asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with facilities made available for vegetarians in National Health Service hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children in long-term care are currently in residential nurseries.

The provisional figure for all children in residential nurseries in England on 31st March, 1972, is 3,181. Information on their length of care is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will state the estimated cost of reducing the age of retirement to 64 years.

About £140 million a year, on the assumption that men retired a year earlier than at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he remains satisfied with the efforts made by the London boroughs to deal with the single homeless person; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further measures he now proposes to provide shelter for homeless single persons or families without children in London.

I outlined during the debate on the Consolidated Fund Bill on 2nd August the work being done by the Government, local authorities and voluntary bodies and the steps being taken for the future.—[Vol. 842, c. 682–92.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the staffing ratio in mental hospitals.

Although the numbers of doctors and nursing staff in these hospitals have risen substantially in recent years, numbers of these and other staff in many such hospitals are below the optimum, partly due to recruitment difficulties. Hospital boards have been asked to achieve certain minimum staffing ratios as part of programmes to improve conditions for staff and patients.

asked the Secretary of State for the Social Services whether he will make a statement about his recent refusal to authorise an increase in private practice in Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield.

As the hon. Member knows, my right hon. Friend has informed the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board that he is prepared to support the increase in principle but that its implementation should be deferred for the present in view of the length of waiting lists in the area. He has suggested a review of the situation in nine to 12 months' time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for the improvement of physical medicine and rehabilitation within the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent representations he has received regarding the implementation of the Tunbridge Report; and what replies he has sent.

I cannot yet add to my reply of 11th July, and that of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister of 25th July. I have received no further representations.—[Vol. 840, c. 1394–5; Vol. 841, c. 283–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to present his comments on the Select Committee's Report on private health services.

As soon as practicable after the recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will arrange that all hospitals display at their entrances neon signs indicating that they either do or do not accept emergency casualties.

No. Hospital authorities have been advised that hospitals which do not provide a service might display a notice to this effect, indicating the nearest accident and emergency department. The kind of notice to be displayed is a matter for hospital authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will expedite the introduction of the new regulations concerning constant attendance allowance to ease the problem of intermittent supervision during the night.

We intend to extend the allowance as quickly as possible, but I cannot add to what was said about the timetable during the passage of the National Insurance Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his reasons for placing a substantial contract from his Department with the Ministry of Defence Microbiological Research Establishment at Porton Down for the development of an improved influenza vaccine.

A programme of fundamental research was needed to improve the efficacy of vaccination against influenza and the view was taken that MRE Porton Down, which possesses the necessary experience in the research techniques involved and has excellent facilities, was the laboratory best placed to undertake a sustained programme in this particular field.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provisions are being made to prevent deterioration of the local authority health services over the period from now to April, 1974, in view of the danger of diminishing interest and expenditure by local authorities and the fact that experienced administrative staff are transferring to other local authority departments and that the medical and nursing staff are anxious about their future.

I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to what is said in paragraphs 188–191 of last week's White Paper on National Health Service Reorganisation: England, Cmnd. 5055. I have seen little evidence to suggest any diminution in the development of the local health services. Indeed, in some respects, notably in numbers of nursing staffs in post, 1971 showed an unprecedented rate of expansion. I fully understand the concern expressed by some staffs but the proposed arrangements for a National Health Service Staff Commission, set out in paragraph 198 of the White Paper, and the proposed training for reorganisation, paragraph 197, will, I hope, go some way to reassure staffs about their future.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient period of time, details of contracts or moneys supplied by his Department to any of the firms controlled by, or in which there was an interest held directly or indirectly by, Mr. Dan Smith and Mr. George Pottinger, whilst they were in receipt of state funds or salaries; and what contracts were made with Smiths Decorators (Newcastle) Limited.

I have nothing to add on the first part of the Question to my reply to the hon. Member on 26th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has now completed his review of the Social Security Act, 1971 with particular regard to the treatment of strike or picketing pay and tax refunds in assessing entitlement to supplementary benefits; and if he will make a statement.

The review is continuing. This is a complex matter and it is particularly important, in any new arrangements made, to find the right balance between reducing the incentive to strike and subjecting strikers' families to hardship.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects work to start on the new William Harvey Hospital at Ashford; and on what date he estimates it will be in operation.

Work is expected to start on site early in 1973. It is hoped that the first phase of the hospital will be built and in operation by late 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that all chemically equivalent medicines now being dispensed have the same level of biological activity as the original products; and whether he will issue a list of those generic preparations for which he has not yet received evidence of satisfactory biological activity from the licence holders.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No, Sir". An applicant for a new product licence is required to produce evidence of biological activity where this can be measured. Evidence of comparison with other products is not required.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will examine the procedures involving claimants who contact his Department for pneumoconiosis benefits; and if he will make a statement.

The procedures for dealing with claims are kept under general review. Certain aspects of the medical procedures are being examined by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council in the course of its major review of pneumoconiosis.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are being taken to maintain and expand the health visiting service and prevent the loss of staff to the social service departments, owing to the fact that qualified health visitors are paid less than unqualified social workers and that future health visitor training arrangements are uncertain.

As I indicated in my reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Dame Patricia Hornsby-Smith) on 20th April, the increase in the number of health visitors in post in England in 1971 compared with 1970 was a record, representing an increase of over 5 per cent. For my part, I have approved increases in the establishment of professional and other staffs of the Council for the Education and Training of Health Visitors to enable them to provide additional training facilities. Salaries of health visitors are a matter for the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council.—[Vol. 835, c. 157.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the normal rules applicable to the officers of the National Health Service regarding the obtaining of work other than their normal National Health Service employment, and the obtaining of gifts and money from private individuals and firms.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a statement of principles which National Health Service employing authorities are required to distribute for the guidance of staff whose good will might be valuable to persons interested in supplying goods and services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware that a patient with heart trouble, of whose name he has been informed, is in St. Mary's Hospital, Colchester, because no bed can be found for her nearer to her home in Barking, and that it is difficult for her husband to visit her frequently; and if he will take urgent steps to accommodate her in a hospital nearer home.

I am making inquiries, and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many contractors have succeeded in obtaining contracts for office cleaning in his Department in the last five years; whether he will publish their names; and how many firms tendered.

In my Department most office cleaning contracts are placed on a regional and local basis. The information requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will state the annual percentage increase in contract prices for cleaning his Department's offices in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971; and how this compares with the annual percentage wage increase of maintenance staff actually employed by his Department.

This information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the annual saving to his Department by employing contractors to do office cleaning instead of employing cleaners as part of his staff.

Estimates are not made on this basis. Each building is looked at separately and once a decision has been made on the method of cleaning to be employed records of alternative costs are not maintained. When contracts come up for renewal the decision is reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will allow facilities for trade union recruitment and organisation on the premises of his Department during hours in which cleaners are employed.

Facilities for trade union recruitment and organisation are granted to recognised unions in respect of civil servants. My Department is not responsible for such arrangements in respect of employees of contractors; but if any contractor asks for help in providing similar facilities on my Department's premises in respect of his employees who work there, I will consider his request.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when he last made a new appointment to any of the regional hospital boards serving the Petersfield constituency;(2) if he will set out the composition of the regional hospital boards serving the Petersfield constituency, by sex, age and the distance of residence from the hospital or institution concerned.

I have written to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek powers to ban tobacco advertising involving representations of young people in pleasant surroundings or engaged in enjoyable activities.

I do not think that legislation is the right way to deal with this issue. If however the hon. Member has specific points in mind I will undertake to discuss them with the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the increasing number of elderly persons making greater demands on the attention of the public health services, if he will consider the formation of a working party to enable long-term planning to be formulated in this field.

The long-term need for these services is under constant review. In addition local authorities will shortly be asked to submit their plans for the next 10 years for the development of personal social services including those for elderly people, and the needs of the elderly for health services are being taken into account in the planning and provision of the reorganised National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what his plans are for the use of the ex-Territorial Army building in Pound Lane, Willesden; and when he expects conversion work to start.

This building is being converted for use as a reception centre for single homeless men. Conversion has already started and the centre is expected to open early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to reply to the request by Brent Council for funds to be made available for the provision of community care projects to cater for the 130 Brent citizens at present in Leavesden and Shenley Hospitals not requiring hospitalisation.

A reply was sent on 26th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when further talks will be held with Spain to negotiate a reciprocal agreement on payment of pension increases.

Our proposals on the scope of a reciprocal agreement on social security, which include payment of pension increases, have been put to Spain and we hope that further talks will be held in the autumn of 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many men and how many women are receiving invalidity benefit; how many of them have one or more dependent children; and how many dependent children they have in total.

The estimated numbers are 320,000 men and 80,000 women. Of these 50,000 have between them about 100,000 dependent children.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the amount provided for the smoking and health hazards campaign last year; and what is the sum allocated for the coming year.

£282,000. I am discussing the sum to be allocated for the current year with the Health Education Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was spent on the campaign to promote dental health and fluoridation last year; and what is the sum allocated for the coming year.

The Health Education Council's expenditure on dental health and fluoridation amounted to £19,000 in the financial year 1971–72 and the current year's expenditure is expected to be about the same. But primary responsibility for public education about dental health and fluoridation lies with local authorities and information on their expenditure is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the 10 drugs which are most costly to the National Health Service with his estimate of the cost of each for the last year to a convenient date.

Information about the volume of sales of individual pharmaceutical products to the National Health Service is confidential between the Department and the manufacturers concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now take steps to prohibit the sale of any product which includes hexachlorophane and its salts when present in a concentration exceeding 0·75 per cent. except on a doctor's prescription.

No. When the results of the short-term studies referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for White-haven (Dr. John A. Cunningham) on 29th February are available, consideration will be given to any action that may be appropriate in relation to hexachlorophane.—[Vol 832, c. 78–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will refer the opiates which can be used to replace opium, morphine and codeine to the Committee on Safety of Drugs to ascertain their relative efficacy.

No. Although knowledge of the relative efficacy of some of the opiates is incomplete those which are commonly used are well documented.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has now completed plans for producing the annual report under Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, if he will produce a detailed, as well as a popular version of the report; if, further, he will seek to publish information on research for the disabled carried out by non-Government bodies; and if he will make a statement.

The second report, covering the year 1971, was presented to the House on 26th July, 1972 (HC No. 374). Others will follow as required by Section 22 of the Act. I would not consider it appropriate to produce yet another version of the report or to incorporate in it information which the Statute does not call for. I am always willing to supply information about departmental research to those who would put it to valuable use. Some information of this kind can however be provided only by diverting the researchers themselves from their main task of improving equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what decision has been reached to lease a new block of offices at Friary Court, Guildford, by the Hospital Board; and for what purpose this accommodation is needed;(2) if he will inquire into contracts being placed by regional hospital boards for the acquisition of premises; and the directorships held by persons now serving as members of boards;(3) to what extent regional hospital boards have been authorised to buy office accommodation in anticipation of National Health Service reorganisation and before legislation has been agreed by Parliament.

Hospital authorities have been asked to review the potentialities of existing office accommodation, but any acquisition of freehold or leasehold permises requires my authority which at present is only being given to meet the needs of existing hospital authorities. A lease is being negotiated by the district valuer for accommodation at Friary Court, Guildford, to provide offices for staff of the South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why it would not be practicable to obtain and make available information as to the number of working women in Stoke-on-Trent who have not paid the full insurance stamp in each of the last five years, as to how many of these have become unemployed, and as to what proportion of the total women labour force they were.

It would be necessary to examine over 37 million contribution record sheets to identify the numbers of married women in Stoke-on-Trent who have not paid full insurance stamps in each of the last five years. Moreover, there is no record of periods of unemployment for those who did not, in the absence of entitlement to unemployment benefit or credited contributions, register at employment exchanges when not working.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that any lands and properties which become surplus to the requirements of regional hospital boards will be the subject of first offer for sale to local authorities of the areas where they are situated, for the purpose of providing for health and welfare, education, housing or other municipal services.

The potentialities of surplus hospital properties for local authority health and personal social services are first considered and they are then offered to other Government Departments and local authorities in accordance with the standard procedure for the release of surplus Government land, before finally coming on to the open market.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provisions will be made in the reorganised National Health Service for the continuing availability of homoeopathic treatment and teaching; what consultations have taken place on this subject.

The administrative reorganisation of the National Health Service does not affect the practice or teaching of homoeopathy. We have received comments from both the Homoeopathic Research and Educational Trust and the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital Management Committee on National Health Service reorganisation and these have been taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the review now being carried out by Lady Sharp will be completed.

As soon as possible. We asked Lady Sharp to try to complete the task in a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the publication of tar and nicotine yield of cigarettes brands, and related matters.

On 16th March last year I announced that I was setting up in association with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales a Standing Scientific Liaison Committee, to advise on the scientific aspects of smoking and health. The House will remember that this committee consists of independent scientists and scientists from my Department and from the tobacco industry. One of its tasks was to

"devise satisfactory methods of determining for publication the tar and nicotine yield of the various brands of cigarettes on the market".

I have received the committee's first report and I am today making it widely available, and a copy has been placed in the Library. The report must not be taken as indicating or implying that the industry has expressed any view about the medical advice—upon which the report is based—on the relationship between smoking and health. This is not a matter on which I have sought advice from the industry. The participation of the industry members in this report has been directed to the complex problem involved in assessing the tar and nicotine yields of cigarettes and to considering the most effective way of conveying the results to the public.In general we have been able to accept the committee's report. It endorses the value of encouraging those who cannot stop altogether to choose brands with a lower tar and nicotine yield and it suggests satisfactory methods of sampling and testing. Testing arrangements are in hand and should lead to a first publication of lists of brands, in order of their tar yield, in the New Year. I propose to support this information by advising those who must smoke to choose brands with lower levels of tar.I have also agreed with the industry that where it already inserts coupons into cigarette packs it will print on the reverse of this material certain Government advice about safer smoking habits. Detailed arrangements are currently under discussion with the industry.I am discussing with the Health Education Council how it could most helpfully use some increase in its budget, particularly to steer people who cannot stop altogether towards less dangerous ways of smoking, and, most important of all, to experiment with ways of discouraging children from picking up the habit. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science is sending a pamphlet about smoking and health education to local education authorities for the use of schools. Similar action will be taken in Scotland and in Wales. Much effort is being put into scientific research into attempts to produce a substitute smoking material which, when mixed in tobacco, would reduce those elements in cigarettes which medical opinion considers to be dangerous. It would be very wrong of me to raise false hopes, but there is clearly a need for these developments to succeed and the Standing Scientific Liaison Committee is considering the validity of testing which might be suitable for assessing the effects of the inclusion of new smoking materials in the production of cigarettes. The major interest and final responsibility must of course lie fairly and squarely on the manufacturers, but the Government will help in every way appropriate in the belief that in the longer term this may be a valuable solution for those who cannot be persuaded not to smoke.I have discussed with the tobacco manufacturers the working of the voluntary agreement which I also announced last year. I have agreed with them some minor modifications to deal with points which have arisen since the agreement was made. Advertising films in cinemas will include a health warning; and so will cigarette advertisements which are disseminated through the post. The manufacturers will do their utmost to ensure that promotional offers are directed only to adult smokers so as to reduce the possibility of their coming into the hands of young people. The manufacturers have agreed with the television authorities that the authorities may obscure cigarette brand advertisements at sporting events, whether sponsored or not, which are otherwise likely to be exposed frequently or for long periods to television. Detailed arrangements are currently under discus- sion between the industry and the television authorities. Most cigarette brand advertisements at sports stadia already carry the warning reference, and all will by the end of the year.I am publishing today the results of some work which has been done on the long-term implications of cigarette smoking for the health service and social security funds.—[Vol. 813, c. 1189–98.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much of the £59,000 paid to those involved in industrial disputes after return to work between the coming into force of Section 2 of the Social Security Act, 1971, and 4th July, has so far been reimbursed to the Supplementary Benefits Commission.

The information is not available precisely in the form requested. At 31st July, 1972, £62,092 had been recovered from payments of supplementary benefit made since April, 1972, following return to work after trade disputes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the erosion of the last increase in nurses' pay, he will take steps to alleviate the plight of members of the nursing profession.

No. Nurses' pay and conditions of service are matters for the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now make a statement on the implementation by local authorities of Section 1 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.

152 of the 158 local social services authorities in England have so far reported on the progress made by 1st April. The remaining reports are unlikely significantly to alter the position. It is difficult to summarise the reports since much of the information supplied was of a descriptive rather than a statistical nature.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will seek powers to amend the Slaughter of Animals Act, 1958 to ensure that all animals slaughtered in the United Kingdom, for whatever reason, are subject to pre-stunning.

No. Though, in general, animals must be rendered insensible before slaughter, we think it right to make exception for religious slaughter methods provided no unnecessary suffering is inflicted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in view of the criticism of the proposals for the reorganisation of land drainage on the grounds that there has been insufficient consultation, and that too little account will be taken of local knowledge, if he will defer any major reorganisation until sufficient time has been given to take into account all criticisms from the viewpoint of land drainage and fisheries.

A decision on the future organisation of land drainage and fisheries has already been deferred for several months, though my right hon. Friend is satisfied that his consultations have been fully adequate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his latest assessment of the effect on the British Fishing Industry of the proposed extension of Icelandic limits, and on the action he is now taking to protect British Industry.

About 45 per cent. of the distant water catch, or nearly 20 per cent. of our total catch is taken in the Iceland area. My right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland continue to keep in close touch with the industry on all aspects of the dispute, but it would not be in the public interest to disclose what action might be taken in hypothetical circumstances.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many contractors have succeeded in obtaining contracts for office cleaning in his Department in the last five years; whether he will publish their names; and how many firms tendered.

Contracts for office cleaning in my Department are placed on a regional and local basis. The information requested is therefore not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the annual saving to his Department by employing contractors to do office cleaning instead of employing cleaners as part of his staff.

The arrangements for cleaning each office building occupied by my Department are considered separately. Once a decision on the method of cleaning to be adopted has been taken, no details of cost of alternative methods are maintained. When contracts come up for renewal, the decision is reviewed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will state the annual percentage increase in contract prices for cleaning his Department's offices in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971; and how this compares with the annual percentage wage increase of maintenance staff actually employed by his Department.

The information on cleaning contract prices over the period in question is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking in the emergency to ensure adequate supplies of feeding stuffs for birds and animals at prices he considers reasonable.

I am in constant touch with the animal feeding stuffs trade, which is making the best use of available stocks of raw materials, and with the National Farmers Union. There can be no doubt that in present circumstances farmers will be feeding stock as economically as their individual enterprises allow. I have no reason at the moment to intervene on prices, but I shall continue to watch the position very closely.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for an extension of the Brucellosis Eradication Area in Wales within the next 12 months.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Ralph Howell) on 27th June, in which I announced that eradication would start in the Wales extension area on 1st January, 1973, and in further areas in Wales—W. Carmarthenshire, Pembroke, Brecon and Radnor—sometime during 1974.—[Vol. 839, c. 303–5.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to encourage. Governments in the European Economic Community to adopt over a five-year period current British regulations on the use of antibiotic additions to feeding stuffs and agricultural chemicals for crop protection.

Whenever appropriate we bring the desirable features of our control measures to the attention of the Community, and there are signs that, in many respects it is already moving towards the United Kingdom position, which is encouraging.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will seek to strengthen the Balfour Assurances at the earliest opportunity, so as to make it clear that animals held at their destination for 48 hours are not regarded as exported for fattening rather than for slaughter.

No. I have no reason to believe that this happens, but I would look into any specific reports made to me.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the progress of his discussions with the Belgian authorities on the arrangements for ensuring observance of the Balfour Assurances.

I am glad to inform my hon. Friend that our discussions with the Belgian authorities have resulted in agreement on satisfactory arrangements.In future, licences issued by the Department of Trade and Industry for the export to Belgium of sheep for immediate slaughter will be endorsed with a condition that the exporter must notify each consignment to the export licensing branch of DTI within 14 days of shipment.The exporter may also be asked to produce a certificate given by an abattoir in Belgium which is approved by the Belgian authorities for the slaughter of animals exported from Great Britain, certifying slaughter on those premises. The Belgian authorities have agreed that these certificates will be authenticated by an official of the Belgian Government. Failure to produce such a certificate would be regarded as a

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will examine the composition of the advisory committee on the carriage of livestock in the light of the recent case involving the death of beef cattle on a flight from Gatwick to the Canary Islands;

I think that my hon. Friend may have been misinformed; there is no Ministry advisory committee on the carriage of livestock.According to our information the calves carried in the CL-44 aircraft were broadly comparable in size with those carried by the same exporter earlier and since in a Boeing 707. There are at present no regulations on the transport by air of live animals but as I said on 26th July in reply to Questions from the hon. Members for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) and Walthamstow, West (Mr. Deakins) we propose to make an order for the protection of livestock during carriage by air. Veterinary advice now given to exporters or airlines takes account of the size and weight of the animals in relation to the space available and the need for this will be borne in mind when an order is drafted.The Department of Trade and Industry is still making inquiries into the circumstances of this regrettable accident and I am not at present able to comment on the decision to continue the flight to its planned destination.—(Vol. 841, c.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total capacity of licensed lairage for calves at Gatwick Airport, representing a maximum of how many calves at any one time; what regulations exist regarding veterinary inspection, resting, feeding and watering; and how these regulations are enforced.

There are two sets of premises approved for the resting of farm animals prior to export through Gatwick Airport—one at Haywards Health and one at Charlwood. The first is approved for 150 calves and the second for 140. At the latter there is suitable covered accommodation for some 500 calves and whilst amendment of the official document of approval is being considered the resting of about half this number of calves has been permitted.The Exported Animals Protection Order, 1964, requires that farm animals, including calves, be rested for at least 10 hours on approved premises before being exported, by sea or air. During the rest period adequate food, water, bedding and shelter must be provided. The animals must be examined by a veterinary, inspector and must not be shipped unless he certifies that they are fit to travel.Enforcement of the order is the responsibility of the local authority; there is, however, additional supervision as Ministry veterinary inspectors are on the premises when exports take place and use these frequent opportunities to check on conditions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to prevent recurrence of recent incidents resulting from the aerial application of agricultural chemicals.

I was greatly concerned over these incidents, which gave rise to hazards to third parties and property and caused the death of substantial numbers of bees.I can say that the Civil Aviation Authority, in conjunction with my Department, is currently developing new proposals for the control of aerial agricultural operations. These embrace amendments to the existing air navigation legislation and the provision of a comprehensive aerial application manual based substantially on mandatory requirements. Every effort will be made to bring these new controls into operation before the next spraying season. I am confident that their introduction will provide greater protection for the public at large, beekeepers, wild life and the environment generally; and that they will be welcomed by farmers and responsible aerial operators alike.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the number of trees destroyed since the outbreak of Dutch elm disease in the Southamption area; and if he will take steps to ensure that all precautions are taken before felling commences.

I understand that about 630 elm trees have been felled so far in the county borough of Southampton during the present outbreak of the disease.Local authorities responsible for implementing the Elm Disease Orders are no doubt fully alive to the need for adequate safety precautions and I see no need for any action on my part.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the tariff concessions on fish provided for in the recent agreement between the European Economic Community and Iceland will not be put into effect until the dispute between Iceland and the United Kingdom is satisfactorily settled; and if he will make a statement.

We have an absolute assurance that the Community will only apply the concessions on fish if there is a solution which satisfies all member and acceding States, and which is a continuing one.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in Norway and Sweden occupational pension schemes, which include a pension payable in similar circumstances to the basic invalidity pension under the British national insurance scheme, are usual and are approved for tax purposes; and whether he will instruct the Inland Revenue to approve similar provisions in occupational schemes in Great Britain.

Inland Revenue rules permit the provision by occupational pension schemes of pensions for employees who have to retire prematurely through invalidity or disablement but not the provision of sickness or disability pay for employees whose illness or injury does not necessitate their early retirement. The Government think it inappropriate that benefits which are not associated with retirement should be brought within the arrangements covering occupational pension schemes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of British firms operating in tax-evasion areas; and what is the estimated loss to the Treasury since June. 1970.

I am not clear what the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has received concerning a black market in the exemption certificates issued to building contractors by Her Majesty's inspectors of taxes; and if he will make a statement.

The Inland Revenue has received some information on this subject which is being followed up. It is too early to make any statement on the results. The main checks on the misuse of certificates are only now coming into operation, and may lead to the prosecution of offenders.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has received concerned with evasion of income and corporation tax by building contractors through the formation of limited companies; if he will take steps to ensure that such newly formed companies are also required to obtain exemption certificates from Her Majesty's inspectors of taxes; and if he will make a statement.

Some of the comments made on this subject appear exaggerated, and I do not think that I should be justified at present in imposing on industry the substantial burden of requiring exemption certificates from companies. A sub-contractor who becomes a director or employee of a company is, of course, within the PAYE system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, before introducing any proposals for a negative income tax, he will ensure that mothers who at present directly receive family allowances will continue to do so.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it the practice of his administration that contracts issued by Departments, or for which Ministers themselves are responsible, for sums in excess of £100,000 should be put out to competitive tender.

The normal procedure is that competitive tenders are obtained unless there are substantial reasons for not doing so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in the repayment of post-war credits under the general release to certificate holders; and what proposals he has as regards repayment to credit holders not at present entitled to claim.

Up to mid-July about 2 million claims had been received and 1·9 million settled.As to the second part of the Question, I propose that repayment of post-war credits to people who have not been able to produce a certificate should begin on 1st January, 1973. I envisage that this final stage of the repayment should be spread over the 12 months ending 31st December, 1973, and, like the current arrangements for repayment to certificate holders, should be staggered on an alphabetic basis by reference to the credit holder's name. Interest will be paid on these repayments at 2½ per cent. compound from 1st October, 1959.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he proposes on a scheme of corporation tax relief for unincorporated associations and other bodies with objects of a public nature, and precluded by their constitution from distributing income or capital.

The Select Committee on Corporation Tax recommended that such bodies should be subject to corporation tax at a lower rate than companies generally. As my hon. Friend the Chief Secretary explained however during, the Budget debates, this recommendation raises considerable problems of definition, for a very wide range of organisations comes within this category, not all of which should necessarily be treated alike. My hon. Friend said then that the only practical way of dealing with the problem was to have further consultations in the light of the choice of system announced, and that later in the summer the Inland Revenue would be initiating discussions with interested bodies.The Inland Revenue has now prepared a brief consultative document setting out the nature of the problem. It is available from the Board of Inland Revenue, Somerset House, Strand, WC2R ILB, and I have had copies placed in the Library.Representatives of unincorporated associations and other bodies which might be affected by these measures are invited to make their views known, both on the general principle of a special rate of tax for such bodies, and on the formulation of a possible definition. Associations with profits of not more than £15,000 a year will of course in any event obtain relief under the special rate of tax provided for small companies by Section 95 of the Finance Act. Representations should be addressed to the Board of Inland Revenue at Somerset House.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the arrangements he is making to explain the operation of value added tax to trade and industry.

Yes. A number of notices and other material explaining the working of the tax will be issued to trade and industry shortly. Copies of these will also be made available in the Library for the information of Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many hearings of industrial tribunals have had representatives of trade unions sitting as assessors, and how many have not, since the coming into force of the Industrial Relations Act in so far as it affects industrial tribunals.

No such assessors have so far been appointed in connection with cases before the tribunals under the Industrial Relations Act. If the hon. Member considers that there is a need for assessors in certain cases he should take the matter up with the presidents of the tribunals.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the total number of working days lost by industrial disputes between 1st August, 1971, and 30th June, 1972, where such disputes are known to have taken place before the arbitration machinery of the industries had been exhausted.

I regret that separate information is not available for stoppages which occurred before arbitration machinery had been exhausted.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will now bring into effect Section 56 of the Industrial Relations Act;(2) what amendments he proposes to introduce to paragraphs 96 to 98 of the Code of Practice on Industrial Relations.

The paragraphs in the code dealing with disclosure of information will be amended in the light of the forthcoming report on this subject by the Commission on Industrial Relations and after full consultation with interested organisations.Section 56 of the Act will be brought into effect when the amendment of the code has been approved by Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many contractors have succeeded in obtaining contracts for office cleaning in his Department in the last five years; whether he will publish their names; and how many firms tendered.

In my Department the letting of contracts is undertaken at regional level and it is normal practice to seek five tenders for any contract. The other information requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will state the annual percentage increase in contract prices for cleaning his Department's offices in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971; and how this compares with the annual percentage wage increase of maintenance staff actually employed by his Department.

The information requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the annual saving to his Department by employing contractors to do office cleaning instead of employing cleaners as part of his staff.

Estimates are not made on this basis. Each building is looked at separately and once a decision has been made on the method of cleaning to be employed records of alternative costs are not maintained. When contracts come up for renewal the decision is reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for finding employment for the full trained labour threatened by the proposed closure of the Anglo-American Plastics Factory at West Chirton, Northumberland.

All the facilities of my Department will be made available to these workpeople; where appropriate this will include interviews in advance of discharge by means of a "job team", canvassing of other firms to try to secure additional vacancies and offers of assistance in moving to jobs in other areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the Trades Union Congress/Confederation of British Industry initiative on independent arbitration takes into account issues of national interest including the problems of inflation and consumer interests; and if he will make a statement.

I have not yet discussed with the TUC and the CBI their recent agreement on conciliation on arbitration. The two bodies have stated that they would expect their agency to operate with due regard for the interest of others and to ensure that all the issues and implications in disputes were thoroughly understood by both sides. I welcome that intention.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of jobs which have been lost in the coal-mining, iron and steel and textile Indus- tries in the Yorkshire and Humberside region between 1960 and 1970 and in the last two years.

Precise information about job gains and job losses is not available, but an indication of net changes can be obtained by comparing the levels of employment at different dates. The Yorkshire and Humberside region was formed in April, 1965, and the earliest employment estimates for that region are for June, 1965.Between June, 1965, and June, 1970, the estimated numbers of employees in employment fell in the coal mining industry by about 30,000, in the iron and steel industry by about 11,000 and in the textiles industry by about 30,000.The latest figures available are for June, 1971; hence estimates are not available for the last two years. However, between June, 1970, and June, 1971, the estimated numbers of employees in employment in the coal mining industry in the region fell by about 2,000, in the iron and steel industry by about 7,000 and in the textiles industry by about 19,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by what methods he obtains information about wage and salary settlements in the private sector.

The major firms and employers' organisations in the private sector notify particulars of their principal pay settlements to my Department in response to an invitation to do so first issued in September, 1970. Under a separate and long-standing arrangement copies of collective agreements between organisations of employers and workpeople are sent to the Statistics Division of my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many building operatives are unemployed at the latest count; listed by trade; what are the regional figures; and what is the comparison with the last two years.

Following is the available information

OCCUPATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE NUMBERS OF MEN AGED 18 YEARS AND OVER REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED WHO LAST WORKED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
July, 1970						South East	East Anglia	South West	West Midlands	East Midlands	Yorkshire and Humberside	North West	North	Wales	Scotland	Great Britain
Carpenter, joiner, shuttere				…	…	980	79	266	252	188	498	526	562	199	1,174	4,724
Bricklayer	…	…	…	…	…	397	67	142	182	107	288	376	288	152	495	2,494
Mason, stone carver			…	…	…	18	1	46	2	2	10	15	4	4	63	165
Slater, tiler, thatcher			…	…	…	111	14	29	39	18	50	105	63	23	269	721
Plasterer	…	…	…	…	…	199	22	60	60	45	98	161	130	99	203	1,077
Floor and wall tiler, etc.				…	…	74	4	13	50	19	41	49	43	8	74	375
Painter, decorator, signwriter				…	…	1,344	77	298	317	164	329	511	301	198	390	3,929
Plumber, gas fitter, etc.			…	…	…	596	60	162	199	110	325	481	404	116	443	2,896
Glazier	…	…	…	…	…	35	—	9	13	4	11	20	14	3	28	137
Pavior, road etc., surface layer				…	…	101	4	8	33	28	35	70	57	8	68	412
Miscellaneous building and civil engineering workers			…	…	…	1,615	126	195	345	250	689	536	869	421	1,308	6,354
Steel erector, sheeter			…	…	…	277	28	81	127	88	250	215	211	137	245	1,659
Electrician, cable jointer, linesman					…	392	30	118	125	85	229	242	201	105	392	1,919
Mechanical handling plant operator					…	222	54	48	97	80	170	180	183	125	296	1,455
Erector, millwright, maintenance fitter						65	11	20	29	25	48	50	51	106	90	495
Labourer	…	…	…	…	…	6,511	831	2511	2,905	2,656	4,767	6,016	5,548	4,181	10,098	46,024
Others	…	…	…	…	…	3,230	362	781	1,105	668	1,132	1,546	1,287	984	2,149	13,244
Total, all occupations				…	…	16,167	1,770	4,787	5,880	4,537	8,970	11,099	10,216	6,869	17,785	88,080

OCCUPATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE NUMBERS OF MEN AGED 18 YEARS AND OVER REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED WHO LAST WORKED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
July, 1970						South East	East Anglia	South West	West Midlands	East Midlands	Yorkshire and Humberside	North West	North	Wales	Scotland	Great Britain
Carpenter, joiner, shutterer				…	…	828	101	186	380	126	382	557	662	244	1,581	5,047
Bricklayer	…	…	…	…	…	278	67	79	211	105	228	359	295	105	789	2,516
Mason, stone carver			…	…	…	13	—	39	7	—	8	12	8	9	58	154
Slater, tiler, thatcher			…	…	…	93	8	48	60	31	68	161	122	49	392	1,032
Plasterer	…	…	…	…	…	154	21	47	54	40	99	156	78	87	276	1,012
Floor and wall tiler etc.				…	…	54	3	18	35	19	31	38	36	14	72	320
Painter, decorator, signwriter				…	…	1,512	149	311	419	233	426	647	385	237	629	4,948
Plumber, gas fitter, etc.			…	…	…	865	63	145	251	130	391	601	453	168	1,109	4,176
Glazier	…	…	…	…	…	43	2	4	12	5	16	16	11	4	52	165
Pavior, road etc., surface layer				…	…	87	5	16	56	25	35	132	60	9	100	525
Miscellaneous building and civil engineering workers			…	…	…	1,722	191	223	671	258	673	907	1,038	516	2,383	8,582
Steel erector, sheeter			…	…	…	331	30	61	156	124	231	286	319	181	456	2,175
Electrician, cable jointer, linesman					…	622	85	148	182	127	313	497	297	160	950	3,381
Mechanical handling plant operator					…	248	55	85	185	105	204	243	295	179	501	2,100
Erector, millwright, maintenance fitter						104	11	18	47	38	83	115	151	46	188	801
Labourer	…	…	…	…	…	7,137	1,274	3,184	3,908	3,164	5,975	8,432	7,472	5,107	12,629	58,282
Others	…	…	…	…	…	4,063	434	832	1,912	849	1,627	2,328	1,637	1,328	3,618	18,628
Total, all occupations				…	…	18,154	2,499	5,444	8,546	5,379	10,790	15,487	13,319	8,443	25,783	113,844

OCCUPATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE NUMBERS OF MEN AGED 18 YEARS AND OVER REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED WHO LAST WORKED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
July, 1970						South East	East Anglia	South West	West Midlands	East Midlands	Yorkshire and Humberside	North West	North	Wales	Scotland	Great Britain
Carpenter, joiner, Shutterer				…	…	513	70	95	296	77	189	617	128	148	900	3,033
Bricklayer	…	…	…	…	…	177	39	48	169	44	125	272	77	57	327	1,335
Mason, stone carver			…	…	…	23	—	20	12	2	4	21	3	1	24	110
Slater, tiler, thatcher			…	…	…	111	10	23	75	25	49	98	9	20	291	795
Plasterer	…	…	…	…	…	85	18	27	47	21	44	107	7	41	203	600
Floor and wall tiler, etc.				…	…	56	—	11	38	9	20	55	39	12	62	302
Painter, decorator, signwriter				…	…	1,221	99	222	440	177	296	721	226	180	562	4,144
Plumber, gas fitter, etc.			…	…	…	728	51	104	255	85	269	794	341	293	643	3,563
Glazier	…	…	…	…	…	27	3	9	14	5	5	10	9	2	48	132
Pavior, road etc., surface layer				…	…	85	3	16	47	20	35	144	46	4	75	475
Miscellaneous building and civil engineering workers			…	…	…	1,697	146	282	638	314	615	967	794	606	1,964	8,023
Steel erector, sheeter			…	…	…	353	27	60	154	91	193	353	334	403	416	2,384
Electrician, cable jointer, linesman					…	568	48	124	180	81	211	602	299	341	741	3,195
Mechanical handling plant operator					…	254	25	72	166	92	184	305	253	155	352	1,858
Erector, millwright, maintenance fitter						96	12	25	66	46	84	143	138	126	173	909
Labourer	…	…	…	…	…	7,357	975	2,890	4,274	3,276	6,507	10,800	7 927	5,596	12,482	62,084
Others	…	…	…	…	…	4,185	400	992	2,131	845	1,496	3,003	1,827	1,987	3,477	20,343
Total, all occupations				…	…	11,633	1,387	3,907	6,471	4,167	8,087	13,946	9,892	7,709	16,132	83,336

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has about comparative figures of unemployment of white and coloured young people.

Preliminary information is available from the 1971 population census, to which my right hon. friend referred in a written reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Willesden, West (Mr. Pavitt) on 25th July, 1972.—[Vol. 841, c. 256.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps his Department takes, in the event of it coming to its notice that companies are found to be employing casual labour, paying wages in cash and failing to disclose that they are employing such persons, thus encouraging the employed labour to evade disclosures of moneys received.

There is no requirement upon employers to disclose to my Department when they engage any labour but if non-compliance with the National Insurance Contributions Regulations comes to our notice the Department of Health and Social Security is informed so that appropriate action may be taken by that Department. If there is any suspicion of working whilst claiming unemployment benefit, payment is immediately suspended and the circumstances investigated and, where appropriate, prosecution action taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the numbers of people, registered as unemployed and in receipt of unemployment benefit who are supplementing their income by irregular and undocumented employment.

Evidence shows that in 1971, out of just over 3½ million claims to unemployment benefit there were 12,447 cases of suspected fraud of which 5,980 were considered for legal proceedings; 3,246 of these were in respect of claiming whilst working. There is no basis upon which to form a more comprehensive judgment. A committee under the chairmanship of Sir Henry Fisher has been examining the question of wrongful claims to social security benefits, including unemployment benefit, and the measures taken to prevent and detect fraud and abuse. I understand that the committee's report is expected shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he has taken or proposes to take under the Industrial Relations Act to resolve the National Dock Strike, and whether this will include a national ballot, a cooling off period and application to the National Industrial Relations Court.

No action has been taken under the Act so far. My right hon. Friend is keeping the dispute under constant review and will take whatever action may become necessary in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details showing the number of males and females over and under 18 years of age registered as unemployed in each of the subregions of Scotland; and what percentage these figures represent of the total insurable population of each respective sub-region.

The available information is on the page opposite [cols. 353–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details showing the number of males and females over and under 18 years of age registered as unemployed in each of the regions of Great Britain; and what percentage these figures represent of the total insurable population of each respective region.

The available information is in cols. 355–6.