Written Answers To Questions
Tuesday, 17th October, 1972
Agriculture, Fisheries And Food
Gilts
4.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of gilts in pig at the latest available date and a year earlier.
The 1972 June Census produced a figure of gilts in pig in the United Kingdom of 128,000. A year previously it was 121,000.
Food Prices
12.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he now intends to take to control food prices.
The Government will determine their policy in relation to particular sectors of the economy when we know the precise form of the agreement which we hope will be reached when the tripartite talks are resumed next week.
17.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage the cost of food has risen since 17th June, 1970.
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).
Meat Hygiene
18.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will set up a central meat hygiene service to establish one standard of meat hygiene both for export and home consumption.
No. My right hon. Friend considers that the present service, based on local authorities, adequately safeguards public health in this country.
Whale Products
13.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now ban the importation of all whale products; and if he will make a statement.
Voluntary action by industry is already reducing the use of whale meat and edible oil to a very low level. The desirability of further action by the Government will be considered in the light of investigations which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is now making into the availability of substitutes for sperm oil.
Departmental Offices (Cleaning)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will state the latest annual expenditure of his Department on office cleaning done by outside contractors.
About £186,000 for the year ended 31st July, 1972.
Quarantine (Dogs)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average number of dogs from overseas put in quarantine each month; whether he is satisfied with the standards and the inspection of quarantine kennels: and if he will make a statement.
The number of dogs entering quarantine in Great Britain has averaged 312 per month so far this year.Under our conditions each quarantine kennel must have a veterinary surgeon responsible for superintending the quarantine arrangements. He visits the premises daily and reports any illness or other incident of note to the Ministry. He also makes a weekly return. Regular inspections by veterinary inspectors of the Ministry are made quarterly and additional visits if particular circumstances so require. Premises will in future be reconsidered for authorisation every two years.We are satisfied with the standards now required and the inspection arrangements but we shall be keeping the situation under constant review.
National Finance
Duty-Free Goods
29.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on duty-free goods allowable into the United Kingdom brought in by United Kingdom subjects returning home, after 1st January, 1973, when the United Kingdom has joined the European Economic Community.
This matter is under consideration taking into account proposals put forward by the EEC Commission on 12th September. My right hon. Friend is not yet ready to make a statement, but hopes to do so shortly.
£ Sterling (Purchasing Power)
30.
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 100p in mid-June, 1970, its value in mid-August, 1972, the latest date available, is estimated at 84½p on the basis of the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices.
Customs And Excise (Staff)
31.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in the number of staff of the Customs and Excise Department in each of the last two years; and what is his estimate of future increases.
Ninety-four in the year ended 31st March, 1971, and 469 in the year ended 31st March, 1972. Provision has been made for a further increase of the order of 6,300 by 31st March, 1973.
Immigrants (Tax Allowances)
32.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether immigrants are allowed to claim tax allowances for their dependants left overseas, including illegitimate children living in the countries from which the immigrant originated; and on what basis the Inland Revenue Department takes steps to ensure that the father of such children has custody of and maintains these children at his own expense for tax purposes.
Provided the usual conditions are satisfied, tax allowances may be claimed.In cases of claims for illegitimate children, the Inland Revenue requires to be satisfied by evidence that a taxpayer has custody and maintains a child.
Valuations (Private Dwellings)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times in 1971 the valuation officers of the Inland Revenue voluntarily increased valuations of private dwellings and on how many occasions they voluntarily reduced such assessments; and if he will make a statement.
This information is not available. Over a million proposals for assessments were made in the year to 31st March, 1972 to take account of new and altered properties and changes in circumstances. The records are not kept in a form which show how many of these proposals relate to private dwellings, nor do they show how many relate to increases and reductions respectively.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions, in the latest known period, valuation officers of the Inland Revenue increased household valuations after the valuation courts had found in favour of the owner; what was the average length of time before such reductions were over-ruled by valuation officers; what instructions are given to valuation officers on such procedures; and if he will make a statement.
Valuation officers cannot overrule valuation court decisions. Proposals may, however, be made by them—or by ratepayers—to alter assessments which have been the subject of a court decision where circumstances have changed. Such proposals, of which no central records are kept, can of course themselves be taken before the courts on appeal.
Collectors Of Taxes
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take action to stop local Collectors of Taxes calling on taxpayers and leaving slips of paper, not in an envelope, indicating exactly how much tax is owed; and if he will make a statement.
The confidential nature of information relating to tax liability is impressed upon all Collectors of Taxes.When a Collector of Taxes makes a personal call and fails to see the taxpayer, any note of a confidential nature is placed in a sealed envelope and delivered to a responsible person at the taxpayer's address. Where no answer can be obtained and a further call is not practicable the sealed envelope is placed in the letter box.If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind and will let me have details I will look into it.
Share Incentive Schemes
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the precise terms of reference of the Inland Revenue Board's current inquiry into the extension of share incentive schemes to industrial workers; when a report is expected; and if it will be published.
This study, which has no precise terms of reference, is not expected to result in a formal report. It should be completed in time for any legislation on this subject to be included in next year's Finance Bill.
Employment
Cost-Of-Living Index (Scotland)
34.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now take steps to establish a separate cost-of-living index for Scotland.
I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Gwynoro Jones) on 18th July and I cannot add anything further at the present time.—[Vol. 841, c. 76.]
Equal Pay Act, 1970
35.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will promote a publicity and guidance campaign to inform industry and commerce of the provisions embodied in the Equal Pay Act, 1970.
I am pleased to say that preparations for such a campaign are in hand.
Sunderland
36.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the rate of notified vacancies to men registered as unemployed in Sunderland at the latest available date.
The rate of notified vacancies for the Sunderland and Southwick Exchange areas was 2·8 for each 100 males registered as unemployed in September. Temporarily stopped workers are not counted. The figure relates to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and does not, of course, measure the total demand for labour.
Sunderland (Disabled)
37.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled persons were unemployed, and what was the percentage, in Sunderland at the latest available date.
On 11th September, 597 disabled people registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts at Sunderland Employment Exchanges were unemployed. This figure represents 25 per cent. of those registered under these Acts at these exchanges.
Newcastle-Under-Lyme
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of persons unemployed in Newcastle-under-Lyme; and what percentage this is of the working population.
At 11th September, the number of people registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Newcastle-under-Lyme Employment Ex change was 1,588, including 51 who were temporarily stopped. The rate of unemployment for the Stoke travel-to-work area, which includes Newcastle-under-Lyme, was 3·9 per cent., which is the same as the national average.
Factory Conditions (Information)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will ensure that shop stewards and trade union officials are given access to copies of factory inspector and other official reports on conditions in their factories; if he will publish the rights of employees to this information; and if he will make a statement.
These are matters related to the wider issues of joint consultation on health and safety within the workplace and of the contact and cooperation which should exist between inspectors and workpeople. Both these issues are considered in the report of the Committee on Safety and Health at Work and are currently being studied.
Carbon Disulphide
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present permitted level of carbon disulphide in the atmosphere of premises in which workers in the viscose rayon industry are engaged; and what plans he has to reduce the present permitted level.
The threshold limit value for carbon disulphide, regardless of the industry in which it is used, is 20 parts per million parts of air. A threshold limit value refers to airborne concentrations and represents conditions under which it is believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed day after day without adverse effect. There are no plans at present to alter the threshold limit value for carbon disulphide.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases of carbon disulphide poisoning in the viscose rayon industry have been reported; and what are the criteria for diagnosis for this disease.
Five cases of chronic carbon disulphide poisoning have been reported in the viscose rayon industry since the last war, but none after 1951. The criteria for diagnosis are clinical. Guidance on diagnosis is contained in Notes on the Diagnosis of Occupational Diseases prescribed under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1965, issued by the Department of Health and Social Security. I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.
Equal Pay Act
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has made to the Trades Union Congress on their attitude to the progress towards the implementation of the Equal Pay Act; and what reply he has received.
My right hon. Friend has asked the Trades Union Congress for its views on the need for an order under Section 9(2) of the Equal Pay Act in the light of the recent report by the Office of Manpower Economics and he expects to receive its reply shortly.
Social Services
Sub-Post Offices
38.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will investigate the hardship caused to pensioners by the closing of sub-post offices on economic grounds.
I am willing to investigate any case where a pensioner is suffering hardship because of difficulties in drawing his pension, whatever the cause.
Handicapped Children
39.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision is made for nationally approved training courses for the care of the handicapped pre-school child.
Courses for child care and nursery staff leading to nationally recognised qualifications deal with the care of children generally, with some reference to the special needs of the handicapped. Specialised in-service training is provided by some employing agencies, but does not lead to a qualification.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the latest statistics of the number of pre-school handicapped children in local authority areas and the provision made for them in day centres.
These figures are not collected centrally.
Married Students (National Insurance)
40.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to make the stamping of national insurance cards by married students compulsory.
No. All full-time students over 18 can pay contributions voluntarily if they wish to. It would be wrong to create a liability for married students only, which would be difficult to enforce.
Family Planning Association
41.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, having regard to the number of complaints arising from some of its activities, he will reconsider the grant made to the Family Planning Association.
Grants made to the Family Planning Association have been for specific purposes in the fields of training and research in relation to family planning. I see no reason to withdraw these. Any applications for further grants will be considered on their merits.
Fisher Committee
42.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he now proposes to take to improve the social security system in the light of the evidence supplied to him by the hon. Member for Bury and Radcliffe.
We shall be reviewing the whole question of abuse of the social security scheme in the light of the report of the Fisher Committee, which we hope to receive shortly.
European Economic Community
43.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will register the National Health Service with the Commision of the European Economic Community as a public service and issue instructions to British representatives involved that matters arising from directives issued under the Treaty of Rome shall be based on the designation of a public service.
No such registration is necessary. As a member of the Community the United Kingdom will take part in the framing of Community directives on the health professions, and the interests of the National Health Service will be fully safeguarded.
Thalidomide Children
44.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent representations he has received from the parents of thalidomide children; and if Her Majesty's Government will now take action to help these children.
None; but if the hon. Member is aware of any case where these children are not receiving help to which they are entitled and for which my Department is responsible, I should be glad to make inquiries.
Japanese Prisoners-Of-War
45.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he can give about awards of war pensions in respect of former Japanese prisoners of war now that their claims are being handled through the Far Eastern Prisoner of War Unit which he has set up; and what progress has been made towards the provision of experts in tropical medicine on the medical boards which advise on the assessment of pensions for Far Eastern prisoners of war.
From its inception in May until the end of September the special Far Eastern Prisoner of War Unit dealt with 425 claims of various kinds 294 of which were allowed. This represents a considerably higher proportion of successful claims than that resulting from other claims made during the same period. Arrangements have also now been made for Far Eastern Prisoners of War who so wish to have access to special medical boards, one member of which in each case is a Consultant in Tropical Diseases, in London, Liverpool and Edinburgh.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now seek Parliamentary approval for the amendment of Article 5 of the Royal Warrant on War Pensions to make it possible to make awards of pensions in respect of former Japanese prisoners-of-war which are at present disallowed.
It is not proposed to amend Article 5 of the Royal Warrant which already confers very fair terms for the award of war pensions. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Eye (Sir H. Harrison).
Heating Allowances
46.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will appoint an appropriate committee to make immediate recommendations as to the best means of ensuring that an adequate heating allowance is automatically payable this winter to the elderly, the disabled and the sick, with a view to ensuring that the present inflation does not deprive those unable to meet the cost of warmth of health and home comfort.
Supplementary benefits improvements which came into effect this month provide extra help for these groups. In addition to the increases in the basic scale rates, which more than match the increase in prices since the last increase, and in the long-term addition, the Supplementary Benefits Commission has increased by 20 per cent. the special additions to benefit payable under their discretionary powers to meet exceptional needs for extra heating. I have also reminded local authorities of the need to take action to ensure that vulnerable old people are assisted to deal with any winter heating problems with which they may be faced. I do not consider that any useful purpose would at present be served by the appointment of a committee.
Abortions
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many abortions have been notified as having been carried out under the Abortion Act in the fourth full year of operation of the Act from 27th April, 1971, and in the three months from 27th April, 1972, respectively;
| ABORTION ACT 1967—ENGLAND AND WALES | |||||||||
| April, 1968–March, 1969 | April, 1969–March, 1970 | April, 1970–March, 1971 | April, 1971–March, 1972 | April, 1972–June, 1972 | |||||
| Abortions notified | … | … | 33,598 | 60,558 | 88,915 | 141,132 | 39,190 | ||
| Rate per 100 live births | … | … | 4·1 | 7·7 | 11·2 | 18·4 | Not available | ||
| Percentage increase of notified abortions over previous year | … | — | 80·2 | 46·8 | 58·7 | — | |||
| Numbers and percentages of abortions notified, according to grounds— | |||||||||
| (1, 2) Risk to life of woman, or risk of injury to physical or mental health of woman— | |||||||||
| Number | … | … | … | … | 25,835 | 46 234 | 70,279 | 110,589 | 30,778 |
| Per cent. | … | … | … | … | 76·9 | 76·3 | 79·0 | 78·3 | 78·5 |
| (3) Risk of injury to physical or mental health of existing children— | |||||||||
| Number | … | … | … | … | 1,355 | 2,509 | 3,681 | 4,309 | 1,144 |
| Per cent. | … | … | … | … | 4·0 | 4·1 | 4·1 | 3·1 | 2·9 |
| (4) Substantial risk of physical or mental abnormality in unborn child— | |||||||||
| Number | … | … | … | … | 1,038 | 1 175 | 1,247 | 1,396 | 342 |
| Per cent. | … | … | … | … | 3·1 | 1·9 | 1·4 | 1·0 | 0·9 |
| (5, 6) Emergency operations on ground of risk to life of woman, or risk of injury to her physical or mental health— | |||||||||
| Number | … | … | … | … | 74 | 36 | 44 | 24 | 3 |
| Grounds 2 with 4 (not included above)— | |||||||||
| Number | … | … | … | … | 564 | 827 | 934 | 1,162 | 308 |
| Per cent. | … | … | … | … | 1·7 | 1·4 | 1·1 | 0·8 | 0·8 |
| Grounds 3 with others (not included above)— | |||||||||
| Number | … | … | … | … | 4,732 | 9,777 | 12,730 | 23,652 | 6,615 |
| Per cent. | … | … | … | … | 14·1 | 16·1 | 14·3 | 16·8 | 16·9 |
| Numbers and percentages of abortions notified which were performed on— | |||||||||
| Single Women— | … | … | |||||||
| Number | … | … | … | … | 15,992 | 28,036 | 41,765 | 67,996 | 18,864 |
| Per cent. | … | … | … | … | 47·6 | 46·3 | 47·0 | 48·2 | 48·1 |
| Married women— | … | … | |||||||
| Number | … | … | … | … | 14,739 | 26,944 | 39,382 | 61,620 | 17,055 |
| Per cent | … | … | … | … | 43·9 | 44·5 | 44·3 | 43·7 | 43·5 |
| Widowed, divorced and separated women— | |||||||||
| Number | … | … | … | … | 2,743 | 5,434 | 7,647 | 11,397 | 3,236 |
| Per cent. | … | … | … | … | 8·2 | 9·0 | 8·6 | 8·1 | 8·3 |
| Women who had a previous live or still-birth, or a miscarriage (including not stated cases)— | |||||||||
| Number | … | … | … | … | 17,547 | 33,783 | 48,378 | 53,661* | Not available |
| Per cent. | … | … | … | … | 52·2 | 55·8 | 54·4 | 51·6* | Not available |
Following is the information available:
| ABORTION ACT 1967—ENGLAND AND WALES | |||||||||
| April, 1968–March, 1969 | April, 1969–March, 1970 | April, 1970–March, 1971 | April, 1971–March, 1972 | April, 1972–June, 1972 | |||||
| Numbers and percentages of abortions notified which were performed on women aged— | |||||||||
| Under 16 years— | |||||||||
| Number | … | … | … | … | 770 | 1,339 | 1,915 | 2,933 | 678 |
| Per cent. | … | … | … | … | 2·3 | 2·2 | 2·2 | 2·1 | 1·7 |
| 16–19 years— | |||||||||
| Number | … | … | … | … | 5,019 | 10,225 | 15,620 | 25,431 | 6,867 |
| Per cent. | … | … | … | … | 14·9 | 16·9 | 17·6 | 18·0 | 17·5 |
| 20+ years— | |||||||||
| Number | … | … | … | … | 27,001 | 47,642 | 69,525 | 110,425 | 31,096 |
| Per cent. | … | … | … | … | 80·4 | 78·7 | 78·2 | 78·2 | 79·4 |
| Not stated— | |||||||||
| Number | … | … | … | … | 808 | 1,352 | 1,855 | 2,343 | 549 |
| Per cent. | … | … | … | … | 2·4 | 2·2 | 2·1 | 1·7 | 1·4 |
| *April-December, 1971 only. | |||||||||
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services at the present rate of increase in the number of abortions notified, what are the projected figures for each year of the total number of abortions to 1980.
The varying rates of change in the numbers of abortions during the first four years of operation of the Act do not provide a basis on which significant projections can be made.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimate of the annual number of illegal abortions carried out in each of the years since the Abortion Act came into operation.
I regret that this information is not available.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many deaths have resulted from legal abortions in each of the four 12-month periods since
| DEATHS FROM MATERNAL CAUSES, AND DEATH RATES PER 1,000 TOTAL BIRTHS, IN ENGLAND AND WALES | ||||||||
| April, 1968 to March, 1969 | April, 1969 to March, 1970 | April, 1970 to March, 1971 | April, 1971 to December, 1971 | |||||
| Deaths and death rates attributed to: | 1 | |||||||
| Legal abortions (ICD 640, 641): | ||||||||
| Deaths | … | … | … | … | 4 | 11 | 11 | 9 |
| Rates | … | … | … | … | 0·005 | 0·014 | 0·014 | 0·015 |
| Illegal abortions (ICD 642): | ||||||||
| Deaths | … | … | … | … | 18 | 16 | 11 | 4 |
| Rates | … | … | … | … | 0·022 | 0·020 | 0·014 | 0·007 |
| All maternal causes (ICD 630–678): | ||||||||
| Death rates | … | … | … | 0·233 | 0·194 | 0·187 | 0·160 | |
the Abortion Act came into operation on 27th April, 1968; and what was the maternal mortality death rate in these periods from all causes, legal abortions, and illegal abortions, respectively;
Following is the information:
| NUMBERS OF ABORTIONS NOTIFIED IN EACH PERIOD WHICH WERE CARRIED OUT IN ENGLAND AND WALES ON WOMEN WHOSE USUAL ADDRESS WAS STATED TO BE OUTSIDE THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE CHANNEL ISLANDS, AND THE ISLE OF MAN | |||||||||
| April, 1968 to March, 1969 | April, 1969 to March, 1970 | April, 1970 to March, 1971 | April, 1971 to December, 1971 | ||||||
| Country of residence: | |||||||||
| Austria | … | … | … | … | 11 | 11 | 30 | 148 | |
| Belgium | … | … | … | … | 38 | 206 | 657 | 1,878 | |
| Canada | … | … | … | … | 208 | 347 | 229 | 56 | |
| Denmark | … | … | … | … | 4 | 46 | 81 | 210 | |
| France | … | … | … | … | 112 | 624 | 2,725 | 10,668 | |
| West Germany | … | … | … | 964 | 1,744 | 3,902 | 12,242 | ||
| Holland | … | … | … | … | 66 | 199 | 950 | 558 | |
| Irish Republic | … | … | … | 91 | 129 | 292 | 492 | ||
| Italy | … | … | … | … | … | 8 | 23 | 62 | 166 |
| Norway, Sweden | … | … | … | 5 | 27 | 82 | 107 | ||
| Spain | … | … | … | … | … | 11 | 27 | 55 | 174 |
| Switzerland | … | … | … | … | 18 | 54 | 121 | 357 | |
| United States of America | … | … | 386 | 2,140 | 868 | 167 | |||
| (Countries with fewer than 20 cases per year have been omitted). | |||||||||
| ILLEGITIMATE LIVE BIRTHS AND RATESPER 1,000 TOTAL LIVE BIRTHS, ENGLAND AND WALES | ||
| Year | Number | Rate |
| 1950 | 35,250 | 51 |
| 1951 | 32,771 | 48 |
| 1952 | 32,549 | 48 |
| 1953 | 32,503 | 47 |
| 1954 | 31,609 | 47 |
| 1955 | 31,145 | 47 |
| 1956 | 33,534 | 48 |
| 1957 | 34,562 | 48 |
| 1958 | 36,174 | 49 |
| 1959 | 38,161 | 51 |
| 1960 | 42,707 | 54 |
| 1961 | 48,490 | 60 |
| 1962 | 55,376 | 66 |
| 1963 | 59,104 | 69 |
| 1964 | 63,340 | 72 |
| 1965 | 66,249 | 77 |
| 1966 | 67,056 | 79 |
| 1967 | 69,928 | 84 |
| 1968 | 69,806 | 85 |
| 1969 | 67,041 | 84 |
| 1970 | 64,744 | 83 |
| 1971 | 65,397 | 84 |
| 1972 | Not available | Not available |
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many abortions were carried out and what percentages of total abortions notified these figures represent in each of the four 12-month periods since the Act came into operation on 27th April, 1968, and in the three months from April, 1972, in National Health Service hospitals, approved places and other places, respectively;(2) how many abortions were carried out in each of the four 12-month periods since the Abortion Act came into operation on 27th April, 1968, and in the three-month period from 27th April, 1972, at National Health Service hospitals, approved places and other places, respectively; and what percentages of total abortions carried out in these periods these figures represent, in the North West Metropolitan, South East Metropolitan, South West Metropolitan, London Teaching Hospitals, North East Metropolitan, Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Wales, South West, East Anglia, Sheffield, Leeds, Oxford, Wessex, and Liverpool regions, respectively.
Available figures are as follows:
| NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES OF ABORTIONS NOTIFIED ACCORDING TO PLACE OF TERMINATION, IN ENGLAND AND WALES AND IN EACH HOSPITAL REGION APRIL, 1968—MARCH, 1969 | |||||||||||||
| Premises | Newcastle | Leeds | Sheffield | East Anglia | North West Metropolitan | North East Metropolitan | South East Metropolitan | South West Metropolitan | Wessex | ||||
| NHS Hospital | … | … | No. | 1,832 | 846 | 962 | 869 | 1,930 | 1,398 | 1,537 | 1,159 | 588 | |
| % | 98·8 | 97·0 | 96·4 | 85·8 | 13·2 | 99·7 | 79·3 | 98·7 | 95·4 | ||||
| Approved Place | … | … | No. | 23 | 26 | 36 | 127 | 12,681 | 4 | 398 | 14 | — | |
| % | 1·2 | 3·0 | 3·6 | 12·5 | 86·8 | 0·3 | 20·5 | 1·2 | — | ||||
| Other place | … | … | … | No. | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 27 |
| % | — | — | — | 1·7 | — | — | 0·2 | 0·1 | 4·6 | ||||
| All premises | … | … | … | No. | 1,855 | 872 | 998 | 1,013 | 14,611 | 1,402 | 1,939 | 1,174 | 585 |
| % | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | ||||
| Premises | Oxford | South Western | Welsh | Birmingham | Manchester | Liverpool | London Teaching Hospitals | Total, England and Wales | |||||
| NHS Hospital | … | … | … | No. | 763 | 1,043 | 1,215 | 1,261 | 1,857 | 500 | 2,252 | 19,962 | |
| … | … | … | % | 96·6 | 87·7 | 100·0 | 94·2 | 98·6 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 59·4 | ||
| Approved place | … | … | … | No. | 6 | 146 | — | 72 | 27 | — | — | 13,560 | |
| % | 0·8 | 12·3 | — | 5·4 | 1·4 | — | — | 40·4 | |||||
| Other place | … | … | … | … | No. | 21 | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | 76 |
| % | 2·7 | — | — | 0·4 | — | — | — | 0·2 | |||||
| Ail premises | … | … | … | … | No. | 790 | 1,189 | 1,215 | 1 339 | 1,864 | 500 | 2,252 | 33,598 |
| % | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | |||||
| APRIL, 1969—MARCH, 1970 | |||||||||||||
Premises
| Newcastle
| Leeds
| Sheffield
| East Anglia
| North West Metropolitan
| North East Metropolitan
| South East Metropolitan
| South West Metropolitan
| Wessex
| ||||
| N.H.S. Hospital | … | … | No. | 3,016 | 1,641 | 2,164 | 1,283 | 3,529 | 2,531 | 2,971 | 1,900 | 988 | |
| % | 99·0 | 96·7 | 94·3 | 86·9 | 15·1 | 99·7 | 74·5 | 99·4 | 92·7 | ||||
| Approved place | … | … | No. | 28 | 56 | 132 | 166 | 19,788 | 8 | 1,014 | 12 | 2 | |
| % | 0·9 | 3·3 | 5·7 | 11·2 | 84·9 | 0·3 | 25·4 | 0·6 | 0·2 | ||||
| Other place | … | … | … | No. | 3 | — | — | 27 | — | — | 1 | — | 76 |
| % | 0·1 | — | — | 1·8 | — | — | 0·0 | — | 7·1 | ||||
| All premises | … | … | … | No. | 3,047 | 1,697 | 2,269 | 1,476 | 23,317 | 2,539 | 3,986 | 1,912 | 1,066 |
| % | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | ||||
Premises
| Oxford
| South Western
| Welsh
| Birmingham
| Manchester
| Liverpool
| London Teaching Hospitals
| Total, England and Wales
| |||||
| N.H.S. Hospital | … | … | … | No. | 1,349 | 2,427 | 2,425 | 2,118 | 3,700 | 1,041 | 3,913 | 36,996 | |
| % | 95·7 | 87·7 | 100·0 | 54·0 | 98·8 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 61·1 | |||||
| Approved place | … | … | … | No. | 27 | 341 | — | 1,780 | 45 | — | — | 23,399 | |
| % | 1·9 | 12·3 | — | 45·4 | 1·2 | — | — | 38·6 | |||||
| Other place | … | … | … | … | No. | 34 | — | — | 22 | — | — | — | 163 |
| % | 2·4 | — | — | 0·6 | — | — | — | 0·3 | |||||
| All premises | … | … | … | … | No. | 1,410 | 2,768 | 2,425 | 3,920 | 3,745 | 1,041 | 3,913 | 60,558 |
| % | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | |||||
| APRIL, 1970—MARCH, 1971 | |||||||||||||
Premises
| Newcastle
| Leeds
| Sheffield
| East Anglia
| North West Metropolitan
| North East Metropolitan
| South East Metropolitan
| South West Metropolitan
| Wessex
| ||||
| N.H.S. Hospital | … | … | No. | 4,473 | 2,054 | 3,274 | 1,827 | 4,138 | 3,247 | 3,914 | 2,358 | 1,616 | |
| % | 98·6 | 95·9 | 95·1 | 86·5 | 14·7 | 73·8 | 55·7 | 93·0 | 70·6 | ||||
| Approved place | … | … | No. | 50 | 87 | 168 | 246 | 23,941 | 1,152 | 3,114 | 178 | 561 | |
| % | 1·1 | 4·1 | 4·9 | 11·6 | 85·3 | 26·2 | 44·3 | 7·0 | 24·5 | ||||
| Other place | … | … | … | No. | 12 | — | — | 39 | — | — | 2 | — | 111 |
| % | 0·3 | — | — | 1·8 | — | — | 0·0 | — | 4·9 | ||||
| All premises | … | … | … | No. | 4,535 | 2,141 | 3,442 | 2,112 | 28,079 | 4,399 | 7,030 | 2,536 | 2,288 |
| % | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | ||||
Premises
| Oxford
| South Western
| Welsh
| Birmingham
| Manchester
| Liverpool
| London Teaching Hospitals
| Total, England and Wales
| |||||
| N.H.S. Hospital | … | … | … | No. | 1,879 | 3,115 | 3,258 | 2,467 | 4,271 | 1,511 | 4,836 | 48,238 | |
| % | 93·7 | 82·8 | 100·0 | 19·5 | 98·1 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 54·3 | |||||
| Approved place | … | … | … | No. | 79 | 647 | — | 10,136 | 81 | — | — | 40,440 | |
| % | 3·9 | 17·2 | — | 80·3 | 1·9 | — | — | 45·5 | |||||
| Other place | … | … | … | … | No. | 48 | — | — | 25 | — | — | — | 237 |
| % | 2·4 | — | — | 0·2 | — | — | — | 0·3 | |||||
| All premises | … | … | … | … | No. | 2,006 | 3,762 | 3,258 | 12,628 | 4,352 | 1,511 | 4,836 | 88,915 |
| % | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | |||||
| APRIL, 1971—MARCH, 1972 | |||||||||||||
Premises
| Newcastle
| Leeds
| Sheffield
| East Anglia
| North West Metropolitan
| North East Metropolitan
| South East Metropolitan
| South West Metropolitan
| Wessex
| ||||
| N.H.S. Hospital | … | … | No. | 4,883 | 2,328 | 4,146 | 2,528 | 4,777 | 3,550 | 4,678 | 2,223 | 1,920 | |
| % | 99·3 | 95·6 | 93·9 | 84·2 | 10·0 | 28·8 | 35·4 | 27·3 | 49·5 | ||||
| Approved place | … | … | No. | — | 108 | 268 | 411 | 43,008 | 8,773 | 8,513 | 5,924 | 1,849 | |
| % | — | 4·4 | 6·1 | 13·7 | 90·0 | 71·2 | 64·5 | 72·7 | 47·6 | ||||
| Other place | … | … | … | No. | 32 | — | — | 63 | — | — | 7 | — | 114 |
| % | 0·7 | — | — | 2·1 | — | — | 0·1 | — | 2·9 | ||||
| All premises | … | … | … | No. | 4,915 | 2,436 | 4,414 | 3,002 | 47,785 | 12,323 | 13,198 | 8,147 | 3,883 |
| % | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | ||||
Premises
| Oxford
| South Western
| Welsh
| Birmingham
| Manchester
| Liverpool
| London Teaching Hospitals
| Total, England and Wales
| |||||
| N.H.S. Hospital | … | … | … | No. | 2,170 | 3,887 | 3,826 | 2,523 | 5,296 | 1,969 | 5,538 | 56,242 | |
| % | 91·0 | 78·1 | 100·0 | 16·5 | 97·6 | 55·5 | 100·0 | 39·9 | |||||
| Approved place | … | … | … | No. | 149 | 1,092 | — | 12,782 | 129 | 1,581 | — | 84,587 | |
| % | 6·2 | 21·9 | — | 83·4 | 2·4 | 44·5 | — | 59·9 | |||||
| Other place | … | … | … | … | No. | 67 | 2 | — | 18 | — | — | — | 303 |
| % | 2·8 | 0·0 | — | 0·1 | — | — | — | 0·2 | |||||
| All premises | … | … | … | … | No. | 2,386 | 4,981 | 3,826 | 15,323 | 5,425 | 3,550 | 5,538 | 141,132 |
| % | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | |||||
| APRIL, 1972—MARCH, 1972 | |||||||||||||
Premises
| Newcastle
| Leeds
| Sheffield
| East Anglia
| North West Metropolitan
| North East Metropolitan
| South East Metropolitan
| South West Metropolitan
| Wessex
| ||||
| N.H.S. Hospital | … | … | No. | 1,282 | 549 | 932 | 537 | 1,230 | 1,031 | 1,174 | 570 | 415 | |
| % | 98·9 | 95·6 | 89·4 | 87·1 | 9·6 | 24·4 | 24·0 | 24·5 | 24·3 | ||||
| Approved place | … | … | No. | — | 25 | 111 | 57 | 11,526 | 3,188 | 3,719 | 1,760 | 1,258 | |
| % | — | 4·4 | 10·6 | 9·2 | 90·4 | 75·6 | 76·0 | 75·5 | 73·6 | ||||
| Other place | … | … | … | No. | 14 | — | — | 23 | — | — | 1 | — | 36 |
| % | 1·1 | — | — | 3·7 | — | — | 0·0 | — | 2·1 | ||||
| All premises | … | … | … | No. | 1,296 | 574 | 1,043 | 617 | 12,756 | 4,219 | 4,894 | 2,330 | 1,709 |
| % | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | ||||
Premises
| Oxford
| South Western
| Welsh
| Birmingham
| Manchester
| Liverpool
| London Teaching Hospitals
| Total, England and Wales
| |||||
| N.H.S. Hospital | … | … | … | No. | 583 | 1,097 | 904 | 688 | 1,128 | 449 | 1,340 | 13,909 | |
| % | 90·9 | 80·2 | 100·0 | 26·9 | 96·7 | 25·4 | 100·0 | 35·5 | |||||
| Approved place | … | … | … | No. | 48 | 270 | — | 1,869 | 39 | 1,322 | — | 25,192 | |
| % | 7·5 | 19·8 | — | 72·9 | 3·3 | 74·6 | — | 64·3 | |||||
| Other place | … | … | … | … | No. | 10 | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | 89 |
| % | 1·6 | — | — | 0·2 | — | — | — | 0·2 | |||||
| All premises | … | … | … | … | No. | 641 | 1,367 | 904 | 2,562 | 1,167 | 1,771 | 1,340 | 39,190 |
| % | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | 100·0 | |||||
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average time spent in hospital by National Health Service patients undergoing an abortion.
The median duration of stay for patients undergoing abortions in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales in 1971 was 3½ days.
Children's Glasses
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will abolish the charge for children's glasses which do not splinter.
Such lenses can be supplied without extra charge through the hospital
| Unskilled | … | … | … | Ancillary Group A | … | … | … | … | £17·48 per week | |||
| Semi-skilled | … | … | … | Maintenance Worker, Grade II | … | … | … | £20·52 per week | ||||
| Skilled | … | … | … | … | Maintenance Craftsman, Grade III | … | … | £23·28 per week | ||||
| Clerical | … | … | … | … | Clerical | … | … | … | … | … | … | £843 per annum |
| Secretarial | … | … | … | Copy Typist and Machine Operator | … | … | £843 per annum | |||||
| Technical | … | … | … | Dental Technician | … | … | … | … | £1,002 per annum | |||
| Scientific | … | … | … | Biochemist/Physicist (Probationer) | … | … | £1,278 per annum | |||||
| Other Auxiliary | … | … | Nursing Auxiliary | … | … | … | … | £810 per annum | ||||
| Pay is regularly reviewed and revised by the Whitley Councils for the Health Services or, in the case of maintenance grades, by direct negotiation by the Health Departments and the Trade Unions concerned. | ||||||||||||
| Notes: | ||||||||||||
| (a) There is provision for staff in Ancillary Group A whose basic weekly rates are below £19 to increase their earnings to this level. | ||||||||||||
| (b) All rates are for men and women aged 21 except that somewhat lower rates are payable to women in Ancillary Group A pending the completion of the transition to equal pay. | ||||||||||||
| (c) All rates are increased by £2·40 per week (£126 per annum) for staff employed in the London Area. | ||||||||||||
Geriatric Allowance
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements he is making to ensure that nursing staff in geriatric day hospitals receive the special geriatric allowance granted to nursing staff in geriatric wards of general hospitals; and if he will make a statement.
None. This is a matter for the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council whose agreement on the subject does not apply to nursing staff in day hospitals.
Macclesfield
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons are currently on the waiting list for admission to hospitals serving the Macclesfield constituency; and what categories of illness are involved.
Hospital statistics cannot be related directly to constituency boundaries, but patients from the Maccles- eye service if they are considered medically necessary.
Hospital Service (Pay Rates)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the lowest adult basic rates of pay for unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, clerical, secretarial, technical, scientific and other auxiliary workers in the hospital service; what action he is taking to improve these rates of pay with special reference to the cost of living; and if he will make a statement.
Current minimum rates of pay of hospital staff under the headings requested are:field constituency would normally be referred to hospitals of the East Cheshire Hospital Management Committee. The number of persons on the waiting list of this group at 30th June, 1972, is as follows:
| Specialty | Number of Persons Waiting Admission |
| General Medicine | 3 |
| General Surgery | 716 |
| Orthopaedic Surgery | 327 |
| Ear, Nose and Throat | 213 |
| Dental Surgery | 47 |
| Gynaecology | 128 |
| Geriatric | 16 |
| Ophthalmology | 8 |
| Total | 1,458 |
Hexachlorophane
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) why he has not prohibited the sale of any product including hexachlorophane except on a doctor's prescription, in view of the fact that in February the Pharmaceutical Society advised their members only to supply such products on medical advice;(2) if he has yet received the report on the short-term studies he announced as being conducted into the absorption of hexachlorophane into the blood; if information has been sought regarding the death of 20 babies in France suspected to be due to this ingredient in talcum powder as included in the information sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West; and if he will make a statement.
Following the promulgation, in February, of my acceptance of the recommendations of the Committee on Safety of Medicines and the subsequent advice given by the Pharmaceutical Society to its members, many manufacturers removed hexachlorophane from their medicinal products. The available information is that where hexachlorophane was retained in medicinal products for its valuable antibacterial activity there was general observance of the advice given by the Committee and by the Pharmaceutical Society. In view of recent incidents I again consulted the Committee who confirmed its original advice. With regard to the studies announced in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading (Dr. Vaughan), a pilot study was inconclusive but I am informed by the representatives of industry that most manufacturers of non-medicinal cosmetic and toilet preparations have now removed hexachlorophane from their products. My officials have been in touch with the French authorities and I am advised that this tragic incident is still under investigation.I am considering whether statutory limitations consonant with the advice of the Committee on Safety of Medicines should be imposed on the availability of medicinal products containing hexachlorophane and, I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department over cosmetic and toilet preparations.—[Vol. 831, c.
183–4.]
Vasectomy
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department have been kept informed of the progress and results of the research into the potential risk of chronic disease resulting from vasectomy conducted under the direction of Professor John Henry at Syracuse, New York, details of which have been sent to him; and what conclusions have been drawn.
I am aware of this research. It concerned only 12 men who had received vasectomies over a two-year period and reached only what Dr. Henry himself evidently called very tentative conclusions as to what the effects of the increased antibody levels in the blood might have. Further research, Dr. Henry is reported to have said, on a much larger scale and over a period of years would he required before any conclusions could be drawn.
Central Middlesex Hospital (Porters)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital porters are now employed in the Central Middlesex Hospital; and what was the average take-home pay for the week ended 30th September, 1972.
69 and £21·83 respectively.
Area Health Boards
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the four members of the proposed area health boards, as outlined in the White Paper, who will come from local authorities, will be selected by the authorities concerned or be appointed by him from a number of nominations; and if he will make a statement.
They will be selected and appointed by the council of the non-metropolitan county or metropolitan district which matches the area of the health authority.
Mr George Thomas
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will cause an independent investigation to be made into the death of Mr. George Thomas of Vansittart Road, London, E.7, in view of the fact that the local inquiry carried out by the hospital authorities has proved unsatisfactory;
The hon. Member asked for an investigation and a full report was obtained before a detailed reply was sent to him on 28th September. The enclosures were sent to him on the following day.
Dockworkers
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware of the concern felt by registered dockworkers at the practice being adopted at the unregistered ports where casual dockworkers receive daily cash payments and still draw unemployment payment; and whether he will have this matter investigated.
No, but if I am supplied with sufficient information I am always willing to look into any alleged misuse of national insurance funds.
Retirement Pensions
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent the floating of the pound sterling and the depreciation of the £ in value since his announcement of a 75p increase in retirement pensions have caused erosion between the date of announcement and the date of payment of this award.
On the basis of the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices up to August, which is the latest month for which figures are available, the increase of 75p, which was made in the standard rate of retirement pension at the beginning of this month, would have lost about 2½p in value since March, 1972, when it was announced.
Asian Immigrants
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what statutory authority Ugandan Asians who have never contributed to British welfare schemes are receiving health and welfare benefits which are available to British born citizens only on a contributory basis.
Ugandan Asians who have not paid British national insurance contributions are not receiving any benefits for which there is a contribution condition.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give, for the latest and most convenient stated period of time, the total amounts of money paid out in social security and welfare benefits, including rent allowances to the Uganda Asian immigrants; what, on average, has been paid per immigrant; and how the weekly payments compare with those paid to British-born retirement pensioners, and those on unemployment and sickness benefits.
There is no separate record of the amounts of benefit paid to Ugandan Asian, or any other, immigrants to Great Britain.
Home Help Organisers
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to secure the introduction of a higher national minimum scale for home help organisers.
Home help organisers are paid according to the local authority administrative and professional pay scales which are negotiated by the Local Authorities National Joint Council, representing employer and trade union interests concerned. It is for each local authority to determine at which point within those scales organisers should be paid, taking into account the duties they perform within the authority in relation to other staff.
Death Rate
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the death rate and the infant mortality rate, respectively, per 1,000 population in each local authority in Great Britain, according to the latest available information.
I will send the information to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.
Population Density
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage of the population in each local authority in Great Britain who live at a density on average of over 1·5 persons per room; and how many persons in each case this involves.
The most recent complete figures available are those from the 1966 Sample Census of Population. Figures for the number and percentage of persons living at a density of over 1·5 per room were published for each local authority with a population of more than 15,000 in the County Reports on that Census and laid before Parliament.I will send the hon. Member these figures together with those for the smaller local authorities and the numbers of persons covered.
Personal Injuries (Compensation)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will set up an official inquiry into the criteria for the award of compensation for personal injuries, and ensure that the terms of reference cover all types of personal injury irrespective of cause;
The question of compensation for injuries other than that provided under the National Insurance Acts is outside my responsibilities. The Government have no proposals to extend State insurance into other fields but con- sideration is being given to the recommendation in the Robens Committee Report on Safety and Health at Work that there should be an inquiry into the present system of common law actions.
Immigrants (Welfare Benefits)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will cause an investigation to be made into the number of persons, and the costs involved, who are now claiming welfare benefits, including family allowances for their wives, children and dependants still remaining in Commonwealth countries after the head of the family has immigrated to Great Britain.
No. Welfare benefits and family allowances for wives, children and dependants remaining in Commonwealth countries are not payable.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether immigrants who have arrived in the United Kingdom with no contributions to the National Insurance Funds and who pay no income tax due to being on welfare payments are entitled to claim family allowances for children with them and for children in residence in the countries from which the immigrants left; and whether married men are also able to claim family allowances for their illegitimate children left in their countries of origin.
Entitlement to family allowances is not related to the payment of national insurance contributions or United Kingdom income tax. Normally an immigrant must be resident in this country for at least one year in the case of a British subject born abroad, and three years in the case of an alien, before he can become entitled to family allowances. The allowances are not payable in respect of children, whether illegitimate or otherwise, who remain in their country of origin.
Widows (Sickness Benefit)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider the introduction of amending legislation to enable a widow who is fully employed and pays national insurance contributions on her own account to receive sickness benefit during illness.
No. I do not think we should depart from the general principle that only one flat-rate maintenance benefit is payable at a time. The earnings-related supplement normally payable with sickness benefit can be paid with the widow's pension during sickness, and if the flat-rate sickness benefit would be greater than her widow's pension, she can also receive the balance. She need not pay flat-rate contributions unless she considers that they will give her a worthwhile benefit.
Committee On Nursing
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the Report of the Committee on Nursing.
The Report has been published today as Cmnd. 5115 and copies are available in the Vote Office. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and I are most grateful to Professor Asa Briggs and his colleagues for their comprehensive and penetrating study of the matters referred to them. We are giving careful and urgent consideration to the important and far-reaching recommendations contained in the Report and are inviting a number of interested organisations to submit comments. We would also welcome comments submitted within the next three months from any organisations not specifically invited to comment but wishing to do so.
Trade And Industry
European Economic Community
47.
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the European Economic Community proposals for export credit guarantees, and Her Majesty's Government's views thereon.
The United Kingdom accepts the objective of closer co-operation on export credit policy within the Community as one means of reducing distortion of competition between member States.The measures already adopted by the EEC which the United Kingdom will apply from 1st January concern mainly the arrangements for co-ordination of policy, consultation on the larger overseas credits and reciprocal arrangements by which members will include a proportion of other members' products in export contracts which they are insuring.There are also directives relating to the form of medium and short term cover, but these cannot be implemented until agreement has been reached on the basis and extent of harmonisation on other matters, including premium rates. We shall play a full part in settling this and in the future development of EEC policy in this field.
Companies Act (Departmental Action)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when he was first asked to take action regarding Pinnock Finance Company (G.B.) Limited; what action he took and with what results; and whether, at all material times, this company sent through its returns and accounts as laid down under the Companies Act within the statutory declared period;
| Company | Time and nature of first request for action | Action taken, and result | Whether at all material times, the company filed its returns and accounts within the statutory period |
| Pinnock Finance Company (Great Britain) Limited | No request before investigation was begun | Departmental investigation (under Section 18 of Protection of Depositors Act 1963) begun in April, 1967 | No |
| Inspectors appointed (under Section 165 of Companies Act 1948) in August, 1967 | |||
| Winding up order made in May, 1968, on petition of the company | |||
| Sempah Holdings Limited | Request for investigation under Section 165(b) of Companies Act 1948, and for action under Section 210 made in January, 1963 | Request refused as it was considered that the facts were sufficiently known to shareholders | No |
| Associated Leisure Limited | Request for an inquiry made in January, 1972 | Departmental enquiries were made, and the results are under consideration | No |
| Rolls Razor Limited | Request for an investigation under Section 165(b) made in January, 1960 | Request refused, but Inspectors were appointed in July, 1964. The Company went into voluntary liquidation in August, 1964 | Yes |
| Criminal proceedings were instituted and convictions obtained against certain individuals | |||
| Camp Bird Limited | Request for an investigation under Section 165(b) made in September, 1962 | Request refused. Subsequently a petition was presented and a winding up order made in October, 1963 | No |
| Hartley Baird Limited | Request for an investigation under Section 165(b) of Companies Act 1948 made in December, 1962 | Request refused because shareholders were in possession of sufficient information | No |
| Departmental enquiries about defaults under Companies Act 1948 later made. The company are not now in default | |||
| H. J. Baldwin & Company Limited | Request for an investigation under Section 165(b) made in December, 1962 | Request refused, because shareholders were in possession of sufficient information | No |
(8) when he was first asked to take action regarding Dollar Land Holdings Limited; what action he took and with what results; and whether, at all material times, this Company sent through its returns and accounts as laid down under the Companies Act, within the statutory declared period;
(9) when he was first asked to take action regarding Three Way Nurseries Limited; what action he took and with what results; and whether, at all material times, this Company sent through its returns and accounts as laid down under the Companies Act, within the statutory declared period.
The information is as follows:
| Company | Time and nature of first request for action | Action taken, and result | Whether at all material times, the company filed its returns and accounts within the statutory period |
| Dollar Land Holdings Limited | Request for investigation under Section 165(b) of Companies Act 1948 made in 1968 | Request refused as insufficient information was provided | No |
| Following departmental enquiries the company has taken steps to remedy outstanding defaults | |||
| Three Ways Nurseries Limited | Request for investigation under Section 165(b) made in July, 1963 | Refused as there were insufficient grounds | No |
| Departmenta1 enquiries were made on numerous occasions, and in 1972 the managing director was successfully prosecuted for failing to lay accounts as required by Section 148 of the Companies Act 1948 | |||
| "No" in the last column means that the company did not deliver its annual return or accounts within the period allowed on at least one occasion. | |||
Civil Aircraft (Posture Curve Seat)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in view of the fact that seats fitted in the cockpit of civil aircraft have been found to be the cause of severe backache to pilots, if he will consider making the installation of the posture curve seat obligatory in civil aircraft now in service, on aircraft on the assembly line and on future projects coming into service.
This is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority in conjunction with the aircraft manufacturers and the operators.
Aircraft Noise (Windsor)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is aware of the growing concern over aircraft noise in the Windsor/Maidenhead area; and if he will consider the possibilities of turning aircraft in a northerly direction towards Northolt or circumnavigating Maidenhead.
Yes. The decision announced on 4th October, to ask the independent Noise Advisory Council to give further consideration to the question of minimum noise route policy and practice, was taken partly as a result of representations made about aircraft noise in the Windsor/Maidenhead area. The possibility of introducing alternative routes will be examined in the light of the Council's report.
Vehicle And General Insurance Company Limited
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he was first asked to take action regarding Vehicle and General Insurance Company Limited; what action he took and with what results; and whether, at all material times, this Company sent through its returns and accounts as laid down under the Companies Act, within the statutory declared period.
I would refer the hon. Member to the Report of the Tribunal of Enquiry, and to the OFFICIAL REPORT of the debates on the collapse of the company.
Airports (Security)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the killings at Munich, he will now introduce more stringent security measures at Great Britain's airports.
Following the violence at the Munich Olympic Games, additional precautions have been taken in the United Kingdom. These have included the rigorous application of the existing stringent security measures at our airports.
House Sales (Trade Descriptions Act)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will introduce legislation to extend the provisions of the Trade Descriptions Act to descriptions applied to houses offered for sale.
As I indicated in an Answer I gave on 7th June to my hon. Friend, the Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward Taylor), this is a matter we shall be prepared to consider when the time comes to review the working of the Act.—[Vol. 838, c. 97.]
Hide Group Of Companies
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his Department was first requested to take action on the Hide Group of Companies; on how many occasions; when action was eventually taken; and with what results.
Three applications were received in April, 1955, but were not proceeded with. Another application was received in May, 1956, and Inspectors were appointed on 4th April, 1957, under Section 164 of the Companies Act, 1948. Criminal proceedings were instituted against three individuals and they were convicted in 1959.
Environment
Barton Hill, Kettering
48.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reason he has not authorised the double white lines on Barton Hill, Kettering, being made into continuous solid white lines.
Because they would restrict descending traffic unnecessarily.
Railway Network
49.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement concerning the plan for a reduced railway network recently prepared by his Department.
The document to which the Sunday Times drew attention on 8th October is merely one of a series of studies undertaken by officials in my Department and by British Rail itself. This process, which is not yet complete, is made necessary by the financial position of the Board. Future policy will not be decided before there has been the most careful consideration of the alternatives and the costs attaching to each.Meanwhile, I am sure that the House will wish to avoid premature conclusions about the results of these studies and will have in mind the grants and loans already made by the Government to the railways: £110 million in 1971 and an estimated £160 million in 1972. These figures include for the first time grants for 75 per cent. of the cost of new rolling stock and signalling in urban areas.I regret very much that this confidential working document should have been disclosed and that its publication out of context should have given rise to widespread and unnecessary anxiety.
Motor Coaches (First-Aid Kits)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to make it compulsory for all long-distance motor coaches to carry first-aid kits.
There is already such a requirement.
Education And Science
Wallace Collection
50.
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the Paymaster-General has now had his projected meeting with the Chairman of the Wallace Collection; and what effect it has had on the decision of the Board to admit the public free on one day a week, without compensatory increases in charges on other days.
Yes. The Government are considering further under what conditions it would be possible for the Trustees to have a free day without endangering the £1 million.
Works Of Art (Exports)
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the views of the directors of national museums and galleries regarding the possible export of items of national importance were obtained before the decision was made to increase the amount of the open general licence from £2,000 to £4,000.
My right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General received comments from eight of the directors of the national museums and galleries before the change was announced.
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations were held with the directors of national museums and galleries before the decision was made to discontinue the requirement that photostatic copies of documents should be provided with any application for an export licence.
My right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General consulted the Keeper of Manuscripts at the British Museum, who as the Department of Trade and Industry's expert adviser on the national importance of manuscripts, documents and archives, sees all applications for licences to export them. The directors of all the national museums and galleries were informed of the proposal before it was announced.
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will increase by an appropriate proportion the annual purchasing grants of the national museums and galleries to enable them to acquire items of national interest, which might otherwise be exported, following the increase in the amount of the open general licence for antiques from £2,000 to £4,000.
No. The evidence from licence applications indicates that the raising of the minimum level of export control from £2,000 to £4,000 will result in no significant increase in pressure on the annual purchasing grants of the national museums and galleries.
Authors (Public Lending Rights)
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she now proposes to introduce legislation to give public lending rights to authors; and if she will make a statement.
The comments of the organisations consulted on the report of the working party appointed by my noble friend the Paymaster-General are now being carefully studied. A statement will be made as soon as possible, but I cannot yet give a date.
Polytechnics (Residential Accommodation)
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make a statement on the number of students at polytechnics in England and Wales for whom there was no residential accommodation available in hostels, boarding houses or flats at the beginning of the current term and, in particular, on the circumstances in which students at Portsmouth Polytechnic were compelled to make temporary beds on the floor at Union House.
The Department does not collect information of this kind. There are difficulties about predicting exactly how many polytechnic students will need help in finding accommodation at the beginning of the academic year. For this reason I understand that about 10 students at Portsmouth Polytechnic were provided with temporary beds for two nights until accommodation could be found for them.
School Building Programmes
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the value of the school building programmes approved since 1970 for each local education authority in England and Wales to show the amounts approved for major and minor works, for primary and secondary schools and for basic needs and improvement.
This information cannot be provided without disproportionate expenditure of time and money.
Real Estate Fund Of America
asked the Attorney-General whether he will give for the longest and most convenient stated period of time the number of occasions when his Department has issued Press statements denying Press reports for alleged inaccuracies, other than in the case of the Poulson affair and the Real Estate Fund of America.
When a Press report in relation to a matter which is the concern of the Law Officers contains a significant error of fact which could seriously mislead the public, this Department endeavours to ensure that the error is corrected. No records are available of the occasions on which this has occurred.
asked the Attorney-General (1) whether he can now state what action is expected to be taken on the report drawn up by the police and submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions on matters connected with the Real Estate Fund of America;(2) when the hon. Member for West Ham, North may expect a detailed reply to each of the questions as contained in his letters of 21st, 22nd, 24th July and 8th August concerning matters connected with the Real Estate Fund of America.
I have nothing to add to the letters which the hon. Member has received from my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and the Attorney-General. Police investigations are still continuing and it would not be right for me to give details of them.
Civil Service
Under-Secretaries (Education)
asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the number of Under-Secretaries and equivalent ranks in the Civil Service who were educated at Oxford and Cambridge and the number of entrants into the Civil Service through Oxford and Cambridge who were educated, respectively, at independent schools, direct-grant schools and maintained schools.
The number of Under-Secretaries in the Home Civil Service who were educated at Oxford and Cambridge is 231.I regret that the rest of the information is not available and to obtain it would incur disproportionate cost.
European Economic Community
asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what arrangements will be made in regard to the accumulated pension rights of members of the Civil Service who transfer to European Economic Community institutions after 1st January, 1973;
Superannuation treatment to be given to members of the Civil Service moving to service with the Community institutions is under consideration in consultation with the European Commission.
Defence
Rb199 Engine
asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the installation of the prototype Rolls-Royce RB199 engine on the Avro-Vulcan V-Bomber flying test-bed.
Progress on the installation of the prototype RB199 engine in the Avro-Vulcan flying test bed is in line with the requirements of the programme as a whole.
Ulster Defence Regiment
asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the present strength of the Ulster Defence Regiment; what proportion thereof are Roman Catholics; and what is the present trend of resignations, both Protestant and Roman Catholic.
As at 11th October, the total strength of the Ulster Defence Regiment was 9,043, of whom about 4 per cent. were Roman Catholics.The present weekly resignation rates for Protestants and Roman Catholics are about 0·25 per cent. and 0·65 per cent. of their enlisted strength, respectively. The total wastage has been more than offset by new recruits.
Polaris
asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on current Government policy on the future of Polaris in the context of European defence.
The Polaris force will continue to form an effective contribution to NATO's strategic nuclear deterrent.
Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs
Mr J G L Poulson
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement about links between companies associated with Mr. J. G. L. Poulson and projects financed by British aid.
Since I replied to the hon. Member's Question on 31st July, I have found that J. G. L. Poulson and Partners were appointed by the Malta Government in 1966 as consulting architects for the Gozo Hospital. This was one of the projects assisted under the 1964 United Kingdom/Malta Agreement on Financial Assistance (Cmnd. 3111). The then Ministry of Overseas Development was not involved in this choice of consultant.—[Vol. 842, c. 19.]
Greece
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a progress report on action taken by Her Majesty's Government in accordance with the recommendations of Resolution I on Greece adopted by the North Atlantic Assembly in September, 1971.
I have nothing to add to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Minister of State gave to the right hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey) on 6th December, 1971.—[Vol. 827, c. 222.]
Terrorism
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he will seek to raise at the United Nations Security Council the murders and kidnapping of Israeli participants at the Munich Olympic Games;
An item on terrorism has been inscribed on the agenda for the United Nations General Assembly and the United States Government has submitted a draft resolution which calls for the adoption of a convention on terrorism. We are strongly in favour of effective collective international action against terrorism and will play a full and active part in the United Nations discussions on measures to combat it. There can be no Government, either Arab or non-Arab, which is not fully aware of our attitude, which my right honourable Friend made clear in his statement to the General Assembly on 27th September.
Home Department
Badgers And Otters
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now take steps to place badgers and otters on the list of protected animals.
On present evidence I do not consider that additional protection for these species is necessary.
Hotels (Fire Precautions)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many hoteliers and boarding house keepers he estimates have failed to apply for a fire certificate in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Precautions Act, 1971; and if he will make a statement about the operation of the Act.
Information is not available on which to base a detailed estimate, but I know that a substantial number of applications for fire certificates have been submitted to fire authorities in England and Wales; and I believe that these authorities are making steady progress in the enforcement of the Act in their respective areas. Further orders extending the operation of the Act to other premises will be made in due course.
Northern Ireland
Electoral Staffs (Security)
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in view of the proposed local government elections in November, and the change of poll hours to 7.00 a.m.-10.00 p.m., what steps are being taken by the security authorities to enable electoral staff to get to the polling booths early in the morning, and to leave late in the evening; and if he will make a statement.
My right hon. Friend attaches great importance to the safety of staff employed at the forthcoming local government elections to be held on 6th December and will ensure that all possible steps are taken to afford them adequate protection. This matter is being discussed with the Army and the police.
Civil Service
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what increases have been made in the Northern Ireland Civil Service since he assumed his present office; in which Departments; and for what purposes.
The numbers of non-industrial and industrial civil servants have increased by 828 and 584 respectively during the period. I am writing to my hon. Friend to give him the additional information called for.
Stationery
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what alterations have been considered in the letter headings of official Government of Northern Ireland stationery.
When new stocks are printed, a simplified format is to be adopted.
Ministry Of Home Affairs
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs at Stormont have been transferred or prematurely retired since he assumed his present office; which officials have been posted or attached thereto from Great Britain in the same period; and why.
No officer has been prematurely retired; one officer on extended service retired before the end of his period of extension when the need for his post ceased. One officer was transferred to another Department. Two officers have been on loan from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to assist in the setting-up of a Department of Public Prosecutions but one has returned and the other will do so at the end of October. One officer is on loan from the Home Office to assist in connection with the forthcoming local elections in Northern Ireland.
Scotland
Nursery Schools And Playgroups
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the figures for full-time and part-time pupils in education authority and grant-aided nursery schools in each local education authority area in Scotland.
At January, 1972, 14,818 children attended education authority and grant-aided nursery schools and classes, 10,947 of them on a part-time and 3,871 on a full-time basis. Information by education authority area is given below:
| Education Authority | Part-Time | Full-Time |
| Cities | ||
| Aberdeen | 865 | 398 |
| Dundee | 340 | 467 |
| Edinburgh | 2,345 | 856 |
| Glasgow | 3,547 | 1,080 |
| Counties | ||
| Aberdeen | — | 53 |
| Angus | — | — |
| Argyll | — | — |
| Ayr | 478 | 429 |
| Banff | 81 | — |
| Berwick | — | — |
| Bute | — | — |
| Caithness | — | — |
| Clackmannan | 98 | 18 |
| Dumfries | 1 | 81 |
| Dunbarton | 351 | 19 |
| East Lothian | — | — |
| Fife | 1,563 | 219 |
| Inverness | — | — |
| Kincardine | — | — |
| Kirkcudbright | — | — |
| Lanark | 60 | 98 |
| Midlothian | — | — |
| Moray and Nairn | 81 | — |
| Orkney | — | — |
| Peebles | 34 | — |
| Perth and Kinross | 30 | 60 |
| Renfrew | 447 | 48 |
| Ross and Cromarty | — | — |
| Roxburgh | — | — |
| Selkirk | 75 | — |
| Stirling | 122 | 38 |
| Sutherland | — | — |
| West Lothian | 429 | 7 |
| Wigtown | — | — |
| Zetland | — | — |
| Total | 10,947 | 3,871 |
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a breakdown of the 18,000 children attending playgroups, showing how many attend in each local authority area in Scotland, for which figures are available.
The latest information is for the end of 1971, and is given below:
| Area* | Number of playgroups provided by, or voluntary playgroups registered with, local authorities under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968† | Number of children attending average sessions‡ |
| Counties | ||
| Aberdeen and Kincardine | 49 | 951 |
| Angus | 18 | 322 |
| Argyll | 20 | 450 |
| Ayr | 75 | 990 |
| Banff | 8 | 160 |
| Berwick | 7 | 145 |
| Bute | 6 | 70 |
| Caithness | 6 | 126 |
| Clackmannan | 10 | 250 |
| Dumfries | 11 | 220 |
| Dunbarton | 62 | 1,364 |
| East Lothian | 17 | 298 |
| Fife | 35 | 804 |
| Inverness | 13 | 273 |
| Kirkcudbright | 5 | 70 |
| Lanark | 51 | 1,020 |
| Midlothian | 68 | 1,156 |
| Moray and Nairn | 15 | 329 |
| Orkney | 4 | 166 |
| Peebles | 7 | 147 |
| Perth and Kinross | 24 | 456 |
| Renfrew | 60 | 1,260 |
| Ross and Cromarty | 13 | 310 |
| Roxburgh | 8 | 144 |
| Selkirk | 6 | 115 |
| Stirling | 36 | 766 |
Area*
| Number of playgroups provided by, or voluntary playgroups registered with, local authorities under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968†
| Number of children attending average sessions‡
|
| Sutherland | 5 | 75 |
| West Lothian | 23 | 360 |
| Wigtown | 4 | 56 |
| Zetland | 13 | 147 |
Cities
| ||
| Aberdeen | 54 | 1,014 |
| Dundee | 14 | 340 |
| Edinburgh | 169 | 2,729 |
| Glasgow | 94 | 1,901 |
Large Burghs
| ||
| Airdrie | 4 | 160 |
| Arbroath | 7 | 151 |
| Ayr | 20 | 290 |
| Clydebank | 9 | 205 |
| Coatbridge | 9 | 155 |
| Dumbarton | 6 | 136 |
| Dumfries | 5 | 88 |
| Dunfermline | 12 | 267 |
| East Kilbride | 23 | 550 |
| Falkirk | 6 | 150 |
| Greenock and Port Glasgow | 4 | 40 |
| Hamilton | 8 | 176 |
| Inverness | 9 | 237 |
| Kilmarnock | 12 | 192 |
| Kirkcaldy | 9 | 154 |
| Motherwell and Wishaw | 6 | 185 |
| Paisley | 5 | 129 |
| Perth | 5 | 71 |
| Rutherglen | 2 | 49 |
| Stirling | 11 | 228 |
| SCOTLAND | 1,182 | 22,597 |
* Returns are made by counties and large burghs which are responsible under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 for registration of playgroups. Aberdeen and Kincardine, and also Greenock and Port Glasgow, have joint social work committees and separate figures for the individual authorities are not available. | ||
| † Day nurseries provided under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, and nursery schools or playgroups provided under the Education Acts, are not included. | ||
| ‡ The same children do not always attend at every session, so that the total number of children receiving experience of playgroups will be greater and the precise figures are not known. | ||
Caravan Sites (Grants)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many grants have been made to local authorities for the provision of caravan sites for travelling people since the publication of SDD Circular No. 9/1971 on 15th March, 1971; and how many sites will be provided.
No applications for grant have yet been received, but I understand that proposals for some sites are now well advanced. The Birsay Committee is continuing to urge local authorities to provide sites but cannot yet assess the ultimate need.
Wales
Redundancies
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of redundancies, to the last convenient date, announced in Wales this year.
I have been asked to reply. Redundancies involving 7,870 work-people were notified to my Department in Wales during the period 1st January to 30th September, 1972.
Playgroups
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give figures for children in playgroups for each local authority in Wales.
The figures are:
| Local Authority | Number of Children |
| Anglesey | 434 |
| Breconshire | 103 |
| Caernarvonshire | 661 |
| Cardiganshire | 211 |
| Carmarthenshire | 251 |
| Denbighshire | 1,230 |
| Flintshire | 1,264 |
| Glamorgan | 2,764 |
| Merionethshire | 148 |
| Monmouthshire | 962 |
| Montgomeryshire | 256 |
| Pembrokeshire | 503 |
| Radnorshire | 45 |
| Cardiff CB | 191 |
| Merthyr Tydfil CB | 69 |
| Newport CB | 350 |
| Swansea CB | 655 |
| 10,097 |
M4 Route
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of all proposals submitted for routes for the M4 north of the Caerphilly mountain range; and if he will give in each case an estimate of the number of properties that would have to be demolished.
I understand that route via Pontygwindy, Caerphilly Town Centre and Watford were suggested at the recent public inquiry. These routes could entail the demolition of 19, 6 and 10 houses respectively, but many more would be adversely affected.
asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many houses will have to be demolished if the original line of the M4 is adopted from Coryton to Tredegar Port; how many houses would be demolished if any of the alternative routes through north Cardiff were adopted; and how many houses on each route would be adversely affected by noise, vibration, dirt and fumes.
The proposed route and the earlier route both entail the demolition of about 18 houses, however, the earlier route passes close to about 360 houses. My preferred route reduces this number by about four-fifths.
Transport Survey
asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the Welsh Council's survey of transport in Wales to be completed.
The research project is due to be completed in 1975 but interim reports will be made to the Council from time to time.