asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications when he plans to announce the membership and the terms of reference of the Government's commission to study broadcasting services in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and rural England which was proposed in Command Paper No. 5244.

I shall announce the names of the membership and publish the terms of reference in the near future.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he has yet received an application for a frequency for commercial radio in the Edinburgh area.

The IBA has made proposals for the technical characteristics of its station at Edinburgh and these have been approved.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many Post Office cable ships are currently in operation.

Three.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to enforce the use on lorries and other vehicles of the protective rear guards authorised by EEC Directive No. 70/221/EEC to come into operation on 1st July 1973.

None, Sir. My hon. Friend will be writing to the hon. Member as promised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue guidance to local authorities to ensure that the same criteria are applied throughout the country in determining whether to disregard war pensions, wholly or partially, in calculating rebates under the Housing Finance Act.

Under Schedule 3 to the Act authorities must disregard £2 a week of any war disablement pension. They have discretion, at their own expense, to disregard more. I have already suggested that those who disregarded more under a previous discretionary rebate scheme might wish to continue that policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the average time elapsing between application for a driving test and the holding of the test in a number of different centres in different parts of Great Britain, and in particular in those in Lancashire.

The information is as follows:

Traffic Area	Average Waiting Period (in weeks)
South Wales	4·7
East Midland	7·5
West Midland	8·8
Yorkshire	8·9
Eastern	9·6
North Western (includes Lancashire)	10·1
Scottish	10·1
Northern	10·2
Western	13·6
South Eastern	15·1
Metropolitan	15·3

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many additional examiners are to be recruited for each driving test centre at Sutton, Wellington and Morden; and when it is anticipated that they will commence work.

I am recruiting an additional examiner for each of the centres at Morden and Sutton and hope they will be in post during the next two months.No extra staff are being posted to Wallington.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many examiners are employed at each of the driving test centres in the greater London area; and how many additional examiners it is intended to recruit within the next six months.

The number of examiners at the ordinary "L" test centres are as follows:

Ordinary "L"
Test Centre		Examiners in post
Barking	…	5
Chingford	…	3
East Ham	…	4
Hornchurch	…	6
Ilford	…	4
Walthamstow	…	3
Wanstead	…	3
Palmers Green	…	5
Tottenham	…	5
Winchmore Hill	…	5
Wood Green	…	6
Barnet	…	3
Burnt Oak	…	5
Hendon	…	3
Mill Hill	…	3
Southgate	…	3
Hayes	…	3
Ruislip	…	4
Wealdstone	…	2
Greenford	…	4
Isleworth	…	4
Southall	…	4
Morden	…	6
New Maiden	…	4
Surbiton	…	5
Sutton	…	4
Teddington	…	5
Croydon	…	5
Norwood	…	3
Southfields	…	4
Wallington	…	7
West Wickham	…	4
Belvedere	…	1
Bexley Heath	…	7
Lee Green	…	6
✶Orpington	…	6
Sidcup	…	6
	Total	160
* Centre closed temporarily, examiners detached to adjacent centres.

Over the next six months I expect to recruit about 50 additional examiners for these centres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average waiting period at each of the driving test centres in the greater London area for applicants wishing to take a test on the next available date.

Averages in weeks are:Barking 17; Chingford 14; East Ham 18; Hornchurch 17; Ilford 17; Wanstead 17; Walthamstow 16; Palmers Green 15; Tottenham 16; Winchmore Hill 13; Wood Green 14; Barnet 15; Burnt Oak 18; Hendon 16; Mill Hill 16; Southgate 16; Hayes 18; Ruislip 17; Wealdstone 15; Greenford 18; Isleworth 18; Southall 18; Morden 17; New Maiden 17; Surbiton 14; Sutton 13; Teddington 18; Croydon 14; Norwood 14; Southfields 17; Wallington 13; West Wickham 13; Belvedere 12; Bexleyhcath 14; Lee Green 13; Sidcup 12

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the percentage pass record of those taking a driving test in Liverpool to the most recent convenient date; and how these figures compare with the previous 12 months.

In 1972, 48 per cent. of tests were passed; figures for 1971 are no longer available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applicants for the driving test failed the test on three or more occasions in Liverpool to the most recent convenient date; and how this figure compares with the previous 12 months.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many drivers passed the driving test in Liverpool during the past year to the most recent convenient date; and how these figures compare with the previous 12 months.

11,570 passed in 1972. Figures for 1971 are no longer available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many driving examiners are employed at test centres in the United Kingdom to the most recent available date; and how these figures compare with the previous 12 months.

There were 1,012 driving examiners employed at ordinary "L" test centres in Great Britain at the end of March 1973. In addition, 147 were employed at heavy goods vehicle driver testing stations. The figures for March 1972 were 1,088 and 142 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many drivers passed the driving test in the United Kingdom during the past 12 months to the most recent convenient date; and how these figures compare with the previous 12 months.

In Great Britain, 720,872 in 1972; 742,230 in 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the waiting period for driving tests in Liverpool, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Exchange.

As the demand for tests in 1972 was almost 20 per cent. greater than in 1971, waiting periods almost everywhere are longer than I would wish. Additional examiners are being recruited as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many examiners are employed at each of the driving test centres in Liverpool to the most recent available date; and how these figures compare with the previous 12 months.

The information is as follows:

		Number of End of March 1972	Examiners End of March 1973
"L" Test Centres
Bootle	…	4	4
Crosby	…	5	5
Childwall	…	2	4
Garston	…	3	2
Kirkdale	…	5	(Centre closed February 1973)
"HGV" Test Centre
Simonswood	…	3	3

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the average waiting period at each of the driving test centres in Liverpool.

On 16th March:

Bootle	…	…	…	8 weeks
Crosby	…	…	…	8 weeks
Childwall	…	…	…	12 weeks
Garston	…	…	…	8 weeks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applicants are due to take their driving tests in Liverpool to the next available date.

On 28th March, 5,023 applicants were awaiting tests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average period of waiting for a driving test in the United Kingdom to the most recent convenient date.

In Great Britain, 12 weeks on 16th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the reports on 9th October and 12th November by the GLC Environmental Planning Committee about the Albert Bridge closure order, and as the conditions for ending the order have now been fulfilled, he will now withdraw it.

Consent to extension of the order was given on condition that it shall lapse when the central pier is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when a decision will be made concerning the proposed Wainscott northern bypass A289 diversion, following the public inquiry held in February 1972.

My right hon. Friend is considering the report of the inspector who held the public inquiry into the mid-Kent town maps in which the proposed bypass is incorporated. It is not yet possible to say when a decision will be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he expects to conclude his consideration of longer-term policy for business rents; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will issue a Green Paper on his policy for business rents.

My right hon. and learned Friend expects to conclude consideration of longer-term policy for business rents in the course of stage 2. I cannot give a definite date at this point and it is therefore too early to say what would be the most appropriate way to make those conclusions public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people from his Department are engaged on consideration of longer-term policy for business rents.

Owing to the wide range of this topic a considerable number of people are involved within the Department, and it would be misleading to quote any single figure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the retail consortium was unanimous in the representations he has received from it on the subject of business rents.

My right hon. and learned Friend has yet to hear from it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment where the collection of ivory figures now is which was formerly housed in a glass-fronted cabinet by the North Curtain; what their history was; and how the House acquired them.

The Advisory Committee on Works of Art in the House of Commons recommended last year that this collection be offered for Mr. Speaker for his residence. The offer was accepted and the appropriate arrangements are now being made. The items concerned— about 20 in number—are nineteenth century copies of seventeenth century ivories. Most of them were presented to the House in the 1920s by past Members or other donors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will inform local authorities of the outcome of the litigation under Section 4 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 involving Liverpool Corporation and Tesco Limited; if he is satisfied that Circular 12/70 is not now in need of revision; and if he will make a statement.

When I have obtained a full report of the case to which the hon. Member refers I will consider whether such action is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations his Department has received from the Central Council for the Disabled concerning the implementation of Section 4 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 by local authorities; what reply was made; and if he will make a statement.

No such representations have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the populations of the local government units comprising each of the National Parks in England in the latest available year; and what were the corresponding figures for the 10 years previously.

As the hon. Member will know, the boundaries of National Parks do not coincide with those of local government areas. It is thus not possible without a disproportionate amount of work to provide the precise information requested.I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the details of the formula used on deciding the amount of grant to be made available to a particular railway line under the Transport Act 1968.

I am considering this in the rail policy review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the proposed regulation in the EEC COM(72) 1517 final dated 26th February 1973, if adopted, would have any effect upon the existing grants made to the British Railways Board to maintain uneconomic services.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to announce his decision on the feasibility study on the A27 east-west route in the Brighton and Hove area; and if he will make a statement.

The study is expected to be completed this spring. Discussions will follow with the local authorities concerned and there will be an opportunity for the public to comment on the main alternatives. It is hoped that, as a result, a decision on the route could be announced during the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the words "new lettings" in the Counter-Inflation Act mean new buildings or old buildings with new lettings.

If an order restricting the rent payable on new lettings were to be made under Section 11 of the Act, paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 3 to the Act provides for these words to be defined in that order. The Government have however already announced that they will not extend control to new lettings at this stage of the counter-inflation programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the date when he received the Ashton Vale Flood Alleviation Scheme, Colliters Brook for review; and when he expects to be able to give it approval, bearing in mind the disquiet among local residents at any further delay.

I have been asked to reply.The proposals were submitted by the Bristol Avon River Authority for grant-aid on 18th April 1972. Most of the time since then has been taken up in obtaining essential additional technical and economic information. Our assessment of this is nearly complete but we still need clarification of one or two outstanding points.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what inquiries have been made by his Department into the difficulties in the design stage of the Ashton Vale Flood Alleviation Scheme, Colliters Brook, which were not anticipated last year.

I have been asked to reply.This is a complicated scheme but I am not aware of any difficulties in the design stage which have arisen this year.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what plans he has to set up an experimental nursery for his staff in Scotland, along the lines of that established for children of Inland Revenue staff, at Llanishen, Cardiff.

I am still considering whether there should be a second experimental Civil Service nursery and, if so, where it should be located.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he now intends to publish the report of the Hardman Committee.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Doncaster (Mr. Harold Walker) earlier today.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what was the total cost of the Royal Yacht to the Exchequer in each of the years 1970, 1971 and 1972

The total cost of Her Majesty's Yacht "Britannia" for each of these financial years is as follows:

Year			Cost
1970–71	…	…	£775,700
1971–72	…	…	£895,000
1972–73 (estimated)	…	…	£1,607,600

The figure for 1972–73 includes the greater part of the cost of the ship's current major refit, which is proceeding on schedule.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will ask the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries to publicise its considered opinions on (a) the imposition of museum admission charges, and (b) the introduction of value-added tax on works of art.

The standing commission has always been free to put forward its opinions on all matters falling within its terms of reference, and my noble Friend will continue to give careful consideration to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will ask the Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery if they are satisfied that the export of works of art of national historical interest will not be accelerated by the imposition of value added tax on 1st April.

My noble Friend welcomes the views of the Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery and other bodies interested in the export of works of art on the effect of VAT or any other matter in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the Nature Conservancy about the future of the service.

Papers were sent on 14th March to the Natural Environment Research Council, the Nature Conservancy, and the staff interests concerned, setting out proposals for the practical implementation of the decisions announced in the White Paper, Command 5046. A meeting to introduce the proposals was arranged the following day between officers from the Department of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my Department, officials of the NERC and the Nature Conservancy, and staff representatives. It is expected that consideration will be given to these proposals by the council, the Nature Conservancy committee and the staff interests over the next few weeks, and the views of all concerned will be taken fully into account before decisions are announced.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement giving details of the ultimate destinations of the exhibits now housed in the Transport Museum at Clapham and arrangements for the display of exhibits pending the provision for them of a permanent home.

The major part of the railway collections from the Museum of British Transport at Clapham will be transferred to the new National Railway Museum at York in the care of the Science Museum. These exhibits will include all the locomotives except two, all the items of rolling stock except two, and a selection of the railway road vehicles.The relics from Clapham belonging to the London Transport Executive are, I understand, to be put on public display shortly at Syon Park. The four tramcars and one trolleybus at Clapham which do not belong to the London Transport Executive are to be taken by the Science Museum into an annexe at Hayes, Middlesex, which it is intended to open occasionally for visitors.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were in full-time employment in the United Kingdom on 1st January in each of the past 10 years.

Estimates of the numbers employed in the United Kingdom are made quarterly and the most recent are for June 1972. The figures do not identify full-time and part-time workers. Following is the available information for June each year.

Estimated numbers of employees in employment
					thousands
1963	…	…	…	…	23,061
1964	…	…	…	…	23,357
1965	…	…	…	…	23,622
1966	…	…	…	…	23,783
1967	…	…	…	…	23,305
1968	…	…	…	…	23,125
1969	…	…	…	…	23,085
1970	…	…	…	…	22,891
1971	…	…	…	…	22,509
1972	…	…	…	…	22,336

The estimates are based on counts of national insurance cards.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he is taking to encourage improved access and facilities for employable disabled people at places of employment; and if he will make a statement.

My Department's disablement resettlement officers and technical officers are always ready to provide employers with advice on how access to, and facilities within, places of work can be adapted to the needs of individual disabled people where problems arise; and where disabled people are employed, the requirements of the Factories Acts in relation to such matters as means of access and of escape in case of fire are interpreted by the Factory Inspectorate to take account of their needs. But the whole question of the problems of mobility faced by disabled people is presently being reviewed by Lady Sharp and I believe it would be right to await her findings before considering whether further action is required.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he has made any representations to the South African Government about the recruitment of forces from military camps in South Africa to serve in Rhodesia;(2) whether South Africa Servicemen are being recruited to serve in the forces of the illegal regime in Rhodesia.

I have seen Press reports about this. I have asked Her Majesty's Ambassador in Cape Town to make inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates repayment of capital and payments of interest have been due from Uganda since 1st January 1972; and whether all payments have been made on the due dates.

The dates, and the titles of the loans to which they relate, are as follows:

• Exchequer Loan 1960—March 1972 (Principal and interest).
• Exchequer Loan 1960—March 1973 (Principal and interest).
• Exchequer Loan 1960—July 1972 (Principal and interest).
• Exchequer Loan 1961—June 1972 (Principal and interest).
• Exchequer Loan 1961—December 1972 (Principal and interest).
• Exchequer Loan 1962—March 1972 (Principal and interest).
• Exchequer Loan 1962—March 1973 (Principal and interest).
• Exchequer Loan 1962—June 1972 (Principal and interest).
• Exchequer Loan 1962—June 1972 (Principal and interest).
• Exchequer Loan 1962—September 1972 (Principal and interest).
• Exchequer Loan 1962—September 1972 (Principal and interest).
• ECGD Loan 1963—February 1972 (Principal and interest).
• ECGD Loan 1963—August 1972 (Principal and interest).
• ECGD Loan 1963—February 1973 (Principal and interest).
• Loans Nos. 1 and 2 1966—December 1972 (Principal).
• Development Loan 1968—February 1972 (Principal).
• Development Loan 1968—August 1972 (Principal).
• Development Loan 1968—February 1973 (Principal).

All payments have been made on the due dates.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates funds from the £6½ million and £5½ million loans to Uganda had been released during the months of February and March; and what amount was released on each occasion.

£8·15 was released from the £5½ million loan on 26th February 1973. Releases from the £6½ million Loan in February and March 1973 were:

On 2nd February, £24,565·25 and £527·84; 5th February, £12400; 7th February, £469·49; 2nd March, £4.172·20 and £57·23; 12th March, £7·52; 15th March, £3,393·68 and £1,268·27; 16th March, £321·84; 21st March, £821·05 27th March, £316·78.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any restriction has been placed on the taking of funds out of Uganda by the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were for dangerous driving in Biddulph urban district in each of the past five years.

I am obtaining the available information and shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average fine imposed by the courts under Section 30 of the Rent Act 1965 since the maximum fine was increased by the Criminal Justice Act 1972; and what was the average fine for the same offence in the same period before the increase.

The relevant provision of the Criminal Justice Act 1972 came into force only on 1st January 1973. No statistics are yet available to show the effect of that Act on fines imposed under Section 30 of the Rent Act 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his review of the operation of Section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971, with regard to the repatriation of Commonwealth immigrants.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 29th March 1973: Vol. 853, c. 1520], circulated the following information:

The present basic means-related criterion is that average weekly earnings of the family group in question may not exceed supplementary benefit level plus £2. This limit is to be raised to supplementary benefit level plus £5. In addition there will be greater flexibility in allowing certain expenses to be offset against income for the purpose of determining whether or not this level is reached. In cases presenting exceptional difficulties, applicants whose income is greater than the specified limits may be considered for assistance.

Applicants in regular employment will no longer be excluded from the scheme provided that they satisfy the other criteria, including that relating to income.

Each family unit will be allowed to retain up to £500 capital before being required to contribute towards the cost of travel.

When the scheme was originally established, information about it was issued through local authorities and other local and national agencies, including voluntary organisations, to whom immigrants wishing to return overseas could be expected to go for advice. The attention of all these bodies will be drawn to the changes set out above.

I shall continue to keep the working of the scheme under review, and will consider in due course whether any further changes may be required.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) under what circumstances the purchase of iced lollies attracts value added tax;(2) what amount of value added tax is payable on a box of chocolates costing 30p purchased in a cinema but only half consumed therein.

Customs and Excise has issued a Press notice on this subject and I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. Copies are also available in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received any communications expressing concern over the imposition of value added tax on works of art from the Standing Commission on Muesums; and, if so, whether he will publish both its views and his reply.

My right hon. Friend has received no recent communications on this subject from the Standing Commission.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the amount of value added tax included in the price of a work of art or antique sold under the provisions of the special scheme contained in Customs and Excise Notice No. 172 to a public museum which is a taxable person will be required to be disclosed in order that the museum in question may claim a refund.

It is a condition of the scheme that VAT shall not be shown separately on the taxable person's invoice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether VAT is payable on hire-purchase repayments paid after 1st April for goods subject to VAT supplied and delivered before 1st April.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether VAT is payable on a gas cooker purchased through a hire-purchase agreement concluded before 1st April but not to be delivered and installed until after 1st April.

Yes. If the cooker was not delivered before 1st April VAT is chargeable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether VAT is payable on a gas cooker purchased for cash before 1st April but not to be delivered and installed until after 1st April.

No, provided that it has been paid for in the normal course of business before 1st April.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the basis for his original estimate that there would be 1,500,000 firms registered for VAT.

The estimate given on 11th April 1972 was based on Inland Revenue assessments made in 1969–70, and was subject to a number of uncertainties—for example, in regard to the effect of the small trader exemption from VAT and the number of traders who might voluntarily register for VAT. It is now clear that the working figure of 1½ million was too high as a measure of the initial take-on, the main reason being that whereas the 1972 estimate allowed for rather over 200,000 voluntary registrations among those who were under no legal obligation to register, only a small proportion of that number has in fact so far registered voluntarily. It is, of course, possible that they will opt in later in the year. Other factors such as group registration have also tended to depress the numerical total of registrations.—[Vol. 834, c. 153.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the control he intends to operate on bank profits.

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 94–99 and 194–5 of Cmnd. 5267, "The Counter-Inflation Programme, The Operation of Stage Two."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the national income wages and salaries were in 1964, 1966, 1970 and 1972.

The figures are given in the following table:

Wages and salaries as a percentage of national income
1964	…	…	…	…	66·3
1966	…	…	…	…	67·8
1970	…	…	…	…	68·9
1972	…	…	…	…	68·9

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was collected in corporation tax in each of the past five years.

The figures are:

Financial year				£ million
1968–69	…	…	…	1,344
1969–70	…	…	…	1,697
1970–71	…	…	…	1,583
1971–72	…	…	…	1,554
1972–73	…	…	…	1,525
				(provisional)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the approximate number of taxpayers paying less than £15 a year and £20 a year respectively, in income tax; and what is the total number of persons paying income tax.

Counting wives who are earning, separately, about 22 million people were liable to tax for 1972–73. Of these nearly 1 million were due to pay less than £15 and nearly 1¼ million to pay less than £20.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage rise in the standard of living in 1972.

On the basis of the change in real personal disposable income per head the rise in the standard of living between 1971 and 1972 was over 6¾ per cent. This compares with the average annual increase of 1½ per cent. between the fourth quarter of 1964 and the second quarter of 1970.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now seek powers to prevent home loan interest rates reaching 10 per cent.

Decisions on mortgage interest rates are a matter for the building societies and it would be wrong to anticipate the outcome of the Government's discussions with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many occupational training centres are available in Scotland for the mentally handicapped; and what areas have been selected for expansion of this programme.

There are at present 66 junior occupational centres for children of school age and 67 adult training centres, provided by local authorities in Scotland. There are also 10 adult centres provided by voluntary organisations, and one private junior occupational centre.Twenty-eight new centres to be provided over the next five years have so far been proposed by the following local authorities:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, with probable date of construction as available, the trunk road schemes over £250,000 in preparation shown in the official trunk road map illustrating the situation as at 1st January last.

The required information is being assembled, but this will take a few days and I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the position of medical social workers in the reorganised health services.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Glagsow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward Taylor) on 29th March.—[Vol. 853, c. 402–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what dates Sir James Mackay and Dr. Skewis relinquished their positions with the Highlands and Islands Development Board.

Sir James Mackay's appointment as Deputy-Chairman of the HIDB expired on 6th August 1972. Dr. Skewis resigned on 8th December 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he now has for the Cheshire Joint Sanatorium, Loggerheads.

This property is surplus to National Health Service requirements and action for its disposal will proceed when the planning position is sufficiently clear to enable the district valuer to assess current market value.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated total unemployment benefit paid to people who have been rendered temporarily unemployed on account of strikes during the last three years.

I regret that the information requested is not available, but I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to obtain publicity and wide distribution for his leaflet refuting statements made in the "Claimants' Handbook for Strikers" regarding entitlement to benefits from the State.

The explanatory leaflet "Supplementary Benefits and Trade Disputes" is published by the Supplementary Benefits Commission. I understand that the chairman of the commission brought it to the attention of the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, the Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the secretaries of major trade unions at the time of publication in February. Stocks of the leaflet are also available for issue as appropriate in most of my Department's regional and local social security offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation to provide for a system of legal guardianship for mentally handicapped children, in order to replace the benefits of parental care in the event of the death or disability of the children's parents.

	Private resident patients who have not made arrangements under Section 1(2) of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 for private treatment				Private resident patients who have made arrangements under Section 1(2) for private treatment
Class of Hospital	Single Room		Accommodation		Single Room		Accommodation
	£	Per cent.	£	Per cent.	£	Per cent.	£	Per cent.
A. Regional Hospital Board long stay hospitals	1· 00	12·6	0·90	12·3	1·00	13·3	0·80	11·6
B. Regional Hospital Board psychiatric hospitals	0·70	14·3	0·60	13·3	0·60	12·8	0·50	11·6
C. Regional Hospital Board acute and other hospitals	1·60	12·4	1·50	12·7	1·60	13·1	1·40	12·6
D. London teaching hospitals	2·30	12·2	2·00	11·6	2·10	12·0	1·90	11·9
E. Provincial teaching hospitals and Regional Hospital Board University hospitals	1·90	12·2	1·70	11 ·9	1·80	12·4	1·60	12·1

On information about levels of costs at present available, it is estimated that the cost of providing hospital services will have increased by about 4 per cent. between 8th November 1972 and the year beginning 1st April 1973.I am required by statute to determine these charges having regard to the total cost which it is estimated, on the facts available at the time of the determina-

Provision for this purpose already exists in the Mental Health Act 1959. The parental powers conferred upon local authorities or individual persons by the Children Act 1948, the Children and Young Persons Acts 1933 to 1969 and the Guardianship of Minors Act 1971 are also available in the case of mentally handicapped children.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the actual and percentage increase being charged for private beds in National Health Service hospitals from 1st April onwards; what has been the increase to the National Health Service of the cost of these beds since 8th November last year; and what percentage of the cost increase is being absorbed in the light of the guidance contained in the code for increases in the price of goods and services during the second stage of the Government's prices and incomes policy.

The daily charges determined for private resident patients in National Health Service hospitals for the year beginning 1st April 1973 represent the following increases over those for the previous year:tion, will be incurred during the year beginning 1st April 1973 in the provision of hospital services, and to do otherwise would be in breach of the statute.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation to provide for graded attendance allowances to meet the needs of different degrees of disability.

Provision was made in the National Insurance Act 1972 to extend the scope of the attendance allowance in four phases, by age groups, to provide a lower-rate allowance for those severely disabled people who need help by day or at night. Claims from the first age group, those of working age, are currently being processed for payment from 4th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many tenants in Scotland have had their rent paid direct by his Department; how many have been on supervised payment of rent; and how many applications for direct or supervised payment were refused during the last three years for which figures are available.

If the hon. Member is referring to recipients of supplementary benefit, I regret that the information is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria his Department uses for refusing direct or supervised payment of rent.

The Supplementary Benefits Commission has explained its criteria for deciding when these procedures are appropriate in paragraph 53 of the Supplementary Benefits Handbook which is available in the Library of the House. The procedures are not adopted unless they are considered to be in the claimant's best interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many decisions the commissioner has reversed in the North-West in favour of insurance officers for industrial injury benefits arising out of claims for pneumoconiosis in 1972 and to the nearest available date.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a progress report on the success of his kidney transplant card scheme.

Since launching the kidney donor card scheme last November about 2½ million explanatory donor cards and 26,000 specially designed dispensers have been distributed. The first phase of the scheme was directed at hospitals and general practitioners, but we are currently seeking the support of the universities, banks, local authorities, Government Departments and other large employers in order to widen the scope of the scheme. The scheme has been well received, but it is too soon to measure its success in terms of its effect on the number of renal transplants carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ascertain how many hon. Members offered to submit evidence, either written or oral, to the Fisher Committee of inquiry into abuse of State benefits; and if he will tabulate those who were called upon to do so.

The report of the committee (Cmnd. 5228) records at paragraph 8 that all hon. Members were invited to give evidence, and the names of those who responded are given at Appendix 3.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will move the proposed flight path of Concorde to the westward so as to avoid flying over any part of north, mid- or south-west Wales.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member's similar Questions on 14th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the United Kingdom's exports went to the Commonwealth in 1964, 1970 and 1972.

The percentages were 26, 20 and 19, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many ships, and of what total tonnage, were owned by British Rail Shipping in 1962 and 1972; what amount was chartered; and how many of these were under the British flag;(2) how many ships, and of what total tonnage, were owned by the Central Electricity Board in 1962 and 1972; what amount was chartered; and how many of these were under the British flag;(3) how many ships, and of what total tonnage, were owned by the Post Office in 1962 and 1972; what amount was chartered; and how many of these were under the British flag;(4) how many ships, and of what total tonnage, were owned by British Steel in its first year of operation and in 1972; what amount was chartered; and how many were under the British flag;(5) how many ships and of what total tonnage were owned by the gas industry in 1962 and 1972; what amount were chartered; and how many were under the British flag.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated borrowing requirement of the electricity generating boards, 1973–74.

Net borrowing from all sources by the electricity supply industry in 1973–74 was estimated in the recent White Paper, "Loans from the National Loans Fund 1973–74" (Cmnd. 5253), as follows:

	£ million
Electricity Council and Boards (England and Wales)	270·0
North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board	23·9
South of Scotland Electricity Board	72·3

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the number of industrial development certificates that have been issued in each of the employment exchange areas in the greater London area, in each of the last three years.

Following is the information for all schemes:

Employment Exchange Area		1970 Number	1971 Number	1972 Number
Acton	…	6	1	Nil
Barking	…	6	9	4
Barnet	…	3	1	2
Battersea	…	8	4	8
Beckenham	…	2	1	Nil
Bermondsey	…	3	3	4
Bexley	…	2	Nil	2
Borough	…	3	4	1
Brentford	…	5	4	2
Brixton	…	11	6	3
Bromley	…	3	Nil	1
Camberwell	…	3	2	2
Camden Town	…	8	2	1
CanningTown	…	5	5	1
City	…	Nil	Nil	Nil
Croydon	…	22	4	11
Dagenham	…	20	14	5
Deptford	…	7	2	5
Ealing	…	16	4	6
East Ham	…	Nil	2	Nil
Enfield	…	13	5	6
Erith	…	21	19	11
Feltham	…	20	3	4
Finchley	…	2	1	1
Fulham	…	3	1	1
Hackney	…	11	2	9
Hammersmith	…	6	2	Nil
Harrow	…	4	1	3
Hayes	…	8	11	5
Hendon	…	4	7	5
Holloway	…	Nil	15	7
Hornchurch	…	2	2	Nil
Hounslow	…	17	11	3
Ilford	…	6	4	3
King's Cross	…	8	3	1
Kingston	…	10	5	5
Lewisham	…	1	Nil	3
Leyton	…	9	7	7
Mill Hill	…	2	Nil	Nil
Orpington	…	2	3	2
Poplar	…	9	6	6
Richmond	…	7	4	1
Romford	…	7	3	Nil
Ruislip	…	1	1	1
St. Marylebone	…	2	3	5
Shoreditch	…	14	1	3
Sidcup	…	6	4	2
Southall	…	8	3	5
Stepney	…	6	5	9
Stratford	…	7	5	5
Sutton	…	9	1	2
Tooting	…	24	15	16
Tottenham	…	12	11	8
Uxbridge	…	14	7	10
Wembley	…	9	7	3
Westminster	…	2	3	3

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent consultations he has held in regard to the reform of company law; and what recent representations he has received.

I have consulted a wide range of interested parties and representative organisations concerned with the operation of company law. They are providing many comments and proposals which are being carefully examined in my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a Green Paper embodying his proposals to reform company law; and if he will make a statement.

I hope to make known in due course and in an appropriate form my proposals for reform of company law.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek powers to make the management audit a statutory requirement for public companies.

I will take into account, in my review of company law, proposals of various kinds for improving the efficiency of company management.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to reform the law in regard to insider trading.

I hope to make provision in a companies Bill for dealing with problems of insider trading.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under what circumstances Mr. Geoffrey Fawn has resigned from Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited; and if he will make a statement.

This is entirely a matter between the company and the individual concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the domestic retail sugar market is held by Tate and Lyle.

Tate and Lyle is not a supplier of sugar by retail. I regret that figures to show the percentage of retail sugar that is manufactured by Tate and Lyle are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he intends to take if he is dissatisfied with the replies he receives from his letters to leading retailers asking for information on how they are assessing the savings on SET and how they intend to pass on these savings to the public.

In the light of assurances I have received I am confident that the great majority of retailers will adjust their prices fairly in respect of SET savings. If necessary, I am prepared to use the powers given me by Section 12 of the Counter-Inflation Act 1973.