told him of my intention to apply to the Industrial Court, on which he did not seek to comment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment at what time on 11th May, 1972, he received the unions' reaction to the letter from the board of British Rail which was sent to them that day; in what form the unions made their response; and if he will disclose the exact nature of the response.

Shortly after 5 p.m. I learnt from public statements that neither the National Union of Railwaymen nor the Amalgamated Society of Locomotive Engineers was prepared to accept the board's offer. This information was confirmed when subsequent telephone calls to these unions to tell them of my intention to apply to the Industrial Court produced no response. The General Secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association telephoned me at about the same time to say that his union had not accepted the offer.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has reached a decision on the future of group training schemes set up with the help of the Engineering Industry Training Board.

The period of consultation on the proposals in "Training for the Future" lasts until the end of May, and my right hon. Friend will not reach decisions on the proposals relating to industrial training boards until after then.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons died as a result of industrial accidents and diseases during 1971.

It is estimated that there were 1,210 fatal accidents in industry, including mining, and commerce in 1971. Three fatal cases of skin cancer were notified to the Factory Inspectorate. In addition, the Registrars General received 1,512 death certificates recording pneumoconiosis, asbestosis or byssinosis. It is not possible in these cases to determine whether the condition was the primary cause of or a contributory factor to the death concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many days were lost in strikes in the North-West area in 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971, respectively, and how many since 18th June, 1970.

The figures for the North-West Region are 1967–585,000; 1968–1,154,000; 1969–1,701,000; 1970–2,023,000, and 1971–1,975,000. These regional figures are available only for complete calendar years.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will, following his consideration of the Robens Report, initiate a special campaign for safety in industry enlisting the support of trade union, management, hospital and voluntary bodies in order to cut down the number of preventable accident.

My right hon. Friend would prefer to see what the report has to say before considering what action to initiate after he receives it; but he has taken note of the suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers in the North-West area who left school in 1971 or since are currently unemployed; and how this figure compares with April to May, 1969.

There were 2,708 school leavers registered as unemployed in the North-West Region in April, 1972, compared with 1,044 in April, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to make his recommendations on the future of the industrial training boards.

The Government's proposals for the future rôle of the industrial training boards are for consultation on the widest basis, and the consultative period lasts until the end of this month. We propose to reach decisions in the summer and to introduce such legislation as may be necessary in the next Session of Parliament, but it is not possible to he more precise on the timing of an announcement at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to increase Government training and industrial retraining.

In the new Training Opportunities Scheme explained in "Training for the Future", the Government will offer much wider opportunities to men and women who wish to acquire new skills. We aim to train 60,000–70,000 people a year by 1975 and 100,000 a year as soon as possible after that. There will be a much wider range of courses, including vocational courses of further education.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will seek to meet representatives of the farm workers' union.

The National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers has not approached my right hon. Friend, but he is always prepared to meet union representatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why his Department has accepted the continuation of free supplies of chlordiazepoxide and diazepam; for how long hospitals have been receiving these products free of charge; what is his estimate of the cost of these supplies to the National Health Service; if a similar acceptance of comparable drugs is given to competing drug manufacturers; and if he will make a statement.

Free supplies of these drugs to hospitals have been accepted either as part of a settlement under the Voluntary Price Regulation Scheme or pending such a settlement. The arrangements for chlordiazepoxide have operated since 1st June, 1969, and those for diazepam since 1st July, 1971. The information about total payments by the National Health Service is confidential to the manufacturer. It is open to other manufacturers to make similar offers if they so desire.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he will now take to counter the criticisms made upon his policy of prescription of drugs by their official or generic names rather than by their brand name, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West; what his estimate is of the total amount paid by the National Health Service for the products of the company concerned; and if he will make a statement.

I do not consider that any specific action is called for. Doctors are well aware of the arguments in relation to the biological availability of drugs, and no doubt take account of them in their prescribing to such extent as they consider them relevant.The information about total payment,, by the National Health Service is confidential to the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the issue of water colour pictures, an example of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West, constitutes a breach of the code of practice operated by the drug industry or the arrangements he has made under the voluntary price regulation scheme.

I am asking the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry whether the literature sent to me by the hon. Member conforms with the association's code of practice.I take a close interest in promotion which appears to be wasteful, but sales promotion is primarily the responsibility of the management of a company and this leaflet contains promotional and clinical information as well as the reproduction of a picture.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many different brands of chlorpropamide have been used in National Health Service hospitals during the last five years and if there is a generic equivalent.

Only one brand of chlorpropamide (Diabenese) has been used in National Health Service hospitals over the past five years. The drug has been fully protected by patent and the sole United Kingdom licensee is Pfizer under licence from Hoechst. There is no generic equivalent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the prices paid for EC10 prescriptions and those at present paid by supplies officers of National Health Service hospitals for chlordiazepoxide in capsules of B.P. 5 mg., B.P. 10 mg. and tables of 5 mg., 10 mg. and 25 mg.

The wholesale prices reimbursed to a chemist for chlordiazepoxide supplied on EC10 prescriptions are:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the prices paid for EC10 prescriptions and those at present paid by supplies officers of National Health Service hospitals for diazepam capsules of B.P. 2 mg., 5 mg. and for tablets of 2 mg., 5 mg. and 10 mg., for injection ampoules of 10 mg. and 20 mg. and for syrup of 2 mg. and 5 mg.

The wholesale prices reimbused to a chemist for diazepam supplied on EC10 prescriptions are:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he has permitted a drug manufacturer, who has mounted a campaign against his policy to prescribe by generic names for National Health Service patients, to supply Diabenese tablets free of charge to hospitals as a means of influencing the prescribing habits of doctors in favour of a brand name.

I would not feel justified in advising hospital authorities to refuse the offer of free supplies from the sole source of supply of this patented drug.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will establish a working party to examine if brand name drugs supplied free of charge over a period of time to hospitals have led to a monopoly or near monopoly situation.

No. The Monopolies Commission is investigating the supply to the National Health Service of two drugs and both are at present made available without charge to the hospitals. I think it right to await the commission's report, which is expected towards the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are being taken to encourage United Kingdom producers of poultry meat to get their packing stations up to the European Economic Community standards.

Trade and local authority associations have been made fully aware of the requirements of the European Economic Community directive relating to health problems involved in the trade of fresh poultry meat, and visits by local authority public health officers have made the requirements clear to a large number of producers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what alterations to buildings utilised in the production of poultry meat in this country will be made necessary by the European Economic Community regulations.

The European Economic Community directive relating to health problems involved in the trade of fresh poultry meat—which comes into effect for exports in 1973 and domestic trade by 1976—includes detailed requirements for the construction of poultry slaughterhouses and the facilities and equipment to be provided to ensure the hygienic production of poultry meat. Many of these requirements are already covered by the provisions of the Food Hygiene Regulations and the recommendations of the code of practice, and while alterations may be necessary in older buildings the majority of more modern establishments will require few changes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will institute inquiries into the delay in the hearing of complaints made against certain general practitioners practising at Coleford, Gloucestershire, and arising from the treatment of the late Mr. Gerald Green.

I understand that the executive council is proceeding with the complaint concerning the late Mr. Gerald Green in accordance with the governing regulations and that there has been no avoidable delay on its part.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue to executive councils guidance about the need for speedy hearings of cases involving complaints against general practitioners once a decision has been taken to hear such cases by the Medical Services Committee.

Executive councils are well aware of the need to consider complaints as quickly as possible, subject to the requirements of the governing regulations. My Department will before long be issuing revised notes of guidance to executive councils, and the hon. Member's point will be borne in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many awards of family income supplement expired in each week since 20th October, 1971; and, for each of these weeks, how many of these beneficiaries renewed their claim successfully, how many unsuccessfully and how many did not renew them.

For the reason explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 1st May, there are no records available which would provide the information requested in the second part of the Question. Following is a week-by-week list of the number of awards expiring, and the decisions on renewal claims; the latter relate to awards which may have been due for renewal several weeks before or after the weeks in which the decisions were given.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation to ensure that, where a husband gives up work to look after his wife who becomes a terminal case, national insurance stamps are credited to him so that he does not lose sickness benefit; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce such legislation. The general basis for the award of credits is that a person is experiencing a contingency against which he is insured under the National Insurance Scheme. If a person gives up work for a short time and pays contribution as a non-employed person for those weeks, his sickness benefit cover will not normally be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, as a result of his request for information from local authorities, he will give the names of county, county borough and London borough councils which, respectively, have completed a full survey of handicapped people in their area, are in the process of undertaking a full survey of handicapped people, and have completed sample surveys which have enabled local authorities to assess the number of handicapped people in their area;(2) if, as a result of his request for information from local authorities, he will give the names of county, county borough and London borough councils which, respectively, are in the process of undertaking sample surveys, and have taken some other action to either identify the handicapped or assess the numbers: and if he will give details of the other types of action taken;(3) if, as a result of his request for information from local authorities, he will give the names of county, county borough and London borough councils which, respectively, have taken no action to implement Section 1(1) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, and which have not replied to his request for information;(4) what proportion of those authorities which have made progress in implementing Section 1(1) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act have used voluntary effort;(5) if he will list the difficulties which local authorities have informed him they have encountered in implementing Section 1(1) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act;(6) of those authorities which have completed full surveys of handicapped people, if he will give details, where possible, of the extent to which the number of handicapped persons discovered exceeds the number previously known to the local authority;(7) what action he now intends to take against local authorities which have made little or no progress in implementing Section 1(1) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of those local authorities in England and Wales which have now organised comprehensive surveys into eligibility for assistance under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act; whether he will advise all local authorities to conduct a house to house follow-up to the distribution of relevant questionnaires; and whether he will make a statement.

This information is not available as not all local authorities have yet submitted progress reports. We are asking for outstanding reports to be submitted as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to introduce legislation to amend the Food and Drugs Act; whether such amending legislation will include provisions for strengthening Section 14 of the Act; and whether he will consider then adopting powers to close food premises in exceptional circumstances.

When I wrote to the hon. Member on 4th May, I referred him to the undertakings which I gave in the Adjournment debate on 10th March to consider, when the Food and Drugs Act comes under review, strengthening Section 14 and adopting powers to close food premises in exceptional circumstances. I cannot yet say when the review will take place.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what his estimate is of the increase in the individual retirement pension for both single persons and married couples on the basis of allocating a further £1,000 million for this purpose.

The estimate is £2·70 single and £4·40 married on the assumption that there were no increases in other national insurance benefit or supplementary benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give details of the office hours of his administrative staff at Alexander Fleming House and state why at 5.2 p.m. on a weekday no one is available to deal with a telephone call from a Member of Parliament, who is told to telephone again the next day; and whether he will initiate a scheme to deal with urgent matters until 6.30 p.m. on a weekday.

My Private Office is always staffed on weekdays until after 6.30 p.m. and is available to deal with telephone calls from Members of Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many days were lost as a result of industrial injuries in each of the last five years in the North-West area.

Figures are not available for the full period or to the full extent requested but in 1968–69 and 1969–70 the number of days of incapacity for which injury benefit was paid in the North-West area was 3·2 million and 3·1 million, respectively. Days of incapacity resulting from injury after the end of the six months' injury benefit period, for which sickness benefit would be payable, are not distinguishable and are not therefore included.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will establish an inquiry into the health risks, particularly the danger of typhoid and dysentry, entailed in eating fish caught in coastal waters off south Hampshire including the Solent; and whether he will make a statement.

No. We do not consider there is any danger from eating fish caught in these waters. If any harmful organisms are present in fish, normal cooking and hygeinic handling should ensure that the fish are safe to eat.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of claims investigated by social security special investigators during the latest six-month period available were concerned with unemployment benefit; and what percentage of these claims proved fraudulent, in Scotland, and in England and Wales, respectively.

I have been asked to reply.Full-time special investigators of my Department investigate those claims to unemployment benefit where fraud is suspected or it is considered that opportunities for fraud exist. The percentage of claims investigated which proved to be fraudulent in the six months ending 31st December, 1971, was 25 per cent. in Scotland and 45 per cent. in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received the statement by the Association of Municipal Corporations, the Rural District Councils Association and the Urban District Councils Association concerning the Housing Finance Bill; and what reply he has sent.

A copy of the statement issued by the associations for Report stage of the Housing Finance Bill has been received in the Department. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the official reply sent to the Association of Municipal Corporations in response to similar representations which it made independently at an earlier stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) to what extent, in making its recommendations, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England was required to take into account local opinion on its proposals;(2) what procedure he proposes to take steps to introduce in order that local authorities may have the opportunity to object to the proposals for boundary changes made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England; and if he will make a statement.

The criteria the commission is required to take into account in formulating its proposals for the new districts are set out in Circular 58/71, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend. These criteria include—among other considerations—a requirement to

"…have particular regard to the wishes of the local inhabitants".

"…consider suggestions and proposals put to them by local authorities and other persons and bodies…"

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the latest statistics available of the accident rate for motorways and that for all-purpose trunk roads, respectively.

Accident data are not available separately for all-purpose trunk roads, but it is estimated that in 1971 the injury accident rate per hundred million vehicle miles was 30 for motorways and 177 for all "A" roads.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many accidents involving the closing of carriageways have occurred other than in fog in the latest convenient period on Motorways M1, M4 and M6;(2) how many drivers have been prosecuted for traffic offences in connection with accidents involving the closing of carriageways other than in fog on the motorways Ml, M4 and M6 in the latest convenient period; and what penalties were imposed.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the loss in revenue to local authorities of abolishing increases in rating assessment after central heating has been installed in houses and flats.

There are insufficient data upon which to give a reliable estimate of the loss in rateable value, but, as the rate revenue is required to meet the cost of local services, to the extent that it is not otherwise provided for, there would be offsetting increases in rate poundage to maintain the revenue.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now introduce legislation to strengthen the provisions of the Reservoir (Safety Provisions) Act, 1930.

Yes, at the earliest suitable opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the amount of subsidy given on the grounds of social need for each of the last three years on the Hull-Bridlington-Scarborough line and the York-Selby-Doncaster-Hull line; and what were the receipts for passenger and goods traffic for the same period.

The following grants were made under Section 39 of the Transport Act, 1968:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to continue subsidies to local railways on the ground of social need; and whether the proposed entry into the Common Market will mean that greater assistance will be given to maintain a viable railway transport system on the Humberside.

I intend to continue to grant-aid such unremunerative rail passenger services as are justifiable. I do not expect that entry in the European Communities will significantly change the position on Humberside.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to announce his decision on the future of those railways which are at present receiving grants on the basis of social need.

All grant-aided rail passenger services are under continual review. I make decisions as and when appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the amount of subsidy given on the grounds of social need for each of the last three years on the Hull-Doncaster and Doncaster-Sheffield lines; and what the receipts were for passenger and goods traffic for the same years.

The following grants were made under Section 39 of the Transport Act, 1968:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the amount of subsidy given on the grounds of social need for each of the last three years on the Hull-Leeds and York-Leeds lines; and what were the receipts for passenger and goods traffic for the same years.

The following grants were made under Section 39 of the Transport Act, 1968:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount of subsidy given to local railway lines on the grounds of social need for the last three years, nationally and by region.

The following grants were made under Section 39 of the Transport Act, 1968:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with the sewerage and sewage disposal scheme for Tyneside.

The Tyneside Joint Sewerage Board has been authorised today to invite tenders for works valued at over £15 million. Together with previous submissions by the board, it has now received approval for capital expenditure of over £18 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will refuse his consent to the erection of tall glass-clad buildings in areas of tourist attraction in London; and if he will make a statement.

Individual planning applications for new buildings in London must be considered on their merits, with due regard to the height and external appearance of the proposed development and its relationship to the surrounding area. The Greater London Development Plan, which has been submitted to me for approval, includes a statement of policy for high buildings in London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek mandatory powers to ensure that all local authorities provide a complaints service in respect of local authority services and decisions; and whether he will seek to allocate funds for this purpose.

As we said in our White Paper, Cmnd. 4584, the Government believe that there should be improved arrangements for investigating citizens' complaints. Consultations are now proceeding with the local authority associations and staff interests on our proposals; these are for the establishment by law of a Commission for Local Administration to investigate complaints of maladministration by local authorities. I am having copies of the consultation document placed in the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek mandatory powers to ensure that all local authorities provide sums he considers adequate for the purpose of the citizens' bureau.

No. Local authorities already have full power to give financial support to citizens' advice bureaux. This is a matter they should decide for themselves.