asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many murders there have been in Northern Ireland since a convenient date; how many of these were in Belfast; what proportion of these were from cars, moving or stationary; and what proportion of the foregoing were between the hours of dusk and dawn.

Between 1st January 1973 and 28th February there were 39 murders in Northern Ireland of which 29 were committed in Belfast. Seven murders were committed from cars, moving or stationary, and of these only three occurred between dusk and dawn.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when and where he expects to announce the result of the border poll.

When the count is concluded, the result will be conveyed to the Secretary of State in Belfast and will then be announced.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he intends that the Press and television shall he present during the count and at the announcement of the result of the border poll.

The responsibility for the organisation of the border poll lies with the returning officer. I understand that he has made arrangements for representatives of the Press to be present for a period during the count.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how long he expects the count of the votes in the border poll to take.

The counting officer hopes that the count will be completed by 9 p.m. tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many observers have been appointed in respect of the border poll.

About 2,350.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on the progress of the border poll.

There have been a few incidents, but reports indicate that otherwise polling is proceeding satisfactorily.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he now expects to publish the White Paper on the future of Northern Ireland.

I am not yet ready to give a date for publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many magistrates' courts are now operating daily in Chichester Street, Belfast; what number of staff is employed; what positions these staff members hold; and what additional staff have been appointed during the last year and to what positions.

The information is as follows:

TABLE I
NUMBER OF BELFAST MAGISTRATES' COURTS
Day	Adult Courts	Juvenile Courts
Monday	4	1
Tuesday	6	—
Wednesday	5	1
Thursday	5	1
Friday	5	—
Saturday	1	—

TABLE
STAFF OF BELFAST MAGISTRATES' COURTS NUMBER OF STAFF 41
Grade	Number in Grade	Additions during the last Grade year
Chief Clerk	1	—
Chief Assistant Clerk	1	—
Court Clerks	7	1
Executive Officer I	2	—
Executive Officer II	4	—
Clerical Officers	19	1
Other Junior Grades	7	1

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why he has not yet replied to the letter from the hon. Member for Smethwick sent on 16th February asking him to fulfil his undertaking to correct information given about the Ulster Museum.

I wrote to the hon. Member on 5th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether many children below the normal age of attendance are now receiving full-time or part-time education in each education board area.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the existing local education authority areas.At 31st January the numbers of pupils under five years of age attending grant-aided schools were:

Belfast County Borough	3,170
Londonderry County Borough	642
County Antrim	4,596
County Down	3,703
County Armagh	1,946
County Londonderry	1,704
County Tyrone	1,667
County Fermanagh	543
Total	17,971

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons are now detained pursuant to detention orders under the Detention of Terrorists (Northern Ireland) Order 1972.

On 7th March 1973, 300 people were held under detention orders made by commissioners under Article 5 of the Detention of Terrorists Order (Northern Ireland) 1972. A further 64 were being held under interim custody orders.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on Members of Parliament visiting Northern Ireland.

I have always welcomed visits to Northern Ireland by small delegations of Members. When such visits take place at my invitation, or with my active co-operation, expenses incurred by hon. Members may be met from the Northern Ireland Office Vote. On this basis I have authorised payment of the expenses of the delegation which visited Northern Ireland in June 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons are now being held as special category prisoners; and if he will define the meaning of "special category".

Four hundred and twenty on 28th February. The term "special category" refers to prisoners guilty of offences in connection with the civil disturbances whom it is desirable in the public interest to segregate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage food prices have risen since June 1970.

Between 16th June 1970 and 16th January 1973, the latest date for which information is available, the food index rose by 27·4 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will confirm that both coarse and game fishing will be treated equally when angling representatives are appointed to the new regional water authorities and fisheries committees; and if he will make a statement.

Amongst the factors which my right hon. Friend will take into account in making appointments to regional water authorities will be the character of the fishing interests in each area. Appointments to fisheries committees will be for the authorities themselves. The Water Bill provides that the committees will represent all fisheries interests in each regional water authority's area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many of the 2,114 cases which involved allegations against police officers of criminal offences, other than traffic offences, disciplinary action was subsequently taken against the police concerned.

The information requested is not readily available for provincial forces. Twenty-two of the Metropolitan Police officers concerned, apart from those prosecuted, were put on disciplinary charges.

Offence	1967	1968	1969	1970	1971
Simple drunkenness	41,263	43,711	44,854	46,054	48,488
Drunkenness with aggravation	35,425	37,544	39,474	40,126	42,187
Driving while unfit through drink or drugs*	9,423	18,069	24,247	26,728	39,653
In charge of a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs*	1,842	1,081	1,049	978	1,114
*Offences under the Road Traffic Act 1960 and the Road Safety Act 1967 are not separately distinguished on this basis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what aspect of the problem of the need of the city of Leicester for assistance in connection with the problems raised by recent immigration was discussed during the meeting which took place between officials following upon the visit of the Under-Secretary of State to the Home Office to the city of Leicester; and what further discussions will be held.

The meeting already held was about a suggestion from the local authority for a research project. In discussions later this month officials of the Home Office and of the local authority will review the continuing assistance available to the city.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will consider the use of voluntary labour in the hospital service in the event

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of (a) simple drunkenness, (b) drunkenness with aggravation, (c) driving while unfit through drink, (d) in charge of a motor vehicle while unfit through drink and (e) driving with an excess of alcohol in the blood were committed in the last five years for which records are available.

The Question cannot be answered in precisely the terms requested. The available information given in the following table relates to persons proceeded against in England and Wales for offences classified in the criminal statistics as simple drunkenness, drunkenness with aggravation and driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs:of a prolonged dislocation of services due to strike action of employees.

Hospital authorities have for the present been asked not to employ voluntary labour as long as essential services are maintained by their regular ancillary staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has of doctors and nurses losing employment because of conscientious objection to abortion.

Two individual cases of doctors failing to get appointments and some general indications of difficulty have been brought to the attention of the Department in the last four years. Specific details reported to me have been referred to the Lane Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will hold discussions with regional hospital boards about the adequacy of the information required to be given by doctors about their patients.

The information which one doctor gives to another about the condition and earlier treatment of a patient is a matter for his professional judgment. My Department has, with professional advice, since 1965 made available and encouraged the use of certain standard medical record forms, including forms for use when a patient is referred by a general practitioner to a hospital and when a patient is discharged from hospital; this system is kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will produce regular reports on the cost benefit value of financial aid to disabled people and their families;(2) in view of the cost of keeping disabled people in hospitals or institutions, if he will consider transferring such persons into homes of their own where they so wish; and if he will seek power to give them the equivalent of saving in costs to the State;(3) if he will consider seeking power to give an income to the able-bodied relative who looks after a severely disabled relative; if he will make a study of the comparative costs between care in an institution or hospital and care at home; and if he will make a statement.

It is already our policy to arrange for disabled people to be discharged to their own homes whenever the necessary support can be provided there. Social security benefits, including the attendance allowance, may be payable in these circumstances. Cost benefit considerations are only one aspect to be considered, but they are being taken into account in the development of our policies for the disabled.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he has yet brought to the notice of local authorities the advantages which chemical closets have over commodes when used by handicapped people living alone or with frail spouses;

My Department has recently written to local authorities enclosing a summary of the joint report on the use of commercial chemical closets for handicapped people, and I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. I have placed a copy of the report itself in the Library.My Department has approved a total of £65,988 for research and development in respect of chemical closets generally, of which £32,926 has so far been spent, largely on evaluating commercial closets. Of the balance of £32,062, £17,212 is required to develop the Royal College of Art's closet to prototype stage and, subject to satisfactory completion to that point, £14,850 to enable trials to be carried out.The college has not completed development of a chemical closet, but when that stage is reached it will be open to hon. Members to inspect a prototype.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take immediate action to help pensioners and others in Birmingham, who have been notified by the form A87 of a reduction in supplementary benefits covering rent assistance, before Birmingham's housing department has granted the corresponding reduction on their rent book, thereby causing them anxiety.

Form A87 explains that supplementary benefit will be reduced because of a rent rebate, about which the local housing authority will be telling the tenant. I understand that Birmingham Corporation has already written to tenants reassuring them that they will not be treated as in arrears of rent because of the changeover. I am considering whether there is anything further my Department can do to reassure beneficiaries.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many men and women who use kidney dialysis machines in their own homes have applied for partial attendance allowances; and how many and what percentage of such applications have been successful.

I regret this information is not available. Detailed analysis of successful claims for attendance allowance is made by diagnoses listed in the International Classification of Diseases 1965, not by method of treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now exempt from prescription charges women aged between 60 and 65 years.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 12th December last to the hon. Members for Gateshead, West (Mr. Horam) and Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan).—[Vol. 847, c. 71.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements he is making to ensure that the Department of Health and Social Security is fully aware of EEC documents which are in preparation; and what plans he has to encourage the participation of all workers in the new administrative structure National Health Service, non-professional as well as professional, as recommended in one such draft document.

So far as I am aware no draft EEC documents on worker participation in health service bodies is in existence. As for my plans for the participation of staff in the new administrative structure of the National Health Service I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 26th February.—[Vol. 851, c. 301.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that there is adequate accommodation for the staff in the new offices of his Department in Wythenshawe, Manchester; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

Due to recent increases in staff I am not completely satisfied with the position. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment who is responsible for the provision of Government offices is considering what can best be done to provide a solution.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further action he proposes now to take to promote transferability between pension schemes; and whether he will make a statement.

The Social Security Bill provides for the transfer of pension rights as an alternative to the preservation of benefits calculated under the Bill, and there is provision for the Occupational Pensions Board to help schemes modify their rules, where necessary, to enable transfer facilities to be introduced. I hope that scheme administrators and employers will increasingly find that the transfer of rights between schemes is a convenient means of discharging their liabilities, and that they will emulate, and where appropriate take part in, the expanded and improved transfer arrangements shortly to be introduced in the public sector. It may also be that the Occupational Pensions Board, when it has completed its initial tasks under the Bill, will be able to consider how any remaining practical difficulties can best be alleviated or removed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has with regard to the number of persons covered by money purchase schemes, and the level of benefits and bonuses provided by such schemes; and whether he will make a statement.

It will take a little time for the Government Actuary to extract what information is available but I will write to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether an occupational pension scheme which provides a pension at retirement based on 1 per cent. of earnings for the first 20 years of employment and 2 per cent. of earnings for the next 20 years contravenes the Social Security Bill and, in particular, Schedule 14(8)(1).

This would depend on the rules of the particular scheme, on which only the Occupational Pensions Board could give an authoritative determination under its powers in Clause 60 of the Social Security Bill. But it would not, as such, be contrary to the provisions of Schedule 14 to the Bill for a scheme to base its general formula for benefits at pension age on a higher accrual rate for later years than for the earlier years of service. Such a scheme would, however, appear to come within the definition in paragraph 10(3)(a) of the schedule, and hence the benefits required to be preserved for members leaving before pension age would have to be calculated according to the formula described in paragraph 11. This would mean that, to calculate entitlement to deferred benefits, a uniform rate of accrual would be imposed over the whole period of pensionable service which could have been put in up to normal pension age. In this way the early leaver would receive a fair proportion of the benefit he would have received had lie remained in the scheme until attaining that age.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what effect the Civil Service overtime ban is having on the payment of supplementary benefits from offices in the Wythenshawe constituency and the city of Manchester respectively; and if he will make a statement.

There have been delays of two or three days in the issue of some payments from the Wythenshawe office due to the combined effect of the overtime ban and the recent reorganisation of offices in the area. Elsewhere in Manchester the effect of the overtime ban on payments has been marginal.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many cases, in the Wythenshawe constituency and the city of Manchester respectively, the payment of supplementary benefit has been delayed by the Civil Service overtime ban since 27th February 1973; in how many cases the delay in payment has included a weekend; and if he will make a statement.

The figures requested are not available. I have given the general picture in my reply to the hon. Member's previous Question today.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by what percentage the real value of the standard rate of retirement pension has increased from 1948 to the latest available date after making allowances for increases in prices as shown by the Index of Retail Prices.

By 81·6 per cent. over the period from July 1948 to January 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is now able to announce the appointment of members of the reconstituted Health Education Council.

The new council has been appointed as set out below under the chairmanship of Sir Harold Evans, Bt, CMG, OBE. The appointments take effect immediately.

asked the Prime Minister if he is still satisfied with the progress of his Government's policy to combat inflation: and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the proposals in the White Paper and the consultative document on the Price and Pay Code provide a fair and effective basis for the second stage of the programme for controlling inflation.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has for a further meeting with the TUC.

None at present.

asked the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the TUC.

I have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave on my behalf on 1st March to the hon. Member for Bothwell (Mr. James Hamilton) and others.—[Vol. 851, c. 415–16.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library of the House of Commons a copy of his public speech at Birmingham on 16th February on economic affairs.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the House of Commons Library a copy of his public speech in Birmingham on 16th February on economic affairs.

I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 6th March.—[Vol. 852, c. 229–30.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to place on the agenda for the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference the subject of a Commonwealth initiative for monitoring observance of the Test Ban Treaty, in areas of sea contiguous to Commonwealth countries.

I have no plans to do so. Her Majesty's Government already operate a number of stations in Commonwealth countries for the purpose of monitoring nuclear tests in the atmosphere.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will seek to ensure that the sanctions policy against Rhodesia will be on the agenda of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' conference to be held later this year; and whether he will make a statement.

Discussions are still going on about the agenda and it is too early to say whether this subject might appropriately be included.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the coordination between the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Secretaries of State for Education and Social Services in the monitoring of rates.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if representations made to him by Mr. Jack Lynch, as Premier of the Irish Republic, will be taken into account when framing proposals in the Government White Paper on Northern Ireland.

Yes. The Government are taking full account of the views expressed by the Government of the Irish Republic.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what report he has received on the training of officials responsible for arranging office cleaning contracts and supervising their enforcement.

I have received the report to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member on 9th August 1972 which, among many recommendations, included suggestions for the training of executive staff responsible for cleaning arrangements in Government offices. Discussion of the report with the staff side of the National Whitley Council will start shortly but the recommendations on training have already been accepted and the first courses are expected to be held in the summer.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service to what extent the cleaning of Government offices is carried out by contract firms and what proportion is cleaned by direct labour; and what is the average payment by Her Majesty's Government per worker per hour in the case of direct labour.

Statistics of the areas in Government offices cleaned by direct labour and by contract are not regularly collected by my Department but, as I told the hon. Member on 20th April 1972, in October 1970 about two-thirds of the total area was cleaned by contract. Civil Service office cleaners are paid at national hourly rates of 42·1p for men and 37·9p for women, to which London weighting is added.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what will have been the loss of income to a 21-year-old clerical assistant in the Civil Service working in the provinces between 1st January and 31st March 1973, in consequence of the principles of the Pay Research Unit's recommendations not being applied during this period;(2) what will have been the loss of income to a 21-year-old clerical officer in the Civil Service working in the provinces between 1st January and 31st March 1973, in consequence of the principles of the Pay Research Unit's recommendations not being applied during this period;(3) what will have been the loss of income to a 21-year-old executive officer in the Civil Service working in the provinces between 1st January and 31st March 1973, in consequence of the principles of the Pay Research Unit's recommendations not being applied during this period.

It is not at present possible to make these calculations.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what representations he has now received on the possibility of extended joint civilian and military use of Service airfields in West Sussex and South Hampshire; what replies he has sent; what steps he will now take to review the situation together with appropriate local authorities; and whether he will make a statement.

I have now received the hon. Member's letter of 22nd February forwarding a request by Portsmouth City Airport Users' Association for extended civil flying rights at Royal Air Force, Thorney Island. I shall be replying shortly to the hon. Member.I have also received a request from the College of Air Training, Hamble, for flying facilities at a Service airfield in the South of England, preferably in West Sussex or South Hampshire. This request is under consideration.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will give an assurance that the Royal Navy's design requirements are being considered by the parties to the discussions on the specification of an advanced Harrier for the United States Navy.

Any such discussions would take fully into account the future requirements of our Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she intends to increase admission charges to museum buildings under her control during the period of price restraint.

My right hon. Friend has no proposals for increasing during the first or second stages of the Government's programme for controlling inflation those admission charges which are at present made at museums under her control: at the Wellington Museum, Ham House and Osterley Park House.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if it is her intention to implement the recommendation of the Hazelgrave Committee; and if she will make a statement concerning the proposed Business Education Council and Technical Education Council.

My right hon. Friend expects to announce the establishment of the Technician Education Council this month, and that of the Business Education Council as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the tickets for admission to the National Portrait Gallery will also be valid for entrance to its extension at Carlton House Terrace when entrance charges are imposed.

Yes. The trustees have agreed that admission will be charged at Carlton House Terrace on the same basis as at the gallery itself, the ticket issued at either admitting to both places on the day of issue.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps the Pay Board will take to prevent pay rises awarded under the false guise of promotion; and whether he proposes to recommend spot checks on companies and other institutions to ensure that staff who have been promoted are not in fact doing the same work.

It will be the duty of the Pay Board to exercise its powers in such ways as appear to it appropriate for ensuring that the provisions of the code which concern remuneration are implemented.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will arrange for May Day to be declared a public holiday.

Representations have been received from the TUC that there should be additional public holidays on 1st January and 1st May. These representations are under consideration but no decision has yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the current hourly rates of working women's earnings, the number earning each rate and the proportion of the whole they

				April 1971		April 1972
Gross hourly earnings				Number (millions)	Percentage	Number (millions)	Percentage
Under 25p	…	…	…	0·2	4·1	0·1	2·1
Under 30p	…	…	…	0·6	12·4	0·4	7·1
Under 35p	…	…	…	1·5	28·2	0·9	16·3
Under 40p	…	…	…	2·3	43·6	1·6	30·3
Under 45p	…	…	…	3·0	57·3	2·3	43·8
Under 50p	…	…	…	3·5	67·7	2·9	55·7
Under 55p	…	…	…	3·9	75·2	3·4	64·8
Under 60p	…	…	…	4·2	80·9	3·8	72·1
Under 70p	…	…	…	4·6	88·1	4·3	82·3
Under 80p	…	…	…	4·8	92·2	4·6	88·2
Under 100p	…	…	…	5·0	95·8	4·9	93·9
Total	…	…	…	5·2	100·0	5·3	100·0

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people are presently unemployed in Ayrshire; how this compares with June 1970; and what action the Government propose on this problem.

459 registered disabled people were unemployed in Ayrshire on 8th June 1970 and 640 on 12th February 1972. My Department's resettlement service continues to make every effort to find suitable jobs for these people; and the Government have taken substantial measures to expand the economy and to create more employment opportunities.I am glad to say that since February 1972, when the comparable figure was 668, there has been a modest but significant improvement in the employment situation of disabled people in the area. I should add that a wide-ranging review of my Department's services for disabled

The following estimates for April 1971 and April 1972, derived from the New Earnings Survey, indicate the numbers of women, including those whose pay was affected by absence, aged 18 and over in full-time manual or non-manual employment in all industries and services in Great Britain with gross hourly earnings less than the amounts specified in the pay period covered by the survey. More recent estimates are not available. They are subject to sampling error and exclude about 2¾ million women whose normal weekly hours are not more than 30—under 25 in the case of teachers—or not specified.people has recently been concluded and my right hon. Friend is consulting the National Advisory Council on the Employment of the Disabled and other bodies concerned on how to improve those services.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the figures for unemployment in Scotland for each month since June 1964.

Following is the information:

	Number unemployed	Percentage rate of unemployment
1964
June	69,268	3·2
July	72,938	3·3
August	73,048	3·3
September	69,208	3·2
October	68,871	3·1
November	69,631	3·2
December	70,396	3·2

asked the Secretary of state for Employment if he will now publish a comprehensive list of average retail prices on 6th November 1972 of articles of food and other commodities affecting the average family budget; and if he will make a statement.

A list of 78 average retail prices of foods on 14th November 1972, the nearest available date, was published on page 71 of the January 1973 issue of the Department of Employment to Gazette. The listed foods together account for about three-quarters of expenditure on food. Average retail prices for other commodities are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what timetable he has in mind for the construction of a second prison at Gartree in Leicestershire.

The forecast start-on-site date is April 1974 and the contract completion date is expected to be October 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent local contractors and local tradesmen will have the opportunity of participating in the construction of the second prison at Gartree in Leicestershire.

Their participation will be governed by the normal rules for the letting of Government contracts. These confer no special privileges on local contractors or tradesmen but contractors in the vicinity will be considered if they are on the Department's approved list of contractors for a job of this size.The choice of tradesmen will be a matter for the contractor and sub-contractor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consult with the Leicestershire County Council and the Market Harborough Rural District Council with a view to providing for a landscaping and treescaping scheme on the site of the second prison at Gartree in Leicestershire.

Provision of a tree belt around the perimeter of the new prison and housing site has been agreed with Leicester County Council as the planning authority for the area.Discussions are proceeding with the planning authority on landscaping within the prison and housing site, and it is for that authority to consult the rural district council about the proposals.

AVERAGE NUMBER OF INJURY ACCIDENTS, BY HOUR OF DAY AND DAY OF WEEK
			Day of week
Hour beginning			Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
12 midnight	…	…	32	9	7	7	7	12	26
1 a.m.	…	…	22	6	4	4	5	10	20
2 a.m.	…	…	16	3	3	3	4	6	14
3 a.m.	…	…	9	2	2	2	2	3	7
4 a.m.	…	…	5	1	1	1	2	2	4
5 a.m.	…	…	3	3	3	3	2	4	3
6 a.m.	…	…	3	7	7	6	7	6	5
7 a.m.	…	…	5	31	31	30	31	31	12
8 a.m.	…	…	7	54	54	55	54	55	16
9 a.m.	…	…	11	29	30	28	30	30	23
10 a.m.	…	…	21	25	26	24	26	28	38
11 a.m.	…	…	29	30	29	29	30	34	52
12 noon	…	…	38	42	39	40	43	46	59
1 p.m.	…	…	32	39	38	38	39	46	53
2 p.m.	…	…	48	35	32	34	34	40	61
3 p.m.	…	…	44	42	40	41	44	56	61
4 p.m.	…	…	40	68	67	66	69	88	55
5 p.m.	…	…	32	71	70	74	74	80	49
6 p.m.	…	…	31	44	43	44	47	52	37
7 p.m.	…	…	30	34	36	35	37	48	34
8 p.m.	…	…	22	26	22	25	28	34	30
9 p.m.	…	…	20	23	21	23	26	33	29
10 p.m.	…	…	32	27	24	27	37	48	42
11 p.m.	…	…	38	26	23	26	38	73	78
Total	…	…	576	676	654	660	716	866	812

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now make the announcement of his decisions in respect of the schemes submitted by the West Riding County Council for replacement of the Dutch River Bridge at Goole and construction of a southern relief road system for the town.

I regret that consideration of the schemes is not yet completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what, at the most recent date available, was the number of lorries of 32 tons and over licensed in the United Kingdom; and what were the totals in 1970, 1971 and 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average number of road accidents for each hour of the day for each day of the week for the latest period for which figures are available.

Following are the figures for 1971:

Information in the form requested is not available. In September 1972 there were about 22,000 vehicles of over 28 tons gross weight in Great Britain. Only a small number, used for special purposes, would have a gross permitted weight of over 32 tons but the exact number is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what safety tests have been carried out on lorries in the greater London area in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement;(2) what noise and smoke tests have been carried out on lorries in the greater London area during each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

All heavy goods vehicles are inspected annually at Government testing stations. Figures for stations in the GLC area are:

Years—beginning 1st April	No. of Tests
1970–71	109,600
1971–72	110,300
1972–73 (9 months)	82,800

Inspections are also made at operators' premises and in roadside spot checks. Figures are not available for the GLC area alone. For the Metropolitan Traffic Area they are:

Years—beginning 1st October	No. of Tests
1969–70	37,700
1970–71	45,200
1971–72	39,800

All tests include safety, silencer and smoke checks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in reaching a decision to end Operation Eyesore on 30th June 1973, what estimate he has made of the resultant loss of jobs.

I can make no estimate. But unemployment in the assisted areas is now substantially lower than it was when Operation Eyesore was introduced a year ago.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will request information from the 42 local authorities most adversely affected by rating revaluation of the extent to which they are having to restrict the services they provide.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what percentage the domestic rate burden has increased since 1970.

It is estimated that the rates payable on domestic properties in England and Wales for 1972–73 were 33 per cent. higher than those for 1970–71, of which 4·5 per cent. was accounted for by new properties and 28·5 per cent. by increased rate poundages.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what percentage the industrial rate burden has increased since 1970.

It is estimated that the rates payable on industrial properties in England and Wales for 1972–73 were 31 per cent. higher than those for 1970–71, of which 2·9 per cent. was accounted for by new properties and 28·1 per cent. by increased rate poundages.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to make himself responsible for the maintenance of all towpaths.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to ensure that accommodation for staff at the new offices of the Department of Health and Social Security at Wythenshawe, Manchester, is adequate to their needs; and if he will make a statement.

The new offices occupied by the Department of Health and Social Security in Wythenshawe are no longer adequate due to approved increases in staff complement. As a short-term solution we are opening negotiations to hire space in a nearby office block. As a long-term solution it depends on the reaction of the lessor. If a short lease can be agreed the Crown building can be extended vertically. If not a long-term hiring is the alternative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what date he expects his consultations with local authority associations about possible ways of strengthening present powers to preserve trees to have been concluded.

The various proposals under consideration are of a complex nature and I expect the consultations to continue for some time yet. But I can assure my hon. Friend that we aim to reach conclusions as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will itemise the road schemes under construction, programmed and in the preparation pool, together with costs and commencement dates where appropriate for the A17 between King's Lynn and Sutton Bridge and the A47 between King's Lynn and Wisbech.

Dates forecast for schemes in the preparation pool are dependent on the successful completion of statutory and other procedures, and on the availability of funds.Following is the information:

Under Construction	Tender Cost £000	Contract Let
A47 King's Lynn Bypass	5,200	March 1972

Preparation Pool	Forecast Contract Let
Schemes estimated to cost less than approximately £½ million:
A47 St. John's Highway Diversion	1974
Estimated to cost between approximately £½–£1 million:
A47 Wisbech Bypass	1976
Estimated to cost between approximately £1–£2 million:
A17 King's Lynn-Cross Keys	End 1975

A further improvement of the A17 to the west of the county boundary between Cross Keys and Swineshead is currently the subject of a feasibility study.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment who are the present members of the Freight Integration Council; and for what period they have been appointed.

Following is the information sought.

	Appointed until
Chairman:
Sir Anthony Burney, O.B.E	3rd February 1975.
Members:
Col. F. T. Davies	9th February 1975.
Mr. J. A. McMullen, O.B.E.
Sir Sidney Greene, C.B.E.
Mr. A. H. Kitson
Rt. Hon. R. W. Marsh	Ex officio (Chairman, BRB).
Mr. D. E. A. Perth	Ex officio (Chairman, NFC).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many meetings of the Freight Integration Council have been held since 23rd July 1970.

One.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had any exchanges with other Commonwealth Governments about the possibility of suspending Uganda from Commonwealth membership in the light of its present Government's behaviour.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave him on 28th February 1973. [Vol. 851, c. 1491–2.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the professional associations, trade associations, trade unions and charities which have made representations to him seeking exemption from VAT or zero-rating for their particular interest.

No such list is available and it could be produced only with disproportionate effort. Customs and Excise has had discussions with more than 700 organisations of all types.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, and if so how, value added tax chargeable under the special scheme for works of art and antiques contained in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Notice No. 712 can be recovered by a dealer if goods sold by him within the scheme are returned by the purchaser either before or after payment for them.

If the sale is cancelled, the sale details in the dealer's stock record should be cancelled and, if necessary, his output tax records amended accordingly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many registrations for VAT had been made by 5th March under classification No. 8994 as specified in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise VAT trade classification notice No. 41;(2) how many registrations for VAT had been made by 5th March under classification No. 8221 as specified in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise VAT trade classification notice No. 41.

The latest date for which the figures are available is 1st March when they were 50 for trade code 8994—public museums, libraries and galleries—and 5,328 for trade code 8221—antique dealers, secondhand furniture shops, etc.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his intention that an art or antique dealer operating the special scheme contained in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Notice No. 712 may include within the special scheme an eligible item provided that it is entered in the special stock record before the tax point, notwithstanding the fact that it was not entered in the special stock record at the time of acquisition.

An eligible article can be entered in the stock book after its acquisition but before its sale under the scheme, provided that—if the article was acquired after 1st April 1973—the appropriate purchase invoice or documentary evidence detailed in paragraph 5 of notice No. 712 is held.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his intention that an invoice issued by a dealer under the provisions of the special scheme contained in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Notice No. 712 is to be regarded as a tax invoice.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to increase the payments to the Exchequer from North Sea oil and gas following the Report of the Committee of Public Accounts.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the Budget Statement of my right hon. Friend on 6th March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for a proportion of the payments to the Exchequer from North Sea oil and gas to be paid into a fund for the benefit of the areas most directly concerned and for some insurance against the consequences of pollution.

No. But we shall continue to look after the needs of these areas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the implications for the Scottish economy of the Budget proposals.

The surest way to a continuing improvement in the Scottish economy lies in the measures the Government have taken since coming to office to stimulate growth and employment throughout the United Kingdom. The Budget strategy is for an annual rate of growth of around 5 per cent. over the 18 months to the first half of 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police forces in Scotland are armed; how many of each weapon they have; and if he will make a statement.