asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on what effect the farm amalgamation scheme had on South Ayrshire in 1972 and in 1973 to the latest available date.

At the end of 1972 two amalgamations had been approved and seven were under consideration. At 30th September seven amalgamations had been approved and two were under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish figures showing net emigration for Scotland in each of the past 10 years.

Estimates of net emigration from Scotland in each of the 10 years to June 1972, the latest period for which figures are available, are given in the table below: Scotland Year to 20th June Net emigration 1963 33,900 1964 39,100 1965 39,100 1966 43,200 1967 43,100 1968 32,000 1969 23,900 1970 20,100 1971 21,700 1972 27,600

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in which of the four cities in Scotland separated or former wives are expected to pay the arrears of the principal tenant of a previous local authority housing tenancy before an application for rehousing in their own right is accepted.

This is a matter within the discretion of local authorities, but I understand that the four cities all operate procedures under which, depending on the circumstances of the individual case, the allocation of a tenancy to a separated or former wife may be made without the necessity of rent arrears incurred by the husband, or former husband, first being paid.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to amend the planning Acts to make them more flexible, allow full expenses to all parties at planning inquiries, and to deal with the planning of sea routes.

I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Sillars) on 18th October.—[Vol. 861, c. 305. ] The Government's observations on the Select Committee's report covered the matter of expenses. Planning legislation deals with land use: I have no proposals affecting uses related to sea routes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the work of the Scottish Council on Crime.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement on the current work of the Scottish Council on Crime made on 24th July 1973 in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Lanarkshire, North (Mr. John Smith)—[Vol. 860, c. 414–5. ] I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the text of a speech giving a fuller account of the work of the council which was made by its chairman, Lord Hunter, and which has been recently published in the Scots Law Times.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he raises any objection, and if so in what terms, to the trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland having recourse to a judgment of the Court of Session in the matter of the propriety of varying the written undertaking given by their predecessors to the executors of Mr. Henry Vaughan, having regard to the fact that if the undertaking in question had not been given the works of art to which it related would not have gone to a Scottish national institution.

The question of raising issues in the court in relation to matters which concern them is for the trustees themselves to decide.

As I explained in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Clark Hutchison) on Friday 19th October, however, it is no longer proposed to vary any of the provisions of Mr. Henry Vaughan's will of 1887 by an order under the Museums and Galleries Admission Charges Act 1972.— [Vol. 861, c. 340–41. ]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had about the exclusion of members of the nursing profession from area health boards in Scotland in contrast with England and Wales; whether he will reconsider this exclusion; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations on this subject from members of the nursing profession and from hon. Members who have written on their behalf. As I have already made clear, I do not propose to appoint to health boards persons employed in the National Health Service who are in a management relationship with a chief officer. However, I have appointed a number of persons who have nursing experience in addition to other qualifications and I hope to be able to make further appointments of this kind when completing the membership of the boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of Government training centres in Scotland in November 1971 and 1972; and how many training places these figures represent.

I have been asked to reply.

There were 10 Government training centres in Scotland in November 1971 and nine in November 1972. During the period Motherwell centre was closed and its facilities transferred to the modern Bellshill centre. Between November 1971 and November 1972 training places increased from 1,226 to 1,330.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Indonesia.

My right hon. Friend will accompany Her Majesty the Queen during her State visit to Indonesia in March next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT the amount of grants and loans under the overseas aid programme, respectively, out of public funds in the last 12 months, the rates of interest payable, and the repayment terms.

Following is the information. The period covers the 12 months of the financial year 1972–73.

OVERSEAS AID FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS—FINANCIAL YEAR 1972–73 A. LOANS £' s million Years Number of Loans Value Maturity Period Grace Period Interest Free Interest Bearing Total Interest Free Interest Bearing Total 1% 2% 3% 5% 6% Loans under 25 years 5 1½ — 1 1 — 9.763 — — — — 9.763 9 2 — 1 1 — — — — — 0.136 0.136 20 — 1 — 1 0.700 — — — — — 0.700 Sub-Total 1 2 3 0.700 9.763 — — — 0.136 10.599 Loans of 25 years 25 3 — 1 1 — — — — — 2.200 2.200 25 4 — 4 4 — — — 5.600 0.300 — 5.900 25 4½ 3 — 3 0.439 — — — — — 0.439 25 7 17 2 19 79.850 — 5.500 — — — 85.350 Sub-Total 20 7 27 80.289 — 5.500 5.600 0.300 2.200 93.889 Total Loans 21 9 30 80.989 9.763 5.500 5.600 0.300 2.336 104.488

B. GRANTS Bilateral, Financial Assistance … … … … … 75.224 Bilateral, Technical Assistance … … … … … 69.703* Multilateral … … … … … 42.088* align="right">187.015 * Provisional A further £15 million was provided to the Commonwealth Development Corporation for Overseas investment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution to the work of flood relief in Pakistan has been made by Her Majesty's Government to date; and whether the United Kingdom will provide further aid for reconstruction and relief in Pakistan.

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to a Written Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Sir John Tilney) on 16th October.—[Vol. 861, c. 118–19.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he can now announce a date for the ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by Her Majesty's Government.

I have nothing to add to the reply my right honourable Friend the Minister of State gave the right honourable Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) on 17th October.—[Vol. 861, c. 183. ]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will invite the Crown Agents to publish their holdings in property sites in the United Kingdom.

I understand that the Crown Agents have no holdings in undeveloped land. They have a few small investments in property in various parts of the country. I am asking the Chairman of the Crown Agents to write to the hon. Member and tell him what they are.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total value of funds placed with the Crown Agents for investments by the Governments of British dependent territories.

Virtually all the investment portfolios managed by the Crown Agents are for their overseas principals. The total nominal value of them is about £875 million. It would not be desirable to reveal the separate holdings of individual principals or groups of principals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has now taken with regard to the tax liability of the Crown Agents; when his decisions on this were announced; and how they apply to the property at 196 and 198 Bedford Hill, S.W.12.

I shall refer to decisions about the Crown Agents' tax liability when I make the further statement which I mentioned in answer to the hon. Gentleman's other Question. The property referred to is to be run as a hostel for Crown Agents' junior staff on a nonprofit-making basis and on lines similar to the London Hostels Association, which provides hostel accommodation for public servants. The question of taxation will not, therefore, arise. The hostel will pay rates.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Crown Agents have had any association with the National Bank of Kuwait, which advanced funds to Redsprings Limited for property speculation in London.

I am advised that the Crown Agents have never had a financial interest in the National Bank of Kuwait. Their only association was occasional money market dealings and the Crown Agents have not placed money with this bank since early last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present value of funds raised for investment in their own right by the Crown Agents for the application of which they are not answerable to overseas Governments.

About £34 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what help Her Majesty's Government is giving to relieve famine in Ethiopia.

Her Majesty's Government heard in August of the seriousness of the drought situation, and in response to a request from the Ethiopian Government we provided a grant of £25,000 as an initial contribution to immediate relief measures. Some of this is being used for a "Food for Work" programme among the Afar nomads in Wollo Province. In the light of our wider knowledge of the situation, I have now allocated a further £75,000 to relief measures. A consignment of ingredients for children's food is being sent by air to Addis Ababa this week, and I am urgently considering other ways of helping, for example, by the provision of medical supplies and extensions of the "Food for Work" programme. I also have very much in mind the need to help the Ethiopian Government to try to prevent disasters like this recurring. In addition to those grants, the grant/loan of £5 million, made to the Ethiopian Government earlier this year, is available for such measures. Projects with this longer-term objective are being discussed with the Ethiopian authorities. Our embassy in Ethiopia is also in close touch with the British voluntary societies which are engaged in relief work.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has agreed to any further extension of the Commonwealth Development Corporation's area of operations.

I have given my approval for the corporation to undertake activities in the Ivory Coast, subject to consultation with my Department as to the scale and content of its intended investment programme in that country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the fatal motor accident which occurred on the M5 at Strensham, Worcestershire on 1lth August 1973 when a car crossed the central reservation in the absence of crash barriers.

An Austin 1300 GT crossed the central reservation and collided with a Ford Escort. Four people were killed and six seriously injured. Under a contract let last April central safety barriers were to be erected at this site during September and have now been installed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what overseas loans by local authorities he has approved during the last 12 months.

My right hon. and learned Friend has not approved any borrowing by local authorities from overseas. These borrowings are made under local Act powers and do not require my right hon. and learned Friend's approval.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals contained in the Report of the Women's Commission on Housing the Elderly he intends to take action upon.

My right hon. and learned Friend is at present considering what new initiatives are needed in connection with housing for elderly people and will take the commission's proposals into account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take legal proceedings against motorway café proprietors who are failing to honour the terms of their leases in so far as they do not provide food of reasonable quality or price.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many additional staff have been employed by Manchester Corporation in order to deal with the rent rebate schemes necessitated by rent increases imposed by the Housing Finance Act; and whether it is his intention that this staff shall be paid for by the ratepayers of Manchester or out of central funds.

Information about the number of additional staff is not kept by the Department and should be sought from the local authority. The Housing Finance Act 1972 requires administration costs to be met by a contribution from the rates if the housing revenue account is in deficit, but any administration costs actually incurred in excess of the determined amount would count for rising costs subsidy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many house improvement grants have been paid to householders since the introduction of the House Improvement Act 1971; and what proportion this is of the total number of grants approved.

Up to August 1973, 125,000 grants had been paid to private

IMPROVEMENT GRANTS APPROVED FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY DWELLINGS LONDON BOROUGHS AND GREATER LONDON COUNCIL Number of dwellings Allowable cost (£ thousand ) 1971 1972 1st half 1973 1971 1972 1st half 1973 Barking … … … 38 985 1,112 5.9 468.9 538.9 Barnet … … … — — 111 — — 112.2 Bexley … … … 1 48 457 1.9 56.8 464.1 Brent … … … 163 58 6 246.3 37.1 2.5 Bromley … … … 42 — 9 16.4 — 7.0 Camden … … … 573 453 157 831.1 833.0 197.7 Croydon … … … 2 19 4 0.7 6.8 6.8 Ealing … … … 20 65 — 40.9 82.9 — Enfield … … … 119 296 47 62.3 431.6 76.0 Greenwich … … … 27 508 6 18.7 495.8 13.5 Hackney … … … 15 104 11 19.8 209.8 30.7 Hammersmith … … … 6 40 — 9.5 48.7 — Haringey … … … 80 142 206 75.1 142.8 58.6 Harrow … … … 6 423 1 5.9 20.8 1.0 Havering … … … 19 41 110 122.2 22.4 213.1 Hillingdon … … … 2 35 — 1.8 46.2 — Hounslow … … … 55 1 — 13.9 1.6 — Islington … … … 37 39 8 88.6 86.7 22.3 Kensington and Chelsea … … 56 — — 66.8 — — Kingston upon Thames … … — 74 76 — 36.3 69.8 Lambeth … … … 168 300 102 302.7 723.8 240.2 Lewisham … … … 167 134 103 374.1 317.7 242.7 Merton … … … 35 44 121 36.8 68.5 44.4 Newham … … … 46 30 2 43.6 46.9 5.2 Redbridge … … … 1 — — 0.5 — — Richmond upon Thames … … 10 — — 8.6 — — Southwark … … … 234 226 112 484.1 435.8 274.9 Sutton … … … 1 271 589 0.6 9.7 535.6 Tower Hamlets … … … 124 64 16 169.6 85.9 30.9 Waltham Forest … … … 22 56 17 20.2 43.8 20.6 Wandsworth … … … 20 57 111 28.4 93.7 177.1 Westminster … … … 224 266 84 329.3 449.8 142.7 Greater London Council … … 2,013 279 414 1,632.9 580.0 683.2

owners in the assisted areas of England since the introduction of the Housing Act 1971. During the same period 203,000 grants were approved for private owners in those areas. Much of the difference is accounted for by work currently in hand on which grant has not yet been paid.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the value of improvement grants approved for local authority accommodation in London during 1971, 1972 and 1973, respectively, by boroughs; and what was the number of dwellings in respect of which grants were approved.

The table below shows the numbers of dwellings and the allowable costs; the central Government's annual contribution is based on 75 per cent. of the allowable cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will consider changing building regulations to require 2 in. of roof insulation rather than the mandatory single inch; and if he has any estimate of the calculated saving, after allowing for the cost of buying and installing this insulation, that this would secure in terms of heat loss.

To increase the insulation as suggested for a two-storey three-bedroom house heated to Parker Morris standards would add about £10 to construction costs, and would save about

SECTION OF A614: INJURY ACCIDENTS AND CASUALTIES Casualties Thorne to Gyme Corner Injury Accidents Fatal Serious Slight Total 1970 … … … 14 .. .. .. .. 1971 … … … 8 2 7 8 17 1972 … … … 7 2 4 3 9 .. Not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates to be the current market value of residential property let by private landlords in England and Wales.

The best estimate we can make is approaching £15,000 million. This is a broad estimate based on the relationship between the price of houses financed by mortgages and their gross values, which assumes vacant possession. It is open to a wide margin of error.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many road accidents were reported in 1962, 1967 and 1972, respectively, involving caravans.

Figures for 1962 and 1967 are not available. Following is the information for recent years: Caravans involved in injury accidents 1969–1972 Year No. 1969 341 1970 326 1971 303 1972 375

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he has had any EEC discussions about subsidies

20 therms a year. Building regulations are concerned with health and safety, not fuel saving, but I am considering whether there is a case for requiring higher standards of insulation on health grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many road accidents have been reported during each of the last three years as having occurred on the A614 trunk road between Thorne and Gyme Corner; and what were the effects in terms of injury and loss of life.

Following are the figures:

to uneconomic railway services; and if the embryo common transport policy in EEC takes account of such matters.

(2) if any EEC subsidies are available to offset the operating costs of United Kingdom railway lines which, though unprofitable, need to be left open for social reasons.

There is no provision in the common transport policy for subsidising railway losses from central Community funds. EEC Regulation 1191/69 enables me to compensate the British Railways Board for operating unprofitable passenger services which are retained for social or economic reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what statistical evidence there is of the relative safety of the experimental mini-roundabouts compared with traditional roundabouts; and if any conclusions are available about the traffic flows which both can handle.

It is too soon after the introduction of mini-roundabouts to publish any reliable statistical evidence on the relative safety of these roundabouts. It is estimated that at sites converted from traditional roundabouts to mini-roundabouts there has been a 30 per cent. increase in traffic capacity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list his powers over the use of CD plates on motor cars; and in what circumstances these are permitted as part of the equipment of a hire car.

I have no powers to control the use of CD plates on vehicles, including hire cars.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total sum received in respect of driving test fees at each of the test centres at Sutton, Morden and Wallington; and what was the total expenditure at each of these centres in respect of salaries and overheads.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings for pensioner households are provided by each of the 100 largest local housing authorities; in each case what percentage this represents of the authority's total housing stock; what percentage are warden-supervised.

This information is not available, but relevant information about the provision of one-bedroom dwellings will be found in Housing Statistics Parts 1 and 2, and about certain aspects of warden-supervised housing in Local Health and Social Services Statistics, both published by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants and available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will announce his decision in respect of the scheme submitted to him by Goole Borough Council for new sewerage and sewage disposal plant to serve the town.

Agreement in principle to the scheme is likely to be given shortly. However, the borough council will know from my Department's Circular 132/73 of 10th October that only in exceptional circumstances will loan sanction be issued to local authorities for the letting of contracts in the next three months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present waiting period for driving tests at each test centre in the Yorkshire and Humberside region.

Waiting periods (in weeks) on 12th October were: Barnsley 22; Bradford 23; Chesterfield 17; Cleethorpes 16; Heckmondwike 23; Doncaster 17; Gainsborough 15; Goole 17; Grimsby 18; Halifax 20; Harrogate 18; Hessle 16; Huddersfield 19; Hull (Park Street) 14; Hull (Salisbury Street) 18; Keighley 23; Leeds (Hillcrest House) 21: Leeds (Crossgates) 18; Leeds (Horsforth) 19; Lincoln 19; Louth 16; Pontefract 24; Rotherham 20; Scunthorpe 16; Sheffield (Handsworth) 16; Sheffield (Dodd Street) 15; Skegness 14; Skipton 23; Wakefield 17; York 19.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will continue to give the active support of his Department to environmental afforestation schemes such as the 1973 Tree Planting Year for at least the next five years to encourage the greater availability of British-grown trees and shrubs for such amenity projects.

I can assure the House that my right hon. and learned Friend will continue in appropriate ways to encourage tree planting after the end of the Tree Planning Year campaign.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many deputations from local authorities wishing to discuss the Housing Finance Act have been received by himself or his ministerial colleagues during the last six months; and how many requests for such meetings have been refused.

A number of local authorities have raised points on the Housing Finance Act during the last six months; in about 40 instances a deputation from the authority was received. Ten of these deputations were received by a Minister; in the remainder, the discussions were held with the Department. In no case has an authority seeking to discuss a problem arising out of the implementation of the Act been refused the opportunity to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the average amount by which the fair rents proposed by Yorkshire local authorities have been increased by the rent scrutiny board;

(2) how many Yorkshire local authorities have so far received the decisions of the rent scrutiny board; and what is the approximate number of houses covered and the number of authorities in Yorkshire still awaiting decision.

Thirty-nine local authorities in Yorkshire have so far received the reports of their respective rent scrutiny boards. These reports cover the rents of nearly 53,000 dwellings. A further 111 local authorities have yet to receive their reports. Since fewer than one third of the authorities have received reports, covering only a small proportion of the council dwellings in the area, I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by calculating the average amount by which the fair rents proposed by local authorities had been amended by rent scrutiny boards so far.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average amount by which the Yorkshire Rent Assessment Committee has increased the rent proposed by the rent officer in cases where the tenants and not the landlords have appealed during the last year.

Four pounds a year—3 per cent.—for 974 cases recorded and analysed by computer during 1972 and £4 a year—3 per cent.—for 339 cases recorded and analysed during the first half of 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the importance of the growing amount of leisure time, what further steps are being taken to ensure that local resources are being fully used.

Much is already being done in the leisure field by Government Departments, local authorities, the arts and sports councils and the countryside commissions, to name only the most important of those concerned. However, we believe that one way to further progress may be in locally-led campaigns to bring together and develop a full range of leisure resources—cultural, recreational and sporting. My noble Friend the Paymaster-General and I have therefore invited two local authorities in England to join with the regional arts associations and the regional sports councils in carrying out two-year experiments along these lines. The aim will be to bring in as many as possible of the local organisations and interests concerned—commercial and industrial as well as public and voluntary. The selected towns are Stoke-on-Trent and Sunderland. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales have invited the appropriate bodies to carry out similar experiments within the West Dunbartonshire area in Scotland and the Flintshire area in Wales. We hope that with the co-operation of all concerned action will start shortly. The results will be written up in a report for general publication.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet completed his discussions with the local authority associations on the question whether the present scale of statutory deductions from gross value for rating purposes, fixed in 1962, should be amended; and if he will make a statement.

Yes; my hon. Friend will be pleased to know, in view of his own representations to me on the matter and those of my hon. Friend the Member for Northants, South (Mr. Arthur Jones), that I have decided that it would be right to make certain changes to the scale in the light of up-to-date information about the increase since 1962 in the costs which these deductions represent. I propose to lay before Parliament the requisite order in draft shortly with a view to the changes taking effect from 1st April 1974. The main effect will be to reduce by amounts ranging between £1 and £9 the rateable values of some 10 million dwellings at the lower end of the scale.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to establish, by model agreement or otherwise, greater protection for mobile home residents on residential caravan sites.

The Government have no plans at present for legislation on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give general directions to prevent the Central Electricity Generating Board applying at any time to use oil having a sulphur content exceeding 3 per cent., and that any application will be advertised and objections considered before action is taken.

I have been asked to reply.

It is a condition in the planning consent for the Inswork Point power station that it should not burn oil with a sulphur content greater than 3 per cent. without applying for my specific approval. I would hope such an application would not be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the fact that, since the inquiry in regard to the establishment of an oil-fired power station at Inswork Point, there is now a possibility that the necessary oil will not be available, if he will reconsider this project or at least delay the start of the building of the station until further investigations have been made.

I have been asked to reply.

Agreement at this stage is limited to planning consent only. The board cannot start building the station until it has received the necessary financial approval to its investment programme. Approval for the necessary investment has not yet been sought, and would have to take into consideration the availability of fuel supplies.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how long criminal proceedings have been contemplated in the case of Craftsman S. R. Toms whether he is to be brought for trial by court martial; and if so on what date.

I cannot say whether, and, if so, when, this soldier will be tried by court martial till the investigations can be completed and a decision on criminal proceedings is taken.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will review the pay of the Ulster Defence Regiment to assist those privates who are self-employed persons in small farms of small businesses whose pay is at a lower rate than that which they would be earning if employed in their own business, but who have no employer to make up the differential; and if he will make a statement.

No. I am very conscious of the valuable contribution made by members of the regiment who are self-employed in civil life, but we could not justify introducing special rates of pay for them.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will publish the recruiting figures for the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force for the first six months of each of the years 1971, 1972 and 1973.

The numbers of Service men recruited during the periods mentioned by my hon. Friend were as follows: January-June 1971 January-June 1972 January-June 1973 Royal Navy 2,853 4,291 3,179 Army 13,556 13,988 8,616 Royal Air Force 4,573 2,140 1,491

My Department publishes a monthly Press release which gives the latest recruiting figures. Copies of this Press release are sent to the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advantage there will be for United Kingdom consumers when EEC Regulation 1411/71 is implemented.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friends the Members for Bromley (Mr. Hunt) and Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Gurden) on 18th October October.—[Vol. 861 c. 255.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further discussions he has had with the EEC Commission on its proposals for an 8 per cent. increase in prices for beef in 1974–75; and if he will make a statement.

None. The proposal for an 8 per cent. increase in the guide price for cattle for the 1974–75 marketing year was made in March 1973 in the context of the initial proposals for the present marketing year. These were agreed in a modified form in May without any view being taken on the appropriate increase in the guide price for cattle next year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations are being made by the Government to the EEC Commission in respect of the differences that exist between the Community's schedule and the current United Kingdom practice in the grading of mackerel and associated species; and if he will make a statement.

We are ensuring that the Commission is aware of the position wherever any section of industry considers that present Community classifications by freshness and size do not correspond to commercial needs. If any specific problem on mackerel, on which grading practice is not standardised in the United Kingdom, is brought to our notice, for example by any intending producers' organisation, we shall take it up.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the chief ports, other than those located in Cornwall and Devon, where mackerel and comparable species are landed, the quantities in weight landed in 1971 and 1972, and the average price per stone obtained by fishermen at these ports in these two years for mackerel going for human consumption.

The main ports for mackerel outside Cornwall and Devon are in Scotland, although much smaller quantities are landed there.

Landings for all purposes at the main ports there in 1971 and 1972 were as follows: MACKEREL LANDED ( cwts. ) 1971 1972 Aberdeen 1,698 4,378 Fraserburgh 4,913 1,751 Lerwick 3,792 1,400 Mallaig 2,568 15,594 Campbeltown 3,055 2,147 Ayr 9,339 7,894

Average prices for mackerel going for human consumption are not readily available, but the average realised on sales to all outlets was lower than the corresponding average for Cornwall and Devon.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the legislation which repealed the provision for special reviews of agricultural prices.

Section 4(1) of the European Communities Act 1972 repealed the provisions listed in Schedule 3 to that Act. The repealed provisions include Section 2(2) of the Agriculture Act 1947, which provided for special reviews of the economic condition of the agricultural industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements are being made in the United Kingdom for administering the payment of grants which are available under EEC regulations to farmers who decide to change from producing milk to keeping beef cattle and sheep.

My right hon. Friend has laid an order before Parliament which will come into operation on 29th October 1973 under which Agriculture Departments in the United Kingdom will administer these EEC regulations through a Dairy Herd Conversion Scheme.

Under this scheme a farmer who had 11 or more dairy cows on 4th June 1973 will be eligible for a grant provided that he undertakes to give up selling and supplying milk and milk products for a period of four years and to change to keeping cattle for beef, or sheep, or both and to maintain his livestock numbers throughout the four-year period.

The amount of grant will be determined by the quantity of milk and milk products sold and supplied by the farmer in the year ended 31st May 1973. The grant will be payable in three instalments over the four-year period throughout which no sales of milk and milk products must take place. At the present Community exchange rate, every 100 gallons of milk sold in the year ended 31st May 1973 will earn a grant of £15.75. The United Kingdom may claim from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (FEOGA) half the amount of the grants made. The present intention of the European Economic Community is that these grants will only be available to farmers who apply by 31st December 1974 and so the regulations are expected to be reviewed in the autumn of next year.

A Supplementary Estimate will be presented to Parliament in due course, but in the meantime recourse will be made to the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he can now state when he expects a report from the committee appointed by him to consider the question of exportation of live animals.

My right hon. Friend hopes to receive the committee's report by the end of December.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now announce the general lines of future Government policy for forestry.

Yes. I am now able to give the Government's conclusions on the general framework. Consultations will continue on more detailed aspects.

Within our limited land surface and the increasing pressures upon it the Government are concerned that forestry should form part of a really effective pattern of rural land use, in which it is harmonised to the best possible advantage with agriculture and the environment. Accordingly the Forestry Commission, in administering grant aid to private forestry, will consult with the Agriculture Departments and local planning authorities on land use and amenity aspects of woodland owners' proposals.

The commission's regional advisory committees will be reconstituted to include representatives of agricultural and of local planning and amenity interests as well as members representing the forestry industry and will have the function of advising both on broad area strategy and on individual cases of doubt arising in the administration of grants. There will thus be much improved arrangements for ensuring that proper weight is given to amenity considerations.

Additionally, my right hon. Friends and I have asked the Chairman of the Forestry Commission specially to ensure that, in carrying out the commission's own operations as well as in the exercise of its functions as forestry authority, every possible opportunity is taken to encourage and secure effective integration between agriculture and forestry.

Such is the importance which the Government and all those with whom they have consulted attach to land being properly used, and thus being well managed over the long term, that we propose to introduce a new dedication scheme more directly linked with these objectives. This single scheme will succeed the previous Dedication, Approved Woodlands, and Small Woods Planting Grant Schemes, and its terms will differ from those for woodlands that are already dedicated. Thus in future a dedication covenant will normally terminate when approved felling takes place, but with provision for rededication. Owners entering the scheme will receive an outright acreage payment as and when approved planting or replanting takes place, in return for accepting a continuing obligation to manage the woodland concerned in accordance with plans of operations designed to secure sound forestry practice, effective integration with agriculture and environmental safeguards, together with such opportunities for recreation as may be appropriate. Departures from the plans of operations could involve recovery of grant wholly or in part. An appreciably higher rate of grant will be available for planting or replanting where a significant proportion of hardwoods is involved.

Those having rights and obligations under the previous schemes will have the option of retaining them or of transferring to the new terms. It is the Government's intention that in any year the total of continuing payments under the old schemes and of payments under the new arrangements should be broadly the same as would have obtained if the old schemes had remained open to new entrants and planting had been at more or less the same rate.

My right hon. Friends and I hope that the remaining consultations will be concluded before the end of the year and further details, including rates of grant, will then be announced. In the meantime the Forestry Commission will model its own planting and management policies upon the principles I have described, will give still further emphasis to providing recreational facilities and will develop a planting and replanting programme on the lines and at the level set out in the consultative document and with special regard paid to the contribution which the commission's operations can make towards stemming depopulation in rural areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has made of the increase in dairy feeding stuffs prices from March to October this year.

The average price of the standard dairy compound which constitutes the major dairy feeding stuff is estimated to have increased by about 25 per cent. in Great Britain between March and 22nd October 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress secondary schools have made in dealing with the additional number of pupils created by the raising of the school leaving age; and how many schools have had to suspend pupils through lack of facilities.

Commendable arrangements have been made in providing extra facilities and appropriate courses for pupils staying on as a result of raising the school leaving age. Local education authorities have informed my Department that during September part-time schooling on account of shortages of staff was concentrated in only a few areas, notably inner London, and was limited to 22 of the 4,870 maintained secondary schools in the whole of England. There were also difficulties in a very few schools because buildings were not completed on time.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether a decision has yet been taken on a permanent site for the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology; and if she will make a statement.

Subject to planning requirements being met, I have approved in principle a proposal put to me by the University Grants Committee that the institute's future location should be at Llantarnam, Monmouthshire. A planning application for the proposed development is being considered by the Monmouthshire County Council and is expected to be referred shortly to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. If planning approval is given, work on the new site will be started as soon as it can be fitted into the universities building programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why, in assessing university grants for children of Service personnel, a man who received education allowance whilst in the United Kingdom during the perious year has the allowance grossed for tax and counted as part of his taxable income, whereas the Service parent who was overseas in the previous year received a non-taxable allowance which is not included in assessing income for university grant; and if she will take steps to remedy this situation.

The parent's contribution towards a student's maintenance is calculated on his income as assessed for income tax purposes. My right hon. Friend does not propose to depart from this principle: to do so would create more problems than it would solve.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of Government training centres in England and Wales in November 1971 and 1972; and how many training places these figures represent.

There were 42 Government training centres in England and Wales in November 1971 and 43 in November 1972. These figures represent 9,542 and 9,882 operational training places respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what he estimates, at the latest date for which comparative data is available, to be the average hourly earnings in new pence per hour of male manual workers in manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom, each EEC country, Sweden, United States of America, and Japan; and in how many minutes a worker on average earnings in each country has to work to earn, respectively, one dozen eggs, one large loaf of bread, one pound of tea, one pint of beer, one pound of tomatoes, and one hundredweight of coal.

Comparisons of this type involve considerable uncertainties. In particular, these arise from the variation in systems of remuneration and taxation in different countries, from the importance of individual goods in the national patterns of consumption and from the use of official exchange rates to convert national currencies to a common basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to the percentage of the work force which is currently unionised in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, each EEC country, Japan, Sweden, Australia, Canada, and South Africa; and how these proportions compare with the levels of unionisation in each of these countries, respectively, five to 10 years ago.

The following information has been assembled from a variety of sources. The figures must be treated with some caution as they may not represent the whole picture. For some countries they relate only to members of trade unions which are affiliated to the major trade union confederations.

PROPORTION OF CIVILIAN LABOUR FORCE IN TRADE UNION MEMBERSHIP Country Year Trade Union Membership as percentage of total civilian labour force Per cent. United Kingdom 1971 44 1966 39 1961 39 United States of America 1972 22 1967 23 Belgium 1967 65 Denmark 1970 38 France 1969 20 Germany (Federal Republic) 1969 37 Ireland 1969 50 Italy 1969 20 Luxembourg 1971 60 Netherlands 1969 39 Japan 1972 34 1967 34 Sweden 1972 70 1965 63 Australia 1971 52 1966 53 Canada 1972 28 1967 26 South Africa 1968 10

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are now being taken to provide training facilities in the Highlands and Islands for jobs in oil and oil-related industries.

Firms associated with oil development currently located in the Highlands and Islands or planning to establish units there are providing in-plant training facilities to meet their particular needs.

Support services which are provided free of charge by my Department, including supervisory and instructor training and the loan of instructors to help with specific aspects of training, are being used by the firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give the latest estimate of the number of jobs likely to be created in Shetland during the initial construction period for service bases, harbours, etc., in Shetland;

(2) if he will give the latest estimate of the number of permanent jobs likely to be created in Shetland when oil flows from the North Sea and Atlantic wells.

Firm projects now under way are expected to increase the number of long-term jobs associated with oil exploitation from the present total of around 45 to over 300. A further 130 people are currently engaged in the construction of service bases. Other oil developments which are being considered could provide a substantial number of additional jobs both in construction and of a more permanent nature; but we cannot yet quantify the likely employment effects.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take action to abolish "Men's" and "Women's" departments at employment exchanges.

Yes. In future all new job centres will be planned to provide facilities for both men and women together. In existing local offices separate men's and women's departments will be discontinued as soon as reasonably practicable. Where compelling reasons may prevent this for the time being, the full range of vacancies will be held in both sections.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the number of building apprentices at present under training in Scotland.

The number of apprentices in training, registered with the Scottish Building Apprenticeship and Training Council in June 1973, was 5,387.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now publish the results of the examination by the Home Office of the use of social inquiry reports, initiated by the letter of 23rd February 1973 from his Department to certain probation and after-care committees; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement, but he will do so as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many petty sessional benches which are being amalgamated by virtue of the provisions of the Local Government (Petty Sessional Divisions etc.) Order 1973, SI 1594, are being amalgamated contrary to the decisions of the appropriate magistrates' courts committee and/or against the wishes of the bench concerned.

When magistrates' courts committees and benches were consulted, widely differing views were expressed initially but in most cases an agreed solution was reached after discussion. Twenty-six petty sessions areas were eventually amalgamated despite the continued opposition of the bench concerned and in 10 cases the bench was supported by an existing county magistrates' courts committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many petty sessional benches which did not agree to amalgamation under the provisions of SI 1594 are being amalgamated by that order with benches other than those which currently meet in the same court house or in the same town.

Sixteen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many petty sessional benches in England and Wales have been left unaffected by the provisions of the Local Government (Petty Sessional Divisions etc.) Order 1973, SI 1594; and how many of these were meeting in purpose-built court houses.

Of the present 805 petty sessions areas in England and Wales—outside Greater London—the boundaries of 385 are left unchanged by the Local Government (Petty Sessional Divisions etc.) Order 1973. I regret that the information requested in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Secretary of Slate for the Home Department what policy has been pursued by him up to now with regard to the amalgamation of petty sessional divisions contrary to the wishes of the magistrates' courts committee for the area; and whether any such amalgamations were by a separate order for each individual case.

My right hon. Friend's policy has been to consult magistrates' courts committees in every case and to pay particular attention to their views. If, however, he was not satisfied that there was good reason for departing from the general policy set out in Home Office Circular No. 140/1972 of 11th August 1972, or there was a difference of view between two existing magistrates' courts committees, he has on occasion had to take a decision against the wishes of a committee. All changes made under the powers in section 254 of the Local Government Act 1972 are embodied in the Local Government (Petty Sessional Divisions etc.) Order 1973 (SI 1973 No. 1593).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the net loss of manpower in the Metropolitan Police Force in the 12 months ended 30th September 1972.

There was a net gain of 143.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the net loss of manpower in the Metropolitan Police Force in the three and 12 month periods ended 30 September 1973.

135 and 529 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it was necessary for prison officers at Wandsworth Prison to work 216,808 hours overtime during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Wandsworth Prison, in common with the prison service as a whole, is short of prison officer staff and the overtime to which the hon. Member refers was a necessary consequence. Steps are being taken to contain overtime at a lower level but significant improvement in the position depends upon increasing the strength of the prison service generally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what date or dates he has determined under Schedule 9, paragraph 2( a ) of the Local Government Act 1972, by which the Local Government Boundary Commission for England is to submit to him its report on electoral arrangements for district councils; and whether it is his intention that new arrangements be in operation for district elections in 1975.

No direction has been given. I understand that the commission has recently discussed the initial review timetable with the local authority associations, and will be reporting the outcome in a few weeks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to extend VAT to food, fuel, fares, rents and home ownership.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to reduce the relief from VAT given to these items.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in the absence of positive evidence that adults purchase children's footwear and clothing other than for the use of children, he will now zero rate these commodities.

No. The reasons for restricting the relief were set out in my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement and they are still relevant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of civil servants, including officers of the Customs and Excise, currently engaged in the assessment of liability and collection of VAT on children's footwear and clothing, respectively.

Staff of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise are the only civil servants engaged on this work. It is not possible to say how many are so employed because the same staff deal with a general range of goods and services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the value of tax uncollected on account of staff shortages.

No such estimate is possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reply he has sent to the Inland Revenue Staff Association letter saying that it will be unable to cope with the proposed tax credit system unless more trained staff are found.

My right hon. Friend has received no such letter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to improve the remuneration of tax officers.

Tax officers' salaries, in common with those of other civil servants, will be reviewed under the Government's proposals for stage 3 of their counter-inflation policy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons, in his estimate, there were only 18 suitable applications as a result of his drive to recruit 500 higher grade tax officers.

I cannot agree these figures. So far nearly 300 suitable applicants have been assigned to meet the Inland Revenue's 1973 requirement for 435 tax officers, higher grade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what date proposals for modifying the conditions set out in Command Paper No. 5444 with regard to stock options and share incentive schemes during stage 3 can be considered; and whether these proposals will be implemented by code, regulation or amending legislation.

Comments were asked for by 19th October. When the representations received have been considered, a new Price and Pay Code order will be made under the affirmative resolution procedure prescribed in Section 2 of the Counter-Inflation Act 1973.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many stock options have been exercised since the proposals in the Finance Bill 1972 came into effect, and what has been the gain to those exercising them.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the investment surcharge floor were reduced from £2,000 to £1,000, what would be the annual gain, respectively, to those with annual incomes below £1,000, £1,000-£2,000, £2,000-£5,000 and over £5,000 compared to the position immediately prior to the introduction of the unified tax system.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the level of gross domestic fixed capital formation in plant and machinery as a percentage of gross national product in Great Britain for each year since 1960; and if he will give the comparable percentage figures for the United States of America, Japan and each EEC country for each of these years.

The information is given in the table below:

GROSS DOMESTIC FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION IN PLANT AND MACHINERY United Kingdom Belgium Denmark France Germany Netherlands Ireland Italy Luxembourg Japan U.S.A. 1960 … … 6.0 N.A. 7.2 7.1 8.5 7.2 N.A. 7.1 N.A. N.A. 4.4 1961 … … 6.6 N.A. 7.7 7.9 9.2 8.0 N.A. 7.7 N.A. N.A. 3.9 1962 … … 6.3 N.A. 8.2 8.0 9.2 7.9 N.A. 7.6 N.A. N.A. 4.1 1963 … … 6.3 N.A. 7.7 8.1 8.7 7.8 N.A. 7.6 N.A. N.A. 4.3 1964 … … 6.6 N.A. 8.1 8.1 8.8 8.0 N.A. 5.7 N.A. N.A. 4.6 1965 … … 6.9 N.A. 7.6 8.1 9.1 7.7 N.A. 4.4 N.A. N.A. 4.8 1966 … … 7.2 N.A. 7.4 8.3 8.5 8.3 N.A. 4.7 N.A. N.A. 5.1 1967 … … 7.2 N.A. 7.1 8.4 7.8 7.7 N.A. 5.0 N.A. N.A. 5.0 1968 … … 6.9 N.A. 6.8 8.3 7.8 7.5 N.A. 5.2 N.A. N.A. 4.5 1969 … … 6.9 N.A. 7.0 8.5 8.9 7.1 7.4 5.2 N.A. N.A. 4.7 1970 … … 7.1 N.A. 7.5 8.9 9.5 7.8 7.5 5.9 N.A. N.A. 4.8 1971 … … 6.8 N.A. 6.8 9.1 9.4 7.3 6.7 5.9 N.A. N.A. 4.5 1972 … … 6.3 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been, for each year since 1945, respectively, the amount of inward direct investment into Great Britain, the total of dividends remitted to foreign parents plus net repatriations by branches, the amount of direct investment abroad by United Kingdom firms, and the total of dividends remitted to United Kingdom parents plus net repatriations by branches.

"United Kingdom Balance of Payments 1973" showed, for the years 1962–72, the amount of inward direct investment into the United Kingdom and the amount of direct investment abroad by United Kingdom companies in Table 27, and the totals of dividends remitted to United Kingdom and foreign parents by subsidiary and associate companies in Table 20. Comparable information for the years 1958–61 is published in "United Kingdom Balance of Payments 1969", Tables 25 and 19 respectively. Estimates for Great Britain and for years before 1958 are not available.

Figures are not collected of net repatriations of profits by branches to their parent company, but the following approximate estimates have been made

£ million Exports * Imports * Visible balance * Level of Official Reserves † 1960 … … … … 803 873 -70 1,154 1961 … … … … 915 908 +7 1,185 1962 … … … … 1,040 932 +108 1,002 1963 … … … … 1,158 1,005 +153 949 1964 … … … … 1,210 1,177 +33 827 1965 … … … … 1,235 1,210 +25 1,073 1966 … … … … 1,323 1,336 -13 1,107 1967 … … … … 1,312 1,519 -207 1,123 1968 … … … … 1,628 1,843 -215 1,009 1969 … … … … 1,909 1,971 -62 1,053 1970 … … … … 2,226 2,133 +93 1,178 1971 … … … … 2,486 2,617 -131 2,526 1972 … … … … 2,668 3,200 -532 2,167 * On a balance of payments basis. † At end year

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons were released from payment of income tax by the raising of the tax threshold in the Finance Act 1972; and how many of these he estimates have now again

of branch profits remitted to United Kingdom parent companies from overseas: £ million 1965 70 1966 79 1967 56 1968 79 1969 93 1970 85 1971 74

There are no estimates available of the profits of branches in the United Kingdom which have been remitted to overseas parent companies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total value of imports from, and the total value of exports to, the other eight existing EEC member countries each year since 1960; and what has therefore been the net balance of payments effect of British-EEC trade for each of these years both in money terms and as a percentage of Great Britain's reserves for each year.

Estimates of the United Kingdom's visible trade, on a balance of payments basis, with the present members of the European Economic Community are shown below. Figures are also given of the level of the official reserves at 31st December of each year.

become subject to payment of income tax.

About 1½ million people who would otherwise have paid income tax in 1972–73 did not do so as a result of the increase in personal allowances in the Finance Act 1972. It is estimated that with the growth of incomes between 1972–73 and 1973–74 the number of taxpayers will increase by about three-quarters of a million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the amounts by which the weekly incomes of the insured working population would be increased if all annual incomes in excess of £5,000, £4,000 and £3,000 were subjected to 100 per cent. taxation and the revenue therefore disbursed in this manner.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he makes of the level of tax evasion at the present time in the United Kingdom and what information is available to him about levels of tax evasion at recent dates in the USA, EEC, Japan or any other major foreign country.

It is impossible to estimate the level of tax evasion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average present capital value of £100 of Government securities purchased in 1950.

It is not possible to make a meaningful comparison because so much of the stock available in 1950 has since been redeemed at par or converted.