asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate for the total revenue losses of the nationalised industries for 1973–74 and also of the interest on their capital which will be forgone.

It is too soon to give a reliable estimate of the outturn for 1973–74. In 1972–73, however, the nationalised industries' overall deficiency on revenue account after meeting interest but before receipt of offsetting grants was between £200 million and £250 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made, to the latest convenient date, of the change in the external value of the £ sterling, in terms of a weighted average of all other currencies, since the fixed parity was abandoned in June 1972.

The effective depreciation of sterling fluctuated between 11 and 13 per cent. between January and mid-April this year on the rate which was agreed at the Smithsonian Conference in December 1971.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, taking the value of the £ sterling to be 100p in October 1971, what was its value in October 1972, and what is its value at the latest available date.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the pound sterling as l00p in October 1971 its value in October 1972 is estimated at 93p and in February 1973, the latest date available, at 90½p. These estimates are based on movements in the General Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in the standard of living on the basis of real disposable income per head between the fourth quarter of 1964 and the second quarter of 1970, and between the second quarter of 1970 and the latest available quarter.

Between the fourth quarter of 1964 and the second quarter of 1970 the standard of living on the basis of real personal disposable income per head rose by 8½ per cent. or 1½ per cent. a year. Between the second quarter of 1970 and the fourth quarter of 1972 it rose by 12¾ per cent., or 5 per cent. a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will have further consultations with the Building Societies Association concerning the level of mortgage interest rates to apply after the expiry of the temporary subsidy.

It is the normal practice of the association to keep the Government informed of possible changes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the tax relief allowed on mortgage interest, with particular reference to the effect of the present interest rates on the option mortgage scheme.

No. The subsidy to option mortgagors is designed to provide a benefit similar to the tax relief available to a basic rate taxpayer with an ordinary mortgage. Option mortgages will come within the scope of the arrangements for the temporary bridging grant for building societies announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 5th April.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress of his policies designed to reduce the increase in the cost of living.

The Government's policies designed to reduce the cost of living are succeeding; prices as a whole have been rising substantially more slowly since November and the object of stage 2 is to ensure that this progress is maintained.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the financial advantage accruing to foreign buyers of works of art of British national and historic importance in the year ending 31st March 1974 as a result of the zero-rating for VAT purposes of exports of these items.

The information on which to base such an estimate is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to treat the National Art-Collections Fund, with regard to works of art donated in lieu of death duties, under the current Finance Bill on the same footing as they are placed for the purposes of exempted works of art under Section 40(2) of the Finance Act 1930.

I have been asked to reply.The National Art-Collections Fund is able to acquire works of art which are exempt from estate duty under the 1930 Finance Act without loss of the benefit of exemption. It then becomes the owner of the work of art and can dispose of it to the public collection of its choice, as it would do if a testator donated a work to the National Art-Collections Fund.When a work of art is accepted in satisfaction of estate duty, it is acquired by the Government who pay for it from the National Land Fund. It is therefore for the Government to decide to which public collection it should be allocated. The Government seek the advice of the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries. The Government procedures enable the Standing Commission to seek other expert advice, including that of the National Art-Collections Fund if the Standing Commission so decides.It will be open to a testator or executor to express the wish that a work of art should be allocated to a public collection in this country through the National Art-Collections Fund. The final decision on allocation rests with the Government. Full account will be taken of such wishes, though they cannot be regarded as overriding.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the size of the establishment for Inland Revenue district valuers; and if there are any unfilled vacancies.

The title "District Valuer" or "District Valuer and Valuation Officer" denotes the head of a local Inland Revenue Valuation Office, of which there are 214 in Great Britain. There are no vacancies in these posts.There is no formal size of establishment for the professional valuer grades as a whole because of the continuing shortage of valuers in the service, which reflects a national scarcity. At 1st April 1973 the total professional staff in post excluding cadet valuers, was 2,398.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many additional district valuers he estimates will be re-required to cope with the new land hoarding charge.

None for the next three years; no estimate can yet be made of later needs, but the numbers are not expected to be large.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will analyse the number of district valuers engaged, respectively, on work connected with compulsory purchase orders, capital gains tax, estate duty and any other work.

The analysis varies according to the work-cycle on rating revaluation, but the current estimate of professional staff usage in man-years is as follows:

Estate Duty, Stamp Duty and Capital Gains tax	400
Work for other Government Departments, Local Authorities etc.	930
Rating valuation	1,065

No separate analysis is possible of work on compulsory purchase orders.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many valuations a year were made by district valuers in each of the last 10 years, showing the different categories of work.

Following is the information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average time between a job being allocated to a district valuer's office and the furnishing of a valuation.

Statistics are not kept in a form which would enable such a figure to be calculated exactly, but the average time to process a case from first receipt to furnishing a valuation is less than two months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs remain outstanding in district valuers' offices.

178,129 cases were being dealt with at 31st December 1972, the latest date for which statistics are available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that those in retirement are not coded in anticipation of the pension increase already announced but which will not be received by pensioners until the autumn.

Pension increases payable from next autumn are not being taken directly into account in PAYE codes until then. If however a code contains an allowance for marginal age exemption relief, the amount of that allowance depends on an estimate of the total income for the full tax year to 5th April 1974. The increased rate of pension from October is included in the total income for the purpose of calculating the relief now allowed in the code. If a pensioner so requests, the tax office will recompute the coding allowance for marginal age exemption relief to exclude the autumn 1973 pension increase but the adjustment to be made in the autumn will then be correspondingly larger.If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind perhaps he will send me details.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why some pensioners are being taxed in anticipation of a pension increase.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer to his other Question of today's date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the individual economic growth rates of the nine member States of the EEC in each of the past 10 years; and what growth rates have been officially forecast by them in respect of the next two years.

The latest estimates of the annual percentage increase in gross national product at constant (1963) market prices for the members of the EEC during the 10 years up to 1971 will be found in Table A3 (pages 4–6) of National Accounts 1961–1971, published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities. The corresponding figures for the United Kingdom based on the latest information and adjusted to EEC definitions are given in the table below:

GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AT CONSTANT (1963) MARKET PRICES PERCENTAGE INCREASE OVER PRECEEDING YEAR
1962	…	…	…	…	…	1·3
1963	…	…	…	…	…	4·2
1964	…	…	…	…	…	5·3
1965	…	…	…	…	…	2·4
1966	…	…	…	…	…	2·3
1967	…	…	…	…	…	2·1
1968	…	…	…	…	…	3·1
1969	…	…	…	…	…	2·2
1970	…	…	…	…	…	2·4
1971	…	…	…	…	…	1·8
1972	…	…	…	…	…	2·3

Forecasts for the United Kingdom up to the middle of 1974 are to be found in Table 4 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1973–74 and for the other major members of the EEC in Table 1 of the OECD Economic Outlook, December 1972.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, of the £300 million cost to the Exchequer arising from the introduction of the unified tax system, how much derives from the investment surcharge concession and how much from the winding-up of the allowance under the new system; and how the benefit from each of these two sources is divided, respectively, between those with incomes of less than £1,000, £1,000 to £2,000, £2,000 to £3,000, £3,000 to £4,000, £4,000 to £5,000, £5,000 to £7,500, £7,500 to £10,000, and over £10,000 a year.

It is not possible to say how much of the cost of the unified system is attributable to the variation in the treatment of investment income or how much to the rounding-up of the allowances without making artificial assumptions about what element of a mixed income constitutes the top slice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether ambulances and invalid wheelchairs are treated differently for VAT purposes depending upon whether they are supplied through the National Health Service and through local authorities or privately; and what is the reason for any such distinction.

The supply by manufacturers of ambulances and wheelchairs to the National Health Service, to local authorities or to private bodies is chargeable with value added tax at the standard rate.Local authorities may reclaim VAT paid under Section 15 of the Finance Act 1972. Wheelchairs supplied by the National Health Service are provided without any charge; those provided by institutions covered by Schedule 5, Group 7, item 4 are exempt from VAT; those purchased privately are chargeable with VAT at the standard rate.The subject of invalid aids was fully debated in the Finance Bill 1972 debates, on 16th May 1972.—[Vol. 837, c. 309–352.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide that the Youth Hostels Association is zero-rated for VAT.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will explain the practice to be adopted by the Inland Revenue in relation to the application of Sections 460 and following of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970 to liquidations, in view of the arguments advanced by the Inland Revenue in the High Court in the case just concluded of Commissioners of Inland Revenue versus Joiner and the assurance given in 1960 by the then Attorney-General that the section would not be applied to ordinary liquidations.

One of the arguments raised by the Crown in the case to which my hon. Friend refers was that a distribution of assets to a shareholder in a winding-up is itself a transaction in securities and hence may be sufficient to invoke the application of Section 460 of the Taxes Act. The High Court did not express any opinion on the argument, deciding for the Crown on another ground. The question of possible appeal is still open.Until such time as there is a decision of the court giving further guidance on this issue, the Inland Revenue is advised on the basis of recent decisions that for the purposes of Section 460 a distribution to a shareholder in a liquidation is a transaction in securities. It does not propose any change of practice in relation to an ordinary liquidation, that is to say the

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated total number of married Pakistanis in the United Kingdom who have not as yet been accompanied by their wives and children.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to improve sanitary facilities at Pentonville, in particular in the wing used for those awaiting deportation.

We are aware that the sanitary facilities at Pentonville are not satisfactory and we are considering what improvements can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a classification of the crimes committed in Bedfordshire for the most recent year for which figures are available detailing the total in each category and the percentage in each case committed by persons under 25 years of age.

I am writing to my hon. Friend giving such information as is available for 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will specify the number of crimes reported to the police in Bedfordshire in 1972 and the number of convictions recorded to date on those crimes.

Figures for 1972 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the strength of the police force in Bedfordshire and the number below establishment.

It was 741 at 31st March 1973; with 85 vacancies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of recruits who entered the police in Bedfordshire in 1972 and the number who left the service during the same year.

There were 65 recruits; 41 left the service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police prosecutions have taken place against lorry drivers transporting material from the Gilfach Quarry, Neath, for the construction of the Aberdulais-Llandarcy section of the Head of the Valley's Road, during the last 12 months.

I have asked the chief constable for a report, and shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on his policy regarding the use of his powers of reprieve from the death penalty.

My right hon. Friend will carefully consider any case where a sentence of death has been passed to determine whether the sentence should be respited.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many pink ballot papers were printed for the border poll election; how many of these were issued to the various presiding officers; and how many of these were returned unused;(2) how many voters in the border poll election were issued with pink ballot papers because their votes had been already used.

Approximately 45,000 tendered ballot papers were printed for the border poll and issued to presiding officers. Those which were not used were sealed in packages at the close of the poll and deposited with the Clerk of the Crown, as is the normal procedure at parliamentary elections. The Parliamentary Election Rules, as applied to the border poll, did not require the number of unused papers, nor the number issued to voters, to be shown on a return.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have now withdrawn from the rent and rates strike; how many of these are now fully paid up to date; and how many remain on rent and rates strike.

At the beginning of March approximately 7,500 people in public authority housing had withdrawn from the rent and rates strike. Approximately 18,000 people remain on rent and rates strike. It is not possible, without disproportionate effort, to say how many of those who have withdrawn are fully paid up-to-date, or to give information about private housing.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons still remain on rent and rates strike in the Province; and what is the total of their indebtedness.

At the beginning of March 18,000 tenants of public authority houses in Northern Ireland were on rent and rates strike. Their total debt is approximately £1·37 million. It is not possible without a disproportionate amount of time and effort to say how many people in private housing owe rates for this reason, or the total of their indebtedness.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the number of Roman Catholic maintained primary schools in Northern Ireland, the amount of grants paid to them during the past year, and the amounts of money spent last year in the paying of all the teachers and staffs employed therein;(2) if he will list the number of Protestant maintained primary schools in Northern Ireland, the Protestant denominations to which they are attached, the amount of grants paid to them during the past year, and the amount of money spent last year in the paying of all the teachers and staffs employed therein;(3) if he will list the number of Protestant voluntary primary schools in Northern Ireland, the names of the Protestant denominations to which they are attached, the amount of grants paid to them during the past year, and the amount of money spent last year in the paying of all the teachers and staffs employed therein;

I regret that this information is not yet available. I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is intended that he or the proposed local administration in Northern Ireland will be responsible for charges for admission by the trustees of the Ulster Museum.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the constitutional Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been interned for longer than one year.

Internment by the executive was replaced by arrangements under the Detention of Terrorists (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 for adjudication by independent commissioners. Of the people now detained under the order, 103 have been in custody for longer than a year. In addition, there have since 10th August 1971 been 54 cases of people, not now detained, who have been interned or detained or both for continuous periods totalling a year or more.

asked the Secretary of State for Northren Ireland whether a request for the extradition of a woman, wanted in connection with the recent murder of three British soldiers in a flat, has been made to the Eire authorities; and what reply has been received.

I understand that a warrant of arrest has been sent to the police in the Republic of Ireland. I cannot comment further at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the students who have obtained teacher training qualifications at the New University of Ulster have taken up teaching appointments in county schools and in Roman Catholic schools in Northern Ireland, respectively.

Forty-eight have taken up appointments in county schools and 16 in schools under Roman Catholic management.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make provision for the making-up of the pay of members of the Ulster Defence Regiment who are called up for full-time service for a lengthy period, where the employer cannot or will not undertake to do so.

The majority of employers are currently doing so. My right hon. Friend is considering ways of encouraging the others to do so as well.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what extent the rights of parents to have their children educated in accordance with their wishes have been catered for by the provision of non-denominational county schools in Northern Ireland, to which the clergy have access for the purpose of religious instruction.

The number of non-denominational county schools is:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many substandard houses there are in North Down; how many are in occupation; what progress has been made in rehousing families occupying such accommodation; and, where tenants do not wish to move, what plans exist to improve the accommodation by installing indoor lavatories, hot water systems and other necessary improvements.

A recent survey indicates that in the North Down area there are about 1,000 houses which are beyond repair and a further 3,300 lacking in certain amenities but capable of improvement.Of the first category, about 400 houses are at present subject to redevelopment, clearance or closing order procedure; the Northern Ireland Housing Executive intends to deal with the remaining 600 as quickly as possible. It is not possible, without disproportionate effort, to state how many families have been rehoused. The executive is preparing plans for the improvement of the 1,350 public authority houses lacking amenities, and is considering action to stimulate greater use of the available grants to improve the privately owned houses in this category.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money is to be made available for the house purchase scheme.

The cost of the scheme has been estimated at approximately £2 million. The exact figure will depend on a number of factors, including the number of applicants qualifying for assistance, and the value of the property bought.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to collect information on owner occupiers who do not fall within the house purchase scheme and who are suffering hardship through being unable to sell their house.

The operation of the scheme will provide some information about cases which do not meet the criteria laid down. In addition, owner-occupiers have formed an Association which will be in close touch with the advisory committee about the scheme. I therefore see no need to take special steps to collect further information.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give, month by month, the number of shooting and bombing incidents in the Province since 1st January 1973; and what was the number of persons arrested or detained during that period for acts of violence.

:

1973		Shooting incidents	Bombing incidents
January	…	678	57
February	…	695	73
March	…	799	104
April (1st to 18th)	…	310	43

Sine 1st January 1973 500 people have been charged with security offences and 169 have been detained on the order of a commissioner.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many bank robberies have taken place in Northern Ireland since 1st January 1970; how many of these were at branches of Allied Irish Banks; and what is the date of the last robbery at a branch of Allied Irish Banks.

175. Of these 40 were at branches of the Allied Irish Banks, the last having occurred on 22nd March 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will instruct the police to inquire into the contributions to the funds of the IRA made by Allied Irish Banks.

I understand that the facts of the matter are already known to the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has for the future of Government House at Hillsborough; and if he will make a statement.

The future use of Government House is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration has been given to siting the new Royal Ulster Constabulary Training Depot at Enniskillen.

The Police Authority for Northern Ireland is examining various submissions which have been made by local authorities and other interested bodies as to the siting of the proposed new RUC Training Centre These include submissions advancing the case for Enniskillen.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the price of 1 lb. of fillet steak on 18th June 1970, and what it is now, giving both prices in new pence.

The price of fillet steak is not among the prices for beef cuts collected for the General Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the total stocks of each foodstuff held under EEC intervention arrangements; and what approximate proportions of each arise from the operation of the common agricultural policy before 1st January 1973.

The stocks of each foodstuff held by or under contract to EEC intervention agencies at the latest available date compared with the nearest available date to 1st January 1973 are as follows:

thousand long tons
EEC—"Six"
Durum wheat	2nd January 1973	95
Common wheat	2nd January 1973	1,621
Barley	2nd January 1973	354
Rye	2nd January 1973	402
Paddy rice	2nd January 1973	3
Butter	31st December 1972	240
Skimmed milk powder	31st December 1972	48
Sugar	10th January 1973	50
EEC—"NINE"
Durum wheat	12th April 1973	5
Common wheat	12th April 1973	1,290
Barley	12th April 1973	344
Rye	12th April 1973	322
Paddy rice	12th April 1973	3
Butter	1st April 1973	282
Skimmed milk powder	1st April 1973	55
Sugar	21st March 1973	70

There are also intervention arrangements for beef, pigmeat, maize, oilseed rape, colza, sunflower seed, olive oil and certain species of fish but no intervention stocks of these commodities were held on 1st January or are held at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will investigate the reasons for a price rise in the cost of best dripping for fish frying, the price of which has risen by 30 per cent. in recent weeks in Norwich.

The price of dripping rose by about £20 a ton in February because of the increased cost of raw fat due to the world shortage of beef. If the increase in Norwich to which my hon. Friend refers was in excess of this amount I shall be pleased to look into it if he will send me the details.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the present stocks of beef in cold store; and how that figure compares with 12 months earlier.

There were some 27,000 tons of imported beef in public cold stores on 6th April, the latest date for which full information is available, compared with some 15,000 tons on 7th April 1972.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the present stocks of butter held in cold store in the United Kingdom; and what was the comparative figure 12 months previously.

On 30th March 1973 total stocks in public cold stores in the United Kingdom were 103,800 tons, compared with 81,200 tons 12 months ago.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what stocks are currently held by the Intervention Board.

29 tons of butter and 6,807 tons of skimmed milk powder have been offered to the board and are in store.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the amount of barley which will be exported from the EEC to the USSR in 1973 and of the cost to taxpayers of the EEC in subsidies and export restitutions; and what were the comparable figures for 1972.

No precise estimate of total EEC exports of barley to the USSR in 1973 can be made, but sales up to a maximum of one million tons by the end of July have been authorised by the Commission. This would involved restitution payments to a total of about £20 million. Figures for 1972 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantities of barley are being sold by the EEC to Eastern European countries and at what price, if the sale price is subsidised; what is the cost of any subsidy to the British taxpayer; and if he will make a statement.

The EEC Commission has issued licences under normal Community arrangements for the export by private traders of up to 3·5 million tons of barley, of which up to 2·75 million tons are destined for Eastern European countries. The normal Community export restitution on these sales should result in a selling price of about £30 per ton. Total export restitution would amount to between £30 million and £50 million, depending on the quantities sold, of which the United Kingdom's share would be between £2·55 million and £4·25 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any decision has been reached on the proposal by the European Economic Commission to suspend the common tariff on new potatoes until 1st May; and, if so, whether the United Kingdom Government will take corresponding action.

Yes. The common external tariff on new potatoes has been suspended until 1st May, and we have taken corresponding action to suspend our own small tariff of £1 per ton until the same date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the determinations of agricultural guaranteed prices announced on 21st March will have on expenditure on agricultural support.

The total estimated cost of agricultural support in 1973-74 was shown as £340·8 million in Table 24 of Cmnd. 5254. On the basis of the original assumptions as to output and market prices, the determinations would have the effect of adding a further £33·2 million. This figure however takes no account of the reduction in the rate of grant under the farm capital grant scheme and only a limited account of the reduction in the rates of calf subsidy, which would for the most part affect public expenditure only after the end of 1973–74.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now make additional subsidies available to those living in rented accommodation.

The rent rebate and rent allowances schemes are being made substantially more generous from this month, at a cost of about £30 million in 1973–74.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps designed to ensure that public money spent on the housing sector is directed to people in need, and away from those not in need in financial terms.

The reforms made by the Housing Finance Act 1972 deliberately redirect the previous indiscriminate housing subsidies to those tenants and authorities who need them. The option mortgage scheme gives assistance for home purchase to people with moderate incomes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the British Railways Board sought his approval prior to raising car-parking charges at railway stations; and if these increases are in conformity with the Government's pay and prices policy.

The Board has not consulted me. I am unaware that any of these charges conflict with the Code.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the extent to which a mortgagor with (a) £25,000 mortgage and (b) £5,000 mortgage would benefit from the subsidy to building society interest rates.

No building society mortgagor with a mortgage balance in excess of £13,000 will benefit from the bridging grant. A qualifying mortgagor in the first year of a 25-year annuity mortgage of £5,000 would pay £5·25 gross less over a 3-month period if the interest rate is reduced from 10 per cent. to 9·5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he can now report concerning the number of lorry licences for transport on the continent of Europe to be allowed by the Common Market Commission for use by United Kingdom road haulage firms.

The Commission has recently proposed increases in the United Kingdom's share of the Community quota from 114 to 193 for 1973 and from 124 to 227 for 1974. This proposal is now under consideration in the European Parliament, the Economic Social Committee and the Council Working Group on Transport Questions.

Circuit			1967–68	1968–69	1969–70	1970–71	1971–72
			£	£	£	£	£
South Eastern	…	…	8,490	7,480	9,970	9,040	8,700
Western	…	…	5,710	6,930	7,450	9,470	11,850
Northern	…	…	820	700	910	930	1,010
Wales and Chester	…	…	5,340	6,320	5,780	5,570	18,820
Oxford	…	…	5,890	5,650	6,700	5,680	7,960
Midland	…	…	6,770	6,570	6,510	6,030	8,660
North Eastern	…	…	2,440	2,460	2,570	4,190	6,330
			35,460	36,110	39,890	40,910	63,330

The above table excludes direct staff costs which are borne by the Lord Chancellor's Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses in the United Kingdom qualified for central Government housing subsidies; and what is the latest annual total paid in such subsidies.

Of the 5·6 million council dwellings in Great Britain the proportion which have qualified for housing subsidies in the past is not readily ascertainable. The estimated total of subsidies paid to the credit of the housing revenue accounts of local authorities in Great Britain for 1972–73 is £300 million. This excludes an estimated £150 million in respect of supplementary benefit towards rent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, from information at his disposal, how many local authorities subsidise council houses from the rates.

Under the Housing Finance Act 1972, any local authority which receives operational deficit, transition, rising

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of providing lodgings for visiting judges in each of the judges' circuits in England and Wales over a period covering the last five years for which costs are available: and if he will make a statement.

The cost to central Government to provide judges' lodgings is as follows:costs or rent rebate subsidy must make an associated rate fund contribution to its housing revenue account. Certain items of expenditure also fall to be met from the rates to the extent that is necessary to balance the account. It is not yet possible to estimate how many authorities will need to make rate fund contribution to their account for 1972–73.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in considering how to make the promised savings to make good the expenditure on subsidising mortgages, he will rethink the plans for M16.

No. The term "M16" covers a number of road developments which are at a relatively early stage in the planning process.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will establish an inquiry into the proposed inner ring road for the city of Plymouth to link Marsh Mill with the Tamar Bridge; and if he will ensure that the terms of reference for the inquiry are framed in such a way as to inquire into future plans for the existing Tamar

The objections which have been received to the draft order are still being considered. The terms of reference for an inquiry would fall to be determined when my right hon. and learned Friend has decided whether there is to be one.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will, by providing figures for 1972, bring up to date the statistics for the volume of parcels traffic handled in the public sector given in Table E of the National Board for Prices and Incomes Report No. 162.

The volume of parcels handled in the public sector in 1972 was as follows:

Undertaking		Packages (million)
BRS Parcels Ltd	…	74·5
National Carriers Ltd.	…	95·0*
British Rail Express Parcels Service	…	63·5
Post Office Corporation	…	186·0
		419·0
* As before this is an estimate mainly based on tonnage.

These figures are estimates of the number of packages carried by the public sector undertakings: they take no account of the weight, size, value, or nature of the consignments; nor of the distance carried.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the working of the Litter Act; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. There are adequate powers for the prosecution of offenders available to members of the public, public authorities and the police. Furthermore, Section 2 of the Dangerous Litter Act 1971 directs the court to have regard to the nature of the litter and any resultant risk of injury in fixing penalties on conviction up to a maximum of £100. Enforcement and the judgment of the courts must, however, be viewed alongside a policy of education of the public designed to secure co-operation in the fight against the litter habit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now take steps to deal with the continuing emptiness of Centre Point and similar vacant office blocks in central London.

I am keeping the situation under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate the number of planning appeals received by his Department from the county of Bedfordshire during the past 12 months and the average time taken to determine appeals.

Information in the form requested is not available. During the first three months of 1973, 80 planning appeals were received concerning sites in Bedfordshire. Planning appeals decided in March 1973 by my right hon. and learned Friend took on average 55 weeks where a local inquiry was held and 45 weeks where the written method was used; comparable periods where the appeals were decided by inspectors were 44 weeks and 39 weeks respectively. These figures relate to England.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will clarify the type of appeals received from the county of Bedfordshire during the past 12 months and the percentage thereof which were allowed.

Information in the form requested is not available. Of the appeals determined by my right hon. and learned Friend during 1972 and relating to the county of Bedfordshire, 22 per cent. were allowed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to publish revised proposals for the trunk road link between the A18 at Edenthorpe and the West Moor interchange on the M18; and when he expects work on the West Moor to Hatfield section of the M18 to begin.

Revised proposals will be published on 27th April. Construction of the West Moor to Hatfield section is expected to begin in the spring of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many disused houses there are on the former RAF Station at Bircham Newton, in the constituency of the hon. Member for King's Lynn; and if he will take steps to release them for use by the public.

There are 72 married quarters at Bircham Newton, which the Ministry of Defence has just declared redundant, and all but one are empty. Our Property Services Agency will be starting on their disposal immediately. The possibility of other Government Department, statutory or local authority requirements for them, will have to be considered before they are offered for sale publicly by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what official advice or instruction he has given to rent scrutiny boards in regard to the determination of fair rents; and whether this advice has included the suggestion that the rate of inflation should be considered.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that the supplies of timber, bricks and steel are sufficient for the construction industry in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

No general shortages have been reported but, as is usual when there is an upsurge in demand, delivery periods for some materials have lengthened.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that licences issued by the Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea have a full term to run and that any delay in issuing provisional licences should be counteracted by bringing forward the commencing date one month.

Drivers renewing provisional licences are told that they may legally continue to drive while their applications are being dealt with. I would not think it right to seek a similar legal provision for people applying for their first licence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made on speeding up the issue of provisional driving licences from Swansea.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for Winchester (Rear-Admiral Morgan-Giles) on 17th April.—[Vol. 885, c. 94.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the prototype of the advanced passenger train is likely to begin its running trials; what will be its likely cruising speed; whether it will run on permanent way or on a new type of track; and if he will make a statement about progress to date with the project.

British Rail hopes to resume track-testing in June and to begin trials with prototype trains in 1975–76, at speeds up to 155 miles per hour on existing tracks, preparatory to their entry into experimental passenger service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to consider all the problems, social, educational, medical, and relating to employment concerning the care and treatment of all handicapped children.

No. Benefits and services provided both for handicapped people generally and their families are constantly under review, and there is close and continuing liaison between the Departments concerned about the needs of handicapped children. I do not therefore consider that such an inquiry is needed either to promote co-ordination or to bring about an improvement in provision for this group.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether there is a maximum figure envisaged for a cash grant to families applying for assistance from the Government's £3 million trust fund for handicapped children;(2) whether he intends to take into account family circumstances in the granting of assistance from the Government's £3 million trust fund for handicapped children; and, if so, what form of means test will apply;(3) how many families he estimates will be eligible to apply for assistance from the £3 million Government trust fund for handicapped children.

The amount payable in any case is a matter for the Joseph Rown-tree Memorial Trust, and I have not laid down any maximum figure. It is not possible to say how many families are eligible to receive help, but while the trust will take account in each case of the economic and social circumstances of the family, it does not intend to apply any formal means test.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many members of regional hospital boards and hospital management committees, respectively, nationally and in the Manchester region, are on the staff of, or financially connected with, pharmaceutical companies.

There are four members of regional hospital boards who are known to be associated with pharmaceutical companies; one of these is on the Manchester board. Hospital management committees are appointed by regional hospital boards and comprehensive records of their membership are not kept centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make improved provision for the dissemination of information on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, through voluntary bodies as well as official channels.

The Health Education Council is the body to which my Department looks for disseminating information to public and other bodies on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The council has recently published in its quarterly journal material on this subject prepared for its use by the Standing Sub-Comittee on Cancer of the Central Health Services Council. During the financial year 1972–73 both the Health Education Council and my Department made substantial grants to voluntary bodies active in cancer education and consideration is being given to further grants this year. In addition, the sub-committee has prepared material on the subject for particular groups of workers in the health professions and this work is continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the doctor/patient ratio in the Leek parliamentary constituency; if he is satisfied that the emergency doctor service in that area is working satisfactorily; and if he will make a statement.

The average list size in my hon. Friend's constituency is 2,278 compared with the national average of 2,421, the improvement over the position in May last being primarily due to the recruitment of an additional four doctors in Biddulph and Kidsgrove.Most practices in the area operate rota schemes outside normal hours. Three practices have consent to use a commercial deputising service at weekends: and one of these practices also uses it on Thursdays. The executive council has received no complaints about general medical services or emergency services in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether all necessary steps have been taken to protect patients and public in West Hendon against smallpox following the admission and subsequent death of two suspected sufferers; why they were admitted to West Hendon Hospital in view of their previous contacts; how many other such cases have been notified and where they are being observed; and if it is intended that future suspected sufferers will be dealt with at West Hendon or Long Reach Hospital, Dartford.

Without prejudice to any conclusion reached by the forthcoming public inquiry, my information is that after it was recognised that the two persons concerned were suffering from smallpox, all necessary steps have been taken to protect patients and public in West Hendon. The question of why Mr. and Mrs. Hurley were admitted to West Hendon Hospital is a matter for the inquiry.No further case has been notified. Five people are under observation at Long Reach Hospital.Where the possibility of smallpox cannot be definitely excluded action will depend upon the circumstances of the case and it is the responsibility of the medical officer of health to reach a decision. Guidance given by the Department is that even very doubtful cases should be admitted to a smallpox hospital, or a unit offering a comparable degree of isolation, if home isolation is not practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany about the renegotiation of the offset agreement for BAOR.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reductions have been made in the British delegation to the United Nations since British accession to the Common Market.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the total extra administrative cost out of public funds of Great Britain's membership of the Common Market from January to March 1973.

The information requested is not readily available and to compile it would involve a disproportionate cost to public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government intend to take over claims by holders of Rhodesian Government stocks who are unable to obtain payment of interest or redemption.

Her Majesty's Government have been considering the situation which arises from a number of petitions of right presented under the Colonial Stock Act 1877 by or on behalf of holders of Southern Rhodesia Government stock.Before UDI the Government of Southern Rhodesia made a number of issues of stock in London. These issues are registered under the Colonial Stock Acts and the provisions of those Acts apply to them. The Bank of England is the registrar of the stock apart from one issue for which Barclays International Bank is the registrar.Following UDI, the illegal Rhodesian authorities have not provided funds to the United Kingdom registrars to service the stocks. It is understood however that those authorities have made some payments in respect of interest and redemption moneys for stock held by persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom. The total amount of arrears now outstanding on these stocks is £53 million.Section 19 of the Colonial Stock Act 1877 requires the prospectus and other documents relating to stock to which the Act applies to state that:

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what he estimates would be the annual loss of revenue to the Post Office that would result from charging domestic rates for all letters, postcards and parcels to other countries in the European Community.

The recent proposal, to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, has not yet been costed. Postage rates are in the first instance matters for the Post Office in collaboration with the overseas' administrations concerned.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what estimate he has made of the effect on cost-efficiency of the telephone network of the introduction of the electronic equipment known as TXE4.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my statement to the House yesterday—[Vol. 855, c. 495–6.]

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (1) if it is the intention of the Post Office, in its modernisation programme as submitted to him, to eliminate Strowger equipment and to introduce into Great Britain's telephone network the more advanced electronic TXE4 or another system;(2) if he will make a statement, in the near future, about the Post Office's exchange equipment strategy.

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement to the House on this matter yesterday—[Vol. 855, c. 495-6.]

asked the Prime Minister whether he has now been

Department				Subject
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	…	…	…	Farm Safety.
				Livestock Protection.
Countryside Commission	…	…	…	National Parks.
				Country Code.
Custom? and Excise	…	…	…	Customs Procedures.
				Value Added Tax Registration.
Decimal Currency Board	…	…	…	Introduction of decimal currency.
Ministry of Defence (Army and Air)	…	…	…	Royal Observer Corps.
				Recruitment.
				Various aspects of service activity.
Department of Education and Science	…	…	…	Further Education Advisory Service.
				Raising the School Leaving Age.
				Technical Colleges.
Department of Employment	…	…	…	Safety at Work.
				Employment Services.
Department of the Environment	…	…	…	Road Safety.
				Household Adivce.
				Ancient Monuments.
				Railway Safety.
				Protection of the environment.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office	…	…	…	Apply early for passports.
Department of Health and Social Security	…	…	…	Blood donor recruitment.
				Foster parent recruitment.
				Health education.
				Use of doctor and hospitals.
Home Office	…	…	…	Crime Prevention.
				Fire Prevention.
				Home Safety.
				Water Safety.
				Firework Safety.
				Electoral information.
				Police and Special Constabulary recruitment.
Office of Population Censuses and Surveys	…	…	…	Census.
Scottish Office	…	…	…	Crime Prevention.
				Protection of the Environment.
				Road Safety.
				Raising the School Leaving Age.
				Electoral information.
Department of Trade and Industry	…	…	…	Marine Safety.
				Export Publicity.
Welsh Office	…	…	…	Protection of the Environment.
				Family Income Supplement.
				Official Forms in Welsh.
				Mobile Libraries.