asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals she has for the future of the West Riding county library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will convene a conference of elected members and officers concerned with public library services in the present Yorkshire local authorities with a view to promoting the establishment and maintenance of a central support library to serve the new library authorities after April 1974; and if she will recommend that the Yorkshire Regional Library Systems Council should continue upon a broader basis to take over the administration of a central library to serve the region.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what studies she has instigated into the library services in South and West Yorkshire; and if she will make a statement.

The findings of a report by the library advisers of my right hon. Friend's Department on the provision of public library services in South and West Yorkshire were communicated to the library authorities there in August last year for consideration by them individually and jointly. Extensive local consideration has taken place and is still continuing, and a conference on the lines suggested would be for local decision. The report examines a number of ways by which certain centralised facilities now provided by the West Riding authority might be continued. One of these ways could be through the council referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received about the implications for colleges of art of the report of the Pooling Committee on curricular activity and staff resources in further education colleges; and what replies she has sent.

Seventeen letters have been received, mostly through hon. Members, about implications of the committee's memorandum on student/staff ratios for advanced level work. The replies have explained that the memorandum was commended to local education authorities by the local authority associations, and that it is a matter for individual authorities to consider its application.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what reply she has given to the representatives of the National Union of Teachers in respect of its application for an increased London allowance in addition to any negotiated salary agreement.

I referred to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister sent on 1st March to the National Union of Teachers, saying that any increase in the London allowance must be subject to the stage 2 pay limits and that teachers stood to benefit from the success of the present policies for controlling inflation, of which the limitation of pay increases was an essential element.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is satisfied that local education authorities have the necessary extra resources to implement the raising of the school leaving age in 1973.

Yes. Building allocations total £144 million and reports received from local education authorities suggest that they expect little difficulty in maintaining pupil/teacher ratios when the effects of raising the school leaving age begin to be felt.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will amend the regulations relating to the assessment of student grants in cases where the parent or guardian works abroad in a country which operates restrictions on the remittance of income to the United Kingdom.

I have been in correspondence with my hon. Friend about difficulties experienced by one of his constituents, but I do not regard it as feasible to make special provision in the regulations to cover cases of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of Government grants allocated for cultural activities has been spent in the provinces.

In 1971–72 about two-fifths of the total grants to the Arts Council, the British Film Institute and museums and galleries were spent outside London. Since then the proportion of the Arts Council grants spent outside London has been increasing.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the results of her investigations into the feasibility of investigating the varying degrees of turnover of staff in schools.

The investigations continue. A survey might help to establish the facts. It would not be likely to tell us much about why people move.

asked the Sectary of State for Education and Science what average annual increase, in cost terms, she anticipates in education spending during the period 1972–73 to 1976–77; and what was the comparable annual average increase for the period 1959–60 to 1971–72.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what average annual increase in volume terms at constant prices she anticipates in education spending during the period 1972–73 to 1976–77; and what was the comparable annual average increase for the period 1959–60 to 1971–72.

The forecasts of education expenditure in Cmnd. 5178 show average annual rates of growth during the period 1972–73 to 1976–77 of 3·;4 per cent. in volume terms and 5·;0 per cent. in cost terms. These forecasts, governed as they are by the conventions of the Public Expenditure White Papers, are not on the same footing as figures of actual past expenditure, since those embody the outcome of policies and events for the whole period which they cover. I estimate that the average annual rate of growth over the 13 years from 1959 to 1972 was 5 per cent. in volume terms and about 6¼ per cent. in cost terms. But a single average for this long period conceals the fact that the growth rate up to 1964, in volume terms, was 5½ per cent. and that the rate fell to 4½ per cent. between 1964 and 1970, recovering sharply to over 6½ per cent. between 1970–71 and 1971–72.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will seek to ascertain and publish the number of Nursery Nurses Examination Board qualified women who are employed in primary schools; and what their rates of pay are.

In January 1972 there were 5,749 in maintained primary schools. The salary scales are £726 to £999 for nursery assistants aged 20 and over, and £920 to £1,179 for those employed as unqualified teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was available in the Housing the Arts Fund each year since it was set up, up to the present date; and if she will make a larger allocation for this purpose.

When the Housing the Arts scheme was introduced in 1965–66 the Arts Council of Great Britain was authorised to enter into commitments for capital expenditure amounting to £250,000. In the following and in each subsequent year the sum was raised to £500,000. My noble Friend has informed the Arts Council that the sum for 1973–74 will be increased by 50 per cent. to £750,000. In addition, there has been a special allocation of £675,000 to be spent by the end of 1973 for projects in the assisted areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will now approve the plans for education reorganisation of the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme; and whether she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend will give her decision as soon as possible on these proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now introduce legislation to make day release for young persons compulsory.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the outcome of her discussions with teachers and local education authorities concerning indiscipline, violence and vandalism in schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement about the action that has been taken following her discussions last summer about the problem of violence in the schools.

My Department collaborated with other Departments and local authority associations in drawing up a questionnaire on violence and indiscipline in the schools which was sent by the Association of Education Committees to local education authorities in January. Replies have been asked for by mid-March.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what projects she is considering for inclusion in the next special schools building programme, for the Sheffield local education authority area, for the educationally subnormal, for the blind, and those who are educationally backward.

Three projects in Sheffield are being considered for inclusion in the Special Schools Design List for 1973–74: the replacement of Kirkhill School, which is mainly for children who are severely educationally subnormal, the replacement of Springvale House for the less severely ESN and the remodelling of Tapton Mount School for the blind. The local education authority was informed on 16th January that these projects had been included in the preliminary list for 1972–73.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost of providing 875,000 places in higher education by 1981; and how that cost compares with the cost of providing 750,000 places as proposed in the recent White Paper.

I would expect expenditure in 1981 on 875,000 places to be of the order of £1,350 million compared with £1,120 million on the same basis for the 750,000 places proposed in the White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement about the progress that is being made towards the introduction of courses leading to the award of the proposed diploma of higher education.

There has been a welcome initiative by the University Grants Committee and the CNAA as a result of which a representative group has been set up to examine academic aspects including structure, standards and credit towards further study. My Department is in touch with the Confederation of British Industry about employment opportunities and is considering what legislative changes would be necessary to enable students pursuing Dip.HE courses and subsequent further study to qualify for mandatory awards.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to make a decision on the London borough of Havering's revised proposals for comprehensive reorganisation.

My right hon. Friend hopes to announce her decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what she estimates to be the cost of doubling post-school education by 1980; and to what extent this estimate would exceed the cost of the proposals put forward in the recent White Paper.

While forecasts as far ahead as 1980 are bound to be tentative for the reasons explained in my White Paper, I estimate that to double the provision of higher education by 1981–82 would entail recurrent expenditure in that year of the order of £115 million, some £200 million higher than the comparable figure of £945 million for the proposals in the White Paper which will increase higher education provision by about 60 per cent. Additional capital expenditure of some £50 million a year throughout the decade would also be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate she has made of the cost of increasing the teaching force to 570,000 by 1981; and how this estimate compares with the cost of increasing the number of teachers to 510,000 by that date as proposed in the White Paper.

I estimate that the additional training costs involved in raising the teacher force to 570,000 by 1981 instead of 510,000 might be of the order of £200 million, excluding capital, and that the 60,000 additional teachers assumed to be in service in 1981–82 would cost some £100 million more than the annual salary bill of £117 million for a teacher force of 510,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress she has made in her examination of the financing of student unions.

No consensus of views has been established among the parties mainly concerned.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what progress is being made in improving the armament of Fleet submarines; and if he will make a statement.

The Mark 24 torpedo will enter service shortly, and our studies for a submarine launched anti-ship guided weapon are progressing.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will seek a meeting with his opposite number in the newly-elected Government of Eire.

I have no plans to meet the new Minister of Defence in the Republic of Ireland, who has not yet been appointed, but my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Defence was present when security issues were discussed at the meeting between the Prime Minister and Mr. Cosgrave last week.

asked the Minister of Defence whether the 1947 civil air agreement with the Sultan of Muscat and Oman is still in force; and to what extent it has been replaced by the agreement provided for in the 1958 Exchange of Letters.

I have been asked to reply.The 1947 civil air agreement with the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman was concluded for a term of seven years with the option of renewal. It was renewed in 1954 for a further four years. In 1958 it was replaced by a new civil air agreement as provided for in the 1958 Exchange of Letters (Command 507). The 1958 civil air agreement lapsed in 1962 but its terms and conditions continued to he observed until January 1972, when a new air services agreement was signed.

asked the Minister of State for Defence in what circumstances Section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 applies to civilians.

Section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 does not apply to civilians. It does, however, apply to members of the reserve forces when they are on duty.

asked the Minister of State for Defence, since members of the reserve forces are primarily civilians, whether Section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 continues to apply to them when involved in motoring accidents on civil roads.

Section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 applies to members of the reserve forces only when they are on duty.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if, in view of the statement that official arrangements to encourage life assurance do not generally apply to members of the reserve forces as they are primarily civilians, the Government will now cease to apply Section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 to members of the reserve forces involved in motor accidents, as this Act may deprive them of the opportunity of taking proper legal action arising from motor accidents on civil roads.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to meet the Electrical and Plumbing Trades Union with a view to ending the electrical strike at the new Inland Revenue building in Bootle.

This is an unofficial and unconstitutional dispute. Officials of my Department have had talks with representatives of the parties involved and in the course of these discussions I have met Mr. Chapple. The services of my Department continue to be available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what action he is taking to reduce unemployment in the Morpeth constituency;(2) what proposals he has to provide work for unemployed men over 55 years of age in the Morpeth constituency.

The continued impact of our measures to stimulate industrial expansion, particularly in the development areas, should lead to a further improvement in employment opportunities for workers of all ages in the Morpeth constituency. It is encouraging to see that the number of unemployed men aged 55 and over, in the area, has fallen from 596 in January 1972 to 498 in January 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of males unemployed within the mid-Northumberland local employment area have been unemployed for over 26 weeks but less than 52 weeks; and what percentage have been unemployed for more than 52 weeks up to the latest available date.

On 8th January in the area covered by the Alnwick, Amble, Ashington, Bedlington, Blyth and Morpeth employment exchange9 13·1 per cent. of unemployed males had been unemployed for over 26 and up to 52 weeks and 38·0 per cent. for over 52 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will agree to sanction the construction of a further advance factory in the Morpeth constituency.

I have been asked to reply.An existing advance factory has recently been allocated at Ashington. I shall bear in mind the needs of the area for a replacement factory.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the general criteria employed by his Department in selecting areas for the siting of advance factories.

I have been asked to reply.The unemployment rate, possible redundancies, jobs in prospect in the locality, the availability of existing factories and of suitable sites are all taken into account in deciding where to build advance factories.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the notified vacancies in each of the employment areas covered by the Macclesfield constituency at the latest convenient date; and how these figures compare with the national figure.

On 7th February there were 358 unfilled vacancies in the area covered by the Macclesfield employment exchange and 59 in the area covered by the Congleton employment exchange. In Great Britain as a whole there were 274,576. The figures relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of unemployed in each of the employment areas in the Macclesfield constituency at the latest convenient date; what percentages of the working population they represent; and how the percentage figure compares with the national percentage figure.

On 12th February there were 684 people unemployed in the area covered by the Macclesfield employment exchange and 182 in the area covered by the Congleton employment exchange. The rates of unemployment were 2·8 per cent for Macclesfield and 2·3 for Congleton. For Great Britain the rate was 3·2 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider the possibility of utilising the vacant factory at Penygroes, Caernarvon-shire, as an industrial training centre to serve North-West Wales.

There are no plans for a new Government training centre in North-West Wales for which this factory could be utilised. The area is, however, benefiting from the general expansion of industrial training under the training opportunities scheme, and 76 places are already available in local colleges and employers' establishments. The needs of the area will be kept under constant review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why self-employed British travellers in the EEC countries will not enjoy the benefits of EEC social security regulations; and if he will make a statement.

The EEC social security regulations apply only to persons working for an employer and to their families.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether self-employed and unemployed persons will be entitled to a rebate of the cost of medical treatment, should they fall ill within the EEC countries, on their return to the United Kingdom.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to publish the regulations under the Medicines Act on restricted medicinal products, amending the extended Poisons List.

The Medicines Commission has now submitted its recommendations concerning the medicinal products that should be on general sale or restricted to sale or supply on prescription only. Before making regulations or orders under the Medicines Act to replace the present provisions under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, I propose to consult the relevant interests on these recommendations. I expect to start consultation in about one month's time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware that the earnings limit for chronically handicapped people was last set at £2 per week in 1966 for those not in possession of supplementary benefit and whether he will review this figure, in view of the passage of time.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the £2 disregard of part-time earnings fixed in 1966 for supplementary benefit purposes. We intend to review this figure, together with the other disregards, at an appropriate time. This year we have, however, given priority to general increases in supplementary benefit which, as from October, will help all handicapped people in receipt of benefit whether or not they have any earnings.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the information communications system within the National Health Service, the record-keeping system, the data acquisition system and the transfer of patients' records between hospitals, regions and doctors; and when these were last reviewed.

Information and records systems in the National Health Service are very complex and varied, and their functions and improvement are under continuous review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he will not invoke the Industrial Relations Act to deal with the industrial dispute affecting the hospital workers and the ancillary staffs.

Invocation of the Act is a matter of judgment and the necessary conditions have not so far been fulfilled.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the effective rate of interest used for calculation of the amount of the increment paid to national insurance pensioners who defer their retirement.

Increments are designed to give some return for the contributions paid after minimum pensionable age and for the pension theoretically forgone, but they were never intended to repre- sent a full actuarial return and therefore are not calculated on the basis referred to in my hon. Friend's Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up a survey to ascertain the number of people in rural Wales who could claim supplementary benefit but do not do so; and if he will consider further methods of encouraging such claims to be made.

I do not consider that such a survey is needed. My Department already has extensive publicity arrangements, including a wide variety of leaflets and other publications freely available to the public. The increases in supplementary benefit which my right hon. Friend announced on 7th March can be expected to encourage some people to claim who have not done so before.—[Vol. 852, c.412–28.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social services if he will list those social service benefits, respectively, contributory and non-contributory and either existent or planned, which are tax-free.

The following social security benefits are not taxable:I. CONTRIBUTORY BENEFITS

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of haemophiliac disabled drivers in England and Wales who have become qualified for adapted four-wheeled cars in accordance with the extended categories of eligibility which became effective in April 1972, but have opted to retain three-wheeled vehicles instead.

About 20 invalids who also suffer from haemophilia and who have been provided with invalid three-wheelers have not applied for cars.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of haemophiliac disabled drivers in England and Wales who have applied for mobility assistance for the first time in accordance with the extended categories of eligibility which became effective in April 1972; and how many such applications still await approval.

The information in the form requested is not available. The fact that a disabled person also suffers from haemophilia is only relevant for the purpose of deciding the type of vehicle to be offered after the applicant has been found to be eligible for help under the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of haemophiliac disabled drivers in England and Wales who have applied to give up their invalid three-wheeled vehicles in favour of adapted four-wheeled cars in accordance with the extended categories of eligibility which became effective in April 1972; and how many of them are still awaiting delivery.

Since the changes in the Invalid Vehicle Service announced in February 1972, 69 disabled applicants who also suffer from haemophilia have opted to exchange their 3-wheelers for motor cars, nine of which have yet to be delivered.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of haemophiliac disabled drivers in England and Wales who have been granted an annual car allowance in respect of their own private cars as a result of the extended categories of eligibility which became effective in April 1972.

Seventy-four disabled drivers who also suffer from haemophilia have been granted the annual car allowance in respect of their own private cars since 1st April 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of haemophiliac disabled drivers in England and Wales who have been issued with adapted four-wheeled cars by the National Health Service under the extended categories of eligibility which came into effect in April 1972.

Since the changes in the Invalid Vehicle Service announced in February 1972, 99 disabled people who also suffer from haemophilia have been issued with cars.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give the figures of establishment vacancies in the hospitals in the area covered by the East Cheshire Hospital Management Committee, tabulated in medical, para-medical, nursing, clerical and ancillary staffs, at the most recent convenient date.

On 28th February 1973, there were the following vacancies in the funded establishment at hospitals in the East Cheshire Hospital Management Committee area.

	Vacancies
Medical	Nil
Professional, Technical and Scientific	10
Nursing	18
Clerical and Administrative	3
Ancillary	19

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many war widows of soldiers killed in Northern Ireland are receiving pensions from his Department; and what proportion this is of all those soldiers killed who left widows;(2) if he will list the amounts of pension being paid in each case to each war widow of soldiers killed whilst serving in Northern Ireland.

Up to 1st March 1973, 94 married Servicemen, including 21 members of the Ulster Defence Regiment, had been killed in Northern Ireland as a result of terrorist activity. The widows of 92 of these men are currently receiving war widows' pensions from my Department.The rate of war widow's pension varies according to the widow's age, her late husband's rank, the number of her children and her entitlement to rent and education allowances. The weekly rate of pension-weekly equivalent of the annual rate for officers' widows-being paid to each widow is listed below. Unless otherwise indicated each rate refers to one individual case:

	£ p		£ p
10 at	2·03*		17·95
3 at	2·08*		18·30
3 at	2·13*		18·31
	2·88*	2 at	18·34
	3·50		18·45
2 at	8·80		18·60
	10·26		18·65
3 at	12·30	2 at	18·70
4 at	12·40		18·75
3 at	12·60		19·05
	12·65		19·74
	13·40		20·40
2 at	14·80		20·54
	14·92		21·30
	14·99	2 at	21·45
	15·35		21·49
3 at	15·60		21·50
	15·65	2 at	21·70
	15·66		21·80
3 at	15·70		23·14
4 at	15·75		23·63
2 at	15·80	2 at	23·92
	16·90		24·29
	16·94	2 at	24·85
	17·36		27·60
	17·43		30·70
	17·60		30·75
	17·92		31·07
*Childless widows under 40, who will qualify for full rate pensions on reaching the age of 40.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many dependants' pensions are being paid by his Department to dependants of soldiers killed serving in Northern Ireland.

One such pension is in payment. In addition, allowances in respect of 157 children are being paid as part of war pensions awarded to the widows of soldiers killed in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evaluations have been made by his Department of warning devices, especially inertia systems, which could be installed in the homes of elderly people living alone; and whether he will make a statement on the policy of his Department towards encouraging local authorities to make use of them.

My Department is closely involved with two current research projects which are designed to provide objective evaluation of emergency warning devices now available, and is represented on a committee set up by the British Standards Institution to try to achieve a minimum standard specification for them.The work in progress gives scope for cautious optimism for the future but a number of fundamental problems remain to be solved before definitive guidance can be given to local authorities on the use of these devices. In these circumstances, it would be counter-productive to encourage authorities to purchase on any scale equipment that remains of unproven reliability save where elderly people are living in warden-serviced grouped housing.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the British Dental Association regarding the role of the dental profession under National Health Service reorganisation; what replies he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

I am discussing with the association tomorrow representations it has made to me about certain aspects of the management arrangements proposed for the reorganised National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received regarding members of the National Health Service who opted for life insurance instead of superannuation scheme under the Health Service; if he is now prepared to allow doctors who opted for life insurance to contract into the superannuation scheme; and if he will make a statement.

From time to time, I have received letters from doctors and dentists, some direct and some forwarded by hon. Members, seeking to vary the conditions of their options. The Joint Superannuation Consultative Committee for the National Health Service has recently considered the position of optants generally as part of its comprehensive review of superannuation provisions for persons engaged in the National Health Service. I expect to receive the Committee's report, containing recommendations, very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply he has sent to a letter dated 16th February from the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Worcestershire County Council regarding the need to devise some method of relieving the increase in rates to be paid by the domestic ratepayer as a result of revaluation and reduction in rate support grant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that the Worcestershire County Council has officially represented to him that the individual ratepayer will suffer an unavoidable increase of 20 per cent. in the county rate, largely due to the revaluation and consequential reduction in the rate support grant, thereby occasioning up to 100 per cent. increase in rates payable and what relief he proposes to offer.

I would refer to the announcement made last Tuesday by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and my right hon. and learned Friend about additional help to domestic ratepayers facing large increases in their rates due to revaluation. My right hon. and learned Friend is replying to the letter from the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Worcestershire County Council drawing attention to these announcements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are in force for the cleaning of the Palace of Westminster; what wages are paid; and what hours and other conditions of employment are observed.

I would refer the hon. Member to the appendix, dated 10th May 1965, to the report of the Select Committee on the Palace of Westminster Session 1964–65, reproduced below. All cleaners for whom I am responsible are paid the normal Civil Service rates for the job and are subject to Civil Service conditions of employment. At present, the rates are 46p an hour for women working a 30-hour week, £21·50 a week for men working a 40-hour week and £10·75 for men working a 20-hour week.The appendix is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on his discussions with the European Commission about the application of forked or reference tariffs to commodities carried by British Rail and road transport operators.

Discussions are continuing on the system of forked tariffs for international road haulage which will come into force on 1st January 1974 for traffic to

EXPENDITURE
Year				Salaries £000's	General Administrative Expenses £000's	Stores and Machinery £000's	Total £000's
1962–63	…	…	…	4,023	366	335	4,724
1963–64	…	…	…	4,189	426	370	4,985
1964–65	…	…	…	4,306	462	423	5,191
1965–66	…	…	…	4,536	533	430	5,499
1966–67	…	…	…	4,763	567	420	5,750
1967–68	…	…	…	6,006	684	482	7,172
1968–69	…	…	…	5,761	960	607	7,328
1969–70	…	…	…	6,315	924	572	7,811
1970–71	…	…	…	7,122	1,145	630	8,897
1971–72	…	…	…	7,666	1,263	659	9,588

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why work on the Stoneyland diversion on the A35 in West Dorset has been held up for so long; and whether he will take account of the large number of minor traffic accidents recently.

Work on this scheme, suspended in January because of bad weather, is expected to restart later this month. The number of accidents is being investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to report a decision on the future of the Albert Dock, Hull.

This is a matter for day-to-day management by the British Transport Docks Board. It informs me that negotiations are still proceeding between it and the fishing industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the total income and expenditure of the Ordnance Survey in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities are participating in Operation Eyesore.

About 450 local authorities in England are at present participating in Operation Eyesore.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance has been provided under Operation Eyesore to prevent disused railway tracks from becoming infested with weeds.

Under Section 8 of the Local Employment Act 1972, I may pay grant only when it appears to me that land is derelict, neglected or unsightly and that steps should be taken to enable the land to be brought into use or to improve its appearance. I do not think that this would cover preventive action of the sort described by my hon. Friend, although a number of local authorities in assisted areas have received grant towards the cost of landscaping and clearing up disused railway land.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to make a further statement about the Channel Tunnel.

In the Green Paper I hope to publish very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek to amend the Ancient Monuments Acts so that they apply to land-based wrecks, as recommended in the last report of the Ancient Monuments Board.

Yes, at an appropriate time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what were the average rents, exclusive of rates, determined by the rent assessment committees for England and Wales in each of the years including and since 1968, and the average rents for these houses or flats when still controlled;(2) what were the average rents, exclusive of rates, determined by the rent officers for England and Wales in each of the ears including and since 1968, and the average rents for these houses or flats when still controlled;(3) what were the average rents, exclusive of rates, determined by the rent assessment committees in London in each of the years including and since 1968, and the average rents for these houses or flats when still controlled;(4) what were the average rents, exclusive of rates, determined by rent officers in London in each of the years including and since 1968, and the average rents for these houses or flats when still controlled.

Information disaggregated exactly as requested is not readily Available. But average rents determined by rent officers in cases which were the subject of appeals to rent assessment

					England and Wales		Greater London
					ROs determination	RACs determination	ROs determination	RACs determination
Year					£	£	£	£
1968	…	…	…	…	224	234	245	257
1969	…	…	…	…	234	244	293	304
1970	…	…	…	…	233	248	280	303
1971	…	…	…	…	257	272	334	355
1972	…	…	…	…	242	253	347	367

Where rents were previously controlled, they would have been broadly twice the gross value in 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of the doubling of rents by certain rent assessment committees, he will introduce legislation to amend the Rent Act 1968, whereby private rent increases will be limited to a maximum of 3 per cent. per annum.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on his policy on the testing of all holders of heavy goods vehicle drivers' licences.

I have no proposals to require all holders of heavy goods vehicle drivers licences to take driving tests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many vacancies for inspectors of vehicles have been advertised by the Department of the Environment, and in which newspapers; and whether the vacancies concerned were placed with the professional and executive register of the Department of Employment.

The Civil Service Commission has advertised on behalf of my Department for 30 vehicle examiners in the following newspapers and journals:

• Daily Telegraph
• Sun
• Daily Express
• Daily Mirror
• Commercial Motor
• Motor Transport
• Autocar
• Motor
• Birmingham Evening Mail

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why no tenant has been found for the Government-built factory at Penygroes, Caernarvonshire, which has been vacant for more than two years; how many firms have been invited to consider the tenancy; and how many have visited the factory.

The factory has now been brought to the attention of 28 firms seeking factory space and two industrialists have visited it. So far, no firm has indicated a willingness to occupy it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will enumerate seriatim in the OFFICIAL REPORT those recommendations of the Holland-Martin Report which have so far been implemented, stating at what time they were implemented, in which Statute and/or statutory regulation or, if by industrial agreement, when the industrial agreement was made, and what further steps his Department is taking to implement those recommendations still outstanding, which recommendations are subject to current discussions in the fishing industry and which it is the Government's intention not to implement at present.

Of the total of 83 recommendations in the Holland-Martin Report, all of which have been accepted in principle, 45 required legislative or other action by the Government and the remainder were for implementation by industrial agreement. Powers to regulate safety of construction and equipment were taken in the Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Act 1970 and to regulate working conditions in the Merchant Shipping Act 1970.A framework of regulations to govern safety construction and equipment has been developed with the main sections of the industry but the related survey arrangements are still under consideration. The framing of rules on such matters as periods of rest at sea, particularly in relation to near and middle water vessels, is posing a number of problems. A support ship has been provided for the past three years. I regret that I do not have particulars of relevant industrial agreements in the form requested, but good progress has been made.A special unit is being set up within the Department to speed up the implementation of outstanding recommendations, and I am writing to the hon. Member suggesting that he might wish to discuss detailed recommendations and progress on them with the head of the unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value of British exports of computers in each of the past five years.

Information for the years 1968 to 1971 is given in "UK Overseas Trade in Electronic and Telecommunication Equipment 1971", copies of which are available in the Library. The figure for 1972 is £138 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of the financial support given annually from public funds to the Production Engineering Research Association.

For the period 1st January 1973 to 31st December 1974, the Department will make an annual grant of 50 per cent. of the income raised by the association from United Kingdom industry for co-operative work, provided that a minimum of £350,000 is raised in each year and subject to a maximum total annual grant of £220,000. In the years 1967–72, the association has received a grant ranging between £165,000 and about £195,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government are contemplating granting increased funds for nuclear fusion research in line with spending in the United States and the USSR.

The Government are currently considering the future level of United Kingdom expenditure on nuclear fusion research.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now advise the declaration of a state of emergency in view of the disruption of essential services as a result of industrial action and the terrorist outrages which have taken place in London.

My hon. Friend can be assured that this matter is under continuous review and that the Government will not hesitate to take appropriate steps if and when they judge that emergency powers are needed to maintain essential supplies and services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he took with respect to each of the five officers who were involved in the case of Collier v. Metropolitan Police, the hearing of which commenced on 30th January 1973; which of these officers are still members of the Metropolitan Police; and which, if any, have been demoted or promoted.

This was a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, who tells me that complaints against the police made by Mr. Collier in 1969 were duly investigated under Section 49 of the Police Act 1964. The Director of Public Prosecutions advised that the evidence was not such as to warrant criminal proceedings against any police officer. The Commissioner is responsible for all disciplinary matters in his force and after considering the evidence he decided that no disciplinary action was justified. One officer resigned in 1971; the others are continuing to serve in the same ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been killed within the Metropolitan Police area in each of the last five years as a result of their vehicle colliding with a builder's skip; and in how many of these collisions was the skip unlighted.

LONDON BOROUGH OF EALING—URBAN PROGRAMME APPROVALS 1969–70 TO 1971–72
			1969–70		1970–71		1971–72
			Capita	Non-capital	Capital	Non-capital	Capital	Non-capital
			£	£	£	£	£	£
Nursery education	…	…	13,160	—	28,905	—	—	—
Other education	…	…	—	20,000	—	—	—	—
Day nurseries	…	…	76,400	—	—	—	—	—
Other child care	…	…	27,000	—	—	—	—	—
Care of the aged	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—
Housing advice	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—
Community centres and community workers	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	2,000
Family planning	…	…	—	—	—	400	—	1,000
Other advice centres	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—
Playgroups	…	…	7,000	1,347	—	500	—	—
Other play schemes	…	…	—	—	28,000	—	—	—
Holiday projects	…	…	—	—	—	1,800	—	3,815
Miscellaneous	…	…	—	—	21,600	—	—	—
TOTALS	…	…	123,560	21,347	78,505	2,700	—	6,815

For most capital projects, grant is payable on running costs (not shown above) for up to five years Most non-capital expenditure is also recurrent for up to five years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a breakdown of the sums allocated to the London Borough of Ealing in 1969–70, 1970–71, and 1971–72, under Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 under

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that five people are known to have been killed in the Metropolitan Police District in the five years 1968 to 1972 as a result of collisions with builders' skips, and in one of these cases the skip is known to have been unlit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a breakdown of the sums allocated to the London Borough of Ealing in 1969–70, 1970–71, and 1971–72, by the headings nursery education, other education, day nurseries, other child care, care of the aged, housing advice and other housing schemes, community centres and community workers, family planning, other advice centres (including volunteer bureaux), playgroups, other play schemes, holiday projects and miscellaneous.

Expenditure under the urban programme was authorised as follows:the categories of assistance to teachers and ancillary helpers, education welfare officers, interpreters, liaison officers, social workers, health visitors, public health inspectors, day nursery staff and supervisory staff for children in care.

Grant was paid under Section 11 of the Local Government Act

		1969–70	1970–71	1971–72
		£	£	£
Liaison Officers, Assistant Liaison Officers	…	3,006	—	—
Interpreters and interviewing staff	…	—	3,497	4,236
Education:
(a) teachers specially employed	…	141,890	190,990	236,767
(b) additional payments to Heads, Deputy Heads and peripatetic teachers	…	2,475	2,625	2,925
(c) ancillary helpers	…	47,917	69,408	95,578
(d) Education Welfare Officers	…	2,604	2,999	3,143
Social Workers	…
Other Staff	…	9,564	9,681	23,840
Children in care:
(a) in local authority residential accommodation	…	4,004	1,702	—
(b) boarded out or in voluntary homes	…	—	441	896
Local authority day nurseries	…	3,860	14,261	12,721
Health visitors	…	1,436	661	5,813
Public Health Inspectors	…	5,946	14,698	9,209
Total	…	222,702	310,969	422,128

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in how many cases, during each of the years from 1943 to 1973 inclusive, have the accused been charged with conspiracy; and how many and what percentage of such prosecutions in each of those years resulted in acquittals;(2) in how many and what percentage of the cases during each of the years from 1943 to 1973 inclusive in which the accused was charged with conspiracy that charge was coupled with other charges; in how many and in what percentage of such cases the accused were acquitted of both the conspiracy and such other charges; and in how many and in what percentage of such cases the accused were acquitted on the conspiracy charge but convicted on other charges; and(3) in how many cases and in what percentage of the cases in which the accused were charged with and convicted of conspiracy during each of the years from 1943 to 1973 inclusive the convicted person was sentenced to imprisonment; in how many and in what percentage the convicted person was fined; and in how many and what percentage of cases he was put on probation.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amount was given in the last full year by his Department to the National Marriage Guidance and Family Council for the preservation of marriage; and if he will increase this amount in the future.

The grant to the National Marriage Guidance Council is fixed in advance for a three year period. For the period ending in March 1972 it was at the rate of £70,000 a year. For the triennium 1972–75 the grant has been increased to £130,000 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further consideration he is giving to bring forward measures to remove the dual voting registration right of students.

The questions of multiple registration and the definition of "residence" are included in the terms of reference of the Speaker's Conference on Electoral Law.

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food what is the practice of his Department, in administrative matters, regarding the definition of the term "head of the household" or an equivalent term and what benefits or allowances are available when the requirements of that status are met.

My Department uses the term "head of the household" only in relation to the collection of information under the National Food Survey. For this purpose, the term is normally taken to mean the individual who is the owner, pays the rent or maintains the household.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals have been made by the EEC Commission to the Council of Ministers in respect of the 1973 Agricultural Review.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when Miss Francis Huish of the Old Bakery, Iden, near Rye, Sussex, may expect a reply or an acknowledgment of her letter of 5th February, relating to the accident to calves in flight to Teneriffe from Gatwick in July 1972.

A reply was sent to Miss Francis Huish on 9th March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to make proposals for the 1973 EEC farm review; and if the National Farmers Unions will be consulted about them.

It is for the Commission to put initial proposals on farm prices in 1973 to the Council of Agricultural Ministers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will investigate the extent to which agricultural land is being purchased by companies and pension funds.

I do not think that a special investigation is called for.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the price and income elasticities of demand for the major foods.

The following estimates of the elasticities of demand at the household level have been derived from National Food Survey data:

Food	Price elasticity*	Income elasticity†
Beef	-1·2	0·3
Lamb	-0·8	0·0
Pork	-1·2	0·3
Broiler chicken	-1·0	0·4
Bacon and ham, uncooked	-0·5	0·1
Cooked and canned meat	-0·9	-0·4
Butter	-0·4	0·2
Margarine	+0·7‡	-0·4
Liquid milk	Not available§	0·2
Natural cheese	Not available§	0·2
Eggs	0·0	0·1
Sugar	Not available§	-0·1
Potatoes	-01	-0·2
Brassicas and root vegetables	-0·5	0-2
Canned vegetables	-1·7	-0·2
Frozen vegetables	-1·0	0·9
Apples	-0·6	0·5
Pears	-1·7	0·6
Oranges	-1·2	0·5
Canned fruit	-0·8	0·4
Bread	-0·8	-0·2
Cakes, pastries	-0·5	0·1
Tea	-0·9	-0·1
Instant coffee	-1·5	0·4
All food	Not available§	0·2
*The estimates of price elasticities are derived from price and quantity changes recorded by the National Food Survey during the period from 1964 (or in some cases 1966) to 1972. The estimates are not necessarily applicable to future situations when circumstances may be different In particular, they may not apply at price levels outside the range of those previously experienced.
† Estimated from cross-sectional analyses of National Food Survey data for 1971.
‡ This is the elasticity of demand for margarine with respect to changes in the price of butter.
§ For some foods it has not been possible to isolate the effects of price changes from those of other factors.