asked the Minister of State for Defence what study he made of a site north of the Rathlin Islands as being suitable for the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre.

A detailed examination was made of the deep area near Rathlin Island. It was judged unsuitable for the BUTEC.

asked the Minister of State for Defence on what evidence he concluded that the Sound of Raasay was the only possible site for the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre.

The site for the BUTEC must satisfy a number of criteria, including depth and extent of sheltered water, nature of the sea bottom, acoustic characteristics, and traffic density. After a preliminary review, a number of sites were considered in detail. It was following this examination that the Inner Sound of Raasay was proposed as the site for the BUTEC. A number of sites suggested by outside interests were considered also but proved unsuitable.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what undertakings were given by the Ministry of Defence officials at public meetings in Portree on the question of the timing of work going ahead at the BUTEC, Sound of Raasay.

Ministry of Defence officials expressed the hope that, if the necessary approvals were forthcoming, the BUTEC would be operational at the end of 1976. Work to achieve this would, of course, start earlier.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the dangers to users of outboard motors within a 10-mile radius of the BUTEC.

Great care is being taken to establish appropriate safety arrangements, and there is no reason why these should not be fully effective with respect to the use of outboard motors.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what ferry services have been withdrawn as a result of the siting of BUTEC in the Sound of Raasay.

No ferry services have been withdrawn as a result of the present use of the Inner Sound of Raasay for torpedo trials. Nor do we anticipate that the siting of the BUTEC there would necessitate their withdrawal.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the United States Government on the siting, of BUTEC in the United States.

None.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what action he is taking to discipline the Royal Navy divers who were apprehended by local fishermen at Raasay taking about £40 worth of clams.

The incident to which I assume this Question refers was one when Royal Navy divers, on an authorised practice dive, openly collected clams for their own consumption. This did not offend against any instructions then in force; the question of disciplinary action, therefore, did not arise. Orders have since been introduced for the relevant area.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether the senior service officer at Raasay has been asked for, or given, permission that shellfish and crustacea and the like could be gathered by individuals using Service equipment.

The instructions governing activity of the kind described were set out in my hon. Friend's reply to the Question from the hon. Member for the Western Isles (Mr. Donald Stewart) on 7th November 1972. Since these instructions were issued no application has been submitted to engage in such activities in the area.—[Vol. 845, c. 144–6.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence what proposals he has for the reactivation of former naval installations at Ardantoul.

None. Arrangements were concluded on 7th August 1972 for the disposal of these installations to the Forestry Commission.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he is aware of the discontent being caused by the Army occupation of Casement Park Gaelic Athletic Association centre in Andersonstown, Belfast; and if he will now order the removal of the army from this site.

I am aware that the Army's occupation of Roger Casement Park causes inconvenience to a number of people, and the matter has been examined most carefully, taking into account representations made by the Gaelic Athletic Association.Unfortunately, the park is the only suitable position from which the Army can control violence in the area, but it will be vacated as soon as the security situation permits.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many members of the Ulster Defence Regiment have been dismissed due to their association with other political organisations in Northern Ireland.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Reverend Ian Paisley) on 25th January and the hon. Member for Mid-Ulster (Miss Devlin) on 30th November 1972. The Ulster Defence Regiment is not, of course, a political organisation.—[Vol. 849, c. 203–4; Vol 847, c. 178–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of average take-home earnings his Department now considers is spent on food by workers in manufacturing industries and others.

I regret that information is not available in the precise form requested. The 1971 Family Expenditure Survey shows that expenditure on food, as a proportion of total household expenditure, for households headed respectively by manual workers and by other workers, was 27·7 per cent. and 23·5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the median figure of earned incomes for the latest convenient date; and if he will make arrangements to publish this median figure together with future announcements of average earnings.

The latest available figures are based on the new earnings survey and relate to April 1972. They are estimates of median gross weekly earnings of men aged 21 and over and women aged 18 and over in full-time employment in Great Britain whose pay was not affected by absence during the survey period.

			Median gross weekly earnings April 1972
Full-time, men	……	…	£33·4
Full-time, women	…	…	£18·6

Other earnings inquiries carried out by my Department do not provide estimates of median earnings. The above figures were published together with information on average (mean) earnings in the November 1972 issue of the Department of Employment

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the aggregate increase in hourly wage rates between the beginning and the end of the period of severe restraint in 1967; and what was the corresponding increase over the same period of each of the three immediately preceding years and for each subsequent year.

The period of "severe restraint" in 1967 was from 1st January to 30th June. During this period, and the others for which information is requested, percentage increases in basic hourly wage rates for manual workers in all industries and services were as follows:—

End-December 1963—End-June 1964	…	2·4
End-December 1964—End-June 1965	…	3·3
End-December 1965—End-June 1966	…	3·8
End-December 1966—End-June 1967	…	2·0
End-December 1967—End-June 1968	…	3·2
End-December 1968—End-June 1969	…	1·3
End-December 1969—End-June 1970	…	5·3
End-December 1970—End-June 1971	…	5·1
End-December 1971—End-June 1972	…	5·1

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the aggregate percentage increase in hourly earnings in manufacturing industry, seasonally adjusted, between the beginning and the end of the period of severe restraint in 1967; and what was the corresponding increase over the same period of each of the three immediately preceding years and for each subsequent year.

The period of "severe restraint" in 1967 was from 1st January to 30th June. During this period, and the others for which information is requested, percentage increases in average weekly earnings, seasonally

			Injury Accidents	Fatal Injuries	Serious Injuries	Slight Injuries
1971	…	…	11	1	4	12
1972	…	…	18	1	9	16

No major improvement of this stretch of A428 is contemplated pending the outcome of a feasibility study for the proposed east-west link between M1 and A1.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he pro-

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table of the average level of wages rates for male and female employees in the South Western Region as against the average national wage rates over the last five years.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures his Department has taken recently to conciliate in the Fine Tubes, Plymouth, industrial dispute, which has lasted over two-and-a-half years.

My Department remains ready to offer to conciliate further if the parties consider that this would prove helpful.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many accidents have occurred on the A428 in Bedfordshire west of the town of Bedford; and what is being done to reduce the number of road hazards.

Injury accidents and casualties over the last two years were:poses to take in connection with the Bromham Bridge on the A428.

The proposed east-west link between M1 and A1, now the subject of a feasibility study, could relieve Bromham of much through traffic, but meanwhile measures to restrict heavy vehicles crossing the bridge at peak hours are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many accidents

					Casualties
			Injury Accidents	Fatal	Serious	Slight	Total	Number of vehicles involved
1971	…	…	19	3	22	18	43	41
1972*	…	…	15	1	12	21	34	25
* First ten months only.

Figures for the size of vehicles involved and the age of people injured are not immediately available, but I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what works have been undertaken or approved on the A6, A428, A603, A418 and A600 within Bedfordshire to facilitate the flow of traffic and reduce the number of accidents.

The following improvement schemes have been completed, undertaken or approved over the past two years:

Following are the figures now available:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many private tenants other than supplementary benefit recipients are estimated to be eligible for rent allowances under the Housing Finance Act; how many have been awarded these allowances each week since 1st January; and what was the average size of these allowances;(2) how many private tenants, apart from those in receipt of supplementary benefit, have so far been awarded a rent allowance; and what was the average weekly amount of allowances thus awarded.

Our estimate of the number of eligible private tenants is between 700,000 and 800,000, of whom about 260,000 are in receipt of supplementary benefit. The answers to the rest of the Question are not available, and would require a special return from local authorities which is not justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what statutory authority payment of housing subsidies has been delayed in respect of local authorities in breach of the Housing Finance Act 1972.

Section 15 of the Housing Finance Act 1972 provides for subsidy under the Act to be paid at such times and in such manner as the Treasury may direct and subject to such conditions as may be imposed under that Section. The final entitlement to subsidy for any year under the Act cannot be determined until an authority's accounts for the year have been closed and audited. Any payment before that is an advance based on estimates. By agreement with the local authority associations, such advances are normally made at the end of June and the end of December.Where a default order has been made against an authority under the Housing Finance Act, my right hon. and learned Friend has power under Section 99 of that Act to make reduced payments of housing subsidies or to suspend or discontinue such payments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider introducing early legislation to impose binding conditions relating to the resale of property improved with the aid of discretionary grants provided for in the Housing Act 1969; and if he will ensure that such legislation will include powers to limit the resale of such properties within a specified period of time.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 6th December last to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Test (Mr. S. James A. Hill).—(Vol. 847, c. 427–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, on how many occasions in the past 12 months his Department has recommended a purchase of property by another Government Department at a figure in excess of the amount at which such property was valued by the district valuer.

None. The case my hon. Friend has in mind was a purchase on my behalf, not by another Government Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the findings of the public inquiry into the rail accident at Morpeth, Northumberland, on 7th May 1969; whether he will make recommendations to British Railways; and if he will make a statement.

The report was published on 24th January 1973. I have, in fact, written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the operation of the law relating to the prevention of harassment and unlawful eviction.

The maximum penalties for harassment and unlawful eviction have been greatly increased in Section 30 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972. From January 1st, those convicted on indictment are liable to a maximum penalty of an unlimited fine or two years' imprisonment, or both. On summary conviction, the maximum penalty is a £400 fine or six months' imprisonment, or both.Together with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, I am writing today to all local housing authorities reminding them of the Government's concern that swift and effective action is taken against those who commit these offences. Many local authorities have appointed special officers to investigate complaints. I welcome this and have asked all local authorities to consider such appointments. I am publicising these new penalties in the advertising campaign on the Housing Finance Act, and the Department's leaflets and booklets remind landlords and tenants of the penalties for these offences. Rent books must contain a statement that harassment and unlawful eviction are criminal offences.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if in future statements on discussions in the EEC Council of Ministers he will mention matters of importance to Great Britain discussed without a conclusion being reached.

My colleagues and I will do so whenever we judge it to be necessary and appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make proposals designed to ensure that the EEC adopts more outward-looking economic policies towards non-EEC countries.

The communiqué issued after the summit meeting in Paris on 19th and 20th October reaffirmed the Community's determination to contribute to a progressive liberalisation of international trade and emphasised that this determination applies to all countries without exception. Particular stress was laid on the need to respond even more than in the past to the expectations of the developing countries.These are aims which have the full support of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now publish a White Paper on the implications of EEC political union.

No. As I told the hon. Member on 8th November, it is the Government's intention to move step by step towards the objective of European union, and Parliament will be able to debate the matter at every stage.—[Vol. 845, c. 196.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will protest at the continued detention, without charges or trial, in Rhodesia of Mr. Garfield Todd.

As I told the House on 11th December, we have recently renewed our representations to the Rhodesian authorities on behalf of those detained during the test of acceptability, including Mr. Todd.—[Vol. 848, c. 6–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff are employed by Her Majesty's Government in Pakistan on vetting applications for entry to the United Kingdom; what is the average length of time taken to consider such applications and to give a final answer to the applicant; and how long it takes for a would-be immigrant from Pakistan to obtain an interview in that country with his Department.

Fifty-seven staff are employed at Her Majesty's Missions in Pakistan on servicing applications for entry to the United Kingdom.The time to final decision varies considerably with the circumstances of the application. At present, applicants for settlement normally wait approximately seven months for an interview at Islamabad and approximately one month at Karachi. These posts deal with all applications from dependants joining immigrants already here. Applicants for visits, businessmen, officials and the like experience no undue delay in obtaining clearance to enter this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries he visited officially in 1972.

I made official visits to the following countries during 1972:India, Thailand, Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Iran, Pakistan, Israel, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Afghanistan, France and China.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to avoid any gap in the Kenya Land Transfer programme.

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 11th December 1972, I expect to have talks with Kenyan Ministers in the first half of this year about future aid for their development programme. I am meanwhile making a grant of £600,000 available to enable the purchase of British-owned mixed farms for settlement schemes to continue. This sum will form part of whatever future aid is agreed at the talks.—[Vol. 848, c 27–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, as a result of United Kingdom entry into the EEC, citizens of East Germany are now free to enter the United Kingdom in order to seek employment.

No. The German Democratic Republic is not a member of the European Communities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take appropriate steps to annul the provision in the criminal injuries compensation scheme that where a victim of a crime of violence has died in consequence of the injury no compensation will be payable for the benefit of his estate.

No. The criminal injuries compensation scheme provides that in those circumstances the Board may entertain applications from the victim's spouse and dependants and may make payment towards funeral expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will propose an increase of approximately one-third in the maximum permitted expenditure at the forthcoming county council elections, having regard to the insufficiency of the present maximum election expenses, in the experience of candidates at the 1970 elections, based on the maximum permitted sum of £30 plus 5p per six electors; and whether he will make a statement.

I agree that the present limits will need to be reviewed soon; but they are statutory, and there is no prospect of increasing them in time for the county council elections next April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that of the distributions notified to the Uganda Resettlement Board by the beginning of December of Uganda Asians going direct from airports and those who have left resettlement centres, 914 were going to Barnet, 1,762 to Brent, 832 to Ealing, 918 to Harrow and 630 to Newham; what were the figures for Southall, Haringey and Leicester; and what are the latest figures.

Reliable figures of the number of Asians expelled from Uganda who are now living in the areas referred to are not available. Statistics based on the addresses to which they originally went would not reflect the present position. Figures related to early December and comparable with those given by the hon. Member are 276 for Haringey and 1,861 for Leicester. Figures for Southall are not kept separately.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider allowing the husbands and children of Ugandan Asians wives with British passports who are already living in the United Kingdom to enter or stay in the United Kingdom.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday to a Question by the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, East (Mr. Bottomley).—[Vol. 849, c. 630.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has made to regulate the number of imigrants from the EEC seeking employment in the United Kingdom.

The EEC Treaty and relevant subordinate legislation provide that nationals of member States shall have the right to take or seek employment in another member State. There is no provision for the regulation of numbers, but if a member State suffers or foresees disturbance in the labour market it may apply for the total or partial suspension of the vacancy advertising arrangements provided for in the regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to report on the letter to him from the hon. Member for Rochdale of 31st December 1972, concerning the conduct of prison officers at Her Majesty's Prison, Strangeways.

My noble Friend the Minister of State replied on 23rd January.

asked the Secretary or State for the Home Department whether immigrants to the United Kingdom from the Philippines are required to have a medical examination on embarkation and on entry; and if they are not, whether he will consider requiring them to do so in future.

The immigration rules provide that a passenger, of whatever nationality, who intends to remain in the United Kingdom for more than six months should normally be referred to the medical inspector for examination. My right hon. Friend is not contemplating any change in this rule.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long it is taking to hear appeals against refusal of entry permits to relatives of legal immigrants already in the United Kingdom; and if he will consider speeding up this machinery.

It normally takes several months for appeals against the refusal of entry certificates to be heard by an adjudicator, and some cases take even longer. The hearing of appeals from decisions taken overseas is bound to be a lengthy process, but we are not satisfied with the position and are taking steps to reduce the delay. We shall keep the situation under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain a report from the Chief Constable of Lancashire on who authorises the arming of a policeman in the Lancashire Constabulary; and how many of that force are armed at the present time.

These are matters for the chief constable, who tells me that his authority or that of his deputy or of an assistant chief constable is required for the issue of a firearm to a member of the Lancashire Constabulary, and that firearms are issued only when a police officer might have to face an armed and dangerous person or, on a limited scale, when they are needed for protection purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether he will remove all import duties, levies or other restrictions on imports of beef, veal, mutton or lamb, and undertake not to impose any during 1973.

On the advice of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, I intend to continue to suspend the beef and veal import duties until 1st April. I understand that the interim levy scheme for beef and veal, which is due to be terminated in the near future, has not in practice resulted in levies being charged. As regards mutton and lamb, as my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food explained on 9th November last to my hon. Friend the Member for King's Lynn (Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler), it has been decided to continue duties at their present rates after 1st February instead of increasing them. There are no other restrictions on these imports.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to prevent misleading advertisements regarding the impact of VAT on sale prices, details of which have been supplied by the hon. Member for Eccles; and if he will make a statement.

The introduction of VAT cannot, in any circumstances, justify price increases of more than 10 per cent. or the publication of advertisements which make any such claim. Under the Counter-Inflation Bill, the Government are taking special powers to ensure that, when VAT replaces purchase tax and selective employment tax on 1st April 1973, the full benefit of any net reduction in tax is passed on to the public, and any price increases are no larger than is justified by the tax change.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now seek to establish an oil development board with its headquarters in Scotland.

I announced on 16th January that a Scottish Petroleum Office is to be set up in Glasgow through which the new Offshore Supplies Office will discharge its responsibilities in Scotland. It will be part of the Scottish Industrial Development Office of my Department. Alongside the new office will be a new branch of the DTI Petroleum Division largely staffed with petroleum engineers. The total organisation will form an effective Scottish centre for stimulating industrial development relating to offshore oil, since it will bring together the Scottish Industrial Development Office, the Offshore Supplies Office in London and the DTI Petroleum Division. The new centre will work in the closest co-operation with the Scottish Office through the Scottish. Economic Planning Board and its new North Sea Oil Development Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will appoint an inter-departmental task force of senior civil servants to find alternative employment for steelworkers in the Sheffield/Rotherham area made redundant since nationalisation.

Task forces will be appointed where the circumstances of the area justify them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the policy of the EEC towards the development of oil and natural gas resources in the North Sea.

Community policy towards the development of oil and natural gas resources in the North Sea has not been determined.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much he expects to be spent from the EEC budget on regional development in United Kingdom development areas in 1973.

The help at present given by the Community for regional development as such is not financed from the Community budget. A new regional development fund financed from this source is, however, to be set up by the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to protect United Kingdom standards of accountancy from any adverse effects of entry into the EEC.

My Department is keeping in close touch with the accountancy profession on all matters arising from membership of the EEC which concern methods and standards of accounting practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his consultations with the chairman of the Scottish Institute of Accountants about standards of accountancy in the United Kingdom.

My Department has consulted the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland on matters arising from membership of the EEC. These matters include the qualifications of auditors and a proposal for a directive on company accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of the locations and number of people employed in each of the advanced factories in development areas and elsewhere on 1st January 1973.

467 advance factories had been completed in the assisted areas by 1st January 1973. Of these, 186 were in England, 176 in Scotland and 105 in Wales. Details of employment at individual factories are not precisely known, and are in any case confidential to the firms concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of the empty advance factories in development areas and elsewhere on 1st January 1973.

39 were unallocated on 1st January 1973. Of these, 17 were in Scotland, six in Wales, and the rest in England, mostly in the Northern Region. I am writing to the hon. Member giving him the full list of locations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many schemes for overseas investment have been guaranteed under the terms of the Overseas Investment and Export Guarantees Act 1972; and what is the approximate value of the guarantees given.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to Section 1 of the Act. No insurance agreements under this section have been concluded yet, and the liabilities assumed are, therefore, nil. It is, however, expected that cover will be given shortly in respect of a number of applications.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will, in the interests of energy conservation, recommend higher levels of insulation in new dwellings and commercial premises and in addition seek to apply these higher levels to home improvements authorised under the grants scheme.

I have been asked to reply.The Government's review of thermal insulation standards for new buildings is almost complete. Before the issue of advice to local authorities is considered, it will be desirable to consult the local authority associations, and this will be the next step. Local authorities have discretion to decide in individual cases whether this type of work should qualify for a house improvement grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what he now estimates the import content of United Kingdom exports to be.

I have been asked to reply.The import content of United Kingdom exports of goods and services was 22·6 per cent. in 1968, the latest year for which information is available.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what steps he is taking to ensure that manufacturers rectify design faults in television sets affecting reception when requested to do so by the Post Office.

Design problems affecting reception on television sets are brought by my officials to the notice of the Interference Sub-Committee of the British Radio Equipment Manufacturers Association. Information on individual cases of interference is given, as a matter of routine, to the manufacturers concerned by Post Office staff acting as my agents. These arrangements are of long standing and have proved effective in securing the co-operation of manufacturers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to open discussions with the Portsmouth City Council designed to ensure that the Somers Town Health Centre can be speedily completed despite the recent cessation of work following the appointment of an official receiver-manager by the contractors' bankers.

I understand that the Portsmouth City Council is already taking action to ensure that the health centre is completed as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will investigate the effects upon low-paid workers within the National Health Service of the development of private medical care for a minority of staff who draw fees from private practice.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will commission a special study on the pres- sures on doctors to hospitalise patients unnecessarily resulting from insurance schemes which pay benefits only when patients are in hospital;(2) if he will seek to discuss with representatives of all the medical organisations the pressures on accommodation and facilities arising from cash-while-in-hospital insurance.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 17th November 1972 to the hon. Member for

AMOUNTS OF SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT PAID TO CLAIMANTS INVOLVED IN TRADE DISPUTES, 1967–72
					During Disputes		Post-Strike Payments* Strikers and dependants
					Strikers	Strikers dependants		Total
					£	£	£	£
1967	…	…	…	…	1,774	375,328	113,830	490,932
1968	…	…	…	…	749	333,722	80,803	415,274
1969	…	…	…	…	1,401	747,141	668,497	1,417,039
1970	…	…	…	…	2,191	1,445,912	888 802	2,336,905
1971	…	…	…	…	5,434	4,309,149	524,763	4,839,346
1972	…	…	…	…	181,477	8,380,124	904,093	9,465,694
*Since 3rd April 1972, these payments have been recoverable in accordance with Section 2 of the Social Security Act 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will place in the Library a supply of cards for the use of hon. Members who wish to volunteer as kidney donors.

Yes. A supply of donor cards has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the estimate of the total numbers of persons in receipt of supplementary benefits, and how many of that total are Commonwealth immigrants and how many are Ugandan Asians.

About 2·9 million people are currently receiving supplementary benefit. The information requested in the second part of the Question is not available because the amounts paid to such people are not recorded separately.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of people in receipt of retirement pension as at 31st December 1972; and how many of these are in receipt of supplementary benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the total amounts paid out to strikers and to their dependants in supplementary allowances in 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972, respectively.

Following is the information:

The estimated figures, which include widow pensioners aged 60 or over, are 7·9 million and 2·2 million respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the number of retired persons, in receipt of the NCB pension, who are receiving supplementary benefits.

I regret that the information needed to make such an estimate is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses are employed in Rochdale group hospitals; and how many of that total are Commonwealth immigrants.

Nine hundred and four nursing and midwifery staff (whole-time equivalent 807) at 31st December 1972, of whom 90 were born in the overseas Commonwealth.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that standards of medical care in the United Kingdom will not be lowered as a result of entry into the Common Market.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average total cost per prescription prescribed within the National Health Service in September 1967 in decimal currency equivalent, and in September 1972.

54·2p and 85·9p per prescription dispensed by chemists, including appliance contractors, in England.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what would be the cost of increasing retirement pensions to £10 for a single person and £16·50 for a married couple;(2) what would be the saving in supplementary benefits at the existing scales if the retirement pensions were £10 for a single person and £16·50 for a married couple.

The cost of increasing retirement pensions to this level would be about £1,200 million a year if other national insurance benefits were left unchanged. If supplementary pension rates were also unchanged, the cost of supplementary benefit would be reduced by about £200 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many retirement pensioners are receiving heating allowances from the Supplementary Benefits Commission, and at what rate; and how many applications have been rejected in the last year for which records were kept.

The 1·8 million retirement pensioners who receive supplementary pensions benefit from the provision for normal heating requirements included in the scale rate, and from the long-term addition which is intended to help meet special expenses including those incurred on heating. In addition, 159,000 supplementary pensioners were in November 1971—the latest date for which figures are available—receiving discretionary in- creases of benefit for extra heating. Such additions are made at 30p, 60p, or 90p a week, and exceptionally at a higher rate, according to the claimant's heating needs. Records are not kept of rejected claims for discretionary additions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of providing a heating allowance of £2·50 per week to each retired single person and retired couple.

About £750 million a year, on the assumption that the allowances were paid in addition to existing benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local authorities have used the power under Section 45 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 to provide heating appliances for old people.

This information is not centrally available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the local authorities in Wales where domestic ratepayers will face a heavier rate burden consequent upon revaluation.

The final and overall figures are not yet available, but on the basis of preliminary estimates for county boroughs only, and ignoring the effect of the very substantial additional rate support grant, the revaluation will result in more than marginally increased payments, on average, by domestic ratepayers in Merthyr Tydfil. Figures are not yet available for rating authorities other than county boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now arrange for the financing of land drainage to be made a national charge.

The Water Bill now before the House provides that land drainage should become a function of the new regional water authorities and, in Wales, of the Welsh National Water Development Authority. It provides also for the continuation of the present system of land drainage finance, based on precepts on local authorities together with a substantial Government grant; but, subject to Ministerial approval, there will be an opportunity to switch to the water charge after 1978.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why banks have been permitted to increase their rates of interest on overdrafts and their profits during the period of the prices and incomes standstill.

Interest rates were excluded from the standstill legislation because of their importance for controlling the growth of money and credit, which is an essential element in the authorities' management of the economy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is an objective of EEC economic monetary union that the parity of the £ sterling should be irrevocably fixed in relation to EEC currencies; and, if so, if Her Majesty's Government accepts this objective.

It is part of the objective of economic and monetary union that at the final stage the parities of Community currencies should be irrevocably fixed in relation to one another. The Heads of State or of Governments of the countries of the European Economic Community at their meeting in Paris on 19th and 20th October 1972, reaffirmed the determination of member States irreversibly to achieve economic and monetary union. The Heads of State or Governments also declared that fixed but adjustable parities constitute an essential basis for tile achievement of the union.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that a man with a wife and three children under 11 years of age, whose weekly wage is £30 per week, has £3·35 more spending power in the first weeks of unemployment or sickness than when at work; and if he will take steps to rectify this situation prior to the introduction of a tax credit system, in view of the fact that this system can only come into operation in four or five years' time at the earliest.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to a similar Question by him on 24th January 1973.—[Vol. 849, c. 192.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he is aware that a man with a wife and three children under 11 years of age, whose weekly wage is £25 per week, receives a net income of £24·34 per week when at work and can receive a net income of £29·65 in the first weeks of unemployment or sickness; and if he will take steps to rectify this situation prior to the introduction of a tax credit system, in view of the fact that this system can only come into operation in four or five years time at the earliest:(2) if he is aware that a man with a wife and one child under 11 years of age, whose weekly wage is £25·00 per week, receives a net income of £21·34 when at work and can receive £24·22 in the first weeks of unemployment or sickness; and what steps he intends to take to rectify this situation prior to the introduction of a tax credit system, in view of the fact that this system could only come into operation in four or five years time, at the earliest.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to a similar Question by him on 24th January 1973.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate the total net wekly income of a man with a wife and no children, assuming a weekly wage of £15, £20, £25, £30 and £35, respectively, and that the previous year's pay was at the same rates, allowing for relevant tax repayments and any welfare benefits in the following circumstances—for a week's work after 39

Weekly wage	A Net income	B Net income	Number of weeks when take-home pay when out of work exceeds take-home pay at work
£	£	£
15	13·72	12·75	Nil
20	16·92	19·33	11
25	20·14	21·12	19
30	23·45	22·40	Nil
35	26·66	22·45	Nil

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider paying interest to persons eligible for tax rebates where the amount of tax has been over-deducted and held by his Department for at least one year.

I am still considering the Second Report of the Select Committee on the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (Session 1971–72).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will cause inquiries to be made in the Inland Revenue Department as to the time taken between receipt of marriage and birth certificates in languages other than English and their verification.

The time varies between four weeks and, where verification involves a reference to a foreign country, two years or more.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons are employed by the Inland Revenue Department on the checking of marriage and birth certificates received in Urdu; and, in view of the delays in granting tax

The figures are as follows:—allowances to Commonwealth immigrants, if he will consider increasing this number.

Twenty-two staff of the Inland Revenue department are engaged on the checking of marriage, birth and other certificates in various languages, including Urdu. No increase in the number is planned. Unavoidable delays, outside the control of the departments, may occur when reference to the country of origin is necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the United Kingdom's gross national product is represented by visible exports, and what percentage by visible imports; and how this compares with the pattern of trading with other countries for which information is available to him from international sources.

The percentage of the United Kingdom's gross national product represented by exports of goods in 1970 was 16. Imports of goods do not form part of the gross national product though if they are expressed as a proportion of gross national product the percentage is again 16.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the committee inquiring into VAT and children's footwear last had a meeting; when the report was received by the Treasury; and when he intends to make a statement on it.

The report is dated 6th December and my right hon. Friend received it a few days later. With regard to the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave him on 23rd January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the numbers of employed persons whose earned income falls into each £1,000 up to £10,000, each £5,000 to £30,000 and the numbers over that figure.

On the basis of the Inland Revenue 1969–70 Summary of Personal Incomes, which is the latest available, the figures are:

£ p.a.				Nos. (000)
330–1,000	…	…	…	10,900
1,000–1,250	…	…	…	3,600
1,250–1,500	…	…	…	2,850
1,500–1,750	…	…	…	1,825
1,750–2,000	…	…	…	965
2,000–2,500	…	…	…	775
2,500–3,000	…	…	…	280
3,000–4,000	…	…	…	215
4,000–5,000	…	…	…	80
5,000–10,000	…	…	…	77
Over 10,000	…	…	…	10

Other details and the definitions used are set out in Tables 21–23 and Notes to the tables in Inland Revenue Statistics 1972.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the facts on which he based his decision that it would be right to take steps to end the additional publicity levy imposed under the White Fish Authority publicity scheme.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make a further statement on this scheme soon, and I cannot usefully add anything at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has to suggest that fish supplies have failed to meet the demand for fish.

Total supplies on the British market in 1972, including more imports at higher world prices, were again lower than in the preceding year; and bidding at port auctions, which handle nearly all our fresh supplies, raised first-hand prices for most varieties significantly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what difference there is between the average price of beef, mutton and lamb in markets in Wales compared with those in England.

In 1971–72 the average market price obtained for animals certified in Wales under the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme was £12·335 per live cwt. for fat cattle and 18·6p per lb. estimated dress carcase weight for fat sheep. These prices were £0·31 per live cwt. (2½ per cent.) and 0·2p per lb. e.d.c.w. (1 per cent.) respectively below those obtained in England.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many specified instances of breaches of the Balfour Assurance have been drawn to his attention since June 1970.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Peter Rees) on 15th November 1972. Since then we have received a further report from a welfare organisation. This also involved a number of infringements.—[Vol. 846, c. 157–8.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the chartering cost to his Department for the tug "Statesman", and for what length of period.

£1,500 per day for one month, with an option to renew.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the chartering fee for the tug "Statesman" is paid to the Liberian company or the British chartering company; and whether the fee reflects the dangerous nature of the operation.

To the British company. The operation is not regarded as more dangerous than other charters, and the fee is at the standard rate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which British company has chartered the Liberian tug "Statesman" to his Depart-

			1969	1970	1971	1972
British Museum:			(Thousands)
Bloomsbury	…	…	2,051	2,260	2,579	2,762 (1)
Burlington Gardens	…	…	—	—	101	123
Tutankhamun Exhibition	…	…	—	—	—	1,650*
Science Museum	…	…	2,126	2,121	1,942	1,936
Victoria and Albert Museum	…	…	1,263	1,473	1,786	1,360
Bethnal Green Museum	…	…	151	202	132	126
Imperial War Museum	…	…	622	597	557	586
London Museum:
Museum	…	…	284	289	308	342
State Apartments	…	…	149	162	204	34 (2)
National Gallery	…	…	1,553	1,750	1,859	1,774
National Maritime Museum:
Museum	…	…	719	797	1,076	1,000 (3)
Old Royal Observatory	…	…	402	509	514	500 (3)
National Portrait Gallery	…	…	323	714	513	423
Tate Gallery	…	…	933	935	936	913
Wallace Collection	…	…	150	156	153	135
British Museum (Natural History)	…	…	1,368	1,489	1,510	1,517
Zoological Museum Tring	…	…	73	79	66	96
Geological Museum	…	…	502	407	345	395
National Gallery of Scotland	…	…	179	220	241	196
Scottish National Portrait Gallery	…	(4)
National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland	…		101	107	57	70
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art	…	…	223	218	94	68
Royal Scottish Museum	…	…	590	575	534	507
National Museum of Wales	…	…	436	455	383	346
Welsh Folk Museum	…	…	156	172	185	195
Total	…	…	14,354	15,687	16,075	17,050
*Provisional figure

United Towing Ltd. has chartered the vessel to us; the Liberian company has a long-term charter arrangement with the British company; no British fishing vessels off Iceland are registered as belonging to United Towing.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the public attendance figures at the national museums and galleries during the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972, respectively, broken down to the numbers for each individual institution.

The attendances recorded are shown in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what are her estimates for receipts from the public, after deduction of VAT, from admission charges to the national museums and galleries for the first 12 months of operation, broken down to the sums for each individual institution;(2) whether she will obtain and publish the estimated cost of equipment, installation, construction, including dismantlement, tickets, and additional staff, which has been, and is being, incurred in anticipation of the imposition of admission charges to the national museums and galleries, broken down to the total sums for each individual institution;(3) whether she will obtain and publish the estimated figures, in respect of the first 12 months of the operation of admission charges to the national museums and galleries, for amortization of the cost of equipment, installation, construction, including dismantlement, tickets already printed and additional staff already paid, in anticipation of the imposition of admisson charges, broken down to the sums for each individual institution;(4) whether she will obtain and publish the estimated annual staffing cost for the first 12 months in respect of the collection of admission charges to the national museums and galleries, broken down to the sums for each individual institution;