asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he now expects to be able to publish the Green Paper on the proposed tax credit scheme.

The Green Paper was published on 10th October.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the new tax credit scheme is detrimental to some women's interests and has been adversely commented on by the Women's Commission, if he will undertake to meet a deputation representing women's interests before agreeing to legislation.

My right hon. Friend will be pleased to consider any representations which may be put to him about the proposals in the Green Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of accelerated Government expenditure and special taxation arrangements which the Government have introduced to increase employment.

Since taking office the Government have announced additions to public expenditure to increase employment of the order of £1,700 million. The Government's total tax cuts, which amount to some £3,000 million in the current financial year, are all designed to increase employment by stimulating demand and output.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from charitable organisations regarding the effect of value added tax on the employment of some professional paid staff; what estimate has been made of the extra burden which will fall upon honorary officers of such charities; and if he will make a statement.

Under the arrangements in the Finance Act, most charities will be exempt and will therefore have no accounting obligations for VAT purposes.Some charitable organisations which will be registered for VAT have expressed the view that the tax will increase the work of administering their charities with consequent pressure on professional staff. The tax has, however, been devised to operate as simply as possible and such charities should find little difficulty in adapting their accounting systems to meet VAT requirements. I do not expect any significant long-term burden on professional staff or honorary officers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning the incidence of value added tax dealers in second-hand goods.

We have received a number of representations, including a recent one from the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider proposing exemption of organised holiday visits for handicapped people from value added tax.

Holiday accommodation will normally be within the scope of the tax, but passenger transport will, in general, be zero-rated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the interests of the health of growing children, he has now decided that children's shoes shall have a zero or reduced value added tax rating.

My right hon. Friend has set up a committee to inquire into the question of children's footwear and foot health. He hopes to receive its report in good time for any consequential decisions to be taken before VAT comes into operation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent he is advising the retail trade of the effects of value added tax; what representations he has had from the trade; and if he will make a statement.

Retailers have been and will continue to be given special attention in the VAT publicity. This includes a booklet on "Special schemes for retailers" that has been widely distributed. Representations on a number of topics have been made by the trade, and all have been or are being fully considered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many charities have individually or collectively made representations to him about the possible effects of the imposition of value added tax on their organisations; and what replies he has sent.

Only a small proportion of all charities have made individual representations. Most of these have been by letter. A few of the larger charities, and also the Churches' Main Committee and the National Council of Social Service, which represent various charities, have had discussions with the Customs and Excise. In a number of cases, misunderstandings of the working of the tax have already been cleared up to the satisfaction of the charities. In others, the charities have been informed that their views will be reported in the review which is being carried out by the Customs and Excise following the invitation which my right hon. Friend extended to those charities which felt they would be seriously affected as a result of all the tax changes in the Budget, during the Report stage debate on the Finance Bill. —[Vol. 840, c. 1693–4.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding anomalies caused by the implementation of value added tax on aids and equipment for disabled people; if he will inquire into such anomalies for aids for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

The subject of value added tax and aids and equipment for the disabled was debated during the Committee and Report stages of the Finance Bill, and my right hon. Friend has received little correspondence subsequently. As was explained during the debate, such aids and equipment will in practice be relieved from value added tax on a very wide scale.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent motor insurance premiums will be increased by value added tax.

Changes in premiums are a matter for the individual insurers concerned. Any alteration due to the reform of indirect taxation will need to take into account not only the introduction of VAT but also the abolition of SET and Purchase Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants will be employed in collecting tax on fees paid out of legal aid and public funds and returned to the Exchequer as value added tax.

Information is not available on which to base an estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to avoid the unnecessary waste involved in collecting value added tax on fees paid out of the Exchequer in order to return them to the Exchequer.

I do not accept that any unnecessary work will be involved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how his proposal for a £2 wage increase freeze will operate in respect of groups of workers with current claims pending within the public sector.

The statement in the Press notice after the meeting on 26th September said that the Government expected all those concerned with pay and price determination not to take any action while the talks were going on which would risk prejudicing the prospects of the proposals being applied over the next 12 months. In the light of this, the parties to a number of negotiations in both the private and public sectors have thought it right to await the outcome of our further discussions before bringing their negotiations to a conclusion. But this has not precluded public sector employers from continuing negotiations in appropriate cases, and a number of settlements have in fact been made on the basis of offers made before 26th September.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to improve the advice given by his officials to a widow on the death of her husband.

Tax offices are always willing to help on such occasions, but we are considering whether there is any more that can be done.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the quantity of imported non-wool fabrics bought by the Government purchasing departments in each of the five years 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971; and what percentage of the total purchases of fabric this represented in each year.

The following are the figures:

Purchases of Imported Non-Wool Fabrics by Government Departments
	Purchases in	Percentage of
Year	Thousand Linear	Total Non-Wool
	Yards	Fabric Purchases
1967	7,344	20·1
1968	4,386	22·1
1969	2,895	14·6
1970	5,689	21·4
1971	6,288	17·9

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will detail in the OFFICIAL REPORT the exact conditions which are necessary to ensure that immigrants claiming tax reliefs for their dependants left overseas, including their illegitimate children, are actually maintaining the dependants and children; and whether the formal production of postal order and money order receipts sent to any named person overseas is deemed sufficient to make and sustain a claim.

Where maintenance is a factor in establishing title to tax relief for a dependent living abroad satisfactory evidence is required that remittances of a sufficient amount for that purpose have actually been made. Postal and money order counterfoils may form part of that evidence.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that an immigrant claiming and receiving tax allowance on five children in this country also claims and receives allowances for six illegitimate children domiciled in his country of origin and all the proof that is necessary to claim these allowances is a postal order or money order receipt; and whether, in view of the abuse which can operate, he will tighten the regulations for claiming such tax reliefs.

If the hon. Member will send me details of the case he has in mind, I will look into it. Procedures to prevent abuse in such cases are kept under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the cost to public funds of subsidies to the nationalised industries to compensate them for price restraint in the current financial year; and how this figure compares with that for the last financial year.

Following are shown details of assistance already announced. Further amounts for the current financial year are being discussed with several of the boards.

The financial assistance already announced takes account of factors other than price restraint:

(a) The Transport (Grants) Act, 1972, authorised the payment in 1972 of grants of £27 million to the British Railways Board and £7 million to the National Bus Company. Further assistance for the British Railways Board was announced by the Minister for Transport Industries on 27th July.

(b) As announced by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 6th March, £100 million was paid to the National Coal Board to keep its accumulated deficit at the end of 1971–72 below its statutory limit.

(c) Under the Iron and Steel Act, 1972, £200 million of public dividend capital was transferred to the reserve of the British Steel Corporation. As announced by the Ministry for Industry on 9th August, an additional £150 million of debt was transferred to the Corporation's reserve with effect from 15th September, 1972. This reserve is being used to write off the Corporation's accumulated deficit at 31st March, 1972, and any deficit it incurs in the current year will be written off against this reserve.—[Vol. 840, c. 2068–9; Vol. 832, c. 1032–3; Vol. 842, c. 467–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the total numbers of registered unemployed in the Birmingham travel-to-work area in July, August, September and October, 1972, respectively.

Including temporarily stopped workers, the total numbers registered as unemployed in the Birmingham travel-to-work area at July, August, September and October, 1972, were 27,314, 29,772, 30,166 and 27,506, respectively. The figure for October is provisional.As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 1st August the position in Birmingham had improved and I could see no reason why it should not go on improving.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of boys and girls registered as unemployed in the Birmingham travel-to-work area in July, August.

Following is the information:

TOTAL NUMBER OF BOYS AND GIRLS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN THE BIRMINGHAM TRAVEL-TO-WORK AREA IN EACH OF THE MONTHS JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 1972.
	July	August	September	October
Boys	957	2,266	2,017	1,412
Girls	446	1,107	929	690
Total	1,403	3,373	2,946	2,102

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to produce and publish a list of members of organisations engaged in revolutionary and subversive activities who hold office in trade unions and other like institutions.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of the National Association of Youth Clubs Community Industry Scheme.

A report on the working of the experimental Community Industry Scheme with recommendations as to its future has been submitted to my Department. This is being sympathetically considered and an announcement will be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has considered the report of the Working Party of the National Youth Employment Council; and if he will make a statement.

The working party was set up in February to investigate trends in employment opportunities below craft level for young people and is expected to report by mid-1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now offer the services of his Department in an attempt to end the three-week-old pay dispute in the Hawick knitwear industry involving over 4,000 employees.

I understand that a revised offer is being put to a meeting of the strikers this afternoon. In the circumstances the question of conciliation does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men, women, boys and girls, respectively, were registered at the Mexborough and Wombwell employment exchanges at the latest available date; and how these figures compare in percentages with the national averages.

At 9th October the provisional numbers registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Mexborough employment exchange were 1,268 men, 336 women, 118 boys and 129 girls. The corresponding figures for Wombwell were 456 men, 88 women, 27 boys and 26 girls. Rates of unemployment cannot be calculated separately for men, women, boys and girls or for parts of travel-to-work areas. The percentage rates of unemployment for the Mexborough and Goldthorpe travel-to-work area were 9·4 for males, 7·5 for females and 8·8 in total. The corresponding figures for the Barnsley, Hoyland, Royston and Wombwell travel-to-work area were 7·1, 2·6 and 5·7, respectively, and for Great Britain were 4·7, 1·6 and 3·6.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information has been supplied to him on the cost through loss of production of the sit-in in the Stockport/Manchester area and on the number of jobs which have been permanently lost as a direct consequence.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will encourage the development of industrial training in group training centres such as Tyne North Engineering Training Group.

My right hon. Friend intends to ensure that group training schemes are encouraged under the new arrangements for industrial training. Whether particular groups need to run their own training centres is a matter for them and industrial training boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider making it a requirement that industrial training boards shall publish reports of the training facilities available to women and girls and men and boys in cases which reveal evidence of discrimination between the sexes.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the total numbers of men and women, boys and girls unemployed in South Shields at the latest available date; and how many of each category have been unemployed for more than six months.

At 9th October there were 3,125 men—including 138 who were temporarily stopped—603 women, 190 boys and 198 girls. Of these, 1,163 men, 210 women, 26 boys and 32 girls had been registered for more than 26 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the extent to which the objectives of the Equal Pay Act will be affected by the Government's current proposals to contain inflation.

The Government remain committed to the achievement of full equal pay by 29th December, 1975, as required by the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has made to the Confederation of British Industry on its 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 Confederation of British Industry 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.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he proposes following the publication of the Robens Report and especially on industrial health and safety.

As proposed in his statement to the House on 19th July, my right hon. Friend has been consulting the TUC, the CBI and other interested organisations about the proposals in the Report of the Robens Committee on Safety and Health at Work, with a view to preparing legislation for the 1973–74 Session.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled persons were unemployed, and what was the percentage, in the Easington constituency at the latest available date.

On 11th October a total of 502 registered disabled people were unemployed in Easington constituency. This figure is 20·9 per cent. of the total number of registered disabled people in that area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number and percentage of unemployed, by sex, in the Easington constituency; and how these percentages compare with the national figures.

In the area covered by the Peterlee and Wingate employment exchanges, at 9th October the provisional numbers registered as unemployed were 2,018 males and 269 females and the percentage rates of unemployment were 11·6 for males and 3·4 for females. For Great Britain, the rates were 4·7 per cent. for males and 1·6 per cent. for females.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the minimum qualifications required of candidates for admission into the Factory Inspectorate, the current scale of salaries for factory inspectors, and the present strength of the inspectorate.

The minimum qualifications required for admission into the Factory Inspectorate are a university degree or an equivalent qualification; or a Higher National Certificate and at least three years' works or other relevant experience.The salary scale for the recruitment grade is £1,310 to £2,301 (national), but satisfactory recruits can normally expect promotion after three or four years to inspector 1B on the scale £2,347 to £3,415.The present strength of the inspectorate is 691.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage proportion of women manual workers' hourly earnings to men's at the most recent date for which figures are available.

In October, 1971, in all industries and services covered by the regular inquiry into earnings and hours of manual workers, average hourly earnings of women, aged 18 years and over, employed full-time were 61 per cent. of those for men, aged 21 years and over. This percentage does not, however, indicate the relationship between earnings of men and women for comparable work. It takes no account for example of marked differences in the relative numbers of men and women in the various occupations, levels of skill and industries covered by these inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will establish a Government training centre in Oldham.

It is planned to open a new Government training centre in the Oldham/Rochdale/Heywood area by 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cost to the container firms and the private unregistered ports in subsidies to the dock labour scheme as a result of the settlement of the dock strike.

There are no subsidies to the dock labour scheme by container firms and ports outside the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many fatal accidents and serious injuries were reported during the latest 12-month period for which figures are available; and how these compare with each of the previous five years.

The numbers of fatal accidents reported during the six years 1966 to 1971 are as follows:

	Factories Act	Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act
1966	701	29
1967	564	16
1968	625	39
1969	649	20
1970	556	32
1971	525	35

The number of acidents reported under the Factories Act which resulted in serious injury are estimated to have been:

1969	63,200
1970	57,000
1971	50,000

It is regretted that information for earlier years, and particulars of serious injuries reported under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the present levels of unemployment in the Dunfermline and Cowdenbeath employment exchange areas, respectively, expressed as a percentage for males and females.

Rates of unemployment can be calculated only for the whole of the Dunfermline, Cowdenbeath and Inverkeithing travel-to-work area. At 9th October, the provisional rates were 6·9 per cent. for males and 6·6 per cent. for females.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered disabled persons are employed in Government employment; and what were the numbers in 1970 and 1971.

The latest available figures relate to 1st October, 1971. At that date the total number of registered disabled people in Government employment was 18,766, or 2·8 per cent. of the total number of Government employees both non-industrial and industrial. At 1st October, 1970, comparable figures were 19,744 and 2·9 per cent., respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now seek to amend the 1958 and 1965 Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts to make the provisions of those Acts in relation to disabled persons binding on the Crown in the same way as they are on other employers.

No. Successive Governments have agreed that Government Departments should accept the same obligations towards disabled people as other employers. The percentage of registered disabled people in Government employment compares favourably with the average percentage of registered disabled people employed by all other undertakings having 20 or more employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current average percentage of registered disabled persons employed by all undertakings, other than Government, having 20 or more employees.

At 31st May the proportion of registered disabled people included in total staffs of all undertakings, other than Government, having 20 or more employees, was 2·1 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms in the Inner London area, borough by borough, at present satisfy their quota obligations under the Disablement Register Acts.

Following is the information:

	Number of Firms
Borough	Satisfying Quota
Camden	76
City of London	255
Greenwich	61
Hackney	249
Hammersmith	110
Islington	349
Lambeth	62

Lewisham	26
Southwark	205
Tower Hamlets	143
Wandsworth	137
Westminster	453

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are employed by Remploy, establishment by establishment; how many are classified Section 2 under the Act; and what were the figures during the past five years.

As it will take some time to obtain the information, I will write to the hon. Member when it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of wage-rates and incomes payable to Remploy staff, males and females, and a comparable list of similar rates in non-disabled establishments.

I regret that this information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total of wholly unemployed registered in the Hartlepool exchange area; how many have been out of work for more than six months; and how many vacancies were registered at the latest available date.

In the area covered by the Hartlepool and Hartlepool Headland employment exchanges, at 9th October the provisional number registered as unemployed, excluding temporarily stopped workers, was 3,412, of whom 1,577 had been registered for more than 26 weeks. The number of unfilled vacancies was 67. The vacancy figure relates only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and does not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of employees in Government employment; and what were the figures for 1970 and 1971.

I have been asked to reply.The number of civil servants in post on 1st July, 1972, was 689,050 as compared with 701,790 on 1st July, 1970, and 697,160 on 1st July, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now make a further statement on the State retirement pension.

The standard rate of retirement pension was increased by 12½ per cent. from the beginning of this month, representing a modest but real increase in spending power. For the future, the Government have promised to review pensions annually to ensure that they are kept at least in line with rising prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the real value of pensions compares with their value in March, 1970.

As measured by the General Index of Retail Prices up to September, 1972, the latest month for which figures are available, the purchasing powers of the present standard rate retirement pension for a single person is 68p higher than in March, 1970, and that for a married couple £1·06 higher. For the 1¼ million pensioners over age 80 the age addition makes corresponding figures 93p for the single person and £1·56 for a married couple.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the committee considering supplementary benefits to families of strikers will publish its report.

The Government's review is continuing, and the outcome will be announced at the appropriate time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now introduce legislation to ease the conditions in Section IV(2) of the National Insurance (Old Persons and Widows Pensions and Attendance Allowance) Act, 1970, in respect of attendance allowance.

The National Insurance Act, 1972, contains provision to extend the scope of the attendance allowance in four phases, by age groups, to provide a lower-rate allowance for about 250,000 severely disabled people who need help by day or at night. Claims from the first age group will be invited towards the end of next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he can report on the financial position of thalidomide children; and whether the families concerned are being adequately provided for from all sources to meet the needs of the children now and in the future.

So far as financial help is concerned, my responsibilities to these children and their families are met by the social security scheme, the benefits of which are available to them to the same extent as to others who are disabled.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that his Department is taking every possible step to ensure that thalidomide children receive full and adequate assistance; and if he will make a statement.

As far as I am aware, these children are receiving all the help from my Department for which their parents have applied, and to which their situation entitles them, whether by way of provision in cash or kind, but I will gladly look at any individual case which my hon. Friend may have in mind. These children are now, of course, of school age, and questions concerning their education are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what consideration he has given to the National Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital's recommendations to him on the question of costs to parents of visiting their children in hospital; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will introduce legislation, as suggested to him by the National Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital, to entitle the parents of children in hospital to financial assistance with their weekly travelling costs to and from the hospital where such costs exceed the scale of allowances for dependent children laid down by the Supplementary Benefits Commission; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of this useful report, and have considered it. There are existing arrangements for giving help in cases of hardship, and in my view I would not be justified in seeking to extend them in the way proposed.Voluntary help can sometimes be given, particularly by providing transport for visitors; I am at present consulting a number of organisations on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to improve the advice given by his Department to a widow on the death of her husband.

I am always prepared to consider suggestions for improving the leaflet which my Department uses for giving general advice to a widow. Advice on an individual case is usually given in an interview or letter and I am satisfied that, with few exceptions, such advice is full, courteous and prompt.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the estimated cost of increasing the amount from £1 to £2 of other incomes which are disregarded when calculating supplementary benefits paid to people over pension age.

In the region of £4 million to £5 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total amount paid by persons using the pharmaceutical services in the year 1970–71; and what is his estimate of the amount he expects to receive for 1971–72.

In England, about £15 million and about £22 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of illegitimate births in England and Wales in 1971; what percentage this represents of the total birth rate; and how the figures for Norwich compare with the national ones.

The number of illegitimate births in England and Wales in 1971 was 65,678. This figures represented 8·4 per cent. of total live births in that year. The corresponding figures for Norwich were 178 and 10·1 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has had from the Family Planning Association regarding the problems occasioned by the delay in announcing the results of the review of the national family planning services; and if he is now in a position to make a statement.

I have received no representations from the Family Planning Association. I realise however that it and the other bodies concerned will find it easier to plan their own future policies when I have made a statement on Government policy, which I hope to do before long.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision of new accommodation has been made for patients as a result of the recent fire at the Murray House section of Botley Park Hospital.

While heating and domestic water systems are being repaired, one ward of 21 patients has been temporarily transferred to Ottershaw Hospital. Murray House is due to close in 1976, when new accommodation becomes available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will hold an urgent inquiry into the recent fire at the Murray House section of Botley Park Hospital.

The hospital management committee, in conjunction with the local fire authority, is inquiring urgently into the circumstances of the fire, and will be reporting its findings to the regional hospital board and for my further consideration as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the average cost of funerals; and whether he will now increase the present funeral benefit to help meet the increasing charges.

Figures showing the average cost of funerals are not available, but each year the National Association of Funeral Directors agrees a maximum charge for funerals at minimum standards. The current figure is £69·75. We have no immediate proposals for increasing the amount of the death grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware of the report on the Sydney Hospital, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will consider a similar report for selected hospitals in England and Wales.

I am aware of the work undertaken by management consultants in Sydney Hospital and other Australian hospitals. The firm concerned has had extensive discussions with Ministers and officers of my department.Over a number of years we have gradually improved the management of our own hospitals. Hon. Members will be familiar, in particular, with the report of the Joint Working Party on the Organisation of Medical Work in Hospitals ("Cogwheel") and the Salmon Committee on Nursing Organisation which points the way to further improvements which are now being made.My Department is preparing further proposals which will build upon previous successful policy and experience and also take into account work such as that completed in the Sydney Hospital and in the hospitals of other countries with which we maintain close liaison.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek powers to enable him to ensure that agricultural land is not allowed to become derelict with the object of facilitating planning permission for nonagricultural development.

This would not in my view be justified. Complaints about this practice are rare, and relate to an insignificant amount of land.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he had discussions with the Confedera- tion of British Industry and the Scottish Whisky Association on the consequences of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community and with what results; whether the Scottish Whisky Association expressed itself satisfied with these discussions; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster held discussions with the Scotch Whisky Association in January, May and July of this year. These meetings helped to clarify the industry's problems and to suggest ways of solving them. The Chancellor was able to assure the association that the Government would firmly oppose EEC proposals which might damage the industry, and were supporting positive measures to safeguard its competitive position.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the minimum qualifications required of candidates for admission into the Agriculture Safety Inspectorate, the current salary scale for inspectors, and the present numbers.

Recruits to the Ministry's corps of field officers, who undertake the main field work of agricultural safety inspections, must have a good background knowledge of agriculture, including experience of farm and country life, and two "A" levels or a diploma or technological certificate in agriculture. Recruits must successfully complete specialist training courses in safety, and are given practical tuition in the field by experienced officers. The senior officers in the safety inspectorate are members of the Institution of Agricultural Engineering.Following are the salary scales and numbers in each grade:

	Annual	Numbers
	Salary	at
	Scales	1.10.72
Chief Safety Inspector	£4,922–£5,564	1
Deputy Chief Safety Inspector	£3,478–£4,708	2
Regional Safety Inspector	£2,969–£3,638	10
Divisional Safety Inspector	£2,301–£2,809	30(a)
Field Officer (Grade II)	£l,355–£2,150	364
(a) One post vacant.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on references by European Governments to the European Economic Community Commission on aspects of the British economy.

It is perfectly natural that members of the Community should seek to inform themselves about the policies of other members.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the light of the changed circumstances resulting from Norway's decision not to enter the Common Market, and the effect this will have on Denmark's entry, he will make a statement on the position regarding Great Britain's entry.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) on 23rd October.—[Vol. 843, c. 783.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government received from the Eire Government concerning the proposed referendum on the international frontier between the United Kingdom and Eire; what was the nature of the representations; and what was the reply from Her Majesty's Government.

No formal representations have been received from the Government of the Irish Republic on this subject, but both I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland have of course been made aware of their reservations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give his latest estimate of how many of the 80,000 Asians in Uganda are able to claim British citizenship, or are United Kingdom passport holders able to claim entry into Great Britain if expelled from their country of residence; and how many of such claimants there are in other stated Commonwealth countries.

The latest estimate of Asians in Uganda at the date of the expulsion order who are nationals of the United Kingdom or are dependants of such nationals is 34,000. About 4,000 are exempt from expulsion. Between 7,000 and 10,000 may go or have gone first to India, Pakistan, Canada or other countries. 16,250 have now arrived in the United Kingdom.We have obtained the following estimates which can only be very approximate, of the number of United Kingdom nationals in Commonwealth countries with no other known nationality:

Kenya	50,000
Tanzania	20,000
Zambia	6,000
Malawi	13,000
India	25,000
Pakistan	1,000
Malaysia/Singapore	140,000

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will arrange for a suitable ceremony to mark the 600th anniversary of the pact between Great Britain and Portugal and to emphasise the friendship between the two nations.

Both the Government and a number of non-official bodies having links with Portugal are preparing to mark this historic occasion in an appropriate manner.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will take steps to initiate concerted European action against applicant countries for membership of the European Economic Community, whose citizens are guilty of acts of terrorism against neighbouring countries and in particular citizens of the Republic of Eire.

We are already in consultation with our friends in Europe on how we can co-operate most effectively in combating terrorism generally, and I do not believe that any further action on the lines suggested would be helpful. I nevertheless have every sympathy with my hon. Friend's concern about acts of terrorism mounted from within the Irish Republic, which is the subject of frequent bilateral exchanges between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Irish Republic.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has agreed to any further extension of the territorial scope of the Commonwealth Development Corporation's activities.

Approval has been given for the corporation to undertake activities in Tunisia in order to make possible an investment in an hotel project. The scale and content of any further investment the corporation may want to make in Tunisia would be subject to consultation with my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, during his forthcoming summit conference with representatives of the European Economic Community, he will suggest that each of the countries of the enlarged Nine should take an equal number of the evicted Ugandan Asians.

We have of course been in touch with our European friends over this problem. Several member countries of the Community have already agreed to take numbers of expelled Asians either for permanent settlement or in transit.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about future development aid for Swaziland.

Discussions with representatives of the Swaziland Government were held in London from 9th to 13th October about the British contribution to the development of Swaziland during the coming three years 1973–74 to 1975–76.At the end of these talks, an offer of continuing British aid was made to the Swaziland Government, and this offer has now been accepted. Subject to the annual provision of funds by Parliament, the British Government will provide capital aid up to £6·85 million over the three years 1973–74 to 1975–76 to be used for general development purposes including schemes of land purchase and development. Funds for land purchase and development will be made available up to an agreed amount by grant, and the general development loan will be free of interest, repayable over 25 years with a seven-year grace period on repayments of capital.The full range of technical assistance services, including training, will also be available. The Overseas Service Aid Scheme will apply to Swaziland and individual experts and advisory services will be provided, and necessary consultancies financed, as agreed between the two Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is now able to propose amendments to company law which will afford greater protection to employees when companies decide to go into liquidation.

Preferential payments to employees in a liquidation will be considered in the course of the review we are making of company law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the aproximate value of property for diplomats and other British personnel owned by Great Britain in countries overseas.

Any such valuation must necessarily be very imprecise, but on the basis of the valuation exercise which my Department has conducted since 1968 the aproximate value of the owned diplomatic estate overseas is £70 million. The approximate value of other property owned by Her Majesty's Government overseas is £60 million, of which about £57 million is in respect of Ministry of Defence property.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware that his policies produced excessive profits for many individuals in the past year as the direct result of the increase in house prices alone; and if he will reconsider these policies, and make a statement.

The Government's policies have created conditions in which a steadily growing number of people have been able to become owner occupiers. The present main need is further to increase the supply of new housing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now consider making it a requirement that members of local authorities and public boards under his control should declare their interests in a register for that purpose.

No. So far as Members of local authorities are concerned, the subject of their pecuniary interests is covered by detailed provisions in existing legislation and in the Local Government Bill, which is still before Parliament.Public boards within my responsibility cover a wide range of functions and are constituted in many different ways. No single rule as to the declaration of interests applies to all of them, and it is doubtful whether such a provision would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation providing for a system of allowances for members of local authorities to compensate them for expenses incurred in the course of their duties on behalf of those whom they represent.

Such a system already exists under the Local Government Act, 1948, and provision for an improved system is contained in the Local Government Bill now before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now authorise the construction of the Loddon bypass.

This scheme is being given active consideration. I shall be writing shortly to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of new sites under the Caravan Sites Act 1968, provided since 1st April, 1970, or now proposed, in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Since 1st April, 1970, Leeds County Borough Council has provided a new gipsy site at Cottingley Springs, Leeds.New sites are proposed by:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the routes operated by British Rail in Cornwall that are in receipt of grant aid, the financial amount payable for each route and the terminal date when the current subsidy ceases.

Grants are being made as follows in 1972:

Service	£000
Plymouth-Liskeard-Penzance	357
Plymouth-Gunnislake	122
St. Erth-St. Ives	44
Liskeard-Looe	60
Truro-Falmouth	112
Bodmin Road-Newquay	173

Further payments will be made in 1973, when the question of renewing the grants will be considered in good time before they are due to expire (31st December).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount of grant paid under Section 39(1) of the Transport Act, 1968. for Welsh railway services in 1971.

Approximately £5·1 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give an assurance that he will not consider approving the closure of the Cardiff/Merthyr passenger services and other South Wales Valley passenger services.

No such proposal has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, if he will take action to encourage the provision of pavements with dropped kerbs to improve the mobility and safety of disabled people in wheelchairs or using walking aids; and if he will make a statement.

At the request of the Secretary of State for Social Services, Baroness Sharp is at present conducting an inquiry into the mobility requirements of severely disabled people, and is investigating the need for increased provision of dropped kerbs. My Department already recommends that where footpaths are much used by perambulators or wheelchairs, kerb heights should be reduced at suitable crossing points but there are some disadvantages, as ramped kerbs and sloping footways can be dangerous. The decision to put in such a facility must be one for the local authority in the light of local circumstances, but my Department will consider what further guidance should be issued in the light of the recommendations of Baroness Sharp's inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what considerations led to his choosing eleven men and one woman to serve on the Advisory Committee of Pop Festivals; and on what basis each appointment was made.

The members were selected so that the committee would reflect a broad range of interests and specialised knowledge. Each member was appointed for an initial period of two years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what instructions, directives or guidance have been given to the Alkali Inspectorate by the appropriate Minister under Section 10(1) of the Alkali Act or otherwise on the interpretation of the phrase, best practicable means; if he will arrange for the publication of such instructions by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, for a copy to be also placed in the Library of the House of Commons and for such instructions to be published when made in the future.

None. The Chief Alkali and Clean Air Inspector instructs the Inspectorate in the light of Section 27 of the Act and of legal advice. It is not customary to publish instructions issued to civil servants by their Departments. Moreover, these instructions represent guidance only and their publication could be misleading, suggesting as it would that they were of binding force.