asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he intends to take to ensure that the public understand the effect of tax changes on the introduction of value added tax.

As requested by my hon. Friend and others, there will be an extensive public information campaign, in the Press and on TV, about the introduction of VAT and the abolition of purchase tax and SET.This campaign will follow the Budget, and what we shall do is to give the nation the facts. We shall therefore be giving examples of a wide range of key goods and services showing how their prices may be expected to change as a result of the introduction of value added tax and the abolition of purchase tax and selective employment tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the National Council of Social Service and from other individual charitable organisations concerning the impact of VAT on charities, and the impact when introduced of the new unified income tax at a basic rate of 30 per cent. on covenanted income of charities; what replies he has sent; and whether he will make a statement.

So far as VAT is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 28th November last. A number of charities have written about the effect of the unified income tax system and my right hon. Friend is also considering representations from the National Council of Social Service.—[Vol. 847, c. 66.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now make a statement on the zero rating for value added tax of children's shoes.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for Derby, South (Mr. Walter Johnson).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that it is physically impracticable to pass on VAT to consumers when levied on coin-operated machines other than gaming machines; and whether he will take steps to ensure that operators of such machines are not in consequence penalised by VAT.

It is inherently difficult for operators of certain coin-operated machines to take account of small changes in operating costs, whatever the reason for the change. They have, however, dealt with the problem in the past and I see no need to make special arrangements in relation to VAT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on Government policy towards the proposal that foodstuffs should be subject to a negative or reverse rate of value added tax rather than the proposed zero rating.

The Government's proposals for dealing with food prices are outlined in the recent White Paper—the Programme for Controlling Inflation: The Second Stage (Cmnd. 5205). I do not believe that a negative or reverse rate of VAT on food, which would have the effect of subsidising food across the board, would be the right course of action.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will issue an order under the Finance Act 1972 authorising the Customs and Excise to insist on all firms selling direct to the public indicating, by a tag or such other method of marking as is considered necessary on each item sold, whether or not it is subjected to VAT; and if he will make a statement.

There is no provision in the Finance Act 1972 for making such an order.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the administration of VAT, including registration, arising from the expressed dissatisfaction with its pay and workload by the Civil Service Association.

Although registration for VAT started slowly, the rate of applications is now steadily increasing, and the preparations for the introduction of VAT are proceeding satisfactorily. I consider that the present staffing arrangements and those planned for the future are adequate. The administration of the tax will be kept under continuous review and any essential changes, including staffing, will be promptly undertaken.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in National Savings since June 1970.

Since June 1970 the total invested in National Savings has risen by £1,556 million to £10.056 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the rate of increase in consumers' expenditure in real terms.

The provisional estimate of consumption in the third quarter of 1972—the most recent estimate available—is 6¼ per cent. higher than during the third quarter of 1971.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the 1973 EEC budget will be used for agricultural purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the EEC Budget in 1973 will be used for agricultural purposes.

About 73 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated sum due to be paid in 1973 to the EEC in respect of VAT.

Nil.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of total expenditure from the EEC Budget in 1973, and of the United Kingdom contribution; and how these estimates com- pare with those given in the White Paper "The United Kingdom and the European Communities" of July 1971.

The Community Budget for 1973, as approved by the Council of Ministers, amounts to 4,245 million units of account, namely, about £1,770 million at the declared parity. To arrive at an estimate of our actual gross contribution to the Budget, a number of adjustments have to be made to this figure, as explained in the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward Taylor) on 19th December. Using the price basis of the White Paper "Public Expenditure to 1976–77" (Cmnd. 5178), our gross contribution is estimated at £125 million and our net contribution, after allowing for receipts of £60 million, at £65 million.In comparing the latest estimates with those in the July 1971 White Paper I explained in answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart, that the estimate of the size of the Budget, allowing for the different price basis, compares very closely. As to the United Kingdom net contribution, it will be less than the July 1971 estimate, as the following figures show:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the total cost to the United Kingdom balance of payments in 1973 of membership of the EEC.

As the Government have always made clear, quantitative estimates cannot sensibly be made of the overall balance of payments effects of membership of the EEC.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total cost of the EEC budget for 1973 in £ sterling on the basis of the current rate of exchange.

The 1973 EEC Budget is not costed on the basis of the current rate of exchange for sterling.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the economy failed to achieve an annual growth rate of 5 per cent. in 1964 to 1970, in 1970 to 1972 and since 1972, respectively.

From 1964 to 1970 the economy grew at an average rate of 2.3 per cent. No figure is yet available for the whole period 1970 to 1972, but the indicators of demand and output suggest that the current growth rate is broadly in line with the Budget forecast.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the growth rate of the British economy in percentage terms since December 1970; and what is its current rate.

In 1971 gross domestic product at 1963 prices increased by just over 1 per cent. No figure for 1972 is yet available, but the indicators of demand and output suggest the economy is growing broadly in line with the Budget forecast.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the outcome of his discussions with the managements of the nationalised industries regarding the financing of the shortfall on their respective financial targets resulting from their participation in price restraint; and what is his latest estimate of that shortfall in the current financial year.

I have nothing to add to the information I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) on 13th December.—[Vol. 848, c. 174.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the payments deficit/surplus for 1972.

There was probably a small deficit on current account. The full figures will not be available until March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the balance of payments position for 1972 and how this compares with the actual figure for 1970.

Figures for 1972 as a whole will be published this March.Figures for 1970 were last published in Economic Trends for December 1972.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what bodies he consulted in his visit to Scotland on the subject of further administrative office transfer from the Treasury to Scotland.

My visit to Scotland on 11th December was a private one. I did, however, take the opportunity to discuss a number of matters—including this point—with the Lord Provost of Glasgow.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider means of providing more adequate information to the public and Parliament about developments in economic policy.

I believe we have done much to facilitate more informed public discussion of developments in economic policy, particularly in the field of changes in the tax structure. But if my hon. Friend has any particular suggestions in mind, perhaps he will let me have them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for compensating British residents who have held Rhodesian Government stock since 1964.

The United Kingdom Government have no responsibility for these stocks and we have no plans for compensating United Kingdom residents whose holdings are not being serviced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will amend the Customs Duty (Personal Reliefs) Order so that concessions are made on the purchase tax of cars imported into the United Kingdom by Army and R.A.F. personnel, when they are posted from Germany to Northern Ireland.

Such an amendment to the order would not be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the results of the inquiry on the sixpence; and whether he has reached a decision on the future of this coin.

The Royal Mint consulted 165 representative organisations. Sixty-nine were in favour of withdrawing the coin, 27 suggested retention and the remainder were neutral or silent. Almost all the 4,260 members of the public who expressed views wanted to see the coin kept. The sixpence in in fact now very little used and there are only 330 million outside the Mint compared with 1,900 million at the time of decimalisation; a high proportion of the 330 million are not in active circulation and the traffic across bank counters is only 3 per cent. of that before decimalisation. This is not a matter which the Government can control, and a further decline in the use of the coin seems likely. However, the Government do not wish to anticipate this situation. It has therefore decided that the 6d. (2½p) coin shall remain legal tender for at least another year. The position will be reviewed again during 1974.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the increased yield from corporation tax if the rate of capital allowances on plant in the first year for firms outside the development areas was 25 per cent., 40 per cent., 50 per cent., 60 per cent., and 75 per cent., respectively.

The effect in 1973–74 if the charge applied to expenditure after 31st March 1973 would be neglible. The additional yields of corporation tax from reducing first-year allowances on plant and machinery outside the development areas from 100 per cent. for the next two years is estimated to be of the order of:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much, in percentage terms, the standard of living has increased since December 1970; and what has been the increase in 1972.

On the basis of the estimated changes in real personal disposable income per head, the standard of living rose by 8·8 per cent. between the fourth quarter of 1970 and the third quarter of 1972, and by 5·6 per cent. between the fourth quarter of 1971 and the third quarter of 1972.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters he has so far received urging him to retain selective employment tax.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reconsider his policy on tax relief on mortgages on dwellings other than the main residence.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to ensure that the local offices of the Inland Revenue are open at times more convenient to the general public.

I do not consider that any changes in the existing arrangements are necessary. In cases of difficulty interviews can be arranged by appointment outside the hours when offices are open to the public.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for how long Great Britain can continue to float the £ sterling without interfering with the timetable for achievement of the first stage of EEC economic and monetary union.

The sterling float does not interfere with the timetable for the first stage of economic and monetary union in the EEC.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost to the balance of payments in 1972 in terms of higher import prices and lower export prices, respectively, of the floating of the £ sterling.

The sterling float increased some United Kingdom import prices in sterling terms. But other factors, such as world market conditions, also influenced import prices in the period. The float had little direct effect on United Kingdom export prices in sterling terms, but was reflected in about a 5 per cent. fall in United Kingdom export prices in dollar terms between the two halves of 1972. In time the trading account will benefit from the improvement in competitiveness provided by the float.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the British contribution to the EEC Budget for 1973 will be made in units of account assessed on the basis of the last fixed parity of the £ sterling.

Under the Community's regulations the United Kingdom's monthly instalments to the 1973 budget are payable in sterling and calculated by reference to our parity as declared to the IMF at the time the payments are made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations have been received from the EEC since 1st January 1973 about the Government's policy of floating the £ sterling:(2) what discussions he has had with the French Government about fixing the sterling exchange rate.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assurances he has given to the French Government about fixing the sterling exchange rate.

The French Government have been told of our intention to return to the maintenance of agreed margins round a fixed parity for sterling as soon as conditions permit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total of United Kingdom investment overseas now; what annual income is received from it; and what relationship the total has as a percentage of the gross national product.

The total value of identified United Kingdom external assets at the end of 1971, the latest date for which a figure is available, was £23,785 million. Interest, profits and dividends received on overseas investments in 1971 amounted to £1,420 million. Gross national product, at factor cost, in 1971 was £48,216 million; it is not meaningful to express the total value of external assets as a percentage of the gross national product.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the surplus on the United Kingdom invisible account for 1972 was derived from interest received on United Kingdom overseas investments.

Total receipts seasonally adjusted on the United Kingdom invisible account for the first three quarters of 1972 were £4,267 million, of which total receipts in the form of interest, profits and dividends on overseas investments amounted to £1,084 million (25 per cent.). The net surplus on the invisible account seasonally adjusted for the same period, was £496 million, of which the net surplus of interest, profits and dividends was £292 million (59 per cent.). Figures for the whole of 1972 will be published in the March 1973 issue of "Economic Trends".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the performance of the United Kingdom's gross domestic product annually over the past 10 years.

Estimates of the United Kingdom's gross domestic product are published regularly in "Economic Trends" and the National Income and Expenditure Blue Book. Estimated rates of change of gross domestic product at constant factor cost were published in Table 10 on pages LIV and LV of the October 1972 issue of "Economic Trends".

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has now completed his discussions on the relationship between the Manpower Services Commission, the Training Agency and the industrial training boards.

Consultation about relations between the Manpower Services Commission, the Training Services Agency and the industrial training boards under the new arrangements for industrial training is still in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has reached a decision on changes in the organisation of the Youth Employment Service.

My right hon. Friend expects to make an early announcement of our plans for the Youth Employment Service, following widespread consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will propose that Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day be official public holidays throughout the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now declare New Year's Day and May Day to be national holidays to bring Great Britain nearer to the number of annual holidays in other EEC countries.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day are already observed as holidays and no change is called for.Representations have been received from the TUC that there should be additional public holidays on 1st January and 1st May. These representations are under consideration but no decision has yet been reached.There is no requirement for EEC countries to harmonise their holiday arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of statutory holidays in the EEC countries and the average holiday period for industrial workers with the comparative figures in Great Britain.

The following public holidays in member countries of the EEC are secured by national or state law:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now make a statement about the future of the Community Industry Scheme for young people.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement within the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the discussions he has had on the assistance to be given from the EEC social fund in respect of retraining and resettling redundant textile workers, following the agreement in principle by the Council of Ministers that such assistance should be made available.

United Kingdom officials were involved in the preparation of the text of the decision providing for assistance to be made available from the fund which was agreed by the council in December 1972. It provides that the Social Fund may meet up to half the cost of Government-supported schemes for re- training and resettling textile workers. I will send the hon. Gentleman a copy of the text.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by what percentage the rate of real wages has grown since December 1970.

Between December 1970 and November 1972, the latest date for which information is available, the general index of retail prices rose by 16·8 per cent. and the index of average earnings by 26·2 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many stoppages of work occurred during 1972 for reasons other than disputes about terms and conditions of employment; how many workers were involved; and what was the total number of working days lost.

Detailed statistics comparable to those published are not available for stoppages of work over issues unrelated to terms and conditions of employment. However, according to the information available, there were three major stoppages of this kind in 1972, involving an aggregate of about 400,000 workers. The total number of working days lost is not known as the period of stoppage is understood in some instances to have been less than a day.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many stoppages of work have occurred since 18th June 1970 which have not been included in the monthly statistics as published by his Department; how many workers were involved; how many working days were lost; and what were the causes.

Information is not available about stoppages involving fewer than 10 workers or lasting less than one day, except where the aggregate of working days lost exceeds 100. It is not therefore possible to provide aggregate figures for all unpublished stoppages in this period.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will prepare plans for the more effective regulation of fee-charging employment agencies.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many working days were lost in December 1972 as a result of disputes involving the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers in cases where it stated they were against decisions of the National Industrial Relations Court.

In December 1972, recorded stoppages over this issue involved the loss of approximately 230,000 working days.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has yet received the report of the National Childen's Bureau Study of Further Education, Training and Employment of Handicapped School Leavers; and if he is now able to make a survey of the types of jobs available to children leaving school for the deaf and hard of hearing.

A report on the National Children's Bureau Study will go to press at the end of this month. When it is available, full consideration will be given to the need for a survey of the types of jobs available to children leaving schools for the deaf and hard of hearing.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of orders that have been made forbidding proposed income increases, indicating the number of workers and proposed income increase affected by each order.

The orders are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are being taken to increase the number of speech therapists; and whether he is satisfied that the salary scale is adequate to attract first-class personnel.

I saw no grounds for disagreeing with the last pay settlement of the Whitley Council which was agreed with effect from April last. Since then we have received the report of the Quirk Committee which includes recommendations for increasing the numbers of speech therapists, and this is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has received the communication from the Chief Executive Officer and Town Clerk of the London Borough of Newham, dated 15th December, regarding the National Health Service reorganisation area and regional boundaries in London; what was the purport of this letter; and what was the nature of his reply.

The letter asked that I should receive a deputation to discuss Newham's position after health service reorganisation. The Minister of State, who has special responsibility for National Health Service reorganisation in London, has offered to do this, and he has sent the hon. Member a copy of his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions have taken place between officials of his Department, the North-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board and the Royal Northern Hospital concerning hiving off a wing of that hospital to an American-based company; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will establish an inquiry into the procedure whereby the expert witness at industrial death appeal tribunals can previously have been a member of a pneumoconiosis panel who advised the insurance officer making the original decision.

No, Sir. The expert witness from the Pneumoconiosis Medical Panel is normally one of the doctors who have examined the thoracic organs and is therefore in the best position to give evidence on the medical issues.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will explain the basis, in terms of population in relation to the number and location of hospitals and health service centres, for his decision as announced by his Department's Press Officer on 28th December, that Sheffield is not the right place geographically for the new Regional Health Authority's headquarters.

A final decision on the eventual location of the headquarters of the proposed regional health authority for Region 3 will not be taken until the views of all the authorities consulted have been received and studied. Distribution of the population in the region is among the factors to be taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost of land and building for the proposed regional health authority headquarters in Nottingham.

No final decision on the location of the headquarters of the proposed regional health authority for Region 3 will be taken until the views of all authorities consulted have been received and studied. Costs of acquiring accommodation are among the many factors to be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he consulted the Yorkshire Humberside Regional Planning Council, or took account of the council's views on the need for increased employment in commerce and administrative services in South Yorkshire, before he decided that the Sheffield Regional Hospitals Board headquarters, to be replaced by the Regional Health Authority, should be moved to Nottingham.

No. A final decision on the eventual location of the headquarters for the proposed regional health authority for Region 3 will not be taken until the views of all authorities consulted have been received and considered. I will bear in mind the right hon. Gentleman's suggestion that the views of all the regional planning councils involved should also be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will hold an inquiry into the manhandling of patients by higher grade patients in mental hospitals.

Hospital authorities are looking into allegations made in some recent newspaper articles about conditions in certain hospitals for mentally handicapped patients. I have asked to be kept informed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if any patient who has been committed under the Mental Health Act 1959 has a right to refuse a specific form of treatment.

I am advised that, in the case of a patient detained for treatment under the Mental Health Act, any recognised form of treatment which is considered necessary for such disorder may lawfully be administered without the consent of the patient. Where, however, the patient is capable of understanding what is proposed, it is the normal practice to explain this to him and, if possible, to obtain his agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the hearing aids issued to children under 16 years of age are at present of the "behind the ear" pattern.

It is estimated that about half of the National Health Service hearing aids provided for children are the "behind the ear" pattern. The National Health Service models suitable for severe deafness in both children and adults are of the body-worn type.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children under the age of 16 years have hearing aids issued under the National Health Service; how many children are known to be too deaf to benefit from a hearing aid; and what recent reports he has had about the efficiency of the aids at present in use.

It is estimated that about 15,000 children of school age in England and Wales have hearing aids. The numbers of pre-school children with aids and children unable to benefit from an aid are not known. Recent reports about the effectiveness of National Health Ser- vice hearing aids prescribed for children are being studied by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many health visitors are qualified to screen the hearing ability of children of pre-school age; and what proportion of the total this figure represents;(2) what arrangements exist for training health visitors to screen the hearing ability of children of pre-school age; and what proportion of these children are so screened;(3) in what way screening the hearing ability of children of pre-school age is likely to be affected by the reorganisation of the health service.

Health visitors are instructed in methods of screening young children for hearing impairment as part of their normal training, and it is routine for them to undertake this function. Information is not available on the extent to which children fail to be screened but I would expect the number to be small. Reorganisation of the health service will not affect the present screening arrangements except that I am sure it will facilitate the general development of health services for children.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants had a telephone installed and their telephone bill paid for them by the Supplementary Benefits Commission during each of the last three years.

The commission does not pay telephone bills as such but in exceptional cases, where a telephone would be the sole means of communication in an emergency, include the cost of telephone rental in assessing the requirements of the person concerned. Help of this kind and/or with the cost of installation was given in 99, 43 and 18 cases respectively in the years ending August 1970, 1971 and 1972. The figures reflect the use by local authorities of their powers under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the light of the decision of the Chief Commissioner of National Insurance in the case of Mrs. Maureen Martin, and in particular in view of the commissioner's questioning whether the previous procedures of the board were in accordance with natural justice, he will now require the board to enable applicants to present oral argument on both fact and law to the board.

No. I have written to the hon. and learned Gentleman about the reasons for not having oral hearings before the Attendance Allowance Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many commercial companies, wishing to expand the scope of their current activities by taking over National Health Service facilities, he has met since taking office; if he will name these companies and their owners; and if he will make a statement on his policy towards such matters.

I met the Director of the Harley Street Clinic in April 1971 at his request to discuss ways in which private enterprise might collaborate with the National Health Service. One suggestion put to me was that the Harley Street Clinic might take over a private wing of a National Health Service Hospital, and develop it as a separate private hospital. I made it clear that I could consider such a proposal only if it came from the hospital board concerned and then only if it adequately safeguarded National Health Service interests and National Health Service patients. I have in the event received no such proposal.I have no plans for handing over National Health Service facilities for development by commercial companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will name the authorities which have special accommodation for psycho-geriatrics.

Information about the provision of hospital facilities for psycho-geriatric patients is not readily available. Hospital authorities were advised in 1970 to establish services for assessment in each district; they have been advised recently to plan to provide longer-stay accommodation nearer the patient's homes as an alternative to beds in large mental illness hospitals. Extra capital funds have been made available for the latter purpose. Reliable current information about local authority accommodation is not available but a census in April 1970 showed that the following authorities in England have homes specially reserved for elderly people who are mentally infirm:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment he has made of the need for a psycho-geriatric unit in Doncaster; and when he intends to approve its provision.

There is a 15-bed short-term psycho-geriatric assessment unit at Tickhill Road Hospital, and the regional hospital board is actively engaged in finding suitable accommodation for those patients of this kind in Western Hospital who are in need of longer-term hospital care. In addition the county borough council has included a home for elderly people who are mentally infirm in its proposed capital building programme for 1973–74. My right hon. Friend is currently considering this along with the programmes of other local authorities, and expects to be able to notify all authorities of the projects selected for loan approval by the end of March.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is his policy that persons suffering from psycho-geriatric disorders should be accommodated in local authority homes in the company of normal elderly people.

It is usually preferable for elderly mentally infirm people to be accommodated in ordinary residential homes either individually or in small groups, but as the number of elderly people suffering from psycho-geriatric disorders is increasing the need to provide homes specially far them may increase. A revised building note on local authority residential accommodation for elderly people to be published shortly will include advice to local authorities on this question.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons are at present in Part III accommodation at Western Hospital, Doncaster; how many of these will have to be re-accommodated within the county borough when the hospital closes later this year; and what additional provision will be made for them.

Doncaster County Borough Council is building two new residential homes for the 73 residents now in Part III accommodation at Western Hospital, Doncaster.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the work being done on the problem of agoraphobia by his Department and indicate what research is being done in this field; if he will give financial and other support to voluntary organisations concerned with this complaint; and if he will make a statement.

There is no current research on the specific problem of agoraphobia being undertaken by the Department, but the Department is able and prepared to consider proposals for research related to the provision of services for psychiatric disorders, including phobias, within its normal research programme. Studies in agoraphobia form a significant part of the programme of research of the Medical Research Council's unit in epidemiological studies in Edinburgh. The council is also giving support to a controlled clinical trial on the treatment of phobic disorders at the Warne-ford Hospital, Oxford, and other studies. I would be willing to consider requests for support from national voluntary organisations concerned with agoraphobia.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek a different means of checking the genuineness of claims for sickness benefit than requiring annually half a million recipients of this benefit to submit to an examination by the Department's medical officers.

Where further medical advice is needed in respect of a claim to sickness benefit, this can most appropriately be obtained through the doctors of the Regional Medical Service. This is a long-standing and effective part of the arrangements for dealing with claims, and no satisfactory alternative has been suggested. The claimant is in fact medically examined in only some 40 per cent. of the half million or so cases referred for advice annually.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in the last year for which full information is available about those persons in receipt of sickness benefit who were called for examination by his Department's medical officers, how many persons complained about being selected for this purpose; what were the reasons given for such complaints; how these complaints were dealt with by his Department; and how many of these persons were nevertheless interviewed.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in the last year for which full information is available, how many persons in receipt of sickness benefit were called for examination by his Department's own medical officers; how they were selected; what proportion they formed of total sickness benefit recipients; how many attended for interview; how many were found not to be justifiably in receipt of sickness benefit; and in the latter cases what action his Department took.

In 1971 515,000 sickness and invalidity benefit claims were referred to the Regional Medical Service for advice on incapacity for work. The need for advice is determined by the facts of the individual case, such as the duration or frequency of claims in relation to the diagnosis. References represented just under 6 per cent. of new claims during the year. It is estimated that in about 20 per cent. of the cases referred the claimant's own doctor subsequently certified that he was no longer incapable of work. In about 40 per cent, of the cases Regional Medical Service officers actually examined the claimant: 20 per cent. of those examined were in the opinion of the examining medical officer fit for their normal work and 7 per cent. fit for alternative work. Benefit would be disallowed where the independent adjudicating authorities decided on all the evidence that the claimant was not incapable of work.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the normal procedure in selecting persons in receipt of sickness benefit for interview and examination by his Department's own medical officers; and what changes have been made in them in the last three years.

The procedure depends on such factors as the nature of the incapacity and the length of time off work. References, initiated in the local office, are considered by officers of the Regional Medical Service, who, in the light of an up-to-date report from the claimant's own doctor, decide whether or not the claimant should be called for examination. Minor changes in procedure are made from time to time. There have been no major changes in the past three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the areas in which the four-week rule now applies, indicating which areas have been added during the last year and give the average unskilled male unemployment rate for each exchange area covered by the rule.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 14th December 1972 which provided the information asked for in the first part of the Question for the period up to 24th October 1972. From that date until 12th December 1972—the last available statistical period—the only alteration reported was in Hereford, where the rule ceased to apply on 4th December 1972. The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available but, as the hon. Member will know, the control operates only in areas where the Department of Employment considers that unskilled work can be obtained without difficulty. The situation in each area is always kept under review and control arrangements are varied accordingly.—[Vol. 848, c. 203–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when she now expects to receive the result of the monitoring study on the effects of the withdrawal of school milk on children's health; what plans she has for action thereon; and if she will make a statement.

I can add nothing to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 21st December 1972.—[Vol. 848, c. 450–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has revised his policy in regard to health education in the light of the management document on the reorganised National Health Service, which only mentions the Health Education Council once and then in conjunction with a supplementary profession to medicine; what proposals he has to enhance progress in this field; and if he will make a statement.

My policy remains unchanged. I regard health education as an important part of the preventive health services, both centrally and locally. My Department continues to give full support to the Health Education Council. Changes in responsibility for health education locally, which the Government propose to make in 1974 subject to the passage of the National Health Service Reorganisation Bill now before Parliament, are described in paragraph 23 of the Command Paper 5055 on National Health Service Reorganisation. The Report on Management Arrangements for the Reorganised National Health Service was not a document in which more than the passing reference to health education which appears in it would have been appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will print in the OFFICIAL REPORT the value of family allowance payments for a two-, three- and four-child family as a proportion of average earnings for each year since 1948.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will print in the OFFICIAL REPORT the value of supplementary benefits, and retirement pensions, respectively, as a proportion of average earnings for each year since 1948.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the new office in Rugby to be open.

The new office will be set up as quickly as possible when suitable premises become available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish figures for the last three years of the number of recipients of supplementary benefit who, because they have fallen into arrears with their rent, have had the amount of their benefit reduced until they could provide evidence of having paid their rent.

I regret that the information requested is not available, but the procedure is only appropriate in certain carefully defined circumstances and involves very few claimants. In these cases the claimant first receives each week the amount of the rent and the balance of benefit is paid on production of evidence that the rent has been paid.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make a statement about the employment prospects in the deep sea fishing industry for the next two years.

This will depend upon a number of factors, not all of which can be foreseen with certainty just now. Our aim will however be to maintain the continued well-being of all sections of the industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that the quality and gravity of British beer is maintained now that Great Britain is a member of the EEC.

There are no EEC regulations on this subject. Before agreeing to any proposals for rules we shall want to be satisfied that they will have no adverse affect on the quality or gravity of British beer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to improve the beef supply and reduce prices; and if he will now ban the export of beef to make it available to the home market, while a shortage exists.

Under the policies of this Government, our national beef breeding herd has already been expanding rapidly. This is the only practicable method of containing prices in a situation of world shortage. My right hon. Friend does not consider that an export ban would be effective in increasing our total beef supplies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the origins and consequences of the recent outbreak of swine vesicular disease in the light of latest available evidence and research.

Investigations are still going on into the origins of swine vesicular disease. As my hon. Friend the Minister of State indicated on 18th December swill was a common factor in the first group of primary outbreaks and cases up to 18th January were linked by movement of pigs, vehicles or market contacts except one case where local spread was involved. Further outbreaks in Somerset, Wiltshire and Hertfordshire on 19th January are still under investigation but with this evidence of the further spread of disease it became necessary to reduce and control the number of pig movements over a wide area. Controlled Area restrictions were therefore imposed from midnight on 19th January to cover the whole of England south of Yorkshire and Lancashire and including the counties of Monmouth and Glamorgan in Wales.The FAO Foot-and-Mouth Commission held a special meeting on 8th-9th January to discuss the disease which appeared almost simultaneously in Poland, Italy, France and Austria early in December. A common source of infection cannot be ruled out at this stage.A stamping out policy has been adopted in all the countries affected because of the similarity of the clinical symptoms of the disease to those of foot-and-mouth disease. Research is in progress at the Animal Virus Research Institute, Pirbright, into the characteristics of the virus, its survival in carcases (fresh, frozen or pickled) and in the environment. No animals other than pigs have been affected.The Ministry remains determined to eradicate this disease not only because of the potential damage to pig producers in this country but also because, if allowed to go unchecked, swine vesicular disease will mask the symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease and endanger our stamping out policy for foot-and-mouth disease.—(Vol. 848; c. 918–920.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a more rigorous procedure for examining and dipping all sheep brought into the United Kingdom following the outbreak of sheep scab at Boothstown, near Worsley.

When inquiries into the source of the present series of outbreaks of sheep scab are completed, my right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, will consider whether the present procedures for examining and dipping sheep imported into Great Britain provide adequate animal health safeguards especially in connection with imports from countries where sheep scab occurs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider reintroducing compulsory dipping of sheep following the outbreak of sheep scab at a farm at Boothstown, near Worsley.

It would be premature at this stage to consider the reintroduction by local authorities of regulations requiring the periodic dipping of sheep in wide areas of the country. The recent outbreaks of sheep scab have been mainly confined to an area on the borders of Lancashire and the West Riding and all infected premises and premises in which there are contact sheep have been placed under restriction and dipping by individual notice will be required as necessary. In order to ensure that the disease does not spread further a large area of Lancashire and the West Riding has been

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total payment made for 1971 and 1972 to fruit growers for grubbing up fruit trees.

; Payments made for 1971 and 1972 to fruit growers for grubbing up fruit trees have totalled:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the monthly import figure for apples over the period of the two years 1971–72.

The monthly import figures are given below. The information for December 1972 is not yet available, but I will send it to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the latest estimate he has made of the cost of agricultural support in the United Kingdom for 1972–73; together with comparable figures for the preceding year.

Following are the details of the latest estimates of the cost of agricultural support in the United Kingdom in the financial year 1972–73 in the form adopted in Table 18 of the 1972 Annual Review White PAPER (Cmmd. 4928) together with comparable figures for the outturn in the financial year 1971–72.