asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the ingredients currently used in animal feeding stuffs which will become illegal if the draft Common Market regulations on undesirable substances in animal feed are implemented in their present form.

A draft EEC directive prescribes maximum levels in feed ingredients of certain substances which are potentially harmful to animals or humans. No ingredients currently used in animal feeding stuffs would be entirely excluded if the draft were to be adopted in its present form. However, if a feed ingredient contained any listed substance in an amount which exceeded the prescribed limit it would be illegal to use it as a straight feeding stuff or to include it in compound feeds in a proportion likely to result in the limit being exceeded. Discussions on the proposed limits and on the draft directive as a whole are continuing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated additional cost of animal feed compounds for British farmers consequent on the implementation of draft Common Market regulations on limiting permissible ingredients and on labelling.

A draft EEC directive relating to the marketing of animal feeding stuffs is still under discussion and subject to amendment. Any estimate of additional cost would, therefore, be speculative. All the implications, including the purchaser's need for information and the cost of providing it, are being taken into account.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what risks are known to his Department as to animal welfare and the food chain in the light of the acknowledged existence on farms of pollution; and what are the statutory regulations relating thereto.

Any risks to human health are assessed by the Department of Health and Social Security and local public health authorities.As regards animal welfare, problems of this kind tend to be essentially local and are either those like fluoride emissions on which my Department's husbandry specialists have long been advising the local farmers concerned; or those, for example, where waste products have been dumped on or near agricultural land and which are brought to the notice of the central Departments concerned with agriculture or the environment by local or river authorities. All likely risks to the well being of livestock and to food are subject to a wide spectrum of controls, which include the monitoring of animal health by the State veterinary services under the Diseases of Animals Act 1950; and the hygiene and inspection provisions of the Milk and Dairies and the Slaughterhouse Regulations made under the Food and Drugs Act 1955 and the statutory requirements relating to standards of food sold to consumers, contained therein.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of cattle sold for slaughter overseas during the first quarter of 1973 and the proportion of such cattle so exported; and what was the quantity of beef exported during this period.

The number of cattle, excluding breeding animals, exported for slaughter—excluding the Irish Republic—in the first quarter of 1973 was 14,857 head. This amounted to 1·8 per cent. of home-fed marketings.Beef and veal exports during the first quarter of 1973 were 12,003 tons.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the total defence budget.

I refer the hon. Member to Table 2 of Annex A of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1973 (Cmnd. 5231).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers unemployed in each of the employment areas in the Leek parliamentary constituency in May 1973; what percentage of the working population they represent; and how the percentage figure compares with the national percentage figure.

Following is the information for 14th May 1973—

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many unfilled vacancies are registed in the Biddulph employment area; and what was the comparable figure a year ago.

In Biddulph employment exchange area, there were 63 on 9th May 1973 and 15 on 3rd May 1972. The 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 total Government training centre places in the Northern Region; and how many are taken up at the present time.

On 14th May 1973 there were 1,752 GTC training places in the Northern Region of which 1,292 were occupied.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men in the Hartlepool exchange area are in Government training centres; and how these figures compare with each of the previous three years at the same time of year.

Applicants from the Hartlepool area may of course choose to go to any GTC throughout the country and it is not therefore possible to identify them as a group in one particular area.The figures below give the number of persons from the Hartlepool exchange area who were allocated to training places in GTC's:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will use his powers under the Equal Pay Act 1970 to allow the industrial arbitration boards and industrial tribunals to deal with complaints against companies which are failing to make progress in moving towards equal pay.

The Equal Pay Act provides for the reference of collective agreements, pay structures and wages regulation orders to the Industrial Arbitration Board for advice at any time during the year before 29th December 1975 and for individual claims to be referred to industrial tribunals for decision from 29th December 1975. The Government's decision not to make an order under Section 9 of the Act has already been announced.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the level of unemployment benefits and earnings-related benefits in Hartlepool, on the assumption of the Hartlepool Steelworks being closed, that his Department would be expected to pay on the total work force, and two-thirds of this force for one week and one year, respectively.

None. Even if these assumptions were accepted, my Department does not have the information on which such estimates could be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to lay the Protection of Eyes Regulations under the Factories Act.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Doncaster (Mr. Harold Walker) on 5th March 1973.—[Vol. 852, c. 41.] Consultations on the statutory draft of these regulations are still proceeding with the organisations concerned. Further action in the matter will be decided in the light of the outcome of these consultations, as soon as they have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the names of any persons he has appointed to the Advisory Committee on Youth Employment who have experience of work among, and the special needs of, young disabled persons as in Section 13 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

The Scottish Advisory Committee of the National Youth Employment Council includes one member, Dr. G. G. Browning, MB, CHB, FRCPS, DPH, appointed under Section 13(2) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the stench of sewage and other obnoxious smells in the area near the high-level bridge on the M63 motorway; if he is aware that this atmospheric pollution is causing hardship and suffering in the area; if he will institute an inquiry into the source, frequency and intensity of this nuisance; and if he will make a statement.

The emission of smell is listed as one of the statutory nuisances under the Public Health Act 1936. The local authority has power to serve a nuisance abatement notice, which is enforceable in the courts. A public inquiry would not, therefore, be appropriate.There are several possible sources of smell in this area, including two sewage works and several factories. Large-scale sewage disposal operations are carried out at Manchester Corporation's Davyhulme works and Eccles Borough Council's Peel Green works, which both lie close to the M63 motorway bridge. Davyhulme is a modern works, and, I understand, Eccles borough has plans to modernise its works. I have been given assurances by the local authorities that all reasonable and practicable steps are taken to minimise smell at these works.I am writing further to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Chancellor's cuts in public expenditure will prevent his planned employment of another 50 traffic examiners.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present total number of traffic examiners.

190 at 1st June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will increase the number of traffic examiners, in view of the number of overweight lorries entering Great Britain.

Last October I authorised an additional 50 posts. The additional staff are now being recruited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will examine the desirability of larger rear lights on all motor vehicles, following the experiments carried out by Dr. J. N. Lythgoe on fog visibility, details of which are in his possession.

Dr. Lythgoe's proposals are being studied by my Department as part of a review of measures to improve vehicle lighting in fog.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in his review of British Rail policy, he will consider extending the use of railways, in the light of forecasts of the increased use of roads by heavy vehicles from the Continent.

The review has been concerned with how railways can best contribute to our transport requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with EEC countries regarding the possible use of British roads by their heavy vehicles; and if he will make a further statement on this subject in the light of the proposed reduction in road expenditure resulting from the recent statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The Council of Ministers (Transport) has not met since last December, when I made clear that the proposed 11 tonnes axle and 40 tonnes gross weight limit for lorries were unacceptable to the United Kingdom. In subsequent informal talks with European Ministers I have reiterated our opposition to the proposals which would be operative from 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider giving a grant to British Rail to construct a number of railway carriages with wide corridors and larger toilets to overcome the difficulties encountered by disabled passengers travelling by rail.

No, but I understand that the Railways Board is studying the feasibility of providing space in its mark III rolling stock for handicapped people who have to travel in their own wheelchairs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the market value of all land not in public ownership with potential for future housing development.

There is insufficient information to make any meaningful estimate, but I would expect it to run into tens of thousands of millions of pounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will exempt motor cyclists whose machines are incapable of carrying passengers from the requirement to pay passenger insurance.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many projects have been completed under the Operation Eyesore Scheme in the Kidsgrove urban district.

Fourteen projects estimated to cost £29,449 have been approved. I have no information about the number completed: no grant claims have yet been received from the council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the date and subject matter of any meetings of officials of his Department with English China Clay Limited for the purpose of discussing the future pattern of railways in Cornwall.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now in a position to make a statement on the future of railway services in Cornwall.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Leslie Huckfield) on 18th April.—[Vol. 855, c. 479–80.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of civilians currently engaged on contract works at Brawdy in Pembrokeshire in connection with (1) the Oceanographic Research Unit, and (2) the modernisation of installations at RAF Brawdy.

The numbers are 125 and 140 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make arrangements for the recently restored Mantegna Triumphs to be shown to the public again regularly in their traditional setting at the Orangery, Hampton Court Palace.

Yes. My Department has an approved scheme for the adaptation of the Orangery for this purpose. Work is programmed to start next month and I hope that it will be completed in about 18 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent in 1972 on road safety publicity, on television and other forms of advertising, stressing motor vehicle defects likely to contribute to accidents; and if he will give details of the advertising for each type of defect.

There was none in the last financial year. Total publicity expenditure of £1,550,386 was concentrated on child pedestrian safety and seat belt wearing. The BBC and independent television companies showed, without payment, short items on defective tyres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the criteria for allowing pedestrian crossings.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of details of the criteria.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the recent High Court decision in For v. Lawson, he will amend the Drivers' Hours (Goods Vehicles) (Keeping of Records) Regulations 1970, so as to take account of driving hours spent outside the United Kingdom; and whether he will also consider requiring lorry drivers to keep a record of their total driving hours on any day when they operate partly within and partly outside the United Kingdom.

No amendment is necessary, Since 1st April 1973 drivers on international journeys have been bound by an EEC regulation which limits driving hours and requires the keeping of records.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps the EEC has taken or will take to harmonise restrictions on the number of hours lorry drivers may work each day.

Drivers' hours are controlled by EEC Regulation 543/69, as amended by EEC Regulations 514/72 and 515/72. A proposal for a further regulation has been submitted to the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the proposals contained in the White Paper "Better Homes—The Next Priorities", he will give early consideration to the shortage of building workers in the inner London area, available for employment in the implementation of these proposals.

Yes. This is a difficult problem both in London and elsewhere. Steps have been and are being taken to improve the supply of craftsmen to the industry, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment and I are keeping a careful watch on the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the existing known number of slum houses borough by borough in each of the 32 Greater London boroughs.

A regional distribution of the number of unfit dwellings in England and Wales estimated by the 1971 House Condition Survey is given in Table 3 of the Annex to the White Paper "Better Homes—The Next Priorities" (Cmnd. 5339) which was laid before Parliament by my right hon. and learned Friend on 12th June. The estimated number of unfit dwellings in the South-East Region, which includes Greater London, is 231,000. An accurate breakdown of these results to smaller units is not available. The hon. Member may wish to approach local authorities direct for their estimates of the number of unfit dwellings in their area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for what period of time a house must remain empty before a local council can seek to purchase such a house as outlined in his White Paper "Better Homes—The Next Priorities".

This would depend entirely on the circumstances of the particular case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to give grants to local councils to purchase housing in areas defined as housing action areas; and if he will make a statement.

The subsidy provisions of the Housing Finance Act 1972 apply to expenditure debited to housing revenue accounts, including expenditure on the acquisition of dwellings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list borough by borough the areas defined as housing action areas in his White Paper "Better Homes—The Next Priorities".

No. Under the proposals in the White Paper it will be for local authorities to declare housing action areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to increase the number of skilled craftsmen in the building industry to facilitate the implementation of his proposals, as outlined in his White Paper "Better Homes—The Next Priorities".

The proposals outlined in the White Paper are not in themselves expected to lead to an increase in the overall demands made upon the industry, but to a concentration of effort upon the needs of the areas of worst housing. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment and I have already agreed a number of short-term measures to overcome the existing shortage of skilled craftsmen. His Department is making available a substantial number of extra places under the training opportunities scheme over and above the expansion already planned. In the longer term the industry has increased and is increasing the number of apprentices and the National Joint Council for the Building Industry is considering ways of improving the apprenticeship scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by totals and by regions or towns the amounts of additional financial assistance given to centres of high immigrant concentration to assist with their special problems of housing, education and other social matters, for the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972.

In the years 1969–70 to 1972–73 inclusive Exchequer grant at 75 per cent., totalling some £11·5 million, has been paid under the urban programme to local authorities in England with areas of special social need. Many but not all of such areas have large concentrations of Commonwealth immigrants.In the same period Exchequer grants totalling over £20 million have been paid exclusively to local authorities with substantial numbers of Commonwealth immigrants in their areas to meet 75 per cent. of the cost of employing special staff under Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966. Payments to individual authorities under Section 11 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the approximate total cost to public funds resulting from the residence in Croydon since June 1969 of Mrs. Victoria Bowling and her four children, as first notified to his Department by the hon. Member for Croydon, North-West, on 4th January 1972; and what action he is taking to implement the consequences of his decision that the family are not entitled to residence in the United Kingdom.

In reply to the first part of the Question, information regarding claims for supplementary benefit is not published without the claimant's consent.In answer to the second part, Mrs. Bowling has now given notice of appeal against the decision to require her to leave the United Kingdom. Until the appeal is heard her departure cannot be enforced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will confirm the recommendation of the Central Criminal Court that Ephey Williams and Barrington St. Elms Holness be deported on completion of their gaol sentences.

It is our practice to consider a court's recommendation for deportation towards the end of the term of imprisonment which the prisoner is expected to serve, when we can take into account all relevant information at that time. We shall do so in both these cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can give an estimate of the number of police officers wholly occupied in investigating the Poulson affair; how long they have been so occupied; what amount of skilled police detective time is likely to be expended, before investigation is likely to be complete; and if he will make a statement.

There are now 18 officers engaged full time on work that began on 19th July 1972. The Commissioner cannot reliably estimate how long all the thorough and complicated inquiries will take.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Treasury of permitting each husband or wife to pay income tax on his or her individual income, irrespective of that of the spouse.

No precise estimate can be given, but the cost is unlikely to be less than £100 million if it is assumed that married couples would arrange their sources of investment incomes between them to their best advantage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the position concerning 18 Plus groups and VAT.

I would refer the hon Member to my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Winchester (Rear-Admiral Morgan-Giles) on 22nd May.—[Vol. 857, c. 66]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage the velocity of circulation of money has fallen; by what percentage the money supply (M3) has increased; and by what percentage the value of money has declined in each quarter since October 1971.

Following is the information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been allowed by Customs and Excise by way of shipbuilders' relief to shipbuilding companies operating on Clydeside in each of the past 10 years.

Shipbuilders' relief was introduced by Section 2 of the Finance Act 1966 and came into force on 12th September 1966. Payments by Customs and Excise to shipbuilders operating on Clydeside in respect of ships delivered Value Added Tax after that date are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the latest estimate of how each £ of revenue from taxation is broken down proportionately between the main categories of public expenditure.

In 1973–74 the spending of each £ of public expenditure will be accounted for as follows:

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is the national average of people now using the postal code.

This is a matter for the Post Office, but I understand that no national average is available.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many television boosters belonging to IBA and BBC, respectively, there are in Mid-Wales; how many of these boosters are shared; and whether he will make a statement.

The IBA transmits from five VHF stations, two of which are shared with the BBC. In addition, the BBC transmits from a further five VHF stations. The UHF high power station at Blaenplwyf is shared by both broadcasting authorities; all future UHF relay stations in Mid-Wales will be shared.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in

Separate allocations are not made for secondary school building.The table below gives for each education authority the amount requested for the main programme of primary and secondary school building, the amount allocated for that programme for 1974–75 and the school population.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give the school building allocation for each local authority for 1974–75; and

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will appoint someone from the Kilbirnie-Dalry-Beith areas to the Ayrshire and Arran Health Board being constituted under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1972.

Members of health boards are being selected for the individual contribution which they can make to the work of the boards rather than as representatives of any particular interest or area. I shall be appointing

The following is the information:—the balance of the membership towards the end of this year and shall take account of any specific suggestions made to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board to announce the awarding of the contract for boilers for the Peterhead power station.

This is a matter for the board. I understand that an announcement will be made soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what readily available statistics he has for major offences involving possession of explosives over the last 10 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what investigation he is conducting as to the passage of explosives between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The enforcement of the law on this matter is primarily for the police, who have been successful recently in detecting contraventions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage increase in the home nursing service in 1972 as compared with 1971.

Staff employed wholly on home nursing increased by 10 per cent. The number of staff employed either wholly on home nursing or on combined duties—home nursing, health visiting and domiciliary midwifery—increased by 4½ per cent. In terms of whole-time equivalents devoted to home nursing the increase is estimated to be of the order of 7 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the projects involving health or social work in Scotland that will be delayed as a result of the recent cuts in public expenditure.

Statistical information about offences against the Explosive Substances Act 1883 from 1966 to 1972 is given in the table below. Some of the offences may be of a minor nature. Information is not available on other cases in which explosives may have been an instrument.

I refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen) on 25th May.—[Vol. 857, c. 206–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has authorised the provision of any special centres for those persons suffering from epilepsy.

No. Regional hospital boards, whose responsibility it is to decide what hospital facilities are required and what priority they are to be given, are fully aware of the kind of services needed for epilepsy. Such facilities may not necessarily take the form of special centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children in Scotland suffer from the dual handicap of blindness and deafness.

Four children are registered as totally blind and deaf in the Register of Handicapped Children in Scotland. The register is, however, a voluntary one and may not be comprehensive.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the persons appointed to the health boards have experience of work among the disabled; how many are classified as disabled themselves; and if he will list their names in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

This information is not readily available. In any event, health board members are not being selected as representatives of particular groups. Local health councils and the professional advisory machinery provided for in the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1972 will afford appropriate channels for bringing to the notice of health boards the needs of special groups of health service users such as the disabled.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the names of any persons he has appointed to the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee with special responsibility for chronically sick and disabled persons as in Section 10 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

Mrs. J. D. O. Morris, MBE.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the names of the persons he has appointed to the Transport Users' Consultative Committee, Gas Consultative Council and Electricity Consultative Council who have experience of work among, and the special needs, of disabled persons as in Section 14 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

Appointments to the Transport Users' Consultative Committee for Scotland and the Scottish Gas Consumers Council are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and Trade and Industry respectively. No members have been appointed to the two Scottish electricity consultative councils specifically in terms of Section 14 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; but both councils have members with experience of work among, and the special needs of, disabled persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will initiate a study of deafness in Scotland, especially with regard to the industrial sector.

Studies by Professor Taylor of Dundee University into aspects of occupational deafness continue, and my Department is keeping in touch with the other health Departments and the Department of Employment on other studies that are proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence he has presented to the Medical Research Council on the need for an institute of hearing research as stated in Section 24 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

Views of otological experts in Scotland on the need for an institute of hearing research were included with those collated and presented to the Medical Research Council by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent by his Department in 1972 on research and development with special reference to disabled persons.

About £60,000

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent by his Department in 1972 on the study and prevention of alcoholism in Scotland.

The prevention of alcoholism is an integral part of health services, and the total expenditure is not separately identifiable. £14,000 was spent in the financial year 1972–73 on publicity and the promotion of information services about alcoholism and in addition regional conferences were promoted by the Scottish Health Education Unit in conjunction with the voluntary bodies most directly concerned. Grants amounting to £60,000 were made for individual research projects supported by my Department though not borne directly on its Vote.