asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a further statement about progress towards a negative income tax or tax credit system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the Green Paper on the tax credit system.

As I said in my Budget statement, I propose to publish a Green Paper setting out the scheme in detail later this year.—[Vol. 833, c. 1384.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration Her Majesty's Government is giving to the survey carried out by the Child Poverty Action group regarding negative income tax and a child credit system of allowances, details of which are in his possession; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend was interested to read the report of this survey and has written to the author saying that the views expressed will be fully borne in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with groups representing the disabled as part of his Department's work in the preparation of a Green Paper on a tax credit scheme.

None. But we shall of course be glad to arrange the fullest consultations when the Green Paper has been published.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now make a statement on the Government's policy towards the reorganisation of the international monetary system in the light of the discussions at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development III in Santiago.

Yes. The United Kingdom voted in favour of the resolution on the international monetary situation passed at UNCTAD III. It remains my right hon. Friend's view that the main discussion of reform should take place in the new Committee of Governors of the IMF, in whose work the developing countries will be able to play their part.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had on the need to reform international monetary system along the lines of the proposals he put forward to the International Monetary Fund in September 1971.

My right hon. Friend has had a number of useful discussions with fellow Finance Ministers and in particular last week took the chair at a meeting with his colleagues of the enlarged European Economic Community at which certain broad principles were agreed. My right hon. Friend intends to discuss these matters with his Commonwealth colleagues when they meet in London in September. We look forward to the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund in Washington in September and to the establishment of the Special Committee of Governors of the Fund—the Group of Twenty—to work out a definitive scheme of international monetary reform.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the increases in dollar central bank holdings of external reserves over the last 18 months, if he will seek to ensure that United Kingdom reserves are reasonably balanced, and if he will initiate discussions with world monetary authorities on ways to improve the issue of special drawing rights to give more security against violent movements of world exchange rates in future.

The ideas for international monetary reform now under discussion are designed to improve the reserve asset structure and bring greater stability in international payments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the conference on 17th and 18th July between the Finance Ministers of the enlarged European Economic Community.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the meeting of the 10 Finance Ministers of the enlarged Community.

The Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the countries of the European Economic Community and of the acceding states met at Lancaster House on 17th and 18th July under my chairmanship. The whole of the discussion was devoted to international monetary reform, and a wide measure of agreement was reached on the general objectives to be pursued. In addition, certain specific questions which flow from these objectives were discussed and it was agreed to continue work on these in preparation for the next informal meeting in Luxembourg on 11th and 12th September.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts of loans or guarantees to further regional developments have been agreed between the European Investment Bank and the member countries of the European Economic Community between 1958 to 1971.

About 1,650 million units of account in value.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts of loans or guarantees in the form of aid to regional development have been agreed between the European Investment Bank and the associated countries of the European Economic Community between 1958 to 1971.

143 million units of account in value, plus 223 million units of account for special operations partly financed from the European Development Fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will define more precisely the acceptable form of invoice for value added tax purposes for goods below the value of £10.

My hon. Friend the Financial Secretary gave some information about our proposals in regard to these invoices both in Standing Committee E on 12th June and at Report Stage of the Finance Bill in the House on 12th July. Full details will be in the VAT Regulations which will be made and laid before the House shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those countries which have already introduced or have announced their intention to introduce a value added tax.

Following is the information: My understanding is that the following countries currently impose a value added tax: Belgium, France—including French overseas territories—Luxembourg, Netherlands, Western Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Brazil, Uruguay, Ivory Coast and Mali. The following intend to introduce a value added tax on the dates shown: Irish Republic (1st November, 1972), Austria (1st January, 1973), Italy (1st January, 1973) and United Kingdom (1st April. 1973).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage taxation on such foods as are taxable will be reduced consequent upon the substitution of value added tax for purchase tax.

The yield from value added tax at 10 per cent. on foodstuffs at present liable to purchase tax is estimated to be only four-fifths of the corresponding yield from purchase tax on these items.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the yield of the value added tax in the financial year 1973–74; and how this compares with the revenue from purchase tax and the selective employment tax in the financial year 1970–71.

The net revenue from purchase tax and SET in 1970–71 was £1,781 million. No estimate can yet be given of the actual yield from value-added tax for the financial year 1973–74. However, if purchase tax and SET had continued at the 1970–71 rates, VAT would have had to be imposed at a rate, not of 10 per cent., but of 15 per cent. to yield an equivalent revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, on the basis of the General Index of Retail Prices, is the purchasing power of the £ sterling now, taking it as 100p on 18th June, 1970.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling as l00p in mid-June 1970, its value in mid-June 1972 is estimated at 86½p. This estimate is based on changes in the Consumer Price Index between 1970 and 1971 adjusted by movements in the General Index of Retail Prices for the months at the beginning and end of the period. If the estimates were based solely on movements in the General Index of Retail Prices, the corresponding figure would be 85½p.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what administrative action he is taking to deal with tax evasion by large companies.

Both the Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue are fully alive to the need to counter all forms of evasion. If the hon. Member has a particular form of evasion in mind perhaps he will let me know.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the fiscal year begins on 5th April; and what consideration he has given to alternative dates.

The reasons why the tax year starts on 6th April—not 5th April—are historical. I will be glad to send my hon. Friend an account of the matter. It is, I must warn him, somewhat involved.My right hon. Friend has at present no proposals to change the date of the tax year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, since the dollar is not exchangeable for gold, he is satisfied that the large sums of dollars used for capital purchases outside the United States of America continue to form a suitable basis for the purchase of such assets; and if he will make a statement, in particular about such moneys being used to purchase key sectors of British industry.

The dollar is still the main currency used in international transactions and its value as a claim on the United States is unchanged.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations have been made to him regarding the introduction of an air pollution tax as an additional source of revenue; and what reply he has sent.

I have been unable to trace any such representations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether permission under the exchange control regulations is given for the transfer of prize money to foreign nationals outside the sterling area.

Permission is freely given for the transfer to non-residents of prize money arising from events held in this country. For an event taking place outside the British Isles, permission would depend on the nature of the payment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now introduce new policies for countering inflation.

We are having discussions with the TUC and the CBI on policies to counter inflation. We believe that a voluntary policy supported by both sides of industry is the most effective way of dealing with the problem.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on the Government's policy towards prices and incomes in the light of the discussions which are taking place with representatives of the Trades Union Congress.

The Government have consistently emphasised the need to bring the rate of cost and price inflation under control. We have made progress in reducing the rate at which prices are rising, both through Government action and through the CBI's voluntary price restraint which we have encouraged the nationalised industries to support and which has recently been extended. In the series of tripartite talks under the Chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister we are continuing our efforts to ensure that we achieve a steady rise in real earnings and work out sensible arrangements to combat inflation on a voluntary basis. The talks began on 18th July but the TUC has said that in the present situation it cannot attend the second meeting which had been arranged for today. I understand that low pay, prices and thresholds were to have been discussed at this meeting. It is the Government's hope that talks on these important subjects will be resumed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of income is taken in income tax and surtax from a man with a wife and two children under 11 years of age earning £10,000 a year; and how this compares with the similar figure for each of the last five years.

Following are the figures:

Year	Percentage of income taken in income tax and surtax for the year
1972–72,	35·8
1971–72	36·3
1970–71	40·1
1969–70	40·3
1968–69	40·3
1967–68	40·3

NOTE. The figures take account of family allowance, and clawback where appropriate. For 1972–73 it is assumed that surtax rates are unchanged.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement of movement in the gold and scarce currency reserves, for the period since the floating of the £ sterling.

The reserves announcement for July will be made in the usual way on Wednesday, 2nd August.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will propose to the United Kingdom's partners in the European Economic Community and the European Free Trade Association the establishment of a European unit of working capital supported by an adequately financed European bank.

No, but as my hon. Friend will know, the present and adhering members of the EEC are studying the possibility of establishing a European fund for monetary co-operation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will provide a more adequate system of expense allowances for severely disabled people, in view of the fact that special expenses connected with employment are not always allowable against income tax.

My right hon. Friend and I have great sympathy for disabled workers, but I am afraid that the tax system cannot take account of their special expenses.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to ensure that goods on which duty is remitted are in fact sold as duty-free goods in ships, airports, &c.

If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind perhaps he will write to me.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will advise Her Majesty's Inspector of Taxes to make all refunds of income tax, presently paid by bank cheques, by Giro cheque in future.

No. The present method of issuing crossed payable orders has substantial cost and administrative advantages without causing inconvenience to the payee. He can, if he so wishes, use a Giro account.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the increases in the General Index of Retail Prices for all items except seasonal food, compared with six months earlier, for April, May and June, 1970, and for March, April and May, 1972.

In April, May and June, 1970, the increases in retail prices excluding seasonal food over six months earlier were 3·6 per cent., 3·7 per cent. and 3·5 per cent. respectively. The comparable increases for March, April and May, 1972, were 2·8 per cent., 3·1 per cent. and 3·0 per cent. respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual rate of percentage increase in the money supply, M3, in the latest period of three months for which figures are available.

The money stock—M3, seasonally adjusted—grew by some 6 per cent. in the three months to mid-May. Allowing for compounding, this is equivalent to an annual rate of increase of about 26 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are being made under the exchange control regulations to enable Imperial Chemical Industries Limited to pay the £20,000 fine imposed on them by the European Court of Justice.

It is the normal practice to give exchange control permission for the payment of penalties imposed by courts abroad.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the amounts and relative proportions of the average net weekly incomes of a married couple with two children under 11, with the father in employment or alternatively out of work and drawing unemployment benefit, including earnings related supplement, where applicable, on the assumption that he has been in continuous employment with average earnings, in 1950, 1960, 1970 and 1972.

The figures are as follows. Figures for 1971–72 are included as this is the latest year available.

Financial year	A Net income in employment	B Net income when unemployed	B as a proportion of A
	£ p.w.	£ p.w.	per cent.
1950–51	7·48	2·83	37·8
1960–61	13·94	7·42	53·2
1970–71	23·19	21·74	93·7
1971–72	25·85	25·34	98·0
Notes:
1. The figures for each year are based on the published average earnings, which relate to October of that year. It has been assumed that these earnings had continued throughout the first 40 weeks of the income tax year, after which the subject became unemployed.
2. The figures in column A relate to week 40 and take account of family allowances, national insurance contributions and income tax; and in column B to week 43, this being the first week for which earnings related supplement would be due. The figures in column B include unemployment benefit and the refund of income tax to which the man is entitled which is by that time of the year running at its maximum rate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the number of appeals from the decisions of the district valuer at Basildon that have been heard by the Lands Tribunal; and how many have been successful.

Thirteen appeals on compensation cases in the Basildon District Valuer's area have been heard by the Lands Tribunal since the office was opened in 1965. The District Valuer was successful in nine.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will immediately review the Schedule to Statutory Instrument 1972, No. 309, Exchange Control (Scheduled Territories) (No. 2) Order 1972, to include Gibraltar as well as the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland

No, but I have received representations about the position of Gibraltar which I shall bear in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the debt-collecting activities of Her Majesty's Collector of Taxes, with particular reference to staff training and the methods adopted of making personal calls on taxpayers.

It is the duty of a Collector of Taxes to secure the earliest possible payment, with the minimum amount of friction, of the taxes which are in his charge to collect. All his training, both centrally and in the local office, emphasises these principles; and when it is necessary to make a personal call upon a taxpayer, for example in the absence of response to written applications, he should conduct himself in accordance with them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to permitting single donations to charities, up to a fixed maximum in any one year, to be deducted from gross income for tax purposes, to compensate for the loss of revenue to charities from seven-year covenants, as will arise following the introduction of the unified tax system on 5th April, 1973; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend could not accept this proposal, which is open to a number of serious objections. However as my hon. Friend the Chief Secretary said, in last year's Finance Bill debates, my right hon. Friend is prepared to discuss with representatives of charitable organisations the question of loss of income which will arise on the introduction of the unified tax system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will compare the United Kingdom tax treatment of chariable gifts with that applying in the European Economic Community and the European Free Trade Association applicants to join the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

Most of these countries allow charitable donations as a deduction from income subject to certain restrictions. I think that the covenant system which operates in the United Kingdom is to be preferred and that the estate duty and capital gains, tax reliefs, introduced this year, will be valuable incentives for charitable gifts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the number of women, paying tax on maintenance money, which they have not actually received from husbands, though granted by court order; and if he has any readily available figures as to the sums involved;(2) how much tax rebate was paid over any convenient period of time to women who claimed that they were not getting maintenance money granted by court order.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what medical advice he obtained from sources outside the Government before deciding on his tax policy for the disabled.

The Government consider that the most practical way of giving help and assistance to the disabled is through the social security system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will initiate discussions designed to associate the issue of special drawing rights in the future with gold at least in part so that the growth of world liquidity by special drawing rights will have a firmer basis than trust between nations;(2) if he will initiate discussions designed to ensure that the International Monetary Fund will accept an obligation to convert special drawing rights into gold or other currencies, so as to increase confidence in the issue of special drawing rights in the future;(3) if he will initiate discussions to increase the price of gold in terms of special drawing rights units in order to release more gold from hoarders and encourage production, thus leading to a more secure basis for international credit.

No. My right hon. Friend has already put forward a number of ideas for international monetary reform which have been well received in other countries. My hon. Friend's suggestions would not be consistent with these ideas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of unpaid estate duty outstanding for five years or more; what steps are taken to recover it; and at what point of time legal proceedings are taken for recovery.

Less than £⅓ million. Appropriate proceedings are taken when there is unreasonable delay in payment of the duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he hopes to complete study of his scheme whereby employers generally should be given encouragement to further schemes for wider share holding among employers, safeguarding the capital of employees' contributions.

In time to permit the introduction of any necessary legislation in next year's Finance Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his consideration of the data on which unemployment statistics are based.

We are still considering the methods of collecting and presenting unemployment statistics. The review raises many questions and it is important that these should be thoroughly examined before conclusions are reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has yet completed his examination of the preliminary information from the 1971 population census in relation to the employment of coloured workers; and if he will make a statement.

This information is still being studied. When the examination is completed my right hon. Friend will consider the most suitable form of publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the effect Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community will have on the wages of Scottish workers.

No precise estimate is possible. Real wages in the United Kingdom generally should benefit from the higher economic growth that will flow from our entry into the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers of unemployed male, female and young persons; what are the percentage figures of male and female unemployed persons; and what is the overall percentage rate of unemployment in the Consett-Stanley-Lanchester travel-to-work area.

At 10th July, the number of people registered as unemployed in the Consett, Stanley and Lanchester travel-to-work area was 2,277 (1,768 men, 311 women, 132 boys and 66 girls) and the percentage rate of unemployment was 7·1 (8·5 for males and 3·9 for females).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will tabulate in the Official Report the number of persons employed in manufacturing

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN GREATER LONDON
								(Thousands)
					All manufacturing industries		Engineering industries
					Number	Change since previous year	Number	Change since previous year
June, 1966	…	…	…	…	1,436·8	—	458·1	—
June, 1967	…	…	…	…	1,362·0	-74·8	448·6	-9·5
June, 1968	…	…	…	…	1,309·3	-52·7	429·4	-19·2
June, 1969(a)	…	…	…	…	1,291·9	-17·4	410·8	-18·6
June, 1969(b)	…	…	…	…	1,298·7	—	392·7	—
June, 1970	…	…	…	…	1,237·6	-61·1	373·3	-19·4
June, 1971	…	…	…	…	1,201·1	-36·5	373·0	-0·3

The estimates for June, 1969(

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the Scottish male wholly unemployed position in June, 1972, both in figures and in percentage terms; and how this compares with the same period in each of the past 20 years.

Following is the information:

NUMBERS OF MALES REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED, AND PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT FOR WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED MALES, IN SCOTLAND
	Number (000's)	Percentage rate
June, 1952	32·4	2·3
June, 1953	33·3	2·4
June, 1954	30·6	2·2
June, 1955	27·0	1·9
June, 1956	26·0	1·9
June, 1957	30·0	2·1
June, 1958	46·3	3·3
June, 1959	57·2	4·1
June, 1960	47·8	3·4
June, 1961	39·5	2·8
June, 1962	49·4	3·5
June, 1963	65·7	4·7
June, 1964	49·3	3·6
June, 1965	39·1	2·8
June, 1966	37·0	2·7
June, 1967	55·2	4·1
June, 1968	58·2	4·4
June, 1969	57·3	4·3
June, 1970	66·6	5·0
June, 1971	94·4	7·3
June, 1972	100·6	7·7

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has received a copy of the resolution adopted by the annual general meeting of the Disablement Income Group on 13th May last expressing disappointment that the proposals in the White Paper, Strategy for Pensions, Command Paper No. 4755, do not cover invalidity; and what reply he has sent.

The Disablement Income Group has not written to my right hon. Friend about this resolution, although we are aware of its terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many state registered nurses are employed on the geriatric wards, both acute and chronic, at the Withington Hospital, Manchester; and for how many beds they are responsible.

On 20th July there were 33 state registered nurses—whole-time equivalent—in post on the geriatric wards which comprised 418 staffed available beds.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nursing assistants and domestic helpers are employed on the geriatric wards, acute and chronic, at the Withington Hospital, Manchester; and how many vacancies for employment in these categories exist at the nearest convenient date.

On 20th July there were 136 nursing assistants—whole time equivalent—and 28 domestic assistants in post; there were no vacancies for either nursing assistants or domestic staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many part-time consultants have been under contract to the Manchester Regional Hospital Board in each of the last 10 years.

The figures for the years ending 30th September are as follows:

Year	Number
1962	394
1963	403
1964	405
1965	433
1966	434
1967	449
1968	458
1969	459
1970	467
1971	454

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many part-time consultants under contract to the Manchester Regional Hospital Board have, in each of the last 10 years, opted to change their status to that of a full-time consultant; and what was the average age of those who so opted.

The figures for the years ending 30th September are as follows:

Year	Number	Average age
1962	1	54
1963	3	40
1964	5	54
1965	7	52
1966	5	52
1967	3	51
1968	4	54
1969	3	44
1970	7	54
1971	2	53

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it is the practice of the Supplementary Benefits Commission to disregard holiday pay when calculating the entitlement of individuals involved in an industrial dispute and their families to supplementary benefit.

No. Holiday pay is normally treated as earnings and not disregarded.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions the Supplementary Benefits Commission has taken criminal proceedings against a person who persistently refuses or neglects to maintain any person for whom he is liable and for whom supplementary benefit is paid as a result of such refusal or neglect; and, over any convenient period, on how many occasions it has been asked to do so.

The total number of such prosecutions under Section 30 of the Ministry of Social Security Act, 1966 heard in each year since 1967—including a few instituted under the corresponding provisions of the National Assistance Act. 1948—were as follows:

Year	Unemployed Men*	Liable Relatives	Total
1967‡	95	716	811
1968	88	597	685
1969	106	598	704
1970	58	675	733
1971	64	614	678
* For persistent refusal or neglect to maintain themselves and any dependants.
† For persistent refusal or neglect to maintain other persons whom they were liable to maintain under Section 22 of the Act.
‡ First complete year.

I regret that no information is available as regards the number of occasions on which the Supplementary Benefits Commission has been asked to take such proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) in view of the disparity between staffing ratios in long stay hospital wards for handicapped children and those obtaining in local authority children's homes, what action he proposes;(2) in view of the fact that despite his Department's memoranda, and the comments of the Hospital Advisory Service, many children in long-stay wards are still cared for in over-crowded conditions, if he will issue directions for a building programme of adaptation and upgrading to provide for the 6,000 such children who will need permanent hospital care.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) in view of the difference in staffing ratios in long-stay hospital wards for handicapped children, and local authority children's homes, if he will take steps to eliminate the disparity;(2) in view of the conditions to which children in long-stay wards are still subject despite his Department's recommendations and the views of the hospital advisory service, if he will give directions for a building programme to upgrade the accommodation needed for the 6,000 children in need of permanent hospital care.

					1966–67	1967–68	1968–69	1969–70	1970–71
					£,000	£,000	£,000	£,000	£,000
Hospital capital expenditure in Manchester				…	1,848·4	2,713·8	3,259·7	3.865·4	3,843·4
Loan sanction in respect of local authority health schemes	…	…	…	…	9·3	—	—	194·1	19·0

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what action he proposes to take to secure the official recognition of medical specialists and consultants to harmonise with the practices prevailing in the European Economic Community;(2) if the National Health Service is a public service within the meaning of Article 48(4) of the Treaty of Rome;(3) to what extent those working in the National Health Service are connected with the exercise of official authority within the meaning of Article 55 of the Treaty of Rome.

These matters are under consideration with the European Economic Community Commission and with the professional organisations in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he proposes to introduce legislation to alter the status of the General Medical Council as the statutory registration authority for doctors in

Nurse staffing ratios in some such wards are above the average staffing in local authority homes, but we do not regard this as a valid comparison as there are more heavily handicapped children in hospitals. Improvements in staffing, the relief of overcrowding and the upgrading of accommodation form part of the programme which regional hospital boards were in 1970 asked to try to achieve in hospitals for the mentally handicapped by 1975, and for which extra money has been made available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the amount of money allocated for National Health Service capital projects in Manchester in each of the past five years.

The information is as follows:the United Kingdom to that of a Government Department, to conform with practice in the European Economic Community.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will negotiate the membership of the Medical Practitioners Union to the Standing Committee of the European Economic Community;(2) if he will make a grant equivalent to 3,863,200 lire to the British Medical Association to reimburse the subscriptions of that body to the Standing Committee of Doctors of the European Economic Community;(3) if he will publish in the Official Report a synopsis of the draft medical directives of the European Economic Community now being discussed by the Standing Committee of Doctors of the European Economic Community;(4) if he will arrange for the Junior Hospital Doctors Association to be represented on the Standing Committee of Doctors of the European Economic Community;

No. The Standing Committee of Doctors of the EEC is, I understand, a professional body which is consulted by the EEC Commission on relevant matters. Governments are not involved in any way in questions of appointment, subscriptions, membership or subjects discussed by the Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what contribution he proposes to make towards the special department of the British Medical Association to cope with the increasing volume of work arising from the Common Market issue.

I do not think it would be appropriate for the Government to make such a contribution, which in any case has not been requested by the British Medical Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has empowered the British Medical Association to negotiate the harmonisation of the National Health Service with the systems of health care provided in the Common Market countries.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make an inquiry into the prices of pharmaceutical products of firms other than the one supplying medicines scheduled on pages 725 and 765 of the National Health Service Hospital Supply Catalogue which fall within the same group, with a view to obtaining comparable reductions to those shown.

No, there are no other companies with products in the same group who are in a similar position to the firm in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will enter into negotiations with the pharmaceutical company which has considerably reduced the price of two of their products as shown in the National Health Service Hospital Supply Catalogue, Group D, pages 725 and 765, to secure similar reductions on other products used in the National Health Service.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his other Question today.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services as the contract terms applicable from 1st July, 1972 for the diazepam and chlordiazepoxide range of medicines, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West, show a saving of 80 per cent. on the prices he is at present paying on general practitioners' prescriptions, if he will now negotiate bulk purchases on these terms to be made available to retail pharmacists.

The prices of these two drugs on general practitioners' prescriptions are the subject of a reference to the Monopolies Commission, made after the company concerned had refused to negotiate with my Department on the prices of its products and we await the Commission's report. It is not unusual for hospital contract prices to be lower than those payable by retail pharmacists.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will reconsider the decision to reduce by £25 per annum the maintenance allowance paid under the invalid vehicle scheme, now that garaging is no longer required, in view of the substantial increase, since the introduction of the maintenance allowance, of all other costs involved in running and maintaining a vehicle.

No. Even on this basis it would still be necessary to maintain a differential for those required to meet the cost of garaging. Any further changes in our arrangements must await the outcome of the review which Lady Sharp is conducting.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost to public funds during the last year to operate the scheme whereby his Department assisted disabled persons with the cost of providing garages for their invalid cars.

Disabled persons to whom cars were issued up to last February received and will continue to receive contributions towards their running costs from which they are required to meet the cost of garaging them. The garaging element is not separately identified in the contribution.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria his Department employed in deciding that the provision of garages to protect vehicles provided by his Department for invalids was economically unjustified.

Expert advice indicated that the loss in value through accelerated deterioration was likely to be less than the cost of providing and maintaining garages and the associated works. It was therefore decided in future to relieve public funds of this liability in respect of three-wheelers and public funds and individuals in respect of the cars issued to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take, in the light of the Rosenheim Report, to increase the supply of kidneys and other spare parts for organ transplantation.

I hope to be able to announce details of a scheme for the recruitment of kidney donors later this year. No special steps are being taken to increase the supply of other organs.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons, according to the latest available information, are claiming family income supplement of, respectively, l0p to 90p, £1 to £1.90p, £2 to £2.90p, £3 to £3.90p. £4 to £4.90p, and £5 per week; and in each case what is the total number of persons estimated to be eligible.

The accompanying table shows the numbers of families receiving family income supplement at the end of May, the latest date for which information is available. Detailed estimates of the numbers of families currently eligible for different rates of benefit must now await the results of the study of the 1971 survey data, which is not yet complete.

Weekly amount of Family Income Supplement	Number of families Receiving Family Income Supplement (thousands)
Under £1	13
£1–£1.90	27
£2–£2.90	22
£3–£3.90	12
£4–£4.90	6
£5	4

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the grants made by him to voluntary bodies in the current financial year compare with those made in earlier years.

For the financial year 1972–73 grants to the value of £715,000 have already been agreed, and further requests from voluntary bodies are being considered. In 1970–71 the corresponding figure was £247,000 and in 1971–72 £412,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ban the use of mercury as a seed dressing now that an effective substitute has been approved under the Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme.

It would certainly be premature to take any view on this while the non-mercurial alternative is undergoing its present acceptance trials under the Department's voluntary Agricultural Chemicals Approval Scheme. In the meantime I am glad of this opportunity to reassure the honourable Member that it is the practice of our Advisory Committee on Pesticides and Other Toxic Chemicals to review existing clearances under the Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme in the light of any relevant developments; and I look to this Committee for advice on whether the clearance for any particular chemical should be continued, modified or withdrawn.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his assessment of the risk to consumers and agricultural workers in the current use of the fungicides polyran and calixin against yellow rust in wheat; and if he will make a statement.

There should be no risk provided all concerned observe the precautions which have been prescribed by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and Other Toxic Chemicals, and which are prominently displayed on all containers in which these chemicals are supplied for agricultural use.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the present incidence of ulcerative dermal necrosis among fresh water fish.

Nearly all the important salmon and trout rivers in England and Wales continue to be affected by ulcerative dermal necrosis, although the incidence of the disease has varied in different parts of the country. Southern England has only suffered isolated and minor outbreaks. The incidence of the disease also fluctuates from one year to another and it is not now as heavy as when it was first seen in our rivers in 1966–67. I am also glad to say that there appears to have been a steady fall in fish disease from this cause in southwest Wales and parts of northern England.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to review the method of compensation to householders in the case of compulsory purchase occasioned by redevelopment.

All relevant factors are being considered in our review of compensation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to take steps to implement the proposal that a public register be opened by each planning authority in which developers would notify their proposals, the authorities thereafter entering specific objections where any exist.

Various ways of shortening planning procedures are under review. My right hon. Friend has, however, no proposals for the legislation that would be necessary for the implementation of this particular proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why his Department does not observe the Fair Wage Resolution passed in 1946 by Parliament which would give minimum rates of £16.30 per week.

I understand that this Question relates to cleaning contracts. As I said in answer to a similar Question from the hon. Member on Friday, 21st July, 1972, contract payments are for services provided and work done measured quantitatively. Competitive quotations are sought from approved cleaning contractors, all of whom are required to comply with the Fair Wages Resolution, 1946.—[Vol. 841, c. 196–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the cavity discovered on the A2 at Strood, and the fatality caused by a subsidence in the area a few years ago, if he is satisfied that a full study has been made of strata subsidence in the district; and if he will make a statement.

The cause of the cavity recently discovered on the A2 at Strood was quite different from that of the man-made shaft which resulted in a fatality some years ago. I am satisfied that there is little risk of subsidence in that area which would present a danger to motorists and that no useful purpose would be served by the Department carrying out a full study of strata subsidence in the district.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider seeking powers to give a rebate on fuel oil and a grant for the purchase of vehicles where a municipal transport undertaking, with a view to easing centre city traffic congestion, operates a non-fare paying bus service from peripheral car parks to city centres.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce decisions on the proposals to improve the A27 route between Chichester and Shoreham, following the study carried out by the County Surveyor of West Sussex County Council.

A scheme for an improved route between Chichester and Hammer-pot just north of Angmering is to be included in the Trunk Road Preparation Pool. Detailed planning and design work on the scheme on this section will now proceed, with a careful examination being made of the alternative merits of improving the existing A27 and the provision of an entirely new route.An independent study will be commissioned into the possible corridor of an improved A27 route to the east of Hammerpot in the Worthing area. This route would connect with that currently under investigation between Brighton and Lewes. The consultants for the study will examine suggestions put forward by the local authorities involved.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will seek to buy or build a block of flats in Strasbourg to provide accommodation and services for the 36 Members of Parliament, members of the European Parliament who will be obliged to spend between 100 to 120 days a year in that city after Great Britain becomes a member of the European Economic Community after 1st January, 1973.

No. The European Parliament and its Committees meet in Luxembourg and Brussels as well as in Strasbourg and the number of days on which such accommodation in Strasbourg would be occupied would not make it a viable proposition.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will give the costs to Exchequer funds of the six Members of Parliament who are visiting the United States of America from 10th July to 23rd July to tour military bases.

Five Members took part in the North Atlantic Assembly Military Tour in the U.S.A.At present payment of £1,717·40 has be made in respect of fares. No claims for the

asked the Lord President of the Council whether, without divulging details attributable to known Members, he will give as much information as may be readily available of Members of Parliament who have not been, and are not, drawing their Parliamentary salaries; how long such payments have not been drawn; and, after allowing for taxation on the same, what has been the saving to the Treasury.

Prior to the increase of Members' salaries on 1st January, 1972, all Members of this Parliament were drawing full salary. Since that date three Members have elected to draw reduced salaries with a resultant saving to the House of Commons Vote, as at 30th June, 1972, of £1,275·04.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will state the visible trade surpluses or deficits for 1964, 1969 and 1971.

The figures are published in the June, 1972, issue of Economic Trends; there were deficits in 1964 and 1969 of £519 million and £141 million respectively and a surplus in 1971 of £297 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been made to him by the British aerospace industry following the decisions of the European Space Conference on the post-Apollo programme; and what reply he has sent.

The European Space Conference has not reached a decision on the post-Apollo programme and does not intend to do so until the autumn. In the meantime, no specific representations have been made, though my hon. Friend will of course be aware of the letter circulated to all hon. Members by the National Industrial Space Committee on 4th July. I have a continuing dialogue with the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he proposes to be present at the inaugural flight of the A300 B European airbus.

As far as I am aware detailed arrangements have not yet been made for this occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates have been made by his Department of the numbers of people in the United Kingdom who will be subjected to sonic bangs by Concorde on British Overseas Airways Corporation's proposed routes to Johannesburg, Sydney, and Tokyo, as part of his consideration of whether to allow supersonic flight over the United Kingdom.

The routes proposed by BOAC would not entail any part of the United Kingdom experiencing a sonic boom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list his powers to require companies seeking a listing on the London Stock Exchange to publish a forecast of their profits.

I have no powers to require companies to publish forecasts of their profits.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with officials of the London Stock Exchange about the question of companies obtaining a listing and raising funds by public subscription without making a forecast of their profits.

The Stock Exchange requires certain information to be given in the prospectuses of listed companies additional to that prescribed in the fourth schedule of the Companies Act, 1948 (which does not call for profit forecasts). I have not had occasion to discuss these arrangements with the Stock Exchange.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies have raised money on the London Stock Exchange in 1970, 1971, and the first half of 1972 without publishing a forecast of their profits.

Information about further issues of securities by companies already listed is not readily available, but I understand that there were two cases in 1970 and one in the first half of 1972 in which companies whose shares were being listed for the first time did not publish profit forecasts.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will institute an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the raising by Mothercare Limited of £13 million on the London Stock Exchange without any profits forecast being published.

I have no reason to think that such an inquiry is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is National Research and Development Council's stake in Cammell Laird's seabed vehicle; and what action he will take to ensure that the public investment in this project is not lost.

The National Research Development Corporation has taken all reasonable steps to safeguard its investment and has so far recovered all but £60,000; there is a possibility of further recoveries. Some of the experience gained during the course of the development work can be applied to other underwater engineering projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of Shell's latest oil discovery, off the Shetlands, on United Kingdom energy policy; and if he will make a statement.

Shell have not yet completed the exploration wells which they are currently drilling to the North East of the Shetlands in the blocks for which they and Esso have joint licences. Evaluation of results will follow the conclusion of drilling.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what percentage the import of footwear increased in the four months January-April, 1972 and over the same period of 1971 by pairage and value from India, Pakistan, Taiwan, Czechoslovakia and Portugal, respectively.

Following is the information:

United Kingdom Imports of Footwear*
Percentage increases January-April, 1972 compared with January-April, 1971
	Pairage	Value (cif)
India	43	50
Pakistan	158	157
Taiwan	53	92
Czechoslovakia	73	80
Portugal	15	52
* Division 85 less gaiters, spats, etc.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list in the Official Report the ship repair companies operating on Merseyside to the most recent convenient date; and how these figures compare with 1962;(2) if he will make a statement on the decline of the ship repair industry on Merseyside;(3) if he has received the representations from the Confederation of Ship building and Engineering Unions with reference to unemployment in the ship repair industry on Merseyside; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

Employment in ship repair on Merseyside has declined from just over 8,000 in 1962 to a current figure of about 4,700, although these figures may not be exactly comparable. The trend shown probably results from a number of factors both technical and commercial, and may have been accentuated by the transfer elsewhere of some shipping services. I have not received any representations from the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions about the ship repair industry on Merseyside. A complete list of the names of the companies is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the Official Report those countries in the European Economic Community which give Government subsidies to the shipbuilding industry.

All countries of the European Economic Community that engage in shipbuilding provide assistance to the industry, though there are wide differences in the level and form of Government support among the Member countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the Official Report those countries in the European Economic Community which give Government subsidies to the ship repair industry.

As far as we know, Italy is the only country in the European Economic Community which gives direct subsidies to the ship repair industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inquiries his Department is currently handling from firms interested in locating new factories in the constituency of South Ayrshire.

Since 22nd March, 1972, the attention of five inquirers, all non-Scottish, has been drawn to the Employment Exchange Areas of Cumnock, Girvan and Ayr.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of public houses are currently being run by managers; and what was the figure three years ago.