asked the Minister of State for Defence whether, in view of the contingencies in Northern Ireland and elsewhere, he is satisfied that Army recruiting is adequate; and if he will make a statement.

Apart from some special skills, the Army is up to strength at the present time. Recruitment is only one aspect. Prolongation and wastage also play an important part in the overall manpower position.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many members of the security forces have been killed or injured in Northern Ireland while giving protection to children going to or returning from school.

Three soldiers have been killed and six wounded, as a result of terrorist activities, while taking part in the so-called Lollipop Patrol and protecting children going to and from four schools in the Crumlin Road area of Belfast.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what further consideration he has given to the continuation of 15-year-old recruiting after the raising of the school leaving age.

The position remains as described in the answer given on 20th July 1972 by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to my hon. and gallant Friend's Question on the subject.—[Vol. 841, c. 903–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of schoolchildren per school dental officer in the Leek parliamentary constituency in Staffordshire and in England and Wales, respectively.

For England and Wales 5,996; this allows for time spent by school dental officers on the treatment of children under five and of expectant and nursing mothers. The information is not collected by the Department in respect of parliamentary constituencies and the Staffordshire local education authority should be consulted about the comparable figure for Leek.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what action her Department has taken to encourage schools to provide more opportunities for their pupils to participate in community service programmes; and if she will make a statement;(2) what estimates she has made of the number of schools that provide opportunities for their pupils to participate in community service programmes and of the number of children participating in such schemes.

My right hon. Friend has no powers in relation to the secular curriculum of schools, and does not collect statistics of this kind. It is for local education authorities, governors and head teachers to decide whether and how to involve pupils in community service, and many schools are known to participate. Her Majesty's Inspectors are available for advice in this as in other areas and are arranging a short course for teachers later this year. The Schools Council Working Paper "Community Service and the Curriculum" gives general advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what evidence she has received from the Nature Conservancy on the rise or fall in the badger population in the United Kingdom.

There is no quantitative evidence at present on fluctuations in the size of the badger population, but the Nature Conservancy, which keeps in touch with expert naturalists in many parts of the country, is of the opinion that badgers are generally common and widely distributed throughout Great Britain. The Mammal Society is currently conducting a survey of the state of the badger population, but its results will not be available for some time.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many disabled persons applied for places on courses in higher or further education during the last year; what percentage was accepted; what percentage of able-bodied applicants for such courses over the same period was accepted; and by what means she is encouraging local education authorities to ensure that academically able but physically disabled persons are not rejected for lack of appropriate facilities in institutions of education.

Admissions are the responsibility of individual establishments and the Department does not collect information of this kind. In July 1966 the Department asked LEAs in providing buildings to make it as easy as possible for the disabled to enter and get about inside the building even in a wheelchair. The Department also pointed out the importance of ensuring that disabled persons wishing to follow courses of further education should not be precluded from doing so. With the coming into force of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 the attention of LEAs was again drawn to the need to make provision wherever possible for the needs of disabled students. I shall keep under consideration the need for any further guidance on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further consideration he has given to introducing legislation to empower police authorities to act as housing authorities for police purposes; what consultations he has now had with the police service on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

This matter is under close examination but we are not yet ready to open consultations with the police and local authority representative bodies. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Bristol, North-West will receive a final reply to his letter of 11th January about the naturalisation of Mr. Halle, 106 Coombe Dale, Bristol 9.

I wrote to my hon. Friend yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy with regard to the provision of cars for the police force; and if he will give the approximate cost of providing such cars in the past 12 months.

Under the Police Act 1964, police authorities in England and Wales are responsible for providing vehicles required by police forces. The total expenditure on all vehicles in 1971–72 was just under £6 million. Later figures, and separate figures for cars only, are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents there were of the theft of wages and salaries of employees being taken to, from, or at places of work

			Latest corrected figures of murders known to the police in England and Wales of children aged 16 years and under(1)	Numbers and percentages of children included in column (1) murdered by parents (2)		Numbers and percentages of children included in column (1) murdered by closer relatives(3)
				Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.
1967	…	…	47	31	66·0	3	6·4
1968	…	…	42	23	54·8	—	—
1969	…	…	19	13	68·4	—	—
1970	…	…	20	8	40·0	—	—
1971	…	…	40	32	80·0	—	—
The figures in column (1) include those relating to murders so far unsolved; these are 6 for 1967, 9 for 1968, none for 1969, 3 for 1970 and 2 for 1971. In column (2), the term "parent" includes step-parent and cohabitant of parent.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects to publish his conclusions on the review of firearms law, including the possibility of a ban on imitation firearms.

In the near future, but I cannot yet give a definite date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will inquire into the delay in granting a United Kingdom entry visa to Mr. Ewald Katjivena of Lusaka who holds United Nations Travel Document No. 72 and applied for a visa for a week on 5th February 1973.

I regret the delay. A visa for Mr. Katjivena has now been authorised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the figures for the period of the last five years of murders of children of 16 years of age and under and where parents or close relatives were responsible; and what were the percentages of the total in each case.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Metropolitan Police has abandoned its practice of accepting disclaimers in respect of obscene literature, following the criticisms made of this practice by the Court of Appeal in the case of Regina v. Metropolitan Police Commissioner, ex parte Blackburn

The Commissioner informs me that the practice of accepting disclaimers in respect of obscene articles seized by the police under warrants issued in accordance with Section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 has been discontinued.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to make an order under Section 8(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 providing for a four-year term of office for Greater London Council councillors.

Yes. This will mean that councillors elected in 1973 will serve until 1977.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek an early meeting with the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek an early meeting with the new Prime Minister of the Irish Republic.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I had discussions with Mr. Cosgrave and Mr. Corish at Downing Street on 8th and 9th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will dismiss the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint a separate Minister with responsibilities for food.

No, Sir. I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the reply which I gave on 12th March to the hon. Member for Cardigan (Mr. Elystan Morgan).— [Vol. 852, c. 247.]

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider making an official visit to Northern Ireland at the time of the publication of the White Paper.

I have no plans at present for a visit to Northern Ireland.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech made by the Home Secretary at Margate on 4th March on the problem of pornography represented the official policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes,

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech delivered at the London Hilton Hotel on Thursday 1st March 1973 in respect of allocating the total resources available for wages.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Conway (Mr. Wyn Roberts) on 15th March. [Vol. 852, c. 1469.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to make an official visit to Ecuador.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Lincoln.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make representations to the EEC Commission to list lard under the same tariff heading in the Common External Tariff as edible beef fat.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the levy on lard and the ad valorem tariff on tallow imported into the EEC provide for fair competition.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Gorbals (Mr. McElhone) and others on 16th March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the consumption of lard per head in the United Kingdom and the EEC for the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972.

Latest estimates of United Kingdom consumption per head of lard and compound cooking fats are, for the period in question, as follows:

Year				Consumption per head of population
1969	…	…	…	12·0 lb/head
1970	…	…	…	12·0 lb/head
1971	…	…	…	11·2 lb/head
1972	…	…	…	11·9 lb/head

Comparable figures for the EEC as a whole are not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the imposition of a levy against United States lard will have on prices to the United Kingdom consumer.

The current charge being applied to United Kingdom imports of lard from the United States of America is equivalent to only about 2 per cent. of recent cif values of lard from that country. I would expect the effect of such a charge on prices to consumers to be very small.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what compensatory payments are made to EEC exporters of lard to the United Kingdom in respect of processed and unrefined lard, respectively.

I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Antrim, South (Mr. Molyneaux) and to the hon. Member for Manchester, Openshaw (Mr. Charles R. Morris) on 16th March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what level of levy Her Majesty's Government has agreed to impose on lard imports from the United States of America.

I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 16th March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the recommendations made by the Veterinary Products Committee about hormone injections into the muscle of veal calves; and if so when, and if not why not.

The Veterinary Products Committee's recommendation was that the sale of liquid injectable preparations of stilboestrol, hexoestrol and dienoestrol be restricted to prescription only, and that veterinarians be advised to restrict such prescriptions to therapeutic purposes and not issue them for growth promotion. This recommendation affects not only use by injection into the muscle of veal calves but also any other use of these injectable preparations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to amend the Food and Drugs Act 1955 in order to make it an offence to sell any food containing any residue of any harmful substance.

No. The existing provisions of the Food and Drugs Act 1955 provide that it is an offence:

(a) to add any substance to food, use any substance as an ingredient in the preparation of food, or subject food to any process or treatment so as to render it injurious to health;

(b) to sell to the prejudice of the purchaser any food that is not the nature, substance or quality demanded; and

(c) to sell any food unfit for human consumption.

In addition, powers are already available under the Act to impose such controls by regulations as are necessary to protect the health of consumers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he proposes to introduce regulations banning the use of arsenicals in chicken feed.

The use of arsenical additives in feedingstuffs is under discussion in the European Economic Community. In this country three such additives for use in poultry feeds have been cleared as safe under the veterinary products safety precautions scheme and are licensed under the Medicines Act 1968.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many price increases have taken place for chopped pork, beef, tongue, ham, bacon and lamb, respectively, since November 1972; and what was the lowest price and highest price of each in the period following.

The prices of beef, lamb and imported bacon are not subject to control. Since November 1972 they have varied week by week according to demand and supply.In the same period my right hon. Friend has given two consents to increases in the prices of chopped pork, tongue and canned ham. Details of these consents were given in the reply to the Hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. David Clark) on 15th March. My right hon. Friend has also agreed to the firsthand price of United Kingdom bacon being increased by £25 a ton on two occasions since November.The retail price of all the products mentioned can vary widely according to quality, cut and degree of market competition. It would therefore be quite meaningless to attempt to indicate any general range of prices during the period.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to reduce the high noise levels to which tractor drivers are exposed inside tractor cabs; and what progress has been made in this matter.

In the light of full consultations with all British interests concerned my right hon. Friends intend shortly to introduce regulations prescribing 90dBA as the maximum noise level inside tractor safety cabs. This new requirement will apply to tractors first sold for use in agriculture on or after 1st September 1975. For cabs sold for fitting to other tractors it will apply from the date that safety cabs will be mandatory on all tractors when driven by agricultural workers i.e. 1st September 1977. The 90dBA maximum level is that recommended by the Industrial Health Advisory Committee under conditions of continuous exposure. It will be measured under operating conditions laid down in British Standard 4063. A revised version of this Standard is expected to be published shortly and our new regulations will be based upon it. I am glad to say that these proposals have the full support of the organisations representing farmers, farm workers, and the agricultural machinery industry, as well as the Noise Advisory Council and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.The European Commission has also been notified, with a view to the establishment of common standards throughout the enlarged Community.

asked the Attorney-General what is the practice of legal aid committees in granting and continuing legal aid to married women notwithstanding their husband's unwillingness to co-operate in financing an action.

These circumstances do not affect the grant or continuance of legal aid in divorce proceed-

			Days of incapacity (millions) on a six day week basis
						Manufacturing
				All industry		Industry
Year ended (weeks)			Great Britain	Northern Ireland	United Kingdom	Great Britain only
31st May 1969 (52)	…	…	22·2	0·6	22·8	8·6
30th May 1970 (52)	…	…	21·9	0·6	22·5	8·9
5th June 1971 (53)	…	…	19·1	0·5	19·6	7·9
3rd June 1972 (52)	…	…		Not yet available

It is regretted that industrial breakdowns of the estimates for Northern Ireland are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of man-days lost due to sickness in the United Kingdom, taking the complete labour force in total, and those employed in manufacturing industries only, for the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972 to the most convenient date.

I have been asked to replyThe information which is available relates to days of certified incapacity notified to my Department in connection with claims to benefits. This information does not enable manufacturing industries to be separately identified. The latest available figures are as follows (for statistical

ings under Section 2(1)(

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether local authorities have been removing abandoned cars, as they are obliged to do under Section 20(1) of the Civic Amenities Act 1967; how often the Minister has exercised his powers under Section 20(6) to force a local authority to discharge its duty in that respect; and how many prosecutions have been brought under Section 19 for the unauthorised dumping of motor cars.

In answer to the first part of the Question, generally, yes. No need has yet arisen for the exercise of the powers under Section 20(6) of the Civic Amenities Act 1967. No separate figures relating to motor cars are available but there have been 1,060 prosecutions from the commencement of the Act to 31st March 1972 relating to the dumping of motor vehicles or parts of motor vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will reconsider the matter of State grants from the Historic Buildings Council to churches in need of repair or restoration;(2) if he will introduce legislation to withdraw the ecclesiastical exemption which exempts the Church of England from statutory controls over demolition and alteration of church buildings.

Discussions on the possibility of State grants for the repair of historic churches are proceeding with representatives of the General Synod of the Church of England, and a study is being carried out of the estimated cost of repairs to churches in sample areas and the resources available to meet them. When the results are available the Government will consider the scale and nature of the problem and the implications for public expenditure; and the extent to which the ecclesiastical exemption might have to be removed or adapted. I understand that the Church of England are keeping other denominations informed through the Churches Main Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has had any communication with the Birmingham City Council housing department with reference to the delay taking place in dealing with applications for rent rebates.

The Department has been in touch with the city council's housing department. I am informed that a backlog which built up because of the large number of applications received has now been almost entirely cleared. Any rebate granted commences from the beginning of the rental period in which it was received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for reducing the numbers of applicants for operators' licences for heavy goods vehicles who are successful so that operating standards may be improved.

I am always in favour of improving standards; but the grant of heavy goods vehicles operators' licences is a matter for licensing authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the proposal to meet half the increase in rates attributable to revaluation will also apply to water rates where they are billed separately.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports he has received from the working parties on highway maintenance; and when he proposes to publish them.

I have received a number of reports dealing with costs, structural maintenance organisations and training etc. They are being made available to the highways authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning inspectors his Department had in October 1972; and how many he now has.

Including the panel of inspectors, the total number of inspectors in the Department's Plannning Inspectorate at 1st October 1972 was 194; it is now 250.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have taken place with the object of promoting a common ports policy in the Common Market; and if he will make a statement.

Commission officials had exploratory talks with representatives of major ports of the Nine in November 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total of port investment for each of the years following 1968; and if he will detail this investment under each of the port titles of ownership.

Tne total of port investment was £48·2 million in 1969, £39·7 million in 1970 and £403 million in 1971. A corresponding figure is not yet available for 1972. Details of investment by ports are given in Table 3 of the National Ports Council's Digest of Port Statistics for 1972, an extract from which follows:—

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE BY PORT AUTHORITIES, GREAT BRITAIN 1969–1971
Port	1969	1970	1971
Port	1969	1970	1971
South East
London	5·9	3·4	2·7
Medway	—	0·1	1·7
Dover	1·2	11	0·7
Southampton	1·6	2·5	5·5
Other ports	0·7	0·1	0·5
Total	9·3	7·2	11·1
South West
Bristol	0·9	1·2	1·4
Other ports	—	0·1	0·2
Total	1·0	1·2	1·6
Wales and Monmouthshire
Newport	0·6	0·9	0·3
Cardiff	0·3	0·2	0·5
PortTalbot	5·7	2·9	0·3
Swansea	0·7	0·7	0·3
Other ports	5·8	2·5	0·6
Total	13·1	7·2	2·1
North West
Liverpool	11·2	12·9	11·5
Manchester	0·9	1·1	1·2
Other ports	0·5	0·9	0·3
Total	12·6	14·9	13·0
Scotland
West Coast
Clyde	1·4	1·1	0·7
Other ports	0·3	0·5	0·3
Total	1·8	1·6	0·9
East Coast
Aberdeen	0·5	0·2	0·2
Dundee	0·1	0·1	0·2
Forth	1·5	1·5	2·7
Total	2·1	1·9	3·0
Total	3·9	3·5	4·0
Northern
East Coast
Tyne	0·5	0·1	0·2
Tees and Hartlepool	0·3	1·3	4·9
Other ports	0·5	0·9	0·2
Total	1·3	2·3	5·3
West Coast
Total	—	—	0·2
Total	1·3	2·3	5·5
Yorkshire and Humberside
Hull	2·1	1·9	0·6
Grimsby	0·2	0·1	0·1
Immingham	3·6	0·2	0·2
Goole	0·l	0·1	0·1
Total	6·0	2·3	1·0
East Midlands
Total (Boston	—	0·1	0·1
East Anglia
Felixstowe	0·4	0·4	0·5
Harwich	0·1	0·4	1·2
Other ports	0·4	0·2	0·2
Total	1·0	1·0	1·9
Total Great Britain	48·2	39·7	40·3

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make financial assistance available towards the preservation of No. 2 gasholder at Fulham gasworks, built circa 1830, in view of its importance as an early relic of the gas industry.

I understand that estimates are being prepared by the North Thames Gas Board of the cost of proposals to preserve this gasholder. If, when these are available, an application for a grant were to be submitted, it would be considered in the light of the powers available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if there have been any further archaeological finds of significance in the New Palace Yard excavations; and if he will make a further statement.

Yes. Under the foundations of the Great Conduit-Fountain, substantial remains have been discovered of a large fountain of carved and polished Purbeck marble. This is a splendid and highly important piece and from the style of the miniature columns and capitals of carved stiff-leaved foliage on the central basis would appear to be very late Romanesque work dating from the second half of the 12th century.It has been removed to safe keeping for further study and I intend that it should later be put on display in a suitable place, pending the decision of the House on its final destination.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the driving licence requirements and qualifications for a double-decker bus not engaged on a regular stage or express carriage public service vehicle operation.

The driver must be over 21 and hold a licence to drive vehicles in Groups A or B (automatic transmission) as appropriate. If the vehicle is used to carry passengers for hire or reward, he must also hold a licence to drive all types of public service vehicle.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the names of those appointed to the steering group set up to consider the economic and financial objectives of the proposed regional water authorities and the steering group's terms of reference.

The membership of the steering group is as follows:Mr. J. A. Jukes (Chairman), Deputy Secretary (Environmental Protection), Department of the Environment.Mr. J. E. Beddoe, Undersecretary, Department of the Environment.Mr. A. I. Biggs, Confederation of British Industry.Mr. I. C. R. Byatt, Under-Secretary (Public Sector Economics) Her Majesty's Treasury.Sir John Cockram, General Manager, Colne Valley Water Company.Mr. R. L. Harrison, General Manager and Engineer, Manchester Corporation Waterworks.Mr. T. P. Hughes, Director-General of Water Engineering, Department of the Environment.Mr. W. F. Lester, Pollution Control and Fisheries Officer, Trent River Authority.Mr. J. G. Lloyd, Engineer, Mersey and Weaver River Authority.Mr. D. J. Ovens, Director of Economics, Department of the EnvironmentMr. E. W. Penn, Clerk and Treasurer, North West Gloucestershire Water Board.Mr. G. S. Pollard, City Treasurer, Bradford CBC.Mr. B. Rydz, Assistant Director, Water Resources Board.Mr. W. R. Shirrefs, City Engineer, Leicester CBC.Mr. W. G. H. Tripp, Waterworks Engineer and Manager, Southampton CBCDr. R. Turvey, Scicon Ltd.Mr. A. G. C. Williams, Chief Executive and Clerk, Devon River Authority.Mr. J. B. Woodham, Treasurer, Teesside CBC.The steering group's terms of reference are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now increase the value of the luncheon voucher allowable free of tax to take into account the rise in the cost of meals since 1959.

I have nothing to add to the answer given on 22nd February 1973 to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Redmond).— [Vol. 851, c. 667–8.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what transfer were made and what amounts were received by the United Kingdom in respect of the EEC during February 1973.

In February 1973 the European Communities' sterling account within the Consolidated Fund was credited with £9,941,257–95 in respect of the United Kingdom's share of the Communities' estimated financing needs for March. Drawings in February were £2 million. In addition, transfer of £7,500,000 and £4,188,774 were made to the European Investment Bank, representing the first instalments of the United Kingdom's contribution to the Bank's capital and reserves.No advances were made in February to the United Kingdom Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce and no other receipts were recorded.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer according to what principles maintenance payments and child allowances received by divorced or separated wives are subject to tax; and if he will examine the desirability of exempting such payments from taxation.

Maintenance payments received by divorced or separated wives are part of their total income; and it is a basic principle of our income tax system that an individual's liability depends on the amount of his or her income from all sources and on the allowances and reliefs due. I am afraid therefore that I cannot accept my hon. Friend's suggestion that such payments should be exempted from tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the loss of revenue due to children's allowances for income tax and surtax in the financial year 1972–73; and what is the estimate of the corresponding figure for 1973–74;(2) what was the loss of revenue due to age exemption in the financial year 1972–73; and how much it is expected to be in the financial year 1973–74.

The detailed information is being prepared and I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total cost or estimated cost of the border poll.

This information will not be available until returning officers have given further details about their claims for fees and expenses. I will write to my hon. Friend when this is done.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why it was decided that the envelopes used for postal votes in the border poll should be clearly identifiable as such.

Envelopes in which postal vote application forms were sent to electors bore no distinguishing marks. Envelopes used for the issue of postal ballot papers were marked to indicate that they contained ballot papers, and provision was made for them to be returned to the issuing office if they were not delivered. This was a precaution to prevent ballot papers going astray. Envelopes for the return of ballot papers were in any case identifiable, since they bore the address of the returning officer.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the information promised in his reply to four Questions by the hon. Member for Smethwick on 19th February 1973.

The information which relates to the Ulster Museum is as follows:

	£
(1) Receipts after deduction of VAT	11,000
(2) Receipts payable as VAT	1,100
(3) Total initial expenditure on machines, tickets and installation costs	640
(4) Amortised first year charge of cost of machines and installation	20
(5) First year cost of tickets and maintenance of machines	240
(6) First year staffing costs	3,000
(7) Estimated net receipts	7,740
((1) above less annual running costs in (4), (5) and (6)).
	Per cent.
(8) First year running cost as a percentage of receipts	29·6

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is possible for limb-deficient children resident in Scotland to be fitted with powered arms of types developed and fitted in England; if so, how many children resident in Scotland have been fitted with such arms; and if he will make a statement.

Limb-deficient children in Scotland have been fitted with powered arms developed at the Princess Margaret Rose Hospital, Edinburgh, since these have been thought to be the most suitable for them, but development of the arms over the years has at times incorporated components developed in England.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the designation of a new area health board for Fife.

In the light of the recent decisions on future local government boundaries, I have decided that the proposed North Forth health board, which would have been limited to the Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy districts, should be extended to cover the whole of the present county of Fife.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when it is intended to extend to those over working age the constant day or night attendance allowance.

The programme involves extension of the lower-rate attendance allowance to those over working age in two groups, one for payment in June 1974, and the other in December 1974, but we have undertaken to improve on this timetable if we can.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made with the training of technicians and orthotists in the fitting and making of the new cosmetic caliper; when the caliper is expected to become available throughout the country to dis-

		Current Expenditure			Capital Expenditure
Regional Hospital Board		1972–73 £'000	1973–74 £'000	Percentage increase	1972–73 £'000	1973–74 £'000	Percentage increase
Newcastle	…	69,399	79,492	14·5	12,858	15,805	22·9
Leeds	…	72,052	82,334	14·3	10,471	12,876	23·0
Sheffield	…	83,687	97,477	16·5	17,105	24,004	40·3
East Anglian	…	32,870	37,898	15·3	7,918	7,878	(—)0·5
North West Metropolitan	…	85,068	98,495	15·8	9,861	13,649	38·4
North East Metropolitan	…	76,738	88,013	14·7	11,364	13,158	15·8
South East Metropolitan	…	77,408	88,863	14·8	10,618	12,590	18·6
South West Metropolitan	…	82,282	92,588	12·5	10,059	10,158	1·0
Oxford	…	38,470	44,098	14·6	7,488	9,374	25·2
South Western	…	70,827	80,924	14·3	10,309	13,716	33·0
Birmingham	…	101,457	116,631	15·0	19,351	21,586	11·5
Manchester	…	98,831	113,870	15·2	12,178	15,596	28·1
Liverpool	…	51,837	58,417	12·7	9,650	9,995	3·6
Wessex	…	44,561	51,356	15·2	8,569	10,018	16·9
Totals	…	985,487	1,130,456	14·7	157,799	190,403	20·7

For current expenditure, the percentage increases between the two years reflect changes in pay and price levels as well as additional money made available for development of services. The figures for the two years are not entirely comparable because of differences in sums unallocated at the times these allocations were made.For capital expenditure, the figures for the two years are at different pay and price levels. They are, moreover, not entirely comparable because at the times of preparation of the estimates there were differences in the sums unallocated and in the allowances made for services which might not be carried out during the years.

Orthotists from several firms have been trained to fit the Harthill cosmetic caliper, which is now being made available throughout the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what total allocation has been made to regional hospital boards in the current and next financial year; and if he will give the amount allocated to each regional board for each year and the percentage variation.

The allocation to Regional Hospital Boards for current expenditure and their estimated capital expenditure for 1972–73 and for 1973–74 as shown in Appendices 1 to the Civil Estimates for Class VII Vote 2 are as follows:The figures for capital expenditure include provision for new teaching hospitals at Nottingham and Southampton, and for schemes undertaken by arrangement with the Department, which may effect one year more than another.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a further statement on the estimates, given in his Written Answer of 22nd February to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead, regarding estimated numbers of persons in occupational pension schemes in 1980, 1990 and 2000 on the assumption that the Social Security Bill becomes law.

I am sorry that an arithmetical error occurred in the estimates given in my reply on 22nd February to the right hon. Member, and I welcome this opportunity to put the record straight. The figures for 1990 and 2000 should have been 15 and 17 million respectively instead of 16 and 19 million. —[Vol. 851, c. 188.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, under the terms of the Social Security Bill, a woman who married a man when he was 35 years of age would be entitled to a widow's pension from a deferred pension earned in respect of an employment ending when he was 34 years af age, first where that employment was covered by an occupational pension scheme, and secondly where it was covered by the reserve pension scheme.

In the first case, there would be no entitlement so far as the recognition conditions or preservation requirements were concerned. In the second case, the woman would be entitled to a widow's pension from the reserve pension scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what, under Clause 51 of the Social Security Bill as he proposes to amend it, would be the position of a person aged 25 years, who leaves an employment after seven years' membership of an occupational pension scheme, in respect of preservation, return of contributions and payment of reserve scheme premium.

Clause 51 is concerned only with the benefits to be provided on termination of recognised pensionable employment. If the employee had been in such employment during the latter part of his scheme membership the effect of this clause, together with the Government amendment tabled to Clause 72(1), would be that a reserve scheme premium would be payable unless his minimum benefits were preserved in accordance with Clause 51(3) and (4) or transferred under the conditions in Clause 55(3) and (4). As the member left before the age of 26, there would be no requirement to preserve his occupational scheme benefits, and the scheme would be free to refund his contributions; under Clause 73, if a reserve scheme premium was paid, three-eights of the premium could be deducted from the contribution refund.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Security what provision there is, under the Social Security Bill, that the minimum pension entitlement of a man or a woman, who voluntarily continue in the same employment, beyond pensionable age, shall be increased on an actuarial basis.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services who, under the terms of the Social Security Bill, will receive the widow's benefit on a deferred pension in the case of a man who earns a deferred pension before a divorce or the death of his wife, and then, having remarried before retirement, dies after retirement leaving a widow in each of the following two situations: first, where the deferred pension had been earned in an occupational pension scheme; and, secondly, where the deferred pension had been earned in the reserve pension scheme.

In the first case, no widow's benefit would have to be provided under the recognition conditions or the preservation requirements. In the second case, a widow's benefit would be paid to the widow.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what export sales there have been of either the BRADU or contractors' designed modular leg; what influence he estimates that the BRADU or the contractors' design will have on international standards and practice in these fields; and if he will make a statement.

A commercially designed modular leg system has been sold in Belgium, Holland and Israel and is being manufactured under licence in France.At a conference sponsored by my Department last year, which was attended by prosthetic experts from many countries, the substantial measure of agreement reached on clinical requirements and new standards for international application to modular leg systems was considerably influenced by the design experience of the British representatives from both BRADU and the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the Kay Committee Report on Artificial Limbs has been substantially shortened; what significant items have been left out of the published report; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Mr. Neave) on 5th August 1971.—[Vol. 822, c.406.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many times the new advisory committee on research into artificial limbs has met since its formation; what improvements have resulted, or may shortly be expected to result, from its deliberations; and if he will make a statement.

The committee has met nine times since November 1971. Its first task in accordance with its terms of reference has been to review the extent and current state of ongoing research and development and to assess priorities. New or extended areas of activity subsequently recommended by the committee and approved by my Department include the establishment of a research unit bringing together the disciplines of orthopaedic surgery and engineering science, and the expansion of experimental facilities at the Chailey Heritage Craft School and Hospital. A number of other projects are currently under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the cost so far of the development of the BRADU modular leg; how many below-knee and how many above-knee legs have been fitted to patients; how many of the Department's leg contractors have themselves developed modular leg systems, and at what cost to the Department; how many below-knee and how many above-knee legs of types developed by the contractors have been fitted to patients; and if he will make a statement.

The BRADU contribution to modular leg development is primarily the investigation of principles and it is not meaningful to apportion the cost of apparatus produced between that which is evaluated upon patients and that which is evaluated in other ways. Identifiable material and labour costs of hardware of this kind developed over the years for experimental purposes have been about £120,000. Clinical trials have been undertaken on 100 below-knee and six above knee legs.Modular leg systems designed for production purposes were developed by two of the Department's contractors, technical advice and testing facilities being provided by the Department without charge. No attempt to apportion such costs was made. One system was withdrawn following clinical trials. Financial assistance was given to the remaining one which has now been adopted as the standard modular leg for supply through the artificial limb service. So far 1,300 below-knee and 2,350 above-knee legs have been fitted to patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will collect from the official returns the number of children in each of the four countries England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, now alive and with both arms absent of sufficiently disabled (a) following known or presumed exposure to thali-domide and (b) arising from all other causes; how many of each of the four groups of children have been supplied with powered artificial arms; how many of each of the four groups are now using their powered arms as indicated by a significant consumption of gas during the past year or other convenient period; and if he will make a statement.

Information about the total numbers of children in these categories is not available, but I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible about the supply of powered limbs.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it is possible for limb-deficient children resident in England and Wales to be fitted with powered arms of the type developed and fitted in Scotland; if so, how many children resident in England and Wales have been fitted with such arms; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Arrangements have been made for fitting to start within the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the cosmetic surgical brassieres available on prescription under the National Health Service are specially tailor-made; and if he will give wide publicity to the provision of such facilities.

Whenever necessary. The need is assessed by responsible consultants who are aware of the facility.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the discretionary payment for repairs and insurance for claimants' houses was last reviewed; what it is now; and whether he will list all other discretionary payments, the date of the last review and the amount.

The amount included in the assessment of an owner-occupier's requirements for supplementatry benefit purposes by way of an allowance for expenditure on repairs or insurance has been reviewed at intervals since the last increase in 1963. Full details of current allowances were given in my reply to a Question from the hon. Member for Old-ham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 23rd February. Comprehensive details of other discretionary additions, which are kept regularly under review and increased as appropriate, are given in the Supplementary Benefits Handbook, which is available in the Library of the House.—[Vol. 851, c. 238.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what international obligation Her Majesty's Government have accepted within GATT in respect of United Kingdom participation in new bilateral preferential trade agreements.

Under the rules of GATT, all such agreements must be submitted to the contracting parties to enable them to report and make recommendations in respect of them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if references in the October 1972 EEC communiqué to progressive liberalisation of international trade are references to both industrial and agricultural trade.

The EEC has agreed with the other members of GATT that the forthcoming multilateral trade negotiations, which are aimed at expansion and greater liberalisation of world trade should cover both industrial and agricultural products.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will accept applications from women for appointment as Inspectors of Aircraft Accidents.

Few women possess qualifications of airline pilots or aeronautical engineers together with the substantial experience which is required, and applications have hitherto been invited from men only. But I see no justification for maintaining this restriction on recruitment and I have decided that in future applications are to be invited from both men and women possessing the necessary qualifications and experience.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to ensure a levy-free lard quota for the United Kingdom within the E.E.C.

I have been asked to reply.I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Glasgow Gorbals, (Mr. McElhone) and others on 16th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action has been taken by the Government to protect the interests of the United Kingdom lard from unfair foreign competition.

I have been asked to reply.The special transitional compensatory amounts for lard mean that United Kingdom lard importers, packers and refiners are having to pay only a relatively low charge on their main raw material imports from outside the EEC. The compensatory amounts payable on lard exports to the United Kingdom from other members of the EEC apply to lard which United Kingdom interests can buy there for further processing and packeting in the United Kingdom as well as to other lard.