asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to publish details of the farm and horticulture development scheme which is due to come into operation in early 1974; and whether he will publish details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement in the near future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the average increase in the cost of feeding stuffs to the British farmer since the last figures were prepared for the 1973 annual price review.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for The Hartle-pools (Mr. Leadbitter) on 25th October—[Vol. 861, c. 592.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the effect of an increase of ½p per pint on the retail price of milk on the cost of living index.

It would add 0·2 per cent. to the General Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what stage has been reached in the negotiations between his Department and the Ripon City Council in the matter of the purchase by his Department of that area of land known as Ripon Parks; and if he will make a statement.

We are awaiting a decision by Ripon City Council whether, pending the local government reorganisation due to take effect next year, it wishes to continue negotiations at the present time. For our part it is still our intention to purchase this land.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will publish a table showing defence expenditure as a proportion of the national gross domestic product and gross national product for the years 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, and 1972–73.

The following is the information:

	GDP per cent.	GNP per cent.
1965–66	6·6	6·5
1966–67	6·5	6·4
1967–68	6·4	6·3
1968–69	6·0	6·0
1969–70	5·6	5·6
1970–71	5·7	5·6
1971–72	5·7	5·7
1972–73	5·6	5·6

NOTES:(1) The figures are of the Defence budget on the United Kingdom definition, expressed as a rate of GDP and GNP at factor cost.(2) The figures for 1972–73 are estimated: those for earlier years are based on outturn.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will provide a breakdown of the estimated cost of £1,000 million for the abolition of the private sector, differentiating between capital and current costs on an annual basis, and stating in full any assumptions underlying any component of the estimate.

The figure of close on £1,000 million as the cost of abolishing the private sector in education is an indication of the order of magnitude of what it would cost by 1981 if this policy were introduced now. It reflects the average costs, both capital and recurrent, of educating within the maintained system the number of pupils who would be displaced from the private sector. My right hon. Friend sees no purpose in undertaking detailed estimates of cost for a policy which she has no intention of pursuing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will cause to be inserted in the Zebra and Pelican Crossings Regulations made under Section 23 of the Road Traffic Act 1967 a provision to ensure that a person in a self-propelled wheelchair shall be deemed to be a foot passenger.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that local authorities are giving advice to residents on licensed caravan sites concerning fair rents and rent rebates.

As far as the Department is aware the occupiers of individually rated caravans receive publicity about the rate rebate scheme in the same way as all other ratepayers. The fair rent system does not apply to caravans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make arrangements to ensure that there will be a public inquiry before any decision is made whether the Albert Bridge across the River Thames should be permanently closed.

I understand that the Greater London Council is making arrangements for a public inquiry to be held early in 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the numbers of vehicles which cross Albert Bridge, Battersea Bridge and Chelsea Bridge each day.

The Greater London Council, which is responsible for all three bridges, took 24-hour traffic counts in August 1973. The number of vehicles recorded was: Albert Bridge 13,000; Battersea Bridge 26,000; Chelsea Bridge 40,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what statutory and non-statutory requirements and arrangements exist whereby a local authority must notify residents individually within a certain radius of new development.

The arrangements for publicity for planning applications are set out in Circular No. 71/73 issued in June this year. There is no requirement that residents within a prescribed distance of proposed development should be notified, but local authorities have a responsibility to consider whether to notify owners or occupiers of neighbouring property or to ask applicants to display a site notice. The requirements will be reviewed in the light of any recommendations made by Mr. George Dobry, Q.C., who is undertaking a review of the development control system, and of experience in operating the arrangements in the circular.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total area of land in Cheshire being worked for sand and gravel, specifying the number of workings the total area of which exceeds 10 acres; and what is the total area of land being worked for silica sand.

A consultation document issued in 1969 by Cheshire County Council indicated that in May 1968 planning permission for sand and gravel extraction covered 750 acres of which 400 acres remained unworked. Silica sand workings covered a further 550 acres. Mineral production returns made to the Department show that at the end of 1972 there were in Cheshire 19 active workings for sand and gravel and five for silica sand, but these returns do not indicate the number exceeding 10 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the extent of sand and gravel reserves in Cheshire and the percentage thereof at present being worked; and what is the extent of silica sand reserves and the percentage thereof at present being worked.

Although geological maps indicate broadly the location of sand and gravel and silica sand in Cheshire, information on their thickness and quality, and their location where overlain by other deposits, is insufficient at present to enable an accurate assessment of the size of the reserves to be made. The Mineral Assessment Unit of the Institute of Geological Sciences is assessing the extent of sand and gravel resources in the country but the work will not be completed for some years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of driving test examiners at the latest available date; how this compares with 1971 and 1972; and what is the average waiting time for a test, in Leicestershire and nationally, at the current time and compared with the previous two years.

The information available is as follows:

		Waiting Periods
Date	Number of Examiners	East Midland Traffic Area	Nationally
October 1971	1,125	3½	4½
October 1972	1,030	6	8
Current	1,036	16	20

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the period of waiting time required by members of the public wishing to take a driving test in the city of Leeds from the date of application to the date of the actual test.

On 26th October the waiting times at the centres in Leeds were as follows: Hillcrest House, 22 weeks; Crossgates, 19 weeks; Horsforth, 19 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the land use transportation study conducted by his Department of traffic in the Lincoln area.

This work is being undertaken by the Lincoln County Borough Council with technical assistance by my Department. The publication of any report is a matter for the council.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the special steps which he has taken to review British aid and technical assistance programmes in Ethiopia.

Her Majesty's Government are at present providing Ethiopia annually with £1 million of capital aid and about £700,000 of technical assistance. Ethiopia has been designated a least developed country, and our development loans are, therefore, on the softest possible terms. I hope substantially to increase the volume of our aid over the next few years. If suitable projects can be identified and implemented I mean to raise the level of our capital aid to more than £3 million by 1975–76.I am proposing to provide a larger proportion of our funds for the agricultural sector, to which I have for some time thought we should give priority. I think this could make an important contribution to the long-term rehabilitation of the provinces that have suffered famine, and help to prevent these conditions recurring. The Ethiopian Minister of Agriculture came to discuss this subject in London last September. We are studying an extremely large agricultural development project in Tigre and I am sending a team of my officials to Tigre next week.When reports reached Britain last summer of the full gravity of the effects of the drought in Ethiopia Her Majesty's Government immediately offered funds to support a food-for-work programme which was being mounted in the area most seriously affected by the Ethiopian Meat and Livestock Board under the direction of two British technical assistance officers.We have also contributed to the relief effort in Ethiopia, which OXFAM is coordinating, by providing supplies of powdered milk and by carrying to Ethiopia additional supplies, including blankets. On 22nd October we flew dried milk and blankets there; on 29th October more dried milk; and this month we shall be flying out consignments of medical supplies, urgently-needed chemicals and other stores for OXFAM, UNICEF and Save the Children Fund.Recent reports have shown that the extent of the catastrophe is much more serious than it appeared earlier. I told my hon. Friend the Member for Essex, South-East (Sir Bernard Braine) on 24th October—[Vol. 861, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the recent agreement to replenish the resources of the International Development Association.

Negotiations for the fourth replenishment of the resources of the International Development Association have been successfully concluded. Twenty-four members of the association, including 21 Part I members and three Part II members, together with Switzerland, have agreed to contribute US $4,500 million, subject to the approval where necessary by legislatures. Provided that such approval is given, the replenishment will come into effect on 1st July 1974.Details of the contributions are:

Part I Countries	U.S. Dollars (equivalent)
Australia	90,000,000
Austria	30,600,000
Belgium	76,500,000
Canada	274,500,000
Denmark	54,000,000
Finland	25,200,000
France	253,545,000
Germany	514,500,000
Iceland	1,350,000
Ireland	7,500,000
Italy	181,350,000
Japan	495,000,000
Kuwait	27,000,000
Luxembourg	2,250,000
Netherlands	132,750,000
New Zealand	11,745,000
Norway	49,500,000
South Africa	9,000,000
Sweden	180,000,000
United Kingdom	499,500,000
United States of America	1,500,000,000
Part II Countries	U.S. Dollars (equivalent)
Israel	1,000,000
Spain	13,333,000
Yugoslavia	5,000,000
Switzerland*	—
Total	4,500,000,000
* It is expected that the outstanding balance will be covered by an interest-free loan from the Swiss Confederation to be approved by the Swiss Federal Council and Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place

£thousand
		1970	1971	1972
A. Financial Assistance (gross)	…	—	11	209
Loan No. 2/1969 for the purchase of British goods and services	…	—	11	73
ECGD rescheduling	…	—	—	136
B. Loans made through the Inter-American Development Bank for on-lending to the private sector for the purchase of British goods.		117	237	—
C. Technical Assistance of which:—	…	233	232	324
Training in the United Kingdom	…	72	54	58
Experts in Chile	…	71	90	143
Consultancies	…	43	4	26
Equipment	…	37	82	97
Other	…	11	1	1

The figures for 1973 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT particulars of aid and loans, respectively, made to the Government of Chile since the seizure of power by the military junta.

No discussions have taken place with this end in view but of course Community Governments are in continuous touch about the present situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the rôle played by Her Majesty's Government in securing a cease-fire in the Middle East.

Her Majesty's Government have played an active part in the efforts to bring about the cease-fire and have been in close consultation with other Governments concerned throughout.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT particulars of aid and loans, respectively, made to the Government of Chile in each of the years 1970 to 1973 prior to the seizure of power by the military junta.

The particulars of aid to the Government of Chile for each of the years 1970, 1971 and 1972 are:

The aid programme to Chile is going ahead as planned and agreed during the period of President Allende's Government. No new aid loans or technical assistance commitments have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Chilean citizens sought and were given refuge and/or asylum in Her Majesty's Embassy in Santiago following the military revolt against the Allende Government.

Her Majesty's embassy received a number of requests, some direct and some indirect, from Chilean citizens. It is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government that British embassies should be used for providing asylum to non-British nationals. An ambassador has discretion to offer sanctuary to non-British individuals who are under immediate threat of death or injury in the vicinity of the embassy. At best, however, this protection can only be temporary. No such cases have occurred in Chile and no Chilean citizens, therefore, have been given asylum.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Her Majesty's Consul-General in Marseilles intervened in a dispute concerning the crew of a Dutch cargo ship the "Heelsum", assisted in the replacement of the crew with 44 Chinese sailors from Hong Kong and urged the expedition of the sailing of this ship carrying a consignment of weapons and tanks from Marseilles to Saudi Arabia on 15th October 1973.

The facts are not as stated. The vice-consul boarded the "Heelsum" in accordance with his regular responsibilities in shipping matters to use his good offices in a dispute involving 23 Hong Kong crew members who refused to sail on the grounds that the voyage would be dangerous. He suggested that a Hong Kong Government representative should be asked to meet the vessel at its next port of call. As this suggestion was not acceptable to the crew the captain said he would refer the dispute to the ship's owners and the vice-consul left the ship. He was subsequently informed that 13 Hong Kong seamen were leaving the ship to return to Hong Kong and that the other 10 would stay aboard until the ship could take on a replacement crew.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed statement of how the British Government intend to play their part in fulfilling the agreed objective of the old and new Commonwealth as expressed at the recent Ottawa Prime Ministers' Conference to work for the emancipation of the suppressed people of South Africa; and, in particular, whether he will define the policy of the Government towards the liberation movements.

The complex and difficult nature of the problems of Southern Africa was recognised by Commonwealth Heads of Government at Ottawa. We have often pointed out that the alternatives facing Southern Africa are peaceful evolution by consent or change by violent confrontation. It remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to encourage negotiation and constructive compromise, to promote in particular an acceptable settlement in Rhodesia, progress towards self-determination in the Portuguese territories and South-West Africa and dignified and harmonious relations between the races of South Africa.While, therefore, we fully sympathise with the legitimate aspirations of dependent or suppressed people in Southern Africa, as elsewhere in the world, we cannot accept or condone the use of violence in pursuit of political ends. We made our position on this matter clear at Ottawa, and this was reflected in the communiqué issued after the meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons who entered Great Britain on six-month tourist visas during 1971, 1972 and up to 30th September 1973 were allowed to convert their visas to enable them to enter educational establishments.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government will consider legislation to protect au pair girls from exploitation, or at least to provide some guidelines for those who employ them.

General guidance is already provided in the Home Office au pair leaflets which are issued to au pair girls and their hostesses. I am not convinced that there is a case for legislation, but I am keeping the matter under review. If my hon. Friend has in mind any specific case, and will send me particulars, I will look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will correct the information he gave to the hon. Member for Ormskirk on 12th July 1973, HANSARD 12th July, column 397, concerning the passport on which Mr. Herbert Chitepo entered the United Kingdom; if he will explain why the original answer was incorrect; and if he will make a statement.

I much regret that when I replied to my hon. Friend's earlier Question we did not know that, through an oversight, a concessionary United Kingdom passport had been issued to Mr. Chitepo overseas. I have apologised to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Chilean citizens sought and were granted political asylum in the United Kingdom since the seizure of power by the military junta in Chile; and how many were refused.

Eleven applications have been received from Chilean nationals either for political asylum or to extend their stay in the United Kingdom as a direct result of events in Chile. Four applications have been granted; the remainder are being considered; none has been refused.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in the Metropolitan police force worked hours in excess of their standard working week in the year preceding the latest date for which figures are available; what was the average number of hours worked each week during the year by police officers in each grade up to the rank of chief inspector; and how the figures compare with those for the previous year.

The great majority of officers work hours in excess of the standard working week but I regret that no figures are available other than those I gave to the hon. Member on 12th July.—[Vol. 859, c. 398–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has sent to police authorities and chief officers on the assessment of force establishments in consequence of local government reorganisation; what representations he has received on this matter; what replies he is making; and if he will make a statement.

Police authorities have been advised by circular that a new establishment will have to be submitted and approved for each of the new forces which will operate from 1st April 1974. Representations have been received only from the Police Federation, which is being assured that the arrangements in the circular are designed to meet the special situation resulting from local government reorganisation and that they do not affect the existing arrangements for the regular review of establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the net loss of manpower in the Metropolitan Police force and in police forces elsewhere in England and Wales, respectively, in the 12 months ended 30th September 1972.

There were net gains of 143 and 3,110.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the net loss of manpower in the Metropolitan Police force and in police forces elsewhere in England and Wales, respectively, in the three- and 12-month periods ended 30th September 1973.

In the Metropolitan Police there were net losses of 135 and 529. Elsewhere in England and Wales there were net gains of 92 and 1,673.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a date has been fixed for a further meeting of the Police Advisory Board; and if he will be taking the chair at the meeting.

No date has yet been fixed. When it is my right hon. Friend would expect to take the chair.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will propose a change in the law regarding bequests to charities.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from Mr. William Burn, the Chairman of the Spastics Society, concerning fiscal reform in the charitable field; what reply he is making; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received wide-ranging representations from Mr. Burn and I will be replying to him as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to ensure that medical research sponsored by charitable trusts is not liable to value added tax.

Charities have normally borne indirect taxation on the goods they have purchased. My right hon. Friend reviewed the problems of value added tax and charities before the Budget in the light of all the representations which had been received, including those on behalf of charitable trusts sponsoring medical research. He has decided to aid charities by other fiscal concessions.Taking full account of the changeover to VAT, the cost to the Exchequer of the concessions to charities as a whole made in the last two Budgets is estimated to be of the order of £20 million in 1973–74.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much is the annual loss of purchasing power of the salary of Members of Parliament since it was last fixed at the present level.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the basic salary as £4,500 in January 1972, its value in September 1973, the latest date available, is estimated to be about £3,940, equivalent to an annual rate of loss of purchasing power of 8·3 per cent. This estimate is made on the basis of the change in the General Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage share in national income post-tax taken by, respectively, employment incomes, self-employment incomes, current grants and property incomes for 1938 and for each year since 1945.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage share in national income pre-tax taken by, respectively employment incomes, self-employment incomes, current grants and property incomes for 1938 and for each year since 1945.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the level of corporate profits as a percentage of wages-cum-salaries pre-tax and post-tax for 1938 and for each year since 1945.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will increase the rate of interest payable on the investment accounts of the National Savings Bank and the special investment department accounts of the trustee savings banks.

The rate of interest on deposits in the National Savings Bank's investment accounts will be increased from 8 per cent. to 9 per cent. from 1st January 1974. The National Debt Office will be ready to consider applications from individual trustee savings banks to raise the interest rates on deposits in their special investment departments within a maximum of 9 per cent. on or after 21st November 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of non-industrial civil servants employed by the Government of Northern Ireland each year from 1965 to 1973; and how many are employed in each Department in the latest year for which figures are available.

"The total number of non-industrial Northern Ireland civil servants employed in June of each of the years 1965 to 1973 was as follows:

1965	10,143
1966	10,709
1967	11,600
1968	11,821
1969	11,925
1970	12,377
1971	13,420
1972	14,324
1973	15,553

The breakdown of the June 1973 total between Departments is:

Houses of Parliament	48
Cabinet Offices	128
Exchequer and Audit	39
Finance	3,027
Home Affairs	927
Police Authority for Northern Ireland	851
Health and Social Services	5,518
Education	481
Agriculture	3,143
Commerce	666
Development	634
Parliamentary Commissioner's Office	3
Community Relations	51
Community Relations Commission	9
Commissioner for Complaints	28

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what was the total cost of prepaid envelopes issued for the payment of telephone accounts in the last financial year.

The Post Office tells me that the total cost of prepaid envelopes was £0·03 million.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will give a general direction to the Post Office to grant a concessionary postal rate for unsealed Christmas cards for a specified number of weeks, as a service to help, in particular, the aged and those living alone to send and receive a greater number of greetings.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 22nd October to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Cormack).—[Vol. 861, c. 365–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many marriages took place between patients in sub-normality hospitals during each of the years 1970–73; how many such patients have subsequently been discharged; and where.

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women died from illegal abortions in England and Wales in each of the years 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972.

Deaths in England and Wales assigned to abortions which were not induced for medical and other legal reasons (ICD categories 642–645) were as follows: 1968, 45; 1969, 25; 1970, 22; 1971, 15; 1972, 16 (provisional).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the mortality rate attributed to legal abortion in England and Wales for each of the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972.

The death rates in England and Wales for legally induced abortions were as follows:

	Per 100,000 live and still births
1969	1·2
1970	1·3
1971	1·5
1972	1·4 (provisional)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women resident in the Manchester Regional Hospital Board area had abortions performed privately in approved places in 1972; and what was the percentage of the total number of abortions notified for the area.

The number of notifications of abortions performed in 1972 were as follows:

Hospital Region of Residence	Number non-NHS (a)	Total Number (b)	(a) as percentage of (b)
Manchester	2,926	7,968	37

These figures are published in the Appendix to the Registrar General's Weekly Return No. 34 of 1973 for week ending 24th August 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what organisations he intends to consult after the publication of the report of the Lane Committee, before he reaches any final decision on the committee's recommendations.

I will have to await receipt and study of the committee's report before deciding whom to consult.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many meetings have been held between the Staff Commission and the National and Local Government Staff Association; what were the subjects discussed; and whether agreement was finally reached;(2) if he will now halt all further arrangements to make appointments to the reorganised health service until the Staff Commission reaches agreement with the National and Local Government Officers Association;(3) how many meetings his Department had with the National and Local Government Staff Association; what were the grades of appointment discussed; and whether agreement was finally reached;(4) if he will place in the Library the document issued by his Staff Commission which seeks to explain its differences with the organisations representing persons who qualify for appointment in the reorganised National Health Service;(5) if he will take an early opportunity to make a statement explaining his policies concerning appointments to the reorganised National Health Service and the difficulties which are arising.

As the hon. Member will know, it is one of the statutory functions of the NHS Staff Commission to take any steps, including the holding of prior discussions on procedures with staff and other interests, which it considers are appropriate for the purpose of selecting and recommending to regional or area health authorities and special health authorities persons who it considers are suitable for employment by any of those authorities. It was agreed after discussions with representatives of the appropriate staff organisations, including NALGO, that the Staff Commission should carry out centrally the advertising, assessing and short-listing for certain key posts in RHAs and AHAs; this and the resulting selection meetings are proceeding, and in the interests of patients and of staff as a whole it is essential that they should continue. I am aware that concern has been expressed and representations have been made because some candidates were not short-listed for AHA posts. The commission has considered these representations very carefully in conjunction with the assessors appointed in agreement with the staff organisations and as a result has issued a statement which will be placed in the Library.Staff organisations have had many discussions, separately, with the commission and with my Department about various matters falling within the commission's purview. Many of these discussions covered a variety of subjects and it would not be practicable to give details in the form requested by the hon. Member.I intend to make an announcement as soon as possible about the probable next stages of the arrangements which are being made on the advice of the commission concerning further appointments of staff to the new NHS employing authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the resources available for the establishment of posts in the new National Health Service in each of the three years from 1st April 1974.

This will be a matter for each health authority in the light of priorities and the total resources available to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give consideration to the payment of the £10 Christmas bonus to all disabled persons living on social security benefits.

The special payment of £10 will be made to disabled persons who are over pensionable age and in receipt of retirement pension or other qualifying benefits, including attendance allowance and invalidity pension. As I explained to the House at the Committee stage of the Pensioners' Payments and National Insurance Bill on 19th October, the dividing line of pensionable age is the only one which is both equitable and practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the extra charge on public funds for supplying a £10 Christmas bonus to the chronic sick and the totally incapacitated.

The cost of extending the special payment to include persons under pension age who have been sick or disabled for six months or more and are receiving social security benefits would be approximately £8 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of granting a £10 Christmas bonus to those receiving long-term sickness benefit.

£5·8 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) on what date he received the report of Lady Sharp's inquiry into the vehicle service for the disabled;(2) what the cost would be to the Exchequer of implementing the recommendations made by Lady Sharp in the report of her inquiry into the vehicle service for the disabled;(3) what recommendations were made by Lady Sharp in her report of her inquiry into the vehicle service for the disabled concerning the needs of disabled passengers.

I received the report on 5th October and am studying it. As to its recommendations and the cost of their implementation, I would ask the hon. Member to await publication of the report and the statement which I hope to make at that time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of autistic children in the United Kingdom; in respect of how many applications have been made for an attendance allowance, and how many were, respectively, successful and unsuccessful.

The total number of autistic children in England and Wales of which my Department and the Department of Education and Science are aware is approximately 1,800. Figures for the United Kingdom are not available.I regret that separate figures are not kept relating to claims for attendance allowance for autistic children as a specific group; the criteria for the award of attendance allowance do of course relate to the amount of attendance required, not to the nature of the disability.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the public hearing of the test case concerning the free movement of professional persons within the European Community, for which doctors have been made the test profession, will be held; what plans he has to monitor this and to communicate the results to doctors, dentists, pharmacists and opticians in the National Health Service; if his Department will participate; and if he will make a statement.

The public hearing of the views of the professional and other organisations directly and indirectly concerned with questions of mutual recognition of diplomas for the purpose of achieving freedom of establishment for professional persons was held in Brussels from 22nd to 25th October 1973.The hearing, which was arranged by the Directorate General for Research, Science and Education of the Commission of the European Communities, and was concerned with doctors, took place under the chairmanship of Professor Ralf Dahrendorf, member of the Commission responsible for research, science and education. Among the organisations participating in the hearing were the Permanent Committee of Doctors of the EEC, the British Medical Association, the General Medical Council and the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom. Observers attended from, amongst other organisations, the EEC Liaison Committee of Dentists, the EEC Chemistry Committee and the Pharmacy Group of the EEC. Her Majesty's Government, in common with Governments of the other eight member States of the Community, sent observers to the hearing.As the chairman made clear in his opening remarks, the hearing was not part of the Community decision-making machinery and the deliberations in the Council working parties will not be directly affected by it. But the Commission will in due course report the outcome to the other institutions of the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish without delay the new regulations, following reorganisation of the service, on compensation for redundant workers in the National Health Service, protection of salaries and financial arrangements for early retirement.

These have been under discussion with staff representatives and guidance will be issued as soon as the discussions are completed. I hope this will be possible in the next few weeks and the necessary formal statutory instruments will follow in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the extent to which living pre-viable human foetuses can be used for experimental purposes; and what consideration he is giving to changing the law in this regard.

The report of the Peel Advisory Group published last year included recommendations on the conditions under which whole pre-viable foetuses could be used for research and I am sending my hon. Friend an extract from the report. There have been wide-ranging consultations on the group's recommendations. I am considering the views expressed and intend to make a statement in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider raising the level of earnings which a pensioner may earn before his pension is reduced.

The earnings rule was considered earlier this year but overriding priority was then given to achieving the maximum increase in the rate of retirement pension itself from the beginning of October.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would have been the additional cost if all pensioners, irrespective of the amount of their basic pension, had received the full £1 increase rather than the proportionately reduced increase; and by how much this sum would have been offset by reduced supplementary allowance payments and by income tax payments.

It would have cost approximately £7 million a year to increase all retirement pensions by the maximum amount. The cost of supplementary pensions would have been reduced by about £3 million a year, but a reliable estimate cannot be made of the income tax payable on the extra retirement pension.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for information have been received by Companies House in the latest period of 12 months for which statistics are available; and what proportion of such applications came from or on behalf of national newspapers.

During the 12 months ending 30th September 1973, 1,784,416 searches of company files were carried out by the public or by company agents. In addition 45,705 postal inquiries were answered.Detailed figures are not available but I have no reason to suppose that more than a tiny proportion of applications came from the national Press

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how it is proposed to insulate the movement of oil from the United Kingdom to those States which are the subject of boycott by Arab States and at once comply with the pooling arrangements of the European Community and the OECD.

The question does not arise. The European Community has no pooling arrangements, nor has the OECD till the Council takes a decision to that end on the recommendation of the Oil Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the movement of oil between the United Kingdom and its partners in the European Community will be affected following the announcement that the Arab States have decided to boycott the supplies of oil derived from the Arab States to a member of the European Community.

It is too early to say.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, compared with the total of 19·5 million barrels of oil flowing into international trade from Arab States prior to the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East, what is the total quantity of Arab oil now entering the world market.

The quantity is calculated to be about 16 million barrels a day on the basis of the various cuts and embargoes announced and interruption of supplies from the East Mediterranean terminals.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the extent of the oil cuts announced or now being imposed—including cuts to boycotted States—by the following States: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Iraq, Abu Dhabi, Oman and Nigeria.

The approximate figures, compared with expected levels of production to the end of November, are: Kuwait, 1,160,000 barrels per day; Saudi Arabia, 2,600,000 barrels per day; Libya, 200,000 barrels per day; Iraq, nil; Abu Dhabi, nil; Oman, negligible; Nigeria, nil.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give details of the number of cases where companies have refused to divulge details of their profits as requested under the Government's prices and incomes policy; in how many of these cases prosecutions have ensued; and with what results.

There has been no case which would yet justify the conclusion that a company is refusing to divulge details of its profits. It follows that there have been no prosecutions. As its most recent report indicates, the Price Commission is fully aware of its responsibility to enforce the price code and is prepared to initiate action against any cases of unjustifiable delay.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list all foodstuffs which will become subject to the 8 per cent. first stage of the common external tariff on 1st January 1974.

The first stage of alignment towards the common customs tariff is not of 8 per cent. For most foodstuffs, on 1st January 1974 we shall reduce by 40 per cent. the difference between the duties we applied on 1st January 1972 and the CCT rates. The reduction in the case of horticultural produce will be 20 per cent. The first changes in respect of beef and veal have already been effected.Orders will shortly be laid before the House showing rates due to come into effect on 1st January 1974. The full list is very long and the expense of its prior reproduction in the OFFICIAL REPORT would not be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he proposes to make any new appointments to the British Airways Board.

I am appointing Mr. Roy Watts to be a full-time member of the board with effect from 1st January 1974. I have also approved his appointment by the board to be Chairman of British European Airways.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress of his discussions with the National Coal Board about future plans for further development of the coal industry, following his statment to the House on 24th October.

My discussions with the board are in considerable depth and much too important to be superficially rushed. I will make a statement at the conclusion of the discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what tonnage of coal is now in stock with the Coal Board; how much is in storage at power stations; and what is the estimated reserve in store with coal merchants.

At 13th October 1973, the National Coal Board held 13·4 million tons and power stations 20·1 million tons. No statistics are available for merchants' stocks, which are estimated to be about 1·5 million tons, roughly equivalent to five winter weeks' supply to households.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he has given to the delegation of marine survey functions to classification societies; and if he will make a statement.

After careful consideration I have decided, subject to the necessary legislation, to delegate to Lloyd's Register of Shiping certain statutory survey functions under the Merchant Shipping Acts, of which the major items are:

(a) The tonnage measurement of ships;

(b) The survey of safety equipment of cargo ships on a rotating basis with my Department, other than the initial survey which will continue to be undertaken by my Department;

(c) The examination of plans of the hull structures of passenger ships including survey during construction;

(d) The survey of certain items of machinery in passenger ships which are not vital to safety and in practice have been found relatively trouble free;

(e) The approval of stability information, including approval of grain stowage arrangements where appropriate, for those types of cargo ship which, in practice, do not produce major problems.

The delegation of certain of these items requires amendments to the Merchant Shipping Acts, while others require amendments of rules made under those Acts.In addition it is proposed to authorise the Royal Yachting Association and the Yacht Brokers, Designers and Surveyors Association to undertake the tonnage measurement of yachts under 45 feet in length.The Department will continue to be responsible for establishing safety requirements for shipping in the light of the relevant international conventions and for undertaking much of the related statutory survey work.The new moves will help to avoid duplication, will ease the pressure on the Department's surveyors and permit them to devote more time to work connected with the regulation of new types of vessel and equipment as well as fishing vessels.Lloyd's Register will be authorised to act only in relation to ships classed with that society. The society has a very high reputation, and I am convinced that these new delegations will in no way affect the high safety standards of United Kingdom merchant shipping.These arrangements will take some time to bring into effect and will be kept under careful review.These proposals were notified to the seafarers' unions on 28th June 1973. They are to be made public today.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress he has made in the negotiations with the European Commission for the provision of payments to help redundant steel workers to which he referred in his White Paper on the British Steel Corporation's 10-year development strategy.

The Government have concluded an agreement with the European Commission under which financial aid from Community funds will be available to provide benefits to redundant steelworkers who qualify under Article 56 of the Treaty of Paris. These benefits include payments, over a period, designed to bring a man's or woman's current earnings up to 90 per cent. of previous earnings; allowances sufficient to secure no loss of income, over a period, for those undergoing retraining; and resettlement and removal grants. There will also be benefits for those who remain unemployed and older men may opt to commute these into an annuity or pension.Regulations to enable the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to pay these benefits will be laid before Parliament in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the annual revenue which would accrue to the electricity industry if (a) that industry were treated pari passu with the private sector as regarding its entitlement to adjust its tariffs to take account of past losses, and (b) the tariff increases recommended by the Price Commission had been authorised in full.

Had the provisions of paragraph 49(i) of the Stage 2 Price Code (SI 1973 No. 658) been applicable to the area electricity boards at the time of their tariff applications earlier this year it is estimated that they might have permitted tariff increases bringing in an extra £123 million in a full year. Tariff increases under paragraph 75 of the code operative from 1st September 1973 and aimed at producing additional revenue in the remaining part of 1973–74 sufficient to hold the board's deficits in that year at the 1972–73 levels would, it is estimated, have produced an extra £82 million in 1973–74.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now set up a development body for rural Wales on the model of the Highlands and Islands Development Board.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. and learned Friend on 23rd October.—[Vol. 861, c. 492.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will request the Welsh Council to conduct a survey of the low income per head earned by wage and salary earners in Mid-Wales.

The Welsh Council referred to this question in its recent report on Mid-Wales. I do not consider that a new survey is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ask the Welsh Council to hold a survey in Wales into public attitudes to the establishment of an elected assembly for Wales with executive powers.

The Government will welcome any views the Welsh Council may wish to express on issues raised by the report of the Commission on the Constitution. It is for the council to consider what form its study of these issues should take. The commission itself sponsored a survey of attitudes, the results of which have been published as a research paper.