asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) why it was considered necessary to replace a national subsidy with an EEC subsidy in respect of refining margins on raw cane sugar; and what is the estimated cost to EEC funds;(2) why it was considered appropriate by the EEC that all refiners of raw cane sugar should have the same refining margin; and if it is intended to apply this principle to other sectors of the agricultural industry.

The decision to replace the French national subsidy on the refining of raw cane sugar from the French Overseas Departments by a Community subsidy was the counterpart of the decisions taken in relation to Commonwealth sugar imported into the United Kingdom. The decision related solely to the refining of raw cane sugar and no principle of general application can be inferred from it. The cost in the year beginning 1st July 1973 is estimated at about 2·5 million Units of Account. The United Kingdom national subsidy, as I explained to the House on 28th March, is to ensure the fulfilment of Protocol 17 of the Treaty of Accession

										£
"Statesman I"	…	…	…	…	19th January 1973	…	…	…	…	231,491
"Englishman"	…	…	…	…	12th February 1973	…	…	…	…	95,770
"Irishman"	…	…	…	…	27th April 1973	…	…	…	…	52,200
"Lloydsman"	…	…	…	…	7th June 1973	…	…	…	…	67,050
						Total		…	…	446,511

"Statesman I" and "Lloydsman" were chartered for one month and two months respectively, and the charters have been extended at the Government's option by periods of one month. "Englishman" and "Irishman" are on open-ended charter terminable by the Government.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, when Her Majesty's Government chartered tugs for use in the Icelandic dispute, they were aware that the tugs

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for which foods imported into the United Kingdom the United Kingdom will be able to obtain the benefit of any reduction in current world prices.

Consumers would benefit from a reduction in the current world prices of most of the foods imported into the United Kingdom, the main exceptions being sugar and dairy products.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tugs have been chartered by the Department to assist British naval forces in the Icelandic dispute; when they were chartered and for how long; how much has been paid for each one to the present date; and when the charters have to be renegotiated.

There are four tugs on charter for support work at Iceland. Their names, the dates they were taken on charter, and the total cost incurred in service for each up to 26th June are as follows:were owned by the same company as owns the trawlers fishing in those waters; and what is his policy in this matter.

The tugs which have been chartered for service at Iceland are owned by the United Towing Company Ltd. This company does not own any trawlers. The Government's policy in chartering tugs is to obtain the most suitable vessels available at a fair charter rate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what subsidies and grants have been made available to the fishing industry; and what were their individual yearly total amounts for the last 10 years.

The following table shows the payments to the United Kingdom fishing industry during the past 10 years of operating subsidies for white fish and herring, and also of vessel and improvement grants through the White Fish Authority and the Herring Industry Board.

£000
	White fish and herring subsidies	Vessel and improvement grants
1963–64	4,782	244
1964–65	4,432	713
1965–66	3,949	1,467
1966–67	3,110	1,516
1967–68	2,813	2,250
1968–69	4,102	4,001
1969–70	2,960	2,442
1970–71	2,839	3,015
1971–72	1,980	3,950
1972–73	1,756	6,659

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the yearly increase in the price of fish in the retail and wholesale price indices in the last 10 years; and what has been the total amount of fish from Icelandic waters landed by British vessels in the United Kingdom.

No wholesale price index is available. The fish sub-index of the General Index of Retail Prices, which covers fresh and processed, including imported canned, fish, is shown in the following table for mid-May in each year, together with the percentage increase on the sub-index for the previous May:

	Sub-index	Percentage increase
1963	101	—
1964	105	4·0
1965	110	4·8
1966	115	4·5
1967	119	3·5
1968	121	1·7
1969	129	6·6
1970	148	14·7
1971	165	11·5
1972	191	15·8
1973	240	25·7

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fisheries protection vessels the Department has; whether they carry armament, and if so, of what kind; and whether they are capable of firing live shells.

My Department has no fishery protection vessels.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the terms of the Anglo-Irish Sugar Agreement of 1963 have been affected by the accession of the two countries concerned to the EEC.

This agreement has been terminated, by means of an exchange of letters between the parties, with retrospective effect as from 30th June 1972.

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

The following table shows the percentage and money value changes in the average retail prices of about 80 important items of food as collected for the purposes of the Index of Retail Food Prices, between 21st July 1970 and 22nd May 1973, the latest date for which information is available.

	Change in Average Price
Item	Percentage	Money Value*
Beef: home-killed
Chuck	+67·9	+22·0
Sirloin (without bone)	+63·2	+29·0
Silverside (without bone)†	+56·4	+23·9
Back ribs (with bone)†	+69·9	+20·2
Fore ribs (with bone)	+67·7	+19·3
Brisket (with bone)	+92·5	+17·2
Rump steak†	+51·0	+29·9
Beef: imported chilled
Chuck	+79·1	+21·6
Silverside (without bone)†	+69·5	+24·2
Rump steak†	+60·1	+28·3
Lamb: home-killed
Loin (with bone)	+59·7	+21·8
Breast†	+70·9	+7·8
Best end of neck	+60·4	+16·9
Shoulder (with bone)	+58·6	+15·3
Leg (with bone)	+57·2	+20·2
Lamb: imported
Loin (with bone)	+57·0	+15·1
Breast†	+81·8	+5·4
Best end of neck	+55·3	+12·0
Shoulder (with bone)	+61·1	+11·6
Leg (with bone)	+52·4	+15·1
Pork: home-killed
Leg (foot off)	+45·6	+12·8
Belly†	+56·6	+10·3
Loin (with bone)	+44·4	+15·0
Sausages
Pork	+35·4	+6·7
Beef	+47·8	+7·5
Roasting chicken
Broiler, frozen, 3 lb.	+33·5	+5·5
Fresh or chilled, 4 lb. (oven ready)	+25·6	+5·0
Fresh fish
Cod fillets	+97·6	+20·5
Haddock fillets	+75·2	+19·1
Haddock, smoked, whole	+76·3	+17·7
Plaice fillets	+55·9	+18·0
Halibut cuts	+58·7	+27·1
Herrings	+86·0	+9·8
Kippers (with bone)	+57·8	+8·9
Fresh vegetables
Potatoes, old, loose—
White	‡	‡
Red	‡	‡
Potatoes, new, loose	+178·6	+5·0
Tomatoes	+84·4	+10·3
Cabbage, greens	+47·4	+1·8
Cabbage, hearted	+47·4	+1·8
Cauliflower or broccoli	+30·5	+2·5
Brussels sprouts	‡	‡
Peas	‡	‡
Runner beans	‡	‡
Carrots	+20·8	+1·0
Onions	+106·2	+6·9
Mushrooms, per ¼ lb	+14·3	-0·9
Fresh fruit
Apples, cooking	+89·3	+6·7
Apples, dessert	+34·0	+3·5
Pears, dessert	+44·9	+4·4
Oranges	+27·1	+1·9
Bananas	+151	+1·3

	Change in Average Price
Item	Percentage	Money Value*
Bread
White, 1¾lb. wrapped and sliced loaf	+15·6	+1·4
White, 1¾ lb. unwrapped loaf	+16·9	+1·5
White, 14 oz. loaf	+26·9	+1·4
Brown, 14 oz. loaf	+23·3	+1·4
Flour
Self-raising, per 3 lb	+31·6	+3·1
Bacon
Collar†	+65·3	+15·6
Gammon†	+55·7	+19·4
Middle cut, smoked†	+61·7	+19·0
Back, smoked	+65·2	+21·7
Back, unsmoked	+67·2	+21·5
Streaky, smoked	+83·6	+18·3
Ham (not shoulder)	+27·3	+15·2
Pork luncheon meat, 12 oz. can	+21·2	+2·9
Canned (red) salmon, ½ size can	+32·9	+9·1
Milk, ordinary, per pint	+19·6	+0·9
Butter
New Zealand	+20·8	+3·6
Danish	+19·3	+3·9
Margarine, per ½ lb.
Standard quality (without added butter)	+14·8	+0·8
Lower priced	+18·2	+0·8
Lard	+6·9	+0·6
Cheese, cheddar type	+70·3	+13·0
Eggs, per doz.
Large	+50·2	+11·1
Standard	+67·4	+12·6
Medium	+88·0	+13·9
Sugar, granulated, 2 lb.	+22·7	+1·7
Instant coffee, per 4 oz.	+29·2	+7·4
Tea, per ¼ lb.
Higher priced	+7·9	+0·8
Medium priced	+3·8	+0·3
Lower priced	+3·9	+0·3
* In new pence per lb. unless otherwise stated.
† Or Scottish equivalent.
‡ Insufficient or no quotations

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the numbers of built and caravan second homes in England and Wales by standard region; how these relate to regional housing stocks; what is the recent annual growth in establishing second homes; and how this compares with additions to the total housing stock.

The number of permanent dwellings used as second homes in England and Wales increased by an estimated average of 15,000 annually from 1968 to 1972; in the same period, net additions to the housing stock averaged 216,000 annually.The estimates of second homes are derived from interviews with national samples of households, which are too small to yield reliable regional estimates. However, it appears that in 1972 under 1 per cent. of the permanent dwellings in most regions were second homes; in East Anglia the proportion was between 1 and 2 per cent. and in the South-West region and in Wales between 2 and 3 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of households in England and Wales he estimates own or have regular use of second homes; and how this compares with the position in European countries for which data may be available.

About 2 per cent. of households living in England and Wales have a second home in Great Britain; roughly half of these second homes are permanent buildings and half are static caravans. Unofficial data derived from a small sample survey and based on a different definition of second homes were tabulated for several European countries on page 20 of "Second Homes in England and Wales" published by the Countryside Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many legislatures in Common Market countries make a charge for adults who wish to tour the premises; and what are the rates levied in English currency.

I regret that this information is not readily available. I am, however, making inquiries and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what would be the annual yield of a levy of 10p per head for people over 18 years of age touring the Palace of Westminster;(2) what was the total number of people who toured the Palace of Westminster in 1972, including children, and the cost of carpeting that part of the tour of route to which the public have access.

432,625 people toured the Palace of Westminster last year, but as no record is kept of how many of these were adults the estimate requested by my hon. Friend is not available. The initial cost of carpeting that part of the route which is carpeted was £5,700, but as the carpets are of varying ages and quality I am unable to express this in annual terms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Mercantile Lighterage Company may expect a decision on an application by it, instituted on 23rd June 1972 and to which the Department of the Environment, after an inquiry having been held in February 1973, gave an assurance on 17th April 1973 that the Secretary of State's decision would be announced as soon as possible.

Today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will report on discussions with the County Councils Association on the question of drivers' hours in the ambulance service, especially as current regulations appear to have less wide exemptions for ambulance vehicles than the EEC Community Regulations No. 543/69, which would apply to domestic journeys in this country from 1st January 1976.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has discussed this with the County Councils Association and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the contents of paragraphs 37 and 38 of the consultative document relating to the new building Bill, he intends to introduce new building regulations for England and Wales during the current Session, or in the new Session to commence at the end of 1973.

New building regulations cannot be made until the necessary enabling powers are enacted, and, as I informed my hon. Friend on 11th June, I cannot yet say when it will be possible to introduce legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current rate at which he is certifying redemption of rent charges under Section 191 of the Law of Property Act 1925.

During the last four weeks the purchase price has averaged 9·78 times the annual rent charge, plus legal and other costs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to announce the date of the London borough elections.

Soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to ensure that when building operations cease on housing sites following the bankruptcy of developers local councils have automatic authority to remove unsightly or dangerous buildings, vehicles and materials.

Local authorities already have powers, under the Public Health Acts 1936 and 1961, to deal with dangerous buildings and with statutory nuisances, and I have no evidence that further powers are needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent consideration he has given to seeking powers to enable local authorities to impose full or partial rating on empty houses and properties; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Northants, South (Mr. Arthur Jones) on 25th June 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average registered rent, for the latest available date, of unfurnished and furnished dwellings, respectively, in (a) England and Wales, (b) South-East Lancashire conurbation and (c) the Merseyside conurbation.

The following figures for 1972 are for England and Wales as a whole, for the Manchester Rent Assessment Panel area and for the Liverpool Rent Assessment Panel area. On first registrations these were:

	Unfurnished per annum £	Furnished per annum £
England and Wales	242	318
Manchester RAP	179	238
Liverpool RAP	203	253

Figures for the South-East Lancashire conurbation as such are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what publicity by poster, pamphlet or letters he will give to inform the public of their rights to the various forms of compensation to which they are entitled under the Land Compensation Act 1973.

A series of pamphlets is being prepared to inform the public of their rights to compensation and other benefits available under the land compensation code, with particular reference to the improvements introduced by the Land Compensation Act 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider introducing legislation to make it a requirement that local authorities shall keep a register open to public inspection and detailing their members' business and other commercial interests

I will consider this possibility.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he is making for the public display of the Mantegna Triumphs at Hampton Court.

Work will start next month on preparing the Lower Orangery as a permanent home for these paintings and should be completed in 1975. In the meantime, in consultation with the Lord Chamberlain, I am examining the possibility of exhibiting them temporarily elsewhere in the Palace once the restoration work on them is complete. My hon. Friend will know that one painting "The Vase Bearers" has been on display in one of the State Rooms for the past 18 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of his scheme for dual tendering for motorway construction.

It is too early to form any conclusions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now in a position to give the date of the completion and opening to the public use of the 13-mile section of the M3 from Lightwater to Sunbury.

Spring 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can now say when he expects to decide on the application under the Caravan Sites Act by Warwickshire County Council and Coventry City Council to provide a site for itinerant travellers at Baginton.

My right hon. and learned Friend is awaiting clarification from Warwickshire County Council of the proposed arrangements with Coventry City Council as regards the joint provision of a gipsy caravan site at Baginton. He will then decide how to proceed on the objection to the proposal which is currently before him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, following his decision not to reintroduce the scheme for the endorsement of the registration books of cars which have been the subject of total loss payments, he will now make arangements for the endorsement to be removed from the registration books which still contain it.

Yes. If anyone possessing a vehicle, the registration book of which was endorsed under this scheme, wishes to have a new registration book without the endorsement, the motor taxation office with which the vehicle is registered will upon request issue such a new registration book.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many Government training places are available to provide new recruits for the hotel and catering industry and for existing employees within the industry, respectively.

Over 750 places are currently available under the Training Opportunities Scheme. Training of existing employees is the industry's own responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of trainee staff for the hotel and catering industry expected to complete Government training courses this year and in each of the following three years, respectively; and what is the proportion being trained in each main category of skill.

About 1,000 people should complete courses in 1973; 55 per cent. in food preparation, 24 per cent. in food service, 20 per cent. in housekeping and reception and 1 per cent. in management. Estimates of completions for the following three years cannot be given but numbers are likely to rise as the Training Opportunities Scheme continues to expand.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people are registered in the county of Bedfordshire; and what are the categories of disablement making up this total.

On 16th April 1973 there were 4,340 people registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts 1944 and 1958 at employment offices in the County of Bedfordshire. These included 1,653 with surgical disabilities, 1,839 with medical disabilities, 205 with mental disorders and 643 with other types of disablement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people are employed in the county of Bedfordshire.

Of the 4,340 people in the county of Bedfordshire registered in April 1973 under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts 1944 and 1958, 221 were known to be unemployed. Most of the remainder were probably in employment, although it is impossible to give a specific figure. It is known, however, that in May 3,153 were employed in firms with 20 or more employees, that is, those with a quota obligation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled in the county of Bedfordshire fall within the age groups, under 18 years, 19 to 50 and over 50 years of age; and what percentage of the total are males.

Males constituted 89·8 per cent. of the 4,340 people registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts at employment offices in the county of Bedfordshire on 16th April 1973. Of these 4,340, four were aged under 18. Information about the age distribution of the adults on the disabled persons register is available only for those known to be unemployed. In January, of the 257 registered disabled persons in Bedfordshire known to be unemployed, 111 were aged 18 to 50 and 146 were over 50.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, of the total number of disabled in the county of Bedfordshire, how many are ex-Service men.

On 16th April 1973, the number of ex-Service men included on the registers kept under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts 1944 and 1958 at our employment offices in the County of Bedfordshire was 1,940.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the number of employers whose work force contains less than 3 per cent. of disabled people.

When the annual survey was made in May 1972, 34,794 employers of 20 or more workers—that is to say, those with obligations under the quota scheme—had less than 3 per cent. of registered disabled people among their work force; but there is evidence which suggests that many of these firms were employing substantial numbers of unregistered disabled people. No reliable estimate is possible for firms with no quota obligation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the average weekly earnings for (1) males over 18 years of age, and (2) females over 18 years of age in each county in Wales.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will use his good offices in an effort to end the strike by the printers of HANSARD.

The employees concerned are not on strike. A small group is restricting its output in support of a claim for a higher increase than has been offered within the pay limit. Officials of Her Majesty's Stationery Office are continuing their efforts to reach a settlement with the trade union concerned. I see no basis at present on which I could usefully intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish statistics of work permits issued for Commonwealth workers and foreign workers from countries outside the EEC.

Yes. My right hon. Friend will put in the Library of the House each quarter a summary of work permits issued and applications refused for Commonwealth workers and non-EEC workers. My right hon. Friend today put in the Library statistics covering the first quarter of this year, and they will be published in the July edition of the Department of Employment Gazette.In subsequent quarters these tables of work permits will be put in the Library of the House at the same time as those mentioned by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in his reply to my hon Friend the Member for Heston and Isle-worth (Mr. Hayhoe) on 28th March. They will continue to be published in the

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will issue instructions to disablement resettlement officers to give equal special attention to the specific job needs and requirements of those suffering from phobia and anxiety neuroses as is given at present to others suffering from better recognised forms of disability.

Further instructions are not necessary. Disablement resettlement officers are already instructed to give special attention to all their clients whether suffering from physical or mental disabilities, including phobias and anxiety neuroses.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in family expenditure relative to family income since June 1970.

The Department of Employment Gazette published on 28th June showed that family expenditure rose on average from £28·57 in 1970 to £35·06 in 1972, a rise of 22·7 per cent. In the same period net family income rose by 22·8 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will conduct a study of hardship suffered in low income areas.

I have been asked to reply.The problems of low income families are not confined to low income areas. We have in hand a number of studies concerned with the situation of such families and I would wish to examine the results of these before considering the need for further work which was confined to particular geographical areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, as a general principle, he will initiate a system whereby any person with a British passport staying abroad who refuses to return to Great Britain to answer criminal or police charges should have his passport and the privileges attaching thereto withdrawn with a suitable public announcement to this effect.

No. Such a procedure would be against established international practice and would not have the effect of forcing persons to return to this country. Extradition is the generally recognised method employed to achieve this result.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding the recent withdrawal of privileges and recreation facilities from political prisoners in Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.

We have noted regulations altering the conditions upon which detainees may receive visitors, which were introduced early this year. We have also heard a report that the correspondence of some detainees had been delayed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is expected that the national computer will include a wanted and missing persons index.

In 1976.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he is giving to the EEC three-year forecast of budgeting expenditure and revenues for 1973–75.

As indicated in paragraph 2 of page 25 of the White Paper "Public Expenditure to 1976–77", Cmnd 5178, account was taken of this forecast when arriving at the projections of United Kingdom contributions to the European Communities' budget for the years covered by the White Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will circulate to all art and antique dealers his recent reply to the representations made by the Fine Art Trade Working Party on value added tax.

Information for traders on VAT is published when appropriate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received with regard to relieving disposable syringes and hypodermic needles from value added tax.

I have received two letters recently.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the taxation of long-service awards to employees.

Yes. The Inland Revenue has recently reviewed the treatment for tax purposes of awards made to directors and employees as testimonials to mark long service. In law, all such awards are taxable and where they are made in cash tax must be deducted under the normal PAYE procedure. By concession, however, the Inland Revenue will not seek to charge tax in respect of long-service awards which take the form of tangible articles of reasonable cost when the award is in respect of a period of service of not less than 20 years and no similar award has been made to the recipient within the previous 10 years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons were in receipt in 1971 of the rent, dividends and net interest, other than that received by life assurance and superannuation funds, as listed in table 19 of National Income and Expenditure 1972.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, on the transition from the classical to the imputation system of corporation tax, the total tax burden on a close company and its shareholders can, in certain instances, exceed the company's income; and what action he proposes.

Yes. My right hon. Friend is tabling amendments to the Finance Bill today to deal with this matter and with some other points affecting close companies on the change of company tax system. In view of the technical nature of the amendments, I am arranging for an explanatory note to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will publish a report on the work of the Ministry of Community Relations in Northern Ireland during the last year.

No, but if there are any particular points on which my hon. Friend would like information I would be glad to supply it.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many major hospital building projects in Northern Ireland have been completed in the last year for which figures are available; how many new hospitals started; and how many mental hospitals or sub-normality hospitals were included in these totals.

During the year ended 31st March 1973, three major hospital building projects, that is costing more than £75,000 each, were completed and five further such projects were started.Three of the projects started, and one of those completed, were mental or sub-normality hospitals or units. These figures include projects which provide, or will provide, additional accommodation or replacement accommodation at existing hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients were in mental hospitals at the latest convenient date; how many of these are classified as incurable; and of this number how many are children.

At 31st December 1972, 6,585 patients in Northern Ireland were being cared for either in hospitals for the mentally disordered or in appropriate units in general hospitals.It is not possible to give information about the prognosis for these patients as modern treatment aims at mobilising the resources of all patients so that some improvement can be expected in every case.

Members of Health Boards		Members of Local Authorities
Subsistence	Flat Rates	Subsistence	Maximum Rates	Difference
Overnight absence (24 hours):		Overnight absence (24 hours):
Inner London	£8·00	Inner London	£8·75	+75p
Elsewhere	£7·25	Elsewhere	£8·00	+75p
Absences exceeding 5 but not exceeding 8 hours	£0·57*	Absences exceeding 4 but not exceeding 8 hours	£1·25	+68p
Absences exceeding 8 but not exceeding 12 hours	£1·25*	Absences exceeding 8 but not exceeding 12 hours	£2·20	+95p
Absences exceeding 12 hours	£1·82*	Absences exceeding 12 but not exceeding 16 hours	£3·12	+£1·30p
		Absences exceeding 16 hours	£3·75	+£1·93p
Loss of Earnings		Loss of Earnings
Not more than 4 hours	£2·75	Not more than 4 hours	£2·37½†	-37½p
More than 4 hours	£5·50	More than 4 hours	£4·75†	-75p
* These allowances are increased when member takes meals while travelling.
† Proposed increases to £2·75 and £5·50 are incorporated in the Local Government (Financial Loss Allowance) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1973 at present before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what research is being done on the question of the battered baby syndrome in Scotland; and whether there are any statistics indicating the extent of the problem.

I am sending the hon. Member a report by a Working Group of the Scottish Standing Medical Advisory Committee which contains a summary of recent research on this subject. Assaults on very young children are not recorded as a separate category in the annual publication of criminal statistics in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the current rates of subsistence, loss of earnings, and mileage rates payable to members of the area health boards and committees, indicating the differences between these and the allowances currently paid to members of local authorities.

The information requested in so far as it relates to members of health boards and local authorities is set out in the table below. To date no health board committees have been appointed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average number of hours worked in the North Staffordshire hospitals by nurses, junior medical staff and ancillary workers, respectively.

Information is not available for nurses or junior medical staff. The average weekly hours of whole-time ancillary workers during April 1973 was 48·2.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will initiate a special inquiry into chest diseases among slate quarrymen with a view to establishing the relationship between emphysema and pneumoconiosis; and if he will make a statement.

No. I do not think such an inquiry would serve any useful purpose. In the assessment of disablement due to pneumoconiosis special provision is already made for emphysema as well as chronic bronchitis. If disablement from pneumoconiosis is assessed at 50 per cent. or more, the effects of any emphysema or chronic bronchitis are treated as the effects of the pneumoconiosis and are taken fully into account for benefit purposes. If the assessment for pneumoconiosis is less than 50 per cent. it can be increased to take account of the extent to which any emphysema or chronic bronchitis make the pneumoconiosis more disabling than it would otherwise be. These provisions are among the matters which the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council has been considering in its major review of pneumoconiosis.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive a report from Lady Sharp on invalid tricycles; and if it will be published.

Within the next few months; yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he makes of the number of agoraphobics in Great Britain; how many are estimated to be receiving medical treatment under the NHS and how many privately.

No reliable evidence is available to base an estimate of the prevalence of agoraphobia. Separate figures are not maintained of the numbers of patients receiving treatment for this disorder.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what instructions he has sent to local authorities regarding the identification of agoraphobics living in their areas for the purposes of implementing the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and what criteria he has issued as guidelines for their identification;(2) if agoraphobia is within the definition of disablement for the purposes of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, especially regarding the provision of telephones.

I will send the information to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to facilitate communication between a patient now resident in the Horton Hospital, Epsom, Surrey and her husband, particulars of which case have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Twickenham; and if he will make a statement.

Both I and the hospital authorities regret the distress suffered by my hon. Friend's constituent because he was unable to communicate with his wife the day before she was discharged from Horton Hospital. The hospital has sent him a full explanation of the circumstances. The fitting of new telephone exchange equipment this summer should prevent any recurrence of such a problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, since Guest Keen and Nettlefolds bid for the steel stockholder, Miles Druce, is being considered by the ECSC, whether he will dispense with a Department of Trade and Industry inquiry.

The proposed bid covers other goods besides Treaty of Paris products within the jurisdiction of the European Commission. It falls within the scope of the mergers provisions in the Monopolies and Mergers Act 1965 and is being considered by my Department in the normal way. My Department is also keeping in touch with the European Commission in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total percentage increase of average steel prices since the beginning of the freeze; and how many price increases are contemplated during phase 2 or shortly thereafter.

The DTI price index for home-produced steel was 8 per cent higher in May 1973—the latest month for which figures are available—than in November 1972, reflecting the full effect of the price increases from 30th April for Treaty of Paris products and part of the effect of other price changes during May. Further changes in steel prices are a matter for the producers, subject where it applies to the Counter-Inflation (Price and Pay Code) Order 1973; but in announcing the end-April increase the British Steel Corporation, as my hon. Friend will know, said that a further but smaller increase would be needed after the end of stage 2.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when it is anticipated that United Kingdom steel prices will reach parity with those ruling in the Common Market.

This is a matter for the producers. The prices of steel products not covered by the Treaty of Paris are subject to the provisions of the Counter-Inflation (Price and Pay Code) Order 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the BSC iron ore terminal at Hunterston is likely to be operational; and what is its projected capacity.

Discussions between the Clyde Port Authority and the BSC on the project are continuing. Final decisions on timing and capacity have not yet been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has approved the ORSI-Eurosider project for Hunterston involving a refinery, pipe mills and rig fabrication plant.

I have been asked to reply.I have before me an application from ORSI for planning approval of developments at Hunterston, on which I have not yet taken a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to require companies to disclose such details of their affairs as is necessary to ensure better communications between them, their workers and the public and concerning their current position and future prospects; and if he will make a statement.

I am considering the need to improve disclosure by companies in preparing a new Companies Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in view of world competition, if he will press the Nuclear Power Board to indicate the type of reactors for development, and press for a flexible time schedule to permit maximum innovation.

The board will advise on all aspects of civil nuclear energy policy, including the kind of issue referred to in the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the deadline for a reply to the United States on their offer of participation in the post-Apollo programme is 15th August, and if he will make a statement.

This is the deadline for the European reply to the United States. The question of European participation including that of the United Kingdom will be discussed by Ministers at a European Space Conference currently scheduled for 12th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what inquiries have been made for the Ranco factory recently vacated at Tannochside, Glasgow.

One inquiry has been made, although it did not develop into a formal application. We are continuing to draw the factory to the notice of possible occupiers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of total national markets the leading sugar firms hold in France, the Netherlands, Belgium and the Federal Republic on the assumption that the merger between Co-operative Vereiniging Suiker Unie and Centrale Suiker Mij is approved.

I have been asked to reply.Information on market shares is not available, but Decision 73/109 of the EEC Commission, published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 26th May 1973, states that the undertakings listed below produce, or control the production of, or market, the following percentages of the total sugar output of the Member State concerned:

	Per cent.
France*
Société Anonyme Sucre-Union	26
Société des Sucreries et Raffineries Say†	14
Société F. Béghin SA†	14
Général Sucriére‡	19
Belgium
Raffinerie Tirlemontoise	85
Netherlands
Co-operatieve Vereniging Suiker Unie UA	100
Centrale Suiker Maatshappij NV
Germany
Norddeutschen Zucker GmbH	27
Westdeutschen Zuckervetriebsgesellschaft GmbH	35
Südzucker Verkaufsgesellschaft mbH	38
* The production figure on which the percentages are calculated includes production in the French Overseas Departments
† These two enterprises have merged.
‡ Including Société Nouvelle de Raffinerie Lebaudy-Sommier and Lebaudy SUC.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give a comprehensive list of all those trading concerns which have been hived off or denationalised since June 1970.

The following is the information relating to trading concerns which fall within my Department's area of responsibility.The British Steel Corporation has disposed of certain forging and stainless steel activities as part of a rationalisation agreement with Firth Brown Ltd. The corporation has also disposed of its interests in wire-making, tool-steel making and building brickworks and has announced subject to contract the transfer of its bright bar interests to a company in which it will have a minority shareholding. The corporation's former Constructional Engineering and Chemicals Division have been converted into wholly-owned subsidiary companies.The National Coal Board has disposed of interests in concrete products manufacture and computerised hotel reservations. The board has also, with effect from 1st April 1973, transferred the following non-mining activities to wholly-owned subsidiary companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the French Government have signed the treaty required to build the Channel Tunnel; and when the United Kingdom intends to sign the treaty.

I have been asked to reply.No such treaty has been signed by either Government.