asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to intensify research and development in connection with the introduction of the new breed of herbivorous carp which consume weed in rivers, lakes and ponds and which could add to the fish supplies now available.

My Department's Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory is already vigorously pursuing a programme of research in the use of Chinese grass carp for biological weed control in various types of inland waters. Although these fish could be farmed in this country if it were found desirable to introduce them, they do not breed naturally here and there is no prospect that they could make a significant contribution to supplies, even if they proved acceptable to British consumers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what movement he expects in the costs of cheese production in the next six months; and if he will make a statement.

It is not possible to predict such movements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the cost of sugar beet pulp per ton in October of each year from 1970 to 1973 and state what steps he is taking to control the price paid by the farming industry.

The net wholesale ex-factory prices per ton charged by British Sugar Corporation Ltd. to growers and merchants were: £1970—£22; 1971—£22·50; 1972—£24·50 and 1973—£43. As an independent company, the corporation is free to determine its selling prices subject to the requirements of the counter- inflation programme. It has concluded that sugar beet pulp falls within the group of agricultural products on which price increases do not have to be notified to the Price Commission. The corporation has, however, informed the commission of its action and is making returns of its profit margins.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the substance stilboestrol is still permitted to be added to animal feeding stuffs; and whether his Department has any plans to ban its use.

A product containing stilboestrol is currently licensed under the Medicines Act for inclusion in animal feeding stuffs for non-breeding pigs. We have proposed inclusion of this product amongst the feed additives permitted for use in the EEC, and its continued availability will depend on the outcome of this proposal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what substances, and at what levels, are permitted to be used as preservatives in fresh oranges and other citrus fruits.

The Preservatives in Food Regulations 1962, as amended, permit the use of the following preservatives on citrus fruit:

• Diphenyl: Not more than 100 parts per million.
• Ortho-phenyl phenol and Sodium ortho-phenylphenate: Not more than 70 parts per million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what facilities are available for checking the permitted levels of preservatives in imported oranges and other citrus fruits.

Enforcement of the Preservatives in Food Regulations 1962, as amended, which lay down the permitted levels of the preservatives diphenyl and ortho-phenylphenol in citrus fruits, is carried out by food and drugs authorities and by port health authorities. These authorities employ public analysts for analytical checks that the permitted levels are not exceeded.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what substances are permitted to be used as preservatives in fresh tomatoes.

The Preservatives in Food Regulations 1962, as amended, make no specific provision for the use of preservatives on fresh tomatoes.

£ per ton
					October	October	October	October
					1970	1971	1972	1973
Cattle and Calf			…	…	42·3	43·4	45·4	70·8
Pigs	…	…	…	…	44·8	44·3	46·2	83·1
Poultry		…	…	…	47·5	46·0	49·7	87·3

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, since the average prices of the principal manufactured compound feeding stuffs have increased since the 1973 Review White Paper in March by approximately 26, 27, and 39 per cent. for sheep, cattle and calves, pigs and poultry, respectively, and since the interest rates on credit available to farmers for working capital have increased, if he will take steps to help farmers before the next price review.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris) on 16th October 1973.—[Vol. 861, c. 94–6.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many outbreaks of swine vesicular disease there

				1970			1971
				June	September	December	March	June	September	December
Beef: Home-killed
Chuck	…	…	…	31·8	32·6	32·5	35·0	36·9	36·8	37·3
Sirloin (without bone)				44·8	46·4	45·7	49·0	52·9	53·4	53·7
Silverside (without bone)*		…	…	41·6	42·8	42·1	45·6	49·0	49·0	48·7
Back Ribs (with bone)*				28·3	29·1	29·0	31·4	33·7	33·9	33·9
Fore Ribs (with bone)				28·0	28·8	28·4	30·8	33·0	33·1	33·0
Brisket (with bone)			…	18·2	18·8	18·7	20·9	22·4	22·5	22·5
Rump Steak		…	…	57·2	58·9	57·7	62·1	67·6	67·8	67·2
Beef: Imported, chilled
Chuck	…	…	…	26·4	27·3	28·3	29·8	32·6	32·1	33·3
Silverside (without bone)*		…	…	33·8	34·1	35·8	39·1	40·9	40·8	42·3
Rump Steak*			…	46·2	46·3	45·3	49·4	53·2	53·0	51·6

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the average costs of feeding stuffs for cattle, pigs and poultry, respectively, in October of each year from 1970 to 1973.

The average prices of the principal manufactured compound feeding stuffs in Great Britain for cattle and calves, pigs, and poultry in October of each year from 1970 to 1973 are given below:have been since it was first notified; what have been the total number of slaughterings; and whether the disease is now considered endemic.

Since swine vesicular disease was first confirmed in this country in December 1972 there have been 116 outbreaks involving the slaughter of 64,870 pigs. The disease is not considered endemic in Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the retail prices of beef for each quarter since June 1970.

The following are the average retail prices of various cuts of beef during the period mid-June 1970 until mid-September 1973, the latest available date.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what steps the present Government have taken since they have been in office to improve the position of the public service pensioner.

We have made substantial improvements both for those who were pensioners when we took office and for those now retiring.In the first instance, the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 provides for annual reviews of public service pensions and the payment of increases to compensate for rises in the cost of living. These arrangements, which also apply to preserved benefits, ensure that the purchasing power of public service pensions is fully protected from the effects of inflation.Secondly, following a comprehensive review, this Government introduced a new Civil Service Pension Scheme in June 1972. The great majority of civil servants are now covered by the new scheme which includes amongst its major improvements the reduction of the qualifying period for a pension from 10 to five years, benefits calculated on pay in the best of the last three years rather than the average of the last three years of service, service reckoned to the nearest day rather than completed years, improved benefits for retirement on ill health, injury or redundancy and improved family benefits. There are also greatly extended facilities for staff who leave before retiring age to preserve their accrued benefits or to transfer them to other pension schemes, in- cluding schemes in the private sector. The other public services have also amended or are in the process of amending their superannuation schemes to provide for similar improvements.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many retired public servants have been in receipt of a public service pension in each year since 1960.

The estimated numbers are as follows:

Public Service Pensions in Payment
Year	Retired Public Servants	Widows and Dependants
	(Thousands)	(Thousands)
1960	405	60
1961	420	65
1962	430	70
1963	450	75
1964	465	85
1965	485	90
1966	500	95
1967	515	105
1968	530	110
1969	550	115
1970	560	125
1971	575	130
1972	590	140
1973	625	145

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many retired public servants are currently in receipt of a public service pension; and how they are distributed by age, sex and former service.

The total number of retired public servants in receipt of a public service pension is estimated to be 625,000. The estimated numbers distributed

PUBLIC SERVICE PENSIONS IN PAYMENT 1973
(000's)
							Retired Public Servants Age				Widows and Dependants Total
Former Service							Under 60	60–69	70 and over	Total
Civil Service:
Men		…	…	…	…	…	5	74	80	159	64
Women		…	…	…	…	…	2	19	15	36
Teaching
Men		…	…	…	…	…	1	19	18	38	4
Women		…	…	…	…	…	3	44	55	102
National Health Service
Men		…	…	…	…	…	n.a.	27*	17	44	18
Women		…	…	…	…	…	n.a.	34*	15	49
Local Government:
Total (distribution by sex not available)							7	60	73	140	32
Police and Fire:
Total (distribution by sex not available)							20	22	13	55	26
Other	…	…	…	…	…	…	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	2	1
Totals		…	…	…	…	…	—	—	—	625	145
* Includes under 60's.
n.a.: Not available.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will give a breakdown of the annual running

Year		Pay and Allowance	Maintenance including Refits	Petrol, Oil and Lubricants	Stores	Total
		£	£	£	£	£
1970–71	…	490,985	152,177	42,550	89,956	775,668
1971–72	…	549,924	172,108	82,574	90,306	894,912
1972–73	…	603,606	1,213,000	16,000	49,728	1,882,334
1973–74*	…	700,000	638,000	35,000	76,400	1,449,400
* The figures against this year are estimates.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the compensation paid to citizens for personal injuries and for damage to property arising out of manoeuvres of Her Majesty's Forces in Hong Kong.

Yes. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, and will let me have details, I will look into the matter and write to him.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will increase the present number of apprentices

The costs are calculated by financial years and are as follows:at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Aberporth, Cardiganshire.

I have no plans to do so at present.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many military aircraft have crashed in low-level flying exercises in Great Britain in the last 10 years.

During the last 10 years, 23 British fixed-wing military aircraft have been destroyed in Great Britain in training at levels below 2,000 feet. In accordance with usual practice, the figure excludes accidents at airfields or out to sea.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will institute research into the provision of employment opportunities for elderly and disabled people.

A good deal of such research has been, or is being undertaken, particularly in connection with my Department's current comprehensive review of its policies and services for disabled people. The need for further research in this field is under consideration, but it will not be possible to take decisions about this until the current review has been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will consider amending the Industrial Relations Act so as to permit disabled persons to claim compensation for unfair dismissal, even where they have been in their current employment for less than two years.

The position of disabled people was carefully considered during the preparation of the Industrial Relations Bill. To amend the Act in the manner suggested would be inconsistent with the Government's policy for the employment of disabled people which is supported by the National Advisory Council on the Employment of the Disabled. Given carefully selected jobs, disabled people are capable, or can be rendered capable by industrial rehabilitation or vocational training, of maintaining themselves in employment in normal competition with other employees.The 104-week qualifying period for the right to complain of unfair dismissal was imposed purely for case load reasons; my right hon. Friend intends to reduce it as soon as possible and disabled people will benefit along with other employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration he has given to the report of the National Bureau study of further education, training and employment of handicapped school leavers; what conclusions he has drawn; and if he will now commission a survey of the types of jobs available to children leaving schools for the deaf and hard of hearing.

My right hon. Friend has no specific plans for a survey, but the report will be taken into account in considering any further investigations into the problems of handicapped school leavers, including the deaf.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the reorganisation of the departments of employment and training services in Liverpool; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. As part of the major programme of modernisation, announced in "Into Action" in December 1972, the employment services in Liverpool will be organised in two districts, one covering central Liverpool and the other the surrounding employment exchange areas of Garston, Old Swan, Walton, Bootle, Regent Road and Crosby. For the training services it is the aim to set up a district office in Liverpool by about July 1974. There will, of course, be the closest possible co-operation between the two services. Naturally these arrangements will be subject to review in the light of experience.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the Government training centre facilities in Liverpool; and if he will make a statement.

The Government Training Centre at Liverpool now provides nearly 400 places. Many additional training places have been provided on Merseyside in colleges and with employers under the Training Opportunities Scheme. In 1970 fewer than 700 places were available under Government training arrangements on Merseyside. There are now more than 1,700 and further expansion is planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Liverpool.

I visited Liverpool to see for myself the progress which has been made towards implementing my Department's plans for modernising the employment and training services. I was greatly encouraged by the progress that is being made. The new Jobshop, PER Office and Occupational Guidance Unit at Graeme House and the improved premises and organisation at Leece Street all represent progressive steps towards the type of facilities which I hope will become universal in the not too distant future.I also visited the Liverpool Government Training Centre and Industrial Rehabilitation Unit and had discussions with the managers of all my Department's training centres in the region. I am happy to report that our training programme in the North West Region is going well. The number of people likely to be trained in 1973 is over 6,000 compared with under 2,000 in 1970.My visit reinforced my opinion that the current developments in my Department's services will assist those who are seeking employment or training in a new skill and will make a valuable contribution to improving the employment position on Merseyside.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken to discuss with industry in Scotland its views on the setting up of a United Kingdom centre for drilling technology.

The Government have commended to the Petroleum ITB the recommendation in the report on education and training for offshore development that it should take the lead in developing plans for the centre after consultation with the industry and the education service. It would be premature for my right hon. Friend to initiate

PUBLIC EXPENDITURE PER HEAD BY COUNTRY EXPRESSED AS A PERCENTAGE OF EXPENDITURE IN ENGLAND
Year					England	Wales	Scotland	Northern Ireland
(1969–70)	…	…	…	…	(100)	(112)	(126)	(114)
1970–71	…	…	…	…	100	106	120	114
1971–72	…	…	…	…	100	109	120	119
1972–73	…	…	…	…	100	108	120	126
Since the table in the Commission's report was prepared, many of the figures on which it was based have been revised. The estimates shown above for 1969–70 take account of these revisions and are comparable with those for subsequent years.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons are being trained for the construction industry in the Northern Region and what are the total number of training places in Government training centres in the region, and the number not taken up.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th October 1973; Vol. 861, c. 605], gave the following information:The most up-to-date figures are for the Training Opportunities Scheme. Under the latest definition of construction occupations, 376 people are being trained in Northern Region. For all occupations, Government training centres in that region provide 1,780 places, of which 567 are not at present occupied.The last complete year for which figures are available to the Construction Industry Training Board for the Northern Region relate to 1971–72. In that year 13,002 people attended courses of all kinds approved by the board.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will provide a table showing public expenditure per head by country in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, expressed as a percentage of expenditure in England, for the years 1970–71, 1971–72 and 1972–73, using the same basis as table 15.1 in the Kilbrandon Report.

The information for the years in question is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total value of tax reliefs on life assurance contributions for each year since 1960; and, for each of these years, what was its average value to persons taking out such

			1960–61	1961–62	1962–63	1963–64	1964–65	1965–66	1966–67
Total value of relief (£m)	…	…	53	58	61	64	66	68	70
Average value (£) by income range:
Less than £1,000		…	Not Available				2·99	2·83	2·85
£1,000–£2,000		…	Not Available				5·74	5·45	5·20
£2,000–£5,000		…	Not Available				18·79	17·42	17·14
£5,000–£10,000		…	Not Available				40·65	39·77	42·19
£10,000 and over		…	Not Available				92·09	81·60	95·35

				1967–68	1968–69	1969–70	1970–71	1971–72	1972–73
Total value of relief (£m)			…	75	84	100	110	111	121
Average value (£) by income range:
Less than £1,000		…	…	2·95	3·15	3·64	4·19	Not Available
£1,000–£2,000	…	…	…	5·28	5·58	6·35	6·37	Not Available
£2,000–£5,000	…	…	…	16·73	15·79	15·42	13·36	Not Available
£5,000–£10,000	…	…	…	43·18	44·43	49·44	47·46	Not Available
£10,000 and over		…	…	99·34	93·77	97·48	99·60	Not Available
Information by income range is not available before 1964–65 and is not yet available after 1970–71.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the case, respectively, of Concorde and Maplin, what has been, and what it is estimated will be, the annual public expenditure cost of each

£ millions (at current prices)
1961–62	1962–63	1963–64	1964–65	1965–66	1966–67
1·0	2·1	4·7	6·9	21·0	38·0
1967–68	1968–69	1969–70	1970–71	1971–72	1972–73
48·4	63·5	61·9	72·8	78·6	78·3
Figures for the years 1973–74 to 1977–78 will be published in the next public expenditure White Paper, but estimates for later years are not available.

Revised forecasts of Maplin expenditure up to the airport's opening in 1982 are in the course of preparation as part of the overall survey of the project now being undertaken in response to the requirements of Section 2(9) of the Maplin Development Act, 1973. These forecasts will be included in the report to be presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State in Spring, 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much

, pursuant to his reply, [OFFICIAL REPORT, 6th November 1973; Vol. 863, c. 135], gave the following information:of these projects from their initiation to 1985.

, pursuant to his reply, [OFFICIAL REPORT, 8th November 1973; Vol. 863, c. 219], gave the following information:For Concorde expenditure has been:money has been made available to the pig industry for each year during the past five years, up to the latest available date; whether the grant was to help maintain employment in the industry; and whether the sale of live pigs to Eire offends the principle of the purpose of the grant.

I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the names of the chairman and directors of the investment company set up by the Government to safeguard pig producers' interests.

The company is PMB (Investments) Limited, a subsidiary company of the Northern Ireland Pigs Marketing Board. The chairman is Mr. R. A. Hamilton and the directors are Mr. J. B. McGuckian, Mr. R. W. Hamilton, Mr. R. E. Thompson and Mr. J. Cameron.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many live pigs have been sold by the Northern Ireland Pigs Marketing Board to Eire each week during the past nine weeks.

The number of live pigs sold to buyers in the Republic by the Northern Ireland Pigs Marketing Board in each of the past nine weeks is as follows:

Week Ended
15th September	700
22nd September	1,500
29th September	600
6th October	700
13th October	800
20th October	800
27th October	Nil
3rd November	Nil
10th November	Nil

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will set up an investigation designed to exclude the possibility of the leakage of impending price changes for pigs before the price change is announced to pig producers.

The Pigs Marketing Board (Northern Ireland) determines the prices to be paid to producers for bacon pigs produced in Northern Ireland and also fixes prices for non-bacon pigs which may be offered to it. Price changes are normally decided only a few hours before the information is made available for publication. My right hon. Friend is not aware of any occasion on which such information has been put to improper use, and accordingly sees no reason for an investigation of the type suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the report of his Working Party on the Dental Services.

My right hon. Friends and I have received two interim reports from the working party. These deal respectively with preventive dentistry and emergency dental services and arrangements for their publication are in hand. The working party is discussing other aspects of its long-term review of the dental services but this is a considerable task and I cannot forecast a date for a final report. It may submit further interim reports at any time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will supply details of all improvements made to management side pay offers as a result of negotiations in the Joint Professional and Technical "A" Whitley Council.

I understand that during the 25 years of the council's existence initial offers by the management side have been improved in the normal process of negotiations. In 1972, for example, such improvements were made in the negotiations for all the groups covered by the council except one where the increase was predetermined by a formal link with another group.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he and his advisers have received from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and other paramedical professional organisations about the pay structure and career prospects available to such professional people in the National Health Service.

I have received many representations. Pay and grading structures for physiotherapists and other professions employed in the National Health Service are, of course, matters for the Whitley Council in the first place. The last general settlement for the groups in question, approved by the Pay Board, was effective from 1st April 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the details of establishments and shortfalls, for each regional hospital board area, of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, remedial gymnasts and radiographers.

As at 30th September 1972, the latest date for which compre-

					Numbers (whole-time equivalents)
Hospital Region					Physiotherapists	Occupational Therapists	Speech Therapists	Remedial Gymnasts	Radiographers
Newcastle	…	…	…	…	195	55	8	14	297
Leeds	…	…	…	…	255	84	17	36	323
Sheffield	…	…	…	…	262	107	17	36	323
East Anglia		…	…	…	137	65	5	7	150
North West Metropolitan*				…	326	167	19	18	309
North East Metropolitan*				…	234	118	12	14	263
South East Metroplitan*				…	319	122	15	14	273
South West Metropolitan*				…	348	141	17	6	241
London Teaching Hospital				…	585	163	28	11	614
Oxford	…	…	…	…	223	117	21	13	180
South Western		…	…	…	366	124	8	8	363
Birmingham		…	…	…	419	134	16	9	462
Manchester		…	…	…	367	97	16	10	474
Liverpool	…	…	…	…	166	85	9	6	298
Wessex	…	…	…	…	206	90	5	4	207
* Excluding Teaching Hospitals.

In the absence of generally accepted staffing standards, need is difficult to quantify and no comprehensive central record is maintained of the extent to which numbers of staff in post fall short of the numbers which individual authorities would like to employ, but I am aware that many authorities would like to employ more staff in the above professions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those countries with which negotiations are planned, or in progress, to extend the number of reciprocal agreements for the payment of increases in retirement pensions paid to United Kingdom pensioners living in those countries.

Discussions are in progress with Canada, Norway and Spain on the possibility of comprehensive reciprocal agreements which would include provision for the payment of our pension increases in those countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average period of waiting for admission to hospitals in Walsall other than in maternity and emergency cases; and how this period compares with that in Birmingham.

Waiting times vary according to the circumstances of the individual case and urgent cases are admitted without delay. Latest available figures are given below.

HOSPITAL ACTIVITY ANALYSIS, 12 MONTHS ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 1972
	Average waiting times in weeks
Speciality	Walsall H.M.C.	Birmingham City Hospitals
General Surgery	27·1	9·7
Ear, Nose, Throat	44·0	28·9
Traumatic and Orthopaedic	22·7	15·8
Ophthalmology	37·7	27·6
Gynaecology	22·3	13·0

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many times the Hunter Committee has met; and what is the usual interval between meetings.

The committee has met once in full session and once in special session and has arranged to meet twice more before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek powers to ensure that Her Majesty's Customs and Excise investigates the health hazards of cigarettes containing substitutes for tobacco before allowing such products to be sold to the public.

I understand that the powers of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to make regulations under Section 4 of the Finance Act 1970 relate to revenue enforcement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now use the powers granted him under Section 28 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, which allow him to define the terms "chronically sick", "chronic illness", "disabled" and "disability", in order to make it clear that the Act covers every category of severely disabled person.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will use the powers granted him by Section 28 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, to define the terms "chronically sick", "chronic illness", "disabled" and "disability", in order to make it clear that the Act covers every category of severely disabled persons.

My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to make regulations under Section 28 as he is not aware of any practical problems of a kind which would be solved by doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women were treated in National Health Service hospitals for post-natal depression during 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972; and what proportion these represent of the number of births in each year.

I regret that the information is not available. Statistics of admissions to National Health Service psychiatric hospitals and units by diagnosis on admission are analysed in accordance with the International Classification of Diseases (8th Revision) which does not recognise "post-natal depression" as a separate condition. Psychosis associated with childbirth (294.4) is identified as a separate disorder but this code is only used for conditions arising within six weeks of childbirth—and at present statistics are only readily available for the broad diagnostic group "other psychoses" which includes not only psychosis associated with childbirth but other psychiatric conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will urge the regional board to channel funds to Guy's Hospital so that further work may be undertaken to determine the causes of back complaints amongst drivers, particularly long-distance, including the effects of vibration.

It would not be appropriate for me to urge the regional hospital board to direct its funds to the Board of Governors of Guy's Hospital, who themselves have arrangements for supporting suitable research.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many health centres are now established within the county of Durham, and where they are located;(2) how many health centres are currently under construction in the county of Durham;(3) why he has refused to authorise the provision of a health centre at Houghton-le-Spring.

Eleven health centres are now established in the county of Durham at Barnard Castle, Boldon, Chilton, Dunston, Felling, Hebburn, Hetton-le-Hole, Newton Aycliffe, Peterlee, Spennymoor and Washington. Three are currently under construction, at Eagles-cliffe, Stanhope and Washington. My right hon. Friend has not refused to authorise the provision of a health centre at Houghton-le-Spring, but he has informed the Durham County Council that he is unable to approve a building start on this scheme during 1973–74. It has been necessary to slow down the recent rapid rate of growth of approvals for health centres in order to keep priorities right in relation to other essential fields of community care.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many new health and social security building projects in the county of Durham are awaiting his final sanction.

No health or social services building projects in the county of Durham are at present awaiting final approval. A number of schemes are at other stages of the relevant building procedures, including one for which tenders have been received, and formal application by the local authority for final approval would be the next step.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the proposals for reorganisation of the hospital service in the Northern Region; and if he will make a statement.

A document issued by the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board on 5th November provides a useful summary statement of current hospital development plans and I expect that the new health authorities will take account of them in their future planning.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the maternal mortality rate excluding abortions in England and Wales for each of the years 1965 to 1972, inclusive.

The death rates in England and Wales from maternal causes excluding abortion (ICD Nos. 630–639 and 650–678) were as follows:

	Per 100,000 live and still births
1965	19
1966	20
1967	16
1968	18
1969	15
1970	14
1971	13
1972 (provisional)	12

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the drug stilboestrol was first available to be prescribed to pregnant women on the National Health Service; and whether it is still so available.

Stilboestrol has been available to practitioners to prescribe during the whole history of the National Health Service. Doctors are well aware of the need to exercise extreme caution in prescribing drugs to pregnant women. Adverse reactions to stilboestrol are very carefully monitored and this will be continued.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of adoption orders made in England and Wales in each of the years 1964 to 1972 inclusive.

Following is the information:

Year	Number
1964	20,412 (232)
1965	21,033 (171)
1966	22,792 (127)
1967	22,802 (173)
1968	24,831 (189)
1969	23,705 (173)
1970	22,371 (155)
1971	21,495 (123)
1972	21,603 (134)

NOTE: The number includes provisional adoption orders, which are shown in brackets. These orders, which were introduced on 1st April 1959, confer authority on a person not domiciled in Great Britain to take a child out of this country for adoption.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the qualifying benefits for eligibility for the £10 Christmas bonus.

The special payment will, subject to the residences condition, be made to persons over the minimum pensionable age who are entitled to one of the following benefits for all or part of the week beginning 26th November 1973:

• Retirement pension (including old person's pension).
• Invalidity benefit.
• Widow's benefit.
• Attendance allowance.
• Unemployability supplement or allowance.
• War disablement pension (providing the person has reached pensionable age and retired or has reached age 70 for a man, 65 for a woman).
• War widow's pension.
• Industrial injuries widow's and widower's pension.
• Supplementary pension.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what grants are payable to the disabled, including housewives, apart from attendance allowances; and if he will extend the range.

Special benefits are available under the schemes for the war and industrially disabled. Family allowances and family income supplement are available to disabled and non-disabled households alike. Disabled people over pension age, including housewives, are in general entitled to retirement pension or old person's pension. For disabled people below pension age, unemployment benefit, sickness benefit and invalidity pension depend on a personal contribution record. Supplementary benefit, including provision for special needs arising from disablement, ensures basic support where resources fall short of requirements. As the hon. Member will be aware, social security provision for the disabled is under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will extend the provisions for the payment of the £100 a year grant to disabled drivers to include disabled persons who cannot themselves drive and who have to be driven.

It would be inappropriate to contemplate changes before Lady Sharp's report has been published and considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take on the Foster Report into scientology.

I have at present nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Sir John Hall) on 16th October.—[Vol. 861, c. 1819.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many retirement pensioners have dependent wives under the age of 60 years.

One hundred and thirty thousand.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from retirement pensioners on the effect of the requirement whereby prescription charges must be paid by the dependent wives of retirement pensioners if they are under 60 years of age.

Five letters, including one from an association, since January 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the drug naprosyn has been released for prescription in the United Kingdom; and if it is now available for use.

A product licence has been granted in respect of naprosyn, and it is understood to be now available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a comparison of the cost of those indoor electric chairs supplied to disabled persons by his Department with that of those others which his Department has evaluated.

It is not the practice to reveal Government contract prices. The cost of the electrically-propelled indoor chair normally supplied by the Department compares very favourably with other similar products.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list, for each month in the year prior to the date for which the latest figures are available, the number of days lost through sickness by persons registered with his Department as disabled for which they received no sickness benefit owing to the three-day rule; and what percentage this was of total days lost through sickness by such persons.

No separate records are kept of days of certificated incapacity in respect of persons registered as disabled with the Department of Employment, but experience indicates that the sickness records of disabled people in employment are in general no worse than those of the population at large. In 1971–72, the last year for which figures are available, waiting days constituted approximately 6 per cent. of the total days of certificated incapacity for all insured persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made with plans for a bypass of Rhayader.

TABLE I
WHOLE TIME EQUIVALENTS: 30TH SEPTEMBER 1973
					Column (a) In post
					Column (b) Vacancies
HMC					Physiotherapists		Occupational Therapists		Speech Therapists		Remedial Gymnasts		Radiographers
					(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
Newport and East Monmouth				…	15	18	7	6	1	—	1	—	32	3
North Monmouth			…	…	13½	2½	6½	3½	1	—	—	—	13	—
Border Counties		…	…	…	3½	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	3	—
U.H.W. Cardiff		…	…	…	64	23	37	17	2	—	22	—	96	35
Merthyr and Aberdare			…	…	4	6	1½	—	½	½	—	1	13	—
Pontypridd and Rhondda				…	11	10	7	—	½	1½	2	3	15	—
B.R.O. Morgannwg			…	…	12	—	1	—	1	—	½	—	23½	—
Glantawe	…	…	…	…	35	—	4½	6	1½	—	1	—	45	7
South West Wales			…	…	14	4	3½	1½	—	½	—	—	16	2
Mid Wales	…	…	…	…	9	—	½	1	—	—	—	—	10	—
Caernarvon and Anglesey				…	19	1	6	1	2	1	—	—	23	4
Clwyd and Deeside			…	…	21	4	5½	8½	1	—	—	—	16	—
Wrexham, Powys and Mawddach					23	—	7	2	½	½	½	—	21	—
Talygran M.R.C.		…	…	…	2	1	1	—	—	—	3	—	—	—

Most speech therapists are at present employed by local education authorities. Speech therapy posts filled and vacant in Welsh local education authorities on 6th November 1973 were as follows:

Local Education Authorities Speech Therapists, Whole-time Equivalents
	In Post	Vacancies
Anglesey	1	1½
Breconshire	1½	—
Caernarvonshire	—	2
Cardiganshire	2	1
Carmarthenshire	3	—
Denbighshire	3½	—
Flintshire	1	1
Glamorgan	5	8
Merioneth	½	½
Monmouthshire	2½	2½
Montgomeryshire	—	1
Pembrokeshire	½	1½
Radnorshire	½	1½
Cradiff	3	3
Merthyr	1	—
Newport	2	1
Swansea	1	1

Investigations into possible routes are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the details of establishments and shortfalls of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, remedial gymnasts and radiographers.

Numbers of posts in these grades filled and vacant in the health service in Wales on 30th September 1973 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made with the Brecon bypass.

I am now considering a number of objections to the draft orders published earlier this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a survey of land in Wales which can at reasonable public expense be reclaimed for agriculture.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is aware of the problems that are created at the Neath General Hospital as a result of the decision to close the casualty department at the hospital between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. each day and at weekends for a temporary period, due to the shortage of experienced medical staff; and if he will take steps immediately to restore a full service.

Every effort is being made to fill the staff vacancies in the casualty department. Meanwhile locum doctors are being appointed and I am glad to say that a 24-hour casualty service will be restored this month.