asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his actions following the recent decision of the House of Commons to stop the export of live animals.

The decision of the House on 12th July as regards licences for the export of animals for slaughter was implemented as from that day and the committee of inquiry was established a fortnight later.

My right hon. Friend has also raised the subject of animal welfare in the EEC Council of Ministers and the Commission intends to establish a working group to study the problems.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what import duty or levy is now imposed on lard imported into the United Kingdom from outside the EEC.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to improve the quality of beer brewed in Great Britain.

Many different British beers and an increasing range of imported beers are on offer. Statistics of consumption suggest that the consumer does not find it too difficult to choose beer of the quality and taste he or she prefers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now cancel the import levy on cheese imported into the United Kingdom from outside the EEC.

No. In acceding to the Community we accepted Community arrangements for this commodity and they require a levy on imports from non-Community countries. As a result of our negotiations, however, the average retail price of Cheddar cheese is virtually unchanged.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea has reported on researches into the effects of trawling, and especially beam trawling, on the biological resources of the sea bed; and what action he intends to take thereon.

The report will be presented to the meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission in June next year. The use of the larger beam trawls is banned within our limits, but I propose to consult the industry on the desirability of further restrictions as a precautionary measure pending consideration of the report.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to improve the pest control facilities available to farmers and horticulturists.

From the reply given him on 19th July my hon. Friend will appreciate that the commercial companies concerned are willing and anxious to provide any improved facilities that may be needed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage the cost of imported food and imported feeding stuffs has increased since 18th June 1970.

Between June 1970 and August 1973 the average price of imported food and feeding stuffs rose by 66 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he now has adequate information to assess the quantity and quality of the recent grain harvest; and what effect this is likely to have on the price of animal feeding stuffs during the forthcoming year.

Final estimates are not yet available but the latest indications are that the 1973 United Kingdom cereals harvest may slightly exceed last year's record level of 15¼ million tons. Quality is variable but this should not affect feeding values.

Because of a large number of other factors it is impossible to say precisely what effect the recent harvest will have on the price of animal feeding stuffs during the coming year, but the high level of production should help to stabilise the feeding stuffs market.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the result of discussions to date on a new International Sugar Agreement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave yesterday to an identical Question from my hon. Friend the Member for King's Lynn (Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for increasing the upper limit of compensation for brucellosis reactor cattle.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from the National Farmers' Union that the limit should be increased, and he is at present awaiting submission of the union's detailed case.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that considerable quantities of straw are burned at harvest time each year; and whether he will promote research into the making of new uses of straw.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to introduce legislation to strengthen the present law on cornstubble burning; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Huntingdonshire (Sir D. Renton) and the hon. Member for Wandsworth, Central (Mr. Thomas Cox) to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Tom King) on 18th June.—[Vol. 858, c. 38. ]

My right hon. Friend has just received the report of the Advisory Council for Agriculture and Horticulture, and intends to make a statement as soon as he has been able to consider it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the effect of the new Common Market regulations on the quality of British milk.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date it is intended to increase the minimum requirement from 3 per cent. to3.5 per cent. butter fat content of whole milk on sale in Great Britain to conform to this higher standard in EEC Regulation No. 1411/71.

The Community regulations lay down a minimum butter fat standard for whole milk of 3.5 per cent. This compares with our minimum presumptive standard of 3 per cent. and an average fat content for ordinary milk of 3.7 to 3.8 per cent. in the United Kingdom. The Treaty of Accession authorises whole milk with a fat content of less than 3.5 per cent. to be supplied to consumers in the United Kingdom till 31st December 1975.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take to ensure the continuance of the Horticulture Improvement Scheme till its termination on 1st April, 1974.

The closing date of 14th April, 1974 for applications under the Horticulture Improvement Scheme was subject to the limit of £47 million imposed by legislation. This total is estimated to have been reached by applications received up to 6th July 1973. As previously announced, I hope to introduce two new schemes of capital assistance for horticulture under EEC Directive 72/159 on 1st January, 1974.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of agricultural land in Britain is, at the present date, in tenant occupation.

According to the June 1972 Agricultural Census some 45 per cent. of agricultural land in Great Britain was let to tenants.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made on behalf of the cane sugar producing associated countries during the current negotiations on the future sugar policy of the EEC.

I have left my Community colleagues in no doubt about the importance we attach to the developing Commonwealth countries continuing to have an assured market in the Community, after 1974, for the full quantity of sugar which they at present send us under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement, namely 1.4 million tons. I remain entirely confident that this will be accepted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will confirm that the costs of the agriculture industry for the current year are estimated at £400 million; and what interim measures he proposes to introduce to alleviate farmers' difficulties.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave on Tuesday 16th October to my hon. Friends the Members for Petersfield (Miss Quennell) and Oswestry (Mr. Biffen).—[Vol. 861, c. 87. ]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further action he proposes to take to ensure that future imports of cane sugar into the United Kingdom are sufficient to maintain present levels of production and employment in the British cane sugar refineries.

The Government are giving their full support to the proposals made by the EEC Commission on 12th July covering a figure of 1.4 million tons. Nevertheless, some reduction in supplies of raw sugar is inevitable, and it is for this reason that I have urged the industry to put forward agreed proposals for its future structure.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has yet agreed to the proposal to build a new fish quay at North Shields, in view of the need for an early start.

The application for grant which my right hon. Friend received on 9th October will require close examination having regard to the outlay proposed of nearly £3 million and we have not yet been able to reply. I should, however, point out that the Port of Tyne Authority has told me that, independently of the question of grant, various statutory and other consents will be necessary before work can start, and that it proposes to seek powers under Private Bill procedure in the coming Session.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence exists to show that orthophenylphenol is harmful when applied as a preservative to citrus fruit; and why it is now proposed that the use of such a preservative must be marked on retail packs when no such requirement is levied in respect of pears or melons.

I am advised that the presently permitted use of orthophenylphenol on citrus fruit presents no risk to the health of consumers; if such a risk existed its use would not be permitted. The proposed labelling provisions will apply not only at the retail level but also at stages based on the requirements of the EEC directive of 1963 (Directive 64/54/EEC as amended in 1967 (Directive 67/427/ EEC), on the approximation of the laws of the member States concerning the preservatives authorised for use in foodstuffs intended for human consumption. The EEC directive does not deal with the use of orthophenylphenol on pears or melons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many requests he has received from the public requesting that the use of orthophenylphenol as a preservative be indicated at the retail sale of citrus fruit and peaches, respectively.

We have no record of any such requests over the past three years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the average increase in the price of fish on the British retail market since 18th June 1970; how far this has been due to the continuing fishery dispute with Iceland; and if he will make a statement.

The average increase from June 1970 to August 1973 was 70 per cent., due not to interference with fishing off Iceland but rather to a continuing decline in catches, especially of cod, by British vessels fishing distant waters generally, combined with lower imports and keenly sustained demand for fish both at home and overseas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present size of the butter stocks of the European Economic Community.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ban-bury (Mr. Marten) on 16th October.—[Vol. 861, c. 87–8. ] Information on other privately-owned stocks is not available for the Community as a whole.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what conclusions have resulted from his discussions of the New York dressed poultry trade in Brussels; and if he will make a statement.

No conclusions have so far resulted from discussions of the New York dressed trade in Brussels, but the matter is being vigorously pursued.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will publish the report of the joint working party of representatives of his Department and the Institution of Professional Civil Servants on the conditions and career prospects in the Government veterinary service; and if he will make a statement.

The working party referred to is one of several which are set up informally at official level from time to time by my Ministry's Establishment Department to provide a basis for discussion on the official side and with staff representatives of factors affecting career management of Ministry staff. It would not therefore be appropriate for me to publish the report in question. I am, however, in close touch with this matter and am anxious to resolve problems which affect the staffing of my Ministry's veterinary service.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, on the basis of the General Index of Retail Prices, is the purchasing power of the £ sterling now, taking it as 100p on 18th June 1970.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, on the basis of the official Index of Retail Prices, is the purchasing power of £1 sterling now, taking it as 100p on 18th June 1970.

I would refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave on 16th October to the Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Sillars).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of the £ sterling now, taking its value as 100p on 29th February 1972.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling as 100p in February 1972, its value in August 1973, the latest date available, is estimated at 88½p, on the basis of the change in the General Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the size of the increase in property incomes last year.

Between 1971 and 1972 the personal sector's gross receipts of rent, dividends and interest are estimated to have increased by nearly 9 per cent. After deducting interest payments, net receipts increased by about 5½ per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rate of increase in the money supply during the last quarter for which figures are available, according to the M1 and M3 definitions, respectively, expressed as an annual rate; and whether this was in accord with the monetary policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Quarterly figures expressed on an annual basis are not a reliable indicator of the underlying trend. For instance, in the last three months the rate of increase of M1 expressed on an annual basis was 12 per cent., but the rate of increase expressed on an annual basis in the second calendar quarter was 28.7 per cent. The figure for M3 is 18.4 per cent. The Government's monetary policy is to restrain the growth of money and credit to the amount needed to finance the sound growth of the economy. Since the second quarter, further steps have been taken to restrain monetary expansion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he proposes to remedy the plight of the families shown by the Treasury survey of August 1973 as not getting enough to eat.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking following the publication of the leading article in Economic Progress Report No. 42, August 1973.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the principal article in the Economic Progress Report No. 42, August 1973.

The article in question showed clearly that the amount of food obtained by the average household in Scotland, Wales and all the English regions contains a good deal more nourishment than the health experts recommend as normally sufficient for health needs. No significant group of people in Britain is underfed. The Department of Health and Social Security has a nutrition surveillance programme covering the groups of the population most at risk—that is, the elderly, children and pregnant women—which to date shows that there is very little malnutrition in any of these population groups and where it is found it is usually associated with medical conditions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will undertake a special study into the impact of existing taxation policy on the work of charities; and whether he will make a statement.

The effect of taxation policy on charities is kept under continuing study by the Revenue departments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will allow a percentage cash payment to traders to recompense them in respect of the number of hours they spend working on behalf of the Treasury.

No, but my hon. Friend is aware of the substantial reductions in taxation made by this Government in the past three years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the rate of consumer price rises, October 1972 to October 1973, compares with other European countries, in particular Switzerland and Denmark, according to figures available from international sources.

Our rate of consumer price inflation over the latest available 12-month period compares favourably with many European countries. The latest annual figures show that the rate in the United Kingdom was 8.9 per cent., while in Switzerland and Denmark it was 8.3 and 8.8 per cent. respectively. The full figures are given in the following table: CHANGES IN CONSUMER PRICES Country Month for which latest figures available Percentage increase over latest available 12 month period United Kingdom August 1973 8.9 Switzerland July 1973 8.3 Denmark June 1973 8.8 Austria July 1973 7.0 Belgium July 1973 6.6 Luxembourg July 1973 5.7 Finland July 1973 12.1 France July 1973 7.4 Germany July 1973 7.2 Greece July 1973 13.1 Iceland May 1973 18.2 Ireland May 1973 11.7 Italy July 1973 11.8 Netherlands July 1973 8.4 Norway July 1973 7.4 Portugal July 1973 12.0 Spain June 1973 12.1 Sweden July 1973 6.6 Turkey February 1973 11.3 Yugoslavia July 1973 19.7

Sources:

Monthly Digest of Statistics—September 1973.

OECD Main Economic Indicators—August and September 1973.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the total number of value added tax returns expected for each of the periods ended 30th June 1973, 31st July, 31st August and 30th September; and how many have been received to the latest available date.

No precise estimate was made in advance. The numbers that had been received to the latest available date are 468,016, 440,733, 303,964 and 41,524 respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has made to the EEC Commission on Article 14 of the new draft sixth directive on value added tax.

My officials have drawn the Commission's attention to those features of its proposals in Article 14 which differ from the present practice in the United Kingdom. The Commission's proposals have now been submitted to the Council; the United Kingdom will participate fully in detailed consideration of these. Any decision by the Council must be unanimous.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further consideration he has given to representations made by the Churches Main Committee for all Churches to be given relief from value added tax.

I have written recently to the committee saying that we shall study with care any further points it may wish to put forward but stating that I cannot hold out any hope that it will be possible to make a concession in this sector of the tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will zero-rate for value added tax purposes poppy wreaths and poppy emblems sold to promote the Earl Haig Fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Royal British Legion about value added tax applying to poppy wreaths; and what reply he has made.

"Poppies" are not sold for a specified amount, but given to members of the public who make a donation towards the annual Poppy Appeal. There is no question of anyone having to account for value added tax on the amounts received. These sums are donations and are therefore outside the scope of the tax.

Representations have been made by the Royal British Legion about poppy wreaths. Discussions have taken place with Customs and Excise and I understand that arrangements have now been agreed which the Legion considers satisfactory.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the cost of bracelets and necklets, provided by the Medic-Alert Foundation, has increased as the result of the value added tax.

Information is not available from official sources on the effect of the tax change on the prices of these articles.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he expects the tax yield to be greater by the introduction of value added tax from bracelets and necklets provided by the Medic-Alert Foundation, than the amount received from the former purchase tax.

I cannot comment on the tax receipts from a particular taxpayer. Purchase tax was chargeable on Medic-Alert bracelets and necklets. At the abolition of purchase tax the rate was 25 per cent., on a wholesale basis, having been reduced from 45 per cent. on 22nd March 1972 and from 55 per cent. on 20th July 1971. On the value added tax basis tax is now chargeable at the rate of 10 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to have trade union subscriptions ranked as an expense for income tax purposes, in the same way as subscriptions to professional bodies and to the National Farmers' Union.

Subscriptions are allowable only where they are paid to bodies whose activities are directed solely or mainly to the advancement of knowledge or the maintenance of professional standards. They must also be incurred in the performance of the duties of the employment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much have dividends paid by, respectively, domestic and international firms increased since November 1972, and how many international companies partially based in Great Britain have been permitted to pay dividends above the counter-inflation formula because of requirements under their corporate constitution to match the dividend policy of linked foreign companies abroad.

Dividend control under the Counter-Inflation Act 1973 applies to all companies incorporated under the law of of any part of the United Kingdom. For the purpose of dividend control no distinction is drawn between domestic and international firms. For this reason the specific information requested in the first part of the Question is not available. The answer to the second part of the Question is "None".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate what has been the level of private savings for each year since 1960 accruing from, respectively, pension funds and life assurance funds, and if he will list the other main sources of private savings and their size for each year since 1960, and if in each case he will state the percentage contribution from each source to total savings for each of these years.

Saving may take the form of an increase in assets or a decrease in liabilities. The scope of private savings is not defined sufficiently precisely in the hon. Gentleman's Question for the relative contribution of different savings mediums to be quantified unambiguously. Estimates for 1960 onwards of transactions in financial asets by the personal sector are published in the National Income and Expenditure Blue Books (Table 72 in the 1973 edition).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase, compared with a year previously, in gross domestic fixed capital formation, respectively, for the total economy and for the private sector only, during each quarter since January 1960.

The information is given in the table below on the basis of estimates of gross domestic fixed capital formation at current prices and on the basis of similar estimates at constant prices.

PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN GROSS DOMESTIC FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION WHEN COMPARED WITH THE CORRESPONDING QUARTER OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR At current prices At constant prices Total Private sector Total Private sector 1960— I 13.1 13.2 14.6 14.4 II 7.6 11.6 8.2 12.4 III 12.2 19.9 9.8 17.3 IV 7.6 14.0 5.2 10.9 1961— I 12.3 14.1 9.6 11.6 II 14.8 13.1 11.4 10.0 III 14.4 15.7 13.0 13.9 IV 7.8 9.9 5.4 7.1

At current prices At constant prices Total Private sector Total Private sector 1962— I 5.1 2.1 2.1 -1.2 II 3.9 3.0 1.0 0.4 III 0.9 -2.6 -2.1 -4.5 IV 0.9 -3.8 -2.0 -5.8 1963— I -6.1 -4.6 -8.7 -5.0 II 2.9 -0.7 0.6 -1.8 III 6.4 0.1 3.4 -1.6 IV 12.7 8.4 11.1 + 9.0 1964— I 30.5 21.7 27.6 20.0 II 17.3 15.5 14.1 13.7 III 16.4 19.4 13.8 18.6 IV 14.7 15.6 11.6 13.4 1965— I 11.7 13.7 8.9 10.5 II 6.8 7.2 3.1 3.8 III 4.8 4.2 0.6 — IV 7.4 6.0 3.8 2.4 1966— I 6.2 3.3 1.6 -0.1 II 5.3 0.9 1.8 -2.6 III 8.4 2.8 4.8 0.8 IV 5.4 -1.0 1.0 -4.2 1967— I 8.7 -0.9 6.4 -3.2 II 12.7 9.1 10.9 8.8 III 8.3 3.6 7.3 2.8 IV 5.5 -0.4 4.8 — 1968— I 9.6 7.5 6.8 6.1 II 5.1 4.8 1.6 2.1 III 7.2 12.9 2.6 9.0 IV 11.1 21.5 6.9 17.6 1969— I 4.0 14.5 0.4 10.5 II 4.7 12.9 1.4 9.6 III 6.3 10.9 2.6 6.7 IV 5.1 6.4 -0.1 0.8 1970— I 3.0 3.1 -2.3 -1.8 II 11.0 9.6 3.9 2.7 III 9.4 9.7 1.6 2.4 IV 12.7 10.8 4.9 3.0 1971— I 11.3 5.3 3.1 -4.1 II 8.8 11 .9 0.7 3.1 III 9.2 12.0 -0.3 1.9 IV 9.0 13.9 -1.3 2.9 1972— I 13.2 22.0 2.5 12.2 II 10.5 14.1 0.9 2.7 III 9.0 10.4 -0.2 0.3 IV 11.3 17.0 1.6 6.0 1973— I 21.5 25.7 5.6 9.6 II 16.2 17.7 0.5 3.8

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total net fixed capital formation (other than dwellings), total amount borrowed, and hence replacement of existing capital financed by borrowing by public corporations for each year isnct 1948.

The table below provides figures of net fixed capital formation and total borrowing by public corporations. There is not necessarily any direct relationship between these two sets of figures, and it does not follow that their differences provides estimates of the replacement of existing capital which is financed by borrowing. This is because gross fixed capital formation is financed from internal resources—undistributed income—and from capital grants as well as by borrowing, and it is not possible to attribute any part of the gross—and therefore net—fixed capital formation to any particular form of financing.

PUBLIC CORPORATIONS Net fixed capital formation (excluding dwellings) Total borrowing (other than by housing and new town corporations) £ m. £ m. 1948 29 164 1949 75 80 1950 86 184 1951 111 183 1952 112 297 1953 150 194 1954 203 321 1955 233 373 1956 231 340 1957 283 541 1958 295 561 1959 342 608 1960 351 472 1961 374 506 1962 350 470 1963 395 423 1964 495 528 1965 543 634 1966 625 785 1967 745 1,062 1968 596 960 1969 376 589 1970 416 827 1971 441 1,075 1972 213 901

Notes: (1) The figures of net fixed capital formation (excluding dwellings) are taken from the National Income and Expenditure Blue Books and relate to recorded gross fixed capital formation less estimated capital consumption. (2) The figures of total borrowing cover net loans from central Government, issues less redemption of stock, and borrowing from own super annuation funds, from banks and from abroad. (Borrowing from banks is not included before 1952 because the information is not available). Borrowing by housing and new town corporations has been excluded from the total in order to obtain closer correspondence with the figures of net fixed capital formation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for a house-buyer on the top rate of income tax taking out a £50,000 mortgage and paying interest at 9½ per cent., what interest will he be liable to pay over a 25-year period and what total tax relief will he receive according to different types of mortgage involving both regular and non-regular repayments.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence he has regarding what proportions of distributed profits are, respectively, reinvested in domestic industry, invested abroad, or put to other uses; and how this compares with the position 10 and 20 years ago.

No evidence is available as to how distributed profits are used. It is imposible to measure the uses to which distributed profits are put by the recipients.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has, for each year since 1960, regarding what proportion of total annual net profits or operating surplus has been, respectively, ploughed back into domestic investment, invested abroad, or put to other uses; and what information he has regarding the comparable use of net profits during this period in the United States, EEC and Japan.

Profits represent only one source of company funds and it is impossible to associate them with particular uses of those funds. The following table sets out in simplified form the sources and uses of funds of United Kingdom industrial and commercial companies; consistent figures are only available from 1963 onwards. Further detail can be found in "Financial Statistics". Simplified tables of capital operations and financial transactions for OECD countries are published annually in "OECD Financial Statistics"; these tables contain different approaches to definition and estimation, partly reflecting particular national economic structures, and cannot be summarised in a comparable form.

INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL COMPANIES SOURCES OF FUNDS £ million Undistributed income Borrowing Capital transfers Total 1963 … … … … 2,575 1,223 14 3,812 1964 … … … … 3,029 1,529 17 4,575 1965 … … … … 3,057 1,473 20 4,550 1966 … … … … 2,870 1,160 26 4,056 1967 … … … … 2,684 1,134 236 4,054 1968 … … … … 3,277 1,741 454 5,472 1969 … … … … 3,208 1,972 598 5,778 1970 … … … … 3,039 2,350 526 5,915 1971 … … … … 3,393 2,329 595 6,317 19/2 … … … … 4.426 4,595 407 9,428

USES OF FUNDS Capital formation Financial assets Net investment abroad Other* Total 1963 … … … … 2,163 741 332 576 3,812 1964 … … … … 3,172 604 391 408 4,575 1965 … … … … 3,117 572 450 411 4,550 1966 … … … … 2,977 449 427 203 4,056 1967 … … … … 2,682 757 445 170 4,054 1968 … … … … 3,338 675 647 812 5,472 1969 … … … … 3,902 557 769 550 5,778 1970 … … … … 4,446 393 639 437 5,915 1971 … … … … 4,036 1,507 433 341 6,317 1972 … … … … 4,207 3,153 755 1,313 9,428 * Includes unidentified financial transactions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total net profits in manufacturing industry in Great Britain in 1960, and what have been the total for each successive year at constant 1960 prices and what percentage for each year has been ploughed back for reinvestment; what were the equivalent profit levels in sterling, at the appropriate sterling exchange rate each year, in France, West Germany, Italy, United States, Japan and Sweden during each of these years at constant 1960 prices; and what percentage each year was reinvested.

Figures of profits at constant prices are not available. The retained profits—plus other capital receipts—of manufacturing companies operating mainly within the United Kingdom as a percentage of the total of net profits and other income are tabulated below. Other capital receipts—largely investment grants—have been added to retained profits, which are after provision for tax, to achieve comparability between years of the ratios of retained profits to total net income. These figures are based on the Department of Trade and Industry's analysis of the accounts of large industrial and commercial quoted companies—operating mainly in the United Kingdom; detailed figures are

published annually in the Business Monitor series (M3 Company Finance). No comparable international figures are available for manufacturing.

RETAINED PROFITS AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL INCOME NET OF PROVISIONS FOR DEPRECIATION (Large Quoted Companies: Manufacturing) Total of Net Profits and Other Income Retained Profits and Other Capital Receipts Retained Profits as a percentage of Net Profits Other Income £ million £ million 1960 1,673 531 32 1961 1,544 439 28 1962 1,479 384 26 1963 1,679 457 27 1964 1,955 539 28 1965 1,990 731 37 1966 1,850 346 19 1967 1,872 544 29 1968 2,242 641 29 1969 2,139 575 27 1970 2,051 587 29 1971 2,371 660 29

Note: The coverage of the figures was revised in 1964 and again in 1969.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the basis of the standard industrial classification, what percentage of the products of each main industry or trade currently consumed are produced by domestic industry and what percentage are imported; and how the present position compares with that for each industry in respectively 1950 and 1960.

DOMESTIC SUPPLIES AND IMPORTS AS PERCENTAGES OF TOTAL HOME SUPPLIES BY INDUSTRY Percentages 1954 1963 1968 Domestic supplies Imports Domestic supplies Imports Domestic supplies Imports Agriculture, forestry and fishing 64 36 66 34 70 30 Mining and quarrying 69 31 66 34 53 47 Food, drink and tobacco 76 24 79 21 79 21 Coal and petroleum products 83 17 76 24 77 23 Chemicals and allied industries 86 14 88 12 83 17 Metal manufacture 89 11 92 8 83 17 Mechanical engineering 95 5 89 11 85 15 Instrument engineering 93 7 78 22 75 25 Electrical engineering 98 2 94 6 87 13 Shipbuilding and marine engineering(1). 99 1 98 2 91 9 Vehicles 97 3 97 3 87 13 Metal goods not elsewhere specified. 98 2 94 6 91 9 Textiles 88 12 85 15 84 16 Leather, leather goods and fur 87 13 83 17 78 22 Clothing and footwear 98 2 90 10 85 15 Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc. 97 3 96 4 96 4 Timber, furniture, etc. 72 28 75 25 75 25 Paper, printing and publishing 86 14 86 14 85 15 Other manufacturing industries 96 4 93 7 91 9 (1) Excluding ships delivered abroad.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has of the amount of tax evasion by outworkers employed in their own homes, or by their employers.

I have no evidence of such evasion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the exact definition of "operating surplus" as standardised in the Written Answer of 20th February 1973 c. 73–74.

Operating surplus is defined in paragraph 7.38 of the United Nations new system of National Accounts (SNA) as follows… The operating surplus during a period of account is the excess of the value added by resident producers during the period, over the sum of the costs of emloyee compensation, consumption of fixed capital and indirect taxes reduced by subsidies, which they incur during the period. The value added is equivalent to the difference between the gross output of the producers during the given period, valued at producers' values, and their intermediate

The latest year for which figures are available is 1968. Comparable figures are available for 1954 and 1963 but not for 1950 and 1960. The information available is as follows:

consumption, valued at purchasers' values. Operating surplus can, by definition, be earned by industries only. The gross output of the producers of government services and private non-profit services to households is defined as equivalent to their explicit costs of production."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has ceased giving estimates every two years or so of changes in income distribution in view of the increasing amount of estimation required to produce calendar year figures on a national accounts basis, when the constant drop of the tax threshold since 1938 relative to average earnings has continually reduced the number of incomes below the tax threshold level about which estimates have to be made.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to redress the anomaly whereby retirement pensioners who are due for a pension increase in the autumn are made liable for income tax at the appropriate annual average rate during the part of the financial year prior to the pension increase; and if he will permit an election to be made by pensioners that an increase in their income tax liability should be postponed till the pension increase is actually received.

This autumn's pension increases were not taken directly into account in PAYE codes before payment of them began. Where however a pensioner is entitled to marginal age exemption relief, an estimate of his total annual income had to be made by the tax office before the start of the year to determine his PAYE code; and in these cases the increase was included in the estimate, unless the pensioner requested otherwise, as explained in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Luton (Mr. Simeons) on 18th April 1973.—[Vol. 855, c. 157. ]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the additional revenue in the current tax year of charging the investment income surcharge on all investment incomes greater than £1,000.

The additional yield in the current year from reducing the threshold for the surcharge to £1,000 would be negligible, because the surcharge is assessed after the end of the year in question. On a full year basis the additional revenue would amount to about £80 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the additional revenue in the current year of disallowing income tax relief on all life assurance premiums except for the first £1,000 per taxpayer of such payments.

About £2 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the additional revenue in the current year of disallowing income tax relief on all life assurance premiums except for the first £500 per taxpayer of such payments.

About £5 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the yield of capital gains tax, both long-term and short, and of estate duty, for each of the following years where applicable: 1950, 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1972.

The estimated net receipts of these taxes for the years stated were as follows: £ m. 1950 1960 1965 1970 1972 Taxes on capital gains Persons (short term) — — 3 8 3 Persons (long term) — — — 154 178 Companies — — — 89 70 Estate Duty 184 236 287 378 483

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of extradition warrants issued in the Republic of Ireland since May 1971 received by the Home Office; and how many persons have been extradited to the Republic from the United Kingdom as a result.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to his similar Question yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider amending the law so as to enable a civic authority to apply for, and be granted, full on-licences for its catering establishments.

My right hon. Friend is considering this in the light of the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on Liquor Licensing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to lay the first order under the London Cab Act 1972.

The London Cab (No. 2) Order 1973 was laid on 15th October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases in each of the last five years applications have been made by prisoners to the Secretary of State for permission to consult a solicitor.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to permit an immigrant who is a British subject to act as a referee for an immigrant who wishes to become a British subject, even if the former is not a citizen by birth.

My right hon. Friend sees no reason at present to alter the existing requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants have returned to their countries of origin under the repatriation scheme over the period during which the scheme has been in operation; and at what cost.

Under Section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971, 62 families numbering 216 individuals have so far been assisted to leave the country. Arrangements are currently being made for the departure of 20 further families numbering 95 individuals. Since the scheme was started the total cost, including administrative overheads, has been £89,740. These figures do not include those relating to the scheme operated by the Supplementary Benefits Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the fire which occurred on 5th October at the Total oil refinery at Langley.

A fire occurred on 5th October during the transfer of petroleum spirit from rail wagons into the tank installation at the Total depot at Langley. I understand that, as a precaution, 30 families living in the vicinity were evacuated and trains were diverted, but the fire was confined to the railway sidings and no material damage was sustained by the installation itself or other property. Three members of the fire brigade suffered slight injuries. Inquiries are now being made into the cause of the fire, in which Her Majesty's inspectors of explosives are participating.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to increase fire staffing to expedite inspection of hotels for fire regulations, in view of the fact that it will take many years at the present rate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that fire authorities have sufficient manpower to ensure that hotels come up to the standard required by the Fire Precautions Act; and how long does he anticipate that it will take for all hotels to reach this standard.

The deployment of staff to enforce the Fire Precautions Act 1971 is a matter for fire authorities, but the Home Office has helped by training 2,086 fire service officers in fire prevention between April 1970 and March 1973, and will provide training for a further 956 officers during the 12 months ending on 31st March 1974. We have also issued guidance on the use of operational firemen on fire prevention duties, and we shall continue to urge fire authorities to ensure that all hotels and boarding-houses are brought up to standard as soon as possible, although conditions vary too widely from one area to another for me to say when this will be.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that assistance with loans is provided in meeting the requirements of fire regulations where the cost of providing fire escapes or other necessary alterations would otherwise mean the permanent closing of an hotel.

If hotel keepers are unable to meet in any other way the cost of the fire authority's requirements under the Fire Precautions Act 1971, they may apply for a loan to the local authority in whose area their premises are situated. Under the Fire Precautions (Loans) Order 1973 the local authority may make a loan at its discretion in respect of hotels offering accommodation for not more than 25 persons, whether guests or staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to bring holiday flats within the scope of the law for registration for the purposes of inspection regarding fire regulations.

When a building is let in flats any of which are more than 20 feet above the ground the local authority is already empowered under the Public Health Acts to require adequate means of escape to be provided. I have at present no evidence to suggest that further controls are needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now able to announce a definite publication date for the Kilbrandon Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects to be able to publish the Kilbrandon Report; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend cannot yet give an exact date, but expects that the Report of the Royal Commission on the Constitution will be published about the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish the names of visitors to Miss Hilary Creek, a convicted prisoner, in hospital and the purpose of their visits.

It would be contrary to normal practice to disclose this information, but, with the exception of one journalist who attempted to interview Miss Creek for the Press, those who visited her in hospital would have been able to visit her at Holloway. Miss Creek has now returned to Holloway.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to discuss with representatives of the prison officers their current working conditions, and what his plans are to increase prison officer recruitment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions has he had with the Prison Officers' Association on future wage policies for prison officers; and if he will make a statement.

The next review of prison officers' pay and related conditions of employment will be governed by the pay code for stage 3 of the Government's counter-inflation programme. Proposals for this were published recently and my right hon. Friend met representatives of the Prison Officers' Association on 16th October to acquaint himself with their views on them. He cannot anticipate the outcome of the next review.

Recruitment methods are kept under constant review in an endeavour to increase the number of suitable candidates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many fires fire brigades were called as a result of corn stubble burning in the United Kingdom during the last 12 months.

In 1971, the latest year for which figures are available, local authority fire brigades were called to 2,477 fires caused by the intentional burning of stubble or grass.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of a recent death caused by the inhalation of anti-perspirant, he will seek powers to prevent the sale of deodorant sprays until manufacturers can provide non-toxic solutions for sprays.

I am not convinced that this would be justified, because there are a number of toilet preparations which might prove harmful to health if misapplied. These sprays must comply with the Poisons Rules and will also be subject to the EEC directive on cosmetics now in course of preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the growth in the numbers of marriages of convenience whereby British citizens are marrying unknown alien women for large sums only to start divorce proceedings at an early opportunity; and what action he proposes to take.

My right hon. Friend is aware of a growth in the number of advertisements offering such marriages, but has no evidence at present that a substantial number take place. We shall, however, keep the position under careful review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of vacancies for police officers, both men and women, in the Metropolitan Police Force at the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will give comparative figures for each of the two preceding years at the same date.

The numbers were: 29th August 1971 4,794 27th August 1972 4,591 26th August 1973 5,082

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further consideration he has given to improving the pay of police officers in the Metropolitan Police force; and if he will make a statement.

Police pay is a matter in the first instance for the Police Council, which I am sure will consider the question of police pay differentials for London in the light of the Price and Pay Code for stage 3 of the Government's counter-inflation policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of extradition warrants issued by the Royal Ulster Constabulary since May 1971; how many of these are related to murder charges; and how many persons have been extradited from the Republic of Ireland as a result.

Fifty-nine; three relate to murder and five to attempted murder. Five people have been extradited, none for murder or attempted murder.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of extradition warrants issued by the Royal Ulster Constabulary since 24th March 1972; how many of these are related to murder charges; and what is the number of persons extradited from the Republic of Ireland as a result.

Thirty-two; two relate to murder and four to attempted murder. Three people have been extradited, none for murder or attempted murder.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why the words "Northern Ireland" are excluded from the citation of the Royal Ulster Constabulary Discipline and Disciplinary Appeals Regulations 1973.

Since the citation in question refers to the Royal Ulster Constabulary no further definition is necessary. The regulations follow previous practice in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to be able to make a statement on the representations made to him by the SDLP and the Eire Government about the reorganisation of the RUC; and if he will give an assurance at the earliest date that there will be no alteration of the unified structure of the RUC in order to remove the feelings of uncertainty among serving members of the force.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement following his current talks with political parties in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any proposals to replace the Police Authority in Northern Ireland or to reconstitute its membership.

The Government have stated in the White Paper that the Police Authority will be reconstituted after devolution to include an element drawn from elected representatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he proposes to have discussions with the Ulster branch of the British Dietetic Association about starting a school of dietetics in Northern Ireland, the entry qualifications into the profession and salary scales.

Representatives of dieticians and other paramedical groups have been encouraged to put forward proposals for developing training facilities in Northern Ireland, and the Ministry of Health and Social Services will pursue the possibility of a local school of dietetics with the professional body and educational institutions. Salary scales are primarily a matter for negotiation at national level.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in view of the importance of the small firm to the Welsh economy and the fact that these small Welsh firms depend on retained profits for investment, he will now say what form of capital subsidy will replace the regional employment premium in Wales, when this is phased out in 1974.

There are greater capital incentives, in the form of tax allowances, regional development grants, and selective financial assistance under the Industry Act, than ever before available for small as well as large firms in Wales. As for the phasing out of REP from September 1974, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will make a statement in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state the value of exports of live cattle from this country in the latest available year.

Monthly and cumulative figures for the year to date are published against SITC(R) 001.1 in Table VI of each issue of the monthly Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the noise level of Concorde engines has been or is expected to be reduced by the application of spade silencers; and if he will make a statement on this aspect of the development costs of the aircraft.

The spade silencers have been found to be ineffective. Other features affecting Concorde's noise are still under investigation. The manufacturers remain confident that Concorde will achieve noise levels comparable with existing subsonic aircraft such as the Boeing 707 and VC10. So far over £40 million has been devoted to the investigation of Concorde's noise, but it is not possible to distinguish such specific items as the spade silencers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list such information as is available to him regarding the concentration ratios in each industry as defined by the standard industrial classification.

Information on concentration in different industries is published in the Report on the Census of Production for 1963. This shows for each industry the employment, gross output, net output and certain other items classified by size of enterprise. Comparable information from the Census of Production for 1968 will not be available until the end of 1973. Similar information for 1970 will be published next year, and for subsequent years annually.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the action his Department has taken to assist the Girvan Special Development Area following the closure of the Maxwell colliery at Dailly.

My Department has continued to draw the attention of firms to the advantages of investing in the Girvan area, where the highest level of regional financial incentives is available, and to co-operate with the local authority in its efforts to attract new firms to the Grangestone Industrial Estate. Employment is still building up at the DTI advance factory which was allocated earlier this year. It is encouraging that unemployment in the Girvan employment exchange area is now 5.6 per cent. compared with 7.3 per cent. in September last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware of the shortage of steel stock and steel bars in Northern Ireland for commercial and industrial purposes; and what steps he is taking to deal with the situation.

My Department is in close touch with the steel industry on the problem of steel shortages which is world wide. The allocation of supplies is a matter for the steel industry and specific cases of difficulty should be raised with the suppliers. I have informed the BSC of particular shortages which have been brought to my notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now seek to amend the Civil Aviation Act 1949 to restore to the citizen the right to sue airports and airlines for noise nuisance caused by aircraft in flight.

I do not consider this would be appropriate. However, the Land Compensation Act 1973 now provides for compensation to be paid, in certain circumstances, where the value of property has been demonstrably reduced through an increase in aircraft noise caused by new airports or major works at existing airports.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether Her Majesty's Government intend to adapt completely from 1st January 1974 to the present European Economic Community's Generalised Preference Scheme for Developing Countries and whether this would involve granting preferences on textiles and footwear which are both excluded from the current United Kingdom Generalised Preference Scheme.

The terms of the Generalised Preference Scheme to be applied by the enlarged Community from 1st January 1974, including the treatment of textiles, are under discussion with our partners in the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what decision he has taken on the recent application by the Central Electricity Generating Board for permission to place contracts for nuclear power plants; and if he will make a statement.

The CEGB has not applied to me for permission to place contracts for any new nuclear power stations. Its recent application for planning consent for various additional types of nuclear station at Sizewell is under consideration. If planning consent is granted contracts cannot be placed until I have given capital investment approval.