asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will specify the areas in England where cattle are affected by fluorosis; and what steps the Government are taking to meet the problem;(2) if he will state the steps farmers may take to avoid fluorosis in cattle; and whether compensation is available to recompense farmers against loss;(3) whether fluorosis affects the quality of meat and the marketability of cattle.

Industrial fluorosis of cattle now occurs chiefly in brickmaking areas, particularly in those parts of Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire and Buckinghamshire where this industry is concentrated. My Department carried out extensive surveys into the problem during 1953–61, and detailed reports of the findings were published. The surveys indicated that, except at very high levels, there is no adverse effect on milk production, reproduction, or the general health of cattle. Lameness is, however, one of the main risks, and areas of heavy herbage contamination are not suitable for cattle farming.The Agricultural Development and Advisory Service investigates all cases reported to it and offers advice when requested including advice on the appropriate farming system to adopt to eliminate or mitigate the problem.No compensation is payable by my Department to farmers for losses caused by fluorosis. This would be a matter for settlement between the farmer and the industrial undertaking concerned.Fluorosis does not affect the quality of meat, but lameness may reduce the marketability of affected animals.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make an announcement on Dutch elm disease, following his consultations with the organisations concerned.

The Forestry Commission's latest Report revealed that the disease had become more widespread and more virulent, with new characteristics which make it even more difficult to combat; and that it had taken a firm hold even where the major felling strategy had been pursued with the utmost vigour.After personally discussing this changed situation with representatives from a wide range of organisations concerned, my right hon. Friends have reluctantly concluded that it would be unrealistic to persist with the main felling campaign by which we had hoped to contain the disease. I am glad to have this opportunity of paying tribute to the considerable efforts made by local authorities, land owners and others concerned with that campaign; and, as one who shares the widespread appreciation of the elm, I greatly regret that, in common with other countries which have suffered from this disease. we have been unable to halt its progress.We, therefore propose, to revoke the Dutch Elm Disease (Local Authorities) Orders, which gave certain local authorities special powers of control, including the power to require the felling of diseased elms. This will be put in hand immediately. Meanwhile, I am suggesting to the local authorities concerned that they should refrain from taking further action in exercise of their powers, and to suspend any that may be in train. Local authorities will be entitled to claim expenses for extra administration incurred by them in the exercise of the orders up to 31st January, 1973, within the overall financial ceiling previously authorised.We do not preclude the possibility that selective felling of infectious elms on an essentially local and voluntary basis might still offer some prospect of saving local elm populations in the relatively few areas where there are unquestionably good natural barriers to the disease, where infection is still comparatively light, and where there is a strong local wish to continue with felling measures, even though there is no clear assurance of success. Where local authorities have areas answering to this description, they will be encouraged to contact the Forestry Commission so that there can be an urgent joint assessment of the feasibility of small-scale local action and the form this might take.The Forestry Commission will also be advising local authorities generally on the use of the fungicide benomyl. This may help to prevent the disease in specific conditions and where owners or occupiers feel justified in incurring the relatively heavy cost of annual treatments. The Commission is planning large-scale trials with this fungicide in which it will be seeking the co-operation of local authorities and land owners.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will be considering with the Forestry Commission and the Countryside Commission and with the counties most affected how best to formulate long-term replanting plans for renewing their woodland landscape, and to embark on these plans during Tree Planting Year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what increases he expects after 1st January 1973 in the prices of eggs, poultry, milk, butter, lamb, beef and pigmeat; and how far he estimates that these increases will be offset by the additional amount that farmers will have to pay for feeding-stuffs.

I assume that the question relates to prices to producers. Present guaranteed prices received by producers for eggs, milk, lamb, beef and pigmeat will continue until the end of the fatstock year. Guaranteed prices for 1973–74 will be determined after the 1973 Annual Review and I cannot anticipate the review findings. Realisation prices for milk sold for butter are dependent on market forces but from 1st February 1973 producers will have the additional safeguard provided by an intervention price for butter of £357·06 per ton, rising on the present basis to £428·77 per ton on 1st April 1973. Producer prices for poultry after 1st January 1973 will continue to be determined by market forces. In these circumstances it is not possible to estimate the precise relationship of price changes to any changes in feeding-stuffs costs.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many members of the Ulster Defence Regiment have been dismissed in each month of 1972 for conduct constituting a military offence or for unsatisfactory conduct; and if he will show each of these categories separately.

No members of the Ulster Defence Regiment have been dismissed for military offences during this period. "Unsatisfactory conduct" is not a classification which we use within the regulations, but the number of men who have been discharged administratively for reasons which could fall within such a term are as follows:

1972
January	Nil
February	Nil
March	1
April	Nil
May	2
June	5
July	4
August	5
September	6
October	8
November	9
December to date	4

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of his consultations to date about the proposed British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre on the west coast of Scotland with the local population, local fishing interests, local authorities and others likely to be affected; and whether he will make a statement.

The formal process of consultations is undertaken on our behalf by my colleagues in the Scottish Departments. I am, however, grateful for this opportunity to state the very full part which has been played by my own Department.Consultation over the establishment of the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre—BUTEC—started formally when the Ministry of Defence notified the Scottish Development Department in November 1970 of its wish to establish in the Inner Sound of Raasay an underwater acoustic tracking range, including hydrophones placed on the sea-bed linked by cable to the land.A variety of consultations then commenced which culminated in letters in March 1971 to the two county councils and to the Highlands and Islands Development Board—HIDB—in which the Scottish Development Department set out Ministry of Defence requirements. These were divided into two parts; in the short term, there would be interim ship-mounted range facilities; in the longer term, the bottom-mounted range was under consideration. These letters sought the views of those concerned.A meeting with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland—DAFS—and a cross-section of fishery interests was held in Kyle of Lochalsh in April, 1971, at which the Ministry of Defence proposals were fully described. Between then and June, 1971, a wide variety of consultations were held specifically with sea-going interests in the area, namely, the West Highland School of Adventure, Applecross; Ships Husband Schooner Office, Plockton; fishery officers at Mallaig and Ullapool; and fishery interests generally at the Kyle of Lochalsh, Gairloch and Portree.This phase of activity culminated in a Scottish Office Press notice in June, 1971,

Date	Place	Sponsor	Type of Meeting
14th July	Inverness	Ross and Cromarty County Council	Private.
9th August	Kyle	,,	Private.
1st September	Dingwall	,,	Private; plus HIDB.
25th September	Kyle	,,	Public.
7th October	Kyle	,,	Fishermen.
13th October	Portree	Inverness County Council	Fishermen.
16th October	Dingwall	Ross and Cromarty County Council	Planning and Development Committee; public admitted.
20th October	Dingwall	,,	Firk Council.
13th November	Dingwall	,,	Private; plus HIDB.
23rd November	Portree	Inverness County Council	Public.

There have been numerous other consultations, both formal and informal. The most recent of those, which was not attended by Royal Navy representatives, was that between a delegation of fishermen from Kyle and Applecross and officials of the Scottish Development Department and DAFS in Edinburgh on 27th November.This record of consultation demonstrates the continuing concern of the Ministry of Defence to ensure that local interests are fully consulted, in order to

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many males are currently unemployed in the Millom travel-to-work area.

At 13th November, the figure was 124.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the cost to industry of the effects of alcoholism, including the number of days lost through sickness induced by alcoholism.

I have been asked to reply.Information is available about the number of days of certified incapacity recorded for national insurance purposes. The figures in general exclude days in spells of incapacity lasting less than three days. A doctor might enter some alternative diagnosis in preference to "alcoholism" on the medical certificate. Between June, 1970 and June, 1971, some 100,000 days of incapacity were attributed to "alcoholic psychosis" or "alcoholism".

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present status of that part of the A31, known as Normandy Street, Alton High Street, and Butts Road, now that the Alton bypass is in full use.

The status of these roads is presently under review with the local highway authority. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible about this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many, and which, housing authorities within the Greater London area have applied to him under Section 20(5) of the Housing Finance Act 1972 for authority to treat Schedule 3 of the Act as providing for lower minimum rents or higher maximum rebates or allowances; and how many such authorisations he has given, and what were the terms of such directions.

Following are the authorities which have requested authorisations, and the outcome of their requests:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with the London Boroughs Association on the provision of overnight parking facilities for heavy goods vehicles in inner London.

The London Boroughs Association is in close touch with my Department about this, as both are participating in a working party on strategic lorry parks for London which has been set up by the Greater London Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware of the financial restrictions already imposed and those proposed to be imposed on British subjects in measures before the Maltese Parliament; and whether he will introduce reciprocal measures affecting Maltese residents in the United Kingdom.

I am aware that legislation is at present before the Maltese Parliament. The operation of exchange controls in Malta is a matter for the Maltese Government. But the Maltese Prime Minister has made clear in Parliament that the legislation is of an enabling nature, and the Maltese authorities have stated that current exchange control arrangements will be practically unchanged. The normal United Kingdom exchange control rules for overseas sterling area countries apply to Malta.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effect joining the European Economic Community on 1st January 1973 will have on the price of sugar supplied to the soft drink manufacturers; what is his estimate of the price in 1973 to 1976; how this compares with previous prices over the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.The average of the daily prices for sugar in 1 cwt. paper bags ex-refinery was £73·41 per ton in 1970, £83·61 in 1971, and has been £88·74 so far in 1972. The price in 1972 would have been about £10 per ton higher had it not been for the introduction in March of special payments to the Sugar Board to restrain the rise in price.The price of sugar after our accession to the European Economic Community will depend upon the initial level of the intervention price for white sugar in the United Kingdom, which has not yet been fixed. This initial price will be harmonised gradually with the intervention price prevailing in the member States of the existing Community over the five-year period 1973–77.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that the London Motor Cab Trade Joint Committee, with which he is meeting on 5th December, does not represent the majority of the London cab trade, if he will agree to meet other representatives of the trade.

Yes; my noble Friend is meeting the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association on 15th December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the powers under the Immigration Act 1971 under which he is able to deport members of the Irish Republican Army who flee from Northern Ireland or Eire and seek sanctuary in Great Britain, and members of the Irish Republican Army resident in Great Britain.

Under Section 3(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1971, a person who is not patrial will be liable to deportation if the Secretary of State deems his deportation to be conducive to the public good. I shall not hesitate to exercise this power in appropriate cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes have been made in the draft Development of Tourist Traffic Order since it was first published, and at whose instigation.

Article 5(1) was amended to provide for consultation with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, at the suggestion of the Northern Ireland Advisory Commission. Paragraph (2) of Article 9 was added following a suggestion by the National Trust. The dates 31st March, 1973 and 1st April, 1973 have been replaced where they occurred by 30th September, 1973 and 1st October, 1973, respectively, following the decision to postpone the date of local government elections. One minor drafting amendment was made in Article 9(1).

ask the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will now announce the name of the new Chair- man of the British Broadcasting Corporation.

The name will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost of a policy of industrial development to increase Scottish employment by a net 100,000 jobs; and if he will take steps to implement this.

It is not possible to make an estimate because the cost to the Exchequer would depend on many factors, which cannot be accurately forecast.The Government are already pursuing policies aimed at providing more jobs in Scotland, both through regional measures and through measures to achieve a higher rate of growth in the United Kingdom economy, which is indispensable if regional measures are to be successful. A series of measures has also been taken to secure the lower rate of inflation which is necessary for the maintenance of faster economic growth.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children were put into care because their parents or guardians were homeless in the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and to the nearest available date; and if he will identify the county or towns with the numbers involved.

Figures for 1972 are not yet available. The information for Scotland is as follows:

	Number of children taken into care because family homeless during the year
1969	588
1970	625
1971	756

Since the information for county areas involves a very lengthy table, I am sending it to the hon. Member and placing copies in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the consumption figures for tobacco in general and cigarettes in particular for the years 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971 and the latest figures to a convenient date in 1972.

Estimates of sales in the United Kingdom to the public of all tobacco products, including cigarettes, and of cigarettes only, for each of the years 1968 to 1971 and for the first nine months of 1972 are as follows:—

Million lbs. manufactured weight of tobacco			Number in millions
	All tobacco products	Cigarettes only	Cigarettes only
1968	253·4	220·2	121,800
1969	249·3	216·5	124,900
1970	247·4	215·4	127,900
1971	236·8	204·1	122,400
1972 (January to September)	184·7	161·8	97,990

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations have been made to him about the supply and design of National Health Service ear moulds for severely deaf children; what have been the main points of these representations; and what replies he has sent.

None. I am aware of concern in some quarters over the delivery and fit of ear moulds for certain hearing-impaired children. We are currently reviewing all aspects of the provision of ear moulds and hope to introduce improvements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ensure a supply of National Health Service hearing aids designed specifically to meet the needs of pre-lingually severely deaf children.

The needs of many pre-lingually severely deaf children are being met satisfactorily from the current range of National Health Service hearing aids. Arrangements exist for those who are more profoundly deaf to be provided with suitable commercial models.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT those housing authorities in Wales which are required to make rent increases from 1st April, 1973, and indicate, for each authority, the number of dwellings to which the increase will apply; and if he will list those housing authorities which increased rents on 1st April, 1972, but are not required to impose further increases in rent in April, 1973.

Local authorities are under no obligation to provide me with the information sought, but I give below a list of those who are understood to have made rent increases of 50p in April, 1972. These authorities will be required to make further increases in April, 1973, unless determined fair rent levels have been reached. The number of dwellings to which the increase will apply is not known.Following is the list:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's estimate of the number of dwellings that will be available in Wales by 1981.

It is not possible to make a meaningful estimate, but I am confident that local authorities and private builders will carefully and continuously assess the need and build to meet it.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's estimate of the number of households in Wales by 1981.

964,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's latest estimate of the number of dwellings which are at present unfit for human habitation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cardigan (Mr. Elystan Morgan) on 29th February, 1972. I am awaiting information from local authorities on which to base a revised estimate.—[Vol. 832, c. 102.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what assumptions his Department makes about the rate at which dwellings in Wales will become unfit for human habitation between now and 1981.

That the greatly increased take-up of improvement grants which has been stimulated by the 1971 Housing Act will continue to reduce the rate of decline into unfitness.

asked the Secretary of of State for Wales how many private dwellings have been completed within each of the local housing authority areas in Wales since 1966.

Between January, 1967 and the end of October, 1972, the total number of private dwellings completed in Wales was 55,112. Information on completions and starts in each of the 168 local housing authorities in Wales is published annually in Local Housing Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grants have been made available for industrial development for new industries and existing industries expressed as total amounts; what new job provision has been made available and is in the pipeline; and what is the total number of redundancies in the Northern Region for 1972 to the latest available date.

I regret that no details of payments under the new Industry Act or of jobs resulting in the Northern Region are yet available. A provisional total of 13,000 redundancies has been recorded as due to occur in the Northern Region between 1st January and 30th November, 1972. During this period, the total number unemployed in the Northern Region fell by 12,900.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many limited companies were on the register at the most recent date.

There were approximately 602,000 companies on the registers in Great Britain at the end of October 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in view of the fact that Wembley residents are being disturbed especially at night by the noise of aircraft preparing to land at Heathrow, if he will take steps to lessen this noise and its frequency.

Recent prevalence of strong cross-winds has, for safety reasons, required aircraft landing at Heathrow to use Runway 05/23 for long periods, including the night. This will have caused an unusual degree of disturbance in the Wembley area, but the position should improve with a return to more normal conditions. Runway 05/23 is used only for about 3 per cent. of the time in a typical year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total value of imports from the Republic of Ireland in each of the last five years; and what is the latest figure for 1972 to date.

The figures for 1967–70 are published in Table 274 of the Annual Abstract of Statistics 1971, for 1971 in Table I of Volume I of the Annual Statement of Trade for 1971, and for January to October 1972, the latest period available, in Table II of the October 1972 issue of the Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish his reply to the Second and Third Reports from the Select Committee on Science and Technology 1971–72, on the non-reactor research and development activities of the Atomic Energy Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry Industrial Research Establishments.

My observations on both Reports are contained in a White Paper published today as Cmnd. 5176.

asked the Lord President of the Council when the Government will publish its reply to the First and Fourth Reports from the Select Committee on Science and Technology for the 1971–72 Session on Research and Development Policy.

The Government's observations on both Reports are contained in a White Paper published today as Cmnd. 5177.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total borrowings of the nationalised industries at the latest available date; and what were the comparable figures 12 months previously.

The total borrowings of the nationalised industries were £12,855 million in November, 1972 compared with £12,114 million a year previously.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many share option and incentives schemes have been agreed; how many employees are involved; what is the average salary of the employees; what was the market value of the shares; what was the par value; what was the average option price; and if he will make a statement.

Formal approval under the 1972 legislation has been given to 16 schemes. A further 40 have been accepted as approvable if adopted by the shareholders. It is for the shareholders to decide whether they should agree to the issue of additional shares. The other information requested by the hon. Member is not needed to decide whether the conditions for approval laid down in this year's legislation are met. Some of it will become available from the annual returns to be made by the companies whose shares are being used in the schemes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) why the current European Economic Community directive on the subject of duty-free purchases by individual travellers has been issued before the harmonisation of excise rates;(2) if he is aware that the passage of the draft directive by the European Economic Community on the subject of duty-free purchase will adversely affect the economics of travel between the United Kingdom and other community countries; and if he will make representations to the European Economic Community to reconsider the directive.

The question of duty-free purchases by individual travellers is a subject of a draft directive which has been prepared on the initiative of the Commission and is at present under discussion with the Community in Brussels. The views of shipping and airline organisations and others concerned about the possible effects of this directive are being fully borne in mind in these discussions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the Gini coefficients of concentration of wealth for each year starting with the first year for which it is practicable to produce a Gini coefficient.

The latest available figures, which cover the years from 1961, are published in Table 86 of Inland Revenue Statistics, 1972. The paragraph on "concentration of wealth" on pages 156–157 explains the nature of the statistics and gives figures for 1960, the earliest year for which figures can be produced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many statisticians are employed in the Treasury and in the Inland Revenue Department.

Eleven members of the statistician class are employed in the Treasury and 12 in the Inland Revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many mathematicians are employed in the Treasury and in the Inland Revenue Department.

Mathematicians are not employed in the Civil Service as such.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect that value added tax will have on the sale of fish landed at Northern Ireland ports.

Sales of fish wil be zero-rated under value added tax.