asked the Secretary of State for Employment what research is being sponsored by his Department into discriminations in employment and promotion on grounds of race or colour.

My Department is currently sponsoring a five-year study of employment of white and coloured school leavers in London and Birmingham, and is contributing towards the cost of a study of employment in Wandsworth by Wandsworth Community Relations Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what changes he is proposing to make in the way the Retail Prices Index is compiled.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he is considering to alter the general Retail Prices Index.

I am not proposing to make any changes in the way the Retail Prices Index is compiled. I keep under review with the assistance of the Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee the need to keep up to date the basis of the index.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he next intends to have talks with employers about the introduction of a worker director scheme.

I shall be continuing to have informal discussions with interested parties, including employers and their organisations, about all aspects of employee participation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the progress being made towards the implementation of the Equal Pay Act; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that a good deal of progress is being made, particularly in the removal of discrimination from national collective agreements and wages regulation orders. The publicity campaign recently launched by my Department will help to encourage firms to take advantage of the provision in the Price and Pay Code for staged progress towards equal pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what advice his Department will provide to firms on problems arising from the introduction of equal pay.

As my hon. Friend is aware, my Department published on 11th June a leaflet explaining the practical steps that firms need to take in planning implementation of the Act. My regional manpower advisers are available to give more detailed advice and assistance, the nature of which will depend on the problems encountered.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of registered wholly unemployed and the number of unfilled vacancies in the London borough of Harrow at the end of May, or the nearest equivalent date, compared with the year-earlier figures.

In the Harrow employment exchange area there were 777 people unemployed and 996 vacancies in June 1973, compared with 943 people unemployed and 510 vacancies one year earlier. The vacancy statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the number of job vacancies in the building trade in the South-East of England.

Based on the figures for June, there were 12,556 in the South East Region. The figure relates only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and does not measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many days have been lost in strikes since June 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many days were lost in industrial disputes in the three months to 30th June 1973; and what were the equivalent figures for the same period in 1972, 1971, 1970 and 1969.

46.8 million working days were lost through stoppages of work owing to industrial disputes between 1st July 1970 and 31st May 1973.As the figures for June 1973 are not yet available I will answer Question No. 48 by giving the figures for the three months ending 31st May in each year. These were 2.3 million, 2.4 million, 3.3 million, 2.7 million and 1.5 million respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will arrange for St. George's Day to be a national holiday.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in the light of the examples sent to him by the hon. Member for Tottenham about anomalies in the present law relating to fictitious new appointments leading to salary increases, he will seek to ensure that his proposals for phase 3 cover such situations.

The hon. Member is referring to particular cases of increases in salaries for individuals. If anyone considers that the terms of the pay code are being evaded by others, it is open to him to bring this to the attention of the Pay Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make further provision to find employment for those of low intelligence.

My Department's employment services are currently being improved, and highly trained employment advisers will be available to help all people, including those of low intelligence, who are having difficulty in obtaining suitable employment. For those whose intelligence level makes them substantially handicapped, the specialist services of disablement resettlement officers are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what shortages of labour have been reported to his Department during the past three months, in which regions, and in which industries; and which further shortages he expects to occur during the next six months.

The principal labour shortages reported to my Department in the last three months have been national shortages of certain skilled construction workers and local shortages, mainly in the South and Midlands, of engineering workers. I do not anticipate any additional general labour shortages in the next six months, though clearly the continuing expansion of the economy will cause problems of recruitment and deployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the total civilian labour force is currently employed in the hotel and catering industry; what is the rate of increase; and what steps he is taking to ensure sufficient recruitment of the right calibre of staff, to stabilise the high turnover rate and generally to improve the image of and conditions of employment within the industry.

According to the most recent Census of Population the numbers employed in the hotel and catering industry accounted for just under 3 per cent. of the civilian labour force.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has submitted any proposals to the EEC regarding the application of the European Social Fund as it applies to reimbursement of 50 per cent. of the costs of approved retraining schemes.

The Government have made an initial application for approximately £31 million from the Social Fund of which roughly £23 million is in respect of expenditure on retraining schemes in assisted areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he now has to introduce legislation amending the Industrial Relations Act 1971; and if he will make a statement.

No. I can only repeat what I have said on a number of occasions. I am prepared to consider any constructive proposals for improving the operation of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what assurances he has received from industry that persons retrained as joiners at Government training centres shall be employed on completing their training; and if he will make a statement.

The syllabus for the course for carpenters and joiners at Government training centres was prepared after full discussion with both sides of industry. The active continuing involvement of the industry, not only in course planning, but also in selection of suitable trainees, ensures that such trainees will be acceptable to the industry. It is not possible to give each trainee an absolute guarantee of a job, but during 1972 over 97 per cent. of carpenters and joiners were placed in their training trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will introduce legislation to amend paragraph 5 of Schedule 6 to the Industrial Relations Act 1971 to extend the 28-day limitation period in respect of a complaint of unfair dismissal.

I am keeping this question under review in the light of experience.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the estimates of Government expenditure on training and retraining over the years from and including 1967–75; and whether, in addition, he can give estimates of the amounts raised in levy from industry over those years.

Following is the information:

(1)	(2)	(3)
Year ended 31st March	Government Expenditure* on training and retraining £ million	Estimated Levy Income £ million
1967	13·3	97
1968	14·7	131
1969	18·7	130
1970	25·0	175
1971	38·0	203
1972	36·3	215
1973	50·5	225†
1974	67·3	†
1975	79·2	†

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied with the progress being made in encouraging women to take up training and retraining.

Some useful progress has been made. Since the introduction of the Training Opportunities Scheme in August last year there has been a rapid increase in the number of women taking training courses under Government auspices. In March this year, 5,444 women were taking such courses, compared with 2,405 in March 1972. Over one-quarter of all trainees under the Training Opportunities

Region		1967	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972
Northern	…	1,264	1,413	1,677	1,367	1,775	3,130
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	846	1,030	909	952	1,188	2,378
Eastern and Southern	…	1,427	1,621	1,655	1,506	1,493	3,134
London and South Eastern	…	2,244	2,796	3,119	3,138	3,152	4,907
South Western	…	1,228	1,227	1,162	1,156	1,027	1,784
Wales	…	932	900	922	1,189	1,452	2,774
Midlands	…	1,088	1,354	1,429	1,446	1,575	2,983
North Western	…	1,511	1,667	1,667	1,908	2,232	4,574
Scotland	…	1,611	1,804	1,868	1,770	1,676	3,355
Total	…	12,151	13,812	14,408	14,432	15,570	29,019

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the totals of individuals trained or retrained under Government auspices in each six-monthly period since January 1967 to the present day, and his estimates of targets for the three six-monthly periods following June 1973.

The information for the past periods is as follows:

	January-June	July-December
1967	5,678	6,472
1968	6,759	7,053
1969	7,157	7,251
1970	7,290	7,142
1971	7,474	8,098
1972	12,982	16,037
1973	19,253 (Provisional)	—

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in securing collaboration with trade unions and industry over setting up the Manpower Services Com- Scheme are now women and it is expected that the proportion will go on increasing.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the figures of persons trained or retrained under Government auspices in each region for the years 1967–72 inclusive.

The information is as follows:mission and developing the new organisation for training; and whether he will make a statement.

The TUC and CBI agreed at the outset to co-operate in the proposal to establish a Manpower Services Commission. Good progress is being made in establishing the training services agency as a part of my Department with a view to transferring it to the commission next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the totals of individuals trained or retrained under Government auspices in each year during the period 1967–72 inclusive, and Government targets for the years 1973 to 1976 inclusive.

Following is the information:

1967	12,151
1968	13,812
1969	14,408
1970	14,432
1971	15,570
1972	29,019

NOTE. The above figures exclude persons trained in Government training centres but sponsored by employers.It is estimated that at least 38,000 will be trained under the Training Opportunities Scheme in 1973 and this figure will increase to 60,000–70,000 in 1975. I intend to continue the expansion of training opportunities available after that.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to make greater use of the expertise of the Factory Inspectorate to advise management on the likely consequences for safety of policy decisions.

My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to do so, but inspectors of factories are naturally ready to advise any firm on this subject. In recent years inspectors have been giving increasing attention to the consequences of managerial organisation for health and safety.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects the tripartite steering group studying job satisfaction to report; and whether its conclusions will be published.

The steering group, of which I am chairman, held its first meeting last Tuesday. It considered that its first priorities should be to inform itself of existing thought and practice with a view to encouraging action within industry and commerce, and to foster research and experiment. This will call for a continuing effort. I do not at present envisage that the steering group will wish to draw up a comprehensive report. After it has surveyed the field of existing experience it may wish to publicise some basic ideas about the design of jobs and the organisation of work so as to stimulate fresh thinking amongst employers and unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the national unemployment figure on 18th June 1970; and what is the latest figure.

There were 523,638 unemployed in Great Britain on 8th June 1970 and 545,928 on 11th June 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to attract more women into using the new job centres; and if he will make a statement about the numbers of women seeking employment through the centres to date.

Job centres aim to attract more women's custom by offering them a service in pleasant informal surroundings. The concept of service in attractive offices is fundamental to the job centre. In addition the offices are sited in main streets and shopping centres—areas which are particularly convenient to women. Each job centre provides self-service facilities backed up by employment advisers who are specially trained to deal with women's employment problems. Advice is given on returning to work after a long absence and on training facilities which are available to help women realise their potential.Three job centres have recently opened at Reading, Wakefield and Havant. A total of nearly 800 women have so far registered for work through them, and many more have made general inquiries. Week by week there is a study increase in the numbers of women using the new service. There has also been a very considerable increase in the number of women taking advantage of the Training Opportunities Scheme, especially to acquire or brush up commercial and clerical skills.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department's new job centres will provide advice on recruitment and training problems to employers.

Managers of job centres and their staff of employment advisers of the Department's conciliation to employers with recruitment and training problems. The service of manpower advisers of the Department's concilitation and advisory service continue to be available to employers with specific manpower problems.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of notified unfilled vacancies are in trades connected with the building and construction industry.

On 6th June 1973, 7.8 per cent. of all notified unfilled vacancies in Great Britain were in the construction industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average sum per head of employees in the construction industry spent by the Construction Industry Training Board on training, and the comparative sum per head spent by the local government industrial training boards on workers engaged in construction and maintenance.

Comparisons between expenditure by training boards are apt to be misleading because the figures do not show how much industries are spending on training. The Construction Industry Training Board spent £11.9 million in 1971–72 on grants to encourage training and on its own training services, and firms with about 1.1 million employees paid levy to it. No comparable figures relating to construction and maintenance workers are available from the Local Government Training Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will initiate pilot schemes in Government training centres to evaluate whether regional safety centres should be established, as recommended in the recent industrial training service accident prevention survey.

This suggestion has been discussed by the Industrial Safety Advisory Council's Sub-Committee on Safety Training. It would make considerable demands on the resources of the Factory Inspectorate, and it has been decided that it would not be practicable to proceed with it. Experimental courses for managers are, however, being provided at the Industrial Safety Management Centre in Glasgow. It is hoped that these will yield useful information on the general question of safety training facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many males and females were registered as unemployed at the Mexborough and Wombwell employment exchanges, respectively, at the latest available date; and what action his Department is taking to find work for these people.

On 11th June there were 942 males and 167 females unemployed in the Mexborough area and 338 males and 52 females in Wombwell. All of the facilities of our employment and training services are available to help unemployed workers to find new jobs. The number of young people employed by the Community Industry Scheme in Mexborough is being increased.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of male unemployment in the intermediate area of South Wales compared with the percentage for the whole of Wales.

On 11th June the male rate for the travel-to-work areas covering the South East Wales intermediate area was 4.4 per cent. and the rate for Wales was 4.2 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in finding jobs for Asians expelled from Uganda last year.

At the last count an estimated 75 per cent. of Ugandan Asian refugees seeking employment had been placed in or found work. Through its employment and training services my Department is continuing to make every effort to assist those who are still unemployed or need further advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether it is his policy to give greater priority to reducing the level of unemployment or to the problem of the shortage of employable labour.

The aim of this Government is to ensure as far as lies in their power that national manpower resources are neither under-utilised nor overstrained.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will name the United Kingdom planning regions in which the number of male vacancies exceeds the number of men unemployed.

Based on the figures for June, the South-East. Vacancy statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for legislation in the field of employee participation; and if he will make a statement.

I am giving careful consideration to the further development of employee participation. I hope to publish a Green Paper on the subject later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement indicating what percentage of Great Britain's working housewives are afforded paid maternity leave by their employers.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the present levels of unemployment on Mersey-side for all unemployed, and for males separately, and what steps the Government are taking locally to deal with the situation.

In June the unemployment rate for the Merseyside development area was 58 per cent. and the male rate was 7.8 per cent.My right hon. Friend the Minister for Industrial Development is holding a conference in Liverpool on Friday to review Merseyside's industrial resources and how best to market them. Taking part will be representatives of the local authorities, chamber of commerce, employers, and trade unions. My right hon. Friend continues to draw the attention of suitable firms to the advantages of expansion in Merseyside and to the considerable inducements it can offer under the Industry Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the percentage increases in gross earnings between April 1972 and November 1972, and between November 1972 and April 1973, respectively.

Average gross earnings, as measured by the seasonally adjusted monthly index of average earnings, rose by 10.2 per cent. between April and November 1972 and by 2.8 per cent. between November 1972 and April 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present waiting list and length of wait for admissions to the Hillington Industrial Rehabilitation Unit.

On 5th July the waiting list for Glasgow (Hillington) Industrial Rehabilitation Unit was 184 and the length of wait between application and entry varied between 10 and 14 weeks depending on the disablement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has received notice of approval from the Pay Board of the pay settlement embodying the first increase in basic rates for three years for fishermen, as agreed between the Transport and General Workers' Union and the Hull Fishing Vessel Owners' Association, and in accord with the Government's policy of £1 plus 4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what communication he has received from the Pay Board regarding the current wage claim of the Transport and General Workers Union on behalf of fishermen based in Hull against the Hull Vessel Owners Association; and if he will make a statement.

The Pay Board is not required to notify its approval of settlements to me, but I understand that it has given approval to this settlement, subject to qualifications which are to be discussed with the trawler owners on 12th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the annual movement each year since 1964 to date in the cost-of-living index applicable to retirement pensioners.

Following are the percentage increases between the last quarters of successive years from 1964 to 1972 in the indices for one-person and two-person pensioner households. The indices exclude housing costs.

	One-person pensioner households	Two-person pensioner households
1964 to 1965	4·3	4·4
1965 to 1966	4·0	3·7
1966 to 1967	2·2	1·9
1967 to 1968	5·2	5·3
1968 to 1969	5·4	5·6
1969 to 1970	7·9	7·6
1970 to 1971	10·5	10·1
1971 to 1972	7·3	7·4

UNEMPLOYMENT AND VACANCIES FOR HEAVY GOODS VEHICLE DRIVERS
					June 1973 (Provisional)
					Unemployment		Unfilled vacancies
					Men (aged 18 and over)	Women (aged 18 and over)	Men (aged 18 and over)	Women (aged 18 and over)
North West	…	…	…	…	746	2	884	1
Great Britain	…	…	…	…	3,466	18	7,290	4

The vacancy statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the working relationship between Community Industry and the voluntary social services.

Yes, Community Industry works in close co-operation with voluntary social services organisations and over half of its work projects come from these sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many fatal accidents in industry were reported in

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many appointments were made through the agency of his Department of drivers with heavy goods vehicle licences in the three months to 31st March 1973.

For the three months ending 7th March 1973, 8,194 people—8,175 men aged 18 and over and 19 women aged 18 and over—were placed by my Department in jobs for drivers for which heavy goods vehicle licences were required.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many vacancies are registered with his Department for qualified drivers of heavy goods vehicles; and how many such drivers are registered as unemployed;(2) how many vacancies are registered with his Department in North-West England for qualified drivers of heavy goods vehicles; and how many such drivers are registered as unemployed in the region.

Following is the information:1970, 1971 and 1972; how many deaths were reported in the same periods arising from industrial disease; how many visits are recorded by the Factory Inspectorate; and what is the number of prosecutions arising from those visits.

The following numbers of fatal accidents and deaths arising from industrial disease were reported to the Factory Inspectorate in the years 1970, 1971 and 1972:

	1970	1971	1972
Accidents	556	525	468
Diseases	2	3	1

The numbers of visits paid by inspectors, and of firms or persons prosecuted by inspectors, are:

	1970	1971	1972
Visits	327,757	336,434	298,622
Prosecutions	1,196	1,330	1,549

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employed persons received injuries at work in each of the last five years which led to sick absence of at least three days and of two weeks, respectively; what was the average length of absence from work; and what percentage of employed persons this represented.

The numbers of accidents causing disablement for more than three days which have been reported to the Factory Inspectorate, and the estimated percentage of employed persons concerned, are as follows:

	Number	Estimated percentage of employed persons
1968	312,430	3·6
1969	322,390	3·7
1970	304,595	3·7
1971	268,832	3·4
1972	258,137	3·4

It is estimated that, in about 65 per cent. of these cases, the absence exceeded two weeks; and that the average length of absence was about five weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further consideration he has given to requests to make New Year's Day and May Day public holidays.

I have nothing to add at present to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 7th May.—[Vol. 856, c. 40–41.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects that the figure for the number of people employed in the wool textile industry in June 1972 will be available.

Provisional estimates for Great Britain were published in the August 1972 issue of the Department of Employment Gazette. Revised figures for Great Britain derived from the new censuses of employment will be avail- able within the next month or two and regional figures from the same source as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many major national wage agreements have been made since June 1970 affecting most workers in the wool textile industry; and what was the percentage increase of each of these awards.

The national agreement that affects most workers in the wool textile industry is that covering woollen and worsted spinning in Yorkshire. Under this agreement there have been three settlements since June 1970. The percentage increases at each change are set out below. It should be noted that these changes relate to minimum earnings levels.

Adult manual workers (other than maintenance workers)
	Percentage Increases in Minimum Earnings Levels
Date	Men	Women
May 1971	10	10
May 1972	10 to 18·9*	10 to 37·6*
May 1973	7·9 to 11·8*	14·3 to 18·5*
* According to occupation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of redundancies in Scotland notified to his Department since June 1970.

Redundancies notified to my Department in Scotland during the period 9th June 1970 to 30th June 1973 involved 98,400 workpeople.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been, for each month since January 1960, the percentage increase in the retail price index compared to the level of the index for 12 months previously.

Following is the information:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

1960

…

…

− 0·5

− 0·4

− 0·5

0·7

1·1

1·5

1·9

1·0

1·7

2·0

1·7

1·8

1961

…

…

2·2

2·2

2·7

2·7

3·0

3·3

3·2

4·8

4·5

3·9

4·5

4·4

1962

…

…

4·6

4·7

4·8

5·7

5·7

5·5

5·1

3·2

3·3

3·0

2·3

2·6

1963

…

…

2·7

3·5

3·2

2·1

1·7

1·0

0·8

1·4

1·8

2·3

2·2

1·9

1964

…

…

1·9

1·2

1·4

2·0

3·0

3·4

4·0

4·7

4·4

4·1

4·6

4·8

1965

…

…

4·6

4·5

4·5

5·6

5·0

4·9

4·9

4·7

4·8

4·8

4·4

4·5

1966

…

…

4·4

4·5

4·3

3·6

3·9

3·9

3·5

3·9

3·6

3·8

4·0

3·7

1967

…

…

3·7

3·7

3·5

3·0

2·2

2·4

2·2

1·4

1·5

2·0

1·9

2·5

1968

…

…

2·6

3·0

3·4

4·4

4·6

4·6

5·3

5·7

5·9

5·6

5·2

5·9

1969

…

…

6·2

6·2

6·3

5·5

5·3

5·3

5·3

4·9

5·1

5·4

5·4

4·7

1970

…

…

5·0

4·9

5·1

5·6

6·1

5·9

6·7

6·8

7·0

7·4

7·9

7·9

1971

…

…

8·5

8·5

8·8

9·4

9·8

10·3

10·1

10·3

9·9

9·4

9·2

9·0

1972

…

…

8·2

8·1

7·6

6·3

6·1

6·1

5·8

6·6

7·0

7·9

7·6

7·7

1973

…

…

7·7

7·9

8·2

9·2

9·5

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentages increase in the Retail Price Index and in the average weekly earnings of full-time manual workers for 1972–73.

In April 1973 average earnings—including non-manual and part-time employees—were 13.3 per cent. higher than in April 1972 and retail prices 92 per cent. higher.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to remedy abuses in the admission of Filipino nationals for employment in Great Britain.

I have consulted my right hon. Friends the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and from 9th July my Department has ceased to accept applications to employ Filipino nationals on unskilled or semi-skilled work in Great Britain.This measure applies to applications for work permits for Filipino workers, whether in the Philippines or already in this country as visitors, students or au pairs.This will be a temporary measure while the three Departments consult the Embassy of the Philippines on ways of dealing with abuses of the work permit system. I hope that improvements will result which will be in the best interests of Filipino nationals wishing to work in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employed persons are in receipt of sickness benefit for emphysema, chronic bronchitis and dermatitis, respectively, at the last convenient date.

I have been asked to reply.The latest figures available relate to employed and self-employed people certified, for national insurance purposes, as incapable of work at 5th June 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why recent increases in salary made to senior members of the nursing profession are not in line with the needs of the nursing service or with the policy of Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the salaries that I recently announced will be paid to chief nursing administrators in the reorganised National Health Service. In fixing the provisional salaries regard was had to the responsibilities of the new posts, as far as these can be assessed at present, compared with existing posts, and to the provision of the pay code relating to new work.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he refused to negotiate the salaries of nursing officers who will be serving in management teams within the reorganised National Health Service with the Whitley Council; and why he ignored the advice tendered by that body.

Negotiations took place within the appropriate Whitley Council machinery. When it became clear that agreement between the two sides was not within reach, I decided to announce salaries which I would be prepared to approve so that the new posts might be advertised, at the time required by the reorganisation timetable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the extent of delays in geriatric wards and old people's homes in obtaining necessary chiropody services, if he will take steps to increase the number of chiropodists to provide adequate services for these old people.

Numbers of chiropodists are increasing steadily. Between 1966 and 1972 the number of full-time appointments of chiropodists by local health authorities has risen from 321 to 608. Numbers have also risen in the hospital service, where I have advised authorities that geriatric patients should be seen at least once every six weeks, a minimum standard I wish to be achieved by the end of 1974. More chiropody students continue to enter approved training.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation to control private nursing agencies, to terminate their use for National Health Service recruitment, and establish within the regional hospital boards complete recruiting services.

No. Legislation to control the conduct of nurses agencies is in the Nurses Agencies Act 1957. Termination of the use of agency nurses in the National Health Service and exclusive reliance on directly employed staff would mean serious reduction in service to patients in some areas. The Teaching Hospitals Association is setting up a nonprofit-making agency in October.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up an inquiry to ascertain the nature of associated conditions which could arise from an industrial chest disability.

No. The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council has just completed a major review of industrial chest diseases which included a study of the extent to which provision should be made for other associated respiratory conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the extra cost to the National Health Service in the first three months since its introduction of VAT; and what estimate he has made of the cost in the first year.

The cost in England in 1973–74 will be about £29 million, of which about £6 million fell in the first quarter. Extra funds have been allocated to the service to meet this.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent studies he has made into the possible association of behaviour disturbances in children with excessive consumption of additives in food.

Officials of my Department are aware of the Press reports on recent American studies in this field. They are obtaining more detailed information about the studies in question before deciding whether further studies are warranted.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average lump sum gratuity paid under the Industrial Injuries Acts in the last available year.

Fifty-four pounds, in the year ended 30th September 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of children in respect of whom benefit was payable to widows under the Industrial Injuries Acts in the last available year.

At 31st December 1971, the latest date for which information is available, allowances were being paid to widows in respect of 8,700 children.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average amount of supplementary benefit paid in the last available year to those in receipt of benefits under industrial injuries legislation.

I regret that this information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, in November 1972, the average amount of supplementary benefit being paid to people receiving sickness or invalidity benefit and/or industrial injury benefit was about £2.70 a week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of persons paid each benefit, respectively, under the Industrial Injuries Acts in the last available year.

The latest available figures are:

Injury Benefit: Number of claimants incapacitated in year ended 5th June 1971	703,000
Disablement Pensions: Assessments current at 30th September 1971	204,000
Disablement Gratuities: Number paid in year ended 30th September 1971	215,000
Increases of disablement benefit in payment at 30th September 1971:
Special Hardship Allowance	142,000
Constant Attendance Allowance	2,300
Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance	700
Unemployability Supplements	500
Hospital Treatment Allowance	300
Industrial Death Pensions current at 31st December 1971	30,000

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, for the last available year, what was the cost of each benefit paid under the Industrial Injuries Acts.

Following is the information for 1971–72, the latest year for which accounts are available:

Great Britain
Injury benefit	£30,866,790
Disablement benefit	£70,702,476
Death benefits	£10,200,000

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has to ensure the continued availability of homeopathic teaching and treatment in the reorganised National Health Service in central London; and what steps he is taking to ensure the continuity of the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital on its present site.

Policy on homeopathy is in no way altered by the reorganisation of the National Health Service. I accept an obligation to provide facilities for this type of medicine while there are doctors willing to practice it and while there is a demand for it. The future of the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital and its facilities is being discussed with the relevant authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much a totally disabled, unemployable war pensioner, qualifying for normal maximum constant attendance allowance, aged 65 years and with a dependent wife, will receive as war pension and allowances in November 1973; and how much actual increase in purchasing power this sum represents over the £22.50 he received in June 1970.

The war pension and allowances payable from 1st October 1973 to such a pensioner, now receiving £30.50 will be £35.60 a week an increase of £13.10 over the £22.50 payable in June 1970. The latest Retail Prices Index figure shows that the estimated equivalent purchasing power of £22.50 was £28.63 in May 1973 so that the new rate of £35.60 represents a real increase of £6.97 subject to price movements between May and September 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated actual increase in purchasing power of the war widow's basic rate of pension of £10.10 to be paid in October 1973, compared with the rate of £6.50 in June 1970; and how this compares with the period from April 1966 to June 1970.

The latest Retail Prices Index figure shows that the estimated equivalent purchasing power of £6.50 in May 1973 was £8.27, so that the new rate of £10.10 represents a real increase of £1.83, subject to price movements between May and September 1973. The equivalent purchasing power of the war widow's pension of £5.25 payable in April 1966 was £6.33 in June 1970, compared with the rate of £6.50 then payable, an increase in purchasing power of 17p.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated actual increase in purchasing power of the basic 100 per cent. rate of war pension of £12.80, to be paid in October 1973, compared with the rate of £8.40 in June 1970; and how this compares with the period from April 1966 to June 1970.

The latest Retail Prices Index figure shows that the estimated equivalent purchasing power of £8.40 in May 1973 was £10.69 so that the new rate of £12.80 represents a real increase of £2.11, subject to price movements between May and September 1973. The equivalent purchasing power of the 100 per cent. war pension of £6.75 payable in April 1966 was £8.14 in June 1970, compared with the rate of £8.40 then payable, an increase in purchasing power of 26p.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services during which months since July 1968 has the four-week rule operated in any part of each of the local authorities.

I shall, before the House rises for the Summer Recess, be making a further statement on the implementation by local authorities of Section 1 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act.

Period		Regions operating the 4 week rule in some part of the Region
From	To
22nd July 1968	24th March 1970	South Western, Yorkshire and Humberside, North Western (Manchester), North Western (Merseyside), East Midlands and East Anglia, West Midlands. London West, London South, London North.
25th March 1970	21st September 1971	Yorkshire and Humberside, East Midlands and East Anglia, London North, London South, London West, South Western, Wales, West Midlands, North Western (Manchester), North Western (Merseyside).
22nd September 1971	19th October 1971	Yorkshire and Humberside, East Midlands and East Anglia, London North, London South, London West. South Western, West Midlands, North Western (Manchester).
20th October 1971	23rd November 1971	East Midlands and East Anglia, London North, London South, London West, South Western, West Midlands
24th November 1971	22nd February 1972*	London North, London South, London West, South Western, West Midlands.
23rd February 1972	21st March 1972	Nil.
22nd March 1972	18th April 1972	London West.
19th April 1972	19th September 1972	London South, London West, South Western, West Midlands, North Western (Merseyside) † .
20th September 1972	17th April 1973	London North, London South, London West, South Western, West Midlands.
18th April 1973	15th May 1973	Yorkshire and Humberside, London North, London South, London West, South Western, West Midlands North Western (Manchester).
16th May 1973	19th June 1973	Yorkshire and Humberside, East Midlands and East Anglia, London North, London South, London West. South Western, Wales, West Midlands, North Western (Manchester), North Western (Merseyside) *.
* Suspended nationally from 14th February 1972.
† North Western (Merseyside) Region—Seasonal operation only.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total cost of advertising means-tested benefits since 18th June 1970.

Since 18th June 1970 we have spent £310,000 on the launch of family income supplement and a further £460,000 mainly to publicise subsequent upratings. In addition, we have spent £200,000 advertising free welfare milk and foods, free dental and optical care and free prescriptions for low income families.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services during which months since July 1968 has the four-week rule operated in any part of each of the 11 regions of Great Britain.

Following is the available information:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the booklet which sets out the training programme of executive officers in supplementary benefit offices for the first 10 weeks of their 13 weeks of initial training.

The booklet which sets out the training programme for executive officers in supplementary benefit offices for the first 10 weeks of the initial training period is a departmental working document and as such unsuitable for publication. A description of the contents of the programme is however set out in paragraphs 36 and 37 of Supplementary Benefits Administration Paper No. 3 "Training of Staff".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of executive officers, clerical officers and clerical assistants in supplementary benefit offices have less than, respectively, two years', one and a half years' and one year's experience in their current grade of work.

I regret that the information is not available on a national basis and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will publish the findings of the British Computer Society and the Royal Statistical Society on the security of the census of population.

The societies' two reports and the Government's comments on them are contained in the White Paper "Security of the Census of Population "(Cmnd. 5365) which has been published today. Copies are available in the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science with which bodies she has held consultations with a view to carrying out the recommendations of the Russell Committee.

My right hon. Friend has not completed her own consideration of this major report. As soon as she has done so, she will initiate constructive discussions with the local authority associations, the relevant teachers' associations and representatives of the other main interests in adult education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress she is making in her discussions with interested parties on the recommendations of the Russell Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress she has made in her discussions with interested parties on the recommendations of the Russell Report on education.

My right hon. Friend has not yet completed her consideration of this major report, but as soon as she has done so she will arrange constructive discussions with the main interests in adult education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the progress she has made in arranging discussions with interested parties on the recommendations of the Russell Report on Adult Education.

As soon as I have completed my examination and analysis of the recommendations of this major report, I shall arrange constructive discussions with the main interests in adult education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether she has studied the recent report "Education for our Future", published by the Conservation Trust; and what action she proposes to take on matters within her responsibility arising from this report;(2) whether she will issue a circular to all local authorities outlining a series of educational priorities in respect of the study of ecology and the environment.

I am studying the report and shall consider whether there is any action for me to take. The school curriculum is the responsibility of local education authorities, governing bodies and head teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers of the deaf in England and Wales are themselves deaf people; what action she is taking to increase the number of such appointments; and if she will make a statement.

Exact information is not available, but there are believed to be very few profoundly deaf teachers. There is no bar to the appointment of deaf people as teachers of the deaf provided that they are accepted for teacher training and can obtain the required qualifications. Their handicap, however, clearly makes it difficult for them to attain the necessary standard of communication.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received from the Open University and associates regarding the fourth television channel being used for educational purposes; and if she will make a statement.

The Open University has expressed the view that more broadcasting time is needed for educational purposes and that there should be an inquiry into the case for allocating the fourth television channel to education. The allocation of the fourth channel is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will take steps to discover the needs of, and to assist, disabled persons to receive further education at the Open University; and if she will make a statement.

The Open University makes special provision for its disabled students, of whom there are about 600 at present, and has a full-time senior counsellor who advises on their needs. Some disabled students who have to be excused attendance at summer schools get extra tutorial help locally; and, where necessary, arrangements are made for students to take examinations at home, in hospital or elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the schools in Bedfordshire stating those over 25 years old, the amount spent on capital improvements/repairs in the past 10 years, the number of students and teachers in each and the approximate size of the playing areas.

Of the information requested, only that about students and teachers is available in the Department. This information is being assembled and I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects the review on the law on picketing to be completed, and its findings announced.

As I said in reply to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) and Nottingham, South (Mr. Fowler) on 19th April, I had hoped to make a statement before now, but notice of appeal to the House of Lords has been lodged in a case which concerns an important aspect of the law, and I propose to defer any statement until this appeal has been decided.—[Vol. 855, c. 196.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, in respect of each year of the period 1968–72, the number of persons granted bail in respect of whom recognisances were forfeited; the number of sureties who were required to forfeit their recognisances; and the total sum of money so forfeited.

I am arranging to obtain such information as is available and shall write to the right hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has regarding periods spent in custody before the award of a suspended sentence by persons whose suspended sentences are subsequently implemented.

In 1970, 7,941 persons who had been remanded in custody at some stage before sentence received a suspended sentence of imprisonment. The average time spent in custody on remand was 22 days. The information does not show in which of these cases the suspended sentence was subsequently ordered to take effect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to propose the amendment of Section 67 (1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 in order to extend the benefit of it to persons whose suspended sentences are subsequently implemented; and whether he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any information from the research into medical remands undertaken or commissioned by the Home Office, and described in the answer of the Minister of State to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead on 24th May, as to the number of persons remanded in custody or bail for medical reports by the individual magistrates' courts in Inner London.

I am examining what information is available from this research and shall write to the right hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department: (1) if he is aware of the shortage of naturalisation form R1A; and if he will take immediate steps to ensure that these forms are freely available;(2) if he will consider extending the six-month time limit for the Pakistan community to apply for naturalisation to 12 months in view of the shortage of naturalisation form R1A.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the shortage of naturalisation forms No. R1A; and what steps he is taking to increase the supply.

Ample supplies of the registration form R1A have been distributed during the last few months, but if more are needed they can be made available.The Standing Committee on the Pakistan Bill accepted a Government amendment to extend the period for applications for registration from six months to 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made to compensate those who suffered loss as a result of the explosions in central London on 8th March, 1973, and to make provision both for those who were inadaquately insured against loss and for those who, although insured, have suffered consequential loss.