asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions have been issued to Customs and Excise officers concerning the sale of foodstuffs and supplies to foreign-going vessels in British ports arising from Great Britain's entry into the EEC.

Instructions have been issued to Customs and Excise officers that the delivery of foodstuffs and supplies to foreign-going vessels in British ports is to be treated as equivalent to exportation from the customs territory of the Community.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from hon. Members about taxes on alcoholic and soft beverages; and what replies he has sent.

A number of representations were made before the Budget that the duties on alcoholic beverages should be reduced to offset their liability to VAT and credit given for traders' stocks which had already borne duty at the higher rates, and that soft drinks should be zero rated. My right hon. Friend undertook to bear the representation in mind and has since put forward proposals in his Budget speech.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current value of premium bonds held, the value invested in February 1973 and the number and amount of winnings paid out for March.

The value of premium bonds held up to the end of February 1973 was £972·3 million; the value invested in February 1973 was £9·6 million; and the number and amount of winnings paid out for March were 90,762 and £3,721,500 respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total investment by EEC in the United Kingdom in 1971–72; and what was the total investment by the United Kingdom in the EEC in the same period.

Excluding oil, total investment in the United Kingdom by the present members of the EEC may have been of the order of £100 million. Investment in the reverse direction totalled some £300 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to discuss at a meeting of the EEC Council of Ministers the varying rates of interest charged in member countries for house mortgages, in view of their relevance to movements of capital.

Mortgage interest rates are not directly relevant to international capital movements, but I will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will raise the subject of discrepancies in average incomes between parts of the United Kingdom and the EEC countries at the next meeting of the EEC Finance

No, Sir. The next meeting of the Community Finance Ministers will be concerned with the short-term economic situation in the Community which would not be the appropriate context for discussion of this question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many countries within the EEC have capital gains tax; and if he will seek to ensure that British tax practice over the years approaches European practice.

Apart from ourselves only Denmark has a comprehensive capital gains tax. For the rest, capital gains are not taxed at all in the Republic of Ireland, and elsewhere companies' gains are charged to company tax and non-corporate taxpayers pay tax on capital gains arising on business assets and from speculative land transactions. There are no proposals to harmonise capital gains taxes as such.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the conclusion in the March edition of the Bank of England Quarterly Review that the M3 review has become a less reliable indicator of the effects of monetary policy than formerly, he will initiate inquiries into all the economic indicators covering the growth of moneys, supplies and of credit, with the aim that these should, when revised, be published together at regular intervals.

The authorities maintain a constant search for improved monetary indicators; a wide range of such indicators is published regularly by the Bank of England and in Financial Statistics.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the extent to which there will be fragmentation of farms due to the effects of capital gains tax and estate duty.

I have no convincing evidence that capital gains tax and estate duty cause fragmentation of farms.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether new houseboats and any other forms of new housing are to be subject to value added tax; and, if so, for what reason.

The zero rate will apply to the supply of newly constructed houses, which would include residences erected on piers permanently attached to the river bed or bank, and to residential caravans. The position of houseboats generally is under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, at the latest date for which the information is available, how many firms have applied for registration for VAT; how many have been registered; and what is his estimate of the numbers he now expects to register in due course.

The estimated number of traders who had applied up to 16th March was approximately 106 million. All but a small number of these have been issued with their registration numbers and are therefore for practical purposes registered. The registration process has been completed for more than 935,000 traders. The total to be registered in due course will depend on the number of voluntary registrations, and it is too early to estimate the extent of these.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of the national and university museums and galleries he expects will not qualify as taxable persons for value added tax purposes.

It is expected that all the national museums and galleries will be able to apply for registration as taxable persons. Sufficient information is not available as far as university museums and galleries are concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest direction given by Customs and Excise with regard to the charging of VAT on boxes of chocolates and other confectionery sold at shops or otherwise in cinemas, theatres, ballrooms, hotels, canteens, railway and airport buffets and boutiques and similar premises, for consumption partly on or partly off such premises.

Customs and Excise has had representations on this subject since the Budget and it has met some of those concerned to discuss the issues within the past few days. The matter is receiving urgent consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has received from the Women's National Commission regarding the application of a tax credit scheme to certain categories of women; and if he will undertake full public consideration of the report before the scheme is implemented.

The Women's National Commission has sent in a number of wide-ranging proposals on the tax-credit scheme which my right hon. Friend is carefully considering. I understand that the proposals have been submitted to the Select Committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on progress towards European monetary union.

The Council of Ministers is meeting today to discuss the establishment of the European Monetary Cooperation Fund. The European Commission is to report by 1st May on the second stage of economic and monetary union, and by 30th June on related matters.

asked the Chancellor of th Exchequer what was the value of the £ sterling in terms of the price of gold in June 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, respectively, and today.

In terms of the official price of gold, the pound was worth $4·03 in 1945, $2·80 from 1950 to 1965, $2·40 in 1970 and $2·89 today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what would be the net cost to the Exchequer, after consequential savings in supplementary benefits, of making unemployment and sickness pay taxable income and at the same time increasing the rates of pay by 44 per cent.;(2) what would be the net cost, after saving in supplementary benefits, of increasing retirement pensions to the supplementary benefit levels and making them taxable as investment income for taxpayers above the age-exemption limit.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to encourage the development of an active currency futures market in London for importers and exporters requiring cover for transactions up to 12 months ahead; and if he will make arrangements to support the futures market for foreign exchange requirements of British traders at fixed but adjustable rates.

I believe the availability and terms of forward cover in the London foreign exchange market are at present generally satisfactory. I will keep the position under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the latest balance of payments position.

Visible export figures in January and February were 15 per cent. up on the monthly average in the second half of last year. Imports rose rather more slowly, with net invisible earnings now running at about £700 million a year, the average deficit on current account in January and February was about £20 million compared with a monthly average of £26 million in the second half of last year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 20th March 1973, Vol. 853, c. 60], provided the following information:It is estimated that the reduction in tax liabilities by reason of income tax child allowances is about £930 million and £915 million respectively for 1972–73 and 1973–74.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 20th March 1973, Vol. 853, c. 60], provided the following information:It is estimated that the reduction in tax liabilities by reason of age exemption is about £11 million and £20 million respectively for 1972–73 and 1973–74.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many muggings took place in the greater London area during the 12 months 1st January to 31st December 1971; and how many took place in the 12 months 1st January 1972 to 31st December 1972.

There is no agreed definition of "mugging". The most relevant figures are those for offences of robbery or assault with intent to rob. The number of such offences known to the City of London and Metropolitan Police forces in 1972 was 3,228. The corresponding figure for 1971 was 2,785.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now introduce regulations to reduce the fire hazards from the use of polyurethane foam plastic in furniture: and if he will make a statement.

I shall consider the need for regulations when I receive the findings of the comprehensive research now being undertaken into the burning behaviour of plastic materials.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the police constabularies and the particular divisions of these constabularies in the areas of which the crime rate fell in 1972; and if he will study the areas where reductions occurred with a view to emulating any successful arrangements applying in these areas.

The following are the force areas in which there was a reduction in 1972 compared with 1971 in the provisional number of offences recorded as known to the police per thousand of the population; figures for individual divisions are not readily available. In most cases the variation is small, and it would be unwise to draw conclusions from such fluctuations, which may conceal increases in individual offence groups, for example crimes of violence. Methods of preventing and detecting crime are the subject of continuing study by the Home Office, which takes full account of promising new developments wherever they may occur.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make inquiries to ascertain the extent to which detaining people for interview is normal practice in major inquiries; and if he will obtain and publish the regulations which have been issued to the police regarding detention for questioning.

Police practice about questioning, whether of persons voluntarily assisting them or of persons under arrest, is governed by the Judges' Rules and Administrative Directions to the Police, which were issued to all chief officers of police in England and Wales and published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in 1964. No distinction is made between major and other inquiries. The police are aware that action taken by them in any individual case may affect the admissibility of evidence and that this is a matter for the courts.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why second grade eggs at about 16p per dozen are no longer on sale.

Most second-quality eggs formerly on sale had cracked shells. The United Kingdom has now adopted the EEC regulations on quality standards for eggs, under which cracked eggs graded at packing stations may not be sold for human consumption. Sales direct by a producer to a consumer are not subject to these requirements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on the price of eggs and the supply of them.

The average retail price of standard white eggs published by the Eggs Authority on 17th March 1973 was 26·4p per dozen. This is higher than normal because of some fall recently in home production. Production and prices of eggs are subject to short-term fluctuations. There is no reason to fear any shortage of eggs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the recent increase in the price of French brandy was due to elements for which he gave permission.

The increases are entirely due to higher prices being charged by the French suppliers and changes in the exchange rate. Since these brandies are not subject to any manufacturing process in this country my right hon. Friend's consent to the increase is not required.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take regarding the electoral boundaries consequent upon the formation of the new Forth Region as designated in Schedule 1 to the Local Government (Scotland) Bill.

The size of the Forth Regional Council will be reduced by the number of seats which had been allocated to the Fife districts. The published draft electoral proposals for the districts remaining in the Forth Region remain unaltered, subject to reappraisal by the advisory committee in the light of representations made to my Department.Revised draft electoral schemes for the districts within their areas of responsibility were sent to the Fife authorities on 15th March. These provide for a regional council of 34 members, the sizes of the district councils remaining unchanged, and will be considered by the advisory committee together with all relevant observations and objections received by 27th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many primary school classes in Scotland contain more than 40 pupils; and what are the comparable figures for the city of Glasgow.

At January 1972 the figures were: all education authorities 1,739— 8·6 per cent. of the total; Glasgow 598— 19·3 per cent. of the total.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many secondary school classes up to the intermediate stage contain (a) more than 30 pupils and (b) more than 25 pupils; and what are the comparable figures for the city of Glasgow.

At January 1972 the figures were as follows:

	Number of classes in years S1-S3 with
	More than 30 pupils	More than 25 pupils
All education authorities.	2,820— 25·8 per cent. of the total	4,246— 38·8 per cent.
Glasgow	566— 31·92 per cent.of the tota	755— 42·5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to attend a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the EEC.

As in January, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs and Agriculture, Scottish Office, will attend when necessary for agricultural and fisheries matters; and I expect to be closely associated with the forthcoming discussions on regional policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to set up the two education councils recommended in the Hudson Report.

Last year my Department circulated for comment specific proposals for the establishment of these councils. I have now considered the comments received and arrangements for establishing the councils are nearing completion.They will be known as the Scottish Technical Education Council and the Scottish Business Education Council. Each council will have 22 members, drawn in equal numbers from education and from industrial/commercial/professional interests. The bodies concerned have now been invited to nominate members to the councils or in some cases to send names to me from which I shall make nominations. It is hoped that the first meetings of the councils will be held early in May.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek an official meeting with war pensioners' representatives.

asked the Prime Minister if he will take a convenient opportunity of meeting the officers of organisations representing war pensioners.

I met many of the leading officers of the ex-Service organisations at a reception I gave for them and some of the war disabled on Thursday 8th March. On 15th February my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services held discussions with a deputation from the Joint Committee of Ex-Service Organisations, representing 41 ex-Servicemen's organisations.

asked the Prime Minister it he will make a statement on his talks with Mr. Cosgrave.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on his talks with Mr. Cosgrave.

The talks, which were confidential, covered a wide range of matters including the situation in Northern Ireland, its relations with the Irish Republic, security issues, and joint interests in the European Community.

asked the Prime Minister whether he disclosed the proposals for the forthcoming White Paper on Northern Ireland with Mr. Cosgrave at their recent meeting.

My discussions with Mr. Cosgrave were confidential.

asked the Prime Minister on what basis he chose the arrangements for his official visit to Redditch on 16th February.

My programme was designed to enable me to meet a large number of local people, and to see as much as I could in the time available of the progress being made in the development of the new town.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with co-ordination between the Department of Trade and Industry, the Scottish Office, and the Department of the Environment, in relation to the acquisition of land, contiguous to oil finds in the North Sea and the Celtic Sea.

Yes. The Departments concerned maintain very close contact.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now exempt London teachers from the operation of paragraph 113 of the Price and Pay Code in order to permit free negotiations on the London allowance as indicated by the arbitration tribunal in 1972, in view of the present closure of schools in Willesden and elsewhere.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment is meeting tomorrow with representatives of the National Union of Teachers to receive their views on this question as part of the process of consultation on the Price and Pay Code.

asked the Attorney-General if he will amend the rules relating to legal aid so that public funds are not paid to solicitors advising immigrants on matters concerning entry for their dependants, in view of the fact that such information is available free elsewhere.

No. A client is entitled to legal aid from his solicitor whether or not it is obtainable from other sources.

asked the Attorney-General if he will indicate what further progress has been made with law reform since February 1972; and if he will detail in

1. THE LAW COMMISSION'S PROPOSALS
Titles of Relevant Reports	Date of Publication	Implemented
Exemption Clauses in Contracts First Report: amendments to the Sale of Goods Act 1893 (Joint Report with Scottish Law Commission) (Law Com. No. 24).	18th September 1969	Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Bill: Passed House of Lords, Report Stage in Commons.
Civil Liability of Vendors and Lessors for Defective Premises (Law Com. No. 40).	16th December 1970	Defective Premises Act 1972 (c. 35)*.
Polygamous Marriages (Law Com. No. 42).	3rd February 1971	Matrimonial Proceedings (Polygamous Marriages) Act 1972 (c. 38)*.
Jurisdiction in Matrimonial Causes (Law Com. No. 48).	14th September 1972	*Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Bill: awaiting Committee Stage in Commons.
Statute Law Revision (Joint Report with Scottish Law Commission): Fourth Report (Draft Statute Law Repeals Bill) (Law Com. No. 49).	28th September 1972	Statute Law (Repeals) Bill: before joint Select Committee.

2. OTHER LAW REFORM MEASURES

Received Royal Assent

Civil Evidence Act 1972 (implementing the Law Reform Committee's 17th Report on evidence of Opinion and Expert Evidence).

Criminal Justice Act 1972.

6 Consolidation Acts.

In progress

Administration of Justice Bill (see note).

Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Bill*.

Guardianship Bill.

Solicitors (Amendment) Bill*

Statute Law (Repeals) Bill.

Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Bill.

3 Consolidation Bills.

3. REPORTS RECEIVED

Law Reform Committee's 18th Report on Conversion and Detinue.

Law Reform Committee's 19th Report on Interpretation of Wills.

Report of the Committee on Privacy (Chairman: Right Hon. Sir K. Younger, K.B.E.).

Criminal Law Revision Committee's 11th Report on Evidence (General).

Report of the Committee on Death Certification and Coroners (Chairman: His Honour Judge Brodrick).

Report of the Committee on Adoption of Children (Chairman: His Honour Judge Stockdale).

4. MATTERS TO WHICH CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN

(a) By the Law Commission: a large number of topics are under consideration, and are listed in the Law Commission's Seventh Annual Report, Law Com. No. 50 published on 14th December 1972; to this list should be added injuries to unborn children referred to the Commission by the Lord Chancellor on 29th November 1972, and the position of attorneys and other agents during the mental incapacity of the principal, referred to the Commission by the Lord Chancellor on 16th March 1973

(b) By the Law Reform Committee: limitation of actions.

(c) By the Criminal Law Revision Committee:

(i) the law on offences against the person (including homicide); an interim report on the Penalty for Murder has been published;

(ii) Theft Act 1968 s. 16 (obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception).

(d) By the Royal Commission under the chairmanship of Lord Pearson: the law relating to Civil Liability and compensation for personal injury.

(e) By Committees set up by the Government:

(i) the law of defamation;

(ii) the law of contempt of court

Notes:

The Administration of Justice Bill includes provisions giving effect to certain recommendations of the Payne Committee on the Enforcement of Judgment Debts, relating to orders for the possession of mortgaged dwelling houses.

Acts and Bills marked * were introduced by Private Members.

The following further progress in the field of law reform has been made in England and Wales:

asked the Attorney-General how many defended divorce petitions in England and Wales were successful in the last three years in each of the categories, desertion, cruelty, adultery, & c.; and if he will give the percentages of the whole.The Attorney-General: The table below sets out the number of decrees granted in defended divorce causes in the years 1970, 1971 and 1972.

NUMBER OF DECREES GRANTED IN DEFENDED DIVORCE ACTIONS IN 1970, 1971 AND 1972, SHOWING THE GROUNDS AND THE PERCENTAGE OF THE WHOLE
Grounds	1970	Percentage of the whole	1971	Percentage of the whole	1972	Percentage of the whole
Adultery	1,327	47·8	1,028	37·2	760	31·2
Cruelty/Unreasonable Behaviour	932	33·6	772	28·0	871	35·7
Desertion	415	150	361	13·1	136	5·6
Adultery and Cruelty/Unreasonable Behaviour	31	11	34	1·2	14	0·6
Adultery and Desertion	34	1·2	16	0·6	14	0·6
Desertion and Cruelty/Unreasonable Behaviour	33	1·2	12	0·4	8	0·3
Adultery, Desertion and Cruelty/Unreasonable Behaviour	4	0·1	2	0·1	—	—
Separation—2 years and consent	N/A	N/A	421	15·2	441	18·1
Separation—5 years	N/A	N/A	115	4·2	193	7·9
Totals	2,776	100·0	2,761	100·0	2,437	100·0

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial help will be given by her Department to the Inner London Education Authority during the next 12 months to improve toilet facilities at primary and junior schools in the London Borough of Wandsworth.

My Department does not give financial assistance to local education authorities and has no information about the resources that they devote specifically to improve toilet facilities. The ILEA's minor works allocation for 1973–74, part of which the authority may use for such improvements, is £690,000. In addition, there are funds available for minor works at voluntary-aided schools; and I have agreed to the continuation of the authority's alternative use of resources scheme under which managers and governors of schools are free to carry out minor projects costing less than £1,000 each outside the minor works allocation but within their own allocation of revenue expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the schools in the London borough of Wandsworth now under consideration for amalgamation as comprehensive schools; and if she will make a statement.

I understand that the Inner London Education Authority will shortly publish a consultative paper with suggestions about the future of schools in Wandsworth. The authority has not submitted proposals for the amalgamation of any schools in Wandsworth since this review began last year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the problems arising out of new methods of construction which have resulted in a road surface on the A12 Springfield—Boreham bypass which is of poor riding quality and just within specification tolerances, despite grinding off, have now been resolved by the advisory team appointed last year; and whether he is satisfied that the remaining work on the A12 will be free of these defects.

The causes of the problems had been identified prior to the appointment of the advisory team to assist designers and contractors in the avoidance of problems in concrete paying construction. I have no reason to believe that the remaining work on the A12 will prove unacceptable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware of the continuing concern felt for the safety of children in Bishop's Stortford, Herts, by reason of the absence of pedestrian crossing facilities at the junction of the A11 and Parsonage Lane; and if he will review the position with a view to the speedy provision of suitable facilities.

Yes. My officials are meeting local representatives at the site on 3rd April to discuss the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will institute a review of the guidance his Department gives on the provision of "A" planning classifications for villages, in view of the situation in Hawkedon and similar communities where there is danger of depleted incumbents or an excess of week-enders.

No guidance is given by my Department on planning classifications for villages. Many local planning authorities adopt them, and I believe that in general they serve a useful purpose. I am writing to my hon. Friend about possible ways of dealing with problems of the kind he mentions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to enable standard grants to be paid for the electrical rewiring of houses where this is considered desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will extend the availability of standard grants to include the electrical rewiring of houses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation for standard grants to be made available for electrical rewiring.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to add to the list of standard amenities eligible for house improvement grants the renewal of electrical rewiring.

I will take these proposals into account in the course of my current review of policy affecting older housing, but I doubt whether grants should be made available as of right for this kind of work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent official communications he has had with members of rent assessment panels operating in the central London area; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he now estimates will be the percentage increase in domestic rates in the coming year in each local authority due, respectively, to revaluation and to other causes.

The rates to be levied in the coming year by all rating authorities are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now able to make a statement on the National Ports Council's report on its survey of non-scheme ports and wharves.

The National Ports Council has completed its survey of the activities of the non-scheme ports and has reported to me. The full text of its report, together with that of the chairman's covering letter, will be published today and copies will be available in the Vote Office.I invited the council to examine the traffic, capacity, finances and labour costs of these undertakings and to tender appropriate advice. Questions relating to the scope of the dock labour scheme were outside the council's terms of reference. The report shows that the non-scheme ports represent an important part of the country's port capacity and have over the past five years increased their share of the total traffic. There have also been significant gains in traffic by some scheme ports, while others have lost traffic. Factors which have led to these changes in traffic include altered patterns of trade, particularly with Europe, developments in shipping and cargo handling techniques, physical location, and relative costs and reliability of service. The Government welcome the technical development and efficiency which have contributed to the success of many of these undertakings.The report shows that rates of pay and general conditions in the largest non-scheme undertakings handling most of the traffic, and employing the greater part of the labour force, are comparable with those in scheme ports, or result from negotiated agreements with the trade unions concerned, and that rates of pay in "own-account" undertakings accord with the agreements in the industries to which they are ancillary.The council has, however, expressed some concern about conditions of employment in some of the smaller undertakings handling third-party traffic. It has invited my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment to consider what steps are open to him to take to bring about improvements in terms and conditions of employment in these undertakings and to eliminate the use of casual labour for cargo handling on a normal and relatively constant basis.The number of men involved is quite small. Nevertheless, the Government accept that action is need. Improvements in terms and conditions of employment will however have to take account of counter-inflation policies. My right hon. Friend will be discussing with both sides of the industry how progress can best be made.Finally, the Government note that the council intends urgently to re-examine the existing methods of control of new harbour development and will await the council's further views on this matter. Meanwhile, arrangements will be made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to notify the council of applications for harbour development under the Coast Protection Act 1949.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the work of the International Development Association to which the United Kingdom will contribute £30,800,000 in 1973–74 according to Class II, Subhead 5, H7, of the Supply Estimates.

The International Development Association is affiliated to the World Bank and makes long-term interest-free loans for economic development projects of high priority in its poorest member countries. Since it was set up in 1960, it has committed nearly £2,000 million in loans. Its main resources are the subscriptions and supplementary contribu-of its 19 richest members.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will make representations about the detention of Mr. Charlton Ngoebetsha and Mr. Arthur Chadzingwa in Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the answer my right hon. Friend gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which countries' vessels Great Britain grants the restriction of jurisdiction of United Kingdom courts in certain matters as embodied in the 1970 Consular Relations (Merchant Shipping) Order No. 1908; and whether it is envisaged that this privilege is to be granted to any other countries' vessels.

I have been asked to reply.Statutory orders containing provisions for limitation of jurisdiction regarding disputes concerning remuneration and contracts of service and for detention on board of a crew member which are in terms similar to those in Order No. 1908 —relating to Greek ships—have been made in respect of ships of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Federal Republic of Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Yugoslavia. The orders also contain additional provisions.Orders in respect of ships of France and the United States of America provide only for detention of crew members on board. Orders in respect of ships of Bulgaria, Poland and Romania provide only for limitation of jurisdiction as regards disputes about remuneration and contracts of service.Such orders make provision in our law for obligations undertaken by the United Kingdom in consular conventions with the countries concerned. Further orders will be made as and when consular conventions with other countries which provide for reciprocal treatment in these matters come into force.

asked the Lord President of the Council when the report of the Population Panel will be published; and whether he will make a statement.

The report of the Population Panel is being published today. The Government are grateful to Mr. Ross and his colleagues for the valuable work they have done. One of the recommendations in the report is that family planning services should be provided as an ordinary part of the National Health Service. This matter will shortly be debated in the House of Commons in connection with the National Health Service Reorganisation Bill. The Government do not propose to determine their attitude towards the other recommendations made by the panel until there has been opportunity for public opinion to crystallise; and the report will be a valuable contribution towards the informed public debate which the Government hope will take place during the coming months.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the letter containing the interim conclusions of the working party on discrimination in the public sector.

The full text of the letter sent to me on 15th February 1973 is as follows:

"Dear Secretary of State,

On 3rd August 1972 my predecessor, Mr. Paul Channon announced in the House of Commons the formation of a Working Party with the following terms of reference:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest number of beds within National Health Service hospitals retained for private patients.

The number of beds now authorised in England for private patients is 4,527.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of men aged 20 to 39 years in each standard region of Great Britain

Thousands
		Receiving unemployment benefit with or without supplementary	Receiving unemployment benefit with supplementary benefit	Receiving supplementary benefit only
May 1971	…	152·9	45·4	57·9
November 1971	…	176·8	50·8	74·8
May 1972	…	172·2	54·5	98·4

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the monthly gross National Health Service executive payments to dentists for inner London and Newcastle for 1970, 1971 and 1972; and what was the number of National Health Service dentists within each of these areas for each of these years.

In the time available it has not been possible to obtain the information requested but I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish a Food Price Index Survey for Wales

I have been asked to reply.I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Gwynoxo Jones) on 18tb July 1972.—[Vol. 841, c. 76.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current average price for steel scrap compared with six and 12 months ago; to what extent steel production is being affected by the current shortage of scrap; and if he will make a statement.

The current average price for purchased steelmaking scrap is £13·65 per tonne. It was the same price six months ago and £12·47 per tonne 12 months ago. I am in touch with the steelmakers and the scrap trade and have received assurances that steelworks are being kept adequately supplied to maintain production.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of steel scrap produced in the United Kingdom, and what weight, is currently being exported; how much scrap is being imported; and what are the average prices for these imports and exports.

Only the poorer qualities of ferrous scrap may currently be exported: exports in January 1973 amounted to 56,245 tonnes at an average price of £15·7 per tonne. This tonnage represents about 6 per cent. of iron and steel scrap arising outside the iron and steel industry itself, and corresponds to about 3 per cent. of scrap consumption. Imports of ferrous scrap this year so far have been negligible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make finance available to Firth Brown, Sheffield, to assist it in remaining an independent company, in view of a current takeover proposal by Richard Johnson and Nephew.

No; this bid is now entirely a matter for the directors and shareholders of the companies concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give consideration to allocating to areas within the Carmarthen constituency a few advance factories.

The needs of Carmarthen will be borne in mind when further advance factory building is considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will detail in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names, qualifications and addresses of the management consultancies he has listed as being suitable advisers to the Small Business Firms Advisory Bureaux and who may be considered as suitable and willing to assist small companies.

Small firms information centres will refer inquirers about management consultancy to the British Institute of Management and the Management Consultants' Association, and they will also make available details provided by individual consultants who have indicated to us their interest in work for small firms, covering specialisation, charging policy, and areas of operation. I am arranging for the latest list to be printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible. Any consultant chosen by the small firm will advise it directly, and not through the centre.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated cost of building a second runway at Gatwick.

As was announced on 27th July 1971, there are no plans to build a second runway at Gatwick in the foreseeable future; no estimate of the cost of building such a runway is therefore available.—[Vol. 822; c. 73–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the increased demand for, and consequent increased price of, oil was taken into account by the Roskill Commission in its estimates of air traffic growth.

As no marked increase in oil prices was anticipated at the time of the Roskill Commission no special account was taken of this factor in preparing traffic forecasts.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the extent to which the anticipated oil shortage will affect the price of aviation kerosene by 1980; and what effect this is likely to have on air traffic movements, in the way of increased fuel costs for civil airlines.

We do not anticipate any oil shortage by 1980 and have not made any estimate of how aviation kerosene prices might move by then. Fuel costs form only a small part of total airline costs and are unlikely to have any significant effect on air traffic movements.

MERGERS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE MONOPOLIES AND MERGERS ACT 1965
	1968		1969		1970		1971		1972
	No.	Assets	No.	Assets	No.	Assets	No.	Assets	No.	Assets
		(£m.)		(£m.)		(£m.)		(£m.)		(£m.)
Mergers of companies in the same industrial classification	99	*	89	*	57	*	80	891	73	1,415
Mergers of companies in different industrial classifications	20	*	12	*	10	*	27	427	39	2,127
TOTAL	119	1,992	101	2,062	67	1,335	107	1,318	112	3,542
* Not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, for mergers falling within the scope of the Monopolies and Mergers Act 1965 over each of the years 1968 to 1972, he will give a breakdown according to the value of the assets taken over in the categories of up

NUMBERS OF MERGERS CONSIDERED BY THE MERGERS PANEL 1971 AND 1972
By value of assets taken over
£m.
			Less than 2·5	2·5–4·9	5·0-9·9	10·0–19·9	20·0–49·9	50·0–99·9	100·0+
1971	…	…	13	3	38	24	11	1	3
1972	…	…	6	2	34	20	19	9	6

In addition, there were 14 cases in 1971 and 16 cases in 1972 where the assets of the firm taken over were not precisely known although almost all the firms concerned would have had assets which did not exceed £5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the classes of cases he now proposes to refer to the Monopolies Commission.

I hope shortly to announce further references to the Monopolies Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, for mergers falling within the scope of the Monopolies and Mergers Act 1965 over each of the years 1968 to 1972, he will give a breakdown showing the numbers and total assets acquired of companies taken over by companies in the same industrial classification, respectively.

The information is as follows:to £2·5 million, £2·5 million to £5 million, £5 million to £10 million, £10 million to £20 million, £20 million to £50 million. £50 million to £100 million, and over £100 million, respectively.

Following is the information:I regret that the information for earlier years could not be produced without undue expenditure of time and money.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give for each of the years 1968 to 1972 the percentage of assets acquired in mergers which were acquired by companies with assets of more than £50 million.

I regret that the information cannot be made available without undue expenditure of time and money.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that the interests of British consumers are considered in relation to proposals by the European Commission for Community directives and regulations.

My Department has the general responsibility for seeing that British consumers' interests are taken fully into account. To assist in this, a contract with Consumers' Association is being negotiated on a consultancy basis, to enable the association to study proposals for EEC secondary legislation which may affect consumers and to provide the Department with advice based on that research.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government have reached a decision on the future level of United Kingdom expenditure on nuclear fusion research.

Last year the Atomic Energy Authority set up a panel under the chairmanship of Sir Harrie Massey to review the programme of research into controlled thermonuclear fusion as a means of generating electricity. The panel concluded that rapid scientific progress had been made since the previous review in 1966; that there was now general confidence that the long term objective would be attained; and that Culham retained a high reputation for its research. It recommended that the authority's programme should continue at a somewhat higher level of expenditure; that it should form part of a collaborative European programme; and that a large experimental assembly should be built at Culham. The Government have now agreed to continuation of the programme during the next three years at a higher level of effort on the lines recommended by the panel. The Atomic Energy Auth- ority expects shortly to conclude a contract of association with the European Commission under which the Commission will meet part of the cost of fusion research at Culham. The authority's programme will be co-ordinated with those in other countries of the European Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of those currently registered unemployed are over 60 years of age.

On 8th January 15·3 per cent. of unemployed people in Great Britain were aged 60 and over.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many boys and girls are at present unemployed in Rhondda.

On 12th March 128 boys and 71 girls were registered as unemployed at the Tonypandy and Pontypridd careers offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will recommence collecting data for the analysis of the method of settlement of industrial disputes.

No. The value of such an analysis is limited because of difficulties which arise in obtaining satisfactory data.