asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the meeting place for the Northern Ireland Assembly, and the allocation of offices and other accommodation.

The matter is under consideration and my right hon. Friend will make an announcement at the appropriate time. Some of these matters are for discussion with the leaders of the parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many training places for physiotherapy students were available in Northern Ireland in December 1969; and how many were available at the most recent available date.

The most convenient date for which figures are available is that of the beginning of the term: 36 training places were available in October 1969 and 40 in October 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what social and recreational facilities for young people, and older people, including youth clubs, community centres and sports facilities, have been provided in the neighbourhood of Hillsborough, Dromara and Carryduff during recent years; and what plans exist for the future.

The following facilities have been provided with a grant from the Ministry of Education during the past six years—

(a) Local authorities: playing fields at Hillsborough and Newtownbreda; playgrounds at Dromara and Ballynahinch; swimming pool at Lisburn.

(b) Voluntary bodies: rugby football facilities at Lisburn and Dromore; tennis courts at Hillsborough; shooting range at Hillsborough; sports hall at Lisburn; Scout halls at Dromore and Hillsborough.

Planned facilities include playing fields at Ballynahinch, a recreation hall at Drumaness and a playground at Saint-field; and a youth wing at Knockbreda Secondary School.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many industrial accidents there have been in the Belfast area in the past five years.

The numbers of industrial accidents in the Belfast county borough during the past five years are as follows:

Year	No. of Accidents
1968	2,891
1969	3,096
1970	2,680
1971	2,299
1972	1,918
Total	12,884

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prosecutions there were for negligence causing an industrial accident in the Belfast area in each of the past five years.

The number of firms prosecuted in the Belfast county borough and the number of charges in each of the past five years are as follows:

Year	Firms Prosecuted	No. of Charges
1968	3	5
1969	4	23
1970	6	33
1971	11	51
1972	8	25
Total	32	137

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many crimes including acts of terrorism were reported during the period 1st May to 15th June 1973 and how many persons were arrested by the Royal Ulster Constabulary as a result of these incidents.

The information is not readily available in the precise form requested but I can say that during the period 1st May to 15th June 1973, 999 incidents generally associated with terrorism were reported. These included shootings, explosions, murders, armed robberies, hijackings, arms thefts, rockets-mortar attacks and arson. In the same period 176 people were arrested and charged with terrorist offences, although not necessarily for offences committed during the period.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to improve recruitment in the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and if he will make a statement.

The Police Authority for Northern Ireland, together with the Royal Ulster Constabulary, is taking all possible steps to improve recruitment. Thirteen recruiting officers are engaged full-time in an effort to encourage men and women from all sections of the community to join. All avenues of recruitment—schools, employment exchanges, careers masters, armed services rehabilitation officers—are approached.The Police Authority is also conducting an advertising campaign which consists of regular insertions in three Belfast papers, periodical use of the weekly provincial papers and occasional use of other specialised publications, the production of posters for display outside police stations and for use by recruiting officers at careers talks and for the publication of a large colour recruitment brochure.The Royal Ulster Constabulary stand at this year's Royal Ulster Agricultural Society Show had a strong recruiting content, and it is planned to have a recruiting caravan at local agricultural shows and other suitable functions throughout the Province.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what priority he attaches to the provision of nursery education for the children of Northern Ireland in relation to his other stated educational objectives.

My right hon. Friend attaches great importance to this aspect of education. The objective of the £1½ million programme of capital expenditure recently introduced is to increase the number of nursery schools over the next few years by about 50.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what level of tariff will apply to United Kingdom imports of lamb and mutton from outside the EEC at the end of the transitional period; and what is the purpose of this tariff.

To fulfil our obligations under the Treaty of Accession, we shall at the end of the five-year transitional period be applying the Community 20 per cent. common external tariff on imports of sheepmeat from third countries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many reductions in food prices have taken place since the introduction of value added tax; and what percentage reduction they represent.

The prices of over 3,400 food and drink products were reduced by major manufacturers and distributors and, in addition, many price reductions were made by smaller firms which were not required to make detailed returns to the Ministry. Retail prices of some items were cut by as much as 25 per cent., but the most usual reductions were 9 to 12 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the increase, by percentage and in money terms, in the average retail price of brisket beef, with bone, since July 1970.

Between July 1970 and April 1973 the average price of bone-in brisket from home-killed cattle has risen by about 16.8p per lb. or 90 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the percentage increase in the retail price of beef and fruit, respectively, since the start of phase 1 of the Government's counter-inflationary measures.

The following table shows the percentage changes in average retail prices of beef and fruit, as collected for the purposes of the Index of Retail Food Prices, between 14th November 1972 and 17th April 1973, the latest date for which information is available:

Item	Percentage Change in Average Retail Price
Beef: home-killed
Chuck	+22·8
Sirloin (without bone)	+15·9
Silverside (without bone)*	+15·0
Back ribs (with bone)*	+21·8
Fore ribs (with bone)	+20·6
Brisket (with bone)	+30·1
Rump steak*	+10·7
Beef: imported chilled
Chuck	+21·7
Silverside (without bone)*	+23·1
Rump steak*	+21·3
Fresh fruit
Apples, cooking	+36·6
Apples, dessert	-2·1
Pears, dessert	+10·9
Oranges	-6·5
Bananas	+3·1
* Or Scottish equivalent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on changes in food prices in the last month.

Between 20th March and 17th April, the latest date for which

£/ton						14th June 1972	Week-ending 13th December 1972	13th June 1973
						£	£	£
*Fish meal—
White fish (H.P.)	…	…	…	…	…	92·33	165·00	235·00
Herring (Danish)	…	…	…	…	…	98·00	183·00	299·50
*Soya Meal (H.P.)	…	…	…	…	…	56·88	106·00	192·83
Maize (U.S.A.)	…	…	…	…	…	31·08	39·17	54·38
†Barley (H.G. feed)	…	…	…	…	…	26·45	31·67	35·50
* Paid by distributing dealers ex port store/mill at Bristol, Hull, Liverpool and London.
† Ex farm basis.
H.P.=home produced.
H.G.=home grown.
Prices shown are for 5-ton lots and exclude discounts.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the policy of his Department towards the policy of grubbing up hedges on agricultural land.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice information is available, the food index rose by 1·5 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food taking the price of food at 100 in the month of May 1970, what is the figure now and, separately, what are the figures for fresh food.

Taking May 1970 as 100, the level of the Food Index at 17th April 1973, the latest date for which information is available, was 134·7. There is no retail price index for fresh foods as such, but taking May 1970 as 100, the level of the main sub-groups of the food index at 17th April 1973 was as follows:

Food items, the prices of which show significant seasonal variation	146·1
Food items, other than those the prices of which show significant seasonal variation	132·6
Food items mainly manufactured in the United Kingdom	121·3
Food items mainly home-produced for direct consumption	146·3
Food items mainly imported for consumption	142·3

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the price of fish meal, soya, maize and barley per ton at the latest available date and the prices of these foodstuffs six months and one year ago.

The prices of these materials were:was offered by his officers on the subject of the removal of hedgerows to farmers and others with interests in agriculture.

We encourage farmers to retain hedges unless they are a real handicap to efficient farming, and we stress the importance of striking a proper balance between the needs of the environment and those of agriculture.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies of hedgerows have been made by his officers; and what conclusions have been arrived at on the subject of hedges as a shield against soil erosion.

In England and Wales soil erosion is largely confined to dry periods in the spring when soil blowing may occur in parts of East Anglia. Studies have been made by my Department's officers at the Arthur Rick-wood Experimental Husbandry Farm and elsewhere. The conclusion from these and other studies is that well-grown hedges may reduce the incidence of soil erosion for distances of up to about 15 times their height, but the typical farm hedge rarely provides sufficient insurance against erosion in the most vulnerable fen-lands, and it normally needs to be supplemented by other cultural measures.I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a report on hedges, prepared for my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland by Dr. J. M. Caborn of Edinburgh University, which deals more fully with the effects of hedges and hedge removal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of miles of hedgerow uprooted in each of the last three years according to the best information available to his Department.

No complete records are available, as hedges are often removed by highway authorities, farmers and others without reference to my Department; but the indications are that the rate of hedge removal has declined in the last three years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the timetable arranged for negotiations concerning the future of international sugar agreements.

The 1968 International Sugar Agreement, which expires at the end of this year, is being renegotiated at a conference called by the United Nations. The second and final session of this conference will be held in Geneva from 10th September to 10th October.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he intends to take to implement the recommendations of his Advisory Committee on the Potato Industry in order to improve the quality of potatoes on sale to the public.

A paper setting out the conclusions of the official working party has been sent to all interested organisations, including those representing consumers, and it will be discussed with them during the next few weeks. My right hon. Friend will consider what action is needed in the light of those discussions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food it he will make a statement on forestry policy.

I have had discussions with many interested bodies on the proposals contained in the consultative document which we published last year, and my hon. Friends and I will be meeting representatives of the Forestry Committee of Great Britain again early next week. At this stage, however, it is too soon to say when we shall be able to announce our decisions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what size of field is regarded as desirable by his advisers for areas of light and medium soils where cereal crops are usually or frequently cultivated.

This will depend on the circumstances, but there is seldom advantage in extending the size of a field beyond 50 acres, and something smaller may often be desirable. When giving advice my Department's officers would refer to the need to strike a balance between agricultural and environmental considerations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why an EEC subsidy is paid on high-quality wheat for animal feed, which could otherwise have been used for human consumption.

The purpose of the denaturing premium is to support the price which the grower receives for wheat without discouraging the well-established practice of feeding wheat to animals. The premium enables wheat that is surplus to milling requirements to be sold at a price competitive with other feed grains, and to be used for feeding to animals which are then used for human food.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any evidence that the addition of cobalt to food and drink for human consumption is injurious to health.

I have been asked to reply.Cobalt is present naturally in the diet, is an essential component of vitamin B12, and is used therapeutically. There is no evidence to suggest that the addition of cobalt to food and drink in small amounts would be injurious to health.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of live cattle imported from the Republic of Ireland through Holyhead and Birkenhead, respectively, from 1st May 1972 to the latest convenient date.

The number of live cattle imported from the Republic of Ireland through Holyhead from 1st May 1972 to 16th June 1973 was 73,243. The number imported through Birkenhead during the same period was 131,338.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present position in regard to the adequacy of supplies of fish meal, soya and other protein livestock feed; and if he has any plans for the rationing of distribution during 1973.

Supplies of these materials appear to be adequate for current needs. The second part of the Question does not arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the effect on appropriate prices of the increases in the cost of protein and other livestock feed in the last few months.

While feedingstuffs are an important element in production costs, the prices received by livestock producers are effectively determined by the state of supply and demand.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will undertake a survey of the anomalies inherent in value added tax to present modifications in the next Budget.

Without accepting the hon. Member's premise I can assure him that the operation of value added tax will be kept under review in the light of experience.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of total excise duties he estimates to have been paid by Scottish consumers in each of the last five years.

The estimate for 1971 is about 9½ per cent. No estimates have been made for the years 1968 to 1970, or for 1972.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether expenditure by the European Community's information services in the United Kingdom is subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

No, unless—which I do not expect—any of the expenditure were to pass through the United Kingdom Appropriation Accounts. All Community expenditure is, however, subject to audit by the Communities' own audit board.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conditions were imposed by Her Majesty's Government on the Gibraltar Government when Gibraltar rejoined the Scheduled Territories in December 1972; and to what extent those remain in force.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts he estimates have been paid in tax reliefs, as a result of tax changes made by the Government, to those, respectively, with incomes over £2,000 a year and £5,000 a year for each year since 1970 in real terms at 1970 prices, including his estimate for the year 1973–74; how many persons were included in both of these categories; and

1972

1973

November

December

January

February

March

April

Nigeria

…

190

Ghana

…

190

Nigeria

…

262

Nigeria

272

Nigeria

…

434

Nigeria

…

308

Ghana

…

176

Nigeria

…

171

Cyprus

…

166

Pakistan

115

Cyprus

…

177

Cyprus

…

154

Iran

…

167

Turkey

…

126

Greece

…

137

Hungary

113

Arab Republic of Egypt

…

166

Saudi Arabia

…

147

Cuba

…

118

Pakistan

…

121

Cuba

…

115

Saudi Arabia

106

Cuba

…

152

Cuba

…

147

Turkey

…

115

Cyprus

…

118

Hungary

107

Arab Republic of Egypt

104

Saudi Arabia

…

139

Arab Republic of Egypt

…

117

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the investigations by the Metropolitan Police into evidence submitted to them that senior officers of that force have been involved in bribery connected with sexual offences, pornography and drugs.

The Commissioner informs me that he has arranged for the allegations which I believe the hon. Member has in mind to be investigated in accordance with Section 49 of the Police Act 1964 by a deputy assistant commissioner. I have no further statement to

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which diplomatic missions have been in receipt of the highest number of parking fixed penalty notices in each of the last six months; and what was the number in each case.

The following table compiled from police records shows the five diplomatic missions in respect of which the most fixed penalty notices were cancelled during each of the six months up to the end of April 1973:make while this investigation is in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of suicides since 1970 inclusive of persons detained in prisons and remand establishments, stating in which place these suicides occurred and the means used in each case.

Yes.Following are the particulars for each of the three years ending 31st December 1972. They relate to prisons unless otherwise indicated:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attacks on prison officers took place in prisons or remand centres in the United Kingdom in each of the past five years.

My noble Friend the Minister of State is obtaining such information as is available and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been detained in prisons or remand centres in each of the past five years, to the latest convenient date.

I would refer the hon. Member to the information about the population of prisons and remand centres given in the annual report on the work of the Prison Department and to the information about persons received into custody in the associated volume of Statistical Tables. The reports for 1971 were presented to Parliament as Cmnd. 5037 and 5156. They relate to England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers have been employed in prisons or remand centres in each of the past five years.

Prison officer grade staff at prisons and remand centres in England and Wales at the end of 1968 and 1972 numbered 7,572 and 9,357, respectively. I regret that corresponding information for the intervening years is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attempted suicides occurred in prisons or remand centres in the United Kingdom in each of the past five years.

The following table gives the available information in respect of England and Wales:

	Males	Females
1968	Not available	Not available
1969	356	12
1970	300	27
1971	304	17
1972	296	7

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many suicides took place in prisons or remand centres in the United Kingdom in each of the past years;(2) if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the prisons or remand centres where suicides took place in each of the past five years.

The following table gives the information relating to suicides in prisons and remand centres in England and Wales:

	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972
Albany	—	1	1	—	—
Birmingham	—	—	—	—	1
Bristol	—	—	—	—	1
Brixton	4	2	1	2	1
Cardiff	—	—	—	1	—
Chelmsford	1	—	—	—	—
Dartmoor	—	—	—	1	—
Dorchester	—	1	—	—	—
Durham	—	—	—	1	—
Exeter	—	—	—	1	—
Leeds	—	—	—	1	2
Leicester	—	—	—	—	1
Lincoln	1	—	1	1	—
Liverpool	—	1	—	1	1
Maidstone	—	1	—	—	—
Manchester	1	—	—	—	—
Pentonville	—	3	1	1	—
Reading	—	—	—	1	—
Risley	3	2	—	—	—
Stafford	1	—	—	—	—
Swansea	—	2	—	—	—
Wakefield	—	—	—	—	1
Wandsworth	3	2	—	1	3
Winchester	—	—	—	—	1
Wormwood Scrubs.	—	3	—	1	1
TOTAL	14	18	4	13	13

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions or civil actions have been before the courts in the last year under the Animals Act 1971 because of injury to juveniles by guard dogs.

The Act does not provide for criminal proceedings. Information about civil actions relating to injury to juveniles by guard dogs is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the immigration and nationality department of the Home Office, during its move to Croydon in 1972, lost the passports of two Norwegian pupils at Lawnside School, Great Malvern, Worcestershire, with the result that the school authorities incurred total expenses of £14·99 in restoring matters temporarily; when the passports are to be returned; what arrangements he is making for a refund of the money; and whether he will make a statement.

I regret that these passports were mislaid during the immigration and nationality department's move to Croydon. They were returned to the school during the Christmas holidays. The expenses of £14·99 incurred by the school in making emergency arrangements will be reimbursed shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will inquire into the estimated costs, direct and indirect, to public funds and to industry and commerce, arising from the closure of streets, diversion of traffic and rail delays during the State visit of General Gowon to London on 13th June.

The direct extra cost incurred by the Metropolitan Police was £425. I am not in a position to estimate the other costs mentioned but, as I said on 19th June in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Acton (Mr. Spearing), my right hon. Friend is in touch with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis about the effect of ceremonial occasions on the movement of traffic generally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps designed to avoid delays to travellers by road and rail during the period of the normal working day in London arising from State visits.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer of 19th June to a Question by the hon. Member for Acton (Mr. Spearing).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the national regulations governing the use of liquid gas equipment and containers. with particular reference to public places and whether any of these regulations em- power byelaws to be made by local authorities;(2) if he will call for a report on the gas cylinder explosion in a hot dog van on the Soho Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, on 16th June 1973, which resulted in one death and 14 people being injured;(3) if he is satisfied with the regulations controlling the use of liquid gas, with particular reference to cylinders carried in private and commercial vehicles; and if he will make a statement;(4) if he will introduce a safety code for users of liquid gas containers;(5) if he will make regulations requiring all vehicles carrying liquid gas to display a standard and easily identifiable warning sign.

We are awaiting a full report on the tragic accident at Hands-worth on 16th June.In factories and other places to which the Factories Act 1961 applies, the Highly Flammable Liquids and Liquefied Petroleum Gases Regulations 1972, made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, which came into operation today, impose requirements designed to prevent fire and explosion from liquefied petroleum gases. As regards other premises, the powers available to my right hon. Friend under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928 extend only to the storage and conveyance by road of such gases. Wider powers will, however, be sought in the proposed legislation on safety and health at work.In the meantime, my right hon. Friend is asking his Standing Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances, which is already considering the storage of liquefied petroleum gases and the labelling, construction and operation of vehicles conveying these substances, to submit to him such further proposals as it may consider necessary in the light of this accident.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the breakdown of the staff structure with grades and numbers involved of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board

The board consists of one chairman and one deputy chairman and seven members.The staff of the board comprises one assistant solicitor, four senior legal assistants, one principal, 10 higher executive officers, 29 executive officers, and 54 clerical, typing and other supporting staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why his Assistant Private Secretary did not reply till 13th June to the hon. Member for West Ham, North's letter of 18th May requesting that matters connected with the London May Day march should be referred to the Commissioner of Police for investigation; and whether he will expedite replies to correspondence in future.

According to our records the hon. Member's letter was acknowledged by printed card as soon as it was received, and I asked for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. The letter of 13th June was an interim reply intended as a courtesy to the hon. Member and was sent when it became apparent that I would not be in a position to give him a substantive reply for some time. I shall write to him as soon as I have received and have had an opportunity to consider the Commissioner's report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in force for referring the cases of life sentence prisoners to the Parole Board for England and Wales; and whether he will make a statement.

The practice hitherto has been that all life sentence cases are referred to the local review committee at the prison and thereafter to the Parole Board after not more than seven years. Cases which appear to call for earlier consideration—for example, because of exceptional mitigating circumstances—are referred sooner. I have now concluded, with the agreement of the Parole Board, that it is unnecessary for every case to be formally reviewed after a fixed period of not more than seven years. This is so particularly in the case of a prisoner who, because of the gravity of his crime, or the danger which he still presents to the public, will clearly have to be detained for many more years. Accordingly, the date of the first referral of each case to the local review committee and the Parole Board will in future be fixed in consultation between the Home Office and the board, according to the circumstances of the particular case and the prisoner's conduct and progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further statement on the arrangement to sell butter at a reduced price to the categories of pensioners indicated in his previous announcement.

Regulations implementing the arrangements were laid before Parliament on 12th June. The scheme will start on 2nd July. Beneficiaries will be entitled to two tokens a month, each valid for the purchase of half a pound of butter at 5p less than the normal price.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money has been allocated to the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board for capital projects during each of the past five years.

The capital allocations to the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board during each of the last five years for its main capital programme are as follows:

	£ million
1968–69	8·7
1969–70	8·1
1970–71	9·3
1971–72	13·4
1972–73	17·0

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how much money has been allocated to the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board for capital projects during each of the next five years;(2) what changes have taken place in the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board's building programme for the period 1975 to 1980.

Capital planning figures are given to regional hospital boards in confidence, since the figures are provisional and subject to discussion. In general terms the pattern of provision now under discussion shows that the figures rise to a peak in the mid-1970s and thereafter level off at a lower figure which is however still higher than that existing in the late 1960s.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what sum was paid out in social security benefits to strikers and their families in the period from 1st November 1972 to 1st May 1973; and how this sum compares with that paid out in the previous six months.

Following is the information in regard to supplementary benefit:

	Payments during Trade Disputes		Post Dispute payments
Period	Strikers	Strikers families	Strikers and their families
	£	£	£
1st November 1972–1st May 1973	1,936	283,258	19,814*
3rd May 1972–31st October 1972	21,822	2,509,334	219,247*
* Under Section 2 of the Social Security Act 1971 these payments are fully recoverable by deductions from wages in instalments; in practice recovery is not fully effected until some time after the period in which the payment was made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, with a view to legislation, he will set up a departmental inquiry into the incidence of wife battering, the nature and amounts of help required by these wives and the nature and extent of help they are at present receiving;(2) if he will circularise all local authorities advising them, in view of the extent of the problem, to give priority in temporary accommodation to battered wives, and their children, who wish to leave their husbands.

In my view sufficient information to enable me to consider the possible need for guidance to local authorities can be gathered without setting up a departmental inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, where a prescription contains two complementary ingredients, for example, capsules supplemented by an inhaler, he will make only one 20p charge to give equity with the position of one charge for medication which includes two ingredients in one tablet or one bottle.

No. The basis of prescription charges is the individual item.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the number of operating theatres in hospitals in England and Wales which were used less intensively in February, March and April than that at the City General Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, due to a shortage of nursing staff;(2) what was the number of hospitals in England and Wales in which more than 25 sessions a month in operating theatres have had to be cancelled due to the lack of trained nursing staff during the last 12 months; and whether he will make a statement.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what amounts he estimates were paid in social security cash benefits, including family allowances, to, respectively, sick and disabled persons, retired persons, unemployed persons, single-parent families, and low-paid workers for each year since 1960 in real terms at 1960 prices, including his estimate for the year 1973–74; and how many persons were included in each of these categories;(2) what amounts he estimates were paid in social security cash benefits to, respectively, sick and disabled persons, retired persons, unemployed persons, single-parent families and low-paid workers for each year since 1970 in real terms at 1970 prices, including his estimate for the years 1973–74; and how many persons were included in each of these categories.

The detailed information is being prepared and I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT in due course.

COST OF SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFITS*
Great Britain £ million
1959–60	1960–61	1961–62	1962–63	1963–64	1964–65	1965–66
160	180	171	200	217	224	246
1966–67	1967–63	1968–69	1969–70	1970–71	1971–72	1972–73
298	386	429	471	524	643	696†
* Assistance grants and non-contributory old-age pensions before 28th November 1966.
† Estimated.

As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. Deakins) on 22nd January last.—[Vol. 849, c. 47.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what recent talks he has had with employers about the introduction of a worker director scheme.

I have had informal talks with representatives of the CBI at its request and hope to have further discussions with it.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present loss of earning power in Scotland due to unemployment, assuming average earnings per worker.

If all the presently registered unemployed in Scotland were to receive average earnings they would receive in total about £3 million per week.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of male unemployment in Llanelli, Swansea, Port Talbot, Cardiff and Newport at the latest available date.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total expenditure on supplementary benefits for each year from 1959 to 1972–73 inclusive; and what he estimates to be the cost of fraudulent claiming of supplementary benefits for each of these years.

Expenditure on supplementary benefit is shown in the following table:

Following is the information for 11th June 1973:

Travel-to-work area	Percentage rate of unemployment: Males (Provisional)
Llanelli	1·8
Swansea	4·4
Port Talbot	2·8
Cardiff	4·7
Newport	4·0

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of youth unemployment in the Newport, Monmouth, employment exchange area at the latest available date.

Percentage rates of unemployment are not calculated for young people separately. On 11th June 1973 there were 43 boys and 51 girls unemployed in the Newport area. The figures are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of male unemployment in the county of Monmouthshire at the latest available date.

Based on the provisional figures for 11th June, the rate was 4·1 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will ensure that payments of benefit by Giro take place on Thursdays rather than Fridays wherever possible.

The issue of giro-cheques is spread over a number of days in the week. Most are posted to applicants during the three days Tuesday to Thursday, leaving a small proportion to be sent out early on Friday. These arrangements appear generally to be working satisfactorily. If the hon. Member has had specific cases of difficulty drawn to his attention, I shall be pleased to look into them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultation he has had with local authorities in connection with his proposal to cut public expenditure by £500 million.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Wandsworth, Central (Mr. Thomas Cox) on 18th June.

ACCIDENTS/CASUALTIES—A46 WIDMERPOOL-NEWARK-LINCOLN
			Accidents				Casualties
			Fatal	Serious	Slight	Total	Fatal	Serious	Slight	Total
January-March:
1973	…	…	1	6	14	21	1	9	27	37
1972	…	…	1	13	8	22	1	17	15	33

No information is available on the number of persons involved without suffering injury.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of fatal and other road accidents during each year from 1970 to 1972 on those parts of the A2, A20 and A225, respectively, which lie in the Dartford parliamentary constituency.

Following is the information:

ACCIDENTS ON TRUNK ROADS A2 AND A20 WITHIN THE DARTFORD CONSTITUENCY
	Road
	A2		A20
Year	Fatal	Other	Fatal	Other
1970	4	126	2	40
1971	6	102	1	54
1972	4	49	4	45

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider withholding public funds for stages 2 and 3 of the Bristol outer circuit road until the results of the present inquiry into land use and transportation in the Bristol area are available for his consideration.

I have accepted in principle that a suitably modified version of stages 2 and 3 shall be included in the firm programme as soon as sufficient information is available from Bristol city council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many accidents have occurred on the A46 Widmerpool-Newark-Lincoln road from 1st January 1973 to date; how many persons have been involved and how many were fatal, serious or slight casualties; and how this compares with the same period in 1972.

Following is the information:Statistics of accidents on the principal road A225 are the responsibility of the local authority.

asked the Secretary of State State for the Environment if the showing of filmed interviews with local residents and others affected by compulsory purchase orders is admissable as evidence at inquiries held by his Department on those orders.

It is usual for objectors either to appear or be represented at the inquiry, where their evidence can be tested in cross-examination, or to rely on written representations. It would be open to an inspector to permit the showing of films if these seemed likely to assist the inquiry, but I cannot conceive any instances in which filmed interviews without supporting evidence would he likely to fall into that category.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the average waiting period at each of the driving test centres in the Greater London area for applicants wishing to take a test on the next available date;(2) what is the latest available figure for the number of people waiting to take their driving tests on the earliest available date at each of the Greater London test centres.

As at 14th June, the number of outstanding applications and average waiting periods at driving test centres in the Greater London area were as follows:

Centre	Applications outstanding	Average waiting period (weeks)
Belvedere	1,140	17
Barking	3,075	20
Burnt Oak	2,859	21
Barnet	1,462	20
Bexley Heath	2,726	17
Croydon	2,215	20
Chingford	1,539	20
East Ham	2,537	21
Greenford	2,553	19
Hayes	2,134	19
Hendon	3,275	20
Hornchurch	3,373	23
Ilford	2,318	20
Isleworth	4,993	22
Lee Green	3,844	18
Mill Hill	1,575	21
Morden	3,361	22
Norwood	2,379	19
New Malden	2,189	22
Palmers Green	3,066	21
Ruislip	2,534	19
Surbiton	2,129	19
Southfields	2,537	22
Southgate	1,497	20
Sutton	2,120	19
Sidcup	3,069	17
Southall	2,849	19
Teddington	2,252	21
Tottenham	4,026	20
Wealdstone	2,169	20
Wood Green	4,307	22
Winchmore Hill	2,365	20
Wallington	3,003	19
Wanstead	2,051	22
Walthamstow	1,620	18
West Wickham	3,249	19

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to prevent applicants applying for a second driving test before they have taken their first test.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many members of the Sports Council have been appointed to represent the Rugby Union.

No member of the Sports Council is appointed in a representative capacity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make it clear to local authorities that capital expenditure on necessary plans for collecting and preparing waste paper for recycling will be treated by the Government as "key" expenditure for the purspose of borrowing the money required.

No. The decision to incur such expenditure is one for each local authority to take under the arrangements for locally determined schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average salary of a driving test examiner in Greater London; what is the average number of hours per week worked; and what were the comparable figures for 1971 and 1972.

The answer to the first part of the question is £1,946; to the second 41; to the third, £1,761, £1,889 and 41 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many driving test examiners have left employment at each driving test centre in Greater London since January 1973; and how many new examiners have been recruited.

The information is as follows:

Belvedere	1
West Wickham	1
Greenford	1
Isleworth	1
Wealdstone	1

None from the remaining centres.Since January 1973 40 additional examiners have been recruited to centres in Greater London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many driving test examiners left employment at each test centre in Greater London during 1972: and how many examiners were recruited at each centre in that year.

The information is as follows:

Hendon	1
Isleworth	1
Morden	1
Acton (since closed)	2
Hayes	1
Hornchurch	1
Southall	1
Wood Green	1

None from the remaining centres.No examiners were recruited during 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will hold a public inquiry into the future of the Albert Bridge before it is reopened to traffic.

No. The present temporary closure order cannot be extended after the completion of the current works. The Greater London Council may arrange a public inquiry into its intended permanent closure order if it sees fit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has set up or undertaken any pilot schemes or series of tests as suggested by the report of the Key Committee on Disposal of Solid Toxic Wastes.

Whilst preliminary work in this connection has already been undertaken on a limited scale by the Water Pollution Research Laboratory, my Department is developing a programme of research to investigate the nature and fate of contaminants in the percolate from tips. The detailed requirements are now being examined in terms of literature surveys, laboratory and pilot scale work, the application of the use of lysimeters and the scale of associated work on movement in the unsaturated zone, field work on sites, routine physicochemical analysis, an assessment of physical properties, the development of analytical techniques and construction of mathematical models.A steering group has been at work in the Department of the Environment and it is expected that the Water Pollution Research Laboratory, the Water Resources Board, the Institute of Geological Sciences and the Atomic Energy Research Establishment will be involved in the programme of work. A research programme extending over a period of three years is contemplated. A number of sites in Great Britain will be selected for investigation to have regard to a balanced range of wastes, geological variables and the relationship of sites to known and potential water resources. The results of this research programme will, in due course, be available to all refuse disposal authorities and other interested bodies and will enable them to proceed to a more scientific selection of sites for waste disposal purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which recommendations, if any, of the Key Committee on the Disposal of Solid Toxic Wastes have been implemented.

The main recommendations of the Key Committee report will require legislation. The Government have announced their intention to bring forward the necessary legislation in the lifetime of this Parliament. Consultations on this are already taking place with local authority associations and other interested bodies on the basis of the consultation document "Waste Disposal: Proposals for a New Framework "issued by the Department of the Environment, the Scottish Development Department and the Welsh Office in February 1973. Wider powers and duties are to be given to refuse disposal authorities. As a first step in the implementation of this policy, the function of refuse disposal in England was allocated to the new county councils in the Local Government Act 1972.In addition the advice of the Key Committee on the operation of tips receiving toxic wastes to reduce the risk of pollution from them was summarised in DOE Circular 26/71 (Welsh Office Circular 65/71). In Article 13/(1)(f) of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1973, Statutory Instrument 31, provision was made for statutory consultation by local planning authorities with the appropriate river authority in respect of proposals for the deposit of wastes on land.The Key Committee's recommendations as to the part local refuse disposal authorities might play in ensuring that adequate facilities are available for the disposal of commercial and industrial wastes as well as for the disposal of domestic refuse were referred to in paragraph 29 of DOE Circular 70/72 (Welsh Office Circular 149/72).The Deposit of Poisonous Waste Act 1972 was an interim measure and provided for heavy deterrent penalties in the event of poisonous, noxious and polluting wastes being deposited on land in such a way and in such circumstances as to lead to an environmental hazard. The Act also provided for a notification procedure in respect of wastes deposited to land except those wastes exempted from the procedure by the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he replied to the letter dated 16th February 1973 from the Chief Public Health Inspector of Bromsgrove urban district council about the council's serious concern as a result of an incident involving an acid-carrying tanker on the M5 motorway in October 1972.

No such letter has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the alternative forms of Channel link on which detailed investigations have taken place within his Department.

Consideration has been given to a wide variety of forms of Channel link, but a bored rail tunnel and continued development of sea and air services are the only ones now subject to detailed investigation.