asked the Secretary of State for Social Services following the reorganisation of the National Health Service, what steps he proposes to take to ensure the continuation of a free family planning service in the London Borough of Islington.

I have nothing at present to add to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Carter) on 24th January.—[Vol. 849, c. 194–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the provision of care by the National Health Service for elderly people who fall ill.

I am confident that in all parts of the National Health Service every effort is being made to provide satisfactory care for elderly people who fall ill and I expect high priority to continue to be given to improving the quantity and quality of the services available. If the hon. Member is concerned about a particular case and will send me details I will gladly look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of occasions that representatives from his Department have had discussions with the officials of the Sheffield and District Branch of the National Health Services Association, prior to the decision that has now been taken to build the new No. 3 Regional Hospital Board's offices in the Nottingham district.

Staff side interests were informed at national Whitley Council level both in 1971 and most recently in December 1972. I have received views from many national and local associations and will take them into account in arriving at a final decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that the General Medical Services Committee, with which he negotiates for the pay and conditions of family doctors, retains its autonomy and is not taken over by the British Medical Association; if he will safeguard the trust funds amounting to £1 million subscribed by family doctors; and if he will state his policy with regard to future negotiations with general practitioners.

It is the practice in the National Health Service for representation of staff interests to be settled by those interests themselves and I hope that this will continue. There is no change in my practice of conducting negotiations with the General Medical Services Committee in respect of all National Health Service general practitioners. I neither have nor seek to have any influence in the control of their trust funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has received from McKinsey Company Incorporated about any changes on any aspect of private medicine in this country; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the progress of the Finer Committee on one-parent families; and when he will receive its report.

The Committee is working extremely hard and hopes to report later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he now expects to receive the report of Baroness Sharp on the disabled.

Before many months, I hope; but I am anxious that the report should be comprehensive.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make the private car allowance for disabled persons payable annually in advance in order to help disabled persons who wish so to do to buy their own cars.

No, Sir. The allowance is provided as a contribution towards the maintenance costs of a vehicle already acquired not as a contribution to assist in its acquisition.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services following the recent report made to him, what steps he is taking to bring State provision for the disabled in Great Britain up to the standard generally operative in other partners in the European Economic Community.

I would not accept as a generalisation that overall State provision for the disabled in this country is below the standard of provision in other European countries. What the report by officials to which my hon. Friend refers does indicate is, first, that we are not always as rehabilitation-minded in this country as we might be, and, second, that in continuing our development of cash benefits there is a wide range of European ideas which we can usefully bear in mind. Current work in my Department is being carried out with those points very much in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the people recently found dead in their homes some time after their deaths were elderly disabled people in need of the services provided for by Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; what consultation he is having with the local authorities concerned; and if he will make a statement.

Of seven such cases recently brought to my notice, three concerned people over minimum pensionable age. Several had displayed symptoms of mild mental disorder and had been receiving or offered help from their local authority; but such help was either rejected or accepted with extreme reluctance. I have nothing further to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) on 30th January.—[Vol. 849, c. 372–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will consider legislation whereby an applicant for supplement benefits would be required to state what the amount of his financial assets was three months before the date of application, and to ensure that this figure should be taken as the basis for assessing his entitlement to supplementary benefits.

No. Supplementary benefit is intended to meet current needs and must therefore be based on a person's financial position at the time he claims. The Ministry of Social Security Act provides that if a person deliberately deprives himself of resources in order to obtain benefit the resources may be taken into account as if they were still his.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in computing sickness or supplementary benefit rates, allowance is made for any maintenance, alimony, or other court order against the sick person.

An increase of sickness benefit may be paid for a claimant's wife and for his dependent children, whether or not they are living with him, providing they are normally maintained by him. Supplementary benefit is not ordinarily increased to enable a claimant to comply with a court order, except where the order is in respect of the maintenance of a child living permanently with the mother and non-payment would clearly cause hardship to the mother.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of long-term unemployed men and women, separately, who have exhausted their right to unemployment benefit; and how many of them have been denied supplementary benefit.

On 6th November 1972, the latest date for which figures are available, 196,040 men and 14,487 women registered as unemployed had exhausted their entitlement to unemployment benefit. Of these, 43,496 men and 4,043 women were not receiving supplementary benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average weekly amount paid to those receiving wage-related unemployment and sickness benefit during the last six months to the nearest available date.

The average amount of benefit paid to persons getting an earnings related supplement with unemployment benefit or sickness benefit during the last six months is estimated to be approximately as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the fact that his Department encourages patients to dialyse themselves on kidney machines in their own homes and in view of the fact that substantial amounts of extra heat are required in a separate room, he will consider giving a special heating allowance for such patients; and if he will make a statement.

We are reviewing the present arrangements under which the hospital authority is responsible only for the cost of the electricity used by the kidney machine.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will direct the Supplementary Benefits Commission to discontinue the practice of deducting long-term additions from heating allowances given to pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

No. This would be a matter for legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the findings of the survey into "body temperatures in the elderly" published in the British Medical Journal of 27th January 1973, he will undertake a review of supplementary heating allowances.

The Supplementary Benefits Commission is considering whether this report has any implications for the administration of their discretionary powers to increase benefit when there are exceptional circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the level of recruitment of social and medical social workers.

Levels of recruitment continue to rise, and full account has been taken of the need for a further substantial increase in the local authority sector in the rate support grant negotiations for 1973–4. The local authority ten-year plans about to be submitted will give further information about manpower requirements for the local authority social services over the next decade; and my Department will continue to be in close touch with the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work about the implications for training.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for paying the £10 Christmas bonus to retired British pensioners in the Irish Republic; and if he will make a statement.

None. The special payment last December was made to and intended only for pensioners and others ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the commission which is examining strikers' social security benefits to report; and how long it will have taken to conduct its inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he now expects to complete his investigation of the payment of supplementary benefit to those involved in industrial disputes.

I cannot yet say when the review will be concluded. It is a governmental review which has been in progress since last spring; no commission has been appointed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions were recorded in 1972; how many resulted in death; and whether he will give the corresponding figures for the other years since the Abortion Act came into effect.

The provisional number of legal abortions notified between 1st January and 27th December 1972 in England and Wales was 156,714. In 1971, 1970, 1969 and from 27th April to 31st December 1968 there were 126,777; 86,565; 54,819 and 23,641 notified abortions respectively.So far, 13 notifications of abortion in 1972 have shown that the women died. The corresponding deaths in earlier years numbered 14 in 1971, 14 in 1970, 17 in 1969 and 3 in 1968. Most but not all these deaths were attributed to abortion.In addition some deaths are attributed to abortion although not shown on the abortion notification; this number is not yet available for 1972 but there were 2 in 1971, 1 in 1970, 2 in 1969 and 1 in 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will exempt all persons, especially pensioners and those on low incomes, from the £2 charge for surgical brassieres prescribed by hospital consultants.

No. There are arrangements for financial assistance when it is required.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that the majority of large hospitals appoint a full-time organiser to help bring in additional voluntary help, thus associating the community more closely with the Health Service, and saving money at the same time.

I have already commended to hospital authorities the making of such appointments provided that there is general local acceptance of the need to do so. The saving of money is not however one of the objects of encouraging voluntary help.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy in regard to cottage and local hospitals in relation to the development of district hospitals.

I expect that the consultations my Department has been undertaking about community hospitals will shortly have reached a stage when I can make my promised statement on their general rôle and function in relation to district general hospitals and other parts of the health services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the Government's priorities in the improvement of hospital services nationally, and particularly in the area administered by the Wessex Regional Hospital Board and the Bournemouth and East Dorset Hospital Management Committee.

We have asked regional hospital boards to give priority to securing improvements in the services for the elderly, the mentally ill, the mentally handicapped, the younger chronic sick and other long-stay patients; and to improvements in accident and emergency services. The Wessex Regional Hospital Board will have devised its programme of development of the hospital service in the area of the Bournemouth and East Dorset Hospital Management Committee, in the light of these priorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the respective waiting time for different types of operation to be performed at hospitals in the Portsmouth area.

The length of time persons may have to wait for a surgical operation can vary widely depending on a number of factors including the length of the waiting list and the degree of urgency of the need for treatment. Consequently meaningful information about waiting times is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will conduct an inquiry into deputising services used by the National Health Service doctors; and what arrangements are made for the exercise of jurisdiction by executive councils over them.

As to the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Widnes (Mr. Oakes) on 20th November last. In general these arrangements seem satisfactory, and I see no reason for an inquiry.—[Vol. 846, c. 307.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many geriatric beds were available in Sherwood Hospital, Nottingham, on 18th January last; and how many were occupied.

323 and 296 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has received a copy of the survey carried out by the centre for environmental studies on hypothermia; and if he will make a statement.

I have recently received a copy of the paper summarising the findings of the survey, which was published in the British Medical Journal on 27th January. I will need time to consider in detail its findings and recommendations which have far-reaching implications.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if his Department will issue advice on the development and use of warning systems for retirement pensioners to detect either low room temperature or low body temperature, or both;(2) if he will set up a co-ordinating committee consisting of medical and social scientists and administrators to consider the cost effectiveness, practicability and usefulness of methods to prevent old people suffering from the cold.

The hon. Member will be aware that recommendations to this effect appear in the report of the survey published in the British Medical Journal on 27th January 1973 and I would refer him to my reply today to his Question on that survey.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the state of implementation of the Butterworth Report; and how many representations about it he has received.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) on 27th November last—[Vol. 847, c. 46–47.] In a circular dated 18th January the Government have drawn the attention of local authorities to this reply.Consideration is being given to the recommendations in Chapter II of the report.Written representations have been received from eight sources, including individuals and groups of social workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when Her Majesty's Government will sign the European Convention on Social Security.

Her Majesty's Government support the general principles of the European Convention on Social Security, but the changes proposed in the Social Security Bill now before Parliament and the possible introduction of a tax credits scheme make it desirable to defer a decision in the signature of the convention untol the effects of such measures can be assessed. This country already has social security reciprocal agreements with all the Council of Europe member States, except Iceland, which achieve most of the purposes of this convention.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans for improving facilities for psycho-geriatric patients in the Wigan area.

Hospital psychogeriatric services in this area are the responsibility of the Manchester Regional Hospital Board. At present patients are normally referred to Billinge Hospital, but assessment facilities and a day hospital are being planned by the board as part of the development of the Wigan District General Hospital.Residential homes for elderly people with mental symptoms are the responsibility of Wigan County Borough Council and at present existing homes for the elderly are used to accommodate these also. But the council proposes to increase the number of staff who care for them, and eventually to allocate one home exclusively for them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of dentists who have ceased to work in the National Health Service for the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972.

In the general dental services in England, during the 12-month periods to 30th September, 680, 664, 698 and 693 respectively. Greater numbers of dentists entered during these same periods resulting in net increases each year of 68, 176, 101 and 223.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech to the conference of the Magistrates' Association on 13th January, on the implementation of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969.

I did not speak from a prepared text. I understand that a full report, prepared by the Magistrates' Association, will appear in The Magistrate early in March.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if EEC nationals in the United Kingdom seeking employment are eligible for sickness, unemployment and other social security benefits.

Yes, subject to conditions laid down in the European Economic Community Social Security Regulations which apply to this country from 1st April. The general effect of the regulations is that until such a person takes up employment in the new country, entitlement to sickness or unemployment benefit will be subject to the insurance condition of the country from which he has come and at its expense. If such a person falls sick or becomes unemployed after taking up employment, insurance in another Community country may be used to help satisfy the conditions for sickness or unemployment benefit under the legislation of the new country.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average number of patients per dentist working within the National Health Service for the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972.

The information is not available in the form requested but at 30th September in these years, the population per dentist working in the general dental services in England averaged 4,474, 4,413, 4,356 and 4,284 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children were born in 1971 suffering from congenital malformations of one kind or another.

The number of cases reported in England and Wales was 14,407.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now issue a statement to advise British tourists of their new rights for medical treatment in Common Market countries as a consequence of Great Britain now being a member country.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Farnworth (Mr. Roper) on 29th January.—[Vol. 849, c. 323–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give particulars of the medical and senior nursing staff of the Fairfield Nursing Home, Buckhurst Hill, and their respective qualifications.

It would not be appropriate for me to give this information in respect of a private nursing home. If my hon. Friend has a point to raise concerning the standard of care in this home I should be pleased to hear from him.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will visit the headquarters of the Crippled Help Society in Manchester; if he will give some financial assistance to help it expand its exhibition of Aids for Disabled People and to develop its information retrieval system on such aids for the Manchester area; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the society provides local services towards the cost of which it already receives grants from several local authorities; and it is to those sources the society should look if further financial help is needed. I have no plans at present to visit the society but I will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind when opportunity offers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the large number of severely disabled persons now resident in old people's homes because of the shortage of geriatric beds in hospitals, he is satisfied that the staffing arrangements in such homes are adequate.

I do not accept my hon. and learned Friend's assumption that there is a general shortage of geriatric beds.I am satisfied that in general local authorities are aware of the need for adequate staffing in old people's homes, and there have been increases in the total numbers of senior and night staff employed, though there are still shortages in particular homes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in the negotiations initiated by the Central Committee for Hospital Medical Services of the BMA to secure compensation for doctors who are at special risk because of their duties in the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

I am still considering a claim for improvements in the benefits payable to junior hospital doctors who may die or become permanently incapacitated in the course of their duries.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will raise the amounts which wives of persons in receipt of invalidity pensions may earn without the pensioner incurring deductions under the earnings rule.

I would ask the hon. Member to await this year's review of benefit levels. The amount for a wife who lives with her husband was raised from a fixed limit of £3·10 to a tapered rule starting at £9·50 in September 1971, when these pensions first became payable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in view of the fact that the National Federation of Fresh Meat Wholesalers was refused the opportunity to give evidence at the recent inquiry on beef prices, if he will give an assurance that the organisation will be consulted on matters affecting the meat trade in the future.

Representatives of the Federation of Fresh Meat Wholesalers and of other fresh meat wholesalers' organisations did give evidence to the committee. The federation is consulted weekly on matters affecting the meat trade.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will detail in the OFFICIAL REPORT the percentage and money value changes in the average retail prices of the 80 important items of food as collected for the purposes of the retail food prices index between July 1970 and the latest date for which prices are available.

The following table shows the percentage and money value changes in the average retail prices of about 80 important items of food, as collected for the purposes of the Index of Retail Food Prices, between 21st July 1970 and 12th December 1972, the latest date for which information is available:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what communications he has received since 6th November from the National Farmers' Union regarding food prices.

None specifically on food prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set up an urgent inquiry into the egg industry, similar to the recent beef inquiry.

There have been no dramatic changes in the retail prices of eggs, and there is therefore no need for an inquiry such as that into beef prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much, and by what percentage, the price of a large cut bread loaf has increased since 1st January 1963; what has been the percentage increase in the price of a large cut bread loaf since 18th June 1970; and whether he will make a statement.

On the basis of information collected for the purposes of the General Index of Retail Prices, the average price of a white, 1¾ lb. wrapped and sliced loaf increased by 4·7p, or about 82½ per cent. between 15th January 1963 and 12th December 1972, the latest date for which information is available. Since 16th June 1970 the average price has increased by 15·6 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give a list of the actions taken by his Department during the year ended December 1972 to reduce food prices; and what were the results in each of these cases.

The interests of consumers were fully taken into account in all policy decisions affecting food prices, and in the negotiations relating to our adoption of the common agricultural policy of the European Economic Community. The more important specific measures adopted by the Government to hold down the level of food prices were as follows.The controlled price of milk for liquid consumption was reduced by ½p a pint for the four months from April to July. The ex-refinery price of sugar was reduced by means of Exchequer payments, and this reduction was reflected in prices paid by food manufacturers and in retail prices of sugar. Arrangements were made through the Potato Marketing Board to limit the normal seasonal increase in potato prices towards the end of the maincrop season. Non-preferential tariffs on imports of beef and veal were suspended during the summer and again from the beginning of November. The decision was taken not to impose the third stage of the duty on imported mutton and lamb. Increased quotas for imported apples were agreed in November. Wholesale prices of home produced bacon were kept at the levels prevailing on 6th November. During the standstill I refused to allow price increases for a number of manufactured foods, and in other cases allowed smaller increases than those proposed by manufacturers; in the distributive sector I took steps to ensure that cash margins were not increased and that promotional activites were maintained; the Food Prices Unit secured price reductions in over 200 cases investigated following consumer complaints. It is not possible to evaluate precisely the effect of the measures taken by the Government on specific prices since these are determined in practice by the interactions of various market factors, but I am satisfied that these actions helped to contain the rise in consumer prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest assessment of the likely increase in British retail food prices following entry into the Common Market, in total over the transitional period of five years and on an annual basis, respectively.

I see no reason to think that the figure given to the House on 11th April 1972 is not still of the right order.—[Vol. 835, c. 204–5.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received for an increase in the price of bread during the second phase of the Government's policy on inflation.

I have received several representations from the bakery industry about the need for an early increase in bread prices, but none that relate specifically to the second phase of the Government's programme for controlling inflation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated population of foxes in the Greater London area; what numbers have been destroyed during the past three years; and whether he will review his present policy of extermination in the light of those figures.

No such estimates or statistics are available, although some London boroughs have been in touch with my Department about fox control. We do not propose to disturb the present arrangements under which control is a matter for the occupier although it is open to local authorities to provide a service.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek further advice from the Food Standards Committee on the dangers to health from nitrosamines in food.

This is a matter not for the Food Standards Committee, but for the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee and the committee of medical experts appointed by the Chief Medical Officer. Both groups of advisers have had this subject under review for over two years since my right hon. Friend informed the House that new methods of analysis had detected nitrosamines in minute traces in certain foods.The expert view at that time was that the substances were not expected to indicate a measurable risk to human health at the levels then identified. The committees have been keeping in touch with further research in progress in this country and in other parts of the world and are ready to advise Ministers whenever necessary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the amount and number of Government grants that have been paid during the four quarters of 1972 for new intensive poultry units.

I regret that the only information available concerns grants for permanent poultry buildings. This does not distinguish between farms according to their methods of production. Grant paid under the farm capital grant scheme and as agricultural investment grants in respect of the provision, replacement, improvement, alteration or reconditioning of permanent poultry buildings on all types of holding—that is including those where poultry rearing is not the main enterprise—in 1972 was £1,649,000 in England and Wales. Quarterly payments were.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the discussions held with the various fisheries boards in regard to the operation of the fishing limits of six and 12 miles agreed with the EEC since entry on 1st January 1973.

A brief discussion was held between officials and the Association of Sea Fisheries Committees in December. No changes of policy or arrangements for enforcement are considered necessary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications for capital grant have been received by him from farming companies during the last financial year; and what is the total amount of money paid to them.

I regret that this information is not available. My Department's records do not differentiate between applications received from farming companies and those received from other kinds of agricultural business.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on which foodstuffs he has issued restrictions on retail sales as a conseqence of EEC requirements.

EEC grading standards apply to eggs and certain fruit and vegetables sold in retail shops.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he has forbidden the retailing of cracked eggs.

The Community regulations laying down the quality standards for eggs graded and packed at registered packing stations came into operation in the United Kingdom on 1st February. They provide that the shells of such eggs must be undamaged. The provision does not apply to ungraded eggs sold by a producer direct to a consumer.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what additional damage has, in the last six months, been done as a result of military activity to Tyneham Farm, formerly the residence of Mr. Walter Smith; in what circumstances this occurred; and whether it was fired upon at close range.

No damage to Tyneham Farm has been caused by any military activity in the last six months. Nor have any weapons been fired at Tyneham Farm.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he has completed his review of Royal Navy spare parts distribution activity between Eaglescliffe, Hartlebury and Copenacre; and if he will make a statement.

The position remains as stated by my predecessor in reply to the hon. Member's Question on 10th May 1972. Study continues of those matters which were still unresolved at that time, namely the computer facilities and inventory management element and the complements required at the three sites.—[Vol. 836, c. 382.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the Government's plans to introduce motor torpedo boat-style fast missile vessels into the British Fleet.

If the hon. Member has in mind fast patrol boats capable of deploying a surface-to-surface missile, we have no present plans for introducing vessels of this type into the Royal Navy but are keeping requirements under review.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many officers of the Ulster Defence Regiment are, or were, citizens of the Republic of Ireland; and whether he is satisfied that their employment does not infringe security.

All officers at present serving in the Ulster Defence Regiment are citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies, as required by the regulations. Their acceptability for employment with the regiment was carefully considered before they were appointed. I cannot say, without making individual inquiries, whether any of them were formerly citizens of the Republic of Ireland.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether officers of the Ulster Defence Regiment are permitted to visit the Republic of Ireland in an official capacity; and if so for what purpose.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No".

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is proposed that the trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Museum of Antiquities (Scotland) should be subject to the provisions of the Counter-Inflation Bill.

The Government's policy on counter-inflation was set out in the White Paper "The Programme for Controlling Inflation; the Second Stage" (Cmnd. 5205). As the White Paper says, the trading services of public bodies are within the scope of the policy and the Price and Pay Code will apply to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will apply his policy about montitoring of rates in such a way that Scottish local authorities will have their rates retrospectively monitored as from November 1972.

At this stage of the Scottish rating year, which started in May 1972 and runs to May 1973, any revision of the rate poundages for the year would be impracticable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve the M8 Glasgow-Edinburgh motorway by bringing it up to three-lane standards.

Traffic volumes on the M8 motorway between Newhouse and Newbridge do not justify reconstruction to more generous standards. I propose, however, to reconstruct the A8 between Newhouse and the Glasgow city boundary as a motorway and this will be to three-lane dual carriageway standard.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has received from Inverness County Council for the construction of a jetty at the Anchorage, island of Eriskay.

Proposals for preparatory survey work have been received and an offer of grant has been made towards part of the costs involved. This is without commitment to the eventual approval of construction works.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much grant-in-aid the Scottish Sports Council will

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table listing the value of the public works programme by Scottish local authorities which he expects to be substantially completed by 31st March.

Of the £74 million to be spent on additional public works in Scotland the local authority share is £65·3 million. On present forecasts this expenditure will be phased as follows, although the effect of last autumn's building strike on these forecasts cannot yet be accurately assessed.receive in the year 1973–74; how this compares with previous years; and if he will make a statement.

Subject to parliamentary approval, my right hon. Friend proposes to offer grant-in-aid of £870,000 to the Scottish Sports Council in 1973–74. In addition, he expects to spend about £30,000 on commitments to sports bodies which were undertaken before the Scottish Sports Council was established. The corresponding estimates for 1972–73 are £530,000 and £94,000 respectively.The Government expenditure on sport in Scotland in each of the previous four years was as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken on the petition, presented in early December by the prisoners in Her Majesty's Prison, Springhill, of which he has had details from the hon. Member for Ilford, North, petitioning for leave to defend a court action on Monday 5th February.

Directions were given for a prisoner from Her Majesty's Prison, Springhill, to be produced at Bow County Court to defend a civil action on 5th February, and he was transfereed to Wormwood Scrubs accordingly so as to be nearer the court. The date of the action has, however, now been adjourned generally and the prisoner's attendance at court was not therefore necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the present strength of the Metropolitan Police Force, at the latest convenient date, and how these figures compare with the same periods for the past five years.

On 31st December 1972 the strength of the Metropolitan Police was 21,305. Figures for earlier years are:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will undertake to introduce necessary legislation where practical to remove discrimination against women.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give a breakdown of the way in which the £3·4 million allocated by the Government to voluntary services has been spent.

Following is the information:The distribution of the £3·4 million is to be phased over a period of four years. In the current financial year, excluding some outstanding applications, the expenditure is likely to be:

It is the Government's policy to reduce unwarranted discrimination against women by whatever means, including legislation, are appropriate for the purpose. A number of measures have already been passed to that end; and another, the Guardianship Bill, has recently been introduced in another place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of Australian, New Zealand, and Canadian citizens, respectively, who would be covered by paragraph 27 (Exceptions on grounds of United Kingdom ancestry) in House of Commons Paper No. 79 (Immigration Rules for Control on Entry).

I would refer my hon. Friend to the estimates contained in the answer which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Horn-church (Mr. Loveridge) on 1st February.—[Vol. 849, c. 430.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of local government electors in England and Wales in the year ended 15th February 1972.

About 35,176,900. This was the number of parliamentary electors plus an estimated number of 755 peers registered only as local government electors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the number of workers from EEC countries who have come to Great Britain seeking employment, since 1st January 1973.

In January 179 residence permits were issued to EEC nationals on their taking up employment. This figure includes people admitted with work permits before 1st January whose initially authorised stay of 12 months expired during January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to award to tenant farmers whose business is destroyed when the farm they rent is taken over by compulsory purchase compensation more nearly comparable with that of the landlords of their farms.

As announced on 25th January the Government will be tabling amendments to the Land Compensation Bill to improve the compensation that may be payable to tenant-farmers when their interest in farm land is compulsorily acquired.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what traffic flows are within the safe capacity of mini-roundabouts; and if he will make a statement.

These roundabouts are still in course of development. It is not therefore possible to give precise safe capacities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the likelihood of Centre Point being let in the near future.

The owner has stated recently that the most strenuous efforts have been and are being made to let the building. I am aware that it was widely advertised in the Press last month for letting to a single tenant. Whether this will result in a lease, when previous attempts at letting on these terms have failed, has yet to be seen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the route of the M3 motorway near Winchester.

I have announced today that the 12½ miles between Popham and Hockley has been fixed with four local variations to the draft route. A decision on the 1¼ mile Hockley-Compton length has been deferred pending consultations with those affected by a possible further variation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the expected dates for completion of the next stages of the M3 both between Basingstoke and London, and Basingstoke and Southampton.

Subject to the completion of the necessary procedures:

• Sunbury Cross to Lightwater—spring 1974.
• Popham to Compton—by the end of 1976

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has given to local authorities and other public bodies regarding the declaration of interest by members having an interest in matters coming before the authorities; and what action he takes to ensure that the advice is noted.

So far as local authorities are concerned, this subject is covered by the Local Government Act 1933 and other legislation. General advice on the subject is given to local authorities from time to time, most recently in a circular dated 8th May 1972 (Department of the Environment 40/72, Welsh Office 85/72). I have no reason to think that such advice is not passed on to members. The public bodies for which my right hon. and learned Friend is responsible are of many types, with different functions and constitutions. No single rule as to the declaration of interests applies to them, and it has not been considered appropriate to give general advice to their members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the approximate percentage of local authority expenditure for which his Department has effective control.

The Government do not control the current expenditure of local authorities except for some items in respect of which specific grants are paid—less than 10 per cent. of relevant expenditure. About two-thirds of local authority capital expenditure requires specific Government approval. Most of the remainder is subject to an overall ceiling on the total of expenditure financed by borrowing but is not controlled in detail.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set up an inquiry into the projected hotel development designed by Derek Stephenson and Partners for the site on the South Bank behind the National Theatre.

I understand that a planning application has been made to the Greater London Council which is the local planning authority for the South Bank. It has held a public exhibition and is now carrying out the usual consultations. My right hon. and learned Friend is not at present aware of any considerations which would justify his calling the application in and holding an inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have asked for the Special Environmental Assistance Scheme to be extended beyond 30th June 1973 and what reply he has given.

About 20 local authorities and two representative associations of authorities have made specific requests that this scheme should be extended. There have also been a number of suggestions and inquiries. Inquiries have been told the working of the scheme is under review but that it is not possible at present to say whether it can be extended. That is still the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, following the study of the A3 route between Petersfield and Guildford, he will now announce measures to relieve the towns along it of through-traffic; and if he will make a statement.

Following consultation with the local authorities, my right hon. Friend has decided, as a result of this study, to include in the trunk road preparation pool schemes to bypass Peters-field in Hampshire and Milford in Surrey. The proposed Petersfield bypass will lie to the west of the town and will provide relief from through traffic in both a north-south and east-west direction. The Milford scheme will improve conditions on the existing road. Decisions on the development of the remainder of the A3 corridor between Guildford and Peters-field will be affected particularly by the outcome of studies the local authorities are now undertaking into the future plans for the Reading—Basingstoke—Farnham area (Planning Area 8). Further consideration will be given to the traffic needs and alternative solutions in the A3 corridor when decisions are avaliable on the location, scale and timing of development in Planning Area 8.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to introduce legislation forbidding pedestrians to cross roads in larger towns and cities other than at zebra crossings and other similar crossing places.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will appoint a tribunal to inquire into the state of the aircraft industry with special reference to Concorde, the disparity between estimates and costs, and the functioning of public accountability for support funds given to the aircraft industry.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the west-coast supersonic flight test route is to be used for further supersonic tests; for how long it is to be used; and what study he has made of alternatives.

A limited number of further flights down the west coast route are envisaged during Concorde's development programme. The route was chosen as the only one combining the necessary technical and safety requirements with the minimum public disturbance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in view of the worldwide demand for small cheap hovercraft, he will provide for the advance of cheap development loans to small firms who are specialising in the production of small cheap hovercraft in Manchester.