asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will request the Welsh Council to make a study of the problems of obtaining mortgages for house purchase in the lower-income areas of Wales.

The council is already studying various aspects of housing in Wales. It is for the council to decide whether this study should include mortgage finance.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the education and training of veterinary surgeons in Wales.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of the outpatients' clinic at the Memorial Hospital, Porthmadog, Caernarvonshire.

It is proposed to reintroduce a limited out-patient service at the hospital covering patients who need to be seen immediately. Other outpatients will be seen at the Caernarvon and Anglesey General Hospital, Bangor. I shall be writing to the right hon. Member shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress made in providing a bridge across the Seiont estuary in Caernarvon.

This is a matter for Caernarvon Borough Council which, I understand, has invited tenders for the construction of a pedestrian swing bridge.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects work to begin on the construction of the new Withybush Hospital; and what is the planned completion date.

It is hoped that the contractors will be on site in May. The contract period is 201 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he now proposes to implement the recommendations of the Blagden Report on the Law of Bankruptcy and Deeds of Arrangement.

The Government cannot undertake that time will be available for a Bill on major bankruptcy legislation in the present Pariament.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, following the internal inquiry conducted by the National Coal Board into disclosures arising from an internal document submitted by a senior employee of the National Coal Board's operational research executive in which as part of his normal duties he made certain allegations as to the board's procedures in respect of the purchasing, stocking and maintaining of powered roof supports, if he will take steps to investigate this matter in the form of a public inquiry.

No. This matter has been investigated by the board's independent auditors who are appointed by the Government. Their report found that there was no substance in the allegations but made some suggestions for detailed improvements in procedures which the board is considering. I see no need for a further inquiry into these allegations but I welcome the board's decision, of which I informed the House on 26th February, to ask independent experts to conduct a general review of its purchasing procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in the light of the decision to end steel making at Shelton, he will now designate North Staffordshire as an intermediate area.

No. The rate of unemployment in the Stoke travel-to-work area is below the national average, and falling.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects a decision to be made on the proposed sale of the Rough gasfield at the mouth of the Humber by the Gulf Oil Company to the American owned Amoco Company.

An application by the Gulf Oil Company to transfer its licence to a group led by the British Gas Corporation and Amoco (UK) Petroleum Limited reached me on 27th March. I am considering this.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about his discussions with Berry Wiggins and Company about the Rough gasfield in the North Sea.

The chairman of Berry Wiggins has twice seen Ministers in the Department about his negotiations with the Gulf Oil Company, which is the present licensee of the Rough gas-field. In December last year Berry Wiggins was told that we would consider any application which Gulf made to transfer the licence to it and that in reaching a decision we should weigh its capacity to undertake prompt and efficient development of the field against that of the other parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has had from the Gas Corporation about the desirability of exploitation of the Rough gasfield in the North Sea being exploited by Amoco.

A part of the Rough gasfield is in an area already licensed to a group of four concerns led by the British Gas Corporation and Amoco (UK) Petroleum Limited. The Corporation has told me that, as Gulf wishes to relinquish its interest in the field, it sees advantages in the whole field being exploited as a unit by its group.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the provisions in production and exploration licences for North Sea oil and gas, which permit the transfer of the licence from one company to another.

Model Clause 32(1) of Schedule 4 to the Petroleum (Production) Regulations 1966 provides that a licensee may not assign any of his licence rights without the prior consent of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the criteria which his Department applies to permit a holder of a licence to produce North Sea gas to transfer its rights to another company.

Proposals to assign rights in offshore petroleum production licences are considered on their merits. In doing so, we take particularly into account the criteria listed in paragraph 6(3) of the notice published in the London Gazette on 22nd June 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of the submissions made to him by Berry Wiggins and Company Limited regarding its bid to Gulf Oil for the Rough gasfield.

The chairman of Berry Wiggins saw my hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry last December and said that his company was negotiating with the Gulf Oil Company to acquire the Rough gasfield. At the end of March the chairman saw me to discuss subsequent developments and to register his concern that the negotiations had been broken off.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make an announcement regarding discussions between the Gas Corporation and his Department regarding the price to be paid for gas from the Rough field.

The price of the gas is a commercial matter between the corporation and the licensee, but I am kept informed of matters of this nature.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the date on which his Department approved the transfer and sale of Gulf Oil's licence to procure gas from the Rough field to Amoco Company.

No decision has yet been taken on the application by Gulf Oil (Great Britain) Ltd. for a transfer of its licence to a group led by Amoco (UK) Petroleum Ltd. and the British Gas Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will inquire under the Companies Act into the activities of Brandon Publications Company Limited, of 369 Edgware Road, London W2, which claims that it will be publishing the United Kingdom Classified Trade and Commerce Directory.

The Department has made some preliminary inquiries into the affairs of this company.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his official visit to Peking.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier this afternoon to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-East (Mr. Adley).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when licences were issued in respect of the 8,752 sheep not for breeding exported in February 1973 to Belgium and the 1,265 exported to the Republic of Ireland.

Licences for the export to Belgium of sheep not for breeding or exhibition were last issued in November 1972 and all expired by 31st January 1973. The figures of exports for any month are based on documents received in the statistical office of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise from traders during that month. The shipments will have been made earlier.No licences were issued from Great Britain in respect of the exports to the Republic of Ireland referred to. Licences are not however required for the export of sheep from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a list of all airline companies with current options on Concorde.

The Chinese National Airline has placed a preliminary purchase order for three Concordes, and Iranair has signed a letter of intent for two aircraft with an option on a third. In addition, the following airlines hold options at present:

Eastern Airlines	…	…	…	6
Lufthansa	…	…	…	3
Air India	…	…	…	2
Middle East Airlines	…	…	…	2
Japan Airlines	…	…	…	3
Qantas	…	…	…	4
Braniff	…	…	…	3

Following the recent decisions by some airlines not to convert their delivery reservations into firm orders, earlier places are now available for other airlines. The manufacturers are accordingly informing those airlines still holding options that in future delivery positions will be offered as orders are placed, and that they may amend the terms of their options if they wish.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will issue a general direction to the British Airports Authority to provide free offloading or parking facilities for periods of up to one half-hour at all BAA airports in Great Britain.

No. The provision of off-loading and parking facilities is a British Airports Authority management responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to be able to reply to the evidence sent to him by the hon. Member for Bassetlaw last February regarding World Cup tickets.

After quite considerable inquiries, a reply was sent on 5th April.

asked the Secretary ot State for Trade and Industry what re-adaptation grants under the Treaty of Paris will be payable in respect of the provision of jobs for those steelworkers at Shelton declared redundant; and whether he will make a statement.

The Government are currently negotiating with the European Commission an agreement under Article 56 of the Treaty of Paris for financial assistance towards tide-over payments, unemployment benefits, and training and resettlement allowances for redundant steelworkers; details have not yet been finalised.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish a table showing, for the years 1963 to 1972 inclusive, the total payments made by the holders of duty-free shop franchises at British seaports and airports to their respective authorities, the proportion which these payments represent of the duty which would have been payable in normal circumstances and the percentage which such payments represent of the gross revenue of seaports and airports as a whole respectively.

No. This information could be obtained only by disproportionate effort and in any event much of it is a matter of commercial confidence between the airport and seaport authorities on the one hand and the holders of the franchises on the other.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information his Department has on the gross and net profit of duty-free franchise holders at London Airport on their air- port operations for the years 1963 to 1972, inclusive.

None. Matters concerning the negotiation of concessions at London Airport are exclusively the responsibility of the British Airports Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the annual consumption of lubricating oil by British industry, including the transport industry, during the last three years.

Analyses of the inland deliveries of lubricating oils and greases are published annually in the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new jobs have been made available in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region over each of the past five years.

I regret that precise figures of new jobs created in both the manufacturing and service sectors are not available. Applicants for industrial development certificates issued estimated that the following additional jobs would arise when the projects were complete and fully manned:

Industrial Development Certificates Approved for Schemes of 15,000 sq. ft. and over
Year				Estimated additional employment
1968				8,060
1969				9,010
1970				7,810
1971				4,970
1972				11,880

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new jobs have been created in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region under the new Industry Act.

1,300 new jobs are being created by selective assistance applications so far approved. A further 3,300 jobs are involved in applications now being processed. As explained in my reply of 26th March to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Duffy) selective assistance figures do not include further job opportunities arising from regional development grants.—[Vol. 853, c 213.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE BY THE CEGB ON BUILDING POWER STATIONS
£ million
					Type of Capacity
Year				Cos Fired	Coal-Fired	Oil-Fired*	Nuclear†
1963–64	…	…	…	—	116	19	108(20)
1964–65	…	…	…	—	145	30	93 (9)
1965–66	…	…	…	—	161	42	62(7)
1966–67	…	…	…	—	188	51	58(4)
1967–68	…	…	…	—	159	59	49(0)
1968–69	…	…	…	—	116	51	54(9)
1969–70	…	…	…	—	78	35	72(10)
1970–71	…	…	…	—	60	28	97(20)
1971–72	…	…	…	—	44	33	101 (12)
1972–73‡	…	…	…	—	22	45	113 (6)
Totals	…	…	…	—	1,089	393	807(97)
* Includes expenditure on main gas turbine stations.
† Includes the expenditure on the initial nuclear fuel charges shown in brackets.
‡ Provisional figures.

Expenditure for the next three years will depend upon decisions yet to be taken about the capital investment programme of the CEGB which is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements have been made for the financial support of the HS 146 project; and if he will make a statement.

I am still considering Hawker Siddeley's request for launching aid for the HS 146. I will make a further statement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will inquire under the Companies Act into the activities of Wallis Dene Limited (Publishers), of 17 Nottingham Street, London, W1, which claims that, upon payment by subscribers, it will publish the payer's entry in the United Kingdom Manufacturers Register and in the United Kingdom section of the International Manufacturers.

The following table gives the information requested for the last 10 years:

This matter is being considered and I shall be glad if the hon. Member will let me have the benefit of his information.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in view of the proposed further increase in mortgage interest rates, he will now refer the whole question to the Monopolies Commission.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 13th November last.—[Vol. 846, c. 22–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Civil Aviation Authority inquiry being conducted on his behalf has yet considered the future of Liverpool Airport.

The Civil Aviation Authority tells me that the future of Liverpool Airport is being considered as a part of the study into the future structure of airports in the North and Midlands.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the report of the Civil Aviation Authority on Regional Airports.

I understand that the Civil Aviation Authority's study into the structure of the airport system in the North and Midlands will be completed by the end of this year. We expect to receive the report shortly thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT those insurance companies which have applied to him to raise their premiums, and if he will categorise them by name, field of activity and percentage increase requested;(2) if Guardian Assurance and Norwich Union Assurance have submitted to him requests to raise motor insurance premiums; when he will reply; and in what terms:(3) if he has received a request from General Accident Motor Insurance Company to raise its premiums.

A number of applications have been submitted. It would not be appropriate for me to give details.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if all motor insurance companies have submitted their latest and required annual accounts; and if he will name those companies which are in default of this requirement of the Companies Act.

1 assume the hon. Member is referring to the requirement of the Insurance Companies Acts. The only defaulters are a number of overseas registered companies which we recognise are having difficulty in submitting certain information. The Department is in touch with them and I see no advantage in publishing their names at present. Returns from individual companies are available for inspection at Companies House.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many motor insurance companies are at present under investigation by his Department.

None under the provisions of Sections 164 and 165 of the Companies Act 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he intends to take prior to the enactment of the Insurance Bill to protect the interests of policyholders where it is apparent that a motor insurance company is in economic difficulty.

I shall continue to use my existing powers under the Insurance Companies Acts 1958 to 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the latest number of motor insurance companies which have ceased trading since the collapse of the Vehicle and General Company.

There are no further companies to be added to the list given to the hon. Member on 30th January 1973.—[Vol. 849, c. 350.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer to the Price Commission for investigation the general question of motor insurance premiums.

I do not consider that this would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the average cost of third party and fully comprehensive motor insurance policies in June 1970; and what they are now.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in the money supply, in the latest period of three months for which figures are available, expressed at an annual rate and measured by the M3 and Ml definitions and by reference to the increase in notes in circulation with the public, respectively; and whether this was in accord with the Government's monetary policy.

In the three months to mid-February Ml increased at an annual rate of about 11 per cent. I do not consider that the recent three months' figures for notes and coins in circulation with the public and for M3, expressed at an annual rate, are a reliable indicator of the direction of monetary policy though, for what they are worth, they are 18 per cent. and 40 per cent. respectively. Clearly were these figures meaningful they would not be in accord with the Government's monetary policy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the rate of income tax in the United Kingdom com-

RATES OF TAX (PERCENTAGE OF INCOME)
	UK	USA	Germany	France
(a) Single man earning £30 per week	18·7	7·2	12·3	6·4
(b) Married man, two children, earning £30 per week	9·2	Nil	4·0	Nil
(c) Single man, with average earnings	20·6	9·0	13·6	7·5
(d) Married man. two children with average earnings	12·5	0·9	6·0	0·8
(e) Single man earning £45 per week	22·5	11·1	15·4	10·2
(f) Married man, two children, earning £45 per week	16·1	3·7	8·2	2·5
(g) Married man, two children, earning—
(i) £5,000 per annum	24·0	10·4	15·0	7·9
(ii) £10,000 per annum	35·8	17·4	26·2	15·7
(iii) £20,000 per annum	51·2	28·9	36·9	23·4

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his intention that where works of art and antiques are sold within the special scheme contained in Customs and Excise Notice No. 712, commission payable to third parties in respect of the transaction shall be deducted in calculating the margin on which VAT is assessed.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to speed up the progress of revaluation by the Treasury valuer of the amounts payable to Portsmouth City Council in lieu of rates for defence land and Service installations, with special regard to removing financial disadvantages suffered by

The figures are as follows:Portsmouth as the result of the large amount of Service land in the city.

No; it is not apparent that there will be any financial disadvantage but if the hon. Member would like to write, I will go into the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received since the issue of Customs and Excise Notice No. 708, under which demolition of houses and new construction is zero rated for VAT purposes, asking for the zero rating of repairs of listed buildings in order to encourage further listing and the proper maintenance of those so listed.

There have been representations on this matter from the Country Landowners Association, the British Tourist Authority and others. I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply on 29th March to the hon. Member for Cannock (Mr. Cormack).—[Vol. 853, c. 378.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, for the purposes of liability for payment of VAT, he will define the difference between a small garage and a large garden shed.

There would not necessarily be any difference in liability to VAT. The supply to the client of services in the course of the construction of a building, and of materials in connection therewith, is zero rated; and both a garage and a garden shed if permanent structures would be regarded as buildings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether VAT is payable on the construction of a garage to be used for the storage of garden implements.

The use to which the garage is to be put would not affect the VAT position. Provided it can be regarded as a building for VAT purposes supplies to the client of services in the course of its construction and of materials in connection therewith would be zero rated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the purchasing power of the £ sterling at the latest convenient date; and what it was in June 1970, taking it as 100p in February 1950.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling as 100p in February 1950, its value in June 1970 is estimated at 48½p and in February 1973, the latest date available, at 39½p. These estimates are based on the movement in the Consumer Price Index between 1950 and 1968, and on the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices for other periods.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of what value of gifts sent by post to individuals in the United Kingdom import duty and tax, by concession, are not charged.

It has not been the practice to give details of this concession.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the total revenue the tax on tobacco was in 1970, 1971 and 1972.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given to my hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) on 15th March.—[Vol. 852, c. 388–90.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will negotiate with the European Economic Commission to secure a differentiation between Lactose and Spray Dried Lactose USP in the application of the levy applied under Chapters 1 to 24 of the Customs Tariff, as the latter product is used for pharmaceutical products and will mean an increase in the cost of some drugs to the National Health Service.

No. The pharmaceutical industry uses both home-produced and imported supplies of refined lactose. The quantities imported into the United Kingdom from countries outside the Community have been very small. Even assuming that it is necessary for the industry to continue to import part of its requirements from third countries, the additional costs would be minimal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will detail in the OFFICIAL REPORT the percentage and money value changes in the average prices of the 80 important items of food as collected for the purpose of the Retail Food Price Index between July 1970 and the latest date for which prices are available.

The following table shows the percentage and money value changes in the average retail prices of about 80 important items of food, as collected for the purposes of the Index of Retail Food Prices, between 21st July 1970 and 20th February 1973, the latest date for which information is available:

	Change in Average Price
Item	Percentage	Money Value‡
Beef: home-killed
Chuck	+69·4	+22·5
Sirloin (without bone)	+61·2	+28·1
Silverside (without bone)*	+54·2	+23·0
Back ribs (with bone)*	+71·3	+20·6
Fore ribs (with bone)	+69·8	+19·9
Brisket (with bone)	+92·5	+17·2
Rump steak*	+49·7	+29·1
Beef: imported chilled
Chuck	+74·0	+20·2
Silverside (without bone)*	+62·4	+21·7
Rump steak*	+44·8	+21·1
Lamb: home-killed
Loin (with bone)	+46·6	+17·0
Breast*	+51·8	+ 5·7
Best end of neck	+46·8	+13·1
Shoulder (with bone)	+42·9	+11·2
Leg (with bone)	+42·8	+15·1
Lamb: imported
Loin (with bone)	+54·7	+14·5
Breast*	+69·7	+ 4·6
Best end of neck	+52·1	+11·3
Shoulder (with bone)	+50·5	+9·6
Leg (with bone)	+45·8	+13·2
Pork: home-killed
Leg (foot off)	+42·7	+12·0
Belly*	+48·9	+ 8·9
Loin (with bone)	+41·4	+14·0
Sausages
Pork	+29·6	+ 5·6
Beef	+41·4	+ 6·5
Roasting chicken
Broiler, frozen, 3 lb.	+25·6	+4·2
Fresh or chilled, 4 lb. (oven ready)	+22·6	+ 4·4
Fresh fish
Cod fillets	+76·2	+16·0
Haddock fillets	+63·8	+16·2
Haddock, smoked, whole	+64·7	+15·0
Plaice fillets	+46·9	+15·1
Halibut cuts	+51·7	+23·9
Herrings	+56·1	+ 6·4
Kippers (with bone)	+49·4	+7·6
Fresh vegetables
Potatoes, old, loose—
Whitet	—	—
Redt	—	—
Potatoes, new, loose†	—	—
Tomatoes	+96·7	+11·8
Cabbage, greens	+39·5	+ 1·5
Cabbage, hearted	+7·9	+0·3
Cauliflower or broccoli	+28·0	+2·3
Brussels sproutst	—	—
Peas†	—	—
Runner beans†	—	—
Carrots	-20·8	-1·0
Onions	-6·2	-0·4
Mushrooms, per ¼ lb.	+15·9	+ 1·0
Fresh fruit
Apples, cooking	+52·0	+ 3·9
Apples, dessert	+26·2	+ 2·7
Pears, dessert	+30·6	+ 3·0
Oranges	+24·3	+ 1·7
Bananas	+ 7·0	+ 0·6

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the progress of the brucellosis eradication scheme; and if he will make a statement on future plans.

The voluntary Brucellosis Incentive Scheme continues to make good progress, and 55 per cent. of all testable animals in Great Britain are now in scheme herds. Compulsory eradication is proceeding in a number of areas and will extend to further areas during the course of this year. Eradication in Norfolk and Suffolk has however had to be postponed until November because of the demands imposed on the Ministry's veterinary staff by the outbreaks of swine vesicular disease in recent months. The future compulsory eradication programme in England and Wales is currently under review and an announcement will be made in due course.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what

tons
			1970		1971		1972		1973
			January to February	March	January to February	March	January to February	March	January to February only
Imports
Maincrop	…	…	61	2,466	41	31	—	—	—
New	…	…	4,653	13,401	4,699	11,942	5,685	19,636	6,390
Seed	…	…	3,588	580	2,521	858	3,697	1,385	1,216
Exports
Maincrop	…	…	6,323	5,328	9,951	5,883	7,601	2,430	23,555
New	…	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Seed	…	…	27,459	5,348	21,238	3,478	27,756	5,395	28,269

Imports of maincrop potatoes are not normally permitted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many outbreaks of swine vesicular disease there have been; how many pigs have been slaughtered; and if he will make a statement on the progress of his policy to tackle this disease.

From 1lth December 1972 to 5th April 1973 there have been 87 outbreaks of swine vesicular disease, resulting in the slaughter of 42,505 pigs.Progress in eradicating the disease is satisfactory. In those parts of the country which were most affected there have been no outbreaks in the West Midlands and Yorkshire since 10th March, and in the south-western counties, apart from one case of recrudescence on 25th March, there have been none since 25th February. There have been no further outbreaks in Scotland since 21st March.I am disturbed, however, that there should have been the two cases confirmed on 1st and 3rd April in Surrey. The disease again is in swill-fed pigs and was most probably introduced by feeding inadequately processed swill, in spite of all the publicity we have given over the last three months to the care needed in handling this material. Because of the

The official Customs figures for March 1973 are not yet available. The following table gives information for January and February in each year referred to, and, separately, the figures for March for 1970, 1971, and 1972:dangers associated with feeding swill, an order has been made, and will come into operation on 19th April, prohibiting the sale of swill-fed pigs through livestock markets, and the present Diseases of Animals (Waste Foods) Order 1957 will shortly be substantially revised.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps, if any, are taken to identify eggs coming from abroad which have been laid by poultry fed on antibiotics.

We do not seek to identify eggs produced by birds fed on antibiotics. Most of our imports of eggs are coming from other EEC countries, where the more important antibiotics may not be fed to laying birds unless prescribed by a veterinarian.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make public the results of the field trials undertaken by his Department and the Forestry Commission on the use of Warfarin on grey squirrels.

The purpose of these field trials was to develop a safe and humane method of controlling grey squirrels without significant risks to other wildlife. The work has been successfully completed and the Forestry Commission will be publishing it in a suitable scientific journal. Meantime national organisations with an interest have been informed of the research conclusions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the sources from which essential additional technical and economic information has been obtained following the submission to him of the Ashton Vale Flood Alleviation Scheme, Colliters Brook, by the Bristol Avon River Authority on 18th April 1972; and how much of this information was available in advance.

The additional information we asked of the Bristol Avon River Authority was not, of course, included by it in its initial application. Later it became apparent that further trial borings were needed to verify the line of the proposed tunnel.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the one or two outstanding points which still need clarification before his assessment of the Ashton Vale Flood Alleviation Scheme, Colliters Brook, is complete; what are the sources from which this clarification is being sought; and if his Department will take all possible steps to speed up this work.

The Bristol Avon River Authority has been asked to provide further information about the frequency of floods in the light of earlier records. We shall deal with this information immediately we get it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek details from the Bristol Avon River Authority of the difficulties in the design stage of the Ashton Vale Flood Alleviation Scheme, Colliters Brook, which were not anticipated last year and were mentioned in a letter to Councillor A. E. Hillman, dated 8th March 1973, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Bristol, South.

It is not necessary for my Department to be aware of every problem that has arisen during the river authority's design of this scheme. The letter referred to has not been received but my officials have asked the river authority to send them a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will announce the date on which he will give approval to the Ashton Vale Flood Alleviation Scheme, Colliters Brook.

This scheme will be approved as soon as we are satisfied that it is technically and economically sound.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to ensure that in future sex cases tried by jury, at least one-third of the members of the jury are women.

No. The changes in jury qualifications made by the Criminal Justice Act 1972 should result in men and women being summoned in approximately equal numbers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances he is permitting two African employees of East African Airways to accept employment in the United Kingdom without work permits; and if he will make a statement.

These two men are working here temporarily and the Department of Employment is considering applications for their continued employment. A Commonwealth citizen wishing to come to work in the United Kingdom must, in general, be in possession of a work permit. Otherwise, even if admitted, as these men were, without a prohibition on employment, he will have no claim to stay here in employment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will invite chief constables to a conference to consider harmonising police procedures for tracing missing persons.

The police do all they can to trace missing persons whom they have reason to believe have come to some harm, and I am in touch with chief officers about the extent to which they might be involved in tracing missing children who are the subject of High Court orders. If the hon. Member has any particular point or case in mind I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidance to magistrates to ensure that in divorce and matrimonial cases advice is invariably sought from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children or similarly qualified organisations on the consequences affecting children of the marriage.

Magistrates' courts have no jurisdiction in divorce. In matrimonial proceedings they already have discretionary powers, which are widely used, to call for a report from a probation officer or an officer of a local authority on any matters concerning the welfare of children which appear to the court to be relevant. I do not think that any further guidance is required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the headquarters office in Castle Street, Carlisle, of the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme to be sold, and to whom.

On or about 30th November 1973. The purchasers are Messrs. Mounsey, Bowman and Sutcliffe, solicitors, of Carlisle.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the Carlisle Brewery will cease production for the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme.

On or about 15th May 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many personnel have been transferred to other Government Departments as a result of the sale of the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme.

Twenty-eight.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been made redundant through the sale of the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme.

157 members of the staff under notice of redundancy have so far left the employment of the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme to take up other employment.As I stated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 26th February, the remaining staff have received formal notice of redundancy, but it is expected that a large number of them will be offered employment either by the new owners of the hotels and public houses or by other Government Departments.— [Vol. 851, c.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1), as Carlisle was the centre for 53 years of the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme, if he will consider making a grant from the sale of the scheme to the borough of Carlisle for its new baths scheme, or some other project in the city, so as to place on record the usefulness of the scheme during its lifetime;(2) what representations he has received, and from whom, regarding the sale of the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme, for a memorial to the scheme's 53 years of existence.

Any such grant is precluded by Section 4 of the Licensing (Abolition of State Management) Act 1971.Similar representations were received in January from the hon. Member, and earlier this year from Maryport Urban District Council supported by the right hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Peart), from Wigton Rural District Council, and from Workington Borough Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licensed taxis he estimates that there are, proportionate to population, in the 10 largest conurbations in England and Wales.

The only relevant figures available are for 1971 and relate to the Metropolitan Police District and to the nine largest county boroughs:

Area			Number of Taxis	Population per Taxi
London			10,038	808
Birmingham			175	6,195
Liverpool			300	2,223
Manchester			350	1,686
Sheffield			240	2,188
Leeds			130	3,864
Bristol			200	2,132
Teesside			120	3,427
Coventry			75	4,470
Nottingham			170	1,768

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is being made for new magistrates' courts buildings in the new Merseyside county area; how many are planned or under construction; where they are sited; and when it is anticipated that they will be completed.

Magistrates' courts buildings in the new Merseyside county area will in due course become the responsibility of the new magistrates' courts committees and the metropolitan district councils.The proposals made by existing authorities for the area of the new county include new courthouses at St. Helens and at Huyton with Roby, both of which are under construction and due for completion later this year. Other new courthouses have been proposed at Crosby, to start during the financial year 1975–76, for completion during 1977–78, and at Liverpool, to start during 1977–78, for completion during 1981–82. In addition, sub-

			February 1973		September 1972 to February 1973		1972
			Admitted	Departed	Admitted	Departed	Admitted	Departed
Associated States*	…	…	92	56	906	545	2,077	878
Barbados	…	…	233	88	2,627	2,117	5,291	4,553
Guyana	…	…	161	112	1,893	1,874	4,706	4,395
Jamaica	…	…	961	707	10,532	10,880	24,440	26,239
Trinidad and Tobago	…	…	385	358	4,193	4,118	9,939	9,212
Total	…	…	1,832	1,321	20,151	19,534	46,453	45,277
*Antigua; Dominica; Grenada; St. Kitts; Nevis; Anguilla; St. Lucia; and St. Vincent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to announce new regulations for securing premises, such as chemists' shops and chemists' wholesalers, from which dangerous drugs are stolen.

Soon after Easter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total establishment of the Suffolk Constabulary on 31st March 1973; what was its actual strength; and what was the net improvement in strength during the first quarter of 1973.

Against the current authorised establishment of 1,044 the actual strength on 31st March 1973 was 992. There was a net loss of two during the first quarter of 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the immigration and emigration figures to and from the West Indian Commonwealth countries, by individual country and by total, for the last available month, six months and for 1972.

The numbers of Commonwealth citizens from the West Indies entering and leaving the United Kingdom for all purposes are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the operation of Section 1 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972; and, in view of the fact that courts might be more willing to make compensation orders in lieu of custodial sentences, if such orders could be backed up by a prison sentence in default, whether he will consider seeking to amend Section 1 along such lines.

Under existing law magistrates' courts have power to commit an offender to prison in default of payment of a compensation order; and the Crown court has power in all cases to specify when making the order the maximum period of imprisonment which may be imposed in default. In this and other respects my right hon. Friend has no ground for dissatisfaction with the provisions of Section 1 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972, which came into effect only on 1st January, and sees no need to amend the law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will respond to suggestions that there should be research into the assumptions underlying the 11th Report of the Criminal Law Revision Committee and set up an investigation into criminal trials, in order to establish how many improper acquittals are directly referable to rules of procedure and evidence.

The effect of various rules of procedure and evidence upon the outcome of contested criminal trials is among the subjects which are under consideration for future research.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of Hull indicating what was the number of policemen engaged, and from what constabularies, and at what cost to public funds, for the purpose of ensuring the peace outside Barchard's Wharf on 1st and 2nd April; and what notice the wharf owner gave to the chief constable of the intention to discharge cargo on 1st April.

The chief constable tells me that about 200 police officers were at the scene and that a further substantial number were held in reserve. The officers came from the Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield and Rotherham, West Yorkshire and York and North East Yorkshire forces, as well as from the Kingston upon Hull force. The extra cost of the operation is not yet known. Advance information was given to the chief constable but I do not think it right to go into detail.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take urgent steps to increase the permitted maximum expenditure per elector at all future parliamentary elections.

This is a matter which the Speaker's Conference on Electoral Law is expected to consider.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign visitors to the United Kingdom are known to have come, in the last convenient period, for the purpose of private medical treatment.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to reply to the letter of the hon. Member for Tynemouth requesting bis views on the difficulties of obtaining tenants for the new factories in the North of England to help employment unless there is an adequate long-term supply of water as can be assured by the Kielder Reservoir project.

My right hon. Friend has written to my hon. Friend.

Jones asked the Secretaryof State for Employment what is his Department's estimate of the number of apprenticeships taken up in Wales by Welsh school leavers in 1971 and 1972, respectively.

The number of boys and girls in Wales who entered apprenticeships as their first employment on leaving school in 1971 and 1972 was as follows:

		Boys	Girls	Total
1971		4,236	579	4,815
1972		4,306	677	4,983

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of those unemployed in the Hull employment exchange area who have been unemployed for periods over 13 weeks, 26 weeks and 52 weeks, respectively; and how this compares with the national average and development areas, respectively.

On 8th January, the latest date for which the information is available, 18·2 per cent. of unemployed people in the Hull employment exchange area had been unemployed for over 13 and up to 26 weeks, 15·2 per cent. for over 26 and up to 52 weeks and 25·5 per cent. for over 52 weeks. The comparable figures for Great Britain were 16·8, 13·9 and 22·2 per cent. These statistics are not compiled for development areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of those employed in Hull employment exchange area are skilled, semi-skilled, male, female, boys and girls, respectively; and how this compares with the development areas and the national average, respectively.

The following information is from the 1966 Census of Population. Information in this detail is not yet available from the 1971 Census.

Percentage of total economically active males in each category
		Kingston upon Hull CB	Great Britain
Skilled manual		32·7	31·5
Semi-skilled manual		17·4	14·9
Unskilled manual		16·0	8·3

Information is not available for other categories of employee or for development areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of those unemployed in the Hull employment exchange area are under 21 and 45 years of age, stating the figures for men and women, respectively; and how this compares with the development areas and the national average, respectively.

Information is available for unemployed people aged under 20, but not for those aged under 21. On 8th January, the latest date for which the figures are available, 12·5 per cent. of unemployed males and 382 per cent. of unemployed females in the Hull employment exchange area were under 20 years of age and 54·4 per cent. of males and 41·0 per cent. of females were aged 20 to 44. In Great Britain 11·1 per cent. of unemployed males and 308 per cent. of unemployed females were under 20 and 47·8 per cent. of males and 45·8 per cent. of females were aged 20 to 44. These statistics are not compiled for development areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many women were in full-time employment in each of the employment areas in the Macclesfield parliamentary constituency on 30th June in each of the last three years.

The most recent estimates of the numbers employed in employment exchange areas are for June 1971. The figures do not identify full-time and part-time workers. Following is the available information.

Estimated numbers of female employees in employment in employment exchange areas
(thousands)
		Macclesfield	Congleton
June 1969		10·0	4·3
June 19709		·7	4·2
June 1971	…	10·3	3·8

The estimates are subject to sampling and other errors and no significance should be attached to small change from one year to another.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many industrial accidents took place in the area covered by his Department's office in Macclesfield during the last three years.