Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday 5th December 1972

Employment

Training

16.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of people who have attended Government training centres in Scotland in the years 1970 to 1972; how many in the respective years have found employment; what are the job prospects; and if he will make a statement.

Between January, 1970 and 30th September, 1972, 4,448 trainees completed courses at Government training centres in Scotland. During this period 3,181 trainees were placed in their training trade. Employment prospects vary according to trade and locality, but 63 per cent. of trainees in Scotland are currently being placed in their trade.

25.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many additional places in Government training centres he expects to become available during the next 12 months.

About 4,000 additional places in Government training centres are planned during the next 12 months.

41.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment for which trades long waiting lists exist at Government training centres, and what proposals he has for increasing capacity for training in those trades.

Waiting lists vary by region and by trade. In many regions waiting periods are six months or over for places in the most popular trades, including bricklaying, electric welding, radio, television and electronics servicing and the motor vehicle trades. Urgent steps are being taken to provide additional places, and during the next 12 months about 4,000 new places are planned most of which will be in these trades.

43.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in recruiting instructors for the Government's expanded industrial training programme.

The expansion programme announced on 1st February created a need for 500 additional instructors; since that date 420 have been appointed.

54.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment to what extent his new legislation on industrial training will meet the recommendations of the Bolton Committee on small firms.

The present legislation permits exemption from levy, but my right hon. Friend is considering whether further statutory provision is desirable. As recommended by the Bolton Committee, my Department has invited industrial training boards to submit proposals to exclude more small firms from payment of levy.

68.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what response there has been from employers with spare training capacity to the Government's proposals for using such capacity to increase training at public expense.

Employers' response to my Department's initiative has been encouraging. Courses are now in operation in 280 firms which are providing 2,500 training places.

Industrial Relations Act

17.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will introduce legislation to extend the scope of the Industrial Relations Act to cover solicitors and the legal profession.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in his consultations with interested parties about the operation of the Industrial Relations Act, particularly concerning conditions for registration for trade unions.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given earlier today to the hon. Members for Putney (Mr. Hugh Jenkins) and Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).

Redundancies

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action is proposed by Her Majesty's Government following the recent proposals of the European Commission about an improved redundancy early warning system and related matters.

The Government have informed the Council of Ministers of difficulties to which they believe the Commission's proposals, which have not been approved by the council, would give rise, and requested that any proposal should take full account of United Kingdom practice. The commission's proposals will be examined by the Economic and Social Committee and by the European Parliament, and meanwhile no further action within the council is called for.

32.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of redundancies in Scotland reported to his Department since July 1970 to the latest convenient date.

Redundancies recorded by my Department as due to occur in Scotland during the period 1st July, 1970 to 30th November, 1972, in-involved 84,600 workpeople.

50.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies have been reported in Scotland in each of the months May, June, July, August, September and October 1972.

Following is the table:—

REDUNDANCIES NOTIFIED AS DUE TO OCCUR IN SCOTLAND FROM MAY 1972 TO OCTOBER, 1972
Month	Numbers becoming redundant
May	2,300
June	1,700
July	3,000
August	1,000
September	1,600
	(provisional)
October	1,600
	(provisional)

59.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been made redundant in Carmarthenshire since June 1970; how many factories have been involved; and how many new jobs have been created.

Our records show that in the period 1st July 1970 to 30th November 1972 redundancies involving 2,410 people at 36 establishments were notified to my Department as due to occur in the areas covered by the Ammanford, Burry Port, Carmarthen, Garnant, Kidwelly, Llandeilo, Llandovery, Llanelli and Tumble local offices of the Department.Figures for jobs created are not available as it is not possible to estimate the number of jobs that have arisen in existing industrial buildings and in the service sector. However, applicants for industrial development certificates that were approved for the nine local office areas set out above from 1st July 1970 to 30th June 1972 estimated that 330 jobs would arise when the projects were complete and fully manned.

77.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been made redundant in Wales and the United Kingdom since June 1970; and how many new manufacturing jobs have been created.

Figures for the United Kingdom are not available. However, our records show that 29,800 people were recorded as due to become redundant in Wales between 1st July 1970 and 31st October 1972, and 610,000 in Great Britain.Figures for jobs created are not available as it is not possible to estimate the number of jobs which have arisen in existing industrial buildings and in the Service Sector. However, applicants for industrial development certificates that were approved from 1st July 1970 to 30th June 1972 for Wales and Great Britain, estimated that respectively 15,990 and 207,280 jobs would arise when the projects were complete and fully manned.

Departmental Work (Relocation)

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken to relocate headquarters work of his Department in development areas.

729 jobs, amounting to just over 20 per cent. of the headquarters work of my Department, have been located in a development area.

Job Advertisements

24.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that job advertisements accurately describe jobs offered.

No. It would add to theadministrative cost of carrying out manpower policies without materially improving labour market mechanisms.

Occupational Classification

26.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the new Classification of Occupations and Directory of Occupational Titles published by his Department is intended to facilitate harmonisation of job classification with other European Economic Community countries.

No. This is not the prime aim of CODOT but it will help substantially in facilitating harmonisation of job classification with EEC countries.

Manpower Services Commission

27.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will establish a national training agency.

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will open consultations with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress concerning the establishment of a manpower commission.

My right hon. Friend announced on 22nd November that he proposed to set up a Manpower Services Commission and that the TUC and CBI agree with this proposal. The commission would take over responsibility for the Employment Service Agency we have set up in my Department, and for the Training Services Agency we are setting up now.

Vacancies

28.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many unfilled vacancies are currently notified to his Department; and how these compare with the position at the same time last year.

The figures for Great Britain for November 1972 and November 1971 were 220,141 and 148,856, respectively. They relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour. The figure for November 1972 is provisional.

Industrial Relations (Award)

29.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will recommend the introduction of a new Queen's award to recognise good industrial relations.

I sympathise with my hon. Friend's objective, but I am not convinced that this would be a practicable way of improving industrial relations.

Professional And Executive Register

31.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to improve the executive and technical register.

The professional and executive register service is being re-styled on the lines of the development plan set out in the publication "People and Jobs" issued a year ago. Its implementation is now well-advanced, and the new service will be fully operational on 1st March next.

38.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many males over the age of 50 years are registered as unemployed; and of these how many are on the professional and technical register.

At 10th July, the latest date for which information is available, the number of men aged 50 years and over registered as unemployed in Great Britain was 217,788.

At 8th March, the latest date for which similar information in respect of the Professional and Executive Register is available, there were 6,951 unemployed men aged 50 and over on the register.

Young Persons

33.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest convenient figures for youth unemployment.

On 13th November, 1972 there were 52,225 young people registered as unemployed in Great Britain.

39.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current number of people aged under 18 years of age unemployed in the Birmingham travel-to-work area.

1,422 young people under 18 years of age were registered as unemployed in the Birmingham travel-to-work area on 13th November, 1972.

63.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has studied the most recent report of the Institute of Career Officers, a copy of which is in his possession; and what action he proposes.

The institute's report about unemployed young people contained a number of recommendations about measures to alleviate the unem-

MALE UNEMPLOYMENT PERCENTAGE RATES FOR EACH REGION EXPRESSED CORRESPONDING RATES FOR GREAT BRITAIN^*
			November, 1968	November, 1969	November, 1970	November, 1971	November, 1972 (provisional)
South East	…	…	71	69	63	62	60
East Anglia	…	…	77	81	86	88	73
South West	…	…	106	119	109	100	96
West Midlands	…	…	77	72	74	94	89
East Midlands	…	…	84	84	83	84	80
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	…	113	113	111	116	109
North West	…	…	106	109	111	124	136
North	…	…	206	194	171	166	169
Wales	…	…	155	156	137	126	131
Scotland	…	…	148	150	166	166	169
Great Britain	…	…	100	100	100	100	100
^* The calculations are based on unemployment figures which do not include temporarily stopped workers.

57.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he had with the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British

ployment problem. These have been noted and are currently being considered by officials of my Department concerned with the employment and training of young people.

Unemployment Statistics

34.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of persons registered as unemployed, and those estimated to be unemployed but not registered, in Newcastle-under-Lyme and England and Wales, respectively.

On 13th November 1972 the provisional counts of the unemployed in the area covered by the Newcastle-under-Lyme employment exchange and in the whole of England and Wales were 1,179 and 643,633 respectively. I have no comparable figure for numbers seeking work but not registered. Information from the Census of Population about people out of employment relates to local authority areas, not to employment exchange areas, and it includes those who were sick.

35.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the male unemployment rate in each region as a percentage of the national rate for each of the last five years.

Following is the information:Industry before accepting the findings of the Interdepartmental Working Party on Unemployment Statistics.

74.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he had with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress before accepting the report of the working party on unemployment statistics.

The report was made by a working party of officials from the Government Departments most concerned with the aspects of unemployment. It is not normal practice for this sort of inquiry to include formal consultation with outside bodies and the Government did not consider that such consultation was necessary before publishing the report.

58.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the number of persons who were on strike and included in the unemployment figures as temporarily unemployed at the latest date.

The figures of the temporarily stopped do not include

REGISTERED UNEMPLOYED AND TEMPORARILY STOPPED PERSONS NOT RECEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT 1ST MAY, 1972
	In receipt of Supplementary Benefit	Getting no Benefit
Total	255,051	160,571
Reason for non-receipt of UB—
Unemployment Benefit exhausted	148,361	47,319
Unemployment Benefit not yet decided	15,116	48,633
Married women (other than those in the two groups above)	—	13,626
Other reasons	91,574	50,993
of which:
Waiting days not completed	700^*	6,200^*
Left last job voluntarily	9,300^*	5,900^*
Lost job through "industrial misconduct"	2,600^*	3,100^*
Contribution deficiency	68,900^*	21,300^*
In receipt of payment in lieu of wages	2,000^*	1,200^*
Miscellaneous other reasons	8,100^*	13,400^*
^* Estimates based upon a sample of cases which may be subject to error.

65.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the unemployment figures produced by his Department for Scotland give an accurate description of the employment situation; and if he will make a statement.

The White Paper on Unemployment Statistics (Cmnd. 5157) published on 20th November and accepted by the Government makes it clear that the figures now presented by my Department are the best available monthly indicator of changes in unemployment, both in Scotland and elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

workers who were themselves on strike, but could include those suspended from work as a consequence of strikes.

60.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will further analyse the 91,574 persons described as others in receipt of supplementary benefit only in Annex C of the Report of an inter-departmental working party on unemployment statistics, Command Paper No. 5157, since these others form a substantial proportion of the whole category;(2) if he will further analyse the 50,993 persons described as others in the category Getting No Benefit in Annex C of the Report of an Inter-Departmental Working Party on Unemployment Statistics, Command Paper No. 5157, since these others form a substantial proportion of the whole category.

Following is a fuller analysis:

70.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now give the results of the examination into the unemployment figures referred to by the Prime Minister in answer to the hon. Member for Bolton, West on 24th October, 1972.

The results of the examination referred to were published as a White Paper (Cmnd. 5157) on 20th November, 1972. The Working Party on Unemployment Statistics was satisfied that the present unemployment statistics are the best available indicator of monthly changes in unemployment at national and local levels.

75.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the preliminary findings of the 1971 Census in so far as they relate to the level of unemployment.

The provisional Census estimate of economically active persons out of employment in April, 1971, was about 1,366,000. As stated in the foreword to the Census volume this may be an over-estimate, particularly for females.The Census figure measures that group of people who described themselves as either seeking work or waiting to take up a job, including those who are sick. This is a wider and necessarily more numerous group than that registered at my Department's offices and included in the monthly count.Included in the Census figure but not registered with my Department are (1) people who were sick and not available for work (2) people waiting to take up a job who may have been unemployed for a short period and so did not trouble to register and (3) others, including many married women who were not seeking work very actively, and may be regarded as only marginally attached to the labour force or as choosing their moment to enter it.Until the Census material is available in full the number in the first of these groups will not be known accurately. The numbers in the other groups will not be ascertainable.The Census estimates are fully discussed in the recent White Paper on Unemployment Statistics (Cmnd. 5157).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the report of the interdepartmental working party on unemployment statistics.

The report of the Working Party on Unemployment Statistics was published as a White Paper (Cmnd. 5157) on 20th November. I have nothing to add to the statements I made on that date and on 22nd November in reply to a Private Notice Question.

Picketing

36.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will initiate discussions with the Trades Union Congress towards the establishment of a code of picketing practice.

I will keep my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind. Ideas to achieve the same sort of result have been put forward by other sources. I am prepared to pursue all these at the appropriate time.

55.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has yet completed his review of the law of picketing.

I have nothing to add at this stage to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 7th November.—[Vol. 845, c. 801.]

Conciliation Service

37.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications have been made to the conciliation services of his Department by trade unions so far this year; and what was the number for the same period of 1971 and 1970.

By the end of October there had been 582 requests for conciliation by trade unions. The number of requests for the same periods in 1971 and 1970 were 446 and 388 respectively.

Leicester

40.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons were registered as unemployed in the city of Leicester at the latest count; and how many persons were unemployed at the same dates in 1969 and 1970.

In the area covered by the Leicester employment exchange the numbers registered as unemployed at November, 1969, November, 1970 and November, 1972 were 2,225, 2,531 and 4,854 respectively The figure for November, 1972 is provisional. These figures exclude temporarily stopped workers.

Trade Unions (Membership Rights)

42.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many complaints involving infringement of rights to join and take part in trade union activities had been made to his Department at the latest date; and how many were settled or withdrawn.

In the nine months from 28th February to 24th November conciliation officers of my Department received 339 complaints concerning infringement of rights under Section 5 of the Industrial Relations Act, either from the industrial tribunals or by direct application. 68 of these were still being dealt with by conciliation officers at the end of the period. Of the remainder, 15 were settled, 73 were withdrawn and 115 were dealt with. or are still being dealt with, by the tribunals.

Teenage Unemployment (Community Industry Scheme)

44.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further measures he intends to take to alleviate teenage unemployment.

The employment situation for young people is beginning to improve as a result of the various measures already taken. My right hon. Friend is considering a possible expansion of the Community Industry Scheme and he is keeping a close watch on the position, particularly in the assisted areas to determine if any further action needs to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now make a statement about future Government assistance to the Community Industry Scheme.

I have as yet nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) on 7th November.—[Vol. 845, c. 795–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he hopes to complete the study of the report for 1st January—31st August sent to him by the organisers of Community Industry, the experimental project set up to combat the problem of teenage unemployment, who have requested a renewed Government grant of £20 million to guarantee the project's continuation until the end of March 1976; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend hopes to complete his study of the report on Community Industry shortly and a statement will be made as soon as possible. The scheme has meanwhile been extended to 31st March 1973 to allow Community Industry to use the whole of its original grant.

Unfair Dismissal

46.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many complaints involving unfair dismissal had been made to his Department at the latest date; and how many were settled or withdrawn.

66.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the total number of cases of unfair dismissal heard by the National Industrial Relations Court or subsidiary courts.

In the nine months from 28th February to 24th November, conciliation officers of my Department received 6,541 complaints alleging unfair dismissal. They dealt with 5,356 of these cases. 1,026 were settled, and 1,817 withdrawn.During the same period 18 appeals against the decisions of industrial tribunals in unfair dismissal cases were heard by the National Industrial Relations Court. Between 28th February and 29th September—the latest period for which figures are available—938 cases of alleged unfair dismissal were heard and determined by industrial tribunals.

Self-Service Job Centres

47.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made with the provision of self-service job centres; and what results have been achieved by those already in operation.

Self-service facilities are now available at 38 employment offices throughout the country and further schemes are under preparation. The facilities have resulted in increased use of the offices by both employers and those seeking employment. As indicated in "People and Jobs" they will in the future be provided in all new offices as a matter of course.

Greater London

48.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to announce his proposals for improving job opportunities in the greater London area.

The measures we announced during the spring were designed to improve employment opportunities in all areas, including greater London. Recent trends in unemployment and notified unfilled vacancies indicate that these measures are taking effect.

Monmouthshire

49.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present level of unemployment in Monmouthshire.

At 13th November the provisional rate was 4·8 per cent. The unemployment figures used in the calculation exclude the temporarily stopped.

Easington

51.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for reducing unemployment in the Easington constituency.

As a special development area Easington is well placed to benefit from the extensive measures we have introduced to encourage industrial and economic expansion. While I recognise the additional problems created by the closure at Shotton colliery, the underlying levels of unemployment in the area have reflected the recent favourable national trends.

Unemployed Persons

52.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the percentage reduction in male wholly unemployed in the South-East, Midlands and Scotland, between November and the date on which the new regional policies were introduced.

Taking 13th March, 1972, as the unemployment count date approximating to the introduction of the policies mentioned, the provisional fall between then and November in the numbers of males registered as unemployed in the South East, the Midlands and Scotland has been 20·7, 24·1 and 15·9 per cent. respectively.

64.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what decline in unemployment has occurred in West Scotland, the North-East and South Wales, during the eight months from April to November, 1972.

During this period unemployment fell in West Scotland by 10,769, in the North East by 11,573 and in South Wales by 8,115. The figures are provisional and exclude the temporarily stopped.

76.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the number of persons temporarily unemployed at the latest date.

At 13th November the provisional number was 11,336.

Lump System

61.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will introduce legislation to protect self-employed contractors working in the building industry under the lump system by providing that they shall be deemed to be employees of the main contractor for the purposes of negligence and breach of statutory duty.

The matter is being considered in connection with the Robens Report, which recommended that the scope of the legislation should extend to the self-employed in circumstances where their acts or omissions could endanger other workers—employed or selfemployed—or the general public.

Retail Price Indices (Pensioners)

62.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the retail price indices for one person and two person pensioner households is broken down by standard regions or local authority areas in England and Wales; and if he will list the variations between these regions or local authorities for the last quarter for which figures are available.

The indices for pensioner households are not broken down by standard regions or local authority areas.

Ship Repairing

67.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many ship-repair workers were registered as unemployed at the last convenient date.

Information is available only for shipbuilding and ship repairing. At 13th November, the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in Great Britain who last worked in this industry was 9,298. The figure does not include workers who were temporarily stopped.

Secondary Boycott

71.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases of secondary boycott have been referred to the Industrial Relations Court as unfair industrial practices.

Ten cases involving secondary boycott action have been dealt with by the court to date.

Retail Prices

79.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the increase in the retail price index during October 1972, 3971, 1970, 1969 and 1968, respectively.

The percentage increases in the General Index of Retail Prices between mid-September and mid-October in the years 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969 and 1968 were 1·4, 0·6, 1·1, 0·8 and 0·5, respectively.

Scotland

72.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of people working or available for work in Scotland to the nearest available date in 1972; and how this figure compares with the figure at the same date in each of the last five years.

At March, 1972, the latest date for which information is available, the provisionally estimated number of employees, employed and unemployed, in Scotland was 2,184,000.The figures for earlier dates are as follows:

Estimated numbers of employees, employed and unemployed, in Scotland
	(Thousands)
March, 1967	2,192
March, 1968	2,176
March, 1969	2,169
June, 1969 (a)	2,162
June, 1969 (b)	2,169
March, 1970	2,173
March, 1971	2,156

The figures for June 1969 (

b) and later dates include improved information about the location of employees in the distributive trades and are not strictly comparable with those for June 1969 ( a) and earlier dates.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest estimate of the total number of wholly unemployed males in the employment exchange areas of Edinburgh, Leith and Portobello.

At 13th November the provisional number was 7,252.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest estimate of the number of wholly unemployed males in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area.

At 13th November the provisional number was 9,338.

Scotland (Official Visits)

73.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many official visits he will pay to Scotland between now and the end of the year.

I have no plans at present to make any official visits to Scotland by the end of the year.

"Training For The Future"

80.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has now completed his reconsideration of the proposals contained in the document "Training for the Future" to phase out the levy/grant system.

After full consultations, my right hon. Friend announced his decision on this matter of 8th August. Boards will continue to be able to raise a levy, but subject to a maximum of 1 per cent. of payroll and to exemption for smaller firms and for firms which meet their own training needs adequately.

Thalidomide Children

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, in view of the need for thalidomide children to be assessed early regarding their employment prospects, if he is satisfied with the liaison which has taken place between his Department and all thalidomide children regarding their employment prospects; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The youth employment service, for which my Department has overall responsibility, is charged with providing advice and guidance to all young people. Careers officers are involved at all stages of secondary education, and it is the policy of my Department to stress the importance, especially in the case of handicapped young people, of adequate vocational guidance at an early stage and of early consultation between school authorities and careers officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will establish a small special department to make advanced preparation for the employment of thalidomide children.

No, I do not think this is required. As with other substantially handicapped young people, the youth employment service, for which the Department of Employment has overall responsibility, will offer advice and vocational guidance to thalidomide children, and the full range of my Department's services for the disabled, including training, will be available to them when they leave school and enter the employment field.

Multi-National Companies

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take special measures to safeguard workers against unemployment when decisions are made by multi-national companies to close United Kingdom plants.

No. I see no need to discriminate either in favour of such workers as against others who may become redundant, or against foreign-owned firms giving employment in the United Kingdom.

Industrial Safety

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many fatal accidents have taken place in industry in each year since 1952 to the latest convenient date.

The numbers of fatal accidents notified from factories were:

1952	471
1953	454
1954	454
1955	428
1956	426
1957	414
1958	368
1959	350
1960	354
1961	368
1962	351
1963	332
1964	344
1965	358
1966	372
1967	342
1968	359
1969	357
1970	325
1971	299

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many fatal accidents occurred in the building and construction industries in each year since 1952 to the latest most convenient date.

The numbers of fatal accidents notified from construction sites Were:

1952	261
1953	239
1954	214
1955	223
1956	224
1957	187
1958	258
1959	217
1960	277
1961	264
1962	281
1963	242
1964	271
1965	230
1966	288
1967	197
1968	238
1969	265
1970	203
1971	196

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspections have taken place in industry in each year since 1952 to the nearest convenient date.

The information is as follows:

1952	225,966
1953	235,031
1954	220,309
1955	227,039
1956	218,886
1957	213,559
1958	213,726
1959	201,559
1960	195,233
1961	189,327
1962	171,073
1963	172,671
1964	172,230
1965	167,817
1966	171,759
1967	172,296
1968	172,327
1969	182,517
1970	208,404
1971	208,773

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many inspections were made by the Factory Inspectorate on building and construction sites in each year since 1952 to the most convenient date.

I regret that the figures are not available for the period Before 1955. The figures for 1955–71 are as follows:

1955	37,401
1956	29,896
1957	31,692
1958	31,992
1959	34,499
1960	40,297
1961	40 524
1962	30,149
1963	29,690
1964	32,743
1965	32,324
1966	35,190
1967	28,944
1968	38,223
1969	44 980
1970	54,517
1971	60,433

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of inspectors employed in the Factory Inspectorate for each year since 1952 to the nearest convenient date.

The information requested is as follows:

Year	Number of Factory Inspectors
1952	340
1953	360
1954	363
1955	362
1956	364
1957	375
1958	393
1959	406
1960	409
1961	415
1962	426
1963	446
1964	466
1965	474
1966	496
1967	492
1968	519
1969	576
1970	618
1971	700
1972	724

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the average fines imposed in consequence of prosecutions initiated by the Factory Inspectorate for each year since 1952 to the nearest convenient date.

The information is as follows:

	£
1952	9
1953	7
1954	9
1955	9
1956	10
1957	11
1958	12
1959	10
1960	18
1961	20
1962	24
1963	21
1964	21
1965	25
1966	29
1967	33
1968	31
1969	34
1970	37
1971	41

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the average fines imposed against employers in the building and construction industries in consequence of prosecutions initiated by the Factory Inspectorate for each year since 1952 to the nearest convenient date.

The figures for 1967–71 are as follows:

	£
1967	41
1968	35
1969	42
1970	43
1971	52

Figures for the previous years could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Midlothian

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current numbers of unfilled vacancies per 100 wholly unemployed in the employment exchange areas corresponding to the parliamentary constituency of Midlothian for the categories electrical and electronics, engineering and allied trades, and construction, respectively.

In the area covered by the Livingston, West Calder, Penicuik, Loanhead, Dalkeith and Musselburgh employment exchanges, 8·7 for electrical engineering (Order IX of the Standard Industrial Classification) and 23·5 for construction (Order XX). There were no vacancies for mechanical engineering (Order VIII). The figures relate to November and are provisional; they also relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

Carlisle And District State Management Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has in mind for absorbing personnel made redundant by the winding-up of the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme.

We do not know at this stage how many people will need alternative employment. However, my officials are in close touch with the Home Department and all the resources of my Department are readily available to those who do need our help. Our services include advance interviewing, special canvasses of employers, opportunities for training or retraining and assistance to move to employment elsewhere, as appropriate.

Aerospace, Coal Mining And Railways

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state, for each year from 1962 to the latest available figure for 1972, the numbers of people wholly employed in the following industries, namely, aerospace, coal mining, and British Rail.

The following table shows estimates of the numbers of employees in employment in Great Britain in the aerospace, coal mining and railways industries (Minimum List Headings 383, 101 and 701, respectively, of the Standard Industrial Classification).

(Thousands)
	Aerospace	Coalmining	Railways
June, 1962	285	644	437
June, 1963	262	617	411
June, 1964—
(a)	260	590	390
(b)	261	591	391
June, 1965	251	559	362
June, 1966—
(a)	247	513	330
(b)	241	513	330
June, 1967	247	488	312
June, 1968	242	428	292
June, 1969—
(a)	239	383	263
(b)	238	383	262
June, 1970	228	359	257
June, 1971	213	348	260

Notes:

Estimates for June, 1964( b) and later dates are on a revised basis of calculation and are not strictly comparable with estimates for June, 1964( a) and earlier dates.

Between June, 1966 and June, 1967 the Industrial Classifications of many establishments were corrected. The estimates for June, 1966 are shown on both bases, that is ( a) excluding and ( b) including the effects of re-classifications.

The estimates for June, 1969( a) and earlier dates are classified according to the 1958 edition of the Standard Industrial Classification and are not strictly comparable with those from June, 1969( b) which were classified according to the 1968 edition.

Provisional monthly estimates are made for Index of Production industries (which include Aerospace) but estimates for other industries are available only for each mid-year and the latest are for June, 1971.

Pontypridd And Llantrisant

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the number of persons in the Pontypridd employment exchange area and the Llantrisant employment exchange area, respectively, who had been unemployed for three months or more in November, 1972; and what were the comparable numbers in November, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971, respectively;(2) what is the number of persons in the Pontypridd employment exchange area and the Llantrisant employment exchange area, respectively, who had been unemployed for six months or more in November, 1972; and what were the comparable numbers in November, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971, respectively;

			Pontypridd			Llantrisant
		Over 13 weeks (including Columns 2 and 3)	Over 26 weeks (including Column 3)	Over 52 weeks	Over 13 weeks (including Columns 5 and 6)	Over 26 weeks (including Column 6)	Over 52 weeks
		(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)
October, 1968	…	447	310	165	56	32	17
October, 1969	…	429	283	165	99	49	18
October, 1970	…	421	303	183	60	39	31
October, 1971	…	476	300	180	70	40	29
October, 1972	…	629	443	267	92	63	38

Disabled Persons (Scotland)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms in Scotland are not employing their statutory quota of registered disabled persons; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the law is obeyed.

In Scotland 3,442 firms do not employ their statutory quota of registered disabled persons. As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris) on 13th June, our disablement resettlement officers are constantly in touch with employers to help them to comply with their obligations under the quota scheme. Moreover the procedure for inspecting employers' records was tightened up in September last year.

Lorry Drivers (Employment Agencies)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now introduce legislation to prohibit the operation of private employment agencies for lorry drivers.

No, but my right hon. Friend will watch with interest the progress of the Bill to be introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. Kenneth Lewis) which sets out to regulate such agencies.

(3) what are the number of persons in the Pontypridd employment exchange area and Llantrisant employment exchange area who have been unemployed for more than 12 months; and what were the comparable figures in November, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971, respectively.

The nearest date for which information is available is October of each year and the information is as follows:

School Leavers (Scotland)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in Scotland who left school at the leaving date in 1971 are still unemployed.

3,006 school leavers were registered as unemployed in Scotland in November. I regret that the statistics do not distinguish these separately by year of leaving but a high proportion will be 1972 school leavers.

North Sea Oil

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many young people in Scotland have been placed in industries directly connected with North Sea oil by the youth employment service;(2) how many inquiries for apprentices have been received by youth employment officers in Scotland from firms engaged in the exploration and development of North Sea oil.

The Department's statistics of young people placed in employment and of notified vacancies for young people do not distinguish separately placings and apprenticeship vacancies with firms directly connected with North Sea oil; the information requested is, therefore not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many apprenticeships he expects to accrue to December, 1973 as a result of the discovery of North Sea oil;(2) how many apprenticeships have accrued to the nearest available date in firms directly involved in the exploration and development of North Sea oil.

Information about the number of apprenticeships in firms directly involved in the exploration and development of North Sea oil is not available. Employment on oil rigs and platforms themselves does not readily lend itself to apprenticeship schemes and skilled labour is mostly being obtained by conversion training for adults. The numbers of young people being trained by firms engaged in the supply and servicing of oil rigs, and in their construction, are no doubt higher than they would be in the absence of North Sea oil operations, but by how much it is impossible to say.

Wages And Prices

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will seek powers to relax the wages freeze to an amount commensurate with the sum disclosed in the retail price index since 1st October, 1972.

No. This would not be consistent with the standstill arrangements described in Cmnd. 5125.

European Economic Community

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his attention has been drawn to the official report from the European Economic Community pointing out the increase in the unemployed figures in Germany, Italy and France and the expected continuance of increased unemployment in each of the countries of the European Economic Community; and on this basis to what extent he estimates this will affect Great Britain in 1973 when the free movement of labour becomes operative.

I am aware that unemployment has increased in member States of the European Economic Community between corresponding dates in 1971 and 1972. I do not anticipate however that this increase will give rise to any appreciable change in the number of people seeking either to enter or leave this country for employment in 1973.

Industrial Training Boards

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the degree of autonomy to be retained by industrial boards under his proposals contained in the document, "Training for the Future"; what changes he is considering in his proposals; and how the proposed new arrangements compare with existing practices.

Following full consultations, the proposals made last February in "Training for the Future" have been modified in important respects. My right hon. Friend announced his decisions in statements made on 8th August and 22nd November. These give the information required by the hon. Member and I have arranged for him to be sent copies.

Industrial Relations Training (Report)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cost to date, and the expected date of publication, of the Commission on Industrial Relations Report on Industrial Relations Training.

The estimated cost of printing, the use of agency and computer services and of staff supplementary to those currently employed by the commission is about £17,500. To this should be added about £60,000 from the cost of permanent staff salaries. The report was sent to my right hon. Friend on 24th November and he expects it to be published before Christmas.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Slaughterhouses

83.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received from local authorities on the need for increased facilities for slaughterhouses to encourage the export of carcase meat; and what facilities he has given to them to achieve this object.

My right hon. Friend has received no representations from local authorities dealing with this point.

Farms (Wales)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tenanted farms and how many owner-occupied farms there are in Wales; and what total acreage each category covers.

The June 1972 Agricultural Census shows that there were 23,599 holdings in Wales which were wholly or mainly owned, and 10,422 which were wholly or mainly rented. The total owned acreage was 2,339,000, and the total rented acreage was 1,344,000.

European Economic Community

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes will be needed in British feedingstuffs control as a result of European Economic Community Directive 72/199 of 27th April 1972.

Directive 72/199 sets out 10 methods of analysis which are to be used in the enforcement of the requirements of animal feedingstuffs legislation. To the extent that parallel methods exist in the United Kingdom, they will need, eventually, to be brought into line. Methods of analysis are, however, only a part of the machinery of enforcement, and the changes consequential upon Directive 72/199 will not significantly affect the control of animal feedingstuffs.United Kingdom legislation already provides machinery for the introduction of methods of analysis by statutory instrument, and this machinery will be used for the eventual introduction of methods agreed on a Community basis.

Grey Squirrels

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will reintroduce financial assistance to aid the destruction of grey squirrels, particularly bearing in mind the forthcoming Tree Planting Year.

No. From experience with its tail bonus scheme, the Forestry Commission concluded that this was not an effective approach to grey squirrel control and that expenditure of this kind was not justified. My right hon. Friends are, however, hoping shortly to lay an order permitting use of the new control techniques foreshadowed in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen) on 26th October 1972.—[Vol. 843, c. 410.]

Intervention Board (Chairman's Appointment)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the additional information supplied to his office on the morning of Thursday, 23rd November showing that complete details of his official ministerial statement concerning the appointment as Sir Con O'Neill as Chairman of the Intervention Board made on Wednesday, 22nd November were published in the Press on 14th November, he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain to what extent this information was given to the Press for payment by civil servants in his Department.

No evidence to justify the hon. Member's charges has been produced. I have, therefore, nothing to add to the answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member on 30th November, 1972.—[Vol. 847, c. 237–8.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, dated 22nd November, regarding the leakage of information concerning the appointment of Sir Con O'Neill; and whether he will make a statement in connection with the same.

The answer to the first part is, "Yes". With regard to the second part of the question, I have no information on the basis of the Press article to which the hon. Member refers.

Apples

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether importation of apples from the Commonwealth is freely permitted without quotas or tariffs; and whether, after entry into the European Economic Community, the same situation will pertain, or what restrictions will be imposed.

Fresh apples from Canada are subject to our multilateral quota controls; otherwise, supplies from the Commonwealth Preference Area are at present unrestricted and duty-free. During the transitional period, there will be a system of gradually diminishing compensatory levies on our imports from all sources during the main northern hemissphere marketing season. We shall also be moving towards the Community's common customs tariff, so that, at the end of the transitional period, imports from the Commonwealth will be subject to the full common customs tariff, but will not normally be subject to other restrictions.

Butter

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussion about butter prices he had with the Milk Marketing Board, before the introduction of the freeze legislation; and if he will make a statement.

We are in regular contact with all the main interests concerned, including the Milk Marketing Boards. World butter supplies have been more plentiful this year, and prices in the United Kingdom have fallen substantially.

National Finance

Labour-Only Sub-Contractors

84.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many income tax exemption certificates have been applied for, to date, by labour-only sub-contractors in the construction industry; and how many have been granted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax exemption certificates have been issued to building firms.

There are no separate statistics for labour-only sub-contractors. Up to 12th October last, 384,886 applications had been received from sub-contractors generally and 353,440 certificates had been issued.

85.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria he uses when granting income tax exemption certi- ficates to labour-only sub-contractors in the construction industry.

The criteria are laid down in Section 30(2), Finance Act 1971.

Value Added Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make arrangements at the computer centre for value added tax to keep separate records for Scotland, England and Wales, so that data can be extracted concerning value added tax generated by businesses in the individual countries.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

Northern Ireland Companies

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the income from tax from companies operating in Northern Ireland, whose registered headquarters are in Great Britain.

This information is not available.

Tax Inspectors (Reports)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how frequently district inspectors of taxes make reports to the Board of Inland Revenue.

As often as necessary.

Capital Gains

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what circumstances a limited company or its shareholders, when realising a gain on the sale of land or property which was acquired for the sole or main object of development or sale, can be taxed at a higher rate than any other profits made by that company, always excepting the sale of shares in such company where they are subject to tax under Section 488 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970.

There are no circumstances in which a company is taxed at a higher rate on such a gain than on other taxable profits attributable to the same period. Where an individual shareholder is liable to surtax in respect of the gain, as may happen if it is distributed as a dividend or if the company is a close company with a shortfall of distributions, the rate of tax depends on his total income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if profit on the sale of land by a farmer, who had previously used the land for agricultural purposes, is subject only to capital gains tax.

This would normally be the case unless the farmer had done anything to the land by way of development before he sold it.

Income And Purchasing Power

86.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he will now take to publish, on a regular basis, statistics relating to national income and purchasing power, indicating the amounts and percentages due to current earnings such as wages, salaries, incomes from self-employment, accumulated earnings in the form of pensions and proceeds of endowment policies, and income in the form of rent, interest, dividends and miscellaneous other sources.

		1957	1962	1967	1971	1972 1st half seasonally adjusted
Value (£ million)
(1) Income from employment	…	12,963	17,306	23,706	33,491	17,926
of which:
wages and salaries	…	11,765	15,640	21,140	29,775	15,895
(2) Income from self-employment	…	1,785	2,161	2,840	3,941	n.a.
Total of (1) and (2)	…	14,748	19,467	26,546	37,432	n.a.

As a percentage of gross domestic product at factor cost
(1) Income from employment	…	67·0	68·4	68·4	70·1	70·8
of which:
wages and salaries	…	60·8	61·8	61·0	62·4	62·8
(2) Income from self-employment	…	9·2	8·5	8·2	8·3	n a.
Total of (1) and (2)	…	76·2	77·0	76·6	78·4	n.a.

As a percentage of gross national product at factor cost
(1) Income from employment	…	66·1	67·5	67·7	69·5	70·1
of which:
wages and salaries	…	60·0	61·0	60·3	61·8	62·2
(2) Income from self-employment	…	9·1	8·4	8·1	8·2	n.a.
Total of (1) and (2)	…	75·2	76·0	75·8	77·6	n.a.
n.a. = Not available.

Sources: National Income and Expenditure 1972.

Economic Trends, October, 1972.

Statistics relating to the components of the national accounts are already regularly published, both in value and percentage terms. The main national accounts estimates are published quarterly in Economic Trends and in greater detail annually in the National Income and Expenditure Blue Book. In addition, tables are published each October in Economic Trends giving national accounts components expressed as percentages of the appropriate aggregates; Table 4 of this year's edition shows the components of personal income expressed as percentages of the gross national product at factor cost.

87.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of wages, salaries, and income from self-employment, respectively, and in total; and if he will express these as a percentage of gross domestic product and gross national income, comparing them with five, 10 and 15 years ago, respectively.

The available information is given in the table below:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if profit on the sale of land or property previously used for domestic purposes is subject only to capital gains tax.

This would normally be the case if the land or property was owner-occupied or held as a capital investment and nothing occurred to alter that status before the sale.

Environment

Archaeological Sites (Preservation)

88.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of land are currently being submerged under one kind of building development or another annually; and what steps he is taking to protect and safeguard the archaeological interest.

I regret that the information requested in the first part of the Question is not available. In the relatively small number of cases where an ancient monument or an archaeological site of significance would be affected its importance is weighted against that of the proposed development. If the monument or site is sufficiently important there are powers to prevent the development. Otherwise it is the Government's practice to arrange an archaeological investigation so that the monument or site can be recorded before the development takes place.

Development (Land Use)

89.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what precise instructions have been sent to local authorities to encourage them to investigate the use of all waste land for development purposes before inroads are made into green belt or agricultural land.

No precise instructions to this effect have been given. But the Department Circular 102/72 reminded local planning authorities of the general need to safeguard green belts and good agricultural land when releasing land for housing.

Building Land

90.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what acreage of land he estimates to have been released for buliding purposes during the last convenient 12 months period and during the preceding 12 months period in southern England or in such counties in southern England as are willing to make the information available.

It is estimated that in the South East, outside London, some 9,400 acres were the subject of planning permissions for house-building in the period July 1971-June 1972. This compares with 8,800 acres in the preceding year. Comparable information is not available for other areas of the South or other types of building.

Water Undertakings (Transfers)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the powers under which he may or may not consent to the sale of local authority water undertakings to private water companies; and if he has expressed his intentions toward any future application.

Section 9 of the Water Act 1945 enables my right hon. and learned Friend to make orders providing for the transfer of local authority water undertakings to statutory water companies. Earlier this year I indicated that prima facie he would be prepared to entertain such applications prior to the reorganisation of water services, provided they were technically sound and that they could be agreed upon between parties in sufficient time to be looked at in relation to the proposed legislation. On 14th November the Association of Water Companies was told that no further applications would be entertained unless certain formalities had been complied with before the date of the letter.

Parliamentary Building

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in what respects the winning design for the proposed parliamentary building does not comply with the requirements or conditions laid down in the competition specifications.

The Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) did not completely share the view of the assessors that the winning design did not conflict with the conditions of the competition in respect of security. Apart from this it appears to have been satisfied that the assessors had properly discharged their duty.

Improvement Grants

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total value of improvement grants provided by all public agencies during 1971.

Cash grants totalling £32·5 million were paid to private owners and housing associations in England and Wales during 1971. In addition, approval was given for Exchequer contributions to meet £40·2 million of the expenditure on improvements by local authorities and housing associations operating under arrangements with them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the breakdown of improvement grants provided in England and Wales during 1971, as between those provided for local authority dwellings, housing associations, owner-occupiers and rented accommodation.

The numbers of dwellings for which improvement grants were approved in England and Wales during 1971 are given, for local authorities, housing associations, owner-occupiers and others, in Table 28 of Housing and Construction Statistics 2, which is available in the Library.

Planning Applications And Appeals

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of outline and detailed planning applications, respectively, submitted to local authorities in England and Wales during the last 12 months for which figures are available; what percentages were permitted, permitted subject to conditions, except the condition of submission of detailed plans on outline applications, and refused, respectively; and what proportion of those permitted subject to conditions and refused were subsequently the subject of appeals.

Available statistics do not show how many applications submitted to authorities are in outline or how many permissions are given subject to conditions. It is not practicable, therefore, to say what percentage of them were subsequently the subject of appeals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of planning applications submitted to local authorities in England and Wales during the last 12 months for which figures are available; what proportion of these were permitted by local planning authorities; and how these figures compare with each of the five previous years.

463,301 planning applications were submitted to local planning authorities during the calendar year 1971, the last 12 months for which figures are available; 83·3 per cent. of these were permitted. The figures for the five previous years as are follows:

		per cent
1970	414,301	84·9
1969	402,714	85·1
1968	426,286	84·3
1967	422,553	84·8
1966	415,052	83·3

Underground Roads (London)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will suggest to the authorities and undertakings concerned with proposals for underground roads in parts of greater London and its surroundings that they ensure that these roads are planned so that they can be linked with an underground road system for the whole of greater London similar to that suggested by the planning consultant, A. E. T. Matthews, details of which are in his possession.

The road proposals in the Greater London Development Plan are still awaiting the report of the GLDP inquiry.

M2 (Widening)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the construction of a third lane for the M2 motorway; and if he will publish the traffic volume figure or other criteria relevant to a decision.

There are no plans at present to add a third lane, but the situation will be kept under review. The traffic census figures show that the two-way flows in vehicles per 16-hour day range from 40,00 on the western section to 21,000 on the eastern section on the M2.

Council Houses (Sale)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps he intends to take to encourage all local authorities to sell council accommodation to tenants in accordance with the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

I shall continue to do all I can to maintain progress in this important matter; over 30,000 council houses were sold in the first nine months of this year compared with less than 17,000 in the same period in 1971. In the Housing (Amendment) Bill we are seeking powers which will enable local authorities in certain circumstances to offer their houses for sale at more favourable prices. I urge hon. Members to do their utmost locally to help tenants to impress their wishes on their councils.

British Rail

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount of public funds, including grants, loans and written-off debts, received by British Rail from 1962 until 1971, inclusive, and for 1972 to date.

£3,160 million from 1962 to 1971 and £123 million in 1972 to date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cash total of exports achieved by British Rail and its subsidiaries, from 1962 to 1971, inclusive and for 1972 to date.

From 1968, when the Railways Board was given power to manufacture equipment for export, to 1971 inclusive, overseas sales of rolling stock and related items totalled £3 million. Sales this year have so far reached approximately the same figure.

Driving In Fog

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, what progress he has made in his study of ways to combat reckless driving in fog conditions.

I issued in September a Fog Code, and will send a copy to my hon. Friend.

Newham (Local Welfare Services)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware of the problems confronting the London Borough of Newham, including immigration, lack of schooling and school places, teachers, welfare services and housing; and as the local council needs an increase of at least 12 per cent. in its rate income to maintain its present services, whether he will provide a special grant to assist the borough.

The Government provide financial support to local authority services through the rate support grant. Additional grants are already made to Newham towards extra expenditure in respect of immigrant population and in respect of other social needs.

Pollution (Estuaries And Coastal Waters)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the Third Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Pollution in Certain Estuarial and Coastal Waters.

My right hon. and learned Friend welcomes the report, bringing together as it does the evidence on which we could decide how to clean up and protect our estuaries and costal waters. I agree with the Royal Commission that both urgent administrative action and legislation are needed. Together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, I had a most useful discussion of the report with the Royal Commission and with its permission I set out below a copy of a letter which I have written to the Chairman, Sir Eric Ashby, summarising our conclusions:

Letter from Mr. Eldon Griffiths to Sir Eric Ashby.

30th November 1972.

The Secretary of State has asked me to write to you about the recommendations made in the Royal Commission's Third Report. Peter Walker and I discussed this with yourself and members of the Royal Commission at the meeting on 20th October and I have reported to Mr. Rippon who endorses the broad conclusions we then reached.

Mr. Rippon has now asked me to place on record his full acceptance of the large majority of the recommendations and conclusions falling within this Department's field of responsibility. These deal with the following matters:

the need for better and more continuous monitoring of estuaries (paragraph 17 of the Report);

the control of estuarial pollution to be part of a national integrated policy for waste disposal (paragraph 20);

the maximum practical abatement, before the discharge of effluents, of persistent, harmful pollutants (paragraph 21);

one authority, with more than consultative status, for each estuary (paragraph 22);

local authorities to seek information from industry about discharges through public sewers to estuaries or sea (paragraph 24( d));

river authorities to assume responsibility for monitoring critical pollutants in industrial estuaries (paragraph 24( e));

planning authorities to consider river authorities before approving any plan which would increase the pollution of an estuary (paragraph 24( g));

industrial and sewage effluent discharges to "controlled waters" to be brought under full control (paragraph 27( a));

all discharges to sewers to be controlled; industry to be charged the full cost of disposing of its wastes; authorities to be empowered to take samples from private sewers from trade premises (paragraph 27( d));

river authorities to apply to the Secretary of State for tidal water orders bringing estuaries at risk under full control (paragraph 29);

the proposed regional water authorities to control all discharges into rivers, estuaries and coastal waters (paragraph 30);

the Government to take the lead in international arrangements to publish data on monitoring etc. (paragraph 36–37);

biological monitoring of indicator species of animals and plants to be undertaken in addition to chemical monitoring;

proposed regional water authorities to monitor discharges to estuarine and coastal waters (paragraph 40);

the priorities on research (paragraph 41), subject to the comment below on paragraph 41( b);

sewerage authorities to have the right to refuse particular constituents in effluents (paragraph 123);

the protection of underground water to be strengthened (paragraph 128).

In addition we accept the majority recommendation on the question of charges for discharges of industrial effluents into rivers and estuaries (paragraph 42( b)). The case for adopting such a system is already under consideration.

There are many other recommendations which we accept with only minor reservations. These are:

River authorities to warn industry that better standards will be required at a future date (paragraph 24( a)).

Our concern is that too little may yet be known, for example, about the peculiar characteristics of particular estuaries for river authorities to give any very clear indication of the improvements which will be required of particular discharges and of their timing, though we agree entirely with the desirability of giving as long notice of improvements as practicable.

The period of notice of the operation of the proposed changes of law should be no more than 12 months from the commencement of the amending legislation or from July 1974, whichever is the earlier (paragraph 27( b)).

We are proposing, as you know, to provide in the same legislation for both existing and new discharges to estuaries and coastal waters to be brought under control. The provision in the 1961 Act bringing pre-1951 discharges to non-tidal rivers under control did not become effective until 1st June, 1963, and we are concerned to ensure that we do not ask the impossible of the river authorities, the proposed regional water authorities or, indeed, the dischargers by fixing an unrealistically early operative date for the new legislation. Subject to that, however, we share the Commission's desire to make rapid progress in this area.

More financial resources should be devoted to the development of effective mathematical models of estuaries so as to provide a scientific basis for taking action to reduce pollution (paragraph 41 ( b)).

This was discussed at our meeting when it was agreed that the limiting factor was the number of people with the special skills needed for work of this kind, and that their dilution would be undesirable. The Water Pollution Research Laboratory, by which most of this work has so far been done, are of course attempting to cover more ground by developing the methodology and by using others to collect the data which form the basis for such models.

The cost of remedial capital works based on the expected requirements of river authorities by 1980 as indicated in the River Pollution Survey is small by comparison with total national investment or total wage costs (paragraph 42( a)).

Although we foresee no difficulty in authorising the public capital investment in remedial measures envisaged by the Survey as required by 1980, you agreed that the many demands on the national resources have to be recognised so that the cost of achieving the objective of cleaning up the rivers and estuaries ought not to be considered in isolation.

The Secretary of State should consider whether there is need for some form of control over waste water from mines and solid waste accidentally reaching rivers from tips (paragraph 111).

We had already proposed control over all waste water from working mines but would have liked some evidence of the need for special controls over solid wastes from mine or quarry tips.

The discussions at the meeting were particularly valuable because you were able to clarify one or two points in your report on which we had not fully understood the Commission's intentions. We were able to establish that there was no fundamental disagreement between the Commission and the Department on a number of points:

The biological criteria suggested by the Commission as the aim, where practicable, of pollution control (paragraph 23).

You recognised that the cost of improving an estauary beyond the stage where it would support a mixed population of coarse fish to the state of the second criterion—"ability to allow the passage of migratory fish at all states of the tide"—might be very substantial indeed; and that there might be no commensurate gain from the high level of expenditure. We realise that you suggested the criteria as an ideal, perhaps to be reached ultimately. We would of course subscribe to the criteria on that basis, since we recognise the need for early action to improve the estuaries. But we feel obliged to point out that there could well be tasks on the freshwater rivers which are more urgent and could provide greater benefits for the community at large than achievement of the ultimate quality for estuaries.

DOE to persuade industry to agree to publication of information about discharges including discharges to estuaries (paragraph 24( b) and ( c)).

We shared the view expressed by the Royal Commission in their Second Report that it would be unreasonable to expect individual firms to act unilaterally in disclosing the nature of their wastes and we had concluded that disclosure, with appropriate safeguards, should be made mandatory.

Pollution budgets with 10-year plans to be produced by committees of river authorities (or their successors), local authorities and industry (paragraph 24( f)).

You explained that the Commission envisaged the determination, for a period ahead and as the basis for the control of discharges, of the capacity of an estuary to receive liquid wastes while yet achieving a planned improvement. We expect planning of this kind to be part of the arrangements of the proposed regional water authorities for the management of the rivers. My series of visits over the past 18 months, undertaken with this object in mind, have, I am glad to say, already prompted the establishment by river authorities of consultative committees for the major estuaries.

All discharges from vessels to "controlled waters" to be under control (paragraph 27 ( c)).

"Controlled waters" include such areas as the Solent and the Wash. You recognised that it was only practicable to control discharges from seagoing ships in waters like these within the framework of international agreement. The subject is to be discussed in the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation's Conference next year. We had however already proposed that powers should be available to control discharges from vessels in places where pleasure craft are concentrated, as in marinas.

Statutory obligation for planning authorities to consult RWAs before giving planning permission for development substantially increasing effluent load on estuaries (paragraph 30, second part).

It was agreed that what was a "substantial" increase would depend very much on the size and characteristics of the estuary, as well as on the volume and nature of the effluent, so that there would be great difficulty in framing a suitable general statutory requirement. We have, as you know, already issued advice to local planning authorities about the importance of consulting river authorities about particular kinds of development which could entail special pollution risks, and my Department is discussing with the relevant associations the issue of a directive making such consultation mandatory. For the rest, the Secretary of State feels that we must rely on administrative arrangements.

Government to repeat directives to Crown property to comply with requirements of river and sewerage authorities (despite Crown exemption) (paragraph 126).

The Government certainly expects all those who administer Crown property to observe the conditions required by river and sewerage authorities of similar premises occupied by local authorities or industry. As we said following a similar recommendation in the report of the Working Party on Sewage Disposal, if there is any evidence that Crown property is not observing these conditions, the Secretary of State will take action to see that the requirements are met.

At the end of our meeting we agreed that the Secretary of State should inform Parliament of our conclusions by publishing a copy of this letter in HANSARD. He and the Secretary of State for Wales will also be issuing shortly a circular to local authorities and river authorities drawing their attention to the relevant recommendations of the Royal Commission on administrative action.

Education And Science

Museums And Galleries

91.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will introduce a Bill to safeguard the independence of the trustees of the national museums and galleries.

No. The trustees already enjoy, either by statute or by the other instruments which established them, full powers to perform their functions. My noble Friend has, in addition, made proposals to the trustees which would substantially increase their discretion to spend the public funds granted to them, and will be following them up with further detailed discussions. At the same time, the trustees recognise that they are accountable through their directors to Parliament for the public money which is voted.

North Staffordshire Polytechnic

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will ensure that the proposal put to her that the North Staffordshire Polytechnic be developed on a single site at Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent, be approved rather than the alternative.

Alternative proposals for future development of the polytechnic have been submitted by the joint education committee and by the Stoke-on-Trent local education authority. I am about to invite representatives of those two bodies to meet me.

Official Visits (Greater London)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the schools to which she has paid official visits in the Greater London area.

Following is the list:Gospel Oak J and I School, NW3.St. Richard of Chichester RC Secondary School, NW1.Starcross Girls Secondary School, N1.George Green's Grammar School, E14.Virgo Fidelis Convent School, Upper Norwood (Independent).St. John's C of E Primary School, Whetstone.Latymer Upper School (Direct Grant), W6.The American School in London, NW8 (Independent).Stockwell Manor Comprehensive School, SW9.St. Michael's C of E Primary School, N6.I have paid informal visits to several others.

Scotland

European Economic Community

92.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an estimate of the extent to which Scotland will benefit from the regional fund which he has announced will be set up by the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

The details of the proposed regional development fund have to be fully worked out next year by the enlarged Community, a process in which United Kingdom representatives will have a full say. It is not possible to make any estimates at this stage.

Mentally Handicapped (Report)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Report on the training of staff of education authority centres for the mentally handicapped will be published.

The Report on the Training of Occupational Centre Instructors has just been submitted to me. I am arranging for publication but I cannot yet give a date.

Education (Cost Per Pupil)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a table of what it costs in each education authority to educate a primary pupil and a secondary pupil, respectively; and how the average cost compares with England and Wales.

This information is not available in the form requested but the latest estimates of the average cost per pupil in all schools and in primary and secondary schools are given on page 187 of "Scottish Educational Statistics 1971". Because of differences in school organisation figures for England and Wales would not be comparable.

Uxbridge

Q5.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will pay an official visit to Uxbridge before Christmas.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Cbi And Tuc (Meeting)

Q9.

asked the Prime Minister what items he proposes to put on the agenda at the next meeting with the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry.

As I have made clear, we are prepared to discuss with both sides of industry subjects of mutual concern to the three parties, including our longer-term proposals for countering inflation.

Q14.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has yet arranged a further meeting with the Trades Union Congress and Confederation of British Industry.

Q17.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has yet arranged a further meeting with the Trades Union Congress to discuss inflation.

No; but, as I told the House on 23rd November, I am ready to do so at any time.

Medicines And Drugs (Patent Laws)

Q10.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the coordination between the Foreign Office, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Health and Social Security in promoting the harmonisation of patent laws in relation to medicines and drugs on a European basis, in the light of the National Economic Development Office Report on the Pharmaceutical Industry; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The draft conventions for the establishment of a European system for granting patents and for the establishment of a unitary patent effective in all countries of the European Economic Community are now in an advanced stage of preparation, and will be the subject of diplomatic conferences in the autumn of 1973 and spring of 1974. The unitary patent will cover Pharmaceuticals and will be in accord with the desire expressed in the NEDO Report that the United Kingdom should have a strong patent system on a par with those in other industrialised countries.

Herr Brandt

Q11.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet Herr Brandt, following Herr Brandt's re-election.

Herr Brandt has invited me to visit him next year, and I look forward to doing so. We have not yet decided on dates.

Food Prices

Q12.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Scottish Office in monitoring food prices; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The monitoring of food prices is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, but the Scottish Office is in close touch with the Ministry.

Inflation (Government Proposals)

Q13.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a further statement about the development of the next two phases of his Government's counter-inflationary proposals.

I have no such statement to make at present.

Museums And Historical Places

Q15.

asked the Prime Minister on what evidence he bases his conclusion that attendances have risen at museums and historical places where charges have been imposed.

Total attendances at the national museums and galleries from January to September, 1972, excluding visitors to the Tutankhamun exhibition, were about 4 per cent. lower than in the corresponding period in 1971. Inquiries by the Paymaster-General's Office at a number of comparable places which charge for admission—the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Beaulieu Abbey, including the motor museum, the Welsh folk museum, Norwich Castle museum and Bowes museum—show increases of varying amounts from 3 per cent. to 20 per cent.

Minister Of Trade And Consumer Affairs

Q16.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the number of complaints concerning price increases being made to the Minister of Trade and Consumer Affairs, whether he will take action to relieve the Minister of all responsibilities other than those connected with prices and consumer affairs.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave in answer to a Question from the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 30th November.—[Vol. 847, c. 616–7.]

New Zealand (Immigration)

Q18.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will invite the new Prime Minister of New Zealand to London or whether he will seek to visit New Zealand officially and discuss with the incoming Prime Minister the question of Great Britain's rules on immigration from New Zealand into Great Britain.

Mr. Kirk already knows that he will be most welcome here at any time, and I should be glad to visit New Zealand when a suitable opportunity occurs. There are, as yet, no firm plans for either visit. As the hon. Member will be aware, we propose to hold consultations on immigration matters with other Commonwealth Governments in due course.

Greater London Council

Q19.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Leader of the Greater London Council to discuss official Government business.

I meet Sir Desmond Plummer on many occasions, formally and informally. The latest was just over two weeks ago, when we discussed subjects of mutual interest.

asked the Prime Minister on how many occasions he has met Sir Desmond Plummer, the Leader of the Greater London Council, to discuss official Government business; what matters were discussed; and when he expects to hold the next meeting.

I have met Sir Desmond Plummer on many occasions, when subjects of mutual interest to the Government and the Greater London Council were discussed. I have at present no plans for a further official meeting with Sir Desmond.

Telephone Communication (Japan)

asked the Prime Minister whether he will have an investigation made into how and why details of his telephone call made to Tokyo on Wednesday, 29th November were leaked to the Press.

No. It is clear that details of this telephone call were made known to the Press in Tokyo.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will seek to extend the hot telephone line to Japan.

No.

Defence

Aero-Engines (Research)

asked the Minister of State for Defence what progress has been made by the National Gas Turbine Establishment towards completing the complex for research into quieter aero-engines.

The first stage of the new noise test facility at NGTE, sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry, was completed on schedule in August, 1972. The second stage is under construction and is expected to be completed in late 1973.

Foreign And Commonwealth Office

Commonwealth Residents (Immigration Control)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what system of calculations and methods he has used to obtain estimates of the numbers of people in independent Commonwealth countries whom the United Kingdom might be obliged to admit should they be expelled from their homeland.

The figures are obtained from the countries concerned and represent the best estimates British High Commissioners there can make from the information at their disposal of numbers of United Kingdom nationals in the country concerned who are subject to immigration control in this country. In compiling the estimates the High Commissioners draw on their own records, official census figures of the countries concerned and whatever other sources may be available to them.

Northern Ireland

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, as he did with the Green Paper on the future of Northern Ireland, it is his intention to supply a copy of the White Paper to the Prime Minister of Eire and the Eire Ambassador in London, before copies are made available to hon. Members, or released to the general public in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

No arrangements have been made about distribution of the White Paper.

Home Department

Licensing Laws

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the report of the Departmental Committee on Liquor Licensing in England and Wales.

The report has been published today as a Command Paper. I have told Lord Erroll and his colleagues that I am grateful for the speed and thoroughness with which they have completed their work. Before reaching any decisions on their recommendations, I propose to assess public reaction and to obtain the views of interested organisations.

Chief Constables (Prosecutions)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number of prosecutions has been undertaken against chief constables between the years 1945 and the latest convenient date; and in how many cases the prosecution was unsuccessful.

I regret that the information is not available.

Forged Bank Notes (Ira)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the extent to which bank notes are being forged by the Republican and Irish Republican Army movements in Great Britain.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has no evidence that political organisations have been responsible for recent offences of forging bank notes.

Animals (Experiments)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments on animals were carried out in 1971 for cosmetic purposes; what animals were involved; how many died during the experiments; and what degree of suffering was involved in the remainder.

Statistics of experiments performed for this purpose, and of the kinds of animals used, are not available. I have no reason to believe that any animals died during such experiments. All experiments, for whatever purposes, are subject to restrictions to ensure that no animal suffers severe pain that is likely to endure or avoidable pain of any kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences are issued for the purpose of cosmetic experimentation.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to amend the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 to provide that experimenters use alternatives to living animals where alternatives are available.

My right hon. Friend is not persuaded that it is practicable to achieve the desired effect by legislation.

Waiting Restrictions (Road Junctions)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Metropolitan Police have, in

London Borough		Junction
Barnet	…	Long Lane/Squires Lane
		Brookhill Road/East Barnet Road/Kingston Road
		Brookhill Road/Crescent Road
Brent	…	Oxgate Lane/Crest Road/Coles Green Road
		Brondesbury Park/Salusbury Road/Winchester Avenue/Chevening Road
Camden	…	Queens Crescent/Grafton Road
		Belsize Park Gardens/Belsize Avenue/Belsize Park/Belsize Terrace
		Belsize Lane/Belsize Crescent/Belsize Terrace
		Mornington Terrace/Mornington Street
Camden/Westminster	…	Abbey Road/Boundary Road
Ealing	…	Mattock Lane/Culmington Road
		Ruislip Road/Court Mead/service road opposite Court Mead
		Greenford Road/Horsenden Lane North/Oldfield Lane
Hackney	…	Queens Drive/Somerfield Road
		Queens Drive/Brownswood Road
		Sandringham Road/Amhurst Road
		Stoke Newington Church Street/Defoe Road/Stoke Newington Church Road/Bouverie Road
		Graham Road/Navarino Road
		Sandringham Road/Wayland Avenue
Kensington and Chelsea	…	Kensington Park Road/Blenheim Crescent
		Kensington Park Road/Elgin Crescent
		Ladbroke Grove/Oxford Gardens
Merton	…	Commonside East/Three Kings Road
		Montague Road/Kingston Road/Brisbane Avenue
Southwark	…	Crystal Palace Road/Underhill Road/Whateley Road
		Crystal Palace Road/Upland Road/North Cross Road

Ystradfellte

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what organisations and/or individuals made representations for the inclusion of Ystradfellte with Brecknock rural district for local government purposes.

None. I am writing to the hon. Member.

Election Expenses (Public Relations)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring in a Bill to curb expenditure in the use of public relations firms to promote prospective political party candidatures.

No. The Speaker's Conference will be considering the question of election expenses—other than by

conjunction with the Greater London Council, for further waiting restrictions at road junctions in Greater London; and if he will give a list of junctions which will be affected.

In consultation with the Greater London Council and the London boroughs concerned, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has recently made regulations imposing waiting restrictions for an experimental period at the following road junctions in Greater London:candidates. The question of expenditure by or on behalf of anyone seeking adoption as a prospective candidate is one for the adopting party.

Carlisle And District State Management Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now list each individual licensed premises covered in the tender book prepared on his behalf, in connection with the disposal of the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme assets, the date on which each individual valuation took place, the value arrived at, the names of the firms and persons who have made application to buy and the amount of tenders submitted.

The report, which will be made to Parliament on completion of sale, will give details of valuations and of successful tenders. Details of unsuccessful tenders will not be disclosed. An undertaking to this effect was given in the general remarks which formed part of the tender documents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the complete details of the money paid to date to persons or firms and others engaged in the sale of the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme; and if he will make a general statement of progress.

Details of payments made were given in my reply to the hon. Member's Question yesterday. Tenders for the main properties are being considered, and acceptances are to be notified by 31st January 1973. Sales of all but 30 of the other properties have been completed.—[Vol. 847, c. 328.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he has in mind for the complete winding-up of the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme.

Final accounts and audit are likely to take up to six months after the date when the Scheme ceases trading, which must be not later than 30th June 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons employed in the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme have been given their redundancy notices; if he will give a breakdown of these, such as workmen, managers, office staff, and so on; and if he will make a statement.

599—managers 95, office staff 35, brewery and works department staff 104, hotel and public house staff 365.These are established staff or unestablished staff with five years' service or over, and each has been given at least 6 months' formal notice of redundancy. The remaining staff will be given the formal notice to whch they are entitled by their length of service. The actual dates of termination of employment will depend on completion of the sale of the various properties of the Scheme.

Motoring Offences (Police Warnings)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in the Metropolitan Police area in each of the last two years have been warned twice for motoring offences without further proceedings being taken.

This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Commonwealth (Immigration Control)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates, respectively, the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian Governments introduced immigration control on United Kingdom citizens.

I have been asked to reply.The Australian, New Zealand and Canadian Governments have always had systems of immigration control. United Kingdom citizens have been covered by the provisions of these systems at least as long as the status of United Kingdom citizen has existed, that is, from the time the British Nationality Act 1948 came into force on 1st January 1949.

Northern Ireland

Hare Coursing

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will introduce a Hare Coursing Bill to apply to Northern Ireland, in view of the widespread repugnance towards this sport.

No, the Government do not intend to introduce legislation of this kind.

House Occupation

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many houses are known to be occupied by persons other than legal tenants; and how many of these are houses owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

2,371 dwellings owned by public authorities, including 2,120 owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, are known to be occupied by people other than the legal tenants.

The number of privately owned dwellings similarly occupied is not known.

Social Services

Geriatric Patients

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many beds are available for short-term geriatric patients per 1,000 people in North Staffordshire, the West Midlands, and England, respectively;(2) by what proportion the number of beds for geriatric patients has increased during the past five years in North Staffordshire, the West Midlands, and England, respectively.

2·7 beds per 1,000 elderly available in hospitals administered by the North Staffordshire Hospital Management Committee for short term assessment and initial treatment; comparable figures for the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board area and for England are not available. Figures for all geriatric beds are as follows:

	Ratio of available geriatric beds per 1,000 elderly at 31st December, 1971	Percentage increase in available geriatric beds from 1966 to 1971
North Staffordshire Hospital Management Committee	12·1	2·8
Birmingham Regional Hospital Board	11·1	0·7
England	9·5	4·6
Recommended Ratio	10	—

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of geriatric beds is situated in general hospitals in North Staffordshire, the West Midlands, and England, respectively.

1·6 per cent. of geriatric beds in hospitals administered by the North Staffordshire Hospital Management Committee are in hospitals classified as acute, mainly acute or partly acute; the comparable figure for the Birmingham Hospital Region is 23·4 per cent. The figure for England is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many old people in North Staffordshire on the A waiting list for geriatric beds have been awaiting admission for more than six months, 12 months, and two years, respectively;(2) how many old people in North Staffordshire on the Accelerated Admission list for geriatric beds have been awaiting admission for more than six months, 12 months and two years, respectively.

Following is the information:

NUMBER OF PERSONS
Time on Waiting Lists	'A' Waiting List	Accelerated Admission Waiting List
6 months and under	97	18
Over 6 months	1	0
Over 12 months	0	0
Over 2 years	0	0

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients on the A waiting list, and the Accelerated Admission waiting list, for geriatric beds in North Staffordshire have died while awaiting admission during each of the past five years.

Following are figures for hospitals administered by the North Staffordshire Hospital Management Committee showing also the estimated numbers of persons admitted to geriatric beds in the Gorup:

Year	Deaths while on Waiting Lists	Total Admissions (estimated)
1967	209	1,500
1968	226	1,600
1969	258	1,600
1970	218	1,700
1971	338	1,600

Social Security Bill (Pension Proposals)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a popular edition of the pension proposals in the Social Security Bill, giving examples of likely contributions and benefits.

It would be contrary to accepted practice to issue at public expense a popular edition of proposals while the Bill is before the House. I propose to publish explanatory leaflets after the Bill receives Royal Assent.

Abortions

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the estimated cost to the National Health Service in the last complete financial year, for which the statistics are available, of legal abortions performed on women whose normal place of residence was given as the Republic of Eire.

Available information does not show the cost to the National Health Service of treating particular patients or conditions, but as residents of Eire are not eligible for free National Health Service treatment except in an emergency, the cost if any is likely to be very small.

Royal Hospital, Portsmouth (Workload)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the difficulties being encountered by the Royal Hospital, Portsmouth, in dealing with its casualty and accident load; and what action he is taking to overcome these problems.

The accident and emergency department of this hospital has encountered difficulties in dealing with its workload which has increased over the last seven years on average by approximately 2,000 new patients a year.In the current year improvements have been made to the department and additional equipment has been provided; arangements with other local hospitals have helped to reduce the work of the department. However, the Wessex Regional Hospital Board considers that the main need is for a reduction in the number of patients who attend the department when not in need of hospital treatment; the co-operation of local general practitioners and of local firms has been sought in an attempt to achieve this.My Department has issued national publicity material in the form of the Help Your Doctor leaflet and of posters for display in accident and emergency

					Number	Weight of Tobacco
Cigars	…	…	…	…	1,360 millions	5·7 million lbs. manufactured weight
Cigarillos	…	…	…	…	195 millions	0·3 million lbs. manufactured weight
Cigarettes	…	…	…	…	122,400 millions	204·1 million lbs. manufactured weight

Death Certificates (Cost)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware that the cost of a death certificate in Cumberland has been increased by 100

departments to explain the function of these departments and to encourage people with minor injuries and ailments to go to their own doctor in the first instance if possible, and not direct to hospital where they may deprive seriously ill or injured patients of immediate attention.

Health Centres (Portsmouth)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will initiate discussions with Portsmouth City Council about delays in their health centre building programme; and whether he will make a statement.

Two health centres are being built in Portsmouth, both of which are expected to come into operation next year. I understand that six further schemes are being considered locally. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind and would care to give me details I would be glad to look into it.

Smoking

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what weight of loose tobacco for pipes and hand-rolled cigarettes he estimates was consumed in 1971, or the latest complete year for which figures are available.

Estimates for sales to the public during 1971 are as follows:

Pipe tobacco—13·1 million lb. manufactured weight.
Handroling tobacco—13·2 million lb. manufactured weight.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cigars and how many cigarettes he estimated were smoked in 1971 or in the last complete year for which figures are available; and what weight of tobacco was involved in each case.

Estimates for sales to the public during 1971 are as follows:per cent.; if this is in line with the Government's prices and incomes policy; if he will use his powers under the Counter-Inflation (Temporary Provisions) Bill to restore the former prices; and if he will make a statement.

For many years the fees charged by the General Register Office have been much less than the actual cost of the services provided. The Government therefore decided that this loss should be reduced by an increase in fees with effect from 1st October. Since this was before the present standstill in prices came into force no action is called for under the Counter-Inflation (Temporary Provisions) Act.

Uganda Resettlement Board

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what dates he had discussions with the Uganda Resettlement Board; and what matters were discussed.

My right hon. Friend has had no discussions with the board, but departmental officials are in close and continuing touch with officials of the board on matters of mutual concern.

Stranded Tourists (Grants)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that last August a group of United States tourists were stranded at Gatwick Airport when a charter company failed to fly them home, that welfare payments were made by his Department and since then almost all of such grants have been repaid by these tourists; and whether he will make a statement giving details of the amounts now outstanding which are to be repaid in due course.

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to similar Questions from the hon. Member for Doncaster (Mr. Harold Walker) on 24th October and my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Miss Joan Hall) on 7th November. The full amount paid has been refunded.—[Vol. 843 c. 238; Vol. 845 c. 112.]

Pensioners (£10 Bonus)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why it took him until 28th November to reply to the letter dated 10th November from the hon. Member for West Ham, North concerning the payment of the £10 bonus to pensioners when information as contained in this letter was available and announced a week earlier.

The information in my letter of 28th November was given as quickly as possible, bearing in mind the large volume of correspondence received from hon. Members and others on this subject and the overriding wish of all of us to complete this major operation as quickly as possible in the interests of pensioners.

Drug Addiction And Alcoholism

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the threat from drugs, exemplified by the increased numbers of convictions for heroin use, if he will increase substantially the grants available to the voluntary groups that work to combat drug addiction and alcoholism.

I am already making grants to a number of the national voluntary organisations working to help drug addicts and alcoholics. I am always ready to consider requests from other organisations, and to discuss the level of grants already paid.

Trade And Industry

Oil Imports

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what estimate he has made of the likely proportion producer country1 revenues will form of the landed value of oil imported into the United Kingdom in 1976 and 1980, respectively, having due regard to the terms of the recent participation agreement negotiated by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries;(2) what estimate he has made, at current prices, of the landed cost per ton of oil imported from members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in 1976 and 1980, respectively, having due regard to the terms of the recent participation agreement.

The details of the participation agreements have not yet been worked out, and the Tehran and Tripoli price agreements expire at the end of 1975. No worthwhile estimates can therefore be made of the price of oil or the revenues of producing countries in 1976 and 1980.

North Sea Oil

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated cost of production per barrel from the Forties Field, using current prices and applying discounted cash flow over a 20-year period.

This is basically a matter for BP, but from published material it is interesting to note that BP has said that the capital cost of developing the Forties Field will be well over £300 million; there will also be operating costs which it is impossible to predict. Production of the field at peak will be 400,000 barrels a day. It is impossible at this stage to foresee the exact offtake pattern over a 20-year period.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are his Department's current estimates for the tonnage of oil which will be extracted from the Scottish field, the royalties, rentals, licence fees and taxation which will be received from the participating oil companies and the net effect on the foreign exchange position of the United Kingdom for this oil production in the years 1975, 1980 and 1985.

It is estimated that production by the mid 1970s from the United Kingdom sector of the Continental Shelf will reach 25 million tons, and in 1980 75 million tons. No firm estimate can be made for 1985. At present prices receipts from oil royalties and rents only are estimated at £80 million in 1980. No estimate can be made for receipts from taxation which will depend on the taxation arrangements and rates then in force and on the individual circumstance of the companies concerned. The net foreign exchange saving to the United Kingdom will be several hundred million pounds by the 1980s, but this depends on a large number of variable factors concerning exploitation, exploration, equipment purchasing and overall costs.

Space Research

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent on space programmes during the financial year 1971-72; and to which programmes the money was allocated.

Total United Kingdom expenditure on space programmes during 1971–72 was some £28 million. This figure is derived from the latest outturn forecasts, since the Appropriation Account has not yet been presented.Of this total my Department was responsible for expenditure of £7·48 million, comprising £5·37 million for expenditure on the National Space Technology Programme, £1·94 million for contributions to the ESRO applications programme, and £0·17 million for contributions to post-Apollo studies conducted by the European Space Conference.The balance represents expenditure on programmes for which other official bodies are responsible, as follows:

	Expenditure £m.
Department of Education and Science (through Science Research Council):
1. Contribution to ESRO Scientific Programme	4·70
2. National Scientific Space Programme	5·53
Ministry of Defence	8·36
Post Office:
1. Post Office Earth Terminals	2·16
2. Contribution to INTELSAT (quota payments less revenue receipts)	Credit of 0·30
TOTAL (other Departments)	£20·45

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the gross national product is spent on aerospace.

Expenditure by Her Majesty's Government and other United Kingdom customers in the United Kingdom industry—excluding transactions between manufacturers—and on imported aerospace products in 1971 amounted to about 1¼ per cent. of GNP. If expenditure in Government research establishments and on products of other industries for aerospace purposes is included the figure is about 2 per cent.

Concorde

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total expenditure to date on Concorde; and how many workers are now employed on the project in the United Kingdom.

Total development expenditure to date on Concorde amounts to £695 million. On production £41 million has been spent so far in the United Kingdom and a similar amount in France. About 24,000 workers are at present employed on the project in the United Kingdom.

"Burtonia" (Inquiry)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will institute a preliminary inquiry into the loss of the vessel "Burtonia" to establish the reason for her loss, how many crew she was carrying and their individual certificates of nautical qualifications and sea-going experience; and what manning and crew qualifications are required under the Merchant Shipping Acts.

I have learned with regret that the foundering of the "Burtonia" involved the loss of four of her crew of eight and I should like to express my sympathy to the relations of those who lost their lives. The "Burtonia" was operating within home trade limits and there are at present no specific requirements as to manning and certification of personnel for ships of this kind. I understand that all the crew had had sea-going experience; the master had a first-mate's foreign-going certificate and had served at sea since 1941 and the mate had held a skipper (full) certificate since 1961. My Department has already ordered a preliminary inquiry into this casualty and any further action will be decided in the light of its findings.

Ship And Marine Technology

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the £2 million available to the Ship and Marine Technology Requirements Board has already been allocated to ongoing research and development activity.

The expenditure already committed for this financial year in the areas of responsibility allocated to the Ship and Marine Technology Requirements Board at present totals about £2 million. The board will consider the future allocation of expenditure and the magnitude of expenditure in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why he chose to group ship and marine technology in one requirements board.

These areas of the technological field share a wide range of common problems imposed by the marine environment. It would be difficult to treat these problems independently, because the shipbuilding industry is becoming increasingly involved in offshore engineering.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will name the persons who are to serve on the Ship and Marine Technology Requirements Board.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the public announcement concerning the membership of the board made by my hon. Friend the Minister for Aerospace and Shipping on 4th December.

Pyramid Selling

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in his consideration of pyramid selling, he will consider the possibility of legislation to recover money lost by members of the public in any pyramid scheme found to be fraudulent or known to have used misleading methods to recruit distributors to the company.

Yes, but there are obvious difficulties in the way of ensuring that such moneys are recoverable.

Shirt Exports

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the value of exports of British shirts from 1962 to 1971, inclusive, and for 1972 to date; and what is the average value of each shirt exported at the latest date for which such a figure can be ascertained.

Figures for shirts for the years 1962–69 are published in Volume I of the Annual Statement of Trade of the United Kingdom for these years, and for the year 1970 in Volume III of the Annual Statement of Trade 1970. The figures for the year 1971 and January to October, 1972 are £4·5 million f.o.b. and £4·4 million f.o.b. respectively; the average value per shirt in October, 1972 was £1.19.

National Coal Board

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the cash total of exports achieved by the National Coal Board from 1962 to 1971, inclusive, and for 1972 to date.

The NCB achieves exports in a number of ways and accounts for the bulk of our exports of solid fuels. Table 112 of the Department's Digest of Energy Statistics for 1972 shows that solid-fuel exports from 1962 to 1971 had a f.o.b. value of £292·5 million. Table VI of the United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics shows that solid fuel exports from the ten months ended October, 1972 had a f.o.b. value of £13 million.

Volume 847: debated on Tuesday 5 December 1972

Written Answers To Questions

Employment

Training

Industrial Relations Act

Redundancies

Departmental Work (Relocation)

Job Advertisements

Occupational Classification

Manpower Services Commission

Vacancies

Industrial Relations (Award)

Professional And Executive Register

Young Persons

Unemployment Statistics

Picketing

Conciliation Service

Leicester

Trade Unions (Membership Rights)

Teenage Unemployment (Community Industry Scheme)

Unfair Dismissal

Self-Service Job Centres

Greater London

Monmouthshire

Easington

Unemployed Persons

Lump System

Retail Price Indices (Pensioners)

Ship Repairing

Secondary Boycott

Retail Prices

Scotland

Scotland (Official Visits)

"Training For The Future"

Thalidomide Children

Multi-National Companies

Industrial Safety

Midlothian

Carlisle And District State Management Scheme

Aerospace, Coal Mining And Railways

Pontypridd And Llantrisant

Disabled Persons (Scotland)

Lorry Drivers (Employment Agencies)

School Leavers (Scotland)

North Sea Oil

Wages And Prices

European Economic Community

Industrial Training Boards

Industrial Relations Training (Report)

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Slaughterhouses

Farms (Wales)

European Economic Community

Grey Squirrels

Intervention Board (Chairman's Appointment)

Apples

Butter

National Finance

Labour-Only Sub-Contractors

Value Added Tax

Northern Ireland Companies

Tax Inspectors (Reports)

Capital Gains

Income And Purchasing Power

Environment

Archaeological Sites (Preservation)

Development (Land Use)

Building Land

Water Undertakings (Transfers)

Parliamentary Building

Improvement Grants

Planning Applications And Appeals

Underground Roads (London)

M2 (Widening)

Council Houses (Sale)

British Rail

Driving In Fog

Newham (Local Welfare Services)

Pollution (Estuaries And Coastal Waters)