asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the latest figures of stocks of butter and cheese respectively held in the United Kingdom.

The latest available figures for butter and cheese stocks held in the United Kingdom are 103,800 tons and 96,200 tons respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make clear what is the period between tests for brucellosis which are required to confirm the continued freedom of an accredited herd, as this is not stated in document BSI issued by his Department.

The period between tests depends on the type of herd and management practice. The Milk Marketing Board acts as our agent in testing samples taken monthly from milk sold to it, and milk not sold to the board is tested at least quarterly. In herds which do not produce milk eligible animals are blood tested at least once a year, although this interval is reduced where risks of reinfection are above average.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the European Sugar position and the likely diminution of cane supplies to be imported into the United Kingdom, whether he will dispose of the State investment in the British Sugar Corporation to private industry at a market evaluation.

There are no plans at present to dispose of this holding.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his intentions regarding the continuation of the operational subsidy scheme for the deep sea fishing industry for the year begining 1st September; and whether he will make a statement.

The discussions referred to in my reply on 28th June to my hon. Friend the Member for Banff (Mr. W. H. K. Baker) are still proceeding, and I am deferring an announcement until they are completed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if Her Majesty's Government will be making formal submissions to the EEC setting out Her Majesty's Government's views on reform of the common agricultural policy.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend in answer to Questions by the hon. Member and others.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the Council of Nature's statement pointing out the danger from rabies to human beings, domestic animals and wild life, due to the smuggling of dogs and other pets into Great Britain, he will implement the recommendation of the Waterhouse Committee that a Government veterinary officer, to be named a portal officer, should be available for each seaport and airport designated as a point of entry for imported animals, and charged primarily with securing observance of the regulations.

The problem of smuggling is not restricted to designated seaports and airports, and we must continue to rely on Customs and Excise officers as our chief defence against animals being smuggled into this country, and on local authorites as the enforcement bodies for our rabies regulations. Government veterinary officers are available to assist Customs and Excise and local authorities on any matters arising in this connection.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will hold consultations with the East Midlands Economic Planning Council on the Hard-man Report and its implications for Northamptonshire, and in particular the new town of Corby.

I am very willing to see the council if it wishes.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is his estimate of how much it would cost to extend the improved Army pension terms to the widows of men who left the Service before 1st April 1973 and of how many women fall into this category.

The new pension code includes a number of improvements which directly or indirectly affect the provisions for widows. It is impossible to calculate the cost of extending the full benefits to the widows of all men who left the Army before 1st April 1973.

There are at present 12,500 widows of Army personnel in receipt of a Forces family pension. The estimated cost of increasing their awards to one-half of the husband's pension is £2¼ million a year. The estimated cost of continuing to pay the husband's pension for a period of 91 days to those newly widowed who are entitled to a pension is £100,000 a year. Approximately 800 widows a year would benefit. In each case the cost will increase year by year. The estimated cost of granting approximately 54,000 Army war widows an attributable Forces family pension is £55 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will now take into account war service as reckonable service for teachers in regard to qualifying for pensions.

War service is already pensionable service for teachers who at the time either were employed in pensionable teaching service or had been admitted, or accepted for admission, to a recognised course of teaching training.

asked the Secretary of State for Eduction and Science whether, in the light of the report of the Government Actuary into the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme, she will now recommend that teachers' contributions to the scheme be cut from 6¾ per cent. to 6 per cent.

At a meeting of the working party on teachers' superannuation on 3rd July the official side undertook to consider a request by the teachers' side for a reduction in the employee's contribution.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of persons employed in the car manufacturing industry on Merseyside in 1964, 1965, 1970, 1972 and at the latest available date.

The most recent estimates of the numbers employed in the area are for June 1971. Following is the available information:

Estimated numbers of employees in employment in motor vehicle manufacturing in the Liverpool travel-to-work area
	(thousands)
June 1964	18·0
June 1965	19·3
June 1970	30·7
June 1971	32·7

The estimates for June 1970 and June 1971 are based on the 1968 edition of the Standard Industrial Classification and are not precisely comparable with those for June 1964 and June 1965 which are based on the 1958 edition.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the percentages of males, females and juniors unemployed in the Sevenoaks constituency; and how these figures compare with the figures for the previous 12 months.

Rates of unemployment are not available for young people separately. The following table shows the rates for males and females in the area covered by the Sevenoaks, Wester-ham, Tonbridge, Maidstone and Tun-bridge Wells employment exchanges, which includes the Sevenoaks constituency:

PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT
	Males	Females
July 1972	2·5	0·6
August 1972	2·6	0·6
September 1972	2·6	0·6
October 1972	2·7	0·7
November 1972	2·8	0·8
December 1972	2·8	0·7
January 1973	2·8	0·8
February 1973	2·6	0·7
March 1973	2·3	0·6
April 1973	2·1	0·6
May 1973	2·0	0·6
June 1973	1·9	0·4
July 1973 (Provisional)	1·8	0·4

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will analyse applications and approvals for training in the entertainment industry under the Training Opportunities Scheme, stating for what skills individuals have applied for training, the number involved for each skill and the number which have had his approval:

(2) how many applications have so far been received for training under the Training Opportunities Scheme; and how many of these applications have so far been approved by his Department;

(3) how many applications for training under the Training Opportunities Scheme have been received and how many approved for training in the entertainment industry.

The Training Opportunities Scheme was introduced on

					Men			Women
					Aged 18 to 54	Aged 55 and over	Total	Aged 18 to 54	Aged 55 and over	Total
Bexhill	…	…	…	…	52	216	268	18	9	27
Hailsham	…	…	…	…	27	105	132	7	3	10
Rye	…	…	…	…	16	54	70	5	1	6
There were no young people unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he proposes to take against those companies

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many males and females were registered as unemployed at the Bexhill, Hailsham and Rye employment exchanges on 15th July 1973; and how many of these were over 55 years of age, under 18 years of age and school leavers, respectively.

The following table shows the unemployed by age groups on 9th July 1973. The figures are provisional:which are refusing to make a movement towards implementation of equal pay for women; and if he will make a statement.

Employers are obliged to introduce equal pay by 29th December 1975. Clearly, the majority of firms would be ill-advised not to begin phasing in equal pay well in advance of the legal deadline and my Department has recently issued a leaflet emphasising the desirability of orderly progress. The Price and Pay Code for phase 2 allows such progress by making provision for the gap between men's and women's rates to be reduced by one-third outside the pay limit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for driving licences and how many for provisional driving licences have taken more than one week to process; and what length of delays have been experienced.

My Department took over the issue of provisional licences in March. Industrial trouble heaviiy delayed many early applications. About 95 per cent. of first applications are processed within six working days, and 98 per cent. within 10 working days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses were completed in Birkenhead in 1970, 1971, 1972 and so far during 1973, divided between private and public sector.

The figures for 1970, 1971, 1972 and the first quarter of 1973 appear on page 11 of Local Housing Statistics Nos. 17, 21, 25 and 26 respectively, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the number of roads through country towns and villages which are unsuitable for heavy vehicles, which damage ancient buildings and other structures close to which they pass, whether he will seek powers to prohibit the use of such loads by such vehicles.

Local authorities already have powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what date he expects Birkenhead to be linked by motorway to the M6.

1977–78, subject to review of the schemes concerned and to the availability of funds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to make it a condition that, whenever central Government grants are payable in connection with new public transport systems, the systems are accessible to handicapped travellers and that associated buildings conform with the provisions laid down in Section 4 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

No. Such a general rule would not be practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why his circular on access to public transport has still not been issued to transport operators and manufacturers; and when he expects to issue the circular.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer of 16th July. A suitable circular has entailed extensive consultations.—[Vol. 860, c. 36.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what trials and experiments are taking place regarding the problems experienced by the elderly and disabled in boarding and alighting from buses; what new designs are envisaged for grab rails; and if he will make a statement.

The Transport and Road Research Laboratory is supervising a preliminary study with a view to relevant improvements in bus design, but no conclusions have yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with the design work and preparation of statutory notices for the Greenodd diversion on the A590; and when construction is programmed to begin.

Preparatory investigations are in hand. Subject to availability of funds, construction is programmed for the late 1970s.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now able to announce his decision on the inclusion in the principal road programme of the proposed improvement scheme for the B283 in the London borough of Sutton.

No. I understand the council is giving further consideration to proposals for this road.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any approaches from the Greater London Council regarding the termination of the proposed M23 outside Greater London.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Greater London Council has been given authority by his Department to pay subsidies, or grants, to the councils of expanding towns with which the GLC has agreements in order to offset any provisions of the Housing Finance Act 1972 which would otherwise cause a financial burden to fall on the ratepayers of an expanding town.

The Greater London Council has been authorised under the Town Development Act 1952 to enter into agreements with the councils of certain expanding towns, including Hastings, to make payments which are related to the expansion scheme. The authority would permit payments of the kind referred to by my hon. Friend, but it is for the parties to the agreements to decide on the form and amount of payments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has held discussions with the Greater London Council on the effects of the Housing Finance Act 1972 on the council's expanding towns programme: and if he will give the results of any such discussions held.

The Department has discussed with the Greater London Council the interpretation and effect of certain provisions in the Housing Finance Act 1972. Decisions on whether to give additional assistance to expanding towns beyond the contributions laid down in the 1972 Act are for the council and the towns concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of his failure to discuss a matter of traffic violations by Nigerian diplomats in Great Britain with General Gowon during his recent visit, he has raised the matter with the Nigerian High Commissioner; if so, then with what result; and, if not, whether he will now do so.

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Sir J. Langford-Holt) on 4th July, we have written to the high commissioner twice during the last few months. We have also recently been in touch with him again in an effort to resolve this problem. The high commissioner has told us that he has personally instructed his staff to commute to and from the office by public transport. There are already indications that his co-operation in this matter has reduced the extent of the problem as far as his mission is concerned.—[Vol. 859, c. 106.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for each of the years since the introduction of the low-priced books scheme of the English Language Book Society, what was the number of countries covered, the number of titles available in mathematics, science and technology, the total number of books produced and the cost of the subsidy.

I am collecting the information my hon. Friend asks for, and I will arrange for it to be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have received gifts under the books presentation programme introduced in June 1971, giving a list of the number of institutions in the various countries, and the total cost.

I am collecting the information my hon. Friend asks for, and I will arrange for it to be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make known his intentions regarding various recommendations included in the Butterworth Report concerning probation officers and the probation services.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. Peter Archer) on 4th July.—[Vol. 859, c. 139–40.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of times and the statutes in which retrospection has been authorised in Acts originating in his Department which have received the Royal Assent in the past three years.

Since June 1970 retrospection has been authorised in the following Statutes: Finance Act 1971, Sections 5, 15 (7) and 55 (2); Mr. Speaker King's Retirement Act 1971, Section 1; Civil List Act 1972, Section 6 (3); Finance Act 1972, Sections 80 (9), 81 (6) and 116 (3 and 4).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now consider freeing wireless sets for the blind from value added tax in view of the fact that sets on free permanent loan do not pay this tax.

No. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Putney (Mr. Hugh Jenkins) on 12th April 1973.—[Vol. 854, c. 320.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons, at the latest available estimates and who are receiving over £5,000 a year, are subject to Schedule D tax assessment; and what percentage they represent of the total.

In 1970–71, the latest year for which estimates are available, the information is as follows:

	000's
Schedule D, Cases I and II	135
Schedule D, Cases III—VII	145
(a) Married couples are counted as one unit
(b) An unknown number of cases are counted under more than one heading so that the percentage requested cannot be calculated

asked the Chancellor ot the Exchequer how many persons, of the 625,000 estimated to have an annual income of £5,000 and above, have their income wholly earned, partially earned and wholly unearned, respectively.

About 210,000,395,000 and 20,000 respectively, counting married couples as one unit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Treasury regulations drawn up for the implementation of Section 46 of the Finance Act 1973 allow for an option for the withdrawal by executors if the Treasury decides it is unable to accept in a given case a testator's condition that works of art offered in satisfaction of estate duties should be entrusted to a particular public institution or body.

Yes. If a testator imposes a condition which the Government are unable to accept it follows that the executors will be obliged to withdraw the offer.

asked the Chancellor ot the Exchequer if he will investigate how the Financial Secretary's letter to her of 17th July 1973, arising from correspondence over Mr. K. C. Ward's value added tax repayment claim from April onwards, ignored the Financial Secretary's letter of 8th June, wherein he acknowledged that Mr. Ward had completed and submitted his April return on 16th May.

I am writing to my hon. Friend setting out the full sequence of events. As stated in my letter of 17th July, authority to credit Mr. Ward's bank account with the amounts claimed for April and May was given on 6th July. If my hon. Friend's constituent has any outstanding problems concerned with value added tax I should be happy to discuss them with my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres of land zoned at present for green belt purposes are under review at present on the representations of Lanark County Council for change of use for other purposes; and how many acres have been specified by the county council for private housing.

174, of which 122 have been specified for private housing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres of land originally zoned for green belt purposes in Lanark County Council Development Plan he has agreed to re-zone for other uses at the request of the county council during the last five years; and, of this total, how many acres of land were rezoned for private housing.

1,254, of which 133 have been for private housing.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent advice he has given to regional hospital boards about the release of information to the Press and public.

In general it is for each board to make appropriate arrangements for the release of information to the Press and public and for publicity about hospital services. With regard to capital building programmes, boards have been advised that forward planning figures are provisional and should, therefore, be treated in confidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost in a full year of the Birmingham Hospital Board's Press and publicity department; and what the cost was five years ago.

£12,800. Until 1970 this work was undertaken by the board's senior officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the delay of five years in reaching a decision, what plans he has to locate a suitable site for a new general hospital in Croydon; and if he will make a statement.

It is for the regional hospital board to determine the site for the new district general hospital in Croydon. It is still investigating a number of sites, including one owned by the Lambeth Borough Council at Shirley on which my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is currently considering an appeal for housing development.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when there is to be a change in present usage of the Scott Hospital, Plymouth; and if he will consider allocating the buildings for the use of mentally handicapped children and as a hostel for handicapped men and women.

No plans have been made by the South Western Regional Hospital Board for any such change. The question of allocating the buildings for other purposes does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will investigate the reason for the delay in providing the necessary appliances for the spina bifida children in the Plymouth hospital area.

No specific complaints of delay have been received by the South Western Regional Hospital Board. In most cases children's calipers are provided within eight weeks. Delays of up to four months in the supply of special shoes can occur, particularly where alterations are necessary after fittings.

I should be glad to look into any specific cases of delay if my hon. Friend will send me particulars.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total sum paid by employers, for the last convenient financial year, in social security contributions.

The estimated amount contributed by employers in 1972–73 for national insurance, industrial injuries, the National Health Service and the Redundancy Fund was £1,768 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to review cost limits for social service projects; and if he will take steps to assist the Newham Borough Council, in view of the fact that the tenders it receives are substantially above those cost limits and that this has led to a reduction of design and building standards and, in one case, to the shelving of a particular project.

The cost allowances for social services projects are kept under review, and a substantial increase in them was announced by my Department's Circular LASS/L 23/73 dated 15th June. We are always ready to discuss with local authorities the resolution of costing difficulties that arise in relation to particular projects, but I recognise that in some instances some reduction in proposed standards proves necessary. As I understand it, the reason leading Newham London Borough Council to shelve one project was that an urban programme grant was available to meet a part only of the cost. I had agreed the cost limit and given approval for loan sanction for the balance under the normal social services capital programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will grant authority under Section 45 of the Health Service and Public Health Act 1968 to any local council which wishes to provide cheap food to the elderly and poor within its boundaries.

Local authorities are empowered to provide meals services to elderly people under this section together with a range of other services designed to promote the well-being of those most in need of help. Rather than extending the range to cover the provision by local authorities of cheap foodstuffs, I prefer the Government policy of an annual increase in benefit to provide elderly people with an increasing degree of choice.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the value of the retirement pension for single and married persons at the latest available date, given the value at 100 on 1st January 1973.

96·2 at May 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be in a position to judge the effect of prescription charges on the pattern of prescribing.

Increases in the proportion of exempt patients and developments in unquantifiable therapeutic factors continue to prevent the measurement of any marginal influence which charges may have on the pattern of prescribing, but there is no evidence that they have an effect on necessary treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of prescriptions with charges and exemptions, respectively, for 1970, 1971 and 1972.

The number of prescriptions in England were as follows:

	Chargeable Prescriptions (Millions)	Exempt Prescriptions (Millions)
1970	115	133
1971	106	141
1972	106	150

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many unsuccessful applicants for the higher rate attendance allowance in Great Britain and Northern Ireland have applied for a review since the attendance allowance was first introduced; how many of these have been successful; how many unsuccessful; and how many cases are pending.

Since the scheme started in 1971 there have been 33,000 applications for review in Great Britain of which 16,000 have been successful, 15,000 have been unsuccessful and 2,000 are pending. In the same period under the separate legislation in Northern Ireland there have been 3,700 applications for review of which 1,300 have been successful, 2,000 have been unsuccessful and 400 are pend- ing. These figures cover both the higher and the lower rate, as applicants do not have to indicate which rate they wish to claim.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many unsuccessful applicants for the higher rate attendance allowance in Great Britain and Northern Ireland have applied for leave to appeal to the National Insurance Commissioner; how many have been granted leave; how many have not been granted leave; how many cases are pending; and what have been the results in cases granted leave to appeal.

From 1971 to 17th July 1973 there have been 656 applications for leave to appeal to the Great Britain National Insurance Commissioner. Leave to appeal has been granted in 310 cases resulting in 244 successful and five unsuccessful appeals. Leave to appeal has not been granted in 233 cases, including 43 which were abandoned or withdrawn with the consent of the commissioner. Pending applications number 113. In the same period there have been 15 applications for leave to appeal to the Northern Ireland National Insurance Commissioner all of which have been granted. Six were successful, eight unsuccessful, and one case is pending.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications have been received for the higher rate attendance allowance since it was first introduced; how many of these applications have been successful; how many unsuccessful; and how many are pending.

Since the scheme started in 1971, there have been 247,000 applications for attendance allowance in Great Britain of which 133,000 were initially successful, 102,000 were initially rejected and 12,000 are pending. In the same period under the separate legislation in Northern Ireland there have been 14,400 applications for attendance allowance of which 7,900 were initially successful, 5,700 were initially unsuccessful and 800 are pending. All the figures include both the higher and the lower rate, as applicants do not have to indicate which rate they wish to claim.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now make a statement on the comparative progress made by local authorities in implementing the provisions of Sections 1 and 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

Since my reply to the hon. Member on 8th August 1972—[Vol. 842, c. 338–9.]—considerable progress has been made by local authorities in implementing Section 1 (1) of the Act. The following table summarises the latest position as revealed in the course of contacts between officers of my Department and individual authorities:

	Number of Authorities
Method of Implementation
1. House to house distribution of leaflets	69
2. Sample survey in accordance with Office of Population Censuses and Surveys guidance	37
3. Other sample surveys	32
4. Other methods	19
All authorities	157

In a substantial number of cases authorities have adopted more than one method of implementing Section 1 (1). Where this has occurred they have been included by reference to the principal method adopted. For the most part the leaflets used by authorities shown in line 1 contained slips to be returned by handicapped people seeking help. As regards the sample surveys shown at line 3, variations from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys guidance were for the most part in the size of the sample chosen or the method by which it was drawn. In a number of cases action reflected in the table is still in progress, especially where the programme of house-to-house distribution of leaflets is being phased over a period. In the case of authorities shown at line 4 of the table, the methods of implementation included one or more of the following—a comprehensive programme designed to bring together in the social services department information about handicapped people held, by other local authority departments, voluntary organisations, or general practitioners; pilot surveys in small areas; sustained programmes of advertising by means of local Press, local radio, posters; and the wide distribution of leaflets designed to encourage those both needing and wanting services to apply for them.

In the case of a very few of the authorities in line 4, I am not satisfied from information at present available to me that action so far taken by them discharges their statutory duty to inform themselves of the numbers and needs of substantially and permanently handicapped people in their areas. My Department has accordingly written to these authorities asking them to reconsider the position with a view to taking further action.

The number of names included on local authorities' registers of physically handicapped people, excluding people suffering from visual or auditory handicaps, provides some indication of the progress being made in identifying those in need of help. Registration is, however, not a prerequisite to receiving help and for this and other reasons there is no doubt that many more handicapped people are known to local authorities than are registered. Returns showing the numbers registered by local authorities on 31st March 1973 are not yet complete but for 144 authorities the figure was 352,246, which represents an increase of approximately 30 per cent. over the figure for the same authorities for the preceding year. I intend in the next few months to issue further guidance to local authorities about registration procedure and related statistical matters.

With regard to the implementation of Section 1 (2) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, action has for the most part been linked with implementation of Section 1 (1) and it is not possible to report separately on it. I am satisfied that authorities generally have taken action under the subsection.

As regards Section 2 of the Act, I shall be publishing later in the year statistical information relating to types of help given, based on returns received from local authorities in respect of the year ending 31st March 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the manufacturers of the models of the powered wheelchairs that his Department has recently tested for safe use outdoors, noting in each case the results of these tests; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested cannot be assembled at short notice without a disproportionate use of resources. I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the rates of family allowances in the EEC countries, including Great Britain, and in Sweden and New Zealand; and what proportion

FAMILY ALLOWANCE RATES IN THE EEC COUNTRIES, SWEDEN AND NEW ZEALAND (As at 1st January 1973, unless otherwise stated, based on available published information)
Country			Allowances Monthly
United Kingdom	…	…	2nd child	£3·90
			3rd child	£4·33
			Each subsequent child	£4·33
France	…	…	2nd child	110·60F
			3rd and 4th child, each	184·62F
			5th and each subsequent child	166·30F
			plus additional allowances:—
			(a) ranging from 38·90F to 97·25F if there is only one breadwinner and
			(b) ranging from 41·24F to 73·31F, according to the ages of the children
Federal Republic of Germany	…	…	2nd child, 25DM (but not payable if income exceeds 15,000DM per annum unless there are more than 2 children)
			3rd and 4th child, each	60DM
			5th and each subsequent child	70DM
Italy	…	…	For each child	5,720 lire
Belgium*	…	…	1st child	693·75BF
			2nd child	1,168·75BF
			3rd and each subsequent child	1,636·50BF
			plus additional allowances ranging from 151·50BF to 432·25BF, according the ages of the children.
Netherlands	…	…	1st child	54·86 florins
			2nd and 3rd child, each	65·26 florins
			4th and 5th child, each	87·10 florins
			6th and 7th child, each	96·46 florins
			8th and each subsequent child	106·60 florins
Luxembourg†	…	…	1st child	629FL
			2nd child	629FL
			3rd and each subsequent child	1,411FL
Irish Republic	…	…	1st child	0·50
			2nd child	£1·50
			3rd and each subsequent child	£2·25
Denmark‡	…	…	For each child	93·66Dkr
Sweden	…	…	For each child	l00Skr
New Zealand	…	…	For each child	13 $NZ
Notes
* Belgian rates as at August 1972 (latest available).
† Luxembourg rates as at 1st July 1972 (latest available).
‡ Danish rates as at 1st January 1971 (latest available).

The following table gives the rates of family allowances in the countries referred to. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available except in the case of Great Britain, where family allowances represented approximately 2–9 per cent. of the income—net of tax and national insurance contributions—of a family with two children where the breadwinner was receiving the average earnings of a male manual worker as at April 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is his policy to harmonise social security benefits in Great Britain, particularly family allowances, with the general level current in other countries in the EEC.

There are wide differences in the levels of social security benefits, including family allowances, between the other member countries of the EEC. The question of harmonising British benefits to a general EEC level does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is intended, under the Government's tax credits proposals, that attendance allowances would be liable to tax.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the answer he gave to the hon. Member for Harrow, West (Mr. John Page)—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 16th July 1973, Vol. 860, c. 54]—concerning social security benefit during the Perkins diesel dispute included the amount he expects to be repaid by the recipients; and if so, how much he expects will be repaid and what percentage this represents.

No. The information related to payments of supplementary benefit made during the dispute which are not recoverable. If any payments have to be made following return to work, they will be fully recoverable in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Social Security Act 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated need for places in homes for the young chronic sick in Lancashire; and when he expects to satisfy it.

Lancashire County Council estimates a need for about 750 places in homes for younger physically handicapped people. Taking account of places made available to the county by voluntary and other organisations—440 at present—the council hopes to satisfy the need by 1980.

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

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 21st June 1973]. gave the following information:The figures are given in the table in col. 249–50. Some people qualify for benefit under more than one heading. Family allowances are not included; neither expenditure on them nor their receipients are analysed by the categories mentioned by the hon. Member. Supplementary benefit—earlier, national assistance—expenditure is included in the figures from 1965–66 onwards in the second part of the table. The expenditure figures for earlier years, in the first part of the table, exclude national assistance payments, which were not then analysed by these categories of recipient. For comparability, 1965–66 is shown in both parts of the table. The numbers of beneficiaries shown for all years include national assistance/supplementary benefit recipients. For 1973–74 it will not be possible to estimate benefit expenditure in 1960–61 price terms until Retail Price Index figures covering the year 1973–74 are available; the table in col. 249–50 shows the estimated expenditure for this year in money terms.

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

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 21st June 19731. gave the information printed in col. 251–2.

EXPENDITURE IN TERMS OF PURCHASING POWER AT 1960–61 PRICES ON CERTAIN SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, AND NUMBERS OF BENEFICIARIES
				Great Britain
				Sick and disabled (1)		Retired persons (2)		Unemployed persons (3)		Single-parent families (4)		Family income supplement
				Cash benefits paid (£ m.)	Number of beneficiaries (5) (000)	Cash benefits paid (£ m.)	Number of beneficiaries (6) (000)	Cash benefits paid (£ m.)	Number of beneficiaries (5) (000)	Cash benefits paid (£ m.)	Number of beneficiaries (6) (000)	Benefit paid (£ m.)	Number of beneficiaries (6) (000)
1960–61	…	…	…	245	1,780	690	5,840	30	280	35	240	—	—
1961–62	…	…	…	265	1,810	760	5,930	35	270	35	250	—	—
1962–63	…	…	…	260	1,810	755	6,050	60	370	35	250	—	—
1963–64	…	…	…	300	1,850	880	6,200	60	490	40	250	—	—
1964–65	…	…	…	300	1,810	895	6,370	40	290	45	270	—	—
1965–66	…	…	…	345	1,850	1,040	6,550	40	240	50	280	—	—
1965–66	…	…	…	385	1,850	1,145	6,550	65	240	80	280	—	—
1966–67	…	…	…	385	1,780	1,160	6,730	85	290	80	280	—	—
1967–68	…	…	…	440	1,820	1,155	6,960	135	470	90	300	—	—
1968–69	…	…	…	445	1,870	1,310	7,150	150	450	90	310	—	—
1969–70	…	…	…	450	1,880	1,315	7,340	140	440	100	330	—	—
1970–71	…	…	…	420	1,880	1,340	7,640	160	170	100	340	—	—
1971–72	…	…	…	425	1,840	1,415	7,750	235	670	no	360	2	65
1972–73	…	…	…	460	1,850	1,555	7,890	220	670	120	370	6	85
1973–74 (7)	…	…	…	927	—	3,043	—	364	—	217	—	11	—
(1) Sickness benefit, invalidity benefit, injury benefit, industrial injuries disablement benefit, war disablement benefit attendance allowance, and supplementay allowance for the sick and disabled not receiving a national insurance benefit.
(2) Retirement pension, old person's pension, £10 lump sum (December 1972), non-contributory old age pension, and supplementary pension
(3) Unemployment benefit, supplementary allowance for the unemployed.
(4) Widowed mother's allowance, pensions for war and industrial widows with children, and supplementary allowance for one-parent families.
(5) Average number in each year in receipt of benefit.
(6) Numbers in receipt of benefit at end of year.
(7) In money terms—i.e. not at 1960–61 prices.

EXPENDITURE IN TERMS OF PURCHASING POWER AT 1970–71 PRICES ON CERTAIN SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, AND NUMBERS OF BENEFICIARIES
				Great Britain
				Sick and disabled (1)		Retired persons (2)		Unemployed persons (3)		Single-parent families (4)		Family income supplement
				Cash benefits paid (£ m.)	Number of beneficiaries (5) (000)	Cash benefits paid (£ m.)	Number of beneficiaries (6) (000)	Cash benefits paid (£ m.)	Number of beneficiaries (5) (000)	Cash benefits paid (£ m.)	Number of beneficiaries (6) (000)	Benefit paid (£ m.)	Number of beneficiaries (6) (000)
1970–71	…	…	…	640	1,880	2,020	7,640	240	470	150	340	—	—
1971–72	…	…	…	640	1,840	2,135	7,750	355	670	170	360	4	65
1972–73	…	…	…	690	1,850	2,350	7,890	335	670	180	370	9	85
1973–74 (7)	…	…	…	927	—	3,043	—	364	—	217	—	11	—
(1) Sickness benefit, invalidity benefit, injury benefit, industrial injury disablement benefit, war disablement benefit, attendance allowance, and supplementary allowance for the sick and disabled not receiving a national insurance benefit.
(2) Retirement pension, old person's pension, £10 lump sum (December 1972), and supplementary pension.
(3) Unemployment benefit, supplementary allowance for the unemployed.
(4) Widowed mother's allowance, pensions for war and industrial widows with children, and supplementary allowance for one-parant families.
(5) Average number in each year in receipt of benefit.
(6) Numbers in receipt of benefit at end of year.
(7) In money terms—i.e. not at 1970–71 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications were received and refused for industrial development certificates in

GREAT BRITAIN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES
(Schemes of 15,000 sq. ft. and over) *
									January—May †
					1969	1970	1971	1972 ‡	1973
Approvals	…	…	…	…	1,939	1,677	1,256	1,491	739
Refusals	…	…	…	…	101	104	55	43	29
Notes:
* For ease of comparison figures for schemes of 15,000 sq. ft. and over have been used.
† June 1973 figures are not yet available.
‡ IDCs were not required in the development and special development areas from July 1972. Withdrawal figures are not reeorded centrally and a disproportionate expense would be incurred in collecting them for this answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what study is being made of the health hazards affecting divers working below 400 feet in the North Sea.

Research on diving health hazards is conducted by the Medical Research Council, and the results are published in the scientific literature. Research on diving operations and allied physiological problems is conducted by the Ministry of Defence Procurement Executive, and much of the resulting information is unclassified. There is close collaboration between MRC and MOD. The results of the research are made available to the offshore industries under a standing two-way arrangement with MOD, and are being incorporated into codes of practice for conventional diving, including oxy-helium operations. If further research, not in the province of MRC or MOD, were shown to be necessary, the case would be considered by the Ship and Marine Technology Requirements Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the annual payments being made by the

The following table gives the available information; meaningful comparisons cannot be made because IDCs were not required in the development and special development areas from July 1972:—British Steel Corporation as compensation to former owners; for how long these payments will continue; and what will be the total amount paid in compensation by the time this obligation is extinguished.

None. The former owners of the nationalised steel companies were compensated by the issue of Government stock, as provided for by Section 10 of the Iron and Steel Act 1967, and under Section 18 (1) (a) the corporation assumed a corresponding debt of £568 million to the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent he estimates that the rise in copper price has been due to the successive devaluation of the dollar and the float down of the £ sterling; and whether he will encourage industry to make provision for the holding of higher stocks to deal with the cyclical pattern of supply and demand.

The main reason for the rise in world copper prices since the end of 1972 has been the strong rise in world demand associated with the general increase in the rate of economic expansion in industrialised countries. Some major producers have also experienced difficulties in maintaining supplies. Currency uncertainties, including changes in dollar and sterling exchange rates, have been a further subsidiary factor in the pressure on prices, although this cannot be rapidly quantified. Where it is possible to forecast short-term movements in supply and demand, an appropriate adjustment of stock levels is to be encouraged; although the level must also be judged in commercial terms in view of the costs involved in maintaining high stock levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the present United Kingdom stocks of copper compared with figures for the past three years; and what estimate he has of how far demand in the United Kingdom exceeds supply.

According to the latest available information United Kingdom stocks of copper, with comparable figures for 1970 to 1972, are as follows:

	Stocks at end of May (metric tons)
1970	19,891
1971	42,790
1972	69,953
1973	44,456

The running down of the abnormally high level of stocks built up during 1972 suggests that demand has exceeded supply in recent months.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the principal countries of origin of imported clothing into Great Britain in 1972.

Information by country is given against Division 84 in Table II of the December 1972 issue of the Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the principal countries of origin of imported wool cloth into the United Kingdom in 1972.

The information is given following heading SITC (R) 653.2 in Table III of the December 1972 issue of the Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the amount and values of wool cloth imported into the United Kingdom each quarter since January 1971.

Cumulative value and quantity figures—from which quarterly figures may be derived—are given under heading SITC (R) 653.2 in Table III of the Monthly Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the value and amounts of quarterly imports of foreign-made clothing since June 1970.

Cumulative values—from which quarterly figures may be derived—for clothing are given against Division 84 in Table II of the monthly Overseas Trade Statistics; as different units of quantity are used it is not meaningful to summarise the quantities of clothing imports as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a While Paper on the extent of energy resources.

We have no proposals at present for publishing such a White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will amend the Companies Acts so as to require disclosure to shareholders of occasions of access on the part of consultants to information otherwise normally confidential to the company.

I shall shortly be making known my proposals as to the need to improve disclosure by companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will consider the use of hydrogen from the earth's atmosphere as a possible source of energy.

I know of no method of using the minute quantities of hydrogen gas in the earth's atmosphere as a source of energy, but I am always willing to receive instruction.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will call a national conference of all official and other interested bodies to discuss the future of rural Wales.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has received the views of the Welsh Secondary Schools Association on the White Paper "A Framework for Expansion "; and what reply he has sent.

The Welsh Secondary Schools Association wrote to me on 5th July. I will arrange for the hon. Member to receive a copy of my reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of replacing split site secondary schools with buildings and amenities on a single campus.

None. It would not be practicable to make a meaningful estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total public expenditure on secondary education in Wales in the last three years for which figures are available; and of this figure, what proportions were spent on provision of new schools and new buildings in existing schools, respectively.

Total current public expenditure directly attributable to secondary education in Wales for the last three years for which information is available was:

		£000s
1969–70	1970–71	1971–72
26,951	30,264	35,633

Separate details for total public expenditure on new schools and new buildings at existing schools are not collected centrally but the capital resources approved for major school building projects for these three years were as follows:

			£ million
	1969–70	1970–71	1971–72
New schools	2·99	2·75	2·87
Extensions to existing schools	2·00	4·34	6·29

asked the Secretary ot State for Wales if he proposes to undertake systematic consultation with head teachers of secondary schools in Wales on the future planning of education in the Principality.

It is my policy to consult with the interests most closely affected on all major developments. Head teacher associations are included in the normal machinery for consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average pupil-teacher ratio in Welsh secondary schools for the last three years for which figures are available.

The average pupil-teacher ratio in maintained secondary schools in Wales was 18·2 in 1970. 18·3 in 1971 and 180 in 1972.