asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received since announcing his Budget proposals regarding the likely effect of the reduction in tax on confectionery and soft drinks on children's teeth.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations suggesting that the zero rating of confectionery and soft drinks would lead to an increase in the incidence of dental caries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set on foot a review of all assessments to tax currently under appeal which relate to years prior to 1955–56, with a view to seeking to have them set down for hearing at the earliest opportunity.

The Inland Revenue does not hold a central record of such assessments. It is standard practice to set down for hearing those appeals that cannot be resolved by negotiation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider forms of assistance to replace Selective Employment Tax refunds to hotels in development areas.

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the approximate tax relief granted to a house buyer taking out a £30,000 mortgage who is paying income tax at the highest rate; approximately how much tax allowance is granted annually to house buyers with mortgages on second homes and to those with mortgages over £13,000; and if he will now propose discontinuing tax relief on such mortgages.

On the first part of the hon. Member's Question, the amount of tax relief depends on the rate of interest paid and other matters. On the second part, this information is not available. On the third part, the answer is "No, Sir".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount by which taxation has been reduced since June 1970.

If the rates of tax in force at the date of the last General Election were still in force today, the British people would be paying well over £4,000 million a year more tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the rates of VAT, income tax and corporation tax. respectively, would have to be increased to finance from the Exchequer the cost of increasing the married and single retirement pensions to £16 and £10 per week.

To increase pensions to the figures quoted from the level the Government have already announced will be paid from next October, VAT on the basis of present coverage would have to be at a rate of more than 14 per cent. instead of 10 per cent., income tax at a basic rate of 33 per cent. instead of 30 per cent., and corporation tax at 60 per cent. instead of 40 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will propose increasing the tax on petrol by an amount adequate to permit the abolition of motor vehicle licences.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an estimate of the amounts allowed for taxation purposes in respect of luncheons in West End restaurants; and if he will seek to arrange that copies of receipts given by such restaurants for these meals shall be sent over a test period by selected restaurants to the revenue authorities.

Information to answer the first part of the hon. Member's Question is not available. As regards copies of receipts, apart from other objections, I do not consider that these would provide useful information since most entertaining expenditure is not deductible for tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received about the application of VAT to building construction work undertaken by private individuals; and what replies he has sent.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about this. Replies have been sent explaining that it is not practicable to provide relief from VAT for purchases of building materials by private individuals. Supplies of services to a private individual in the course of the construction of a house by a builder or by a specialist contractor such as a plumber or electrician are zero rated, together with any supplies of materials made in connection with the supply of services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why it was decided not to reply to the letters from the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries of 21st December 1972, 30th January, 16th February, 5th March and 4th April 1973 to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise regarding value added tax on purchases by museums and galleries.

I have written to the Chairman of the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the price the value added tax will be when a museum buys an object from a dealer under the special scheme contained in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Notice No. 712.

Since the essence of the special scheme is that value added tax is chargeable only on the dealer's margin, it is not possible to state it as an invariable percentage of the purchase price.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the amount of value added tax levied under the special scheme contained in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Notice No. 712 on an object bought from a dealer can be disclosed so that the museum is in a position to make out a case to the Government for an increase in its acquisitions grant.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 2nd April.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a statement showing the revenue and expenditure of central Government, the direct effect of which is to bring about the redistribution of personal income.

The main items of central Government receipts which have a direct effect on personal incomes are income tax and national insurance contributions. The following list gives the main items on the expenditure side. For information as to the amounts involved I would refer my hon. Friend to the Financial Statement and Budget Report, the Supply Estimates and the Accounts for the National Insurance Industrial Injuries and Redundancy Funds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has currently under examination to ensure that Great Britain's contributions to the EEC budget are subject to satisfactory accounting procedures.

United Kingdom contributions to the Community budget are paid out of the Consolidated Fund in accordance with the normal United Kingdom accounting procedures.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amounts the exchange rate between the £ sterling and the United States dollar declined in each of the periods up to the present day since 1913, 1929, 1939 and 1947, expressed as an annual movement at compound rates.

On the basis of the official, or parity, rates at the end of each of the four years in question, the annual average downward movement to 18th May 1973, taking (a) the parity rate of £1—$2·89524 and (b) the average middle clos-

(£ million)	1966–67	1967–68	1968–69	1969–70	1970–71	1971–72	1972–73
NATIONAL COAL BOARD
Grants in connection with pit closures	1·3	5·2	10·8	9·2	8·5	9·3	9·1
Payments under Redundant Mineworkers' Payments Scheme	—	—	3·3	8·6	11·2	8·3	6·6
Payments towards cost of premature pensions for redundant mine workers	—	—	3·1	1·3	2·3	0·8	1·2
Payments on account of deferment of colliery closures	—	1·0	1·4	—	—	—	—
ELECTRICITY COUNCIL
Compensation for additional coal burn	—	3·9	7·9	3·8	—	—	—
Compensation for costs of additional stocking	—	—	—	—	—	—	19·9
SCOTTISH ELECTRICITY BOARDS
Compensation for additional coal burn	—	0·6	0·8	0·6	—	—	—
GAS COUNCIL AND BOARDS
Compensation for additional gasification of coal and production of coke	—	—	1·2	1·2	0·6	—	—
BRITISH RAILWAYS BOARD
Grants towards costs of unremunerative railway services	—	—	—	71·1	60·5	65·2	66·3
Surplus track grants	—	—	—	15·0	10·0	7·5	8·5
Infrastructure grants	—	—	0·3	5·7	0·3	1·3	11·1
Grants towards costs of installing automatic level crossings	—	—	—	—	0·7	—	—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, regarding under-assessments for tax in the last financial year, how many persons had a charge raised in respect of them of, respectively, more than £10,000, £5,000–£10,000, £3,000–£5,000, £2,000–£3,000, £1,000–£2,000, £500–£1,000, and less than £500.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for each year 1960 to 1972, what payments were made to public corporations for tasks undertaken by them which were not in their commercial interest; and in each case which individual industries were involved.

The following payments were made from public funds to the nationalised industries during the period 1966–67 to 1972–73. No payments of the type specified were made in the years 1960–61 to 1965–66.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a complete list of those assets which were previously part of public corporations which have been offered for sale since June 1970.

A number of public corporations publish figures of sales of assets in their annual accounts, to which I would refer the hon. Member. Total figures for sales of fixed assets by the nationalised industries are included in Table 2.8 of the White Paper on Public Expenditure—Cmnd. 5178. If the hon. Member would indicate the type of assets which he has in mind I will see what further information can be provided without disproportionate cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what authority Mr. Peter Niesewand, a Rhodesian citizen, is entitled to bring Rhodesian funds into Great Britain.

That would be a matter for the authorities in Rhodesia

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the tax revenue to be derived from the taxation of sickness, unemployment, and supplementary benefits, at present exempt from tax; and what adjustments in the standard rate of income tax would be required to offset the extension of taxation to such benefits.

On the basis of the proposed rates of benefit from October 1973, about £160 million gross for 1973–74. However after collection costs this would only be equivalent to a small fraction of a penny of the basic rate of income tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, for each of the years 1960 to 1972, the payments to the Exchequer arising from, respectively, public dividend capital, Government shareholdings in private industry, and Government shareholding in nationalised industries.

Following is the information on payments into the Consolidated Fund between 1960–61 and 1972–73 in respect of Government shareholdings in private sector companies and public corporations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Commonwealth citizens entered the United Kingdom as visitors in 1972; and how many of these were allowed to remain permanently, after overstaying their permitted temporary residence.

566,690 Commonwealth citizens entered the United Kingdom as visitors in 1972. Records of those subsequently allowed to settle are kept according to the year such an application is granted and not to the year of entry, but they represent only a very small percentage—less than 1 per cent. in 1972—of the Commonwealth visitors for the year. It is not possible without disproportionate effort to say how many of them overstayed before being given permission to remain here.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will initiate a review of cinema censorship.

No, but we are very ready to discuss with those concerned ways in which the operation of the present system might be improved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions are taking place with representatives of cosmetic interests in regard to the drawing up of positive lists of permitted cosmetic ingredients; and if he will make a statement.

The Home Office is engaged in such discussions with the cosmetics industry and with consumers' organisations, in connection with the proposed EEC directive on cosmetics. The matter is also being studied by a Council of Europe working party. It is too soon to predict what the outcome will be.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will revoke the entry permit granted to Alice Cooper enabling him to participate in pop contents in Great Britain.

There is no current work permit for "Alice Cooper" to give performances in this country, and I understand from the Department of Employment that no application for one has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current cash benefit available to men and women leaving prison.

To meet immediate needs on the day of discharge or over a weekend a grant of up to £4 is payable under certain conditions to men and women released from prisons in England and Wales. For those who are homeless, a further payment of advance rent of up to £4 may be made to a person providing accommodation. These grants do not affect the eligibility of the prisoners to make immediate application for social security or unemployment benefit. Travel warrants or money for fares are provided for a prisoner's journey to his destination on discharge together with a subsistence allowance if he is not eligible for a discharge grant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what study he has made of the reasons for the poor use of the out-patient facilities at Brixton and Holloway prisons; and with what results.

Examination is being made of the operation of the out-patient facilities at these prisons and I shall write to the right hon. Member when the results are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many opportunities have been taken by the Home Office in the last six months to remind magistrates' courts of the outpatient facilities available at Brixton and Holloway prisons; and what form these reminders have taken.

A circular sent to chief clerks of magistrates' courts in Inner London on 30th November last drew attention to the limited use which had been made of the out-patient clinic at Brixton prison. Information about the number of persons sent to these clinics has been provided for use in articles which appeared in the February edition of The Magistrate and in The Guardian on 5th March. Informal opportunities to mention the schemes to magistrates are also taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has undertaken or commissioned into medical remands.

The Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, is conducting research, supported by a grant from the Home Office, on remands for medical reports. The Home Office Research Unit is itself examining the operation of the out-patient services set up at Holloway prison in 1971 and at Brixton prison in 1972 to provide courts with medical reports on persons remanded on bail.A special study was made by the Prison Department of the Home Office of defendants remanded in custody for medical reports at three establishments during a week in June 1970, as a result of which measures were taken with a view to reducing the number and length of such remands.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many males and how many females were remanded in custody in 1972 for psychiatric reports and for reports on their physical health.

The relevant figures are set out in the table below:

	Male	Female
Psychiatric reports	10,582	1,371
State of physical health reports …	467	17

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further consideration he has given to the proposal that there should be duty solicitors in magistrates' courts; what information he has received from the Law Society regarding the cost of such a scheme; and whether he will make a statement.

Experimental "duty solicitor" schemes have recently been introduced at several magistrates' courts, with the help of the financial provisions of the Legal Advice and Assistance Act 1972. The Law Society has been conducting a survey of the operation of legal aid in criminal cases, which will take account of these experiments. My right hon. Friend proposes to await the results of this study, which he hopes to receive before the end of the summer, before reaching any conclusions on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Law Society regarding the obligations of lawyers under Section 74(7) of the Criminal Justice Act 1967; and with what results.

The Home Office has participated in discussions on this matter with, amongst others, representatives of the Law Society and the Bar Council. I hope that these have led to a fuller understanding of the obligations of the profession.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, with a view to introducing appropriate national regulations, he will undertake a study of the difficulties confronting local authorities in ensuring adequate safety standards at funfairs.

These difficulties are being taken into account in our review of the law relating to safety at fairgrounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement concerning the action taken by the Metropolitan Police during the incident in Notting Hill on 9th May in which members and officials of the Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council were held as prisoners for 14 hours by persons demonstrating against the council's housing policies.

The Commissioner of the Metropolis tells me that a public meeting attended by councillors and local government officials began in All Saints Church Hall at 8 p.m. on 8th May. The meeting continued through the night and in the morning the police were told that some of those present were being prevented from leaving. The police therefore requested the audience to leave, which they did at once, at 10.30 a.m.The police have discussed with members of the local authority ways in which a repetition of this incident can be avoided.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, when he next meets the TUC, he will discuss with it ways in which middle and senior management in British industry might become better acquainted with the workings of the trade union movement.

The point raised by my hon. Friend is primarily a matter for employers and trade unions. I have no plans at present to discuss it with the TUC. But I agree that industrial relations training is essential for managers, including knowledge of union structures and organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress is being made in obtaining information about the characteristics of the unemployed.

The Working Group on Characteristics of the Unemployed, which was set up following the recommendations in the White Paper on Unemployment Statistics, has been examining the information which is available from existing records. My right hon. Friend has now asked it to arrange a sample survey covering the whole country to obtain the further information we need.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to improve the supply of hearing aids in Sunderland.

Adequate supplies of all hearing aids are currently available at Sunderland Royal Infirmary hearing aid clinic. A shortage of technician staff has recently delayed issues. The hospital authority is endeavouring to fill the vacant posts, but it will be a little longer before waiting lists for aids can be cleared.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many detoxification centres he has established; and in what places.

Plans are in hand for experimental detoxification services in Manchester—Withington Hospital—and Birmingham—Dudley Road Hospital. Two further schemes are under discussion to serve parts of south-east and north-east London.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many copies of form CMI, application for a certificate of entitlement to medical treatment (Form E111) during a temporary stay in a Community country, have been issued to local offices of the Department and to the Newcastle-under-Lyme office in particular.

3·6 million forms CMI have been distributed to the local offices of my Department. The initial quantity provided for and received by the Newcastle-under-Lyme office was 6,000 copies.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider as a basis for action the report commissioned from the Economist Intelligence Unit by the National Fund for Research into Crippling Diseases entitled "Care with Dignity", a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

No. I am aware of the assertion in the report that annual increases of 18–20 per cent. in expenditure—to which I assume the hon. Member refers—are needed to secure worthwhile improvements, but this includes the author's estimates of the rate of inflation and the relative price effect. The Government appreciate the need to make allowance for these factors at the appropriate time in order that the planned rate of growth of services should be attained. As the 1972 White Paper on Public Expenditure to which the report seems to make no reference had made clear, the Government plan to increase expenditure on overall health and personal social services by 3·9 and on the personal social services by 8·5 per cent. per annum, in both cases in real terms—that is, after allowing for price changes and for the relative price effect—between 1971–72 and 1976–77; and special emphasis will be placed on services for the elderly and the disabled including the younger disabled requiring long-term care. This will allow for a planned growth in service which well exceeds the forecast growth in numbers of the disabled, so that we can confidently expect to improve services, particularly community care services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that local authorities are applying the provisions of Sections 1 and 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 to the mentally handicapped and ill, where appropriate, as well as to the physically handicapped and ill; if he now intends to provide further guidance on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

Advice issued by my Department in August 1970 confirmed that persons whose handicap was a mental one were within the scope of Sections 1 and 2 of the Act and I have no reason to believe that local authorities need to be reminded of this. To some extent identification of those with a mental disability presents greater difficulty than of those with a physical handicap. Nevertheless local authorities generally are planning to develop as fast as resource constraints allow the services for mentally disordered people they are required to provide in accordance with Section 12 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, the scope of which is wider than Section 2 of the Act of 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of people in the United Kingdom who are severely or moderately deaf, respectively.

Information is not available on which any reliable estimate of this kind could be based.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what, at the latest date for which figures are available, was the average difference in waiting time for hospital beds, for private patients and National Health Service patients, respectively for cataract operations, tonsillectomy, gynaecological operations, hysterectomy and vasectomy.

Statistics of this kind are not available and broad averages over whole categories of surgical work would in any case be meaningless. I would, however, refer the hon. Member to the explanation given in paragraphs 16–23 of the White Paper on Private Practice in National Health Service Hospitals (Cmnd. 5270).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what general causes he attributes the fact that the number of prescriptions dispensed in January 1973 rose by 2,306,030 to the new high level of 24,776,710 above the number dispensed in the month of January 1972; what higher incidence of morbidity took place; and if he will make a statement.

There are frequently substantial differences in any particular month as between two given years; this is especially true of the winter months.Statistical information about morbidity in January 1973 is not yet available but it may be significant that the number of claims to sickness benefit rose from 825,000 in the first four weeks of 1972 to 1,017,000 in the same period of 1973.In the absence of more detailed information and because of the many possible factors involved it is not possible to give any specific reason for this particular rise.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has yet completed his inquiries about the sales promotion of pharmaceutical products by providing hospitality to doctors about which he stated he would write to the hon. Member for Willesden, West.

My inquiries are not yet complete. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many payments have been made to date this year by the Supplementary Benefits Commission to enable old persons living in isolation to have telephones installed at reduced rates.

In the six months ended February 1973—the latest period for which figures are available—the commission helped with installation charges in three cases.Local authorities in England and Wales have powers under Section 45 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 and Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 to meet the cost of installation and rental in appropriate cases. Local authorities in Scotland have similar powers under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Scotland) Act 1972. Information on help with telephone costs under these powers will be available later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to publish the report of the sub-committee on international surveillance of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy.

The report of the sub-committee on nutritional surveillance is in the hands of the printers and publication is expected very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the Family Allowances Act with a view to making it possible for a child born to a recognised common law husband and wife to be counted in the husband's family for family allowances purposes.

No. An illegitimate child who is living with his mother may count only in her family, and the general effect of this rule is to safeguard the mother's rights. Moral considerations are not involved, for where an unmarried couple are living with children of which they are the parents, all the children count in the mother's family.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in his study of the range of alarm systems suitable for installation in old persons' dwellings; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed by the National Corporation for the Care of Old People that it is now considering an interim report on the first stage of the evaluative research on emergency alarm devices being undertaken on its behalf by the Loughborough Institute for Consumer Ergonomics. I await the outcome with interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to introduce legislation to enable pensioners under 70 years of age who are re-employed in the National Health Service to enjoy the full benefit of increases in their pay, other than increases brought about by a change in the terms and conditions of their employment, with effect from 1st October 1972.

The necessary regultions are now being drafted and they will be made as soon as the consultation with staff interests which is required under the Superannuation Act 1972 has taken place.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, pending the introduction of legislation, he will order that there shall be no further abatement of pensions in those cases where no abatement will, with effect from 1st October 1972, be required once that legislation comes into effect.

No. I have no powers to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the toilet provisions made by all forms of transport organisation in the United Kingdom for disabled passengers; if he is satisfied that adequate provision is made when new premises are built; if his Department will conduct an investigation into the provision of such facilities; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.Section 4 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 stipulates that anyone providing premises to which there is public access shall, so far as is reasonable and practicable, provide for the needs of the disabled in any lavatories in the building. Available information does not suggest that, in general, public transport undertakings are failing to observe this part of the Act and I understand that British Rail take account of the needs of the disabled when major works are carried out on existing buildings. I do not think a special investigation is called for but if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind perhaps he would write to me.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to ensure that the views of small retailers are obtained when deciding upon future anti-inflationary policy; and how he intends to do this.

The Government will take steps to obtain the views of all sections of the retail trade, including the small retailers, in the consultations on the next stage of the counter-inflation programme as they did during the consultations preceding stage 2.

asked the Prime Minister if he will, at the proposed official meeting with President Nixon, discuss the relevance of the United States' phase 3 of prices and incomes policy to the similar phase anticipated in the United Kingdom.

As I said in reply to an earlier Question today from the hon. Member for Manchester, Ardwick (Mr. Kaufman), President Nixon has not yet announced the dates of a visit. In framing the next stage of the counter-inflation programme the Government will naturally take account of the way in which the United States system operates; but our policy must be addressed to the particular circumstances of the United Kingdom.

asked the Prime Minister if he will transfer responsibility for services to young people over 14 years of age to one Department.

No. I do not believe that this would help in providing effective services to meet their various needs.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in London on 8th May concerning inflation represents Her Majesty's Government's policy.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to address the Congress of the European Movement to be held in London later this month.

I addressed the Congress of Europe in Guildhall on 13th May.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will pay an official visit to the Cayman Islands.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his talks with President Pompidou.

I had three long talks with President Pompidou on 21st and 22nd May. I welcomed this opportunity, at our first meeting since Britain joined the Community, to review the major issues which concern our two Governments. We covered a wide range of subjects, including developments within the Community, the Community's external relations, economic and monetary matters, bilateral questions including the Channel Tunnel and the Concorde and Jaguar programmes and a number of broad foreign policy issues. This was a valuable meeting in the series of periodical discussions with the President.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for how long he expects the Movement of Pigs (Waste Food Precautions) Order 1973 will be in operation; and whether he will repeal it as soon as possible in view of its effect on small businesses.

The Movement of Pigs (Waste Food Precautions) Order 1973 which regulates the movement of swill-fed pigs is a necessary part of more effective disease control measures to prevent the spread of epidemic diseases introduced in swill. My right hon. Friend has no plans for its repeal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further action he is taking to negotiate with other EEC countries a refining margin adequate to ensure the refining and marketing of United Kingdom sugar imports under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement; what further discussions he will be having with the refining industry on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

There has been discussion of this matter within the Community since the meeting of the Council of Ministers which I reported to the House in my statement of 28th March. As I said in that statement, I will be considering with the refiners what measures will be necessary to meet their continuing requirement for an adequate margin after 30th June.—[Vol. 853. c. 1306–16.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the new facilities for disabled people at Kew Gardens are accessible for disabled people in wheelchairs; and if he will make a statement.

The Department of the Environment has carried out a number of improvements with the aim of helping disabled persons visiting the Royal Botanic Gardens. In particular, toilets designed to the appropriate British Standard have been provided for men and will shortly be available for women. The entrances comply with the standards laid down by the Greater London Council, and they should be adequate for normal wheelchairs, including those available on hire in the gardens. I am writing to the hon. Members about the particular case which gave rise to his inquiry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the percentage increase in the retail price of food from November to the latest date, both totally and broken down into the main sub-groups.

Between 14th November 1972 and 17th April 1973, the latest date for which information is available, the percentage changes in the food index and its main sub-groups were as follows:

	Percentage change
All food	+9·0
Food items, the prices of which show significant seasonal variation	+30·8
Food items, other than those the prices of which show significant seasonal variation	+4·6
of which:
Food items mainly manufactured in the United Kingdom	-0·4
Food items mainly home-produced for direct consumption	+9·9
Food items mainly imported for direct consumption	+8·9

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the percentage changes in household consumption for each year from 1968 to the latest date when figures are available, for the income groups over £50 per week and all groups under £17 per week

	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972
Group A
Gross income per week of head of household	£33·00 and over	£34·50 and over	£40·00 and over	£45·00 and over	£53·00 and over
Eggs	100	96·2	98·0	96·2	92·6
Butter	100	97·4	96·8	85·7	72·2
Margarine	100	105·3	96·6	108·3	132·0
Carcase Meat	100	92·9	98·3	106·5	101·9
Bacon and Ham (uncooked)	100	94·7	102·2	92·5	88·2
Fresh fruit	100	98·5	112·2	112·7	100·5
Fresh vegetables	100	96·1	98·5	93·6	94·7
Group D1: with an earner
Gross income per week of head of household	£11·50 under	£11·50 under	£12·50 under	£14·00 under	£17·00 under
Eggs	100	97·6	93·4	92·5	99·8
Butter	100	96·7	81·1	84·7	73·1
Margarine	100	106·6	105·9	121·3	143·6
Carcase meat	100	97·3	94·2	91·6	86·6
Bacon and Ham (uncooked)	100	94·1	93·6	93·6	87·7
Fresh fruit	100	96·8	97·0	106·6	99·9
Fresh vegetables	100	101·0	94·7	90·5	103·4
Group D2: without an earner
Gross income per week of head of household	£11·50 under	£11·50 under	£12·50 under	£14·00 under	£17·00 under
Eggs	100	102·7	95·5	108·0	106·7
Butter	100	99·7	82·9	83·0	77·8
Margarine	100	96·6	118·8	121·2	137·3
Carcase meat	100	119·1	82·3	94·6	105·6
Bacon and Ham (uncooked)	100	105·1	116·1	128·4	121·0
Fresh fruit	100	126·9	116·2	111·2	123·1
Fresh vegetables	100	106·1	111·8	107·6	118·4
Group: Old Age Pensioners
Gross income per week of head of household	£11·50 under	£11·50 under	£12·50 under	£14·00 under	£17·00 under
Eggs	100	103·2	106·2	103·4	103·6
Butter	100	99·6	104·9	90·3	81·9
Margarine	100	97·2	104·8	119·0	129·0
Carcase meat	100	97·5	104·4	100·2	96·0
Bacon and Ham (uncooked)	100	109·5	112·0	104·0	104·9
Fresh fruit	100	108·4	100·6	100·4	89·4
Fresh vegetables	100	98·9	100·4	97·5	96·5

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has completed his examination of the proposals for reorganisation of their smallholdings estates submitted by local authorities under Section 40 of the for the following items: eggs, butter magarine, carcase meat, bacon and ham, fresh fruit, and fresh vegetables.

The following tables, which are derived from the National Food Survey, show the changes in household consumption for comparable income groups in each year from 1968 to 1972 on the basis 1968=100:Agriculture Act 1970; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I exempted 13 authorities at their request from the duty to submit proposals because the size or nature of their estates did not offer scope for reorganisation. We have now approved the proposals of the remaining 61 authorities.The reorganisation proposals are designed to secure a balanced structure of viable full-time holdings in the long term based on the provision of fully commercial units but with a due proportion of intermediate or starter holdings to meet the needs of tenants with limited capital or experience and the retention of some part-time holdings in areas where these still have a useful part to play in the economic structure of the agricultural community. The success of authorities in achieving these objectives is illustrated by the fact that under the approved long-term proposals the number of fully commercial holdings in England will increase from 2,160 to 4,230 and the number of intermediate and part-time holdings will fall from 3,580 and 4,760 to 600 and 880 respectively. In Wales, where my right hon. and learned Friend and I have a joint responsibility, the long-term proposals provide for an increase in the number of fully commercial holdings from 205 to 466 and the number of intermediate and part-time holdings will fall from 481 and 558 to 177 and 150 respectively.Although the implementation of the reorganisation proposals will necessarily be spread over a period of years, smallholdings authorities expect to be able to make satisfactory progress towards achievement of the long-term structural objectives in the first five years. My right hon. and learned Friend and I are grateful to them for the care and thought which they have given to the preparation of their proposals. The final form of the proposals as approved reflected a full measure of agreement with authorities.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service which Ministers are currently provided with tax-free residences as part of their remuneration.

None. The occupation of official residences by the Prime Minister—as First Lord of the Treasury —the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretaries of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Environment and Scotland—when in Edinburgh—and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is necessary for the performance of their duties and is not treated for tax purposes as an addition to salary.

asked the Minister of State for Defence when he expects to publish the report of the inquiry into fraud in the Royal naval catering services.

The Committee of Inquiry under the chairmanship of Lord Donaldson is nearing the completion of its work. As I said in answer to the hon. Member's Question on 30th November 1972, the findings of the inquiry will be made public.—[Vol. 847, c. 186.]I am not yet in a position however to give a firm date for publication.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the methods at present used for the detection of booby traps, particularly after anonymous telephone calls.

Our troops are fully briefed, and take all reasonable precautions, against the danger of booby traps. Patrols investigating anonymous reports are instructed to be particularly cautious.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the security arrangements in the Crossmaglen area of County Armagh, in view of recent incidents there.

The high level of terrorist activity in the Crossmaglen area gives cause for concern. I am satisfied, however, that it is being countered as effectively as possible, and I welcome the co-operation of the Gardai which has greatly assisted our efforts to suppress cross-border terrorism.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the total strength of the Army in Northern Ireland; and whether it is intended to increase this during the period of local government and Assembly elections.

The current force level in Northern Ireland is about 16,500 Regular troops and 8,200 members of the Ulster Defence Regiment. The Regular force level is kept under constant review and further reinforcements will be provided, if the situation so requires, during the period of the elections or at any other time.

Region						1968–69	1969–70	1970–71	1971–72
Northern	…	…	…	…	…	2,145	2,708	3,018	3,452
Yorkshire and Humberside			…	…	…	2,597	3,404	4,072	4,846
North-Western	…	…	…	…	…	3,400	4,477	5,363	6,427
East Midland	…	…	…	…	…	2,209	2,709	2,883	3,296
West Midland	…	…	…	…	…	2,395	2,979	3,141	3,642
East Anglia	…	…	…	…	…	778	1,043	1,187	1,333
South-Eastern	…	…	…	…	…	6,493	7,687	8,294	9,567
South-Western	…	…	…	…	…	2,096	2,550	2,941	3,484
Wales	…	…	…	…	…	1,549	1,761	1,930	2,217
Scotland	…	…	…	…	…	2,976	3,497	4,857	5,965
Northern Ireland	…	…	…	…	…	956	1,217	1,099	1,285
United Kingdom Total			…	…	…	27,594	34,032	38,785	45,514

In the time available, it has not been possible to include the figures for 1972–73, nor to break down the figures for the Northern Region by age. This information is being obtained and I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what special recruitment campaigns have been undertaken in the Northern Region in the past three years.

No special recruiting campaigns have been mounted in the Northern Region in the last three years. Normal recruiting activity within the region by all three Services has, however, as in any other region, included a number of "special events".

asked the Minister of State for Defence what are the implications of the £50 million cuts in defence expenditure in terms of delayed construction for the Devonport Dockyard modernisation programme announced to the House in 1969.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many men have been recruited into Her Majesty's Forces during each of the years 1969–70–71–72 in the Northern Region; how these figures compared with other regions in the United Kingdom; and how this recruitment is made up in age categories including school leavers.

The following table gives the numbers of Service men recruited in each of the regions during the financial years 1968–69 to 1971–72:—

It is not envisaged that the programme for the construction of new buildings and the reconstruction of old buildings in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, will be affected by the savings in defence expenditure to be made in 1974–75.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the estimated cost per week of running the Fishery Protection Squadron in the 12–50 mile zone off Iceland, including Fleet support ships.

It is not possible to make a valid comparison between the costs of operations off Iceland and the costs of the alternative programme on which the ships might have been engaged.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will describe the guidance which she has given to reorganised local authorities which have sought advice on the administration of their public library services; and in particular as to the service with which they should be grouped.

None of the newly elected local authorities has sought guidance from my noble Friend the Paymaster-General on the administration of its public library service. It is for each new authority to determine, in the light of its individual needs and circumstances, its own management and administrative structure and the most appropriate place within it for the management of its public library service.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the value, in current prices, using the retail price index, of the grant provided in 1952 to recipients of State scholarships, without any abatement in respect of parental contribution, for undergraduate studies for a degree course in Manchester, London and Cambridge, respectively; and what percentage this represents of the current approved grant level for similar courses at these universities.

The following table gives (a) a revaluation of the grants payable to State scholars in the academic year 1951–52, on the basis of changes in the retail price index between March 1952 and March 1973, and (b) the percentages these represent of the corresponding rates payable in the current academic year:

	For students in residence		For students living at home
	£	%	£	%
Manchester	504	113	387	109
London	565	118	422	119
Cambridge	621	129	457	129

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many breakdown pensions have been awarded for the years 1970, 1971 and 1972 to: (1) teachers in colleges of education, (2) teachers in technical colleges and (3) teachers in primary and secondary schools in England and Wales; and if she will express these numbers as a percentage of the appropriate teaching force for each of the three years.

430, 438 and 455. The figures given in my answer to the hon. Member's Written Question on 4th December last for the two latter years were provisional. These are the definitive ones. It would need disproportionate effort to analyse the figures by type of institution, but overall the number of breakdown pensions awarded represents about 0·125 per cent of the teacher force.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, having regard to the continuing problem of bogus degrees, she is now in a position to make information more widely available about United Kingdom degrees and comparable qualifications.

Yes. My Department has drawn up a document listing the institutions in the United Kingdom which are authorised to award first or higher degrees, together with those qualifications currently awarded on examination by other bodies in the United Kingdom which are recognised by the Burnham Committee as equivalent to a degree for teachers' salary purposes. Arrangements are being made to send copies to British diplomatic posts and British Council offices abroad and to Commonwealth and foreign diplomatic missions in this country. Copies have been placed in the House of Commons Library and are available from my Department. I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take action designed to encourage local authorities fulfil the requirements of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 to provide sites for gipsies.

Within the last four months the Department has held 19 meetings with groups of local authorities throughout the country in order to encourage the early provision of more gipsy caravan sites.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the latest figures indicating the number of sites and pitches now in operation for the use of gipsy families.

65 gipsy caravan sites containing a total of 938 pitches have been provided by local authorities in England. The number of privately owned sites is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the saving to public funds each year if the temperature in the Palace of Westminster was reduced by 1 degree centigrade and 2 degrees centigrade, respectively.

A reduction of temperature of 1 degree centigrade in the Palace of Westminster would have resulted in a saving for the year ending 31st March 1973 of £1,920 and a reduction of 2 degrees centigrade a saving of £3,840.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an estimate of the amount of fuel which would be saved nationally if public buildings and department stores were to reduce their temperatures by 1 degree centigrade and 2 degrees centigrade, respectively.

I am not responsible for department stores. In those public buildings where I have responsibilities or share responsibilities the saving is estimated at 7 per cent. or 14 per cent. in fuel consumption or £1·39 million or £2·78 million in money terms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take powers to ensure that access for the disabled is considered by local planning authorities in all planning applications for buildings open to the public, that a constant check list is provided for access to all new or redeveloped buildings, and that the reasons for failure to provide access are made public; and if he will make a statement.

No. A similar suggestion was rejected by Parliament during the passing of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970. It was then decided that the right approach was to ask local authorities to draw the attention of developers to the provisions of Section 4 of the Act. This was done by MHLG circular 65/70.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what surveys have been made of the width of lavatory doors for the disabled and aged; if he will carry out an investigation into the advantages of compulsorily increasing the width of all lavatory doors; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is actively pursuing ways and means of improving the design of housing, especially housing that is likely to be used by disabled and elderly people. Preliminary results do not however indicate that a policy of widening all lavatory doors in housing would be the most effective way of achieving this improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to compel all public lavatories to have reasonable access for the disabled and at least one toilet suitable for wheelchair users; and if lie will make a statement.