asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will press, at the preparatory talks at Helsinki, for inclusion in the agenda of the European Security Conference of the right to free travel and the exchange of information across national frontiers, and of the establishment of a consultative committee for all Europe.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes". The importance of this matter was fully recognised by all the NATO Ministers at their meeting in Brussels last week. I am arranging for a copy of the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting to be placed in the Library of the House.As for the hon. Member's suggestion for a consultative committee, I should want to see what progress has been made at the conference before agreeing to the establishment of new machinery.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will propose at the preparatory talks for the conference on European security that a continuing consultative committee for all Europe should be established.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. Peter Archer).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he now has to invite the Chinese Foreign Minister to pay an official visit to Great Britain.

I renewed the invitation to the Chinese Foreign Minister during my visit to Peking. Precise dates for his visit remain to be settled, but I hope it will be possible for him to come here in the summer of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decisions have been reached at the Anglo-Chilean talks on the rescheduling of Chile's debts to the United Kingdom.

On 8th November the agreement on certain commercial debts, between Chile and the United Kingdom, was signed in London. This agreement resulted from the multilateral conference regarding the consolidation of Chilean debts held in Paris in April which recommended the adoption of a rescheduling over eight years of 70 per cent. of certain Chilean debts maturing between November 1971 and December 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister of British Honduras in relation to fixing a date for that country's independence; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend had a meeting with the Premier of British Honduras in March this year at which the full range of our relations was discussed. I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Gentleman by my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 5th May 1972.—[Vol. 835, c. 228–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will take steps to ensure that every person of eligible age in British Honduras is on the electoral register.

No. Under the constitution of British Honduras this is a matter for which the Government of British Honduras are responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's attitude to Spanish membership of the Common Market; and what discussion he had about this in his meeting with Señor Lopez Bravo in Madrid on Monday 27th November 1972.

If and when Spain applies for membership this would be a matter for consideration by the Community as a whole. We naturally hope that economic and political circumstances will then be such as to enable Spain to join the Community, if she so desires. But this is a question for the future, and was not discussed in my recent talks with the Spanish Foreign Minister.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement following his official meeting with the Spanish Foreign Minister in Madrid on 27th November 1972.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Inverness (Mr. Russell Johnston) and other hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests he has received for assistance in the training of teachers for the deaf from the Government of Sri Lanka following the report of Mr. Michael Reed, Inspector of Schools for the Deaf, Inner London Education Authority, on the schools for the deaf in that island.

Mr. Reed's report contained recommendations for training in Britain, but not for training teachers of the deaf. I have had no such request from the Government of Sri Lanka.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10th December 1973.

We hope to organise a seminar in London earlier in the anniversary year in association with the Human Rights Division of the United Nations Secretariat.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the illegal Rhodesian régime concerning the African Affairs Amendment (No. 2) Bill.

We have not yet seen the text of this Bill. But we have expressed our concern to the Rhodesian authorities about recent discriminatory measures which might affect African interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Rhodesia is prevented from recruiting medical and para-medical staff in the United Kingdom; and whether he will make a statement.

Medical and paramedical staff can be recruited in this country for Rhodesia and they would not be prevented from taking up the appointments. However, if the vacancies are to be advertised the publication is subject to the provisions of Article 14 of the Southern Rhodesia (United Nations Sanctions) (No. 2) Order 1968 and it is necessary for a licence to be issued by Her Majesty's Government.Each application for a licence to advertise a post is considered on its merits, and humanitarian considerations are taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his future policy on Gibraltar.

Her Majesty's Government will continue to seek progress towards a solution of the Gibraltar question satisfactory to Britain and Spain and acceptable to the people of Gibraltar within the terms of the Preamble to the Gibraltar Constitution Order in Council of May 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will take action at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights concerning the persecution of political opponents of the Turkish régime.

As I told the House earlier today in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) we have no evidence that there is a consistent pattern of violations of human rights which would justify action in the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the United Nations to institute an international fund for the relief of distress caused by national and man-made disasters.

We played a leading part in establishing the office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator. But we doubt whether a Special Fund would increase the total volume of aid available for disasters.Such aid is probably best provided by existing arrangements for voluntary fund raising and direct provision of relief by individual governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the future of immigration from Australia, Canada and New Zealand; and what exchanges there have been with Her Majesty's Governments therein on that subject.

These are matters for discussions to be held with the Governments concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions were held with representatives of the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and Canada, prior to or during the introduction of the orders on immigration as rejected by the House of Commons on Wednesday 22nd November.

None about immigration into this country, which I take to be the purport of the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that since June 1970 Her Majesty's Government have held 29 discussions and/or consultations with Commonwealth countries; and on how many occasions the question of immigration into Great Britain was discussed in the light of the Government's legislative proposals on this subject.

The immigration legislation of the United Kingdom is a matter solely within the competence of Her Majesty's Government. No discussions or consultations specifically about immigration into this country were held on the occasions to which the hon. Member refers, as is apparent from the list of those discussions and consultations with which my noble Friend the Minister of State provided him on 27th November.—[Vol. 847, c. 19–20.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of Anguilla.

There is no change in the arrangements proposed for Anguilla's immediate future, which were set out by my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State on 16th July 1971. These promised a review of the island's status in 1974, taking full account of the wishes of the Anguillan people.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications he has had with the Russian Government about the Russian Mark 7 RPG anti-tank rocket launchers which were recently used by the Irish Republican Army against the security forces in Northern Ireland; whether he has been able to trace from which country the consignment was sent to the Republic of Eire; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House in reply to supplementary questions on 7th December.—[Vol. 847, c. 1666–70.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date, in the view of Her Majesty's Government, Bangladesh ceased to be part of Pakistan.

Her Majesty's Government recognised Bangladesh as an independent state on 4th February 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new jobs have been created in the Northern Region, and in the constituency of Houghton-le-Spring since June 1970 to date; how many more are expected to arise as a direct result of the Government's regional policy; and how these

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will encourage more long-distance international flights to use Manchester airport as an ultimate destination.

The provision of air services on particular routes is in the first instance a matter for the commercial

Estimates of new jobs created through the new regional policies are not yet available but I am confident that these policies will improve employment in the North as elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he now proposes to take in order to provide new employment opportunities in the Northern Region, and in the constituency of Houghton-le-Spring.

I am sure that the considerable incentives to industrial expansion now available will benefit this area as others.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the growth in air traffic and passenger numbers at Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Manchester airports, respectively, between 1967 and 1971, inclusive.

Air traffic and passenger numbers at Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Manchester airports have grown between 1967 and 1971 as follows:decision of the airlines. Their proposals are, in the case of British operators, subject to the grant of a licence by the Civil Aviation Authority and, in the case of foreign operators, to their having appropriate operating rights. The Policy Guidance which my right hon. Friend gave the authority requires it to take account of the contribution which international and domestic air services may make to regional economic and social development.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in discussions with the European Economic Community on the designation of central and non-central areas.

Substantive discussion is for the first half of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to prevent finance firms from charging excessive interest rates, in view of recent examples, details of which have been sent to him.

I have not received the information from the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps designed to ensure that the structure of manufacture and employment involving the British workers of the Chrysler Corporation are not radically changed following the acquisition by the Company of the minority British shareholding.

The Chrysler Corporation has assured the Government that it has every intention of continuing the operations of Chrysler United kingdom Ltd. in manufacturing vehicles for the British market and for export, and of utilising as fully as possible its extensive plants in the United Kingdom. The corporation has also confirmed that the remaining undertakings given in its letter to the Minister of Technology dated 16th January 1967, where still applicable, will remain in force.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will veto the proposed acquisition by the Chrysler Corporation of the minority shares belonging to British shareholders in the British Chrysler Company.

No, Sir. In view of the undertakings given to successive Governments by the Chrysler Corporation, the corporation quite properly approached the Department seeking a release only from the undertaking given in paragraph (vi) of its letter to the Minister of Technology dated 16th January 1967, to enable it to acquire the remaining minority shareholdings in Chrysler United Kingdom Ltd. The Government have agreed to release the corporation from this undertaking, subject to the necessary exchange control consent being obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what applications he has had from the paper industry and the paper processing industry for price increases under the Counter-Inflation (Temporary Provisions) Act to make provision for cover against Scandinavian raw material price increases due to the floating of the £ sterling and other causes.

Nine applications have been received from paper manufacturers and 12 applications from paper processors. These are being considered by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to encourage the recycling of waste industrial products in order to avoid pollution of the environment and the continuity of industrial processing.

In making clear to industry the importance it attaches to the reclamation and recycling of waste industrial products the Government emphasise both economic and environmental considerations. These are reflected in their research programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to encourage the establishment of industries designed to absorb and process waste food materials, without emitting the smells such as are produced by existing plant of the most modern design.

I am making inquiries and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what freedom of action in the pricing of steel will remain with the British Steel Corporation and Her Majesty's Government after 1st January.

The standstill applies to steel as to other prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the cross-runway at London Airport is being used more frequently and for what reason; and whether he will issue a direction to the British Airports Authority that it shall take steps to see that aircraft using it do not fly unnecessarily low in order to reduce nuisance from noise over Harrow.

Recent prevalence of strong cross-winds has, for safety reasons, required aircraft landing at Heathrow to use Runway 05/23 for long periods but the position should improve with a return to more normal conditions. This runway is used only for about 3 per cent. of the time in a typical year. The British Airports Authority is not responsible for the way in which aircraft are operated. Aircraft on approach to land are held by air traffic control as high as possible for as long as possible and use a 3 degree glide-slope on final descent to the runway.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms are currently involved in discussions with his Department about new industrial developments in Millom.

Two firms are currently involved in discussions with my Department relative to the Millom area.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions the Local Employment Act financial advisory committee has failed to give a direct answer on claims for financial assistance referred to it by his Department in each of the last three years; and what subsequent steps were normally adopted by his Department.

None. But on occasion a final recommendation to the Department may be deferred pending receipt of further information from the applicant.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims for operation grant were outstanding when the Industry Act became operative.

On 9th August 1972, when the Industry Act came into force, 68 applications for operational grant were under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what tests or requirements are necessary before a company is given a five year rent-free tenancy of an advance factory by his Department.

Five-year rent-free periods could be considered before 22nd March 1972 for new incoming projects in the special development areas, subject to the provision of sufficient new employment. The appropriate industrial estates corporation, as landlord of an advance factory, would also have to be satisfied at the time of the applicant's financial standing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies in development areas who had claims for operational grant outstanding have been subsequently refused financial assistance under the Industry Act.

I regret that information is not readily available in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the net present value of financial aids to companies in manufacturing and services which are located in development areas compared with those operating prior to June 1970.

The information is set out in the following table for both plant and machinery and industrial buildings. Since the discounted value for industry's investment projects will vary according to the mix of plant and buildings in each project, the table also contains for illustration a typical example.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for investment grants have been received from firms in Lancashire; what was the total investment involved, what was the total claimed; and if he will make a statement.

About 656,000 applications for investment grant have been made in respect of expenditure amounting to nearly £11,200 million. Grant paid amounts to about £2,650 million. Separate figures for Lancashire are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average length of time between application for an investment grant and the date of payment; how this time compares between Lancashire and the remainder of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available. Applications for investment grant, which vary greatly in complexity, whether from Lancashire or elsewhere, are dealt with as expeditiously as possible once they are submitted with any necessary supporting documentation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the longest time a firm has waited from the date of application for an investment

Nearly 650,000 applications for grant have been dealt with. It would require disproportionate effort to ascertain which of these led to the longest delay in payment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for industrial development grants submitted to his Department prior to October 1970 remain outstanding; how many have been refused; what is the total value; how many new jobs are involved; and what are the regional figures.

About 430,000 applications for investment grant were received prior to October 1970 in respect of expenditure amounting to about £6,750 million. The precise statistical information requested is not available but it is estimated that relatively few of these older applications remain under negotiation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total amount expended in grant aid toward industrial development in each of the development areas to 30th June in each year from 1967 to 1972; and what is the estimated amount for 1972–73.

This information is not available in the form requested but the table below gives the nearest approximation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much coking coal has been imported into the United Kingdom over the last 12 months; and what was its cost.

The amount was 1·1 million metric tonnes valued at £12·2 million c.i.f. in the year ended October 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will specify, and break down into its component parts, the amount of Government aid provided to, respectively, the machine tool and shipbuilding industries for each year since and including 1968.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how much Government financial assistance has been given to each of the firms in Great Britain at present involved in hovercraft production; and what are the locations of these firms;(2) what are the annual figures for Government aid given to the British hovercraft industry in each of the last 10 years, and the total for this period;(3) what proportion of the total Government financial assistance to the hovercraft industry paid in the last 10 years has gone to firms located in development areas;(4) how much Government financial assistance has been given to projects in years to firms in the hovercraft industry which are no longer trading;(5) how much Government financial assostance has been given to projects in the hovercraft industry in the last 10 years which have subsequently been scrapped or discontinued;(6) how many different types of light hovercraft are currently in production in Great Britain; and how much Government financial assistance has been given to each;(7) if he will list the purposes for which Government financial assistance has been made available to the hovercraft industry since its inception, and give the total sums made available under each heading;(8) if he will give the names of the companies in Great Britain in receipt of Government assistance at present involved in hovercraft production and describe the types of craft they are producing.

Financial assistance to the hovercraft industry since its inception has taken a variety of forms. Loans have been given by the National Research Development Corporation; investment grants for craft and prototypes have been available under the Industrial Development Act 1966; direct aid has been given under the Science and Technology Act 1965. Indirect aid, the total value of which cannot be quantified, has been given by means of the purchase of craft by DTI for evaluation and research, intramural studies carried out by Government research establishments, defence contracts and an advanced factory given rent-free for five years under the Local Employment Act.The purposes for which aid has been given vary according to the source and the Act invoked. Loans given by NRDC constitute launching aid; investment grants and local employment assistance serve their particular purposes as defined in the Acts; R & D contracts are placed to ensure preliminary research and further development.Government expenditure in the field of research and development to date it about £12 million, and is continuing. The current programme, as announced in the House last March, was designed to develop and improve the existing craft all of which were then being produced in the Solent area.Firms now in production or with production facilities are the British Hovercraft Corporation Ltd. (BHC), Cushion-craft Ltd., Hovermarine Transport Ltd. (HTL), and Vosper Thornycroft Ltd., all in the Southampton—Isle of Wight area; Sealand Hovercraft Ltd. is in Millom, Cumberland.Craft manufactured by these companies are:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he intends to take to ensure that wholesalers and retailers pass on, in full, price reductions arising from price fluctuations due to seasonal or external causes.

We are watching the situation carefully and will be ready to take up, with importers, manufacturers, wholesalers or retailers, cases where reductions seem justified for these reasons and such action has not already been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he will be taking to prevent increases in cash margins during the standstill period by wholesalers and retailers.

The Counter-Inflation (Temporary Provisions) Act gives the Government full powers to prevent unjustified price rises during the standstill period. Where there is evidence of an unreasonable increase in cash margins we will be prepared to take appropriate action.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he is aware that of the 70 cases of breach of the freeze, more than half have reduced their prices as a result of approaches from his Department; and what has happened in the other cases;(2) how many notices requiring the application of the standstill he has issued in respect of the 30 retailers and companies who refused to suspend price increases introduced after the start of the freeze on 6th November.

No notices have been issued. Further action will be taken so far as necessary to secure compliance with the standstill.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to provide suitable jobs to minimise youth unemployment in the Aberavon constituency.

We are doing everything possible to foster new industry in this as in other areas and to encourage existing industry to expand and modernise. I would expect the employment arising from new developments to benefit both young and adult unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what future the marine technology support unit has under the new arrangements for ship and marine technology in his Department.

The Marine Technology Support Unit is continuing to carry out its present tasks but these are likely to be modified to meet the developing needs of the Ship and Marine Technology Requirements Board and Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will ensure that constructional work undertaken under Government-placed contracts employ local labour in areas of high unemployment; and whether he will impose contractual obligations to this effect.

I have been asked to reply.Much of the labour for construction work is engaged locally. I do not think it would be wise to impose a contractual obligation on the extent to which local labour should be employed as contractors must retain freedom to augment and deploy their labour to meet the varying requirements of each project.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what precentage of the European Economic Community budget expenditure for the coming year represents regional aid.

The 1973 Budget includes 75 million units of account, just under 2 per cent. of the total, for regional development schemes arising from agricultural restructuring. Some of the European Social Fund's expenditure will also aid regions with long-term structural unemployment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate, respectively, the financial and administrative costs of extending tax credits to all supplementary benefit recipients, the self-employed and those earning less than £8 per week; and by how much supplementary benefit payments, which would otherwise be payable, would be reduced.

Insufficient information about the numbers and the income of people in these categories is available for estimates to be made of the financial costs. Some information about supplementary benefit recipients and the self-employed is available, but this is not complete.Those earning less than £8 a week are outside the tax net, and hence there is no Inland Revenue information available; and since they do not all receive supplementary benefit the Department of Health and Social Security does not have complete information. The administrative costs would depend on how the credits were to be paid, but they could be substantial.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amounts paid in regional employment premium to, respectively, the shipbuilding and machine tool industries for each year since the inception of regional employment premium.

Figures are not available in the precise form requested. It is estimated that regional employment premium in respect of shipbuilding, ship repairing and marine engineering (minimum list heading 370) and in respect of metal-working machine tools (minimum list heading 332) for the years 1970–71 onwards was as follows (figures are not available for earlier years):

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider making changes in the value added tax special schemes for retailers.

We have carefully considered representations about those schemes and now propose to introduce two changes.First, there will be a modified version of scheme 2, available to all retailers whose total taxable turnover does not exceed £50,000 a year. It will be the existing scheme 2 without the ⅛ addition.Second, in all the special schemes retailers will have an option to use a differing definition of "gross takings from the one given in Customs and Excise Notice No. 707. The difference will be that if traders prefer all supplies to account customers may be included in gross takings at the time when the customer is debited, instead of at the time when he or she pays the account.Customs and Excise will be issuing a supplement to Notice No. 707 explaining these changes fully, and also a special leaflet for small retail businesses explaining the modified scheme 2.We shall, of course, keep the operation of all special retail schemes under close review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to reduce customs and excise duties on the introduction of value added tax; and how wine will be affected.

As my right hon. Friend indicated in his last Budget Statement, he cannot decide upon the appropriate levels of taxation on revenue duty goods in the financial year 1973–74 until he has made an assessment of the general economic and financial situation nearer the time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of the average tax rebate payable to a father of one, two and three children who becomes unemployed for two weeks having earned, respectively, £25, £30 and £35 per week for the first six months of the financial year.

If the children are all under 11, £5·63, £6·20 and £6·74 per week, respectively, for all three levels of earnings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what he estimates would be the yield over the next year, on the basis that the current rate of increase in house prices continued, from a capital gains tax of, respectively, 30 per cent. and 50 per cent. imposed on the excess of the sale price of houses over £7,000 or on the excess over the previous sale price, whichever is the higher; and on this basis, what he estimates to be the yield from such a tax in each of the following four years;(2) what he estimates would be the yield over each of the next five years, on the basis that the current rate of increase in house prices continued, from a capital gains tax of, respectively, 30 per cent. and 50 per cent. imposed on the excess of the sale price of houses over £7,000 or the excess over the previous sale price, whichever is the higher, in the first year, where this base figure was later raised each successive year by the rate of inflation of house prices over the previous year;(3) what he estimates would be the present annual yield of a capital gains tax imposed at the present time on the increase in market value of those houses now selling for over £7,000, taking their

It is not possible to provide estimates for the yields of capital gains tax which would result from these proposals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, for the most recent year for which the information is available, he will give an analysis of the type of assets on which capital gains tax has been paid, with the amount and percentage of capital gains revenue in each category, distinguishing between companies and individuals.

Capital gains tax is levied on the realised gains of individuals only; those of companies are charged to corporation tax. The following table gives an approximate analysis for the latest years available of the amounts of each tax assessed up to 31st March 1971 on capital gains of individuals and of companies by main component of the gain charged.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total capital allowances agreed by the Inland Revenue in each of the last five years.

Capital allowances due to private sector are estimated by the Inland Revenue to be:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue accruing from the introduction of a wealth tax at the rate of

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has of the distribution of wealth amongst those persons with wealth in excess of £1 million.

No reliable estimate is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the loss to the Revenue if the first £200, the first £250, the first £300 and the first £400 of taxable income were charged at 15 per cent.; what the loss would be if they were charged at 20 per cent.; and how much of these losses would be attributable to those with incomes less than £2,000 a year.

On the assumption that the reduced rate band also applied to wives' earnings, the figures for the present tax system are as follows:1 per cent., 2 per cent., 3 per cent., 4 per cent. and 5 per cent., respectively, with exemptions for the first £20,000, the first £50,000 and the first £100,000.

On the basis of the valuation of estates for estate duty in 1970–71, the estimated yields are:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the light of the Government's decision to cancel a £10 million loan to Uganda, he will take steps to assist British firms who have commercial payments outstanding because of the Uganda Government's failure to allocate foreign exchange for this purpose.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider, in his next Budget, the disincentive caused under the present taxation system to invalidity pensioners who earn more than a minimal sum each week.

There must be a misunderstanding of the position. The amount which, in certain circumstances, an invalidity pensioner may earn without losing his right to the pension is well below the tax threshold. The rules governing right to invalidity pension are a matter for the Secretary of State for Social Services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of

I have been asked to reply.The following tables show the salaries in payment to the main groups concerned on 1st June 1970 and the current salaries. The ministerial and Law Officers salaries for 1st June 1970 were fixed on 1st April 1965 with the exception of the Lord Chancellor's which was fixed on 1st April 1966:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what requests he has received from the Greater London Council for powers to permit owner liability to apply to all or certain types of parking offences; when such requests were received; and what reply was given.

I am aware of the GLC's views on this matter. The introduction of legislation would be primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to reply to the application of the County Borough of Wolverhampton for the designation of the borough under the Caravan Sites Act.

My right hon. and learned Friend proposes shortly to lay orders under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 designating Wolverhampton, Manchester and Richmond-upon-Thames.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration was given to the depredation caused by grey squirrels in the plans for Tree Planting Year.

The need to replace trees damaged by pests or diseases is one important reason for encouraging the planting of young trees. It is well known that some hardwood trees, when mature, such as the beech and sycamore, are particularly vulnerable to attack by grey squirrels but there remains a wide variety of trees which do not suffer from their depredations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities have had buildings for sale schemes approved by the Department of the Environment in 1972, to date.

The following authorities have had building for sale schemes approved:

Battle RD, Birmingham CB, Bromley LB, Chichester B, Corby UD, Cranbrook RD, Droitwich RD, Kings Lynn B, Sale B, Sheffield CB, Southend CB, Sunbury-on-Thames UD, Sunderland CB, Sutton LB, Swindon B, and Worthing RD.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses were built by local authorities for sale in England and Wales during the first nine months of 1972.

Local authorities and new towns in England and Wales have reported selling 1,005 dwellings expressly built for sale during the first nine months of 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what sums have been made available in each of the last five years by the Government to British Rail, specifying the separate figures for general subsidy and capital grants; and what figures are estimated for the current year.

The information is as follows:number of local authority houses under construction in each of the 32 London boroughs.