asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make arrangements for making supplies of the 1973 potato crop available to potato granule manufacturers at special prices; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Arrangements were made in March last year for supplies from the 1972 potato crop to be made available for potato granule manufacture at special prices, so as to retain this outlet for the home crop, and similar arrangements will be made for the 1973 crop.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will propose action to the European Community under Protocol 16 to prevent the abrupt dislocation of sugar supplies from developing countries in the event of Australia's present quota going into the world market at the end of 1974.

Such dislocation could be expected to occur only if the sugar concerned represented a net addition to supplies on the world market unmatched by any increase in demand. The best guarantee against such an occurrence would be the existence of an International Sugar Agreement of which both Australia and the Community were members. Whatever action was necessary, including in particular the adjustment of quotas for exports to the world market, could then be taken under the provisions of the agreement and in accordance with its objective of maintaining stable and remunerative prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes under Protocol 16 to phase out Australia's supplies of sugar to the United Kingdom after the end of 1974.

In consultations with the Australian Government, we have said that a proposal on their part to the Community for the phasing out of the special treatment accorded to these supplies after 1974, rather than its abrupt termination, could in our opinion be founded upon the provisions of Protocol 16 of the Treaty of Accession, and that we would support such a proposal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact of the phasing out of Australian sugar exports to the United Kingdom on prices on the world sugar market.

This would depend on whether the sugar was exported to the world market instead; whether, in this event, it represented a net addition to supplies on the world market; and, if so, whether the addition exceeded any increase in demand.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what annual quantities of world sugar are currently marketed at world prices; and what percentage increase in such supplies will take place when Australian supplies for exports to the United Kingdom under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement are phased out.

Excluding re-exports, about 10 million tons of sugar—raw value—per year are marketed at world prices. Australia's quota under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement is equivalent to about 350,000 tons raw value. But the extent to which the diversion of this quantity on to the world market would represent an increase in world market supplies would depend on how far, if at all, it was offset by reductions in sup plies from other sources.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when and in what stages Australian sugar exports to the United Kingdom are to be phased out;(2) what levies will be applied to Australian sugar exports to the United Kingdom after the end of the Common wealth Sugar Agreement.

The treatment of Australian exports of sugar to the Community after the expiry of the Common wealth Sugar Agreement on 31st December 1974 will be a matter for decision by the Community in due course. We would support a proposal to the Community from Australia that the special treatment at present accorded to her quota under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement should be phased out after 1974 rather than terminated abruptly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether those areas of Bodmin Moor now in receipt of the various forms of financial assistance under the existing United Kingdom national system of support for hill farming will continue to be eligible for grant aid within the provisions of the Community directive designed to assist the poorer and upland farm areas recently adopted by the Council of Ministers.

The Council of Ministers has passed a resolution agreeing to adopt by 1st October a directive which will provide a special system of aids for farming in the poorer areas of the Community, but the detailed provisions of the directive are not yet settled. Under the terms of the Council's resolution it would be for member States to propose, and for the Council to approve, the areas to benefit according to common criteria. As my hon. Friend will know from the answer given to him on 21st March, the criteria in the draft directive put forward by the Commission seem to be adequate to cover the hill fanning areas in the United Kingdom.—[Vol. 853, c. 120–1.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the change in the monetary compensatory amounts arrangements which were agreed at the recent EEC Council of Ministers meeting in Luxembourg.

It was agreed that each country should operate its own monetary compensatory amounts on intra-Community trade. Thus, instead of the United Kingdom monetary amounts being applied by most other member States on a net basis, the amounts will be paid as a subsidy on our imports or charged as a levy on our experts. In trade with third countries the system will operate very much as at present, except that, where the monetary compensatory amount is larger than the export refund, an export levy will be charged. The detailed arrangements are being worked out by the Commission in consultation with the member States; the date on which the new arrangements will come into force will be announced in due course.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how much land is owned or held on lease by Defence establishments in the United Kingdom including national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Six hundred and six thousand, seven hundred and eighty-four acres, of which some 81,000 acres are in national parks and 28,000 acres in areas of outstanding natural beauty.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average number of pupils in primary school classes in Staffordshire.

In January 1972, 31·5.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the average number of treatment visits per full-time dental officer in the school dental service in 1971, in 1972 and to date in 1973; and what the comparable figures were for the county of Stafford shire.

In the following figures some allowance is made for staffing fluctuations during the year; the work of dental auxiliaries is included.

	1971	1972
England and Wales	2,700	Not yet available
Staffordshire	2,440	2,440

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Coventry citizens have given notice that they wish to be tested as to driving ability in order to secure a full driving licence; and what is the present waiting period in Coventry between the giving of notice and the holding of the driving test.

As at 27th April, there were just over 4,000 outstanding applications for "L" driving tests at the two centres in Coventry, representing a waiting period of 11 weeks at the Mason Road Centre and 16 weeks at the Holy head Road Centre.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average waiting period between date of application for a driving test and the date of taking the test; and what steps he intends to take to improve the position.

14 weeks on 20th April 1973. Additional examiners are being recruited and trained as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to ensure that local authorities and other bodies facilitate the design and use of public buildings to suit the needs of the mentally and physically disabled.

Circular MHLG 65/70 drew the attention of local authorities to the provisions about access to and facilities within buildings for the disabled in the Chronically Sick and Disabled Per sons Act 1970, and to the design advice then available. Local authorities were asked to inform developers of the pro visions. The Department is in touch with the Central Council for the Disabled about design advice to be incorporated in a further circular.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will take steps to prohibit the parking of vehicles in the immediate proximity of Wellington Arch, in view of the disfigurement of the area;(2) what classes of person are permitted to park their vehicles in the immediate proximity of Wellington Arch.

I am looking into these matters, and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date he received the inspector's report on the proposed closure of Long slow Road, Market Drayton; when he hopes to announce his findings; and if he will detail the factors that have caused the delay in this matter.

The inspector's report was received on 21st June 1972 and we expect to make an announcement this month. This case has been complicated by engineering and legal difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the London borough of Hillingdon with regard to the need for street lighting on the Western Avenue (A40) between the Hillingdon roundabout and the Polish war memorial; and if he will arrange an early meeting between his Department and the council to discuss the matter.

The council has requested a meeting. Meanwhile discussions are continuing between my Department and the Ministry of Defence on the problem of reconciling the safety requirements of road and air traffic at Northolt.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the effect of EEC Draft Regulation R/2868/ 72 (Trans. 164) on the operations of United Kingdom public transport under takings.

This regulation would extend the power to grant-aid rail re placement bus services and certain rail way operations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what section of which Act Mr. McGurran was sent from London to Belfast on Saturday 22nd April.

Directions were given under Section 9(4)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971 that Mr. McGurran should not be given entry, on the ground that his exclusion was conducive to the public good as being in the interests of national security. He was inadvertently removed to Northern Ireland instead of to the Republic of Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the reasons for the exclusion of Mr. J. Clarke, aged 92 years, a semi-blind cripple, from England on Sunday 22nd April.

Mr. Clarke was refused leave to enter on 21st April, on the ground that his exclusion was conducive to the public good as being in the interests of national security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of deportations which took place in the first quarter of 1973 of illegal immigrants and other immigrants already resident in the United Kingdom, as a result of falsified applications for entry, in comparison with the figures for the first quarter of 1972.

Five illegal immigrants were deported in the first quarter of 1973 and three in the first quarter of 1972. I regret that the other information asked for could not be obtained without disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what authority, and under what power, was Downing Street recently closed to the public as a thoroughfare.

Downing Street was closed on the instructions of the Com missioner of Police of the Metropolis. There is a long-standing practice whereby the police temporarily close or control highways for security reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances during the year 1972, or in the last period of 12 months for which figures are available, was a person granted a free pardon under the Prerogative of Mercy following the production of fresh evidence; and in how many of these cases did this entail release from a prison sentence.

Of the free pardons granted in 1972, 331 were recommended on grounds of evidence not known to the court. In no case was release from a prison sentence involved, but in two cases other custodial sentences had been imposed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the retail and wholesale value of mechanical lighters and gas lighters in 1972–73; and what were the total revenues obtained in each case from United Kingdom manufacturers and imports in 1972–73.

The total retail value of mechanical lighters marketed in the United Kingdom in 1972–73 is estimated at £12-5 million and that of domestic gas lighters at £0-9 million. Information as to wholesale values is not avail able. The provisional yields of the duties were approximately:

		Mechanical lighters	Gas lighters
		£ million	£ million
United Kingdom
manufacture	…	0·55	0·10
Imports	…	1·27	0·09

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the retail and wholesale value of matches manufactured in the United Kingdom and of the value of imported matches in 1972–73; and what were the total revenues obtained from each in 1972–73.

The estimated retail value of matches manufactured in the United Kingdom is £16-8 million. Information as to wholesale values is not available. The import value of imported matches was about £3-2 million, exclusive of duty. The provisional yield of the duties was:

					£ million
Customs	…	…	…	…	3·7
Excise	…	…	…	…	5·4
					9·1

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of revenue collected in purchase tax on sweets in the most recent two years for which figures are available.

It is estimated that purchase tax collected on confectionery including chocolate biscuits in 1971–72 and 1972–73 was £74–6 million and about £747 million respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he has taken in the field of public expenditure since his Budget Statement.

I have continued to keep public expenditure under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received asking him to relieve all school uniforms from VAT; and what replies he has sent.

My right hon. Friend has received a few representations. Replies are being sent to the effect that school uniforms are relieved from VAT to the same extent as other articles of clothing for young children.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the Inland Revenue practice with regard to determining qualification of life assurance policies for the purposes of the 1968 legislation.

Yes. The 1968 legislation lays down tests and conditions for determining whether a life assurance policy is a "qualifying" policy so that the policyholder is entitled to various reliefs from tax including relief for the premiums payable.Advice recently given to the Board of Inland Revenue indicates that this legislation should be interpreted as pre scribing stricter tests than have hitherto been applied and that in particular certain options, which it has been usual to ignore until they are exercised, should properly be regarded as disqualifying a policy from the outset, whether or not they are going to be exercised.My right hon. Friend will consider what changes in the law may be appropriate; meanwhile the Inland Revenue will maintain its existing practice. Where, under that practice, it would formerly have regarded a policy as ceasing to be qualified by reason of the exercise of an option, it will reserve the right to invoke instead the strict interpretation of the law so as to treat it as disqualified thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will propose the extension of the medical treatment benefits available to United Kingdom nationals during a temporary stay in a European Economic Community country so that they include self-employed persons.

Yes. But since self-employed persons in general are not at present covered for medical benefits in the other member States of the Community —with the exception of Denmark—it would be unrealistic to expect early agreement to any such extension.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of families now receiving family in come supplement; and what is the average amount of benefit received.

At the end of February 1973, the latest date for which information is available, 79,000 families were receiving family income supplement; the average weekly payment was £2–05. In addition, families whose supplementary benefit was subject to the wage-stop provision were benefiting from the family income supplement scheme. Information on this was given in my reply to my hon. Friend on 4th April.—[Vol. 854, c. 107.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circum stances women qualify for family income supplement; and how many women are receiving it.

Family income supplement is available to any woman, married or single, who is not living with her spouse or with another man as his wife, provided she is in full-time employment, has at least one dependent child living with her and has an income which is less than the prescribed amount appropriate to her family. The prescribed amounts depend on the number of dependent children in the family and are the same for one-parent and two-parent families. At the end of February 1973, 33,000 one-parent families headed by a woman were receiving family income supplement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to place mature students within the scope of family income supplement.

No. The purpose of the family income supplement scheme is to provide help to persons with families who are in full-time remunerative employment and not to provide an alternative or additional means of support for families which are entitled to help through other schemes of State support.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the rate of infant mortality in Biddulph urban district in the two most recent years for which figures are available.

The provisional number of deaths of infants under one year of age in the Biddulph urban district was five in 1972 compared with 12 in 1971, which represents rates per 1,000 live births (infant mortality rate) of 15 (provisional) and 31, respectively.

asked the Secretary Of State for Social Services how many claimants have been suspended from unemployment benefit under the six-week rule for each year since 1964.

The information available relates to disqualifications for receiving unemployment benefit by the insurance officer under Section 22(2) of the National Insurance Act 1965. which were as follows:

1964	…	…	…	360,705
1965	…	…	…	380,146
1966	…	…	…	442,680
1967	…	…	…	543,169
1968	…	…	…	573.918
1969	…	…	…	597,243
1970	…	…	…	595,089
1971	…	…	…	452,519
1972	…	…	…	461,969

Section 22(2) provides for disqualification for unemployment benefit for up to six weeks in a number of circumstances of which the main ones are, where the claimant has voluntarily left his employment without just cause; has lost it through misconduct; or has, without good cause, refused a suitable job.Some of the disqualifications were removed, or the period of disqualification was reduced, on appeal or review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the increase in the price of petrol, he will now increase the car allowance paid to disabled drivers.

No. The car allowance is provided as a contribution towards maintenance costs. Travel costs vary for all disabled people including those who have to rely upon public transport.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish lists of trades council nominees on the panels for supplementary benefit tribunals, together with the number of times the nominees have been asked to attend tribunals in the year ended 31st December 1972; and how this figure compares with attendance by non-trades council nominees.

There is no central record of the names and attendances of trades council nominees on the panels for supplementary benefit appeal tribunals. To obtain this information for 120 tribunals would involve disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he recommends national dried milk for babies as a sufficient food alone, or the taking of vitamin drops in conjunction with it.

It is best for a mother to breast-feed her baby, if she possibly can even if only for the first month. As national dried milk has been fortified with vitamins C and D an additional vitamin intake is not essential if the baby is given the full amount of milk for its weight and age, but it is valuable to establish the habit of giving vitamin drops because they will be necessary when the baby changes diet to ordinary cow's milk. The recommended dosage of vitamin drops for babies taking national dried milk is lower than that for breast fed babies or for those fed on ordinary cow's milk. The apprcpriate doses are shown on the bottles of vitamin drops.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his assessment of the total amount which could be saved if industry is able to maximise the benefits of terotechnology; what action he is taking towards this end, with particular regard to the endowing of studies at universities and other educational institutions; and if he will make a statement.

No assessment of the total potential savings can yet be made but it has been estimated that better maintenance engineering practices, which is one aspect of terotechnology, could save manufacturing industry alone up to £550 million per annum. Wide publicity has recently been given to these potential savings by means of a series of advertisements in the national Press and a large number of technical journals. The Department has financed a number of studies by educational institutions and the Committee for Terotechnology is at present considering other ways in which the benefits of terotechnology can be made known.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has been having with the various bodies concerned with a definition of terotechnology; what agreement has been reached; and if he will make a statement.

The current definition of terotechnology is at present under review by the Committee for Terotechnology. Discussions with many interested bodies have been held at open meetings, and further seminars and con ferences have been arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to encourage engineering institutions to take further initiatives with regard to multi-discipline education, training and management studies so that engineers are better able to deal with the demands of current and future terotechnology.

The Department's Committee for Terotechnology is in continuing consultation with the engineering

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the highest recorded overpressure reading obtained at any test station in the United Kingdom as a result of a super sonic flight by Concorde.

The highest characteristic overpressure of the 254 measurements taken to date on the West Coast route has been 2·8 lb./sq. ft. Some 220 of the measurements have been 2·2 lb./sq. ft. or less.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at what speed and height Concorde was travelling when it passed over St. Davids in supersonic flight on Thursday 12th April.

On 12th April, Concorde passed 1½ miles to the west of St. David's Cathedral, at a speed of mach 1.15 and at a height of 45,000 feet.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints have been received about Concorde supersonic flights since the current test programme down the West Coast resumed in April.

Seven complaints have been received following test flights on the West Coast route on 12th and 27th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were granted in Cheadle rural district in 1972 and to date in 1973; and how these figures compare with the figures for 1970.

In the Cheadle employment exchange area, none in 1972 and one in the first quarter of 1973. Comparison with the figure for 1970 would not be meaningful because the six IDCs issued in that year were for small projects which would not now require IDCs.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for industrial development certificates for Leek urban district were with drawn in 1972, and to date in 1973.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value of British exports to Canada in 1960, 1965, 1970 and the most recent year for which figures are available.

Figures of United Kingdom exports to Canada in 1960 are given in Table 271 of the 1969 Annual Abstract of Statistics; for 1965 and 1970 in Table 286 of the 1972 Annual Abstract of Statistics; and for 1972 in Table V of the December 1972 issue of the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of Slate for Trade and Industry what percentage of the United Kingdom exports went to the European Free Trade Association in 1964, 1970 and 1972, and to the latest available date in 1973.

Twelve, 13,14 and 14 in 1964, 1970, 1972 and the first quarter of 1973 respectively, taking the present com position of EFTA.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are his latest estimates of the output from North Sea oil by 1980.

Estimates of reserves and production of North Sea oil and gas are being reviewed in the light of the latest drilling results. A report to Parliament on the outcome of this review will be presented shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the completed but unoccupied advance factories in Ayrshire; and if he will indicate for which factories his Department is currently handling inquiries.

Ayr—Mosshill— and Girvan. An application for the latter is under consideration, and we are continuing our efforts to find a suitable occupant for the former.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is likely to be the total installed capacity within the CEGB of gas-turbine power stations in 1980 and 1985 respectively; what is the average efficiency and load factor expected from these power stations; what is the viscosity of the oil to be used; and what is the expected cost at present prices of each unit generated.

The hon. Member's Question looks beyond the period covered by the proposals put to us by the CEGB in the context of the current investment review. I am therefore asking the chairman to write to the hon. Member giving such information as is currently available.

Morgan asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek to establish the percentage of fishing rights in Welsh rivers which are owned by fishing associations or other bodies which are based in Wales.

I do not consider that the detailed inquiries that would have to be made to ascertain this information would be justified.

asked the Attorney-General how many cases are now awaiting trial on a charge of capital murder.

One defendant charged with capital murder in Northern Ireland has been committed for trial, and is now awaiting that trial. I understand that the Royal Ulster Constabulary has charged seven other men with offences of capital murder. The papers relating to one of these has now been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland for his consideration; the other six cases are still under investigation.